To Fulfill My Destiny

Chapter 3: Outcast

Part 1

        Twilight watched from the room behind the two-way mirror as Captain Frostbite, a pegasus and the new commanding officer of the Royal Guard in Canterlot, brought his hooves up and down his face, trying clear his head. He was seated across a table from another guard, another pegasus who was shifting around in his seat.

His name was Private Oasis. Their voices were muffled, but Twilight could hear everything being said. Princess Celestia, Luna, Cadence, and Shining Armor all stood next to her, as well.

“Lets go through it again, Private, just to make sure we didn’t miss anything.” Captain Frostbite said in a frustrated tone.

The captain nodded to a unicorn guard sitting in the corner of the room, who levitated a quill and paper to take minutes of the interview.

“Tell me what happened when you and your team went to Ponyville to escort the other five Element Bearers.”

        “Sir... I-I really don’t know. Am- Am I in trouble for this?” the private asked nervously. “I swear we-”

        “Private, you are not in trouble, but it would behoove you to make this process easier on all of us and calm down.” Captain Frostbite interrupted. “Now, please; tell me what happened.”

        Private Oasis nodded, sat up a bit straighter, and cleared his throat.

        “Well, sir, we had made arrangements to meet the five at Ponyville’s local bakery, Sugarcube Corner. It was probably about an hour and a half before sundown. Lieutenant Dusk arranged the six of us in two lines, in front of the carriage doors, to welcome them. I think there were a few newspaper photographers there, as well. A small crowd had gathered to watch the departure, and the owners of the store even offered us a few treats while we waited-”

        “Only mention what’s important, Private.”

        “Right. Sorry, sir.”

        Private Oasis cleared his throat again.

        “Anyway, we waited for about forty-five minutes before we saw the five of them walking down the main road. The sun was already beginning to set, and the LT stepped forward to greet them. I remember the pink one got all weird and gave the Lieutenant a really, really big hug-”

        “Important details, Private.”

        “Sorry. Corporal Blaze opened the carriage door, LT ordered a salute, they started walking toward it, and then...” he paused, as if trying hard to remember.

        “What then, Private?” Captain Frostbite asked, leaning in slightly.

        “White, sir. Nothing but white. It was like the sun itself had popped up right the buck out of nowhere. My first thought was ‘bomb’, but honestly I’m surprised I could form any kind of thought at all.”

        “Why is that?”

        “The light, whatever it was, felt like it was boring right through my armor and frying me. I think I felt some pain, but it was as if the pain was too high for me to feel. I don’t know how else to describe it. And then there was the voice.”

        “You mentioned ‘the voice’ last time. Try to elaborate on it. What exactly did you hear?”

        “I heard screams of panic in the background, but that was from the Ponyville civilians. Over that, there were words. It sounded like someone was singing them. Freaking singing them. Each one was just... Beautiful.”

        “Could you make out anything being said, or sung?”

        Private Oasis began to gaze off into the distance.

        “No offense, sir, but you were not there. LT, Sarge, and the other guys will tell you: that voice would have hypnotized anypony who got within a mile of it.”

        He paused for a breath and looked Captain Frostbite in the eye once more.

        “But I do remember one word from the song...” the Private began.

        “Tell me.” Captain Frostbite ordered.

        The Private breathed in heavily through his nose before continuing.

        “Destiny. That was the only word I remember.” Oasis concluded. “After that, the light faded. The five Element Bearers were gone, there was no visible injury or damage to anything, and no trace as to where they might have gone. LT locked down the scene with the local law enforcement and sent the rest of us to inform the Princesses immediately. On the way, we ran into Princess Mi Amore Cadenza’s and Captain- I mean, Prince Shining Armor’s escort as they approached the castle. We informed them of the situation as best we could and they passed on the message to Princess Celestia and Princess Twilight. That is all I know, Captain.”

        “Thank you, Private. You are dismissed.” Frostbite ordered.

        The guard quickly stood up, saluted, and walked out of the room.

        Twilight turned away from the glass and to the rest of the ponies gathered around her. Her eyes were in a widened state and her body subtly, yet visibly, shook as she stared at nothing; lost in her own world. A few moments later, Captain Frostbite entered the room behind the two-way mirror.

        “Captain.” greeted Celestia

        “Ma’am, majesties.” he replied, nodding to the others.

        He took the minutes from the interview with his wing and set them on a nearby table.

        “I haven’t had this job very long, but I’ve never seen or heard about anything like this in my life. I can’t make heads or tails out of any of it.” he said with a sigh.

        “What about the other guards?” Celestia inquired.

        “Same story. Big bright flash, vanishing ponies, and a weird voice floating through the air.”

        “A singing voice.” Celestia corrected.

        Captain Frostbite nodded.

        “Lieutenant Dusk has yet to tell his part of the story. I’ve already sent three squads to Ponyville to relieve him so he can get back here to report.” he commented. “Though, I doubt it will be all that different.”

        “If they all didn’t mention the voice, I’d have called them crazy.” Shining Armor mused.

        “True.” Princess Cadence agreed. “It’s still all very confusing either way, though.”

        “Then we can definitely rule out normal crime in this scenario.” Shining continued. “Whatever spell made them vanish was most likely a very powerful teleportation spell. Somepony planned this out perfectly. But the question does remain of why.”

        “You are correct that this was not normal crime,” Princess Luna cut in. “But I think we should be open to a variety of possibilities.”

        Princess Celestia turned to her sister.

        “Do you know something about this, Luna?”

        The night princess did not betray her thoughts with any sort of body language, but took her time in answering.

        “No. I do not.” she said finally.

        Princess Celestia nodded, though she was visibly not fully satisfied with the reply.

        “We’re going to need testimony from every Ponyville resident. We need to know if there was anything suspicious at all. We needsome kind information to start a proper investigation.” Captain Frostbite commented.

        “How can Shining and I help?” Cadence asked.

        Princess Celestia angled herself to answer.

        “Well, for now, I would ask that you and Shining Armor go to the great hall and give some answers to our foreign guests. They will want to know why we left so abruptly.”

        “Should we tell them everything?” Shining asked.

        Princess Celestia looked thoughtful for a moment.

        “We don’t know enough about this ourselves. Answer what you can; just don’t mention that five of the six Elements of Harmony have vanished.” she replied.

        “We’ll do what we can.” Cadence said, turning to leave.

        Shining Armor was about to follow, but stopped for a moment to talk to Twilight, who had been silent the entire time.

        “Twilight... I can’t imagine what you’re thinking right now. I swear,  we’re going to get them back.” he promised.

        Twilight continued her staring contest with the floor, as if no one had spoken at all. Shining sighed in sympathy, and left to join his wife.

        “Luna, perhaps you should join them.” Princess Celestia remarked. “It will help to have an Equestrian representative.”

        Luna nodded slowly and exited as well. Only Celestia, Captain Frostbite, and Twilight remained. Captain Frostbite had been staring at the interview minutes for some time, but looked up at Celestia to speak.

        “Your Majesty, I recommend we send word to every city’s leadership and inform them of this situation before the press finds out and causes a panic attack. I can guarantee the Ponyville paper won't keep this quiet. We need to stay on top of the situation.”

        Celestia was about to agree, but suddenly, Twilight snapped out of her trance and interjected her thoughts. She had finally stopped shaking, but a damp collection of sweat had formed above her brow and in the front of her mane. Her face was a collection of many different emotions at once.

        “Yes, do that immediately. After that, call an emergency military meeting. I will coordinate with our generals to mobilize search teams across Equestria by sundown tomorrow.” She ordered. “And Captain, lock down the castle. I want to set up separate meetings with our... international guests about this. Make certain that I can speak with General Swiftfeather of the griffons first and foremost.”

        Captain Frostbite raised his eyebrows in surprise and glanced at Celestia, who held a similar expression.

        “Well? Was something confusing about that?” Twilight said forcefully.

        She stared directly into the captain’s eyes, waiting for his response.

        “Uhh...” was all he managed to say.

        “Belay that order, Captain Frostbite.” Celestia cut in.

        It was Twilight’s turn to be shocked. She turned to face her former mentor.

        “‘Belay that order’? My friends are gone to who knows where, and you’re saying ‘belay that order’?!” Twilight nearly shouted.

“Twilight, we’re going to do everything we can, but that does not include detaining representatives and leaders; leaders, mind you, of other nations. They have nothing to do with this.” Celestia stated.

        “How do you know that? We need to explore every possibility! Think about it: You said yourself that the griffons have ignored us for a long time! But now, they could have robbed us of our first line of defense, in preparation for a preemptive attack! General Swiftfeather could have been a spy, or a distraction. We need to interrogate-”

“Listen to yourself, Twilight! You’re not thinking here! It would do us ill to incite vengeance from another nation- let alone the Griffon Kingdom!” Celestia interrupted. “Your friends have not been taken by the griffons, or anyone else for that matter! They-”

She stopped herself short, as if she had said too much. Twilight picked up on this and leaned in closer toward her former mentor.

“How would you know that?”

“Twilight-”

“You’re hiding something.”

“Twilight-”

“You know where my friends are, don’t you?”

“TWILIGHT!” Celestia yelled, silencing her fellow princess. “You’re scared for your friends. You want answers, and so do we. But I cannot give you answers right now.”

Celestia paused and took a moment to breathe.

“You haven’t had proper rest in weeks. If we’re going to figure this out, you need to have a clear mind.” she continued. “Go to your chambers. Try to rest. I can’t have you making rash decisions that affect this entire country.”

Twilight had her heart set on protesting, but only managed to hold her mouth open as she stared back. Eventually, she caved.

“Fine.” she said reluctantly. “But we’re not done with this conversation.”

        Turning around, Twilight left with her head down and her eyes furled in frustration. Captain Frostbite still held his shocked expression from before. He shook his head and blinked several times.

        “What should I-”

        “Send everypony home, Captain. We’re ending the Gala early this year. Inform the foreign representatives that they are free to stay in the castle for the night, or leave for their homeland if they wish.” Celestia directed. “Consider yourself under oath to not reveal anything you have heard in here.”

        “Yes ma’am.” Captain Frostbite said with a salute.

        He made a move for the door, but stopped before leaving.

        “Your majesty... You really don’t know anything about this, right?” he queried.

        “Of course not, Captain. Carry out your orders.” Celestia said simply.

        Captain Frostbite looked as though he were about to follow up on his question, but clearly thought better of it.

        “By your word, Princess.”

        With a quiet clunking of his golden armor, the captain left. Now alone, Celestia let her head drop between her shoulders in a sudden exhaustion.

        “You’re right, Twilight. This isn’t over.” She mused to the empty room. “And I’m afraid it has only just begun.”

        She threw her head up and breathed in and out through her nose heavily, her mane falling to her sides as if it had admitted defeat. Suddenly, a subtle voice filled Celestia’s ears.

Do not fear. I will guide Twilight’s hoofsteps as I once guided your own. Your task, now, is to begin her journey; begin her destiny.

“How?” she asked quietly. “I feel as though I have lost her confidence. She will not listen if I simply tell her what to do now. She thinks that I know more about her friend’s disappearance than I am letting on. But, if I tell her anything about you, or try to convince her that you are not going to harm her friends, she will not believe me.”

        Celestia sighed and tried to shake off her mounting worries and reservations.

         “If anything, I will only fuel her resolve that one of our guests, particularly the Griffons, are responsible. What can I do at this point?” she asked again.

Go to her. Any words will become useless, even before you can utter them. Understand that you will be faced with a single action to take. When you do, a sword will pierce your heart and you will suffer. Tears will be shed. Pain will be felt. A harsh winter will destroy the bond of mentor and friend.

The voice allowed a moment for Celestia to take in the words that resonated over and over in her head.

But, winter does not last forever. Just as the spring makes all things new, so will Twilight be made new. Be mindful of the inevitable threat revealed to you as I walked in your dreams. If hope is to live, this must happen. This pain must be felt.

“You know that I trust you.” Celestia said. “But it does not mean I have to like this.”

        She sighed and closed her eyes.

        “I only pray that, if Twilight’s destiny is to save us, she is not lost as well.”

*        *        *