“Oh, that sounds like a lot of fun!” you respond with a smile. “Don’t worry about stuff here. I’ll take care of things.”

“A-are you sure?” Twilight asks. “If you want, you can leave a list of to-dos for tonight when I get home, and-”

“Goodness no!” you interject, waving off the very idea with a hoof. “Your entire life doesn’t revolve around me just because I’m your temporary research fellow. You haven’t gotten to spend any time with them since I’ve been here-go have fun with your friends!”

Twilight makes a funny sound and shuffles in place. “I...I don’t know, I still feel bad…”

After a moment of contemplation, Twilight gasps loudly. Her ears perked up, she practically hops from hoof to hoof as she rapidly approaches you. She stops just a few inches from your chair; when you look up at her, you find that she’s wearing a beaming smile.

“Okay, hear me out,” she begins excitedly, gesturing in front of herself with a hoof. “What if you were to come with!?”

“Come with?” you repeat, a little surprised.

“Yes!” she confirms, nodding emphatically. “You should meet my friends at some point, so why not now? Rarity and Fluttershy have been asking about you! We’re all headed to Sugarcube Corner to meet up with Pinkie Pie. Rainbow Dash mentioned she had something to show us afterward, too, but, uh…” Twilight bites her lip as she searches for the right words. “That’s probably going to be a little touch-and-go. What do you think?” she tilts her head and smiles broadly. “I’d love to have you!”

To finish up your research work tonight and insist Twilight has fun with her friends without you bringing things down, proceed to Chapter 16.

To relent and come along, proceed to Chapter 17.

Next Chapter: Chapter 16 Estimated time remaining: 1 Hour, 17 Minutes