Prologue
Princess Twilight Sparkle woke up suddenly. Her eyes snapped open, her head darted left and right looking around an unfamiliar scenery.
Not a body length away was the edge of a moderately high cliff on which she found herself. As far as her eyes could see, under the light of the full moon and stars, stretched a forest. Wisps of mist slowly rolled around the tree tops, seemingly glowing with faint inner light. Seconds later she felt the soft grass and moss she was laying on, she felt the gentle wind tugging at her mane. When she turned her gaze at her more immediate surrounding she could see the small droplets of dew, that adored the perfect blades of grass like small diamonds glittering in the moonlight. Sitting up and looking behind her she saw the same forest she saw below, with mist rolling in between the trees. Shadows seemed to dance around the tree’s roots. Then after a few heart beats she felt the gentle, warm wind tugging at her mane. It brought with it a delicate fragrance. She couldn’t name the sweet smell... but she could swear she smelled it before. Sound came rushing in, filling the total silence that surrounded her until now. The lavender alicorn could finally hear the rustling of the leaves and a distant splashing of water, a stream or a waterfall. And then there were the whispering voices, seemingly coming from the shadows themselves. They spoke words of power and ancient lore, she couldn’t understand the words spoken, but somehow she knew in her heart what they were.
Suddenly Twilight became aware of one thing, she experienced those things only if she wanted to notice them. It was a strange experience, as if her senses came back to her only if she focused on appropriate details. Finally when all her senses were returned to her, the world lost it sharp focus, the mist seemingly expanding and thinning, covering the world around her in a silvery haze of mist and moonlight.
“Where am I?” She whispered, wonder and a bit of fear were evident in her voice. The scenery was as beautiful to her as it was dangerous. After all, she had no idea where she was... or how she got here.
As if trying to answer her, the shadows whispered a bit more loudly, the cacophony of words and voices becoming one voice for a brief moment. They had the answer, but Twilight could not understand them beyond her instinctual knowledge of basic meanings. After that the shadows became silent.
Twilight was becoming unnerved by the experience, so it was no wonder that she jumped up, startled, when the trees began to move. The rustling of the leaves grew in volume, the diamond like dew was falling from the leaves. And there was a path forming before Twilight’s eyes. When it was over the whispers came back. Now the voices were promising, encouraging.
The youngest Princess gulped, and licked her lips nervously. It wasn’t as if she had other options... well, she had her wings. However there was a nagging feeling in her mind, that she really wasn’t that good when it came to flying. So with a small sigh she stood up and slowly, casting her gaze suspiciously around her, she started to walk down the path created for her.
**********
It didn’t take her long to find first evidence, that her suspiciousness was not baseless. Deeper in the forest almost beyond her sight, where the silvery mist haze and shadows became an impenetrable wall, she could make out patches of Poison Joke. Taking a longer and deeper breath she now identified the sweet smell. It was the blue flower’s smell. But it was stronger than she remembered... fuller.
For Twilight it felt like hours, before she noticed that the sound of splashing water became clearer. After a few more steps, she suddenly found herself in a clearing, the mist was reduced here only to a few wisps flowing slowly near the ground. At the far side of the clearing, she saw another cliff wall with a waterfall. Below it was a small lake that turned into a small stream that disappeared into the forest on her right side. The water was crystal clear, like nothing she had ever seen in nature. Few deep blue lotus flowers were floating on the surface. The grass in the clearing was as perfect as the one she had woken up on.
But it was not the perfect scenery that drew her attention. It was the slim, royal figure resting on the bank of the small lake. Twilight could spot droplets of dew on her coat, that added with her starry mane and tail made her look like a fragment of the night sky that just happened to look like a pony. Her wings were slightly unfolded, and her gaze was directed at her. Luna’s half lidded eyes were full of smoldering feelings. The dark alicorn had a small, playful, even seductive smile on her muzzle. And then there was the single Poison Joke flower, more pristine than any she had seen, tucked behind the Night Princess left ear.
“Princess Luna... What... How...” Twilight felt like her mind would explode with questions. It was too surreal to be true. But she could not deny what she saw or what she experienced so far.
“Twilight, my dear Twilight...” Luna’s voice was a soothing whisper, barely louder that the falling water. But it was as if the shadows themselves repeated her words, creating a strange echo. “Come here.” Saying that, Luna lifted her right wing in an inviting gesture.
This was a bit too much for Twilight, and with her mind still being a storm of thoughts and emotions, she crossed the distance to the Lunar Princess, and slowly laid down near her. When the dark blue wing draped over her, she almost instantly relaxed. She was safe, she would get answers.
“Princess, where are we? And how-” Before Twilight could finish asking her two most important questions, she was silenced by a dark blue hoof placed gently against her lips.
“I think... That we can forgo the formalities?” The smile on the dark blue alicorn’s lips grew a bit wider. She turned a bit to have a better angle, this made her wing slide down the lavender alicorn’s back, stopping on her flank. The maneuver elicited a small gasp of embarrassment from Twilight.
Her eyes grew wide, and she blushed when she felt the delicate dark blue feathers on her flank. Twilight looked deeply into Luna’s still half lidded eyes. This close she could see barely restrained passion in them. And as much as it scared her, it excited a part of her she normally wasn’t aware of. Her mind was in a loop, asking the same question over and over... What’s going on?
Her thoughts came to a sudden stop as Twilight saw Luna lean closer to her, and the closer their muzzles were, the more overpowering was the sweet smell of Poison Joke. Her vision began to blur a bit, the smell making her react almost the same way as if she was drunk. She was faintly aware of the shadows that whispered praises in both their names.
But when she felt the soft, delicate and warm lips of Luna’s press against hers... The world snapped back into focus and Twilight jerked her head back. She saw the slight disappointment in Luna’s eyes.
“You will tell me what is going on right now Luna!” Twilight demanded, and it seemed as if the whole world shuddered at the strenght in her words.
“Don’t you ever wonder what secrets lie in the Shadows, in the Night... Twilight?” Luna looked up at the star filled sky and at the full moon... That strangely bore the image of the Mare in the Moon.
Twilight followed Luna’s gaze, and bit back a gasp as she saw the shadowy image on the surface of the moon. How come she didn’t see it earlier? But... she looked down again, the dark blue alicorn was right here. Writing it off as another strange thing about this place, Twilight focused on the question. Oh, she did wonder, she even researched the subjects for a while. But there were only short, vague passages about anything relevant or powerful connected to the Night... Even less when it came to Shadows, with the last known master of Shadow magic being King Sombra. It was tempting to unravel such secrets, but she had faith that such information were kept hidden for good reasons. However...
“I do. But there are some things... better left forgotten. And you didn't answer me.” Twilight knew that although her voice was full of conviction, she was not. Her conviction about keeping knowledge repressed was weak at best. In the end magic was just a tool, some of it was dangerous, yes... But she believed that intent was what mattered. She was the Element of Magic, she should know.
“Celestia imparted her knowledge to you... I merely wanted to do the same.” The dark alicorn’s eyes gazed again directly at Twilight.
“But then... Why here? What is this place?”
“My sanctuary. The one place Celestia can’t meddle with.” Luna answered a bit cryptically smiling again, that seductive smile of hers. “And I wanted to spend some time with you... alone.” At the last word she slightly moved her wing that still rested on Twilight’s flank, forgotten by the lavender mare.
“W-wait a moment... You don’t mean... Well you do, but...” Twilight was slowly turning beet red. That last answer was too vague for her liking, and the other mare’s behavior was not helping. But truth be told, the prospect of gaining more knowledge excited her. Even if it was forbidden knowledge. And on top of that Luna wanted to... spend time alone... with her. Her of all mares and stallions out there. Nopony ever showed that kind of interest in her.
She was dragged out of her thoughtful state by the now familiar sensation of soft lips against hers. This time however she let it linger for a bit, before withdrawing.
“I didn’t say yes to anything Luna...” Twilight wanted it to sound scolding, but she couldn’t do it. She was beginning to get lost in the new possibilities and sensations presented to her... And the sweet smell of that treacherous, yet beautiful blue flower.
“That’s why I’m helping you with the decision.” As the dark alicorn said that, mischievous sparkles appeared to dance in her eyes. The shadows began whispering again, promising secrets and knowledge long lost to ponykind.
It should be an easy decision for Twilight, but some part of her, warred with the rest of her that wanted to just accept the other Princess's proposition. After minutes of silence Twilight took in a longer breath and for a second she looked at the small lake, to clear her mind, to calm herself before saying anything that she might regret later.
And that’s the moment when she saw her. In the crystal clear water, Twilight saw her lavender body snuggled into a black alicorn, with teal draconic eyes. Her heart skipped a beat, her eyes widened and without thinking she moved, putting some distance between herself and Nightmare Moon. Spinning around she charged her horn with her magic.
“I should have realized sooner how suspicious all of this was...” The smaller alicorn almost growled in irritation. When she realized she was being tricked the illusion wavered, and soon enough, Twilight saw a familiar black alicorn taking a deeper breath and sighing heavily.
Nightmare Moon still wondered how she ended up in such predicament. It was an error of the Elements for all she knew. Something everypony missed. Her magic left a lasting imprint on Twilight Sparkle when she went after her and the Elements, when she took the stones. She tagged along then, but in doing so some of her dark magic had to taint the then unicorn’s aura. And when Twilight used dark magic, she awakened. The lavender's mare ascension gave her strength to do what she had done tonight.
“Calm yourself Twilight Sparkle, I am not your enemy... At least not any more...”
“I find it hard to believe, Nightmare Moon. How could you do it Luna? You’re betraying Celestia again...” Twilight leveled an accusatory glare at the larger alicorn. Maybe she didn’t fully know what was going on here, but now she could at least guess.
“Not everything is as it seems. As I told you, we are in my sanctuary... the realm of dreams. More specifically, in your dreamscape.” The dark alicorn spoke with resignation in her voice. “There, now you know.” She gave Twilight a sour look, now that the purple alicorn was aware of this fact, she had absolute power here. However, if being honest with her was the way to go... she was willing to part with some of the more vital information.
Twilight blinked slowly, that was new. It looked almost as if the Nightmare had surrendered herself to her. And was it all truly a dream...
“A lucid dream... That actually would explain quite a lot...” The youngest Princess said quietly. “However that doesn’t explain you being here.” Her voice rose in volume and she glared yet again at the dark figure lying on the perfect grass.
“Think of me as a fragment that just tagged along, after our fight at the Old Castle. And before you ask, no I have no power over you whatsoever. Just twisting this lucid dream setting to suit my needs is incredibly difficult for me.”
Twilight looked at Nightmare, her posture that spoke of surrender and acceptance of her state. She wondered, what it felt to know that you were just a lost fragment of a whole... She shook her head, she had more pressing issues than a philosophical debate.
Nightmare looked at the purple alicorn, as she started to pace around the clearing. From the beginning she knew that chances were low for her deception to succeed. Now everything was in Twilight’s hooves.
“How can I get rid of you?” Twilight stopped her pacing abruptly and looked the dark alicorn in the eyes, without fear.
“There is a ritual...” Nightmare trailed off as the shadows made their presence known again, chanting what seemed to be an incantation of some kind.
“And what’s going on with... those shadows?” Again, Twilight couldn’t understand a word.
“They are a representation of my memories and my mind, but you can not understand them for the simple reason... that they are also a representation of Dark Magic. You do not know it, maybe even fear it, and so you can’t understand-”
“Wait, wait, wait...” Twilight cut in.” I can... feel it’s some kind of magical incantation. So seeing that it started after I asked my question... You’re telling me that to get rid of you I would have to use Dark Magic?” The purple alicorn grimaced.
“Soul Magic to be precise.” The dark alicorn said a bit nonchalantly.
“I’ve never even heard of that branch of magic..” Twilight said with a bit of desperation in her voice, it looked like she was stuck with a fragment of Nightmare’s mind in her.
“Well, it is just a prettier name for Necromancy...” Nightmare couldn’t help it, she chuckled at the sight of Twilight. Her jaw dropped comically and eyes incredibly wide with disbelief.
“Tell me you’re not serious?” The smaller alicorn looked at her unwanted guest, and knew instantly. “You are...” She groaned and collapsed at the ground covering her head with her hooves. Necromancy in any form was a class one magical offense, and resulted in a lifelong imprisonment and binding of ones magic... If one get caught.
After that a tense silence stretched for what felt like hours. Until finally Twilight stood up again to see that the Nightmare didn't move from hers position.
“So... seeing as I’m not willing to use Necromancy, and you admitting to having only a miniscule influence over here. What should I do with you?”
“I have offered my knowledge and tutelage to you Twilight, I’m begging you, use it.” The Nightmare decided to stand up and she approached the crystal clear water, she looked down at her reflection. “My true self, after her reunion with Celestia, would never consider using the Dark Powers that are our birthright in front of others, I can feel it even now, she doesn't know it but she is subconsciously blocking her true power. However I can understand her, we are the same after all. She... I wanted our subjects admiration, sadly our gift is not well suited for such thing. I am a warrioress, the sword... Celestia was always the benevolent ruler, the guiding light. We understood it early on in our lives, but I still grew jealous and bitter.”
Twilight listened with attention to that little monologue. She would never admit it to the dark alicorn before her, but something stirred in her. Compassion. She bit her lower lip, everything was such a mess tonight... She closed her eyes.
“If I said yes, what would you get from it Nightmare?”
The dark alicorn slowly turned her head in the direction of the smaller mare. The corners of her lips twitched.
“Certainty that my knowledge would be in good hooves. That my... legacy, yes that’s a good word, would not be lost.”
Twilight thought about Nightmare’s words... To some degree it made sense to her, but it was too important decision to make it on this night. No matter how much the black alicorn... persuaded her, she was not going to give her an immediate answer.
“I should probably say ‘no’ right now, your attempt at deception shows that you can’t be fully trusted, no matter how resigned and regretful you seem to be Nightmare.” The youngest Princess took in a slow breath and grimaced a bit. “However I will give it some thought, until I make up my mind I really don’t want to see or hear you in my head.”
“That’s probably more than I could ask of you...” Nightmare sighed again, she was doing it quite often tonight. For her it truly was the best outcome, and for once sincerity paid off, even if only a little bit.
Twilight just nodded her head, closed her eyes and concentrated on wanting to wake up.
Slowly the world around them began to blur, and turn into seemingly unending field of silvery-gray mist. While Twilight’s representation vanished, images and sounds began to fill the grayish void. The purple alicorn was beginning to wake up.
Nightmare, floated in this void as a patch of dark blue mist.
“Compassion and curiosity... such a delightful combination...” She may be just a shard of her true self, but right now, all she cared about were the possibilities that her situation presented her with. It was a shame that her true self would probably disapprove of her actions... But then again, maybe she would approve. After all so few of their subjects shared her views and opinions, she would surely appreciate somepony as bright as Twilight siding with her. Her cold laughter echoed around the mindscape.
Author's Note
Welcome to my newest story! I do hope you enjoyed this Prologue. Lately I found that there is not enough stories involving Nightmare Moon at least in some fashion. So I have decided to write my own.
Now this doesn't mean anything for my second story, Apprentice of the Stars. Although it hasn't been update for quite a while, I plan on updating it more frequently now.
Also, as with the Apprentice, this story is proof-read by The Archimedes.
Chapter 1
First steps
Last night was unsettling and seemed too surreal to even consider that what, or rather who, she dreamed about was true. However she knew that it was real, no matter how much the purple alicorn wanted it not to be. For now she just stared at the ceiling of one of the more luxurious guest rooms in the Canterlot Castle, trying to process the talk she had with... her.
Her gaze turned to her right, where at the night table stood an alarm clock. Twilight saw that she woke up an hour before the time she would have to start preparing herself to join Princesses Celestia and Luna for breakfast. Normally Twilight was an early riser, but today she felt like sleeping in. Nonetheless, with a sigh she sat up in the bed.
“Might as well start the day earlier...” Ever so slowly the newest Princess dragged her hooves over the edge of the queen sized bed. She looked around, searching for her golden shoes. She found them tossed haphazardly near the entrance doors.
When she looked at the pieces of gold, her body reminded her why she felt so tired. Twilight's back felt sore and any sudden movement of her wing joints caused her to wince. She had a flying lesson yesterday... and she would probably have one today, later in the afternoon. A soft groan escaped her lips.
Today was the fifth day after her coronation, and for four days she had those torturous flying lessons. The purple mare hoped that her instructor would adjust her lesson plans after their first session, when she saw how inadequately prepared Twilight was. Maybe her slightly larger body had on it a bit more muscles, but that didn't change the fact that she never used those particular muscles that were used for flying... Of course Spitfire only told her to ‘suck it up’.
In the meantime, when she thought about her undoubtedly gifted and impatient flight instructor, Twilight started to slowly move her wings around to get rid herself of the worst cramps and stiffness in her new appendages. While she kept doing that she also crossed the room and reached the ensuite bathroom. At least that was one truly good thing about her situation in the last few days. The room she was in was mostly reserved for foreign dignitaries, so that meant that the bathtub had to be large enough that even buffalo, however unlikely that visit was, could bath comfortably in it. In practice it meant that it was more like a miniature swimming pool. At least for her. In less than five minutes her bath was ready, the water steamed slightly and the moisture slowly gathered at the colorful mosaics on the walls that depicted meadows and forests. Twilight almost moaned in delight when she went into the water, a small smile formed on her muzzle. She had time, she could enjoy herself for a while... Forgetting about her problems.
**********
On top of the tallest tower of Canterlot Castle, was a special place that only few had access to. The top floor of said tower was open to the sky, instead of normal walls only twenty four slim columns stood in a circle between occupants of the tower and the openness of air. The columns made of white marble were tightly covered with slightly glowing magical runes, the meaning and purpose of them now only known to few beings in the world.
Princess Celestia stood on the black marble floor, the wind at this height was strong and it made her mane and tail billow in a wild fashion, the same went for her sister. She was looking to the east where the first rays of sunlight announced the beginning of yet another day.
“What bothers you today sister?” Luna’s voice was curious, rarely had she seen her sister so deep in thoughts.
“I’m afraid that I’m rushing things...” The short answer Celestia gave was enough for Luna to guess what it was that occupied her sister’s mind. “That I let my selfishness get the better of me...”
“You mean Twilight, don’t you?” The dark alicorn went to hers sister’s side, and looked in the direction of Celestia's gaze, at the horizon and beyond. Luna heard a quiet sigh escape her sister.
“The Nobles are already showing their displeasure during the Day Court, and the Parliament is silent about the coronation. It will be another Cadance all over again...” Celestia massaged her temple with her right hoof.
“Then use the experience you had gained then.” Luna looked at her bigger sister and wrinkled her nose. “I’m still wondering what made you establish this inefficient governmental structure, and Parliament in the first place... The Nobles were bad enough on their own.” The Princess of the Night spat her last words with disdain.
“I told you Luna, times were changing. Absolute monarchy was leading to unrest among the educated ponies... That the Nobles saw their chance to gain more power in those times didn’t help matters.” Celestia slowly turned around, took a deep breath to calm her thoughts. “We should be going Luna, or we will be late for breakfast.” With that the white alicorn headed towards a narrow staircase that opened up at the northern side of the floor.
This time it was Luna who sighed. Sometimes she missed Equestria from a thousand years ago, playing politics was simpler then. Shaking her head, she began to follow her sister to their private dining room.
*********
Twilight was just drying herself with a fluffy white towel when somepony knocked on the bathroom doors.
“Princess Twilight, are you in there? Breakfast will be served in fifteen minutes.”
Twilight gasped, her relaxing soak in the luxurious bathroom had taken her longer than she planned. Using a bit more magic for her levitation spell with which she held the towel, she quickened the moves. Not two minutes later she was again in her room, one of the castle servant mares, an earth pony, was standing near the door. She was a bit shorter than the average mare, showing her still young age, she was probably a year or two younger than Twilight. Her coat was a pale blue colour, almost white. Her mane and tail however were a deep violet. The young mare kept her hair straight and long, almost reaching halfway down her forelegs.
It was still a novelty to Twilight, having somepony other than Spike as her assistant, or rather as a hoofmaiden. Likewise the young mare also was new to that kind of job. She had told Twilight that until she was appointed as her hoofmaiden, she was only dusting the more delicate and valuable items on exposition inside the castle many halls. Supposedly her previous job required a clearance from the City Guard. It made sense, nopony wanted somepony with a criminal history near such items.
“Did you see my mane brush Velvet?” Twilight asked with some nervousness. It always ended misplaced. Also Twilight was still not used to the idea of some random mare, albeit a pleasant one to be around, essentially taking Spike’s spot. The lavender mare sighed, stopping what she was doing when she saw that Velvet found it behind one of the large flower vases that stood at both sides of the entrance doors and had in them planted some kind of small trees.
“Should I brush your mane my Princess?”
That was another thing that Twilight had troubles getting used to. The pale blue mare would always politely ask, if she could do this or that for her. Once at her first day the polite, young mare even asked if she was to help her bathe. Even now, three days later the memory of that awkward moment brought a small blush to her cheeks. At the beginning she didn't even know from where Velvet got the idea... but later she quickly traced it back to Luna. It seemed the dark alicorn enjoyed some of hers old customs too much to just drop them.
And the palace life thrived on two things, politics... and gossip. She had learned that fact as Celestia's protege rather early on. So word got around and Twilight guessed that by now, all the castle staff had amassed a lot of dirty, false stories about Princess Luna’s private life. Worst of all, Luna’s hoofmaiden kept silent, as was expected of a hoofmaiden to a veritable demigoddess. Naturally most ponies took her silence as a confirmation of the gossip. And now among other things, she was only wishing to be somewhere far out of Canterlot when one of the staff ponies made the terrible mistake of making a dirty comment where Luna could hear him or her... That made her think. She toyed with the idea of telling about it Luna herself.
“Princess? Your mane... and the time, we have only five minutes.” Velvet was fidgeting slightly, with a drop of panic entering her voice.
Twilight blinked, looking at the nervous mare. She chuckled sheepishly realizing she got carried away with her thoughts.
“I did it again, didn’t I? Well then...” Twilight concentrated, and in a flash of pink magic her mane was totally dry, but some hairs sticked together forming thinner or thicker bands. “I may look a bit unruly but... there's no time for anything too fancy.” And she knew that only the use of mane brush would result in her normal hairstyle.
“If... if you say so Princess. We must hurry now...” Velvet said sounding uncertain, until she saw one more flash of magic and looked to see the mane of Princess Twilight glittering as if was dotted with tiny diamonds, her mane even gave of a bit of a magical glow. But she didn't have time to comment, they had only three minutes left. The young mare opened the doors and held them open for Twilight and then they both broke into a fast paced trot, down the castle corridors.
Unknown to Twilight a certain entity was listening and watching, learning what Twilight knew by browsing her thoughts and facts that currently occupied her mind. Nightmare decided to not pester her host as she requested, she found certain amusement anyway in things she was learning today.
**********
The private dining room of the Princesses was, as opposed to the rest of the castle, furnished modestly. Rectangular table stood in the middle, with four seats around it. Two large vases stood by the entrance and a small crystal chandelier hung above the table. The room itself was just large enough to leave room for the kitchen staff to move around when the Royal Sister ate.
Currently only two seats were occupied by Celestia and Luna, who watched as cooks brought from the kitchens fresh toast, pancakes and bowls of fruits and vegetables. The drink offered were fresh fruit juices.
Around the time when the cooks were leaving through the doors leading directly to the kitchens, the doors leading to the castle opened and Twilight walked in, alone. Only royalty was allowed in this room at this hours, it being one the few occasion when the alicorns could discuss anything they wanted without the risk of somepony eavesdropping.
Twilight sat across the older Princesses who decided today to sit at the same side of the table.
“Sorry I’m late Prin... Celestia, Luna.” Another thing the purple alicorn found awkward, at least at the very beginning, now it was just a matter of old habits. She never dreamed that she would be able to be so familiar with those two.
“Don’t worry too much Twilight, we have barely begun.” Luna answered reaching with her magic for some pancakes and a bowl filled with blueberries.
“Twilight, if you’re late or skip it sometimes no one will become angry with you.” Celestia assured the smaller mare with a warm smile on her muzzle. Simultaneously her golden magic grabbed some fruits and vegetables and she began composing herself a salad. “Now enjoy your meal, we will have some things to discuss when we’re all done.”
Twilight became a bit nervous hearing the last part but nodded her head nonetheless, and reached for toasts. Sadly, she was again beaten to all of the pancakes by Luna. Which did not go unnoticed by certain white alicorn...
“Luna I’m not certain that this will be healthy for you... I do wonder where does it all fit...” Celestia said with a snicker, as she looked at the small mountain of pancakes on her sister's plate.
“What... They’re good...” Luna answered between munches, throwing her sister an annoyed glare. Only to whip her head and also glare at Twilight who managed to stifle her own snicker. Luna swallowed loudly and a smirk appeared at her muzzle as she looked at Celestia again. “At least they don’t later show how much I like them, your cakes do.” Luna glared pointedly at her sisters flank.
“I’m wounded Lulu, are you insinuating that I’m fat?” Celestia answered in with a fake outrage, although one had to know her closely to discern her false moods from the real ones.
Twilight sighed and tuned out the bickering sisters. It was the second time in five days, that she observed such mock argument between the two. Luckily she had experience with tuning out Pinkie Pie when she got too hyper. Those two were nothing compared to one of her best friends. She chuckled quietly but over the course of her meal she began to feel a bit somber.
Her friends were all in Ponyville, and she didn't quite know when she would get enough free time, or wouldn’t be just too tired to go visit them.
Twilight sighed, and then there was Spike. For now he got her old room, near the library. But even Celestia was a bit stumped when it came to planning a future for him, a dragon. He was very fond of her, both of them actually, and it was as cute and heartwarming as it was inconvenient. In few years he would go through his first growth spurt, and it would do him good to get some experience at living by himself. So for now he got his own room and a free month from being her assistant. Surprisingly he still spent a lot of his time inside the castle, only visiting Pony Joe if he had a sudden craving for sweets.
“Twilight?” Celestia’s voice pierced the veil of Twilight’s thoughts.
Suddenly the purple alicorn realized she was absentmindedly stabbing her fork into an unfinished toast. A blush made itself visible, as Twilight laughed nervously.
“Did you say something important Celestia... I’m afraid I got too focused on my own thoughts...” Twilight sighed. “Again...”
“That’s why I called you. Now that we got your attention...” Celestia smiled teasingly. “There is a few serious matters to discuss.” Instantly her muzzle took on a completely serious and focused look. Twilight responded in kind, focusing and sitting a bit straighter.
“Now that you are slowly becoming accustomed to the palace life, we think that it is time to... how to put it...” It was Luna who began speaking, and now was tapping her right hoof against her lips deep in thought. “Expose you to the world of politics.” She finally said with a dramatic wave of her hoof in a large arc.
“So soon? I’m not ready... I mean I didn't had the time to...”
“Twilight, easy. For now we just want you to sit in on the Day or Night Court with us, as an advisor at most.” Celestia picked up where her sister left, successfully stopping Twilight’s would be monologue. “Also you will be visiting the government buildings, with that you will have a task to fulfil, but more about it when the time comes. And the most important thing...” Celestia hesitated, she got the note just after they left the tower this morning. “The Parliament has announced a special session, to which we three will be going. It will take place in nine days.”
Twilight nodded. Then she saw something interesting. Apparently Celestia wanted to end the talk at this but Luna just glared at her sister in a silent battle of wills. She could have sworn that there was a tiny black spark that shoot off of her horn, but it was too quick to be certain. Celestia sighed, and with her magic pulled from her side to the table a simple wooden box.
“Don’t lose it Twilight, it’s very important that what's in the box never leaves the castle grounds.” Golden magic placed the box in front of Twilight.
The purple mare looked up, she looked at Celestia first and got a nod, then she scrutinized Luna. It had to be her idea, whatever the box contained. Slowly she turned back to looking at the box, with her pink magic she opened the lid.
Inside was an unusual golden key. It was not round like other, but rather triangular, with a highly detailed dragon head at one end. Twilight was puzzled.
“Celestia, what is this key for?” She picked it up with her magic... And felt as if she was lifting a large house instead of a small key. She gasped and let it go, she watched it settle gently on the red pillow inside the box. “What’s wrong with this key?!” Her voice was full of disbelief and alarm.
“It is made from Celestial Gold.” Luna answered looking at the key with unrecognizable look in her eyes. “Only the strongest of unicorns, and of course us, alicorns can manipulate it with magic. No pegasi or earth pony would have the strength to lift it.” Luna leaned a bit forward. “But what is more important is that it is the key to the Forbidden Archives.”
Twilight’s eyes widened. The Forbidden Archives were as part of the vast Canterlot Archives in which historical texts and copies of books, that could very well be the last in existence, were held. It was a pain to get a pass for the Archives, but the Forbidden section was only accessible to royalty and those they appointed personally... Oh, right... she now was a royalty.
“More accurately it is your key to the Archives.” Celestia said, but her voice carried a lot of tension in it. “Just promise me this Twilight. Whatever you find down there, if you ever go there... Keep an open mind, and remember that time changes ponies.” With that and a small smile, Celestia got up and left. Twilight could see the tension even in her steps.
“What’s this about Luna? I’ve never seen Celestia so... tense?” The newest Princess locked gazes with the dark alicorn.
“It is not my place to tell Twilight. I’m sorry.” Luna said sincerely.
After a while of awkward silence Luna spoke again.
“Well, it is time for me to sleep.” The Princess of the Night said standing up. “Remember Twilight, don’t take the key beyond the walls of the palace.” For a long moment Luna looked as if she didn't know what to do, finally she went around the table, and embraced Twilight in a hug. “Don't worry too much about Celestia, she will get over it. But you have a long day ahead of you, and if you don't hurry you will make Captain Spitfire wait longer than it is necessary...”
“She is going to kill me...” With those words Twilight closed the box with the key in it, took it in her magical grasp and galloped out of the room.
As Luna was leaving the dining room, she couldn’t help but ponder, how will Twilight react to what she will find in the Archives.
After all, history was written by the victorious...
Author's Note
So a slow-ish start, but I just have to build up a background for this to work so, patience. Anyhow I do hope you enjoyed it.
