Penumbra: Ponyture

There are things I need of you. Things you may not understand, and may not wish to do, but please do not make the same mistakes I did.

It wasn't my fault, though. In my life I have learned many lessons that have led me to happiness, but none of them mattered the second that I took my first step down here. It was just the nature of us ponies that led me to disregard when I was asked...

...and it was the nature of us ponies that led me to my downfall.

"I love you twilight." My Father said.

It was strange, though. He looked absolutely nothing like what my father looked like. He wasn't the Fully Blue unicorn stallion that had raised me. He was brown, with a black mane. I understand that whenever somepony I know wanders itself into a dream of mine, they don't always appear like they do in real life, but this was different.

And these dreams have been going on for more than a month, now.

"Twilight!" A more childish voice exclaimed.

"Yes, Spike?" I asked.

"The funeral starts in just an hour." Spike said.

"Thank you Spike." I thanked the baby dragon, burying my head deeper inside of her pillows.

The sky was dark, mirroring the mood. Dark clouds gathered overhead, making the scene even more ominous. The ponies gathered to the graveyard. They took their seats and waited for the others to arrive. They were all dressed in black, and none were smiling today, some were even crying. The family sat in ornate ebony chairs, next to the coffin. The polished coffin decorated with flowers, suspended over a pit in which it would soon fall. They weren't happy either.

Shining Armor and I were both sitting in their chairs, mourning for their dear mother, Dazzle. the same was with Dazzles husband, Orion.

One by one the family members stood to the podium before Dazzles dead body, paying their final respects.

"She was the perfect aunt I could ask for"

"She was the wife I would always stick by, even in death"

"I never thought my mom would go like this"

"Dazzle always taught me to be brave and take a stand"

After everypony had finished what they had to say, the coffin dropped, and the two stallions shoveled dirt over the top. Dazzle would always be remembered in the Canterlot graves.

"Twilight!" Derpy said, coming down to greet the stressed unicorn.

"Hello, Derpy. How is your day?" I said greeting the ditzy mare.

"Well, Other than the news, It's been good." She stated.

"Well, Then that is good." I said.

"You have a letter!" Derpy stated, showing a small hint of being exited.

"Well then, Thank you for bring it to me." I said.

"No problem, Twilight!" Derpy said, Handing over the envelope, but dropping it. "Oh, I'm sorry." Derpy said, showing a hint of sadness.

"It's alright, Derpy." I said, accepting Derpy's seeing disability.

"Well, then I'll see you later, Twilight!" Derpy said, happily.

"I'll see you soon, Derpy!" I said, saying my goodbyes.

I opened up the envelope, and inside was a key, instructions, and pleas for forgiveness. I was not sure why this pony called... Solar Wind, would ask for forgiveness. After reading through the letters a bit more, I had deduced that this pony was my real father, or at the least, trying to pass as him. The directions were to go to Manehatten where there was a bank that I had never even heard of before. I was supposed to go into that bank, retrieve a number of items inside, and burn them. First, though, I thought that I could stop by my father, Orion's, house first and ask whether or not that he was my birth father.

Was Orion my father?: No..

There were details, but nothing has changed between the two since the day I was born aside from the knowledge that this was true. Orion was right by my mother, giving support, while Solar Wind was somewhere else. I was accepting Solar Winds apology, from the letters, but if I were to choose to save either one, I'd save Orion.

"Hey! Twilight!" Sweetie Belle exclaimed as Twilight was walking past her on the road.

"Why, hello there, Sweetie. How are you doing?" I asked, greeting the filly.

"I'm doing great! We were all dismissed from school for the summer, so I get to go on big adventures with my friends, like Applebloom, Scootaloo, and you!" She said

"I promise to bring you on the next adventure I go on, Sweetie belle." I assured her.

"Yay!!" Sweetie cheered in happiness.

"Now, I've got to go, Sweetie. I'll see you later." I said.

"Bye Twilight!" Sweetie said, waving her good friend goodbye.

I had booked a train ride to Manehatten. It was a three hour ride, where I thought of a number of things, such as how this was the first time I've actually contacted my father. It was so odd. My father had left my mother before I was even born... but according to this, I was declared the executor of this bank account he had created twenty years ago. To make things even stranger, the bank accounts executor wasn't labeled anything like "My Daughter" or "My Child." When he made this bank account, somewhere around the time that I was born, but after he left my mother, he labeled "Twilight Sparkle" as his executor.

Somehow, he also knew that I'd follow his directions.

As I walked through into the bank, it's teller greeted me:

"Are you that Twilight Sparkle girl?" The older stallion asked.

"Yes. I am." I replied

How did he know who I was?

"You look like your father when came in here to leave those things in his safety deposit box.." he said.

"Oh." I said, after he answered my question.

"You look younger than I would have thought. I'd be surprised if you were even as old as this box.." He stated.

"I was born the twenty fifth of this month, twenty years ago." I said.

"So you're birthday is two weeks from now. Wow. This account was made more than a month before you were born." He said. "Would you like to see what you were left?"

"Yes, please." I said.

I was slightly confused. How did he know exactly why I would be here, and why is he offering to give me everything in it. He walked back behind the wall and came out after just a moment, carrying a small wooden crate. He set it on the table, then proceeded to open it.

"Whoa." I said as he opened it to reveal a large book, and a collection of notes.

"Yep. Here's your stuff." he said.

"I'm sorry, but why do you say that these are mine? My father deposited all of this. I'm just an executor." I said.

"Your father was declared dead two decades ago." He said. "According to law, all of this has been yours for that long."

"Oh." I said, closing the crate and putting it on my back. "I will be going now, then. Thank you very much."

"You're most definitely welcome." He said.

I got back onto another train back to Ponyville. I wasn't going to go over any of my new belongings until I got home, so I just thought.

"Hi Twilight! How was Manehatten?" Spike asked.

"It was good. Anything happen while I was away?" I asked back.

"No. Ponyville became really uneventful after you left." He stated.

"At least nothing terrible happened." I said. Setting the box down on the table.

"What is that?" Spike asked.

"What my dad left me." I said, opening the top and taking the book out.

"Are you sure he's your dad?" Spike asked.

"I wasn't sure, until the bank teller said that I looked like the stallion that deposited these." I stated.

"Wow." Spike said, picking up the largest and most preserved note.

"Now let's see what this book is about.." I said, opening up the book to a million words unknown by somepony who spends many of her days reading.

"When does it say?" Spike asked.

"I- I'm honestly not sure." I informed him.

"Why?" Spike asked.

"I can't read this. I'm not sure if this is somehow written in a different language, or if it's in code, or what... I can't read this." I said baffled by what I saw, including maps and pictures of insects.

"Well you know what this says?" Spike asked, reading his note silently.

"What?" I asked.

"It wants you, in name, to burn everything here." Spike said.

"This doesn't make any sense." I stated.

"I mean... A pony who I never knew existed until just last week sends me a note claiming to be my father, and tells me to go to Manehatten to an odd bank where he labeled me, by name, as executor when I wasn't even born yet. Then when I go, I learn that he was declared dead around that time and get a book and- and.." I began.

I picked up a note and started reading it. It was hard to understand, but it talked about the boars and Boarean Tundra.

"- Leaving me a book and some odd little notes about his work, or whatever. Then asked me to burn it?" I finished.

"Why would he ask you to burn his work?" Spike asked.

"I don't know. Why couldn't he burn it himself. Instead of leaving it for somepony else to take care of?" I asked back showing that my fuse was shrinking.

"You could take it to Canterlot. Mr. Title could be able to decipher it." Spike suggested.

Mr Title was a Linguistics teacher at Celestias School for Gifted Unicorns. He was probably the best Linguistics teacher in all of Equestria. If anypony here could tell me what this book is about, or what these notes mean.

"I agree. I'll look into taking a Balloon to Canterlot tomorrow." I said. "Would you please send Celestia a letter informing her of my arrival?" I asked.

"I'll get onto it now." Spike said

"Thank you. After, get some sleep. I'm going to try to get some sleep as well before I go." I said.

I stepped into the office of my old Linguistics teacher. He was preparing to give a lecture later today.

"Twilight, I swear to Celestia. if you actually start talking in Vaporian, I'm just going to leave." he said, referring back to a time when I was in his class and stated that I would one day learn one of the hardest languages to study, one that even Mr. Title knew: The language of Vaporia.

"Egh favuul ragapatruck est rodea." I said, Improvising with Giberish.

"Wow. That almost sounded like you knew what you were talking about. he said.

We shared a small laugh, recalling on the happy times that we have shared in class.

"Ok, so why was it important that you saw me on a notice like this?"

"I have apparently inherited a book." I responded.

"Well then read it." He suggested.

"I can't understand any of it." I said.

"Oh. Well then let me have a look at it, then." he suggested.

"I just cannot understand it, but I must know." I said, laying the book on the table.

"I see." he said, opening the book to the first day.

"I just feel like I have to understand what it is. It's just bugging me so much." I said, observing him observe the inanimate object.

"Wow!" he lightly exclaimed.

"What? What does it say?" I asked.

"I have absolutely No idea. None of this is... I just don't know." He admitted.

"That can't be. you're the whole reason why this school is known throughout the entire continent for it's linguistics." I reminded him.

"I know, But this... This is absolutely Nothing. If I didn't know better, I'd say it would be Vaporian... But this doesn't even follow a lot of the rules of Language that Even Vaporian follows..." He explained.

"Darn." I said.

"I'd say it would be nothing but complete Gibberish, But... I just can't accept that. It just feels like this is talking about a specific topic." He said, turning pages.

Mr. Title was turning the pages, looking for any sense of how to speak, when he came across another note.

"Well... what is this?" He said, Opening it up.

"Probably another note." I said.

"You mean, there are more?" He asked.

"Oh yeah. you want to see them?" I questioned.

"I would love to see the rest of them." He admitted.

I pulled out a pile of letters out of my saddle bag. and laid them on the desk, the larger, more noticeable one stating to burn it all on top. Coincidentally, he picked that one up.

"And you looked at these notes?" He questioned, still on the larger one.

"Not all of them, But some." I said, admitting to not spend my time on them.

"You do know that your mother wanted you to burn these, right?" he said.

"It's not from my mother." I told him with a straight face.

"Oh. I'm sorry... I just figured.." He said, feeling awkward.

"It's okay. I understand." I said comforting him.

"But yeah. They wanted you to burn all of this." He said.

"I know. I did read that one." I admitted.

"Oh. Same old Twilight. If it's in a book. It must be read, Right?" He interrogated, putting the note down.

"Yeah, I guess." I said, chuckling again.

"This note talks about..." He started, picking up another letter.

"Yes?" I questioned.

"The Boars..." He said.

"Yeah. One I saw last night said something about the Boarean Tundra." I admitted.

"I'm guessing that your best bet would be to visit them. Maybe the Boarean Boars know what this says." Mr. Title suggested.

"Boars? I don't think this looks like their language." I stated.

"Well we only studied the language of the Boars of Boarder. I don't think that the nomadic Boars of the Tundra share the same language." Mr. Title shared, Picking up another note.

"Oh. So you think that I should go there?" I questioned.

"I believe so. But I would wait a while, first. This next month should be eventful for you, you know, your Birthday and all." He said, picking up another note to compare with the other one he's holding.

"I suppose you're right. But how am I suppose to find them?" I asked.

"I honestly have no idea. Those Boarean Boars are tough to keep track of." He said, putting both the notes down.

"How should I approach them. They are really aggressive." I said, reminding Mr. Title that the Boars were a Warlike Race that fought anything that they saw.

"Well I have heard the Nomadic tribes are more friendly, But I guess you're right." He admitted.

"Plus the Boarean Tundra is a harsh place." I put out.

"Yeah. I guess you would have some planning to do." He said.

"Yeah. I'm going to do a bit of planning." I said.

"May I keep these for a week, or so to see if I can find any more?" He asked.

"Sure." I said, Shrugging.

"Thank you. I will send it back to you tomorrow." He assured me.

"Thank you for giving me your time." I thanked him, walking out of his office.

The mood of the party was as bright as the streamers. The balloons were shiny, the food was sweet and tasty, and the ponies were having fun all around. My tree house hadn't been livelier since the day I came to town. Pinkie had really outdone herself. My house was practically glowing in the dark, with all the party lights illuminating the town.

I however, was not in the mood to party. Not for the reasons why I usually don't party as hard as others. I was still contemplating how to tell everypony I needed to leave. The amount of things I had to process was taking its toll on me, and I knew I couldn't tell them everything or they might want to 'help' me. I couldn't risk anyone else being around me for this.

I sat in my 'special' chair as all my friends came up and said kind things about me, and after they were done I would have to tell them.

"And because she sometimes gives me lessons, I hope I can be as good at magic as her someday!" Sweetie Belle said happily.

"Thank you Sweetie Belle." I said as I walked up to the makeshift stage. "Thank you all so much! This party is spectacular!" I said. Everypony talked happily for a few seconds before calming down.

"As a celebration of my birthday, I'm going to take a little personal vacation to the Boarean Tundra." This didn't go too well as some ponies let out sad 'awww's'

"Don't worry, I'll be back before you know it." I said reassuringly.

"Can I come, Twilight?" Sweetie Belle piped up.

"I'm sorry, Sweetie, But I can't have you come." I told her.

"But, You said I could come along with you on your next adventure!" She pointed out.

"Sweetie, it's going to be long, cold, and boring. I'm there to study, not to play. I'm sure you'd rather have fun in the sun playing with your friends." I said convincingly "Besides, I really meant the next fun adventure. The longer you wait, the better it will be."

The party reverted back to it's original state. Everypony moved on, but the topic was avoided for the rest of the party.

I arrived in Stableside, it was a day before the boat I had been able to buy a ride was set to leave port. My friends came with me to say their goodbyes, and of course, Pinkie Pie had the wonderful Idea to throw me another Goodbye party.

It was fun, considering the occasion was seeing a friend for the last time for a few weeks, maybe months. Everypony was there... Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, Rarity, Pinkie Pie (Of course), Spike, Sweetie Belle, Applebloom, and Scootaloo. We all rented a house at the last second and spent the night together in Stableside.

When the morning arrived, I got up first. I prepared for the Boat ride. That alone was scheduled to take a week. I've packed a lot of thick clothes for my walk into the cold weather. I was able to look at a probable path that the Boars would be taking at this time of the year, but it was still a distance inland.

It is well known that the area is a home to a number of abandoned facilities and mines. The place was being colonized by multiple nations, until one faction started a conflict, then the boars drove everything out of the tundra, thankfully without conflict. If I needed a place to stay from the cold, that would be my best bet. The downside would be that it would still not be as warm as I wanted, and alongside with that, it would be dark inside there. I have also packed a lighter, for fire, a flashlight, for light, and a glow stick, for a backup, in case my flashlight battery runs out.

I figured that this was a rare occasion. The Boarean Tundra has been rarely visited in the past. Little is known now of the boars that Roam it. I figured I could learn more of them. Reading books were great, But learning first hand how a nearly lost society functions first hand seems amazing. I have packed a notebook to note anything important.

The only boat that I could get to take me into the area where I wanted to start looking was a fishing boat. They wouldn't have anything good to eat on there. I have brought satchel of my own food, but I'm going to save that for my actual journey into the tundra. It will take a couple of days to get to where I believe the boars would be, So I'm going to take that with me, Rationing myself just in case it takes longer.

As I walk through the house, I decide: My boat is probably getting ready to leave about now. I wouldn't want to wake all my friends up. For first, They stayed up late last night, celebrating one last time before I left. I wouldn't want to disturb them from their precious sleep. Secondly, If I woke them all up, they would spend so much time hugging me and wishing me best on my journey, I would be late.

I go down the steps to the ground level, where the Fillies are sleeping. They are sleeping together inside the queen sized bed, as I walk past, Sweetie Belle shifts in her sleep. I open the door as quietly as I can and walk out of the home. I close it and greet the sky. This is the last time I see the sky of Equestria before the first time I leave it.

The ship was a large, metal fishing boat. It was the size of a private yacht, but sadly it was missing the luxury of one.
it was floating of the side of a dock on the southern side of the port town of Stableside. For some reason, I believe that the start of this day may be the end of my time in Equestria.

"Are you that Sparkle girl?" a pony said, greeting me as I walked on a long, wooden board made as a bridge onto the fishing boat.

"Yes. Thank you for bringing me." I said, thanking him.

"It is no problem, Miss Sparkle. Now may I show you to your room?" he asked, moving to the side, letting me have more room to get past.

"Yes, thank you." I said, Thanking him for his kindness.

"You'll be staying just a floor down." He said, Directing me to the stairways.

"Will I be bunking with anypony?" I asked, concerned with what my situation will be for the next week.

"Well, since you are a mare, none of us thought that you would like to share a room with anypony else, So we actually moved one of our fishermen to another room for you." He said, Informing me on the situation.

"Well, then I thank you all for the thought." I said.

"It's no problem, but how do you plan on getting back?" He questioned.

"I know a teleport spell." I informed him.

"Then... Why don't you just use that spell to teleport into the tundra?" He questioned.

"I've never been outside Equestria. I can't teleport someplace I've never even seen." I said, telling him I could only teleport to places I have visited.

"Oh, I see. Well this is your cabin until we get to the tundra." he said, stopping at a door.

"Thank you very much." I said, thanking him for being so kind to me.

As I step into the room, I look around at it. It is small, with maybe eight square feet of space to walk around. Surrounding that space is a bunk bed, with a desk to the side of it, an actual desk, a few barrels, and a locker. at the foot of the bed was a small chest.

I placed my bags on the bed, and began to unpack. I put the sack containing all of the food into the chest. In the Bedside desk, I placed my flashlight, the locker, my glow stick, clothes and some batteries. On top of the desk, I put my journal, and myself, I places on the bottom bunk of my bed. Disregarding the youth of the day, I rest now.

Like the last apprentice, or heard of it? Or never heard of it? Hell. Even if you hate it...

CH-CH-CH-CH-CH-CH-CHECK IT OUT!!!

The last apprentice is the current project of the proofreader of this fic, and the writer of the Funeral and Party scenes.

His name is Cat4... General Cat4. (And these are his four side kicks: Major Woodie, Captain Obvious, Corporal Punishment and Private Part)