Tomb of Magic

I looked at my round table of friends.

"What do you mean none of you can come?!"

Rarity was the first to speak.

"Twilight…we know how long you have been planning this three month trip gallivanting across Equestria and we know how much this means to you but darling….some things have come up for each of us. I'm sorry, but we can’t go." She gave me a sympathetic look.

I scrutinized all of my friends.

"Where do you guys have to be for so long?"

A strand of my mane came out of place as Rainbow Dash began.

"My Aunt Bifrost in Germaneigh sent a notice that my grandfather had died out to all the relatives. She needs help sorting the estate he left and I happened to be the only one free who could help her."

I nodded slowly. This was a perfectly good reason, though it wasn't exactly what I had hoped to hear.

"Now…why can’t the rest of you come?"

"Well," Applejack began, "Braeburn mailed a letter to the farm last week wondering if Big Mac and I can come down for a few months to help dig some irrigation routes and aid in the harvest."

I rested my gaze on Rarity. "What about you?"

Her blue eyes gleamed.

"Well, Twilight, Sapphire Shores thought my previous wardrobe for her was such a success that she invited me to design her entire wardrobe for a tour of Prance! Prance! I have always wanted to go to Prance and...well..." She appeared to wilt slightly. "I just couldn't refuse her offer. I am sorry, Twilight, if that  interfered with your travel plans."

  I bit my lip. At least she had apologized but I wasn't exactly upset...maybe disappointed. Two more left to ask. Spike wasn't coming on this trip so he and I had arranged for him to stay with the Cakes since the castle was still quite new. Part of the deal was that he would have to swing by and check on the place.

As my thoughts settled, Fluttershy gazed around the chamber nervously, since she hadn't yet gotten used to this place either.

"Fluttershy?"

My question must have startled her since she jumped slightly.

"I-I was invited to help add new information to the Equestrian Environmental organizations meetings in Manehatten so that I could get some new plants and animals officially recognized at a science and taxonomy convention in a different city."

A small smile crept onto my face, science and taxonomy conventions sounded really interesting. Too bad I wouldn't be able to go. The small smile crept back off my face.

"Okay, Fluttershy. Thank you for explaining. Now Pinkie Pie, why can't you come?"

I was secretly hoping Pinkie Pie might be able to come when the others told me that the couldn't. It was especially hard when I found out Cadance and Shining Armor could not go with me.

"Okie dokie Twilight, ya see, Maud invited me to name one of her new rocks and go on a month long trip with her before I come back to help with Sweet Apple Acres since only Granny Smith and Apple Bloom will be there. Oh - I forgot to mention that Gummy will help and I'm going to teach him how to pick apples and make cider and create crop circles and-"

The thought of Gummy making crop circles was pretty funny, but I had to cut her off before she really got going.

"Okay Pinkie, I understand your point. In fact, I understand all your points and predicaments. All I wish is you would tell me these things before it came down to a last minute notice scenario such as this. I will go on my trip alone, I guess but I'll still have fun. I think we'll all have adventures now and adventures to come. Hopefully we will all come back with stories to share. I wish you all good luck on your trips!"

I smiled as best I could, silently panicking inside. I'd been planning this for so long how could I not go? If they found out I was going to act... panicky or irrational, they would encourage me to stay, and I can't have that happen.

  I bid everypony farewell as I decided how I would repack my supplies. It did make me feel a bit better when A.J. explained how she would not be leaving until the day after tomorrow. Even Spike and Owlowiscious would be gone by then.

That night I silently still hoped this trip would be as exciting as I had planned.

...

Two unpacked saddlebags gazed up at me like empty eye sockets.

The knowledge that I was going into the Arctic was common among my friends, yet I still felt unprepared and lacked any suitable gear, such as a warm scarf.  It was 10:32 in the morning, and everypony but A.J. had left yesterday. I was the only one in the castle.

I was still trying to figure out what to pack.

Twilight, you need advice.

That was it! Advice!

I grabbed a quill, ink bottle, and some parchment and upon its papery surface poured out all of my current troubles: my lack of gear, how none of my friends could come, all my uncertainty, the desire for knowledge, and most of all the wish for somepony to share an adventure.

Dear Princess Celestia...

One spell later, I already yearned for the reply.

At 11:00 sharp the sigil on the throne room floor began to glow and pulse, causing me to look up from my book, just in time to see a large box materialize.

Oh?

  With a flourish I placed the book down with a sudden loss of interest and flew over to my mail, ripping off Celestia & Luna's royal seal.

Inside I found an entire set of clothing: a pointed hat with a wide brim and belled tip, and magnificently patterned center band inlaid with a clear crystal in a golden frame which a small cluster of feathers sprouted out of. Following the hat were two boots of a similar style with polished stone buttons and a rune foreign to me stitched in each. Everything was made out of a thick wellspun material, like high quality drapes. Under that was a richly sown robe with a swirl pattern and exaggerated sleeves. Its collar was adorned with another, larger gem with a single tassel trailing from it and a modest amount of pearls.

  Each sleeve was accompanied by a pair of metal legbands etched with a spiral pattern, these were carefully placed at the bottom along with some smaller objects: a thick parcel, a small pouch sized book, and a scroll.

Grasping the scroll in magic I broke the seal with a quick spell and began to read hungrily:

Dearest Twilight,

     I am sorry to hear your distress. Never fear, for by my power as one of the Two High Princesses of Equestria, I have located a companion for you. They are a close confidante of Princess Cadance and have many magical abilities. I wrote this as I gathered a care package for you, to help compensate for the lack of gear mentioned in your letter. Luna aided in the stitching of the runes on your garments.

Regarding your journey, in the parcel I sent you are the following objects:

• A Royal Order explaining anything your companion may need to know, please present it to them

-Two temporary passports, good for six to eight months, in case you need to cross any borders

• Map and coordinates for locating appointed follower

-Two tickets to The Grand Trottish Museum, and a request to be presented to an employee that certain artifacts be placed in your care

• Two train passes

• (Outside of parcel) a book depicting clearly printed images of runes, please memorize them in your spare time

Lastly, please do not open any sealed documents or they might be marked as tampered and could hinder the process of your trip. Cadance also mailed me wondering if you could stop by at some point when you pick up your new acquaintance.

Good Luck, Fair travel, and may you find what you are looking for,

H.R.H. Princess Celestia

Celestia Regis Filia

...

"So who do you think they are?" I asked Applejack, dismissing any nervousness as best as I could.

  According to Princess Celestia's coordinates I would need to head part way into the desert and since A.J. also had to go south toward the desert, I was able to have somepony to talk to on the train. Only on the train though.

I breathed out a sigh as subtly as possible. Would this pony...presuming it's a pony...even be nice? Tolerable?

Currently, I didn't even know their gender.

"So...who do you think it is?"

Applejack lifted her gaze from the window and cast another thoughtful glance at my new garb.

"Hmm...maybe Trixie?"

Could it be her? I hadn't counted her as a probable choice.

"I don't think so. It says that this is somepony who is a friend of Cadance's."

Unfortunately, I wasn't very sure of who her friends were currently.

"Wait a second!" Applejack exclaimed, "I think I might know who it is."

"Yes?" I breathed, nervous with anticipation.

"What if its Somb-"

"WHAT?!"

I fell of the seat and silently thanked that we were in our own car.

"Calm down, Twi," said A.J. shooting me a mild worried look, "I'm just going to point out that we only met him once, plus it's not like he is dead - Cadance acknowledges him as a friend. He does seem to be good at magic as far as I can tell, and lastly Celestia did send him into the desert...remember?"

No.

Applejack was right. How could I have forgotten?

No.

Why would Celestia do this? How could Sombra help me?

I rummaged through my saddlebags and pulled out the coordinates.

They lead to an area roughly south of Appleoosa.

Far south. In the desert.

In the middle of 'nowhere'.

No...I wouldn't go through with this. I can control my own quests.

Nowhere...

I got up and walked toward the sleeper car, my rigid strides obvious to a nonexistent audience.

Stop your heavy breathing! Grit your teeth quieter. Why did this feel like a betrayal?

"I think I'll be going to bed early, Applejack."

She nodded slowly. "Twilight are you alright? You seem off. Do you need to talk?"

I grasped the door handle with my magic.

"It's just so shocking to think that I will be traveling with a pony like...him. Otherwise, I think I'll be fine with some sleep."

Lies.

This is why I wasn't the Element of Honesty.

Now, I can prepare my leave-taking so I can do this quest.

Alone.

All I have to do is leave a moving train unnoticed. Once inside I teleported to the outer balcony of the caboose as quickly as possible, gear and all.

...

  It was quite windy, which would make it harder to fly considering I was not Equestria's #1 aviator.That didn't matter right now I had to get to Canterlot and talk to Celestia to try and clear up this mess.

She could have picked anypony, right? Anypony but him, that is.

I flapped my wings and lifted off strongly, trying to fight the winds.

Focus Twilight Sparkle, try to keep your eye on the horizon. Look, see!

...What a lovely sunset.

Whizz!

Something grazed my wing.

But what? What was that? I started an illumination spell, magic sparking to life, and looked around as I pushed against the wind.

Whizz-fwoo!

Something zipped by once more, but unlike the last time i was able to see what it was.

An arrow. Crudely made, but deadly accurate.

  The train was long gone now even if I did need help. This didn't stop me from turning to face the direction it had gone in. What I mistake I had made! Another 'whizz' followed with a sickening tear in flesh and jagged stems of searing pain.

My wing!

  Faster then I realized I was falling toward the tracks and desert landscape. The only noise I could hear was that of my own pained screaming. i tried to prepare spells but lacked any concentration causing them all to fizzle as soon as I attempted to create them. All I recalled in magic was overshadowed by the horrible pain of impact.

My last vision was that of crimson spots unearthly dancing before my eyes before being consumed by darkness.