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// Day 5 
// Story: Starswirl and the Purple Terror 
// by ValdimarGreen 
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Day 5


“How come you never have any visitors?” Twilight Sparkle asked. “I understand that a scientist needs a calm and orderly study environment. But I thought that at least Clover the Clever would be around.”

        Starswirl , absorbed in the work of measuring up different fluids and powders for a coming chemistry experiment, took a moment to respond, “Who?” 

        “Clover the Clever,” Twilight repeated.

        Something clicked in Starswirl's mind and he spun around to face Twilight. “CLOVER? Since when was that little abomination ever clever?!” he growled.

        Twilight took a step back, taken aback by his anger. “But… what? Shes not your apprentice then?”

        Starswirl laughed without mirth, “Apprentice? APPRENTICE? Over my dead body!” he snarled, “If Miss Rosebud were to force me to babysit her again, I would rather jump off the roof and spare myself the suffering!”

        “Rosebud?” Twilight asked, looking even more confused than before.

        “My neighbor, and the mare responsible for bringing the little abomination into this world.” Starswirl replied. “Believe me that little filly has it out for me, she keeps breaking my windows and leaving things on my lawn.” Starswirl was warming to the subject as he continued, “ She even snuck into my tower once and put a bucket of water on top of my bedroom door! And worst of all; she keeps giving me these smug self-satisfied smiles whenever her mother isn't looking.”

        “I'm sure she can’t be that bad,” Twilight replied soothingly, “Maybe I could talk to her.”

        “Be my guest,” Starswirl said as he turned back to his work.

        Starswirl worked in blessed silence without interruptions for almost a whole half hour, before Twilight returned. Her mane disheveled and muddy, her body covered in nicks and bruises. Her eye darting from side to side as if expecting an attack. Locking the door behind her, she seemed to relax a bit.

She looked over at Starswirl from across the room, “That little filly is CRAZY!”