The moon shined brightly over Ponyville, enveloping the town in a silvery blanket, made more wondrous by the sparkling moonlight dancing in the snow; it was as though somepony had buried thousands of tiny diamonds just under the shimmering quilt strewn across Equestria as far as the eye could see. Truly the kind of beauty only simplicity could adorn.
Twilight Sparkle sat with her nose pressed against the glass, staring out into the wintery darkness, admiring the fine work of the Pegasus ponies. Cloudsdale’s weather team had really outdone themselves this time.
Condensation began to form where her muzzle rested, creating a misty haze on the cold glass, blotting out the wintery beauty from beyond the other side. Twilight took a last mental picture of the wonderland and shook her head clear of the likeness of winter. She had to focus now; her train would be departing from the station at 7:00 AM sharp.
She looked up at the clock and grimaced. It was already nearly one o’clock in the morning. The unicorn pony let a frustrated sigh slip from between her teeth as she hurriedly continued preparing for her trip. The horn protruding from her indigo and violet-striped mane glowed brightly with an amethystine aura as various articles of clothing, literature, and other various trinkets floated around the room. The swirling clutter began organizing itself neatly into her gem-encrusted, hoof-stitched luggage bags (a gift from her dear fashionista friend, Rarity) with just a tilting point of her gleaming horn. How anypony managed to do anything without the use of magic was beyond Twilight’s comprehension at times like this.
By the time the clock sounded at the stroke of two, Twilight was finally finished with all her packing and preparation for her trip to Canterlot later that morning. She was absolutely ecstatic to be going back to her hometown! Princess Celestia had sent a letter inviting her to spend the weekend with her in the castle for a banquet. Of course Twilight accepted her mentor’s invitation promptly, and for the past two weeks it was all she could think about!
Twilight took one last look out her bedroom window, taking in the serenity that lay cast across the cobblestone streets and the quaint little houses and shops that made up Ponyville before laying her head down in the soft, cloudlike folds of her pillow, falling fast into a world of dreams….
“Hey, um, Twilight,” A familiar voice sounded, though it seemed faint through her morning grogginess. She had definitely been up much too late the night before.
The voice called to her again, and she warily allowed one eye to flutter open to seek the disturbance of her slumber. When her vision finally focused through her morning sleepiness she saw the small, purple-scaled figure of her number one assistant hovering inauspiciously close to her. It was Spike’s voice that had been summoning her from the depths of her dream world.
The unicorn pony moaned as the beaming light of the morning sun pierced her eyes; it was mornings like this that made her favor the nights. The moon was never anything but beautiful, and it certainly never caused anypony agony from gazing upon it, no matter how tired they were.
“W-what is it, Spike?” She asked blearily.
“Well, it’s nearly six in the morning” the smallish dragon began, somewhat nervously knotting his clawed fingers as he spoke, “you told me to wake you up, remember, for your trip to Canterlot and all?”
“Oh, sweet Celestia!” Twilight burst out, startling the baby dragon into a backward tumble as she leapt from her bed, leaving a whirlwind of blankets in her wake, and began dashing frantically around the room.
“Jeez, Twilight, you’d think you had forgotten to write another letter to the Princess.” Spike mocked, nursing a newly forming lump atop his head from the startled toppling just moments before.
Twilight shot the baby dragon a look and rolled her eyes, remembering the humiliating occasion when she had taken her studies about friendship perhaps a bit too seriously. She had gone to great lengths to try to find a friendship problem to solve, and when there were none to be found, she had actually attempted to create one instead! Looking back, even Twilight herself found humor in the incident. Lesson learned, right?
The purple pony continued her frenzied romp around the room, collecting her profuse amount of belongings that she had prepared for her trip. It wasn’t until now that she felt that maybe she had gone a little haywire, staring at the copious collection of luggage laid out before her. ‘I think Rarity may be rubbing off on me a little,’ Twilight thought as she continued hurriedly around the library at a rapid pace that would have even impressed Rainbow Dash!
Finally it was time for her to depart for the station! She was just about to call out to Spike to enjoy the weekend when a sudden pit formed in her stomach; she had forgotten to call a cab.
“Oh my gosh, Spike, I never called a taxi to take me to the train station!” She shrieked, dropping her luggage which had been floating seamlessly behind her just moments before.
Spike chuckled and opened the door where outside there was a taxi waiting to take Twilight away. “When I saw how outta wack you seemed to be getting ready for this trip I took the liberty of making sure you had a ride!” he smirked, looking quite proud of himself!
“Oh, Spike you are a lifesaver!” Twilight squealed, wrapping a foreleg around the little dragon and nuzzling him with her chin.
“Aw, shucks, Twi, it was nothin’!” he replied modestly, though the look in his eyes clearly told her that he was mentally patting himself on the back for his efforts! She pictured the little dragon with a magically adorned mustache making macho poses in a mirror, and chuckled to herself.
“And THAT is why you are my number one assistant!” The unicorn said with a wink and trotted out the door, a floating collection of baggage embellishing her wake. “See you in a few days! Hold the place down for me while I’m gone!”
The little dragon responded with a salute and a wave as he watched Twilight’s carriage take off through the snow, disappearing into town.
After a nippy carriage ride and a lengthy train commute, Twilight had finally arrived in Canterlot. The city was breathtaking in the winter months as powdery whiteness garnished every square inch of the town!
As she stepped off the train she was greeted by one of the royal guards, “Glad to see you made it safe and sound, Ms. Sparkle. Your bags will be delivered to your room shortly, but now, I must insist that you come with me. The Princess anxiously awaits your arrival!” Before Twilight could open her mouth to protest she was being ushered off the train and swept into another carriage on her way to the castle.
She gazed out the window, edged in elegant drops of deep plum-colored velvet and lined in golden stitching and tassels, at the beautiful snow covered streets of Canterlot. She admired the hoofsmanship of the many homemade decorations of pine and holly that hung in the windows of the shops. The warm scent of smoke drifted lazily in the air as fires burned merrily in the many shops and homes of the capital. The blend of senses brought a keen feeling of cheer and jubilance even on a day as bitterly cold as this. Twilight smiled.
Although she was deprived of sleep, Twilight was extraordinarily excited to be seeing her loving mentor once again! It had been so long since she had been graced with the honor of having audience with the shimmering Alicorn of the Sun…. so long since those radiant violet eyes had gazed up her…. So long since she had heard her name spoken in the princess’s silky voice….
Before long, the carriage came to a halt outside the mountainous twin staircases spiraling into the sky-scraping marvel of pony architecture. Twilight squinted, but she couldn’t make out the tops of the towers through the wispy shrouds that surrounded them. The door to her carriage opened magically and she stepped out of her luxurious coach. She was greeted by a pair of royal guards, each tall and strewn in the traditional golden garments of Celestia’s elite. The guards bowed their heads to Twilight. She smiled coyly, not used to such special treatment when returning to Canterlot.
“If you would follow us, please, Ms. Sparkle” one of the guards began reassuming his militaristic posture, “Princess Celestia has requested an earlier audience with you.”
Her eyes widened with glee! She would be seeing her Princess even sooner than she had hoped! She struggled to suppress her jubilance, faking a slight cough and nodding perhaps a bit excitedly. “Of course, lead the way fellas!”
The guards escorted her through the labyrinthine halls and passages, each constructed of polished marble and decorative cobblestone. Numerous royal tapestries cascaded from the lofty ceiling that sparkled with a magical aura mimicking the most dazzling of winter nights. It was quite a charming enchantment, Twilight thought as the false sky reflected in her violet orbs. ‘I wonder who could have performed that sort of spell?’ She wondered, smiling as she trailed behind her escorts.
Twilight was delivered to a pair of gigantic red oak doors, emblazoned with the marks of royalty. The hardware was all made of the finest gold and they seemed to radiate a warming glow. The young unicorn beamed as the doors pushed themselves open, inviting her into the royal chamber. She didn’t need to see the guards motion her onward to know that she was welcome. There in the center of the room stood the majestic, elegant figure of Princess Celestia, smiling warmly in her direction as she entered the illustrious chamber. Twilight took in the beauty of her beloved mentor; the sparkle in her eyes, the shimmer of her snow-white coat, the way her glistening wings tucked against her feminine frame in an exemplary display of power and grace. Following the lines of her flawless wings to the radiant sun extolled on her flank, letting her eyes trail further still to her….
“Is something wrong, my most faithful student?” The voice of elegance chimed, following the hot trail that her student’s fervent gaze had adorned upon her.
Twilight’s cheeks glowed with the heat of embarrassment. “W-what? Oh…. Um, no, Princess! I am just so happy to see you again is all!”
The gleaming white Alicorn chuckled softly, fixing her eyes back on Twilight. “And I am happy to see you as well! Come! Walk with me, Twilight Sparkle. I will show you to the tower in the astronomy wing where you will be staying!” She said as she approached the young unicorn, “I know how much you have always enjoyed seeing the constellations and the moon, and there is nowhere in all of Equestria where you can see them all better than the tower where you will be staying, my student!” She winked, and the two of them trotted back into the magnificent castle.
They talked joyously as they carried on their tour through the castle’s majestic walls. Twilight told the princess about the most recent adventures with her friends. Most of the stories were recaps and further detailing of events that she had already addressed to the princess in her letters, but the princess listened to every word intently, smiling all the while.
Princess Celestia mostly listened as they delved into the heart of the castle, diverging from their current course in the direction of the astronomy tower located in the west wing of the castle. Twilight’s gaze had ascended on numerous accounts as they walked, taking in the swimming night’s sky that sparkled and danced above the mares. “It’s beautiful, isn’t it?” Celestia asked with a grin.
Twilight nodded, still staring at the luminescent enchantment. “It is absolutely amazing, Princess!” As the tiny stars reflected in her eyes, “I have been wondering who has cast such a spell throughout the entire castle.” She added inquisitively.
“Why this enchantment is my dear little sister’s doing, of course!” she beamed, taking modest pride in her younger sister’s captivating charm.
“Princess Luna?” Twilight absentmindedly said, more than asked.
“The one and only,” Celestia smiled, “Her magic is of a different nature than most ponies, you see. It isn’t rainbow magic.” She explained.
“So does that mean that most unicorns are not able to perform this sort of spell, Princess?” Twilight asked as her perky ears drooped with her spirit.
“Not necessarily, my student. You see, Luna has a great deal more knowledge of dark magic, and thus this sort of enchantment comes as easy to her as you using your magic to turn the pages in a book.”
“DARK MAGIC?!” Twilight burst out, shuddering a bit, “but I thought that she was set free from the darkness when the Elements of Harmony freed her from Nightmare Moon!”
Princess Celestia let out an amused chuckle, “No, no, Twilight, you misunderstand. Princess Luna is fluent in dark magic, meaning ‘magic of the night’. Her powers are greatest under the light of the moon and stars. The terrible power with which you speak of is black magic, my dear.” She continued to explain as they made their way up a great spiraling staircase, “This dazzling enchantment is a replication spell. Each night after she raises the moon, she uses her magic to replicate the night’s sky throughout the hallowed halls of this castle.”
“That’s…. incredible!” Twilight was nearly dry of all fluent thought as she tried to imagine replicating the intricate patterns that shine down on Equestria every night. She simply couldn’t fathom it!
“If we see Princess Luna this evening, you should tell her how much you enjoy her charm. I’m certain she would allow you to watch her recreate the sky. She may even teach you how to perform her spell as well if you ask her nicely.” The princess hinted with a wink, letting her happiness beam as she watched her beloved student’s heart and spirits perk up and begin to soar again!
“I would absolutely love, love, LOVE to see Princess Luna perform her enchantment!” Twilight said with a smile that was absolutely luminous.
Celestia’s laugh was heartwarming and endearing and Twilight joined her as they approached a set of doors made of a sweet smelling dark wood.
“Well, my most faithful student, this would be your room,” as she spoke her horn ignited with a bright glow and the heavy doors swung open slowly, revealing a room unlike any that Twilight had ever seen before, “I do hope you like it!
The purple unicorn’s jaw hit the floor as she stared dumbfounded at the abstract layout of this, the Princess’s gift to her while she stayed in Canterlot. The room was a perfect circle. The windows fully encircled the room giving the illusion that the top half of the walls were floating. Ornate designs danced and spiraled along the glass, creating an elaborate display of intricate hoofsmanship. In the center of the room, the floor dropped a couple of steps, creating a smaller circle adorned with abstract furniture as obscure and wondrous as the room itself. There was a crescent-shaped sofa across from where the mares stood. It was black and wrapped in a smooth, cool fabric, and the couch wrapped around a large glass table that “filled in” the remaining portion of the waning moon it so resembled. Busts of famous ponies edged the perimeter of the room in the sections of the wall that broke up the nearly endless window.
But if the bottom layer of the tower had impressed her, Twilight was in for a real treat as she took notice of a small curvature of stairs leading up to a metal framed saucer above the room, permanently supported by magic. The saucer made up the room’s second level and consisted of a thick, but elegant silvery frame, embroidered with ancient text and many of the constellations found in the night sky at the different seasons. The fancy round frame lay attached to a gargantuan slab of glass. The second story of the room appeared to be designed to resemble a telescopic lens, Twilight thought as she and Celestia crossed into the sunken portion of the room. She was dumbstruck; completely speechless.
Princess Celestia giggled, simply amused by the perplexed look that her student wore. “Come along, Twilight Sparkle, you still must see the real wonder of this room!” Twilight couldn’t believe her ears, ‘how can it get more amazing than THIS?’
The princess led Twilight up the short flight of stairs, their hooves clanking happily against the cool metal with every step as they ascended to the second floor of the tower. Twilight then began to understand what her teacher had meant. This section of the room took her breath away…. Not that she had been able to recapture it to begin with.
In the center there was a bed made of some sort of clear material and filled with what appeared to be water. Tiny orbs of light spun and twirled playfully inside the floating bare mattress giving the image of tiny stars. This was no coincidence of course. Smooth silver railing surrounded the upper level, and a large telescope rested, mounted to the railing across from the two mares. The ceiling of the room was a glass dome that was currently darkened as the sunlight hit it. It would transition slowly throughout the day into a crystal-clear dome to reveal the night sky in all its wonder! Twilight was absolutely beside herself!
“Princess….” Twilight began, fighting back the burning sensation prickling her eyes. Celestia turned to her student inquisitively, “It is absolutely perfect!”
“Ah! Well I am so glad you like it, dear!” The princess beamed.
“Thank you so much! I can’t even begin….” Twilight started before the princess silenced her with a hoof.
“Oh, Twilight, you are most welcome! Well, I must be getting on with my other duties for the day. I trust I will see you for dinner tonight in the Grand Hall?” The princess said, gazing out the wraparound window, judging the time by the position of the glowing sun.
“Oh, of course, Princess!” Twilight said, “Thank you again!”
“You are most welcome, Twilight. Enjoy!” Celestia said, and with a turn and a flick of her wavy tail she left the tower and began her descent down the cyclonic staircase.
She said farewell to her mentor, catching a glimpse of her flank swaying as the hardwood doors slowly closed in her wake. She shook her head, trying to get the strange assortment of feelings she was having for the princess to vanish. She couldn’t figure out why she was feeling this way, but it was making her uncomfortably warm inside.
She hadn’t noticed before, but her luggage had all already been brought into the room and was all neatly stacked by the entrance. In an attempt to move on from the perverse thoughts she was failing to drive from her mind, Twilight decided she would begin putting away her things.
Nearly an hour had passed, even while moving and sorting her garments with the aid of her magical abilities. Twilight was absolutely beat from sleep depravity and the day’s events. She made her way below the floating lens to the midnight moon shaped sofa and flopped down on the velvety material. She relished the feel of the soft material beneath her. It was cool to the touch but it made her feel warm inside. She suddenly felt her eyelids becoming heavy. She grabbed hold of one of the small pillows and pulled it under her head, crossing her forelegs around the pillow; she buried her face in the velvety fabric. Before long, sleep overcame her weary body and Twilight was off in a land of dreams, far from the castle, and yet so close to the desires the burned vibrantly in her throbbing heart….
The world spun around her. Swirls of color dissolved into blackness. The ground beneath her hooves felt cold and wet, and the air smelled of midnight roses, frosted over in a coat of ice. She thought she could hear a distant voice calling out from the darkness; it was sweet and serene, speaking only two words again and again. Twilight peered into the never trying desperately to catch a fleeting glimpse of whoever’s silky voice wavered in her ears. “Hello? Is anypony there?” She cried, but the only echo in the night was a recurring silence that chilled her to the bone.
Suddenly, the young mare found herself in a circle of bright light, and she could see that the chill that was in the air and beneath her hooves was snow. Beautiful and divine, every fluttering flake that passed her seemed to shimmer. It was as if somepony were dousing her in flakes of liquid silver. The voice called again, only this time much closer. She realized the voice she was hearing was calling out to her. “Twilight Sparkle…. Twilight Sparkle.”
“Hello? Who’s there?” Twilight called, but still was rewarded by the deafening silence.
She walked to the edge of the illuminated space, trying to gaze through the haze of abyss, but too little effect; the blackness drowned out all light outside her shimmering corona. Then there was a shift in the light that made her jump. The encasing ring of light began to collapse upon her, driving her back towards the center as it was cut into six neatly carved points. The remaining chunks of light that had been isolated from the six-pointed star began to take shape as well against the snow into six arrowheads and drew closer to the inner sanctum where Twilight stood. The new shape began to spin, and Twilight along with it, startling the young mare and she gasped. The lighting began to shift and pulsate slowly as her desolate island danced in the never. Fabulous hues of pink, purple, and indigo shimmered against the snow-covered patch where she stood, reminding her of the aurora of mystical lights that could be seen above the icy peaks of the mountains north of Canterlot. The display before her was absolutely mesmerizing.
It was then that Twilight realized her horn had begun to illuminate involuntarily, producing a bright white light at its summit. She gasped as the magic began to pour out of her, beaming a beating beacon of brightness into the perpetual void that surrounded her. As the waves of light were dissolved into the heavy darkness the remaining flickers began to collect and form brightly glowing orbs in every direction as far as the eye could behold.
Twilight gawked in awe as she indulged in the charming radiance of this majestic happening. As she fixed her eyes on certain collaborations of the luminescent spheres, she began to feel like there was a certain familiarity about them. The clusters they formed all seemed to drown her senses in a bizarre sense of déjà vu. It was then that she noticed three of the lights in a slightly offset pattern, forming a light arch of light. She realized at that moment why this all seemed so memorable to her. She traced each glowing ball in with an outstretched hoof, lightly painting the path she was drawing in a milky white haze. She was right. Her magical artwork revealed the constellation of Orion. These glowing orbs were in fact, stars, and the unrelenting darkness must be the perpetual vacuum of space. The young mare smirked, as she was quite proud of herself and her keen cognition. Casting her sights in all directions, she began naming off the numerous star clusters, constellations, and patterns that swam around her in their sea of night.
While she was going over her incredible vocabulary of different star formations a certain bright star caught her attention. It was shimmering and throbbing in rhythm with the rotating six-pointed island with a deep azure glow. This star was not a star that the unicorn was familiar with. As far as she could tell it wasn’t anything alarming, but her curiosity was getting the best her, and she longed to figure the cerulean beacon out.
Her horn began to emit its signature amethystine glow and she could slowly feel herself begin to levitate toward the blue light. Her horn guided her along its predetermined path, passing many stars as she made her way to her destination. Before she had made it the entire length of her horn’s voyage the glimmer of blue light dissipated into the nothingness. Confused, Twilight began to scan the surrounding area for her blue crystal. Much to her surprise it had transferred itself to the epicenter of her star-shaped island, pulsing more brightly and more rapidly. That blue sphere then began to move, orbiting the island in the night, all the while the ghostly glow it emitted grew more intense. When it seemed the orb could get no brighter another bright light caught her attention from behind her. When she looked she realized it was her cutie mark glowing! The six-pointed star on her flank had begun to burn as brightly as the light that had been drawing her in like a moth to a flame. An impulsive thought shot through her mind with another lapse of realization as she stared at her brightly glowing flank. The “island” was in the exact shape of her cutie mark! Twilight was at a complete loss for words.
A violently bright aura took over the infinite darkness and burned brilliantly in all directions. The mare shielded her eyes from the phenomenon as the blinding rays pummeled her senses. She blinked hard trying to recover her vision when the onslaught of light had relinquished its numbing assault on her senses. Her eyes were unharmed, but the stars were all beginning to fade to blackness again, except for a large portion surrounding her cutie mark in the dark. Only now there was a new rendition to the once-spiraling, glimmering replication of her beloved cutie mark. A silvery crescent had joined the shape, enveloping it and sparkling in cool shades of blue, silver, and teal.
Twilight floated back down to the island, admiring the new arrival of the moon around the star. It was an elegance that she could have never imagined. When her hooves touched down in the star, it rippled like pebbles tossed into a lake. Taken aback by the discord she had caused in the serenity of the moment, she jerked back hoping not to further upset the majesty of the moment, but it was too late. The ripples carried out into the night, erasing the stars that stretched out infinitely into the night. Her cutie mark began to airily dissolve from the epicenter of the quake, becoming wisps of the light spectrum that had been coursing through the icy structure, eventually dissolving completely into a colorful haze that breezily thinned as it dispersed, leaving Twilight alone in the dark with the moon.
That too began to fade. The shimmering lights, dispelling from the figure, and evaporating into nothingness like all else that surrounded her. She was alone again; alone in the boundless reaches of this desolate space. The voice came from behind her. Close enough to send tremors of prickling shivers down her spine.
“Twilight Sparkle!”
She whipped around to see nothing but a pair of deep, striking blue-green eyes and a glowing blue aura….
Twilight’s eyes shot open. The oddities of her dream played over in her mind. She was never one for superstition, but she couldn’t shake the feeling that this dream meant something; that it was more than just a dream. Maybe she was reading too much into it as well. She simply didn’t know.
She made her way from the crescent sofa that had been her bed for the duration of her nap to cast her sights out the decorative window to estimate how long she had slept. It looked as though she had been asleep for a good while. The sun was already receding beyond the icy peaks of the mountains, reflecting a most gorgeous splash of rich golden-orange and passionate pink radiance in the snow topped crests casting long shadows into the Equestrian country side.
The young unicorn sighed, taking in the wondrous natural beauty of the land and sky melding seamlessly together in elegant poetry. The portrait beyond the glass smiled upon Twilight, washing her face in the golden rays and twinkling avidly in her sparkling eyes. The light ran over her soft fur reflecting fiery bouts of rich sheen in her coat and mane. She let her eyes flutter shut and pressed the tip of her horn against the glass, resting gently upon the cool surface, imaging the pine scented air beyond the portal and the feel of the brisk air caressing her mane. She longed for that sensation, but it would have to wait. For now she must be getting ready for dinner, as the night was fast approaching.
Her hooves clopped softly, muffled by the downy stretch of carpeting that ran throughout the castle, as she strode down the hallowed halls on her way to the grand chamber. She was dressed nicely in wears that were hoof-stitched by the pony with a fiery passion for fashion, Rarity.
The gown she wore flowed over her flank, sweeping gently to exemplify the beautiful curves of her slender body. The indigo fabric absorbed light, swallowing it up like the night sky. Stars, moons, and other celestial beings adorned the deep fabric that glistened as if they were made from flowing, fluid silver. A similar material made up the consistency of the slippers she wore. Her mane flowed gallantly down her neck, shimmering in the colorful light peering in through the painted glass windows. The fine silver band looped around her neck performed the final touches to her evening attire. It dove majestically into a point in the center of her chest with a perfect replication of her cutie mark carved in amethyst and diamond.
As she approached the grand hall, the two guards on either side nodded their greeting to the mare and the monstrous oak doors pushed themselves open with a muffled creak. The room past the great doors was vast in every meaning of the word. Torches lined the walls, giving off a warm glow against the polished marble and granite. In the center of the room there hung a great chandelier, bright light reflecting in the many dangling bits of crystal and silver. Beneath the enormous chandelier sat a long rectangular table of oak, prettied up and polished to a shine. Eight chairs lined the table, each emblazoned with a different crest; six with the symbols of the legendary Elements of Harmony, one with a symbol of a crescent moon, and the last with a crest of the sun, where Princess Celestia now resided.
The princess smiled brightly as Twilight entered the room. “Twilight! It is really nice that you can join us this evening, my star student!” Her voice floated on butterflies’ wings as it reached Twilight’s ears. “And that dress is absolutely breathtaking!”
Celestia’s final remark set Twilight’s cheeks ablaze as her mentor’s loving eyes looked her over. “Do you like it? Rarity insisted that I simply must, must, MUST wear it while here in Canterlot!” Twilight said, adorning her best Rarity impression. She and the princess shared a laugh as Twilight took her seat beside the Princess of the Sun.
As she planted herself in the seat she heard a light pop sound out from behind her. She spun around just in time to see the crest on the chair, which had previously been marked by Applejack’s Element of Honesty, transmute into the Element of Magic. Another pop sounded as the chair across the way transformed its crest to Honesty. Twilight’s jaw dropped in awe that quickly became a grin.
“That was really neat!” Twilight exclaimed, wondering to herself what sort of spell was used to enchant chairs to recognize the pony who sat in them.
“Why, yes, it is! It’s another one of Princess Luna’s brilliant enchantments,” Celestia beamed, taking pride in her little sister again. “She adorned this lovely spell soon after returning home. She was so pleased to be free of the wicked Nightmare Moon’s grasp that she thought it fitting to do something to honor the Elements of Harmony. It’s one of my favorite tricks of hers!”
The princess then got up and in a playful fit and began sitting randomly in different seats. Twilight giggled humorously, watching her mentor show off her younger sibling’s magic in an impromptu engagement of musical chairs. After sharing a few heartfelt laughs, Celestia returned to her original seat at the end of the table, beside her prized pupil.
“Enjoying the enchantment, my dear sister?”
Princess Celestia chuckled, “Ah, Princess Luna, how nice it is to see you this evening! I’m most happy that you could join us!” She beamed at the dark figure entering through the double doors.
Princess Luna was dressed up this evening as well. Her elegant frame was wrapped in midnight blue silk that hugged her flanks and whispered softly as it flowed to the floor, dragging ever so slightly against the royal carpet. The edgings of her dress matched the celestial highlights in her flowing dark mane as they complimented the avid hoofsmanship of her evening attire. The diadem atop her head was crowned in diamonds and baby blue sapphires, further exemplifying her flowing mane that swayed airily as she strode. It was the sky kissing the edge of space and time, sparkling even in the dark of night.
A lighthearted grin adorned Luna’s lips as she approached, obviously quite happy that her elder sibling held such high regard for her and her enchantments. It had not been an easy one to conjure either if she was honest. There was nothing, even in the infinitely vast pages of the royal library, which explained how to instigate inanimate objects to recognize a pony and teleport intricate objects such as the crests, via tactile kinetic bridging. It was completely original, and of that fact, Luna was extremely proud.
“So happy you approve, dearest sister! We spent many nights getting it to work just right!” Luna announced energetically! Her attention then turned to the young purple unicorn seated beside Celestia. “Twilight Sparkle, how good it is to see thou again! It has been far too long!”
“Twilight Sparkle….”
“Twilight Sparkle….”
“Twilight Sparkle….”
The young unicorn’s pupils expanded, shrouding her vibrant violet irises as Luna’s velvety voice fluttered in the air, calling her name. It was Luna’s voice she had heard in her dream! As the Princess of the Night adorned the seat across from her she looked deep into those blue-green, angular eyes. Images from her dream rushed back, flooding Twilight’s mind with a barrage of recurring thoughts and memories as she delved in the recesses of her mind, trying to decide conclusively if her suspicions were accurate. She was positive they were.
“Oh, Princess Luna, it’s so nice to see you!” Twilight replied, shaking the memories out of her mind. “The spell you used on the chairs is amazing!”
“Thank you, Twilight Sparkle; we are so glad that thou enjoy our handiwork!” Luna said with a grin!
The three of them talked much and shared many laughs over the course of dinner, which consisted of a delectable salad, strewn with the freshest lettuce, carrots, onions, and tomatoes and doused in a most delectable dressing. A spot of tea was served to the mares as well, and a delicious slice of chocolate cake, delivered with a tall ice cold glass of milk to wash it all down for dessert.
Content and full from their meals, they all continued on with their conversations, talking about everything from Twilight’s experiences with the magic of friendship, to Celestia’s royal duties, and even Luna’s new socks. For hours the three of them sat at the royal table in Luna’s magical chairs sharing the moment. It wasn’t until one of the royal guards marched in to remind Celestia of a certain royal affair she needed to deal with did they disperse. Princess Celestia bid Twilight and her sister adieux, wishing them restful sleep and sweet dreams before departing for the evening.
Twilight hurriedly followed her teacher momentarily to thank her for the wonderful time and to compliment the delicious supper. She was rewarded with a bright smile from the princess, which made the young unicorn’s heart jump! When she was returning to the table she noticed that Princess Luna was already walking through the enormous double doors leading back the way they had come. In a hurried trot, Twilight rushed to catch up to her.
“Princess Luna, wait!”
The princess stopped dead and whipped her head around, casting her shimmering mane into a curling wave of midnight and sparkling stars. “Yes, Twilight Sparkle?”
“I was hoping we could spend some time together if that’s alright!” she said as she caught up to the Mare of the Moon.
“But of course! We would be delighted to!” She exclaimed, continuing her stride as the little mare arrived at her side.
“How have you been, Princess? I haven’t seen you since Nightmare Night this year!”
“We are well, Twilight Sparkle! It truly has been too long since we have seen you,” Luna began, her glimmering green eyes shining silently in the moonlight that crept through the painted window, “The children really seemed to enjoy having us back again for another frighteningly fun Nightmare Night, did they not?” She giggled with a wink.
“Oh, absolutely,” Twilight beamed, “you were the life of the party this year for sure! I’m not sure how you’ll ever top it next year!”
“Oh, we have a few tricks under our hooves, Twilight Sparkle, never fear!”
The mares continued their casual chitchat as they proceeded to explore the castle, each enjoying the company of the other. Luna was especially pleased to be spending time with Twilight. She had been longing to see her friend again ever since she returned to Canterlot after visiting Ponyville for the Festival of the Night. Her lips were curled in a pleasant smile throughout so much of the evening that her cheeks were beginning to ache; a small price to pay for the time she was getting to spend with the magical young mare.
The starry indoor sky caught Twilight’s attention and it sparked a question that she had been dying to ask since her mentor had told her the origin of the indoor night. “Princess Luna, the enchanted ceiling is amazing!” Twilight told the princess, gazing up into the stars. “It’s really beautiful!”
Luna’s cheeks turned shades of pink against her indigo fur. ‘So she has noticed!’ Luna thought to herself. “Why thank you, Twilight Sparkle! We are most happy that you approve!” The young alicorn half shouted, spreading her wings involuntarily with jubilance.
Twilight giggled playfully, “I was admiring it earlier when I first arrived, and so when your sister told me it was you who had cast it, I just had to let you know how much I love it!”
The rich color titivating the princess’s rosy cheeks delved a few shade darker while she averted her eyes from the little mare. “Thou’s words are too kind, Twilight Sparkle, but it is most wonderful to hear that you enjoy my magic to such a degree.” The princess said, returning her eyes to level with Twilight’s. “I would love to show you my magic, if thou would care to see it?
Twilight’s eyes lit up like Pinkie Pie’s when somepony mentioned the indulgence of cupcakes! “Oh, Princess that would be wonderful, I would love, love, love to see you perform your spell!”
The look in Luna’s eyes was enchanting on its own. Twilight couldn’t help but be touched by the heartfelt gaze they cast upon her. “Then come with me, Twilight Sparkle. I will show you!”
Luna led Twilight through mazes of halls and flights of stairs until they reached a large archway, draped in indigo and quicksilver curtains, garnished with shimmering beads, all held in place by a sash running the width of the archway. In the center of the sash was a silver crest adorned with Luna’s cutie mark in the most flawless of diamonds. Luna touched the tip of her horn to the gem, releasing a pulse of her magic into the ornament. Immediately the clasp unlatched and the silk sash that was strewn across holding the curtains fell limp as the curtains and beads began to part, holding themselves up as the mares entered the room.
It became quite obvious to Twilight that this was the princess’s bedroom. Not that the bed in the middle of the room gave it away or anything, but the room just felt like Luna. The aroma was that of wild jasmine and blooming orchids after a thunderstorm. The floor was made of smooth cobblestone which continued halfway up the walls until it was cut off by rich, grainy granite sidings. The room had four small arching windows, each with a candle flickering against the walls and siding. To the right of the entryway more curtains much like the ones the mares crossed entering the room were splayed, revealing an enormous outcropping balcony that partially wrapped around the outside of the tower room. In the middle of the room there was a large, circular bed adorned in black bedding with a silver lining, replicating the crescent shape of the moon on the bedspread.
Luna showed Twilight onto the great balcony, propping her forearms up on the railing taking in night’s beauty. Every star, every cloud, every diminutive detail that comprised the dark beauty reflected in the princess’s gorgeous eyes. The full moon showered Equestria in a crisp luminosity as it unfolded upon the snowy city of Canterlot and the far outstretching hills and valleys in the distance.
“The night is truly beautiful, is it not, Twilight Sparkle?” Luna asked with eyes glistening. Her elegant hips swayed softly side to side as she spoke.
“It really is, Princess,” the young mare admitted, joining Luna in a similar pose against the railing.
“Art thou familiar with enchantments of replication?”
Twilight thought hard, placing a hoof to her chin. “Well, I think I understand the theory. A pony remembers an image in as much detail as they can, and by focusing on that thought they are supposed to be able to recreate the image that they see in their minds.” Twilight stated in a textbook-like fashion.
“That is correct, Twilight Sparkle,” Luna began, closing her eyes and taking a deep breath of brisk air into her lungs, “but there is a key element missing in your theory.”
“There is?” Twilight raised an eyebrow. She was certain she hadn’t forgotten any of what she had read about the art of replication.
“Yes, indeed there is.”
Twilight thought hard, trying to remember something, anything that she may have read that would complete her conjecture. Nothing was coming to mind. She looked to the princess for the answer, her eyes meeting Luna’s marvelous teal irises. The princess had a strange look upon her face. It looked almost sultry, Twilight thought, feeling slightly unnerved in Luna’s gaze.
“I want you to give it a try, Twilight Sparkle.” Luna said softly, “Think of something you wish to recreate. Focus hard on that thought and try to produce the image.”
Twilight shrank inside, she wasn’t sure she could conjure anything. She couldn’t even think of anything she really wished to see before her again. “But Princess, if I am missing an important part of recreation charms, how will I be able to make this magic work? Shouldn’t you show me the part that I am missing first?”
“We learn from our mistakes, Twilight Sparkle,” The princess stated absentmindedly, “Now go on; give it a try.”
Twilight swallowed the lump growing in her throat. She closed her eyes tight and searched her mind for something she could transmute from mental image to illusion. Nothing really stuck out in her mind. Twilight had an idea though, “Princess, is it possible to recreate things you have only seen in a dream?” Luna only nodded, in response.
‘Here goes nothing!’ Twilight thought, remembering the dream she had before dinner. Her mind focused solely on the image of her cutie mark wrapped in the moon’s embrace. Fixating herself on that memory she attempted her first recreation spell, purple light erupting from her spiraling horn. A void tore into the night sky, contorting wildly as it took shape. Twilight dared to peek at the magic she was performing through a single eye, looking out at the transforming figure. It almost completely took shape, creating an almost perfect rendition of the thoughts flowing through her delicate mind. Twilight beamed at the princess, but her celebration was premature. The crisp image she had created quickly began to lose its stature, breaking apart and dissipating in the cold air.
Her heart sank as her charm dispelled. She thought she had that spell all figured out for sure! “I don’t understand…. What did I do wrong?” Twilight asked, looking down at her hooves in the shame of defeat.
Luna tilted Twilight’s chin up with her hoof, looking deep into the young mare’s eyes. “Emotion….”
Luna’s face was so close she could feel her cool, minty breath on her snout. She didn’t understand what the princess had meant, but she was beginning to feel shaky in her knees with every soft word that Luna spoke. The princess’s words word sweet and demure, and her sea green eyes bored into her with such passionate intensity that Twilight was certain the princess would be able to gaze into her mind.
“W-what do you m-mean?” the nervous unicorn asked as she tentatively stumbled over the words she spoke.
Luna wrapped a delicate wing around Twilight, pulling them closer. She smiled sweetly as she nuzzled in Twilight’s mane, taking in the mare’s sweet scent which reminded her faintly of cherry blossoms. Placing a hoof on Twilight’s chest, the princess pulled back and looked deeply into the young unicorn’s eyes.
Twilight felt uncomfortable. She didn’t understand why she felt so strangely. The Princess’s advances were flattering, and as she delved into her seductive eyes, she couldn’t help but feel a heat building inside of her. Was it because she had had thoughts form in her mind about the Night Princess’s elder sister only hours earlier? Was it because of the spiraling dream she had had before dinner? She didn’t know what to do. She was confused and her head was spinning madly, careening out of control as she stared blankly at the princess.
Luna pressed her cool, delicate lips against Twilight’s, ushering in a wave of mixed feelings in the unicorn’s mind. She endured the princess’s kiss with difficulty. She wanted badly to pull away and flee from this moment, but something held her tight and bound her to the moment. Deep down she didn’t move, because a part of her relished the moment of having Luna’s royal lips pressed gently against hers.
Luna pulled away slowly, a passion burning in her eyes that Twilight had never seen before. The princess patted the unicorn’s chest lightly with her hoof. “Emotion, Twilight Sparkle, is the key to replicating the visions you wish to portray.” Her loving eyes quivered as she spoke, “focus is important, you are correct, but you are focusing too much up here and not enough down here.” Luna explained, motioning to the mare’s head and heart accordingly.
The princess closed her eyes, tilting her head to the sky. Her long horn glowed brilliantly in a sparkling blue aura as her magic leapt forth into the night. “Place your hoof on my chest, Twilight Sparkle. You can feel it.”
Twilight timidly obliged, placing her hoof against the princess’s chest. Her coat was soft and cool to the touch, but beneath her silky fur Twilight could feel warmth rising within Luna’s breast. It channeled through her core, exploding in a divine array of splendor as the link between heart and mind merged and flowed into the sky. She looked on in awe as the waves of magic cast a display of the northern lights over the castle.
“Princess….” Twilight lost her train of thought in the shimmering glow of Luna’s spell.
“Focus is important, but it must come from the heart. You must let your mind recall the memories and let your heart bring it to life, bridging the channel within yourself. Then, and only then, can you reiterate anything your heart so desires, Twilight Sparkle!” As Luna finished her horn ignited once again, reshaping the northern lights into a dazzling purple unicorn. With a last nudge of her horn she dotted her artwork with a shimmering silvery light in the shape of a six-pronged star on its flank.
“Princess Luna….” She began, her eyes glistening glassily with tears at the princess’s most sincere display of affection smiling down upon them from the sky. Many thoughts swam in the young pony’s mind, but she was silenced by a soft coo.
“Hush now, Twilight Sparkle. I want you to try again, only this time with less thought and more heart.” Luna said so softly it was nearly a whisper. She nuzzled Twilight’s face with her own and motioned to the sky.
There was a sort or elegant serenity about Luna. All of Twilight’s inhibitions seemed to dissolve in the sweetness of the princess’s velvety voice. She nodded her head and began to focus, closing her eyes. She could see what she wanted. She could feel it welling up inside her, threatening to burst through her. Warmth brewed in her breast and she tried to make the connection the princess had spoken of, but to her dismay the dam in her heart wouldn’t let loose the feelings swirling inside. She could feel the maelstrom of her own imagination colliding inside her, ricocheting on the firm, structured walls of her mind. She couldn’t string her heart and mind together through the barrage. Her face bunched up in frustration and her breathing came heavily. She was certain she was going to fail when a gentle sound fluttered into her ear, “let go” her princess whispered softly.
Bang!
The walls of the dam exploded, bringing the studious structure of her mind crashing down, freeing the swirling life of imagination from its confines. A white hot flash channeled through Twilight’s veins. Lava coursed through her body and her horn ignited, bringing forth a blinding white aura, casting a pillar of light rocketing into the stratosphere!
Miles above Equestria Twilight’s magic began to take form. As brilliant and bold as the full moon, a six-pointed white star took shape from the beam! Moments later the shining light began to shift and become stained in a radiant hue of magenta, coloring the celestial figure the young mare had fashioned. With a tilt of her head, Twilight’s imagination reached a new dimension as the pink star began to twist, leaving the white shadow of the previous coloration still until the figure resembled her cutie mark precisely. It was missing only one small detail: Twilight flicked her head another time causing a dazzling detonation beyond the twelve-pointed clone of her cutie mark, propelling a shower of sparks into the sky. When the flickers dissolved, several small white stars had collaborated to complete the image of the mark on her flank, each shimmering as brightly as moonlight.
Luna looked on in wonder as Twilight cast a perfect enchantment into the night. She learned the spell so quickly. It must be true; this young unicorn must be well versed in many forms of magic, not just rainbow magic. She smiled brightly at Twilight, ready to congratulate her for her esteemed accomplishment, but when she saw a single tear trailing across her cheek she halted. She couldn’t fathom why Twilight would be saddened. She watched the misty-eyed mare silently as she gazed up at her handiwork.
Twilight closed her eyes again, breathing shallowly as her mind and heart beat as one, syncing in flawless harmony again and displaying another light into the core of her precious cutie mark in the sky. The light cast this time was baby blue, and formed but a small orb against the magenta facing. She twirled her head and the little blue light began to orbit her cutie mark in graceful loops. Eventually the azure light was moving so fast that it had created an adorning ring around her work. Three more bursts of light erupted from Twilight’s horn: teal, white, and pink. The trio of colors melded together within the cerulean ring as the blue halo itself began to dissolve into the mix, trickling from the periphery of the nimbus into the spiraling contortion of colors. Fluttering gently, the four lights blended, creating a rendition of an aurora borealis beyond the magenta star. And then the aurora began to take another form….
Luna’s eyes welled up with joyful tears as she watched the dazzling sphere become a crescent moon, enveloping Twilight’s insignia in the embrace of her own. Before Luna could bring forth words, Twilight’s lips were pressed softly against hers. Luna closed her eyes, taking in the moment as the mare who had set her free from the darkness all those moons ago, embraced her.
Twilight’s lips gently inched away and the two mares stood in silence for eternity, gazing into the depths of the other’s eyes.
“Princess….” Twilight started but was cut off by another passionate kiss from her Princess of the Night.
“Hush now, Twilight Sparkle….” And she wrapped her in her wings….
