Myths and Birthrights: The Archive

Myths and Birthrights

By Tundara

Part One: Awakening and Arrivals

Chapter Three: Goddess of the Stars

With a gentle pop of magic that smelled of lilacs, Twilight Sparkle appeared in her bedroom. She wanted to take a few moments to try to calm herself, to lessen the blossoming embarrassment and panic that made her heart clench tight in her chest and her thoughts swim in a hazy sea. She wanted to sit, repeat her mantras and breathing exercises.

Except the voices wouldn't let her.

Where before there had been only a few there were dozens, and more seemed to be adding themselves into the mix with every passing moment. Twilight felt like she was sitting in the throne room in Canterlot during one of the more rambunctious Day Court sessions. The only difference was she couldn't see any of the ponies, or voices in this case, arguing, only hear them. It was making rational thought very difficult.

"Quiet, please, just be quiet!" Twilight shouted to the empty room, pressing her hooves to her temples and briskly massaging.

For a few precious seconds there was silence, the voices seeming to hear her plea, then they broke out in a riot of noise twice as loud.

Groaning, tears streaming down her face, Twilight staggered towards her bathroom. She had a potion made by Zecora that could help, she hoped. It was only to be used in emergencies, the zebra had stressed that point several times while brewing the potion. Zecora claimed it would relax the mind and sweep away anxiety like a wave washing clear hoof prints on a beach. The shaman had also repeated over and over that the effects of the potion were highly addictive, as well as having a lessening effect with every potion taken.

Knowing her own obsessive tendencies, Twilight had always been too afraid to use the potion, and so it had sat hidden behind a box of bath salts on a shelf.

If there ever was a need for the potion, it was right then, Twilight reasoned. She tossed the door open, her magic flaring so it flew from its hinges to shatter against the far wall. Splinters rained and sprinkled her coat, but Twilight didn't care. Other than the voices, the only thing in her head was the single goal of Zecora's potion and the promise of relief it offered. Unwilling to risk another magic flare destroying the potion, Twilight lashed out, striking the bath salts from the shelf to the floor where they clattered and spilled across the polished wood. Twilight grabbed the potion in trembling hooves.

Pulling the stopper out with her teeth, Twilight downed the potion in long greedy gulps. It tasted like a combination of molasses and turpentine, with a smell as strong. Her gorge rose to eject the foul concoction, and it was only with tremendous willpower the young mare managed to keep from spewing the potion on her mirror and floor.

She felt so much calmer and in control as the potion settled in her stomach. The world was like a moonlit seashore, waves gently lapping at her hooves. No tense muscles, no magic flares, just serenity, and thousands of voices vying for her attention.

Twilight's eyes flew open, and she sat down with a thump at the realization.

The voices weren't gone, they had multiplied by at least ten.

Yet the potion was doing exactly as it was supposed to be doing. Twilight lifted her hoof to examine it in the soft early afternoon light. She had never felt so calm or collected, ever. Quickly, Twilight tested some math and numbers in her head, counting Pi to the twelfth decimal place, easy things Twilight used to do for fun.

"Twilight? Is that you?" Spike's voice filtered in through the broken door.

Spike walked into the bedroom, a basket filled with party decorations in his claw. The dragon and Pinkie had been decorating the library for the party, Twilight recalled, still more focused on her hoof and sorting out why she was hearing 6531 voices. Tilting her head a little, Twilight knew the number was accurate and had stopped growing. Also, without the rising tide of panic, she realized that the voices had been concerned for her.

There were too many to pick out any one individual voice from the cacophony, but Twilight felt like she didn't need to in order to understand. A lopsided grin began to form on her face, and Twilight looked over to her number one assistant.

"Yeah, I'm in here, Spike," Twilight said as she trotted out of the ruined bathroom.

"Whoa, what happened here?" Spike asked, his emerald eyes taking in the mess Twilight had made. "And why are you smiling like Rainbow that time Pinkie baked those 'special brownies' that no pony would let me try?"

Whatever Twilight was about to say was lost as she fell to her knees releasing an ear splitting scream. Pain, an un-Celestial amount of pain, exploded through Twilight, rippling down from her horn to the tip of her tail. Twilight couldn't hear Spike as the drake ran to his surrogate sister's side, his voice filled with concern and worry. She didn't even notice Pinkie as the normally laughing and fun loving mare burst into the room.

As quick as the pain came it vanished, leaving Twilight panting on her side. Groaning, she tried to sit up, but found that her legs were being rather uncooperative.

"Twi', you okay? Should I get somepony?" the normally bouncy voice of Pinkie was strained and taught as a drawn bow.

"No, I'm fine, I think it was just a reaction to—" Twilight's voice trailed off as she was helped into her bed.

At the base of her horn she felt a small growing thrum of building magic. Scrunching her eyes closed she tried to block the impending discharge, but it was a bit like trying to halt a buffalo stampede with a stop sign. Behind the magic she could hear approval and anticipation tingeing the voices.

"Pinkie, y-you need to take Spike and get out of the library," Twilight groaned, her teeth grinding together as she fought to hold back the magic, little sparks starting to shoot from the tip of her horn.

"What, but Twilight—" Spike started to protest, but was cut off by Twilight.

"Now! Please!"

Pinkie didn't stop to ask questions, she grabbed Spike and tossed the protesting dragon onto her back. With Spike protesting from her back, she then leapt out the nearby window, performing a flip as they fell, and then bouncing off a trampoline to land safely beside the library. Twilight was thankful both to Pinkie for having the sense to listen without any of her normal bubbling questions, and for Zecora's potion. Without it she was certain she'd have been too panicked and afraid to give the warning in time.

It was a near thing even with the artificial serenity granted by the potion. As soon as Pinkie vanished through the window, Twilight stopped trying to hold back the magic and was swept aside in a torrent of ancient and unfathomable energy.

* * *

The fresh spring air was brisk and refreshing as it caressed Luna's face. The midnight blue alicorn raised her face, eyes lightly closed, to the wind's touch as she leaned forward in her chariot. High above, her sister's charge was beginning a lazy descent towards the horizon and night; while in the back of her mind Luna could feel the moon dreaming.

It was a pleasurable experience for the Princess, one that never failed to put a smile on her lips.

Today the moon was dreaming of the stars, the thousands of little points of light that kept it company each night. Luna could see the dream like she was watching a play with the moon as a big strong alicorn sitting at a dainty table having tea with Alioth, Polaris, Rastaban, and Subra. In the dream the stars were all unicorns, their cutie marks the constellations they belonged within.

The dream was common enough that Luna didn't have to pay attention to the details to know what was happening, so she just smiled and tried to relax. The moon's dream brought forward unpleasant thoughts and memories in its mistress, a faint nagging sensation ending any semblance of enjoying the flight down to Ponyville.

Ever since Luna's return from her imprisonment within the moon the stars had been at best persnickety and often outright dismissive of Luna. At first she chalked it up to her loss of power from the effects of the Elements cleansing her of Nightmare Moon. Gradually that idea had dimmed as she regained her power and the connection with the moon seemed as strong as it had ever been, while the stars seemed to grow more distant. A few months after her return, Luna had tried to re-arrange a portion of the night sky. She had never been that pleased with how clustered some of the stars were in the constellation Gemini.

For several nights she had argued, cajoled, bribed, and even resorted to begging the stars to move. Only when she resorted to direct threats had the stars finally moved. Happy that some progress seemed to have been made, she had gone to bed that morning with a smile on her face and a skip in her step.

The next night she found the stars back in their original locations and steadfastly ignoring her.

Luna had been beside herself with worry and anger, kicking open the doors to the throne room with the Day Court only half-way through. It had taken all Celestia's legendary patience and tact to calm her sister down as Luna alternated between shouting obscenities out the window to the hidden stars above and breaking down in tearful sobs. The tub of chocolate and mint ice cream has also helped, Luna admitted privately.

Once Luna had been calmed down Celestia shared a pet theory she'd been silently harbouring, one that had only grown stronger since Luna's release.

Luna was no longer responsible for the stars. Instead, they were looking to a new mistress.

Whatever reaction Celestia had been expecting, most likely explosive epithets followed by violence towards nearby furniture, it wasn't what she received. Luna had sat calmly for several long minutes staring at her own billowing mane in a mirror, then closed her eyes and silently asked the stars themselves if what her sister said was true. They hadn't confirmed anything, but neither had they made any attempts to deny the accusation.

More recently Luna had taken to likening the stars to teenagers, the way they sulked about the night or ignored her when she sent her awareness into the sky. The number of conversations that were halted just by her approach outnumbered the stars themselves. Luna actually felt more welcome among the nobles of the court then she did her own night.

But all that could be changing in the coming nights if Celestia's guess held true, and Celestia was rarely wrong.

A thermal jolted the chariot a little, bringing Luna out of her musings. She was about to playfully chid the two Night Guards pulling the chariot when she heard them. It began as a quiet murmur of conversation between Pollux and Ras Thaoum, the two Gemini stars whispering back and forth in excited giggles. Then  Propus joined into the conversation.

Chewing on her lower lip, but dreadfully curious what the stars were doing awake during the day, Luna stealthily sent her awareness up into the azure sky. The conversation hitched for a moment between the three stars, only to continue unabated a moment later.

There are two of them, why are there two of them? Something's wrong. Pollux nervously flickered, the equivalent of a star wringing it's hooves.

The other is new, and similar, yes, but just a whisper and a memory carried by the winds. She isn't the mistress, not *our** mistress at least,* said Ras Thaoum, the star darkening to a deep red shade revealing the stars anger twinged with concern.

She's so sad and worried. I just want to pluck her up and give her a hug, sighed Propus. And those three poor little things she brought with her and the—.

Shush, Propus, can't you see the Avatar of the Moon is near? That is star business, not hers.

Luna winced, Pollux's words almost like a physical slap to the face. She was sorely tempted to ask what the stars were talking about, but she already suspected it had to do with the three alicorns that had appeared the previous night. None had yet shown themselves, which was worrying, but Celestia was dealing with that situation while Luna was going to deal with another.

Oh, come now, what would loony Luna do?

Propus waggled from side to side, giving Luna the equivalent of a wave. Far below Luna gritted her teeth, but refused to be chased off by the stars.

Luna isn't that easy to chase away, sighed Ras Thaoum.

Pollux snorted, No, you just have to go to bed in the evening instead of stargaze.

Tears threatened to run down Luna's face as the stars words pierced her heart over and over. She knew that they were angry with her, but to be so cold and cruel, she had never expected it of them. Once they had came dancing and frolicking around her and the moon, singing and playing in beautiful displays of light. Now they barely tolerated her presence.

Are you three talking about You-Know-Who? interjected Regulus. The newcomer received a chorus of affirmatives that almost shattered the last of Luna's will. Taking in a fluttering breath, she steeled herself for what came next. I just spoke to the three sisters. The mistress was just with them, though it was weak and intermittent, they say that she could hear them talking.

The deep voice of Rukbat then entered the conversation.

Have you seen what just happened in the— Rukbat's voice trailed off as the large red star noticed Luna. I'll tell you later. But it was one of the most interesting things I've seen in centuries. I'll leave you with that little teaser. Later!

Rukbat flew off to join the other stars of Sagittarius, who had been joined by those from Libra and Scorpius.

What was that about, do you think? wondered Pollux.

Flickering in a star-shrug, Ras Thaoum replied, You know how excitable Rukbat can get. She swears she once saw a teleporting dragon with a biped on its back.

Then Polaris joined the conversation, which piqued Luna's curiosity. Polaris was known by many names; the North Star, the Guiding Light, and Moon's Bane being just a few. She was the lodestar that all other stars rotated around and by extension the most powerful and important of the stars. When Polaris spoke the other stars listened. Not wanting to be rebuffed or told of by the powerful star Luna kept quiet and just listened.

It is time, we have to move early. We can't let that interloper try to steal our mistress away. She is moving towards the mistress' physical form. If we wait for the proper time, it may be too late. We can't allow Nightmare Moon to happen again. I will wake the others that still sleep. Begin the gathering.

Frowning and turning Polaris' words over in her mind, Luna opened her eyes as she drifted her awareness back down to Equestria. The mention of Luna's mad alter-ego was troubling. She wondered if the stars were really worried that Luna was going to fall or relapse back into the crazed goddess. Perhaps that was why they were treating her so harshly and shunning her presence.

The only other explanation for what Luna had heard was that the stars thought that she was going to hurt their mistress, and there was only one mare who could possibly fit that role. But the stars had to know Luna would never harm her, not in a thousand years, or ten thousand.

High above, she saw star after star begin to glimmer and shine through the blue haze created by the sun. At first it was just a few, then more and more began to shine until every star in the sky was awake and talking.

From Ponyville, Luna felt a surge of power, one that quickly faded away but left a peculiar aftertaste in her mouth. She opened her mouth a few times, rolling her tongue around in an effort to get rid of the after taste even as she leaned forward and ordered the pegasi pulling her chariot to fly faster.

Above, the stars began to gather, crowding above the small country town of Ponyville.

She wasn't going to make it in time, Luna realized, not unless she took more direct actions. Spreading her wings, Luna leapt from the chariot, startling the two guards who had been pulling her as she passed over them in two great flaps of her wings. Alicorns weren't the fastest of fliers, not with their wing shape and greater size. They were, however, able to do something no pegasi could do. In a flash of light blue magic Luna teleported the rest of the way to Ponyville, appearing just outside the town's library, where the source of magic she'd felt originated. Back winging carefully, Luna landed next to Pinkie Pie and Spike.

"Lady Pinkamena, Spike," Luna said, giving each a formal nod. She paused, her eyes lingering on the Element of Laughter. There was something different about Pinkie Pie, like a note ever so slightly out of tune in a familiar song. Resolving to wonder what it was later, Luna continued. "Twilight is inside?"

"Princess Luna! You have to help Twilight! She... she... I—"

"Shush, Spike. Do not worry. This is happening earlier than anticipated, but it was not unexpected," Luna said, as she strode towards the library's door.

As she approached the door Luna felt two new sensations.

The first was hundreds of prayers in her name as ponies looked to the sky and saw what seemed to be a second sun forming from the stars gathering so tightly together. Luna smiled lightly as the prayers came, knowing Celestia would be receiving many more. As Physical Avatars, neither sister could directly answer the prayers, but they could gaze upon the ponies praying for a short time. Since almost all the prayers were in response to the celestial event unfolding above, Luna didn't bother to send her awareness to check in on the petitioners.

The second sensation was the taste of power leaking through the air heralding the approach of something. Luna paused as she reached for the door with her magic. She sensed both Pinkie and Spike look at her expectantly, but Luna brushed them from her mind, instead extending her senses outward much as she had to listen in on the stars. Instead of sending her awareness into the dark heavens beyond Equestria, Luna sent it outward into the hills and dales surrounding Ponyville. There she felt the approach of the same wind she and Celestia had felt the previous evening.

It was different from before, however, lesser, like great swaths of the previous energy had vanished. This was slightly troubling, as the energy had to have gone somewhere, but not as much as the hungry single purpose nature Luna felt coming from the unnatural wind. Where before the wind had felt rather harmless and almost resigned, it was now alive with desire and fear. Closing her eyes, Luna pushed more of her conscience mind into her awareness and got a good look at the wind. As she suspected, it was alive with magic and power, and then the wind looked back at the Goddess of the Moon.

"Help them! Must protect them! Danger! Danger! Must protect them!" screamed the wind at Luna's awareness, the unnatural force gathering speed and momentum.

Snapping her awareness back into her body, Luna was about to throw aside the library door when another voice broke through the spear of sudden concern and fear in her heart.

"Mother? You're here early," Cadence said as she galloped towards the library, Shining Armour and his parents following close behind. "It doesn't have to do with you-know-what starting prematurely, does it?"

Cadence had that small half-smile that said she already knew the answer. Beside Luna, Pinkie Pie was bouncing up and down with her characteristic wide smile, no doubt barely containing an enthusiastic greeting. Velvet Sparkle and Comet Chaser both slowed to a trot as they approached, their breaths long and laboured from trying to keep up with their son and the princess. Luna gave them each a respectful nod, but kept most of her attention on Cadence.

"Daughter, you are aware of what occurred last night, I gather?" Luna asked, not bothering to discuss Twilight's situation, of which both Alicorns were already aware of the particulars, and instead seeking an alternative source of information on whatever it was that was approaching the town.

"You mean the wind and the three," Cadence gave a slight uptick to her smile, "new arrivals? Yes, I am aware. There was a great surge of Love when they appeared. I'd have to have been dead not to feel it, given," Cadence lifted one of her massive wings to show her cutie mark, the diamond heart surrounded by gold filigree shining on her flank.

Luna nodded, then looked to the north, where the wind approached from. "What do you make of it now?"

Cadence closed her eyes and Luna could see her daughter practically expand, though she knew it was just an illusion of her senses. For a couple seconds Cadence maintained her expanded awareness, very similar to how Luna had listened in on the Stars and Moon, but connected to the tapestry of Love that surrounded all sentient life living on Ioka.

When Cadence opened her eyes, Luna could see the trouble and concern that wiped away her daughter's smile.

"Love, so much love. But it is twisted and malformed. Almost grotesque in its single-mindedness. I don't think whatever is in that wind is alive. It's just repeating the same thoughts over and over." Cadence glared toward the horizon. "Mother, what is it?"

"I'm not sure, though I think the Stars at least have an idea, though they aren't sharing it with me." Luna again reached for the door, and this time thrust it open.

Beyond it was a wall of swirling magenta energy like the funnel of a tornado. Luna sighed while Velvet Sparkle and Comet Chaser bother exclaimed oaths to Celestia.

"Princess, our daughter, is she alright?" Velvet asked chewing on her lip as she looked at the wall of magic.

"Of course Twilight is alright!" Pinkie exclaimed before Luna could respond, bouncing up beside Twilight's mother and wrapping her in a big hug. "Things are all 'whoosh!' and 'zappy!' right now, sure, but Twilight is going to be just hunky-dory-rific! Right Princess Luna?"

"Lady Pinkamena is correct. While spectacular, this magic is entirely harmless."

Luna thrust a platinum clad hoof into the vortex of magic to prove her point. Little red sparks crackled across the surface of the wall, but otherwise there was no change or reaction. For a couple more moments the magic continued to hum and swirl, then it swiftly began to contract back towards its point of origin. Waving for the others to follow her and wait in the main room, which was half decorated with party supplies, Luna and Velvet Sparkle made their way to the second story landing leading to Twilight's bedroom.

Below, Pinkie began to sing and return to tacking up a long banner. Cadence, Shining Armour, Comet Chaser, and Spike meanwhile sat watching the princess and Twilight's mother. Hesitating for a moment Luna could hear movement on the far side of the door. Clearing her throat loudly, Luna gave the door a knock.

There was a startled 'eep' from the other side, followed by the sound of a dresser being dragged in front of the door.

"Uh, who's there?" Twilight's voice filtered through the hardened oak.

Luna and Velvet both rolled their eyes together.

"It's your mother, Twily, and Princess Luna."

"Princess Luna! Oh no! I mean, um, good! Yes, good! I'll, uh, be right out! Yeah, heh ha ha!"

Luna could practically hear Twilight's eye twitching in the librarians voice. Soon to be ex-librarian, Luna corrected with a knowing smirk. The panic was to be expected, but Luna didn't have the time to deal with it at the moment. If she had been more like her sister Luna may have tried to play up the obvious anxious mare a bit, but with the unknown threat of the approaching wind Luna didn't have the time.

Knocking on the door again Luna said, "If you're trying to come up with a spell to hide your wings, Cadence and I can show you a couple. I, personally, use illusions. Celestia has gotten a lot of use and good results from transmutations over the centuries, however. They may be more to your liking."

Silence from the other side of the door.

Very quickly, Luna sent her awareness upwards to check on the stars. They were all still up there, awake and shining, and watching with bated breath the events unfolding so far below. A sharp intake of breath on the other side of the door told Luna that Twilight had perhaps sensed or felt something. Or she was just processing what Luna had said. Both were possible.

"Honey, why don't you open the door, and talk to us?"

More silence.

Starting to get annoyed with delay, Luna lifted her hoof willing to give Twilight one last chance to leave her room peacefully before she kicked the door down.

"I'm, uh, sick! Yeah, that's it, I'm sick," Twilight called, followed by some very unconvincing coughing.

"Twilight Abigail Sparkle, you open this door this instant or, by Celestia's mane, I am pulling it off the wall and coming in there myself! You understand me, missy?"

Luna cringed and scooted a little to the side at the fire and venom that filled Velvet's voice.

"Yes, mother," Twilight said, defeat pressing down her voice and the dresser blocking the door sliding aside. Her ears pressed back, Twilight opened the door just enough to reveal one of her large lavender eyes. Fixating on Luna, Twilight asked, "You're not mad at me, are you?"

Holding back a huff and eye roll that certainly would have only further scared the visibly shaking mare, Luna slowly shook her head and gave her most genial smile. It was a bit like a wolf looking down on a flock of sheep. Cringing back, Twilight opened the door enough for Luna and Velvet to enter. Taking it as an invitation, both ponies trotted into the bedroom.

Twilight had backed up nearly to one of the windows trying to make herself appear as small as she could. One ear occasionally flicking towards the window, her eyes flitted back and forth between the princess and her mother. This gave Luna an excellent opportunity to examine Twilight. Walking around her, Luna held her head up like a critic examining a work of art.

The first thing she examined was Twilight's new wings. As Luna expected, Twilight's wings were long, reaching back to cover half of her cutie mark, and would no doubt have a majestic span when in flight. Alicorns shared their wing structure with the Imperial Pegasi; long and broad, with the primary feathers seaming to reach out towards the horizon. The tips of Twilight's feathers darkened from the gentle lavender of her coat to an almost midnight black at the tips.

Shifting her gaze, Luna next looked over the changes to Twilight's mane and tail. From them Luna discerned that Celestia had been right. Twilight was a Physical Alicorn, representing some actual manifestation of the world itself. Luna hardly needed further confirmation, but the way the dark midnight blue streaks of Twilight's mane and tail glittered with thousands of tiny lights like they had been dipped in diamond dust bespoke of her connection to the stars.

Luna wanted to cry, shriek, and maybe, just maybe, glare at Twilight, but held back, reminding herself that the stars had chosen Twilight, if ever there had been any choice at all the matter. Twilight was no more to blame for her connection to the stars than a child could be blamed for who her parents were.

Other than her wings, mane and tail, Twilight looked identical to before. Well, except maybe her horn was ever so slightly longer. Not enough to be easily noticeable. With time, that would change, Luna knew. As she became more and more attuned to the stars Twilight would begin to grow. Luna suspected that when Twilight had completely grown into her aspect they'd be roughly the same size. But for now, at least, the new alicorn looked like a unicorn with a sparkling mane that had grown wings.

"I'm sorry, Princess Luna," Twilight muttered, continuing to wilt under the princess' gaze.

"Whatever for?" Luna asked, and she even managed a smile. "You look beautiful. Celestia will be so happy. She was right, you are the Alicorn of the Stars."

Luna didn't know how she managed to say those words without her voice hitching or giving any indication of the pain throbbing through her heart. She just sat down beside Velvet Sparkle and gave Twilight a glowing smile.

"B-but, I... wait, 'Alicorn of the Stars'?" Twilight's eyes grew wider and even more frightened. "Oh no! I stole the stars from you!?"

Twilight was almost hyperventilating, the young mare placing a hoof to her chest as she sucked in greedy gulps of air. Luna couldn't prevent the wince of pain. She just hoped that in her anxiety Twilight hadn't noticed Luna's expression.

"Honey, listen, you didn't steal the stars from Princess Luna. That's impossible, right princess?"

Luna slowly nodded and murmured agreement.

It was completely true. It was utterly impossible to 'steal' the aspect of a Alicorn. A thief would have an easier time plucking out a pony's soul. There were spells capable of the latter, there weren't for the former. Many a power mad pony had tried, never had any come close to succeeding. Even Discord, with all his reality warping power, couldn't separate Celestia from the sun or Luna from the moon. He could, however, confuse both so they'd rise and set at random intervals. But that was a far cry from stealing either.

"Mother, what's going on? Why is this happening to me?" Twilight asked, sniffing back a tear.

As she looked towards one of the few friends, Luna felt her own heart crack with pain. Twilight was so terrified and confused, not knowing why these changes had happened. Everything had gone wrong. They were supposed to have had time to prepare Twilight a bit, to inform her of what was going to occur. All Celestia's and Luna's plans had been ruined by the stars hurrying Twilight's awakening.

Stepping forward, Velvet took her daughter in a tender embrace. Running her hoof through Twilight's sparkling mane, she made gentle calming noises. Burying her head in her mother's neck, Twilight let herself cry and release the twisted knot of emotion that had grown since she'd first heard her entire family was coming to visit.

Looking up with red rimmed eyes the new alicorn asked, "How does this happen? A unicorn just doesn't become an alicorn. I've not used any huge spells, or partaken in ancient world altering rituals, or anything of that nature. So, how?"

Velvet looked towards Luna for assistance, but the princess waved her to proceed. Luna had an idea what was about to be said, and it was both Velvet's right and responsibility to share the truth.

"You're right, my little Twily, a unicorn doesn't just become an alicorn, and I don't think those methods you listed would even work." Velvet continued to pet her daughter's mane, her voice soft and firm at the same time in the way only a mother consoling her child can achieve. "I wanted to tell you this sooner, before all this began, it's one of the reasons we came to see you this year. Try not to be too mad at me and your father."

"Mom, what is it?"

Twilight pushed her mother back a little so they could look into each other's eyes. For a moment Velvet hesitated and Luna could see the conflicting desires to protect Twilight and to speak the truth war in the mare's eyes. Taking a deep breath first, Velvet continued.

"Twilight, I am not your birth mother."

Luna braced for a possible explosion. With Twilight's awakening, she certainly had the power to level the library, and perhaps most of Ponyville beyond. Twilight, however, just frowned a little, then gave a nervous laugh.

"You're joking, right? Trying to lighten the mood? Please tell me this is a cruel joke, mama."

Twilight looked so much like a little filly just then, her water rimmed eyes begging her mother to deny what she'd just been told. Her lower lip trembled and Luna continued to hold her breath.

"I wish I could, honey, I so truly wish that I could."

"If... if you're not my mother, then who is?"

"I- I can't tell you," Velvet looked towards Luna for help, her eyes pleading for assistance.

"What do you mean you can't?" Twilight almost snapped, pushing her mother back a little. "Do you not know, or do you just not want to tell me?"

"I know who, I just can't tell you," Velvet looked down at the floor between her hooves.

Twilight's eyes held a cold fury that could have frozen the charge of a pegasi legion. Her upper lip began to curl and she backed away from her mother. Luna knew where Twilight's thoughts were headed, none of them pleasant. Sensing the approach of the ill wind, Luna stepped forward laying a hoof on Twilight's withers. Immediately Twilight snapped her head towards Luna, the tell-tale traces of barely held back magic flitting around the edges of her eyes.

"Dear friend, she speaks the truth. The baroness is under an enchantment that prevents her from telling any pony even a hint about your birth mother. Observe, if you would," Luna turned towards Velvet, giving the unicorn a pained smile meant to convey how sorry she was to put her through this test. "Velvet, is Celestia the birth mother of Twilight Sparkle?"

Velvet seemed to seize up, her entire body unable to move. Luna pressed forward with the demonstration before Twilight could interrupt with a question.

"Are you Twilight's mother?"

Velvet unseized, saying, "Of course I am."

"But Lady Pinkamena Pie is her birth mother?"

Again Velvet grew rigid and still, her eyes shrinking to tiny pricks of aqua marine.

Turning to Twilight, who seemed to have a thoughtful gaze on her face, Luna said, "The same happens with any question where she'd give a possible hint who your birth mother could be. Celestia tried to remove the enchantment, but was unsuccessful. She believes only whomever placed it can remove it."

Velvet nodded sadly.

Twilight just grunted, her teeth grinding together. "You could have just told me she is under a Geas."

"I suppose," Luna sheepishly admitted.

"Velvet, I want you to leave. Princess Luna and I have some things to discuss, and I doubt they are appropriate for you to know."

Looking like she wanted to protest, Velvet nevertheless turned around, and hanging her head, she slowly left the bedroom. Pausing at the door, she gave her daughter a distraught look before she slipped into the main room and gently shut the door.

Turning to Luna, Twilight took a deep breath, then stated, "You have a lot of explaining to do."

"Indeed," Luna smiled. She hadn't been able to have this discussion with Cadence, owing in no small part to being imprisoned inside the moon at the time of Cadence's awakening. It was one of many regrets Luna had about the first years of Cadence's life. "There is a lot I have to teach you."

Jumping up on Twilight's bed, Luna patted the open space beside her in an obvious invitation. Hesitating for a moment, Twilight joined the princess of the night. Taking a moment to sort out her thoughts and figure out the best place to start explaining the history and nature of the Alicorns, Luna was caught off guard when Twilight spoke.

"So, I'm an alicorn like you, Celestia, or Cadence?" Twilight shifted uncomfortably.

"Yes and no. You are like me and Celestia yes, but not like Cadence." Luna smiled, glad for an easy opening into the subject of alicorn natures. "We are Physical Alicorns, representing something that can be seen or touched, and are intimately connected to what we represent. Cadence is an Emotional Alicorn, meaning she is connected to the weave of energy generated by a specific emotion of higher life. Ponies, zebras, griffons, dragons, and such. Our powers and abilities manifest differently. There is a third type of alicorn, the Intangible Alicorn, but we'll discuss them later if you want."

"Okay," Twilight said, then she bit her lip and asked, "Why did she lie to me? Why wasn't I told sooner?"

"Don't hate your mother, Twilight."

"But she isn't my mother, not really," growled the young alicorn, her hooves twisting the covers in front of her.

Luna gave Twilight a look that conveyed both her disgust and bemusement.

"You should know better than to think that. She raised you, and gave you the foundation to build your life upon. That you don't share blood is inconsequential." Luna waved a dismissive hood. "For the last ten years you've thought of my sister as a surrogate mother, yes?"

Twilight nodded.

"You share no blood, yes?" Luna had to be so careful to control her voice when she asked the question. There was an almost certain chance that Twilight was, in fact, related by blood to both princesses. Twilight seemed to catch the error, turning to Luna and giving her a look that said, 'really?'

"Okay, so you are probably related to both Celestia and I by blood, if who we think could be your birth mother is in fact, um, that." Luna shifted a little on the bed, her wings flicking a couple times nervously. "But, my point was, you didn't believe you were related to Celestia, yet you look to her as a second mother, yes?"

Again, a slight nod.

"There is an old saying, 'we do not choose our family.' You are angry with your mother right now, but in time it will pass. She'll always be your mother, and nothing can change that, can it?"

"No," Twilight admitted in a whisper. Her ears flicked towards the window, a pensive frown tugging at her fair features. "What is that noise?" Twilight blurted out, hopping off the bed to approach the window.

Twisting her own ear, Luna heard more than felt the approaching wind. Like the previous night, she could feel the tingle of magic being carried along. Joining Twilight, Luna prepared a series of wards and defensive spells if whatever was coming proved to be dangerous. The wind slowed, gently rustling the leaves of the library, before it moved on, slipping through Ponyville before entering the Everfree. Luna let out a sigh she didn't know she'd been holding.

"Princess, what was that?" Twilight looked towards Luna, all anger gone and replaced by concern and curiosity.

"Truly, I do not know. Celestia is dealing with it as well as some other concerns. Now, come, I was hoping to teach you how to listen to the stars. You'll also, probably, be responsible for waking them during dusk, but we won't know for sure for a few more hours." Luna made her way back towards the more comfortable bed, adding under her breath, "and maybe we can finally find out why they are so mad at me."

Torn between education and dealing with a potential crisis, Twilight hovered by the window for a few moments before slowly rejoining Luna. Just as Twilight turned away from the window, the prospect of learning combined with the assurance that Celestia was dealing with the potential crisis winning out over the desire to act, the wind reared up and burst through the windows. Flaring her wings Luna leapt across the short divide between herself and Twilight, a gentle blue corona of magic lighting along her horn as she landed.

Like fog, the wind flooded in through the windows, pooling and coiling about the floor. The surface popped and hissing like boiling water, and through the surface only darkness, an endless void of black like a starless night, could be seen. Lifting from the fog came the cloying scent of sulphur and brimstone, making both Luna and Twilight crinkle their noses.

"I know I'm repeating myself a lot lately, but what is that!?" Twilight yelped, jumping backwards onto a low trunk.

Waving her horn around in an attempt to scan the fog closing in around them, Luna said, "I am unsure."

Luna was deeply troubled. She had expected Celestia to have dealt with this issue, but so much had changed since the previous night. The wind they had sensed then had none of the malevolence seeping off it. Something must have changed, or the wind was alive somehow. As the faint light of her horn touched the fog the wind had become, Luna felt no sign of life or awareness that could be detected by her spell. If the fog was not alive, then why was it acting like it was searching for something, Luna silently wondered.

The fog lifted itself up the legs of Twilight's bed, pooling about on her covers before spilling again onto the floor. Luna backed slowly towards Twilight as the fog approached, and then rose up until it looked like a black sheet draped over a pony. The 'head' of the fog swung left and right, a wheezing sound like wind in a tunnel coming as deep within the fog. Stopping the sound and motion, the fog stared past Luna towards Twilight.

"Stand back, knave," Luna growled as the fog took a step forward, spreading her wings wider to create a barrier between the fog and Twilight. "Identify yourself and your intention."

"Protect them, I have to protect them," moaned the fog, placing one long ethereal leg forward.

"I am Princess Luna, Goddess of the Moon and Shepherd of the Night, take not another step!" The magic around Luna's horn continued to grow, the princess selecting a spell that she hoped would contain the fog. "I won't let you near Twilight."

"The Titans! I must protect them from the Titans!" howled the fog, its piercing voice trembling the bookshelves of the library. "The rest dream, but I will not. I must protect them."

"Protect whom?" Twilight asked, jumping down from the trunk and walking up beside Luna. The princess felt a hoof touch her just above the flight muscles making her look back towards the younger mare. Twilight gently shook her head 'no' and continued towards the fog. "Who do you need to protect, and who are the Titans?"

Luna pinched her brows together wondering the same question. She knew she'd heard the name before, when she was still very young. Specifics escaped Luna, only the nagging feeling that the name was important.

In the doorway to the main room appeared five faces, all of them worried. Cadence and Velvet both made to enter the room with lowered horns, but stopped when Twilight waved them to wait. Behind the two mares, Spike and Comet alternated between fear and hope. Pinkie Pie just leaned forward and growled like Applejack's dog, Winona.

"The Titans... they will corrupt them, and if they cannot, then they will kill them. I cannot allow it! I must protect them!" The fog reared back on its hooves, front legs kicking at the air. Landing on all fours it leapt towards Twilight, howling like a banshee.

Luna cursed herself a senile fool. The fog's attack surprised her and her spell wasn't ready. She'd grown slow and pampered, with little of the blunt aggressive instinct she'd carried a thousand years ago during the War of the Sun and Moon. Then again, she'd been possessed by her own envy and had become a foul creature of darkness and spite. It was perhaps understandable that she was no longer as adept at fighting, but it still grated on Luna's nerves.

Twilight's eyes widened as the unnatural fog flew towards her, trails of smoke licking the air in its wake. Moments before the Fog reached the young alicorn the room was filled with a corona of light and a high pitched shriek. All three Alicorn's eyes cleared quickly revealing Peewee hovering in the air between Twilight and her attacker. Flames and heat rolled off the juvenile Phoenix, his claws slashing through the fog's head.

Howling again, the fog flew backwards, pausing at the window to let out a knell that echoed deep into Luna's heart and left her legs shaking. Then the fog was gone, slinking and vanishing into the countryside.