Court Jester

Chapter 1: Welcome to the Family

We were young then

We were bright then

We were leaving then

We were preparing then

We were ready then

We were dead then

We were what was left then

We were young then

Equality: a basic rule of the universe. Everything seeks equilibrium in one way or another. For every positive there is a negative. For anything that we are given something must be taken away even if it just the absence of that absence. For every night there must be a day. For every life there must be a death. For chaos there must be order.

______________________________________________________________________________

The morning was a cool one. Not so that it was cold but it could still be felt down to the bone. Twilight Sparkle was wandering about in the street. It was the most busy she had ever seen Ponyville. The circus was coming to Ponyville for the first time and everypony was getting their preparations in order. The streets smelled of a wonderful assortment of different foods from apple fritters to strange teas. Twilight personally thought that it was all a bit overdone. She wasn't one for the busy streets though; she preferred her books being alone with her tiny green and purple baby dragon.

Everypony seemed to be moving a little faster than normal. She had been bumped into on more than one occasion today alone. This was to be expected considering they had never seen the circus. Though she had enjoyed her time at the circus it wasn't very organized and she knew there would be cleaning for weeks after. “These are the things I'm thinking about,” she thought, “maybe I do need to get out more.” Her friends always bothered her that she was too much of a book worm and she was starting to believe them.

None of the circus crew had even arrived yet but everypony was already hard at work leaving Twilight the librarian with nothing to do. Twilight sighed aloud, thinking back on the whole Winter Wrap up ordeal. She wondered what her friends were up to right at the moment and decided to see what Fluttershy was doing. She turned down the path heading to Fluttershy’s cottage. Twilight was sure Fluttershy would have something for her to do there. “Yes,” she thought, “it won’t end up like-”

BANG! Twilight was knocked to the ground her head was still spinning wildly when she heard a familiar voice from one of her closest friends. “Sorry about that Twilight” the high-pitched and still enthusiastic voice of a certain party pony broke through the spinning in Twilight's head.

“It’s okay, Pinkie,” Twilight responded, “where are you headed in such a hurry anyway?” She had a good guess it was to run some of Sugar cube Corner’s goods to a stall or to another friend.

“That's a surprise,” laughed Pinkie, “and if I told you that then it would not be a surprise. Then when I try to use that surprise you wouldn't be surprised! And that would be terrible...” A pink pony with an explosion of a mane was in front of her. She had more energy than a young school filly and certainly knew how to throw a party even on short notice. She continued to ramble on for another half a minute or so of ‘then you would feel left out’ and ‘that would be sooooo sad if you were not surprised and everypony else was.’

“I guess that means there’s nothing I can do to help you then, huh?” Twilight asked.

“Nope, sorry Twilight,” she practically hummed. Whatever IT was Pinkie was extra excited about it Twilight didn't know whether she should be terrified or excited so she settled on something in between. “Bye Twilight,” Pinkie yelled over her shoulder and bounced a little higher than usual away.

“Hehehe,” Twilight heard somepony laugh from behind. It was a voice of somepony who had seen a lot of things in their life and was more then used to picking them self up. It was a mixture of gravel and nails on a chalk board. It made her skin nearly crawl. She glanced over her shoulder to face who was behind her but there was no pony there.

“Probably just somepony getting ready,” she disregarded it.

Twilight sighed, though she understood why her friend was in such a hurry; the circus was only two days away. “Everypony is going crazy,” she thought, “I still need something to do though.” she lay on the ground for about a minute feeling the cool breeze and admiring the view of Equestria it was beautiful this time of year. The birds were preparing to head south for the winter and everything was peaceful. The leaves had started to change colors as well wonderful oranges, reds, and yellows. But sitting here wasn't going to get anything done any time soon. Twilight decided she was going to have to get up. She took one long last look at the scenery then started to stretch her hoofs and rise. Before she could even take a step.

Bang! “Again?” asked Twilight, “Really, Pinkie you need to watch where you’re going!” Twilight said being extremely annoyed at the pony who had crashed into her. She heard a different laugh than Pinkie’s this time though, and she knew exactly who it was. “Wow,” she muttered, “feels like day one all over again.” As she faced her old friend. Rainbow Dash gave her a big grin as she got back to her feet. The cyan pony with the ruffled main in all the colors of the rainbow stood in front of Twilight giggling to herself.

“You want a Rain blow dry again?” she asked almost in a mocking tone. “I think Rarity needs SOMEpony’s hair to do.” That was a very.... Rainbow response.

“No, no, I assure you there is no need for that.” Twilight snickered, “after all shes got things she’s doing doesn't she?” of she knew Rarity like she thought she did, which she did, she would surly spend the rest of the day working on Twilight's hair, then make her a brand new ward robe. “But anyway Rainbow I was wondering what you were up to anyway?”

“Pinkie’s got me running all these errands,” Rainbow scowled. “The thing is she wont tell me what I’m doing any of this is FOR.” Rainbow was clearly annoyed. She sighed, “what are you going to do its pinkie after all.” They shared a small laugh. “But, anyway Twilight I better get this stuff done before Pinkie thinks I’m slacking.”

“I understand Rainbow it was nice to see you,” they parted ways Twilight was now concerned for her safety as she walked through her town looking every possible direction twice before she would walk into the street or onto another path after two crashes in one day. She would not be wondering through the town relaxed for the rest of the day and probably tomorrow too. Twilight could almost see Fluttershy’s cottage form here it was so close, she was almost there. Never the less, she was still careful as where she was going making sure not to get ran into again.

“hehehe” this time in front of her. Twilight swung her head forward then right then-

“Howdy, Twi!” a cheerful voice yelled making Twilight nearly jump out of her skin. “whoops,” Applejack said. “Sorry ‘bout that”

“N-no, it’s q-quite alright,” Twilight nearly choked. She cleared her throat before continuing. “I’m just having some issues I guess today.” Twilight turned to face the orange pony her hair tied in a loose bundle and somewhat clutter she had been busy apple bucking. Nothing out of the usual she usually kept busy one way or another. Her green eyes had bags big enough to travel cross Equestria so nothing different from her usual self.

“What are you up to today?” Applejack asked with a slight yawn at the end.

“Not a whole lot, I’m just looking for something to do.” Twilight said it in a sort of way that was somewhat asking if Applejack had something for her to do.

It was not to be Applejack just chuckled, “I would have somethin’ for ya but this here’s the last bushel of apple from the farm. Pinkie needs ‘em won’t tell me what for though.” Twilight could tell that her friend had been working hard. “I think Fluttershy was looking for some help earlier, though I don’t know if she needs it or not still.”

“I was actually headed over there before I bumped into you” Twilight said with a little of a giggle.

“Well, I won’t keep ya then.” Applejack and Twilight bid their farewells. Applejack headed toward Sugar Cube Corner Twilight towards Fluttershy’s Cottage. What on earth is Pinkie planning that she has recruited three of our friends? Twilight wondered.

“I guess I’ll find out sooner or later.” Before she even knew it she was there, Fluttershy’s Cottage. Twilight let out a sigh of relief as she knocked on the door to the cottage.

“Hehehe” now Twilight was sure she had heard something nothing was going on near Fluttershy’s Cottage but before she could investigate she heard the Pegasus land just off to her right.

“Oh I’m sorry Twilight, I’ve been out.” The quite voice of her friend she easily recognized.

She turned to the gentle Pegasus who had a talent with animals. She had her pink mane styled somewhere between Rainbow Dash and Rarity; it wasn’t as messy but not as clean. She at least tried to put effort into it. The rest of her was a pale-yellow color it matched her well. Her blue eyes seemed to comfort any situation with just a glance. “That’s fine Fluttershy what were you up to before I got here?” Twilight asked she had a guess though.

“Pinkie Pie wanted me to gather up some birds something about critical to her master plan that's all I know.” She giggled to herself, “you know how it is with Pinkie” she explained.

“Ya,” Twilight agreed, “she can be quite the secret pony when she wants to be.” She sighed again, “but I guess you don’t need any more help, huh?”

“Oh... umm,” Fluttershy thought to herself for a second. “No, I’m sorry Twilight.”

Twilight laughed “there’s no need to apologize Fluttershy,” Twilight half-faked a smile. “I’m sure somepony else will have something to do. After all I haven’t even been to see Rarity yet.”

“I’m afraid that's not quite true now either my dear.” Twilight grinned as she turned to see Rarity. The white unicorn with the amazingly well styled purple mane. Her blue eyes seemed to pierce whatever they fell on. “Hello, Fluttershy,” Rarity addressed the other pony, “I can’t BELIEVE I missed our spa trip this week.”

“Oh... no, that's fine” Fluttershy replied.

“We simply must reschedule for later,” Rarity spoke as if Fluttershy might say no. “How about after this? If you have nothing else going on I mean.”

“Oh... ok, that’s... fine” Fluttershy agreed.

“Great! As for you Twilight I must apologize I haven't a thing for you to do.”

“Huh.” Twilight said with a small ring of sadness in her voice. “That’s alright Rarity.”

“I am truly sorry, Twilight however, Fluttershy if we are going to make it today we must hurry there.” Rarity and Fluttershy left after saying their good byes and left Twilight alone.

She chuckled to herself, she had gone through the process of making all these friends and yet none of them needed her help. She had a hollow feeling in her chest that felt like it would grow to consume her she would be nothing but and shell. “Why, do I feel this bad all the sudden?” She was starting to get a little worried about herself hearing things and now this? She thought back to all the psychology she had learned from her books and the only answer seemed to be she was going insane. “No, no that can’t be it,” she laughed it off. Though, the hollow seemed to grow even more as she did.

“Hehehe,” Twilight Whirled around to see nothing but the tree in Fluttershy’s yard. Now, she KNEW she was going crazy. Reluctantly she turned and headed home. Things had started to decline slowly and she couldn’t find any of her friends they all seemed to have fallen off the face of Equestria. She had her head slightly hung as she walked back to her hollow tree. “Hollow, just like me,” Twilight nearly screamed at herself, “STOP IT!” She drew a few glances from various ponies nothing too serious. She had gotten used to Canterlot she remember her old home. People weren’t as nice there but it was much more quite without some of the crazies around Ponyville.

She missed getting to see the princess every day. She could focus on her studies there no distractions nothing but peace and quiet. She sighed, “Maybe I should just go back, seems like every time somepony is needed I am the last to be asked.” The already seemingly endless pit that was where her heart was supposed to be dug a little deeper. “Why am I thinking like this?” Something was up with her and she couldn’t even tell what. She shrugged it off, “I’ll just get myself checked out by a professional soon.”

She started thinking again “I should just go back to Canterlot, I don’t really belong here.” Her coat was starting to get blends of gray, “yes, I should just leave there’s nothing left for me here. WHAT AM I DOING?!” Her mind seemed to be in a battle something was wrong, very wrong. She immediately thought back to what the princess had said to her it seemed like it had been years. Had it? She didn’t know anymore her head was in a screaming contest her head ache felt like it was an axe being slowly driven into her head. “THINK TWILIGHT, THI-”

______________________________________________________________________________

“Twilight!” Princess Luna walked into her sister’s prodigy's home. “I was hoping I would find you here,” the younger of the princesses approached Twilight. Her long blue mane was not waving as her sister’s did. Her dark blue coat seemed to be getting a little brighter after the whole sorry-I-was-evil-and-totally-tried-to-take-over-Equestria-like-twenty-minutes-ago thing.

“Oh, hello princess,” Twilight started to bow but, Luna stopped her. Twilight was confused but went with it, “um, what is it you needed?”

The princess smiled warmly which Twilight thought was weird because she was the moon but went with it. Luna leaned toward her, “I’m going to teach you a spell,” Twilight could tell she had been drinking she could smell the alcohol. Though she really couldn't blame her after all she had just been changed back into Luna that night. Twilight was not the drinking type and neither were her friends; except maybe Rainbow she would go missing from time to time with no explanation.

“Um, okay princess but I think Celestia would prefer to teach me all the magic I know...”

“Yes, but I am better at this magic than she is. You see this is a spell that I learned when I was turning into Nightmare.” She cringed at the thought but continued, “I truly hope you never have to use it but I’m going to teach you anyway... You know... Just in case.” Twilight wasn’t sure what she was to do about a drunken princess in her home but decided to go through the motions.

“Ok, Luna show me what you wanted to.” She said nearly sarcastically.

Luna laughed “so, you know?” Twilight was confused, “Yes, I have had a little to drink but please Twilight I am trying to be serious.” Twilight immediately felt bad for trying to play this whole thing off as a joke, Luna lifter her head. “Don’t feel bad, we all make our own choices, now let me show you what you need to do.”

______________________________________________________________________________

Twilight snapped back she was sweating and desperately needed to cast this spell! The torment from her head had not weakened in the slightest. “Oh, thank you Luna,” she had to say this aloud because it hurt too much to think. Her horn immediately started to glow and the real battle would soon begin.

Twilight was now in her own mind or rather a recreation of her mind. The area seemed to go on forever things as far as she could see. Each was a memory or a thought or feeling all shaped like small rooms in a huge corridor though it was organized. She knew her mind and as far as she knew that was the only advantage she had. She had to search for the infiltration of her mind the thing that was causing her so much pain. Each step she took was another heavy blow she would soon have nothing left. She scrambled to find it though Luna had taught her the spell she though, was still very weak at the time she had almost no magic power left. She would have shown her but it would have been useless ‘too easy of a test’ she had put it. She searched through the walls of her mind but it was huge so many places to hide so many things she had learned. This was the first time she really was sorry for being such a book worm.

In truth this was Twilight's biggest fear all of her knowledge all the things she had learn from: friends, the princesses, books, and anything else she could get her hooves on. Though Twilight had been taught one key thing from the moon princess: a finding spell. She immediately cast it and was pulled toward her memory that was strange you were never to attack the memories unless searching for something. It then hit her: this is why Luna taught her.  She was an Element of Harmony they wanted that information.

She ran faster and faster each step seemed to be tearing her apart and it was now in sight The Elements of Harmony and everything she knew about them. It had her own segregation in her mind she now that, that was a bad idea it was much easier to find. She ran into the area of her mind as fast as she could and as soon as she did the pain stopped. “YES,” she nearly collapsed as the pain faded though she had to keep going. She found the thing she was looking for a small orb of magic she crushed it using her own magic.

She was exploded back out into her own world she was again in control of her real body she was sweating and was exhausted. She had been completely spent there was nothing left. She gasped in a huge breath and exhaled just as quickly and she was back. She did not wait for a warm welcome and started taking inventory mentally and physically. Nothing seemed to be out of place and yet something felt... different. Never the less, she allowed herself to relax she was still panting and she ached. She lay in the ally she had been in for the past hour though she did not remember getting there. After what was an eternity she rose and started off to her tree she called a home.

“hehehe, good you have passed,” the ‘passed’ part was said as a laugh.

“Get out of my head!” Twilight screamed to her brain..

“Fine, Twilight Sparkle but, you may feel a little different now. We will meet,” he paused, “is it again or soon? Never mind we will be hearing more of one another soon, I am very proud.” with that Twilight could feel him leave her mind she could tell he was very meticulous on his way out.

“Good,” thought Twilight and headed home she only wanted to sleep for the next week.

She arrived home about ten minutes later it would have taken less time if she had been able to walk without nearly dragging herself. She walked to the door and looked at it as though it were a massive wall and could only bring herself to knock. Spike answered almost immediately, “Twilight!” He didn’t notice she was in pain and pulled her inside, “let me just turn on some lights.” As he made his way to the lights Twilight knew something was up. For one Spike was never that excited to see her except on special occasions, and the lights never were off during the day. He made it to the light switch as she put two and two together... Pinkie.

The lights Flipped on, “Surprise!” Her six friends all stood in the house, “happy birthday!”

“Pinkie... it’s not my birthday.” Twilight nearly grumbled

“Ya! But now it’s only 100 days away!” The pink pony was ecstatic and Twilight knew her friends have all lied to her. Well except Applejack more than likely she was just never told in the first place she always was a terrible liar.

“Oh, come now Twilight obviously has a problem can’t anypony see that?” Rarity now spoke up for her friend. “Now my dear, what is the problem you seem absolutely exhausted.”

Twilight was about to admit to her friends she had been attacked, “don’t do it,” the voice nearly sang. “I know you don't want to lie to them but it will be better for them in the long run.”

“And when did I start listening to you? More importantly, get out!” Twilight was now furious.

“Hehehe, feisty aren’t you?” Twilight was about to explode, the voice sighed. “Fine come down to the bar by Sugar Cube Corner and I’ll tell you everything. Just drum up a good lie.”

Twilight contemplated her situation for a long moment, “fine.” she did not like to admit defeat but, she held none of the cards and they both knew it.

“Ya, I’ll be alright girls I just have to run down to the store really quick.” She gave her friends a feeble grin, “I’ll be right back.” Before anypony could protest she was out the door.

She made her way down to the bar as fast as her legs could carry her. Every muscle in her body burned. She pushed all the way to bar and she would definitely feel that in the morning. She looked all around the bar and could not see anything out of the normal though she rarely went there. She decided that the pony must be inside and started to head to the door.

“That's far enough,” she was instantly filled with rage. “Now you’re about to feel a little bit of a tickle and all your pain will be gone.” There was a zap not a tickle but the pain did begin to fade.

“Thanks,” Twilight said clearly annoyed, “now what?”

“While I would love to meet face to face I’m afraid that is not an option.”

“You said you would tell me everything!” Twilight was so furious she thought she might kill the next pony she saw. She began to toy with the idea and thought of how she would do it images began to flash through her head.

“Damn, your sick,” the voice said slightly startled, “anyway, calm down I’m sending an... employee of mine. Cupcakes SERIOUSLY?!”

“SHUT UP!” Twilight was now beyond anger.

Just then the strangest looking pony she had ever seen appeared from the bushes. He was an earth pony so needless to say this was not the pony that had been mentally fighting with her just a half-hour ago. His mane was green and purple and stuck out in three separate directions. His coat was a purple that resembled Rarity’s hair. His mark was much like drama masks but there were four not two. Two of them were standard but the other two were angry and what seemed like soulless. He had a massive grin on his face that only grew when he saw Twilight. “Hehehe, lemme buy you a drink.”

______________________________________________________________________________

Author’s note:

I watched it and loved it, my first reactions were: WTF? Now I am the biggest brony I know. I chose to write this because I have recently been reading very many fan fictions all across the interwebs. This is my first story and my first time writing anything like this. I am always trying to become a better writer so I do thank for any helpful comments. All characters and places belong to Hasbro and the My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic ponies. (Except OCs)