“You wanted to see me, Princess Celestia?” Twilight asked in a rather nervous tone as she stood before her mentor, who was looking over a stack of papers on her desk.
"Yes, Twilight," Celestia said as she looked up with a serious countenance from her pile of paper work. A quill and piece of parchment floated by the Princess as she expertly signed her name, barely looking at the document. A skill she had developed over many hundreds of years. "I'm guessing you're wanting to know why I called you here."
"Well," Twilight began as she noted her former mentor’s expression, "It's not every day you ask me to come to Canterlot. Is something wrong?"
Celestia gave Twilight a small smile. "No, not exactly. Now that you're a princess, there is a matter of a test you must pass."
Twilight's expression turned from serious to pensive in a heartbeat. "A...a test?" she stammered out. "But... I uh... haven't studied... I don't even know what it was I was supposed to study for!" she exclaimed.
"Well, you could say that thinking on your hooves is part of the test..." Celestia said.
Twilight's expression only turned more panicky. "Like... like a pop quiz?" she asked.
Celestia chuckled as she smiled and nodded at Twilight. "Fear not, Princess Twilight. I have every confidence that you will succeed.” With a yellow glow, a yellowed piece of paper floated up off of Celestia's desk and over to Twilight. "This map will lead you through the Everfree forest; there your test will begin."
Twilight took the map in her purple glow and unfurled it, looking over the instructions carefully. "Soo... I just need to go to the Everfree forest and follow these instructions?" she asked.
Celestia nodded solemnly. “Before you leave, remember this: no matter what happens, keep your wits about you. You’ll need them to pass this trial.” Twilight replied with an unsure nod and set out to complete her task.
Twilight trekked through the Everfree forest, its thick canopy almost completely blocking the moonlight from above. Her horn cast a small purple hue on the twisted trees around her as she carefully stepped over roots and rocks that littered the way to her destination. Despite the glow from her horn, she still squinted at the map in front of her. She needed the light, but she also had a desire not to attract the attention of any of the myriad of hungry creatures that might attack here.
She levitated the map closer to her face and murmured to herself, "It should be right around here, so..."
'CRUNCH'
Twilight looked down at her hooves. She felt her blood run cold as she noticed the thoroughly picked pony bones under her hooves.
She gulped as she followed the pile of bones to their center, a large wide tree with gnarled branches that seemed to snake out from the trunk in all directions. As unique as the tree was, it didn't hold Twilight's interest nearly as much as the corpse of the pony tied to it.
Unlike the bones around the tree, this corpse wasn't picked clean. In fact, most it's hair still seemed to be intact, but mummified to the skeleton of the corpse.
"Heh heh heh heh..."
Twilight jumped as she heard the low, whisper, almost breeze like chuckle. She took a few steps back into the forest.
A red glow emanated from the empty eye sockets and mouth of the corpse. It's dried and twisted skin pulled up revealing a line of teeth, giving the corpse the appearance of a sinister smile.
“Welcome Twilight Sparkle,” the corpse spoke to her in an eerie and hollow voice. “I’ve been expecting you.” Twilight stood aghast in the presence of this sinister being. A well of fear began to brew inside her, beads of sweat ran down her face like a waterfall.
“How do you know my name?” she asked in a frightened voice.
“I know a great many things, my dear.” the corpse replied. “I know of the things in the heavens and the earth. I know of things in Tartarus. I also know that you stand before me to complete your rite of passage.” Twilight stood there, momentarily confused and unnerved by the presence of the corpse, but she was determined to get this test over with. She summoned up her courage and breathed deeply in and out, relaxing her body and easing her tension.
“What is this trial?” Twilight firmly asked the demon.
“A trial of wisdom.” the corpse began. “All born of the color purple must have a great wisdom in their rule. Many before you have attempted to prove their wisdom, many have failed. Those few that have passed this trial have cherished their wisdom and took their trial to heart. Others who have passed did not cherish wisdom; they wasted their pursuits on destructive and petty habits of power, greed, and vanity. You seem to possess strong heart and will and you seem to be a drinker of knowledge, but I still wonder if you shall become one who succeeds in her trial, or fails.”
“What must I do to pass?” Twilight asked.
“To pass this trial of knowledge, you must answer five riddles.” the demon said. “Listen to each riddle carefully, for within lies the answer. If you answer all the riddles correctly, you will have proven your wisdom and become wiser and stronger. Should you answer one incorrectly, just one, then your head will explode into a hundred pieces and I shall consume your soul.”
Twilight’s face turned a deep shade of white and her blood ran cold. "Is it... is it possible to turn back?" Twilight asked fearfully.
The demon nodded. "If you feel you are unprepared, than you may leave. However, if you feel you are prepared now or later and begin the trial, there is no turning back..."
Beads of sweat formed on Twilight's face as she considered this. “Well, I certainly didn't expect that my life and soul would be at stake...but Celestia thought I was ready for the trial. I mean... she wouldn't have sent me out here if she thought there was much of a chance I would die, right?” Twilight pondered the issue further. “Besides, when am I ever going to feel I'm prepared to have my head exploded and soul taken?” Twilight locked eyes with the corpse and gave a firm reply.
“I’m ready.” Twilight felt confident in her response, even though behind her shield of confidence, there lay a fog of fear.
“Very well," the demon replied.
"A long time ago in a faraway land, there were three young stallions that were in love with their teacher’s beautiful daughter. Sadly, the young mare became afflicted with a deadly illness and died. The stallions, equally stricken with grief, committed her body to a funeral pyre. Once she was cremated, the stallions went separate ways. The first stallion decided to travel Equestria as a humble beggar. The second stallion gathered up the bones of his beloved from the pyre and bathed them in a stream purported to give life. The third, who had remained on the cremation spot, built himself a small hut and slept on her ashes. One day, the young beggar stumbled upon a magic book that could bring back the dead.
Excited and filled with the hope of seeing his beloved, he ran as fast as his legs could carry him to the cremation spot. He arrived at the same time as the other stallion who’d dipped the bones into the life giving river. The mare’s bones were placed over the ashes, the spell was read, and the thrice beloved returned to her suitors, even more beautiful than before. Once she was returned to flesh and blood, the rivalry between the stallions resumed, each claimed their right to her; one for guarding her ashes, the second for dipping her bones into the life river, and the third who read the spell to bring her back.
I pose to you this question, young Princess. Whom should the mare take as her husband? Think carefully now.”
Twilight pondered for a moment, considering every piece of the story carefully. She paced around for a bit, trying to get the juices in her brain flowing. She paced around for a few minutes, before she had her answer.
“The stallion who slept on her ashes is her true husband.” Twilight confidently replied.
“Defend your answer.” the corpse demanded.
“The one who called her back to life with the spell is a father figure,” Twilight began. “The one who performed the sacred service to her bones did the duties of a son. The one who slept on her ashes never departed from her and devoted his entire life to her. Does that answer please you?”
“Congratulations,” the corpse replied in a snarky tone. “You’ve passed the first riddle. Truly a milestone compared to the others. Are you ready for the second riddle?”
Twilight nodded in reply.
“Excellent.
There once were two young brothers of a great Buffalo tribe, who were returning home after spending many a year as apprentice’s to a wise and powerful shaman. While walking in the forest, they saw a hunter filling two sacks with the bones and skin of a mighty bear. The brothers decided to purchase the bear remains in order to practice what the shaman had taught them.
“Our father will surely give us his respect,” the eldest said with pride.
“The other tribes will cower before our combined might,” boasted the youngest. The eldest brother arranged the bones into their correct places on the skin of the bear, and casted a spell which gave it flesh and skin, while the younger brother casted a spell which gave the beast life. The bear, once again amongst the living, tore the brother’s limb from limb, until they were both assuredly dead.
Now then Princess Twilight, here’s your question; which of the brother’s was the bigger fool?”
“The brother who gave the bear life was the greater fool.” Twilight responded almost instantly. “Despite his knowledge, he did not possess the common sense to realize a living bear is dangerous. Only a true fool would bring a dead bear back to life.”
“Very good.” the demon replied happily. “You’ve managed that one in a near instant. Let us see if you’re as sharp with the three riddles that remain.”
“This next tale begins in the land where the sun rises.” the demon started. “A young stallion by the name of Jorum was the trusted friend and adviser to the kindly and wise emperor of the land. While on a walk through the city one day, he came across the most beautiful mare he’d ever laid eyes upon. Stricken with love, he asked the mare to be his wife; she agreed. When he introduced her to the emperor to bless their union however, she became so smitten with him that she decided she wanted the emperor instead. Jorum, though heartbroken, stood aside and said, “The mare has chosen you over me. I’d like to be the first to congratulate you.”
The emperor was struck with disbelief and asked the mare, “My dear, you were so ready to marry this noble and worthy friend of mine but yesterday, why change your mind now?”
The mare replied, “As the emperor, you can shower me with silk, velvet, and all the fine jewels any mare could ever want.”
The emperor paused for a moment, deep in thought. He then replied, “If I still give you all that your heart desires, would you still marry Jorum?”
The mare grew giddy with happiness and replied, “Absolutely! Jorum is handsome and very kind and I love him very much.” Jorum and the mare were happily married and lived in the palace with many fine riches.
I pose to you this question dear Princess, who showed more generosity, Jorum or the emperor?”
Twilight placed her hoof to her chin, closed her eyes, and slowly inhaled and exhaled. She turned the riddle over in her mind, letting the words sink in. She opened her eyes after a few minutes and gave the corpse her answer.
“Jorum was very generous when he stood aside to let his love marry the emperor, even though he loved her with all his heart. But it was the emperor who proved to be the most generous. He could have easily agreed to marry Jorum’s love himself, but he instead persuaded her to marry Jorum and he did everything in his power to make them happy.”
“Three riddles you have answered correctly, dear Twilight.” the demon replied vigorously. “Only two more challenges stand in your path. Here’s the tale of the farmer Josiah and his sons.
When Josiah was a young stallion, he met an oracle while visiting a faraway city. The oracle, in her infinite wisdom prophesied that Josiah’s son would become a great leader, once he received his innermost blessing. Josiah eventually married and his wife bore him two sons. Josiah, who had become old and blind years later, laid dying in his bed, so he called forth his eldest and favorite son, Ezekiel.
“My dear son, I shall soon die and pass on into the after-world.” He told Ezekiel. “Hunt me some game and prepare my favorite dish as I like and I shall give you my blessing.” Eavesdropping on her husband, Maude called over her favorite son Joshua.
“Take two of the best kids from the flock and bring them to me.” She said. “I shall prepare your father’s favorite dish; you shall bring it to him so that he may bless you.”
“But my brother has coarser fur than I,” Joshua replied. “When he grabs my hoof, he’ll know that I’m not Ezekiel and curse my name.”
“The curse will be mine to bear,” she reassured her son, “Now do as I say.” Once the dish was made, Maude covered Joshua’s hooves in the skin of the goats and sent him to his father’s bedchamber.
“Which of my sons stands before me?” Josiah asked.
“I am Ezekiel, your first born son.” Joshua replied as he stood next to the bed. Josiah took Joshua’s hoof and ran his own over it.
“The voice is that of young Joshua, but the hooves are as coarse as Ezekiel’s,” he spoke aloud.
“Are you sure you’re my first born son?”
“I am.” Joshua replied. Convinced that this was indeed his first born, Josiah blessed him.
“May you drink of the dew of the heavens and the fat of the earth,” he told Joshua. “May all the nations bow before you.”
The question I propose to you is did Josiah really know which of his son’s he blessed first?”
Twilight tapped her hooves on the ground and focused on the riddle that had been given to her. When she felt she had the answer, she locked eyes with the demon. “A father will always know his son.” she replied. “By showing the ambition to take what he wanted, Joshua proved that he was more than ready to be a stronger and noble leader.”
“Now young Princess, here is your final riddle.
A widowed Zebrica hunter and his young son were out on a hunting trip one day when they came across two sets of footprints. They determined that not only were these female Zebra hoof prints, but that they belonged to a queen and princess respectively. Their keen eyes found that the larger prints belonged to the queen, while the smaller belonged to the princess. The son proposed an idea to his father; he would marry the one with the smaller hooves, while his father should marry the one with the larger hooves; this would befit their rank and age. The father agreed and they made a solemn pact to see it through. They followed the hoof prints along the trail and they eventually came upon the two mares. They found to their surprise however, that it was the daughter who possessed the larger hooves. So in accordance with their pact, the father married the princess and the son married the queen. Eventually, the two mares gave birth to sons.
Now my clever little Princess, four of my riddles you’ve answered, can you answer number five?
Tell me, dear Twilight, what is the relationship between the two colts born of these unions?”
Twilight had a puzzled look upon her face; this riddle had her stumped. She paced, pondered and sighed deeply with each passing minute, putting all her effort into untangling the answer to this riddle. She stood puzzled and puzzled until her puzzler was sore. She looked at the corpse and taking a deep breath, gave a response.
“They are a paradox of kinship,” she began, but then a cloud of doubt grasped her mind and her answer changed. “There can be no one answer to this riddle; the answer would depend upon how you perceive this. In fact, with all of your riddles, there is another side to the stories. There will always be two sides to any given story or problem.”
“Is that your final response?” the corpse asked her. Twilight remained firm and replied with a single nod. The demon chuckled a bit and responded in kind. “Twilight Sparkle, you show wisdom far beyond your years, a determination to finish the task set at hoof, and the strong will to stand by your answer even in the face death. I am pleased by your answer and your willingness to endure. I am pleased to say that you passed your trial. You have done well, Princess. You’ve proven your wisdom and in turn gained more. Carry that knowledge with you always. It’ll serve you well in the near future. Now go and return to the city. You’re no longer needed here.” Twilight nodded and with a glow of her horn, cast a teleport spell that would take her back to Canterlot.
Twilight walked through the long, grand hall towards Celestia with a slight hesitation in her gait. She was triumphant, but the fact remained that her mentor, the pony she had respected more than anyone, had just sent her to her possible death.
Celestia beamed as Twilight approached. A wide, happy smile the likes of which Twilight had never seen on her former teacher. However, with Twilight's thoughts still in turmoil, somehow the expression didn't fill her with the joy she thought it might.
"I knew you could do it Twi..." Celestia paused and corrected herself. "I mean, Princess Twilight."
To Twilight's great surprise, she stepped forward and away from her throne so she was at Twilight's level, bent her legs, and knelt before her. The act filled Twilight with almost as much nervousness as she had when she thought she was going to die at the hands of the demon.
“Just... just tell me why..." Twilight stammered out. “Why such high stakes? Why do I have to prove my wisdom at the cost of my own life?"
Celestia gave Twilight a serious look. "You've been entrusted with some of the most powerful magical items the world has to offer, but these are not always going to solve your problems. As a princess, you will be trusted with dozens, hundreds, thousands of lives. So much trust and power have been placed in you, that one wrong decision could mean the death of many. Now, do you still think proving you are ready for such a responsibility should come bereft of danger?"
Twilight remained silent for a moment, considering what the demon had said to her. “When you put it that way,” she began. “No, it shouldn’t. In life there’s always a possibility of risk and you must decide whether or not that risk is worth it.”
“You truly have proven wise.” Celestia replied smiling. “You are indeed ready to be a great princess.”
