Chapter One: A World Of Little Sun
Twilight's POV
Twilight yawned, the dark purple sheets falling away as she rose. She experienced a brief moment of panic, not seeing the dark blue ones with stars on them that were so familiar to her. Then she remembered.
The coronation. Her new wings. She was a princess now.
She sighed in relief, then walked over to the window, where Princess Celestia was raising the sun. I sure did wake up early, she thought to herself, Right at the crack of dawn. She watched the sun rise, seemingly pushing the moon away, even though she knew it was Princess Luna lowering the moon at the other side of the castle. Once the excitement was over, Twilight went to get ready for the day. Putting on her crown and brushing her mane, Twilight thought.
She was going to have to stay in Canterlot now. She could still visit Ponyville, but she wouldn't be living at Golden Oaks anymore. She already missed her library, with her little writing desk and the rooms lined with bookshelves. Her little bedroom, perfect for stargazing. She liked her room here, but Golden Oaks felt more like home, even though it wasn't in her hometown.
At least her parents were here. She could see them more often.
The faint gong of the morning bells jolted Twi out of her reverie. A few more brushstrokes, then she headed back into her room, a little pile of books tied up with a ribbon sitting on her bed. There was a note on top. She picked it up and read it.
Twily,
I found these in the library. Since you couldn't bring many of your own books, I thought you might like them.
-S.A
She smiled. Good old Shining to think about her. She looked through them. There were three, including one of her favorite poetry anthologies. She sat on the floor and began to read.
After about an hour, she looked at the clock. "7:30. Breakfast."
With a inward sense of dread, she headed down the steps. Once she approached the table, everypony looked toward her. She flushed and skittered over to her chair, between Shining Armor and Cadence.
"It's not bad news." Shining Armor told Twilight, seeing her look of dread. "In fact, I'm proud of you."
Princess Celestia cleared her throat. Everypony fell silent as she began to speak.
"Twilight, recently you had completely mastered the magic of friendship and earned your rank as an alicorn princess. As you know, Princess Cadence"-Cadence inclined her head-"was given The Crystal Empire to rule. We feel you possess the skills to rule a kingdom, and rule it well. My sister and I believe we have found a suitable place for you." She nodded to Luna, who began to speak. "It is called the Starlight Empire, and as of yet it has nopony to rule it. We believe you are appropriate for the task."
"But-but I'm not ready! I've only been a princess for-"
"Twilight." Cadence stood up and began to speak. "It doesn't matter how long you have been a princess. It only matters how well." Luna nodded. "And if it makes you feel better, your friends will be coming with you."
Twilight looked down the table at her friends. "We didn't know we were coming, Twilight." said a beaming Rainbow Dash. "But we're gonna do the best we can to support you. I swear on my honor."
"Hear, hear." Rarity agreed.
"Absolutely." Applejack smiled.
"Yes, indeedly!" Pinkie gave a little bounce.
"Yay!" Fluttershy whisper-shouted.
Twilight felt like crying. "Thank you all so much." She turned to Luna and Celestia. "And I'll do my best."
Luna cleared her throat. "Three things you should know about the Starlight Empire." she said. "It's a lot darker than most places. Because of that, it is impossible to farm crops there. And no Earth Ponies live there."
"Well, maybe they saw no reason to come." Applejack chimed in. "Most Earth Ponies were farmers back in the day. If they couldn't farm crops, it was mostly useless land."
"That's a good theory, Applejack." Luna replied. "But either way, Twilight, you'll be leaving tomorrow. Are you ready?"
Twilight took another look at her friends, silently cheering her on. They'll always be there for me. she thought. I have no reason to be afraid.
She looked at the princesses. "I'm ready."
Flash Sentry stood.
"One more thing." he said. "I would like to ask Miss Rainbow Dash if she would like to join Princess Twilight's honor guard."
Rainbow flew into the air above her seat. "Yes! That would be awesome!"
"Excellent! If I may, I would like to introduce Rainbow to the two other members of the guard." He looked at Princess Celestia for permission, who nodded. He rose from the table. "This way."
Rainbow headed after him.
Rainbow Dash's POV
They headed down a hallway lined with portrait frames, with the pictures of famous Royal Guard captains. including Shining Armor and Flash Sentry.
"So, who else is in the guard?" Rainbow asked as they turned into a room.
"A stallion named Shadow," he pointed to a dark gray pegasus with a scruffy mane and tail, who nodded, "And this young mare says she knows you!"
He was pointing to no other than Lightning Dust.
She looked no different in appearance, but the tentativeness about her made Rainbow stop and look at her a minute. Their eyes met, and the cyan mare saw genuine hurt and self-doubt in them, not the boyish playfulness and silent dares of the Lightning Dust who was her Wonderbolt Academy partner.
Lightning glanced at Flash Sentry, but didn't make eye contact when she spoke in an almost Fluttershy-esque way. "Could I speak with Rainbow Dash in private, please-sir?" She was practically pleading with him.
"That would be fine, Lightning." Flash answered. "But make it quick-you have to get your uniforms on ASAP if we're going to be on time." They headed into a small closet. Lightning closed the door, and the two looked at each other in awkward silence.
"I wish I could take it all back." Lighting whispered. "I really do. And not just because I can kiss being a Wonderbolt goodbye. I'm sorry for everything I did. I don't deserve to live."
"Don't say that." Rainbow's cerise eyes blazed with intensity. "You're a great pegasus, and you still are. You just made some bad decisions. I still believe in you, and so does Flash."
Lightning's eyes sparked. "Really? You forgive me?"
"Absolutely." Rainbow nodded. "Now let's get our uniforms on."
Silence's POV
"This is so exciting!" she whisper-shouted. She, along with Starlight Shadow and Lulamoon, were going to be ambassadors for the Starlight Empire when the princess came!
Starlight's violet eyes were cold when she spoke. "Don't get too happy." she snapped. "You're only here because we needed a bat pony representative. If I had my way, you wouldn't be here at all."
"Ah, lighten up, Star." Lulamoon fluttered her wings. "There were dozens of other bat ponies that could have been picked, and she's so young! She has every right to be excited."
Silence flashed her a grateful smile, which Lula returned. Starlight just looked angry.
"Starlight, I have a beautiful shade of dark purple for you, so if you'd hold still-"
A cream-colored unicorn took out a few pins, along with a swatch of fabric. They were also getting dresses made. Silence had always thought of dresses as luxuries for unicorns and pegasi, not for ponies like her. Soon, she would be important, noticed, admired. She would make Nightwing and Crescent proud.