Dawn and Dusk

by TheKableGuy

Rating: everyone
Tags: Alternate Universe, Romance, Science Fiction, Comedy, Adventure
Length: 4178

Cress was brash, arrogant and the most average pony that could be found. Except for the fact that she is an alicorn Princess, has taken a nap for 1000 years, oh and may or may not be the past representation of the newly crowned Princess Twilight

Usually, when a pony tells you to hold still, you would usually do it. Although usually it's for a vaccine, not casting a spell on you with enough charged Arcane energy to level half of the continent. You must be thinking, "This is definitely not a backstory," well screw you because it's my story and I'll tell it whatever way I feel like.
…
Did I forget to introduce myself? My name is Crescripularity Shimmer, not related (probably), to Sunset Shimmer. I'm also the creator of 17 Arcane Arts, 15 Tempera Arts, and 8 types of Geomancy. They all disappeared when.
…
What do you mean it's not in the script?
…
You know what? I'm out of here.
…
I DON'T CARE ABOUT YOUR SILLY CONTRACTS, I SAID THAT I'M LEAVING.
…
[size=1.5em]CRRRRRACK[/size]
…
AND I AM NOT PAYING FOR THAT DOOR.

Confused? Well, Cress decided to storm out halfway through the summary because I was "being too sarcastic," and left me to finish it, (and replace my door). This story will be a dual fic. Almost every other chapter will switch between Cress and Nova. Don't know who Nova is? She'll show up soon enough.

This is my first fic which means…
[size=2em]I NEED ALL THE COMMENTS!!![/size]
No, really, comments about literally anything and everything (story related) is welcome. Also updates will be sporadic, like 6 months between chapters, sporadic. Enjoy, [size=0.75em]maybe,[/size][size=0.5em]if you don't mind, that is. [/size]

Published 1970-01-01 00:00:00 UTC
Last updated 2016-01-15 01:56:22 UTC

Who are you?

In a crystal hall, 2 alicorns faced each other. One was lavender colored with a purple streak through her dark mane. The other was the color opposite, a yellow base with a silver mane with an orange streak. Both sat in a dead silence, each sipping their tea refusing to meet the others eyes. The lavender alicorn drew a shaky breath and asked, three simple words, starting the interrogation.

"Who are you?"

The other pony shuffled up straighter as if she was trying to look regal and spoke in an unwavering tone as if reciting from memory"I am Crescripularity Glimmer, apprenticed to Princess Luna, adopted by the Equinox house of Canterlot.

"Miss Glimmer, the royal Equinox houses were abandoned hundreds of years ago, and Princess Luna never had an apprentice. A plethora of emotions went through the young alicorn's face. First came anger, then fear, and finally resignation; the kind of resignation that mimics that of a dying man accepting the end.

"What do you last remember," asked Twilight, trying to brighten up the depressing mood that was cast.

"Falling asleep in my room on the night of the 12th full moon."

"You were found stumbling out of the Everfree Forest. What were you doing in there?"

"I honestly have no idea." She said

"More and more curious," thought Twilight

"Crescripularity-" Twilight began

"Cress. My friends call me Cress," as a look of despair slid on her face

Twilight was bewildered, a pony, no, an  alicorn no less was her friend in under 10 minutes, and why was she so depressed? "Is there anything you would like to add, Cress."

"That's all that I remember," she replied in a monotone.

"Well, then what about your family?"

"I never had a husband or a special somepony, and my daughter can handle herself."

"Is she adopted?"

"You could say that," she said fidgeting with her bracelet again.

"Anyway, what is your birthday?"

"The first day of spring."

"When was your last memory?"

"My birthday, year 1009"

"Cress, the day is the second day of spring 2015. You have been asleep for 1,000 years. I'll ask again, Who Are You?"

(----)

Princess Celestia yawned in a very unroyal manner. "Maybe it's time to call it a night," Celestia thought, " Luna can start night court." She lowered the sun, as she always had for centuries, only this time she waited, and the luminous moon crested over the eastern horizon. It had happened for the last year, but every time it took Tia's breath away.

Celestia shuffled down the grand Canterlot hallways, her ethereal mane in knots, bags under her eyes, and to put it gently, frazzled. She was too tired to care about her godly image, and she didn't need to worry anyways, the staff was well aware of the overworked monarch. As Celestia reached her chambers a telltale puff of green and gray smoke swept into the letter funnel that Tia had installed after the "hiccup fiasco", it took her days to change the teleportation co-ordinates. Why was her faithful student writing to her now? Tia opened the letter that reads as follows:

Dear Princess Celestia,

I apologize for writing to you unannounced, but there is an unforeseen circumstance that requires your immediate attention. A pony stumbled out of the Everfree forest and asked to speak to you, Luna, and I. I'd that was not peculiar enough, the pony forgot everything between waking up and having a conversation with me.

She also claims to be apprenticed to Princess Luna, could you look into her claim? Her name is Crescripularity Glimmer.

Your faithful student,

Twilight Sparkle

P.S

Could you enclose a crystal for spike when you send your response, he gets cranky when he has to receive letters that interrupt his naps, and I don't seem to have any nearby.

Celestia read the last line, then re-read it again. Tia ran out of the room, fatigue forgotten searching for her sister.

"Lulu, where are you?", She frantically called out.

"Right here sister."

Tia charged into the hallway that held her sister. " Lulu, she has come back!"

"Who has come back, Tia?", The confused alicorn replied.

Tia lifted the letter with her magic, and while Luna read the letter she wondered how her sister would feel. "Well, I wonder how the

Ponyville troupe will react to this news, Pinkie Pie would throw they a party", thought the alabaster alicorn, remembering her faithful students' Ponyvillian welcome, Rarity would design new outfits, Rainbow Dash would probably challenge her to a race, and the rest would give her a warm welcome, too warm although well natured.

As Luna reached the last sentence, her eyes grew to the size of saucers. Her mind overflowed with emotion and collapsed. Celestia, prepared this, supported her collapsing sister who muttered a single name, "Cress." Celestia walked her unconscious sister and lay her on her bed, and thought "I'll take over Night court for one night, because Lulu has a lot on her mind, although first I have an old friend to visit."

(----)

Buuuurp

"A response from the Princesses, what does it say?"

The purple dragon stood up as much as his little frame let him "well, it says

To my faithful student Twilight Sparkle,

Please bring your guest to Canterlot by tomorrow, I will dispatch a royal escort to accompany you, also open the rest of this letter in one of the nearby hallways to Spike's chambers

Not wanting to disappoint the Princess, Spike walked into the hallway and opened the rest of the letter

Boom

"Spike, what ha----?"

In the hallway spike was hugging, and eating a gigantic crystal, that was twice as big and  tall as Twilight, from the crystal caverns, and it was Spike's favorite flavor, emerald.

"The Princess does have a soft spot for Spike," grumbled Twilight, shuffling back to her room. As she slept Twily's mind wrestled with the question of what does the princess want with the mysterious pony that it's staying in one of the guest bedrooms, and the bigger question of "Who is she?"

"Who is she?"

(----)

The orange alicorn crawled into the guest bedroom with a dimsal mood over her like a malignant thunder head. "I thought that she cared. I thought that I meant something to her." Cress walked into the room her bracelet and her eyes started to burn with ungodly flames. "I TREATED HER LIKE A MOTHER AND THEN SHE GOES AND FORGETS ME!" The room burst into flames as archaic symbols whirled in a torrent of hatred and fire. As quickly as it began, the flames doused themselves, and Cress wasn't a royal, regal, Princess, she was just a filly lost in a grown-up world. All of the walls that Cress had made broke, and she collapsed into bed crawled under the covers and sobbed, long and hard. In the hallway, a pair of clawed hands, silently closed the door, thinkIng, "This is a problem that Twilight can't solve."

(----)

Meanwhile, in Sugarcube Corner a puffy punk mane suddenly burst and deflated. "Oh, that was probably the new pony, I'll get everyone together tomorrow after my morning sugar rush." The party pony pied her signature item out of nowh----

" Oh silly, it didn't come from nowhere, it came from my invisible saddlebags."

Alright Pinkie, can I continue with the story?

"Oops sorry, Carry on."

As I was saying, Pinkie opened the bottom half showcasing her greatest creation, the improbability drive. The hyperactive party pony put on a moustache and inched towards the lever on the end of the cannon. She moved it past the 3 balloons, past the broken wall with a 4 on it, and past the tank with a grilled cheese sandwich cut at an angle, all of the way up to the highest setting, 3 balloons in the same configuration like the lowest setting except for one difference, all the balloons were in the shape of pony skulls.

"This is gonna be good."

Yes, Pinkie, yes it will be.

The Breakfast War: Beginnings

Twilight Sparkle, princess of friendship, element of magic, and former librarian/resident of the Golden Oak Library; did something that she had never done before. She slept in. One of three  things woke the lavender pony, the smell of pancakes, the birdsong comming from outside, or the small purple and green dragon pulling the covers off. "Five more minutes mom, I'm tired," the alicorn said drowsily, "Wait, Spike? What are  are you doing up so early."

"Twilight, it's 11 AM, and if you don't get up you're going to miss brunch," replied Spike in an instructive tone.

"SPIKE, WHY DIDN'T YOU WAKE ME UP? AND WHO IS MAKING THOSE PANCAKES?"

"Calm down Twilight, Pinkie Pie and Cress are making the pancakes, they definitely have it under control." As if the beings that control the forces of irony decided that Spike was to be today's victim,a large explosion  radiated from the general direction of the kitchen, the rumbles shaking all the rooms on the castle. "Um... The pancakes decided to rebel?" Spike said with an unsure smile. Twilight gave him a flat glare while shrill voice rang out, "Of all the worse things to happen, this is, THE. WORST. POSSIBLE. THING."

"Alright, this has gone on long enough," thought the determined alicorn teleporting to the nearest staircase. She flew down the stairs, and, being Twilight, thought of all the worst case scenario that could possibly happen. " Maybe Straight Glimmer had returned and defused to take revenge," thought the frantic pony, " Maybe Discord devoted to unleash his chaos all over equestria, our maybe-" Another large bang emigrated from the room in front of Twilight. " Well, here goes nothing," thought Twilight, reaching for the door.

BAM!

Twilight was crushed underneath the door that had just slammed open. "Oops,sorry," spoke the normally hyperactive pink party pony, " I thought that that combo meant fluttershy's famous Dijon mustard."

Pinkie's partner in crime asked, "Who are you talking to?"

"Look behind the door."

"Why should I--, oh hi Twilight, how are you this fine morning?"

"Uhh, my head," replied Twilight, "What happened?"

"Well, you see, I may or may not have created a gigantic pancake fort in the dining room," mumbled Cress. Twilight, being one for food related disasters, charged into the room that all the cacophony seemed to stem from.

POW!

A small bread-like breakfast food, flew out of the open door, and smacked Twilight in the face. "Today it's just not my day," the lavender princess mumbled, pulling off the pancake that had lodged itself on her horn, "Alright, who is throwing those panca--"

Twilight expected to see a giant pancake the size of a table, or maybe one the size of a blackboard, but in the nasty and orderly dining room, there was a 3 story pancake palace, and I'd that wasn't bad enough, every single square yard of the floor, walls, and ever the ceiling, was paved with what appeared to be French toast bricks held together with a mortar that appeared to be made out of a mix between maple syrup, tasty jam, and apple pie filling. In short it was a place that most fillies and colts only see in their imagination.

"Yeah, that was my reaction when I first made this place," Cress said to the now speechless Twilight, " You'd think that creating a gigantic pancake palace and bending the laws of physics to accommodate the unnatural amount of mass that it's to be crushed into this small space, and to still have the sane air pressure, and yada yada yada, would take a lot put of you, but nope, I feel great, and-- Twilight, Twiiiilight. Are you Ok? Pinkie, I may or may not have broken Twilight."

"Nope," the hyperactive party pony replied, "She just goes into mental shock when she finds a solution that she can't comprehend instantaneously. A pancake projectile should solve this problem." Pinkie Pie pulled out a small cannon that had a tube attract to the back which Pinkie immediately filled with pancakes.

Twilight was starting to regain consciousness when a loud gruff voice yelled at a volume that would make a drill sergeant proud, FIRE[bsize]. Twilight's instantaneous reaction wad to conjure up the strongest magical shield that she had. When the spell was cast, something peculiar happened, the lavender shield started to turn crimson and when the pancake hit the shield it seemed to stretch through, the pancake then launched itself out of the "magical shield," and proceeded to hit the wall treaty Twilight wad facing.

"I may or may not have, kinda, sorta, alerted all the magic wiring these confines to create a random effect that still accomplishes the goal in mind, so all you're spells have a different effect each time you use them."

Twilight gave a look that seemed to get more and more confused the longer she wore it. Pinkie, bring her regular hyperactive self, jumped out behind one of the strawberries yelling "ZAP APPLE JAM!" She began eating the puddle of jam that originally blocked her pancake. As if to add to the confusion, a gigantic air-horn fell from the ceiling, rang in the most annoying way, and proceeded to melt into maple syrup.

" Seems like the round is starting," observed Cress, " and it also looks like you're going to be on the Red team this time Twilight."

The only competent phrase that Twilight could make was a confused "What?" One blink later, Twilight was covered in a stretchy black uniform, with 2 High Oncillating Raspberry Super Enforcers. The first thing that Twilight asked was "Am I wearing licorice?"

"Yes, yes you are," replied Cress, "But that's besides the point. Twilight, you're going to have to learn how to play on the fly, because right now a pair of reptiles are coming this way!"

"Wait, what!?" Twilight turned around slowly, writes growing with fear, as 2 humongous metal snakes burst from the ground, growing bigger and bigger the longer they flew."You have got to be kidding me," she began looking up in shock. As if on instinct, Twilight pulled out one of get H.O.R.S.Es out of its holster and pushed all of the buttons. 2 "small" explosions incinerated both if the metal machinations. The falling debris seemed to turn slightly red and bulge out into the shape of raspberries.

[size=2em]"Will somebody please tell me what the BUCK is going on!"

(----)

"So you're telling me. That you made a pocket dimension."

"Eeup," replied Cress, Raining down candy lightning on an army of robot ponies.

"Managed to extract and manifest Pinkie's improbability magic into a pancake palace."

"Yes," Cress said, simultaneously firing a circle of candy cane rifles from the fallen roboponies.

"And you did all of this," gesturing to the entire room," Without any problems, or catastrophes."

"Pretty much," relied the orange princess, throwing apples that donate after a few seconds.

"And the entire situation, was endorsed by the castle that we are living in RIGHT NOW?!"

"Yepperoni, The Tree of Harmony decided that this could be a team building exercise!!!" Cress replied with caffeinated Pinke levels of enthusiasm.

Twilight, however, was not amused. "So, If this is supposed to be a team building exercise then where it's the rest of the team?"

"Let's see," the orange alicorn paused, holding up a bag of marshmallows and a bag of toothpicks. " I stationed Applejack and Rarity on the west side near the sea," Cress began, building a small replica of the battlefield, " it's near the ground and both of them seem to be able to handle any seaworthy threats that come their way. You and Rainbow will take the chocolate moutain, I hear that the giant pterodactyls are vicious. Flutters and the Pinkinator are taking the role of support and sniper respectively. So, any questions."

" What did you just say?"

Cress groaned as if Twilight had asked if the moon was made out of blue chesse. " Look, it's simple, you go to the left and shoot every metal object that flies and is TRYING TO KILL YOU. Got it?"

Instead of answering the question at hand Twilight decided to respond with " So where are you going to be?"

"The front lines," replied Cress with a smirk. "Don't worry, I was the one who beat entire armies of griffins, dragons, and changelings, no fatalities though. You kids have a good time, try not to die. I won't have too much fun." She ended with a maniacal look in her eye.

Twilight needed no further encouragement. As she took to the skies a small roaring fireball accompanied by a stream of psychopathic laughter flew inches next to her face. Twilight was afraid to look behind herself. " This is going to be a long morning," thought the purple alicorn.

The First Cup, Strangers

Spike grumbled irritability. Of all the days that Twilight and the gang had left  on an adventure, OF ALL THE DAYS, Twilight just HAD to leave TODAY. THE ONE DAY THAT NO PONY IN PONYVILLE HAS A BIRTHDAY. " WHY DOESN'T TWILIGHT EVER TAKE ME ON ANY OF HER ADVENTURES, WHY DIDN'T SHE TRUST ME WITH ANYTHING OTHER THAN HOUSEWORK, WHY AM I ALWAYS LEFT BEHIND?! Spike screamed out, accompanied with a flock of frightened birds. Everypony in the marketplace froze and slowly turned towards Spike. Spike took off like a frightened gazelle. He ran and ran and ran, until he couldn't run anymore, thinking over and over "I need to get away, I need to get away,I need to get away!. Spike ducks into an alley, still panicking, when he hears something that throws hours mind for a loop.

He hears crying. Not the crying one would hear from a filly, but the tortured sobs of one who has lost everything.

" H-Hello?" Spike whispered, afraid of what he might see. He crept closer to the sounds panic and fear rising with each step, until.

Nothing. There was nothing in the alley except a dragon named Spike breathing heavily because of something he may or may not have heard. "Nothing. It was just nothing," he whispered, giving a relieved sigh.

CRASH!

The young drake gave a surprised shout as he jumped back. A squeak drew his attention to the trash can next to him. He slowly lifted the lid of the trash can and stared down in shock. It was a small filly about his age with a porcelain white coat and a brown mane that seemed to hide half of her face, but her eyes seemed to have the entire spectrum of color pulsing and weaving around her pupils. The pony and the drake starred at each other before the filly made the first move.

She charged forward, attempting to strike Spike with her forehoof.The attack never made it that far. Spike grasped her outstretched arm while sidestepping the initial strike.  Spike put the filly into a nelson and yelled, "Hold on a second you crazy filly, I just want to talk!" The filly didn't reply but stopped struggling. " I'd like to ask you what you were doing in a trashcan, but that would be impolite. So, where are your parents?" At this, the filly stiffened and seemed to crack. Then started the sobs, gut-wrenching and loud, they carried through the dark alley, which seemed to get bluer, and somber music started to play from the radio nearby. "I just hope she gets better soon, I have to get back before dark, thought the purple drake, trying to inch away from the depressed filly. Quick as lightning, she grabbed his neck and cried into his shoulder. Spike, not knowing how to respond to this, simply shrugged and accepted his fate, thinking, "I hope this doesn't take to long."

"An hour. One full hour. You wouldn't let go for a full hour," moaned Spike to the filly currently riding on his back. "Why do I always get stuck with the crazy ones? Ya know, I haven't asked what your name was."

"Nova."

"Sorry, didn't quite get that."

"Nova."

"Didn't quite catch that."

A bright blue butterfly fluttered by, beckoning. The mystery mare leaped off of Spike's back, kicking Spike's face into the ground, and ran after the alluring insect, like a moth to a flame. Spike charged into the foliage and was greeted by a scene with instant diabetes levels of adorableness. Every single animal was sitting down on a chair next to a long table that appeared, with an appropriately sized cup in hand while, Nova had Angel bunny sitting on her lap, resting like a complacent cat. Her eyes seemed to shift taking on a teal hue while still swirling hypnotically, and her coat became a light manilla with her mane turning the barest hint of rose. It was almost as if she had the color scheme of Fluttershy mixed in with her natural colors.

Spike nervously walked up next to the table just as his mystery mare was introducing  herself to the animals. "Hi, I'm Nova everyone," She spoke in a modest quiet tone. "Could I know all of your names, if it's not too much trouble." Each of the animals said something in their native language while Spike thought, "Fluttershy's cottage, the perfect place for our new friend to make some more friends. I wonder why she's so friendly with all the animals? I mean even Angel is being nice. Angel!"

Spike cleared his throat with a very solid "Eh hem." Nova whirled around on a chair that is clearly not a swivel, making for a very comical scene  with Angel bunny flying out of Nova's arms and Nova falling face-first onto the ground. "So karma does exist," thought Spike before saying to the audience of animals, "Nova here has to go and get situated with the rest of Ponyville."

"It means, she has to go meet the rest of the town," Spike added in response to the collection of blank stares. "Nova, we have to go," he said, dragging her hoof with him.

"How do you know my name? ARE YOU PSYCHIC?"

"What? No. You said it when talking to the demon rabbit."

"You mean Angel."

"That's what I said."

"B-b-but, tea party," she whined, tugging back to the collection of animals. Spike pulled back and said, "You can always come back later."

"But I want it noowww."

"How about this, we'll get some ice cream and we'll come back tomorrow. Deal?"

She huffed "deal" before scrambling onto Spike's back.

"Alright, away we go," Spike as the two walked into town with Nova giving a goodbye wave.

"Why are we stopping here?"

The fashion forward Carousel Boutique filled their vision. It appeared the same to the average pony walking by but, today there was a sign saying, "Closed Re: Friendship Problems."

"Because Rarity wants me to watch Carousel Boutique while she's off helping "The Twins," Spike stated giving air quotes for the last phrase.

"Who are "The Twins," asked Cress with the same mannerism.

"Twilight and that new pony Cress," said Spike, "They look almost exactly the same except for their colors. It's uncanny really."

"Ooooh, I get it now. Can we go get that ice cream now?"

"But we didn't finish taking care of the Boutique."

"But that will take foreeever, and ice cream waits for nopony."

"That is true... How about I take a trip to Sugarcube Corner and get you whatever cupcake you want. Deal?"

"Mmmmm... Double or nothing."

"Fine, Double it is. Where did Rarity say that the spare key was anyway," muttered Spike searching the surrounding area next to the door. Nova meanwhile sat in front of the door and seemed to pull an azure and teal key that floated through the air, only to smoothly land in the keyhole. The key turned and the lock opened with a resounding "Click."

"How did you do that?"

"Bleargh, I don't know, I just thought about how much better it would be if the door opened, and BAM! It opened," replied Nova, "Now I want that ice cream that you promised," she added with a pout.

"Fine, fine, ALRIGHT, alright, we're going inside. I just hope that Rarity and Sweetie belle understand," muttered Spike, "I wonder if Nova will be able to handle the caffeine that is in a cup of tea.

While the two of them were walking in, neither of them noticed that Nova seemed to become pale. Rather, her coat color was changing to white, and her mane seemed to change to a faint violet with a pink streak. Her eyes had the greatest change. What was once a constantly a shifting, pulsing explosion of color now had a teal tint to it.

"It should be smooth sailing from now on," thought the optimistic drake.

CRASH! "Sorry!"

Spike an exasperated sigh, with his mood taking a full 180.  Spike grumbled, "Maybe not," and ventured into the veteran disaster zone that was the Carousel kitchen, and the adorable Weapon of Mass Destruction within.