Chapters The wooden doors clasped shut behind me, barely missing the neatly styled hairs of my tail. My friends had all departed to their suites for the night, while I was left in my new palace room that was cleaned to perfection. My blurred reflection traced under me as I made my way to the washroom, carefully slipping off my golden horseshoes at the foot of the bed as I passed. I undonned my new golden crown and set it on the bedside table, where the glow of a candle shattered light from the purple star gem. I carefully unhitched the buttons of my coronation gown, letting it silently slip off my body as I moved. When the whole frock had reached the ground, I enveloped it in my magic and stopped my journey to the washroom. Inspecting the trail, I noticed how fringed it had gotten during the ceremony; trotting through the unpaved street and then doing a fly-by may not have been the best idea when wearing a 6,000 bit dress...
Nevertheless I plucked a hanger from the adjacent wardrobe next to the washroom and carefully folded the dress over it before hanging it on a hook near the entrance. I made a mental reminder to send it out for dry cleaning as soon as I woke up.
Entering the bathroom, I sent a small spark into the hanging chandelier, igniting the several glasses with bright light that cascaded across the marble walls of the room. A waterfall sink stood on the right, with multiple marble drawers ready to be filled to the brim with whatever a princess might need in her morning routine. A simple tooth and mane brush holder stood adjacent to the faucet, flanked by a towel rack with stitched lettering of my initials on each rag.
I cranked the shower nozzle to the right, watching the stream of glistening hot water shoot out out of the shower head. I wasted no time in climbing in and letting the heat and steam completely engulf me, washing away the sweat my fur had gathered during the unusually hot day and unusually common musical number I seemed to initiate. As the water soaked my fur and mane, I felt a pang of guilt for the hairdressers that had to pamper me for hours before the ceremony so I would shine in front of Equestria; they worked so hard to give me the glow of a leader, and in a few drops of water, all their effort is washed away and I return to my normal dull coat and frizzy mane.
After wasting probably 1/3 of Canterlot's water, I shut off the shower and stepped out, looking at the clock ticking above the mirror.
"A full hour!? I took a shower for a full hour!" Usually this would make me go into a fit, calling out apologies to everyone I could think of, but today, I could convince myself to say 'Screw it, I'm a princess.'
Taking my sweet time to blow-dry my fur and wrap my mane and tail in towels, I plucked an apple from the always stocked fruit basket on top of the toilet. Opening the door out into my room, I shut my eyes at the strong difference of air temperatures, but made sure to switch on the light crystals hanging in a chandelier in the center. I took a right out of my bathroom, facing the huge bookshelf in front of me; gazing up, I bit into my apple, waiting for the cool juices to flow and overwhelm my tastebuds with the flavor of my favorite snack.
That taste never came. Instead, a disgusting wax flavor and chemical taste flooded my tongue before I had time to spit it out. I had no time to waste, and ignoring the ettiquite of a princess, spat everything out onto the floor in front of me. "Ah! Potpourri!" I sat on my haunches scrubbing my mouth with my hoof, trying desperately to scrape the taste off my tongue.
I heard a muffled giggle on the other side of my room. "My goodness, Twilight. You really have proved you are destined for royalty."
"Princess Celestia!" I excalimed in surprise, dropping into a bow.
"Oh, is that how we will act now?" she mused, as she dropped herself into a bow at my hooves.
"Princess what are you doing!" I asked.
"Exactly what you are. You need not bow to me Twilight, we are equals."
I rubbed the back of my head with a hoof. "It feels so strange."
"I know it must. But really, you will feel more comfortable as time passes." Celestia assured me.
"But being in the public eye all the time is going to be so stressful," I complained, moving towards my expansive bookshelf.
Celestia followed me, standing to my side and admiring my collection that had been transported from my home in Ponyville. I looked at her, and something was off; she had a smirk, or was it a smile? She looked devious, but in a flash, it was gone.
"Believe me, Twilight. You'll be a hot topic for a few weeks, but the buzz will die down and you can work in peace."
"Thank you Princess," I smiled. "That makes this situation a lot easier to cope with."
"No worries. Now you should get some rest, you are expected in the royal dining room every morning at eight o'clock sharp." Celestia strode towards the door, her tail dancing on the breeze that only it felt, and her mane doing the same. She had not yet taken off her horseshoes, crown, or breastplate, which I found hard to comprehend being that they must weigh down on her at some point, Nevertheless I watched her open the door before I remembered a question I had had in the shower.
"Princess?" I asked. She turned around to face me with a smile.
"You can call me Celestia now."
"Oh um Celest- Princ... Princ-... I think I'll just stick with Princess for now if thats ok with you," I said sheepishly.
She giggled, "For now."
"Will Luna be joining us tomorrow? Rainbow Dash said that there was a constellation of a bear and a shark having a fight, and she wanted to know which one would win."
A second. It was there for a second before vanishing behind her stoic face. "Yes, she will be there. Now get some rest. "
"Goodnight Princess," I said.
"And goodnight Twilight."
The door slammed shut, and all was silent.
I knew I should have tried to rub more of the sleep out of my eyes the moment I saw my reflection in the silverware; not only was my mane a fraction of its beauty from yesterday, but my entire face suggested that I had just drank 40 bottles of champagne the night before, when in reality I only had twelve. But in my defense I was under Pinkie's control the minute I stepped into the after party of the coronation. Honestly I think she has been slipping me something because my schedule need would have allowed something like this to happen.
Celestia and Luna had not yet arrived yet, so I was left with a flute of orange juice, a napkin folded like a swan, and twenty eyes scanning the room to make sure no assassins broke in. I ruffled my wings slightly, trying yet again to find a comfortable resting place for my new appendages, until I finally gave up and allowed them to unfold and hang by my sides.
The ceiling of the dining hall brought in so much light that there was no need for gems; the room stretched into a large glass dome that curved downward into cream colored walls, with large white columns supporting the structure every twenty feet. The table could easily fit 100 ponies and their guests, but when royalty dined they sat all at one end. There were three plates set up, one of which I occupied to the right of the head of the table.
A strong feeling in the back of my mind told me something was not right, but I couldn't lay a hoof on it, even if my life depended on it. I scanned the white linen, stared into the reflection of my china, but my thoughts were interrupted by the swinging of the mahogany doors at the end of the room. Through the doors strode in Celestia and Luna, regal as ever, with their faces peaceful and a slight smile on both. Luna's bangs were clipped to perfection, and her tail flowed shorter than Celestia's on her request. She had once told me it was so that it would not get caught in artillery while she was in the trenches with her troops. I think she just couldn't grow it out; of course I would never say something like that to her.
I stood when they reached my end of the table, but Celestia's hoof rested on my chin before I could bow, and she shook her head slowly.
"Sorry Princess, force of habit," I apologized. Both princesses laughed softly.
Luna walked up to me and embraced me. "Twilight Sparkle, how good it is to have you as family!" She prodded at my wings with a dark blue hoof. "How are you adjusting?"
I spread out my wings a little so we could both get a closer view. "I'll say preening is not as easy as I thought it would be, but otherwise they're ok."
"You'll get used to it in no time," she assured me before making her way to the other side of the table and sitting.
Celestia and myself followed suit, and for a minute I had forgotten about my pounding headache. Oh wait, there it was. I winced slightly, catching my breath between my teeth to not draw the Princesses' attention away from their breakfast.
"Why don't you take a drink, Twilight?" asked Celestia. I looked at the orange liquid, and back at her. I quietly levitated the glass to my lips, taking small sips at first, and then larger gulps. In a matter of seconds I had downed the glass, letting out a sigh of relief, not noticing how thirsty I had been.
"Feeling better?" she asked. I looked at her quizzically.
"What do you mea-" and then I realized my headache had completely evaporated, my vision was clear, and I felt energized and awake. "How did you...?"
She smiled warmly. "You don't attend thousands of banquets without learning how to deal with too much wine."
Before I could respond, two metal doors against the center wall bursted open, and a flood of waiters levitating our meal trotted forth. Pastries and breads and cereals were laid across the table; the display was so immaculate that it made me hesitant to even think of grabbing a piece. In front of me were placed to fresh baked loaves of bread, accompanied by salted butter and raspberry jam. The smell of the warmed dough wafted through my nostrils, bringing me a feeling of complete and total bliss; I wanted so badly to just smear the butter and jam all over a piece and dig in, but I stopped myself after noticing that Celestia and Luna had not yet moved, save for placing their napkins across their chest. Seeing this, I did the same, and straightened my back as the waiters continued to pour in with endless amounts of breakfast cuisines.
As each waiter dropped his or her plate on the table, they would bow to Luna, then Celestia, and finish with me. Luna and Celestia would nod at each, giving a warm smile to everyone; I, on the other hand, was much more awkward. With each bow and praise, I would sheepishly smile and wave my hoof, before finally getting tired and resorting to the head nod like they did.
When the metal doors finally swung shut, I watched for the Princesses to make their first move. Their horns lit up and they began picking off each plate, creating a wonderful potluck of fine foods on their plates.
After a few minutes of silent eating, I cleared my throat. "So Luna," she looked up, as did Celestia. For a second, it almost seemed as if Celestia looked worried. "Rainbow wanted to know if a bear and a shark had a fight, which one would win." After the words came from my mouth, I felt as if I should never have been made an alicorn at all. Did I seriously just ask the ruler of Equestria which animal would win in a fight? I bit my lip and prayed for a magical being to take me back in time and kill myself for such a stupid question. However, Princess Luna only chuckled.
"I suppose a bear, mainly because he could fight in water and on land for the most part."
Celestia chuckled as well, but I sank in my seat. Trying to look at anything but the Princesses, my eyes focused on the empty spot next to Luna. It seemed so familiar, as if something used to fit, but at the same time I had no recollection. Something in the back of my head shifted, a memory maybe. I looked at Luna, and yet again something was off.
Luna met my gaze, and for a moment zoned out; her pupils widened and her jaw dropped open ever so slightly, and she quietly mouthed 'Help.'
Before Celestia could even look up from her plate Luna had snapped back into reality, and began a conversation with her sister about Blueblood's latest tantrum, a story hey both seemed to thoroughly enjoy. I heard snippets, but my eyes stayed locked on the empty space, and the vision of her mouthing 'Help' playing across my mind a thousand times.
Rolling thunder relaxed my thoughts as my eyes scanned once again over thousands of words of history. Although it was only noon, the dark clouds gave the ominous feeling of the dead of night, even though the lightning did a great job of lighting up the sky every few minutes. Being that the rain had trapped me inside for the majority of the day, save for breakfast, I had resorted to having Spike send every history book to my new room to make me feel more at home. However, most books also came with a sassy note written by him or Rainbow Dash, so I tried to put a limit on the number I requested.
I missed my friends a lot: no pony had made me laugh like Pinkie could since I'd gotten here, and no article of clothing I was stuffed into even resembled Rarity's quality and genius. I tried to feed one of the Flamingoes in the palace garden, but I had to be rescued by one of the groundskeeper before it could completely swallow my body. I even missed the taste of Applejack's pies that she would leave on my window sill when I was too busy to go out. My friends were so amazing, and now they had to schedule appointments just to visit me, which I couldn't even understand, because its not like I had ANY royal duties to attend to yet. The past few days had been filled with attending meals, going to two formals, shaking hooves with the noble families for three hours, and studying, which had become pointless because there was no longer a higher being I could report to. I guess I was trying to humor myself, because I really wasn't feeling like a princess right now.
My indigo mane stayed cut above my eyes in stylish bangs, with two wisps on either side of my face that hadn't grown back since the Coronation Ceremony. However, they had sparked an entire trend with the teen ponies of Equestria; not a day went by when I didn't see a pony in a palace tour wearing their hair any other way. Celestia assured me the whole thing would be over soon, as after she had come to reign, ponies tried dying their manes the same color and enchanting them to flow like hers did, which only resulted in combustion.
But these thoughts were besides the point. Right now, I was interested only in the studies of Equestria's past, trying to find any hints or tricks I could use to gain popularity as a ruler or in the least not get chased off the throne by an angry mob. From what I could read, Celestia and Luna had been the only rulers since any of these books could recall, and before them the entire land had been broken into small villages with individual governments. Many of the scrolls were written in old Equestrian language, some even written in Zebrican, and despite the thoughts of the ponies who'd heard of my brains, I could not decipher every language thrown at me. Possibly if I had time and the resources for translation I could get a clue, but for now I was dumbstruck. The only thing I could make out of the wording were the multiple uses of Luna's name which was kept with a constant spelling in each language.
Doing the best I could to make out the wording from a book dating back about one thousand years ago, I began to read the passage given.
"Princess Luna and Princess Celestia," I read aloud, "were two alicorn ponies that came to power thousands of years ago. History has not yet been able to prove their exact age or what year they took control, but under their hooves Equestria was united into a successful nation that was able to withstand the threats of other species for many years, only engaging in three wars in the past five thousand years. According to folktales, Princess Luna sports a shorter mane than Celestia because while fighting with her ponies in one of the wars, she cut off half her mane to use as raw energy for gunpowder after enemy assaults had blown up their artillery storage."
I looked up intrigued. "Who knew?" I chuckled. "I'll have to ask her about that tomorrow. Wait, whats this?"
"As told by a castle staff member after Nightmare Moon's banishment, there was rumor that the dead body of-"
A soft rapping on my chamber door snapped me out of my reading, forcing me to clear away all the scattered papers, scrolls, and history books I had strewn across my bed. I rose up from under my comforter, set my tea cup carefully on the bedside table and rushed to the door; seeing Celestia's ethereal mane, I quickly undid the lock and swung the mighty doors open wide enough for her to enter.
"My my Twilight, you sure have been keeping yourself busy," she remarked. I looked back to my study heap, laughing softly.
"I just want to make sure I'm doing it right."
"What have you been reading?" she walked over to my bed, picking up miscellaneous pieces of literature and accounts.
"The basics: all about the past rulers of Equestria, and the lords and nobles. I found it so interesting that so long ago there was once-... Celestia?" Celestia had begun walking out the door, all my material gripped in her magic.
"Celestia, whats wrong?" I asked, not even having to move from the door.
She sighed. "Twilight, you have to have faith in yourself. You can't learn instinct from books, you need to learn how to rule without the influence of others' pasts. I will keep these in my study for the time being; please try to make your rule as original as possible."
"But Princess, why? What did you come here to tell me?"
She looked back at me for a moment, before beginning to walk out of the room as quickly as she had entered. "Ponies make mistakes that others shouldn't learn about; it won't help you." On that note she closed the door behind her, parting the rainclouds with another free magic strand as she walked down the spiraling staircase that wound up my personal tower.
I stood dumbfounded, unable to put logic to Celestia's reason. I trotted over to my desk, pulling out a piece of parchment and a quill.
'Dear Spike,
Don't worry, I'm not asking you for another book. I know you must be out of breath by now. I just wanted to see how things are going with the library. I know its been a slow week; well, at least with what Fluttershy has told me. I understand she's been bringing you dinner every night. Spike, you better do something to thank her or I'll send Mom after you. Anyways things here are good, if a little slow. Ok, a lot slow. I haven't done anything royal, but I'm not complaining! It is the greatest honor to be made a princess, but Celestia has been acting very strange lately, and there is something missing in the castle that I really can't explain. I think what I'm getting at is that I would like you to come up for a visit next Sunday, so five days from now. I hope the library will survive without you for a few days, but it has been quite lonely holed up in my room. Also, if you could bring my photo album, there might be a sapphire waiting when you get here. I've been missing everyone's faces. Love you lots, my number one assistant.'
I signed my name neatly and laid down my pen. I tossed up the rolled parchment with a hoof, and shot up a beam of purple flame, the same used by Spike to send letters. However, when sent to me instead of Celestia, the flame was purple. Made sense for the most part.
I regressed to my bed, flopping on my back, and carefully laying my wings out to my sides so I wouldn't crush them. The maroon cushions and sheets gave off such a soothing sense, while the curtains that hung from my tall bed could shield out the light of the sun if drawn properly. But for right now, I did not need sleep; no, I needed rest, and time for thought.
What was missing? Something, or someone, was definitely not right, and Luna needing help only made matters worse.
Knock knock knock. Another series of rapping echoed on my door.
"Who could that be now?" I climbed off my bed and flapped my wings, making it to the door very quickly. I looked back at my bed to make sure Celestia hadn't forgotten any of my books that she had forbidden me from reading, but saw that in fact she had collected everything. So what could she want?
I looked through the peephole, and to my surprise, saw Princess Luna pacing in front of it. "Twilight open up quickly! Please Twilight!"
I immediately unlocked the door and she came rushing in, not bothering to wipe her soaking hooves; I didn't care, the maids could tend to the stain in the morning. "Princess, how can I help you?" She shook her body like a dog, expelling every droplet of water from her fur, but really just shaking it on to me.
"Agh, Luna-"
"Shut up, Twilight! Please listen to me! I have little time!" she exclaimed.
I was taken aback by her rude response, stepping backwards a step. "Luna? Is everything ok?"
"I'm not- nevermind. I don't have much time. This isn't what it looks like. She's hiding everything from you! I'm not real! Nothing is real Twilight! You have to come find me. Please Twilight she's keeping me locked up and I fear I don't have much time left! Everything is wrong, and I know you can feel it."
"What do you mean? Whats happening Luna!?" I yelled frantically, beads of sweat forming on my face with every sentence she spoke.
"Come save me please! I'm almost gone, I can't hang on! Ah Twilight it hurts!" She collapsed to the ground, gripping her head in agony. "She's got me in the-"
"In the what? In the what Princess!?" I yelled, rolling her hooves off her face to make eye contact.
"What?" Princess Luna looked up at me dumbfounded. "My goodness, I see my sleepwalking has taken me farther than usual. I am so sorry Twilight for bothering you, and how did I end up on the floor here?" Princess Luna got to her feet with ease, looking as fine as ever, save for the bags under her eyes.
"But Princess, you just said you were in trouble!" I cried.
Luna laughed. "Oh Twilight, come now. Do I look like I am in danger. I'm sure I was just sleep talking."
"But it was so real-" I was interrupted with a large yawn by Luna.
"Oh I am so sorry, Twilight. That was incredibly rude of me," she said, stifling another yawn. "But it is very early for me. Can we continue this conversation over our meal later? I feel I will probably recollect more when I'm fully awake," she said with a smile.
My head was racing for answers, but yet I couldn't move my body. "Um, yes of course. See you in the morning, Luna." My lips were barely able to move enough to complete the sentence, but luckily the Princess wasted no time in teleporting herself back to her own chambers, even in her groggy state. After a few moments of being frozen, I found the strength to gallop over to my desk.
"Change of plans, Spike. You think you can make it here by tomorrow night? "
Author's Note
Bum bum buuuummmm
"Believe it or not Twilight, but this isn't exactly what I had expected when you said you wanted me to come visit." The pony and her dragon assistant were laying on the ground, flipping through every history book in the Canterlot Archives, putting each one that mentioned 'alicorn' in a separate pile. The photo album that Spike had brought on request had been tucked neatly inside of Twilight's saddlebags, in case she wanted to do some snooping around later.
"I know, and I'm sorry Spike. But something is really, really wrong here, and Princess Luna is in trouble! She couldn't tell me where she was being kept, but then again, how could she be trapped somewhere if she was talking to me?" worried Twilight. Nothing was coming together in perfect sense like it usually did in these situations.
"Um Twilight," Spike said, twisting his tail nervously.
"Yeah?" she responded, still scanning her available books.
"What if Celestia is hiding something? Like something really big... if we go snooping around, imagine what our punishment could be!"
"Don't be silly, Spike. Celestia has been my mentor for years. She's not capable of being evil."
"I know, but... never mind." Failing to get his point across, Spike slowly flipped through more pages, somewhat afraid of what he would find.
Hours ticked by where the only food to appear in the room was a chocolate sundae ordered by Spike in retaliation to the long hours of work he was forced to endure on what was advertised as a stress free, casual visit.
"There's nothing! How is there nothing!?" exclaimed Twilight, tossing aside the last book.
"Well, what exactly are you looking for?" questioned Spike, shoveling another scoop of ice cream into his mouth, his stomach already bulging like a pregnant mare's.
"I don't exactly know," admitted Twilight. She turned back to the 'alicorn' pile. "I was reading something about a body in the book Celestia took from me, but who's? If it was written down in a book dating back more than a thousand years, it would have to be somepony important, wouldn't it?"
"Makes *burp* sense to me," agreed Spike.
"But who died?" Twilight began pacing around the room like she frequently did, racking her brain for answers.
"I dunno Twilight. Why don't you ask Celestia?"
"Spike, of all your ideas, that is probably... the worst." Spike's face fell into a scowl. "I mean, if Celestia didn't want me to read about, why would she want to talk about it?"
"Well, what did she say when she took the books?" Spike asked, setting aside the ice cream for a moment.
"She said..." Twilight's eyes opened in realization. She trotted over to Spike and grabbed his face in her hooves. "She said I wouldn't be able to learn from past mistakes!"
"And that means..." Spike asked dumbfounded.
Her enlightened look suddenly fell into one of realization and deep horror. Twilight turned her gaze away, not wanting to frighten Spike. "I think it means Celestia killed someone very important."
"Holy guacamole!" shouted Spike before Twilight could slap a hoof over his mouth. "What are we going to do?" he mumbled through her purple hoof.
Twilight removed her hoof from his mouth and began pacing around the room once again. "I don't know... Celestia has been my role model ever since I was born, and to think of her as such a... a different pony than who I know? Its a lot to take in." Twilight continued her pacing, not being able to find anything to pin a murder on Celestia, save for the unfinished words on the pages of her stolen books.
"We have to get that book." concluded Twilight.
Spike started chocking on nothing in particular. "But Twilight! Its Princess Celestia! She probably has her room locked up with a thousand ninja monkeys trained to kill any trespassers! Or worse! Zombies! Do you think she would unleash her zombies on us? We were her friends! She has to take that into consideration!" exclaimed Spike, fretting over the 'oncoming apocalypse' that he could predict with his dragon sense.
"Spike!" yelled Twilight, shutting the baby dragon up for a second. "Put this on," she said, tossing a black suit over to him.
"Seriously?" he deadpanned. "You're princes of freakin' Equestria. No one is going to suspect anything if you're strolling down the halls at night."
Twilight looked over her own torn suit, sticking her hoof through the hole that had appeared after the last time she worried too much. "I guess I am being a bit unrealistic," she admitted. She levitated her saddlebags over to her back, but not before accidentally emptying their contents. "Ah! Spike! Did you not seal them back up?" she asked.
"Um... hey look at the time! We should really get sneaking!" he said, jogging towards the door. Twilight rolled her eyes, stuffing everything back into the bags, save for the photo album.
"Wait, Spike. Come look at this." Spike rolled his eyes, but obliged and sluggishly walked over.
"Who is that?" he said, pointing at a picture. Twilight continued flipping through the book, coming across the same pony that she had no recollection of. She was at all her fillyhood events, her brother's wedding, and even her coronation ceremony.
A candy swirled mane and bright magenta eyes smiled back from every photo. "She was at Shining Armor's wedding, and look! She's standing next to Celestia at my coronation ceremony! Who is she?" Twilight pondered, not being able to find any memory or reason why this mare would be present at all her major life events.
"Um, Twilight?" said Spike with a gulp.
"Yes, what is it?" she answered hastily, not tearing her eyes away from the album.
"She's an alicorn."
"How can you be lost?! You live here for Celestias sake!" complained Spike as the duo passed the same tapestry for the third time. The moon had long risen to its place in the sky, the hues of sunlight disappearing well over two hours prior to their expedition and leaving the sky sprinkled with individual, twinkling stars.
"Hey, its not my fault," retorted Twilight, taking a left turn down a new hallway as the pair continued to navigate through the endless corridors. "Have you seen where she's gotten me holed up? I'm like Rapunzel up in there!"
"Without the beauty part," snickered Spike quietly.
With a quick flash of purple, his mouth had been zipped up tight.
"As I was saying... I'm lucky I can even find my way to breakfast in the morning!" Twilight blew her bangs out of her eyes a little, continuing her endless search through the never-ending hallways of Canterlot Castle. The only light was the gleam of the moon shining in through the paned windows that made up the outer wall. From up in the castle, Canterlot city looked magnificent, with bright neon sign advertising every type of business, and some ponies even setting off fireworks on the outskirts if town. The bars were probably in full swing, with mares being hit on and stallions having the time of their lives with their best friends.
'Pinkie would love it here,' thought Twilight with a smile at the thought of her party-crazy friend. From what she'd overheard from one of the maids, a carnival was supposed to be set up in town tomorrow that most of the palace servants were planning to bring their children to. Peering closer into the night, Twilight could see the bright flashing lights of a ferris wheel being constructed, along with some miscellaneous red striped tents only visible by numerous floodlights set up around the perimeter of the area.
Twilight turned her attention back to her mission at hand, staring down the abyss of the hallways that were now consuming her. The halls were elaborately decorated, some covered by large oriental rugs that seemed to stretch forever, just like the corridors themselves. Some were so long and straight that you could almost see a horizon line; however, that didn't deter Twilight Sparkle. She was determined to find her destination and sort out this mess once and for all, even if it meant starving to death trying to find her way around the castle. Many tapestries showed scenes from the Hearts Warming Eve tale, depicting a grey unicorn mare with a dark indigo mane and shining crown, a brown earth pony with a tub of pudding on his head, and a dark blue pegasus pony flanked by a slimmer yellow pegasus. The ponies were stuck in a quarrel in this depiction, not yet having made up in the cave where friendship was born.
Twilight tore her eyes away before it could alter her pace, ad after a few more twists and turns, the pony and dragon came to a halt in front of a large pair of doors with the sun inscribed across it. Flanking the walls were multiple benches and a podium set up in precise order, stained a deep brown and holding thin cushions and little comfort.
"Hey we're here!" happily exclaimed Spike. However, he was stopped in his tracks by a magical yank on his tail that began pulling him back to Twilight by his bottom.
"That's the court room, Spike. Day court at least..." Twilight trailed off.
"What, what are you thinking?"
"Night court must be going on right now," said Twilight, turning back down the hall and taking a left. Spike groaned, slouching his head, but obediently followed after Twilight.
The two continued making twists and turns through hallways, careful not to make too much sound as their feet trod on the polished floors. As they passed through a hall that overlooked the Canterlot Gardens, Twilight completely stopped her walk for a moment, causing Spike to smash into her. Rubbing his head, he got back up to his feet.
"Why'd you stop? Woah..." he said, looking over the frozen statues of the garden. Some where majestic, like a pony holding a flag, or dancing, or a swan, but some were downright terrifying. One statue looked like a mare sobbing with pleading hooves at some unknown source, trying to escape whatever she was facing. "What do you think that represents? Like, who would make something that...creepy?" asked Spike, looking at the particular sculpture.
Twilight looked at him, then back to the statue before mustering up an explanation. "I think it represents suffering, the lack of mercy that can come at any time. I think it means that something is dangerous, and you can't trust what you know forever."
"Twilight, are you refer-"
"Of course not Spike!" said Twilight, offended that he would suggest such a thing. "I took a tour once when I was little, and that was what the tour guide said."
"Oh, ok. What about that one?" asked Spike, pointing a claw at what seemed to be a pegasus stallion with wings draping at his sides bowing his nose to the plinth.
"That's Markarian," answered Twilight. "The tour guide said he represented disloyalty, and that hell rains on those who question what is right."
"Do you think these were ever real ponies?" asked Spike hesitantly, but Twilight only laughed off his question, much to his annoyance.
"Of course not Spike! That would be down right unethical."
"Then how come Discord broke out of a statue? Doesn't that mean that he was alive in there?"
Twilight's face paled sightly as she peered closer into the eyes of the pleading mare statue. She shook her head away from the piercing eyes, unable to harbor the thought let alone consider it. "No, Discord is a spirit, that's probably why he was alive. These are states; they were created by some pony, and they can be destroyed by some pony, end of story."
"Ok, Twi. We should really get going though," said Spike as he took the lead walking ahead while Twilight stared at the statues for a few moments longer.
"Of course they're not real ponies," she said quietly under her breath as Spike continued to walk away from her.
After another twenty minutes of meandering, Spike collapsed on the floor in rebellion. "Are you kidding me!?" he yelled, pointing up at the familiar tapestry. "Twilight this is getting ridiculous! How are we ever going to make it to Celestia's room at this rate? We've been searching for hours!" he complained.
"I can take you there," rang out a voice behind them. Spike sat up and looked slowly behind himself, just to come face to face with the co-ruler of Equestria.
"Princess Luna!" he stuttered, remembering to cut 'Nightmare Moon' out of his vocabulary.
"Hello Spike. Hello Twilight Sparkle. You need to make way to my sister's dormitory?" asked the princess, bending her head down to Spike's eye level, to which he responded by sheepishly shaking his head yes.
"Then follow, friends! I shall guide you!" the Princess turned, walking down the hall Twilight and Spike had just come from, only momentarily looking back to see if her companions were still following.
"Where did she come from?" whispered Spike into Twilight's ear from his new seat on her back.
"I don't know, but its lucky she showed up when she did, or we'd be wandering for hours more!" said Twilight.
"But what are we going to say when she asks why we wanted to get to Celestia's room?" asked Spike.
"She won't ask that, she respects ponies' privacy."
"So Twilight," called back Luna, "what is it you need from my sister's dormitory? I know a pony like you wouldn't dare wake her when she was sleeping, so you must be after something other than Celestia herself."
Spike punched Twilight lightly in the withers, to which she responded with a fierce scowl. "I lent her something of mine, and she hasn't returned it, so I was hoping I could get it back from her."
"Really? In the dead at night?"
"Yup!" said Twilight with an overdone fake smile. Luna eyed her closely, but shrugged and continued onward.
Luna continued onward until exiting through one of the grand doors of the castle, one Spike and Twilight hadn't even found yet in their expedition. Through said doors was a narrow garden, suspended above the castle ground by at lead two hundred feet. Even in the dark of the night the colors of the orchids and tulips in bloom were still vibrant, and the aroma was so amazing that it was almost intoxicating to Twilight. Exiting through the other side, the hall suddenly ended in a dome. To the right was a set of doors with the sun etched into the wood, while on the other side was an identical set of doors, only to be differentiated by the crescent moon that hung in the material.
"This wasn't on the tour," chuckled Twilight.
"Its really not that exciting," said Luna calmly, walking up to Celestia's doors.
She wasn't wrong; the hall housed nothing more than the doors and the floral wall paper that ended on some fancy molding, and otherwise was not anything spectacular. With no further ado Luna loudly pushed open the doors of Celestia's quarters, caring not for the wicked loud noise that was sure to rouse the goddess from even her deepest slumber.
Not seeming to notice the cringing faces of Twilight and Spike, Luna sauntered into the room, not even bothering to close the doors behind herself. Twilight went to shut it, but Spike tugged at her mane and shook his head no, much to her OCD dismay.
Luna didn't care for careful steps apparently; moving towards the door for a better view, Twilight witnessed how bad of a spy Luna was. She moved into the room with no subtleness, accidentally banging her cannon bone on a coffee table.
"OW!" she boomed, clutching her leg and writhing on the floor in audible pain.
"Princess!" scream/whispered Twilight, moving to go help her before being held back by Spike, who did not wish to be caught by Celestia if she woke up from the scene. Luckily, she didn't. Luna clambered to her feet as Twilight wiped the sweat from her brow; however, her stealthiness never showed. She accidentally bummed into Celestia's dresser, sending her royal regalia crashing to the floor with loud clinks, and at one point may have even stepped on Clestia's mane that reached to the ground beside her bed; Twilight could not confirm this though for she had her hoof to her eyes the entire time, silently praying that Celestia was under a sleep spell. Princess Luna lit her horn, reaching her magic grip under Celestia's bed, and grabbing a pile of familiar books, and hurriedly trotted towards the door.
"I hope these are what you were searching for?" she said quietly, slamming the doors shut so that the hall room rattled.
Twilight winced at the loud noise, but perked an ear and could still hear Celestia's soft snores. "Thank you so much Princess Luna. But, how did you not wake Celestia?"
"Ever hear the term sleep like a rock?" asked Luna. Twilight nodded. "Well, you're looking at the origin," said Luna, gesturing to Celestia's room with a hoof.
"Oh, ok. Anyways, we better be getting back to *yawn* bed," said Twilight, "but thank you for everything Luna."
Luna chuckled. "Anything for a fellow princess and her companion. You must excuse me now, it is time for me to don my ceremonial moon lowering attire."
"You actually have that stuff?" asked Spike.
"No, I just know Twilight wouldn't leave unless I said I had to first."
Twilight blushed sheepishly before lighting her horn, teleporting herself and Spike back to their tower suite. Back in the familiar setting, Spike looked around furiously. "Why couldn't you just hocus pocus us down to Celestia's room in the first place!?" he yelled.
"Because... hmm, I probably could have." Spike face clawed. "Ok, lets solve this mystery," said Twilight, brining about the stolen book and flipping to the page she was cut off on. "Ah, here we go," she read aloud, causing Spike to rush to her side and read along.
"As told by a castle staff member after Nightmare Moon's banishment, there was rumor that the dead body of-"
Twilight looked up in utter shock. "T-thats not possible!" she exclaimed in panic. "How is that possible!" she yelled, flipping through the pages, desperately searching for any explanation that could help tie the words together.
"What Twilight? What?" Spike grabbed the book from her and flipped to the same page, before dropping it in horror.
"Princess Luna is dead?"
"Twilight! Calm down!"
If Twilight had heard Spike, than she didn't show it, for she continued her agonized trotting through the room, not even picking up a book to do any kind of research. Spike rolled his eyes and started for the bed, stacking pillows that had been tossed to the floor to make a makeshift stool, and scrambled up the the top with the help of the sheets. Waiting for Twilight to pace in just the right place, Spike stepped back and sprinted towards the end of the bed, jumping mightily and bouncing off, crashing onto Twilight's back and sending her crashing to the ground.
"Spike! You could have killed me!" yelled Twilight angrily, stretching out her wing to inspect for damage. However, the purple appendages showed to be absolutely fine, and Twilight delicately tucked them back at her side before any real damage could be done.
"Ah, but I didn't, so you should be happy you're alive," pointed out Spike.
"What, no, never mind. We have bigger issues at hand! Princess Luna is dead and you're not the least bit worried!?" angrily ranted the pony princess.
"Um, not really. We just saw her Twilight! That book said that it was rumored. Do you believe every rumor you hear?"
Twilight scowled at him, not giving the sheepish, embarrassed smile he had expected. She walked towards him angrily, spreading out her wings. "So you're saying I shouldn't have believed the Nightmare Moon tale, because that was just a rumor? What would we have done then Spike, hmm? We'd be in eternal darkness. We could be dead! This world is filled with the most magical creatures in existence; things that shouldn't exist make regular appearances in our daily lives! For Celestia sake Spike! I got turned into an alicorn! And you're telling me to not believe a simple rumor?"
It was Spike's turn to give the sheepish smile. "Um yes... but none of those things were previously accused of being dead. We knew Discord was just trapped, as was Nightmare Moon, and as was King Sombra! There was always room for escape, the question was just when and how. But Princess Luna is alive and well, she can't escape from anything."
"And so why should I believe it, I know." Twilight folded her wings back and turned away from Spike. "But I knew something was wrong, Spike. This just made it believable."
"Like what, Twi?"
Twilight looked back over at Spike and exhaled, spreading her wings and shakily flying to her bed and laying down. Spike walked over and climbed up, sitting across from her. "Three things: one, when I was having breakfast with her one morning, she wordlessly mouthed 'help' at me, and then immediately regained conversation with Celestia as if nothing had happened: second, once she came bursting into my room, screaming that she didn't have much time left and that she desperately needed my help. Before she could say where 'she' was, she snapped back to normal, as if her brain had been taken over and had gotten free for a moment before being forced back into its controlled state: and thirdly, Celestia took the book from me. CELESTIA. TOOK. A. BOOK. FROM. ME. Not even Celestia has that right. And she said it was to protect me from making mistakes like rulers in the past had. I think Celestia has done something to Luna."
Spike stared in awe at Twilight's rant. "But Twilight, why would Celestia do that? You've known her all your life; I don't think she's evil."
Twilight look away sadly. "I know she isn't, or at least, wasn't. I think she made a mistake and has made many more trying to cover up the first. I think we have to go down to the library and find some more information."
"I don't think that's a logical idea, Twilight."
Twilight looked insulted at Spike's remark. "Spike! First off, when did you start using words like logical? Start saying that back in Ponyville and you'll send Pinkie Pie off on her rant that we are actually being manipulated by bipedal monsters from a different world who control our movements and our timelines for the enjoyment of their offspring and occasional creepy adults. And second of all, when have books ever failed us?"
"Seriously? What about that time where the last page about the Crystal Heart was ripped out, or when you didn't read the book I showed you on how to cure you when you were cursed? And who could forget that one time in the human world where we looked insane in the library-"
"Spike! We don't talk about that!" said Twilight, cheeks blazing red.
"Sorry, sorry. Just think about it. If Celestia wanted to cover up something, why in Equestria would she allow proof of it to be stored in her own castle where anypony could wander upon it? She'd be a goner!" Spike looked at Twilight with smugness at his intellectuality of the past evening.
"You're right Spike," said Twilight quietly. She only looked defeated for a moment, however, before her ears perked and her eyes were sparkling with an idea. "But...what if there was a place where no new information had been added in a thousand years, and Celestia doesn't have the right to tamper with the libraries?"
"Does that even exist?" asked Spike quizzically.
"It's closer than you think actually Spike. Think about it; a place with information about its darkest ruler, hidden even from him when he ruled it; a place with the most expansive library we've ever seen, and a place where Celestia has no direct control."
Spike cracked a smile and leaped off the bed in excitement. "We're going to the crystal empire!"
"I know it doesn't affect how we feel and stuff, but this is trippy..." said Spike, stationed in front of the mirror of the train's bathroom. He waved a clawed hand in front of his reflection, which in return echoed a cream colored foal's hoof. His image showed nothing of scales of purple or spikes of green, but instead a cherubic face of a generic foal who's mother had maybe gone overboard with the sweets. His buttery yellow forelock drooped shaggily over his eyes, but at the same time only framed his face to accentuate his adorableness even more.
"I know Spike," said Twilight, straightening the foal carrier on her back, "and I feel really bad about putting you into this type of awkward situation-"
"Don't you lie to me Twi," he said, glaring at Twilight as she hovered a baby bonnet from her travel bag. She stifled a giggle as she fixated it onto his head and tugged at the drawstring.
"Ok, so this is more amusing than I had planned: sue me." Spike continued wearing his face of utter disgust as his eyes stayed glued to his cutsie-wutsie appearance in the mirror.
"Why do I even have to dress up!?" said Spike, finally retaliating and ripping the blue bonnet off his head and throwing it to the ground. Twilight frowned and levitated it back up, dusted it off with a hoof, and then sat it down next to Spike on the side of the sink. "If you're putting a disguise filter on us, why can't you just factor some clothes into the design? And don't give me any of that 'it takes a lot of magic' miss alicorn princess."
The train hit a rather rough patch of rails, sending the cabin jostling for a moment, but the dragon and pony in the bathroom regained their footing rather quickly. "The filter can only alter our skin. Everyone around us will see our faked skin, but the clothes aren't included in their perception of the filter. So we have to suck it up and play dress up if you want this to work, Spike. Or, we can try to fight off the crowds as they swarm over us for autographs and such and then get whisked away to the castle where Shining Armor and Cadance will try and inform Celestia of our whereabouts. You want that?" asked Twilight, leaning in to Spike.
The purple dragon scratched the back of his head. "Um, I guess not," he said, silently sliding the fake mustache he had brought in case of a photo opt back into his bag. "While we're on that subject though, what did you tell Celestia that convinced her to let you leave the castle for the day?" asked Spike.
"Spike, I'm princess of Equestria; I don't need to ask Celestia if I can go to the Crystal Empire." Right then the train screeched to a halt, jostling the pair into the bathroom sink corner and making them lose their balance. A hiss of steam could be heard as the engine rested and the doors swung open. Twilight, donned in her disguise only visible by others, levitated the equally disguised Spike into her foal carrier and trails their bags behind her out of the bathroom. Exiting and turning right, she caught a faint glimpse of the huge line that had apparently formed while she was creating their disguises. Strutting some fake confidence, Twilight exited the train with her bags and Spike, but much to her horror, was greeted by guards patrolling the entire empire. Flyers everywhere were apparently calling for the nationwide search of the missing Princess Twilight Sparkle.
"You were saying?" said Spike, crossing his arms.
"Ok, so maybe I should have told her I was going somewhere," said Twilight nervously.
"You're an idiot."
"Shut up."
"What are you going to do? The entire nation is going to start freaking out!" exclaimed Spike. A brown stallion standing adjacent to Twilight looked over at her quizzically.
"Did your foal just say a full sentence?"
"Um...no! Of course not! That was, um, me! Yes, me! It's a problem you know. Whats a problem? This is? Doesn't seem like it. Hahahahahaha!" cackled Twilight crazily until the stallion, now terrified, cantered away.
"Nice one," said Spike with an eye roll. "But seriously, you have to fix this, now."
"Ok, ok, let me think of something..." said Twilight, rubbing her temples with her hooves.
"Excuse me!" called out a very familiar voice. Twilight and Spike both swiveled around at breakneck speeds to come face to face with a white mare levitating several bags from high end boutiques. She wore a floral sundress with subtle yellow flowers patterned across it, along with diamond stud earrings and a braided headband. Her mane was curled but held back perfectly and neatly by the headband while the curls in her tail bounced freely with every stride. The bags she levitated at her side showed that she was obviously wealthy but not exorbitant, and her overly large sunglasses suggested she was somewhat well known and did not feel like being stopped on the street during her shopping day. The mare was none other than Rarity.
"Um, hello," said Twilight with a wave of her hoof.
"Hello," said Rarity, looking Twilight up and down. "I'm sorry for bothering you and your adorable foal, but I wondered if I might ask you where you got the garment you are currently wearing."
Twilight looked down at her body, and wished she could just face hoof right then and there; Twilight had foolishly made the mistake of wearing the simple dress Rarity had made her during for her birthday last year. She had chosen it quickly from her closet, seeing as it was the most casual and generic item of clothing left her closet of royal garments.
"Oh, um, a store in Canterlot, I think. I don't really remember. Life is a blur with a foal you know!" said Twilight nervously, a bead of sweat forming.
"Are you sure, and I don't mean to hassle, but its just that it looks identical to one I made for a close friend of mine, and I know the style hasn't been picked up by any other designers, at least that I know of."
Twilight struggled for a believable lie to get her out of the situation, even though she hated to lie in any case. "Actually, I was told about it by Fancy Pants who then had his friend make a replica for me because I loved the design so much."
Thats was obviously the wrong phrase to end the conversation with because Rarity's eyes shot open in delight and sparkled like Luna's stars. "Oh my! A fan! Hello, oh I must take you out for lunch so we can converse more on this! I've never met a fan before!" raved Rarity.
"Oh no, its quite all right, I just admired-"
"Shush! It shall be my treat and a way of saying 'thank you'."
"Thank you for what exactly?" asked Twilight, fooling Rarity with her disguise.
"For believing in me of course! For supporting my design and being somewhat of free advertising, if you will," beamed Rarity.
Twilight tried to do a dismissive wave of her hoof, but instead looked as if she was awkwardly swatting an imaginary fly. "Don't think anything of it, really. My son...Picklebottom-"
"What?" grumbled Spike, causing Twilight to zip his mouth closed with her magic.
"Yes my son and I were just about to head home."
"I just saw you get off the train," said Rarity cocking her head.
Spike covered his face in embarrassment for Twilight. "Um, yes, you did," stumbled Twilight. "We live here. In the Crystal Empire. Crystal Boulevard. Its a fairly new development," lied Twilight was a faux smile that made her mouth ache.
"You lucky duck!" whined Rarity. "I was told that only full blooded Crystal Ponies could live here to 'keep the tradition alive'," she said with overly dramatic quotations. "You must have some unbelievable connections! Oh please tell me who to get in contact with! I've been dying to get a little condo of my own down here for the summer time!"
Twilight searched her mind for a plausible lie, but once again fell short. "I don't know if I should say..."
"Oh of course, my apologies for prying into your personal life, it is a very bad trait I seem to have. Well, at least some good can come from my bruteness. Now I owe you lunch, as an apology. Come along, I won't take no for an answer!"
Twilight looked back at Spike who just shrugged his shoulders. Rarity's hips were already swaying in the distance as she sauntered off to the restaurant. Twilight rolled her eyes and broke into a trot to catch up with her friend.
"You know, you really remind me of one of my friends," she said as Twilight approached her side.
"Oh really?" she asked nervously.
"Yes, my friend Fluttershy, actually."
"Seriously?"
"The way you talk; so quiet and polite. Just darling!" said Rarity without taking her eyes off her path. "We'll be at The Patio in a few moments. Its such a quaint little place; I came here once with Princess Twilight herself! We are actually quite close, and we came here to eat after we defeated King Sombra. They have a leek chowder to die for!"
"That's where I recognize you from!" lied Twilight. "You're Rarity, the Element of Generosity."
"Guilty," blushed Rarity. "But that is a conversation for," she started to whisper, "a more private area." She smiled at me and then halted her own trot, turning to a pair of glass doors that read The Patio in careful script. "Here we are," she said happily as she levitated the door open and held it open as Twilight walked in, careful not to hit Spike on the way.
Rarity called to a waiter who led Twilight and Spike to an isolated booth in the back, even bringing over a high chair to set Spike the foal in.
"Thank you," she said softly to the waiter as he set down our menus. Spike had his arms crossed in the high chair looking positively pissed, but kept his composure much to Twilight's pleasure.
It was only a few moments before the waiter returned to take orders, too soon even for Twilight to open up her menu, but Rarity seemed ready and confident. "I'll have a glass of Chardonnay and she'll have a daisy sandwich with water, and the baby will have some hay fries. Thank you kindly," Rarity concluded levitating the menus back to the waiter.
"How did you know what I would have ordered?" asked Twilight quizzically.
"Well because thats what you always order. Always so cautious really," said Rarity, looking around the restaurant absent-mindlessly.
"Excuse me?"
"And really, a sky blue Twilight? With a pink mane? Dearie if you had the ability to make yourself any color only you would chose two that would clash."
"Wha-, you mean... you know it's me?" whispered Twilight, leaning into Rarity.
Rarity responded with a chuckle. "Of course I did Twilight. I could see hearts in Spike's eyes as soon as we made I contact." Spike blushed furiously. "And I spotted you by the dress; I mean really, no designer has picked it up, and only you have it. You're also an awful liar."
"But... you acted like you'd truly never met me before!"
Rarity smiled as the waiter brought over her wine. "I'm a very good actress," she said with a wink, taking a sip. "But by all means I encourage you to keep the disguise up while in public, I really haven't seen you in quite some time without the paparazzi interrupting."
Twilight breathed a sigh of relief and smiled at her friend. "How are you Rarity?"
"Oh no worse for wear. Sweetie Belle has been driving me up the wall lately getting ready for the school musical. I mean she has a fabulous voice, but I would just rather not hear it at 1 a.m. every morning," chuckled Rarity. "What about you, Miss Princess of Equestria?"
Twilight blushed at he usage of her full title. "It's stressful, for sure. It's a long story," said Twilight, leaving out the reason they were even in the Crystal Empire. "How are the girls?"
"FIne, fine. Nothing new to report. What are you doing here anyways? I know you're not here for the Lord and Neighlor sale."
"Um... it's hard to explain."
Rarity laid a hoof on Twilight's and cast her concerning gaze. "I have time."
Twilight looked around suspiciously, making sure no one was listening in on the conversation that was about to occur. "I'm doing some undercover research about a conspiracy I think may have happened at Luna's banishment a thousand years ago," admitted Twilight.
Rarity's eyes widened in utter shock at Twilight's distrust of her mentor. "Does Celestia know you're doing this?" she asked.
"No, it's Celestia that I think is behind it," said Twilight quietly.
Rarity gasped. "Oh my stars! What did she do?"
"I think... I think she killed Princess Luna."
Instead of gasping in horror, Rarity broke out in a fit of laughter. "Are you crazy Twilight? We just saw Princess Luna! She's obviously not dead!"
"Keep your voice down!" insisted Spike, waving a hoof at Rarity as she reined in her chuckles.
"Sorry, sorry. You were saying?" she said with a hoof over her muzzle.
Twilight glared at her friend, but continued. "Spike and I have found proof for reasonable doubt that our Princess Luna is not the one we have thought she was. We were actually here to search through the Crystal Empire Library's Archives to see if there's any uncensored information about her banishment. Anything in Canterlot relating to the myth has been taken by Celestia into her personal chambers. This is our only hope."
Rarity saw how concerned yet determined her friend looked, and knew better than to doubt Twilight, even when she sounded ridiculous. "I'm here to help."
Twilight smiled at her friend and the waiter as he set her food in front of her. "Then lets get started!"
"Is there something I can help you with?" asked the crystal pony librarian to Twilight.
"Um, yes, if you could show us to for restricted section that would be darling," said the disguised Twilight in a faux Trottingham accent that made Rarity cringe.
"Excuse me?" asked the librarian, leaning over her desk and staring at Twilight quizzically.
"Your restricted section? I have with me one of the bearers of the Elements of Harmony," Twilight said, ushering Rarity forward. The librarian looked Rarity up and down, but still had the same expression as she turned back to Twilight.
"Ma'm, we don't have a restricted section..." she said slowly.
"What?" said Twilight, getting nervous.
"I think those only exist in stories, miss."
"You don't have any place with some controversial books that only scholars can access?" asked Twilight.
"I'm afraid not miss."
"Any books on Nightmare Moon?" chimed in Rarity.
The librarian cocked her head. "What?"
"The banishment?" clarified Rarity.
"I'm sorry, maybe I could direct you to the history section."
"Um, yes, I suppose that shall suffice."
The librarian walked out from behind the desk and led the ponies down a set of stairs to the next level of the library. It looked so familiar, like they had already done so much in it, but Twilight couldn't feel more than a strong deja vu. Above them the bridges of the first level stretched for ever, as if the library had unlimited resources. The clicking of the ponies hooves, especially the crystal pony's, echoed off the crystal walls, sounding like cannons exploding from the inside of the building. However, none of the reading ponies seemed to mind, for they were all far too absorbed in their fantasy tales or studying for an upcoming exam. After a very short walk, the librarian left the two ponies and colt in front of a dozen towering bookshelves, where above swung a polished sign that read 'History'.
"Alright, lets get started," said Twilight with a determined smile.
***
"Nothing! Not one book that has any information on Luna's banishment. How can this be?" cried Twilight, tossing another book into the growing pile behind her.
"Nothing here either," added Spike, tossing his own book into the growing stack.
"Nor over here I'm afraid," said Rarity from the other side. Twilight grumbled and flopped onto the book pile, feeling the sharp corners of the books pierce into her sides; she didn't care though, for the frustration of this endeavor was worse than any physical pain.
"How can there be no book for a thousand years!?" cried out Twilight.
"A flaw in the system," said Spike, pointing a claw. Rarity and Twilight glared back at him in response.
"Wow Spike, you're a genius," said Twilight with a sarcastic eye roll.
"Twilight!" said Rarity. "I know you are stressed but lashing out at Spike isn't going to solve this. Something is definitely off, we just have to figure out what."
Twilight let out a breath and stood up from her book bed. "I know, I'm sorry," she said to Spike. "Something just doesn't fit; the books that the entire city had just disappeared for a thousand years, and no one knows why."
"Well, maybe your brother does," suggested Rarity, gesturing to the Crystal Palace in the center of the palace.
Twilight face hoofed at her own stupidity, but immediately remembered why she hadn't gone there in the first place. "I can't. Not with the country on red alert like this. I know Shining means well, but he would just tell Celestia and she would swoop in and bring me home."
"But he really is our last hope," continued Rarity, "and we both know you don't have much time."
"I know, and I know its the best way to handle this situation, I just don't want him freaking out. Being the ruler of the Crystal Empire, he shouldn't have to be bothered by my conspiracy theories."
"Wait, say that again!" suddenly yelled Spike, running over to Twilight's side.
"What?" she asked, baffled. "My conspiracy theories?"
"No, before that!"
"I shouldn't bother him?" asked Twilight, titling her head.
"No, right before that!" he stressed.
"Being the ruler of the Crystal Empire?" said Twilight with a confused look.
"Yes!" exclaimed Spike.
"What about it?" asked Twilight.
"When we were on the train, you said that you were wearing the disguise so you wouldn't be sent to the castle where Shining Armor and Princess Cadance would call Celestia."
"So?"
"So who's Princess Cadance?"
"I don't remember saying that, Spike," said Twilight, losing interest somewhat.
"I swear you did, Twilight! I remember being really confused. I've never heard of a Princess Cadance, because you, Celestia, and Luna are the only princesses, right?"
"I've never heard of her either," said Rarity. "How did you know her name, Twilight? And why is she a princess?"
"I have no idea," whispered Twilight, racking her brain for an explanation of where the name came from. "There has to be a connection somewhere. So many things lately haven't been tied together, is it possible that maybe she has something to do with it? Rarity, try and think of something that you've never questioned before, but now you realize makes no sense at all."
"Well thats a lot easier said then done, Twilight." Rarity pointed out.
Twilight grunted in frustration, seeing some puzzle pieces almost coming together. "The wedding! Shining Armor! Oh my gosh how could I not have seen this earlier!!!" Twilight shouted, jumping to her hooves in a hurry towards the exit.
"What? What about the wedding?" asked Spike.
Twilight stopped her canter and looked back at her friends.
"Who was he getting married to?"
"Not a thing? Not one detail? Rarity, you realize how important this is, don't you? You have to try and think of some specifics."
"Stop it! Just stop it!" snapped Rarity, small droplets forming on her waterline that threatened to smudge her mascara. "I can't, I can't remember and I'm scared."
Spike moved to console the distraught mare, but Twilight held him back with a hoof.
"Twilight stop, you're hurting her!" cried out Spike, trying to force his way beyond Twilight's leg, but utterly failing with his small size.
"No Spike! She has to do this. Its the only way that we have a chance of figuring this mess out." Twilight turned her attention back to Rarity, who despite her crumbling emotional state, kept her magic connection with Twilight flowing. "Rarity, I know this is hard, but you really, really have to be strong. For me. For Equestria."
Rarity wiped under her eye, but never opened it, instead keeping both lids tightly shut and focusing on the memory spell. At that moment Twilight was deep in her thoughts, rooting through every memory Rarity brought to the front of her mind for Twilight to investigate. The first few had been from the past day, being as that was what Rarity was still thinking about, but as Twilight asked her to do so, Rarity began focusing hard on her memories about being a bridesmaid for the so called 'Princess Cadance'.
The spell Twilight was using had been taught to her by Princess Luna, who had her practice on Luna herself just weeks before. Luna had said that it would be a useful skill to have and that the brain of a pony, and even an alicorn, locked up most information and couldn't be recalled past a certain point in time. This spell however, assured Luna, would unlock anything in the brain as long as the pony performing the spell knew what to look for. The problem with Rarity and Twilight arose quite quickly though, because neither Twilight or Rarity could pinpoint exactly what they were trying to search for.
All Twilight could ask of Rarity was to "try and remember anything and everything about Shining Armor's bride", but since she couldn't provide herself or Rarity with any specifics, the spell was little help in their investigation.
The magic was difficult in theory, but for Twilight was quite simple; she reached some of her energy into Rarity, who using her own magic, created a door of sorts that Twilight was allowed to enter through. Allowing herself to see through her magic, Twilight was able to explore Rarity's mind, pulling and pushing memories away from her vision but being able to keep the memory of Rarity's memories in her own head. Trying to explain the process to Spike had been a killer, but Rarity had seemed to understand and agree it was the best thing to do in these circumstances.
Twilight sorted through the memories like a filing cabinet; she pushed aside the song Rarity had hummed while making the wedding dress, but paid close attention to the thoughts of the night where they had all gone out for drinks and Twilight had been incredibly angry about something, which they now deduced was probably the bride. The two unicorns, earlier in the experiment, had decided that wherever there was a hole in Rarity's memory, it was probably because it had to do with Princess Cadance. So far, they had deduced that that was what the fight was about, that's who the changeling queen took the form of, thats who Shining Armor was marrying, and thats who had been at the Crystal Empire when it first appeared with Shining Armor.
However, this had only given them more to research and try to find out, meaning there was more to the question than who had Shining Armor married. The trio, although exhausting every idea, was no closer to the answer than they had been when they begun.
With a sigh, Twilight broke the connection between herself and Rarity, allowing the white mare to collapse to the ground in relief and slight agony.
"I'm so sorry Rarity. I pushed too hard. I shouldn't have tried to bring that many memories up at one time," apologized Twilight, holding out a hoof to her friend. Rarity, however did not move.
"I can't believe you, Twilight," said Spike with a disapproving shake of his head and a scowl as he rushed to Rarity's side, patting her back gently as she remained somewhat motionless on the ground.
"What?" snorted Twilight angrily. "I apologized!"
Rarity, who was massaging her temples, opened her mouth to say something, but quickly closed it. Spike stepped in front of her.
"You could have really hurt her Twilight! Look! If you had gone any further you could have done some serious damage!" yelled Spike.
"I'm sorry!" exclaimed Twilight. She held a hoof up to her mouth, realizing how loud she had raised her voice. "I'm sorry," she repeated, softly this time. "I'm just baffled, and terrified, and bewildered. I don't know what to do and I'm scared."
Spike, letting down his macho man attitude, approached the purple alicorn. "We all are, Twilight. But if you don't remember, neither will Rarity. Just take it easy, okay?"
"Okay," agreed Twilight, letting her head fall low. She walked over to Rarity, ashamed. "Rarity, I am so, so sorry. I didn't mean to put you into this type of situation. Can you please forgive me?"
Rarity gave a faint smile. "Of course dear. I really am sorry that I couldn't be of more assistance during this, I was trying really hard."
Twilight smiled faintly. "Rarity, you did great. It's my fault; I couldn't provide you with the specifics needed to uncloud the memories, and I shouldn't have gotten angry at you."
"It's alright Twilight, we both tried, and that's all that can be done for now. However, if it's not too much trouble, I think I would like to go home now."
"Home? But we just got here!" said Twilight. She looked around the small storage room in the basement that they were currently hiding in. After exhausting all the materials of the library, they found a stairwell that led to the unloading dock where book shipments came in, and soon found a dusty yet spacious room where they could debate and experiment without witnesses.
Spike brushed a cobweb off his shoulder as he leaned against the slate grey wall. "Twilight, we've been down here for hours. We don't even have a place to stay. I'm with Rarity. Lets catch the next train out of here."
Twilight looked between her friends, wanting to express her desire to stay and uncover more, but now being tempted with the thought of sleep, realized how saggy her eyelids were.
A yawn escaped Rarity's lips, forcing Twilight to comply with their wishes. "Ok, you're right. We need our rest."
Twilight and Spike re-donned their disguises, and the two ponies and one 'foal' slipped through the quiet nighttime of the Crystal Empire toward the train station. They walked without speaking, mostly out of exhaustion, but also because there was no way small talk was even possible in a situation like the one they were in. Once or twice the front porch light of a crystal pony's home would flip on, stopping all three dead in their tracks, but after no movement from inside the houses, they would continue on.
Tired and hungry, they finally reached the train station. Rarity folded her legs neatly under herself on a bench while Spike sat patiently next to her.
"Do you guys want anything to eat? Drink?" asked Twilight, too stressed to sit or sleep.
"If you could find a sandwich at that little shop inside, that would be lovely," said Rarity sleepily.
"Yeah, it's uh, it's no problem." Twilight pushed through the glass doors into the small train shop that was open all night. Picking out two pre-made sandwiches, she sat inside the little cafe for a little while longer before returning to her friends. The board at the front of the entrance read all the train times, and by the looks of it, there was still at least thirty minutes until the next rain pulled in. Everypony in the cafe looked positively beat; the worker behind the counter looked as if he could barely keep his eyes open, dark brown circles forming beneath them into his light brown coat; a young pegasus mare with a striking yellow mane and equally stunning teal coat tried to take interest in the steam rising from her coffee cup, but her multiple yawns suggested that coffee wouldn't be enough to keep her awake for the night; even the ticket seller had looked like he would fall asleep in the middle of selling Twilight her boarding passes.
To say the least, the station was as dead as it could be. Twilight tried to focus on the colorful tile floors that reminded her of SugarCube Corner, but nothing could brighten her up at this moment, even though the candy coloring reminded her of Pinkie Pie. The ceiling looked like the type foals would stare up into during class and try to make their quills get caught in by throwing them up and hoping they penetrated the tiles, and the glass display case that was supposed to display confectionaries and breakfast options was grey and empty, the only food coming from the dull menus that were tarnished and stained that sat on each table. Twilight would constantly pivot her ears to try and hear the train, hoping that it would magically arrive incredibly early so that she could get into their compartment and sleep for the hours it took to return home. Either way, at this rate, they wouldn't arrive back in Ponyville until at least five a.m. the next morning.
After minutes on minutes of meaningless waiting, Twilight could finally hear the whistle of the train chugging along the tracks. She emerged back onto the platform to wake Rarity and Spike, and before long, all three boarded the train, along with some other late night travelers.
They tried to keep conversation on the train, trying to use any time possible to make connections, but Rarity was so tired, and Spike passed out as soon as he met the seat, so Twilight decided to give it a rest for the night. However, she couldn't find sleep, so her head rested against the cold window, hard and unyielding, and her thoughts raced with ideas of anyone who could help them remember something that may have never even happened.
Finally, the same exhaustion that had taken over her in the cafe returned to Twilight, and she too found her small bed in the train compartment and fell asleep quickly.
The train pulled into Ponyville Station as the sky began to turn light, and after saying her goodbyes, Rarity made a beeline for her home. Twilight, carrying the now undisguised Spike back to the library, was still beating up her brain for any clue, any missed detail that could help, but to no avail. The wooden door of Twilight's home creaked open softly, letting the moonlight flood into the dark home. Spike sleepily slid off of Twilight's back and drooped up he stairs, followed by a worried Twilight.
They climbed under the sheets of their beds, thankful to be home. "Well, this has been quite the hectic adventure," said Twilight, meaning to add a chuckle in the sentence, but not being able to muster one up.
"Yeah," agreed Spike, turning over in his bed, "things got pretty chaotic, but I'm glad to be home right now. Goodnight Twi."
"Goodnight Spike," said Twilight, her eyes glittering, for she had just gotten an idea.
"Oh, hello Twilight!" exclaimed Fluttershy. She trotted out of her cottage and wrapped Twilight into a nice, warm hug. "I haven't seen you in a while, how is everything going? Would you like to come inside?"
"It's great to see you Fluttershy," said Twilight with a smile. Fluttershy beamed and stepped out of the way so her friend could enter the cottage and make herself comfortable.
"How has being a ruler of Equestria been? It sounds so exciting!" said Fluttershy, offering Twilight the only article of furniture not occupied by some animal or another.
"It's been... interesting. I haven't been given any assignments yet, but would you mind terribly if we could catch up later? No offense, but I'm back here for a specific reason," Twilight said.
"Oh my goodness of course, I'm sorry," apologized Fluttershy quietly. "What do you need?"
"I need to talk to Discord, if you would be able to track him down. I understand he can be all over the place-- literally," said Twilight.
"Did I hear my name?" cooed out a voice from the kitchen. In a flash of purple light, the Spirit of Chaos appeared in front of Twilight in full chef attire. "Lets make this quick, princess. I have a rabbit salad that is only halfway done!" he said, twirling a ridiculously long mustache he had given himself. His hands detached themselves from his body, holding a salad mixing bowl to the side and messily tossing lettuce and carrot shreds all over Fluttershy's floor.
"Oh Discord, you are making a terrible mess!" said Fluttershy, rushing to collect the fallen vegetation.
"My apologies," said Discord, materializing his sale making hands into a broom and dustpan that fell to a clatter in front of Fluttershy. She exhaled heavily, obviously angry that the spirit was playing her as usual.
"Discord, go to the kitchen and get a real broom and dustpan, and clean up this mess," she commanded with nervously, not used to her position of authority over a sentiment being.
"But Fluttershy!" whined Discord, "I want to stay out here and play with Twilight!"
"No, you have to clean up your mess."
"Actually Fluttershy," intervened Twilight, "could I speak to Discord alone right now. If you don't mind." Twilight lit up her horn and magically cleaned up the fallen vegetables and floated them out of the room and into the garbage in the kitchen.
"I suppose that's alright. I'm going to feed the animals outside. Just, um, call me in if he gives you any trouble, ok?"
"Sure thing. Thanks Fluttershy." With that, Fluttershy left the cottage, closing her door softly.
"Discord," said Twilight impatiently, knowing that the draconequus would not go willingly without a few overly dramatic costume changes.
"Why would you want to talk to little ole me ?" asked Discord, shrinking down to the size of a filly with golden curls and a southern accent.
"Discord, I don't have time for this."
The spirit shape-shiffted again, this time taking the shape of a grandfather clock." "Well take your time," he said, his mouth formed of numbers, "I have enough time for the both of us!" he laughed.
"This is important!" yelled Twilight, knowing reason alone would not be enough to convince the spirit to partake in a full conversation.
"Oh alright alright," said Discord, taking his natural shape with a slump in his shoulders, "you don't have to yell. You see if I was not so reformed I probably would not have agreed so quickly." Twilight rolled her eyes. "So what do you want to gab about?" asked Discord. In another flash of bright light he was wearing pink pajamas and holding popcorn, lying on his stomach with his back legs crossed and staring at Twilight. "Boys, shoes, clothes, the government, celebrity gossip?"
"Enough! You have to get serious! This matter could affect Equestria for eternity if not handled precisely."
"My my my! So passionate!" Discord canned once again, this tie setting up a whole photo studio around Twilight's angry face. "Make me love you. No! Make me hate you!"
Twilight seethed, her body beginning to turn white, and her hair beginning to crisp as if a flame was starting. However, as soon as she noticed, she exhaled deeply, and her coat faded back to purple. "Discord, I will personally turn you back into stone if you do not shut up and listen to me RIGHT NOW!"
Discord, snapped the place back to normal and stood in front of Twilight, intrigued. "Must be important," chuckled Discord. "What do you need?"
"I need you to give me answers. I know something is very, very wrong."
"How specific," mumbled Discord, only to have Twilight shoot him an angry look before continuing.
"I know that Princess Luna isn't who she really is, I know Celestia is hiding something, and I know that there is another alicorn who was wiped from our minds. Unless you want to turn to stone again, and I am not playing, you are going to help me in every way possible until this entire matter is resolved, understand?"
"Come with me, Twilight," commanded Discord, taking the most serious tone of voice Twilight had ever heard leave his mouth. He motioned for her to exit the cottage and follow him, and she reluctantly followed.
"If you're planning to prank me or something Discord, so help me I will use my darkest spell on you."
"Will you just shut up for a minute!"
Twilight took a step back. "Excuse me? That is no way to talk to somebody."
"Why can't you remember anything?" he asked, ignoring her previous statement.
"I-I don't know. Rarity and Spike can't remember either."
"So why do you think something is wrong?"
"Holes in events. We know that this mysterious pony was present during my childhood and is Shining Armor's wife. It should be simple, shouldn't it? How could we forget something so simple. But Spike said I called her Princess Cadance once."
"Twilight, you're right, but you can tell no one that you are."
"What? Why not? We have to fix this!" she exclaimed.
"But why? Why do you think you have to fix this? No one is missing her, obviously, and life hasn't changed in any way. Why not let it go?" asked Discord, not meeting Twilight's eye contact.
"Because I can't rule a nation and sit back and let this happen. If the ponies I swore to protect are going to be in danger, i have to help."
"But they aren't in danger! It's for their own good!" said Discord, but immediately zipped up his mouth after doing so.
"Discord? What do you know?" asked Twilight, taking a step closer to him.
"Nothing, nothing, I swear!"
"Discord!"
He hung his head. "Twilight, you have stumbled upon something bigger than you could ever imagine. Please, just leave it alone for once."
"If you could help me with this, I would be eternally grateful. But first you have to tell me what you know!"
"Twilight, you will be in so much danger," he said.
"I will do anything, no matter the cost, if it means helping somepony."
"Ok. I'll help you, but you have to approach this carefully."
"Noted. What do I have to do? What is even going on?"
"Where were you last night? I can tell by the bags under your eyes that you got home late." asked Discord.
"How do you know that I wasn't up studying?"
"Because there is nothing existing on the matter that you are trying to learn about. Trust me. where were you?"
"Crystal Empire," she answered.
"Why?"
"While I was in Canterlot, Celestia took away the book that I was reading that said that Princess Luna was dead. I went to the Crystal Empire to see if there was anything more about Luna's banishment, but the librarian acted like she had never even heard of Nightmare Moon before."
"Oh my goodness, you are so thick!" exclaimed Discord angrily.
"Don't you dare speak to me like that!" yelled Twilight.
"She hadn't, Twilight! No pony in the Crystal Empire knows about Luna's banishment."
"What? How can that be? Luna helped banish Sombra, therefore they must know of her! It's their history," said Twilight, dumbfounded.
"That's the Luna they know. But the Empire vanished before she turned into Nightmare Moon, and Celestia has made sure to keep that hidden from the Empire. She was afraid that if they knew, they would't be able to fuel the Crystal Heart anymore."
"They deserve to know, Discord," said Twilight.
"That is the absolute least of your problems right now, Twilight. Right now, if you want to know the whole truth, we need to get to Canterlot."
"Why can't you just tell me?"
"You won't understand. But that isn't your fault. You can't possibly understand without me, but we have to go to Canterlot."
"There's nothing there, I checked so many times," said Twilight.
"Why do you think Princess Luna isn't who she is made out to be?" asked Discord, still serious.
"She came into my room, late at night, begging me to help her," a tear rolled down Twilight's cheek, "and she said she was trapped. Trapped and she was hurt and she didn't have much time, and I couldn't help her. I couldn't help her before she disappeared," sobbed Twilight.
Discord grabbed her face, scrunching up her tear stained cheeks. "How do you mean disappeared?"
"Sh-she snapped back to normal, and it was like noth-nothing had happened. She said she had been sleep walking," stammered Twilight.
"She's weak," he said, a tinge of fear in his voice. "Twilight, you have to realize the danger you are putting both us into. You are absolutely right that something is going on, but it so much bigger than you could ever imagine. But if you break the cycle, it ends. And Equestria will be entirely different."
"Wh-what do you mean? What am I going to do?" she sniffled, controlling her tears.
"You are part of a cycle. Did you ever wonder why you were made a princess?"
"Because I showed the true magic of friendship and I have exemplary magic skills, I'm the Princess of Magic," said Twilight, feeling weird saying it out loud. It all of a sudden felt very... silly.
"And do you know what your 'Princess Cadance' was princess of?" Twilight shook her head. "Love," said Discord. "Love and magic can go so far, dear Twilight. One can drive, while the other can make a dream a reality. So what if you loved someone so much, and wanted to show it, so you used a little magic? You're just a puzzle piece. You are just a pawn in this whole big game of Celestia's."
"Stop it! Stop it right now!" screamed Twilight.
"You're in this whether you like it or not!" yelled back Discord, materializing a tissue for Twilight to dry her eyes with. "But if you win this game, Celestia goes down. It's scary, I know, to think of her in such a light, but love can do crazy things to a pony Twilight. And if you break this cycle, she will no longer be able to rule Equestria. You will be the Queen."
"I don't want to be queen! I can't raise the sun and the moon! I just want everything to go back to normal."
"I won't let it. I can't let this go on for any longer. I'm so sorry you had to be mixed up in all of his Twilight. You really are a nice little pony," he said sadly.
"Discord, please just tell me what is going on," pleaded Twilight, becoming even more terrified of the situation after seeing that Discord himself was shaken.
"Princess Luna is dead, Twilight, but you're going to give her life."
Author's Note
Nice to get back to this one. I'll try for another chapter soon. Thanks for sticking with me
