03

[doublethefun]

[Luna drowsed, pleasantly caught between half asleep and half awake. A part of her mind registered the movement of the sun as it inched ever so slowly above the horizon even as another part searched out for her sister’s familiar magic. When the latter didn’t happen, she finally opened her eyes, quietly yawning even as she took in the gray promise of the predawn (Paradisan) light, the purple unicorn sleeping next to her, the gregariously pink and red decorations that seem to have found their way into her room, the –

…

Wait a second. Why is Twilight Sparkle on her bed? Her surprisingly pink bed. Complete with embroidered hearts on the blankets. ]

Nnngh.... [ Twilight Sparkle is less receptive to waking up with daybreak. She's much more prone to staying up late and then sleeping in, unless she has something planned for the morning. And she certainly hadn't planned anything special for today.

But she also usually had her blinds pulled down. The light of daybreak was leaking in and rousing her from her well-deserved sleep.... ]

Spiiiike.... please close the blinds... it's too early to be awake.... [ With that declaration, Twilight pulls one of the (pink) pillows up and places it over her face. Until her assistant closes those blinds. ]

[yeah, she doesn’t know of any ancient royal protocol that dealt with finding mares in her bed. Another moment of pondering, and then she uses magic to close the curtains.

What to do, what to do. A few minutes later:]

Twilight Sparkle. Why art thou in my bed?

[ There's a muffled groan from under her pink pillow before Twilight pulls it off. ] What do you mean, Princess? I art not in thy-

[ Wait. Waaaait. Wait. Hold on a second here.

Twilight's eyes open wide and she quickly turns and stares at Princess Luna. ] L-L-L- [ She scrambles out of the bed, falling off the side and crumpling on the floor in a heap, dragging some of the heart-filled blankets with her.

From the floor, the heap of blankets and single pony speaks. ] What am I doing in your room!?

[[ooc: Purple is Twilight while Blue is Luna…because it makes sense. Open over the journal!]]

Comments

[doublethefun]

[she blinks at the heap of blankets (+1 pony) and then gracefully hops down to the floor.]

I know not the reason - hence the question I put forth unto thee.

[checklist]

[ The heap continues speaking. Not moving, though. Just speaking. ]

I'm so sorry, Princess! I don't know why I'm in here! It must have been an accident!

[ Maybe she teleports when she sleeps. Can anypony teleport while sleeping? Is that even possible!?


...Also, the room is a lot... pinker.... than she'd imagine Luna's room being.

Huh. Learn something every day.


Also, this icon is a good representation of Twilight's mane when she first wakes up. (yea) ]

[doublethefun]

[huzzah for perfectly groomed ethereal manes.

Well, looks like Twi doesn't know anything about it. She glances at the decorations and yeah, that's most definitely a frown.]

A most curious accident. Can I assume that thou didst not redecorate my quarters?

[checklist]

You mean it doesn't normally look like this?

[ Oh. Well, that would make sense. This really doesn't seem like her style of decor...

Except that makes no sense, either. How did it get redecorated, presumably overnight? Sleep-redecorating was beyond even the limits of Twilight's imagined possibilities.

She finally pulled herself out of the pile of blankets, quietly using her magic to put them back (neatly) on the bed. ]

That is, no, I didn't change anything in your room.

[doublethefun]

I surmised as much. [she opens the curtains again, and then tries to open the doors leading to the balcony.

...

Yup, trying to open the door to the hallway now.]

[checklist]

...Princess?

[ Yeah, since unicorn magic is visible and all, Twilight can tell Luna's trying to open the door.

And failing. ]

The door's locked?

[ Have some help! Twilight's magic will join Luna's in attempting to unlock the door, and when that doesn't work, forcing the door open.



....You know, Twilight thought she would have enough magic to do this on her own. Why is it that the two of them can't get the door open? ]

[doublethefun]

What in Equestria...?

[opening a door is not something she ever thought she would have trouble doing. Much less /two/ unicorns trying to open a door. Some kinda changing the lightbulb joke...?

She trots over to the door, trying to turn the knob with a hoof. Yeah, not happening.]

[checklist]

[ This is wrong. So wrong. How can a simple door keep them in?

brb, teleporting. ]


A-ha! I got out!

[ Said voice is... coming from the bathroom. ]

Wait, this isn't the hallway....

[ After a few seconds, an embarrassed Twilight Sparkle comes out of the bathroom. Herp. ]

[doublethefun]

[there's a bit of a grin at Twi's expression, but then it's srsbsns time again as she spins on her hooves to give the damn door a mighty buck.

Not even a dent.]

This is most vexing. [trapped again? Trapped inside another trap? What is this, Ponyception?]

[checklist]

Talk about it. [ ffff, making her magic useless... ]

Well, this is obviously some sort of castle thing. Though I don't know why it would lock two ponies in a room togeth.... [ Wait... pink decor, heart shapes everywhere... ] ....er....

Oh. Oh...


Happy Hearts and Hooves Day.

[doublethefun]

Hearts and Hooves Day?

[...Oh. OH. She barely resists a facehoof.]

Happy Hearts and Hooves Day to thee as well, Twilight Sparkle.

[checklist]

I suppose the castle wants us to get along. [ Hrrrngh... ] I heard that it... often goes overboard in celebrating holidays. This is the first time I've seen it firsthoof, though.

[ She wonders if that means... ]

I wonder if everypony else is stuck like this?

[doublethefun]

[dryly] 'Get along' is a mild way of putting it.

[trotting over to her desk and flipping through the journal.] It appears that many others are in similar predicaments.

[checklist]

[ Twilight pauses a moment. Because, more importantly- ]

Was that journal open this entire time?

[doublethefun]

[she flips to the last page and eeyup. There's their conversation. 'Conversation.']

Yes. It even captured thy fall from my bed.

[sigh]

[checklist]

Ugh.

Is this journal going to pick up every embarrassing moment of mine?

[ First Daring Do and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, now falling out of bed and flailing in a pile of blankets.

Yup. Classic Twilight Sparkle. Sigh. ]

[doublethefun]

It certainly seems to be well on its way to doing so, if the past two days are any indication.

[she closes her journal and, for good measure, piles a bunch of other books on top of it.

She kicks the glass balcony doors just in case and yeah. Not happening.]

[checklist]

[ Yeah. Take that, journal! ]

It looks like we're going to be stuck here for the rest of the day, then. [ Fun.

Twilight lies down on the floor with a sigh, crossing her forelegs under her chin. ]

I wasn't planning to spend all day cooped up like this. [ Says the social reject. ] But at least I have some good company. [ Again, says the social reject. ]

[doublethefun]

[she levitates the table over, pouring tea for both of them and setting out the pastries and fruit. Looks like she's playing host for the day.

She takes a seat on the floor and sips at her tea.] A pity it is not thy 'very special somepony.'

[there is a very definite teasing quality to her voice]

[checklist]

[ Twilight levitates her cup over, takes a sip, and.... dfnsgnsd chokes on it.

After a little choking and sputtering, she responds- ] I-I'm still new to having friends, really. I don't think I'd be ready for a "special somepony" for quite a while. [ That's, like, super-advanced coursework as compared to studying friendship. ]

[doublethefun]

[she's torn between worry and amusement, but settles for amusement in the end.]

Good. Then I shan't feel badly for monopolizing thy time today.

[checklist]

Well, no need to worry there. I'd always be happy to spend a day with you.

[ Yup, makin' friends with a Princess. ALL IN A DAY'S WORK for Twilight Sparkle. ]

[doublethefun]

[aww]

Then I am truly grateful, Twilight Sparkle. [hmm] Dost thou habitually awaken afore dawn?

[checklist]

[ Twilight considers that for a moment. ] That reeeeally depends on what I have on my checklist for the day.

[ A checklist which... she doesn't have.

Oh, horse-apples. ]

[doublethefun]

And what is on thy agenda today?

[whatever it is, better throw the ones that involve leaving Luna's room.]

[checklist]

I don't know. I don't have my checklist. [ And boy is she upset about that. HER CHECKLISTS, MAN. ]

Well, I do recall I was supposed to go exploring the city today. I suppose I can go ahead and assume that one won't be happening.

[doublethefun]

[heh]

Rest assured, the city will be there tomorrow. [barring various catastrophes]

I have been wondering about the forest and the Dead Zone that lies beyond it.

[checklist]

Oh, me too!

Actually, Ray and I were going to go examine and explore around the edge of the Dead Zone soon. Would you like to join us?

[doublethefun]

[hm]

Is that the human with the 'PKE meter?'

[checklist]

Yes! That's him.

He's been teaching me about humans and human culture.

[doublethefun]

He does seem most reliable. I would be happy to join you two.

[checklist]

That's great..! That'll be so much fun!

[doublethefun]

I am unsure how much 'fun' this entails, but it would certainly be new and interesting.

[checklist]

But learning is fun!

[doublethefun]

It is?

[has she been having 'fun' all this time and not realized it?]

[checklist]

[ Oh, that's right, the Princess is a social reject. Better clarify things to prevent confusion. ]

"Fun" is mostly dependent on the pony. We can find different things enjoyable. Some ponies like sports and have a lot of fun competing. [ Like Rainbow Dash and Applejack. ] And some ponies love making things, and have lots of fun with creating beautiful or, well, creative works. [ Like Rarity, or... Pinkie Pie, if you count writing songs. ]

I love to learn, so I have a lot of fun when I'm learning new things!

Do you enjoy yourself when you're learning new things, Princess?

[doublethefun]

[Damn. Brb, scrapping that running mental list of 'fun' things: pumpkins, spiders (addendum: fake ones), candy, being scared (addendum: only on a certain holiday), trampolines, getting launched into suborbital heights, slumber parties (in which there is not really any slumbering at all. Note: misnomer), etc.]

I do, Twilight Sparkle. 'Tis simply a little overwhelming when I consider all the progress that has occurred.

[checklist]

Well, if you enjoy it, then it's fun. [ Huzzah! Learning buddy! ]

[doublethefun]

[eheh]

I really should have looked it up sooner.

[checklist]

It's understandable. I'm sure had your hooves full trying to catch up on other things. [ You know, coming back after a thousand years or so.

Though... "fun" is really something she should have known from beforehand. But whatevs. ]

[doublethefun]

[nope. 'Fun' wasn't part of her vocab. Apparently.]

Work has kept me happily occupied for the most part. It was soothing [normal] to have responsibilities again.

[frown] I cannot say as much for this place, however.

[checklist]

I suppose we all have a lot more spare time on our hooves here. [ Which Twilight uses to write fanfiction.

....Ahem. Let's not speak of that. ]

[doublethefun]

[social cues, what?]

And how is thy writing coming along?

[checklist]

. . .

I don't wanna talk about it.

[ Channeling Flutterguy right here. Yup. ]

[doublethefun]

[awwwww. She'll pour some more tea for her.]

I do not recall Hearts and Hooves Day being so important. [delicately sipping at her tea and eyeing the ridiculous amount of decoration in her room]

[checklist]

[ Now there's something to think about. Twilight sips her tea before replying. ]

I haven't really celebrated it much myself. Buuut I didn't really have many friends, or a special somepony, on Hearts and Hooves Day before. I would usually just get a card for Spike and the Princess.

[ It... actually takes her a second before she realized she should probably clarify. ]

Er, that is, Princess Celestia.

[doublethefun]

[sounding amused] I surmised as much. I knew I could discount myself and, unless thou hast relations with yet another princess, concluded it would be Celestia.

[a sidelong glance at the brightening landscape outside the window. She kinda misses her big sis.]

[checklist]

Oh. Right.

I guess it is a little obvious...

[ This is why Twilight will always have a high INT... and low WIS... ]