//------------------------------// // Meeting Twilight Sparkle (EDITED) // Story: Friendship isn't just Magic, it can heal hearts too // by Raumo //------------------------------// Meanwhile, the once in a lifetime opportunity sat in his temporary room, brooding about his new charge. (Alex POV) As the door closed behind the last guard, I dropped my cold mask. As I walked over and sat on the bed, my thoughts were churning. Nothing was making sense in my mind. I groaned. "Okay, treat this like a mission," I told myself. Status: Alive, no injuries Location: In a castle (unverified), Nation of Equestria, City of Canterlot, soon to travel to the town of Ponyville. No longer on Earth (unverified, but almost 99% sure) Weapon Status: Guns confiscated, possible retrieval (Unknown), 2 knives still in my boots, 1 strapped to my thigh (concealment material seems to work against their technology/magic, unverified), wrist gauntlet with grappling hook still here. Main Objective: Protect Twilight Sparkle, student of Princess Celestia, Ruler of Equestria Secondary Objective: Learn everything possible. The geography, political situation, culture, military, level of technology, the ponies themselves, and especially the about the various uses of magic and its effect on me. Threat to me: Everything, Level of threat (10) Threat(s) to to Main Objective: Unknown Length of Operation: Unknown Cover: Student to Twilight Sparkle. Partially true because I know NOTHING Possibility of escaping this deal and living on my own: Slim to none "Blast it all!" I stood and began to pace, never fully putting my back to the door or window. "Why in the blue blazes did I agree to this? I hate being near anybody and now I agree to be near and guard someone 24/7? Why?" Even as I asked myself that, I knew. I was a spy. To be constantly under guard would be murder on my nerves. To constantly be watched with my level of awareness would make me attack every shadow. Being limited to one area forever would drive me crazy. To have knowledge available, yet limited access, would drive me nuts. Spies needed to know everything. Safe areas, danger zones, allies, enemies, escape routes, poisons and antidotes, and so many other details that describing them all would probably take enough time for hell to freeze over. What I knew wouldn't help me here, and so I couldn't run. I'd either be killed or dragged back here. Probably put into a cell instead of a room too. But to be a personal guard to the student of the Princess, her prized student? An image of a pony with a snooty expression on her face, looking down at me came to mind. She's probably stuck–up, demanding and whiny. Feeling entitled because she became the prized student. Spoiled and expecting me to take care of her every need. I'll probably learn nothing from her, and have to do research on my own. The princess said if I protected her student I had free access. Wonder if she'll keep her word. On one hand it'll be annoying to be near her, on the other it'll be easy to stay detached. Do my assignment, but once it's done move on to the next thing. A figment of my past. I shuddered. Unfortunately, my past has a tendency to pop up when I least expect it. Another thought occurred to me. What if she is nice, friendly and helpful? Wanting to help in anyway? I hated to admit it, but I got attached easily. It was why I never chose the guarding missions, and I was allowed to decline if offered. My fickle emotions got in the way. Its also why I never got a pet. One, I was never home enough to take care of it. Two, it'd eventually die and I'll be left wondering why I let anything into my heart in the first place. Blast it all! If she's nice, this could get very dangerous for me! I can't let anyone in! Never again! Jack's image passed through my mind. Still so clear after all these years. I felt a sting behind my eyes. NO! I slammed my emotions down. "Either way, friendly or snobby, I will stay detached. If she tries to be anything more than just a teacher, I'll drive the point home, that she is only there the teach me of Equestria. No one will be anything more, no one," I whispered coldly. Unknown to me, my eyes had become a wall of darkness, cold and unfeeling. While behind that, my heart cried in pain and loneliness at my words. Later; (Twilight's POV) The train whistled as it pulled into the Canterlot train station. I quickly closed and put away my book. I woke up Spike. "Come on, quickly, let's head to the castle." We got off the train and in my excitement, I almost missed the royal guard waiting on the platform. He noticed me and walked up to me. He quickly inquired, "Ms. Twilight Sparkle and Spike?" "That's me" "Excellent. I am here under orders to escort you both to the castle and directly to the Princess." I was confused as to why I needed an escort. "Erm, why? Not that I am ungrateful, it's just I used to live here. I know the way very well." "Understood miss, but it's a temporary precaution agreed on after last evening's events." Spike and looked at each other in worry. "What happened that requires an escort?" "Sorry miss, I am not allowed to tell you the details. You'll know once we arrive at the castle" "Alright, lead the way then." We arrived at the castle. As the guard was leading me to the princess's study, I noticed a lot of ponies staring at me then whispering to their companions. I could also feel a lot of tension in the air. I was starting to feel self-conscious. I had been stared at before, but this felt different. We finally arrived at the study after what seemed to be hours. The guard nodded to me then walked off. I knocked on the door hesitantly, my excitement somewhat dampened because of the atmosphere. "Enter," I heard my mentor's voice say. I quickly walked in and gave a quick bow, as did Spike after he jumped off my back. "Ah, Twilight and Spike, you have arrived." She got up from her desk and came around it. I quickly ran to her and gave her a hug, which she returned. "I am so glad you were able to come on such short notice. We have much to discuss." I couldn't hold it in anymore, "Princess?" She looked at me. "Sorry if I'm being rude, but what is going on? From your letter, it seems something exciting had happened. If so, why is the air so tense, and why was I being stared at while walking in the halls?" She sighed. "I apologize for the staring, but this morning in court I had announced that you would be in charge of our new...guest." My ears perked up at that. "He appeared last evening and startled everyone just as I was ended court. Also, he's the opportunity of which I spoke. Furthermore, the situation is tense because we know very little of this guest. He isn't currently a threat, but everyone is worried that he will turn out to be one." "Do you think that he is a threat?" "No. I have spoken to him, and my impression is that as long as we are polite, and treat him as a normal, well, somewhat normal citizen then he will prove to be a great...friend." My brow furrowed in confusion at her words. "Who is this pony, and why am I in charge of him? She looked at me for a long moment. "To answer your first question, I am going to ask you one." I nodded my head hesitantly. "What do you know of the bipedal creatures called humans? I was surprised that she wanted to know what I knew about a myth. "There is not much on them. It is said they walk on two legs, can build things, but no have magic, and they are constantly fighting each other. I don't understand, why do you ask? They are just a myth." "That myth is very much true, and one of them is sitting in the infirmary, in this very castle." My jaw dropped. "Your kidding right? You have to be, how can a myth exist?" "All myths have a grain of truth." I asked excitedly, "So you want me to study him? Learn everything I can about his species and report to you? Oh my goodness, I have so much to prepare for." My mind began planning. "No Twilight." The stern tone snapped me out of my thoughts. "No? Then why am I here?" I shrank slightly. I hadn't expected her reaction to my words. "I am sorry Twilight for snapping, but I needed you to stop your current line of planning." My head tilted in confusion at that. "You will need to plan, but not as a researcher." I blinked. "You will be his teacher," she stated. "T-teacher?" "Yes. A teacher. He is from another world. He is very knowledgeable of his own world, but knows nothing of this one." "A-another world? How is that possible?" "I had thought I would teach you this at a later time, but its seems now has become appropriate." I sat down in anticipation of her words, ready to learn something new. "Besides our own world, there are many parallel ones. Some very similar to us, others very different." She created an illusion of spheres, to represent the worlds. "We are connected with gateways that open very rarely." Lines began connecting the worlds together. "Is that how the human came to be here? He came through one of those gateways?" "I don't believe so in this case." My eyes widened at that. "Even rarer than the gateways, our Creator will intervene and bring someone from one world into another. This is Alex Rider's case." "So Alex Rider is his name?" "Yes. Though he prefers just Alex or Rider, never a mister before either one." "Alright. What's he like?" I was surprised when a sad expression came onto her face. "He is...cold and hardened. From what I could gather, he was a protector in his world. A spy that would protect the masses from threats without them ever knowing. It has made him…resistant to attachments and very standoffish to everyone. He does a wonderful impression of a glaring statue." She turned and looked me in the eye. "And that is why I chose you. Your studies have made you very knowledgeable of Equestria, but you are just learning of the power of friendship. I want you and Alex to learn of friendship together. He is very…afraid of making friends after all that he has been through, but I believe with your help, he can. You, of course, can say no, and I'll inform him of the change of plans. He knows I had planned to make you his teacher." I thought for a few seconds. A glaring statue. Standoffish. He sounds really mean, but then, she also said he was a protector. That he was afraid to make friends. I really thought about it and what those things together meant. Oh my, he's not mean, he's just protecting himself! Out loud I stated, "Yes. I will be his teacher. Someday, maybe I can be his friend too." "Wonderful," she stated with a soft smile. "I'll send for him now." (Alex POV) I had been laying on the bed for the past few hours, thinking of ways I could gain my freedom. All of them began with learning everything Equestrian(?). That had to be the wrong label, it sounded so odd. It reminded me of horseback riding in my world, not these ponies. Anyways, I had to remain a student and guard for now. It irked me that I had to rely on someone else, especially one I didn't know. A knock sounded on the door. I sprang out of the bed and faced the door. "Come in." The guard from earlier came in with a new one. "Afternoon sir. Loyal Shield is here to escort you to the Princess and her student." I quickly studied the new guard then nodded. He then left. (Name here) looked at me. "If you'll follow me sir." He turned and exited the door. I silently followed. Perhaps a little too silently. He stopped and looked behind him, and I nearly crashed into him. The guard made a coughing noise "Sorry sir, I just couldn't hear you." I just stared at him stonily, my neck beginning to prickle from the stares I was receiving now that I was out of the room. The guard quickly began walking again. As I followed him, I quickly noticed more stares as we got further into the castle. I may have looked impassive, but I was noticing everything. The path we were taking. Escape points if this guard proved hostile. What I noticed the most though were the ponies. I hated the stares, but it gave me an opportunity to see more than just the princess and guards. Apparently they came in many different colors, and they all had different markings on their flanks. I wonder if there are specific meanings to those. We paused in front of an ornate single door. We must have arrived. I subtly took a breath. The guard knocked. "Enter," I heard her somewhat familiar voice state. The guard and I walked in. "Thank you (name here). You may leave." I was alone with the princess. And a lavender pony. And is that a purple and green baby dragon?! "Hello again. This is my student Twilight Sparkle, your new teacher, and Spike, her number one assistant." I stared at Twilight for a long moment. I noticed her mane was indigo with a stripe of pink, same as her tail. I noted she was a unicorn. She wasn't as big as Celestia. She seemed to come to about my waist and I was 6' 1. Her eyes though. Her wide eyes showed intelligence, and looked open and friendly. No snootiness at all. I gave her a slight bow, and my voice came out warmer than I expected. "Hello Miss Sparkle, Spike. My name is Alex Rider. I am honored to be your new student." As I introduced myself and looked into her warm eyes, my heart gave a gentle thump. Not in attraction, but in affection. I knew that I would do everything I could to protect her. Instantly, fear flooded my system and one thought ran through my mind: Oh crap, not again!