Finding The Magic (Discontinued)

The engine huffed and expelled steam as it braked to a halt upon its arrival in Canterlot. The doors rolled open as the conductor at the station shouted “Now arriving in Canterlot! Welcome to the capital!”. Departing the train, Astral was astounded by the towering city before her. Canterlot sat built onto a cliff-side that overlooked all of Equestria. Its buildings progressively rose until they reached the immense towers of the castle that dominated the skyline above all else. The sun reflected off the brilliant white brick used to construct the countless structures.

Astral just stood in awe. She couldn't find words to describe the city she was looking upon. Her eyes just affixed from tower to tower, taking in every detail.

“Astral? Come on, the castle is this way!” Twilight called out to the daydreaming Astral.

Looking around, Astral saw Twilight was already waiting at the gate to leave the station. Twilight was clearly very excited to be visiting Canterlot. Joining her purple pony guide, Astral followed Twilight through the streets of Canterlot. Ponies didn't seem to stop as the pair walked down the cobbled roads. Occasionally a pony or two would stop to greet Twilight as a princess, but most just kept about their business. This city was far more bustling than Ponyville, which now seemed like a silent burg in comparison.

The pair turned down a final road as they passed a large ornate fountain depicting two female ponies holding large mason jars of which water poured from. At the end of the road were the brilliant golden gates that marked the entrance to Canterlot Castle. Two male ponies in golden armor stood at attention before the gates as if in an eternal vigil.

“Attention! Princess Twilight approaches!” The guards shouted in unison as Twilight and Astral approached the gates. The more senior appearing guard turned his attention to Twilight and Astral and with a gruff but welcoming voice greeted the pair. “Welcome to Canterlot Castle, Princess Twilight. You and your guest will find Princess Luna just inside the castle's doors.” he stated as he charged his horn with magic that opened the large golden gates.

“Princess Luna? Is Princess Celestia not here?” Twilight asked the guard pony.

“Princess Celestia is away on business for the time being. Princess Luna has taken to watching the day to day operations of the kingdom until her return.” The guard replied. “I do hope your visit will not be interrupted by this information Princess.” The guard pony bowed his head in respect.

“No, its fine sir. Thank you for your assistance.” Twilight replied respectfully. She wondered to herself where Princess Celestia would have gone?

Together the pair entered the main doors of the castle. Inside was a large hall that at the end sat two large thrones. In one sat a tall dark blue pony. Her mane seemed to move on its own as if wind constantly blew through it. What caught Astral's eye was how her mane seemed to appear as if it were made of the night sky itself, stars and all.

“Princess Luna!” Twilight called out as she waved to the pony sitting on the throne. She seemed to be slightly exhausted, as if she were not used to being awake at this hour.

“Ah. Twilight Sparkle. It is always a pleasure. Forgive us for our demeanor. We are not used to being awake so early in the...” Princess Luna let out a long drawn out yawn. “I really do not care for my sister's trips away from the kingdom...” She muttered out under her breath.

Twilight giggled quietly to herself. “Princess Celestia is away then correct?”, Twilight asked.

“Indeed. She should be back by day's end however. She ran out of her favored parchment and you know how she prefers to retrieve it herself.” Princess Luna explained with a hint of bitterness. “Who is this then? I had thought I have met all of your friends already?”

“My name is Astral, your highness.” Astral said formally with a bow of respect. Social formalities weren't something she dealt with often, but she picked up on them out of necessity back on Azeroth.

“'Tis a pleasure to meet thee, Astral. What brings you to our kingdom?” Luna replied with as much formal effort she could muster in her exhausted state.

“There's a bit of a story behind our visit Princess.” Twilight retorted. She began retelling all that had happened over the last two days.

“Hmm. This is a most interesting series of events. Nothing of this nature has ever happened in as long as I can remember.” Luna explained. “Perhaps the Royal Archives may hold an answer?”

“That's not all Princess.” Twilight explained to the very exhausted princess.

“Oh? What more is there?” Luna inquired. She was unsure as to how there could possibly be more to this story.

“Her magic has the same cosmic signature as Alicorn magic.” Twilight said. “We're unsure how to help her tap back into it however. That's why we came her hoping Princess Celestia might have an idea.”

Princess Luna looked over Astral. Astral started to become a little unnerved as it seemed like the Princess was looking through her very being. Finally Luna broke the silence, “Well, you are welcome to wait here at the castle until my sister returns. As I mentioned, perhaps your answers are within the Royal Archives.” Luna let out a heavy yawn once more.

Twilight and Astral thanked the very tired Princess Luna and headed off towards the archives. Astral couldn't help but think she heard snoring as they left the throne room...

Shelf by shelf the pair looked through books and scrolls of all kinds. Nothing so far seemed to be of any use to the pair. The archives were extensive; Thousands of books lined the shelves of the chamber. At its center was a large metal hourglass that seemed to just be decoration as the sand within it was stationary.

“There's plenty of books in here, but nothing seems to be recorded on cosmic magic at all.” Twilight said cycling through books along a shelf.

“You'd think at some point somepony would have written something down information about two of the most important beings in all of Equestria.” Astral mentioned in frustration. This was getting them nowhere.

“In all honesty, it might be because there are only four known ponies who can even use cosmic magic.” Twilight replied.

“What?” Astral stopped looking through the tome she held and turned her attention to Twilight. “There are only four Alicorn ponies in all of Equestria?”.

“Well, yes, and up until just recently that number totaled only three. Very little is known about it at all, even by me. That's why I thought we should come here. If anyone knows about Alicorn magic, it would be Princess Celestia.” Twilight explained.

“If only she was here to help us. At least then we might have a better idea on where to look that going book by book...” Astral let out a sigh as she leaned up against the hourglass.

There was a sudden click from behind Astral that sounded like a lock moving into place. She felt herself falling backwards as the hourglass began to tip. She caught herself before she hit the ground and looked up to see the hourglass rotate around. As it clicked into place in a now reversed position, the entire room seemed to change. Everything gave off a blue glow as a portion of the wall began to move revealing a hidden room. Twilight and Astral exchanged worried gazes.

“Did you know that was there?” Astral asked.

“I used to spend hours in here reading when I was in school, but I never knew about that.” Twilight replied back her stunned friend.

The pair eased their way toward the suspicious room that had opened. Inside the walls were covered in charts and maps of various stars and constellations. Tomes and journals filled a few small shelves. Papers and quills littered the floor around a small chair and desk. On a small stand atop the desk surrounded by balled up scraps of paper rested an untouched book. It seemed to be made out of brown leather bindings with a single light blue star on its cover. Twilight and Astral didn't take their eyes off the mysterious tome that seemed almost out of place.

“You think this might be what we're looking for?” Astral asked Twilight.

“Considering where it is, I'd think so. I wonder what this place is...” Twilight said looking around the room again.

Astral picked up the book from its resting place. Opening its cover, she began to flip through the pages to see what was inside. Each page outlined various spells based around the stars themselves. Footnotes and journal entries were scribbled on the pages between and around each spell describing magic that came from the stars and celestial bodies and how only certain ponies seemed to be capable of using such magic. “This is amazing. Whoever this belonged to seemed to be researching a connection between  magic and the stars themselves!” Astral said in excitement as she thumbed through the pages.

“I thought this would be where I would find you.” A voice spoke up from behind Astral and Twilight.