Disturbance in the Skies

Chapter 2

Author: Quillfeather

As her purple eyes watched her friend whisk away towards Canterlot, she felt an ever growing dread set in. "What am I going to do? Something is wrong, I know it," she said out loud to nopony in particular. When she had been in Celestia's care all that time, the Princess never allowed storms of such stature to become real without warning. Even then, the storms were light and nothing made her horn feel tingly like this.

A sudden eruption of light and sound made her jump. Lightening had descended from the clouds, but something about the sound made her rotate her ears to see if she could hear it again. What she had heard sounded like somepony or something had screamed. Waiting a few beats, Twilight narrowed her eyes. This was definitely a weird event to put on her list of things she'd seen in her life, right next to when she'd achieved her cutie mark and facing the legend by the name of Nightmare Moon.
Not hearing anything more, Twilight's nerves still stood on end. It was time for some research. She turned around and then ran towards the library without looking back. She prayed that Dash would be safe and would return soon. The information the Pegasus could tell her would greatly help even if it proved her worry to be worthless.

The door to the library burst open when a magical field pried it and the purple unicorn ran inside not a beat later. A green and purple dragon looked up from the books he had been shelving and gave confused look to the unicorn. "Spike, I need you to look for a book on cloud formations and 'The History of Equestria', please," she said kindly, but with enough edge from her worry that made the dragon step on it. When Twilight needed research done fast she always called on Spike to help her find the books faster, not that she couldn't do it herself. Twilight knew where everything was shelved in the library by heart, but at times like these her mind went astray and she could never remember correctly. Also, sometimes the books were shelved in places that were so easy she didn't think about it.

Within a few minutes, the unicorn was flipping through the pages of the cloud formations frantically. She shook her head repeatedly and mumbled to herself as she went through the tome as the dragon watched curious.

"Umm, what are you looking for Twi," he asked confused. His friend had gone through the cloud book several times to no avail.

"I'm trying to find a cloud formation that looks like the one over Canterlot," she said without looking up to speak.

The dragon cocked an eyebrow as he took a look outside before putting his eyes back on the pony. "So, you're still up to that? I told you, there is nothing to worry about. It's just some rain clouds that we didn't know about, is all," he said looking on as the book was finally allowed to rest on a page about thunder storm cloud formations.

Nothing looked like the one outside, but Twilight didn't stop her search. Instead of continuing on with the cloud book, she had opened the history book. Its pages were worn from time, but the golden edges still shone as if newly painted.

"That's what Rainbow Dash said too, but something just doesn't feel right about this. Ever since I first saw them starting to form about Canterlot without dissipating, my horn has been practically humming with magic energy. I don't know any storm being able to do that, do you Spike?"

"Well, no…, but I still think you're taking this way too seriously. You know how you are. You take things way too serious when in reality they are small. Seriously, don't let this get to your head."

Twilight didn't even hear him as she stopped at the page she had read before, the one telling about Nightmare Moon's coming and the Elements of Harmony. She only stopped because it was the page that always caught her interest, even as a filly. After having her fill and a brief smile, she continued her search and only found one thing close to what was happening outside the windows and she didn't like where her mind was going.

The picture was of a black outline of an alicorn. Within the outline was another alicorn whom looked to be in immense pain and had noticeably different designs for a mane and tail. Lacing from the outline's horn, was a black mist that was carefully drawn with calligraphy pens. Within it, black harsh lines representing lightening came out. Underneath the picture, beautiful bold letters spelled an ancient word she had never seen before. Thankfully, the description after the word was in a language she could understand.

'When this spell is cast it is not necessarily known by the alicorn that it has been done. A regular thunderstorm ensues, but has magical properties that can be felt, seen, and heard. Any strong negative emotion is portrayed within the real dimension with the magical properties. Usually, these storms are a bad omen because the alicorn that has created the spell is suffering internally and should be looked at immediately. The only living alicorn to have gone through this particular event is Princess Luna, now called Mare in the Moon. See Legend of Nightmare Moon for more information.'

The purple unicorn reread the passage and then stared at the picture in horror. How could this be happening if Princess Luna was back to normal? Could she have sent Rainbow Dash into Canterlot only to face Nightmare Moon again?! By this time, Twilight was noticeably shaking and Spike touched her shoulder in response.

"What's wrong Twilight, you look like you've seen a ghost," he said jokingly.

Purple eyes then laid on him and he quickly stopped his joking attitude.

"We need to get the others, Dash is in serious trouble!"