//------------------------------// // Chapter 6 // Story: Sunny Skies and Pinkie Pies // by ugugg93 //------------------------------// The train clattering along the rails, Twilight tried her very hardest to make heads and tails of the book that she was reading. Despite what Luna had told her, “Classic Political Law and Economic Theory XIV” was not the most straightforward book in the series. Or maybe it was, and it was just the fact that she had to read all thirty-four volumes in the two scant months that she had before she was to come back and finish up her studies... or at least continue them. Sure, she was the self proclaimed “Number one student in all of Equestria,” but this was pushing it to a whole new level. How was Luna hoping that she would be able to not only read all of these, but actually be able to remember the material afterward? It was a terrible plan! Granted, that wasn't supposed to be the plan at all. Celestia told her at the very beginning that they were going to have Luna teach her some of the more intellectual ideas, then Celestia would teach more of the interpersonal duties of the crown. It seemed fair and made complete sense. Anypony would burn themselves out trying or commit suicide over these tomes. Even with Twilight in love with the idea of studying a new subject, by the time Luna was wrapping up, Twilight was begging for Celestia's instruction. Of course, it was the very morning that Twilight was supposed to have finished her lessons with Luna that Celestia dropped the biggest bombshell that had ever been dropped in the history of all of Equestria. Celestia, Princess of Equestria, Goddess of the Sun, Guardian of all ponykind, and her freakin' teacher, had gotten together with Pinkie Pie. Pinkie Pie! Romantically! Sure, Celestia getting together in a relationship with somepony was a joyous surprise, but Pinkie Pie!? Never mind the fact that her second mother was now dating her best friend, but... well... Pinkie Pie? How was that supposed to work? That didn't even make sense! And that exact thought was at the front of Twilight’s mind as she laughed right at Celestia's face. Looking back, that was definitely a mean thing to do, but how else was she supposed to take the news? Even with Luna telling her that it was true, she still did not believe it. It was only when Celestia, Princess Celestia, did the Pinkie Swear—motions and all—did Twilight's laughs evaporate and her jaw slam onto the floor like Rainbow Dash into the side of a building. Thank the blessed architect that designed that room, for if the floor didn't have carpet right there, she would most definitely be eating through a straw right now. More importantly though, thank the sun, moon, stars, and all of existence that Twilight never caught the two kissing. That wasn't a thought that helped her through a second week of Luna's instructions and definitely wasn't helping her through, as Luna put it, “The easiest read of all of Depreciable's works.” Twilight eyed the two thousand pages. Easy read my rump. Looking up from her book, Twilight nearly jumped at the sight of Pinkie sitting across from her. At how quiet her friend had been for the past two hours, she had completely forgotten that Pinkie was in the same cabin as her. The entire train ride so far, Pinkie had been rooted in that seat, reading one ridiculously massive and ancient book, her eyes glued to those pages. Sure, there was only a single tome in front of Pinkie, but that tome was easily two thousand pages long. Maybe longer. And Pinkie Pie was reading it! She was doing it without any breaks to do something else, didn't ask any questions, and wasn't even stopping to go stretch or throw a party or something. Pausing for a moment to make sure the universe outside the train wasn't imploding—it wasn't yet—Twilight yawned. “I think I'm done for the night. Getting way too tired to try and remember all those numbers.” Nodding, Pinkie put the ribbon bookmark into the page and closed her own book. “Me too. Well, except I'm not trying to remember numbers or anything. That part is all you.” “I have to say, Pinkie,” Twilight said as she marked her own place, “I'm impressed with you. I haven't seen you read anything other than a comic book or two since... well... since I came to Ponyville!” Pinkie returned that complement with a grin and a shrug. “What can I say? It's an interesting read.” Nodding, Twilight lifted her books up with her magic and secured them under her bunk. At both Pinkie's and Celestia's insistence, they were taking a late night train instead of the one in the morning that they were supposed to get on. Chalk that one up to wanting to spend a few more hours together. It was a little inconvenient to be sure, but at least the train ride was long enough for a few hours of sleep to pass the time. If the train was on schedule, they should all make it to Ponyville in about five hours. Not long enough for a full night sleep, but enough for a quick cat nap. Her books secured well enough, Twilight laid down on her bunk and pulled the sheets up to her neck. Rolling to her side, Twilight simply watched Pinkie as she did the same. Pinkie had only the single book to put away, but earth ponies were not known for handling fine objects, meaning Pinkie was having a little more trouble putting the book back in her luggage. However, it was only a few more seconds before that task was done and, with a very calm and slow movement, Pinkie pulled herself under the sheets. Seeing her friend settled well enough, Twilight used her magic to flick off the light switch in the cable, blanketing the two in darkness with only the light of the moon outside to lend them vision. Despite trying not to, Twilight couldn't help but to think about the dizzying events that she had been subjected to the past week. Try as she might, every lesson that she spent with Luna always had the thought of the new couple in the back of her mind. Even now, after all of that reading, being exhausted and trying to get to sleep, Twilight's mind was still whirring at a mile a minute from the two of them. Even after what felt like ten minutes, Twilight still couldn't even feel the slightest inklings of sleep entering her mind. It was maddening. Thankfully, from the sounds of rustling coming from the other bunk, Pinkie was in the same state of mind. Rolling over to face her friend, Twilight whispered, “What was it?” She was barely able to make out Pinkie roll over to look back in the darkness. “What was what, Twi-Twi?” “That book you were reading,” Twilight softly said. “You never told me what it was.” “Oh... well...” Pinkie trailed off. It was hard to tell through the darkness, but Twilight could tell that Pinkie was fiddling with her sheets. Curious. Was she trying to decide how to put it? Whether to tell Twilight what it was? Blatantly lie to her? Twilight knew she was clearly overreacting at just a little pause, but a two-week long roller coaster ride that simply wouldn't end doesn't really help with one's perspective. Eventually though, Pinkie continued. “It's a sorta diary of Celestia's.” Twilight scrunched her brows. “A sorta diary?” “Well... it's not really a diary, but it is. It's like... a memory book I guess.” Pinkie nodded. “Like, it has all of the normal super secret diary entries that one would have, but it also has other things, like letters and pictures and such.” “Letters? From who?” “Oh, mostly between her and Lemon.” “Lemon?” Twilight rubbed one of her eyes and yawned. “Who is Lemon?” Twilight heard Pinkie sigh. “It was Celestia's wife from a long time ago.” “Princess Celestia was married?” Twilight propped herself up in her bed. “I never knew that. She definitely never told me.” “It was a long time ago. I think she said, like, five hundred years or something.” Pinkie joined Twilight with sitting up in her bed. “All throughout when Lemon Drop and Celly were together, Celestia wrote in her journal. When Lemon Drop passed away, Celestia put all of her diary entries that she wrote in single book, along with a ton of other stuff like letters the two shared, little newspaper clippings with them in the news, and other things I think. I haven't gotten too far. I mean, I think Celestia wrote an entry a week, typically one page an entry, and from what she told me they were together about fifty years. I'm not a mathy pony, but thats... umm...” “Twenty four hundred pages?” Twilight gasped. “Holy cow.” Pinkie nodded again. “That's just the entries that she wrote herself. There are some extra entries here and there and some of the entries are more than just a page.” Twilight nodded. “So... you have it because...” Pinkie shrugged. “She didn't say for surezies, but Celly wanted me to read it. I haven't even gotten to where the two actually married yet, but I'm learning a whole boatload of things about Lemon.” Twilight shifted her weight. “Like?” Pinkie yawned. “Like... Lemon Drop apparently hated lemons a lot. Like, a super super lot. She was just really good at making them into things. Especially candies.” “Strange.” Twilight brought a hoof to her chin as she puzzled. “But why would Celestia want you to have that? I mean, you're learning a fair amount about her former partner yes, but that's... kinda weird. It's like she's saying, 'This is what you are competing with. Make sure you live up to the expectation.'” Pinkie shook her head. “No no no. That's not it. Well, I mean, sure, that might be it, but I think it's something else. See, think about it. In this book are like, what? Three thousand pages? More? How many things can you think of that you can write three thousand pages worth of?” Twilight chuckled. “Well, I know somepony who wrote thirty-four freakin' volumes about Equestrian economic junk.” “Objection! That's a lot of big things, not just one thing!” Pinkie pointed at Twilight, a smirk barely visible on her face. After a few seconds, the smirk left Pinkie and she looked back down. “Lemon isn't very well known today by anypony, if at all, but Celestia knew her and still knows every single thing about her. She wrote all of this and probably more that she didn't show me. They were together for fifty years, did tons of things together, changed the world completely, and five hundred years later, she... she cherishes those memories still. I think she wants me to realize how big this is going to be.” “Pinkie.” Twilight rolled her eyes. “All relationships are big things.” “No, I don't just mean just a relationship, but this relationship. I mean, they say ''til death do you part,' but for Celly, that doesn't happen on her end.” Pinkie started gesturing with her hooves as she kept talking. “She's going to keep my memory around for, like, ever. I'm basically kinda becoming immortal or something. I mean, how crazy is that! Most ponies die and have their memories live on in their grandfoals, but after that? Most are lost forever and ever. In Celestia's head, I'll be bigger than Starly the Swirly Beard or Princess Platinum! It's...” As Pinkie trailed off, Twilight watched as the mare's movements suddenly stopped with them. Seeing Pinkie slump over, Twilight carefully got out from under the covers and hopped out of bed. She did her best to keep her hoofsteps as quiet as possible, bringing herself over to Pinkie's bed. Thankfully, Pinkie scooted over, allowing Twilight to climb up alongside Pinkie, and put a comforting foreleg around her friend's shoulders. Twilight pulled Pinkie tight against her side. “You going to be alright?” Pinkie paused for a few more seconds before nodding. “I... I think so. It's just a lot to take in. How about you?” “What? Me? I just found out a few days ago that my best friend is dating my second mother!” Twilight shoved Pinkie lightly. “I'm not okay with this at all!” Together, the two ponies laughed, Pinkie throwing in a retaliatory shove in response. “Hey! You're supposed to be my friend, you jerk!” “Oh, I'm still your friend. I just find it weird.” Twilight and Pinkie giggled for a few seconds longer before she turned toward the window and smiled. “I think I will be though... eventually.”