Ponies scattered around the rubble-filled marketplace, colliding with one another in an attempt to flee from the shadow that slowly consumed their once beautiful home. Screams could be heard as pony after pony was frozen by the shadow, permanently turning their coats to stone. A young filly cried amidst the chaos. “Mommy!” The child called out, hoping that her mother would hear. She looked frantically around for her mother, whom she had lost in all the running. “Mama, where are you?” She froze, feeling the darkness creep up on her. She shrank down, hiding her face in her hooves. The figure laughed and surrounded the filly with his shadows, making them cover her as slowly as possible. He grinned and spoke; his voice filling the darkness and chilling everypony to the bone.
“You can’t run,” the dark figure laughed. “Hiding is pointless.” It continued, showing a set of jagged teeth. “Your magic cannot save you now, little Princess.” The figure jumped, surrounding the whole land in darkness with only a maniacal laugh echoing around.
Twilight sat up quickly, startled by the voice. She stood from her bed and quietly tiptoed to her bedroom door. She exited the room, shutting the door as quietly as she could. Standing now in the deserted hall, she began to shake. ‘What in Equestria was that...that feeling of pain that shot through me?’ She shook harder, her mind filled with fear. ‘The sorrow, that...that poor child.’ She felt tiny drops of liquid run down her face as she thought of the little filly that had just wanted her mother, and the cruel way that the figure had taken her life away. **‘She was just a child. She was a poor defenseless child who only wanted her mother to protect her.’** Reaching a hoof up, she wiped the tear away and stood, her legs shaking. ‘I’m not going to be able to sleep anytime soon... May as well get some work done and try to forget about that horrible dream.’
She levitated a document, in front of her, onto the crystal table that she had brought with her from the castle library. Scanning the paper with her eyes, she quickly signed her name at the bottom. With a flick of her magic, she curled the ‘L’ at the end of her signature and lifted the pen back into the ink beside the stack of parchments. She placed the form on a separate pile and levitated another. She scanned over the script and noticed that the mayor had already signed it. Twilight smiled and placed the document with the other. Standing and stepping down from her throne, she stretched out her legs and walked toward the balcony that stood behind it. She felt the cool air wash over her as she exited through the castle archway. She unfolded her wings and let them catch the wind. Sighing, she flapped them once and flittered in the air for a second before landing back on the crystal floor and refolding them. She took a deep breath, the cold air clearing her head, and sat down on the balcony looking out at Ponyville. She remembered when this castle was built only two short months ago. The battle against Tirek was still in the ponies’ minds and the scarred land was still healing. Even with the help of the earth ponies, who had volunteered to watch over it, it still hadn’t quite regained the green it once held. Everypony else had also offered to help with the restoration. The Pegasi had brought spare water each day to feed the land, and the unicorns had used their magic to create ‘fast-growing’ fertilizer. Even with the recovery going well, everypony was on edge, waiting to see what may attack next. Twilight thought about their feelings and decided to hold a conference to tell them that they were protected, and they needn’t worry about anything that attacked the village. She and her friends would protect their home at all cost. Smiling, Twilight stood again, hearing a soft flapping that slowly got louder. Looking up, Twilight saw a gray Pegasus flying toward her. The Pegasus stopped, landing clumsily on the balcony in front of Twilight.
“Here you go, Ms. Twilight.” The gray Pegasus smiled, handing her a large package from the twin bags on her back. Twilight thanked her and the Pegasus smiled back, taking off from the balcony. Levitating the package, Twilight went back into the throne room and placed it on the table, on top of the documents she had been reading a bit earlier. Pulling off the tape, she opened the package to reveal a very large book bound with a dark purple cover. Flipping the book over to the front cover; she couldn’t see a title or author anywhere. Shrugging, she opened the front cover and stopped. She flipped another page and another and another. Twilight stopped a few pages in and stared at the blank paper before her. Shaking her head, she closed the book and went back to the work that was still sitting on the table. So focused on her task again, Twilight didn’t hear the door open and the footsteps that walked toward her.
“Twilight,” a small voice called out from behind. Jumping from her chair, Twilight turned around and easily saw the small purple dragon. Taking a deep breath to calm herself, she walked over to the young creature. Putting a hoof on his shoulder, she sat down in front of him.
“What are you still doing awake?” Twilight asked Spike, who rubbed his eyes and looked up at the purple alicorn.
“I could ask you the same question,” Spike replied, a smile on his face before a yawn invaded, “W-why are you still up anyway?” He asked through the yawn. “I mean, it’s almost midnight.” Twilight looked out the balcony door toward the giant clock tower that stood only a few yards away. She looked closely and rubbed her eyes to see if it was playing tricks on her. The two large hands on the clock tower were now pointing up, telling the Princess that it was midnight.
“I guess I didn’t realize the time.” She stood and let out a loud yawn. “Maybe it’s time to go to bed.” Spike nodded, but walked over to her desk and picked up the large book. He turned it over in his claws and then opened to the first page. Twilight shook her head and levitated both Spike and the book back over to her. She gently placed him on her back and held the book under her wing. She started walking out the door, taking small steps as to not startle the baby dragon who was now peacefully sleeping curled up in a ball on her back. Smiling, she opened the throne room door and walked down the hall, closing the golden doors with a gentle swish. She reached a fork in the path and stopped for a moment. Even after two months in the new castle she still had a bit of trouble finding her way around. She nodded and walked down the left corridor toward her bedroom. She pulled open the large purple door and gently set Spike down in his bed, pulling his blue blanket over him. Yawning again, Twilight trotted over to her bed and flipped the comforter over. Hopping up, she settled down and drifted off to sleep.
Twilight sat in her old Library sipping a cup of freshly brewed tea. She sat across from her two favorite people. Both the Alicorn and ancient unicorn were laughing, drinking the same tea as Twilight. She smiled and stood, lifting the teapot and walking into the kitchen. Pouring more water into the kettle, she put it on the burner with the tea leaves and left it on simmer. She heard a large bang come from the other room. Quickly dashing into the main room, she saw both Celestia and Star Swirl gone with only a black wall facing her. She reached a hoof out, gently touching the blackness. She retreated, only for a claw to reach out and attach itself tightly around her hoof. She pulled back, flapping her wings to get some distance, but the shadow kept creeping up her slowly. Screaming in fear, Twilight pushed at her hoof, trying to break free from its grasp. It kept climbing, and slowly enclosed around her body. She shed a tear as she was fully engulfed. ‘Is this like the other dream? Am I… am I going to die?’ Tightly shutting her eyes, she tried to curl into a ball, but none of her limbs wanted to cooperate. She let more tears escape as she shook, her fear becoming greater as the minutes seemed to drag on.
“There’s no escape!”
“Run!”
Twilight’s eyes shut in relief as she heard the voices of other ponies. She looked around, but was confused when she saw that she was just floating in the sky. Looking down, she saw two figures galloping toward her position. Looking closer, she saw large horns sprouting from their heads and wings perched on their backs. She stared at the two Alicorns as they ran over a green field. Their manes were soaking wet and one of the alicorns wings looked slightly broken.
“Melody, we can’t run forever. They will get us eventually.” The dark alicorn spoke, panting. She had stopped and was sitting on the ground, her chest heaving to gain more oxygen. The other alicorn, Melody, turned toward the dark pony and sat beside her.
“Midnight, we have to keep running. You know what will happen if we don’t.” The dark pony nodded and stood again.
“Yes, I know, but I’m just slowing you down. With this wing we’ll never be able to outrun the pegasi. You need to get out and find a safe place to hide. I can deal with them.” Midnight pushed Melody away. Melody looked at her friend, her eyes filled with worry. Biting her lip, Melody pulled Midnight into a tight hung.
“I will never leave you. We started this together and we will end it together.” Melody backed away from Midnight and smiled. “Together?” Midnight gave a grateful smile to Melody, tears in her eyes.
“Together.”
Twilight jumped from her bed and hit the floor with a bang, bringing Spike to bolt out from his bed. He rushed over to her, worry clear on his tiny face.
“You okay?” He asked, helping her up and looking for any forming bruises. Twilight nodded, picking herself up off the ground and brushing her frazzled mane down. Stretching out her wings, she sighed and turned to Spike.
“I’m fine. I just had…” She froze and thought for a second. Realization struck the alicorn and she bolted from the room, making a beeline for the balcony she had been on last night. She flung open the door and stopped,a pile of dust forming around her legs for a mere second. Swiftly trotting over to the telescope, she peered into it, searching for any sign of the land the two Alicorns had been on. Growling in anger, Twilight backed away from the telescope. Hanging her head, she reentered the throne room and sat down. She placed her head in her hoof and frowned. Spike looked at her from the gold doors, frowning with her.
“Twilight, what’s wrong?” He questioned. She let out a frustrated sigh and looked at him.
“Well, I had this dream and I just thought that I had recognized the place. I guess I was mistaken.” She looked down. Shaking her head, she looked at spike and asked, “When are the girls stopping by?”
“In a few minutes,” Spike easily replies, turning to leave. He exited the throne room, leaving Twilight alone with the documents. She lifted one up and scanned over it, not bothering to read it at all. She gave a tiny yawn and placed the paper down. Looking out the window, she soon was lost in thought about the dream.
Two Alicorns that she had never heard of. The punishment they were going to face. Why hadn’t any of the books she had read mentioned anything about them? Who were they?
She repeated the two questions over and over again. Shaking, she cleared the thoughts from her mind and went on to clearing the papers and table from the middle of the Throne room. Neatly stacking the papers after moving the table into a corner, she turned around, instantly greeted by a pink blur.
“TWILIGHT!” Pinkie shouted, hugging her purple friend around the neck. “It’s been ages since I’ve seen you!”
“Pinkie, we just saw each other two days ago,” Twilight replied, rolling her eyes at her over-eccentric friend.
“I know, but it feels like FOREVER!” Pinkie dramatized, falling off of Twilight onto the ground. Everypony laughed at their friend who hopped up, a grin plastered on her face.
“Alright, calm down Pinkie,” Twilight laughed. “Let’s get started.” Twilight walked over to her throne and sat down. The others followed and quickly sat in their respected chairs. “Alright, anyone have something to discuss?” Twilight looked around the circle and waited for somepony to raise her hoof. With a swift motion, an orange hoof made its way into the air. “Applejack, the floor is open.”
“Thanks, well, production in Sweet Apple Acres is going swell and with the winter harvest coming up we gotta get stocked up and fill up the apple cellar before the first snow falls.” Applejack finished with a nod of her head. “The whole family would really ‘preciate a bit of help from ya’ll.”
“Sorry, Applejack, but I have to help the animals with their hibernation before the first snow falls,” Fluttershy stated from her seat.
“No problem, Fluttershy, I understand if you already got another thing to do.” She smiled at the timid Pegasus who returned the smile.
“I’ll help,” Rainbowdash shouted from her spot.
“Of course I’d be glad to help,” Rarity elegantly stated.
“Oooo, me three!” Pinkie happily jumped up and down on her chair.
“What about you, Twilight?” Applejack and the others turned toward their friend, only to see her staring off into space. They looked at each other, confusion planted over their faces. “Uh, Twilight,” AJ called out to the pony. Twilight snapped out of her thoughts and looked toward her friends.
“Oh, sorry girls,” She apologized with a smile, but soon began to trail off again. “It’s just... I had a dream last night and it’s been really bothering me.” With a sigh, the former unicorn looked down, her eyes flicking back and forth. “I just… just don’t understand!” She shouted, shaking her hooves over her head. The other five looked at her with concern and walk over to their ailing friend.
“Why don’t you tell us about it, sugar cube,” AJ offered to Twilight. Looking at the country pony Twilight smiled and nodded.
“I guess that would help.” She took a deep breath and started to tell her friends about the dream she had. The two alicorns who had never been mentioned anywhere. The punishment they were going to receive, and what their full names were. Midnight and Melody were probably only half of their names, Right? “They promised and, I don’t know why but, I felt like I had made the same promise to someone too, a promise that nothing would happen to them and that I would always be there when they needed me.” Twilight’s eyes fogged over as she started to spiral back into thought. Shaking her head, she looked up at her friends who had listened to every detail of the story.
“Well, maybe we should ask somepony about it,” Fluttershy said.
“That would be a grand idea, but whom?” Rarity questioned.
“Ugh,” voiced Rainbowdash, sliding her hoof down her face. “Why don’t we ask the Princesses?” She stated, a bored look on her face. Everypony gave a form of agreement and Twilight called for Spike who walked in a few seconds later quill and paper in hand. He held the quill next to the paper to begin writing.
“Dear Princess Celestia, last night I had a very peculiar dream. It was about two Alicorns that I have never heard of let alone read about. If it is not too much trouble, I kindly ask that you help me figure out what the dream is about. Awaiting your response, your faithful student Twilight Sparkle.” She ended off the letter as she had so many others before it. With a flick of his wrist, Spike rolled the letter up and sent it on its way with a breath of his fire. The girls nodded and went back to their meeting, discussing what needed to be done in the upcoming months. They talked for three more hours before Spike ran in, a letter in his upheld hand. Twilight took it from him with thanks and read it to the group.
“Dear Twilight, What you have experienced was just the first sign of many. This is what we call the Princesses Trial. This trial will begin a journey to help you understand your role as a Princess of Equestria. As for the Alicorns, they are as mysterious as the Crystal Empire used to be. Not even Luna and I know much about them, and it took hundreds of years for us to learn how to rule Equestria. Cadence, Luna and I will be in ponyville by nightfall. With regard, Princess Celestia.” Twilight read the letter over again. ‘Wait... so this is normal? They’ve also gone on this ‘Princess Trial’? I need some explanations before I go crazy!’ Twilight shouted in her head before proceeded to look out to the balcony. The sky was already beginning to change into the array of colors from the setting sun. ‘They’ll be here soon; I’ll have time to worry about it later.’
Three alicorns stood in front of the new castle. Looking up at the crystal structure, their eyes clouded with worry and wonder. “Sister, is it not strange?” Luna asked, looking over to the white alicorn whom only nodded in repose.
“Strange indeed. Let’s go before we waste anymore time out here talking about something that will be answered in the near future. Right now we need to make sure that she is safe and understands the importance of this trial.” Celestia walked in without speaking another word. The two others followed silently behind the elder. When they saw the golden frame of the throne room door, Celestia gave a gentle knock and waited for the it to open.
Twilight nodded to Spike when a gentle knock was heard. Spike ran over and swiftly pulled the door open, revealing Celestia. She entered, thanking the small dragon. Behind her walked Luna and Cadence, both of whom had very serious looks.
“Applejack, Pinkie Pie, Rainbowdash, Fluttershy, Rarity,” Celestia’s voice gently called each of the ponies name, “Can you please leave us for a few minutes?” The main five looked at each other in confusion. Looking at the Princess they nodded and quickly left the throne Room. Celestia watched them go and closed the golden door before speaking again. Her horn began to glow soft yellow as she pointed it toward the door, covering it also with the yellow glow. Turning back to Twilight, Celestia spoke, “Now, Twilight, about the dream you had. When a Princess earns her own Kingdom, she may not know how to govern over the land properly; however, in time with the help of others she may finally come to realize what it takes. As for the dream, we have all received one showing visions of the two alicorns that you saw. In time, the two alicorns in your dream will show up again until you see the truth behind what happened all those years ago. You must figure out who they are and what they have done. As for the punishment they received,”Celestia looked down, “You’ll also find that out for yourself. Now, onto what you must do, Luna.” Celestia looked at her younger sister who stepped forward. Her blue magic was wrapped around another object. Twilight squinted and saw that it was the book from last night.
“This will guide you.” She handed the book off to Twilight who just stared at it in confusion.
“It’s just an empty book. What is it supposed to help me with?” She asked looking between the princesses.
“That is up to you to decide. For me, it was a way to vent out my anger for a while.” Luna stated, remembering her own blue bound book.
“Mine still writes my story as I grow in age.” Celestia smiled, speaking of the yellow book that sat neatly on her bedside table.
I now have a book full of stories to tell my future children.” Cadence blushed, thinking of the pink spine on her shelf.
“For each of us it’s different. Yet, it has always given us a reminder of how we became what we are today. Now, what you must do. We each had to learn about what truly made us a princess. Charity, Compassion, Devotion, Integrity, Optimism, and Leadership are qualities you learned from your friends, and what we learned from ours. Cadence will explain further.” Luna stepped back and let the soft pink princess take her place.
“Even with those traits, we had to learn them all ourselves, and I had to learn a trait from Luna and Celestia. For you, however, it may be different.
“If you accept the task of learning, you must leave ponyville and travel across Equestria to learn, just as we had to so long ago. For you cannot learn from staying in one place your entire life. Also I would advise you pack little; the journey may be long and carrying much will slow you down. Also, this is just a trial for a princess. I broke that and brought your brother along, so don’t take the ‘you must make this journey alone’ seriously.” Cadence took a step back standing again beside Celestia. Twilight looked down, her mind running off in different directions. She looked up at Celestia.
“If it teaches me to help the ponies of Equestria, I will gladly take up the opportunity.” She bowed to the others and ran past them, the gold doors opening with the pull of Celestia’s magic. Twilight ran down the corridor toward her room. She looked around and saw her saddle bags leaning against her wall. With a swift flicker of magic, she placed the bags on her back and tightened the strap underneath of her. She trotted back to the throne room and saw her friend patiently waiting for her. Floating the purple book into a bag, she stood in front of her friends and looked at each of them.
“They said I could bring one friend with me.” She looked over the five ponies she had known for almost three years now. She smiled and spoke again. “Spike,” The baby dragon hopped up from his spot, looking at her, “Will you join me?” He nodded happily and ran over to her, jumping on her back when he reached her. “I’ll be gone for a while and I have no idea when I’ll return. Please look after ponyville and make sure nothing happens. I trust you all to make sure our home isn’t brought to ruin. You know how crazy it can get around here.” They laughed remembering how some of the guests had been truly unfriendly.
“Now, Twilight, I do have a simple question. Truly, why are you doing this? You’ve already proven that you’re ready.” Rarity asked.
“I have to learn to be better for everypony. I must become the best princess I can be, and I must leave to learn what it truly takes.” The others nodded and smiled.
“Then let us give you a bit of help to start you off.” AJ offered.
“Crystals shining in the dark,” Rarity started.
“Lost from all pony kind,” Rainbowdash added
“Deep, deep, down I hide,” Applejack continued.
“With only a flicker of light,” Pinkie said, waving her hand in front of her face.
“Find me, Find me,” Fluttershy softly spoke.
“Find rays that light me.” They all concluded, their voices echoing around the hall. Twilight looked at her friends in confusion. ‘What? What is that supposed to mean?’ Before she could ask for more clarification, she was already left alone, their only goodbye the sound of large golden doors being slammed shut.
‘Great, now what do I do?' With a sigh, she took the saddlebags off her back and placed them next to the throne. Sitting on the floor, she leaned back and let her full body rest on the cool tiles. ‘I hope this doesn’t take too long.’ Was all she thought before her mind began to race, trying to solve out the mystery of her friends’ clue.