1. Welcome to the Velvet Room

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The chilly night is calm, the air covered by a thick fog. Out of the darkness, a shining carriage moves down a dimly lit road. There is a flash, and the interior of the carriage appears. A haunting, yet beautiful music fills the air, like something out of a ghostly opera. A draconequis, a hybrid of multiple beings, sits on a dark purple seat which runs along the carriage walls, separating only at the doors on either side. His head is bowed, as if in prayer or deep thought. A mare the color of mints, with a pale mane, and golden eyes stood by him, dressed in a blue flight attendant's uniform. Before them sat a lavender Unicorn, her mane a deep purple-blue with a vibrant pink streak running down it. She opened her eyes, as the Draconequis opened his eyes, smiling. "Ah, it seems we have a visitor, my name is Discord," He gestured to the mare beside him, "This is my assistant, Lyra 2.0." He raised his head, "Welcome, my dear, to the Velvet Room." He nods, as a face down card appears on the table. "Do not worry, you are asleep in the physical world. I can see great potential slumbering within you, waiting to be free." He waved his paw, and the card flipped over,

"Ah, the Fool, most interesting. I see you do have quite a tremendous gift." He smiled, as the card vanished with a snap of his fingers. "The Fool, to some, represents a journey that one must undertake, and might I say you have quite the journey before you." He held out his hand, as a paper appeared on the table, "Sign this please, don't worry, its mere a formality." The mare, half asleep, signed it, and it dissipated. Discord chuckled lightly. He glanced at a clock hanging on a wall across from him, behind the Unicorn. "Sadly, the hour is drawing close, but, we shall speak again." His voice slowed down, as everything faded to black.

Twilight's eyes snapped open, as she sat up. "That was some dream." She looked to her side, revealing several empty bags of potato and hay chips, "Not to self, don't eat junk food before taking a nap on a train." She said to herself, laughing quietly. She stared out of the train window, watching the cloudy sky whiz by, as a more down-to-earth town appeared. Whereas Canterlot was bustling and luxurious, this "Ponyville", from what she had researched, was a friendly, peaceful, semi-small town where everypony practically knew everypony, if just by face. She sighed, "Hopefully they're as friendly as the travel guides said." She had never really had any true friends, aside from her brother, and her foalsister, who was now her sister-in-law, Princess Cadence. Her parents had gone on an extended business/research trip. Her father was an astronomer who dabbled in neurology, and her mother was a part-time author. With her brother on guard duty, and her parents away, alongside the school in Canterlot not being the best, they had decided to send her to a rather good university in the nearest town, which happened to be Ponyville.

She got up off her seat, a pressure mounting within her. Quickly discarding her trash in a nearby, she dashed into the bathroom, and locked the door. With her business done, she exited with a sigh of relief, and sat back down in her seat. The Pegasi had started a drizzle that made the sky seem somewhat gloomy. Rain drops trickled down the window beside her, as Twilight looked out. Various stone or wood buildings with either thatched our tiled roofs stood in neat lines. A chime sounds through the train car, "Arriving at Ponyville Transient Station in, 10 minutes." the intercom replies, before shutting off. Twilight smiled, gently levitating her bags from the compartment, and set them down beside her.

The Unicorn mare laid back, "So, this is Ponyville." She said to herself, trying to clear her mind of that strange vision. She reached into her bag, and pulled out a leather-bound book. It was an adventure novel Cadence had gotten her for her "Going Away Party", and, even though it looked used, Twilight didn't care, it was a gift from her half-sister dang-it! She cracked it open, crossed her hind legs, and was lost in the world known as The Agatean Empire, by T. Ratchet. The Canterlot Expresses' horn blew, steam billowing in the wind, as the train chugged to the bright reddish-orange building that was Ponyville Transient Station.

The train came to a halt with a final loud blow of its whistle, and a blast of burning steam. Ponies crowded, both within the train, and eagerly waiting on the platform. Twilight smiled as the doors opened with a HISS. She grabbed her bags, and stepped out. Her adopted little brother/son, Spykoran Jr. or Spike, for short, was already here. Now she had to find her half-

"Twilight!" A formal, professional tone called out. Twilight Sparkle smiled, turning to see the beautiful alabaster Unicorn that had called to her. Rarity Opus Toreador, Twilight's half-sister. Her mother, Twilight Velvet, had been married to Rarity and Sweetie's father, Magnum, giving him two foals, before divorcing him after Magnum almost got their family targeted by a hitmare after a sting operation went awry. So, she had married her original flame, Night Light Sparkle the 22nd. Rarity embraced Twilight, who reciprocated the hug. "It's been so long dear." Rarity blinked, before turning her head slightly. A small white filly was hiding beneath Rarity's curled tail. "Sweetie, don't you want to say hello to your big half-sister Twilight?' She smiled slightly. Rarity gently nudged Sweetie with her left hindleg.

Shyly, Sweetie poked her head out, "Um...hi big sis Twilight." She squeaked, and the ten year old was back to hiding behind her sister. She virtually wrapped herself in Rarity's tail, opening a tiny slit to peek out of.

Rarity rolled her eyes, "Urgh, well Twilight, I'm glad to have you stay with us for the year, or so." She smiled warmly, carrying half of Twilight's luggage to their carriage, humming.

Author's Note

R.I.P Terry Pratchett, even though I never read any of the Discworld books, which I plan to do, it is always a shame when the literature world loses such great minds. May he rest in peace.