What is it like, one thinks, to be immortal? To live forever, and watch others pass as you go onward. No one here in this world has experiences of that nature...but our pastel friends in another place do. Twilight does, at least.
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Twilight was sitting in her bedroom in her castle, warm rays of light flooding through the windows onto the book she was enthralled in. She turned the page, a look of excitement on her face as she read what must have been one of the best stories she had ever read. She didn't even notice Spike, who threw the door open with a dramatic posture.
"Ok, Twilight, I know you told me that there was no cake left," Spike began, waving a fork splattered with cake bits towards Twilight, "but when I looked in the kitchen, I noticed it in the oven!" Spike waited for a moment for Twilight to react.
Page flip.
"Well, you could've told me you saved some of it! I was soooo hungry!" Spike watched in mild frustration as Twilight flipped another page, seemingly without hearing him. "Hey," he said, approaching Twilight and tapping her horn, "you in there?"
"Hmm?" she said, looking quickly at Spike before returning to the story. Spike considered her for a second before shrugging.
"Nothing," Spike said, sitting on the bed with Twilight. He tried to read the story, but Twilight flipped the page before he was even half way done. Frowning, his gaze dropped to Twilight's wings, which were folded. He reached out a examined one of the feathers.
"Yes?" Twilight asked in response to Spikes touch.
"Huh," Spike contemplated, his brow furrowed. "Twilight? Do you think you're going to live forever, or be immortal, or die like normal?" The question startled Twilight, and she closed the book part way with her magic so she could turn and focus on Spike.
"What?" she asked.
"Well, do you think you'll just live forever, never getting sick, looking flawlessly young?" Spike asked, raising a finger in the air, "Or do you think you'll live forever, but look older and get sick and have a sucky metabolism so you get fat?" Twilight stared at him, a look of slight curiosity and surprise on her face.
"Well...I guess I never really thought about it," she said slowly, stroking her chin with her hoof. "I mean, I sorta expected to become, you know, like the princesses...but I don't know..." She closed her book all the way and stared out in space in complete thought. Spike hopped off the bed, walking around her room and wagging his finger around as if he were some army sergeant instructing his soldiers before battle.
"Because I know what dragons are like," Spike said as he walked, "and I know that I'll probably live for, like, four to seven pony generations; maybe longer if I keep myself in shape. But you? We know the princesses are at least, maybe, two thousand years old? And that Luna's younger than Celestia, so maybe Celestia is like three thousand years old! Cadence...I dunno. And you, well, you're not even technically an adult, so who knows how much you've got to go!" Twilight took this all in with a look of calculation.
"Well, perhaps I'll-" she rubbed her head frustration "-oh, Spike, why didn't this occur to me sooner!" She hopped out of bed and straightened her hair. "I'm gonna go to Canterlot and get right down to the bottom of this!" She stomped her hoof a few times as she spoke, a look of happy determination shining on her face.
"Huh, I dunno," Spike said, scratching his back as he spoke. "What if the Princesses don't want to tell you anything?"
"Pfff!" Twilight pfffed, "Why would they not want to tell me about how long I'll live?"
Spike twiddled his fingers a little before he said, "Maybe you'll live very...shortly."
"'Shortly' isn't a word, Spike," Twilight chastised playfully, "and besides, I'm pretty sure I'll live longer than normal, at least." Spikes look of worry didn't leave his face. Twilight turned and walked out of the room, and Spike hurried after her, tugging on her tale.
"No, I'm serious Twilight!" he said, pulling back on her to prevent her from moving. "What if the Princesses didn't tell you anything because...the truth is too horrible!? What if...what if you've got an expiration date!? What if-"
“'You’re worried about what-ifs. Well, what if you stopped worrying?'” Twilight stopped and turned, eyes closed, as she recited the quote. "Spike, don't worry. I'm sure when I'll ask the Princess, she'll give me a completely sound, reasonable answer. Now I need you to stay here and watch the castle while I'm gone. We've already had one break in already." With that, she left the building, heading toward the Ponyville Train Station. Spike sat on the floor, thinking about Twilight.
I wonder if she thinks that she's gonna get a good answer, he thought to himself. I wonder if the Princess will talk. I wonder if she wouldn't mind if I...trail along sneakily...
Spike got up and went to one of the castle's higher windows. From there he could see a good chunk of Ponyville and the horizon with Canterlot off in the distance. He was able to see his lavender friend trotting to the train station. Smirking, he went out through the castle to prepare himself. After all, who said that a dragon's breath can transport only scrolls?