THE TEACHER, THE SORCERESS, AND THE WONDERBOLT

Chapter 13: Awareness

If there was one thing that could be said for Pinkie-Pie's parties, is that even the slow ones were never dull. Whether it was waltzing to Oasis' Wonderbolt Wall or tangoing to Mare Gaga's Just Dance, Twilight was glad she came instead of reading alone at home as she normally would have done. Everypony (and dragon) seemed to notice that three mares refused to dance with anypony other than a certain purple mare. Everypony that is, except one. Those three mares seemed to be in some sort of almost violent contest for her attention, a war all of them were losing since she never seemed to notice how hard they were vying for it.

That's not to say a good time wasn't being had by all, far from it. By the end of it, all attendees left with smiles on their faces. Despite repeated warnings from her friends, Twilight had exhausted herself and had to be carried back home on Cheerilee's back. “Are you sure it's no problem, Cheerilee? Twilight is a bit on the heavy side, even if she is pretty small for a pony. I keep telling her to get out and exercise more but...” Spike asked with embarrassed concern.

Cheerilee shook her head. “She's not heavy, Spike, she's my friend." As they walked, Cheerilee thought back to the last time she had to carry Twilight around like this. True, she was less drunk, and more exhausted this time around, but the familiar warm weight, and the scent of the librarian made her smile, and she welcomed this burden all the same. Unbidden, a daydream started in her mind, one where she and Twilight taught side-by-side.

In her mind's eye, they stayed after class one day, working well into the afternoon grading papers. As she reached for another test to grade, her hoof and Twilight's touch, and they both withdraw with a blush. “Go ahead,” she says.

Twilight says nothing, but instead picks up a paper without taking her eyes from Cheerilee's. She brings it up to her face so that only her eyes and the top of her head could be seen. The mare's eyes close to a half-lidded state, giving her a sultry look.

Cheerilee gulps and tries to return her attention back to the papers, but found Twilight's hoof on her chin, refusing this action. Her eyes slowly make their way back to meet Twilight's, and are forever captured there. The paper dropped, unnoticed. It seems to the teacher that her friend's eyes are getting bigger, but that can't be right. That's when it hits her. Twilight's nose makes contact with her own.

Now literally nose-to-nose, Cheerilee can feel her heart thudding against her ribcage, trying it's hardest to escape. She tries to say something, anything, but her breath catches in her throat. Her entire world now consists of those wondrous limpid pools before her. Twilight closes her eyes, so she does the same.

The electric touch of Twilight's lips courses through her as they meet with her own. She can swear that her heart stops beating, only to start up again with a redoubled cadence. Cheerilee's lips part in astonishment at the intensity of the feelings, and is surprised once again to find Twilight's tongue slithering past the guardians of her mouth. Tentatively, the teacher's tongue touches the tip of the invader, sending a shiver down her spine. That touch is not enough, however. She wastes no time in wrestling with Twilight for control over her own mou-

“Hey! We're here!”

The scratchy voice pierced through Cheerilee's mind like a hot knife through warm butter. Blinking, she looked around at her surroundings as if waking from a dream. The library door stood open, waiting to admit her, an amused Spike holding it open. To her left stood a vexed Spitfire, one hoof tapping the ground impatiently. She looked to the right to see an equally vexed Trixie, quietly grinding her teeth.

Before Cheerilee could walk in, a light blue aura surrounded Twilight, relieving her of the slumbering burden. “Trixie will take it from here. We wouldn't want Twilight to fall off of your back as you ascended the stairs, after all.”With her nose in the air, the azure mare trotted past her, an unconscious Twilight following in her wake.

Spitfire flew past them all and up the stairs. Once she reached Twilight's room, she began setting up the pallet for the night. She was finishing up when Trixie walked in with the levitating Twilight, followed by Cheerilee and Spike. The little dragon just watched with amusement as the three took up their positions for the night by some unspoken agreement. As he closed the door, he shook his head, quietly laughing to himself.

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Twilight opened her eyes to find that for the first time in days, she was alone. Her favorite blanket from her bed was covering her, and the sun streaming through the curtains let her know that it was nearly noon. The grumbling of her stomach agreed with this assessment, so she yawned and stretched, trying to come alive. Progress was halted when all four legs locked up with intense cramps. She hissed in pain and curled up into a fetal position, praying to Celestia to make the pain go away.

Finally, the pain subsided enough that she was able to uncurl and take some deep breaths. Oh my stars, what was that all about? She thought back to yesterday, and all she could think of was dancing until she fell exhausted. Perhaps that was it? I was just drained of magic the night before, and am still not feeling one hundred percent yet.

Cautiously, she stretched a leg out until she felt the beginnings of the cramp returning. Using that as her new limit, she slowly took to her hooves in a five minute long exercise in caution. With extreme care, she wended her way down the stairs, feeling her muscles ache with a dull throb. Coming into the main lobby of the library, she was greeted by the sight of Trixie and Spitfire glaring at each other as they shelved some books. “Good morning,” she chirped at them. “Or should I just say 'good day'?”

They both turned to her in surprise. “Twilight!” Spitfire said.

“How are you feeling?” Trixie asked.

Stepping gingerly, Twilight made her way over to them. “Sore, but much improved, overall.” She nodded towards the books in their grasps. “What's going on here?”

“That is our fault, I am afraid to say.” Startled by the new, cultured voice, Twilight turned to see Octavia Melody and Vinyl Scratch. The young gray mare stepped forward saying, “I was trying to prove to my... colleague here, that all those songs we played at the party last night draw their roots from classical pieces. That is why the translated so well to a string quartet.” She sighed and gestured to the books held by Twilight's house guests. “Unfortunately, there seems to be somewhat of a dearth of musical history texts here.”

Vinyl Scratch came forward, bumping Octavia out of the way. “She just can't stand to lose, that's all. Nice moves on the dance floor last night, by the way. Never seen three ponies try to tango with a fourth before. They must really think the sun shines out your-”

Octavia bumped the white unicorn away, regaining her old spot. “You would not happen to have any other musical history books here, would you?”

“Have you tried the reference room?” Twilight gestured to a closed door behind her.

Vinyl Scratch's face dropped when she heard this. “Reference room? Just how many rooms does this place have?”

With a smile, Twilight eagerly said, “Besides the main lobby here, there are three rooms open to the public. And the ground floor restroom, of course.”

All four of the other ponies appeared shocked at this. “But, wherever do you find the space? The tree does not look that large from outside,” Octavia questioned.

“Extra-dimensional spaces, of course,” Twilight cheerfully supplied. “Why, this room alone is larger than the outside diameter of the tree. It's a natural property of the tree itself. Though to be fair, 'natural' is not something one could apply to this tree. You see, it all started about-”

She was stopped by Spitfire putting her hoof on top of Twilight's. “Hon, as interesting as that might be, they're here to find those history books.”

Twilight looked slightly downcast for a moment. “Oh, right. Sorry. Well, if you follow me, I'll show you the way.” With that, she trotted off to the indicated door, totally forgetting about her aches and pains from earlier.

“Trixie does not like the way you address Twilight Sparkle.”

Spitfire turned to the glaring azure pony. “Well, seeing as she seems to have no problem with it, I don't see how it's any concern of yours,” she quipped with a smile.

Trixie walked forward until they were forehead to forehead. “Trixie will not take second place in Twilight's heart to anypony. Not to you, not to that plain teacher, nopony.”

“Then you're in for a shock,” Spitfire said through a grin. She was about to reveal what she had read in the diary, but stopped herself and shook her head. Twilight gave me a second chance! I can't mess up again like that or I really will never have a chance with her. “Trust me, she's far more into me than she is with you.”

Though perturbed by the confidence in her rival's voice, Trixie didn't let it show. “And just what, praytell, are you basing that claim on? Trixie truly doubts that you have shared anything as... intimate as what we had a few days ago.”

Spitfire arched an eyebrow at her. “Oh, really? Such as?”

Trixie sniffed as she turned her nose up at her. “Please, a lady never does anything so gauche as to stoop to common gossip.”

The Wonderbolt was ready to dismiss her as bluffing, but something in the way she carried herself and spoke of the supposed event, gave her pause. What really worried her is that she had just been told, in essence, that Trixie won't “kiss and tell”. Trying to play off her fear as nonexistent, Spitfire rolled her eyes. “Pfft. Whatever.”

Satisfied that she had put the pegasus on the defensive, Trixie smirked. “Whatever indeed. When Twilight chooses Trixie as her companion, let that 'whatever' keep you warm at night.”

Further conversation was halted by the reemergence of Twilight and her library patrons. “So you see, it's not too far off to say that most, if not all modern music owes everything to the classical composers.” Twilight was on a roll, and had an enraptured audience.

“But what about house?” Vinyl Scratch asked. “You can't seriously expect me to believe that house music owes anything to those stuffy old composers like Beet Oven?”

Twilight smiled as she answered, “Well, house and techno are modern offshoots of disco, right?” The white unicorn shuddered, but nodded reluctantly. Octavia grinned at this. She absolutely loved it when somepony mentioned how the deejay's music originated with the now dead music style. “Well, disco itself draws heavily from funk, which has its roots in jazz, and more importantly, R&B. R&B in turn comes from gospel, which are religious choral arrangements to the Princesses' glory. These choral arrangements were written by composers such as...”

Vinyl Scratch sighed and hung her head in defeat. “... Beet Oven.”

The librarian laid a hoof on her shoulder. “Don't feel too bad. I myself, never realized just how much influence those old composers have over modern music until my friend Lyra got me interested in studying them back in college.”

Octavia put a foreleg over the deejay's withers. “Come. I shall buy you dinner to make up for shattering your world view.”

Vinyl Scratch looked up with hope in her eyes as they walked to the door. “Tofurgers and hayfries?”

The cellist shook her head in dismay. As the door closed, she could be heard to say, “One of these days, I shall teach you to eat healthy like a normal pony.”

Spitfire turned to her hostess. “Twilight, I need to go out. There's some letters and things I need to send, and some other stuff to take care of. I shouldn't be gone long, alright?”

Trixie brought her hoof to her chest saying, “Trixie, too must abscond for a short time. There is a small matter or two that requires her direct attention.”

The lavender mare sighed regretfully. “Unfortunately, I can't escort you girls today. Cheerilee asked me last night to come around to the schoolhouse about noon for a power planning session over my curriculum. She thinks we can streamline it and boost its efficacy by eleven percent!”

Spitfire and Trixie shot each other worried glances, wondering just when Cheerilee was able to find enough alone time with Twilight last night to ask this of her. Even more prominent were their fears at just what she planned to do today. “That's... great, Twilight. Perhaps Trixie will be able to finish what she needs to do early and will be able to join you?” the showmare ventured.

Twilight brushed her cheek along the unicorn's neck. “Aw, there's no need to rush on my account, Trixie. Just make sure you do what you need to do, first, okay?”

The blush on Trixie's face would have been noticeable if Spitfire hadn't stolen her attention right at that moment. “It's no trouble at all. I'll be there too. We agreed to help you with this project after all. It's only right that we be there for you.”

A blush spread across Twilight's cheeks, sending a thrill through her two friend's chests. “Aw, thanks, girls. I really appreciate all you're doing for me.” She walked up to Spitfire and brushed her cheek along her neck as she had done with Trixie. “It really means a lot to me.” With that, she walked to the door, leaving a pair of love struck mares in her wake. “I'll see you two later at the school, then! Spike, you're in charge of the library until I get back!” she shouted out. A grunt of acknowledgment was all she got in return.

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To say that Cheerilee was having trouble concentrating lately, would be a little like saying that water can, under the right circumstances, be a little damp. Ever since she had started spending the night with Twilight (oh, how she loved the sound of that, regardless of the reality), she found herself either daydreaming about their possible future together, or dwelling on memories of the mare. Currently, she was locked in the throes of the latter rather than the former.

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It was a wonderful summer evening for a walk. There were no papers to grade, only a few foals underhoof, and the stars appeared to be in fine form tonight. Best of all, she had some delicious apple danishes fresh from the Apples' cart, and she had even said hello to the cute new librarian! Oh, how she longed to say more than “hi” or “good afternoon” to her. “Would you like to spend a romantic evening with me” came to mind. As did “spend the rest of your life with me”. Loosing a rueful sigh at her own cowardice, she resolved to do just that next time. Ch'yeah, right.

Cheerilee turned the corner to her house, and was nearly bowled over by a tiny purple dragon barreling down the street. “Twilight! Twiiiliiight!” he shouted. He ran past her so fast, she was left spinning in place.

What's got him so riled up? Her question was answered when an enormous, translucent, blue, bear-like creature reared up right behind her house. It opened its mouth a let loose a roar that split the peace of the night asunder. The poor teacher couldn't even form coherent thought in her mind. The wild beating of her heart drowned out everything else.

Cheerilee's jaw dropped, letting the bag of danishes fall to the ground She stood there in shock as the beast placed its front paws on the roof of her home, ready to crush it to splinters. As it was about to put its weight down, a purple blur raced past her and around the corner towards the angry creature. Was that Twilight?

Startled into action, Cheerilee galloped around the corner and peeked at the action. Twilight was bravely facing the creature head on with her horn glowing its purple aura, but at a hundred times the normal intensity. A gentle breeze picked up out of nowhere, carrying with it a soothing melody. The music soothed the raging beast with its entrancing notes. The bear swayed on its feet, looking very unsteady.

The intensity of the light coming from Twilight's horn trebled, but with no immediate visible effect. When the water tower-turned- milk bottle appeared, and the creature was safely levitated off the ground, the mystery was solved, and the incredible strain on Twilight was beginning to show. The unicorn didn't even slow down however, as she flew the beast off into the night, presumably to its lair somewhere in the Everfree forest once again.

It was only then that Cheerilee realized that she had been holding in her breath. Inhaling deeply, she slowly walked out to thank the mare who had definitely saved her home, and quite possibly her life. Unfortunately, she was surrounded by her friends and fellow townsfolk, blocking her from view. She could hear the unicorn doling out punishments to the two foals responsible for the near-disaster, but felt that she was far too light with them, and promised herself to talk to the mayor in the morning. For now, she was just too exhausted, both physically and emotionally to deal with anything further.

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“Cheerilee? Are you alright?”

The teacher shook herself free from her thoughts to see the same mare she had been thinking of standing in front of her. “Twilight!” She looked around the playground where the foals were spending recess, and breathed a sigh of relief. “Sorry, I was a million miles away,” she apologized.

“So what's the weather on the moon right now?” Twilight quipped.

It took a moment for the earth pony to catch her meaning. “Huh? Oh, heh heh. A bit dry at the moment,” she said as she playfully stuck out her tongue.

“I hear that!” they say in unison, then chuckle to each other.

After a moment, Cheerilee asked, “Twilight, do you remember when the Ursa rampaged through town?”

Twilight rolled her eyes and smiled. “Kind of hard to forget a two-story tall star bear making a mess of one's neighborhood. Why do you ask?”

Nervously pawing at the ground, Cheerilee answered, “Well, I've never told you this, but that house it was about to crush when you came along was mine.” Twilight gasped and her eyes went wide. “See, I... I've never thanked you properly for that. Nor the times with Nightmare Moon, and Discord, and all the minor things you do around town that help us all so much.”

She was leaning forward now, the air between them charged with a strange energy. “I know it would be poor repayment for all that you've done for us, but the mayor and I had a talk this morning and she agreed that as a small token of thanks from the town, we were wondering if you would like to run the Science/Magic fair this year?”

It was somewhat of a problem getting that meeting with the mayor, since it had to occur before she was normally up, let alone in her office. However, a persistent, sustained knocking on her front door until the bleary-eyed mare finally answered and agreed just so she could return to her much-deserved rest saw her through.

Twilight's eyes grew as wide as plates and started sparkling. “Really? You mean it? YESYESYESYESYESYESYESYESYES!” She was so excited, that she began doing cartwheels all around the maroon mare, ending with a rib-crushing hug. “Thank you so much! This is at least ninety-two percent as good as teaching!”

The excited unicorn suddenly realized what she was doing and let go of her friend. Taking a few steps back, she sat on her haunches and coughed into her hoof as nonchalantly as she could. “*ahem* Sorry. I would be delighted to oversee the fair,” she said in a studied monotone with a blush encompassing most of her face.

Cheerilee lay on the ground where she had landed, catching her breath. She looked over at the foals in the playground, who were all now intently playing their games without a single one looking over at the amusing display of exuberance. The teacher stood up and brushed the dust off of her coat. “Yes, well, I'll bring over the paperwork tonight so we can go over the rules and any suggestions you might want to make. The fair itself isn't for four months, so there's plenty of time to prepare.”

“Yes, of course. I look forward to it,” the lavender unicorn said in a carefully professional voice.

Cheerilee smiled at her. “Then that leaves just one small matter, that of my personal thank you for saving my life and home.” Twilight cocked her head to the side, wondering where this was going. “I... I know it's not much, but, I would like to take you out to dinner this Satyrday. Just you...” She walked forward until their faces were just inches apart. “... and me.”

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Trixie paced back and forth in a tizzy as Rarity looked on. “Trixie just doesn't know, Miss Rarity! She was thinking Elkton John, but do you really think that would better convey the message than Your Song ?”

The seamstress smiled ruefully at the showmare. “Darling, of course it will work better. Trust me on this, Twilight simply adored that movie. Cried at it, even.” She suddenly put her hoof over her mouth. “Oh! Please don't tell Twilight I said that. She won't speak to me ever again if she found out.”

The azure mare rolled her eyes. “Please, give Trixie some credit. She knows when to keep her mouth shut.” She looked a little unsure as she said, “But Trixie is uncertain she can attain and hold the high notes for as long as is required. This song is so... challenging.”

Rarity waved a dismissive hoof at her. “Oh, don't worry about it. I can show you some breathing tricks that I taught to my little sister. From what Fluttershy told me, it has given her quite a set of lungs. As a bonus, it will do wondrous things for your... posture” She sidled up to the trembling mare and gave a her a conspiratorial wink. “Trust me. When you sing this song to Twilight, she will positively melt in your hooves.” Rarity whispered the word “melt” in Trixie's ear, sending a shiver down the blue mare's spine.

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“Come on, Lyra, you both attended Princess Celestia's School for Gifted Unicorns, surely you know some ponies who can help.” Spitfire got down on her knees (not an easy feat for a pony unless they were incredibly limber), and put her fore hooves together. “I'm begging you, please!”

The mint green mare looked down at her in embarrassed anger. “You're making a foal of yourself is what you're doing! Now stand up like a mare!” she hissed at her. “If Bonbon saw us like this, she'd-”

“She'd, what?”

Turning around wearing a fake grin, Lyra shrilly said, “Bonbon!” Her grin dropped when she saw the fury in her love's eyes. “It'snotwhatitlookslikeIswear!”

“Really?” The cream mare trotted over to the still kneeling pegasus. “Because it looks to me like you're refusing a mare in need of some help.”

Lyra blinked pointedly. “Okay, maybe it is what it looks like.” Her marefriend continued to glare at her. “But it's not because I don't want to, she wants...” She whispered in her ear for moment.

Bonbon grabbed the unicorn's horn until they were eye-to-eye and viciously whispered, “Now you see here, missy. I don't care if you do have to leave town for a few days. That mare is in love. Are you going to be the one who stands in her way? What would you have done if somepony could have helped us get together, but didn't lift a hoof because it would cause them a minor inconvenience?”

The earth pony grinned at her. “Besides, Do you honestly think I'd let you go there alone? Into that nest of harpies?”

“I love you,” Lyra whispered with conviction.

“I know,” Bonbon replied.

Author's Notes:

Part of me wonders if I should make these references easier to spot, but then I think “... Nah!” I want it known that I do not condone the replacement of perfectly good beef with ::shudder:: bean curd. If that's your bag, then more power to yah, but leave me with my delicious cholesterol. I just needed something like it that ponies would be likely to eat, since cows in this world seem to be, you know... sentient. Anyway, for those who don't read my blog, my next few updates may be a might late. For further information, I refer you to there. All disclaimers apply here. The only thing I own here is the arrangement of the words, all else is Hasbro's and Lauren Faust's.