Chapter 1
There was something disconcerting about the day. Oh, sure the birds chirped, the grass was green and the sun was shining brightly. Ponyville was awash with sweet smelling fruits and the gentle hints of summer drifting in from a late spring. But still, something about the day made Spike ill at ease.
To start, Twilight woke up late. She was hardly ever late, and by hardly, Spike could only count once- when she had been ‘tardy’ with an assignment. But she was always up and out of bed when her alarm went off- as if she’d couldn't grasp the function of the snooze button.
No, today she was a full twenty minutes late, pulling herself out of bed and getting the day started. By the time she made it downstairs, breakfast was cold and Spike had begun to worry if she were sick. Spike had to admit, she looked horrible, to be utterly frank. Her mane was sloppy and disheveled, and she stood on wobbly knees and a crooked posture that betrayed her usual upright and perfect stance. Something was clearly wrong. He’d also called her name three times and had yet to receive a response- so there was that too.
“Twilight!” Spike snapped for the fourth time, his face twisted with a worry and finally- FINALLY her distant, bewildered expression focused on him.
“WHAT Spike?! I…I’m sorry…I…um…what? W, what is it? What were you saying?” Twilight stammered, shaking her head as if she were attempting to clear whatever murky clouds addled her brain. There was no luck in the endeavor. Spike frowned.
“I SAID you look terrible! Are you alright? Do you need me to get Nurse Redheart?” The plucky dragon asked. Twilight yawned and shook her head, forcing a thinly lipped smile at her companion.
“No. I’m fine. Just need to get some sleep. I keep…I keep having this nightmare, Spike. I can’t remember it though. It’s been happening over and over and over again, but every time I wake up I can’t remember it. Just that everyone was hurting…and I was alone. I was…cold, and scared, and alone somewhere very far away. I couldn't help any of my friends and something bad was happening Spike. Something awful. But I just can’t remember what it was. “ She explained, sipping at a tasteless glass of orange juice Spike had pushed in front of her.
“Maybe you’re just nervous about the Princess going to another country on business. I bet it’s one of those psychotic-o-logically thingies!” Spike offered. For a moment- a thin, breath taking moment, Twilight wanted to yell. She wanted to tell him it was stupid, and that she wasn't worried just because the Princess was leaving to another country, outside of Equestria- without her. Even though she practically begged to come.
“No. Spike.” Twilight grumbled. The dragon didn't press the issue, and to that end, Twilight was grateful. She was grumpy and she knew it- lack of sleep, the first and obvious reason, but maybe, he was onto something. Regardless, the reason, she had to get some sleep and soon, or her next report to the princess would be scribbles of nonsense and loosely compiled thoughts. The mare shook her head, mumbling quietly to herself while her gaze drifted into the distance again. She had to do something…and soon.
* * * * * * * *
“Well Suga’cube, iffin’ ya’ll asks me, I reckon a good day’s work would do you mighty good for sleep problems. All that studyin’ ain’t gonna make ya good n’ tired like buckin’ trees all day. Heh, trust me, come to Sweet Apple Acres and I’ll work ya good n’ hard. You’ll sleep like a babe! I know I do.” Apple jack explained while Twilight perused her books. Regardless of the fact that her friends had come over to fetch her for the picnic they were supposed to be having, Twilight had found herself late again- searching through her library for a solution to her insomnia and nightmares, and she rolled her eyes at Applejack’s suggestion. That was stupid. She wasn't going to spend all day at some barn to kick trees when there was REAL work to be done.
“AJ’s got a point, Twi! You get a work out, you go to sleep. I mean duh, for an egghead, that oughta be simple! Race me at Sunridge valley. You’ll lose, of course, but that’s not the point. The point is, you’ll wear yourself out and fall asleep in no time flat.” Rainbow Dash quipped. The blue Pegasus was hovering upside down, and circling the library in a fashion that was making Twilight’s mane stand up on end. Every time she thought Rainbow was going to crash into something, the pony switched directions and nimbly avoided an accident. It was driving her crazy- and her suggestion of wearing herself out was almost as stupid as Applejack’s. The unicorn drew in a breath. She just needed to find the book she was looking for. She knew what it was, the title on the tip of her tongue- she just needed a moment without a distraction to concentra-
“Wrong. She’s already tired, you two, and making her MORE tired won’t do the trick. Twilight dear, what you NEED is to relax. Draw a hot bath, get some silk sheets. A designer comforter. A scented pillow. I guarantee you, darling, you snuggle up in those and you’ll fall asleep before your head hits the bed! “ The other unicorn in the room explained with a cheerful air of superiority. Rarity. Twilight gave a heated snort and continued to browse her massive selections of tomes.
Ridiculous. Her bed was just –fine- but that was typical of Rarity to act like a know it all. What was her IQ anyway? Lower, Twilight was sure, but she just HAD to act like a sno-
“I think some herbal tea might make you drowsy, Twilight. I can make you my own special batch, if you like. Sometimes, I have trouble falling asleep when I think of all the poor birds, and bunnies and kittens and puppies out in the world without homes. Sometimes I get so worried I just can’t even close my eyes! “A quiet little mouse sized voice squeaked out from somewhere in the room. Twilight however, couldn't make out what Fluttershy was saying- nor did she have the energy or concentration to focus on it, like she usually did. She had to try so hard to listen to the her tiny whisper of a voice, and now with her lack of sleep, Fluttershy sounded even further away than normal. The yellow Pegasus was standing next to Rarity in the middle of the room, and yet Twilight couldn't hear her. Why on Earth couldn't Fluttershy talk at normal levels. Just once!? Didn't she see how tired Twilight was? Didn't she notice how-
“ABOOGA-BOOGA- BOOGA!!” Pinkie- Pie shrieked, the pink mare quite suddenly bursting out of the shelf Twilight was browsing, screaming with a tribal mask glued to her face she’d gotten from somewhere. Twilight screeched and tumbled back on her rump, eyes wide with fear and surprise. Pinkie burst into giggles and lifted the mask from her face, grinning brightly.
“I figured I didn't know how to put you ta sleep, so I’d just wake ya up instead! Did it work?! Are you awake?! I can try again if it didn't!” She quipped brightly, barley able to continue the giggles the threatened to spill past her lips.
“Out.” Twilight hissed, her voice a twisted and trembling snarl. Before any pony could ask what the unicorn meant, Twilight threw up her hooves, her horn glowing with an angry burst of violent purple.
“Wha-” Applejack began, but was quickly cut off when Twilight leapt to her hooves with a blazing look of fury in her eye.
“I SAID OUT! EVERYBODY OUT! I DON’T WANT ANY TEA, I DON’T WANT TO KICK TREES AND I DON’T NEED A BATH! JUST LEAVE ME ALONE AND LET ME THINK!” And with that, they were gone. Removed magically from Twilight’s presence, and leaving Twilight to herself. It was quiet now. No Applejack, no Pinkie Pie, no Rarity, no Fluttershy and no Rainbow Dash. The only other creature left with a heartbeat in the room was Spike, who was slowing coming to realize this problem was going to get worse before it got better.