In my life, I've learned several things. One of them is that an early morning jog can be quite healthy. That is, unless it's actually a full out sprint and you are being chased by a legion from Hell. It is especially fun when there is an angry draconequus leading the charge. I would give anything to understand how they knew we were coming that night. I guess I've never really been the sneakiest pony, but how could he have known? Suppressing a shudder, I quickly looked back at the evening's attempts to break into the heart of Discord's territory, Canterlot.
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Us three companions stood atop a hill, adjacent to the city of Canterlot. It was the eve of the 100th year of Discord’s rule. We were the last of the Rebellion, once swelling with numbers, now dwindled down to three. We represented the three races of ponies, along with our last hope to escape Discord’s grasp.
“Alright, lets go over the plan one more time.”
“There are three stages that we must complete tonight.”
“Stage one, gain entrance to the castle. Blaze, you will use the fake invitation we secured, Siltrix and I will descend from cloud layer using magic and wings. Blaze, once inside, make a show and cause a distraction. If you can play it off well, Discord will love it. Keep his attention. Once that has started we will sneak into the castle and start phase 2. I'll head to the royal archives and attempt to break the spell Discord has around the magic scrolls, but we need a back-up plan in case this fails. Siltrix will sneak around the guards and attempt to free the Princesses being held in the anti-magic dungeons.”
“If I cannot free the princesses, we'll use Plan 2, meaning I will find you and have you try to magically destroy the cage. Once Celestia and Luna are free, Blaze will disperse the memory spell powder to remind the ponies of their true enemy, and we will take up arms against him.”
“Phase 3, fighting Discord.”
“The princesses will fight Discord’s magical abilities, so he can’t escape or use magic for combat. The rest of us and our newly recruited guards will fight and, if possible, kill Discord.”
“Alright chums, time’s up. Let’s do this.”
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Any pony worth their bits would say that every action has good and bad consequences, and this situation definitely had them. Luckily, I had managed to get the time scroll from the Star Swirl the Bearded section in the Canterlot Archives. Then again, I was being chased by Discord's main 'police' force. Not bad for my first break in, I guess.
I ran faster and faster, using a little spell that proved to be handy. It’s a good thing I spent so much time in the training ward of the secret magic school of Ponyville (it had to be secret, as Discord would never allow such a thing), but it drained my energy all the same, and I didn’t know how much longer I could run and do magic at the same time. The spell is pretty simple, causing the wind to push me from behind.
Suddenly a giant fish fell out of the sky and landed right next to me. "What the-" I started to say, and then Discord laughed. He was laughing the whole time of course, but that’s beside the point. I must say, I was never fond of his laugh. It never meant anything good. A giant rift opened in the ground and I almost fell in, jumping just in time. I kept running, determined to get away, not thinking about how unfair this “fight” was, if you could call it a fight. It was more of a chase, really. Discord had immense amounts of magic power, and could pretty much do whatever he wanted, whenever he wanted. The flowers around me started to sink into the ground, then made a ticking noise. Every other sound stopped. There was only ticking. The beeps got faster and faster, then I realized what was happening. My eyes widened and I braced myself as the ground exploded where the flowers were. Each detonation brought pieces of dirt and flower petals soaring through the air, along with more of the sounds that were there before. After about six explosions everything was normal again. Well, that’s not true. Nothing could really be normal with Discord in command. I’ll rephrase myself: The noises were sounding like they were before.
I was getting really tired. I had to stop doing magic while running, because I couldn’t keep up with the strain much longer. Apparently Discord could tell. There was a small 'pop' next to me, and there he was, floating along beside me with a grin.
"Tired? Don't worry, go ahead and take a nap. You're friends are taking one too, if you know what I mean."
"NO!" I yelled, but it's not like there was anything I could do. I had to turn my head and close my eyes just to keep running, fighting tears.
"Ha!" snorted Discord. "Your friends weren't as much fun. I expected more for how long you've been planning. Oop! You weren't supposed to know, were you? I had my eye on you the whole time! I just thought everything would turn out more enjoyable this way. I was right, wasn't I?" He smiled slyly.
I screamed, “Rrrgh! Shut UP!”
Discord laughed again. Then he poked me and said "I think it’s time for a game."
He popped away and I could feel myself being lifted up. “Let go, you piece of...” I said, but looking up, I saw nothing was there. I tried to grab onto the grass, but it was hard to get a good grip. I flailed around as I started to fly into the sky.
‘He reversed gravity!’ I thought to myself, and I knew I was done for. I would die once I got too far up for sure, but then a giant tube appeared around me, about ten times my height. I smacked my head on the ceiling/ground and shouted in pain. It was solid concrete, so you could say it hurt a little. I was dazed for a few seconds, but I shook my head and kept running. I couldn't stop. Not yet.
“I call this game: The Tube O’ Fun!” said Discord. “So here are the rules: Don’t mess up! Hahaha!”
A giant wall leaped up in front of me, and, surprised, I skidded to a stop. Then the ground and all around the cylinder behind me somehow caught on fire (purple, of course), and the heat was quickly advancing. I bounded off again, understanding Discord’s little game. I would have to keep running, dodging around his walls, or else I would be eaten by the inferno that was steadily coming in my direction. I thought this would be a snap, but then he tweaked the game a little. The gravity flipped again, except for instead of completely switching, it was a 90 degree turn.
“Oof!” I said as my side hit the wall. I righted myself again and quickly sped off. How could I not have seen that coming? I was in a tube, after all. Obviously this was the next step to the game. I cursed myself under my breath as Discord laughed. “You’re gonna have to do better than that!” he shouted after me.
I knew he was right. While running, I tried to think of how I could not fall when gravity was switched. ‘I can’t just land on my feet, it’s impossible to turn in the air.’
‘What if I use magic to flip in the air?’
‘No, I won’t have enough time...’
‘Well I have to do something! What if I just push off with my left legs when the gravity goes to the right and vise versa?’
‘I guess it could work... we’ll just have to tr- LOOK OUT FOR THAT WALL!’
‘Well I know to look out, you’re me aren’t you?’ I thought as I ran around the newly popped-up wall.
‘Shut up.’ So, having figured out a way to get around the new version of the tube game, I was feeling pretty confident. Kind of. Another wall appeared, and I dodged around it, then gravity changed by about 60 degrees to the left. I jumped using only my right legs, and that seemed to work okay. I was a little off balance at first, but I was fine. A hole opened up in front of me and I jumped over, a wall came out from above and I dove under. Doing a roll to keep moving helped, and then I was back up on my hooves. A jet of flame shot out from the right and I dodged left.
“Is that all you've got?” I asked Discord idiotically.
“Hehehe... not even close...” he said from all around me. It was a little creepy, I will admit.
Then gravity flipped all the way around again, and I couldn’t decide which legs to jump with fast enough. I jumped with all of them accidentally and landed extra hard on my head. “OW!” I shouted.
“Ha! Whoops!” laughed Discord. I hated not being able to see him. The disembodied voice was unnerving.
The flames were still advancing, and I needed to keep running. Then I thought gravity was changing again, but actually the tube had started rotating. It was really hard to run that way, as I had to move sideways and forward at the same time, while dodging obstacles and keeping up with ever changing gravity. I started to get dizzy, and was dry heaving a little. “This isn’t fair!” I yelled.
“Too hard? Ready to give up yet? I hope you know you can’t win,” he said.
“NO! NEVER!” I screamed, knowing that the game was pointless. It would never end, as long as Discord liked it. I concluded that in order to make the game end, I would have to destroy the tube. I used some of my precious energy to make a hole in the tube, and I jumped out of it.
“Done already? You’re no fun,” Discord said.
I realized my bad decision immediately, as gravity hadn't been facing the correct way when I was in the tube. I was flying towards some physics-defying buildings, about to go splat on one, when Discord flipped it back to normal.
“We wouldn't want our fun to end like that, now would we?” he said in his normal patronizing voice.
So tired I could barely continue, only pure will and determination to be victorious kept me going after my body began to fail. My vision started to haze, blurring to a new extreme. Fluid filled my lungs and every breath hurt like a buck to the chest.
'I have to do something now, he is just too fast and strong.'
'I need time to cast the spell. I need a distraction.'
'But how? I can’t run, I can’t attack him, I can’t do anything.'
'I can trick him.'
'Again, the question is: how? He’s the king of the tricksters. I need to disable him in some way.'
'If he can’t see, he can’t fight.’
Scraping up some will and magic in me, I began to prepare a spell. "HEY DISCORD!"
"Mmm? Yes? Done already? You wanna surren-”
"SOLAR FLARE, BITCH!" Using my magic, I create a wave of intense sound and incandescent light that exploded a thousand times brighter than the sun and a million times more surprising than any firework.
"AAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHH MY EYES!!!!!! FUN'S OVER, YOU'RE DONE!!!!"
Quickly diving under a ripped up slab of stone, I grabbed the time scroll out of my saddlebag and began reading quickly, knowing I had seconds before he regained basic eye functions. With a new found fury, Discord would be out to kill, not just mess around. It was my last shot at stopping him, I had to act immediately.
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The Scroll of Time Travel
This spell should not be used lightly, even casting the spell will have untold effects and may change the flow of time. Be warned, a few days back will not mess up the River of Time much, but going back too far will throw the flow off into an entirely new course. The use of this magic will indefinitely transport you back in time. So far, nopony has been able to find a spell that will bring you back to your original time. To go back for a short period of time, USE A DIFFERENT SPELL. The spell applies the use of four separate weavings of energy, and a single flaw in any will almost surely result in death. The first weave is the protection of the physical body, preventing harm upon travel. The next weave protects the mind; without this, time travel will drive the caster insane just by looking into the infinite ravages of time. The third weave creates a theoretical bridge between the dimensions, allowing for the travel of time. The final weave is the actual transport between the dimensions. Remember, this spell can and will change the flow of time, and is not to be used lightly. You have been warned.
How to do this spell: …
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I finished reading as quickly as I could, and then started to perform the complicated spell. I had to stop running and jump into a ditch, because of the amount of magic it took. I was almost fainting as it was, and performing spells never helps. I concentrated as hard as I could and tried to completely clear my mind, apart from the spell. I stopped thinking about Discord, about my two dead friends that I would never see again, about how if the army behind me caught up, I would join my friends in endless darkness... with a grunt I put all my power, mental and physical, into this spell, which was most definitely the most difficult and complicated I had ever attempted. My horn was starting to spark, and glow brighter and brighter. A layer of pure energy formed, and I knew I was getting close.
“Time for bed!” shouted Discord. I could tell he was on my trail. My horn started to crackle and the glow died.
“Rrgh!” I said, frustrated. My mind had still been full of useless thoughts about what Discord would do to me when he found me.
‘Stop,’ I commanded myself. ‘Stop thinking about trivial things. Don’t be distracted. Do the spell.’ It’s a good thing I’m pretty good at following orders, (as long as I give them myself) but I did know I would have to protect myself while performing this. As I tried again, I made a small shield around myself. Then I closed my eyes and concentrated even harder than before. A layer of energy formed around my horn again, this time made of the hatred of evil. Then a second layer formed, made of determination. Third, another layer, made of pure will.
BAM! A rock flew into my magic shield, causing it to waver slightly. “Mph!” I said under my breath, but continued the spell. I couldn’t stop yet.
“I’M NOT DONE WITH YOU!” yelled Discord as he commanded inanimate objects to fly at me, using his chaotic magic. When each thing hit my shield it exploded, causing the shield to lose power and weaken slightly, yet I continued the spell. I could not give in.
Unfortunately, it seemed that he realized he couldn’t break the shield fast enough. He went for a different tactic instead. A flow of... something... started to come out of him, flying towards me, accelerating extremely quickly. It leaped at my shield and seeped through the cracks, forming at my sides and stabbing into me. It felt like a million tiny needles jabbing at me, but instead of coming back out they stayed in me.
“You will not escape unscathed!”
“You’re too late Discord!”
“Have fun stopping me when you can’t remember who I am.”
Discord began to launch a barrage of spells hitting in a circular area on my shield, weakening the area in between the shots. With a roar he fired a large bolt of energy that slammed right into the shield. As that happened, a fourth layer formed around my horn, that time made of hope, and I had only had seconds before I was teleported away. Discord’s spell broke the shield, and an ear shattering shockwave blasted everywhere. The spell hit me directly, but at that same moment the time travel spell finished, and I was shot into the past.
“Spike, is lunch ready yet?” Twilight Sparkle yelled in Spike’s direction.
“Almost, Twilight!” responded Spike. He was making soup for them in the kitchen.
“Oh good. I forgot to eat breakfast today because when I woke up I thought I was behind on my research but then it turned out I wasn't but I had already started reading this great book about Starswirl the Bearded. Did you know that he invented over twenty spells in under a year? Most unicorns never invent any spells, and if they do it’s just one or two. It’s amazing, really. Do you wanna hear the list of the spells?”
“Uh...”
Before he could answer, the library started to shake, and there was a loud high pitched screeching. The books fell off of the shelves (She had just reorganized those!) and Spike spilled the big pot of scalding soup he was holding onto himself.
“Ouch! Twilight, what’s going on?” Spike yelled over the booming ruckus.
“I don’t know! Maybe it’s an earthquake?!” Twilight yelled back.
“I don’t think earthquakes are supposed to screech like that!” Spike said.
Then the noise quickly stopped as a small ball of intense light formed in the middle of the room. Twilight’s horn started sparking from the high concentration of magical energy, and she yelped in pain. As the room shook, the energy sphere condensed, and with a “BANG!” it exploded, bathing the room in a bright green light. Once it was over, Twilight looked to where the magical energy had gathered.
A teal unicorn laid upon the floor, jet black hair dangling over the motionless form. Getting over her initial shock, Twilight looked intently at the unicorn. It was covered in scratches, blood oozed out from dozens of long gashes covering its body. This pony was a mare, and she appeared to have stopped breathing.
“SPIKE! Get Nurse Red-Heart over here now!” Twilight said.
“Okay, Twilight!” Spike yelled, getting up and running for the door. As he went to get the nurse, Twilight examined the mare more closely. Getting nearer, she could feel the magic remnants of a very powerful spell. The intensity of it hurt her horn a little, but she felt like something was familiar about it. She didn't think she had performed something exactly like it before, but something related maybe...
Twilight didn't have too much time to dwell on this, as the new pony started to awaken. Her eyes fluttered open and her chest started moving up and down, ever so slightly. She was raspy with every short breath, obviously in lots of pain. Twilight thought something must have gone wrong wherever she had come from, as spells don’t usually inflict so much damage unless performed incorrectly. Eyes unfocused, she moved her mouth as if trying to say something, but no noise came out. Her right front leg twitched, and she groaned a little in pain. That caused Twilight to notice her cutie mark, which was very strange to say the least. She had never seen anypony else with a cutie mark like it, besides her own, which it seemed to be similar to. It seemed to be a circle surrounded by a triangle, and transcribed inside was a star.
“It must have something to do with magic,” she muttered to herself. She didn't much like when somepony has a talent similar to her own. She liked being special, though she wouldn't say so out loud.
“Who are you?” Twilight asked, sounding a little more aggressive than she had meant to. The mare didn’t respond. She just lied there. Twilight started to tear up a little, as it was hard for her to look at somepony in so much pain (but that’s something she would have to get used to pretty soon). She tried again. “Who are you?” she inquired, but more gently that time, taking a timid step towards the barely-conscious pony. Still no answer. She hoped Spike would return soon with the nurse.
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‘It hurts.’
The pain was unbearable, like some sort of animal was biting, chewing, tearing into my flesh.
Mustering up my strength, I began to feel out where I was, unable yet to open my eyes. I felt a soft surface over my limp form, and a cushion-like feeling under me.
‘I must be in a bed somewhere.’
Opening my eyes, all I could see was white; white walls, white floor, white bed sheets, white window drapes. There was a single red cross on the door, symbolizing this to be a hospital. I was about to call out, but suddenly I felt a wave of exhaustion catching up to me, and I passed out.
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“Nurse, is she going to be alright?” Twilight asked fearfully.
“I don’t know. It’s too close to call. She has dozens of strange wounds, an extreme case of magical exhaustion, and an immense amount of lost blood. I wouldn't be surprised if she went into a coma for a few weeks.”
Twilight held back tears, but retained her composure. “Well... can’t you just let me cast a healing spell on her?”
“We both know that won’t work, Twilight. Healing spells only work on minor injuries, and they don’t affect magical wounds. This pony has obviously gone through some trauma, probably from trying to do a very complex spell. I’m sorry, but we’re just going to have to wait this one out. You may stay here if you wish, but I doubt she will be able to do anything for a few days.”
“Sigh...” Twilight hated not being able to do anything to help.
After a moment, Nurse Redheart looked up at the purple mare from her clipboard. “Twilight, who is this pony? I've never seen her before.”
Twilight thought for a moment, then responded. “I have no idea. She appeared in the library in a flash of light and a bang. I could feel lots of magical energy in the air.”
“Why didn't you tell me sooner? If I had known this was a teleporting mishap we could have started that treatment earlier.”
“Oh,” said Twilight, surprised. “I would have thought Spike had told you.”
“No, he was too shaken up; he couldn't get any words out except yelling ‘Nurse! Pony! Hurt! Run!’”
Twilight chuckled under her breath. “That does sound like Spike.”
“Well, I’m going to get this mare here to the teleporting injuries ward.”
Twilight said goodbye, then left the hospital. She wanted to do some research on magical injuries back at the library. She knew she’d read a book on the subject before, but she hadn't paid much attention, as that night the Cutie Mark Crusaders had been staying there. Twilight thought it was supposed to be a sleepover, but as she recalled, there wasn't much sleeping going on. She says it was annoying, but really she liked the company of the energetic trio.
It was a long trot back to the library, and she decided to stop by Sugarcube Corner on the way. Still having not eaten since breakfast, Twilight was really hungry. She also thought it would be nice to talk to Pinkie and tell her about what had happened. As she trotted into the Bakery, she saw Pinkie’s eyes go wide.
“Hey Twilight! How’s it going? I haven’t seen you in a while! I've been working here a lot so I haven’t gotten to go out much. That reminds me, have you tried our new cupcakes? They've got a super special secret ingredient now! They’re really good! Do you want one? I’ll give you one for free if you want! (Don’t tell Mrs. Cake, she doesn't like when I give away food.)” the pink, curly-maned pony said/asked/exclaimed while bouncing up and down.
“Hi Pinkie. Sure, that sounds good, but you don’t have to give me it for free. I can pay for it.” Twilight responded. She had gotten used to her speaking in streams, saying whatever came to her mind.
“No, Twilight! You’re one of my super-duper best friends! Here, take one!” Pinkie said while handing over a rainbow-frosted cupcake, grinning widely. “It’s really good!”
Twilight smiled. It was hard not to with a pony bubbling with happiness in front of oneself. Taking a bite, her knees almost buckled. “Wow Pinkie, this is amazing! What’s the secret ingredient?”
“I can’t tell you, silly! Then it wouldn't be a secret!” Pinkie said with a sly grin.
“Oh. Uh, okay. Could I have another one? I’ll pay for it this time.”
“Sure! They’re only two bits each,” Pinkie replied.
“I’ll only have one. I gotta watch my weight, you know. Could I also have a sandwich?” Twilight asked.
“Yup! One sandwich at five bits and a cupcake at two, seven bits please!” Pinkie held out her hoof.
Twilight dug into her saddlebag, then levitated the bits and set them on the counter as Pinkie started making the sandwich.
“Thanks! Here’s your cupcake, and I’ll have this out to you in a few minutes. By the way, I’m having a party tomorrow night, and I was gonna invite you anyways, but since you’re here, do you want to come?”
“Sure Pinkie, I’d love to! Is it here?” Twilight asked.
“Yup, right upstairs! It’s gonna be really fun!” she half-yelled.
“Great! By the way, I want to talk to you about something. What time do you get off of work?” Twilight asked. She wanted to tell the Pinkie about the mysterious pony that showed up in the Library, but it didn't seem like the best place to talk.
“I get out at eight thirty. What do you want to talk about?” asked Pinkie, turning her head to the side a little.
“I’ll tell you later. Can we meet at the park after you've finished?” Twilight asked.
“Sure!” Pinkie finished the food and gave it to Twilight, smiling.
“Great! I’ll see you tonight,” Twilight said, walking out with meal.
“Okie dokie lokie!”
“By the way, have you seen Rainbow Dash recently?” asked Twilight, turning her head around to see Pinkie again.
“Nope!” Pinkie yelled Twilight’s way. “ See ya later!”
Twilight started to eat as I trotted back home, thinking about how she would tell Pinkie about the strange pony that showed up in the library. She stopped in the middle of the road, realizing her mistake. It was very difficult to tell Pinkie a story one-on-one. Twilight face-hoofed, and decided to tell her other friends, so instead of going straight back, she took a detour and headed to Rarity’s boutique.
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Ding ding. The bell on Rarity’s door rang as Twilight walked in, to which Rarity called out: “Just a minute, please!” Twilight set down her saddlebags and looked around the boutique. She had always thought Rarity’s talent was amazing, but wouldn't want something like that for herself. Twilight wasn't much into being fancy.
Rarity trotted around a corner and saw Twilight. “Hello, Twilight. How are you, darling?”
“I’m doing well, thanks,” said Twilight, smiling back. “How are you?”
“Marvelous, dear. Just marvelous. Now, what is it you are here for? A new dress, or a hat? I must say, you would look beautiful in a hat, as long as we find the correct color.”
“Actually, I just wanted to talk,” said Twilight sheepishly.
“Oh, just as good, darling, but I haven’t too much time at the moment. I have an order of dresses due at six, so I must work on that at the moment. So sorry, Twilight. May we talk tonight? It has been ages since we’ve talked,” Rarity said in her dramatic way of speaking.
“That sounds good. Would you mind if Pinkie was there as well? I’m going to meet her after she finished working,” Twilight said. Twilight thought that was good anyways, as that way she wouldn't have to tell the story twice.
“Lovely. Where shall we meet?”
“I was planning on going to the park,” Twilight said.
Rarity agreed on the location and went back to making dresses. Twilight left the shop and went back to the library. She knew that all her friends would end up at the park somehow, so she decided to do her studying and see how Spike was doing. After walking through the door she was attacked by a barrage of questions from her baby dragon/number one assistant.
“Twilight, where have you been?! I couldn't find you at the hospital, and you weren't here, either! I was scared and I thought something bad happened to you!”
“Relax, Spike,” Twilight commanded. “I was just talking to Pinkie and Rarity. I’m sorry I didn't tell you where I was, it just completely slipped my mind.”
Spike lightened up at the mention of Rarity. Twilight snickered a little, but hid her smile with her hoof.
“Did you tell her about the pony that teleported here? I bet she’s distraught and needs comforting,” Spike commented as he started going out the door.
“She’s fine, Spike, and I haven’t told her yet. I’m going to tell everypony at the park tonight. You can come along if you want to,” Twilight asked, already knowing that that was exactly what he wanted.
“Yes! I mean, uh, yeah, if you want me there,” Spike said, trying to look casual.
Twilight giggled again. “We’ll get going at eight, so be ready by then.”
Spike nodded and went back to cleaning up the mess from the small explosion earlier while Twilight opened up a book and began reading about magical injuries.
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After finishing her third book, Twilight looked up at the clock. 7:50.
“Ah! Spike, let’s go, or we’re going to be late!” Twilight shouted while closing the book and magicking it onto the bookshelf.
“Coming!” Spike ran to the main library section of the tree, where Twilight was. Twilight noticed that he smelled peculiar. She couldn't really get a sense of what it was, but he definitely didn't smell normal.
“Spike... why do you smell like that?” Twilight asked the baby dragon.
“Oh, uh, well, I found this scent thing in the store and bought it...” Spike said while rubbing the back of his neck.
“Scent thing?”
“Yeah...”
“Spike, I don’t know what that means.”
“It’s a cologne, okay? I got it so Rarity would like me more.” Spike admitted, looking down.
Twilight stifled a giggle. “I’m sure she’ll love it. Now let’s get going!” Spike jumped on her back and she started trotting to the meeting place. At exactly eight they arrived at the park, and Twilight saw that she had been right about everypony being there. Pinkie was bouncing around a tree, Rarity was laying on a blanket, Applejack was talking with Fluttershy, and Rainbow Dash was snoring on a park bench. Twilight walked up to them and they all turned to look at her (except Rainbow; she kept sleeping).
“Howdy, Twilight!” said Applejack, tipping her hat.
“Hi, Twilight!” yelled Pinkie.
“Hello everypony,” Twilight greeted with a smile. “How did you all know to come here?”
“Well, um, Pinkie told us to come to the park,” Fluttershy whispered.
“Ah. Well, I have something I want to talk to you all about,” Twilight said to the four. “Pinkie, could you wake up Rainbow?”
“Yep!” Pinkie hopped over to the dozing pony and took out a horn from her tail and squeezed it in Dash’s face.
“Ah! Wazzat! Take this!” the pegasus flailed around, throwing punches and kicks, and ended up falling off of the bench.
“Hi!” said Pinkie. “Twilight wants to talk to us!” Rainbow Dash jumped up and tried to act cool.
“Uh, hey guys, I was just, uh, practicing.”
“Practicing? For what?” Twilight asked, grinning.
“The, uh, karate competition! Yeah. That. So, what’s up?” Rainbow tried to change the subject, but Applejack wasn't going to let it go so quickly.
“A karate competition? Well shoot, I love karate! When’s it going on?” A.J. asked, feigning innocence.
“I’m pretty sure Twilight wanted to talk to us about something...” Rainbow Dash tried again.
“No, it can wait. I think we’d all love to see you compete,” Twilight said.
“Yeah!” Pinkie said, doing a flying kick into the air.
“Oh. Well, I sort of forgot when and where it is, so I’ll have to get back to you on that,” Rainbow said, hoping the rest of them would forget the whole thing. “What was it you were trying to say, Twi?”
“I wanted to talk to you about something strange that happened in the library. Did any of you feel that earthquake earlier today?” Twilight responded, having decided to let Rainbow save a bit of her ego. They all nodded in response. Twilight took a deep breath and closed her eyes. “Well, it wasn't really an earthquake. It was a spell that went wrong and teleported a pony that I've never seen before into the library. She was hurt, so she was taken to the hospital. Nurse Redheart told me she’d never seen this pony before, and I don’t know who she is either. Pinkie, I need you to tell me if you know her, so we can tell if she is from Ponyville or not. If not, we need to investigate further.”
“Investigate?” Pinkie asked. “Yes, I’ll help.”
The other five ponies looked at her. Pinkie had talked like... like a normal pony. Strange.
“Well of course we’ll help you, darling,” Rarity told Twilight after recovering from the Pinkie-shock. “What kind of friends would we be if we didn't?” Applejack, Fluttershy, and Rainbow Dash nodded.
“And if we need to fight, I will fight for the rest of you,” Dash said, puffing out her chest.
“Yeah... thanks Rainbow,” said Twilight. "So, we’ll go tomorrow morning to see her. We’ll meet at...”
“No, let’s go tonight! I’m ready now!” Pinkie exclaimed.
“Yeah, me too!” shouted Dash, flying up in the air and doing a flip.
“Oh. Well, if everypony thinks that now is the time, we can go now.” Twilight said, glancing at the three who had not responded yet.
“I agree with Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie, we may as well go now,” Rarity said, packing up her blanket.
“I think we can all go now, um, if it’s okay with Applejack,” Fluttershy said, hiding behind her mane like usual.
“Ahm ready whenever y’all are!” said Applejack.
“Okay then, let’s go!”
