chapter five; written AND dictated

[checklist]

[ The following is written in rather shoddy handwriting. Hoofwriting? ....Well, technically, she's doing it with her magic. Whatever. Regardless, it's not as neat as somepony might expect from Twilight Sparkle, as if she's... not aware that everypony will be reading this. It looks more like what somepony would write for themselves.

But it's definitely Twilight. The observant will be able to hear her, speaking along softly as she writes. ]

Daring Do was used to danger. It was her middle name, actually. Daring Danger Do. But this was more than just dangerous; this was going to be the death of her.

When she had been "enlisted" by the griffons to search for the crystal skull, she knew she would be in for an adventure unlike any before. And when she began to search for the truth behind it, well... events taking a turn for the worst was an understatement.

She was in the middle of a testing zone. A place where they were testing the most destructive magic spells developed by ponykind. And the spells were being unleashed. Now. With her in the middle of the blast zone!

She didn't have much time to reminisce though. She barely had time to think. She certainly could not outrun the blast: even if she hadn't injured her wing again, a malady she often found herself with, she still couldn't outpace a spell so powerful.

Was this it? Was this the end?

[ The writing pauses here. Twilight's now mumbling to herself, barely audible unless one listens closely. ]

Now how can I finish this scene? Maaaaybe... a refrigerator? Those are often lined with metal, aren't they? [ She taps a hoof to her chin thoughtfully... yes, that would work.

As she was about to put quill to paper again, though, she noticed something.

Namely, her mumblings had been transcribed on the page.

Oh... Oh.

Oh my. ]

This... isn't my writing notebook, is it?

[ ...Could she just curl up in a ball now? ]

Comments

[checklist]

But wouldn't a magically reinforced shelter be... anticlimactic?

[ EGGHEAD ALERT.... ]

[doublethefun]

[unless you want dark clouds and thunder...]

Then thou wishest for thy character to build a shelter out of magically resistant materials in the span of...however long she has?

[checklist]

[ /sob FACE IN HOOVES... ]

Writing is harder than it looks!

[doublethefun]

[there might be a muffled laugh]

I am confident thou wilt overcome such [long] odds, Twilight Sparkle.

[checklist]

Thank you for your vote of confidence, Princess.

[ Even though her ego is firmly trampled underhoof... ]

[doublethefun]

[awww, Twi. Would this be a bad time to tell her to stick to nonfiction?]

Like all skills, storytelling requires practice.

[checklist]

Maybe you're right. [ Or maybe she's just not cut out for this. /sigh ]

[doublethefun]

[at least she has no idea what fanfiction is]

Dost thou wish to become an author?

[checklist]

I never gave it any real thought back home. I may have entertained the idea once or twice, but I much prefer to read books.

It's just... an option that seems much more plausible here, with my loss and all.

[doublethefun]

Canst thou not continue thy studies on friendship here? From what I recall, it is closer to experimental observations, rather than theoretical studies.

[meaning no reading is required]

[checklist]

You can't try and force a lesson on friendship. They happen as they happen.

...That's something your sister taught me.

[doublethefun]

[...can't quite hide a snicker.]

Thou hast a most relaxed curriculum indeed, Twilight Sparkle.

[checklist]

I wouldn't exactly call it "relaxing." I take my studies very seriously.

[ But bad things happen when she takes them... too seriously. Bad. Things. ]

[doublethefun]

[there might be a bit of a mutter. Something about 'liberal arts.']

I apologize; I did not mean to offend. [pausing, choosing words carefully] You have proven time and again that thou art - that you are most devoted to your studies.