Twilight's Pupil

Twilight's Pupil Chapter 4

by Crystal Secret

It had been several months since Starlight began her journey as the princess’s student and the little filly was yet to get her cuitemark. One fine summery afternoon however, Twilight had found her student lying on the library floor, open books surrounding her. The following evening Princess Celestia had requested her presence on her balcony.

As Twilight stood by her fellow princess’s side she noticed a certain sadness in the princess’s eyes, one that she had not seen before. Her attention was turned towards the night sky. Twilight’s gaze joined hers as she took in the glorious night sky that hung there like an unscrolled map. Every star shone more brightly the next as the cool summer night breeze embraced her. There was not a cloud blocking the view of the stars and for some reason she could sense every fibre in her body telling her to hold her gaze there forever.

Every star shone more brightly than then next as they twinkled and glowed. It would seem that Princess Luna had truly outdone herself tonight. Perhaps there was a reason for the extra attention and effort put into tonight’s sky? Twilight pondered this as she lost herself in the sea of stars. After awhile however, she remembered the reason that she was there and snapped back into reality.

“Ahem. Um, Celestia, you wanted to see me?” she finally spoke up. Breaking the silence.

It was a little while before the princess replied and Twilight wondered if the princess was thinking hard about something or if she had simply not heard her. Whatever it was, she decided to wait for her answer.

“Yes Twilight, I did want to see you about something. I have this strong feeling that a force of great evil is about to return and I`m worried about Starlight not been ready in time.” Celestia replied, holding her gaze towards the night sky.

“What do you mean by her not been ready in time? Are you saying that Starlight will be the one to defeat this force of evil that you speak of? Celestia, I'm not sure that she’ll be the slightest bit prepared, I mean, she hasn't even gotten her cuitemark yet!” Twilight exclaimed loudly.

“Twilight, do you remember when you were my student and you had to defeat that Ursa Major that was attacking Ponyville?” asked Princess Celestia.

“Yes and I learnt that saving your friends while proving your abilities does not necessarily mean that you are showing off.”

“Well Twilight, I have known about Sunset Shimmer’s return for quite some time now, which is why I wanted for you to teach a young filly everything you know so that when both you and I are gone, Equestria will have a new leader to look to for guidance. She will be the one to defeat Sunset Shimmer and restore peace and harmony to Equestria that way the ponies will be able to trust her when the time comes.”

“Who’s Sunset Shimmer? I've never even heard of her before.”

“Sunset Shimmer was a former student of mine and she was my student before even you were. I doubt you've heard but she’s been roaming the streets of Canterlot lately and I`m the only one who knows of her presence. She is a threat to Equestria and needs to be eliminated.”

As the last few words hung in the air, Twilight turned to notice a tear roll down her cheek. The princess was clearly upset. It would seem that even now, she had a pretty close connection with her previous student.

“I understand. I will try my very best to make sure that she is prepared for the task ahead.”

“Thank you Twilight, you may go now.”

Without another word she left the princess standing on the balcony but as she turned to take one last glance at the glorious night sky, she realized what it was she needed to do. Her slow walk turned into a full gallop as he made her way out of the royal chambers and down the winding corridors that made up Canterlot Castle. After the ten years that she had spent living in the castle, she had come to navigate the castle like the royal guards, with much agility and pace.

She raced up the winding stair case that leads her up to her pupil’s room. She bursts through the door out of anticipation and eager excitement but instead of seeing the mauve unicorn look up at her the room is empty. The purple alicorn turns and runs back down stairs, rushing over to the nearest library.

When she reached the Canterlot Library she calmly opened the doors and scanned the room for her pupil. Instead, she finds an empty and darkened room. She quietly strolled over to the desk and turned on the lamp. There were stacks of books leaning towards her and papers scattered across the desk, compiling of detailed notes. When Twilight took a closer look at the notes, she noticed that the notes were written by someone quite intelligent, but what caught her attention was what the notes were about.

‘The Stars, Moon and the Night Sky.’ By Starlight Simmer

The notes were taken from the book ‘The Humbling Universe that Surrounds Us.’ By Starswirl the Bearded. Twilight smiled at the title reminiscing the days when she was reading his books which were only accessible at the Royal Canterlot Archives. Those were the days, back when she was Celestia’s pupil, not knowing of the future that she had paved out for her. Now, she was a princess of Equestria and she had her own pupil. How times had changed.

A cool, icy wind came through and sent shivers down her spine. She turned to find that somepony had left the door to the royal observatory open again. As she went over to close it she had the urge to go up there and investigate. She hadn’t been to the observatory in awhile; it couldn't hurt to pay a visit.

She made her way up the staircase that led to the observatory and when she entered she was surprised to find that Starlight was outside on the balcony, looking through one of the best telescopes that was accessible by anypony who was anypony. She also noticed that the little filly was taking notes on what she saw.

Twilight walked out onto the balcony and looked towards the sky; the sky hadn't change much since she had seen earlier that evening. It was still it’s glorious self.

“Oh, hello Princess, I`m glad you could join me this evening. I was just graphing the night sky. I thought I might take this opportunity while it lasts. You don’t get very many night skies like this you know.” said Starlight, continuing to look through the telescope.

“You’re right Starlight; we don’t see many night skies like this one.”

At that moment, a shower off shooting stars soared across the night sky, Twilight look up in bewilderment. Was it a coincidence? Or had Princess Luna planned for there to be shooting stars tonight?’

“Quick Starlight, try and figure which stars have just fallen.”

“Okay. It would seem that some stars from Goliath’s belt have fallen and also some from the saucepan. Oh look at that one there! Wow, I never knew I could identify so many stars!”

Suddenly there was a flash as a telescope symbol appeared on Starlight’s flank. Twilight’s eyes widened with surprised as it appeared. An overwhelming wave of joy washed over and she hadn't felt so proud in all her life.

“Starlight! Quick! Check your flank!” exclaimed Twilight jumping around excitedly.

“Wa-huh?” was all the little filly could say to Twilight’s sudden outburst. Starlight checked her flank only to be delighted to find that a telescope cuitemark now adorned it.

Within a few minutes of realising just what this all meant, Starlight was jumping around the room in excitement. After a few moments of doing so she calmed down and looked towards Twilight, who was smiling at her with pride.

“I can’t believe it! I've finally got my cuitemark! I never thought that it would be for astronomy though.” She said with a smile.

“I`m so proud of you Starlight.” Said Twilight as they turned to view the night sky she cloaked a wing over the filly’s back.

For some time, the princess and her pupil stood there on the balcony, watching as shooting stars fell from the sky like the broken shards of a crystal goblet. It was a truly spectacular sight for a truly eventful evening. One that the two ponies would remember for the rest of their lives, a night sky like the one before them was one that did not come often and it was just a coincidence that these two particular ponies got to enjoy it together.

~ Later ~

“I heard from Twilight that Starlight finally got her cuitemark. Apparently it’s for astronomy. I think that you were right in the beginning about all of this, especially about her.” Said Princess Luna her words full of pride and bewilderment.

“Hmm...It would seem that the time is almost upon us. I hope that Starlight is ready for the challenges that lie ahead. Twilight knows of Starlight’s destiny and the responsibility that she has to make sure that her pupil is prepared to rid Equestria of the evil that now lurks in the shadows, waiting for its time. Pray with me sister that when the time comes, she`ll be ready.” Replied Princess Celestia with an air of pride and concern for the filly.

“Indeed sister, I pray also that Twilight has chosen the right filly.”

“Trust me, she has otherwise I would have asked her to think a little more carefully about whom she had chosen.”

With those final words Princess Celestia turned and left the balcony.

“Where are you going sister?” implied Luna

“I am retiring for the evening.” She replied simply.

Regardless of her sister’s statement, Princess Luna remained standing on the balcony for awhile longer. She wanted to gaze up at her beloved masterpiece and be proud of the majesty in her name.

“Oh Twilight, I do hope that for my sister’s sake and mine, that Starlight is ready for the challenges that lie ahead. The fate Equestria is resting on her shoulders so please, ensure that she does not fail.”