The next morning, I immediately set to work. There were a lot of things I needed to plan for. The first thing had to be helping Twilight with her investigations on my powers. Then there was this stupid date I agreed to.
Then came more business like plans. The Feud and Equestria Girls. The movie was easier to work with, thankfully. It was almost too easy.
Okay. Never mind. Pretend I never said that. When I say that, it hits the fan.
I walked into the Carousel Boutique. Rarity had certainly kept the place clean, which I find a miracle with the Crusaders sleeping over every month.
“Rarity, I need help with Twilight.” I called out to her.
There was a small thud from upstairs. Rarity’s hooves echoed across the marble in her home.
“Is it Tuesday already?” Rarity asked as she entered the room. Her calendar lifted up in her blue magic.
I snorted. “No. That was yesterday.” Now that whole day made sense.
Rarity laughed, gently. She walked up to me. A clipboard hovered beside me. “What did you need?” Rarity asked, a feather pen coming up.
“Twilight needs a new lab coat.” I began. “Her’s doesn’t have wings holes. I would have brought it with me-”
“Oh don’t even say it.” Rarity shuddered. “I’ll make Twilight a new one right away.”
“Remember. She likes it simple.” I reminded her.
Rarity nodded, writing that on the clipboard. The two of us began walking up to her room.
“It’s more functional than fashionable.” I went on. “A plain white lab coat.”
Rarity kept her focus on her clipboard, trotting up the stairs. “I know, I remember her birthday party.”
That made me laugh. “Yeah.” That was a funny party, and it gave me a great chance to bond with Twilight.
Who I had lied to.
Nope. No guilt. I did what I did so that Twilight would leave it alone. Shift my focus, shift my focus.
Rarity and I were at the door to her workshop.
“Was there something else you needed?” Rarity asked, looking down at me with curiosity.
I don’t know why, but I was nervous. It shouldn’t be that difficult to ask Rarity for this.
“No questions, please.” I pleaded. “One simple dress. No glitter, sparkles, bells, or sequins.”
Rarity’s eyes started to grow, even sparkled. The dressmaker squee’d. “You want me to make you a dress?! Oh, whatever for darling?”
I sighed. This was a horrible idea. “Pinkie promise not to tell. I mean it. I don’t want this getting out.” I glared.
Rarity stopped squealing. She was taking it seriously. She did the motions, Rarity looked me in the eyes. “What is it, Raspberry?”
A beat. “A date.”
A blink. “A date?”
A nod. “A date.”
“You’re...going on a date.”
“One date, then never again.”
“You, are going on a date, this Saturday.”
“Yes, Rarity, a date. Three hours with an annoying stallion, and then I will never have to see him again. Fair trade.”
“Have you ever even been on a date, darling?”
“Most girls would be insulted, but I’m not. Never been on a date before. I think I should start calling this a trade off, instead of a date.”
Rarity gasped. “Your first date, and you don’t want me to make you a flashy dress?”
“Flashy dresses are to impress, I want to get it over with.” I stated. “One. Simple. Dress.”
“You don’t want to impress him?” Rarity asked, actually sounding a bit surprised.
An argument started in my throat, dying before it could reach my lips. Didn’t I usually want to impress? It was my default.
I didn’t want to impress him. He was annoying, with a big ego, and poor a conversationalist. He was one good point was offering to leave me alone when the date failed.
Morgan Spencer does not go on dates, no version of Morgan has ever gone on a date before. The only thing that could get me to say yes to a date was for Future Morgan to tell me. Well, look at that she did. That was actually a kinda sad thought, that I needed my future self to give the okay.
This date wasn’t for romantic purposes, as Rarity probably thought. It was to get this guy off my back, a distraction so I wouldn’t crack under pressure. This was a ploy to help me fight Seth.
Plus, a simple dress would be easier to run away from the date in. It would be easier to clean, easier to move in. If, you know, Rarity made it simple enough.
“But it’s your first date!” Rarity whined. “How could you not want it to be as magical as possible!”
My eyebrow quirked. “Rares, I don’t want to impress him. Why would I?”
Rarity gaped at me like I made some slight at her newest dress. “But-you-wha-huh?!” She dropped her jaw. Due to cartoon logic, it hit the floor.
A chortle from me.
Rarity shook of the dismay. She ran up to me, picking up my hoof with her’s. She walked me over to her measuring stand. I lowered my head, sighing. Rarity was nothing if not determined.
She started to measure me again, taking notice of my wings. There was a firm pour on her face, and she worked at a slow pace.
She sighed, dramatically. “Ah.”
I ignored her.
Rarity perked up at me. She sighed again. “Ah.”
Oh, I knew I would crumble soon. Her sighing was annoying. She was my friend, and I loved her, which meant she knew my buttons.
“Simple dress please.” I said, in a prideful tone.
Rarity huffed. She continued to measure me, letting out another loud sigh.
She was getting closer.
“Maybe make it dark green? Dark green has been an interesting color on me.”
Rarity huffed. “Green is a horrid color on you, Raspberry.”
“Blue?” I knew I was rolling her up. It was the only way she would break first.
“Darker blues would blend in with your mane, and lighter blues take away focus from your beautiful complexion.” Rarity said. “Wings?”
I stretched one it, careful not to smack her in the face. She was working hard, still trying to break me.
“Purple is a much better color on you.” Rarity said. I winced. “Or black.” She stepped away from my wings, coming up to look me in the eyes. “What does this stallion look like?”
I have her a look. Rarity gave one back. “I’m only asking.”
“Yellow Pegasus, medium build, black mane that was stuck in a blown back mane style. His eyes were gold, like honey.” I recited.
Rarity hummed innocently. She started measuring my front hooves.
“I thought he was stalking me.” I argued.
“I didn’t say anything.” Rarity teased, grinning at me.
That made my eyes roll. “You were thinking it.”
The dressmaker wrote down my measurements. She smiled coyly. “Medium build?”
I didn’t look her in the eyes. “We were in a fight.”
Rarity giggled. “Raspberry, please. A lady never kissed and tells.”
Okay. This was worse then the dramatic sigh. This was downright embarrassment. This was humiliation.
“I’ll give 70%.” I offered. “Better?”
Rarity smiled, proud at her victory. She cheered loudly. “Oh, I know just the thing for you.”
I sighed, giving her a grin. Rarity pulled out some purple fabric, and I looked at it with a bittersweet smile.
Darcy always said I looked good in purple.
The Centre was even more boring when I got back.
“And that homework?” I asked over the phone.
Lilac giggles. “I did most of it, but the history work is hard.”
“Mrs. Riley is tough on you kids.” I said in a mockingly scolding voice. Lilac giggled again. “You should pay her more respect.”
“Mom!” Lilac laughed.
I knew why history was tough on her. She only knew Equestrian history, nothing of Earth history. Not even our jointed holidays had the same backstory. Christmas, Halloween, World Wars, famous historical figures. It was bound to be a tough thing for her.
Lilac was a trooper, though. She worked with the heart of a Crusader, not giving up even with things get tough.
“I know you can do it.” I encouraged. “And remember, Lilac, Wikipedia is only your friend when it makes sense.”
My daughter laughed again. “I remember, Mom.” Lilac laughed. She stopped, her voice going serious. “Can you help me? You know, after work?”
I smiled, touched by the request. It always felt weird when Lilac asked for help. Not because I didn’t think she should, no, but that my daughter was asking for my help.
“I promise, Princess.” I said. “But no slacking off. No chance my daughter is gonna fail in history. It’s when a Stardust is at her lowest that we kick behind.”
“Go Stardusts!” Lilac cheered. “Bye Mom!”
“Bye Princess!” I cheered back before Lilac hung up on the phone.
A part of me wanted to tell her about the date. I was Morgan Spencer, lonely teenage girl, again. I was the girl who had never been asked on a date before. I wanted to tell all of my friends about it.
Then I was harshly reminded Morgan didn’t have any friends. All of her friends moved away. She wouldn’t see them again. Anna was traveling the world, being a minister like her parents. Maddie was taking care of animals, like she always wanted.
And Care...
Caroline Bellingham. She was gone. She was never coming back, not as Morgan’s friend. She would be coming back as a student, the senior of my school. She would graduate next year, then leave again.
Why even bother reconnecting with her when she was only going to leave again? Why even try, when she’s only going to break my heart?
This date was a total joke anyway. No one wanted to ask me out on a date. Who wants this life with me, really? No one. My own daughter is still having trouble adjusting. My sister became a murderer two days after meeting me!
‘Bumblebee’ was probably one of those guys who just wanted an ego boost. Asking out the new princess, who has never been on a date before.
Someone started knocking on my door. I sighed when I remembered it was Tracy with my six o’clock.
“Ugh.” I groaned. Why couldn’t Katelynn with a K and two N’s just work here permanently?
“Your Majesty.” Tracy’s dull voice droned.
“Come in.” I rolled my eyes, already hating this.
She wasted no time opening my door. She guided herself in, her eyes practically do all the instructing.
I will behave myself. I will not lock the person in the hallway. I will actually talk to them. I will not kick the person. She was just taking the fun out everything, wasn’t she?
Tracy curtly nodded. “Princess Spencer.”
Correcting her was useless, as Tracy would keep calling me by a royal title. That woman didn’t have a stick up her ass, she had a whole log.
She let herself out, keeping the door open enough for the person to walk in.
A teenage boy walked in. He had unruly blonde hair, brushed back to perfection. Deep brown eyes, worriedly staring at the floor as if I would smite him. His skin was pale, probably too much time in his bedroom. He was dressed in what I assume was his Sunday Best; a blue button up shirt with khakis, and a shiny black sneakers.
His face is what got me.
“Jimmy? I gaped.
The boy looked up at me, his brown eyes going wide. “Morgan?”
It had been centuries since I saw him last. He was my friend back in kindergarten, but moved away to Washington when we were seven. It was hard to forget the first person to befriend you after you move, especially when you were friends for four years. To a seven year old that’s a lifetime.
Tracy walked out of the room, closing the door behind her. Jimmy just stood there jaw dropped.
“You’re the Princess of Travelers?”
“You’re my six o’clock?”
We stared at each other for a few more seconds, adjusting to this bit of change. Then we burst out laughing.
“If my fourth grade teacher turns out to be a Traveler, I’ll give my crown to Tracy and just be done with it.” I said, only half joking.
Jimmy smiled at me. “How long has it been for us?”
“On Earth? I’m gonna say eight years. For me, it was a hundred ninety two.” I explained, adding a smile at the end.
Jimmy whistled. “Wow. I used to be older than by you five months back in pre-k.”
“How long for you?” I asked.
“Just a couple decades.” Jimmy shrugged. “Nothing too exciting like what you’ve been up to.”
I winced at the comment. He didn’t mean to bring up those incidents, but they just came out I guess.
Jimmy apparently noticed my reaction. “Oh, shit. Sorry.”
“No, no. It’s alright.” I surprised myself with that comment, but managed to hide the emotion. Anytime anyone mentioned them, I started screaming internally. What made Jimmy any different? Why was I so much calmer when he brought it up, but wanted to kill even a stranger?
It’s because they were strangers, I realized. They didn’t know anything about me, or the situation. Jimmy wasn’t like that, he was my friend in kindergarten. Thick as thieves, King and Queen of the World. I chuckle when I realize I have basically become Queen of the World. Royalty is a bitch.
“I should have thought-”
“Jimmy, quit whining, okay?” I teased, lightly shoving his arm. He was always a bit of a worry wart. “It’s alright. I know what really happened, not those jerks.”
Jimmy smiled grateful. “Woah. Thanks.”
It was a bit confusing (and maybe the littlest bit touching) that he remembered me. I mean, yeah I remembered him but that was because he was the first to go. Jimmy was the first friend that ever abandoned me, no letters, no phone calls, nothing.
But, I couldn’t stay mad. As much as he hurt me, he helped make me who I was today. A part of me felt like it was always waiting for him to come back, like we made some promise that I just forgot as years went on, but the feeling behind it never faded. Your first friend defines you who are, in a way, so I guess I was defined always waiting for the right one to drift on by.
And I’ve had a lot of drifters.
I got up from my desk, grabbing my phone and putting it in my pocket. I motioned over to my dark brown leather couch.
“Let’s get started.” I said, walking over to lie down. I made sure not to change it to a giant purple bean bag chair. The last thing I needed was for information of my Reality Watch getting out.
“Right.” Jimmy nervously stuttered. “Uh, let’s.”
He followed me, sitting on the couch across from me. He smiled, though it looked forced. My guess was his hair usual fell over his face, like Fluttershy’s, so he was unused to having it brushed back this nice.
I got comfortable, turning to Jimmy with a smile. “So, I have to interview you to ask question about your relocation to the South Carolina District.” I winced. “Oh, that sentence made me want to vomit.”
Jimmy laughed. His smile vanished and he gave me a serious look. “How did you know it was me?” He asked.
Technically I was supposed to ask him questions, but this is fine. “How can I forget you, Jimmy? We were best friends back in kindergarten.”
“Yeah, but.” Jimmy squirmed in his chair. “I mean, from the rumors, that was centuries ago for you.”
“One century, nine decades, two years, eight months.” I reacted before I thought. “Oof. Hate when my subconscious remembers before I do.”
Jimmy laughed. It faded quickly into awkwardness.
I picked up a clipboard Tracy had left behind. Didn’t really notice, but I make an effort not to notice much about her. “Jimmy Cipes. Sixteen, A+ student. You travel to comic book based things mostly, with the occasional comedy thrown in.”
“Yeah.” Jimmy winced.
It did feel awkward reading over this file. “Marvel fan. Nice.”
“You like Marvel?”
“My brothers do, big time.” I explained. “Nerdtionaries I call them. Nerd dictionaries. We pretty much only bond over Marvel and Once Upon A Time.”
“So you saw Avengers?” Jimmy asked excitedly.
“Twice.” I said. “Then I lived it.”
Jimmy’s eyes bulged. “No way.”
“Way.” I cheered. “I was a superhero, and rocked it!”
Jimmy laughed. “A superhero? Seriously?!”
“Yeah. What are you when go?”
“Mostly the, uh, Nerdtionary.” Jimmy admitted.
I laughed. “Dude, this is just awesome.”
“Awesome?” Jimmy snorted. “All of the things you do, this is awesome?”
“Well, I mean kicking a monster in his face or forging a society for Dalek/Humans is pretty awesome.” I shrugged.
“Sorry, what was that last one?”
“But how often do I see someone from my past that I actually like?” I laughed, tossing the file back onto the desk.
Jimmy was surprised by this. “You, what?”
“I like you, dude.” I got up from my seat. I walking over to Jimmy to lightly punch his shoulder. He rubbed it, a smile slowly coming to his face. “You’re way more chill than when we were kids. I remember once you stepped onto an anthill, and cried for an hour.”
Jimmy chuckled, nervously. He squeezed his hands together. A nervous tick, probably. “Yeah, well.” He looked up at me, rising up from his own seat. “You were scared to ride a bike, because you thought you would fall and die.”
I winced. “Lots of people are scared of bikes! You shut up!” I defended myself. “My brother crashed on his bike. It was scary!”
That made Jimmy laugh. “Still scared of bikes? Aren’t you almost two hundred?”
“Rumplestiltskin is three hundred and is very scared of pipes.” I argued. “Plus, Jack Harkness is over a hundred, and he’s scared of those furbies.”
“Scared of furbies?” Jimmy chuckled.
“He says they look like technicolor gremlins.”
“Wait. Jack Harkness.” Jimmy paused. “Doctor Who?”
My eyes widened, and a mischievous smile was on my face. “You watch?”
Jimmy gaped “You lived?”
“For about four years, yeah.” I nodded. “That was years ago. I was 179 then, stopped when I was 184.”
“Did you get caught?” Jimmy asked, looking a bit afraid.
“No. Plan fell apart.” I admitted. My voice tightened at the end, the memory of Donna’s last moment on the TARDIS playing over my eyes.
I shook it off. “Went back a couple times. Took my brothers with me, The Next Doctor is Terence’s favorite.”
Jimmy was still worried. “That sounds really dangerous.”
“Wouldn’t be an adventure if it wasn’t.” I said.
Truth was, Doctor Who was the hardest place I had ever Traveled to. Some places, I could have the excuse of being psychic. Others I could just say the right thing at the right time. Doctor Who was hard because what really could I do without the Doctor finding out that the entire thing was a show in another reality? My reality?
That would lead to an extremely awkward conversation. I was a Time Lady in that reality, taking away that from him might devastate him more than losing Rose.
Plus, any time someone died that I couldn’t save he would get uncharacteristically angry at me. I liked being Three, thank you. I am in no rush to be Four.
“Where’s your mom, anyway?” I asked, desperate for a change of topic. This was supposed to be an interview anyway.
Jimmy squirmed in his seat, squeezing his hands together. “Mom is working at the aquarium in Charleston. She wanted to be here, but her boss needed some extra hands.”
I nodded. His file (I read ahead) said that his dad was out of the picture. Tried being a hero during a bank robbery. It was only two years ago, but I’m guessing it had been longer for Jimmy and Mrs. Cipes.
Looking down at my watch, I saw it was already 6:15. Wow, time flew. I blame awkward silence.
Wait. That meant it was almost time for dinner. Lilac and I always had our homework done before I let us have dinner. This was gonna be barely enough time to do one English paper.
“You know what.” I clapped my hands, picking up his file. I ran over to my desk. “You’re good.”
“What?” Jimmy asked, getting up. He walked to me, worried.
There was a small red stamp, my cutiemark being the symbol. I put some more ink on it, then slammed it onto his file. “You’re good. I approve.”
I held out the file to him, an expectant look on my face. Jimmy looked at it with concern. “Approve?”
“You and your mom are good. You can come here and stay.” I said, quickly. “Go on, take the file.”
Jimmy still didn’t look convinced, or maybe he was in shock.
“I’m not going to deny it, not a chance.” I admitted. “I’ve got a Southern heart. It’s full of sweet tea, hospitality, and coming up with similes faster than a horse at the Kentucky Derby.” I pushed the file into his arms. Jimmy struggled, but eventually was able to hold the file.
“Seriously? Just like that?” Jimmy asked. “I thought you’d be furious at me.”
I just gave him a kind smile. “Why would I be angry at you, Jimmy?” I blinked. “I mean, I know why, but I guess the better question is ‘why should I be angry?’, and then I would probably ignore it anyway. I’m good at that.”
My old friend smiled, grateful. “Morgan. I-There aren’t words.”
I laughed. “Yes there are, you just can’t find them.” I patted his shoulder. “I’ll give you time.” Then, I shrugged. “Saturday. 8. Kick Ass 2 came out today, and I don’t really want to be there opening night.”
Jimmy’s eyes bulged. “A movie?”
“Yeah.” I picked up my Infi-Purse, pushing Jimmy towards the door. “Regal Palmetto Grande. 8’clock. August Seventeenth. Be there, Cipes.”
By that time, I had already made it to the door. I shoved Jimmy out, following behind him.
Tracy was on us before we could make it another step. “Princess Spencer-”
“I gave him the seal of approval.” I argued. “He’s fine, and so his mom. Thank you, good bye.”
With that done, I made my way down the hall.
“You were in there fifteen minutes!” Tracy barked. “That’s barely enough time to get to know them!”
“Sherlock was an expert of Moriarty after knowing him two minutes. Fifteen was plenty of time.” I argued, not even looking back. “I actually need to help my daughter with her homework. Please feel free to let yourself out.”
Tracy eyes burned the back of my head. I ignored them, continuing on to the stairs. “Your Majesty, you still need to-”
“Give my daughter an education. You are right. Good day.” I said, curtly. I opened the stair door.
“Your Majesty!” Tracy snapped.
“I said good day!” I snapped back, slamming the door behind me.