"Hmm, portals to other worlds, dimensions, and planes?! Starswirl the Bearded you were a true genius! All your algorithms! Your equations, theories, skills! How I wish I could've met you!" Princess Twilight Sparkle sat in front of 'the very desk Starswirl the Bearded studied at!' The only light: a burning candle almost down to its holding cup. "What other books has he written down here besides from the mirror he created?"
She flew up the highest she could to one the cave shelves in Starswirl's library. Even after her new kingdom had arrived, the newly ascended Alicorn still visited the museum-like athenaeum. And despite Celestia's insistence, Twilight was not going to ruin a historical room just so she could read old, dusty, informational, detailed books. She was horrified to think that Celestia would even consider Twilight relocating the lost-for-who-knows-how-long library! So, here she was in Canterlot Castle in the caverns of the cave of the mountain of the castle in Starswirl the Bearded's secret and lost library researching his own research.
"The Secrets of the Everfree, What Were Changelings?, Celestia's Double Life?! I am bookmarking that one. Hmm, what else does he have here?" As Twilight perused the various notebooks and books of notes, a very well-sized book above shook and vibrated in its place. It slid out and began to fall to the ground on its spine first, it's many notes and knowledge soon-to-be gone from order. "Ooh! A thick one! Let's see what this is..."
Twilight had caught the falling tome inches from crashing behind her. "Thank you, Spike!" she thanked her brother-assistant for the many times of dropping books behind her. She had to save them somehow. Twilight sneered as she witnessed the two inches of caked on dust from over years of sitting in the same spot. She blew it off and grabbed the many particles with her magic to avoid irritating her sinuses than she already had.
Disposing of the dust, she cocked an eyebrow as she read the cover to herself, "The End? This cover sounds more like the back of the book and a bit cryptic, too. "I better get to reading before I fall asleep," she opened the book to its first page and pondered the many questions she could answer herself and the ones she couldn't even think to imagine the answers.
"'The End'? This is talking about everything but an end! So... what in Equestria were you talking about, Starswirl?" she spoke quietly to herself again.
She winced as she skipped to the back, missing all the probably-vital-information, but she wanted know what happened. It was like something took hold of her mindscape and twisted what she was going to do to what she wanted to do. "Whoever shall read these words is a pony of great intellect, is pure of heart, and has the kindest of souls Equestria has ever had the joy of having of being that pony's solace and humble abode.
On a day like no other, when the Sun and Moon disappear, yet are both full and in the sky there, the end of all things that sparkle will be on the last twilight of tomorrow.
P.S. I'll be seeing you real soon, Princess Twilight Sparkle...
"What?!" Twilight Sparkle reread the last line of Starswirl the Bearded's The End, then repeated her act several more times.
"I must be really tired or Starswirl is trying to tell me something even though this was written thousands of years ago!" she slammed the book shut and her ears lowered as the book began to glow an azureish grey. "Woah... wait. Oh, no! No, no, no, no, no, no, NO!" The book had widened on its lower side. It now looked like a door. The book-door was reflective, as if like a mirror. "A-a mirror? Another portal?! I-I should get the Princess," Twilight stuttered out. She meant to flee for the exit but...
Who-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-whew-ho-o-os-s-sh-h-h! The portal made a terrifying whooshing and sucking sound. The pulling force was growing and becoming too much for poor Twilight as she grabbed at the dirt-floor, pulling up chunks of dirt and pebbles along with her. She would have went in right away if it wasn't for her hooves gripping the edges to free herself from the force. The confused pony was then pulled off the edges and strewn about the cave until finally being sucked into the portal to who-knows-where.
~~~~
Princess Twilight Sparkle groaned as she reached to soothe the throbbing in the back of her head. "Wha-what happened? Where am I?" She looked around and found her surroundings less than inviting. Stone floor and three walls, the fourth wall replaced by steel bars. "What?" she whispered under her breath.
" And then I said, 'How could you say nine plus ten equals twenty-one?!' It was ridiculous! He explained it too!" a husky, enjoyable voice sounded from down a torch-lit hall.
Twilight jumped when she heard the stallion. "Hay! Can you please tell me where I am? I don't think I should be locked up like this!" she waited in anticipation for a response, but one never came. She slumped against a wall and over-sighed. She went to drop her head in her hooves and gasped as she witness them bound in shackles; long chains stretching to the floor and finally connecting to the back wall. She groaned again, but in frustration before she put a hoof to her forehead. My head! "How do I forget about my magic again?" Twilight Sparkle focused her horn on teleporting out of the cell she resigned in. All I need is a flicker!
"That won't help you, stranger." The majestic, melodious voice broke the 'stranger' out of her focus.
The purple jailee's jaw dropped when the familiar face stepped out from the shadows she hid in. "Princess Celestia?!"
It was true. The milky monarch was standing on the opposite side of the bars that detained her protege. "Yes. You know my name, but tell me, my little pony, what is yours?"