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A Second Chance

by Jay David

Chapter 5: Diamonds and Butterflies

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The two friends walked with a skip in their step towards the Town Hall of Ponyville, Twilight feeling more than a little pleased with herself after everything that had happened so far. Alright, all of my first meetings have been going well thus far. Only two more to go. As the two of them approached the doors of the Hall, Twilight looked down at her draconian friend, who, unlike her, was completely oblivious to what was about to happen. Using all her might, Twilight fought against the urge to giggle. Oh Spike, if only you knew just how much you'll come to love this next moment of your life. Turning to the doors, Twilight lit up her horn to start opening them magically, after which they both entered, doors closing behind them. Okay, Twilight thought, when this first played out, Rarity was obsessing on getting my mane fixed after Rainbow crashed into me. Since that's not going to happen, let's see how this goes. After walking for a few moments within the hall, Twilight looked around, seeing many of the decorations already prepared. It'll be a good-looking celebration, I'll say that much.

However, her expression then darkened somewhat as she looked up to the balcony on the second level of the grand entrance hall, which was currently obscured by a large pair of curtains. That's it. The place Lu...no...Nightmare Moon will make herself known. She let out a sigh at that thought. She's a good mare, I know. But when she sees me, it will be at a time when her heart is consumed by darkness. She and I are friends in the future, but tonight? Tonight we'll be deadly enemies. It was a difficult though, no question, and one that caused a somewhat pained expression for Twilight. However, as Spike turned to look at her, the young unicorn quickly put on a smile for his benefit, which he promptly returned. And it was here that there two of them finally started to hear mumbling up ahead. Looking forward, Twilight smiled when she saw her friend, Rarity, at work looking over the various decorations that had yet to be chosen for the evening. She didn't even notice the two of them approach her, allowing Twilight a moment to look down at Spike. Sure enough, he was enraptured by the sight of the mare before him, utterly transfixed at her beauty. At this, Twilight allowed herself a mental giggle. And it starts.

Taking a few steps forward, Twilight watched as Rarity was dismissing a number of colourful ribbons, looking at them in a disapproving manner before her face finally lit up at a purple-coloured one. Having finally gone close enough for her liking, Twilight cleared her throat, at which point Rarity turned to her with a slight degree of surprise on her face.

"Oh! I do so apologise! I didn't hear you come in!"

Twilight raised a hoof and shook her head at that.

"No need to apologise. I'm sorry to disturb your decorations, but I was sent to make sure everything was in order here. You're Miss Rarity, correct?"

Smiling, Rarity puffed out her chest a little and swept back some of her mane, a motion which caused Spike to actually start drooling at this point. Clearing her own throat, Rarity began to speak back.

"Yes, indeed I am! I do hope you approve of what I've done so far, Miss...?"

Twilight gave a small smile at that.

"Twilight Sparkle. And this...gentledrake is Spike."

Only now did the alabaster unicorn really notice Spike, and upon seeing him, she was more than a little taken aback.

"Oh my! A dragon! How exotic!"

Upon finally being addressed, Spike shook his head to get himself out of his self-inflicted trance, at which point he coughed nervously and started speaking back, all while puffing out his own chest in a manner that made it clear he was trying to look more impressive than he really was.

"Well...erm...it's great to meet, you, Miss Rarity! You've done great work here!"

Twilight rolled her eyes at her assistant's attempts at looking impressive. Rarity, on the other hoof, merely let out a short squeak as she patted the young drake on the head.

"Oh, you are just the most precious little thing!"

Under normal circumstances, Spike would not have appreciated being spoken to like a child. With Rarity doing it, however, he seemed to have changed his tune, as he became quite weak at the knees at feeling her hoof upon his head. Twilight stifled the need to giggle at the sight of him like this. Spike, Spike, Spike. Believe it or not, this will happen more than a few times in your future. A moment of concern crossed her face as she considered that. He'll be pining for Rarity for years. Not even future me really knew if it was worth trying to talk him out of it. I know she's a lot older than he is, but...I suppose it wouldn't hurt to let him keep feeling that way about her. Putting on a smile, Twilight cleared her throat again. Well, better tell Rarity that everything's fine here. I still have Fluttershy to meet after all. However, before she got the chance to say anything, Rarity herself spoke up.

"I must say, I've never met a dragon before. Where was it you said the two of you came from?"

Twilight froze in place after hearing those words. Oh, right. I remember what happens when Rarity finds that out. She let out a mental sigh. Well, if I'm going to be friends with her, I can't exactly keep that kind of thing a secret. After a few moments of hesitancy, Twilight finally gave an answer.

"Well...we come from...er...Canterlot?"

There was silence between the two mares for a time, but eventually, Rarity's face slowly broke into an enormously wide smile, with her eyes practically filled with sparkles. Well, here we go, Twilight thought. Sure enough, Rarity let out a near ear-piercing squeal of joy as she lunged forward, her face mere millimetres away from Twilight's.

"CANTERLOT!!!"

The young unicorn took a well-earned step back away from the star-struck mare, as the latter began gushing fiercely about what Twilight knew was her favourite place in all the world.

"Oh! I can just see it now! The glitz! The glamour! The nobility! Oh! You simply must tell me everything you know about that place!"

Twilight chuckled nervously at that.

"Well, I appreciate that you respect my hometown so much...but it really isn't as perfect as you think it is."

Rarity merely scoffed at that.

"Oh please! I'm well aware that every place has it's imperfections, naturally. But still, it's the beating heart of our nation! The seat of power for Princess Celestia herself! If a place like that isn't worth talking about, I don't know what is!"

Well, can't argue with that logic, Twilight mused. In moments though, Rarity began speaking yet again.

"Oh, please, Twilight! It's always been my dream to go to a place like Canterlot one day! Ooh! I actually have a nice pot of tea ready backstage. How about you join me and we'll discuss it?"

Twilight considered that offer carefully. Well, I want her to be my friend, just like she's supposed to. So I guess having a friendly tea break together and talking about home would be a pretty good ice-breaker. Besides, I've still got plenty of time before I need to check up on Fluttershy. Looking down, she saw that Spike was looking up at her, his eyes wide and pleasing. Twilight chuckled at the sight of him like this. Besides, Spike would never forgive me if I say no to a chance for us to spend more time with his first crush. Turning back to Rarity, Twilight gave a smile and a nod, granting her friend the permission she needed. Letting out another happy squeak, the white unicorn gestured to the backstage door, after which she began to walk towards it, with Twilight and Spike in-tow. As promised, there were cups of tea already prepared back there on a small table, which Rarity then filled by way of using her magic to lift the nearby pot. After offering it to the young unicorn, Rarity watched her with eagerness, Twilight chuckling nervously as she did so.

And so it was that the two spent a good chunk of time discussing everything Rarity wished to know. From the most prominent locations of Canterlot, to all the streets and venues where fashion was most practiced, which was something Rarity took particular interest in. Twilight gave honest answers to all of them, all while Spike kept his eyes on Rarity, utterly awe-struck by her. In time, Rarity had no more questions to ask, and Twilight was finally free to move on elsewhere. After giving an appreciative goodbye wave, Rarity resumed her work decorating the Town Hall, at which point Twilight began to finally leave the place. Spike, on the other hoof, was practically rooted in place, still staring at his new crush. Letting out a groan of frustration, Twilight engulfed him in her magic, levitating him wholesale and bringing him along with her as she left. It was only after they'd walked a few blocks down the street that the young dragon finally snapped out of it, and at that point, here chuckled nervously at Twilight, to which the latter simply couldn't be mad at him for. He'd never appreciate me saying this, but he does look very adorable when he gets that way around her.

As the two journeyed towards the other end of town, the houses became increasingly sparse, and the place gave way to vast fields of green grass and colourful flowers. She's around here somewhere, Twilight thought. This'll probably be the hardest of all. Fluttershy barely spoke to me the first time around. Heck, she barely even got out her name! It was only because Spike came into view that she even got out a full sentence. Upon dwelling on that thought, Twilight turned to see her young friend, still walking beside her, before putting on a mischievous smirk. Well then, I guess I should keep him close this time around. However, that thought was then interrupted as Twilight began to hear a distant chorus of songs. Turning, she looked ahead, seeing a large section of bushes before her. Rearing onto her hind legs, she looked over and saw, as expected, a small tree, upon which were dozens of colourful birds, all singing well together. And there, flying beside the tree, was Fluttershy herself. Twilight smiled at seeing her, hearing her talking to one of the bird in particular about being off-key.

Letting out a sigh, Twilight walked out from behind the bushes, with Spike close behind her. She did not call out, not like the first time around. Instead, she simply walked closer, and as she did so, one of the birds tilted their head to look at her, which alerted Fluttershy to her approaching presence. Slowly, the timid Pegasus spun around, finally seeing Twilight. The birds, not having been scared off this time, nevertheless seemed nervous at the new arrival. Okay, things are going smoothly so far. Clearing her throat a little, Twilight finally spoke.

"Um...hello?"

Fluttershy hovered closer to the ground before looking away from Twilight somewhat.

"H...he...hello?"

The words had been spoke so quietly that they were barely above a whisper. At least she said hello back this time, Twilight thought. After a brief pause, Twilight took a deep breath before speaking.

"You're the one in charge of the music tonight? Miss Fluttershy, I presume? My name is Twilight. It's nice to meet you."

Fluttershy gained a slight blush upon hearing her name spoken by this strange, shifting slightly so that some of her mane began to fall on one side of her face. Twilight's smile faded a little at seeing this.

"That, er...that singing from your birds sounded wonderful! You should be proud!"

The praise, unfortunately, didn't seem to coax Fluttershy into any sort of response. Twilight, upon seeing this, let out another sigh. Well, guess it's time to use my trump card. Turning, the lavender unicorn gestured to Spike, who had been standing quietly beside her this whole time.

"Oh, I almost forgot! This is my good friend, Spike!"

As she said that, Fluttershy finally noticed the young dragon beside Twilight, and when she did, her eyes widened to the size of dinner plates, and she flapped her wings to launch herself into the air, all while wearing an enormous smile.

"A BABY DRAGON!!!"

The usually-timid mare zoomed forward, but, much like with Rainbow Dash earlier, Twilight made an immediate side-step to avoid being impacted by the Pegasus. With her face now a mere inch away from Spike's, Fluttershy began to fawn all over him.

"Oh! He's so cute!"

Spike looked at twilight with a somewhat cocky look, as if to say "look at me getting all the mares today!" Twilight merely rolled her eyes at that. Yeah, yeah, Spike. Trust me, you'd be nothing but a puddle right now if it was Rarity doing that. Fluttershy, though, was oblivious to Twilight's inner grumblings, and simply kept on smiling at the young drake.

"I've never met a baby dragon before! Tell me everything about you!"

Looking ever so pleased with himself, Spike cleared his throat before starting to speak.

"Well, it all began years ago when I was hatched in Canterlot..."

Twilight chuckled at seeing things go so well. Fluttershy was happy being around them, and all the other mares had been met and introduced to her. So far, everything was going as it was supposed to. Feeling happy about everything, Twilight levitated Spike upon her back, all while he continued speaking to Fluttershy about the two of them. Staring to walk back into town, Twilight chuckled at the sight of her newest friend so enraptured with meeting Spike. But, as ever, a sense of foreboding gnawed at Twilight during all this. It won't be long now. Nightmare Moon will arrive soon. I'll have to fight her, me and the other girls. She let out a sigh at that. Relax, Twilight. You know everything you need to. You know what to do when this crisis has passed. It'll be a lot of work, but I'm sure I'll be able to make things better than they ever were the first time around. Looking up, a sense of determination passed her face. This time...I'll be ready for all of it.

However, as she dwelt on that, a small smile formed upon her face as she let out a chuckle.

But for now…I guess I’d better get to my “surprise” party.

Next Chapter: A Home, Restored Estimated time remaining: 19 Hours, 46 Minutes
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