//------------------------------// // Future Twilight: 8 // Story: A Twilight Summit // by Ponyess //------------------------------// Pinkie Pie had just hoofed me that scroll, with the spell to take me back to my past self. I read the spell, as written in the scroll; feeling the surge of magical power as the spell is taking effect. Only when I am rematerializing on the other end, something is horridly wrong; I am not in the old Golden Oak library where I used to live, but am standing on a dark purple crystal. When I look around, I soon find shelves lined with books; books I had never red, seen or even known to exist. Looking down, I notice that the black rubber suit I had put on as disguise now is brand new; there are no scratches and the hood is still on, it is in fact even shiny, as if freshly polished. I guess there is something. If the suit is new, then I have none of the old marks to my body and face; the once I sustained during my insane rush to secure the village of Ponyville and Equestria against the upcoming disaster I had been expecting, or the trip to and through the Royal castle of Canterlot in the search of the scroll with the spell I had been looking for, before I found myself here. Aside from the time, location and my general state; there seems to be no real differences her. I may have missed my target, but I should be right back in the library at the Royal castle in a few minutes at the very most. I am still the very same Unicorn I had been, when I left the castle; no cause to worry or alarm. Yet, there shouldn’t be too much of a problem; if I were to have a brief look around and possibly read a page of a future book, even if I thought I should have been in the past. A past I am never to see ever again. “Hiya, Future Twilight!” I hear an only too familiar voice, if just a few years older than I had remembered him. “Hiya, Spike!” I responded; before I turned around to see the dragon, who had been my library assistant for so many years. “Wait, why are you wearing that old suit? Even if it is looking brand new!” Spike prompted. “Because I was wearing it; when I snuck into the Starswirl the bearded wing at the library, at the royal castle at Canterlot. I guess I did take a wrong turn; on my way to the Golden Oak library, in Ponyville?” I pointed out, in response. “Oh yeah; I do recall when we did go there, and you were trying to leave your past self a message. Yet, as I recall it; you failed capitally in that. But alas; you did throw the suit away, after we left the library!” he explained. “The strange thing is; the suit is still in mint condition, or better!” I prompted. “Yeah, it sure does look much better than when I last saw you wearing it. A wrong turn? As if you had been trotting over to Ponyville, from the castle in Canterlot?” he teased. “If the suit had been looking as it did, when I cast the spell; I certainly can understand why she threw it away, it was a Royal mess after all I went through on my way to the wing at the library. I guess that wouldn’t make sense; but it would explain, how I had gotten this far of target?” I suggested. “That suit sure was a mess, deserving of retirement; all right. If you just stop for a moment; and look at just how far of target you got, even if you are at your very own library!” he put forth. “As strange as it may seem, I guess the suit has grown on me!” I prompted; without realizing the effect, of the words hastily spoken. “Then, I am in Ponyville?” I added. “It is Ponyville, certainly. Speaking of Royal castles, this is the castle of friendship in Ponyville. Yet, where are your wings, Twilight?” he responded, with a raised eyebrow. “Thank Celestia for that. Wait, there is a castle in Ponyville? Has the village grown that much since I last saw it? It isn’t the castle of the two Sisters in the Everfree forest, right?” I pointed out. “Sorry to break it to you, but your old home in the Golden Oak library has been destroyed; but was soon replaced by a castle donated to you, by the Tree of Harmony. Your new castle is just outside of Ponyville proper, such as you knew it, though. I guess you arrived much too late, but that saved you from the trauma of seeing your home destroyed. On that note; the tree is still here, in the castle!” he pointed out. I just froze for a moment. Nothing had happened, and I am still here; talking to my old friend and assistant. “Something is wrong. Why have I not been sucked back to the time, from which I came?” I inquired. “Beats me, I have no idea. Maybe I shouldn’t be worrying myself about such matters. If I were you; I think I would try to enjoy my stay here, for as long as I could. Maybe you do go back to where you came from; but there are a few things you may like to avoid, when you do get there!” he prompted. Thankfully, no reaction to his words. “On that note, there are a few things you may like to see. Besides, I still have chores to attend to, you know; a castle to clean and books to sort!” he pointed out. “Oh, how silly of me; of course you have chores to attend to. I guess the first thing on my agenda, is to see my room?” I responded. “Don’t sweat it, but yeah; that room would be the first thing to see, On that note, you don’t need to wear anything in Ponyville, let alone in your very own home; even if it is a royal castle of friendship, these days. You may choose to slip out of that rubber suit!” he put forth. “Okay, Spike; I wouldn’t sweat it. I never used to wear anything, before; why start now?” I responded, as he trotted off to the wing where all the guest quarters are located. “On that note, we do have a few guests currently living in the castle. I don’t know if you recall them, or how close they may be to you; just so that you know!” Spike explained. “If I am supposed to have met them; after the date, when I went to Canterlot, I don’t know them; I am afraid!” I responded. “As an odd occurrence, most of our current guests are named Twilight Sparkle!” Spike added, as we were approaching the door. “That would be an odd occurrence indeed, Spike; since it used to be my name too. Maybe I need a new nickname?” I suggested. “Here you go; your very own room, feel right at home!” Spike pronounced, as he followed me into the small room. “Thank you, Spike; how thoughtful of you, the bed is already made with my old bed linen and all!” I put forth. “Yes, these are indeed your bed linen. Most likely new; but I did make your bed for you, just the way you would like it!” he responded. “Since your name is Spike, you had to know how I wanted it; even when I did come back from the past to a time even later than where I originally came from!” I reflected, as an amusing side-note. “I still do recall that episode as we snuck into the Royal castle and into the Star Swirl the Bearded Wing, in order to find that time spell. Only that ended with me getting a tummy ache as if it had been straight from Tartarus!” he pointed out with a weak grin on his little muzzle. “That was quite the threat, as I recall; but it ended fairly well, and I stopped fussing about that!” I prompted. “Only something did go wrong on the day, he ruined our old home at the Golden Oak Library. That is why we are here in the new royal Castle of Friendship in Ponyville!” he admitted with a grin. “I can wait until tomorrow, and I can explain it all to myself; after breakfast!” I pondered. “Then I will be off and finish my chores, and leave you to a good night’s sleep!” he prompted, as he left me and closed the door after himself. I woke up early, from the sound of the knocking on my door. Looking around, I notice that I still am in the same room I entered the last night. Everything is exactly where it had been; and the bed linen are exactly the way I wanted them, including my very own colours; while the walls are a strangely dark purple crystal. After a few more familiar knocks, knowing it is Spike the Dragon; the very same Dragon as I had been talking to the other day, I trotted to the door and opened for him. “Morning, Spike!” I greeted him, eager to have him escort me to the promised breakfast. “Morning, Twilight. Time for breakfast!” Spike claimed, before he turned and walked to the dining room. “Thank you, Spike. Right on time, you do know when I like to have my breakfast!” I responded. “Right this way, and of course I know when a proper breakfast is to be served a Princess; I have been working for you for years, Twilight!” he prompted. I followed him through the long, empty halls, for several minutes before he stopped and turned to a door and opened it for me. “We are here, but you will have to learn to find your way around in the castle. Sorry, but I can’t escort you through the castle every day, Twilight!” he prompted. --- --- ---