Before you proceed to read this chapter, I am temporarily leaving this notice up here to explain something:
This chapter is the first one to contain a song, and I wrote it through trial and error.
The only problem is, I didn't know how to present it in this story without resorting it to be presented in script format for easy reading.
So, if you have any tips on how presenting songs in stories work, drop a private message or type it in your review on this story.
The title of the song will be revealed as you finish reading this chapter. That's all for now. Enjoy. :)
In the library of the Castle of Friendship, Spike is nearly done dusting the top of last bookshelf near the door with a duster while Starlight Glimmer puts away the books into the bottom shelf with her magic.
"And...done!" Spike declared. He gets on the ladder and slides down to where Starlight just put the last book into the shelf. "Whew! A few hours more and I might've dropped down flat from exhaustion."
"Nice job, Spike. You sure outdid yourself today." Starlight said, "I take it you're still grumpy about having your emerald spinach lasagna delayed by more cleaning?"
"Nah. What you said caught me off guard, sure." replied Spike, "But I figured it would taste better after a hard day's work. Well, at least not all day."
Starlight chuckled a bit, "Well, thanks again for sticking with me for the chores."
"Glad I could be of service." said Spike.
Starlight then feels something cramped in her flank and grunts. "Speaking of service, I haven't moved much while putting the books away. My, um...bottom could use some relaxing-"
Starlight is startled a bit as Spike leaps up onto her back from her side. "Don't worry! I know how to handle that!" He claims boldly.
"Spike, what are-" Starlight gasps a little as Spike uses his claws to massage her flank. The pressure from Spike's claws being applied on her flank makes Starlight coo from the pleasure and lay down on the floor. Seeing that, Spike got off of Starlight and knelt at her side continuing the massage as she coos more.
And no, this is not going in the direction you think it might, so snap out of it.
"Oh, wow." Starlight moaned heavenly, "That feels so good. How'd you ever get this good at massaging?"
Spike then feels nervous when that question is asked and slowed his massage. "Well, just between us, when I was raised by Princess Celestia as Twilight studied under her, the princess had this cramp in her hoof one time. So, without asking, I massaged her hoof, and after that, the cramp was gone. Princess Celestia was relieved and impressed with what I did for her, so she gave me a book about massaging and other neat tricks. Since then, I would practice on my own these massaging techniques in case a pony needs it."
"Well, you're certainly doing a fine job," Starlight said as she coos from the massage given to her.
"You promise to keep it between us, right?" Spike asked nervously.
"Mmm, all right. I won't say a word of this." said Starlight.
Spike stops massaging and stands up. "How do you feel now?"
Starlight gets up and stretches herself a bit. She is amazed by what Spike's massage did. "Wow! The cramp in my flank is gone! You are one heck of a massager!"
"Aw, it's nothing." Spike said, blushing a bit, "Just doing what any friend would do."
Starlight smiles at Spike. Then, a knock echoes throughout the library, which alerts Spike and Starlight.
"Who could that be?" Starlight wondered.
"No idea," Spike replied, "Wasn't expecting any visitors."
"Wanna check who it is?" asked Starlight.
"What?" Spike is taken aback at Starlight's calm suggestion, "As in, walking all the way from here to the front door?"
"Who said anything about walking?" Starlight then lit up her horn and smirked, providing Spike a hint at what she will do, which he figures out.
"Oh!" Spike chuckled a bit, "Teleportation. That spell Twilight taught you last week."
"Hold my hoof," Starlight said, and Spike does so, "This might get random."
"Not as random as Pinkie's sudden entrance." Spike joked.
Starlight rolled her eyes at Spike's little joke and concentrates. She and Spike are surrounded by a turquoise aura, and in a flash, they disappear from the library and reappear in front of the large doors. Spike yelps at how close his nose is to the door and backs off a bit.
"Told you it could get random." said Starlight, smirking.
Spike chuckled nervously and turned the knob of one of the doors, and opened it. To his and Starlight's surprise is a Zebra wearing amber jewels.
"Zecora!" Spike chirped, "What a surprise!"
"Greetings, Spike the assisting one," Zecora said, "I hope my visit didn't leave you stunned."
"It's alright," reassured Starlight, "We weren't expecting visitors at this hour. What brings you here?"
"To research on something troubling," Zecora replied in a serious manner, "For in Everfree something was bubbling."
"Something happened in the Everfree Forest?" Spike asked.
"I heard a noise larger than parasprite raiders," Zecora explained, "And to my horror a cragadile pursued the Crusaders."
Spike and Starlight gasped. "The Cutie Mark Crusaders?!" Spike exclaimed.
"Are they alright?" Starlight asked worryingly.
"Safe and sound they truly are, "Zecora replied, "For unexpected help came from afar. A pony rescued the fillies from the cragadile, and he made it run away in a mile."
"As in, scaring it off?" Spike wondered, "Kinda unbelievable."
"And the Crusaders?" Starlight repeated her concern.
"At Sweet Apple Acres they are to serve their punishment," Zecora stated, "to do chores for this weekend while Big Macintosh is absent."
"Apple Bloom's and Applejack's brother?" asked Starlight.
"Oh, yeah! Big Macintosh went to Appleloosa to help Braeburn with some hay bales to set up for a new competition held there." Spike confirmed.
"That's a relief. About that research," Starlight said, getting the conversation back on topic, "I'm sure the library in this castle may have what you may look for. Please, allow us to walk you there."
"Thank you, dearest friend of Twilight," Zecora bowed to Starlight, "your thoughtfulness shines very bright."
Starlight blushes at the comment. "Yeah, it sure does."
Starlight makes way for Zecora to walk through the door which she does. As all three are inside, Spike closes the door behind him and catches up with Starlight and Zecora. "By the way, did you get that pony's name, the one who saved the Crusaders?" Spike asked.
"I'm afraid he didn't mention it to us," said Zecora, uneasily, "for he quickly left without a fuss."
"Guess he was in a hurry to get somewhere." Starlight guessed as they walk down the hall to the library, hoping to research what occurred in the Everfree Forest.
Time goes by, and the sun is almost nearing the western horizon. Thus, everypony at the Crystal Empire is getting ready to go to bed, while Princess Celestia prepares to lower the sun. Inside the Crystal Castle in one of the halls, the Mane Six, Princess Luna, Princess Cadance and Discord walk down one.
"Whew! This was one interestin' day we had." Applejack said.
"Yes, getting to see the little baby filly is outstanding," Rarity agreed while glancing at her hoof, "But seeing that she is an Alicorn is simply breathtaking!"
"More like, absopositivilutely great!" Pinkie bounced happily, "I bet if we wait a few more days for Flurry Heart to get used to her surroundings, I'll invite everypony in this empire to a 'few days after Flurry Heart's birth' party!"
"Will I be on the invitation list?" Discord asked.
"Of course you are, silly!" Pinkie replied, "Everypony I know and is my friend is always invited to future parties I plan to throw!"
Fluttershy hovers beside Discord's paw. "Are you sure you want to be at that party with your still hurt paw, Discord?" She asked in concern.
"I'm sure it will wear off after a good night's sleep," assured Discord, inspecting his numb paw, "That is, if my first ever best and kind friend will be at the party." He smiles softly at Fluttershy who is touched by his thoughtfulness and nuzzles his cheek to his surprise, but he settles down from the gesture.
"So, Cadance," Rainbow Dash hovered beside Cadance, "how's it feel to have a baby Alicorn as your awesome little filly?"
"Well, at first it was overwhelming to have Flurry Heart behave," Cadance said, "but now, I am very happy to have her in me and Shining Armor's lives."
"I bet everypony is happy for you," Twilight chimed in, "I hope it wasn't any trouble for us staying longer than anticipated."
"It was no trouble at all, Twilight." said Luna, "It was a very long day for everypony to get to know Flurry Heart, thus you all are welcome to spend the night here." Luna then takes to the air, "Now if you will excuse me, I must go and raise the moon." She then flew off through an open window to join her sister.
The Mane Six and Cadance come across three doors on each side of the hall. "You all can sleep in these rooms." said Cadance, "If you need anything, the guards will see to your needs."
"Why, thank you ever so kindly," Rarity chirped, going to one of the doors. But she stopped short and gasped, "Oh my! Spikey-wikey!" Rarity clutched Twilight's cheeks tightly with her hooves to Twilight's surprise. "We spent all day baby showering Flurry Heart that we forgot to tell Spike we are staying overnight!" She lets go of Twilight's cheeks and starts to pace, "Oh, of all the worst things that could happen, this is the, worst, possible, THING!" Rarity's face changes expressions of fear while she says the four last words.
Twilight put her hoof on Rarity's shoulder which makes her snap out of it and turn to the lilac Alicorn. "Don't worry, Rarity," Twilight assures Rarity, "Since I'm an Alicorn and I learned the spell of sending letters to Spike like how Princess Celestia did, I sent one to him this afternoon explaining that we are spending the night here and for him and Starlight to keep the Castle of Friendship neat and tidy."
Rarity breathes a sigh of relief. "Oh, that's reassuring. I'm sorry about that ridiculous outburst."
"That's okay," assured Cadance, "I'm sure he will understand our reasons." She turns around and looks back at the Mane Six and Discord, "You make yourselves comfortable while I check on Shining Armor and Flurry Heart. Good night."
The Mane Six and Discord reply good night in unison to Cadance as she walks back the other way in the hall.
"Well, I'd best be off, too." Discord bowed to the Mane Six and turned to Fluttershy, "And don't you worry none, Fluttershy. I'll see to it you're animal friends are well fed and comfortable, even your bunny pet."
"Aw, thank you, Discord." Fluttershy said quietly.
"Pardon?" Discord asked.
Fluttershy repeated her sentence more quietly while hiding behind her mane.
"Didn't quite hear you." Discord put his claw to his ear.
"SHE SAID 'THANK YOU!'" Pinkie shouted to Discord's ear. He is startled from that sudden outburst from Pinkie but regains his composure.
"Sorry," Pinkie apologizes, "couldn't help it."
"Yes, I'm sure you didn't." Discord squeaks his claw in his ear, "Well, I'll be on my-" Discord stops turning around and gasps. He turns back to the Mane Six. "Dear me! I almost forgot! I think I'd like to share something with all of you before I take my leave."
"And what, pray tell, would that be?" Rarity asked.
"It involves today's events of seeing the baby Alicorn," Discord explained, "Seeing the splendid offspring of Princess Cadance and Twilight's brother brought forth a thought, that the baby represents, you probably know this by now, the love between her parents."
The Mane Six seem confused at Discord's explanation and look at each other. "What are you getting at, Discord?" asked Rainbow Dash.
"What I am saying, is that seeing a baby foal might make you think about wanting to settle down with your special somepony and have a baby foal of your own." Discord said, "It's just a personal opinion, and I may not be an expert on love, that's Princess Cadance's area of expertise after all, but I figured I should bring it up before I get a headache from keeping that thought sealed up."
A few seconds of silence fills the hall as the Mane Six ponder on Discord's opinion, except Dash who's face is blank on the matter, until Rarity clears her throat. "Well, I sort of understand your opinion since I been down that road," she reasoned, "Though, it would be too sudden to simply think about living in that sort of lifestyle."
"To settle down and love, or not to settle down and love. That is the question." Discord opined in his dramatic voice, then switched to his normal one, "Regardless, it's your choice. You can go on with your 'slice of life' schedule and, as they say, hang out with your friends," He turns around and looks back at the Mane Six, "or you can wait for fate to present to you an unexpected turn of events that may or may not have you consider finding your special somepony." Discord chuckles to himself. "T, T, F, N. Ta-ta for now!"
Discord snaps his lion fingers, and he disappears in a flash of light.
"Hey! That's what I said to the ponies at the end of last week's party!" Pinkie spat.
"Did you make heads or tails of Discord's explanations?" Dash asked.
"Ah guess Ah did," Applejack confirmed in an uneasy tone, "Did you?"
"Nope. He totally lost me on that one." Dash said, perplexed.
As the girls talk, Twilight seems to be in deep thought over what Discord had said. Continue to spread the meaning of friendship with her friends, or settle down with a special somepony and raise a baby foal to carry on her mission? These thoughts ran through her mind, though she seems to lean more to doing what she is meant to do as the Princess of Friendship.
"Twilight?" Fluttershy said, "What's wrong?"
Twilight snaps out of her thoughts. "Huh? Uh, nothing. Nothing's wrong at all. It was a pretty interesting, um, lecture Discord gave us." She walks to one of the bedroom doors. "But why don't we save this for another time? Tomorrow's a new day, and we don't want some troubling opinions getting in our way, right?"
"Right as rain!" Pinkie agreed, bouncing to a door. "There are so many things I wanna plan a party to throw for Flurry Heart!"
"And I intend to brainstorm various little dress samples for her," Rarity said, lighting her horn on the doorknob and opening it. "Good night, girls."
"Good night, y'all." Applejack replied.
"What she said." Rainbow Dash said.
"Good night, everypony." said Twilight.
After an exchange of good nights, the Mane Six went into their respective bedrooms and closed the doors behind them.
A few hours pass as the night goes on, and it seems that the Mane Six are unable to get to sleep. Applejack sits on her bed in thought, Pinkie lies across her bed with her head hanging upside down at the edge with a half suspicious half puzzled look, Rarity sees her worried face's reflection on her hoof, Fluttershy is under the blanket feeling a little scared, and Rainbow Dash is frustrated no matter what position she tries to sleep in. But the pony who is most in thought is Twilight Sparkle.
As her head lies on the pillow, Twilight is thinking deeply on what Discord said and how it would affect her duty as the Princess of Friendship. "Strange," she said, "I can't help but wonder. Settling down with your special somepony and being happy with them while living your life to the fullest? I know Cadance and Shining Armor did that and are doing okay, but...would there come a time somepony expects me to do the same?"
Twilight gets up and scratches the back of her head with her hoof. "Sure my friends might do that, but I'm not sure I can. I mean, I'm an Alicorn. I may not be immortal like the royal sisters, which I hope so, but I might outlive my friends by a few years, a few more extra since I was a Unicorn. If I do settle down with a stallion I really 'like' like, there can be complications to what that life can lead towards."
She gets off her bed and looks to the window, where the moon shines its rays over the Crystal Empire and the snowy mountains beyond. "Also, I feel...that I should find somepony. Somepony who understands me better than me and my friends do, which chances are fifty-fifty, and can make me the happiest mare in Equestria." Twilight walks to the window and opens it, letting the cool air in as she looks out to the horizon. "And, even if we do bear a baby foal, would we be able to raise it and prepare it to take up my mission of spreading friendship everywhere?"
Twilight sighs in sadness. "What is wrong with me? Somehow I feel...lonely, despite having my friends as company. Is this what...longing for love feels like?"
At that moment, piano music starts to play from nowhere as Twilight looks up to the moon and starts to sing:
In all my years of living
Never had I felt this feeling
Throughout the mistakes and misgivings
Not once did my heart went reeling
Love can be a complicated thing
It simply can't be learned from a book
But the first phase of having that feeling
Is when your heart feels snared by a hook
In another bedroom, Applejack takes of her hat and looks at it in mild confusion and sadness. She then sings in her adorable accent:
You'll see many couples feeling happy
That you want to give them your blessing
But if somepony wants what is best for you
Would it include finding love and progressing?
Fluttershy gets out from underneath her blanket and hovers around her bedroom as she sings ever so beautifully:
At first you might believe it is scary
To not know how to approach it
Yet you seem to wonder curiously
Why this feeling won't let you quit
Oh
Twilight, Applejack and Fluttershy then sing in unison:
How strange it is to feel this way
To soar through the sky like a dove
How will I know it is real or not
[Applejack]
Among the push and shove
[Fluttershy]
It's not to be proud of
[Twilight]
It's so much to think of
[Twilight, Applejack, and Fluttershy]
Yet it is very overwhelming
To have the urge to love
In Pinkie's bedroom, she rolls over on the bed onto her barrel and looks to the window in concern and doubt. Pinkie starts singing in her cute high voice but quietly:
Sometimes you feel down in the dumps
But not so much as right now
How weird it is to get the idea of finding happiness
By seeing somepony that makes you say wow
Rarity gets off her bed and walks beside the window as the moon's rays make her coat and mane glisten beautifully while she looks down in confusion and loneliness. She sings in an opera style manner as she does this:
Everypony has different views on love
Which lead to various kinds of emotions
But how would I know if I'm truly in love
With somepony that shows grand devotion?
Oh
Twilight, Pinkie and Rarity then sing the chorus, while the white unicorn repeats the last few words of each line:
How strange it is to feel this way ([Rarity] Feel this way)
To soar through the sky like a dove ([Rarity] Like a dove)
How will I know it is real or not
[Pinkie]
Among the push and shove
[Rarity]
It's not to be proud of
[Twilight]
It's so much to think of
[Twilight, Pinkie, and Rarity]
Yet it is very overwhelming ([Rarity] Overwhelming)
To have the urge to love
In her room, Rainbow Dash lets out a frustrated grunt after many attempts of getting to sleep. Eventually she gets out of bed and paces back and forth sternly wondering what's wrong with her while singing in her most awesome sing song voice:
Why is it that among the things to think of
Looking for a special somepony ends up on top?
Not everypony has the time for that mushy stuff
And that includes me the cream of the crop
Doing awesome things for a couple
I guess I'm okay with that
But to have thoughts like finding love
What is up with that?!
Dash grunts again and hits her face into the blanket. Suddenly, she looks up wide eyed and gasped, like she realizes something she never thought of before, and resumes singing in a quiet manner:
But...now that I pause to think about it
I'm usually not as happy as I used to be
If being with your special somepony makes it so
Does that mean I'll feel so much more than free?
Twilight places her hoof on her chest and feels her heart beating a little more than normal and looks back at the moon as the stars twinkle in her sad eyes, resuming her singing:
How strange it is to feel this way
It is so much to ponder on
How will I know it is real or not
Before that feeling is gone?
Oh
Then the Mane Six all sing the chorus together:
How strange it is to feel this way ([Applejack] Feel this way)
To soar through the sky like a dove ([Fluttershy] Like a dove)
How will I know it is real or not ([Pinkie] Real or not)
Among the push and shove
It's not to be proud of
Its so much to think of
Oh
How strange it is to feel this way ([Twilight] Feel this way)
To soar through the sky like a dove ([Rarity] Like a dove)
How will I know it is real or not ([Rainbow Dash] Real or not)
Among the push and shove
It's not to be proud of
Its so much to think of
Yet it is very overwhelming ([Twilight] Overwhelming)
To have the urge to love
Eventually, five of the Mane Six sighed to themselves and walked back to their beds and tuck themselves in for the night. Twilight stands there at the window for a few seconds and sighed. She then closes the window and walks to her bed. Twilight tucks herself in and looks back at the window while singing one last time:
If fate would have its way
To show a sign from above
Will I know for certain
To have the urge to love
Twilight then yawns and closes her eyes, drifting off to sleep, while her face shows sadness and concern from her deep thoughts on the matter. Little did she notice, that outside the window, Princess Luna hovers near it, having overheard what Twilight was talking about. Luna's face is filled with concern and sympathy, and she then flies down to the castle grounds.
Underneath the castle, Princess Celestia looks at the Crystal Heart, the magical object that is powered by the love and light of the Crystal Ponies. Luna lands behind her, and Celestia turns her head to see her sister's concerned face. "Luna? What is troubling you?"
"Well, it is not about that presence you and I sensed," Luna said in worry, "It is about Twilight."
Raising her eyebrow in question, Celestia fully turns around to Luna. "What is it about her?"
"It seems she and her friends were talking to themselves about something that troubles them so," Luna explained, "And they sound, lonely."
"Lonely?" Celestia asked.
"Yes." replied Luna, "Even though they have each other as friends, they are lonely, in the sense of wanting something, or somepony to be by their side. I do not know when it happened, but they seem to be...longing for love."
Celestia's eyes widened in realization which Luna notices. "Sister?" Luna asked in concern, "What is it?"
"I...I remember something from long ago." Celestia replied anxiously, "But I will tell you and Twilight about that another time, when I am sure what the future holds for us."
"Alright," said Luna, "but don't take too long. It will be hard to explain something when you hold a secret back for so long."
Luna then takes flight to the night sky, but before she can fly off, "Wait!" Celestia called, "One more thing."
Luna turns around to Celestia, "Yes, sister?"
"You can discuss Twilight and her friends' troubles with Cadance," Celestia said, "but, I implore you that she must keep it between the three of us until we agree otherwise."
"Very well," Luna agreed, "Good night, sister."
"Good night, Luna." said Celestia.
Luna flies off to the night sky. Celestia looks down in deep thought. "I never thought this time would come in so long," she says quietly, "that this is the sign of 'his' return," Celestia looks up to the night sky in concern, "...and the third one at that."
At the bottom of the crystal like mountains, behind a few rocks, two figures raise their heads up from behind them. Queen Chrysalis and Azerrad look at the Crystal Empire which is far from where they are, and a large group of Changelings are behind the two figures.
Azerrad chuckles evilly to himself. "Oh ho ho ho, horseapples," he said, "Those ponies are going to get the unexpected surprise of their pathetic lives, right, Chrysalis?"
The Changeling Queen looked at Azerrad sternly, for he didn't address her as Queen, but she smiled. "Indeed they will," she replied, "for tonight, this will be the most dreadful night to remember for them." Chrysalis laughs evilly as most of the Changelings behind her did the same. Azerrad couldn't help but smile smugly at how much Chrysalis is getting into this, and also, as he looked at the castle of the Crystal Empire, a certain thought came across his mind, one that he longs to accomplish for so long.
The one single thought that is summarized with one single word.
Revenge.
TO BE CONTINUED...
The title of the song seen here is: "The Urge to Love", written by yours truely.
S. L. F. N.
So long for now! :)