Chapter 1 ~The Third Pupil~
November 19th
4:55 pm
Canterlot Castle
?
I don't know why I had come back. Jealousy? Spite? Revenge? Each emotion ran through my head. And I still couldn't figure out which one reigned supreme amongst them all. I guess it was a combination of the three.
I watched as the newest Alicorn was crowned princess. A delightful mare by the name of Twilight Sparkle. Of course, if Celestia was aware I was in the crowd, I'd be dead, so I had to disguise myself as an ornery colt. I stayed in Canterlot after, hearing about the whole ordeal with Sunset Shimmer.
A smile broke out on my face when I heard the news. My good, dear friend had tried to make her move to ascend to a throne. But, as I predicted, she failed and had to stay in this alternate dimension. I might release her later, but for now, I have myself to think of.
I cast an invisibility spell on myself, using a small trinket instead of a horn, for I had none. My pegasus body normally wouldn't let me channel magic, but after an incident involving Celestia herself I somehow gained limited magical abilities. I still needed the odd trinket or amulet to help out with the more complex spells, but it was magic all the same.
I crept through the halls of Canterlot Castle, for I had heard the new princess was to meet with Celestia and Luna tonight. I needed to know the information they held. So, as this "Twilight Sparkle" entered the throne room, I quietly slipped in beside her, careful as to not make a sound and alert suspicion. To move even quieter, I flew overhead so my hooves would not hit the floor.
I touched down behind a pillar, ears bent forward to listen. "Hello, Twilight." Celestia said. "Might I ask why you wished to see my sister and I?"
"Well, Princess-" Twilight began, but the sun goddess cut her off.
"Twilight, you are a princess as well now. We are equals; no need to be so formal." Of course she would be informal. It's how Celestia always was. Even around me when we last met, she was always a casual mare.
"Sorry, Celestia…" Twilight said, obviously unused to not regarding her by her title. "I was just wondering something about Sunset Shimmer." This warranted my attention more.
"Oh? Then please, ask away."
"Well, she was your pupil too, right?" A nod from our great sun goddess confirmed the point. "I was just wondering… did you have any other pupils in magic? They might have become like Sunset Shimmer, and try to harm any of us."
Celestia's face darkened. "This… is a matter I will tread upon lightly, Twilight. I did have another pupil. Just one more, besides you and Sunset."
Luna spoke for the first time. "Sister, you did not inform us of this. Surely we, being your sister, should have known this." I had heard of Luna's trouble with the current manner of speech- she still refers to herself in the plural sense.
"I'm sorry, Luna, but I am still blaming myself for what happened to him." She turned to the youngest Alicorn in the room. "His name is- no, was, Venwing." Celestia sighed.
"Was, Celestia?" Twilight asked. "Does he go by a different name?"
"No." She stated firmly. "He's dead. He died by my hoof."
Blank stares were shared by Luna and Twilight. Celestia then proceeded to tell them of the story of Venwing. "I knew him since he was but a foal. He was a charming pegasus, the son of a rich family in Canterlot. I believe his father was the Captain of the Wonderbolts before Spitfire. He liked to roam around the palace gardens while his father trained with the team."
"What happened?" Luna asked.
"One day, I was doing one of my experiments in the gardens. I was attempting to create a simpler method of teleportation, one that requires less magical power so the unicorns who don't specialize in magic can use it more often. Venwing was fluttering around as usual, and I… I…"
Celestia paused for a second. "I… accidentally teleported onto the same rock he landed on in his game, imparting some of the energy to him. As a result, he gained the ability to cast simple spells like a Unicorn, even though he was a pegasus."
"That's… incredible!" Twilight said. "I mean, I'm guessing that's why you took him under your wing?"
The sun mare nodded. "I took him in to teach him how to control his new gift. In a week, he mastered levitation; in a month, simple elemental spells, particularly wind-based ones. He never had enough energy for much more than that, though. But I was still so proud of him."
"Then, one day came, a few years after Sunset Shimmer was learning under me as well. His father died in a racing accident. Venwing was upset, angry, confused… and he took it out on whoever passed him. I had to intervene. He even pushed Sunset away, though I was sure they were very close."
"What did you do, sister?" Luna asked.
"I talked to him. Venwing wasn't understanding; he was so frustrated by his father's demise. I told him that, sometimes things happen and we can't stop the events from unfolding. He thought I lied to him. He… lashed out at me, attacking me."
"Hush, Twilight, I was fine. However, the barrier I erected to block his spell was too strong, and instead reflected his spell back tenfold. The gale force winds that were the result smashed the wall behind him, and he fell to the ground, unable to open his wings in shock. I… killed him."
"Celestia, I never knew…" Luna said.
"This is in the past, though. Twilight, why don't you head back to Ponyville? It's late, and I've answered your question… It's brought up some bad memories, and I need to sleep them off…"
Twilight bowed slightly. "It's okay, Celestia… I'm sorry for bringing it up." She walked out of the room, heading for the main gates.
"We are sorry for your loss, sister," Luna said. "But it is time for me to raise the moon. DO not worry; sleep your worries away. Wherever Venwing is now, we are sure it is a happier place."
If only she knew that the pegasus in question was not more than a hundred feet away from her. I quickly flew out of the room, opting for the main doors as my old mentor left for her chambers. However, I knew Celestia's story to be false, completely so.
My name is Venwing, and I will have my revenge on Celestia. Maybe I should start with her latest pupil. After all, she didn't hesitate to dispose of me.
~End of Chapter~
