Twilight's Escort

***Twilight's Escort***

Twilight Sparkle, every pony's favorite royal librarian, stares up at the ceiling. She was mesmerized by what she saw. It comforted her in times of stress. Spike, who had just recently woken up from his nap, trudges by lazily. He is stopped by Twilight's rear legs.

"Oh... Hey, Twilight. What are you looking at?" He asks sleepily.

Tears swell up in her eyes. Her heart felt heavy as memories of fire and destruction consumed her.

"It's the tree..." Twilight says at last. "The girls put it up there to make me feel more at home, but sometimes... I don't know, Spike. Sometimes, it just reminds me of its destruction. All of those books, all of those memories... He destroyed them all."

Spike places his clawed hand on her side. Twilight looks at him and smiles.

"Thank you, Spike. I guess I just need to let it out sometimes." She says with a sad smile on her face. "I think I'll just go to bed, now..."

"Go to bed?" Spike asks. "It's, like, three in the afternoon."

"Says the baby dragon who just woke up from his nap." Twilight counters. "I... I've had a long day. I'll see you later, Spike..."

With that being said, Twilight takes off down the crystal corridor. Spike watches until he sees her dissapeared behind her door.

"Eh... I'll be in the kitchen, if she needs me." He says with a shrug.

***One Week Ago***

Twilight listens carefully to Celestia's gentle humming. Not being able to see through her blind fold, Twilight tries to follow the sound of her hooves hitting the tile floor, but it just sounded like Celestia was moving from one corner of the room to the next.

"Really, Princess Celestia, you don't have to do this for me..." Twilight says as she tries to peer through her blind fold.

The princess hums softly as she shifts through the assortment of surprises that awaited the hero of Equestria. Twilight kicks her hooves back and forth excitedly in her chair.

"Oh, don't be silly, Twilight. With the help of your friends, you managed to do what neither Luna nor myself could. You took Lord Tirek on in single combat. You deserve a lot more than a 'congratulations' and a few glasses of champagne." Celestia says sternly.

The blind fold is torn away, and Twilight is stunned by the sudden flash of light. When her vision clears, Celestia is standing before her with a small, red pillow in the cloud of her magic. On the pillow is a single, gold ring. Twilight eyes the jewelry with interest and curiosity. Celestia was so excited, she could hardly stand still.

"Twilight, this ring was given to me by my mother when I was a very small filly. She always told me such great stories about it. She told me the ring was crafted by griffins, masters of the forge, and that it was infused with magical powers. It could 'charm' the unicorn who wore it to have visions of the future."

Celestia pauses as stries to avoid direct eye contact with Twilight.

"She also told me... to share it with the stallion I would chose to be my husband." Celestia says quickly, her cheeks blushing. "But that is in the distant past. At this point, I may never find a suitable mate, so I am entrusting this valued treasure to you, my most faithful student."

Celestia presents the gold ring to Twilight.

"Go on, Twilight." She coaxes. "Take it."

Twilight looks at the ring. Obviously, it meant a lot to Princess Celestia. After a moment of hesitation, Twilight takes the ring using the magic from her horn.

"Try it on..." Celestia says.

Not wanting to disappoint her mentor, Twilight does as the princess asks. Celestia's face explodes into a huge grin as the ring slides down the shaft of Twilight's horn.

"Oh, Twilight..." Celestia gasps. "It looks stunning on you. I... I hope this gift is adequate... It is the most I can give. Nothing else I have to offer can compare to the value of that ring."

Twilight was honored to wear such a closely valued treasure. She throws her hooves around Celestia's neck and hugs her tightly.

"Thank you, princess... Thank you so much..."

"No, Twilight, you are the hero... I am the one who should be thanking you..."

Twilight smiles up at her. Then, she lets out a giggle as the princess kisses her cheek. Twilight feels a cold draft on her cheek as the princess pulls away.

"Wear it proudly, Twilight." Celestia says. "Now, I beileve my sister has something she could like to give to you as well... You can find her in the observatory."

Twilight nods as she begins to make her way towards the door. Using her magic, she opens the door and enters the corridor.

"Oh, Twilight!" Celestia stops her as the door begins to close.

"Yes, princess?"

Celestia's grin was spreading from ear to ear.

"Thank you..." She says softly.

Then, the door shuts.

***

Luna had her eyes closed. She had to in order to concentrate. Raising the moon was no easy task. Twilight watches from the stairs that lead up to the observatory. She looks on with awe as the princess of the night performs her daily ritual. As the moon sets into place, Twilight continues her way up the stairs. Luna sighs with content.

"Hey, Luna!" Twilight greets.

Princess Luna shrieks with fear as her heart leaps into her throat. Twilight watches with horror as the princess collapses onto the stone floor.

"Luna, are you alright? I didn't mean to startle you..." Twilight says as she helps the princess up.

"Twilight... You were so quiet..." Luna mutters as she catches her breath." W-What brings you up here? You have never visited me up here before."

"Oh, Celestia said you had something for me." Twilight says sheepishly.

Luna smacks her own forehead with her hoof.

"Right... How silly of me to forget. I do have a special gift for you, Twilight. It is down stairs, in my personal bed chambers. Come with me."

Luna marches past her and begins climbing down the tower. Twilight chases after her. The princess could really book it on those long, alicorn legs of hers. In a matter of minutes, they had reached the moon wing of the palace, a very dimly lit corridor. Luna's room was at the very end of the corridor.

"Your gift is just inside, Twilight." Luna says with a sweet smile.

As the door slowly opens, Twilight sees that the room is completly dark, save a manikin standing in the moon light shining though the window. The manikin was completly nude except for a single trinket around its neck. It was a black amulate with a ghostly pale orb in the center. Luna circles the manikin, eyeing the amulate.

"This... gift for you is one of my own creation." Luna explains. "The black chain and shell are made of pure obsidian. The orb in the center is a rare element found not in Equestria. It is not even found on this planet. It is a 'moon tear'."

"What is that?" Twilight asks, very intrigued.

"The moon tear is powerful stone conceived by... by Nightmare Moon. It is what gave me... I mean, gave her the power to melt into darkness and travel wherever she pleased. It is the greatest gift I can give you for all you have done for myself, my sister, and this nation."

Twilight was speechless. Luna was giving her a rare gift that meant a lot to her. Where did she hear that before?

"This... is for me?" Twilight asks.

Luna rolls her eyes as she takes the amulate from the manikin.

"No, Twilight. This is for the other hero of Equestria. The other stunning mare who saved our world from destruction and chaos time and time again."

Twilight's cheeks blush bright red.

"Of course, this is for you..." Luna whispers into Twilight's ear as she slides the amulate over her head. "How does it feel?"

Twilight looks down and observes the dark trinket around her neck. She could feel its power flowing though her.

"I... It feels..."

"Oh, don't worry, Twilight." Luna reassures her. "You will become accustomed to the great powers within. Soon, traveling by shadow and darkness will be a second nature to you."

The princess was grinning wildly. Twilight couldn't help smiling back. She was happy the princess had given her such kind and thoughtful gifts. Luna's smile melts when she sees the golden ring around Twilight's horn.

"What is that?" She asks. "I wasn't aware you wore rings, Twilight."

"This?" Twilight asks as she looks up at the shining band around her horn. "This is a gift from Celestia. I have never worn rings before this one. Doesn't it look amazing?"

Luna scowls as she eyes the golden ring.

"Yes..." She says through her teeth. "It looks... amazing..."

Twilight notices the change in the princess' behavior.

"Are you alright, Luna?" She asks.

Luna's scowl melts instantly, and it is replaced by a happy grin.

"I am better than ever, Twilight. Run along, now. I expect you to practice using that amulate. Maybe, we could visit the moon together, some day."

Twilight laughs as she takes her leave from the princess' room.

"Of course, Luna. Thank you again for the gift. It really means a lot to me." Twilight says.

Luna gives an approving 'nod' before the door closes and she is left alone in the dark.

"Some day..." Luna mutters to herself.

***To Be Continued***