The Dark Apprentice: The Call of Shadows

The Distant Past

It was late evening at The Castle of The Two sisters, the moon was a glow a bright yellow formed into its crescent state. Luna was on one of her usual late night sneaks.

Something Celestia was completely unaware of.

Among the many things Luna loved to do during the night, exploring the gardens, running about the rooftops and stealing the odd cookie from the pantry. Luna loved to explore her sisters library.

One thing that Luna was always told however, not to go in the restricted section. For Luna she need only to be told once, which was enough to satisfy her sister. Luna wasn't an alicorn who liked to break the rules, certainly not at this early stage of her fillyhood.

But that one sentence had always played on her mind.

'And remember my dear sister, for all the books you see here are free to read. However you must not go into the restricted section, some of the books in there are dangerous to young fillies like yourself'.

Of course she knew this was Celestia simply caring for her, however the prospect of powerful magical books and danger did excite her somewhat. But the being called a young filly she interpreted as a slate on her maturity. As if somehow the keeping to the many rules of her life wasn't demonstration enough of that.

This particular night Luna wasn't in a happy mood. Not even stealing from the cookie jar would do it this time. She tried to much to impress her sister, in many ways she didn't feel equal to her and she was beginning to notice the other ponies in the kingdom showing more signs of worship and adoration.

Creeping down the main hall, just past her sisters room. She peered around the corner to see the barred entrance to her private study, guard stood posted and highly alert. It appeared to be a very well guarded spot, especially with this extra addition. But for Luna she had given this a lot of thought, looked for vulnerabilities in the guards shift pattern, the types of materials used to build the gate along with other physical properties such as air density and geometric pressure points within the gate.

However with all this careful calculation, all it really took was a spell. For years she had been playing around with photography, projections and film editing. With a little magic she was able to produce very high quality and convincing images of any kind she chose, using a simple voice changing incantation into salt water and her voice could alter.

"Good evening, its good to see your still awake". Said Luna, who was now disguised as her sister. Giving him a playful tone in her voice, it was the kind of positive drivel her sister would probably come out with. "Would you mind letting me in?" said the fake princess.

"Yes your highness, immediately." Said the guard, throwing back the iron gate.

Luna passed through with ease.

The Night Before

Celestia was watching out her window just as Twilight was leaving following their recent discussion, in her mind there was no way it could be possible, the very idea of it in all her years of things that could surprise her this would be up there on the top of that bookshelf. As much as it pained her, she needed to be sure. Celestia new every part of her kingdom, even the fact that Luna had her secret life.

However being detected by her sister would be too easy for Luna, for this she would need to apply just as subtle a tone as her dear sister would. A perfect match of cunning and wit, albeit a problem that she herself must solve alone. With as little help as possible. Magic between two sisters shares a powerful connection. For this to work she too must be away from the reconnaissance.

"Guard, would you come in for a moment" The Princess asked turning around to face the now standing soldier in front of her.

"What is it your highness?" Said the guard.

"I need you to keep this strictly between the two of us and especially from your Captain Shining Armour. But I would like you to keep an eye on Twilight while she goes away, make sure no one sees you especially my sister." Celestia said with a low tone.

"Why is she in some kind of trouble Princess?" The Guard said with a confused expression upon his face.

"No, not at this point. But I would also like you to monitor Ms Mi Amore Cadenza as well, more over please alert me straight away if the two of them split up for an extended period of time, you must do so immediately. This is of the utmost importance." Celestia's tone had steadily become gradually more serious as she preceded to list these instructions to her Guard.

"You must go immediately, remember tell no pony about this." Said Celestia.

And with that the guard quickly exited her chambers, on route to wherever Twilight was heading.

And little did Celestia know, her worst fear was heading straight to the heart of that truth. And now unbeknownst to Twilight and her new teacher, putting this perfect little secret of theirs in enormous danger.