Moontouched: Twilight and the Mare in the Moon

by MittensTC

Rating: teen
Tags: Twilight Sparkle, Alternate Universe, Main 6, Nightmare Moon, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Mystery, Adventure
Length: 13191

As she organizes the Summer Sun Celebration and learns about the ponies in Ponyville, Twilight Sparkle's discovery of a dark prophecy leads her to uncover a deep and hidden mystery from Equestria's past.

Twilight Sparkle, a studious unicorn and faithful protégé of Imperatrix Celestia, discovers a disturbing prophecy during her studies. Her curiosity leads her down a path of uncovering a deep and hidden mystery from Equestria's past.

With her sense of duty, Twilight must also juggle the responsibility of organizing the Summer Sun Celebration and her own social awkwardness as she learns about the ponies in Ponyville. Will she be able to balance it all and uncover the truth before it's too late?

Published 2023-03-29 19:00:00 UTC
Last updated 2023-04-04 10:17:01 UTC

2 - Books and Diamonds

Twilight peered over the side of the airship, surveying the highlands of the Canter Mountains as they transitioned into hills and then plains. Twilight struggled to stay awake. Her sleep had been wrecked by nightmares. She dreamed of a dark castle, overgrown and choked by thorns, and she was alone in the halls. But nothing ever came, nothing to snatch her, nopony to betray her. She was absolutely alone. She dreamed of her paralysis, her inability to even step ahead and face the dark hallways in front of her.

Twilight glanced at her draconic companion, Spike, who was eagerly mapping out the various rivers and hills that came into view. This behavior was typical for him whenever they were at great heights. She pondered whether this was a characteristic of Crystal Dragons before Sombra's devastating attack eradicated them all. Spike was now the sole survivor of his kind, even his egg being deemed unviable and used only to assess the magical prowess of potential magisters. Through a fortuitous surge of magic, Twilight was able to hatch him, which ultimately led to her being taken under Celestia's direct tutelage. Not that Twilight believed that she wouldn’t have found some other way to enter Celestia’s tutelage. She was a skilled magic user, already living within Celestia’s court.

"Twilight, I think we're over the Everfree River," Spike exclaimed, jolting her out of her thoughts. Twilight peered downward, observing the river that cleaved the land between a dense, foreboding forest, known as the Everfree and the Heartland. This ancient woodland held Equestria's former capital captive, harbouring unspeakable dark magic that even Celestia could not eradicate. Merely gazing at it made Twilight uneasy, and she questioned why anyone would risk building near it. The forest's tendrils extended towards the river, but they were met with a scorching heat at its edge, thanks to the dedicated efforts of the purification divisions. Twilight was grateful that the forest's evil had not yet consumed the entire heartland.

Spike noticed her unease and tried to reassure her. "Don't worry, it's not like Ponyville is inside the forest," he said with a smile.

Twilight forced a small smile in return, grateful for her adoptive brother's company. "I still don't understand why anyone would choose to live this close to the Everfree Forest," she muttered, gazing towards the distant airship tower that marked their destination.

"Thanks for coming with me, Spike. I don't think I could have done this alone," Twilight admitted, nervously laughing.

Spike grinned, his serpentine eyes scanning the tower in the distance. "Looks like they planned a welcoming committee. Hope you're ready for people," he teased.

Twilight let out a sigh. "Of course they did. Time to put on my friendly face." Despite her attempt to appear amiable, her expression betrayed her nerves.

As the drew closer to the mooring station, Twilight spotted two ponies waiting for them - one with a beige coat and a gray mane, and the other with a white coat and a beautifully trimmed purple mane. Spike eagerly made his way towards them, with Twilight trailing behind him, apprehensive.

As they drew closer, the white-maned pony stepped forward to greet them. "Welcome to Ponyville, Viscountess Sparkle!" she exclaimed, causing both Twilight and Spike to cringe.

The pony quickly realized her mistake and looked to her companion for guidance. After a quick whisper in her ear, she corrected herself, "Apologies, I meant Viscountess Twilight II." Twilight winced at the sound of her official title.

"Please, just call me Twilight," she said, trying to hide her discomfort. "I don't like using titles."

As Twilight disembarked the airship, the pony who greeted her corrected herself, "Excuse me, Twilight, it's wonderful to have you here. I'm Mayor Ivory Scroll, and this is Rarity, head of our planning committee." "Pleased to make your acquaintance, darling," Rarity introduced herself with a curtsy and added, " I'm positively thrilled to collaborate with you. You wouldn't believe the effort we've put in to secure the hosting."

Twilight listened attentively, struggling to find the right words to respond. "I'm also looking forward to collaborating with you, Rarity," she managed to say, sounding more rigid than she intended. Spike sensed her discomfort and interjected, "Please excuse Twilight, she's a bit tired from the flight. We're grateful you met us at the tower, especially with such short notice."

Pfft! When I heard that Celestia was sending a direct representative, I was absolutely thrilled! I wouldn't dream of snubbing you, dear," Rarity responded, “You must be Spike, it’s an honor to meet you.”

Spike smiled and replied, "Yes, I'm Spike. It's an honor to meet you." His cheeks turned a darker shade of purple as he added, "And it's also an honor to meet you."

Just as Rarity was about to respond, Twilight interjected, "Would it be okay if we unpacked now? I don't want to hold up customs."

"Of course!" Rarity said, turning her attention towards Twilight. "I'm here to assist. I've already organized lodging and a schedule for your visit." She headed towards the luggage cabin and offered to carry one of Twilight's briefcases.

"I appreciate the offer, but I can manage," Twilight replied, using her levitation to pick up the briefcase. "You already look exhausted," Rarity insisted.

"I'll be fine," Twilight doubled down, not wanting to argue. "If you insist," Rarity sighed, "I'll take both of you to your accommodations."

As they left the air tower and made their way towards the town, they greeted the mayor as they passed by the town hall. The town was quaint, barely larger than a village. The Everfree River had merged with some of its tributaries here, with the largest one running through the town. Although it appeared to have been built within the last century, Twilight noticed the occasional ruins hinting at older settlements.

Twilight couldn't help but gaze at their guide, a mare with an elegant demeanor whose accent she couldn't quite place. She was speaking to Spike with a savoir faire that rivaled that of Cadence.

Noticing Twilight's stare, Rarity asked, "Do you need anything, darling?"

"No, I was just lost in thought," Twilight quickly deflected. "Actually, I'm curious about where we'll be staying."

"Celestia's letter suggested somewhere near the library," the pony replied, smiling at Twilight. "Luckily for you, the library has an unused room already. We haven't had a full-time librarian in nearly a decade, so the whole living area lies vacant."

"Is the library an older building?" Twilight asked, wanting to know but worried about being impolite.

"Oh, yes," Rarity confirmed. "It's easily the oldest building in town. In fact, I think it's been in use since the days of the Auroran Empire."

Twilight thought to herself that this was wonderful as they rounded the corner, looking back to the graceful unicorn. "Thank you for helping us with this," she said.

Twilight quickly spotted a giant oak tree, almost as wide as a house, with doors and windows set into it. It seemed to be at least a few millennia old. There was a plaza built around it, framing it in a way where it stood out against the houses that surrounded it.

"That is the Golden Oak Library, where you will be staying," Rarity stated, showing a hint of pride at the landmark.

"It's so big," Spike commented, "how do trees even get that large?"

"Trees get even bigger in the Everfree Forest," Rarity replied. "Fluttershy told me she's seen trees hundreds of meters tall."

"Fluttershy?" Twilight asked.

"Yes, she's my friend," Rarity replied. "She lives on the outskirts of the forest and frequently travels into its heart."

"What kind of pony would ever want to enter, let alone live in such a dreadful place?" Twilight muttered out loud.

"Fluttershy has always been a bit averse to living in town, but she's a good pony," Rarity explained. "She's the only vet in town and has saved multiple ponies after they disappeared into the woods."

Twilight was still unsure about the ponies' matter-of-fact attitude towards their proximity to Equestria's most dangerous region, but decided to press on anyway. "I see," she said, trying to mask her concern. "Well, let's get settled in."

As Twilight entered the library, she marveled at the impressive sight before her. The bookcases, stairs, and even the walls seemed to be made from living wood, and she could hear the sound of water flowing through the walls. "This is amazing," Twilight whispered to Rarity, "I've never seen anything like this before. I can't even begin to imagine the construction techniques used to create it."

"It's quite the feat, isn't it?" Rarity replied with a smile. "According to local legend, this library used to be located in the Everfree Forest until a daring pony befriended it and convinced it to move here. It even had a library inside already, so it was a perfect fit for Ponyville."

Twilight couldn't help but feel a shiver run down her spine at the thought of a tree just uprooting itself and moving. "Do you really think it's possible for trees to move like that?"

"I've never seen it myself, but there are many strange creatures in the forest that are made of living wood, just like this library. So it's not entirely out of the question," Rarity explained.

Twilight was both fascinated and slightly unnerved by the idea of a mobile forest. So Ponyville isn't just next to an evil forest, it's next to a mobile evil forest, she thought to herself.

"Either way, now that you're here, I'll let both of you unpack and settle in," Rarity said, glancing at Spike and then Twilight. "If you need anything, I'll be at my boutique, preparing your festival garb."

Spike perked up. "You're a seamstress?" he asked, his interest piqued.

"I am not just a seamstress, dear. I'm the grandest and most eloquent dressmaker Ponyville has ever seen," Rarity replied, her voice laced with pride. "And after this celebration, maybe all of Equestria."

Twilight nodded in agreement. "Sure, The sooner we know about your goals, the sooner we can organize this whole event."

"Excellent! Then I'll see you both tonight," Rarity exclaimed as she made her way to the door. "This is going to be just marvelous. It was exquisite to meet both of you." With that, she exited the library, leaving Spike and Twilight alone.

"She's... gregarious," Twilight commented, sounding a bit exhausted from the conversation.

"And charming," Spike added, clearly smitten with the elegant mare.

Twilight couldn't help but tease her dragon companion. "And double your age, Spike."

Spike deflated slightly. "I know," he admitted, disappointed.

"Either way, I think she's done a good job organizing our accommodation at such short notice," Spike continued. "So I actually think she'll be a great partner for us in this endeavor."

"I guess," Twilight said halfheartedly, clearly more focused on the books in the library. "I'm shocked that nopony let me know that such a magnificent library lay hidden right below my nose."

"Well, it's not like Ponyville is a big town. Maybe scholars just didn't notice," Spike mumbled as he also investigated the library.

"That can't be it, Spike. We're in a millennium-old library with at least 20,000 books. That's way too notable. Something is off here," Twilight responded.

Twilight almost immediately jumped into action, investigating the books. Knowing Twilight and her obsessive ways, Spike just shrugged and went to explore the residential part of the library.

Twilight began by magically dating the books and soon discovered more and more ancient tomes, with the oldest dating back 2000 years. Some were written in archaic languages, and while Twilight could read the Old Auroran ones, she found others that she couldn't identify. This was a historic discovery, something unheard of!

It's too good to be true, Twilight thought to herself. How unlikely is it that I would be the only pony to find a place this significant, when it's been just an hour-long flight away from Canterlot?

Suddenly, an idea struck her. "Spike, I found something! Come down here!" Twilight called out eagerly. Spike quickly climbed down the stairs. "So what did you find?" he asked, amused.

"It's Auroran, at least a thousand years old," Twilight replied, her eyes sparkling with excitement.

"Wow, that's great!" Spike said, not quite sure what to make of it. He watched as Twilight gave him a fiendish smirk.

"Okay Spike, I need you to go outside and come right back in," Twilight said, her voice dripping with anticipation.

Spike was a bit confused, but he knew that Twilight liked to demonstrate magic rather than explain it. So, he obediently went outside and came back in.

"Okay, what now?" Spike asked.

"What kind of book is it, Spike?" Twilight interrogated.

"Well, it's a first edition of Frankenmare, handwritten by Marey Shetland herself. That's why you were so excited," Spike replied.

"Hah! That's why this library has gone unnoticed. The more important books have been cursed by an information fragmentation spell!" Twilight exclaimed excitedly.

"Shouldn't you be scared, instead of excited by holding a cursed book?" Spike questioned. "I would have dropped it by now."

"No, this is excellent! Now I know how to dispel it," Twilight said as she muttered an incantation in Old Auroran. Soon, a purple flash emanated from Twilight's horn.

"Okay, so it's a millennia-old Auroran book. Stay here," Twilight commanded as she exited the room and then re-entered. "It's a millennia-old Auroran book."

Twilight felt elated having cleared the curse and looked back at Spike. "Now that's how you solve a mystery," she stated in a sing-song fashion. Spike couldn't help but be amused by Twilight's little celebration.

"Well, now that the curse is gone, what are you doing?" Spike asked.

"Research!" Twilight shouted as she began deciphering the texts. Spike gradually decided to return to the upstairs section.

Now that she had dispelled the curse, Twilight wondered who had left it there and why someone would even want to prevent the knowledge found within this library from spreading. Her mind returned to her nightmares and the prophecy. Was she playing into something beyond her control? Was she being manipulated by someone or something?

In that regard, Twilight's mind drifted to a dreadful possibility. What if I'm being led on by something? She contemplated this for a while but came to the conclusion, If something is going on, if this is all linked, I need to know what it is. And she continued to read. This was going to be a long afternoon...

Author's Note

Kay so thats chapter 2, this was a bit of a worldbuilding chapter, but we get to at least see a bit of Rarity, while also deepening the conspiracy. I hope y'all enjoyed ^-^

3 - Calamitous Portents

Twilight was almost finished with the first book she had investigated - a journal written two years after the Battle of Everfree and less than a month before the formation of the Equestrian Commonwealth. It was written by a Haldurian trader and, while largely insignificant, frequently referenced the threat of rebels. The trader seemed paranoid about traveling into the heartland. Most major histories of Equestria made no mention of early rebellion, although Celestia had confirmed that the Prophetic Text she found was written by cultists after Nightmare Moon's defeat. Twilight wondered whether there had been a previous attempt to minimize these rebellions. In any case, Twilight noted that the four hours she had spent reading this journal had been worth it and looked for a second book to investigate.

"Twilight, still deciphering that book?" Spike chortled as he traveled down the stairs.

"Yeah, I found some historical discrepancies," Twilight mumbled as she faced the young dragon. "I was just planning on investigating a second book now."

"Not before we go to Rarity's. You promised we'd visit her boutique to try on your festival uniform."

"Oh yes, it seems I'll have to continue later," the unicorn mumbled, slightly disappointed.

***

Soon, they both left the library and traveled through the town. The boutique was located in the town center, a rounded tower with a dome, tiered between a lower and upper half. Twilight looked at the foundation, which was clearly far older than the boutique itself, before knocking on the door.

"I'm coming," Twilight heard a singsong voice that was notably younger than Rarity's. Soon enough, a young unicorn opened the door and looked up at Twilight. "Oh hey, you're the pony from Canterlot. I'm Sweetie Belle," the young pony said.

Twilight looked at Sweetie Belle and asked, "Oh yes, I'm Twilight. Is your mother home right now?"

The young pony started giggling. "Rarity is upstairs. She's just helping some friends with something. And I'm actually her sister."

"Oh, can I go upstairs then?" Twilight requested awkwardly.

"Of course," the small unicorn responded before going to the lounge, where she joined two other fillies who were crowding around a radio. Twilight started moving upstairs, before being stopped by Spike. "I'm gonna stay downstairs. I don't want to get in the way of your fitting," Spike joked.

Twilight nodded before going upstairs and hearing some muttering.

"You need to be more careful, you can't keep getting injured like this," Twilight heard Rarity muttering. "What would I do if you actually got hurt?"

"Well, ah couldn't just let 'em eat the livestock, Rara," Twilight heard another voice as she approached the door and knocked.

"Hey, I've arrived for our appointment," Twilight stated demurely as she knocked. Soon Rarity opened the door, and Twilight saw that she was with two ponies: an orange earth pony with a golden mane and a yellow vesperine pegasus with a styled pink mane. The vesper pony was closing a deep gash on the earth pony's shoulder, using her leathery wings for increased precision.

"What happened here?" Twilight gasped.

"Don't worry about me. Ah just got jumped by a timberwolf. I'll walk it off," the orange pony responded.

"You're going to stay put. I'm not letting you leave until your wound is healed," Rarity exclaimed.

The pegasus stayed quiet, focusing exclusively on closing the wound. "You must be Twilight. Rarity said that you'd be coming in tonight. Pleased to meet ya," the pony tried switching topics. "Ah'm Applejack, and this here is Fluttershy," the vesper pegasus suddenly noticed that Twilight had entered the room and gave a meek wave.

"Twilight, I'm so sorry, but I may have to postpone our appointment for a bit. I need to make sure my fiancé is properly treated. I hope you understand," Rarity apologized, her voice trembling. "It's really not that bad. Ah don't think the varmint bit into any veins," Applejack assured, turning to Fluttershy. "Right, Flutters?"

"It could have been worse, but you got lucky this time. If I hadn't been there, I don't know what would have happened," Fluttershy added, her voice barely above a whisper.

"I don't mind waiting," Twilight offered, struggling to find the right words. She then turned to Applejack and hesitantly asked, "Are these attacks common here?"

"Not really, but this is the second one this week, so we're all a bit on edge. But this was better than the first one; the varmints almost got grandma last time," Applejack replied.

Rarity's frustration erupted, "That's why you should be more responsible! If Fluttershy wasn't nearby and they got you, what would have happened? What if they got Applebloom?"

Now fully stiched up, Applejack embraced Rarity, "Ah know you're scared, Rarity, but ah'm safe now, and so is everypony else." Rarity sobbed into Applejack's uninjured shoulder, prompting the folksy pony to embrace her tighter. "Your whole family is staying here until we can find out where they're coming from. First thing tomorrow, I'm getting the mayor to involve the guard," Rarity declared through sniffles.

The orange pony looked a bit conflicted but responded, "Sure, we'll stay. Ah won't fight you on this one." "Good, now go let your family know that you're stitched up, Big Mac was worried sick when you got here," Rarity sternly stated, her tears starting to dry up. reassured her. "Once they're settled in, I'll be back." When the pony was out of earshot, Rarity turned to Fluttershy. "You don't know just how thankful I am. I don't know how you got there, but if you were even a second late, she would have died." Rarity hugged the yellow pony, slightly startling her. Fluttershy continued to let Rarity hug her in silence before slowly responding, "I was tracking them. I couldn't let them hurt anypony." The elegant unicorn almost started crying again before restraining herself and smiling at the yellow pony. "Just know that I'm grateful."

"Is she going to be okay?" Twilight muttered what she had been thinking. "She's mostly unharmed. The only injury barely made it into her muscle. I think that she'll recover within two weeks," the vesper pegasus stated clinically. "Rarity mentioned that you live in the Everfree Forest. Aren't you scared of that happening to you?" Twilight stammered out. "They won't attack me," the pony said as she stretched her wings, her intense cyan eyes staring back at Twilight. "Why?" "Because she can paralyze creatures with her gaze," Rarity quickly responded. "It's how she stopped them."

"That's amazing! I've never heard of any pegasi having magic that powerful," Twilight said, looking at the yellow pony in curiosity. Fluttershy stayed quiet, clearly unsure of how to deal with compliments. She looked down, and her wings deflated slightly. "I don't like using it. It feels wrong to take away a creature's control like that," she said softly.

Twilight seemed unsure how to respond and merely stayed silent. Rarity looked at both of the awkward ponies and quickly changed the topic. "Twilight's here to have her uniform measured. I think you'll like this one." The yellow pony perked up. "Is it the Maredarine one you've been working on?" she asked. "Of course, and I need you to help me judge whether it fits our esteemed representative," Rarity said, sounding excited again.

Quickly, Twilight received the uniform. It was a black suit with a Maredarine neckline and bold, angular golden trimmings with a solar emblem stitched across the chest. It was hand-stitched with years of experience while adhering to a uniquely minimalistic style. The elegant unicorn telepathically dressed Twilight, carefully noting how it fit her before sighing in relief. "The fit is perfect. Whoever took your measurements in Canterlot was very thorough," the pony commented. "How does it look, Fluttershy?" "It looks marvelous! It really works to accentuate Twilight rather than stealing all my attention. But it also strikes a bold impression with its angular trimmings," the yellow pegasus said excitedly. "Last year's suits were a disappointing overblown mess, so I decided that we should be a bit more humble this year," the unicorn looked at Twilight. "Do you like it?" Twilight didn't know the first thing about fashion, but the suit felt comfortable, and she thought it was far less silly than last year's uniform. "I like it."

Rarity looked at Twilight with a hint of skepticism, "Is that all?"

Twilight, feeling a bit self-conscious, replied, "Yes, I like it just the way it is. No changes needed." Fluttershy let out a small giggle, "Twilight doesn't pay as much attention to fashion as we do, Rarity."

Twilight nodded and added, "I don't really need anything fancy in my everyday life."

Rarity sighed, slightly disappointed, "Well, it'll have to do then. I'll be done with your pants in a week. I assume Celestia will be wearing the Millennium Crown this year."

Twilight corrected her, "Actually, she's not planning on wearing one at all this year. She actually wants a laurel instead."

Rarity's eyes lit up with excitement. "Oh, that gives me some ideas!" Twilight watched as Rarity mentally assembled the dress. "I need to quickly get something, just stay up here," the unicorn said before rushing downstairs, leaving Twilight alone with Fluttershy.

The yellow pony appeared like she was about to say something, but held back. "Did you want to say something?" Twilight asked. "Oh, don't mind me. I was just curious where you were from. I haven't met any other Vesper Ponies before," Fluttershy said, bluntly. Twilight was amazed by her straightforwardness, as ponies rarely commented on her Vesperine features. "I'm from Bridlewood, but my dad is from Nocturne. I'm only half Vesperine," Twilight explained.

"I'm sorry that I assumed. I grew up in Cloudsdale, so I always wondered what Nocturne was like," Fluttershy replied. "I've been there once. It's very pretty," Twilight responded. She realized that she didn't know much about her father's homeland. "It was the most beautiful at night. There were these luminescent flowers that would light up the city at night. It was almost like going to another planet."

"That sounds wondrous," Fluttershy looked at Twilight, then out the window. It had turned dark, with a full moon. "Some ponies say that Luna still watches over Nocturne. What do you think?"

"I don't think about it, really. I know Celestia, and every Summer Sun she tells me how much she misses her sister. If she were still watching, she'd have sent Celestia a sign, right?" Twilight pondered out loud.

"Oh, I'm sorry that I brought down the mood," Fluttershy apologized prematurely.

"You didn't bring it down," Twilight assured her. "I actually despise it when ponies try to make small talk, so this at least feels like a real conversation." Looking at the pony, Twilight could see that Fluttershy was looking a bit more comfortable.

Soon enough, Rarity came upstairs, holding a laurel almost twice the size of her head. "I knew that I'd find a use for this someday!"

"Do you think it would fit her?" Fluttershy asked quizzically.

"It is a bit big, even for Celestia," Twilight responded.

"Of course, blowtorches exist for a reason, darlings," Rarity stated nonchalantly. "I'm testing whether the leaves fit the style. I need you to strike a pose, Twilight."

Twilight couldn't think of a pose on the spot and stood still. Rarity gave her a pout, but quickly slipped back into her imagination. "I've got it. This is going to be just marvelous." Awkwardly, Twilight looked to Fluttershy for guidance as the fashionista pony started her planning phase.

"Rarity, I think that Twilight's done for today. We wouldn't want to hold her up," Fluttershy spoke in a near whisper.

"Oh, yes, of course. I should also make sure that Applejack doesn't overexert herself too much. I wouldn't want her reopening her wound over a mattress," Rarity placed the laurel on a shelf and started walking the other two downstairs.

***

As they descended the stairs, they noticed Spike conversing with three young fillies around the radio, while Applejack and another pony were deep in discussion in a corner. Fluttershy caught sight of Spike and eagerly turned to Rarity. "He's a dragon!" she exclaimed in a hushed tone, before hurrying over to him. "Hi there!" she greeted him, taking him by surprise. "Oh, hey. You startled me a bit," Spike said, glancing over at Twilight and Rarity. "I'm Spike, here with Twilight. And you are?" "I'm Fluttershy," she responded loudly, breaking from her usual whisper. "I've never met a dragon before!" "Yeah, there aren't many of us around," Spike replied, feeling a bit awkward.

"I'm sorry if I'm being rude," Fluttershy quickly whispered, sensing his discomfort. "No worries. I'm just not used to people being excited to meet a dragon. Usually, when strangers point out that I'm a dragon, it's because they have a problem with dragons," Spike explained, scratching his head. "Oh no, I would never dislike a dragon. I'm just thrilled to meet one, as I've only ever seen them from a distance," Fluttershy replied, her demeanor brightening considerably.

"Well, there aren't any dragons here, are there?" Spike asked, intrigued. "No, not here. I've only encountered dragons deep in the Everfree Forest, and they're always quite skittish around me. I've started to worry that I might frighten them," Fluttershy explained, becoming more animated as she spoke. "You have a real knack for sneaking up on ponies, you know," Spike teased, but Fluttershy took it seriously. "So, maybe I should approach them head-on next time?" she asked earnestly. "I'm not really sure. I'm the only dragon I've ever met, after all," Spike replied, laughing awkwardly.

The yellow pony apologized, "Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to... Uhm... I'm sure you'll meet another dragon." Spike looked at her with a questioning expression. "Don't worry about it. I'm actually quite happy. I have Twilight as a sister," he smiled at the yellow pony. "While I'd love to meet another dragon, it's more out of curiosity than anything else."

The yellow pony responded, "Oh well then, if I see any and manage to talk to them, I'll make sure to tell them about you."

Twilight found the conversation amusing but wanted to return to the library and allow Rarity and Applejack some rest. "I'm sorry, Fluttershy, but I'm pretty tired right now," she said to the pegasus.

Fluttershy replied, "Oh of course. It was nice meeting both of you. I'll see you again tomorrow."

Twilight was a bit confused, "Tomorrow?"

Rarity clarified, "Oh, apologies. You're slotted to meet the planning committee tomorrow. Both Fluttershy and Applejack are helping."

Applejack waved at the group and said, "Ah'm glad that I got to meet both of you early, even with the circumstances." Twilight and Spike said their goodbyes and left the boutique.

The streets were dark compared to the brightly lit streets of Canterlot. Despite this, Twilight and Spike managed to make it to the Library. Exhausted from the day's events, Twilight decided to call it an early night and headed to the upper floor residential section.

Similar to the bottom floor, the upper floor was made of living wood, and the furniture and stove were arranged to accommodate the natural curves of the tree. "Goodnight, Spike," Twilight said as she made her way to her room.

"Goodnight," Spike replied, and Twilight opened the door. Her room was split between a lower floor and an alcove by the window. As Twilight climbed into bed, she had no trouble drifting off to sleep.

***

Despite her exhaustion, Twilight had a far from restful night. In her dream, she found herself back at the castle, but this time she was trapped in thorns. The thorns dug into her skin, and every movement she made caused them to bite deeper. Her magic only seemed to anger the thorns further. The silence from before was replaced by howling wind echoing through the halls. Despite the thorns, she eventually broke free and started running. She fled from the howls and took refuge in a room with broken windows. Each window displayed an image of Celestia engulfed in flames.

When the howling stopped, she turned to leave, but she was paralyzed. She felt a presence staring at her through the window frames. Something approached her from behind, and she felt a coldness traveling up her neck. She could swear that something was next to her, its abominable eye opening. When she opened her mouth to scream, no sound came out.

She closed her eyes, and when she opened them again, she was in her bed, frozen. A dark figure was staring at her from the corner with piercing blue eyes. There was little she could do as the paralysis continued. Only when dawn came did the figure leave her...

Author's Note

Kay, so this is the last of the introductory chapters, and you can really see the characters starting to diverge from their canon selves, I even made Fluttershy a bat pony :p. And of course Rarijack forever!

4 - Somnic Solidarity

As Twilight tried to focus on her research, she couldn't stifle a yawn. Sleep had eluded her, leaving her feeling sluggish and stuck. The two books she had been poring over, both dated to the Battle of Everfree, were written in Magnesian - a language that had evolved into the modern pegasus dialects. Unfortunately, Twilight didn't understand Magnesian, and had to rely on a translation spell that severely limited her reading speed. She had spent over four hours trying to get through less than twenty pages, and her efforts had left her with a throbbing headache.

To make matters worse, Twilight was also grappling with the past nights unsettling nightmares and sleep paralysis. Although she could only recall bits and pieces of her dreams, they had left her feeling uneasy. She wasn't prone to nightmares, and it had been ages since she last experienced sleep paralysis during her time as a junior magister

Peering out of her window at the library, Twilight noted that the tree had an excellent view of central Ponyville. The town hall, marketplace, and train station were all within view, but her gaze was drawn inexorably to the looming presence of the Everfree Forest. It seemed to stare back at her, sending a chill down her spine. The events of the previous evening had left her feeling uneasy; the town was perilously close to the forest and vulnerable to attack.

Had Celestia not considered the risk of holding the event here? Twilight wrestled with the question, but quickly dismissed it as absurd. Surely the Imperatrix was well aware of the dangers posed by the forest, and would not have taken such a reckless risk.

As if on cue, a knock at the door interrupted her thoughts. "Twilight, the council sent an escort. It's time to check in with them," Spike's voice echoed through the room.

"Zacherle damn it," Twilight muttered under her breath, realizing she had completely lost track of time and nearly missed her meeting. "I'm coming now!" she shouted. "Just let them know I'm finishing up some research, I'll be down in ten minutes."

"I heard you, egghead," a second husky voice responded, near Spike's location. "I'll be waiting up here, thank you."

With a heavy sigh, Twilight set her book aside and made her way towards the door. She hadn't been making any progress on her research anyway.

As Twilight opened the door, her gaze fell upon a blue pegasus mare standing next to Spike. With her short, rainbow-colored hair and uniform bearing the insignia of the Cloudsdale Weather Force, the mare cut an impressive figure. Twilight couldn't help but take a moment to admire her, finding her quite handsome.

"Thought you were gonna take a few minutes," the mare laughed, looking up at Twilight. "Name's Rainbow Dash. I'm here to offer protection for the remainder of your stay." Her confidence was palpable, and Twilight couldn't help but feel a twinge of annoyance at the idea of being shadowed by a bodyguard.

"I wasn't given an escort yesterday," Twilight murmured, feeling a bit put off by the idea of having a bodyguard and the potential distractions it might bring. "When did the council decide to send you?"

Rainbow Dash's expression suddenly grew more serious as she explained, "The Mayor heard about yesterday and sent me on her own behalf this morning. The council is currently deliberating on how to react to the timberwolf attack."

Despite the gravity of the situation, the blue pegasus couldn't resist a bit of boasting. "Don't worry, I'm the best flier in Ponyville. I'll get you out of dodge in ten seconds flat," she declared, striking a pose straight out of a Daring Do novel.

Twilight studied the pegasus once more, her mind working. "You're with the weather force, so why are you taking orders from the Mayor? Aren't you supposed to take orders directly from Cloudsdale?" she asked pointedly.

"I'm doing this as a volunteer. Ivory asked me to help you," the pegasus responded, looking up at Twilight with a small smile.

"Okay," Twilight sighed slowly, not seeing a rational reason to dismiss the rainbow pegasus. She grabbed her side bag, "I'm ready to go to the town hall."

***

The town hall lobby had a more rustic and humble feel compared to the other ones Twilight had seen. The space was adorned with an agrarian design, except for the mural of Celestia, which was displayed behind the reception desk, flanked by two entrances and the council chambers.

The mural depicted Celestia with fiery hair, surrounded by a council of ponies who were chatting and smiling with her. However, the artist had taken artistic liberties, as Celestia's hair only blazed that intensely during battles. If that had been the case, the surrounding area would have been superheated to the point where the ponies would have been set ablaze.

Rainbow Dash looked at Spike and Twilight, looking a bit excited, and asked, "Flutters said that you know the Imperatrix?"

"Oh yeah, I'm actually her student," Twilight replied, smiling warmly at Spike. "And she practically raised Spike too."

Spike grinned in agreement, happy to be included in the conversation.

Rainbow Dash's eyes widened in awe. "Wow, I can't believe I'm meeting the Imperatrix’'s student!" she exclaimed, before quickly trying to play it cool. "So, what's she really like? Does she really have that awesome flaming hair?"

Twilight thought to herself. "Well, she only has flaming hair when she's mad, or trying to look intimidating. And it's the worst time to approach her. The room usually heats up like a sauna," she explained, noticing Rainbow Dash's curious expression. "But most of the time, she looks like a regular pony, just taller."

“I’m surprised that you’re so nonchalant about it,” the pegasus seemed a bit uncertain of what to say next, “like she’s literally a goddess.”

Twilight wanted to state that Celestia wasn’t any more divine than the average pony, in fact being religious herself. But Celestia had told her not to interfere with ponies' beliefs, so she merely remained quiet.

Rainbow Dash redirected the conversation with a slight smile, "So, what's she like as a pony? I mean, I've only heard stories and seen headlines about her."

Twilight responded bluntly, "She's motherly. I practically grew up in her palace since she sponsored my education, so she's like a second mom to me."

Spike chimed in with a grin, "And she's incredibly kind. She's patient and always willing to listen when we need anything."

Just as Rainbow Dash was about to speak, the doors to the council chamber burst open and an irate pink unicorn stormed out.

"Eleven votes for and two against the proposal," Mayor Scroll's voice echoed through the hallway. "We'll take a five-minute break, and then we'll start planning for the Summer Sun Celebration."

Rainbow Dash took this as their cue to approach. Twilight and Spike followed the cyan pegasus as they made their way towards the council chamber.

Upon entering the room, they found themselves in a modest space, with a circular table surrounded by 13 seats. The table was flanked by two banners, one representing the Equestrian Commonwealth and the other representing the Everfree Dominion.

Seated around the table were 12 ponies, including Rarity, Applejack, and the Mayor. As Twilight turned to the left, she noticed some observer chairs, but they were mostly empty, save for a tired-looking Fluttershy.

Twilight turned to her escort and asked, "Do you know where I should go?"

Rainbow Dash nodded, "Yeah, just head up to the council. I'll stay here with Fluttershy." Rainbow Dash waved at Fluttershy, who, after a brief pause, managed a tired smile and waved back.

Twilight glanced over at Spike, who gestured that he preferred to sit in the observer section. She nodded in agreement and walked up to the council table.

As she approached, she noticed that the council had broken off into groups. Applejack, Rarity, and the mayor stood together, all three looking irritated.

"The nerve of that mare!" Rarity complained, not noticing Twilight's approach. "Can't she put her petty rivalry aside for once in her life?"

"Calm down, Rara," Applejack tried to de-escalate. "We both knew that she’s fixin’ to make herself a nuisance. Don't pay her no mind."

"Hey," Twilight greeted awkwardly. "What's going on?"

Rarity quickly turned around, forcing her scowl into a smile. "It's good to see you, darling," she said, taking a deep breath. "Don't worry about it. We just had a... heated conversation with a colleague."

The mayor looked at Twilight, looking guilty. "One of the council ponies has a bad history with me and keeps using meetings to grandstand. I'm so sorry that you had to wait."

"Don't apologize," Twilight reassured the mayor. "You've got nothing on Canterlot politics, honestly. At least you just have the twelve of you." She looked around the room, then asked, "Where's the governor?"

"Oh, Governor Inkwell doesn't oversee decisions in person," the mayor explained. "She tends to act more as a liaison between us and the Imperatrix."

Twilight raised an eyebrow skeptically. "Wouldn't that cause a delay in your response to yesterday's attack?"

"Governor Inkwell delegated the Ponyville Council to make decisions on behalf of Everfree as a whole," Rarity interjected, gesturing to her superior to start preparing for the next meeting. "Given that we're the only organized town in the dominion, we sent the militia to deal with the problem. If it escalates, we will call on Canterlot. You don't need to worry about the intricacies of Ponyville's politics right now," the elegant mare added with a genuine smile.

Twilight glanced back at her bodyguard who was engrossed in conversation with Spike and Fluttershy. It appeared that Fluttershy had perked up after talking to her. Twilight then turned her attention to Applejack, who still had stitches in her shoulder.

"Have you considered the possibility that it might be wise to inform Celestia of any potential risks during the upcoming celebration? We don't want any disasters," Twilight said, frowning at the two ponies in front of her.

"I reckon I understand yer concerns," Applejack drawled, "but we live on the frontier, and we're used to dealin' with things like this. Besides, you wouldn't be tellin' the Imperatrix anything she don't already know." The orange pony locked eyes with Twilight, causing the purple pony to look down. "I made a foolish mistake yesterday and got myself hurt while tryin' to do the militia's job for 'em."

Twilight furrowed her brow as she glanced at the orange pony before turning to Rarity.

"My dear, we're not preventing you from informing the Imperatrix," the white unicorn said with a smile. "However, we've already decided to mobilize the militia, and I've convinced this lout to stay by my side until we're confident that the farms are secure," Rarity added, casting a teasing grin towards her fiancé.

"Alright," Twilight said, letting out a sigh as she abandoned the subject. "Why did the mayor send me a bodyguard?”

"Well, it's more of an excuse to make sure Rainbow doesn't spend the next two weeks runnin’ around distractin’ the militia ponies," Applejack snarked, "If anythin', it's to yer convenience, sugarcube."

"Yes," Rarity interjected, "she requested to investigate the Everfree Forest. We thought it would be more productive to have her aid you and Spike instead."

Twilight let out a sigh. "But isn't she part of the weather force? Can't you have her clear the clouds or something?"

Rarity smiled. "She's much too skilled at that. We'd only be able to distract her for an hour or so."

The Mayor's watch ran, signaling the end of the break, Twilight perked up. "The break has concluded, everypony please return to your seats," the mayor announced. Then, she turned towards Twilight and asked, "Could you please grab a seat from the viewing area?"

Without a word, Twilight got up and fetched a seat from the viewing area. She placed it beside the table and took a seat. Looking around, she saw 12 more ponies sitting at the table, each with a name tag in front of them. Only four of them, including Rarity and the Mayor, had broaches representing their party affiliation.

As Twilight settled into her seat, the Mayor glanced around the table. "Let's get started," she said, eyeing the empty seat. "We have twelve presents, with one absence." Then, she turned towards Roseluck and added, "Since you're the only other member of the RWPE, you'll be representing the statement that Lily Valley requested."

The red-maned pony nodded, looking slightly nervous.

"Good, then we can get to the agenda. First, we can formally welcome our esteemed friends from Canterlot," the Mayor said, addressing Twilight and waving at Spike in the viewing area. "With Rarity and Applejack's assistance, we've created a planning committee to oversee the Summer Sun Festivities, and you've already met most of them," she added. "Rarity is the main supervisor, Applejack is in charge of food and refreshments, Fluttershy will compose the music, and Pinkamena is acting as event coordinator."

Twilight looked around the council, trying to spot Pinkamena. "I don't think I've met Pinkamena yet," she said, seeking clarification.

"Indeed. Currently, she's procuring supplies in Rockville, so she should be back in about two days," Rarity replied, offering a small smile to the purple unicorn.

"Great. Now that that's been dealt with, we can move on to the RWPE's statement," the mayor announced, turning her attention to the nervous red-maned pony. The pony stood up and took a page off the table in front of the empty seat.

"Ahem... as a delegate representing the people of Ponyville and the free ponies of Everfree, I vehemently denounce Mayor Ivory Scroll's decision to allow a delegate from Canterlot," the earth pony said, her nervous demeanor not matching the content of the speech. "This affront to the autonomy of our dominion is a flagrant violation of the Non-Intrusion Act of 952, and cannot be tolerated. Consequently, the RWPE will be boycotting the Summer Sun Celebration, and we urge all those who believe in the sanctity of Everfree's autonomy to refrain from providing any assistance to the planning committee," she concluded, her cheeks turning red with embarrassment at the excessive language she had just used.

"The Non-Intrusion Act only bans Canterlot from overridin' the mayor in times of peace," Applejack interjected, "both the mayor and the council agreed to this, and anyone 'cept Miss Valley would be able to tell."
Roseluck stood in silence for a few seconds, then spoke up. "Miss Valley's position has been made abundantly clear. I'm not here to contradict her."

At that moment, Twilight heard Rainbow Dash shouting from the viewing area. "Maybe Miss Valley should come and give the speech herself instead of throwing you under the bus!"

The mayor quickly turned to stare at the cyan pony. "Rainbow, as a member of the Cloudsdale Weather Force, you are required to remain neutral in Equestrian affairs. I respectfully request that you refrain from interrupting our meeting any further."

Rainbow Dash sat down in a huff, while Fluttershy looked mildly annoyed with her.

***

The mayor soon moved on to a discussion of the intricate details of the Summer Sun Celebration. Almost every representative pitched in with ideas, except for Roseluck who remained silent throughout. As the hour ticked by, Twilight was surprised by the versatility of the plan, as previous celebrations had always been rigidly planned. As the meeting drew to a close, Twilight looked up at the council members.

"Thank you all for your assistance. For the most part, I approve of the plan, although I would like to make a few adjustments to better match Princess Celestia's preferences," she announced formally.

"Of course, darling," Rarity responded with a smile. "We are versatile enough to adapt to quite a lot of changes."

As the council meeting came to a close and the ponies began to pack their belongings, Rarity approached Twilight with a request. "Twilight, could I ask you a small favor?" the elegant unicorn inquired. Twilight looked up and replied, "Sure, as long as it's reasonable."

"It's just that Fluttershy would like to ask you a few questions. It shouldn't take more than a few minutes of your time," Rarity explained. Twilight glanced over at the stands and saw Fluttershy chatting with Rainbow Dash. "Okay," Twilight said, making her way over to the viewing area.

Twilight approached Spike and the two ponies, who redirected their attention to her. Fluttershy looked hesitant, and Twilight could sense that she had something important to say.

"Rarity said you wanted to talk to me. What's going on?" Twilight asked, trying to sound gentle.

Fluttershy nodded and glanced at Rainbow Dash. "I'd rather speak to you alone, if that's okay," she said softly.

Rainbow Dash interjected with a snarky comment, "Can't trust your best friend, huh? The betrayal." She then walked away, gesturing for Spike to follow. "We'll be outside. Don't try to run away, egghead," she teased, trying to lighten the mood.

Fluttershy and Twilight climbed the stairs to the balcony, where Fluttershy finally spoke up.

"Twilight, there's something Rarity and I omitted yesterday," Fluttershy said, looking out over the railing. "The timberwolves were at Sweet Apple Acres because they were running from something. They only attacked Applejack because she was in their way."

Twilight's eyes narrowed suspiciously. "Why didn't you tell me this yesterday?"

Fluttershy hesitated. "We weren't sure how you would react. Rarity thought it would be better if I explained it to you privately this morning, after you had some time to process it."

Taking a deep breath and closing her eyes for a moment, Twilight asked, "Do you know what they were running from?"

The yellow pony shook her head and replied, "No," looking visibly exhausted.

Twilight observed the pony more closely and noticed dark circles under her eyes and unkempt hair.

"Are you feeling okay?" Twilight asked with concern.

"I didn't sleep well," the yellow pony replied with a grimace. "I kept having nightmares. But I'm not supposed to sleep at night, so maybe my brain is trying to adjust my sleep cycle."

Twilight empathized and shared her own experiences. "I've been having nightmares too," she said as she approached the mare and rested her hooves on the railing. "What were your nightmares about?"

Fluttershy struggled to recall her dreams. "I don't remember it clearly," she said slowly. "But I do remember feeling something staring at me, and I couldn't move. When I woke up, something was sitting on my chest, and it whispered something, but I couldn't understand what it said."

Twilight was taken aback by the revelation. "I had the exact same nightmare," she said in disbelief.

Fluttershy's ears perked up at Twilight's words, and she turned to face her.

"I was in a castle," Twilight continued, "and when I woke up, the creature was sitting in the corner. When did your nightmares start?"

"About three days ago," Fluttershy replied, "but they got much worse yesterday."

Twilight felt a chill run down her spine. "That's the same day I found a curse on the library and dispelled it," she said. "Before that, I recovered a book in Canterlot."

Fluttershy looked at Twilight with her ears slightly pulled back. "Do you think we're cursed?" she asked, with a hint of fear in her voice.

Twilight considered Fluttershy's question. "I think whoever set up the curse in the library is trying to spy on us," she said. "The books affected by the curse all relate to Nightmare Moon."

As soon as Twilight mentioned the name, Fluttershy gasped audibly and began to mutter a short chant in Vesperine. Twilight waited patiently until Fluttershy had finished before responding.

"Do you think this is related to that demon?" Fluttershy asked fearfully.

Twilight pondered for a moment before answering, "I'm not entirely sure, but that's the only connection I could find so far."

After taking a deep breath to calm herself, Fluttershy asked, "You mentioned that it's coming from a few books, what exactly are you reading?"

"I'm mainly focusing on books from the decade around Celestia's battle against Nightmare Moon," Twilight explained. "I'm studying the magic Celestia used during the battle, but I needed more primary sources to contextualize it better. Only one book explicitly references Nightmare Moon, while the others were written in the aftermath or prelude to the battle." She decided to omit the part about the prophecy for now.

Fluttershy fell silent for a moment before sharing her own discovery. "I found something a week ago in the Everfree Forest," she said. "It was a ruined building largely consumed by thorns, but it made me feel melancholic whenever I looked at it."

Twilight's expression turned grim as she asked, "Do you remember where it was?"
Fluttershy panicked, "Are you planning on going there? What if it makes the curse worse?"

Twilight interjected, "What if there's something more dangerous going on? I can try to dispel any curses if I find them, and I don't want anyone to get hurt."

Fluttershy nodded as she looked down at the plaza below. "You're right. I don't want anypony to get hurt because I panicked. What do you want to do, Twilight?"

"I need you to guide me there, and then I'll check for curses," Twilight replied.

They left the balcony and made their way downstairs. As they approached the door, they saw Spike and Rainbow Dash.

Rainbow Dash smirked at Twilight and Fluttershy as she approached them. "There you are! I was worried you actually ran away," she teased.

Twilight felt a bit awkward, realizing that she had forgotten about the escort. "Um, Fluttershy needs to show me something. I'll meet both of you at the library," she said.

"No can do, I'm here to keep you out of trouble," Rainbow Dash continued to smirk.

Twilight turned to Fluttershy, who nodded in agreement. "I found some ruins that Twilight thinks may be related to her research, but it probably won't be that interesting," Fluttershy tried to dissuade Rainbow Dash.

Rainbow Dash's interest was piqued. "Now I'm more interested. What if you run into a manticore or something? I'm not missing out on that," she exclaimed.

Twilight let out a long sigh. "You can come, but please stay out of the way," she said firmly.

Rainbow Dash just smirked at them both.

Spike turned to Twilight with a request, "Do you mind if I just go to the library instead? I'm not really excited about digging up bones."

Twilight felt a wave of panic. She couldn't risk leaving Spike alone in case he was also a target.

"Why don't you go and visit Rarity and Applejack instead?" Twilight suggested. "They both have sisters, and you don't have many friends your own age. It could be good for you."

Spike paused for a moment before bursting into laughter. "Okay, I'll go," he said, "but maybe you should try to make some friends of your own."

Twilight grimaced, recalling the last time Spike had said something like that. "The last time you said that, I woke up on Lyra's couch with the worst hangover of my life," she reminded him. "Regardless, I'll pick you up by evening."

***

The group left the town hall and made their way towards the Everfree Forest, crossing a bridge to reach the town outskirts. Twilight couldn't shake the feeling of wildness emanating from this side of the river, as though some kind of enchantment lingered here.

As they walked, they found themselves surrounded by gnarled oak trees. Eventually, the road turned into a footpath, and they began wading through tall grass.

"Be careful of snakes," Fluttershy warned. "They like hiding in the tall grass."

To be safe, Twilight opted to walk behind Fluttershy, trusting her to navigate the treacherous terrain. However, this proved to be an awkward arrangement when they approached a steep hill, and Twilight stumbled. Luckily, Rainbow Dash was quick to catch her.

"Maybe you should give us more space to maneuver," Rainbow suggested with a grin, referring to Twilight's close proximity.

Feeling her face flush with embarrassment, Twilight retorted, "Or maybe you could just fly up and save us all some time."

Rainbow chuckled, "Then who would have caught you?"

Twilight felt her face turn red with embarrassment and remained silent, hoping to hide her blush.

After climbing up the hill, they came face to face with a wall of giant trees, their vines choking into the ground and barely contained by the surrounding fence. As they approached, Twilight couldn't shake the feeling of being watched by unseen eyes lurking within the forest.

Fluttershy's nervous voice broke the silence, "This is the Everfree Forest. Please stay close to me. We've had a few ponies get lost in here."

Fluttershy unlocked a small door in the fence, which was barely large enough for a pony to crawl through. She slipped inside, motioning for the others to follow her.

Twilight looked at Rainbow Dash, unsure if she wanted to continue, but the cyan pony reassured her with a soft smile. "Don't worry. Nopony has ever been hurt in here with Fluttershy. I'll follow you in."

Twilight eyed the door for a moment before taking a deep breath and crawling through.

Author's Note

So I published todays chapter from work, since I don't give classes on Tuesdays :p.

I decided to do some additional worldbuilding this chapter, so I hope that you enjoy ^-^

1 - The Seminal Mystery

In the magical land of Equestria, there once lived two sisters. Celestia, the princess of Daylight, ruled over the sun, which illuminated the world with its bright rays. Luna, the Princess of the Night, ruled over the moon, providing a safe haven for ponies during the night and guarding their dreams. Together, they governed the Auroran Empire, a vast and powerful empire that spanned the heart of Equestria's internal plain.

After defeating the ancient god of Chaos and Disharmony, Discord, they ordered the lands and made them a home for the many ponies that lived within them. The world was at peace, and they believed that evil had been vanquished. However, their peace was shattered when their former suzerain, King Sombra, attempted to conquer them, as he enslaved his own Crystal Empire to his dark will.

After a fierce war, the two sisters defeated King Sombra. In his final act of defiance, he sacrificed himself and his empire to the darkness, birthing the Nightmare Moon. This dark perversion of the Alicorn Princesses slew Luna and enthralled her army, leading them to the Everfree, the seat of the Auroran Empire. With no other option left, Celestia unleashed the power of the sun to banish Nightmare Moon, destroying her army and imprisoning her in the moon. This event marked the first Summer Sun and is the most important day on the Equestrian Calendar. It is a sacrosanct holiday celebrating Celestia's great power but also mourning the death of her younger sister.

This is the story that Twilight Sparkle grew up with and believed in as she first saw Celestia's glowing radiance during her first Summer Sun. It is also the story that she accepted during her studies under Celestia, now the Imperatrix of the Equestrian Commonwealth.

Twilight had chosen this event as the topic of her paper to secure her Archmagistrate, as she wished to study the magic of the sun, with the hope of one day becoming as great as her mentor.

Staring at the doors of the restricted section of the Canterlot Royal Archive, Twilight had been granted permission to access the documents that would assist her on her lifelong journey to becoming an Archmagistrate.

As she stood there, lost in thought, she heard a lightly playful voice from behind, "Such an ominous door, I'd have believed that you'd pick a more welcoming location to write your paper."

"I don't believe the door detracts from the importance of my research, Spike. I would go to Tartarus if I could learn something from the experience," Twilight responded bluntly.

"You're always so serious," the teenage dragon retorted.

"Somepony has to be," the purple pony replied as she slid the key into the lock and watched as the doors mechanically moved apart. Behind them was a room filled with bookcases and lockboxes, built in the intricate styling of the Early Celestine Era. The room had a large window that looked out over the city of Canterlot and was adorned with elegant tapestries and sculptures. Twilight looked over the library with an expression of awe, never before had she seen a view of Canterlot like this before, framed so perfectly, almost as if it was a painting.

Twilight's eyes soon fixated on a tapestry adorned with the symbols of both the Sun and the Moon. "There it is, that should be the section on Auroran History," she said with determination. Spike chuckled at his adoptive sister's eagerness. "I knew you'd head straight for the books," he teased. "I'm here to research, not sightsee," Twilight retorted sharply.

She quickly scanned the bookcase and said, "Okay, so I'm looking for anything related to the Battle of Everfree. Let's start with the Crystal War and work our way forward. I've compiled a list of authors referenced in later sources, so this should go quickly. Keep an eye out, Spike." Twilight then magically levitated a notepad in Spike's direction. Spike grabbed the notepad and said, "Okay, but you owe me some donuts after this."

"If we make a breakthrough, I'll buy you donuts for the rest of your life," Twilight promised with a brief smile at her dragon friend, before returning to her search.

***

Twilight gazed at the stack of books she had read, still unable to find any useful information. All of them merely contained knowledge that she already knew from later sources or from conversing with Celestia directly, and none of them were primary sources. She couldn't even find any sources from the decade that the Battle of Everfree had taken place in, and her magical dating methods only revealed books from the following decade at the earliest. Twilight let out a sigh, contemplating quitting for the day and resuming her search tomorrow.

"Twilight, I think I found something. It doesn't have an author, but it seems pretty old to me," Spike called out from a ladder. Twilight trotted over to the dragon, casting her dating spell. The book's parchment was dated a thousand years old on the dot, the same year that the Battle of Everfree had occurred. "This is it, give it to me," the pony exclaimed. "Only if you say please," the dragon teased her. "Please," Twilight responded curtly, clearly impatient, before snatching the book from him and opening the cover.

"Fear not, faithful, for our sovereign has not vanished. As the thousandth year reaches its apex on the longest day, she shall be freed, when the stars themselves will aid in her escape."

Twilight examined the first passage, curious about its opening sentences. Was this a book written by followers of Nightmare Moon, during the year of her imprisonment? She wondered how the demon managed to dominate minds so quickly after her imprisonment. She continued reading, discovering that the book contained almost religious text, holding a reverential faith in the nightmare being, portraying her as a savior, in opposition to Celestia, who was demonized. Strangely, the tome contained no mention of Luna, maybe the cultists saw Celestia as a greater threat than her younger sister. In the last paragraphs of the book, a passage was included relating to the return of Nightmare Moon. At first, Twilight was doubtful of the claims, but as she continued reading, she began to doubt her initial skepticism. The day of the prophecy was less than three weeks away, and Twilight had a dreadful feeling about it. Whether it would come to pass or not, Twilight knew she had to bring it to Celestia's attention.

"I think we should leave now, Spike," Twilight said, her voice trembling with anxiety.

Spike's expression changed to one of concern. "What's wrong, Twilight? You look like you've seen a ghost."

Twilight sighed. "This book contains a passage that concerns me. I need to discuss it with Celestia before we leave for the day."

"Sure thing. I'll pack up and meet you at Ponut Joe's. You do owe me a donut," Spike said, with a hint of playfulness.

"I know, and I'll buy you one. But let's not waste any time. This might be a breakthrough," Twilight replied, handing Spike the magic key to lock up the library.

***

Twilight hurried through the public section of the archives, quickly turning right down the hall that led to Celestia's royal office. Her mentor had been occupied with planning the Millennial Summer Sun Celebration for almost a month now. She turned left to enter the administrative section of the palace and made her way to the waiting room in front of Celestia's office, where she saw Sunset, a fellow magister who studied under Celestia with her and Cadence.

"Hey Sunset, I wasn't expecting to see you here today," Twilight greeted her, trying to sound casual.

Sunset responded, "The League sent me to convince Celestia to greenlight the Penumbra Project. I doubt their arguments will sway her."

Twilight raised an eyebrow, "Dark magic research? That's a dangerous proposition."

"I agree, but I'm here to present their argument anyway," Sunset said, smirking. "Who else is even going to try to argue against a thousand years of precedent? I think I'm their best debater."

Twilight smiled at Sunset, "Well, good luck with that. Who's talking to Celestia now?"

"It's Blueblood, he's angry about the town selection process," Sunset sighed.

Twilight knew that she had to act fast. The second she heard that name, she knew that she could enter Celestia's office. Blueblood was notorious for his long-winded rants, and nothing he said would be as important as her warning. She opened the door and interrupted him mid-sentence.

"Your choice of Ponyville is an insult to more important cities, my Imperatrix. I don't think anybody understands why you'd pick that hovel over a more important city," Blueblood complained, clearly having spent hours preparing his rant.

"Who dares interrupt me?" Blueblood asked, looking annoyed.

Twilight cut him off, "Celestia, I found something very important during my studies, and I need to bring it to your attention."

"Of course, Twilight. I always have time for you," Celestia said, dismissing Blueblood.

Blueblood objected, "It can't be more important than the Millennial Summer Sun Celebration. Are you sure that you can't book a formal mee--"

"You've spoken over your hour, Blueblood, and Twilight wouldn't interrupt me if she didn't have something important to say," Celestia interrupted.

Twilight breathed a sigh of relief, grateful that she was able to warn Celestia before it was too late.

The princeps let out a deep sigh as he began to gather his documents. "I'll reschedule for sometime next week, and my secretary will be in touch with you," he said before leaving. Celestia closed the door with a flick of her magic and let out a sigh of relief. "I'm so glad you came when you did," she said with a smile, "Blueblood can be so exhausting to deal with sometimes. How can I help you, Twilight?"

In her private form, Celestia's appearance was much more subdued. Her fiery mane had calmed down to resemble that of a regular pony, and her eyes had lost their primal glow. Twilight didn't waste any time and went straight to the point. "Celestia, I found something that's scaring me," she said with a worried expression. The Imperatrix's eyes softened, and she moved closer to Twilight. Though she was much larger, she sat down beside Twilight to comfort her.

"You found the prophecy, didn't you?" Celestia asked gently, "I was worried that it hadn't been recatalogued." Twilight nodded slowly, and Celestia continued, "It was made by ponies corrupted by Nightmare Moon. They concocted various myths in their madness to delude themselves into continuing their war against Equestria. I wanted to release the text to scholars almost a decade ago, but it went missing. It seems that you found it."

Twilight interjected, "I'm still concerned. The prophecy is set to happen in three weeks, and I can't shake this bad feeling I have about it." Celestia pulled Twilight in with one of her wings and gave her a reassuring squeeze. "I understand why you're worried, but there's no need to be afraid. I haven't felt my powers waning, and there are no signs of Nightmare Moon's return. Even if she does come back, I am perfectly capable of defeating her. When I first defeated her, she was at her peak, but now she's been starved of power for a millennium."

Twilight felt some relief upon hearing that statement. "Good, I was worried that we might have missed something. But since you've known about the prophecy for years now, that means we're likely safe. I'm sorry for taking up your time." Celestia smiled warmly at Twilight and said, "Don't apologize, Twilight. I'm happy that you came to me first. Remember, if you ever need anything, I'm always here for you."

As Twilight leaned into Celestia's comforting embrace, she couldn't help but feel grateful for the alicorn's reassurance. After all, Celestia had been the one constant in her life ever since she was accepted as a student of magic. The princess had always been there to guide her through the trials and tribulations of being a powerful unicorn, and Twilight knew that she could always rely on her.

As they sat there, Twilight found herself studying Celestia's face. It was hard to imagine that this calm and collected alicorn was once a warrior, fighting to save Equestria from the darkness of Nightmare Moon. But when Celestia spoke about her experiences, Twilight could see the fierce determination that had led her mentor to victory.

"I know it's hard not to worry, Twilight," Celestia said, breaking her reverie, "But you must remember that prophecies are often just stories. They're not always set in stone, and they can be changed."

Twilight nodded, feeling reassured by Celestia's words. "Thank you, Celestia. I don't know what I'd do without you." Celestia smiled at her, "You'll never have to find out, my dear. Now, why don't we take a break from worrying about prophecies and discuss something a bit more lighthearted?"

Twilight smiled, grateful for the opportunity to talk about something other than the looming prophecy.

***

Twilight couldn't help but feel curious about what Blueblood had been complaining about. She knew he could be insufferable at the best of times, but she couldn't imagine what would make him so upset that he would even attempt to disagree with Celestia. "What was Blueblood complaining about?" she asked, hoping to satisfy her curiosity.

Celestia smiled warmly at Twilight's question, knowing that her devoted student was always eager to learn new things. "He was complaining about the location of this year's Summer Sun Celebration," she explained, her tone tinged with amusement. "As you know, the location changes every year, and this year it will be in Ponyville."

"Ponyville?" Twilight echoed, intrigued. She had heard of the small town before, but had never been there herself. From what she knew, Ponyville was a tight-knit community that took pride in their love for nature and diversity. "Why would Blueblood object to having the celebration in Ponyville?" she asked.

Celestia chuckled. "Blueblood believes that the celebration should be held in a larger city, as it always has been," she said, "He doesn't think a small town like Ponyville can handle an event of this magnitude. But I have faith in the ponies of Ponyville. They have proven themselves time and time again to be resourceful and creative."

Twilight couldn't help but smile at Celestia's confidence in the town. "I've never been to Ponyville, but I've heard wonderful things about it," she said. "I've heard that the ponies there are incredibly kind and welcoming."

"Twilight," Celestia said, her voice taking on a serious tone, "I need you to go to Ponyville."

Twilight's eyes widened in surprise. She had not been expecting this. "Ponyville? Why?" she asked, feeling reluctant already. Leaving the comforts of Canterlot made her nervous.

"I need someone I can trust to oversee the Summer Sun Celebration," Celestia explained. "Blueblood has already made it clear that he has no interest in doing so, and I cannot leave it in his hooves."

Twilight frowned, feeling the weight of the responsibility already. "But why me? There must be other ponies who are more qualified than I am," she protested.

"You are the only one I trust with this responsibility," Celestia said firmly, placing a hoof on Twilight's shoulder. "And besides, there is something else that I think will interest you."

"What is it?" Twilight asked, curious.

"Ponyville has a library, carved inside an ancient tree," Celestia said, a hint of excitement in her voice. "It is one of the older libraries in Equestria, and I believe you could learn a great deal from it. Think of it as an opportunity to expand your knowledge."

Twilight hesitated, contemplating the offer. The thought of going to Ponyville made her nervous, but the prospect of visiting such an old library was too tempting to resist. "Alright, I'll go," she said, determined. "But I will need assistance in organizing the celebration. I do not want to make any mistakes."

Celestia smiled at Twilight's agreement, relieved that she had convinced her faithful student to take on this important task. She knew that Twilight was often hesitant when it came to meeting new ponies, but she also knew that she was more than capable of handling the responsibility that had been given to her.

"I am glad to hear that you will go," Celestia said, her tone gentle. "And do not worry, Twilight. I will make sure that you have all the assistance you need. I have already made arrangements for a few ponies from Ponyville to come and help you with the preparations."

Twilight sighed in relief, grateful that she would not have to tackle this task alone. "Thank you, Princess," she said, feeling a sense of gratitude towards her mentor. "I don't know what I would do without your guidance."

Celestia smiled warmly at Twilight's words, feeling proud of the pony that she had watched grow and develop over the years. "You will do just fine, Twilight," she said, her tone reassuring. "And who knows, maybe you will even make some new friends in Ponyville."

Twilight's smile faltered slightly at the mention of making new friends, as she was not particularly good at socializing and often found it uncomfortable. However, she knew that this was a task that she could not afford to fail, and that she would have to put her reservations aside and do her best to make a good impression. "I'll do my best, Princess," she said, her determination renewed. "I won't let you down."

As Twilight turned to leave, she suddenly remembered Sunset Shimmer waiting outside for her meeting with Celestia. She hesitated, unsure if she should say anything, but ultimately decided that it would be impolite to ignore her. "Excuse me, Princess," Twilight said, turning back to face Celestia. "Sunset Shimmer is still waiting outside for her meeting with you. I should let her know that you are ready to see her."

Celestia nodded, "Of course, Twilight. Please do let her know that she can come in now." Twilight nodded and made her way towards the door, her mind already racing with thoughts of the journey ahead. As she opened the door, she took a deep breath and stepped out into the hallway, breathing in deeply as she prepared mentally for the coming three weeks.

***

After leaving Celestia, Twilight went to make arrangements to take an airship to Ponyville, given the short notice, she'd have to leave tomorrow if she was going to pull off the 1000th Summer Sun Celebration. The planning still only acted as a slight against her resurfacing worries about the prophecy, even though Celestia seemed confident, Twilight still had deep concerns, what if there had been something Celestia had missed, or if she had been misjudging her own power. Silly Twilight, she thought, of course Celestia knows her limits, how else would she run a country for over a millenium.
Maybe finding Spike would help, she had to tell him about the trip, given that she'd easily be gone nearly a month. Maybe he'd want to come with her, he actually liked meeting new people.

As Twilight strolled through the moonlit streets of Canterlot, her gaze was drawn towards the Mare in the Moon, rumored to have been seared into the sky during Celestia's battle with Nightmare Moon. With time running out before the impending prophecy, Twilight knew she had to find answers fast. Perhaps the library in Ponyville would hold the key to unraveling the mystery. Three short weeks remained, and Twilight was determined to uncover the truth before it was too late.

She saw a small donut shop, Ponut Joe's, and opened the door. There she saw Spike chatting with a mint colored coat. Before she could greet Spike the mint pony jumped up and hugged her, "Hey Twily, I haven't seen you in so long how's it going." "I'm doing fine, Lyra," Twilight almost jumped back, startled by the pony. "Anyway, I just saw Spike here waiting for you and decided to chat a bit, he said you're writing a paper now," Lyra smiled at Twilight, "I'd really like to read it, I always enjoyed what you had to write when we were at the Magistrate." "It's very technical, I think that you'd find it a bit boring," Twilight responded dryly. Twilight looked at Spike, seeing him cringe a bit, like he usually did when she made a social faux pas, Twilight realised a bit too late that she had indirectly insulted her aquantance's intelligence. "Pfft, I like magical theory fine Twiley," the minty pony nervously laughed, "either way, I'll see you around." The pony again insisted on hugging Twilight before leaving the shop.

"Next time you should probably just say that you'll mail it," the dragon said in a half snarky half helpful tone. "Anyway, your meeting took a bit, its been like two hours, is everything okay." "She wants me to organise the Summer Sun Celebration," Twilight responded. "Congratulations, you love organising things," the dragon commented as he scarfed down his donut. "Thats my study schedule, not a national holiday Spike. I'm going to have to talk, to ponies, without a common interest to deflect to." "Thats why I'm coming with you, I love talking." "I thought you'd say something like that," Twilight smiled at the dragon, "the next airship leaves at 10:00 tomorrow, so we should probably get home to pack, we're gonna be there for a month." "Ugh, I didn't think we'd go that soon," the dragon stood up, "guess I won't be getting my beauty sleep in tonight either."

Author's Note

So starts my first fanfiction, I've been wanting to write an AU for MLP for a while now, so I hope that y'all enjoy ^-^