//------------------------------// // A little late with the letter // Story: Well Kept Fences // by TrebleBass //------------------------------// I had put in a lot to plan a perfect party for my five friends. I was sure to check out a few books from the library on the topic. After all, it had to be perfect. I wasn’t much of a party pony, but I promised Minuette that I’d try and put myself out there more. While I refused to go out to random parties with them, we found a fair compromise in having a small get together with friends. While it was nice that my four friends showed up, it wasn’t as important to me as another pony showing up. I was nervous about if she’d come, knowing her habit, similar to that of my own, to study using her entire free time. But Twilight showed up. That was really great, I had been excited to hang out with her more and this party was exactly the way to do it! I was wrong to think that she wouldn’t show up. Of course she would. While all of my friends were there, I spent most of my time with my best friend. She brought Spike, her little assistant/brother, with her as well. They seemed to be under the impression that this was a party that required gifts, and I was quick to tell them otherwise. However, they insisted that since they got them anyway that I might as well have them. Spike gave me a cute teddy bear, whereas Twilight gave me a framed photo of the six of us. That was really nice of the both of them. I told them I’d put it right by my door.  We starting talking about our studies and all sorts of books when she brought up some old pony’s tale about ‘Nightmare Moon’. She seemed serious about it, so I let her complain to me about it. Twilight often overreacted to some things, but she didn’t seem to be simply ‘freaking’ out. She saw an issue and was trying to fix it, but nopony would listen to her. Well… I listened to her. After she told me the whole thing, I saw why she was so worked up. Pony tale or not, it wouldn’t be wrong to at least research it a little to make sure it was simply that. In the middle of us discussing the history of the Lunar Rebellion, she got a response from Princess Celestia about her previous letter. She seemed calmly pleased with getting a reply, though I could see the little signs of excitement from her. Her eyes gleamed as Spike opened it up and read it aloud. “My dearest, most faithful student Twilight. You know that I value your diligence and that I trust you completely.” She puffed out her chest a little, as she normally did when she was proven right. I couldn’t help but smile at those moments of hers. She was usually rather humble. But her pride tended to sneak through every so often. “...but you simply must stop reading those dusty old books!” Twilight and I gasped in unison. How could Princess Celestia talk about books like that? Books were always filled with facts and knowledge. Judging by the befuddled look on her face, I deduced she was thinking along the same line. “My dear Twilight, there is more to a young pony's life than studying, so I'm sending you to supervise the preparations for the Summer Sun Celebration in this year's location: Ponyville. And, I have an even more essential task for you to complete: make some friends!” I tried my best to hide my giggles at that last part. While I wasn’t much better, Twilight could seriously use some socializing. Granted, I was a lot like her in the past, but that party was proof that I was trying. She, on the other hand, seemed offended by the idea. “What? But I already have plenty of friends!” She rebutted. Her eyes gave me a quick glance before going back to staring at the offending letter with wide eyes. Twilight took the list in her magic and brought it to her face. Her eyes darted back and forth as she read, and no doubt triple checked, every last word written to her. “With all these responsibilities, I might not be able to research more about Nightmare Moon! Not in time, anyway!” She started sweating a little, letting out a disgruntled sigh. I walked over and placed my arm around her as a way to comfort her apparent distress. At the touch of my hoof on her neck, she jolted upright and laid her wide eyes on me. I saw them move back and forth, kind of like how they were moving when she read the letter. Was she studying me? “That’s it!” she shouted. Her sudden outcry of revelation sent me back onto the ground, my glasses sliding off my snout and laying awkwardly as I looked back up to see the my lavender friend leaning over me smiling. My own look of perplexity asked the question I hadn’t had the chance to verbalize. Her voice gave away the eagerness she had built up while standing over me. “MOONDANCER!” “TWILIGHT” I returned at a similar volume, with excitement replaced by confusion. “YOU!” “ME!” I probably should’ve yelled in a questioning tone. She turned from me, walking over to Spike as she began writing on a piece of paper she didn’t have a few seconds ago. Knowing her, she probably had a pocket dimension of quills, ink, and paper. After all, I had one too. Before I could question what had just happened, the letter had already been sent in Spike’s magic fire. I was still on my back on the ground, and my sense of confusion was at it’s maximum. She glanced back at me, with a look at satisfaction. “Don’t worry, this shouldn’t take more than a minute.” Okay. Now my confusion was at it’s peak. At least it’s current one. If the limits of my incertitude could be broken once by Twilight, no doubt they could be broken again. The moments ticked on, and it was then that I noticed the rest of our friends looking at us. Twilight, on the other hoof, was completely oblivious. She just stood there patiently waiting next to Spike with her head held high and lips in a grin. Spike let out a belch, and out came a letter similar to the one Twilight had received earlier. Upon opening it, her previously wide grin seemed to have doubled in size. She turned around, and I was lifted up in her magic. I was still too shocked to process what was happening, so I didn't give a struggle as she carried me next to her as she walked. “Sorry girls, looks like Moondancer and I have to leave early.” My confusion levels broke their records yet again. Raising my eyebrow, I tried to capture the words flying around my head. Lyra, likely less confused, beat me to the punch. “Uh, any reason why Twilight?” She tried to stop the mare, but Twilight just kept trotting towards the castle. She didn’t even look back as she bounced onward and out of the area of the party “The two of us have to pack! After all, we have to go check on the preparations for the Summer Sun Celebration!" Eventually Spike caught up to us, and we were on our way to... well, somewhere. I was still in Twilight's grasp, so I didn't really have a choice to head to my own place to pack. "Say Moondancer, have you ever rode in a Pegasus-Drawn Carriage?”         “No……Why?”