“Hey, girls,” I said tiredly, having spent most of the previous night tossing and turning, before deciding that trying to sleep was futile.
“Darling, will you please tell us what is going on? You drag us out of bed at six in the morning, and tell us all to meet at Sugarcube Corner, with vague promises of an explanation when everypony gets here,” Rarity said, rubbing her eyes.
“Yeah, and I’m tired of waiting for Twilight and Applejack to get here!” Pinkie declared, not sounding in the least tired. I guess her three cups of coffee might have something to do with that.
“Twilight’s not coming,” I said, “and I don’t want to explain this more than once. So please, Pinkie, just calm down a bit, okay?”
“All right, I got it,” Pinkie said, but then Fluttershy spoke up.
“Twilight’s not coming?” she asked. “Is she okay?”
I sighed. “Not really, no.”
Fluttershy shrunk back. “Oh… I see.”
Nopony spoke after that, and the mood quickly became somber. Even Pinkie stopped bouncing around, a feat that I would have thought impossible with that much caffeine in her.
After a minute or two, Rarity suddenly pounded on the table we were all sitting around. “Fine then, at least tell us if she will be all right! Don’t just drop a bombshell like that on us then clam up!”
“Like I said, I don’t want to have to explain this more than once!” I said, the last of my energy gathering itself into anger. “And I don’t know, if she is going to be okay, understand? It’s all very up in the air at this point!”
Rarity opened her mouth to respond, but before she could say anything, the door to the bakery opened and Applejack marched in. “All right, y’all, what’s so dang important that you had to tear me away from getting the farm set for the day?” she asked.
“It’s about Twilight,” I said.
Applejack’s face went through a series of emotions that I would have found funny under any other circumstances. First a little bit of fear, then of guilt, before settling into caution. “What about Twilight?” she asked. “Did she—“
I didn’t give her a chance to finish her sentence. “You know that thing we all talked about a few weeks ago? You know, how Twilight has A.C.M.S.?”
Everypony at the table nodded, but then Fluttershy spoke up. “Are you sure it’s all right to be talking about it in the open like this?”
I looked around at the deserted and still closed bakery. “I don’t think anypony will overhear. Besides, I don’t plan to stick around for very long. My train to Canterlot leaves in about forty-five minutes.”
“Wait!” Pinkie said, and everypony turned to look at her. “Twilight’s not okay, and you’re leaving her to go to Canterlot? Why?”
“Technically? For community service,” I said, and everypony at the table gasped, with Pinkie and Rarity vying for most dramatic. “Off the
record, though? So I can be with Twilight while she recovers.”
“Perhaps you should start at the beginning, darling,” Rarity said, looked even more concerned than she had before.
I nodded. “Right, you girls all know how Twilight wasn’t feeling well for a bit? Well, it turns out she didn’t just catch some random bug…”
“… and that’s why I’m heading to Canterlot.”
As I finished speaking, I glanced around at the table. Pinkies mane had gone flat, and she and Fluttershy were looking like they might burst into tears. Rarity, on the other hoof, looked like she wanted to hit something.
Applejack just looked grim.
“When… when do you think the two of you will be back? When will Twilight be better?” Pinkie asked, her voice trembling.
“I don’t know,” I said, shrugging. “Hopefully it will take less than a month. If it does take more, then I might have to dip into my savings to stay in Canterlot with her, but there is no way I’m coming back to Ponyville until she can too.”
“Well, the Princess did essentially give you a free month in Canterlot. She probably doesn’t think that it will take longer than that,” Rarity said, taking deep breaths to calm herself down.
“I’m just glad nopony was hurt,” Applejack said.
I was too tired to give her a proper glare, but I gave it my best shot anyways. “You mean besides Twilight’s broken leg?”
“N—no! I meant… Never mind. My mouth moved before my brain did. Sorry, y’all,” Applejack said.
I knew precisely what she meant. I suppose that I should be graceful that she didn’t finish saying ‘hurt by Twilight.’ I would have hated to have to punch her, and I don’t think the princess would be as understanding of an assault charge this time around.
Applejack at least had the good sense to look ashamed.
“When we get back, Applejack, you, Twilight and I are going to have a long talk. Understand?” I asked, and Applejack nodded.
“Anyways,” I continued before anypony else could get in a word,” I’ve got to head off. My train leaves in about ten minutes, so I have to get going. I’ll write weekly. And Rarity? Can Spike stay with you until I get settled in Canterlot? After that, he can come stay with me at my hotel.”
“That sounds fine, Rainbow. I must say, though, I hope this horrible business settles down, so that Twilight can focus on recovering,” Rarity said.
“Oh, it should. I think we’ve had enough trouble for the next few years or so. And Blood Work is behind bars, so I don’t see her causing any more trouble,” I said.
After thinking for a moment, I rapped my hoof against the wooden table.
“Knock on wood,” I said.