//------------------------------// // Chapter 2 // Story: Twilight's Fear // by Lux //------------------------------// Chapter 2 There were times that Twilight Sparkle was bestowed a certain time of good luck, like finding the right book without having to look for it or knowing what to do at the exact moment without giving it much thought. Although fickle she was thankful of these moments where she could take things easy. Such a moment came during the day when she left the castle to find her friends. She at first thought that she would have to visit everypony individually, but to her delight everypony was right there to meet with her! “Hi girls!” she said, “I didn’t expect to see all of you here.” “Silly Twilight,” Pinkie Pie said as she bounced around her friend, “Did you forget already the plans we had today?” “Oh come on Pinkie,” Rainbow Dash said, “Twilight was probably distracted on some nerdy magic project of hers or whatever Princesses do. Seriously though Twilight, you really forgot the thing that you’ve been asking us to attend for days now? Don’t you have some calendar like in every room?” Twilight would normally frown at Rainbow Dash’s comments but her mind was deep into what event involving her friends she forgot. She remembered Spike explaining in the morning the list of things to do, a ritual that she depended on during her busy days but also was a bonding time between her and the dragon. But each meeting with her friends she assumed was to be separate, not together. But as she looked at the five ponies her eyes went wide as she realized an error in her to do list. “Spike, did that to-do list you read to me have anything else?” “Um… oh!” Spike said as he looked at the other mares around him and at Twilight, “I forgot you were supposed to meet with all the girls at once! Which I guess you know now?” “That’s ok Spike,” she said with a smile before addressing her friends, “Guess I forgot that I was meeting all of you at once, but that’s even better because we have lots to talk about. Err… were we planning to meet in my castle or somewhere else?” “Well…” Fluttershy said softly, “Last time we met in my cottage, so I think it’s another pony’s turn. That is if it’s alright with all of you.” “Ah don’t think it’s mah turn yet,” Applejack said thinking of the order. “Oh silly me,” Rarity said, “All this excitement has muddled my brain. We’re supposed to have it at my shop! I know we want to talk there about the Summer Sun Celebration, and I want to show you my ideas for decorating the town. So, let us not waste any time then. Follow me!” The six mares eagerly made their way down the streets until the lines of similar looking buildings parted, revealing a familiar round multistory building adorned in the finest of colors and designs representing the splendor that ponies would see stepping inside. The five friends of Twilight were laughing and talking about the upcoming Summer Sun Celebration and their own individual lives. This, however, ended abruptly the moment that the Alicorn gazed upon the Carousel Boutique. She had seen this place before countless times, whether in passing or meeting Rarity and her friends there. She could possibly walk there blindfolded if she wanted to! It was always a place of beauty and creativity, but today there was something different. Her mind didn’t see the beautiful structure at all. Instead, all she could think about was the dream the night before and seeing the boutique aflame. She knew that everything was safe and that Rarity was unharmed as she could see it before her very eyes. But the more she looked at the rounded building the more her mind reflected on that image from the dream. Twilight was well versed in many subjects relating to magic from crystals to divination to even some forays into time travel. But dreaming was a topic that was as unfamiliar to her as was flying before she became a Princess. The pony assumed, at least up until this moment, that dreams were made up of pieces of things seen or heard, stitched together like some strange patchwork. Once played out in the solace of sleep they would simply vanish, never to be recalled again unless a pony took the time to document it in say a dream journal. The purple Alicorn couldn’t remember a time when she remembered a dream without recording it, especially one that played itself back in such a surreal manner. She could not only picture it in her mind but hear the crackling of the fire and feeling the heat on her body. Worst of all, Twilight felt for the first time since she defeated Tirek a strong persistent fear. “Um… Twilight, are you ok?” Rainbow Dash said waving a blue hoof in front of the paralyzed Alicorn. “Huh?” Twilight said as the nightmare images suddenly vanished in a puff of smoke, revealing the Ponyville she knew not aflame and her five friends and Spike staring at her with confused looks on their faces, “Oh hi girls and Spike. Were you talking to me?” “Darling, are you alright?” Rarity said calmly, “You looked like you saw something positively dreadful!” “Yeah, you just sort of stopped dead in the middle of the road and stared at Rarity’s place,” Applejack added, “Why Ah’ never saw that look of fear on yer face like that since we faced Tirek!” “It’s ok girls,” Twilight said with a grin trying to cover up her embarrassment, “My mind was on something else. Nothing to worry about. Now, let’s get to planning the Summer Sun Celebration!” The ponies and dragon could only shrug at their friend’s strange behavior before continuing into the boutique. Twilight tried to push the memory of the nightmare far from her mind by focusing on the task at hoof, hoping that it was just a lingering dream and nothing more. With time and things to occupy her mind she hoped that the problem would be taken care of quickly. It wasn’t like that the dream would return the next day, would it?