Chapters "Hey, my name's Shelly. And this, is my story."
"Niko can you go get some water from the pump?" my mother asked up the stairs to my twin sister whom was in the middle of sewing me a new glove. Niko and I look exactly the same, only differences are I have brown eyes and she's blind - well sorta. We've developed a spell that helps her see.
"Sure thing mom!!" Niko calls as she sets her needle down and rushes downstairs. "Do you want me to get the clothes off the line too?" she asks as she puts on her boots.
"Would you? That'd be great!" mom says as she cuts up some potatoes. We live on a farm, hidden at the edge of Avalon. We don't realy have to worry about food unless the pegasi decide to give us bad weather. But then again, with dad's inventions they wouldn't even think about it. Dad makes machines that help with our farming, but lately he's been making things that would help every pony. You see, dad's an earth pony with an IQ of about say... three hundred. So we live a pretty good life with him selling his inventions AND our crops. But I'm getting off topic.
"Hey mom? Whatcha makin' for dinner today?" I ask as I trot into the kitchen. I'm a pinkish purlpe unicorn with black hair, brown eyes and freckles. Niko is the same except her eyes are greenish blue.
"We're having your sister's favorite today," mom says as she points the spoon at me, "Mind tasting this for me? I can't decide what to add." I lick the spoon and think for a few seconds while i grab a cup out off the cupboard.
"Hmmm... some garlic salt, a teaspoon of vanilla extract and...... carrot bits," I say as I pour some milk and pull out the ingreadients I had just mentioned.
"Thanks dear. You and your sister have quite a nack for cooking," mother says happily as she adds the ingredients to the soup. "Hey hun? Have you told your sister yet? About Magic School?" Mother asks as she slowly stirs the soup. I sip my milk and think for a few seconds as to how to answer her. "I guess I can take your sad sillence as a no?" Mother asks. I nod saddly.
I'm too afraid to tell Niko because she can't go. Only one of us can leave the yard at a time and I'll be gone for a whole month. That and we hardly EVER seperate. Always together, never apart - that was our promise to each other since day one. I didn't want to tell her because she couldn't go. According to mom and dad our magic is REALLY strong when we're together, which would probably explain why Niko can see more than just a pony's spirit when I'm with her, and why I can cast stronger spells when she's with me... to be honest I don't WANT to go. It would mean not being with my twin sister! And I don't like being alone. What if I lost control of my magic?! What if I hurt somepony?!!
Mother sees my worry grow in my face as I sit there staring into my milk. She sets the spoon down and sets the pot to simmer, then walks over to me. "Shelly... are you that afraid of your own magic?" she asks as she pats my back.
"What if I fail? What if i loose control?" I ask, fear setting into my face as I look up to my mother. This pony standing before me who has raised me and my sister since we were babies. Yea.. she's not even my real mother but I feel like she's the only pony that COULD be my mother. You know... besides the fact that I'm a unicorn and she's an earth pony. She smiles and gives me a hug.
"Everything will be fine. Plus, the princesses themselves sent the invitation. It's not like you can refuse. I'm sure they'll think of something to help you and Niko. And if that's not enough, I'll even ask them myself next time I go up there if they can do something to help you two," she says, poking my little catlike nose. Yea, I'm part cat... sorry for not mentioning that sooner. Mom thinks that before she adopted us, one of us had tried casting a spell and it backfired. So she's pretty sure Niko's blind and I'm part cat because of whatever spell we tried casting.
"Haha! Ok mom!" I hop down and trot over to the door. "I'll go tell Niko now!" As I turn to leave, there's Niko staring at me with tears in her eyes. I immediately start to worry, but just as I go to explain she gives me a big hug.
"OOOHHHHHH why didn't you tell me you got an invitation from the princesses?!!" she yells as water from the buckets splashes everywhere.
"NIKO! I-I I thought you where mad with me!" I say in both suprise and happiness.
"Why would I be MAD? You got a PERSONAL invite from the PRINCESSES!" she says as we get up.
"I thought you'd be mad cause we promised to be together forever," I say, picking up the buckets that were holding the water.
"No! But I am mad that you kept this a secret!! We could have celebrated earlier!!" She yells, using her magic to pick up the water and put it back into the buckets.
"See what I was saying girls?" Mom says as she smirks at us. "You've got TONS of power when you're with each other. You just cleaned up ALL that water just with your magic!! AND without even thinking about it. That's why Magic School is such a great idea! Shelly goes and learns EVERYTHING she can there, then when she gets home she can teach you! And all the while you, Niko, can learn how to build those contraptions dad is always making and then teach HER!!" Mom had a point; now was no time to be worring.
"Hey mom, when was I supposed to be picked up for magic school anyways?" Now it was mom's turn to look sheepish.
"Uh... tomorrow," she says as me and Niko both look at eachother.
"I GOTTA PACK!" I yell as I set the buckets down and we both charge up the stairs.
"Mom, we're borrowing your suitcase!!" Niko yells down the stairs. Mother just laughs and goes back to her soup.
"Let me guess. Niko just found out about Magic School and you just BEARLY told Shelly when she was being picked up?" Dad asks as he sets his saddle bag down next to the door way.
"Haha. How long had you been standing there?"Mom asks sheepishly. He laughs and gives mom a kiss.
"Long enough dear - long enough."
hey everyone!! this next bit is going to be a written version of Niko's story!! now remember all of this takes place in a totally different dimension. so some personalities and characters will be different.
Sugar Punch, is a purple-ish pink unicorn colt with a very light purple mane and tail.he has emerald green eyes and an extremely bad attitude. not to mention his foul language, he is the son of Berry Punch, and goes to Ms Cheerlee's Class. Right now it's the end of recess and he's just wandering near some woods, waiting for the bells. as he turns to leave he hears a rustling from behind him. "what the buck was that noise. No pony better jump out at me or i'll shove my hoof in their mouth and break all of their Celestia damn teeth."
The next day, Niko and I wait outside eagerly awaiting the carriage to arrive. "Hey Shelly?"
"Yeah Niko?"
"You'll be fine. Just promise me we won't be apart any longer than this month, OK?" Niko asks, starring into the sky. I look at her and for a minute I feel my heart tighten. A whole month without Niko by my side. This is gonna be rough... but I have to try! If I don't try, Niko would have no reason to look up to me like she does.
"Yea. I promise." We turn to face each other and laugh. "One last time OK?" I ask. Niko looks confused for a second but then smiles.
"OK!" We both point our horns up to the sky and, after waiting long enough to know there's no pony or birds in the sky, we focus and shoot our magic out, making a ball that shoots up into the sky. Then, we release and watch as it implodes sending purple and greenish blue lights scattering in the sky. Our own personal fireworks. After the lights vanish, the carriage pulls up in our yard. The pegasus that was pulling it smiles at us.
"Brilliant fireworks display. Maybe when you're not so busy I could hire you two for my daughters birthday!" We all laugh, knowing full well he was joking, and I hop into the carriage lifting my luggage into the back. "All set then?" he asks as I look over my luggage.
"Yep. I'm ready. Bye Niko!! See you in a month!!" I say as we take off. I wave good bye to my family as we set off for the kingdom. Niko waves until I can no longer see her, even with my enhancement spell.
"Don't you go worrying now. Your Father's a good friend of mine. I'm sure he'll set up a HUGE party for your return." He says, trying to cheer me up. Apparently I had allowed a bit of worry to slip into my face. Won't let that happen again. "So I left a map of Sunrise Kingdom there in the back for you. You'll need it to get your way around. Oh, and don't worry about paying for the ride. It's on me."
***
After maybe three hours in the air I'm about ready to hurl. I've read about air sickness before, but I'd never really experienced it. Let me just say, IT- SUCKS. I hate being in the air! No question about it. The trip home is going to be on good, SOLID, ground. No offence to, uh, shoot I forgot to ask my drivers name. "Uh, s-sorry, wh-what was your name again?" I ask, trying not to sound sick.
"Oh no problem! The name's Gregory. Ya know, ya can always count on me to get ya anywhere. Should ya ever need a ride," he states in a cheerful tone. I roll my eyes and hold in some more bile as we hit some turbulence. yea... I'd MAYBE take you on your offer if it where on the GROUND.
About two more hours in the air and I can finally see it. The castle looks WAY more pretty than I could even imagine!! Definitely worth the sickening mid-air trip and the three luggage bags I had to catch because they decided falling was better than flying. As we touched down I considered hopping out and kissing the ground. I decided not to. I am at the palace, better be on my BEST behavior. "Hello! Are you the new student?!" a young filly with blue fur and bright pink hair asks as she walks up.
"Uh... yea. I hope I'm not late."
"NOPE! Just in time! Five hours in the air took it's toll on you huh?" she almost seemed to know exactly how I felt the whole ride. "Haha!! Don't worry! Happens to the best of us!" she laughs and helps me with my bags.
"See ya kid!" Gregory yells as he waves and takes off. Nice guy, too bad his job is in the air. I don't envy him.
"OK the dorm rooms are this way, but first I think you should go see the princesses. I have a feeling they'd LOVE to meet you." The girl says as she walks away with my bags.
"Um... may I have my bags? Or do I have to try and give chase?" Clearly this girl isn't very good at stealing. She turns around and smiles widely.
"GOOD JOB!! Looks like you pass the first test!!" Now I'm confused. Students get to give newbies tests? My confusion was quickly smothered when the little girl about my age turns into a freaking ALICORN! And not just ANY alicorn. Her fur turns from blue to pure white and her mane and tail, from pink to silver. I take a few steps back as her wings unfurl in beautiful rainbow colors.
"Pri-Princess...... Rainbow Wing!" I say in shock as she trots next to me and smiles.
"Haha!! Too cute!! And your catlike features just adds to the whole ADORABLE factor!!" She says as she trots around me. I sit there shocked. A few seconds ago she was a little thief that I was about to blast into bits. And now she's PRINCESS RAINBOW WING! "So, would you mind telling me how you got to be part cat? Oooh!!! Do you mind if I call you a cat-pony?! Eeee!! I can't WAIT to show you to my sister! Oh! Wait, wait, wait... what if i just introduce you to EVERYONE!!" I'm beginning to wonder which of us is the filly here.
"Rainbow would you PLEASE stop harassing my new student?" I turn slowly. First I get to meet Princess Rainbow Wing, NOW I get to meet her sister?! I look and to my wonder there stands a nearly perfect copy of rainbow wing... only she's orange with red stripes on her horn and her mane and tail are a BEAUTIFUL blue that could swallow all the light the sun gives off. She seems shy as she timidly walks up next to me. "Hello Shelly. Its nice to finally meet you." O.M.G. she actually said my name.... are students allowed to fan girl over their teachers? "So may I expect to see you at dinner tonight?" i stand there for a few seconds in admiration but quickly snap myself back into matureness.
"Uh... um... is that... allowed?" I didn't want to say yes if i wasn't allowed to. Princess Sunburst merely smiles and nods her head slightly. I hold in my fan girl side and nod back.
"OK. Your dorm room is number three-four-five. Go there and get ready, unpack and wash up. I'll see you in four hours. You don't need to where anything special... just this." Princess sunburst pulls out a beautiful hair clip with the royal insignia on it. "This will grant you entry into the dining chambers. Don't be late." She says, handing me the hair clip and dragging her sister behind her whom is still begging to show me off to the rest of the kingdom. I chuckle and lift my bags with my magic.
"Well, this should be fun!" I say as i trot to the dorms.
In the dorms, chaos is everywhere. You'd swear a heard of wild ANIMALS had just gone through here. I avoid the other ponies in the halls. I had better throw up a protection spell for my room, I thought. As I get to my room the door is wide open. Do I have a roommate? I doubt it. Must be a thief. As I get to my door I jump in, ready to smack somepony with my heaviest suitcase. "WHO'S THERE!?" I yell.
A sky blue unicorn looks shocked as she sets down the vase and duster she was holding in her magic. I put my suitcases down and calm my self. Must be the cleaning pony. She smirks and bows to me, picking up my suitcases and putting the stuff inside them away. "So... are you like... the cleaner pony or something?" I ask, looking at my room. One bed, one dresser, a standing mirror, a desk, a small but useful kitchen, and a chest at the foot of my bed. Looks like I got the single room. Good.
"Actually dear, I'm a friend of Miss Sunburst. She asked me to clean and decorate your room for you. I've got the cleaning done, but I had to wait for you before I could decorate so I left the bland stuff here." A fancy pony? Great, I'm just shocked that she wasn't surprised by my appearance. Must be used to it.
"So I thought we could go on a shopping spree to get stuff you're going to need here at the school. First off, drapes. You can't seriously like these mothball things they leave in here?!" She says, lifting the plain brown drapes that hung in front of my window. She was right. There's no way i could focus with drapes like that blocking out all the light! I nod my agreement. She smiles and puts my empty suit case away in the hoof chest. "That's settled then. Sunburst has left me with all the bits we'll need to get you everything you'll need, any extra stuff you'll have to buy with your own bits." She says as she walks out the door, "Hurry up or I'll leave you to do the shopping all on your own!" I through up my protection spell and run out closing the door behind me. "What was that?" She asks, completely confused.
"Oh it's my special 'home protection spell matrix'. It protects whatever it is cast on until I, or someone strong like one of the princesses takes it down." I answer, allowing a small smirk to cross my face. She seems thoroughly impressed. "Oh yeah! I almost forgot what's your name?"
"The name's Coldheart. Don't you DARE forget it." She says, walking down the hall moving the other fillies and colts out of the way. I quickly follow.
***
In town we stop at a bakery called Puff's Delights. "What are we doing here? I don't think I need any sweats for school." I ask in a bit of a jocular tone. She merely smirks and looks at me.
"We're here to borrow a friend's dragon. Or would you rather carry everything yourself?" She says as she goes in. For your information it doesn't matter HOW much stuff we get I can carry EVERY bit of it with my magic 'cause i'm more powerful than you. I think to my self as I walk in, ducking suddenly as a cream puff flies at my face.
"♫Sorry!! I was practicing my Puff Launcher 3000!!♫" A green earth pony with, get this, cream puff colored hair, says in a sing-song tone smiling at me for a few seconds before gasping and jumping over to me. She literally BOUNCED over to me. Is that even physically possible?! "♫Oh. My. Goodies!!! I can't believe what i'm seeing!!♫" The green pony seems to be surprised about something. Most likely, my catlike features. "MIDNIGHT!!!!!!" She yells grabbing me and jumping up and down. "MIDNIGHT, MIDNIGHT, MIDNIGHT!!! Come see quickly!!" Oof. She needs to stop bouncing. I'm gonna hurl.
"What is it now Sweet Tooth? You know I don't have time to come and see every new customer. What with the orders and-" A pinkish purple unicorn with dark blue eyes and black hair with a blueish stripe down one side stares at me for a few seconds before tearing up. "Is it true? Is she, REALLY," Midnight walks over in a daze as Sweet Tooth sets me down gently bouncing next to Midnight. "It can't be. I was told they died." Midnight says through tears.
"I KNOW!! I thought that too!! Until I noticed that THIS little filly has the SAME features! And, my Sweaty scenes are going NUTS!!♫" Apparently Sweet Tooth has some weird sense that is totally unexplainable.
"Um... would somepony mind filling me in?" I ask extremely confused and pondering whether or not I should run away. Midnight closes her eyes and calmly turns to a little brown dragon. Yea, dragon. I think it's the one Coldheart mentioned before.
"Gia could you please go get the frame? Make sure the picture is still in it." Gia nods and quickly as she can, runs up the stairs. After a few seconds Gia comes back down carefully cradling a picture frame. "Good, thank you Gia." The mare in front of me looks at the frame for a few seconds and then looks at me with joy visibly growing in her face. "It's true, y-you really are my," she stutters beginning to cry. If you ask me she seems to have problems finishing her sentences.
"I'm your what? Come on! Finish." I'm tired of this and running short on both patience and time. Midnight chuckles a bit and shows me the picture. I can't believe my eyes. In this old picture there sits Midnight and, would you believe it? ME AND NIKO! As babies! Presumably before we got adopted by the Nikohara's.
And the caption at the bottom reads, 'Me and the twins after baking their first cake.' Apparently we were naturals in the kitchen since birth!! But the picture still shows me as part cat. Was I like that since birth? "Hold on a second... how can this be true? Ever since I can remember Niko and I have never lived in Sunrise Kingdom." I ask confused, challenging the reality of this picture.
"You're right. You two never got to live here. But that's because you where taken from me not long after this was taken." She says, sadness seeping into her face. "I had hoped that I could find you. But when the royal guards came and told me you two had died, I lost all hope." Now it was my turn to begin crying. All this time we were told that our REAL parents gave us up. But in reality we where taken and whomever took us told the Nikohara's that. But who would gain from separating us from our mother? "Mid- mom? Why would some one do this to us?" But before she could answer I got a shock of pain. Mom catches me in seconds, looking around for whomever hurt me but nobody did. It was my own magic imploding on itself. Snapping like a rubber band that was stretched too far. Mom realizes this and gasps.
"Where is your sister? Isn't she here?!" I shake my head weakly. I can't BELIEVE this! It was the princesses, or at least one. And I think I know who. I jump up quickly and run over to Gia.
"Gia can you send messages? FAST?" She smiles and takes out a quill and parchment. I nod and proceed to tell her, "This note goes to Gregory's garage. I need to take him up on his offer, and FAST." She rights down the message and burns the note as it flies off to Gregory. I hug my mom and miss Coldheart whom still seems shocked at the fact that i'm her friends daughter. "I'm sorry for cutting our reunion short but I think we're going to have to move it OUT of the kingdom." I say as I ask Sweet Tooth for some snacks. I'm gonna need ALL my strength if i'm gonna have to face up against anyone. "Gregory should be here soon." I say stuffing a cream puff into my mouth. I swallow and look at my mother... our mother. Niko's gonna be REALLY happy. But only AFTER I go save her.
"Where are you going Shelly? And why move out of the kingdom?" Coldheart finally finds her voice and she's completely OBLIVIOUS. ~
"I need to go save my sister. Together our magic is strong enough to take out the princesses. Lady Sunburst must have known that and found a way to separate us." I say gritting my teeth at the mere fact that she would do this. "First they separate us from our mother thinking that should do, but then after years of watching us they STILL fear our power and have separated Niko and I. HOW LOW CAN SHE GET!!" I say.
I levitate some snacks over to me in a pouch. My magic turning from purple to red. Mother gasps and hugs me. At first I think she's worried about me going alone but then I see it. My own magic changed. I drop the snacks in shock as my greatest fear seems to have become true. "I- I'm loosing control..." I look at my worried mother and get free of her hug smiling. "It'll be OK. Once I find Niko I'll regain control again!" I say more cheering my self up than my worried mother and new found friends. Gregory pulls up in front of the sweet shop and I hop in grabbing my snacks on the way out. "Hurry Gregory I've got BAD feeling something happens back at the Farm!" I say as we take off. I wave to my mother. "MOM! Get out of here! Go someplace safe!" I yell confusing Gregory for a few seconds.
"Mom? I thought she was back at the farm. And why are you so worried? Like I said earlier everything will be fine." He seemed sure that he knew my 'dad' well.
"Here's what I found out in the three hours between when you dropped me off and when you picked me up just now." As we fly faster than ANYTHING I tell him EVERYTHING that happened. At first he seamed confused, but as I told him the rest he seamed to understand. getting a concerned look on his face. "So that's why I needed you to get here FAST." i'm actually surprised. At this speed turbulence seems like a bump in the road. I think for a few seconds and groan.
"What's wrong Shelly? Fealin' air sick again?" So he knew. Oh well that's not it.
"No I just thought of the safest place Mom could have gone, and i don't have any way of telling her." He thinks for a few seconds and smirks. "I got a way. Go into the left side door's cubby and pull out some parchment and a quill. Can ya write?" I nodded yes. "Good now I suggest writin' in code. If The Princess is after you and your sister then your mum is gonna be a target too." I write down a love note with the coordinates hidden in the message. If mom's like Niko she'll figure it out in no time. "Done? Good. Now ya saw that there dragon use it's breath right?" In fact I did and now that I think about it I studied the magical qualities in her breath. I nod. "Good now use your magic to cast a dragons breath spell on it. Send it to that there dragon." I laugh. Either hes carried a lot of unicorns or he has a family tie with one or two. I focus my magic and reconstruct the magic I saw in Gia's breath sending my note to them. Hopefully she gets it.
