Winterspell

Twilight Sparkle was located in the Canterlot library with Celestia. She had requested several weeks ago to visit the Star Swirl section of the library, and Celestia finally allowed her to check out one book.

As they walked along the dusty shelves, Twilight’s eyes glimmered with excitement. She had only glimpsed at these books before when she had broken into the library to find a time spell. Now she could actually take one home to read! Observing each finely crafted title on each leather bound spine, chills ran down her back at the thought of reading them.

Celestia chuckled a little to herself, watching her pupil go crazy at the gigantic decision of just one of the many great secrets of her dear old friend. Just looking at them made her wish he was still around. She began to remember all the old memories…

Twilight saw a book entitled Location of Other Worlds, sparking her curiosity and used her magic to pull it off the shelf. As the book moved from its spot, another book fell out of place and landed on Celestia’s back. Startled, Celestia jumped and the book fell off her back onto the floor.

“Are you alright?” Twilight asked.

“Yes, I’m fine,” Celestia replied.

Twilight noticed the book on the floor and promptly put the other one back. Using her magic, she picked up the fallen book and looks at the cover. It was a book entitled Winterspell.

“Winterspell?” Twilight asked aloud.

Celestia stopped dead cold. She had not heard that name in decades. Star Swirl had mentioned it once, but would never explain it. She wanted to know more.

“Winterspell, you say?” Celestia questioned.

Twilight nodded, opening the book to the first page. It was a dedication, which said: To my love. May the many years together last longer than time itself. Now she was confused. Star Swirl never married, at least not to her knowledge. She turned to Celestia.

“Who was Star Swirl’s love?” she asked.

Celestia began to speak, but paused, pondering the answer.

“Star Swirl, as you know, did not truly understand friendship,” Celestia started. “I never knew he had his eye on somepony, let alone him meeting anypony new.”

Twilight, intrigued at this, started to read the first chapter. It talked about the fateful day he bumped into Winterspell and how they began to talk. Star Swirl was so enchanted by her words that he immediately fell in love with the mare.

“It looks like Winterspell was the name of his special somepony,” Twilight said after closing the book.

“I wonder why they never married,” Celestia thought.

“You’ll find out soon enough,” Twilight smiled. “This is the book I’m checking out.”

***

Twilight sat on the lawn just outside her castle, reading attentively and trying to piece together the mystery. As she was reading, Rarity and Sweetie Bell walked up to her.

“Hey, Twilight!” Sweetie Bell chimed.

“How are you today, darling?” Rarity asked.

“I’m fine,” Twilight mumbled, still focusing on the book.

“Whatcha’ reading?” Sweetie Bell curiously asked, looking at the book.

Twilight quickly looked up at them.

“It’s a journal by Star Swirl,” she explained. “He wrote it when he met a mare named Winterspell.”

“Winterspell?” Sweetie Bell looked puzzled.

“It’s that just a filly’s bedtime story?” Rarity asked.

“What do you mean?” Twilight said, confused.

“Our mom would tell us the sad tale of Winterspell, who fell in love with Star Swirl.”

Twilight quickly stood up.

“How does it end?” she asked frantically.

“Well,” Rarity continued, “After a year, Star Swirl proposed, then a wild red bull chased them. Star Swirl banished the bull to an alternate world, but Winterspell accidentally was banished, too.”

Twilight’s jaw dropped. Was that really what happened? She had to know. Using her magic, she picked up the book and flipped to the back of the book. There was only a single, lonely paragraph to be found. It read:

Unfortunately, due to my foolishness, Winterspell has met her fate too soon. We were supposed to spend the rest of eternity together. Now, she is lost in the infinite space of other worlds beyond our own. I will continue to search for her until I breathe my last, dying breath.

Twilight stood there, eyes wider than saucers. Slowly, her magic faded and the book fell to the ground. Rarity and Sweetie Bell gave each other a surprised look.

“I…. I can’t believe it,” Twilight stuttered. “… I have to get this to Celestia, IMMEDIATELY.”

Quickly, Twilight dashed into her castle, turning corners on a bit to get to the library. She burst through the doors and accidentally woke her baby dragon, who was taking a nice little nap.

“Spike! Take a note!”

Twilight used her magic to shove a piece of paper and quill. Stubbornly, he grabs the paper and quill and poises, ready to start writing once Twilight has enough breath to stutter her first words for the letter.

“Dear Princess Celestia,” Twilight pants. “I have found that Star Swirl’s somepony, Winterspell, was accidentally banished to another world by his own magic. Star Swirl writes in his journal that he would spend the rest of his life looking for her. It is very possible she may still be alive. Please respond as soon as possible. Sincerely, your pupil, Twilight.”

Spike finishes the last word and quickly lights it aflame, sending it to Princess Celestia herself. He then looks at her with a puzzled glance.

“Winterspell?” he asks with a yawn. “Isn’t that just a filly’s fantasy story?”

“I’m sorry to say this, Spike,” Twilight begins, “but that story just became Equestrian history.”