When Technical Support is Too Helpful

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Twilight was in Heaven, both literally and figuratively. Her nose was buried as deep as the tome allowed with hundreds more piled around her. Magic spells galore, history aplenty, science copious, and all the books at her disposal! When she had woken up in a library, she first was scared, not knowing how she got there or where the others were, but it was a library and every survival book she read had said to stay put and wait for help.

"Skaea!" a voice piped behind her which made her jump.

She turned around and saw a young girl with black hair, bat-like wings, and halo, clothed in red wrappings, "M-Me?" she said confused.

"Duh!" the girl yanked on Twilight's arm, "Master is waiting. And he is not in a good mood as is."

"Right, right. Master...?" Twilight stood and dusted herself off.

The girl stared at her deadpanned with light purple eyes, "Play around all you like, I'm not getting my wings clipped just because you think you can get away with anything because he's your grandfather."

The girl pulled Twilight along, threatening to rip it out of socket. Twilight stumbled on some of the books she had left strewn about.

"So... what's your name?" Twilight inquired.

The girl stopped abruptly and Twilight crashed into her, "I know we don't like each other nor get along, but you could at least remember my name." She pushed open the large golden doors of the library.

Twilight scrambled to her feet quickly and pushed open a door with all her might. She panted after exerting herself for a task the girl made  look easy. She spotted the girl walking down the street made of marble. The architecture and vastness of the buildings made Twilight stare in awe. Towering spires of pearl reached the sky, domes of immaculate ivory rose in front of her, and marble houses lined the streets. She saw angels pass by in white tunics with their golden halos. The girl with black wings grew into a smaller black dot over the horizon. She ran after her.

"About time," the girl chastised Twilight, who was on her hands and knees on the floor trying to catch her breath. The girl snickered at the sight.

Twilight's sides burned, not only from the running but also from climbing the five thousand steps to the top of the tower.

"Maybe if you spent as much time exercising as you spent reading, you wouldn't be as winded," the girl mocked.

The black doors they stood in front of opened suddenly. A black specter with red eyes and black wings filled the doorway.

"Master!" the girl instantly fell to a knee.

"Darqlon?" Twilight  wheezed.

He bent down and pressed a hand wrapped in green energy to her stomach, "I worry about you, Skaea," he rasped, "How could you not use a spell to return your stamina or teleport yourself over here?"

Twilight felt her pain ease and herself being refreshed, "I-I forgot..."

"For being so smart, you are so... silly sometimes," he chuckled. He cleared his throat and held a serious tone, "I have received troubling reports that the Underworld is allowing Demons to crossover. Astraelle, I want you to take Skaea and investigate."

"What?!" both girls said in unison.

"Skaea, do not forget to use your magic," he closed the doors to his study which left the two girls outside alone.

Astraelle let out a frustrated huff and glanced sideways at Twilight. She stood up and started a slow trek down the stairs.

"Wait!" Twilight called out.

Astraelle stopped and looked at her with an annoyed glance.

"I could teleport us there. I remember reading a spell about home teleporting to the Underworld."

The girl rolled her eyes and walked back to Twilight, "Fine, let's get this over with."

Twilight was amazed at how anyone could build towers taller than the ones in Heaven, but whoever the architect was, he had outdone himself. A soft gray glow dimly illuminated the Underworld, but she could see the towers blocked out most of the light, and lamp posts cast somber blue light. She could not even see the ground from the rail she leaned over as the towers kept raising higher, she could see that roads bridged towers together, and countless citizens walked the sky-bridges and walkways while carts and wagons were pulled by a number of different beasts of burden.

"WOW!" Twilight awed.

"Yeah," Astraelle chuckled, "this place always takes my breath away. There is a reason this is called the 'Home of Towers'. C'mon, we need to talk with the governor, maybe she can tell us what's wrong."

Twilight shook her head, gaining her senses back, and followed Astraelle. After a moment of silence between the two Twilight spoke up, "How did you become a valkyrie?"

"The same way all kyrie are created," she answered miffed.

"Just trying to make small talk," Twilight gave a weak laugh.

"Master took me as an apprentice and now I'm a valkyrie. I want to become a reaper, but I have an age to go until then," she spoke as she weaved in and out of people.

Twilight watched in amazement as giants, dragons, and reapers all traveled past her. A hand grabbed her arm and she locked eyes with an annoyed Astraelle. Twilight smiled innocently not knowing she unintentionally got lost.

"Do I have to keep a leash on you?" she grinned mischievously,"Not that I would mind."

"No!" Twilight blushed, "Everything is just so interesting."

"We aren't here to sight see, Skaea, Master gave us a job."

They walked through the crowded streets and Twilight assumed their destination was the black castle that easily dwarfed every castle in Equestria combined.

"D-Do you know why I am with Darq   my grandfather?" Twilight began her questioning.

"You mean besides the fact y'all live near the Grand Archives? I would assume it would be so he could teach you how to use your magic instead of you just reading about it," Astraelle stated.

"Couldn't someone else teach me? Like my f-father or mother?" she probed cautiously.

Astraelle stopped and stared at Twilight with a perplexed expression. Her face and eyes softened, "Right, you must be having one of your memory lapses. You are the only one left of your family, Skaea. Your mom, your dad, your five siblings  all died at the beginning of the War of the Worlds two ages ago."

"What?" Twilight felt sadness well up from deep within her.

Astraelle rolled her eyes, "Don't worry; you'll forget again."

Twilight scowled at her, but sighed, remembering that this was not her own life. She decided to change the topic, "Who is the governor?"

"Countess Scilla von Drakkenhofft," Astraelle sneered, "that bitch turned the whole Court against Master to keep me from becoming a valkyrie."

"Why?"

"Because she wanted me as a slave. She has a taste for any girl she thinks is cute so wait outside while I talk with her," Astraelle shivered.

The two young women reached the gates of the castle. Astraelle glared up at the two guards when they failed to open the gate.

"Ahem," she cleared her throat, "let us through."

"The governor is not seeing any visitors today," a giant in silver armor spoke.

"Don't make me have to skin y'all, you stupid dogs," she barked, the two guards growled at her, "Master Darqlon personally sent us here to talk with her."

"Then, perhaps, he should be here," the other guard snapped.

Astraelle reached behind her back to draw out her sword, but Twilight intervened and pulled the spitfire girl back, "I apologize, good sirs. We will just be on our way."

She tugged Astraelle away with telekinetic magic. The two guards huffed and stamped their halberds on the ground.

"What the Hell?!" Astraelle exploded with anger.

"Something just didn't feel right, Astraelle," Twilight voiced and glanced over her shoulder at the castle, "I had this feeling for a long time, but being here is making my whole body tense."

Astraelle snorted and crossed her arms. After a moment of silence, she spoke up, "Yeah... I feel it now. It feels... demonic..."

An explosion flung them to the ground, glass broke and showered down on them. Twilight brought up a magenta shield of magic. She saw the castle completely gone, replaced by orange flames.

Astraelle grabbed her shoulders in panic, "Teleport us the fuck outta here! Now!"

"Wh" Twilight began then a chunk of stone landed behind her. She gazed up and her pupils became pinpricks. So that's where the castle went, she thought before closing her eyes tightly and teleporting the both of them back to Heaven.

Explosions, screams, and fire, everywhere. The once peaceful and pristine town now echoed with the sounds of fighting. Twilight watched in horror as a young man laid on the ground, crimson pooling around him, staining the white walls, floor, and his wings, he lamely tucked his intestines back into the empty cavity in his body, his green eyes void of life. She wanted to vomit but a hand grabbed hers and began to pull her away. She saw Astraelle with her sword drawn. They ran away from the archives and headed for Darqlon's tower. Her heart sank seeing half of the tower collapsed on houses and in flames. What was happening?

A giant of a woman landed in front of them. She had white plate armor with gold trim, four white wings were flared on her back, her tanned skin covered in blood.

"Princess Skaea!" she addressed Twilight, "Why are you out here?"

"Archangel Laurenielle, where is my master?" Astraelle tugged on one of the warrior's tassels.

"Lord Darqlon is at the gates keeping the demons out," her pink eyes returned to Twilight, "We need to get you to safety, your Highness."

"You do that, I need to go help my master!" she turned but something pulled on her black leathery wing; it was Skaea.

"Please, don't leave me!" Twilight plead.

"I agree," Laurenielle spoke, "Lord Darqlon would want you to keep the Princess safe."

Astraelle turned to stare into the wide diamond eyes of Skaea and sighed, "We should go to Pyæ. I know the perfect place to hide." She smiled up at the Princess, "Know a spell to teleport us to the Valley of Tsahom?"