The first scene towards latest chapter of A Journey Beyond Sanity to be published this Saturday. Enjoy!

 

"Is that everything?"

"Yes indeed," Twilight promptly responded by a split-second of checking, another bag of essentials magically placed onto my back. Oof, good grief... "We should be ready to depart, when Spike gets down of course." Then the purple alicorn called up the wooden staircase, "Spike! We're waiting! We don't want to be late!"

Where were we going, you ask? To the old castle of Celestia and Luna's. Why? Because we need to clean the place up for whatever reason. I never presumed to ask, but hey, Twilight said I would be interested in the place; and its ancient library filled with dusty books containing secrets and knowledge that the modern castle in Canterlot wouldn't have.

"He's probably still reading that comic book of his again..." Twilight muttered, though not in annoyance.

"Kids eh?" I said humouredly, followed by a yawn, inciting her amused glance. It was too early by my standards.

"Spike!" She tried again, and this time it prompted a better reaction.

"I'm coming, I'm coming!" Spike replied loudly, rushing down the stairs with the comic firmly... And tripping as he did so.

Thank God Twilight had magic and a quick reaction time.

The young dragon grinned sheepishly, while Twilight only gave him an exasperated yet fond look, turning around towards the door, "Probably shouldn't have let you stay up to read that comic."

"It was only two minutes!" Spike protested, before his gaze cast swiftly down on the open pages, "And besides, I was just getting to the best part!"

"And we'll hear all about it later, when we meet up with the others to the old castle." The purple alicorn stated casually, another bag floating towards Spike. Yet the dragon hardly acknowledged it, "Spike."

"Just gimme a sec, Twilight." He waved dismissively, and I couldn't resist smirking while Twilight gave the dragon a flat look.

Going back to my previous comment about kids.

"You know Twilight, perhaps an early morning routine will help give Spike here more focus." I began conversationally, walking up beside her, "Shall we say... Eight-thirty?"

"Hmm, wait what?"

Twilight played along, an adorable sly smile on her muzzle, "Perhaps, Jack. But I was thinking more along the line of eight-fifteen."

"Now wait a minute-!"

"Why, I think you're being far too generous love. Eight o'clock sounds alot more suitable."

"Nine o'clock!"

"Hmm, I don't know, seven fourty-five sounds alot more reasonable to me."

Was it just me or was the dragon visibly sweating? "Eight fourty-five!"

Now we were both just grinning, "Come now Twilight, I think we should give our young friend here a much earlier wake-up call: Seven fifteen."

Finally, the dragon spoke up determinedly, holding up his fingers for emphasis, "Seven-thirty!"

Bingo.

The mare and I exchanged triumphant looks, "Seven-thirty it is," Twilight said happily, and the dragon pouted, realizing his mistake then. "And you can wake Jack up just as early too." ...What? "We don't want him missing out on the entire day, do we?"

"Now hang on a-!"

But the mare had already moved to the front door, merrily feigning ignorance to my objections. "Now come along; our friends are waiting for us."

I don't... You... Argh...

Spike's quiet snickering instantly vanished at my unamused glare. The things I do for these two...