Element of Fire

"I win again!" Twilight Sparkle declared, raising her hooves in victory. Shining Armor, her older brother, simply smiled. His little sister had won Pai Sho for the third time they had played today, and he was impressed with her skills.

"You know Twilight, you've gotten much better. The first time you played Pai Sho you threw all of the pieces to the floor," Shining Armor said, chuckling at his sister. Twilight grinned, then began to clean up. That was enough of Pai Sho for one day, let alone one week. She instead wanted to finish reading her book, The Adventures of Starswirl, which was a novel about the adventures of a young but still quite powerful Starswirl, and it was almost like a biography, though it was more exciting and action-packed.

Twilight looked out the window, then back at Shining Armor. She almost forgot that today was a lucky day, as her brother was actually here with her, instead of guarding Canterlot and what not. Even though the role of guarding Canterlot was considered an honor and highly important, she wanted being with her brother the most important thing, more than patroling the royal castle. Sure, it sounded selfish, but still.

"Shiny, what do you want to do the next time you're not working?" Twilight asked. She regretted saying it as the words slid out of her mouth. She already knew the answer. And, it wasn't a good one, either.

The white stallion gave her a small, sad smile. He opened his mouth to speak, then quickly closing it, as if reconsidering on what he wants to say. Finally, he spoke, slowly as if he had all the time in the world. He didn't, of course, as today was probably his only day-off until who knows when. Time goes fast, and the next morning, the two siblings won't have any time to play Pai Sho, or anything. Just a quick hug and goodbyes, then Shining Armor was out the door.

"Look, Twily, I really... I don't exactly know the next time I'm not going to work. Canterlot needs more protection after the, um, radio got hacked."

"Oh... it's okay. I- its, um... understandable," the lavender unicorn replied, remembering how athe radio got hacked, right when she left her prestigious school of magic, 'The Canterlot Academy of Magic'. She tried to smile sympathetically, but her purple eyes had a different emotion; sadness. Lowering her head, she imagined herself in her brother's position; he probably felt sadness too.

All of a sudden, the silence quickly broke as Spike barged into the door, panting, with light yellow frosting smeared around his mouth.

"Twi-" he quickly stopped speaking as he took a few more breaths, exhausted from stuffing his face with a cupcake and racing towards the stairs.

Spike looked at Twilight Sparkle, then Shining Armor. Both of their expressions said two things; confusion, and judging by their raised eyebrows, something was wrong. But with what? Then the dragon quickly realized why the two ponies were raising their eyebrows- the cupcake! They were staring at the smear of yellow! He hastily licked off the remaining frosting, embarrassed.

"Sorry about that- I was eating a cupcake, then your parents, they-" Spike quickly took a breath, "they told me to bring you downstairs, somepony's here to talk to you!"

Twilight glanced at her brother, then back at Spike, her mind buzzing with thoughts. Who was this 'somepony'? Why did she or he wanted to talk to her? What happened? What's going on? What did she even do?

Slowly, the lavender unicorn got up, landing on her hooves with a slight thud, then followed the dragon downstairs, with her brother following behind. Twilight Sparkle was nervous. Her hooves were shaky as she walked, and she glanced from the stairs to the ceiling. She felt like she was sweating, but when she raised her hoof to feel her forehead, it was dry, free of any sweat. She was only warm, and she was sure it wasn't some nervous fever, thankfully.

When the trio finally reached the first floor of their house, her parents, Twilight Velvet and Nightlight, were sitting still as stone on one of their dining room chairs. The chairs had velvet cushions, and were so comfortable that Twilight loved to sit on them while reading a book. Her house also seemed much cleaner than usual- not that her house wasn't neat, but she definitely could tell the difference. The wooden dining table now had a potted orchid plant, an ivory-colored, lace table runner, and there was a few white candles lit around the orchid. Twilight Velvet's mane was neatly groomed, as if she was going to a formal event; it was also the same for the purple unicorn's father, Nightlight, whose mane was slicked back with a little bit of gel.

Velvet smiled at her daughter. She knew that Twilight was confused at the moment, and so she began to tell her daughter what was going on, though she didn't reveal too much- she didn't even know what the little event was about, although she knew who the guest was. All she said was that somepony important was going to be here, and not to worry, as she wasn't in trouble. Twilight seemed a bit more relieved, but still unsure. Gently, Velvet brushed a lock of the lavender unicorn's mane out of her face, in attempt to calm her. Her expression still remained slightly nervous. Velvet sighed; she didn't blame her. Who knows what the certain guest- pony will say, or when they will arrive.

Knock, knock.

Twilight gasped. The moment had finally come. Was it a test? The unicorn mare was always prepared for tests- tests that she knew were going to take, not surprises! Twilight took a deep breath. She assured herself everything will be alright. Her parents said so. Shining Armor would've said the same, and Spike didn't seem worried. Of course they shouldn't be. They weren't the ones talking to anypony they don't know. Twilight bit her lip, and tapped the table's surface with her hoof repeatedly.

Her father opened the door. Two ponies arrived, both dressed in navy blue and white coats, with a wooden badge that not only added a touch of embellishment, but also seemed to connect the cape together. Twilight squinted at the badge. It... it almost looked like a Pai Sho tile. It was a lotus. She furrowed her eyebrows. It didn't make any sense- she'd seen regular Canterlot guards (especially her brother, as he was a Canterlot guard) but their outfits were different than these ponies. But she lifted her head a little bit higher, and realized that there was another pony.

The two guards marched into her house, while the third pony followed. Twilight's eyes and mouth widened.

"Pr-Princess Celestia!" She blurted, another gasp escaping her mouth. Quickly, the mare bowed back to the white alicorn, her pastel- rainbow mane flowing, with a large headpiece behind her head, and golden accessories gleaming from the sunlight. Her sunlight.

The princess smiled, and raised a hoof to the guards, then the doors. The two quickly closed the doors at her command, even though she didn't say anything. On the other hoof, Twilight was feeling the opposite- she had so, so much to say, but didn't know where to start.

"I'm going to apologize in advance, but I can't help it! Why, Princess Celestia, are you here? Did I do something wrong, is anything wrong? What in Equestria is going on?!"

Spike ran over to the now breathing- heavily unicorn, his eyes worried. "Are you okay?" he whispered.

"Greetings Twilight Sparkle. We've set up a brief meeting at your house. We have things to discuss..."

Celestia's voice trailed off as she took a seat on one of the velvet-cushioned chairs, the two stallion guards with the Pai Sho badge standing on either side of her. Now, everyone was sitting.

At first, there was silence. Celestia cleared her throat, and spoke her words as smooth as honey.

"Now, I assure you that you have done nothing wrong, Twilight Sparkle. But I will say that we have important news, news that even your family didn't know before, until now. Let me give you some more... information.

"Twilight, after going to the spirit world, we've found a new and easier way to find the new avatar. And by we, I mean the White Lotus."

She nodded her head at the guards beside her side. Both stallions saluted.

Avatar?

"The Order of the White Lotus is a secret organization that helps find the avatar, watch over criminal ponies, and other helpful tasks. But enough said- you will learn more about, well, everything, Twilight Sparkle," one of the guards spoke. She didn't pay attention to whose mouth spoke those words.

"Okay... what's the big surprise?"

Celestia straightened herself, then whispered something to both of the White Lotus guards before looking back at Twilight. She cleared her throat.

"The big news is... you are the avatar."

Twilight and her family gasped. Spike fainted, though he probably faked it. That didn't matter, because Princess Celestia, the ruler of Equestria who raises the sun every single day, said that she, Twilight Sparkle, a simple lavender unicorn mare living in Canterlot, is somehow the avatar. The impossible had just happened, seconds ago.

"I understand how... uncertain you are. But don't worry. Everything will make sense, it will take some time." Celestia said calmly, now walking towards a frozen Twilight.

"I-I am the avatar?" she asked in disbelief.

"Indeed."

"Your highness- are you sure that you are... accurate?"

Celestia nodded. "Of course. We've been looking for the avatar for a while, and all of our examinations have led us to you, Twilight Sparkle.

"I'm very sorry for such little time I have, because I have to handle the whole equalist- situation. But I have two last things to say to you. You will have to face the equalists soon, and it won't be easy, which is completely okay. Soon you will do your part in bringing harmony to Equestria. The last thing is that I wanted to do is give you these books. The text is ancient, created a long time ago, but newly restored."

One of the White Lotus members reached for a bag hidden in his cape, revealing two leather bound books and a book that looked like a stack of old papers. The stallion was a green earth pony, with ruby red eyes and an orange mane, mostly tucked under a headpiece with a similar color scheme to that of his cape. One by one, he placed the books onto the table, and then saluted. Nightlight nodded at Twilight, who then levitated the three books towards her, and examined them.

  The first book was perhaps the newest looking out of all of them, though Celestia had said that the text was ancient, revived and restored. The cover had golden corners, and the title was called, "The Guide to The Five Elements," and was surrounded with five symbols that represented the five elements.

The second book was significantly thicker, and even a little bit heavy- despite the fact that Twilight was levitating it- and the leather was more a a burgundy-red color. A silver plate was in the center, and carved into it was the title; 'The Complete Adventurer's Resource: By A.K. Yearling," along with a small sapphire imbedded below the carved words. A red ribbon was attached to the spine of the book, and attached to the ribbon was a small, silver compass.

Then, there was the third and final book. Out of all the books Twilight Sparkle had seen, this was probably the most flimsiest, and even a bit pathetic. The only thing that kept the whole book together were the many stitches, and the cover... It was strange, not like anything she had ever seen in her life. It seemed, at first, fragile, but when she tried to bend it with her magic, it was actually somewhat sturdy. Guess I shouldn't judge a book by its cover, Twilight thought. Until she opened the book. Emptiness. The sheets of papyrus that made up the book's pages were just empty. Immediately, Twilight frowned.

       "Princess Celestia, I don't mean to be... rude, but this book... it's empty. Is this some kind of... journal?"

"Oh, you'll see, my faithful student. You'll need it soon. Patience is key."

Twilight's eyes widened. Faithful student? She couldn't believe it! The purple mare smiled, bouncing around the alicorn princess as she did when she got her cutie mark, a magenta, six-pointed star, surrounded with smaller, white stars.

"I'm going to be... your student?" she squealed, still bouncing up and down.

"Yes. I will be your spiritual master. You won't have any lessons for now, however. Like I said, be patient."

"Before I go, Twilight, are there any questions you would like to ask me?" asked Celestia.

Twilight stopped bouncing, then faced the princess. "I have so many questions to ask... but I will-um, ask you... three. No, four." she stammered. Celestia nodded. Before asking, she whispered something  to Spike, who swiftly got out a paper and quill, already dipped in ink, prepared to take notes from Princess Celestia's answers. Then, the lavender unicorn finally asked her first question.

"Why didn't you tell me that I was the avatar when I was... a filly? I would've handled the whole revelation situation thing by now."

Celestia shook her head.

"It would've been to early. The pony is informed of his or her's destiny as being the avatar when they have become more... mature." she responded. It made sense. How could a little filly even understand the role of being the avatar?

"Secondly, how can I communicate with you?" Twilight asked.

"When I was scheduling the whole meeting with your parents, I gave them my number so that you can call me. I also found out that you have a dragon, who can send letters to me with his fire breath, which I strongly recommend that you do so. Use the telephone for when there's no time to write." Princess Celestia replied.

Twilight cleared her throat. "Third, um... how does the whole avatar thing... work? I mean, I've never looked that deep in the topic."

Celestia looked down at the wooden floor, pondering on how to answer such a question. The answer would probably long, but Twilight was eager to know more on her role as being the avatar and such. Finally, her mentor took a deep breath, then answered in her most regal voice.

"The avatar is the bridge between the mortal world, which is this place we call our home, and the spirit world, a parallel plane of reality that coexists our world, and obviously, as you can infer from its name, the home to spirits of many shapes and sizes. It's very hard for a regular pony to get to the spirit world, but you can do it easily, through meditation.

"The avatar is also the only one who can bend all five elements, which are water, earth, fire, air and magic. And here's a little fact; all earth, water, magic, and fire- benders are unicorns, and pegasi are air-benders, right? Well, alicorns- like myself, can bend all forms of magic, and a special type of magic exclusive to, well, alicorns. It is alicorn magic.

"You will soon be a fully-realized avatar, which means you can control all five elements, and the avatar state, a state in which you are most powerful, but also the most vulnerable. If you are killed in the avatar state, the avatar cycle will not continue.

"Speaking of the avatar cycle, its a cycle in which the avatar spirit is reincarnated when you... pass away, of course, not when you are in the avatar state. The previous avatar was a unicorn named Sunset Shimmer. She wasn't actually a fully-realized avatar, and perhaps the only one, but I rather not talk about it. You can also talk to your past lives, for wisdom.

"And, since you're probably wondering, the avatar spirit's name is Raava. She is an alicorn spirit, the spirit of harmony, light and basically the universal spirit of good. If she is removed from the avatar, or in this case, you, and also destroyed, the avatar cycle will end.

"And, all in all, the avatar is the one who brings balance to the world."

Twilight looked at Spike, who was rapidly taking notes, then back at Celestia. What was her final question? Her thoughts started to buzz, like earlier when she was told by Spike that somepony was going to see her. She knew that she could communicate with Celestia by either phone or letters, but what question should she ask, one that needs an answer right away, face to face, right now?

"Princess Celestia, what should I first do now that I know my role as the avatar?" Twilight asked, this time with less nervous-ness and more confidence. The other White Lotus member, a gray-colored unicorn, started to walk close to the door, and so did the green earth pony. They were preparing to leave. Finally, Princess Celestia followed them, and before exiting, turned back to find the purple mare's eyes looking back at her own.

"Your first task is to go to Ponyville, since that's where a lot of Equalist activity is. And while you're there, make some friends. It'll help you master the element of magic, since your cutie mark seems to represent it. Soon you will fully master it!" the Princess answered back before heading out the door and entering her chariot, along with the White Lotus guards. Then, four pegasi (not White Lotus guards, just Celestia's) began to pull the chariot, and soon enough, they were making their way back to the Royal Castle.