//------------------------------// // Chapter 2: Twinkle? what are you doing here? // Story: Twinkle of Faith, Spark of Magic // by SweetSunbeam 61619 //------------------------------// “Twilight? Are you coming?” Spike called out from the bottom of the Tower’s stairs. “Yeah.” Twilight was halfway downstairs herself. “In a minute.” Spike rolled with his eyes. “What was taking you so long?” he asked when Twilight was finally at the bottom of the stairs. “Well, I couldn’t leave without telling anypony.” Twilight answered. “So I wrote a letter to mom and dad.” “Oh.” Spike said. “Right. Did you tell Shining Armour too?” “Of course I did.” Twilight said. “He was the first to hear it. Did you tell anypony?” “Only the librarian when I passed him in the hallway.” Spike said. It wasn’t long before Twilight and her assistant reached the Palace Courtyard and the Pegasi Chariot runway Two white pegasi guards stood there in full armour next to a golden chariot. “Twilight Sparkle?” They both asked. “That’s me.” Twilight said. And she stepped a bit closer to the stallions. “You two are taking me and Spike to Ponyville, right?” “Not yet.” They said. Spike and Twilight looked confused to each other. “Why not? We don’t have time to waste.” “Sorry, orders from the captain.” One of the guards said. Spike leaned over to whisper in Twilight’s ears. “Isn’t Shining Armour the captain?” “Well, yeah.” Twilight whispered back. “So why would he order them to wait? I told him that I in a hurry.” At that moment, a white unicorn stallion in purple and gold armor stepped through the door, along with a Light brilliant amber coated unicorn filly who had a patch of Pale, light grayish mulberry on her muzzle. The filly had a mane of Brilliant amaranth and Brilliant rose, styled with almost Ruler-straight bangs and expertly combed, as was her tail. Her Moderate Violet Eyes were hidden behind a pair of round glasses with Moderate violet frames. “Twily.” the older stallion called out. “Shiny!” Twilight turned around to face her big brother. “Twily!” A small voice exclaimed. Twilight looked behind her big brother and noticed the young filly. “Twinkle!” Twilight cried out as she and the filly rushed to stand in front of each other, and began a little dance and chant. “Sunshine, Sunshine, Ladybugs awake! Clap your hooves, and do a little shake!” Twilight smiled and she brought her little sister in for a big hug. “What are you doing here?” Before the little filly could answer, Shining Armour stopped her, and started to speak in her place. “Twilight, we, that is mom, dad, and I, heard that you’re going to Ponyville for a while. And well…Twinkle’s been getting seriously bullied at school lately. So mom and dad suggested that it might be better for Twinkle if she went with you to Ponyville, for a break from school. the school already approved it, and Twinkle’s got a few small assignments she can work on while you’re there.” Twilight remembered her baby sis talking about being picked on not only because she was still a Blank Flank, when most of the students in her class had already found their Cutie Marks, but because Twinkle was a bit ahead of the curve when it came to Magical Ability, already being able to Levitate objects and use a Magic Bolt spell she’d seen in Shining Armor’s books, which led to her being called a Show-off and a teacher’s pet. “So” Shining Armour continued. “I hope that you don’t mind taking Twinkle with you?” Twilight smiled bright. “Of course not. I’d love to spend more time with my little sister. I haven’t seen her nearly as much as I’d like with all my studies.” “So I can really go with you?” Twinkle asked. Twilight smiled as she hugged her little sister. “Of course Twinkle. I couldn’t say no to my baby sister.” She said, as she gently nuzzled Twinkle. Shining Armor walked to the two pegasi, who immediately saluted. “Sir!” they both said. “At Ease. You cleared to take Twilight Sparkle and Twinkle Spark to Ponyville.” Shining Armor said. “And what about me?” Spike asked. He hadn’t heard his name, so he was a bit worried. “What? You’re not going with Twilight?” The captain asked teasingly. “Oh, right.” Spike smiled sheepishly. “You’re kidding. Right?” At that moment, the doors slammed open, again. A unicorn Guard came in with a pile of luggage on his back. “Where… do you want this…” he panted. Twinkle blushed at the pile of luggage that was at least as tall as Princess Celestia. “Oh, um, in the carriage, if that’s alright with you.” She said politely as she looked away from the luggage. The guard rolled with his eyes and watched his superior. “You heard the filly. In the carriage.” Shining Armour said. The unicorn sighed. “Sir, yes sir.” He said and he trotted slowly to the carriage. “Am I really following orders from a filly? Dear Celestia, I’ve fallen far.” He mumbled. quite enough so the others couldn’t hear it. The two pegasi looked anxiously to each other and swallowed nervously when they saw how much luggage he was loading. “We can’t take all of that with us.” Twilight said. The two pegasi guards sighed in relief. At least their load would be easier to lift. “What’re you talking about Twily? It’s only Twinkle’s essentials. Her Clothes, toys for the ride, study guides, her homework, her favorite blanket, her teddy bear, her bed frame and mattress, her pillows, her horn care kit, her toiletries...” Shining rattled off. It was clear from that list and from Twinkle’s embarrassment, that the packing had been done by Shining Armor and their parents. “Shiny, we’re only going to be in Ponyville to oversee the Summer Sun Celebration and for me to spend time with my baby sister. We’re not moving there.” Twilight teased as she helped Twinkle sort out her real essentials from the abundance of luggage. Her homework, a few toys, her blanket, her teddy bear, and her toiletries. All condensed down into 1 suitcase. “There.” Twilight said. She levitated the suitcase in the carriage. “The rest can go back to mom and dad.” She smiled. Shining Armour turned to the unicorn guard. “You heard the mare.” He smirked. “Take it back please.” The unicorn sighed. “Sir, yes sir” although the load was a little lighter now, it was still a humongous amount of suitcases he had to carry. He mumbled some incomprehensible words, and left the Palace Courtyard. “We’re gonna leave now?” Twinkle asked excitedly. And she bounced hyperactively around her older sister. “I think so.” She looked around. “Spike? Do we have everything now?” Spike pondered the question for a while. “I think we do.” Shining Armour grabbed his two sisters for the last time for a big hug. “Be safe out there.” He said. “Of course we will.” Twilight said. She pulled away, and guided her baby sister into the carriage. “You’re coming Spike?” She asked. Spike looked at Shining Armour. “You were just joking, right?” Shining started to laugh. “Of course I was. Now, get in the carriage. Or else you will be stuck here with me.” Spike attempted to jump into the carriage too, but stopped. “Wait a second…What would I have to do if I’m stuck with you?” Shining Armour smiled teasingly. “I would make you a guard. But, I would have to train you first. I would put you on a diet, definitely some exercises, have you learn all the rules…” “You lost me with diet!” Spike yelled from the carriage. Shining started to smile. “Goodbye!” he yelled back. The two pegasi guards took of, and left Canterlot. Heading for Ponyville, and the start of something amazing for the two sisters heading there.