The Prized Student

Twilight examined her wounds carefully with her magic. If she got enough food and water, all will heal within two days. Did she really have that much time? The other alicorn may have already recharged her magic, so they lost that little advantage they got from the battle. She was up for a challenge, that was for sure.

Meeting the other mare in combat awoke some old memories in her mind. It was a rare occasion that she took part in a one-on-one fight. She was and still is a Battle Mage, she was trained to fight multiple opponents at once, though in an ideal situation she was stronger than them. In her journey through the countries around Equestria, she partook in many confrontations, although they took less time than a real battle with armies clashing. For the majority of times it was just bandits or some overconfident soldiers of the respective countries.

It was only a couple of times she fought a single opponent and it was clear who won those fights, since she still stood here while her opponents were banished at best, dead at worst. Celestia did not approve the latter, Twilight had her doubts about the former. If the force of evil went as far to meet them on the battlefield, the minimum they deserved was imprisonment. It was for the benefit of Equestria. Simply banishing somepony from your lands will only result them planning more carefully next time.

This was the only thing Twilight couldn’t convince Celestia to agree on. The Princess stubbornly believed in second chances. Twilight wasn’t so generous. Based on what Celestia said, she and the Princess of the Night would’ve agreed on many things. Pity that maybe it’s too late to find out.

“Princess?” asked a timid voice behind her. She turned around to face the two mares who managed to approach her without her noticing. Maybe she was too deep in thought.

One of them was the yellow pegasus, Fluttershy. Just like when she woke up, the mare was doing her best to hide behind her own mane. The other one was an older pony with silver mane and glasses. Twilight guessed, that she must have been the towns mare, since she still waited to be greeted by the local authority.

“Please Fluttershy, I’m not a Princess. Twilight is fine.” Looking at the other pony in the eyes, she took up her most inviting smile. “And you are?”

“The Mayor Your Ma-... Miss Twilight.” She looked really uncomfortable calling her on her name, but Twilight refused to use false titles. She may become a Princess one day, but not yet.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you. I was expecting a conversation between us soon. We have much to discuss and we have to hurry.”

“Of course!” The Mayor looked pleased to hear that. Fluttershy muttered a silent apology before she started to retreat to the Shadows.

“Fluttershy, just another thing.” The pony flinched under the attention she suddenly got. “Can you please find the head of the weather ponies and send them here? Also Applejack and Sunset Shimmer.” Seeing the pony nodding shyly, Twilight gifted her with a sparkling smile. “Thank you.”

After the pegasus was gone, the Mayor told everything she knew and experienced. She told Twilight about the absence of the Princess, then the sudden appearance of the dark alicorn who called herself Nightmare Moon, than the conversation between her and the student of the Princess. Finally Twilight learned about the reason behind the fight between the alicorn and the unicorn. Mare in the Moon stepped too close to Rarity. Sunset took that as an attack against the unicorn and casted the spell without thinking.

The alicorn of magic nodded slowly, thinking about the information she just heard. Sunset’s reflexes were quick and her heart was in the right place, but this reckless behavior put her in great danger. Twilight has to announce that issue before it’s too late.

This time she heard the three ponies approaching and turned to them. Sunset was still deep in one of her grimoires and Applejack was talking to Rainbow Dash. Twilight put two and two together and concluded that the rainbow maned mare must be the head of the weather ponies.

“Thank you for coming girls.” It’s been a long time since she smiled this much and her cheeks started to hurt.

“No problem!”, grinned Rainbow Dash.

“Is there anything yah need Sugarcube?” Applejack tried to look carefree, but her face betrayed her. She was in deep trouble and Twilight had a very good idea about what.

The alicorn nodded with a serious expression and gestured them to sit down next to the Mayor. Once everypony was settled, she started to talk in a much deeper tone.

“By now you must’ve thought about it. We have a problem with our supplies.” The other four nodded, by now aware of the issue. “We need to get food and water and that is only our first problem. We will need better shelter and weapons to protect ourselves, since we can’t possibly know what’s going on in the other cities.”

Sunset looked like she wanted to speak, but she bit her lower lip. Twilight was having none of that, she needed to hear everything her little ponies had to offer.

“Yes Sunset?”

The unicorn looked startled for a minute, but Twilight was smiling again at her encouragingly and somehow she reminded her of the Princess.

“I was just thinking that…” She took a deep breath. “I fought her. She is too strong. And no amount of weapons would change that.” She didn’t want to be this pessimist, but she just couldn’t help herself.

“What you say it’s true. Mare in the Moon is too strong. But I wasn’t thinking about her, when I suggested to arm ourselves. I was thinking about moving into a cave in the outer region of the Everfree Forest. I may sound strange, but it will be safer there and also closer to Ponyville, from where we have to gather our supplies as fast as we can.”

Rainbow Dash looked a little pale when she spoke up.

“Are you saying that we have to go back there?”

The alicorn nodded.

“Sweet Apple Acres could be our food source and we also have rivers in Ponyville. I called you here because I thought about collecting some clouds from the sky and hiding them somewhere in the cave, so if we need to retreat for a long term, we wouldn’t run out of water so easily.”

The pegasus still looked a little troubled at the suggestion, but there was fire in her eyes and Twilight liked her expressions.

“Like I said, we will move to the Everfree Forest, so we need weapons to protect ourselves from the local predators.”

Of course everypony knew what she truly meant. She can’t be everywhere at the same time. If she goes on the mission to collect supplies, the other’s will remain defenseless.

“So, what’s the plan?”, asked Sunset after a long pause of silence.

“Our first priority is to get some water and food for everypony. I will lead back about a dozen ponies to the village and collect as much as we can stock and get back. After everything is safe and sound, we’ll go and find a suitable cave in the forest.” Seeing them nod, she went on. “I’ll need twelve ponies, four from each species. The fastest flyers and the most sensitive magic casters. Mayor, I trust you’ll inform the other ponies about the situation?”

“Of course Miss Twilight.”

The alicorn nodded and let the ponies work, while she went to the mount of the cave and started to cast a stronger cloaking shield. Sensing that Sunset was still there and also coming closer, she turned around as soon as she finished.

“Can I do anything for you Sunset?”

The unicorn still kept her distance but her eyes betrayed the awakening trust in her.

“May I go with you to Ponyville?” her ears were flat, but her posture radiated hope.

Twilight looked back up to the shield she just made. From the inside, a lavender bubble could be able to see, but from the outside only desolation was in the place of the cave, like the majority of the landscape they were surrounded with.

“I suppose, this shield will do for a while. So, of course. Tell everypony to be prepared in ten minutes. The sooner we head out the better.”

Sunset was beaming with happiness and determination.

“Thank you Princess!” as soon as she said that she apologized. Twilight figured it was more of a reflex on the unicorns part, so she chuckled and told her to get the others.

The moment Sunset was gone, Twilight’s smile vanished, providing place for a grim expression. She looked at East, already the sensing the danger waking on the other side of the mountain range. Feeling a cold waft getting under her armor, she shivered. Winter was awakening and they needed the Sun back. As soon as possible.