Come Dawn or Darkness

"Well, thank you all for the very warm welcome, but I wouldn't want to keep you from enjoying the feast. You may return to your seats." It wasn't until Twilight turned to walk back with her friends, feeling relieved to have escaped their introduction without having truly explain herself to the Princess, that Celestia added, "Except you, Twilight. I feel there a few things we need to discuss before either of us get too comfortable here. Sir Torrent, I trust you don't mind staying for a moment or two as well? It really would be best if all three of us spoke a bit."

As they walked around the back of the thrones, out of eyesight and earshot of the rest of the gathering, Twilight felt that same sinking sensation she had experienced when they had gotten to the front of the line not ten minutes prior. Oh, this isn't good. She knows something's up, that I'm not telling her something! What if she asks about the Void, or whee I learned the spell that opened it? Gah! What if she asks what it was that I was trying to do with a spell like that to begin with?! Oh no, oh no no no no! When they came to a stop, Celestia turned to face them both, the three figures forming a small triangle behind the large wooden dais. Ok Twilight, you can do this. She just wants to make sure you're alright. She's not suspicious about any of it, she doesn't know anything about what happened. The Princess' eyes narrowed as she looked at the two of them, peering down at her student and directly ahead at the newcomer.

"So... I believe an explanation is in order. Twilight, why don't you begin." Twilight's confidence shattered almost immediately. ...She knows... It had seemed too good to be true that they had escaped the questioning when they first arrived; she supposed she should be grateful that the Princess was not making her tell the story in front of everyone that had shown up.

So Twilight began reselling her little tale, including everything she had left out of the letters that she had sent her teacher. She explained how she had been hoping to impress her with some new spells, and how it had led to her discovering the old tome of ancient rituals. Of how she had found one which claimed that, if preformed correctly, it would unlock a path to limitless wisdom, and how it warned that failure would seal the caster away in the darkest void for eternity. She spoke of the mirror she had used for the ritual: how it had burned with arcane power, turned pitch black, and then burst. She spoke of the face that had appeared in its depths, featureless but for the massive pincers that hid its gaping maw, and how the creature's tongue had lashed out and dragged her through the black doorway she had created.

"...but it couldn't keep it's grip on me once we were through the portal, so as soon as I was free I... I ran. Everywhere I looked there was nothing but darkness, and the mirror was gone, so I just ran straight ahead, without thinking about where I was going or how I would get back. From what Torrent has said, I got lucky. Anything could have found me when I opened the portal; the creature that pulled me through was basically a living tank, but it was slow because of all its armor. I didn't have any trouble out-running it, and something about that place made it impossible for me to grow tired, so I just kept running. At least... until I started thinking about where I was. When I realized that the ground I was running on couldn't have actually existed, I just started slipping right through it. I did everything I could to hang on to the last bit that still felt solid, but while I was struggling with that, the monster started catching up to me. If Torrent hadn't shown up when he did... I probably wouldn't be here to tell you all of this right now..."

For a long time Celestia remained silent, her face set in an expression of deep contemplation. Finally, she spoke, her eyes still closed as if she were trying to picture the entire situation as it would have unfolded. "...Why did you try it, Twilight Sparkle? If you read the warning, as you say you did, why would you even attempt such a thing? And please, do not tell me that you wished to impress me; there is more to it than that and you know it."

"I-I just... I'm not sure. I was just trying to... to learn something new? I didn't think that they would actually do all of the things that they claimed, it just seemed... I don't know... ridiculous. The, the book was so old and the spells in it, if you had seen them you wouldn't have believed any of the things they described either! There was one that promised eternal life, and another that could allow travel through time! I mean, spells can't do any of those things... Can they?"

Her eyes were open now, looking both sympathetic and stern at the same time. "No... They cannot. But I'm afraid what you came across are no mere spells. Those rituals are not of this plane; the book itself may have been created by one of our own, but the knowledge found within is alien to this world. Please, do not look at me like that, my student. I know you never intended for any this to happen, but you must understand that this may be far more serous than you realize."

Now Twilight was simply confused. "But, Princess Celestia, I'm fine. I made it back safely, the monster was destroyed, and I can even bring you the book so that you can find somewhere safe to keep it, or so you can destroy it. You know... whichever would work better at this point."

This time it was Torrent whom her eyes fixed in on. "You haven't told her then, I take it."

His gaze was hidden by the hood draped over his head, yet Twilight could sense his eyes upon her for a brief moment before it returned to wherever else it was looking. "The child's mind was troubled enough, I saw no reason to burden it with further nightmares. I have been keeping watch over the portal myself, and working each day to close it further and furth-"

"Wait! The portal is still open?! But, but I thought... I mean... didn't we seal it once we got back through? I thought you told me nothing could come through that way again!"

"Twilight, please, let me explain. Sealing a spell of that magnitude could take years to fully complete, something that I have already resigned myself to. What we did upon reentering your world was only the first step."

Celestia cut in, attempting to set her pupil's mind to ease. "We have faced problems with magic of this nature before. Certainly nothing quite like this, but arcane rituals and their effects have been noted all throughout Equestria's history. This type of magic always leaves some form of residual effects behind... In this case, it is the arcane energy seeping out of that portal below your library. We have always fixed whatever damage the failed attempts have caused; it will be no different this time around."

Now it was Torrent's turn glare, though it was concealed by the metallic cloth draping over his eyes. "Failed attempts? Your majesty, I fear you may have misinterpreted the situation that your student has found herself in. The ritual that she conducted was an incredibly advanced and complex ordeal and, as such, the rules of its outcome are set in stone. That accursed book warned that, should the spell fail, the caster would be doomed to fall endlessly through the void... Yet here she stands."

"Only because you were able to rescue her."

"Not at all. If the spell had failed, she would have been sent plummeting through the darkness while her doorway home sealed itself shut behind her. The fact is, the ritual was a complete success... Which is why it is going to be so difficult to undo." He turned to Twilight. "By opening a door to the Abyss, you have successfully created a way to gain an infinite amount of knowledge, just as the tome promised. It will enable you to traverse the very planes of reality itself, visit any world or any dimension in existence, and staying within it will prolong your life indefinitely.... And all the while you will lose more and more of who you were before you entered that dark and dismal portal... These sorts of things always demand a balance of that nature to occur; incredible power has an incredible price."

"I... I succeeded? This whole time I thought I had done something wrong, miscalculated something somewhere along the line... So... I was right! I do have what it takes to use magic like that! Ancient, otherworldly magic!"

"Some of the strongest in existence, yes..."

"Which is exactly why I must forbid you from attempting anything of this nature again, Twilight Sparkle." The Princess was looking at her with an expression of disappointment now, her student's sudden confidence in her own power finally betraying the real reason she had attempted the ritual to begin with. "These spells are dangerous and unwieldy. If anything were to go even slightly wrong you could tear the entire fabric of reality apart... or you could end up bringing the wrath of the universe down upon yourself...

"I do not wish to restrain you from learning, Twilight, never think for a moment that I do... But nor do I wish to see any harm come to you. It is for that reason that I hereby forbid you from studying any more of these arcane arts. There is still an entire world of potential open to you here in Equestria. You need not be so eager to journey from this land when there is still so much for you to learn here..." Twilight opened her mouth to object, but the Princess quickly put an end to the conversation as she turned and walked away. "I am sorry, my student, this is my word on the matter. Now, go enjoy the festival. Sir Torrent, it was a... pleasure to finally meet you..."

The pair stood there behind the dais for a few moments more. Twilight was thoroughly confused by the mixture of emotions churning about within her. While she was relieved to be done with their little meeting and the lack of punishment involved in it, the idea of giving up her research on the ancient book left her feeling both crestfallen and enraged. Who does she think she is, telling me not to study it! I performed the first ritual perfectly, she should be congratulations me, rewarding me! I shouldn't be here at some stupid festival, I should be back in Canterlot, teaching a class on magic! She's just afraid that if I keep practicing I'll become more powerful than her!

A frozen hand upon her shoulder brought Twilight back to her sense. She whipped her head around, blinking frantically to clear the rage from her eyes. What am I thinking!? The Princess just wants to protect me. She wants to keep something horrible from happening... something that would be my fault. As her vision cleared she found Torrent peering down at her from beneath his hood, the claw of his lifeless left hand gently resting on her shoulder. It was in rivalry cold to the touch, and she had to struggle to keep from shivering under its grasp.

"Are you alright, Twilight? You look to be lost in thought... and not positive thoughts, from what I can see."

"I'm... I'm fine, I just need a moment to take in everything that just happened.... I'm sorry, sir... for all the time you've had to waste on me."

His look changed a pensive stare to one of genuine concern. "Waste? What are you talking about?"

"Well, I mean... All the training that you've been trying to help me with. Now that Princess Celestia has forbidden me from learning anymore otherworldly magic, it's all kind of been for nothing..."

He looked on for a moment more, then finally his gaze lifted off of her as he began to chuckle to the autumn night air. "Hahaha... I see now! A fine attempt, miss Twilight, but don't think you are getting out of your lessons that easily. Your training is not even close to its end yet."

Now it was confusion that swam about in her mind. Were we at two different meeting just now or did he simply ignore everything the Princess said? "Ummm, Torrent, I think Princess Celestia was being pretty serious when she sai-"

"Oh I heard what she said. She doesn't want anything bad to befall you. So, I will be personally overseeing your training from now on. This way, I can ensure that you stay safe while you master these spells. No more leaving you to your own devices, I'm afraid. Too much risk involved there.

"When we returned from your little venture into the Void, I promised you that I would teach you to defend yourself against things like that abomination you encountered. I do not mean to go back on my word. There is an oath that the knights of my order were fond of using, an ancient rite that exemplified their dedication to their cause in the face of uncertainty."

"This was in that world that was sinking into the Void, correct? The one you told us about in your story the other night?"

"The very same, at any moment the balance of that world could have slipped, sending it crashing into the depths of the Abyss... And ultimately that is exactly what happened. Yet never once did the Order falter from its goals. 'Through the shadows we will wander, until our journey is complete. We will see tomorrow come today, and from our path we shall not stray. Bound are we, who hold the lantern, bound are we who bring the light. Through the dark and through the shadows, bound are we who chase the night. To our cause and to each other, to the shadows they will be drawn. So we will be there to defend them, come the darkness or the dawn..."

"...And that means, what exactly?"

He crouched down, bringing himself face to face with his newest student. "Quite simply, it's a long-winded way of saying that, whatever it is that drives us, we will never turn our backs on it until we have seen it through... And now, that driving force is your training. So by that oath, I hereby swear to make a true sorceress of you, come dawn or darkness..."