> A Chance Flip By Life. > by kento124 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- > Heads Or Tails? > --------------------------------------------------------------------------         A simple walk away from the long week of organizing and schedules. It was a beautiful day with the high sun and with a light breeze swaying the trees that stood along the path she walked. Each step seemed to drain the stress of the previous days away. With the near destruction of Ponyville due to the parasprite attack. A quiet walk is exactly what she needed; if she could do this while read a good book, then it would be perfection. But she would settle for a simple peaceful walk for now, just something to take her mind from Ponyville repair work for a few minutes.         Walking along what use to be the Running of the Leaves track on a day like this is doing her some good. It’s been, well, hectic since the initial damage reports came in. Everypony trying to buy the “worker’s” time to get their homes or shops fixed and running again. Every one of them pulling her attention left or right, tugging at her remaining patients. A simple walk like this is doing her wonders.         As she came around a bend, a lovely sight came into view. A small stretch a grass that lead out forming a hardly noticeable path through trees. She had no idea where it went nor did she want to find out. “just not in the mood” she thought. As she walked by, a small voice came from behind her.         “Twilight, Twilight,It's Lyra. We need to talk about Bon Bon's shop.”  The voice seemed to be closer than Twilight wanted it to be and her heart raced a bit.         “No, no, no, not yet,” she whispered, quickly looking around for somewhere to hide. She saw the seemingly small pathway through the trees as the idea hit. Quickly, she moved a little down the path, turning and focusing on a nearby bush. She Closed her eyes as she thought of a spell. Upon finding it, she cast it as the voice seemed to be closer now.         “Seriously Twilight! Bon Bon needs her store fix badly, it's her home and her work,” she could hear Lyra calling more closely now.         'Oh, please work' Twilight hoped. She slowly cracked an eye saw that the bush she picked had rapidly grown to cover the path. She breathed a sigh of relief, only to have it cut short.         “Twilight!” Lyra yelled, “Man, i thought Rainbow said she went this way. If I don't find her soon, Bon Bon is going to freak out when she gets back.”         Twilight held her breath. 'Sorry Lyra but I just need a break' she thought as she turned to walk down the now hidden path. With each step, Lyra's voice grew more distant. “Rainbow, I told her I needed a break,” she whispered. She doesn't usually  resort to childish pranks but the thought had some merit at the moment.She was so lost in such thoughts that she lost track of how far she was walked. By the time she came back to reality from her the idea of with Rainbow Dash, Twilight found herself standing in the middle of a large grassy field.         The sight itself made her pause to take it in. A large field that laid along the tree line encircled it. The field gave a feeling of untamed serenity  as a small breeze swayed  over the field as she noticed a large, strangely misshapen tree standing in the middle of the field. It seemed to want to grow to its left but changed its mind halfway and went to the right.         Twilight slowly walked up to the tree. As she approached the tree, she was surprised by its sheer size and what seemed like a small reddish objects hanging from its branches. With the wind blowing, one of the objects fell with a splashing sound. The noise caught her attention, turning to her left to find a small pond siting next to the tree. She gave a look around, “How come I’ve never found this place before,” she thought out loud with a smile growing on her face. With a soft thud, an object landed next to her, startling her Twilight looked to see what it was; a large red apple. She picked it up in a simple levitation spell. She slowly examined the fruit before taking a curious bite which surprised Twilight's taste buds with it’s sweet but tangy taste, “Okay, now this place is perfect.”         Twilight began to look around  for a nice place to sit and relax. It didn't take long for her find such a place near the pond, between two of the tree’s roots that grew in what seemed to be a semicircle. As she sat, the petrifying calm seemed to drain her muscles energy and she slumped down. The noise of the tree and the grass swaying in the wind distracted her from her rapid mind. Within a few minutes of laying her head down, Twilight's eyelids slowly began to close as she slipped into a lovely sleep.          “Agh, what the hay just hit me?” Twilight moaned, covering her head with her front hooves out of pain. She slowly got up to look about, ”'and why is it so dark?” Giving a glance to the sky to find the sun wasn't in its high position but was settling,  for the moon was taking its place.         “Dear Celestia, how long was I sleep?” Twilight looked about, trying to remember which way Ponyville was  from here. A small glint caught her eye. She stepped closer to find it was a coin laying near the tree root she had slept next to. It reflected the last bit of sunlight of the day, which was cut off by her looming shadow. Twilight tried to lean closer make it out but due to being late, with little light left, she decided to take it home to get a better look at it later. As she levitated it she took a few steps away from the tree. “Now which way is Ponyville?”         “Well, if that’s what you’re looking for, I suggest you go that way, just beside that dead bush.”         Twilight jumped back from the voice. “Who are you? What are you doing here?” she sputtered out.          “Well, I usually visit this spot and to what, just relaxing. So what are you doing?” From the tone alone Twilight could tell it was a stallion’s voice. She had to squint to see the stallion walking out from the other side of the tree. Twilight could barely make out his coat color, a light tan. He seemed to be wearing a dark blue hoody, which covered his eyes and seemed to be pulled over what appeared to be his horn.         “Um,” Twilight tried to say something. His height was close to hers and his voice seemed soft. “Well, relaxing and...i lost track of time. Who are you?” The stallion gave a small cough as he sat down, and from the way his head was sit, she guessed he was staring at her.         “Well, I'll hopefully be moving into Ponyville soon, so I'll wait till then to introduce myself. you know mystery pony is always romantical idea. Shouldn't you be getting home now? It’s quite late.”         Twilight was puzzled by the his answer, not knowing what to say back exactly, “Right, um, thank you...I’d better be going,” she said while turning to where he stated. That was awkward Twilight thought as she slowly backed away,  heading for the bush. Twilight gave the strange stallion a second glance. The sight of him still standing there with the tree's shadows crawling toward her shadowing out his body from view sent a down her body. Something about him seems weird, was the only other thought in Twilight's head, other than getting home. By the time she reached the dead bush, the slightly hidden path came into view. ..         The blue-hoodied stallion sat there as the young purple mare walked away. An enthusiastic grin formed on his lips as she looked back one last time. “Now this is going to be fun. Usually they scream and then the running, then the pleading. Hmm, wherever she lives is going to be a fun place. I can just feel it.”         “All right, I'll let her know as soon as she comes in,” he stated for what seemed like the twelfth time.         “Thanks Spike I really do appreciate this. I know this might sound weird, but I told Bon Bon that I could handle the shop while she was away. Really, thank you.” Lyra finished with another hug before leaving. Once they said their final goodbyes and she closed the door the door her, Spike let out a long-held sigh.         “That was the seventeenth one! For Celestia’s sake, Twilight, where are you?” The young dragon lowered his head in worry as he made the short trip into the kitchen. She had been missing for hours, which usually  didn't bother him much. Spike knew if something came up or if a book merchant was in town, she’d simply lose track of time out of curiosity. But that wasn't what bothered him, it was the fact that nopony in town has apparently seen her anywhere since the early morning. Every single visitor he had was looking for Twilight. It's been nagging him since the fourth pony asking for her.         With the sound of the front door opening and closing snap Spike from his thoughts, who ever thought to be eighteenth pony to asked for Twilight.         “Spike, I'm back!” He turned and saw a slightly dirty purple unicorn with a caring smile. “Twilight!” he almost yelled as he ran up to her from the kitchen. “Where were you all day? You kinda vanished without a trace.” The smile she wore shifted from caring too sheepish. Her fidgeting and her hung head became a little weird as well, as she crept to the nearby couch.         “Well...I was looking for a place to take a small break after seen Carrot Top and discussing her losses from the parasprite attack.” She paused while she got into a comfortable position on the couch. Spike took a seat next to her, curiously waiting for the next part. “I thought that the Whitetail Woods would be a good place to relax before the next pony I meet begins another long conversation of how bad the attack was.”         “So you hid on the path. But Lyra said she looked all up and down that path for you.”         “I found a small path on the track. It was so well-hidden that it was hardly noticeable. So I followed it to find out it lead to a small field with a apple tree and a small pound.”         “Wait, it had an apple tree? I thought Applejack said theirs were the only ones around here?”          “Yes true, but there's one growing there, and from what I could tell it’s been growing there for quite some time. It was really peaceful. In fact, I should take you there when some free time comes up.”         “That's nice in but why were so late coming back?”         “Well...”         “She fell asleep soon as her head hit the ground.”         Both Spike and Twilight bolted from the couch, a bit too much as Spike fell forward of his face. Twilight managed to land on her hooves to confront the mystery voice, launching a near by book with her magic.         “Wow,” said the stallion. “Now that was not friendly, you know.” Twilight was at a loss for words at the sight of the pony that stood before her, just on the other side of the couch. At nearly the same height, wearing the same blue hoody that covered his horn, the stallion offered a friendly smile that chilled her to the core. “You know, trying to peg a friendly pony with a book. It's quite a rude way to treat a guest.”         “T-T-Twilight, who is that pony?”         “What are you doing in my house? What do you want?” Twilight tried to make her voice sound confident. “You do understand that I'm Princess Celestia’s personal student, and I could forcefully throw you out. If you have a brain, you should leave now.”          “Wow, now. No need for hostilities.” he stallion said while waving one of front hooves. “Don't worry Spike, I'm your new roommate.” Time seemed to stop a his words. Twilight's mind sputtered as it tried to catch up.         “W-what?” said Spike         “R-R-Roommates? Wait WHAT!” Twilight nearly screamed.         “Yes roommates. Oh, don't worry about a room, don't need one. Haven't needed one for years now,” he nonchalantly said as he began to walk to the bookcase, slowly peering over the books that it held. “May I say a library in a tree is a new one, congrats on that.” It took her a while before she was able to recover from her shock. “Nice, Advance Multiplication Magic, Vol.7. Now that's a rare one.”         “What do mean roommate? I don't even know you and...” Twilight finally was able to say.         “And?”         “And...And...” she paused, looking for the lack of a better word for fear. You can't tell a strange pony to his face that's he's scary or creepy. Twilight thats a great way to end up in trouble . “J-just answer my question please.” He slowly turn his head toward her.         “Okay, you picked up my coin,” he stated like it was a known fact.         “Your coin?”         “Yes, the one that hit you on the head and then picked up.” As his words left his mouth, the horn under his hood glowed an amber color. Something small thudded on the floor. Twilight quickly turned her head to see Spike on his back. She frantically rushed to his side.         “What did you do to him?!” she yelled at him, checking to see if Spike was all right.         “Relax, he's fine, I just put him to sleep. The guy had literally had to answer half the town’s questions about you. He needed the rest.” She quickly checked to see if what he said was true with a sensory spell. She let out a sigh of relief when she confirmed that he was telling the truth. Twilight gave stranger a small glance as she tried to steady her heart rate.         “Just who are you, why are you here?” she asked, swallowing a small lump in her throat.         “As I said, you picked up my coin and so forth, so you now own it. So that means you entered into a contract with me...”         “Contract? What contract?”         “The contract that comes with ownership of that coin.”         Twilight stood there utterly confused. A contract? A coin? Just what in all things pure in Equestria is this crazy stallion talking about? What coin is—         “It seems you remember, so what will it be?”         “What?”         “Your wish.”         “WHAT?!” > For Knowledge > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- By the time the words left her mouth, she instantly felt a twist in stomach form and strangely enough some weight lifted off her shoulders. She over all felt a tingly light sickening feeling as she fought to stay balance. In a heartbeat she just gave up Celestia for books? Twilight couldn't help but give a slight laugh as she sat down. “Twilight, since this is a big thing I will give you some time to think over it. I mean-” “If could explain more into what I would be losing then,” she cut him off in mid speech hoping to understand what she just gave up. The stallion shifted as he began to walk near the book case nearest to him. He gave a slight breath, slowly peering over the titles that laid there. “Well I would guess the best way to explain it is to say emotions are very powerful. Any of them really,” with a slight tug with his magic, he pulled a book of the shelf and cracked it open. “You see, just like how changelings feed off of love. There's a spell that does the same thing, but even then the choice of emotion to emotions is not given.” As he spoke, the countless bookcases began to return to where ever they came from. Twilight winced as they rushed pass. By the time they were gone, the site of stallion standing just in front of her gave her a small shock. “Yes, you see this book contains a modified version of that spell that will only remove that particular emotion for that particular pony. Now you're probably wondering why I want it. The strength of the love is what I want, not the love itself. Stronger the emotion, better the charm one could make with it. Strangely, most relationship ships I end up helping in are the one way kind.” “That still doesn't tell me anything” “Ok, think of it like this. The relationship between sister and her brother. They have two types of love, sibling love and just general love for each other. Take away their sibling love and they're left with the general kind. They wouldn't just out of the blue hate each other. They'll still see each other as siblings just with less love and more dirty thoughts.” Twilight's mind tried to processes what he said but it was cut short as a floated up just in front of her face. The bland tan color of its papered bound cover seemed disappear within the her homes far wall. The title, written in bold silver lettering 'The Charm of love, With a Little Hate,' By Angle Horn and Bale Wind. As the thought registered, the book floated toward the couch, “That book has the spell you'll need.” By the time the book was placed on the couch, he quickly proceeded past her toward the door. “Just cast it and I'll take that as a yes. I'll be going to see what this Ponyville is all about.” He passed through the thick wooden door, leavening Twilight mentally stunned. Her eyes frozen to the door still trying to understand what just happen. Her thoughts flashing from whom the stallion was to why someone would name their child Angle? But one question seemed to jump ahead the rest of her mind. She quickly looked to a near by window, “Wait, he going to look around town this late?!” The sound of snoring caught her attention, turning to see spike peacefully sleeping on the floor just in front of the couch. The sight of him snoring on his back in some sort of bliss with only a small click in the background for noise. A strange feeling of emptiness started to fill the room. Twilight slowly slumped down, the surprising tension draining away. The encounter replaying in her head, the choice she made restating it self , 'I said yes. I said yes to leaving Celestia.' The full weight of the choice baring down on her. Her heart seeming to ache with betrayal at her answer, with the thought of leaving her motherly teacher gave Twilight a chill through her body. Even though she felt guilty at making the decision, she soon found her eye raising up to the tan book he left. The lightly worn cover seeming to call to her. Her mind thinking as to what the book contains, what she could possibly learn from it. With a little shakiness, Twilight slowly stood up. The guilt falling to the back of her mind as a simple thought played in her head, 'He said he'll take me performing a particular spell as a yes, so I'm still free right?' her steps became lighter with each one by the time she reached the book. Gently Twilight raised her hoof, pick up the book. 'It wouldn't hurt to look would it?' answer her own question, she turn to Spike saying, “I think there wouldn't be, if don't cast the spell he wants.” A small grin formed as she heard Spike mumble out something she couldn't make out. Not paying much attention to how the state of the library's main floor, levitating Spike on to her back. After picking the book up in her teeth, she made her way to the staircase to her room. She entered quietly, trying not to wake Spike as she placed him in his basket near the foot of her bed. The thought of how to explain what just happened to him in the morning puzzled her. “Maybe a little reading would do me good?” Twilight made her way to her desk sitting in the far corner of her bedroom. Stepping lightly, trying to avoid making noise. She placed the book down, pulling the chair out. It took her a minute to get comfortable in the chair be for she cracked the book opened. 'The Charm of love, With a Little Hate,' written and researched by Angle Horn and Bale Wind.' The small note on the cover page caught her attention, 'Ps. Trying to find Angle Horn or anything about him would be impossible. He went mad, so when he finished the formulas and killed somepony. I thought why let his research disappear. On that, most of the hard magic studies were done by him. I just gave him words. Enjoy.' The note to her seemed out of place but paying little attention and pressed on. 'Welcome to the craft of love charm or any other types, which by the way is a lot. Before we dive in, I have a little warning. This magic falls into a realm that tends to change someponies. The more you would read, the more you'll understand. Most of his research was done either with or on changelings. 'There's not really much to say about them. If you know them I could help but if not, I has no reinvents then. So at this point, I extend a welcome to Alchemy of the Mother Goddess, Angus. True as her name, her connection to the chain of love and Union is hard to understand. Her true ways have been lost even before me but from what Angle found. We can slightly replicate it now. Twilight took a pause, trying to understand what she was reading. 'What is this? None of this make any sense.' Thinking just to close the book and call the whole thing a nightmare. But the next few lines drew her attention back. 'Now to those unicorn or ponies who don't know who Angus is. The magic that you could learn in this book is call Alchemy or the magic of Druids. These 'mages' view and use magic in a way unknown to most. The magic they use is known as the 'Magic flow'. It encircles all living thing or nonliving such as other ponies, trees and pretty much everything. The energy that give unicorns their magic could be used by a Druid, no matter what kind of pony they are.' With that last sentience, an old habit, one of her ouldest. The time slipped away through the early hours, her Snout never leaving the book. Even with Celestia sun slowly rising up or the questionable voices down stairs wondering where she's at. She stayed there, reading away. – Tiring from the endless search for somepony to follow or at least watch, finding a seat on a bench in what he thought was the town's square. As he sat there wondering why no pony was around, he leaned back and look at the sky. “Well, so that's why. For a sec, I thought I was out in so far off town in the middle of nowhere.” It wasn't till the dawning of the sun that he began to see life. A gray pegasus lifting a hat onto her head, tooting what seemed to be a mail bag. His eyes following her as she flew, swaying side to side to each of the mailboxes. “An where can a birdy go? To fly yonder...'Hic'” What he thought was a drunk mare wandering down the street singing. Her dark pink main sticking out in strange directions. 'Seemed to be one heck of a night out.' She slowly turned her head toward the bench, suddenly stopped singing as her gaze met his. She tried to make her way toward him, just barely making it to the bench. With a grunt, she climb on the bench passing out not a few minutes later. “Maybe I should get out more? This was just weird,” he backed away looking for something different to do. “Colgate, easy on the cream. It tickles,” Or at least step away from her. Out of the corner of his eye, a orange mare pulling a cart. Only stopping to brush some stray strands of her blond mane out of her face. The cart was filled with what seemed like most of the apples he's seen. 'Well an apple a day one said.' Quickly before the bench mare grumbled something else, he jumped off the bench into a sprint. As he got near, he shifted to a walk as he followed her down the main street. The mare didn't stop, not even after meeting what Bale thought was her friends. Watching her as she waved good morning to most of the morning ponies. 'Well, good old fashion friendliness.' by the time she got to the towns local market place, the sun was well over head as he watched the mare set up her cart into a stand. “Come in get em', fresh Sweet Apple Archer's apples for sell!” Her voice mixed in with the rest of the other vendors in the market. The tomato vendor yelling at some Stallion about price, the carrot laughing with her customer and the others yelling out deals trying to steal each others sales. “Hm, for a small town this is a bit of cut throat.” “Well ya, We're all trin' to nab some kind of business.” 'Oh,' he forgot that he was following the apple mare, that and he was now standing right in front of her stand. 'Better make a good impression,' he thought as he turned to meet her gaze. The sight of her emerald green eyes and her blond mane hanging just over her shoulders was simple amazing. “Ya, ya, I know I look strange without ma hat. Laugh it up.” “What, you wear a hat? Why? You look beautiful like that,” taking a step closer, Bale leaned forward till his head was at ear distance. “I think the vendor of the carrot stand, has been eying you with interest since you got here.” “W-what?” she drew back, her cheeks slightly crimson. “Its all good with love.” He stated as he pulled himself back standing in front of her stand. Levitating a Ten bits out of his hoody pocket, placing them into a jar that sat near the far end of the stand. “I'll take two of the green, got a appointment to keep. Good luck with the affection.” Before she could say any thing, he made his way to the direction, where he thought that Twilight girl lived. Applejack was left in a daze by the experience, stealing a slight glance of Carrot top. Soon as Carrot top met her gaze, she quickly broke it off trying to call for more customers. “Who in tarnation was that stallion?” “Spike! Spike!” she yelled after scanning the library shelf's for the fifth time. “Twilight, I'm right her-” “Where is the basic of magical theory? The one by Star Swarl the Bearded.” “Twilight, you've been up since-” “Spike, where is the book.” She didn't even bother to look at him. Twilight knew sooner or later he would cave. 'With all that I can learn form this book, why can't he just...' she stopped in mid thought as Spike was standing next her with a book. Its blue covered and childish poss of a blue bearded unicorn on the cover was hardly a novelists book. “Thank you Spike.” “No problem,” Twilight noted his less than enthusiastic response. But before she could say something, the sound of a opening and closing of a door caught her attention. 'I put the close sign and a note that said I was sick. Who would come bother me?' She slammed the book she was reading which, caused Spike to jump. “Spike, can you go see who just came in please?” “S-sure Twilight, no problem.” The sound of spikes heading out of her room and down the stairs seemed to relive stress that was built up from her research. No matter where she looked, be it in the magical teaching or Equestria history, there wasn't a single reference to the magic spells or incantations that were in the book that stallion gave her. The hours of searching had began to push her to desperation, the young filly section. She levitated the book Spike found in front of her. Giving a deep sigh, Twilight opened it. “My, you do have a inner child? I wouldn't have guessed that.” Twilight instantly spun around, hoping out of her by doing so. Launching the book she was reading at her surprised visitor. Like before it flew right through him, slamming into the far wall of her bed room. “Okay, we already found that doesn't work. So why?” He asked as he glanced behind him toward the book. Twilight's relaxed soon as she reconsigned who was standing in front of her. “So your back. Um, I was surprised?” He just shrugged his shoulders, levitating a green apple he was eating. A another apple appeared from behind his back, being levitated over towards her. “Here. I think you can used this more than me.” Without even thinking she accepted it. As she took a bite, the sour taste of the apple was all to familiar. It was a Green Granny Apple from Sweet Apple Achr. Twilight could hear him giggling, looking annoyed at him. He pointed toward a mirror that sat upon her dresser. “You must of just woke up hungry. As the saying goes; A apple a day, keeps the doctor away.” As she approached the mirror, the sight of her appearance would have Rarity faint. Her eyes were completely blood shoot, the bags that formed under her eyes added ten years to her completion. Her main was sticking out in all directions, like she was just thrown into a twister. 'At lest I don't need make up.' Just now realizing what she looked like, she bolted to the bathroom. 'Oh dear Celestia, they both saw me like this,' she thought embarrassingly as she ran a brush through her main. 'Wait, if he was...' Twilight throw opened the bathroom door, looking for that stallion. She found him looking over the her notes that laid out on the desk. He raised his head to her abrupt entrance, putting a hoof over his mouth trying not to laugh. “What did you do to Spike?!” “He's fine. Just sent him off help who ever Rarity is. Lord, the thoughts he has fore her.” As her mind conjured up a mental image of what it could have been. She instantly blushed a bright crimson. “What?! No! I didn't need to hear that. Ah, the thought alone i-is...” “Wow, you have such a dirty mind,” he said, falling to the ground laughing outrageously. Twilight was so red that her face look like it was on fire. She backed up back into the bathroom slamming the door. The sheer strength she used, made the lamp that was siting on her nightstand to fall and crash on the floor. 'Dear Celestia, I wish to disappear' she thought as she assumed the fetal position. He was trying his hardest to breath between laughs, falling horribly as it began to sound like he was gagging. Only when his eye fell upon a glass vile that was sitting on, what was her private library shelf. Bale calmed him self down getting to his hooves, walking toward the shelf. As he examined the dark gray liquid that it contained, a kind smile formed on his lips. “Well done Twilight.” He turn and headed toward the bathroom door. He stopped just in front, giving the door a knock. “Hey, I'm sorry, I'm sorry I teased you to much. It's been like five hundred years or so since I've actually talk to anypony. And even long since I had a conversation that lasted more than five minutes. Look I'll even tell something embarsing about my self. Okay? ” Twilight listened to his apology, sniffling and wiping away a stray tear. After waiting a minute, she slowly got up and stood in front of the bathrooms mirror. 'Can't go looking like I was just mauled by a Manicore' she thought as she finished fixing her main. By the time she was done making herself look presentable, she hesitated just in front of the door. A idea formed in her mind. “So what was you most embarrassing moment?” 'I'll get him back one way or another' “Um, well, it had to do with and drunk aristocrat,” she took his pause as a good sign. “And?” “Okay, it was about seven hundred years or so ago. It was at a festival of the seasons, it was for the coming spring festival. She wished for a kid.” “A kid? How is that embarrassing?” “Well, she wished a kid from me, as me be the dad. I was a bit weird out by that and said no but.” “but?” “She tried to rape me. I mean for being the only one that could fiscally touch me. She wanted sex and a simple no didn't work. So she cased me around the festival trying. By the time she corner me, it got a bit steamy. The thing was I ended up on a pro-former's stage by then and well it was far from sound or sight proof...” As he trailed of, the gears in twilight's mind began to turn. “So you did it in front of a crowd?!” “No! The local guards stopped it before any thing. Her father made a assassination order for my head and she lust after me even then. I held up my end, so do you expect my apologies then?” Twilight gave herself a small congratulations laugh, hopefully not loud enough for him to hear. She opened the door looking like her old self, or in this situation, something like it. “Yes I do.” A smile appeared on his mouth, it sent a strange feeling through her. “Awsome, so getting to the point. You did that spe-” “Yes, I wanted to asked you about that. Why was it a spell to make a potion?” > If Tails; I'll Roll The Dice > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Silence fell over the library as Twilight tried process what was happening. A strange and possibly crazed stallion sat just a few paces from her, babbling something about a wish. He knocked Spike out and was now staring at her, waiting for some kind of answer. Okay Twilight, we can handle this. He's just some nutcase who can cast a sleep spell within a second and maybe whatever else...Right, time to panic, Twilight's eyes darting around the room looking for something to defend herself with. “Hm, usually they already have some idea as to what they want by now,” the stallion said. she hoped he was distracted, as her eyes came upon a lamp that sat by the stairs. It was a lamp Rarity got her in hope of “brightening up this old place”. I'm sorry, Rarity, but it's an emergency, she thought as she quickly levitated the lamp. Before he could react, she swung, aiming for the stallion’s head. The lamp passed straight through his head which didn’t even didn't even faze him, as he seemed to still be lost in thought. Every joint in Twilight's body locked in place as her mind was now in overdrive, trying to understand what just happened. It went right through him. Astral projection? No, did he not see that! Was there no felling? Oh Celestia, if he knows...then why hasn't done anything? Could he be a...no, that's not possible right? It can't be, lost in her thoughts, not noticing that the stallion approached her. “Um, miss, are you all ri—" He was abruptly cut off by her scream. As loud as it was, Ponyville was accustomed to such noise from her home that her neighbors paid it any mind. “Please don't hurt me, Mister Ghost! I'm sorry I took something of yours, just don't hunt me! I—” A striking pain came across her face. Did he just slapped me?! “Okay, quick pause. Can a ghost physically slap you?” Twilight being in her state of mind could only Shake her head. “Good, cause I'm not a ghost and before we go any further down the coo-coo train, how long ago did Luna get banished to the moon?” “A thousand years ago, but how—” she tried to ask as her heart seemed to calmed down. “Do you have no idea who I am?” “No.” “Right, so how about we start over then. I'm know as Bale Wind or you can call me Shadow. I'm not a ghost, but I've lived longer than most ponies.” He paused slightly to let the information sink in and he gave Twilight a slight bow as well. “And the coin is yours. The coin is what seals the contract to the wish you're entitled to unless you don't want it. in which case you'll have to return the coin to me and I'll be gone.” “So all I need to do is give you the coin and you'll be gone?” Twilight asked, hoping it was that easy, which, to her relief it, was confirmed with a nod. A small thought crossed her mind as she tried to remember where it was. “No, no, no, no, I... lost it on the way back home.” “Yeah, he has a tendency to do that, tricky thing he is. He just loves to run.” Even with the feeling of being stuck with a crazed stallion, she just couldn't help but notice what he said. “He?” Twilight questioned. “Yes, he, or Jack as he's named.” Bale noticed the confused look which made him smile to. “Yes, I know it might sound crazy, but when you give an object a name, you give it power to its name. I could explain it more, but we have a slight problem, now, don't we? You lost Jack, so you’re stuck with me till you die or you make a wish. I do warn you though, it comes at a cost.” The change in his tone caused a queasy feeling to form in her stomach. She didn't have any idea as who this stallion was or what he meant by “the cost.” “Why me? How can you grant wishes.” Those few simple words seemed to brighten up his demeanor quite a bit. “Let's start with why. Unlike what most would believe, I just like giving some ponies a choice that could change their lives. I find it fascinating as what they do with what I give them. It's like getting a cutie mark again or something like that. As to the how, I'm a great old arch mage with lost knowledge, with an age that puts Celestia to shame.” How can he be older than Celestia? She’s been around since the three tribes. “But how...” Twilight paused, searching for the right words to ask. “...can you be older than Celestia? Nopony can live that long.” “Ah, good question. Well, you see, I hate politics or more within ruling over ponies. I also hate being a part of public affairs. I just like watching from a distance as the world turns. So by the time I was Twenty-one, I sent myself into a limbo-like state. The coin, being the link between the two plane of existence. The spell also made the thing indestructible, too. So I continued my studies while messing about with what a story would call side characters. But still we have time for that later. So what do you love the most? Not who, but what.” “Um, knowledge? But that's impossible! No spell can work like that and I should know! I'm the Element of Magic!” Her disbelief just caused him to laugh. He's laughing? why is he laughing at what I just said? Twilight thought with a bit of growing rage. “That's because you and most of today's unicorns—and that includes Alicorns as well— make it too complicated to cast. You never just let things flow, you botch it up with formulas. That's why. Here let me show you something.” Before she could protest, he lit his horn and a large gust came through the room, sending some loose papers to scattered about. Twilight braced herself against the wind as large wooden objects seem to rush into the library, zipping past her at breathtaking speed. By the time it stopped, the sheer sight astonished her. What was once her home, the library had become what looked like endless rows of book cases. The amount of books here was beyond anything she had ever seen. There were more than the Canterlot Royal library and all the libraries combined. “It looks like I surprised you a bit. Now think, how did I bring you here if I didn't use a transportation spell?” Twilight tried to slowly regain her composure from the sheer volumes of books to think. “A dimension spell? But how could that be possible? We didn't go through any doorway or any kind of portal?” The stallion gave Twilight a small laugh. “Yes, because you haven't figured out how to apply it to thought yet. This you could say exists in a pocket dimension within a thought which I can conjure up at any time. Sounds impossible but it’s just as easy with growth spells. You see Twilight, I can give you this knowledge, but the cost would be quite high for all these volumes in here. Most have been lost to time itself as well some of my personally-written ones as well.” This is impossible and its a strange unicorn who you don't know or should trust. But the amount I can learn here is unbelievable. He could be some crazed blood ritual pony asking for your heart or this just a delusional dream. If it is a dream then there's no hurt to asking what the price is, then? The rational part of her mind gave into her curiosity, silencing her rational part. “Um, if what you been saying was true, and that's a big if, what would the price be?” “One sec on that.” The answer stumped her. He turned to her with a hoof raised and just sitting there. Is he thinking? she thought as his head was tilt down but soon shot up, “Yes, sorry about that.” He let his hoof fall to his side, looking straight at her with his full attention. “So what is the price?” She asked again with a bit more announce than before. “Well it's quite big, had to take a sec to figure out would be the appropriate price for all this and what I came to is a four-step payment.” “Four-step payment?” “Yes. As you can see this is a lot of knowledge,” he said, wave his other hoof in a slight swaying motion. “One wouldn’t do because it would be too much, and since the payments are what I want, they can be tricky.” “What you want? There's no standard in payment?” “Um no, think like a merchant. You had no big things, but you do have four little things you can sell.” “And what would they be?” “You know, you’re fun. The sarcasm and the rational fighting your curiosity for the thirst of knowledge makes you a load of fun. But, yes, back on track, they are your love for a particular somepony, your time, your mind and your freedom.” “You see, that's what I'm buying in a broad sense. What I'm asking for is a contract for you to complete a particular spell, you’ll become my student,” As he started to explain, the thought of having all these books to study slowly filled her joy. Well, for a nightmare, it’s kind of nice. “By the way this isn't a dream.” “W-what?” She asked' “No and yes. No, I'm not in your mind, but, yes, I can glimpse at the last ten or so seconds of your thoughts. It’s a neat spell, by the way. Still, this is not a dream, it’s real. As to the last two payments. One is to tell Princess Celestia that you wish to resign from being her student and accept a ten-year contract to work for me.” “Wait, what?” “That and give up your love for her as well.” His last few words chilled her to the bone. Give up my love for Celestia. The thought echoed throughout her mind. “It's not like you're going to hate her. There's different kinds of love. The one I'm talking about is the mother-daughter type. You'll still love her for being your princess, but that's all, and the other was so you don't get distracted. So to sum it up, apprentice to work for me ten years minimum while finishing a spell, giving up being the princess student and you give me the motherly love you have for her.” Twilight's mind was in jumbles. Stuck between two choices, two impossible things. One, a library of unknown knowledge. The other was her love for the Princess. He just sat there waiting for Twilight's answer, for her to accept or decline his deal. The thoughts raged in her head, back and forth in a endless debate. Her gut seemed to twist at the answer she came to. It almost left her sick. “What would I think of Celestia after if I made the deal?” “The same way you do now, just the thought of her being like a mother would strange to you and yes you will still be her friend without being her student.” She swallowed the large lump that formed in her throat as she cleared her mouth to speak. “I accept your deal.” > Well, There's Gose Poker > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- “So where do I begin?” Bale raised hoof just under his chin, mimicking deep thought. He eyed twilight out of the corner of eye, seeing her give him an irritated look. “How about,” she paused, turning to the bookshelf that held the potion. Without any effort, she levitated the potion off the shelf, across the room toward her. “What exactly did I make? Why is it gray? What is it for-” “Okay now, lest start with one question at a time.” As he moved to cut her off, Bale could of sworn he saw Twilight grinning. “Now, what you made with the spell is a love transfer potion.” Twilight just blinked at his statement, 'Love Transfer potion?' “Right, it's effects is to drain love. The spell it self that you preformed, refined which love it would take.” 'So that's explains the two pages of footnotes and reference pages for them.' “So I'm to assume that gray was meant as neutral then?” “Truth be told, I don't know.” he stated, giving a chuckle. Twilight's mind sputtered for a sec, “Wait, then why-” “Gray? I really don't know.” He noticed the book sitting just on the edge of desk. Walking towards it, “As you well know I did most, well, actually all the writing. By the time he finished making the spell that resided in here,” he said, taping the book with a a hoof. “He kind of lost his mind.” “Wait, I read that note. Who was Angle horn?” Twilight wondered about the unicorn, mostly out of the thought, If he was capable of this what else did he do, what creations did he make? The sheer idea of a pony just as wise him existed her and thrilled her to the possibility of more. “Um,” Twilight notice a slight change in his demented. His shoulders slumped a bit, the smile he had wavered, and what she thought was regret in his eyes. It seemed she hit a sore spot. “You've read the note right?” twilight nodded. “Yeah, he did go mad. I mean, all the work and studies in this field of magic were astounding. But messing with this, even worse failing and being hit by the rebound messed with his head,” as he finished, his eyes drifted to the book. “I showed him this magic's possibility, its raw power.” The tone of voice he gave was cold, drained of all emotion. “Out of a deal of course,” he finished, meeting twilight's eyes. “What kind of deal.” She couldn't help but asked. “The same as yours,” as those words left his mouth, he heat skipped a beat. The look in his eyes was...cheerful? “Ha ha! Now that look was priceless.” He suddenly burst into laughter, slumping forward, failing to stay up right. The emotion of fear was giving way to anger, shutting her eyes in hope she wouldn't do what she was thinking. While catching a glance of the slowly enraging Twilight, he quickly quiet down his laughter. “Now, now, it was only a joke!” “So what happened then?” “He did go crazy, like coo-coo nut-bag crazy. It was around the time he wrote the emotional control section of his book. You see, a recoil from one of those spells have a good chance to shatter ones mind. Sadly to say, by the time I came upon his book, his mind was gone.” A ting of sadness pulled at Twilight's heart. 'All that he could accomplish, gone.' “So, what become of him?” She notice the same shift in character from before, she wasn't going to let him get a hooves up on her again. The book rose slightingly from her desk, disappearing in a flash of light. “His foot notes made no sense, it would go on about doing something with a chicken or some kind of bird.” The depressing tone of his voice seemed to match what she was feeling. “By the time I meet Angle again, his mind was beyond gone. His wished to know ones mind so, I pointed him in that direction. I personally, don't think its my fault that he went off and killed a pony because of it.” “Wait, he killed a pony?” she asked, trying to process the sheer idea of a pony killing another pony. The idea alone was Disturbing, the thought it happened was sicking. “Yeah, he kidnapped a young stallion and proceed to do something. Something I wish not to repeat.” he shifted his gaze over to a window, it seemed like he was sad about what happened. She soon snapped out of her sad mood with a single thought, He's probably trying play some kind of joke again. Not this time buddy. “What was the stallions name? What happened after the...murder?” She hopped that the questions weren't to much. Twilight still had some reserves about the whole contract thing, she still even doubt that he's even old than Celestia. He gave a heavy sigh before he began to speak again. “Well the royal guard found him and...the kidnapped stallion. The stallions name was Silver Hoof or was it Iron Hoof? He was later convicted for first degree murder. Celestia in all her wisdom was beyond and realm of mercy an sentence him to life but before he could be sent off, he escaped or tried to. He injured several guards and attacked Celestia. She ended up killing him.” His whole statement made her stomach turn. It was impossible, Celestia doesn't kill any pony. She even removed the death penalty, only giving life in prison as the highest punishment. There hasn't even been a murder or a war for the last thousands hundred years. Twilight kept he self composed, trying not to let her disbelief show. The sound of him clearing his throat pulled her attention back to him. “Lets change topics shall we?” he said taking the potion away from her. “You see, the potion work like this; it will drain the motherly love you have for Celestia. After that, you will only feel a connection to the Princess only as a friendly level. Any questions so far?” Twilight stared at him with a blank look before shacking her head. “Awesome, now as I said before. Drinking this is like signing a contract. You will become my apprentice and cut off Celestia as a teacher. You'll the proceeded to finish a particular spell and work with me for ten years. So do you accepted these conditions?” He levitated the potion up to her face. 'This is it, do this and it becomes permanent.' “There's no going back is there?” 'Nope. You'll disconnect Princess Celestia from your life.' Its when the reality of that thought hit, the uneasiness in her stomach increased ten fold. Her balance began to waver as she try to maintain her balance. She nearly fell to the floor, only thing that was stopping her was her two front hooves she locked in place. Twilight's back legs weren't so lucky, buckling under her as her plot hit the floor. Her eyes locked on the potion, on the very liquid that was sealed inside. Its dull was the center of her thoughts. If she drank this, a whole new world of knowledge would be open to her but she will lose something in return. 'Well, nothing ventured, nothing gained.' “You know, it's all rig-” he stopped speaking as twilight balanced on her hunches. Her front hooves quickly garbed the potion, yanking it away from his magical grip. Bale watch as she proceeded to chug the entire concoction down to its last drops. Only then did she drop the the glass vile. The sound of it hitting the floor echoed through out her bedroom. 'Weird' she thought looking toward Bale again. “Well...I would have recommended.... tooo sslloo...” His voice became waving and deep, she tried to forces on what he was saying but completely failed to. She almost fail to notice the wall be hind him wall slowly morphing, turning into a strange shape. She looked about trying to figure out what was going on. Her bedroom looked to be melting, pieces of the ceiling and walls were oozing down toward the floor. She started freak out , turning to bale in some hope of finding out what was happening. She found him sinking into the floor, fighting to stay afloat. She tried to move toward him but found her back legs were stuck in the floor. Twilight's heart was beating even faster now as she tried to free her self. In her her panic to free her self, a sicking crunching sound caught her attention. Her sight came back to the wall, finding it had began to move toward her. Her fear was in full swing now as she watched a head had began to form. With each second that passed, the more she struggled. The head was inching its way over, slowly forming ears, eyes, nose and a horn. It extended a part of it self to construct a snout, “tummight.” Her heart skipped as she heard it hummed something. In a burst of new fear set in, she ripped her back leg out of the floor. The pain that shoot through her was nearly unbelievable as she scrambled backwards away from the pony shaped head. “tummight,” it hummed again as she tried to get away. She felt something solid hit her back, turning to see it was one of her bedroom walls. The wood on the floor reformed and lock her hooves in the floor once more. She struggled in vain to free her self, only looking ahead as a new noise began. She watched a the he began to rip, the sound was horrible. It was as if its skin was tearing it self apart. Twilight watched in horror as its mouth began to take shape, reveling rows of sharp, jagged teeth. “Why, Twiiiliiight?” Even in fear, its voice sound familiar. The kind genital tone replaced with one of anger and sadness. The features on its face seemed more defined now, more well know to her. It was then her heart stopped. “Celestia?” “Why TWILIGHT! Did you go” She was frozen in fear as the head drew closer. She was too stunned to even speak. “WHY!” Celestia yelled, stretching her jaw to a sickening degree. The head launched it self towards twilight. All she could do was scream. Twilight bolted straight up, screaming with all the air her lungs held. She lasted for a good minute before trying to breath. The air she breathed in was stale, making it hard to swallow. Something fell just in view, from her head. It was a slightly damp rage. Before she could wander why it was on her head, there was a clicking sound. Twilight snapped her head in the direction of the noise, finding Spike standing out just behind a door. “Oh, Twilight, your awake! Great, I made something for you to eat.” the sight of Spike standing there confused her, it confused her even more that he was holding a tray of Hay Fry's and a Dandelion sandwich. It was then she noticed that she was in her own bed room which made her heart beat a bit faster. “You've been asleep for two days now, I was getting worried when you'll wake up.” “T-two days,” she said realizing her throat was significantly raw, making it hard to talk. “Yeah, you were screaming in your sleep the whole time. I had the local Doctor come by and check up on yo. He said you developed a terrible fever and to stay in bed for the next few days.” he said, walking toward her bed. He placed the tray down on the night stand that sat next to her bed. She eyed the food with hunger till a thought crossed her mind. 'A fever? I don't remember being sick.' “It scared me and Rarity nearly to death when we found you past out on the floor. She tended to you as I ran to grab the Doctor.” She gave him a smile and a kind nod. He brought an arm up to the back of his head, “He-he, yeah, I better go see Rarity. She wanted me to find her when you woke up. I better get going.” Twilight eyed Spike as he made his way out of her room. She wonder if what happened was a dream. Her gaze turned from the door to the desk, finding that it was cleared. Before she could question why, a figure's shadow loomed over her right side. She snapped to her right, finding that same stallion standing there. “Well then, good morning there sunshine.” Her mouth hung open, she astonished by the sight that stood before her. The same stallion stood there, with the same tan coat, the same blue hoody, the same charming smile. The only difference was that his hood was down this time. His deep purple color of his eyes contrasted amazingly with his short banged cut ocean blue main. The slightly toned features of his face seemed simple marvelous to Twilight. “Am I really that ugly?” She instinctively shock her head. He looked away for a sec with what she thought was him blushing. “All right,” He said clearing his throat, levitating a small shot glass with what look to be some strange green colored liquid in it. “You should drink this before you eat. It'll help with your painful throat.” Being half groggy and sore, she half mindfully accepted the drink. As soon as the shot content touched her tong, she was instantly hit with a wave of disgust. A vile taste of Seawater mix regurgitated grass with a splash high grain Buck Daniels. The liquid it self mange to enter her stomach but with thought causing her to gag and cough horrible. It was then her stomach began to twist in pain, as what ever she just drank bubbling away. She had the sicking notion of throwing up just then, only realizing it past as quickly at it came. It was confusing, she felt the exact same before she drank that vile liquid. As though nothing has changed in the slightest. “What did I just drink?” She thought out loud, just noticing that she could now speak comfortable without her throat hurting. “A small potion that cures a terrible sore throat.” “What happened? Spike said I was out screaming for two day straight?” 'there couldn't have been anything wrong with the potion. I preformed the spell correctly and I used the higher end of ingredients to make it.' “Yes, that was my fault I'm afraid. I forgot to warn you to only lightly sip at it. It has a hell of a kick back, creating a horrific nightmare to the straight of the emotion that is taken away. I do say that your motherly love for Celestia was strong indeed.” A wave of relief washed over her, hearing that what she just went through was a dream. A very frightening dream but a dream no less. The was a slight grumble as her stomach complained of it emptiness. He gave a slight chuckle, causing her to look away a little bit embarrassingly. It wasn't till her eyes landed on the food tray that stood on her nigh stand that a particular questioned formed. 'Why did Spike act so...normal and how was she...' “So, what was your name again?” “Bale Wind or Shadow, what ever you prefer.” “Mister Bale, why did Spike act like the past couple of day were normal?” The cheerful look that adored his face, disappeared at Twilight's cold words. He tried to say something but the stare he got from her caused him to fumble the thought. “Just what did you do?” > A Pair of Two's > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- He tried come up with some answer that wouldn't sound too...evil. Sadly the stare he got from twilight, just wouldn't let his mind come up with an excuse. As he felt the harden stare morph into a gaze of anger. He he shifted his weight uncomfortably before he took a seat near the far end of her bed, turning to meet her gaze once again. “It wasn't anything bad,” his to tone was less than convincing to twilight. “What did you do?” she demanded once more. “I altered some of his memory.” Twilight’s mind, being built like the a filing system, quickly connected the words 'Altered' to 'control' and 'memory' to 'mind'. She then reached a sub category of dark magic, leading her to on conclusion of his statement. 'He placed Spike under a mind control spell and now he's Bale's slave.' “How dare you place him under mind control! I have every right to beat the living crap out of you!” she instantly blurted out, jumping off the bed, shoving him across the room into wall with her magic. As she step closer to demand he release Spike, she caught the look of pure confusion on the stallions face. The look alone raised a question for her but not no more than realizing she just through another pony across her room into a wall. Or that fact she just threaten to injure him as well. “Well, I can easily say I wasn't expecting that.” The sound of him wheezing out his words scared her to her core, causing bale fall to the floor as her magical death grip loosened. She watched him cough as he caught his breath. Why did I do that? she questioned herself, trying to get a get hold of her self. Twilight could feel the intense hatred, the unbridled rage for what he did to Spike. The sheer amount of forces that she wants to call upon for retribution terrified her. Not in all her years did she ever feel this way about anypony or any thing before. “Right, note to self, remember to put a section down in the book about forgotten emotions.” Bale still felt a bit shaken, not by the lack of air but the unaccepted unbridled rage that Twilight just exerted. He cursed him self mentally for forgetting about them, he really needed to remember a lot of thing. As he raised his head, getting to his hooves, he noticed Twilight with a belief of shock written across her face. If he didn't know better, she seemed about to burst into tears at any second. “Now Twilight...” “I just tried to kill you?” Her voice unsteady as she started to back up, bumping into the wall that her bed sat on. She slumped down to the floor repeating, “I just tried to kill you.” “You need to listen to me...” he said trying to sound soothing and kind as he moved toward her. She cringed as her got closer, “What you feeling now is abnormal. There known as forgotten emotions.” He could see tears starting to flow down her face, the sight seemed to tugged at his heart a bit. I've all ways hated a crying mare, he thought as he continued. “They are the emotions that get lost or pushed away when something stronger over powered them. Think of a couple who are in love but one day they break up. The mare wished to forget the love she had and did the same spell you did. She forgot it but the love she felt at the time taught her not to be selfish. So without it, she felt her self be selfish the first time in years.” She sniffled as her eyes looked up to his, her violet staring in to his. He took that as a note she was listening, “You see Twilight, what your feeling is abnormal yes but in the same sense normal. You just never had felt that type of anger or protective rage before because of the love you had for Celestia was blocking it.” “So me throwing you into the wall, ready to beat you senseless was normal?” Twilight's voice still shaky but she seemed to be getting a handle on the emotion. “Well, that was like jumping into a debate about bobby pins with a sword, threatening somepony in the crowd to eat a taco. There's just no way to respond to that.” He watched for a sec, finding the lack of reaction a little uneasy. “If it makes you feel better, I didn't use mind control on that Spike fellow. Just a simple post hypnotic suggestion and that is all.” “Honestly, I would recommend a day or two to recover, to get use to feeling that anger, that frustration. If you don't, well, just think of the next pony you snap at.” He was trying to sound sincere but it came off sounding a bit to demanding for his tastes. Bale was trying to find something to say to her, something to comfort her. He could stand to see her curled up in a ball, crying her heart out. It wasn't the cry that got him but just the sheer sight of a pony having a mental break down of any kind is weird. They mumble, complain, or just wail out in irrational thoughts which irritated the hell out of him. Now that is just depressing, he watched her pull her purple tail up between her hooves; cradling it. He watched for what was a good twenty minutes, hopping Twilight would get some kind of hold on her emotions. Sadly, she didn't, Now she's just mumbling incoherently about a guy named Tom, Bale sighed as he walk over to Twilight; taking a seat just by her self cradled head. “Now Twilight this is going to be weird,” he said to her not really caring if she heard or at least alone understood it. His horn glowed as he prepared a spell, Twilight being none the wiser as she rocked back and forth. He moved his horn to touch the base of her skull, were her horn laid. With a steady breath he finished the spell, quickly diving away covering his ears. Even to his best efforts and abilities, he failed to block what could have been recorded as 'Equestria loudest Scream.' Its sheer strength left him disoriented. He mental kicked himself from choosing this method but what was done was done. The scream it self didn't last long before it subsided as twilight tried to gain control of her breathing. She felt confused, no lost as she try to understand what she just did and why? Her mind felt jumbled with the conflict of emotions that are brimming in side of her. She felt scared, scared that some devilish creature just tried to kill her. But in the same sense Twilight felt her self being the creature, feeling it joy of hunting her self. Tear slowly formed as she looked around the room for a reason why. Her sights fell upon an familiar stallion, who was trying to stop the defining ringing that was now plaguing his hearing. “W-What did you d-do to me?” Twilight asked, swiping away the lingering tears. She watched Bale as he wonder a few steps mumbling about something before turning to look directly at her. “As I said, your now feeling a fluctuation of you emotional self...” “Yes! I know cause I can feel it but that doesn't tell me why!” She growled at him, instantly felt like laughing at the whole statement now. There was one emotion that never changed throw out the entire moment. Fear. “Its because you gave me that emotion, your love for Celestia. When one give up a emotion, no matter which one, his/her's mind has to adjust its self. Right now your trying to figure out how not have her as a motherly figure will change your actions. Its like you never had her compassion,” he sighed heavily, “Its very difficult to explain. Just try to relax, zen out for a sec is the only likely workable advise I can give.” Twilight listened with curiosity and confusion. Mostly do to the fact that some were deep down she wanted to rip off the head of this insufferable stallion. The hallow feeling that swarmed her mind caused her to shiver. The fluctuations of her emotions left her feeling dizzy and slightly nauseous as well. What is going on with me? The room it self felt like it was spinning as she looked around only to shut her eyes in hope of keeping what ever wanted up from her stomach from saying hello to the floor. Her mind wandered a sec as she heard hooves steps, assuming it was the stallions and payed it no mind. Maybe he's right about trying to relax. I mean I could really use a nice hot cup of tea right now, with a nice long book, on a warm sunny day in the shade of one of the trees near the lake. Her mussel relaxed as she imagined the perfect day of relaxation. Rarity and Fluttershy may have the spa but all she needed was a great day and even better book. With the tension leaving Twilight's mussels, the nauseous and the constant dizziness was also subsiding. Right, what do I have to be worried about? I've spent years learning magic spells and incantation along with the other junk I had to learn. Just as sentience formed in her head so did the nightmare. The image of the her Princess, her mentor, maybe even a step mother attack her out of anger and disgust. The feeling of fear was slowly returning, the fear of failing Princess Celestia, disappointing her, to cause her to cry. It felt like daggers shoved straight into her beating heart as the sheer thought of her doing that. Why should you feel bad? Twilight's mind halted to a stand still as those words echoed out of no where but seemed to be whispered straight into her ear. The realization of what she was feeling, the whole idea of failing her mentor, the pain she was feeling for these thought, all felt...wrong. Why should she feel bad? Because of a nightmare or even thought of causing the Princess disappointment? No. There's no logical reasoning for her to feel fear or to even feel bad. If any thing she should be proud that Twilight is finally stepping out from her role of a student. If any thing she should feel ecstatic for now she has no limits to what she could study. With the last of the dizziness and nauseous finally leaving her and a new feeling of joy taking its place, she reopens her eyes to her room. Finding that he did move from where he once stood, Twilight gave a quick glance around her bed room as she stood up. The room it felt different as she took in its familiar features. It felt new and old, giving the sense of déjà vu from the same old bed to book shelf that stood on the opposite wall. It all most felt...like she was in some other pony's home. Her sight fell upon her desk and and the same stallion messing about it contents. “Hey, what are-” her thought was cut of as her bedroom door busted ope the door. The simple idea of all the abuse the door had seen since an before she moved in,it was surprising that it hasn't fallen of its hinges yet. But before the idea took root though, the site of a obviously distress mare panting in the door way off setting. Her coat and mane were well maintained to a degree she instantly assumed obsessive. The droplets of sweet that hung to here overly bright white coat and purple mane seemed to shine in the light. The panic look showed in every inch of her eye's. Just who is- “My dear, is every thing alright?! I was speaking with spike when we hear your scream clear across town.” The white mare said trying to catch her breath. It took Twilight a seconded to place the voice, only to realize it was Rarity. It was puzzling, why didn't she instantly reconsigned Rarity? An why dose it feel weird to find her standing in the middle of her bedroom door way? She tried to say something to her friend but found her self at a lost of words. “Twilight are you all right? Do you still fell ill? Dear me I wish-” Rarity's voice abruptly stopped as she walked closer. Twilight caught the absence of her voice, blinked in confusion. Only realizing that Rarity was eying a particular stallion messing about her personnel desk still. Rarity only continued to stare only to briefly switched it to Twilight then back to the stallion. The gears in Twilight's head finally started to turn as a sting of panic stated to rise. How am I going to explain him being in my house? How is Rarity going to react to him being here? Sadly what bugged her more for some reason was, why was it only Rarity who came and not any other pony in town? “Hey, Twi, just got back from-” Rarity jumped abruptly by the the new voice to appeared just out of no where. Her gaze shot to him with a small glare. “Spike! what, don't sneak up on me.” “Hehe, sorry.” A wait seemed to be lifted off her as she watched spike. The sight of him with thought harm some how put her entire bod at ease. She almost forgot about the fact Rarity barged into her room an found her with a strange tan stallion. What could she say to fix what ever misunderstanding her friend was having? “hum, oh, we have a visitor?” The sound of Bale's brought her brain back to one hundred percent, working on a way to explain him being here, in her room, while she was supposedly sick. I'm screwed. “Hey, Bale, so I take it that every thing is finalized?” Spike's statement confused not only Rarity but Twilight as well. What did he finalized? Was it her agreement she made with him? But how did he know what she did? Wait! If he new then the princess could know and...strange. All she felt was strange. “Yep, just got done signing the lease. So as soon as I get this to town hall, will be roommates.” “Awesome!” What? “What?”