Twilight Sparkle looked up from her book as the airport sound system blatted forth the next arrivals. A familiar set of letters and digits flowed into her ears, eliciting a smile from her face.
Sunset Shimmer sat beside her, smoothing down the skirt of her red dress. “That’s them! They’ll be here any second.”
Twilight Sparkle tugged at her own, much more casual outfit of jeans and a button-up shirt. “About time, too. I’ve read almost the whole novel.”
Sunset leaned down and ruffled her son’s hair. “You hear that, Sunny? Daddy’s almost home!”
He lifted his red toy truck and crashed it against an airplane Twilight had bought at the gift shop. “Boom! Ckrsh!”
“Hmm.” Twilight cupped her chin. “Maybe I shouldn’t have let him watch the last ten minutes of that movie.”
“No, I’m sure he’d find out about explosions eventually.” Sunset Shimmer watched the boarding ramp, tapping her fingers against her knees. “Most likely from his father…”
She danced in her seat, her body wiggling like a kid waiting for the first day of summer vacation to begin. “Is my hair nice? Are my teeth clean? Is my slip showing? Please tell me my slip isn’t showing—”
“You’re fine, Sunset,” Twilight said. She gave her friend’s hand a squeeze. “Better than fine, you’re beautiful. Seriously, you think any of the other guys have all of this to come home to? You’re gonna inspire quite a bit of jealousy.”
The first few passengers began to disembark, filing out from the boarding area. Sunset Shimmer hopped to her feet. “Oh my God, I’m not ready. I need to make sure my makeup’s right, I need to check my lipstick… does he like the strawberry I chose, or would he prefer—”
“Sunset Shimmer,” Twilight said, clapping her hands to her shoulders. “Need I remind you that you’re already married to him?”
“Shush.” Sunset stood on her tiptoes, wobbling on unsteady feet. “Is that him? I can’t tell; the crowds are too thick!”
Twilight threw her hands up and spun away. Still, it didn’t stop her from watching the ramp very closely. She tapped her foot as anxiousness boiled up in her chest. Not to the level of Sunset’s, but close. A man stepped out of the crowd and called out to them. “Hi, Sunset! ’Sup, Twilight?”
Twilight tapped her glasses and gave him a small smile. “Hey, Flash. Nice to see you’re still with us.”
Sunset Shimmer gave him a half-hearted wave. She kept her eyes locked on the trailing throng of people. “Hi, Flash. Good to see you.”
Flash Sentry lugged a duffle bag over one shoulder. He raised a wry eyebrow before coming closer to them. “Good to be ‘seen.’” He shuffled his feet, not quite looking Twilight in the eye. “I’m sorry about what happened to Spike. I—I’m gonna miss the little guy.”
Twilight cleared her throat, rubbing her thumb across the pages of her book. They flipped by in a blur. “Yeah. Thanks. It’s been… a hard few weeks.”
She snapped the book closed. “So, I hear you guys finally found Tirek?”
“Oh yeah. Found the goon hiding out in a little village that was all too happy to sell the creep out.” Flash grinned, holding out his arms and squinting one eye like he was sighting a rifle. “When the guy saw us soldiers marching into the city, guns at the ready, he did the smart thing and surrendered. Dunno how long it actually extended his life, though. Can’t imagine the countries he’s terrorized are gonna be very kind in the trials.”
“He’s their problem now.” Twilight stood on her tip-toes. “Ut! Is that—?”
Sunset Shimmer dashed forward.
“Yep,” Flash answered. He tipped his hat. “I think I’ll make myself scarce and let you guys catch up. See you later, Twilight.”
Twilight bent down to pick Sunny up, who only protested until she gathered his toys, too. “See you around, Flash. Take care.”
Sunset Shimmer leapt into her husband’s arms. He dropped his luggage where he stood, lifting her into the air and spinning her around. Their laughter rose above the cacophony of the airport lobby. Their lips met in a tender, electrifying kiss, followed by several smaller, quicker smooches.
Twilight Sparkle didn’t even try to fight off her wide smile. “Welcome home, Shiny.”
Shining Armor pulled away from Sunset for just long enough to flash his little sister a smile. “Thanks, Twilie. Good to b—”
Sunset was having none of that, it seemed. She grasped the back of his head, linking her fingers through his short, blue hair. When the kiss ended, she let out a held breath. “Do you have any idea how much I’ve missed you?”
“A slight idea, maybe.” He took her hand and pressed his lips against it. “I missed you, too.”
He looked down at Sunny, who stared at him with wide, inquisitive eyes. He got down on one knee, barely daring to breath. “Sunny? That’s Sunny? You’ve gotten so big!”
Twilight set Sunny down. The two-year-old boy grabbed her leg, staying close by her side.
Shining held his hands out. “Can I have a hug, buddy? Give Daddy a hug?”
Sunset knelt next to Shining and laid her hand on his shoulder. “Come on, Sunny, it’s alright. This is Daddy. He’s okay.”
Sunny sucked on his index finger and hid himself behind Twilight. She sighed and touched the boy’s forehead. “Don’t be shy, Sunny. He’s a good guy. One of the best.”
Shining Armor leaned against his knee. He hoisted himself upright, sadness in his eyes. “Aw, it’s cool, guys. He just isn’t used to me, yet. He’ll get there.”
He beckoned Twilight forward with a flick of his fingers. She hugged him tight, doing her utmost to hold back joyous tears. She clasped her hands together behind his back. “I’m so glad you’re here, BBBFF.”
“Likewise, LSBFF.” She felt his chin rest atop her head. “Thank you for protecting our family,” he whispered.
“Yeah, well, it’s your turn, now,” she sniffed.
Sunset set Sunny into his stroller and buckled him in. He still stared at his father with uneasy interest. “We should get your luggage into the car. It’s a pretty long drive, you know.”
Shining Armor let go of his sister and nodded to his wife. “Sure thing, Sunshine. Lead the way.”
Twilight Sparkle stood in his way. She prodded his chest with an extended pointer finger. “One last thing, bucko. When exactly were you going to tell me you were married to a pony from another dimension?”
“A pony?” Shining Armor furrowed his brow. He turned to Sunset with his mouth agape. “Alternate dimension!”
Sunset slapped her forehead and dragged her hand downward. “Aw, darn it all, Twilight!”
Twilight Sparkle jumped back, able to do nothing but blather. “Uh, huh? I just—I didn’t mean to—”
Shining Armor clutched his fists against his chest, lifting his face to the sky. “You told me you were raised by wolves in the desert, Sunset! You told me your father was an ocelot! My entire life is a lie!”
“I had to hide my tragic past, Shining!” Sunset gasped, faking a swoon by laying the back of her hand over her eyes. “I couldn’t let you know the horror I felt being under the control of the dreaded Whopterdingle!”
Twilight Sparkle growled. She clutched her book against her chest and rolled her eyes. “Ha, ha, forgot how to laugh. The sad part is that I’m almost convinced the Whopterdingle is an actual thing.”
Shining Armor shook with silent laughter and winked at Sunset. He placed a warm hand on Twilight’s shoulder. “To answer your question: Exactly when Sunset was ready and not a moment sooner. I’m glad she told you when she did.” He grasped the handle of his rolling luggage and slid his backpack over one shoulder. “We ready?”
Sunset rested against the stroller’s handles. “Ready as we’ll ever be.”
Twilight shook her head. “Alright, you two goofballs. Let’s hit the road.”
It was early in the evening by the time Sunset and Shining’s minivan rolled up to the farmhouse. Sunny disembarked with a joyous shout of “Puppies!” Wilber and Walter yipped as they raced around the yard, trailed closely by the young boy.
Twilight smiled. Big Mac had decided to step up from his usual “jeans and sleeveless t-shirt” fashion sense, instead wearing a collared shirt and khaki pants. It was almost his Sunday best. He hustled up to meet them at the car. He and Shining clasped each other’s forearm and brought each other together in a rough hug.
“Canterlot U—”
“—maroon and blue—”
“—strong, noble, steadfast, and true!”
Applejack and Apple Bloom met them at the door, ushering them in with smiles and slaps on the back. No sooner had they entered the house than they were invited to sit in the recreation room, where a variety of hors d’oeuvres were laid out on folding tables. Apple Bloom sat on the floor, feeding Sunny’s infinite curiosity with a variety of toys and baubles. Applejack chatted with Twilight and Sunset, though Twilight kept most of her thoughts to herself. Big Mac and Shining Armor sat in front of the television, flipping through the channels and discussing upcoming summer sports.
Granny Smith poked her wizened, chubby face out of the dining room. “If you kids are done yappin’, get your hides in here an’ eat afore ah tan ’em!”
The Apple matriarch had outdone herself in her efforts to welcome the soldier home. Mashed potatoes butted up against steaming green beans. Baked beans covered in cheese and crushed corn chips sizzled next to the fresh rolls. Fried chicken ready to put any franchise to shame dominated the center of the table, drawing the eye away from the dozens of pies awaiting dessert.
Shining Armor said a prayer, and they dug in. Not a single person left the table hungry. In fact, due to Granny’s cajoling, nobody left without being absolutely stuffed and satisfied. A couple hours of feasting and conversation later, they helped to clear the table and wash the dishes.
The family gathered around Sunset Shimmer as she sat on the couch. She moved animatedly as she told a tale from childhood. “There I was, a second-year student of Princess Celestia’s School for Gifted Unicorns. Personal student of the princess herself. I had completed all my written work for the week and was heading to the lab for a little extra-curricular work.”
She waved her hands outward. “Suddenly, there was an explosion of color that filled the sky! Red flowed into orange, yellow mingled with green, and blue faded into purple. Everyone stopped and stared. Nothing like it had been seen for hundreds of years… a sonic rainboom!”
Twilight Sparkle leaned against the doorframe, watching her friend talk of magic and worlds far away. There wasn’t much of a secret anymore. It was probably for the best; the way Sunset smiled tugged at the corners of Twilight’s mouth, too.
“But it didn’t end there! Of course not!” Sunset cupped her hands and lifted them upward. “A loud crash came from the school, right where I was headed. Through the roof, smashing out of the eaves and shingles, was the head of a mighty, enormous dragon! I froze, not knowing what to do, if anything. I had never read anything like this, let alone experienced it. Before I could make a move, Princess Celestia flew through the air, casting a failsafe spell as she went. After a moment’s time, the dragon disappeared, leaving behind no evidence except for the big hole in the roof.”
Applejack came out of the dining room and stood beside Twilight. “Ah’ll bet that was your double’s magic debut, huh? Twi talked about the rainboom a couple times. Reminds me of our band name.”
“You’re probably right,” Twilight said. She clutched her arm and rested her head against the wood. She watched Sunny sleep soundly in Granny Smith’s lap. “It was something to link them from the very beginning. I’ve read the Friendship Letter.”
Applejack pulled her blonde braid over her shoulder. “You don’t mind me sayin’, you’re lookin’ mighty tired, Twilight.”
Twilight shrugged. “Mm.”
There was a sigh as Applejack stuffed her hands in her pockets. “Ah don’t say this to just anybody. Ah really mean it when ah say that if you got somethin’ layin’ on your heart, ah’m here to listen. You just say when.”
Twilight Sparkle flinched. She bit her lower lip. She blinked stinging eyes. “If Spike was still here, he’d be lying at Sunset’s feet.”
She gestured to Sunset Shimmer as the former pony spun her tale. “He’d have his ears perked so that he could catch every word. He’d probably understand a bunch of them, too. He would have sat patiently through the entire meal, and then been all jumpy and begging when we were trying to clean up.”
She let her hand flop against her side. “Except that he wouldn’t be. If he was still here, he’d be waiting in Equestria, his nose right up against the portal, waiting for me to cross over.”
She turned to Applejack’s kind, green eyes. She sighed. “I keep thinking of other things to say, different things to do. Stuff I could have used to make him stay, or make him happy. Or… If I had kept Sunset from going to the pier, then—”
Twilight blew a breath through her lips. “Then Sonata would have killed Sunny. So I’m back to square one, wondering how I could have made things better.”
Applejack wrinkled her nose atop her frown. “Sounds to me like he made his own choice. Since it ended up savin’ your lives, ah don’t know if ah can fault him for that.”
Twilight nodded. “Intellectually, I understand that.” She squeezed her eyes tight. “Emotionally, though…”
“Hey.” Applejack touched Twilight’s arm. “You know it’s okay to be sad, right? You know it’s normal to wish for somethin’ different, right? It’s somethin’ all of us face. The hurt don’t go away, but it gets dimmer as time goes by. Then you can focus on the good memories.”
Twilight’s lip trembled. “There are a lot of really, really good memories.”
“Ah know,” Applejack said, pulling her into a hug. “There always will be.”
They went unnoticed by Sunset’s spellbound listeners. The only set of eyes that carried over their embrace was old, wise, and satisfied. Twilight briefly caught Granny Smith looking at her, before the old woman turned back to the story with a creaky smile on her face.
Twilight let her arms drop. She removed her glasses to get at her puffy eyes. “God, I’m a wreck.”
“Give it time.” Applejack shrugged. “Ah hear time heals all things.”
“Yeah,” Twilight said. “That’s why you keep having to repair the barn every spring.”
Applejack snorted. “That’s more the Twilight Sparkle ah know. Alright then, allow me to rephrase: Time heals all things when accompanied by the right vision, good equipment, and hands willin’ to do the work. Better?”
“That’s a saying worthy of a farm girl.” Twilight pinched a button on her shirt between two fingers. She shook her head. “I appreciate the sentiment… and I like the simile. Thank you, Applejack.”
“Anytime.” Applejack clutched her hands behind her back. “Like ah said before, ah mean it.”
She took a seat beside Sunset and joined in the storytelling with a tale from Canterlot High. Twilight Sparkle closed her eyes and let time pass by uninterrupted.
Hugs and handshakes abounded as Sunset, Shining, and Sunny got ready to head out. The minivan pulled away, leaving Twilight Sparkle to spend a little extra time at the Apple residence.
She sat before the television, tucked under Big McIntosh’s muscular arm. She nuzzled against his chest, ignoring the way her glasses twisted against the bridge of her nose. Granny Smith snored on the rocking chair with Wilber atop her lap. Apple Bloom laughed at whatever show she’d picked out and spoiled Walter with tummy rubs. Applejack had mumbled something about making sure the barn was secure before excusing herself.
The other Big Mac’s face popped into her head as her Mac’s hand caressed her back. She saw his wide, toothy smile, directed at a certain teacher. A smile completely alien to her Big Mac’s face. He sighed, and she cringed.
He must have felt her tense up, because he moved his hand to her shoulder. “You alright, Twi?”
She let out a noncommittal “Mm” and focused on the television.
His fingers trailed down her arm and came to a rest at her elbow. “You wanna go home?”
“Not especially.” She sat upright, peeling herself away from him. She arched her back and yawned. “But it’s probably for the best.”
Big Mac got to his feet with a grunt. “’Kay. Ah’ll get the truck ready.”
Apple Bloom leaned back on her palms and gave them a mischievous grin. “You two gonna find someplace tah park?”
Big Mac gave her a dim look.
Twilight Sparkle cringed even more mightily than before. “I’m going to pretend your baby sister didn’t just ask us if we were ‘parking.’”
Apple Bloom turned back to the television. “If ah can’t be a present chaperone, ah can at least make the thought of it less appealin’.”
“That’s Bloom, always lookin’ out for me.” Big Mac shrugged on a light windbreaker. “Take care, sis.”
“Take care, bro. Twi.” Apple Bloom brushed her red hair off of her freckle-speckled cheeks. “Be safe. Love yah.”
McIntosh held the door open for Twilight and gave her a hand climbing into the tall seat. The engine revved, and they headed for her home.
The ride was quieter than usual, and that was saying a lot considering she was spending it with Big Mac. He remained cool and collected, as always, as he followed the familiar twists and turns to her house at the edge of the city.
The building was dark, not a speck of light showing through the windows. She hadn’t been home all day. Nobody had. Even the devices in her basement had gone cold with disuse.
Big Mac looked at her. She knew it. She just didn’t look back at him. She fiddled with the edge of her jacket. “Do you wanna come in?”
Her hands closed into fists. She had surprised herself with her own words, but now that they were spoken, she supposed she should own them. Her glasses hadn’t moved out of place, but she adjusted them regardless. “Do you wanna come in?” she repeated.
Big Mac’s cheek twitched. His lips parted, and his eyes trailed downward before snapping back up. He sucked a deep breath in, let it out slowly, and leaned his forearms against the steering wheel. “Do you think that’s really a good idea?”
Twilight hugged herself tight. “I dunno. It’s just an idea. Why?”
Big Mac flexed and relaxed his hand. “It’s just… with how you’ve been feelin’ lately… are you sure you wanna do it for the right reasons? Ah mean, after Spike—”
“It’s not because of Spike!” Twilight snapped.
She blushed bright red. She scraped her jeans with her fingernails until one got stuck in the small hole at the knee. “It’s not. I just—the house feels so empty and everything’s so quiet and—I just want to feel loved and…”
She covered her eyes with the palms of her hands. “I’m so screwed up, Mac. I don’t know what to do.”
“Hey…” Big Mac lifted himself onto the center consol and wrapped her in his arms. He rocked her from side to side. “Shh. Shh.”
Twilight gripped his shirt, which had grown damp with her tears. “God, you must think I’m such a baby.”
“No,” he whispered. “No, you’re hurtin’.”
He touched his finger to her chin and lifted her face. He looked into her eyes. “Remember, ah’m just a phone call an’ a drive away. All yah need to do is ask. You might feel alone, Twi, but you ain’t. You ain’t never been alone for long. Ah’ll be there for you.”
She held his hand. “I know. I just don’t always remember.”
“Rest tonight, Twilight.” He looked out the windshield and released a tense breath. “Ah think ah’ll take tomorrow off. Spend the day with yah. Take you someplace nice. How’s that sound?”
Twilight drooped. “Farmers don’t get days off.”
“Ah make a point to.”
Twilight rested her head against his chest. “Where are you taking me?”
“Ah was thinkin’ the beach sounded fun. Get a tan. Eat some ice cream. Make the other swimmers jealous.”
“I’ll wear my new swimsuit.”
Big Mac chuckled. “Can’t find it in my heart to argue against that.”
She managed a giggle. She looked down; it registered just where he was situated. “Are you sitting on the cup holders?”
“A’yup.”
“That can’t be comfortable.”
“Mm. Nope.”
She let him go, allowing him to return to his seat. She shook her head, opening her door without looking. “So I can count on you to pick me up tomorrow? Say, nine?”
McIntosh gazed at her with heavy eyelids, his eyebrows coming together in the middle of his face. The ends of his mouth tipped upwards, ever so slowly, to form a small, sad, sure smile.
“Yes, Twilight,” he said. “Sounds about right to me.”
In that moment, something occurred to Twilight. Maybe it was wishful thinking. Maybe it was her mind grasping at anything she could get a hold of. Maybe she was seeing what she wanted to see.
But Twilight was pretty sure Cheerilee had never seen Big Mac smile quite like that.
She gave him a kiss on the cheek and hurried into her home.
***
Shining Armor brought Sunny’s comforter up to his neck. He ran his hand through his son’s hair and laid a kiss on his forehead. “Good night, Sunny.”
The sleeping boy murmured in his sleep.
Shining got to his feet and took a step back, surveying the room. Sunset reached up to touch his shoulder. She smiled as he noted the dinosaurs painted onto the wall, the planets hanging from a mobile, and the toy box in the corner stuffed with cars and trucks.
“I like what you’ve done with the place,” he whispered.
“Thanks.” Sunset reached over to take his hand. She held it tight. “I’m looking forward to seeing what you can add to it.”
“Yeah…” Shining cleared his throat. He walked out of the room with his wife close by his side. “I missed this a lot.”
“Me, too.” Sunset let him go as they came into the sitting room. She ran a finger over the cabinets, grimacing as it came up gray. “Oh gosh, this house. I’m so glad your parents aren’t driving up until Friday.”
She twitched her head around. Shining Armor dusted off the seat of his recliner. He stared at it for a long moment before lowering himself into it. He hunched over and intertwined his fingers.
She reached out and slid her fingers between his. “Hey.”
She tilted her head to the side. “What do you want to do? The choice is yours. We could… watch TV… or read a book… or take a bath…”
He opened his mouth, trying to speak, but fell short. Sunset lifted his arms and put them around her body so that she could sit in his lap. “What’s wrong?” she asked.
He looked away. “What sort of father am I?”
Sunset choked, closing her eyes and resting her head against his. “Oh, Shining. Don’t do that to your—”
“I mean it.” Shining Armor sighed. “He doesn’t even know me. I couldn’t be there for him when he was in danger. What sort of father have I become?”
Sunset pressed her hands against his chest. “We talked about this when I first got pregnant. You have a very important job. You’re the best of the best and they need capable—”
“Sunset.” Shining Armor’s voice cracked. “Our son almost died and I was overseas. You almost died—my sister almost died and I wasn’t anywhere near.”
Sunset didn’t know what to say to that. She lay against him and listened to his heartbeat.
“I’ve been thinking about… not reenlisting.” Shining shifted into a more comfortable position beneath her. “Finding work around here of some sort. I wanted to talk it over with you before… making any decisions.”
A tear leaked out of the corner of her eye. “It’s your dream. It’s what you know.”
“I know.” He kissed her forehead. “But you guys are always so far away.”
“I-I would love to have you around all the time.” Sunset tripped over her words. “I could—I’d be behind you no matter the choice, but… But it’s part of who you are, Shining. It’s what you’ve been working towards your whole life, and… I don’t want to stand in the way—”
“You’ve never stood in the way.” His hand caressed her cheek. “I’m just noticing that there are other paths that look just as nice.”
Sunset shrugged. “I don’t know, Shining.”
“I don’t either.” Shining Armor gave her a squeeze. “I guess we’ve got a while to think it over. I just… I feel like I’ve missed out.”
Sunset sat up. She bit her lip and smiled. “Then it’s time for you to start jumping in.”
Shining smiled back. “Yeah.” He studied her face for a long, long moment. “You know something?”
She blushed. “Are you gonna tell me?”
“Yeah.” He brought his hands to her waist. “My dad has this quirk. Every couple of months, he asks my mom to marry him. Just out of the blue, ‘Will you marry me?’ He still does it even after thirty-odd years of marriage. She always says yes, of course.”
Sunset laughed and shook her head. “That’s a little cheesy.”
“Yeah, I thought so, too. Too cheesy for my tastes, and trust me when I say I like cheese.” Shining raised an eyebrow. “Heck, Cheese is one of my best friends.”
Sunset rolled her eyes.
“So yeah, not gonna go with that one.” Shining Armor smirked. “When I was over there, I was really looking forward to coming home. I would see how much my son’s grown. I would see my friends again. I’d pull Big Mac into a game or two of football. I’d get to eat real, home-cooked food.” He tilted his head forward and looked at her from beneath his eyebrows. “But the one I was looking forward to the most? The thought on my mind since the day I left? I couldn’t wait to fall in love with you again.”
Sunset brought her arms around his neck and leaned into a deep kiss. She smiled wide at her husband. “So that’s a bath, then?”
“We could do all three,” Shining chuckled. “Watch TV while we read in the bath.”
She guffawed. “That’s sort of missing the point.”
“I didn’t say I was gonna pay the television any attention.”
Shining Armor stood to his feet with Sunset in his arms. He walked out of the sitting room, pausing briefly beside Sunny’s room. The boy was sound asleep, safe in bed with his parents nearby.
***
The Ponyville castle’s laboratory was dark, save for the bright lights over Princess Twilight Sparkle’s worktable. Her magic glittered amongst her tools, selecting just the right chisel or grindstone for the job. She polished the surface of a violet gemstone, chipped into a perfect hexagon.
Threads ran throughout the inside of the stone. Like fairy strings in a pony’s body, these channels carried magic along their prescribed paths. When used correctly, the enchantment would be put to work.
Princess Twilight glanced at the gem shards floating in a holding field at the end of the table. They hovered inches apart, with glowing lines indicating how they were meant to fit together. She tested a measurement between the shards and the whole gem with a drawing compass, finding it satisfactory.
She stared at the violet, crystalline amulet. If she allowed herself to be paranoid, she would almost say it stared back.
That just left the verbal test. Princess Twilight licked her dry lips with a dryer tongue.
“Memories can jump at you whenever they may wish
From the loudest symphony down to a tender kiss
But even in the light it can feel as though you are lost
Because every memory has its own unique cost”
“Twilight?”
Princess Twilight let out a gasp. She pulled her scarf from a nearby chair and wrapped it around her scarred neck. She set the gemstone on the worktable and plastered a smile onto her face. Hello, Spike. I thought you’d gone home to the library.
“I was headed out the door…” Little Spike rested his hand on the metal tabletop. “Then I realized I was leaving you alone with new magic. I decided to come back and make sure you didn’t blow anything up.”
She rolled her eyes, waving him off. Go home, Spike. I’m fine. This isn’t the sort of magic that causes explosions.
“Yeah, not that we know of.” Little Spike slid a wood chair to her side and took a seat. “However, I’m willing to bet you’re capable of making anything volatile.”
With a soundless laugh, Princess Twilight rested her chin on the table.
“What do you have?” he asked. “Anything good? I heard you sing, so…”
It’s a perfect replica. She lifted it for him to get a look. “Which makes me think that it’ll have the same effect.”
“I didn’t feel anything weird.” He prodded the scales on his chest. “No mental fog, no immense desire to fulfill your every whim. Are you sure it’s working right?”
It might not work on dragons… unless there’s another angle to it. Princess Twilight rubbed her cheek. Regardless, it’s time to break the process down to its base components. If I can isolate the magical vocalizations, I can make a gemstone designed solely for that.
“Cool.” Little Spike tapped his clawtips. “So, have you spoken with… our world’s Sunset Shimmer?”
Yeah. She rubbed her chin and spun the collection of scattered fragments. I don’t think she wants to be my friend. She wants to be left alone with her family. I get the feeling she doesn’t trust easily.
“She’s probably been hurt.” Little Spike shrugged. “I can kinda understand. How about Adagio?”
Good grief, Adagio, where do I start? She tapped the metal circle that made up the base of the holding field. The shards collapsed into a bundle and landed in the center. She says she and the other Sunset were studying the portal to find out how it works. Fine. They want to understand how they got here. Then she said she’d like my help working it out, because they’ve hit a dead end. The university doesn’t have the equipment needed. When I told her what I wanted to do with her gemstone fragments, she downright donated everything she had. Said that at least it was getting put to good use. She’s completely and utterly willing to help.
“Wow.” His brow furrowed. “Are we talking about the same Adagio?”
I know, right? She threw her wings out and rubbed her mane. Talk about a reversal. I guess losing Aria and Sonata threw her for a loop.
“It’s almost too easy.” He gripped the tip of his tail. “If you don’t account for everything that’s happened, that is.”
Even then… She lowered the violet gemstone into a metallic, magically-locked case. What about Aria’s child? Have you and Skyhook found anything to substantiate Sonata’s claims?
“If Aria really left a kid here, we don’t know how to find them.” Little Spike stood up and clasped his hands behind his back. “We questioned Caution Tape, but he had no idea the siren was even pregnant. She just left one day.” He scowled. “I’m not sure how much stock to put in his words at the moment.”
As much stock as you can put into anybody else’s. She stretched each of her legs in turn, getting the kinks out and restoring blood flow. Let’s see… According to our timeline, she found the portal, had her affair, and returned eight years before the incident at Canterlot High School. So unless we can line up every pony roughly eighteen years of age and match their blood against Caution’s, there’s little chance of finding their child.
“That would be a little bit more complex to pull off than a census.” He pinched his fingertips. “Just a li’l.”
He yawned wide, scratching loose dead scales. “Whatever. They’re probably hiding right under our noses, right where we least expect them. That’s how these things usually go, right?”
Ha. Princess Twilight sparked her horn. The locked case drifted along beside her. You should get to bed. I wanna put this thing through the wringer tomorrow.
“One thing…”
She glanced at him, her eyebrows low.
“Could I hear you sing one song?” He held up his hand. “Just one?”
Princess Twilight let her hoof fall to the floor. A strand of her mane found its way into her mouth and begged to be chewed.
“Just maybe…” Little Spike looked at his fists. He forced himself to relax them. “A happier one?”
Princess Twilight looked from the dragon to the container. She spat her mane out and stomped a foot. A spell clicked the box open, revealing its dangerous treasure. She swished her tail, drilling her mind for something upbeat that wouldn’t sound sour in her ears.
“Crystal lights,” Little Spike whispered, his voice close enough to being on key that he was satisfied. “M-magic bells… Dancing out of the ether…”
“S-songs to sing, peal, and ring; times that bring us together…” Princess Twilight blinked against the pressure building behind her nose, settling for keeping her eyes closed.
“Cookies baking o’re the fire
Fun and games that the snow inspires
Presents rest beneath the tree
On this Hearth’s Warming Eve…”
Princess Twilight flinched at a touch on her forelegs. She looked up to see Little Spike shivering as he tried desperately, delicately, to give her a hug. She touched her hoof to his scales, finishing their duet with a smile.
“Rest for now, then awake
Join us in celebration
Friendships bright, loud and clear
Carrying ’cross the nation
“Come and play, sing with me
On this Hearth’s Warming Eve”
She hugged him with both her forelegs and her wings. “Thank you, my Number One Assistant.”
“Any time, Twilight,” he sniffled. “Any time.”
***
Twilight Sparkle lay on her back, staring at her ceiling. She brought her arms up to put her hands behind her head. Once she was in the proper position, she curled herself upward.
She continued performing sit-ups until her muscles ached. Then she did a couple more. Sweat poured down her forehead and her blood pumped loud in her ears.
Yep, she thought. Exercise still sucked.
She had put together an hour-long routine with the timely advice of both her brother and Big Mac. Determination drove her to follow it. Sheer, desperate determination. She had a level to reach, and nothing short of cataclysmic injury was going to pull her from it.
Considering how careful she was, that injury wasn’t coming anytime soon.
She finished the final exercise of the day and hauled herself onto her rump. She crossed her legs and rested her hands on her knees. A stray, damp hair fell over her eyes, scattering sweat over the lenses of her glasses. She flicked it away.
She pressed a hand against her bare stomach and flexed. She smiled. Muscle definition; something she’d never felt anywhere on her body. Slowly but surely, week upon week, she was making progress.
Now to check progress on the other thing.
She dropped a pad of lined paper onto the exercise mat. She had placed a box of sharpened pencils across the room, far out of reach. Narrowing her eyes, she stretched out an arm. Her fingers clenched and unclenched as she tried to picture magic wrapping around the writing utensils.
There was a clatter. One of the pencils fell out.
She gritted her teeth and focused as hard as she could. Sparks flew from her fingertips, landing across the page but doing nothing. She thought back to Equestria. She thought back to push and lift.
The pencil danced on its sharp end. It rolled to a stop at the edge of her mat.
She pumped her fist. Victory! Kinda! Step one complete.
She took a deep breath and lifted her hand. The pencil followed it up. She turned the sharp end towards the paper and carefully, slowly, drew the beginnings of a word.
The pencil snapped clean in half.
Twilight groaned. That was the third one that week, and it was only Tuesday. Turning back to the box, she gave it a growl.
The next pencil to fly out of the box shattered. She blinked as sawdust covered her carpet. Maybe she shouldn’t move things when she was mad…
She threaded a thumb through her exercising outfit’s shoulder strap. The finger came away soaked, no surprise there. She could thank the cardio for that. She took a swig from her water bottle and refocused on the pencils. Carefully selecting her next victim, she pulled it from among its brethren.
It flew into the air, guided by a careful hand. It fell to the floor, dropped by metaphorical butterfingers. Twilight blushed and her glasses fogged up.
She knew how it all worked together. She knew how it was supposed to feel. She knew what the result was supposed to be. So what was the problem?
She wiggled her fingers. What else had Sunset said? Magic was one part crochet, one part mathematics, and one part… emotion. Emotions formed the core of the magic, guiding it according to its user’s intention.
Twilight’s intention was not in question. She gave the page a determined grin.
She thought back to the last time she’d visited Sunset. She remembered the laughs, the congenial teasing, and the timely gibberish from Sunny. She remembered watching Big Mac tackle Shining to the ground, ending their impromptu football game with a victory. She thought about the compliments she was going to get from Mac about her new abs, faint though they were at the moment.
She thought about Spike’s happy bark when she snuggled him in front of the fireplace, the night of Hearth’s Warming Eve fifteen years ago. She snuck him a snack under her parents’ noses; her special present for her Super-Special Dog Best Friend Forever.
The pencil floated from the container and drifted lightly to the page. A soft scribble filled the air as she wrote out a simple message.
She lifted the paper with her hands. It was crude, scraggly, and smudged, but it was legible. That’s what counted. That was progress.
A tear stained the page and made the letters run.
She wiped her eyes and headed for the shower, eager to get out of her sticky clothes. Pinkie and Cheese were hosting a cookout and she didn’t want to be late. Magic required a strong mind, a strong body, and strong friendships. She aimed to have the best of all three.
She dropped the message into a file folder which was fast approaching “overflowing.” Each piece of paper had the same message, each attempt better than the last. She marked her progress in the log, and then stepped out of the room. The file hung open, displaying the message loud and clear, written with a strengthening magical grip.
I am Twilight Sparkle.