//------------------------------// // Chapter 2: Out of the fog // Story: Like A Phoenix // by Coda Singer //------------------------------// Twilight went through her usual routine. Shoes, saddle bags and the C.L.A.M.P. But this time Twilight hoisted the Rainbow Dash mannequin onto her back and made her way into town. Once she arrived at Dash's spot, Twilight set her down and readjusted the mannequin. "There ya go Dashie," Twilight said to the stuffed pony doll, "Good as new, sorry about bumping into you yesterday I tripped." "..." "Anyways I gotta go!" Twilight noticed the dial on her C.L.A.M.P was at 14, "See ya later!" Twilight trotted off down the gravel road towards Sugar Cube Corner. On her way there she looked into the windows of various shops to see if there were any window panes but she couldn't see any. Eventually Twilight made it to the bakery and walked inside. "Hey Mr. Cake! Just came by to grab a cupcake or two. Are there any chocolate ones left?" "..." "Awesome! I'll take two please," "..." "Yeah just on a tray would be fine. Thanks!" Twilight latched the C.L.A.M.P onto the tray, "See you tomorrow, as usual!" Twilight walked out of the shop and looked towards the stairs which lead to Pinkie's door. I'll visit her later. Twilight trotted down towards Sweet Apple Acres and saw Apple Jack in her usual spot. "Hey A.J. need me to water the Apple Seeds again?" "..." "Alright I'll be right back!" Twilight walked into the barn, set down the cupcakes, picked up the watering can and began sprinkling the water onto the dry soil. After another three hours work, Twilight retrieved her cupcakes and walked back to Apple Jack. "There sure are a lot of apple seeds to water!" "..." "Here," Twilight set down a Cupcake in front of Apple Jack, "Have a cupcake." "..." "It's no problem really! Think I might visit Flutter Shy today, what do you think?" "..." "I guess you're right, anyways see ya!" Twilight smiled and began walking towards Flutter Shy's hut at the edge of town and grinned as the hut came into sight. She munched on the remaining cupcake happily, threw away the tray, rapped on he door and opened it. "Flutter Shy?" "..." "Hey! Just thought I'd drop by and say hello," "..." "Yeah, just finished up at Sweet Apple Acres. Hey, you don't happen to have any window panes do you?" "..." "You do! Do you mind if I use them to make windows at my house?" "..." "Thank you so much!" Twilight walked over to the closet beneath the stairs and opened it. "Aaaah!" Twilight ducked as a black bat swooped over her head and shot out of the open window. Twilight's breath was out of control, she held her hoof to her chest, pushed it outwards and exhaled. She felt like she nearly had a heart attack, after the whole 'history wipe' thing there had been no reason to be scared, and the sudden change wasn't appreciated. Twilight looked down and saw five, dusty sheets of glass. She grabbed them with the C.L.A.M.P and slid them into her saddle bag. "Thank you so much!" Twilight looked at the dial on her wrist and saw the number eight. "I gotta go, see ya!" Twilight trotted out of the cottage and made her way back to Sugar Cube Corner and looked up longingly at Pinkie's door. Twilight still didn't know what was inside, every time she tried to enter the apartment, she broke down crying. She began walking up the stairs slowly, holding back all emotion, eventually she made it onto the landing, she was now right in front of Pinkie's door. Twilight felt tears begin streaking down her face, she reached out a shaking hoof and pressed it against the cutie mark painted onto the wooden surface. Twilight felt another explosion of emotion. Pride, anger, satisfaction, sadness, and regret. "I'm sorry." Twilight Arrived at her cave after a quick chat with Rainbow Dash. Twilight instantly got to work. She began sizing up the glass with the holes in the side of the cave. The holes were about two inches bigger which was perfect. This way Twilight could slip some cloth between the stone and glass to create insulation. It gets cold during he night. Twilight put some cloth on the bottom of he square hole and began to fit the glass in. After filling in the remaining three sides with cloth, she took a step back. It fit perfectly. Twilight pulled out the remaining four sheets of glass and smiled at them. "Hello!?" Twilight dropped the sheets of glass which shattered on the ground. She swore she heard somepony yell hello. She looked out the now complete window but nopony was there. Must have been her imagination. Twilight looked down at the broken shards of glass all over the floor. "Shit!" Twilight said out loud, not caring who heard. She began walking towards the broom propped up against the stone wall of the cave and began sweeping the shards of glass into a hole in the floor at the corner of the room, in order to hold a dustpan Twilight would need to make a second C.L.A.M.P. but she gave up on that idea since he first one took six years to make. "Hello!? Is anypony there!?" The voice sounded again. This time Twilight dropped the broom and ran over to the window again. Thoroughly the fog of the Everfree forest. Twilight swore she could see a small figure, limping through the woods. Twilight pushed a second button on her C.L.A.M.P and a blade slid out of a small compartment on the wrist. She pushed open her door and walked out into the fog. "Hello!?" Said the voice again, it was definitely a mare, judging by her size she was just a filly. "Stay where you are!" Twilight responded loudly, she tried her best to sound threatening. "I'm armed!" When she said his her voice cracked. She really hasn't had any reason to shout in thirteen years. "Twilight?" The filly said, in a shocked voice. "Thank Celestia you're here!" Celestia, now that's a name Twilight hadn't heard in a long time. Twilight held out the blade, the filly noticed and jumped backwards. Twilight stepped closer and slowly he filly's face was revealed. "Sweetie Bell?"