Author's Note
Alright- so, since that first chapter was from a year ago- this second Chapter basically picks up where that left off- only the ending is slightly different. Sorry about the incongruency- but I don’t want to mess with the overall structure of that first chapter.
Chapter 1
4 Years ago: The Left (Detour)
The Stallion who called himself 'The Doctor' smiled sweetly at the mare before him- after helping her up. He suddenly frowned though as something was nagging at the back of his head- and his eyes opened wide. "Oh! Oh- yes yes! Sorry, um- Twilight, was it?" He asked her, before shaking his head and backing away. "I'm terribly sorry again- for, well knocking you over- but I am in a bit of a hurry." He said, smiling looking back behind him to make sure he wasn't running into anyone else- and then back to her. "Um... So- if you'll excuse me- I need to really get going." He said, chuckling before turning around and running off. "Allons-y!" He called, chuckling a bit as he ran down the path to the left.
Twilight however- was confused, curious, and now a bit miffed that he just ran off like that- even if he had given her his apology- he had left her question un-answered. “H-Hey! Wait!” She called after him- before groaning to herself. Looking back to the right- she could still hurry up and catch Spike at the Canterlot Library- and get a good head start on her Research into these Elements....
But looking back to the Left- Twilight could also tell that there was something too this stallion. Something that didn’t quite add up- and she wanted to get to the bottom of it. “.... Uggghhh!” She groaned again- before running down after ‘The Doctor’, into the Park.
Without so much as a look back- he made a sharp turn into the tree line- seeming to disappear into it almost- much to Twilight’s further disgruntlement. However- she quickly made that turn as well, and followed him into the foliage- only this time she didn’t shout at him. Now- she was just curious as to what he was doing out here specifically.... But- it didn’t seem like he knew either.
The trees were thick- and the stallion seemed lost in the woods for a short time- even as the magically knowledgeable mare tried to keep track of him- his movements seeming as random as a 5 year old who had to just walk over and look at EVERYTHING there was too see. They both made twists and turns- occasional dead ends- it almost seemed impossible to keep track of the stallion, who wandered through the wooded area of the park without almost a care in the world. Twilight now believed that he had lied about being late for something, was just looking to get away from her politely by this point.
However- just before all hope had been given up on keeping track of him- The Stallion walked right in her line of sight- towards a large pile of boulders in the middle of the forest. Then- there was squeaking of old hinges, and squeaking more with a solid shutting noise.
Twilight blinked a bit, and frowned slowly, before quickly approaching the boulders herself, getting her ‘analytical’ part of her brain to take in as much detail about whatever he had just done. However.... she found herself almost at a bit of a loss for words....
Well- ‘Almost’ being a key word there....
“.... Police. Public. Call Box....” Twilight read outloud- reading the words at the top of the large blue box, finding them strange, even though they rolled off the tongue very easily. Phone-Boxes existed in only Manehattan, Phillydelphia, and Canterlot alone- but, there was no purpose for one to be in the middle of the Park- hidden behind a Small mountain of rock and rubble. That stallion certainly didn’t SEEM like he was a police officer- otherwise she would have seen a badge, or a law related cutiemark on his flanks. It was a curiosity really- but one that she would not be able to enjoy for long.
Vwwwoooorrppp..... Vwwwwoooorrrrrpppp! .... Vwwwoooooorrrppp!
Slowly, that noise grew from the box- one unlike any other she had heard before. Like slow groanings, but made most melodic like a small tune. The Box's light at the top flashed with each wave of the noise, it's Intensity dying slowly with the tangibility of the Box- as it simply vanished right in front of her eyes.
Twilight immediately took steps away from the box, watching it quickly- having seen spells that could do similar Particle manipulation before- but this..... This was the next Level- and then the one above that combined. Whatever that was- was actually taking the object and moving it in and out of the Universe at a natural ebb and flow of sorts- like the ups and downs of a frequency that was changing its band.
Before she knew it though- the Box was gone, leaving her in the woods all on her own.
For a time, Twilight just stared as she tried to go over what she had just witnessed in her head- trying to run calculations, and numbers that she was pretty sure were all theoretical- before realizing something else. She couldn’t tell a word to this to anyone.... If she did, they would think she might have gone crazy again, and no one would believe anything she would have to say!
So, Twilight kept this little secret to herself.... Well.... Maybe to her and a Friend.....
=============================
And so, History happened just as it had before (if not a few minutes behind Schedule.)
The Castle of the Two Sisters, Everfree Forest- 13 hours Later
Nightmare Moon fell, as Princess Luna was revealed under the shroud of Darkness beneath it. Celestia had come not a moment too late, and hugged her sister as the finally brought that 1000 year gap apart to a close. “Sister.....” The Sun Goddess whispered to the Mare in the Moon. “.... It is at last.... Over....”
Luna smiled as she hugged her sister in return, and the 6 other ponies present- now dubbed ‘The Elements of Harmony’ rejoiced as a great evil had been purged this day....
However- Twilight noticed something her friends did not.... Princess Luna, looking around, over her sister’s back- searching for something. “.... Sister? .... Where is he?” Luna asked as she looked back to her sister, seeming confused about someone important possibly...
Celestia gave her sister a look of confusion as well, before smiling slowly as she realized what she meant. “..... He is.... Watching over us... still....” She said sweetly sighing as she kept a wing around Luna, before helping her up. “Twilight?” She asked, looking back to her ever so faithful student. “.... Why don’t you and your new friends head home for the night? .... I’ll send a Royal Messenger to retrieve the elements tomorrow....” She said softly, giving a small sigh as she looked back to her little sister, trying to hold back her tears.
With a flash of light, Celestia and Luna were gone- and the Mane Six were dropped back off on the Outskirts of Ponyville. (While the Reader was dropped off to later that night~)
==========================
Golden Oaks Library, 1 Hour Later.
The Mane Six had a small party at the Library, talking about what they had just experienced, what had transpired tonight, how it would effect them in the future, and just wondering what this could all mean....
When all was said and done though- Twilight was left still with that... 'smoldering' question inside of her- the one of which she hadn’t gotten answered by that stallion earlier today.
Now- In the events of all that had happened in one day and night- such a strange, and seemingly insignificant thing would have been forgotten by most any other Pony... but then again- this was no ordinary mare~ This was a mare who didn’t know when to stop asking the right questions~
".... Twilight?" Spike asked, walking over to her while the others were sitting and showing off their elements to one another.... Her- old habits of being alone seeming to be getting to her again- as she sat out by the window in the reading nook of the Library and was looking up at the stars. Spike took a long look at her- and tried to think of how best to approach her again- or what she could even be thinking of that she wanted to be alone about. "..... You're still thinking about that guy who ran into you earlier- aren't you?" He asked her with a small frown.
Twilight blinked herself back to the small nook she sat in of her new ‘home’, and blushed as she looked from the stars out the window, to Spike- who stood at her side. “Hmm? .... Oh- sorry Spike.... I was just.... thinking about what happened earlier today...” She muttered, looking back to the window for a few moments, before looking back to him. “Am I needed with the others or something?”
Spike rolled his eyes and shook his head as he hopped up onto her back. “Yeah- no. You’re not.” He said, looking out at the stars with her now. “.... And- thanks for repeating me, Captain Obvious.” He muttered, talking to her like almost any younger brother would to their sister.
Twilight blushed in embarrassment, but giggled at how Spike just shrugged it off. “Hehe.... Sorry Spike.... Come on- it’s getting really late. Lets go to bed...” She said, getting up.
The two went and said that they were getting rather tired- and everyone agreed when they saw the time. Nearly 2 AM- something of a rare occurrence for Spike to be up this late- but considering today’s excitement, no one could blame him
Everyone got up and said their goodbyes, as the night wasn’t getting any younger, and most needed their sleep for tomorrow. They left shortly after, with promises to meet again tomorrow for lunch to continue their conversations.
When everyone had gone home, Twilight walked to bed with Spike- skipping the usual nightly ritual of teeth brushing, and showering for tomorrow morning- seeing as she was too tired to do so. “Goodnight Spike....” Twilight muttered with a small yawn as she slipped into her bed.
Spike looked at her for a time, and then blinked a bit as he laid down in his bed/basket.... He didn't seem too comfortable- he was shaking actually, which was unlike him. Looking around as the lights went out outside the window, Spike couldn’t wait for more than 2 minutes before getting out of bed, and climbing up into Twilight’s to wake her up. ".... U- .... T-Twilight?" Spike asked, looking at her before she went to bed. ".... Do- .... Do you think you could read me a bedtime story tonight?" He asked her softly, trying not to sound ‘scared.’
Considering the day these two had been through- with Nightmare Moon reappearing (even if defeated) and the horrors and chaos the town had gone through with her return- it was understandable that a baby dragon like Spike (with such an overactive imagination when it came to monsters and the things that go bump in the night) would be a little more than scared.
Twilight blinked a bit, as she rose herself from her almost sleepful state, and sighed as she sat up, though smiled still at him as she rubbed her heavy eyes. “Alright.... Sure Spike.... Why don’t you go and pick something out...” She said, yawning as she turned on the oil lamp beside her bed- preferring to read with it over an electric one. I just didn’t feel the same to her- reading while burning the midnight oil~
Spike smiled at her, and quickly scampered off- and down the hall. He came back a moment later with a tome called 'Bedtime Stories of the Forgotten'. "This one." Spike said, holding it up to her. It was a collection of short stories about 'supposedly' true accounts of great Ponies and Beings, long since to be thought forgotten. It made sense why he would pick this. It was the only book Twilight had probably never read to him before, seeing as it was one of this Library's few books that she didn't need to bring back with her from Canterlot.
Twilight smiled softly, and read the cover, raising an eyebrow. “You sure about this Spike? .... Seems like there might be a few Scary stories in here....” She said with a small giggle.
Spike blushed slightly, but nodded as he cuddled up into her side, as Twilight put her hoof around him.
“Alright.... Let’s see what stories we have to read...” She said softly, sighing as she opened the book, and turned the pages to the Directory.
==============================
Summary: Bedtime Stories of the Forgotten, are a collection of old, and long since ‘forgotten’ bedtime stories from a darker age in our history. These are the tails that mothers told their foals before going to bed, to help them grow up into ponies who would learn that the world is not truly as Dark and bleak as these stories might portray.... That they have the ability to make it better for themselves, and those they care about.
Story Directory:
pg. 01 - The Prince of Darkness
pg. 16 - A Lullaby for a Princess
pg. 27 - The Tail of the Two Sisters
pg. 42 - The Doctor of The Moon
pg. 58 - The Shadow’s Web
==============================
“..... That one.” Spike said, pointing to ‘The Doctor of The Moon.’
Twilight blinked a bit, but smiled and nodded, flipping to page 42 of the book. “Alright.... Once upon a time-”
==============================
“-nearly a thousand years ago, The Two Royal Sisters fought and battled upon the sacred grounds of their castle. A Story as old as time- as the Younger Sister- Princess Luna- was consumed by Jealously and Envy, and allowed the demons of nightmares to consume her form, making it their own, with it's ending yet to be truly known. The Elder Sister, Princess Celestia, now ruled the lands of Equestria with great pain- and sorrow. For how, she had caused her sister great harm- and had no strength to protect her precious ponies from the evils of the night, the ones that Luna had spent her whole life protecting us from..... That was- until a certain stallion came to her....
During a great seige with evils from beyond the Veil of the Night had began upon our Capital City- so small, and weak back in the days of it’s founding- a strange stallion came forth. Clad in no armor, no sword- brandishing only a magic artifact of great purpose- he protected the filly’s, and colts of canterlot during the battle. He co-ordinated with our troops, and pushed back the monsters- the evils- these Nightmares of Children.
When the battle ended, and his name was asked forth- he never gave the answer we desired. Instead- he told us only to call him as ‘Healer’, for he said he was no warrior, but a defender of the defenseless. Our Princess of the Sun saw greatness within this stallion- and came forth to him- this being the first acts of any she had made in her deep and guilt ridden depression, and asked forth for his name as well.
“I have no name....” The Healer repeated to our Princess. “I am no Stallion- no man who deserves great honor, and riches for his deeds. I have done many wrongs in my life, and seek no thanks for my actions, but rather forgiveness for my wrongs....”
His words rang amongst the city with confusion in each retelling told, however our Princess saw something that we did not. She asked him to come with her, for she did have another favor to request upon him.
“Healer.... I have but one request to make of thee....” She said in a soft, and pained tone. “.... This Darkness- it plagues us because of me... of what I have done to my beloved sister. She is responsible for hiding our world from those beyond the Veil of the Night- and I have corrupted her, and banished her from our world for a thousand years.... Only she knows how to once more hide our world again.... Sadly- she lies upon the moon- and I am unable to lift thy banishment- for the relics are no longer bound to me....” She said softly, looking to the petrified stone of the Elements of Harmony.
“.... Healer.... I beg of thee, help us once more.... Speak with my Sister- find the mare shrouded in shadows, and ask her of how to prevent these Evils from finding our world....”
.... And so.... He did.
With a gung-ho to his gallop, he took off towards the Moon itself, his craft unlike any we have ever known before. It groaned, and sailed through the wails of the night’s winds, escaping our world, and traveling to the embodiment of the Light in the Darkness.
The Healer stepped forth upon the Moon’s surface, and was graced with the form of Princess Luna, rather than the expected Nightmare Moon. The Evils that had infected her soul had been bound to our world- and ours alone, ripped forth from her body as she was banished. Their Evil would remain dormant until her return- a thousand years later- unable to harm our world until then.
“Healer....” The Princess Said quietly- having a premonition of what was to come should she fail to defeat Celestia..... However- now she saw just how the evil had tainted her thoughts, and saw fit the punishment subjected upon her. “.... Healer.... You wish to know how thy world is protected from those beyond the Veil? .... The Truth is- we are not.... We hold no great cloak of deception- able to hide our world from those of others.... We hold only a Shield.... One as alabaster as bone- one large enough to defend our world from most any attack....” She said, looking away slowly. “.... Thy Siege’s will continue- the shield will hold for as long as is required, but the body can only take so much.... Healer....” She said quietly, looking at him.
“.... You must heal thy world.... You must drive back the forces of Evil- you might fight back the Things of Children’s Nightmares... You must heal thy world until my return- please.... We know we ask much of thee- a thousand years of thy’s life force.... But you must help us.... There is no other way.... “ She said quietly, looking at him for a long time.
The Healer was then given an ultimatum.... Stay with us- with our world for 1000 years, and wait for Luna’s return..... Or leave us to our doom- to our own demise....
The Healer agreed- but on one condition.... The Princess of the Night was not to spend these 1000 years alone....
“W-What? .... But- Healer.... No one else but thyself is capable of traveling to see thyself....” She said, before the realization had dawned upon the Princess of the Moon- like the sun dawning over the horizon of the battle scarred world. She gazed upon thy Healer, and smiled slowly as she hugged him. “.... H-Healer.... I- .... I cannot thank thee enough....” She said quietly.
“.... Do not thank me.... I know the pain of solitude- I’ve known, and endured it for so long, that I have become accustomed to it....” Our Healer spoke in kind and caring words. “.... No one else should ever deserve to be alone for so long.... And you shall not suffer like I have.... Of this- I promise....”
And thus- The Healer healed thy Moon.
With his word made, the Healer set off into the Veil of the Night in his craft- warning worlds of the Danger they would face if they brought harm, and fury to this world..... Even with this warning, they came still....
And as they came- they were driven back. Our Healer kept his word to our Princess’s- he would defend our world from the Evils beyond the Veil. He would watch over our world for 1000 years, and would take on a task fit for only a hero....
.... He would stop all the children in the world from having nightmares ~
==============================
“To this very day, he still watches over our world.... He still flies through the Skies in his craft- it’s noise unforgettable, yet lost in the winds of the Night~” Twilight read, with a small smile on her face as Spike seemed to be almost out of it.
“.... Vwwwwoooorrrppp..... Vwwoooorrrppp.... Vwwwoooorrrppp!” She said in her story reading voice- very tired still, but unable to help herself, as she got sucked into the story.
Spike smiled as his eyes started to feel Heavy once more, liking when Twilight acted this way.... She was always comfortable when she told him a story- it was the only real time he ever got to see her so happy....
“.... To all the Children of the World.... I tell you this now.... Though The Healer of the Moon watches over us, with the Princess herself from her banished place.... It is alright to be afraid.... it is alright to be scared.... There are many scary things in this world- many monsters, and creatures of the night that we cannot fight on our own.... However, there are many ways that we can grow- and there are many lessons to be taught.... Teach your children this lesson for all time.... Though there will always be great Darkness on the Road ahead.... Though the light is not always visible at the end of the tunnel.... Do not lose hope. Do not let the Darkness consume you- do not let it take hold of you, and whisper into your ear.... Hold onto that hope for a better day- that light you so desire to guide you. For with it- you shall never be truly lost.... You shall always find a way....” Twilight said softly as she looked to Spike, a small smile on her face as she saw he was out cold.
With a small yawn, Twilight closed the book, and floated it over to her nightstand- before turning out the oil’s light. She sighed and cuddled into her younger brother like he were a teddy bear, and sighed- as the Moon’s bright light washed over the small town of Ponyville.... A small star winking on and off in the distance as the wind rolled over them- though this time, it was not able to hide the noise.
==============================
“Vwwooorrrppp.... Vwwwooorrpppp..... Vwoorrrpppp!”
==============================
10 Hours Later, Golden Oaks Library
Twilight gasped and jumped out of bed- looking around suddenly at the noise- only to see the sun shining in her window, the night far since passed. Blinking a bit, she held a hoof to her chest as she looked around the room, and sighed softly as she calmed her beating heart. “.... Spike? .... Did you hear that?” She asked slowly- only to see he wasn’t in her bed.
Blinking slowly, she looked around her room- to see the book right where she had left it.... Frowning slowly- she pulled it back over to her, and re-read that story 3 more times, something seeming.... ‘Familiar’ about it.
“Twilight! ..... Twilight- brunch is almost ready!” Spike called from downstairs, in the Library’s kitchen. He saw her though only moments later- her head in the story book, as she was writing down something else as well on a piece of parchment. Blinking a bit, Spike frowned at her slowly, and sighed- knowing his sister would never really change. “Jeez.... You okay Twilight?”
“Spike- I need you to send a letter.” She said, rolling up the scroll, and tying it off with a ribbon quickly, before handing it to him. “I need you to send this too Celestia right away.” She said, looking up at him with her ‘serious’ face on.
She knew what was suddenly so familiar about this book- it was the character within it. The Healer. “The Doctor.” Twilight muttered under her breath, shaking her head.
Spike gave a confused look, but rolled his eyes as he sent the letter on it’s way, and brought her breakfast. “Alright- alright. Put down the book and eat.” He said, pushing her plate of Pancakes before her.
Knock Knock!
“Oh- come on! Who could that be?” Spike muttered, sighing as he walked over to the door in his apron....
He blinked quickly, and frowned as he suddenly slammed the door, and ran back inside. “S-S-SHE’S BACK!!!!” He shouted as he ran back to the Kitchen.
Twilight did a spit-take with her OJ, as Spike hid under the table. “T-Twilight! N-N-Nightmare Moon is back!”
==============================
Outside the Golden Oaks Library Doors, High Noon.
Princess Luna blinked a bit, and sighed softly as she shook her head, looking around at the other ponies behind them- giving her the same reaction on different scales. “Tia.... I- I tried to tell you....” She muttered under her breath, in her still weakened state of being. Her mane was pale blue, and her body held close to no Celestial power to it at this time. It would be a while before she regained her powers. “.... They still fear me....” She said, looking over to her Sister- who was walking over to her from their chariot (the poor Pegasi Guards panting very hard from such a dexterous exercise.)
She had only just received Twilight’s letter, when she was taking Luna on a closer tour of Equestria- to see how their kingdom had grown in 1000 years. “Luna.... Spike is but a baby still- and has a very overactive imagination...” She said quietly, with a small, but kind smile. “My student shall see to it that he is corrected....”
“Spike- there’s no way that’s Nightmare Moon...” Twilight said opening the door and smiling at Luna politely. “See? .... It’s just Princess Luna, and- Princess Celestia!?” She shrieked, blushing deeply- surprised to see her teacher at her new home- and in such a ‘disheveled’ shape (bed mane, and a day and a half without a shower, or brushing her teeth.) She blushed deeply, and eeped adorably- before suddenly falling back into oblivion.
“.... Well.... When she wakes up that is....” Celestia muttered, with a small sigh, and a shake of her head, while Luna gave a small giggle at Twilight’s reaction.
Prologue:
Such a Strange Stallion....
By The_Whovian16
.... Our story is a tale of strange coincidences, and alternate timelines. One of unspeakable secrets, and of Higher Intellectual beings. One of strange Boxes, and Mad Stallions. One of Great Beginnings, and Spoiled ends. This is a Story of great things. True- it is no ordinary Adventure, no Epic, no single Tale to be passed on from Generation to Generation. But never the less!- that does not mean it isn’t as hearts pounding as one, as jaw dropping- or as “Awesome!” as one might think. This is the tale of the missed chances, being taken instead, and seeing new perspectives. A chance at the things that could have been. For once....
Turning Left may not be such a bad Idea.
============
4 Years Ago:
The Right Path
Twilight smiled, reading her book in peace under that of a big tree. It was the latest version of Daring do, the fifth one in the series. “I wonder what A.K. Yearling will come up with next....” She giggled a bit, before Spike’s snoring was interrupted by a sudden belch, waking him up from his midday nap.
“He-hu?! .... Oh... Just a letter....” He yawns a bit, before reading it, and his tired eyes open in shock and surprise. “Twilight!TWILIGHT! You’re going to want to read this!” He said quickly turning and giving her the letter.
“What is it about?” She asked reading the letter. She gasped a smile growing across her face. “Finally! The copy of Mythical and Ancient Folktales has arrived! I can finally learn about these “Elements” I’ve been hearing about, in some of these old stories” She smiled, and took the letter putting it in her pack. “Spike! Go ahead to the Castle, and hold the book for me.”
He nodded, and saluted “Ai-Ai, Captain!” He smiled and took off quickly in the wrong Direction.
She sighed “The OTHER way!” She yelled down. He came running back a moment later, past her, saying something along the lines of “I knew that.”
She only giggled and sighed. That silly dragon.... She smiled and quickly packed her things, her mind racing away at the thought of what these Elements could be.
She was thinking so much that she wasn’t paying attention to where she was going. Suddenly a brown blur ran directly into her from the side, knocking her to the dirt.
A few moments later she could hear something... or rather, someone. “Oh- Oh! Oh oh oh! Sorry! Oh! I am SO sorry!” she heard a stallion’s voice say... He sounded as if he was from Trottingham or something.
Twilight looked up from the ground and saw the stallion, quickly taking in the details of his features. The Earth stallion had a Brown coat, with a darker Brown Mane, a green tie, and Blue eyes. The Bluest she had ever seen.... There was something else about his eyes, but she wasn’t paying enough attention to get into the details about the details. “Ugh.... What just happened?” She asked, checking herself for injuries, which were none except for a sore spot on her side, where he had head butted her. Thank Celestia he wasn’t a Unicorn.
“I’m so sorry. I wasn’t paying attention to where I was going.” He said quickly. “Here- take my hoof.” He said holding out his hoof to her.
She looked at it for a second, shook her head. “N-No it’s ok. I’m alright.” She said getting up on her own.
He looked at her for a moment and nodded. “Oh, alright. If you say so....” He looked at her for another moment, before remembering he was doing something important. “Oh! Oh! Sorry- I need to go!” He said before darting to the left, and down deeper into the park.
Twilight Just watched him for a moment, looking after the strange stallion.
She then snapped back to reality, and went to the right. Towards the Castle grounds.
============
4 years later: Present Day
Princess Twilight Sparkle..... Princess Twilight Sparkle..... Princess Twilight Sparkle....... She groaned in annoyance. The name... It just didn’t seem right to her.... It didn’t seem to suit her- and she was sure of it.... But it was hers. Her Title. Her new being. It was extremely valuable, and was the highest honor to have ever been bestowed.... Yet she didn’t like it.
She sighed running the name through her head again, and again, trying her hardest to make it fit her mentally.... Princess Twilight Sparkle..... Princess Twilight Sparkle..... I am Princess Twilight Sparkle......
“Uh.... Twilight? .... You alright in there?” Spike asked from the other side of her door. “You’ve been in there for a while.... and we have to say our goodbyes before we go to Canterlot... You know, keeping to the schedule....”
Twilight sighed for a moment thinking “..... I’m fine Spike. Just studying is all. Studying and thinking....” She lied. She hated lying to him, but she honestly didn’t feel like saying goodbye to the townsfolk.... that and her head was killing her trying to wrap around the recent events. She sighed again thinking “.... Ugh, my head....” She groaned again. “.... I need some tea... And Someone to talk too....”
She got up and opened the door to see Spike in front of her. “Spike I’m going to Zecora’s to say goodbye first, since she’s the one who lives farthest out of town, and everyone is probably too busy with taking down the decorations from the Summer Sun Celebration at the moment. Alright?”
Spike nodded quickly, beaming up at her. He was glad to at least see her out of her room, and going out into Town again. She’d been this way ever since she got her wings. Even after the Summer Sun Celebration “Sure thing Twilight!”
She smiled back, patting him on the head “That’s my number One Assistant.” She giggled a little, and continued to the front door. She wanted to go to Someplace, quiet and secluded, with good Tea, and someone to talk to, and Zecora’s seem to fit the bill.
============
Twilight walked through the Everfree forest, following the path she remembered (avoiding the Poison Joke) and approaching the small Hut in the middle of the forest. She saw the Wagon still outside, half full of Zecora’s things, which meant she was still unpacking. Oh... Maybe Now’s not such a good time? She began to second guess herself, and turned to leave, only to see the Zebra standing in the tree line behind her, cutting off the heads of some flowers trying to bite her, with ease, and a bit of grace, as if she was used to it... Which Twilight didn’t doubt. Still though- a friend of hers was being attacked!
Oh no! Zecora’s under attack! She glared at the plants, her eyes turning white as she used her magic to wrap the plants around one another, turning them into a giant green, and slimy ribbon. She quickly trotted up to Zecora who was just looking confused, until she saw Twilight, and smiled kindly.
“Welcome Twilight, to my den- might I ask why you have come again?” Zecora asked.
“Zecora! Are you Alright?! I saw you were being attacked by those plants and-”
Zecora looked at her for a moment, before cracking a kind, understanding smile “The weeds you mean?- Oh they aren’t as tough as they are green.” Zecora said, laughing lightly.
“Oh... Sooo... You weren’t under attack then?” Twilight asked, making sure.
“Quiet so my dear. I am sorry for making you fear.” Zecora said, patting her shoulder “Now tell me child- What has you so riled?”
Twilight looked at her for a moment and sighed. “Can we talk inside? ... It’s all rather hard to explain”
Zecora smiled and nodded, leading her into her home.
============
Twilight sipped her tea quietly, trying to think of how to explain her feelings of confusion and a feeling of doubt. She sighed and continued thinking
“.... Take all the time you need. You cannot rush a plant, when you have just buried the seed.” Zecora said reassuringly, which made Twilight smile a bit.
She nodded. “Thank you....” She looked back down for a moment and sighed “.... Alright.... I think I know how to explain it....” She looked up at Zecora “Zecora.... I feel like there is something... Something different... well something I could have done differently.... No, that’s not it....” She sighed and thought again, looking away from the wiser mare.
“.... I wonder sometimes.... What would have happened, had I found another way to defeat Nightmare Moon.... had I not been the Bookworm I was, or had I not been so anti-social.... With my life about to become something permanently stamped in the history books- I’ve started to wonder how it could have been different.... How I could have been different.... I know I shouldn’t dwell on the past, and should focus on my future- but I feel like my future is too much for me to look at- so I’m turning to the past to see if it could have been any different. To give me a better hope at looking back into my future.... Do you know what I mean?” She asked her Zebra friend.
Zecora studied Twilight for a moment, before speaking in a calm and understanding tone. “I see your meaning, though it does defy my own reasoning. You, Twilight worry about what could have been, and about what you couldn’t have seen. Hmm... Perhaps I have a brew, like the memory potion I gave you.” She turned to her rather large potion collection, rummaging through the potions until she came across a small chest, with a skull shaped lock. She sighed putting it off to the side, before looking though some more. She then saw the brew of which she seeked, and grabbed it quickly, balancing it in her muzzle. She gently set it down, and pushed it to her.
Twilight studied the bottle for a moment, the lid seeming to be sealed by some strange wind up contraption. The Technology of it seemed out of place in the Enchantress’s hut.
“This potion is one of a kind- Much like the traveler who gave it in kind. To make a long story short, I cured him of a rather strange infection of some sort. He promised that I- would only need to utter these words five” She sighed and took a moment, closing her eyes, looking through her memories. The she slowly repeated the words spoken to her those some odd years ago. “.... What Could Have, Will Be....”
The Potion wobbled for a moment, slowly turning from a deep blue, to a light blue, to white color, then a coco brown, and finally reaching a golden coloring, that for a near second burned as brightly as the sun.
Twilight looked away, for a moment, before hearing the sound of something popping. She looked to see, the cork pulled out, and the strange lid yanked free. “.... What is it suppose to do?” Twilight asked Zecora.
Zecora’s eyes were still shut when she spoke. “... In every beings life, there is one moment... one that decides the fate for every filly, stallion and mare.... One in which a choice is given upon which path to go....” She repeated, the stallions words still in her mind. Twilight realized she was in some form of memory elapsed trance. This wasn’t Zecora speaking but a memory of hers, of someone else. “... This potion is to let you see what would happen if you choose the other path.... To see the other life fate had planned for you....” Zecora said, then slowly came too, blinking rapidly. She looked around as if just waking up. “... What... What happened to me? .... I feel as if I’ve been hit by a tree....” She notices Twilights state of shock “.... What? Have I done something wrong? .... The way you are looking at me is as if I have just sang a song.”
Twilight, just looked at her for a moment. “.... Y-Yeah.... Something like that....” She said looking back to the potion. This potion is to let you see what would happen if you choose the other path.... She looked at it for a moment more, before slowly reaching out her hoof, and holding onto the potion. She looks at it in her hoof, and takes a deep breath, before drinking the whole bottle. She looks to Zecora wiping her mouth. “ Alright... So I won’t move right? This is all just going to happen in my head? Like the other potion, right?”
To Twilight’s mortification Zecora simply shrugged. “Beats me. As far as I know, I’ve just been hit in the head by a tree.” Then everything went black as Twilight fainted....
============
4 Years Ago:
The Left Path
Twilight smiled, reading her book in peace under that of a big tree. It was the latest version of Daring do, the fifth one in the series. “I wonder what A.K. Yearling will come up with next....” She giggled a bit, before Spike’s snoring was interrupted by a sudden belch, waking him up from his midday nap.
“He-hu?! .... Oh... Just a letter....” He yawns a bit, before reading it, and his tired eyes open in shock and surprise. “Twilight!- TWILIGHT! You’re going to want to read this!” He said quickly turning and giving her the letter.
“What is it about?” She asked reading the letter. She gasped a smile growing across her face. “Finally! The copy of Mythical and Ancient Folktales has arrived! I can finally learn about these “Elements” I’ve been reading about, in some of these older history books.” She smiled, and took the letter putting it in her pack. “Spike! Go ahead to the Castle, and hold the book for me.”
He nodded, and saluted “Ai-Ai, Captain!” He smiled and took off quickly in the wrong Direction.
She sighed “The OTHER way!” She yelled down. He came running back a moment later, past her, saying something along the lines of “I knew that.”
She only giggled and sighed. That silly dragon.... She smiled and quickly packed her things, her mind racing away at the thought of what these Elements could be.
She was thinking so much that she wasn’t paying attention to where she was going. Suddenly a brown blur ran directly into her from the side, knocking her to the dirt.
A few moments later she could hear something... or rather, someone. “Oh- Oh! Oh oh oh! Sorry! Oh! I am SO sorry!” she heard a stallion's voice say... He sounded as if he was from Trottingham or something.
Twilight looked up from the ground and saw the stallion, quickly taking in the details of his features. The Earth stallion had a Brown coat, with a darker Brown Mane, a green tie, and Blue eyes. The Bluest she had ever seen.... There was something else about his eyes, but she wasn’t paying enough attention to get into the details about the details. “Ugh.... What just happened?” She asked, checking herself for injuries, which were none except for a sore spot on her side, where he had head butted her. Thank Celestia he wasn’t a Unicorn.
“I’m so sorry. I wasn’t paying attention to where I was going.” He said quickly. “Here- take my hoof.” He said holding out his hoof to her.
She looked at it for a second, and- she looked at it some more... and she looked at the hoof some more, before realizing she was just leaving him there, standing awkwardly with his hoof out to help her. She blushed, and took his hoof quickly out of embarrassment. “T-Thank you... I’m Twilight... Twilight Sparkle.” She said a bit more confidently.
The Stallion smiled, and shook her hoof that he still held in his. “Well hello Miss Sparkle. I’m the Doctor. Nice to meet you.”
She looked at him confused. “Doctor? Doctor Who?” She asked him.
Just then he had a sudden realization. As if he had just remembered something crucial. “Oh! Oh! Sorry, I need to go-” He said quickly letting go, and darting to the left, down the path he had gone down before..... before....
Before? .... She thought about it and shook her head, feeling as if she was having a bad case of Deja Vue. She looked back down the path to realize that the strange stallion was getting away. “Hey! Wait! You didn’t Answer my Question!” She yelled before groaning and chasing after him. All thoughts of the Elements of Harmony, forgotten to her as she chased after this “Doctor.”
Author's Note
Leave it to Twilight to have a Pivotal Moment, changed because she couldn’t leave a question unanswered.
Also- Depending on how much love this Prologue gets- I might just revamp the whole story again... If- anyone actually wants to read it that is. Just- something short and sweet, I promise.
