//------------------------------// // Excitement // Story: Enlightening Circumstances // by ExoskeletalEccentric //------------------------------// Chapter 7: Excitement "Spike! I'm back!" Twilight called to her draconic assistant, who tumbled off the ladder he had been on in shock, him having been cleaning up the mess that the studious purple pony had created earlier in her mad search for information. "Well it's about time!" Spike said, rubbing his head. It wasn't really hurt, but it felt like the right thing to do. "What took you so long? After Fluttershy came and told you that the creature had woken up, you were gone for hours!" "I'm sorry, Spike, but I was busy with some highly interesting interspecies introductions! The creature that we found...is sentient!" "Sentient?" said Spike with surprise. Twilight nodded and smiled. "Yes. I'd like you to meet..." The arcane equine raised her glowing horn to the space next to her. "...Ashni!" There was a flash, and there hovered the creature from before, leg wrapped in bandages. Spike gulped. When it was lying crumpled on the ground, it hadn't looked so...big. He pushed these thoughts aside, however, and gave a nervous smile. "Uh...hello?" The creature waved in response, an action that seemed strange with it's oddly placed limbs. "She can't speak with anyone except me and Fluttershy, yet. She can understand you, though. She's very nice!" she added at Spike's distrustful expression. "Right." Spike said warily. He wasn't going to trust a thing with eyes that colour just yet. "So what's she doing here?" "Well, she tells me that she's been studying Ponyville for some time now..." (Studying is a bit strong...") "...And then she ran into a dragon, probably the same one that you found during your, ah, episode actually." Spike shuddered. "Don't remind me." "She managed to defeat it, but was injured. That's when we found her!" ("Only because of this gem. If it hadn't been for that, I would have been done for.") Twilight's face lit up. "That's right! The reason we're here is to ask you something, Spike!" The small dragon in question returned to his "Number One Assistant" mode. "You want to ask me something? Well, I'm ready! Shoot! What do you want to know?" Twilight grabbed Ashni's Jewel with her magic and thrust it forwards so Spike could see it. "I know that you know a lot about jewels, Spike, so what sort is this?" Spike's eyes widened when he saw the azure gemstone. "Wow! That's a Storm Sapphire! They're really rare!" The crystal loving reptile began salivating. "And delicious." ("You are not eating this.") Said Ashni, moving her stone out of range of the hungry dragon, who looked devastated at the loss. "You do know what it is! Excellent! Tell me all about it." At Spike's forlorn expression, she rolled her eyes in amusement and added: "I'm sure I can get Rarity to give you a gem or two." Spike brightened up at this prospect. "Well, Storm Sapphires are kinda special, because they can hold more magic than a lot of gems. I don't know how, though. Sorry." He added apologetically at Twilight's inquisitive expression. "They're normally found after a serious lightning storm, I think, and they have lot of connections with lightning. But that's all I know..." "Oh, that's okay Spike!" Twilight turned to Ashni, and grinned hopefully. "Can I borrow that gem for study? I really need to see how this works, and I've never come across anything like it in my books." Ashni seemed to be reluctant, but sighed. (Fine. Only because you're awesome, though.") The unicorn smiled gleefully. "Thank you! I'll take good care of it." A thought hit Ashni suddenly. ("Uh, by the way, Twilight? Where will I stay?") "That...is a good question, actually. I hadn't thought about it...maybe you'd be best off with Fluttershy? Her house is fairly out of the way, she can understand you, and she likes anim-uh...sorry." Ashni waved off her apology. ("Sounds fine to me. Just so long as Fluttershy's okay with it.") Twilight seemed satisfied with this. "Excellent! We'll ask her right now!" she said, trotting towards the door. ("Moving somewhere else again?") Ashni asked dubiously. (And what about the invisibility spell you cast before? aren't you going to use that again?") Twilight shook her head. "I think that the rest of Ponyville needs to see you sometime, don't you? And going about it as if it were completely natural for you to be here makes it easier. They won't be worried if they don't think that they have to." ("If you say so. You do live here after all.") They both moved out of the library, Twilight uttering a farewell to Spike, who once they had left, gave an exasperated sigh. "This won't end well." He foretold to no one in particular. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Rainbow slept peacefully, dreaming predictably of speed, recognition and the Wonderbolts, the fluffy cloud she was on serving as a comfortable bed, high enough to be away from the distracting noises of Ponyville, leaving Rainbow Dash, with Rainbow Dash. Until a sudden movement of the cloud almost threw her off of it. "Wowowoah!" She yelled, grabbing back onto the cloud and hoisting herself back onto it. "What's going on?!" Her temporary bed was...moving? "It's moving all by itself? How?" Peering over the top of the cloud, she noticed a familiar figure walking through the town: Twilight Sparkle. And was that...what'sherface? The weird creature? She noticed, in fact, that the cloud seemed to be following them. "Gah! I should have known that weird thing would have something to do with this!" she exclaimed. "Spying on us, using her stupid magic and weird wings..." She continued to mutter. "Twilight shouldn't trust her! I bet the others feel the same-" Suddenly, she fell straight through the cloud, but she caught herself in time. "That's it!" The Pegasus fumed. "I'm going to see Applejack! She's sure to know what I'm talking about!" She turned and dashed towards her stated destination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Applejack was doing her usual thing over at Sweet Apple Acres when a furious multicoloured blur almost crashed into her, making her drop the baskets of apples that she had been carrying. "Wh..hey! Watch where you’re flying, rainbow!" Applejack shouted after the blue Pegasus, who whirled round in mid air and ground to a halt in front of her. "There you are!" Rainbow Dash immediately started off with nary an apology. "I have been trying to find you for 5 minutes!" she huffed. Applejack grinned. "5 minutes? Are you okay? That sure is an unusual amount of time for you to pay attention to somethin'." Rainbow rolled her eyes. "Whatever! Look, I need to talk to you about something. You know, Twilights new discovery." Applejack stopped grinning. "Oh." She shook her head. "I tell you, somethin' doesn't set right with me about that girl. Like there's somethin' she ain’t tellin' us..." Rainbow Dash threw her hands up in triumph. "Thankyou! I knew it wasn't just me! She's hiding something, and we gotta find out what! C'mon!" She made to fly away, but her tail was grabbed by the sensible earth pony. "Hold on there. You can't just go charging in there, Dash. These things need somethin'...subtle. Y'know. Tact." Rainbow Dash looked offended. "Well, duh! I wasn't going to just ask her about it!" "You weren't?" Applejack said in a surprised tone. "Of course not! I'm not stupid!" "Well I can say I'm proud of you, Rainbow. I underestimated you, and I'm glad that you're taking this ser-" "...That never works! I'm going to follow her around and spy on her! See ya! Glad you agree with me!" "Wait, wha-? Rainbow! Get back here!" Applejack shouted after the fleeing Pegasus. "Sigh...consarn it." ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ "Trust me Ashni, you'll be fine! Everyone loves Sugarcube Corner!" Twilight said with a reassuring smile. ("I know! People will be there! Staring! Like they all do!") Ashni retorted anxiously. The purple mare shook her head in amusement. "Of course they'll stare. You're a very interesting sight! But they don't mean anything by it; you're overreacting." "I'm just uncomfortable with it. I'm not used to attention." The unicorn and sylph continued on their way, with Ashni trying her best to ignore the glances and whispers. Soon, the familiar sight of Sugarcube Corner came into view. ("Here it is. Thank goodness. I have to say, I am feeling really hungry.") Twilight looked at her oddly. "How did you know that this was the place?" ("Oh, uh. I...guessed.") Twilight looked suspicious for a moment, but accepted this, and they walked inside. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ That was close! I thought. Ordinarily I would not have made such a silly error, but I just felt so...hungry... As we walked through the door, I suddenly stopped in horror and shock. W...wait a minute! Isn't this where...? "Hi, Twilight!" A high pitched voice rang through the air. Oh, no... I was not in the mood to deal with Pinkie Pie. I was way too stressed, and hungry, and worried, and hungry. Wow. I sure am hungry. It was strange. Twilight acknowledged Pinkie Pie, who was waving wildly from the counter, causing a brown earth pony customer to back away or risk being hit. "Oh, hi, Pinkie!" Twilight acknowledged. "Helping out Mr. and Mrs. Cake, again?" Pinkie nodded. "Yup!" She rubbed the back of her head sheepishly. "I may have eaten a cake meant for an order...so to make it up to them I offered to watch the store for them while they went out and did stuff!" Twilight blinked. "Stuff?" "Yeah! You know? Stuff!...So *ahem*" The pink earth pony adopted a professional posture. "What can I help you with, madam?" She asked in a sophisticated manner, which was unfortunately ruined by her breaking into fits of giggles soon after. "Oh, we're just here to get some delicious baked goods!" Pinkie leaned impossibly far to the left to wave at me. "Hi, Ashni! I didn't see you there! Have you changed your mind about the party?" ("What? Oh, uh. I'm not sure about that Pinkie Pie.") I said distractedly. Seriously hungry. "'Cause if you haven't, I've got lots of plans for it!" She continued with a smile on her face, somehow much closer than she was before. "There could be balloons, and streamers, and confetti..." Twilight, bless her purple sparkly soul, attempted to intervene. "Pinkie, I don't think-" "...And marshmallows and music and we could have so much fun!" The oblivious earth pony continued, much to my chagrin. Does she have to be so loud? It's giving me a headache... "We could play games! Like pin the tail on the pony, oh I love that game! It's my favourite, did I mention? 'Cause it is! I mean, some ponies like other games and I respect their opinion and all and I think all games are fun but I think that pin the tail on the pony is the best because you have a blindfold and then you go all: wheeeeeeeee! And get really spindizzy, and that's really fun, but you don't wanna get too dizzy..." She's being really annoying. Too loud! And I'm really hungry! Why am I so hungry? "...And then you fall everywhere! But anyway, I really think that the party would be a good idea, so I made up plans! Did I tell you? There'll be balloons, streamers..." SHUT UP SHUT UP SHUT UP SHUT UP SHUT UP! So annoying! So...hungry! Shut up shut up- ("Shut up! Why do you constantly talk! I don't want or need a stupid party! I'm just hungry, okay? So be quiet for once in your life!") I yelled. The general noise and chatter stopped, and everyone stared at me in shock. Pinkie Pie looked surprised and upset. "W..wha?" I saw tears welling up, and I came to my senses, hastily attempting to fix what had happened. ("I'm sorry! I didn't mean it! I've just had a confusing time, and I don't like all the attention..." I babbled franticly. "...And I'm really sorry, I'm just...hungry." I finished lamely. Remembering the communication problem, I looked desperately to Twilight, who reluctantly translated. I think she was rather rightly angry. When she finished, Pinkie Pie looked slightly better, no longer crying. "O-oh. It's okay, I'm sorry I was being annoying." I waved my hands wildly in an attempt to communicate that it was by no means her fault. "And I'm sure I get just as angry and shouty when I'm hungry." She said unconvincingly. Still, shaking her head, she resumed her previous cheerful demeanor, and the customers, seeing the situation more or less resolved, returned to their business. Although Twilight gave me a suspicious look that promised serious lectures about proper communication and how to conduct oneself in a pony society. Darn it. Suddenly, I heard a muffled: "Aha!" behind me, and I turned to look out of the window. A bush rustled suspiciously, but there was no one there. Or nopony. I couldn't shake the feeling that I was being watched, however. "So, what can I do you for?" Pinkie asked, returning my attention to her. "Just a strawberry iced cupcake for me, Pinkie." Turning to me, Twilight asked. "What would you like, Ashni? ("Oh, anything, please. I'm so hungry that I really don't mind.") I replied. The unicorn made a movement that could be considered a shrug, if shrugs were in fact possible with pony anatomy, and ordered another cupcake. "Okie dokie lokie! Wait right there!" Pinkie dashed off, and returned a few seconds later with the order balanced on a plate grasped in her mouth. "'at'll 'ee 'our 'its, 'ease." Twilight magically opened her saddlebag, and placed the appropriate amount of money onto the counter. Pinkie waved us goodbye as we moved to the table, then greeted the next customer, who looked slightly irritated at the wait. When we were comfortable, Twilight took the opportunity to admonish me. "We're supposed to be trying to get ponies to get used to you, and not be worried." She said in a low voice. "How do you think that outburst will reflect on their opinion of you?" ("I'm sorry...") I responded sheepishly. ("I don't know why it happened, I just felt so weird...") I was slightly distracted, as eating the cupcake appeared to be doing nothing for my appetite, as I felt as hungry as I had before, if not more so. Twilight sighed. "Well, so long as it doesn't happen again. We just need to...Hey! Are you listening to me?" I wasn't, as I had just noticed something. I could feel something strange. And it felt...delicious. In a trancelike state, I floated up and towards the door, Twilight's protest behind me. "Woah, look at that storm out! I don't remember the pegasi saying anything about this." I vaguely heard a pony say to my right. Looking up outside, I could see that he was right. Large storm clouds were forming overhead, and I felt inexplicably drawn to them. My odd hunger gnawing at me, I fluttered up to the largest one, which had flashes of lightning randomly darting through it. I was close to it now, close enough to see the red smokey lines that told of an imminent lightning bolt. And then it hit me. Literally. And it felt great. The energy coursed through my body, filling up the ravenous hunger I had been feeling, and rejuvenating me. I don't know how long this went on for, but apparently I had blacked out, as suddenly I was on the ground, with Twilight looking anxiously at me. "Ashni? Are you okay?" ("Never better.") I replied dreamily. ("And I'm not hungry anymore!") Then I registered the pain in my leg. ("Gaaahaaaowowow! Or, not, or not. Wow, that hurts. Remind me not to fall on this leg again, okay?") Twilight looked both irritated and amused. "Well, that's what you get for flying into a lighting storm! What in Equestria were you thinking?" I shakily floated back up, and shrugged. ("I dunno. I just felt, sort of, drawn to it. It felt really delicious.") "Delicious?" Twilight said incredulously. "That's certainly a unique way of describing lightning. Although...did you say that you are not hungry, anymore? Hmm. Tests!" She exclaimed with a grin just a little too wide for my liking. ("Umm, Twilight? What do you mean? Gah!") I said nervously. Then, I found myself being dragged by magic towards the library, Twilight running alongside with a glint in her eyes. ("Somebody heeeeeelp!") So terrified was I, that I didn't even notice the storm dissipating behind me. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Rainbow Dash watched the sylph be dragged off with a grin. "Nice job, Twilight. I knew that there was something up with her! I mean, shouting crazy stuff at Pinkie Pie like that? Obviously a bad guy! And what was with that crazy storm? She had to have had something to do with that!" The Pegasus examined the skies. "Seems to have cleared up now, though... But this is just the beginning! I must gather more evidence, and find out what it is she's up to!" Then she heard the sound of running hooves, and turned to see an out of breath Applejack standing before her. "I finally *gasp* caught up, with you." The earth pony said. "As I was saying, shouldn't we just ask Twiligh-" "Can'tstoplookingforcluesbye!" Rainbow Dash exclaimed as she dashed off again, leaving the hat-clad pony on her own. Applejack stared after her for a moment, then groaned and collapsed to the ground. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Deep within a gem filled cave in the Everfree Forest, a Presence lay building it's body, waiting for it's plan to come to fruition. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Authors Note: So, sorry about the actual wait for this one, guys. It's been what, three weeks? Four? I don't remember, but it's because of school tests and gardens that need weeding, so sorry. Stupid dandelions... But, yeah! Don't forget to like 'n' favourite, if you think it deserved it. And comments are appreciated, even if you don't like it! I need to find out what you don't like; I can't change it, if you don't tell me what it is. I'm looking at you, 6 dislikers...