"Picture the location in your head! Remember, even tho-"
"Slave, you've been summoned by Celes-Augh!"
Before she knew it, the book had flown into the air and into the Guard's face. He brushed it off his muzzle, his face scrunched up in disgust.
“Sorrysorrysorrysorrysorry!” she said timidly, trying to hide behind the table in fear. Luckily, this wasn’t one of those guards. "Watch it, slave! Or we'll make you regret it!” he said, with obvious distaste. “Anyway, Celestia has summoned you to the Royal Chariot, post haste!”
Twilight cringed, and with obvious speed levitated the book off the floor and behind her, onto the shelf where it belonged. I’ve got to be more careful, I was almost caught! She thought as she trotted across the room. She took one last long look at the library, then, noticing the Guard leaving, she followed him out the doorway. She sped up so as to be beside him and matched his pace. She noticed that he was purposefully ignoring her, so she looked to her left, noting the servants around her cleaning. She noticed him trotting over to one of them, a tan mare with an auburn mane, with a lopsided smile on his face. Snorting in disgust, she levitated him up and away back over to her. This was only to be expected from a freeborn Guard like him.
She was very lucky as they go, her magical abilities were the only reason she’d caught the eye of Celestia all those years ago, and an introspector from Trottingham Steel Industries had been eyeing her greedily. She shuddered, knowing the dangerous sweatshops she could have been forced to work in.
Glancing around, she admired the general colors of gold, ivory, and red was pleasing to her, reminding her of a sunny afternoon. As she continued walking, they took a left and ran into stairs. Twilight groaned inwardly, secretly hating all stairs.
“Sorry we’re late Princess, but I was caught up reading and, and, and...”
Twilight panted, clearly out of breath after climbing the stairs to the Princess’s Royal Chariots. Why, oh why must there be so many stairs? In the corner of her eye, she saw the Guard grunt, and fly back down. Lucky, she thought before returning her attention to the Princess.
“It’s okay, Twilight. I know too that books can entrap the reader for hours on end, perchance may I ask what book it was?” Twilight froze, not expecting this, and tried to lie. “Uhhh.. Starswirl’s Theorems Collection?” she hoped she wasn’t red in the face, that often gave her away. She suddenly became distracted by the golden chariot behind Celestia.
“Twilight, we both know you’re lying, tell me the truth.” Twilight hung her head, staring at the ground, and lied again, “Uh, just some Class F unlocking spells, nothing bad.” She closed her eyes, waiting for Celestia to see through the lie.
“Okay Twilight, but remember: you can’t use spells higher than Class D.” Celestia smiled, and Twilight lifted her head up and smiled back at her. Yes, it worked! She thought before Celestia said, “Now, do you want to come to the Gladiatorial Arena, or will you sit there all day, doing nothing?” Twilight nodded her head, jumping at the opportunity to be with Celestia. A day off from working in the castle was a bonus, especially because she had to clean her room later. She hated cleaning her room. “An organized mess,” she liked to call it, and since Celestia wouldn’t let her into the library until it was spotless, she had to put everything away and messing her system.
“Then let us make haste.” Celestia said, prancing off the ground and into the chariot. Twilight trotted up to the edge and jumped slightly, landing on the soft leather seat of the chariot. Celestia nodded for the escorts to fly, and they set off.
And the next competitor is… Rainbow Dash!
The giant wooden fence doors grinded open, letting the harsh sunlight make its way to Rainbow Dash's eyes, blinding her momentarily. Her wings fluffed under the casing they were in, unable to flap and stretch. I can’t wait until i use my trick, she thought as she steeled herself, closing her eyes and taking deep breaths, like her training coach had said. Okay, here we go. Luck, old pal, don’t let me down. She stepped out, the rough sand around her hooves feeling hot from a long spring afternoon, and covered her eyes with her hoof, looking up for a moment, hoping to see her friend Gilda in the crowds. She grimaced, no such luck. So instead she looked at her opponent, Zephania. The Reigning Champion.
As she trotted out, feeling the warm air on her face and back, she thought about how Zeph, as most ponies had taken to calling her, had taken down more than three ponies at once, barely breaking a sweat. This would be a toughie, but she had no doubt that Rainbow Dash, the awesomest pony in Equestria, could take her. She flicked sweat of her forehead, watching the white and black figure approach. She wished the canopies over the spectators were extended to her as well, but, as usual, it was out of her control. One of the many faults of slavery, Rainbow thought.
Noticing the zebra come closer and closer, she ran to the side, increasing the time before contact. She ran a semicircle around the arena, taking about a minute. She noticed one of the weapons that were allotted for the contestants at her hooves, half sunken in and dusty. A great big club, spiked at the end with bloodstains all over. She picked it up, feeling the leather handle with her hoof, and getting the feel of it. She just had time to swing it when she realized how close the zebra had come.
She jumped backwards as the zebra’s hoof came closer than expected, then retaliated with a carefully placed blow to her back, which would effectively cripple her, forcing her to submit. Unfortunately, the zebra moved quickly away, avoiding it completely, and lashed out with a hoof at her face. Rainbow stepped, back, the hoof passing only a nose away from her face, and deftly sidestepped another blow to her back. Steadying herself, she tackled the zebra, punching at her face so fast it might as well have been a Cheetah. Wiping blood off her muzzle, she stood up, basking in the cheers, and thought, Okay Rainbow, it’s time. She shuffled her wings inside the constraints, and punched the Magitek in the latch. It fell to the ground, clacking, as the crowd gasped. She flapped them once, and launched herself off the ground feeling the currents for the first time in weeks.
Flying around in circles, she ignored the magic stunning spells from the Guards, and thought, Okay, Rainbow, remember the planas she singled out a lavender spot next to a tall white one in the Royal Box, and aimed herself towards the blob. If I die, Cloud Chaser, you’re going to hell with me, she thought as she flew through the glass, shattering it.
Once upon a time, in the magical land of Equestria...
There were two regal sisters who ruled together, and created Harmony for all the land.
To do this, the eldest used her unicorn powers to raise the sun, bringing with it warmth and light.
The youngest brought out the moon at dawn, bringing with it darkness and sleep.
And thus, the land was peaceful, as the eldest and youngest would fight off threats, bringing prosperity, and wealth.
But, a new magic was formed that would create servants who would not question, rebel, and overthrow, saving many lives, and created castes so everypony knew their place.
The eldest was not against this, as she hoped to make sure the servants were happy in their toiling.
But the youngest was disgusted, as she believed that ponies should be able to run and play, with no order or reason.
Thus the sisters fought, but neither could win, for despite age, they were of equal strength.
Ponies took sides and began to war, fracturing and almost destroying the beautiful land of Equestria.
Thus, the youngest began to dabble in Arts of the foulest nature, which should never have had eyes laid upon them.
Because of this, she was transformed into a wicked mare of darkness! Nightmare Moon!
The youngest woud not lower the moon, even though through the war she had mutually agreed with her sister to.
Finally the eldest met with her sister, and they fought. But the youngest, utilizing Dark Magic, managed to overpower her sister.
Even though it seemed all hope was lost, the eldest gathered the most powerful magik known to Ponydom: The Elements of Harmony!
Though she was reluctant, the eldest banished her sister to the moon, restoring Harmony for centuries since.
A lavender mare kept flipping to the last pages but all they contained were author information and credits.
She sighed, her breath feeling hot as it made its way out. "Nightmare Moon, I know I've heard that before..." She looked at her Brand, marking her as Princess Celestia's personal property, and looked back, at the bushes. "But where?"
