Twyla stumbled through the castle halls, a bag full of paper, books, quills and ink jars clattering against her back, held by her shoulders and arms. The midmorning sun illuminated the great marble halls and carpets, casting a shadow behind her as worried as the genuine article. When she received Princess Celestia’s letter, it spoke of a test that would be given to her upon her arrival. It had been almost five months since the Summer Sun Celebration; since that fateful day sparked a great new age in Equestria. Since the Inferi Invasion, the remaining soldiers had long integrated into society, some as distinguished businessmen or officers, others as artisans, crafters and marketers. Since the Human Revolution, Equestria was progressing at a rapid pace, clawing desperately at this new change. Twyla wondered what sort of test her mentor would give her-- whether or not it would involve anything with her new humanity-- and why it was so urgent for her to arrive when she did.
The familiar sight of Kaval, the Camerlengo, gave her some sense of ease. “Do you know where Princess Celestia is?”
He nodded curtly and smiled, calm and collected, as she hurried past him. “She is expecting you in the throne room, Lady Spark.”
Twyla managed to shout back to him a prompt, “Thank you!” to which the Camerlengo turned around and returned to his walk with a hum.
She pressed down the halls and towards the throne room, the great violet doors wide open for her. Past them, she could see the tall, beautiful form of Princess Celestia and the shorter, slender form of her sister, Princess Luna, standing in front of a particular stained glass window. They were talking, their quiet voices dying out as they caught sight of Twyla.
She spent a second to catch her breath again. “You wanted to see me? To give me a test?”
Luna smiled, addressing Twyla, but left the two of them to their business, her hand resting on her sword as she walked out to deal with other things. Princess Celestia smiled and pushed several strands of hair, letting her student continue.
“I’ve brought my own quills,” she said, rushed, as she pulled her bag off of her shoulders and set it onto the floor, fishing out items, “and plenty of paper to show my work-”
A roll of parchment escaped her grasp, rolling across the carpet to the feet of Celestia. Twyla, already worked up, grabbed at the parchment and vainly tried to roll it up, muttering apologies as she did. The princess only looked down to her feet and picked up the paper with her magic, rolling it from there. She let it hover in her aura for a moment, before returning it, as well as all the other items, into Twyla’s bag. “This is a different kind of test.”
She paused and turned towards her throne. “The Crystal Empire has returned.”
Twyla stood up straight again, levitating several books with her. “The Crystal Empire? I-I’m sorry, I thought I studied. I don’t think there is anything in my books that is on-”
“There wouldn’t be,” the princess stated calmly, removing several of the books from Twyla’s worried grasp. “Few remember that the Crystal Empire ever existed at all.”
Her words prompted a confused look from Twyla. Princess Celestia, however, remained collected as she walked gracefully towards a stand next to her throne. Upon it rest a clean cut crystal, encased by a glass cover, which Celestia promptly removed. Lifting the crystal with her magic, she hovered it across towards Twyla, setting it upon the floor upright. “Even my knowledge of the Empire is limited.”
With a burst of magic, the crystal burst outward, a small town now surrounding its shape. Tiny dots moved around on the streets, and it took Twyla several seconds to realize that it was a projection. The crystal became engulfed in a beam of energy and was replaced by a magnificent castle, standing sentinel above the town surrounding it.
“What I do know,” the princess continued, “is that it contains a powerful magic. On thousand years ago, Sombra, a unicorn whose heart was as black as night, took over the Crystal Empire and became its king.”
Twyla watched as the lovely castle was transformed into a black mass of dark crystals, perverting and destroying the land around it. Ponies moved in chains around it, harvesting crystals for their tyrant king.
“But Sirius and I managed to overthrow him, turning his body into shadow and casting him into the arctic, north of the Empire. But not before he could curse the Empire, causing it the vanish into thin air.” At her words, the crystal turned off, causing the projection to cease abruptly.
“If the Empire is filled with hope and love, then those things are reflected across all of Equestria... but, if hatred and fear take hold...”
The princess extended her hand out towards the crystal, making it glow a dark violet and black. Shadows danced across its surface, hitting the ground and pushing out toward Twyla, growths of dark crystal causing her to step back. It reminded her too much of the Inferi cleric’s shadow power-- the power she had luckily only barely caught sight of. She shivered with anticipation and distrust at the crystal. Princess Celestia frowned, taking a stance before charging her real magic and breaking the crystal apart.
“That is why I called you here Twyla. I need your help to find a way to protect the Crystal Empire. If its magic falls into the wrong hands, there is no telling what havoc can be caused.”
“Y-You want me to protect an entire empire?”
Celestia returned the original crystal to its protected stand. “I told you it would be a different kind of test, but it is one I am certain you can accomplish.”
Twyla took a breath as she thought about what the princess had asked of her. The last time Equestria was in serious danger, the Elements of Harmony-- Twyla herself-- were powerless to truly do anything without help; help from a powerful magician, a good ally and a great friend. Now she must do it again, and for another nation as well. She was afraid, but that didn’t mean she didn’t feel like she couldn’t try.
“What do you need me to do?”
Celestia smiled. “Excellent. I need you to go to the Crystal Empire and join Princess Cadence and Shining Armor.”
“My brother is there?”
“Indeed, and your friends will be there to help you as well.” Celestia placed her hand on Twyla, leading her out of the throne room. “I am confident that you will succeed, My Faithful Student, and when you do, we will know that you are ready to move on to your next level of studies.”
As they stepped out of the throne room, Twyla glanced to see Princess Luna waiting for them, standing casually, hand at sword, giving a firm stare to Twyla. “But... but what if I fail?”
Celestia smiled. “You won’t. You, and you alone, can do what it takes to assist Princess Cadence and Shining Armor in protecting the Empire. Do you understand?”
Twyla thought for a split second, nodding firmly. “Then go; there is no time to waste.”
Princess Celestia and Luna stepped back into the throne room, Kaval joining them and closing the door shut behind him. It left Twyla by herself to ponder what to do.
The Crystal Empire. This was perhaps her biggest responsibility. She stepped out to find her assistant, Spike sitting on the steps outside, waiting for her. The humanization spell worked differently for him. While he was still human, per say, his eyes still held their draconic irises and his skin was tougher than normal, particularly around his back.
“Twilight? That was fast!” He bounced up to walk with his friend. “Let me guess, you got a perfect score.”
Twyla glanced at him for a second, but continued walking, lost in thought. “A-?”
She ignored him. “A+?”
She finally stopped and looked back at her assistant. Spike stood there for a moment, then gasped in surprise. “Twilight, did you... fail?”
Twyla gestured for Spike to follow her.
♫ I was prepared to do my best
Thought I could handle any test
For I can do so many tricks
But I wasn't prepared for this...♫
She walked past a restaurant, a young lady seated at her table while a waiter served her drink.
♫ Levitation would have been a breeze,
Facts and figures I recite with ease...♫
“The square root of five-hundred and forty-six is 23.36664289109...”
Spike stared at her, dumbfoundedly. “She is correct...”
♫ I could ace a quiz on friendship’s bliss
But I wasn’t prepared for this!
Will I fail, or will I pass?
I can’t be sure...♫ (She can’t be sure.)
Twyla found herself wandering, Spike in tow, singing with her.
♫ My mind is sharp, my skills intact
My heart is pure...♫ (Her heart is pure.)
♫ Oh, I’ve taken my share of licks
I’ve made it through the thin and thick
But no I wasn’t...♫
(Oh no, she wasn’t...)
♫ Oh no, I wasn’t...♫
(Oh no, she wasn’t...)
♫ No I wasn’t, prepared for this!♫
Without realizing it, Twyla had found herself in front of the train station, walking up to the platform to board the train waiting for her. Spike followed close behind her, hands in his pockets, when he finally asked her the all important question.
“Prepared for what, exactly?”
“Twyla!” The young magician found herself embraced by her friends, Applejack leading the charge. The sight of her beloved friends snapped her from her stupor, a brand new smile of confidence forming on her face.
“Did ya pass?”
“Are we gonna celebrate your awesomeness with Princess Celestia?!” Pinkie was bursting with excitement and joy.
“Not quite...” Twyla walked around her friends, leading them to the train. “We’re going to the Crystal Empire.”
“And where, Ms. Spark, is that?”
They all turned at the sudden voice, deep and commanding. They all knew who it belonged to, each one of them lighting up with happiness to see him.
“Didact.”
==============================
"Love is whatever you can still betray. Betrayal can only happen if you love". -John le Carr
Memoirs of Insanity: Episode Two
Time
