The Prized Student

The road was silent. The trees were whispering long forgotten secrets to the wind, and let it carry them to any ear, who was willing to listen. There was a river in the distance, its murmur was filling the air with something akin to peace. The grass was leaning on the winds arms, letting it caress its back, creating a soft sound.

It was a perfect day for travel. A single pony was traveling towards the big city of Canterlot. She wasn’t in a hurry. She liked experiencing the nature around her, especially after a couple of centuries away from home. When the castle came into view, she stopped for a moment. She stood on a hill, which could be considered her last obstacle between the city and herself. She took a deep breath, tasting the energies of the environment.

Under the shadow of her dark brown cloak, a stripe of purple mane was sticking out, which she tugged back with a smile. Although she doubted that anypony except the princess or some of the Royal Guard would recognize her, she could not take any chances. The Princess asked her to be as discreet as possible and since the whole city was under a teleportation block spell, which forbid outsiders to teleport in, or anypony to teleport out, she was stuck to a cloak or an illusion spell.

But she doubted that the gates were not enchanted to dispel those and that would attract unwanted attention. So she chose the same old dusty cloak that protected her in the Bad Lands and the Desolation of Shadows.

She was surprised when she wasn’t checked at the gates. One would think, that the Princess would be extra careful considering the event that was destined to come in twenty-four hours. Maybe she overestimated the defense of the city. She will have some words about this with her old mentor.

The palace was a little more guarded. Four ponies stood at the Great Entrance and one of them raised his hoof, signaling her to stop, which she did.

“Who are you and what business do you have in the palace?”

The mare did not lower her hood, but the visible parts of her face broke into a gentle smile.

“My name is Twilight. I received a letter from Princess Celestia, in which she called for my counsel.” To prove her statement, a scroll levitated from under her cloak to the extended hoof of the stallion, surrounded by lavender colored magic.

The guard read the letter, his eyes growing bigger after each word. When he finished reading, he looked at the figure of the pony with amazement in his eyes.

“Pardon our rudeness Pri-“

He was suddenly cut off by the same lavender magic around his muzzle. The mare took the letter and placed it back under her cloak.

“I would appreciate that you would act like I wasn’t even here. The Princess wanted to be as discreet as possible.”

The stallion nodded hesitantly, then handed her a paper, so she can verify her presence between the palace walls and stepped a respectful distance out from her way, opening the doors for her and fighting every inch of his body which commanded him to at least show a little bow to the figure. But before he could decide his inner battle, the mare disappeared behind the door.

She met other guards on the hallway, who almost immediately let her go after seeing the paper. She was told that she will find the Princess in the throne room. Not that she would need any guidance this close to the alicorn, she could practically taste her magic surrounding the place. She didn’t even bother to knock, sensing the Princess to be alone.

She found her in front of a colored window that told the tale of her triumph over her sister. The alicorn looked just as eternal as she used to be, when she was still learning amongst these walls.

“It’s strange,” said the Princess. “after all those years I still remember her face. The way she screamed at me in that last moment.”

The old student stood still next to her old tutor, looking at the picture of Nightmare Moon, former Princess of the Night.

“I remember them too,” she spoke suddenly. “their faces. Some cause me to lose sleep, some don’t.” She shook her head and turned to the Princess. “What you said in your second letter. Are you sure about that?”

Celestia turned away from the window to answer, but she had to take a moment to take in the sight of her former student. Even though Twilight Sparkle reached alicornhood, she refused to take the crown without experience, just like the rest of the three. But unlike the other two, Twilight still kept in contact, remained in a reachable distance. But one’s change in appearance could not be told by the letters she wrote.

Twilight became taller, around the same height as Luna or Cadence. Her eyes held the promise of knowledge, her presence was fit for royalty. The hood of the cloak was down, so Celestia could see the beginning of an armor around, which looked like it was frequently needed. Twilight Sparkle truly had an aura of an immortal.

“I am certain. She will return this night.” She said, after managing to guide her thoughts back to the topic. “I need you to go to Ponyville and help as much as you can.”

Twilight snarled, which was a bad habit she couldn’t manage to shake off.

“I could be more at use here. Together, we have the chance to defeat her.”

Celestia sighed and gently shook her head.

She wanted to tell her Prized Student, she really did. There was a chance that Twilight already knew about the Elements. But she needed not to know, not to act like a puppet master in this. The foundation of the Elements must be real and not predesigned. It had to be true. But leaving her little ponies without an authority figure was anything but acceptable. Twilight was smart. She will find out something eventually.

“Please my Prized Student... Trust me.” She pleaded. “And don’t hold on to her hoof too strongly. Let her create her own destiny. Be there if needed, protect them if you must, but don’t take her opportunity to unfold.”

The alicorn of magic sighed in response and turned back to the picture on the glass.

“As you wish Princess.” Her eyes filled up with mischievous glee. “Now. Let’s talk about the holes in your security.”

Celestia just smiled. It was truly good, that her Prized Student was back.