Mediator

[Please note, this story is incomplete, and will not be continued. I am currently working on a collab with GaruuSpike called 'Expectations' that borrows inspiration from this story, and I urge you to read that instead. Please read the description]

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The blue pegasus stirred as the early morning light penetrated the room. Fashioned from clouds, the white room cast a bright glare, turning the soft walls into a makeshift glow cube. A natural alarm clock.

Rainbow Dash rolled out of the cloud bed and yawned, stretching her legs and wings. As much as she loved her sleep, she was the head of the pegasus weather team for a reason. The nightshift team had spent the night working on a light shower to ensure the plant life didn't dry up in the summer heat, and the morning team were set to clear the sky to allow for a warm and dry Summer Sun Celebration in two day's time.

Giving her spread wings another stretch, Rainbow Dash gently flapped them, hovering in the air for a few seconds, before touching back down. No harm in a few pre-flight checks. When no pony's looking.

Confident she was sufficiently awake, Rainbow Dash kicked into the air, flying out from the top of her home among the clouds. Formed from clouds, the 'building' lacked a roof, because, of course, what could she need shelter from? Dash bounced on a small nearby cloud to stimulate a small rain shower, then hovered underneath it. When she felt freshened up, she whipped up small whirlwind to dry off. One final mid-air stretch, and she felt ready for morning weather duty.

Morning weather...

Wait...

Dash gave her bird-eye view of Ponyville a quick scan. Something did not sit right with her. It was morning, yes. The sun would not be that low otherwise. But the air felt different. It felt...

It felt like...

No.

It felt wrong. As a weather pegasus, Rainbow Dash was acutely in tune with the world. She knew the air. The air told her things in a manner that no words could. She could tap in to the heart of the wind with a beat of her wings. If she could trust anything, it's her wings.

Rainbow Dash's wings asked the wind, what is wrong?

The wind responded in kind, nothing is wrong. The wind tussled Rainbow Dash's mane. Nothing is wrong, with me.

Dash's eyes widened. There was no fresh feeling in the wind. The air did not feel like the world had just awoken.

The sun was just grazing the horizon, yet the air was adamant.

It was midday.

And the sun looked like it was creaking.

___

"It's awful kind of yer to offer your help, Twi, but I really can manage on mah own."

Twilight Sparkle turned to face her friend. "Oh, it's no trouble. Besides, we can get the job done twice as fast."

Applejack brought a hoof to her chin, thinking. "Well, if you put it that way..."

Having studied late into the previous night, Twilight had promised herself to spend her day out and about, doing some work around Ponyville. Where better to find practical work than Sweet Apple Acres? Indeed, Twilight had soon found Applejack fixing up one of the smaller storage barns in preparation for Applebuck Season, and promptly offered her assistance. Soon, both ponies found themselves hard at work, Applejack insisting on doing the bulk of the work and Twilight assisting with her magic.

Even when accepting help, AJ sure is proud of her work, Twilight observed. Regardless, the two enjoyed each other's company.

The pair finished their renovations come what felt like mid-afternoon. Applejack stepped down from the stepladder Twilight was steadying and cast an eye over their work, dropping the hammer in her mouth gently to the ground.

"Whoo, that'll do nicely" the earth pony assessed. "Now all she needs is a lick o' paint and she'll be fit fer storin'."

She turned to the unicorn. "Thanks fer the help, Twi."

Twilight assured the earth pony it was nothing, feeling pleased with their handiwork.

Applejack opened her mouth to respond, but was interrupted by a commotion coming from Ponyville. The two ponies turned to find Spike running towards them, shouting Twilight's name and waving a scroll around above his head.

Twilight blinked, "Spike, what in the..."

"Twilight! Letter from the princess! It's important!" Spike's young face bore none of the good-hearted childish humour that usually graced it.

Spike skidded to a stop in front of Twilight and Applejack, panting heavily and holding aloft the scroll. Using her magic to hold it, Twilight inspected the seal. The seal itself was not gold, but crimson red, yet held the seal of the royal family. The band that held the scroll together was coal black.

Unfurling the scroll, Twilight read aloud;

My Faithful Student Twilight Sparkle,

I sincerely hope this message finds you well.
Unfortunately, a matter of utmost urgency has
arisen, and I'm afraid I must request you join
me in Canterlot. A royal escort has been sent
to bring you here, and should arrive within
the hour. I humbly beg your pardon for giving
you such a short notice.

Princess Celestia

Twilight finished reading the flowing script, and glanced around. The princess didn't normally withhold information in her letters.

Applejack was the first to recover. "Sounds mighty urgent, draggin' you all the way back to Canterlot."

Twilight agreed. What could possibly be so serious she had to be there in person? Had something happened to the princess? Twilight bade Applejack farewell, who in turn promised to explain the unicorn's sudden absence to the others, and returned to the library with Spike. As promised, the royal escort that brought her to Ponyville arrived shortly after. As stoic as the pegasus guards were, Twilight swore she could see a glint of emotion in those proud eyes. They rustled their wings.

"Hey! Twilight!" Rainbow Dash slowed to a sudden halt next to the carriage, having flown at full pelt. "I've got something to... where are you going?"

"The princess summoned me to Canterlot." Twilight responded, a little annoyed at Dash's informality in front of the royal guards.

"But Twi, I..." Dash started.

"Sorry, Rainbow, but I'm afraid it'll have to wait. This is important." Twilight looked into her friend's eyes. "We'll talk when I get back, ok?"

Dash watched as the royal escort took off into the sky.

___

The heavy oak doors, gilded around the edges with deep gold and bright silver, creaked on their hinges as they were swung slowly open. The famous great doors of the royal castle of Canterlot had held their proud place in the world longer than most any lord or lady or figurehead of power.

As the polished doors opened, Twilight was greeted by a large marble-white stone throne room. A long regal-red carpet ran from the entrance up to the end of the room, flanked on either side by vivid tapestries and tall marble columns. At the head of the room rested a large gold throne, adjacent to a smaller silver one, each sporting a plush, comfortable-looking seat of red and blue respectively. The smaller throne was unoccupied, but at the larger seat lay the ruler of Equestria, Princess Celestia.

Twilight took a step forward and bowed, "Princess?"

The princess did nothing to indicate she had acknowledged anyone had entered the throne room. Instead, the ruler continued to lie there, flank to the visitor. The princess was writing something to a roll of parchment, and did not divert her attention away from her work.

Twilight stood there awkwardly for a minute, rising cautiously from her bow. Had she done something wrong? Was the princess mad at her? No, don't be silly. She probably didn't hear the first time. Perhaps, no, don't call out again. The princess is busy.

But... But she never ignored her student.

An age seemed to pass in the period of little time at all, when the princess magically placed the quill back in the ink pot and rolled up the scroll. She lowered her head and closed her eyes.

She called out gently, "Thank you most kindly, guards. Could you give us some privacy please?"

The guards bowed as one, then left the throne room, shutting those great doors behind them.

Celestia lifted her head and managed a smile. "My dearest, most faithful student! How have you been?"

"Erm... well, thank you." Why was she nervous?

The princess paused before resuming, "I'm so sorry to have to drag you all the way over here."

"No no, not at all! You know I enjoy talking with you." Nervous... What was going on? She couldn't just-

"Twilight," Celestia began, pushing herself up into a standing position. This took visible effort on her part, as the princess nearly stumbled and collapsed. It seemed only through pure willpower that her expression remained calm and gentle.

"My dear pupil," Celestia continued, approaching the horrified unicorn. "I'm..."

"Princess Celestia?"

The princess looked straight into the eyes of her pupil. She smiled, yet her facade had broken.

She drooped her head.

"I'm so sorry.

"I'm dying."