Chapter 2

The Work of Scribblestick

"Now Twilight, my dear, I've had this design percolating in my mind for several weeks, and I think it's high time we got you measured for it." Rarity was almost entirely wrapped up into her fashionista persona.

"But Rarity, I'm a full grown pony, I haven't changed much since the gala, can't you just reuse those measurements?" Twilight's voice sounded harried and tired. "I was up late reading the Astronomical Astronomer's Almanac to All Things Astronomy."

Rarity leveled one eyebrow at Twilight. "My dearest Twilight, are you truly so blind? Why, you must be nearly two inches taller than when I made you that dress. No, those measurements will never do." A measuring tape began wrapping itself around Twilight's body as Rarity carefully recorded each measurement.

"I can't have grown that much. Spike would have mentioned it…" Twilight said to herself.

"Spike? You expect to compare yourself to a growing baby dragon? He's probably grown about as much as you have, so of course he wouldn't notice the change." Rarity allowed the tape measure to return to a shelf and began pulling out several rolls of fabric.

"I suppose that's true." Twilight said grudgingly.

There were several minutes filled with nothing more than the rustling of different fabrics. Rarity broke the silence first, her persona replaced with a somewhat concerned tone. "Twilight, I know you're not entirely happy to be leaving Ponyville, even if it is only for a short while, but trust me, you are going to love the play, at the very least."

"How can you know that? A Scribblestick play doesn't seem modern enough for you."

"No, I've never met a Scribblestick I liked, but I have seen this particular acting troupe before." Rarity sighed, sounding as relaxed as only a spa treatment after a large sewing order can make her. "They did a simply superb job with My Fair Mare. I had read that particular novel several times, and had high expectations, which they more than met." Rarity turned away from her work, the fabrics still pinning themselves to the patterns. "Oh, everything was simply fantastic! The actors were cast so perfectly, it was as if my imagination had walked onto the stage itself! The sets were absolutely perfect, almost as if they had brought the whole city out to be their stage." And then she sighed, feigning a swoon. "And the costumes, absolutely perfect! Every stitch seemed to scream the character that wore it. Simply fabulous!"

Twilight chuckled. "Watch your work Rarity, it might get carried away without you."

Rarity turned, a look of horror on her face. "Oh no! That piece was supposed to be made of the Lapis Lazuli Silk, not the Opal Lace!" She bustled about. "Oh dear, see how excited recalling that play got me?" She turned, catching sight of Twilight Sparkle looking out the window, a wistful look in her eyes. A sympathetic look crossed Rarity's face. "Well, this has been a wonderful chat Twilight dear, but I'm afraid this will be much better as a surprise."

Twilight looked confused. "But, didn't you need me to model it for you?"

"Oh no, I just needed your measurements." Rarity laughed lightly. "Trust me, you've not changed so much that I need you to model for me, darling."

"Oh, well then, thanks Rarity, I guess." Twilight turned to leave.

"Oh, one last thing Twilight." Rarity said over her shoulder. "You may want to brush up on an original copy of Upon Midsummer's Dusk. Scriblestick plays are interesting the second or third time through, or so I've heard."

Twilight smiled. "That's a good idea, but I don't have a copy in the library. It's mainly full of reference guides and textbooks. There's only a handful of novels, and not a single play to be found."

"You may want to try Fluttershy then. She's the one that suggested you see Upon Midsummer's Dusk. I think she's got a bit of a taste for Scribblestick plays."

Twilight laughed. "Fluttershy? A Scribblestick fan?"

Rarity made a light clicking sound. "Tut tut, darling, have you forgotten all the unexpected surprises little Fluttershy has in her? She's still my best second opinion on any project, she has so many little golden tidbits of insight that I'd put nothing past her."

Twilight nodded, conceding the fact to Rarity. "I suppose you're right. Well then, I'll be off to Fluttershy's."

"Have a good time with her. I don't want you to see this dress before you're trip. Just take my word for it, this dress shall be a work to rival everything I've ever done."

"I have no doubt of that." Twilight said, leaving the shop to the sound of a sewing machine clicking away.

As she stepped outside, the sudden change in light made her blink for a few moments as she tried to regain her vision. When she did, she could see a good portion of Ponyville laid out in front of her. Houses and shops made of wood and straw, arrayed in clear lines throughout the low valley that sat between The Everfree Forest and Canterlot.

"If we Thestrals have offended," Twilight said, reciting a line from the play. She smiled, allowing a bit of excitement to enter her. "Well, I can remember that much. I suppose reading through it once again won't hurt." She started off toward the outskirts of town and Fluttershy's cottage.

The walk was long and pretty, it was late afternoon and the sun shone beautifully through the dappled leaves of the trees, warming Twilight as she walked.

"Why did I ever give up walking to Fluttershy's?" Twilight asked herself. "It's such a beautiful walk, and the fresh air is so nice."

Soon Twilight was humming to herself, actually enjoying something for the first time in a month. Soon enough she arrived at the cottage where Fluttershy cared for all the animals in Ponyville.

Twilight knocked on the door gently and was greeted with a soft 'come in' from inside the cottage. She opened the door to see Fluttershy humming softly as she dusted the cottage with the help of several of her more frequent guests.

"Twilight!" Fluttershy exclaimed, at an almost normal volume for any other pony, which was practically a shout for her. "I'm sorry you had to come in the middle of cleaning."

"Oh, it's no problem," Twilight said. "I just came over to borrow something."

Fluttershy floated down from her vantage point atop a shelf. "Oh, what was it you wanted to borrow? I've got everything handled for Spike and Owlowicious, and I've only got a few things you'd want to take on any trip…" Her voice faded away.

"Well, Rarity suggested you might have a copy of Upon Midsummer's Dusk that I could borrow."

Fluttershy perked up. "Oh yes, I have a few."

"A few? You mean, you've got more than one?"

"Well, yes," Fluttershy avoided Twilight's eyes. "You see, I've always been fascinated with Scribblestick plays. I've got most of his works in at least two languages."

"At least?" Twilight said, shocked at her friend.

Fluttershy bowed her head further. "Well, I've got them in modern Pony as well as their original Cornish. But I think I've got Upon Midsummer's Dusk in every language still in use."

Twilight shook herself to get her jaw off the floor. Wow Fluttershy, I never pegged you as a fan of classic literature, or as a linguist."

"Only a few languages." Fluttershy said. "I learned just enough to get the meaning behind the lines. Scribblestick himself did the translating for most of them, so there's a lot of secret meaning behind each of the words he chose."

"Really? So, why is that particular play your favorite?" Twilight asked.

"Oh, no reason in particular." She said. Suddenly she looked down, her little rabbit Angel tugging angrily on her tail. "Oh dear," She turned to Twilight. "Would you like a cup of tea? It might take me a while to find where I stored them; it's been a while since I've reread them."

Twilight smiled. "That would be wonderful."

After showing Twilight to her sitting room, Fluttershy went into her little kitchen to boil some water. This gave Twilight a chance to take in the beautiful sunset visible through a large window in the sitting room.

As Celestia began to extinguish the sun, Luna brought in the very beginnings of night, the colors mixing and interweaving to create a beautiful display of colors. Twilight watched as the first stars came out. Soon the sun had completely vanished, leaving a full moon shining in the sky.

"Um, Twilight?" Fluttershy's soft voice nudged Twilight out of her thoughts.

"Oh, I'm sorry Fluttershy, I got so wrapped up in the view that I forgot where I was."

"It's no problem at all. I've learned that sometimes peace is the perfect medicine." She set a large box on the small table that sat in the middle of the room. "I managed to find my collection of Scribblestick plays." She removed the lid from the box, revealing a large number of cloth wrapped books.

Twilight gasped as Fluttershy pulled out one bundle, and removed the covering. The book beneath was a beautiful shade of red-orange, covered in gold leaf depicting ponies of all sorts. "It's beautiful." Twilight said, her eyes still wide with awe.

"I did say it was one of my favorites." She gasped as Twilight reached for it. "Oh, please be careful. I got this when I started flying school. I loved it so much that I would turn the pages with the breeze from my wings to avoid damaging it."

Twilight smiled. "I understand. I understand why this book is precious to you." She used her magic, picking it up and opening it. For a moment she was confused by what was inside. "Fluttershy? What language is this one?"

"That's the Cornish copy. I'm sorry, I thought you'd know Cornish, since you studied under the Princess." Her voice grew quieter and sorrier as she continued.

Twilight put her hoof on Fluttershy's shoulder. "No, I do, I'm just not fluent in it." She closed the book, wrapping it in the cloth once again. "Thank you Fluttershy. It'll be nice to brush up on Cornish before heading to Manehattan."

Fluttershy smiled. "No no, it's my pleasure. Feel free to take it on your trip, I always read them better in common pony anyway."

Twilight grinned. "I'll be sure to take good care of it." A curious expression crossed her face. "Fluttershy, how many times have you read it?"

A sheepish expression crossed Fluttershy's face. "Oh, a few times." Angel stomped her foot angrily, apparently a common signal to Fluttershy. "Oh, well, I used to read them once a month, but nowadays I only get to them two or three times a year."

"Wow," Twilight's eyes went wide. "You must know the story back to front by now."

"Oh no, well, yes actually. But every time I read it, there's something new."

Twilight nodded. "I know that feeling." She stood up. "Well, thank you for letting me borrow this Fluttershy, I'm getting really excited for my vacation now."

"That's good, I was afraid you wouldn't like it."

Twilight laughed. "I would have liked it either way, my friends picked it out for me. Now I'm just as excited as I ought to be." She turned to Fluttershy. "Thanks for having me. I'm sorry I interrupted your evening chores with my arrival."

Fluttershy smiled as Twilight walked out the door. She spoke very softly, so much so that Twilight couldn't hear. "It's never an interruption when it's a friend."

Twilight hummed to herself as she walked home, the carefully bound book floating beside her. A star flew across the sky at that moment, leaving a faintly red streak in the indigo sky.