Seline and Sol: The Third Alicorn

Sunset trotted into the dining hall, it was quite small compared to what she was use to at the castle. The dining hall, at the hotel, had seven circular tables that could fit five ponies on each table. The tables and chairs were made of cheap wood, and Sunset could see the wood chipping on some of the tables. On each table there was a different coloured sheet. Sunset scanned the room for her family and the traitor, she saw everypony sitting at a table with a purple sheet on top. As she trotted towards the group, Sunset saw more cracks and chipping on the walls and tables. She was slightly disgusted by the cheapness of this place. She was Celestia's only student, didn't she deserve the best?.

As she approached the table she saw that in the middle of each table, there was a tall tower of pancakes. "Sunny! Good morning" Twilight called out quietly.

"Good Morning Twi" Sunset said as she took her seat next to Shining and a pony she hadn't seen before. Had her plan failed? Had one of the staff made it on time after all? Had this pony ratted her out already? Sunset decided to play it cool. She turned to face the Unicorn, analysing her. She had a light shade of blue for her coat and had a dark blue mane with a single black streak, her cutie mark was a black sword and she had a blue and pink set of armor on, that Sunset had never seen before and Sunset knew the guards very well through her dates and her brother. "Who is this?" Sunset asked in a cool and calm voice.

To her surprise the Unicorn answered her, instead of somepony else like she expected. "My name is Hetalia, loyal servant to Princess Cadance"

Nopony had told her that Princess Cadance had been bringing staff of her own. Sunset didn't even know that Cadance had her own guards. Now she had to act before it was too late, ignoring breakfast again, she turned to Cadance.

"Queen Celestia, told me that you were in charge of organising the staff for this trip. Where are they?" Sunset said, waiting to see Cadance fail.

"Thank you for reminding me Sunset. Queen Celestia wrote to me and said they had been a mistake regarding the transportation for the staff for this journey
They will be arriving later today." Cadance said pleasantly while Sunset was fuming, she would need a new plan.

Twilight immediately abandoned her breakfast and raced through her goodbyes and I'll see you later speech. She had one day to research the Middle Towns and she didn't want to waste a minute. All she knew was from Cadance and the Queen, The Middle Towns were known as the Towns in between Seline and Sol. In these Towns both citizens of Seline and Sol lived together.

Twilight was so excited she felt she was flying she was moving so fast. After passing several buildings she found it, the library.

Twilight entered, but a brown hoof stopped her. "Identification please" Twilight turned and faced the voice, he has a short brown Unicorn with a green mane and was pointing to a slip of paper around his neck as he stopped her.

"What?....I mean Sorry why do I need Identification?"

"You must be new, this town has two different types of ponies, the first is citizens of Sol and the second is citizens of Seline. In this town you can only enter a shop if you are a citizen of the proper kingdom or have the proper identification. This is a Sol library which only excepts certain ponies. The Nightcrawlers have their library on the outskirts of town, where a lot of them live."

Twilight couldn't believe that middle towns lived in such seperation. She didn't want to be in this town anymore and she wanted to bring up such behavior with the Queen. She put it on her mental clicklist to remember for later.

Twilight didn't want to supprt this but she needed her research. "I'm a citizen of Sol from Canterlot but I have no Identification. How do I get this?" Twilight said pointing to the piece of paper.

The brown Unicorn looked much welcoming after that, "Canterlot is the heart of our lovely kingdom and anypony from there is most welcome here. Unfortunately rules are rules and you still need Identification. Head to the main office, they'll clear you."

He drew a quick map using his magic, and gave her lots of flattery since she announced her birthplace.

Twilight ran out of that library like her tail was on fire, she didn't want to be treated better because of her birthplace. Even if she was born in the heart of the kingdom. Using the small map she navigated herself through the town. She noticed many ponies wearing paper around their necks and showing if off, as if it made them more important. Twilight also noticed everpony was avoiding her after noticing her lack of paper.

Twilight arrived at the Town Hall, the building was the newest looking building on the block. It was made of wood like every other building and had the symbol of both Seline and Sol, on the outside it looked welcoming and supported both countries equally. It was time to begin her investigation.

She walked inside and saw ques of ponies, with several lines designated to being identified. Others were lines were designated to Insurance, Help, Complaints and Other.

Twilight waited in the Identified lines, she noticed many ponies in these lines were being sent away immediately, were these the "Nightcrawlers?".

"Next!" A orange middle aged mare called with grey hair. She had a blank look on her face and the rest of her face was obscured with thick black glasses.

"Hi my name is Twilight Sparkle and I'm here to be Identified"

"Really?" The middle aged pony asked in a sacastic voice, "Residence"

"Canterlot Castle"

"Excellent, you are able to apply. Please to one of the rooms when your number is announced." The orange Earth pony handed her a number, it was 37.

All she wanted was a book Twilight thought with a sigh. She waited a few hours reading through a book that she brought with her for luck. It was the history of Equestria and how it was destroyed.

"Number 37! Number 37!" A young yellow Pegasus, with white hair.

That's me Twilight thought as she jumped up and raced towards the Pegasus. She didn't want to waste her one day in the Middle towns. The Pegasus led her to a small room with the basic needs, such as a desk, filing cabinet and chairs.

"Please take a seat. Now Miss Sparkle, I understand that you wish to be Identified and have already passed the first step but I'm afraid that I can not Identify you"

"Why not? Did I fail the test"

"No of course not Miss Sparkle, Miss Armor came here early this morning and got you and himself Identified. He must have just left."

Twilight's mane started to turn into flames, as she chased after her sister. She would find her and get that pass if that was the last thing she did.

Shinging Armor was trotting down the street. It was a beautiful day and he had the whole day to himself. The first thing he decided to do was finish breakfast and then get his family Identified, the Queen had notified him that they would need this if they were to buy anything in this town. He carried the identification passes in his magic.

Twily would be so happy, she would be able to go to the library. At the library they would be books Twily would have never read before.

Shinging would then be able to spend his Identification on buying foreign chocolates and sweets for Cadance. Hoping she would finally accept his offer to go out for doughnuts back at Canterlot.

Nothing could spoil this day he thought happily. Then out of nowhere a pile of flames zoned passed him and snatched Twilight's identification pass. He was about to follow until he saw it head to the library, it was Twilight. Shining vision then turned black, terrfied that his baby sister actually turned into a ball of flames.

"Umm Ma'am, I know you requested nothing but prehaps you would like a glass of water." A green Unicorn asked, who was a library assistant

"Why do I look thristy to you?"

"No...I mean not really ma'am it's just that your on fire"

Twilight then gave him a death glare and ahe watched as he fled away from her. She was not on fire, she was cooling down there was a difference. She was researching Seline and so far all she had found was the awful books she already had. She had to get more infomation from the source, it was time to head to the edge of town in search of the Nightcrawlers library.

Twilight looked for the brown she had meant during her first trip. She found him at the enterance blocking a familiar yellow Pegasus pony entry.

"Where is your Identification?" He asked in a harsh voice, the opposite to how he had treated her.

"Here sir" the yellow Pegasus pulled a slip of paper from her saddle bag.

"A half breed, let's hope your Sol side shows. Lime Pages will show you the books your allowed access to" the brown Unicorn said pointing towards the green Unicorn.

The Green Unicorn pulled a box out and handed it to the Pegasus, it was full of Children books. It was a disgrace no pony should be robbed of books.

"Hey! What are you doing?" Twilight asked, the Unicorn.

"I was helping this Pegasus understand her place"

"You can't rob her of books"

"That's it, your both kicked out" the brown Unicorn yelled, obviously use to getting his way.

I was kicked out, how could I be kicked out. I've never been kicked out of a library, this js going to be on my permanent record and all libraries are going to think I'm a troublemaker and need to be kicked out Twilight thought, as her breathe quicken.

"Umm Excuse me" the yellow Pegasus said, getting Twilight's attention.

She looked at the Pegasus, she had a long pink mane and three pink butterflies for her cutie mark. She looked familiar....

"You're the Pegasus from Ponyville, Right? Your name was Fluttershy" remembering the shy Pegasus she met at Canterlot. "What are you doing here? Do you live in Ponyville?" Twilight asked.

The Pegasus looked uncomfortable and was hiding her face behind her mane. It was then Twilight realised all the ponies looking at them and whispering. "Prehaps we can talk somewhere else, do you know the way to the Nightcrawlers?" She saw Fluttershys eyes widen at the word Nightcrawler, but nodded her head and gestured with her hoof to follow her.

Twilight followed the Pegasus in absolute silence, the further they walked the quieter the it became. The ponies slowly disapeared and the buildings were becoming more neglected the closer they walked to the Nightcrawlers library.

Fluttershy walked towards the worse parts of town. She trembled when she saw the ponies whisper about her behind her back. Fluttershy wished she could be back in Ponyville, with her animals and her friends.

She arrived at the library and hoped that she had displeased the Unicorn. Fluttershy had her rumors of what happened to half breeds and Nightcrawlers. She cringed at such a degoeatory word, Fluttershy tried to hide her reaction before because she knew how much the Sol ponies enjoyed there reactions.

Fluttershy noted that the Unicorn had not said anything and was just staring. She curled into a little ball preparing for the worst.

Twilight watched as the Pegasus stopped in front of the library. This library was much older then the library in the town square, it was small, and had a set of stairs leading to the door. The small library surrounded by dead trees, there was graffiti on the front and on several of the stairs. The graffiti said things like "Nightcrawlers" "Go back where you came from" "Bloodsuckers".

Twilight was in shock, how could ponies do this. She thought of what she could do, how she would feel if this was her. Twilight remebered how shy the Pegasus was when the first met, was this because of the Middle Town treatment.

Twilight turned to face the Pegasus and saw her crying. Twilight was unsure how to proceed, how did she comfort the Pegasus? Did the Pegasus want to be comforted? Did her parents use the self soothing method? Should Twilight?

"HEY! What do you think your doing" yelled a gruff voice, interupting Twilight's inner panic. Thank Celestia she thought this pony could take care of the crying Pegasus. She turned to face him, eager to hand the Pegasus over to someone else.

The gruff voice belonged to a cloaked figure, he was slowly moving towards them. She started to move towards him. "Stay where you are! Your identified with the Sun's crest" he said while pointing toawrds the piece of paper around Twilight's neck. "You and your kind stay away from here." Twilight decided to back away slightly from cloaked figure.

"Fluttershy, is that you darling? What did this Sun pony do to you" the cloaked figure asked in a kind voice. The crying Pegasus turned towards the cloaked figure and hugged him. The figure turned towards Twilight, with Fluttershy still in his hooves" "You did something to her! I know it..."

Fluttershy wiggled out of the figure's hooves and moved in between the two ponies. "ENOUGH... I m-mean cousun she is not like the others." The cloaked figure backed away from Twilight and Fluttershy. Twilight felt a bit lighter with those words. The Pegasus...Fluttershy stood up and protected her.

"I am sorry darling, forgive me miss Unicorn there are many from your country who wish us harm. My name is Draco Nightshine, What is your name, Miss Unicorn?"

"My name is Twilight Sparkle, not Miss Unicorn" Twilight replied with a scowl, she hated nicknames. Especially since she had so many throughout her childhood, know it all, teachers pet and many more.

"Yes, of course. Now I have a question Miss Twilight are you her you here to help us? Or are you here to go to the library, research and be on your merry way."

Twilight had to think, she couldn't be rash. This was about more then her wanting to go to the library, which was her original goal. Twilight had to get to the treaty, she had to bring peace. It would not only destory any chance of peace, but it would also destory both Sunset and Cadance. She didn't know if she could risk a nation's peace for ponies suffering, Twilight had to make a descion.

She looked at Fluttershy and Draco, who was still hidden under his cloak. She had to know the truth before she made any decisions, she had to know what she was risking.

"Tell me your story" Twilight commanded, the both looked at one another and Fluttershy nodded.

"I-I will" Fluttershy stated, but before she could open her mouth. She began shaking and crying unable to say a word. Twilight watched as Draco comforted her and hugging her.

"I will tell Fluttershy's story in her place." Draco said still comforting the weeping Fluttershy.