Twilight looked at the sun through the glasses she had been given, allowing the pony to observe the celestial body without worrying about going blind. The sight was an incredible one, and Twilight stood in slack jawed amazement as the open air carriage under her continued to trundle onwards. The clean, even streets of Canterlot allowed the young pony to perch herself half atop her father’s shoulder, half on the edge of the carriage without fear of falling.
“It's quite the sight, isn't it Twilight?” Asked Twilight’s mother, whose voice was oddly strained for reasons the young filly couldn't explain.
The young pony nodded eagerly. “Its really cool. But not like cool cool, but cool.”
“We know what you mean dear.” Remarked Twilight’s father.
The young pony said nothing as she continued to stare at the dime sized celestial body, until a few minutes later when her father gently removed the filly from him and placed her on the seat next to him. “Daww, now I can hardly see the sun.” She complained.
“Daddy is getting sore. You’ll just have to spend your time looking at all the cool buildings and ponies instead.” Twilight’s father exclaimed.
Twilight gasped. “Your right, I haven't even been looking for all the landmarks I wanted to see. Mooom, you were supposed to remind me.”
The older mare winced. “Sorry dear, but you were so excited to see the sun that I couldn't bring myself to distract you.”
“That's okay mom. I’ll see them the next time we come to the capital.” Twilight remarked.
Her parents exchanged an awkward glance before her father placed a hoof on Twilight’s shoulder. “You won't be coming home with us remember? You’ll be living in the castle from now on.”
Twilight frowned. “I thought I was going to become queen Moon’s student. Doesn't that mean I can leave whenever I want?”
“You’ll just have to ask the queen that question.” Twilight mother pointed out, her voice straining to the point of breaking.
Twilight was confused as to why her mother and father were acting so strange, but she decided it probably had something to do with the fact that it was her special day. They were probably just sad that Twilight had to live in the castle and that they couldn't come along with her. Twilight was a little sad about that as well but between all the treats she had been given, the super awesome ride she was currently receiving and the promise of learning magic from queen Moon herself it was hard to feel sad.
Even if she was leaving her family behind.
“Do you think I’ll be able to meet all her other students?” Twilight asked.
The two parents exchanged another strained look before Twilight’s mother patted her daughter’s leg. “We love you very much Twilight. Please don't ever forget that.” She whispered.
“And forgive us, we didn't have a choice.” Added her father.
Twilight cocked her head. “What are you talking about?”
“Well its just…” Her father gulped. “Remember your friend, Sunset Shimmer?”
Twilight nodded. “Yeah.”
“She got chosen last year for that summer sun celebration and we haven't seen her since.” He continued.
“What your father is trying to say-” Began her mother, who was interrupted by the thump of a hoof against the side of the carriage, drawing their gazes to a black furred night guard who gave the parents each a glare.
“Is that you should ask queen Moon when you get there!” Twilight’s mother hastily finished. “Isn't that right honey?”
Her father nodded hastily. “Oh yes. I’m sure they are all very busy with their studies.”
Twilight nodded. “Its okay. I know Sunset Shimmer has been too busy to send me any more letters. You guys don't have to keep asking if I’m okay.”
“Y-yeah thats it. Sorry Twilight.” Muttered her mother.
Twilight shrugged and hugged the mare. “Its okay mommy. I still love you.”
The filly pulled back, and quickly hopped back up onto the back of the carriage just in time to miss the first few tears which began to crawl down her mother’s face. Looking up, Twilight stared in awe at the many obsidian and silver towers which stretched up into the sky. Every once and a while one of the great buildings would be adorned by an enormous multistory flag adorned by a crescent moon.
The great swathes of fabric were pretty, but Twilight had seen the flag of equestria enough times that even the more ornate ones which hung on either side of the road were boring. The thestrals which flew silently on either side of the carriage on the other hand were much more interesting. Grabbing the filly’s attention and watched as they in turn observed the city’s residents who passed on either side of the carriage. Their silver armor was as beautiful as it was imposing, and Twilight quietly wondered how much polishing it took to get it to shine like that.
It probably took a long time, which explained why her brother spent so much time in his room before going to his mandatory guard training. Looking out over the populace, Twilight marveled at just how many ponies there were, and how many different kinds of them she could see. Unicorns were of course the most numerous, this was Canterlot after all, but the other subspecies werent far behind in number.
Pegasi flitted this way and that, careful to not get too close to Twilight’s carriage, or the buildings that littered the area. Earth ponies walked to and fro, some aimless, some intent on some unseen destination or just one of the street vendors. Even some thestrals, and crystal ponies could be seen amongst the crowd, though they were definitely in the minority. All in all, they seemed a little better off then the ponies in Twilight’s hometown of Ponyville, as most seemed at least well fed and werent draped in rags.
It was a far cry from the backwater town Twilight grew up in, and compared to that place Canterlot was a shining beacon of wealth and prosperity. The occasional amulet, fancy dress or elaborate headwear made Twilight gape in wonder as such things were impossible to find back home. Even their many layers of jackets and clothing were leagues better than the cheap stuff Twilight and her family had to wear whenever they left their house.
The carriage turned down a side street, and for a moment Twilight got a glimpse of a group of ponies huddled around a burning bin. They seemed tired, worn out, and eyed the filly with a mixture of contempt and envy. Though mostly made up of pegasi, there were a few of every species mixed with the desperate group.
Looking upon them made Twilight’s heart hurt, and a frown came to her face. “Mommy, who are these people?” Twilight asked, her gaze drifting over a particularly young filly with teal fur and a rainbow mane who peered out of a box at her.
The older pony swallowed hard. “They look like refugees from Cloudsdale.”
“A damn shame that was.” Muttered her father bitterly.
“Whats a refugee?” Twilight asked, watching closely even as the carriage made another turn, emerging out into a much larger street.
“It's a pony who doesn't have a home anymore because of the war.” Her father explained. “I’m sure if you ask queen Moon, she could tell you more.”
The male received a sharp elbow to the gut and Twilight’s mother glared at him. “Hold your tongue dear.” She whispered.
Twilight paid her no mind though and simply kept looking at the alley they had passed through, even though the ponies huddled within it were long out of sight. “I’m glad I get to ride in this enchanted carriage.” She whispered, the filly suddenly feeling terrible that she didn't have to worry about freezing while they still did.
Ignoring the hushed conversation happening between her parents Twilight looked up at the sky, noting that a few clouds had rolled in, and seemed ready to dump a bucket of snow on the city of stars. “I hope it doesn't snow again.” She whispered, reaching a hoof up to the sky. “The sun is so beautiful and small, so unlike the moon.”
Pulling down her glasses, Twilight peered up at the fireball, staring intently at the flickering orb that hung low in the western sky. Like every summer sun celebration the sun seemed weak, as if it were dying, and Twilight wondered if queen Moon could tell her why that happened. Sure she knew that the sun needed to be reborn every year, lest it go out, but Twilight couldn't help but wonder how, and why that was.
The filly added those questions to a long mental list of things she wanted to ask the alicorn, like why she didn't have a cutie mark yet. Twilight was old enough after all, yet she remained as blank as the day she was born, despite that, the queen had chosen her anyway. So many questions, so little time, and the anticipation was beginning to burn hotter than the warm cushions Twilight stood on.
When a cloud moved in front of the sun Twilight took off her glasses and dropped them on the cushion next to her. “Mommy, why don't the pegasi ponies push the clouds away?” Twilight asked.
“The clouds are too big and strong I’m afraid.” Twilight’s mother remarked.
“It would be like asking you why don't you shovel the driveway during winter.” Added her father.
“I can hardly do that during summer!” Twilight exclaimed.
“Exactly. It's just too much for the weather ponies to handle.” Twilight’s mother claimed.
The filly nodded slowly and she was about to ask another question when a sudden sparkle drew her attention towards the front of the carriage. Hopping back up and leaning on the edge Twilight looked past the enormous stallions pulling the carriage and towards the distant spires of the midnight palace. The enormous structure was made up of dozens and dozens of intertwining towers that all collectively reached for the heavens, making Twilight gape in awe at the sight.
Though originally built as queen moon’s primary residence, after Canterlot Castle had been destroyed a decade earlier it had become the unofficial seat of government. Other factoids rattled through Twilight’s brain but she ignored those for now, focusing on the magnificent structure that was her final destination. Though she did wonder why some people still called it a castle, as there wasn't even a moat or really many defences at all.
Sure there was a wall that had recently been erected around the exterior, and Twilight could see guards everywhere, but it was a palace, not a castle. Still, Twilight was a little sad that the wall had been built at all as it obscured the dark blues, and purples of the many towers lower levels. To make matters worse the wall itself was an ugly slate grey, while even the trim of the palace windows was a sparkling, glorious silver.
The home of their ruler was opulent, beautiful, and drew Twilight’s gaze from one feature to another, constantly surprising her with new things to look at. Flowing arches, hidden balconies, and towering spires all the colors of the night, it was enough to make the filly grin with excitement. Such an amazing home, and she was going to be allowed to stay there, to walk the same halls that their sovereign and absolute ruler did.
Grinning excitedly, Twilight watched as the carriage’s guards exchanged hoof signs with those on the wall, allowing them to pass through the small gate without stopping or uttering a word. Now inside the courtyard Twilight found herself even more irritated by the wall’s presence. It made the space between seem more like a prison then the courtyard of their queen’s personal residence.
If only the the towering apartment buildings outside the wall were built a little further away, maybe then the space wouldn't be filled with training areas and dozens of guards running to and fro. The carriage’s sudden stop made Twilight turn away from the majesty that was the midnight palace. Turning to her parents, Twilight was about to say goodbye only to realize that her mother was on the verge of tears and her father seemed angry for some reason.
“What's wrong?” She asked.
“It's nothing dear, were just sad to see you go is all.” Her mother replied.
“I’m not going away forever. You can still visit.” Twilight declared with a smile. “Queen Moon must be really nice to let me stay here and teach me so I’m sure it's okay.”
“We’ll see honey.” Her father muttered sadly.
“The queen is ready for you.” Exclaimed a voice.
Prompting Twilight to turn and herself face to face with the thestral guard she had been watching earlier. His face was grim, expressionless, and he had few defining features, the illusions placed on his armor making him remarkably plain. He had pulled open the tiny door on the side of the carriage and extended the little steps as well, doing his best to usher Twilight on her way.
The filyl nodded, and quickly hugged each of her parents in turn. “I’ll make sure to write to you every other day and tell Shiny to not be sad.” Twilight whispered.
“I-I will.” Muttered her mother, who squeezed the filly long enough to make Twilight wonder if she was ever going to let go.
“Dear.” Whispered her father.
With a sigh, Twilight’s mother released the hold she had on her child, leaving a confused Twilight to look up at their crying faces. “Don't cry mommy, I’m sure queen Moon will let you visit really soon.”
“I’m not sure that will matter soon.” Muttered her father bitterly.
“We shouldn't make the queen wait any longer. She's a very busy mare.” Exclaimed the guard.
Twilight’s mother sighed, and scooped up her filly for one final hug before placing her next to the exit. “Go on now. I promise we’ll see you soon.”
“Very soon.” Echoed her father.
Confused, Twilight gave them one last look before stepping off the carriage and following after the guard. As she walked away, she noticed that her parent’s sadness quickly vanished, replaced by what looked like grim acceptance. Then they were gone, having disappeared behind the gate and immediately getting lost amidst the curtain of snow which fell over the land.
The filly shivered and hastily scampered after her guide who was waiting at the entrance. “Don't worry, it's warm inside.” Announced the stallion as he pushed open the enormous obsidian door.
“T-thanks.” Twilight stuttered as she hopped up the enormous stone steps and quickly trotted inside.
Sure enough the guard had been correct, and once inside Twilight immediately noticed that it was very warm, yet she didn't notice any obvious fire. What she did notice was a large entryway with multiple halls sprawling off in all directions. To her right was a desk at which a slim, spectacle wearing stallion sat, his horn glowing brightly as he tapped away at his typewriter.
The filly wondered if she had to sign in or something, but the guard was already moving, forcing the young unicorn to scamper after him. Though the thestral didn't turn around to check on her, Twilight knew he was watching her, somehow. Passing that off as a thestral thing, Twilight looked around the lavish halls, her gaze inevitably falling upon the many portraits and statues that could be seen every few feet.
Some of them Twilight recognized as Queen Moon’s creations while the majority were simply commissioned by the monarch herself. Passing by a particularly expressive statue of a weeping unicorn, Twilight realized she was being watched. In the alcove which contained the statue she had just seen was a maid who looked at her with an intense, bottomless pity.
The maid quickly trotted away, her head down and eyes averted, not saying anything as she passed the filly by. Twilight wanted to stop her, to ask what was wrong, but the harsh clop of a booted hoof made her sprint back up to her guide.
“S-sorry.” She whispered hastily.
The guard gave her a look before silently turning forward once more, his steps slightly slowly and his attention focused on Twilight.
Twilight no longer looked at the art which filled the palace, her gaze focused solely on the shimmering silver and black carpet under her hooves. Even still, she could feel the gazes of the castle staff occasionally falling upon her, always with pity, and sometimes with regret as well. It was enough to make the poor unicorn wonder if she had done something wrong, or perhaps annoy them. The filly second guessing everything she had said and done during the entrance exam she had taken two weeks earlier.
Shaking her head, Twilight dismissed such thoughts as she couldn't get distracted again lest the nice guard get even more disappointed with her. Holding her head high, Twilight strode as confidently as she could muster beside the thestral stallion, even as they neared a pair of great double doors. These ones were stark black and twinkled with the occasional silver star or shooting comet, almost as if the doors themselves were part of the night sky.
Twilight wanted to reach out and touch it, to ask her guide about the magic that allowed such an illusion to function, but decided against it when he came to an abrupt stop.
“First lieutenant Bleak Ballad reporting.” He shouted.
The two ponies on either side of the door stepped forward, and the unicorn to their right lit his horn and cast a scanning spell which washed over them both. “You are relieved Lieutenant Bleak. Good work.” Commanded the unicorn in a deep, baritone voice.
The thestral guard snapped off a quick salute before turning and trotting away, leaving Twilight with a stone faced earth pony, and a smiling unicorn. Both were obscured by the same illusion that the thestral had, but somehow Twilight could tell that the unicorn was older than his peers. Perhaps it was his voice, or the way he carried himself, either way it set Twilight at ease for reasons she couldn't quite explain.
“Welcome to Castle Midnight, Twilight Sparkle. Queen Moon will see you in but a moment.” Declared the unicorn stallion before taking a step back into place.
“T-thank you.” Twilight whispered.
With little else to do the young pony stared at the door while trying to figure out what manner of spell had created such an amazing scene. As she looked Twilight noticed that there were planets, asteroids and other space objects inside the door. She was peering at a particularly interesting set of binary stars when the stone portal opened, startling her out of her thoughts.
Cursing her curiosity, Twilight hastily looked up and found herself in what passed for a throne room. It looked like a former sitting room that had been converted to appear grander, and Twilight could tell where the walls had been knocked out to expand the room. Still, it was magnificent, with the famous stained glass flanking her and moving slowly, playing out scenes few other then queen Moon knew the significance of.
Who was sitting on her throne and looking down upon the filly with a gentle smile that was slightly marred by the fangs which poked out from either side of her mouth. “Greetings child. Welcome to my home, please, come in.” Greeted the alicorn, who gestured towards the small cushion that had been placed on the ground before the steps of the throne.
Twilight hastily trotted forward, suppressing her desire to inspect the towering columns of silver that seperated the stained glass windows. Though the room wasn't very large in the grand scheme of things, to Twilight it felt like it took forever just to reach the cushion. Sitting down, Twilight looked up at the alicorn with a mixture of nervousness, awe, and a sliver of fear.
The monarch wore none of her usual armor or regalia save for a silver tiara which rested upon her brow. Her deep black fur and oddly pointed wings seemed to suck the light out of the room, almost as much as her slitted pupils drew Twilight’s gaze. The filly found herself transfixed by the alicorn, unable to look away from her intense, yet still somehow relaxed gaze.
“Thank you for accepting my invitation.” She began, her smile growing ever so slightly. “Your teachers have all had nothing but good things to say about you.”
Twilight nodded her head, but found her mouth unable to form any words.
“A laconic one, well this is going to be a change.” Teased the alicorn.
Twilight shook her head. “I can talk!” She shouted, only to realize what she had just done and swiftly covered her mouth with her hooves.
The monarch chuckled and with a wave of her horn sealed the room. “So I hear. By the sounds of it you can also also cast more spells than anyone in your entire village. Is this true?”
“I can cast fifty four spells.” Twilight instantly replied.
“Very interesting.” Exclaimed the monarch. “You are also one of the most powerful unicorns to come out of your class, is that right?”
“N-no.” Twilight hung her head. “Sunset Shimmer was more powerful than me by three whole thaums.”
The alicorn winced, but recovered quickly. “Tell me Twilight, what do you think of Canterlot?”
“Its really really big!” Twilight declared excitedly. “I was surprised it wasn't as cold as back home, given that its on the side of a mountain.”
Queen Moon smiled and nodded. “Our weather ponies are quite dedicated and you would be surprised how much good a little extra sun will do.”
“And the ponies are nice, the buildings are really interesting, and the ride here was really fun.” Twilight continued. “The guards were also very helpful, but…”
The alicorn raised an eyebrow. “But what?”
“I saw some pegasi who looked really sad, and cold…” Twilight all but whispered, the filly staring down at her hooves nervously.
“Ahh yes, the refugees.” The alicorn frowned. “The gryphons will pay for sacking such a wondrous city.”
“Why would they do that?” Twilight asked suddenly. “So many ponies don't have homes anymore because of them.”
“They are misguided.” The monarch stood and trotted down to the filly’s level. “You see Twilight, they believe that I am the cause of the eternal blizzard which threatens their homes. All while the windigos grow ever stronger from the conflict they engage in so eagerly.”
“What a bunch of jerks.” Twilight spat, the filly crossing her hooves over her chest.
“Yes they aren't exactly the nicest now are they?” The alicorn smiled suddenly. “Come, I have a secret to show you.”
“A secret? What kind of secret?” Twilight asked as she stood up from her pillow.
“The kind of secret that only my most faithful students are allowed to learn of.” Replied the alicorn cryptically.
Twilight’s eyes went wide. “I’ll be the best student ever. I promise!”
“I know you will. Which is why I’m letting you learn it even though you have only just arrived here.” Continued the mare who turned and trotted behind her throne.
Confused, Twilight followed her teacher closely, watching as the pony lit her horn and cast an unknown spell. Upon completion the back of the solid obsidian throne twisted, and a dark stone room could be seen within it.
“Woah.” Twilight muttered.
“Woah is right.” Queen Moon winked. “Come on, its in here.”
The alicorn hopped through the portal, and Twilight followed close behind, only hesitating for a second before leaping hoof first through the gateway. The ensuing landing was less than graceful, with the filly ending up sprawled out on the ground, legs spread in all directions. Her head spinning, and her horn aching, Twilight lay there until the room stopped moving and her headache left her.
“That first step is a bit of a doozy.” Queen Moon remarked, the alicorn extending a hoof towards the filly. “Do you need some help?”
Twilight blushed and nodded fiercely, taking the ice cold appendage and being hefted back to her hooves with ease. “Thank you.” She whispered.
“It's no problem Twilight. Come, it's not far from here.”
Twilight gave her head a shake before trotting after the alicorn, her attention divided between her surroundings, and her teacher. The walls were grey, and clearly made of a stone the filly couldn't identify, upon which the occasional torch burned within a sconce. The purple glow of mage flame was all that illuminated the long hallway, bathing everything in an eerie light.
As they walked Twilight noted that the hallway was getting increasingly hot, growing to the point that the pony was beginning to sweat. Glancing at her teacher, Twilight noticed that she didn't seem to mind the change, either that or she was so cold that it didn't bother her. Either way things were getting stranger by the minute, and as the silence continued to stretch, Twilight grew nervous.
“Where are we going?” She asked.
“To see my secret remember?” Queen Moon replied, her voice strained in a way that reminded Twilight of how her mother had spoken to her on the carriage ride here.
“What kind of secret is it?” Twilight pressed.
“A very special one.” Declared the alicorn with a hint of sadness.
Pursing her lips, Twilight thought of her next question carefully. “Why did you accept me? All your other students already had their cutie marks but I’m just a blank flank.”
“You show great promise.” The monarch replied simply. “Promise that even my greatest students have not.”
“Does that mean I’ll get to meet my friend, Sunset Shimmer?” Twilight asked, hope brimming in her chest.
The alicorn cringed visibly. “Yes. I’m afraid you will.”
“What do you mean by that?” Twilight inquired.
“We have arrived.”
Twilight looked forward to find that they stood before a large set of double doors with a sun emblazoned across them both. The handles were gold, while everything else was red, which served as a stark contrast from everything she had seen up until this point. This also must be where the heat was coming from, as a hot wind billowed from beneath the door, tickling Twilight’s hooves.
“What is this place?” Twilight asked nervously, the pony taking a step back and putting the alicorn between herself and the strange door.
“It is the sight of my greatest failure, and worst regret.” Murmured the alicorn who turned to the filly and slowly bent down, looking her in the eye. “And where you will be staying from now on.”
“I don't want to stay in some creepy hole in the ground.” Twilight hesitantly replied.
The alicorn sighed. “I know you don't, but you must. The fate of the world rests in your hooves now Twilight.”
“What do you mean?” Twilight pressed.
The alicorn’s face twisted in anguish, and Twilight watched the pony’s right eye change, the familiar draconic pupil replaced by a rounder, more normal one. From there the fur around her eye grew lighter, more blue, though the changes stopped halfway across her face. Tears tumbled from the edges of the monarch’s eyes, staining her two toned fur.
“Were so sorry Twilight but this is the only way. She needs a new body and we need the sun no matter how much we wish we didn't.” Exclaimed the weeping pony in a strange, twinned voice.
“Tell me whats going on.” Twilight demanded. “I can help you, I promise!”
“We can't explain it to you, but don't worry. You will understand everything soon enough” Declared the two faced pony before quickly turning and pushing open the door.
The blast of heat made Twilight stumble back, the filly buffeted by a sudden surge of air that nearly knocked her off her hooves. When she did manage to regain her footing she found herself at the entrance to the strangest room she had ever seen. Though it was undoubtedly opulent, the area filled to the brim with creature comforts that instantly made the young mare envious, it was also incredibly depressing for some reason.
A large chandelier illuminated the room, its many golden crystals reflecting the flickering light beautifully. Red carpet with intricate golden patterns sewn into it looked as elegant as it was comfortable, perfectly complimenting the red and gold four poster bed that sat in one corner. An open door standing across from them revealed a bathroom that lacked a toilet, but other then that was normal, if elegant in the extreme.
All around them were books that ran the gamut of fiction to non fiction, from the new to the old and every kind and genre imaginable. A sitting area in one corner had an ornate chess board with a half finished game on it, and a pair of incredibly comfortable looking chairs on either side. Games of all shapes and sizes were hidden beneath the table, some Twilight knew the names of, though most were completely new to the filly.
And that wasn't all, there were other forms of entertainment from fancy moving picture scrolls, an enchanted music player Twilight had only ever read about in books and so much more. It was a veritable cornucopia of opulence and entertainment all stuffed into a strange hot cave somewhere beneath the Midnight Palace. Twilight was about to ask a question when she noticed something that didn't initially jump out at her, namely rows upon rows of pictures that lined the walls right at the point where they met the ceiling.
They all seemed to be of unicorns, some were male, some were female, and all were about Twilight’s age. There must have been hundreds of the things, and as Twilight watched she noticed that the faces occasionally shifted, changing from one picture to another. As Twilight’s wonder faded and her confusion grew, she felt her gaze settling on the bed once more, where the covers were beginning to move.
“Luna, Moony, is it time?” Asked a young, frail, and very familiar voice.
Twilight nearly jumped for joy, but her excitement died as quickly as it arrived, stifled by a strange sense of wrongness that all but overwhelmed the positive emotion. “Sunset, is that you?” Twilight asked nervously.
“Twilight? But you promised!” Sunset shouted, her face peeking out through the blankets.
Twilight felt her words get caught in her throat, her friend’s face making a primal sense of revulsion rise in her gut. Her eyes werent quite the same size, and their pupils were also off, with one being the distinct bluish green Twilight knew from her childhood and the other being a soft purple nearly pinkish coloration. Her horn was also much longer, and though her body was still mostly covered by blankets Twilight knew instinctively that her limbs werent quite the right size for a filly her age.
“I know I did Sunset, but she is the only one who can carry this burden.” Queen Moon remarked as she slowly trotted over to the bed.
Though the heat was intense, and was starting to make Twilight uncomfortable, she pushed through that and followed close behind the pony which was supposed to be her mentor. “What do you mean burden?” Twilight asked.
“No that's not fair! I said I would do it only if you didn't take her! You can't go back on your word, thats evil!” Sunset Shimmer shouted, her blanket falling slightly to reveal more of her warped features.
“What happened to you?” Twilight whispered, a hoof reaching tentatively towards the other filly.
“Your friend has kept the flame of hope alive within herself. Now it is time for you to do the same.” Queen Moon declared in her strange twinned voice.
“She at least deserves to know the story before it happens.” Sunset exclaimed, the filly while jabbing an oddly adult sized hoof at the alicorn.
Who sighed. “We suppose we owe you that much.” The alicorn bent down before the purple filly and placed a hoof on her tiny shoulder. “Long ago we ruled not alone, but with our sister. A wonderful pony named Celestia who controlled the sun.”
“But my teacher said you always controlled the sun and moon.” Twilight corrected.
“All mention of our sister was erased by a much younger version of us who sought to make the world forget about her.” Fresh tears welled in the alicorn’s eyes. “For you see Twilight there came a time of suffering and sorrow, and in the confusion that followed we found ourselves shunned by our ponies. They grew to hate and fear our night and all that it came to represent. During that time we gave into our darker nature and slew our only sibling and trapped her soul in a jar so we may taunt her with our victory.”
She sighed deeply. “We were wrong about so much. The most important of which was our estimation as to the power necessary to move the sun. Sure it answered our call, moved as we wanted it to, but without Celestia to tame it, to make it care, it has slowly grown dimmer, and further away than ever.”
“Which is why she needs us.” Sunset Shimmer whispered before suddenly breaking down into a fit of coughing that ended with her wiping the blood from her lips. “Without a container for Celestia’s soul the sun will leave this world entirely and then everyone and everything will die.”
“Sunset are you okay?” Twilight asked, the filly slowly edging closer to her friend and only being more disturbed the closer she got.
The filly’s entire body seemed to be weirdly proportioned with some parts of her the size of a full grown adult while most of her head remained normal sized. Skin stretched taut at certain points and hung off her in folds on other parts, while blood dribbled out of the side of her mouth.
“She has acted as that container for the past year, but it won't be long until she burns up.” Queen Moon explained. “Which is why we need you to take over for her, to serve as that container for my sister’s soul and keep the sun from leaving us entirely.”
Twilight shook her head. “There has to be another way, this can't be it.”
“We have plans that will make this no longer required but in the meantime the world needs the sun far more than it does the moon.” Whispered the queen.
“Can we at least save Sunset?” Twilight whispered.
The other filly coughed, her hoof coming back with blood covering it. “It's too late for me Twilight. Please just help Luna and Moony with their plans, make sure no one else has to suffer as I have suffered.”
“N-no I can do more than that. I can fix this! You’ll see!” Twilight declared before turning to the alicorn. “I can-”
Whatever she had been about to say was cut off when the monarch’s horn flashed, and everything went white.
Awakening with a start, Twilight stood quickly and looked around, the filly finding herself in a bleak expanse of white which stretched in all directions. Despite the lack of solid surfaces, or really anything at all, Twilight found that she was able to stand normally. Tapping her hoof, the filly found that the ground she stood on was solid, if a little disconcerting given that there didn't appear to be anything under her.
With nothing to help her gauge distance Twilight was a little perplexed by her strange surroundings, only to remember why she was here in the first place. “Sunset!” She shouted suddenly, spinning in place.
After finding nothing, not even a hint of sound or smell for that matter either, Twilight picked a direction and began to run. Her hooves didn't make a sound and Twilight gave that little consideration as the ground was solid, and she felt like she had to do something. After running in a seemingly random direction for what felt like a few minutes at least, Twilight heard something, faint though it was.
“Is that… crying?” She murmured, the filly picking up the faint sounds of sobbing from somewhere in the distance.
Focusing on that sound Twilight put everything she had into getting there as soon as possible, pouring on what little speed the filly was capable of. Up ahead she saw something strange emerge like a mirage in the desert, slowly coming into focus as she got closer. The shape had large wings, an impressive horn, and a long flowing mane that hung limp about its shoulders.
As Twilight got closer she realized it was another alicorn, this one the polar opposite to the dark queen whom had ruled over Equestria for over a millenia. Her mane was a soft pink as were her eyes, and her fur was a pure white, like freshly fallen snow. As her features came into focus Twilight noticed that she seemed sick almost, her frame thin, and her ribs visible through her stomach. Her face was gaunt, and deep rings could be seen under her eyes.
Skidding to a stop, Twilight looked down to find the alicorn was curled protectively around a small, familiar form. Sunset Shimmer lay inert between the larger pony’s forelegs, face pressed against the alicorn’s chest, her own tiny chest just barely moving. As everything came into focus, Twilight felt a heat rise from beneath her and looking down she could see the sun slowly begin to rise up from oblivion.
“I never wanted any of this.” Whispered the alicorn, who sniffed, and wiped away her tears. “My sister may be willing to sacrifice any number of foals for the sake of the many but I would rather die a thousand deaths then commit such an atrocity.”
She laughed bitterly. “And pretty soon I’ll get my wish.”
“What are you talking about?” Twilight whispered.
“I need you to let this end, to let me die.” Celestia replied, the alicorn peering into what felt like Twilight’s very soul. “She will try to force you to accept me, but I’ve used what little power I have left to slow the process. All you have left to do is to strike me down and this will all come to one final, sad conclusion.”
“But what about all the ponies still alive?” Twilight demanded. “I can't just leave them all to die!”
“They are doomed, you have to know that. Luna can't bring me back, and nothing can change that.” Celestia declared. “It is better to let it all end quickly rather then draw this out for another millenia and make everyone suffer needlessly.”
“But my mom, and dad and brother are still out there.” Twilight pleaded.
“I have seen how you live in constant fear, always in danger of freezing to death even a few feet from your very doorstep!” Celestia shouted. “That can hardly be called living and ending this world would be a mercy.”
“No.” Twilight declared, stamping her hoof. “There has to be a way.”
The alicorn’s eyes narrowed. “I’ve spent a thousand years contemplating how to do just that and look where it's gotten us! Nowhere!”
“Where there is hope, there is a chance.” Twilight replied.
Celestia rose to a shaky stand, and jabbed a thin, skeletal hoof at the filly. “What do you think you can do which has not already been done? Over nine hundred children have been brought before me and forced to serve as my vessel. What do you have that they don't?”
“Nothing.” Twilight muttered. “I’m sure there were kids braver than me, stronger than me, smarter than me. I don't have anything they don't have. What I do have is an idea, one that would save you, me and Sunset.”
The alicorn suddenly collapsed into a heap, her hoof gripping Sunset protectively. “I’ve tried so many times. Nothing has ever worked before.” She whispered.
Twilight smiled, the sun now close enough thats its flames nearly touched the tips of her hooves. “Trust me. Together we could make a great team.” She whispered while extending a hoof.
“I can't believe I’m even considering this. There is no way this will work.” Celestia muttered, even as she lifted a hoof.
“It will. Do it not for yourself, but for her.” Twilight whispered.
Celestia gently pressed the orange furred filly against her chest. “For her.” She whispered, while her hoof slowly extended.
Then, everything went black.
“-you hear me?” Two voices asked in unison.
“Something has gone wrong.” One voice exclaimed angrily.
“But look at her, she's different, complete even.” The other voice replied.
The filly tried to say she was okay, but her response was garbled to the point of being impossible to understand. Her hooves felt like they were made of lead, and worse still, her entire body felt wrong in a way not easily explained. Even the monarch of equestria didn't know what to make of what she now beheld, the sight being so strange that she felt herself both intrigued and repulsed at the same time.
The young unicorn that had been standing before her only seconds earlier was gone, replaced by a full grown alicorn with fur as white and as pure as Celestia’s had been at one time. Though she was as tall as Celestia had been, and seemed to have the same overall proportions, her mane and tail were completely different. They were both identical to Twilight’s, only longer and more flowing, as if the two ponies had been crudely stapled together.
Stranger still was the cutie mark which she now bore, as it was a mix of Celestia’s and a six pointed starburst.
“Are you okay?” Luna asked hesitantly.
Twilight opened her eyes, revealing a pair of burning red pupils which blazed with all the intensity of the sun. “We are.”
Author's Note
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