//------------------------------// // 7 - One At A Time // Story: Time for Twilight // by sunnypack //------------------------------// Chapter 7: One At A Time “My hooves feel like they’re made of bruises.” Twilight gingerly placed her left fore hoof on the ground. That one seemed to go first. She wondered if there was any point in deciding the order for which her hooves should go. The entire experience was rather painful already. No need to add the complication of hoof placement to an otherwise mountainous hill of frustration. The frustration was mainly centred on herself, because she was quite sure almost all her friends would be able to make that distance. Probably even Rarity, but with a little more lip. “You sound like you’ve never trotted before,” Star Swirl muttered. Twilight’s mouth pulled into an annoyed frown. “I trot, all the time.” Twilight glanced back at the grinning unicorn. She was determined to prove the smug stallion wrong. “I can run and pace myself, but this is ridiculous. The distance is like going from Ponyville to Canterlot on hoof!” Star Swirl swivelled around to face Twilight. His eyes drew upwards as he mumbled a few things. Shaking his head, he regarded Twilight quizzically. “I’ve never heard of these places.” He frowned. “But you don’t sound like a traveller…” he smacked a hoof to his head. “But of course! Your win—” The unicorn cut himself off before he could say ‘wings’. Twilight nodded vigorously, leaping onto the opportunity like Spike on gems. Ah yes, wouldn’t do to let slip that she normally caught the train. They definitely didn’t have trains in the pre-classical era. “Yes,” Twilight replied in a low voice. “I’ve been around… out of Equestria.” Star Swirl pursed his lips. “Equestria?” he asked. Twilight mentally kicked herself again. She was horrible at lying. Might as well be Applejack. “The kingdom,” she said quickly. “Kingdom.” Despite her reasonable assurances, Star Swirl did not look convinced. “You don’t have to hide it,” Star Swirl replied mildly. “I know what you’re hiding.” Twilight bit her lip. Oh dear Celestia, he knew! “I-I wasn’t trying to hide it,” Twilight stammered. “It’s not like I enjoy lying… it’s just that…” Star Swirl’s expression turned uncharacteristically sympathetic. “I know,” he replied. “These are strange times we live in. Pony against pony, court politics over populace.” His bitter gaze wandered among the trees, before snapping back. “It’s why I left in the first place. Then she wouldn’t have—” he bit off the words before they could be aired. Twilight couldn’t prevent her eyes widening fractionally at the hidden pain beneath the impish veil that usually curtained his expression. Before she might have felt bad about dragging him along, but now she felt horrible. “I knew you didn’t like it,” Twilight said quietly. “But I didn’t know you…” Twilight hesitated as she searched for the words to express her sentiments. “I… If you don’t want to come along now, you don’t have to.” Twilight sighed. “And now you know where I’m from.” Star Swirl shook his head. “I gave you and the ‘Lovely’ Lady Lily back there a promise. I don’t like it, but I always keep my promises. As for you, just because you’re not from these parts doesn’t mean I’ll abandon you for it.” He sucked his teeth and fell silent for a while. “Besides, I rather enjoy your company.” Twilight was so shocked she stopped briefly, and had to run ahead at a brisk canter to catch up again. “What?” Star Swirl said as she came alongside him again. “Never had a stallion tell you he likes you?” Twilight blushed more than she was comfortable with. In fact, she blushed more than she thought any pony could possibly do in a day. “N-No,” she babbled back. “N-Not really.” An interminable look shadowed Star Swirl’s gaze for a moment before he returned it to the road. “Ah,” he said. “Sorry.” “What for?” Twilight replied. Star Swirl gave her that look again. “I guess… for nothing.” He cleared his throat. “Well, besides being from somewhere further than the Kingdom’s borders, you’ve got some memorable physical features. You’re going to be out of place in Lady Lily’s local barony, and let’s not get started on the Royal Courts. I guess I should teach you some Etiquette.” Judging from his unimpressed expression, Twilight didn’t think her winning smile was encouraging him. “Oh come on,” Twilight growled. “Despite what I look like, I’ve had some experience in Royal Courts before. How hard can it be?” Star Swirl shook his head, muttering to himself. “Don’t say that. Never say that,” he groaned.