When one looks back at a time when they should have surely perished, what do they recall? Do they recall the cacophonous tearing of metal? Do they remember the screams of those around them unable to do anything? Do they remember the striking realization that they were going to die? Or do they remember the one that saved them?
Even as Twilight once more played the thoughts of her near-death experience through her head once more she could feel the weight of time weighing on her memories. Humans were imperfect beings, after all, their minds and memories used shortcuts. When you remember something, you form connections between events, thoughts, and correlating ideas. Yet even knowing of this fact Twilight couldn’t help but dread the day she could no longer trust her own memories. Instead, being forced to only recall her savior through the countess notes and sketches she had prepared.
It is likely true that she would have some great many years before that becomes a problem that she would have to deal with, yet considering Twilight's current lack of progress it was a real concern. Three years Twilight had spent scouring various tomes of old that she had managed to get her hands on. Even then she had come no closer to once more seeing her savior. To thank her for saving her from certain death.
Once more, losing herself to those memories that Twilight holds most precious, she closes her eyes and finds herself back in her parent's old car. A light purple minivan that her parents had acquired after she had been born. It had faithfully served as the family's main form of transportation for nearly seven years. That, however, was going to quickly change.
“Twilight, are you sure you want to stay in the car?” Twilight’s mother Twilight Velvet asked her daughter who had still not pulled her nose out of the book she had been reading.
“I'm sure. I just got to the part in Starswirl the Bearded biography where-.” That was all Twilight got out before she faintly heard a clicking of the car door as it was pushed shut. Twilight shrugged as she saw her mother give her a parting wave. She could tell her about how Starswirl devised his various hypotheses later. Quickly losing herself to the retellings of one of the greatest philosophers and scientific minds of the world, she returned to the book that she had already read cover to cover three times over.
So lost in the memoirs of the past that she did not realize the sound of the present was warning her. The blaring of a horn went noticed yet never fully realized. After all, her mother had parked the car on the side of the road. Flipping to the next page Twilight did not see the imminent danger that she had unknowingly been caught within. For beyond the written realm of preserved history, she had been enthralled within. Reality proved to be uncaring for those that it would send to their unknowing demise.
The shrill scream of her name was what finally alerted Twilight to the fact that something was wrong. She glanced up from the book she had been invested in to see what was causing this disturbance. She could see her mother running towards her, oddly with fear in her eyes. Twilight couldn’t help but wonder if something had gone wrong with Shining Armor. After all that was the reason that the two of them were at Crystal Prep, but it was unlikely that her mother had already had enough -.
Those were the final thoughts that went through Twilight's head as there was a cacophonous scream of metal, a horrific crunching of bone, and an oddly soothing chorus of strings. Twilight was smart enough to piece together what had happened. The horn, her mother’s screams, the slight pain in her stomach. There was only one thing that didn't make sense to the young girl however, she couldn't place where the symphony of strings was coming from.
“My little Spark you must move.” A soothing voice called out from beyond the twisted realm of metal that Twilight had become entrapped within. Twilight looked towards where she believed the voice to be emanating from her vision so blurry with tears, she could find no one. “Little Spark you must move.” The warm voice repeated once more.
Twilight wasn’t sure where exactly the voice wanted her to move but all the same, she felt around for the seatbelt that she always wore, once she found it, she unbuckled it with a click. She gingerly touched her stomach and winced as she felt a slight stinging sensation. Twilight pulled back her hand oddly noting that it was wet. Her mother would likely complain that she spilled more juice on herself. She didn’t recall spilling any juice this morning, but it wouldn’t be the first time that such a thing had happened to her. “Little Spark you must continue, I have dulled the pain, yet it is up to you to reach safety. I can do only little more to help you.”
“Who are you?” Twilight questioned the voice that still hadn’t revealed itself to her. Upon hearing no response Twilight winced once more as the car door she put her hand against was hot. Her gaze twisted and she could see a tangled mess of metal and flames beyond the shattered glass.
“Not that way little Spark. Follow my voice and I guarantee that you shall survive.” The serene voice continued undaunted by the question that Twilight had asked. Twilight took one more look at the curling flames that seemed to be growing in strength.
“It sounds like your voice is coming from all around me!” Twilight couldn’t help but exclaim as she began to look for a way out of the wreck, she had found herself within. The young girl glanced around as she palmed the tears from her eyes, her glasses nowhere to be found. She looked down at the floor of her parent's car and saw them somehow perfectly preserved from the surrounding damage. She slowly moved towards them, slinking from the seat that she had been within and grabbing them.
Slipping them on the blurry world was no longer as twisted as it was before yet still it was a mess of metal. She could, however, clearly see what appeared to be a small hole about two feet wide where the front passenger's side door had been.
“Yes, my little Spark that is the way.” The voice exclaimed in delight as the accompanying chorus of strings resounded. Twilight wasn’t sure if she should follow the advice of the strange voice but considering that she had just been in a car crash she could listen to the voice until she found her mother. Pushing herself over the median and into the remains of the front of the car.
There Twilight ignored the growing heat that was slowly being suffused into the car as she continued to make her way over to the hole. It would be a tight squeeze but if she could get out it would be more than worthwhile. Perhaps had she begun her escape attempt earlier she would have made it, however before Twilight could attempt to squeeze through the opening once more a sheer tearing scream of metal resounded. The once potential avenue of escape was instead replaced by a new wall of metal.
Twilight was forcefully tossed back, brutally smashing her head into the console of her parent's car. The world was once more a sea of spinning blurs accented by the growing heat that began to permeate the air. Twilight could only curl up in a ball as the pain grew too much for her to bear. Tears filled her eyes as she awaited the end of her life. Hoping that she would be saved, that somehow the impossible would be performed, and that she would once more see her family.
The symphony of strings that had accompanied Twilight ever since the accident began was suddenly cut off. Leaving the small girl alone in an oppressive silence for what would be her final moments. A thickened black smog began to permeate the air surrounding the girl.
Twilight took a few shaky breaths as the acrid smog seeped into her lungs. Causing the young girl to choke on the foul vapors. The everpresent heat that had been born of the accident grew in strength almost as if it sensed its next victim. At that moment the seven year old Twilight Sparkle realized that she was going to die. That her final moments would be within a twisted realm of metal cut off from her family.
A bright flash of light permeated through Twilight’s eyelids that were attempting to shield the girl’s vision from the final sight. “I am sorry my little Spark, but you must continue on. You can’t perish here.” The voice solemnly states as the once-silenced chorus of strings reverberated through the air with a vengeance. No longer content to accept her demise, Twilight opened her eyes and even through the smog-filled air that had been choking her she could see an impossible sight.
A woman stood before her, her hair cascading down her back in an interchanging flow of rainbows. A form-fitting white gown billowed out from the woman, with accompanying white laces that connected the portions of the fine dress. Two large pearlescent feather white wings stood firm against the woman's back as they softly caressed Twilight’s face.
Twilight would have thought that the wings would have caught her attention, but no, impossible as they were instead, she was focused upon the woman's face. The gentle yet comforting smile somehow allowed her to forget the recent tragedy. The way that her eyes were portals to a near indescribable light pierced the growing darkness at the edge of the girl's vision. The way that when the woman spoke her voice was the same as the voice that previously spoke out to help Twilight. “My little Spark.” Was all she said and yet as she took Twilight’s hand in her own Twilight somehow knew deep in her very soul that everything was going to be alright.
“Who are you?” Twilight questioned the woman which could only be quantified as impossible. Her eyes were wide as she gazed upwards at the woman who smiled in response to her question filled with only the wonders a child still had.
“My little Spark you can think of me as your Guardian Angel.” The woman spoke out slowly as if she didn't claim to be a being that didn't exist. The wings aside, Twilight knew that most of what had already happened could be explained away using scientific principles and methods. Yet Twilight, even as young as she was, entrenched in the studies of sciences and seeking to understand the natural world, believed that this woman was indeed an Angel. “Now then little Spark we must get you to safety.”
“My name is Twilight Sparkle.” Twilight hesitantly corrected the Angel that paused before letting out a tinkling laughter.
“That is your name indeed my little Spark.” The Angel agreed as she pulled Twilight up from her position on the floor. “Now then I need you to promise me one thing, can you do that?” The Angel asked Twilight who immediately nodded. Twilight would have happily promised the Angel anything that she wanted in exchange for being able to see her family one more time. The smile the Angel wore faltered momentarily yet the Angel continued on, nevertheless.
“Anything Ms. Angel,” Twilight promised the angelic being before her. The Angel’s fracturing smile was restored to its previous splendorous form as her wings wrapped around Twilight’s small body. Forming a protective cocoon around the seven-year-old girl. A light that rivaled the Sun itself as it began to envelope both the Angel and Twilight.
“Please forget about me.” The Angel whispered as both the light and the Angel faded. Leaving Twilight alone a few feet from the crash site that should have claimed her life.
Not even a second later Velvet Sparkle, Twilight Sparkle's mother, nearly smothered Twilight to death as she embraced her daughter. Before she proceeded to ensure that she received the best medical attention that she could get. However, when the EMTs arrived they reported that almost miraculously that other than a faint scar on her stomach Twilight was in perfect health. That she walked away from the crash no worse for wear.
Even when she had been brought to the hospital for a more in-depth medical checkup none of the doctors could find anything wrong with her other than the scar that Velvet Sparkle swore her daughter did not have this morning. A medical mystery that was attributed to dumb luck, even when asked how she had gotten out of the wreck unscathed. None of the adults not even her mother believed Twilight when she informed them that an angel had saved her.
Pulling herself back to reality as Twilight pulled her shirt up and looked over the only reminder that she had of that incident. While six people perished in that horrific event that altered the course of countless lives. Twilight could not stop remembering her angelic savior. How she had saved Twilight’s life from certain demise and ferried her away to the safety of her mother’s awaiting arms.
Twilight had done her best to forget about her savior. Yet like all children when they discover something that existed beyond the veils of reality they once knew, it becomes a fascination. One that for Twilight Sparkle was all but impossible to forget. She after all had been saved by a mythical being. One that science could not explain.
Had the rules of logic and science only ordained the direction of her fate that day there would have been a seventh that perished alongside the six. Twilight in the years that had passed had read up on that incident that had nearly so swiftly severed her mortal coil. It was claimed that she had experienced a miracle of luck. No. She had an Angel guarding her.
One that she had not seen since. One that she had yet to thank. One that she had failed to contact.
Humanity had a varied and strange history regarding the contact between mythical and exoteric beings. From binding spirits to guard places, calling upon the pearls of wisdom of the gods, and even summoning those called demons to bargain with. Yet throughout Twilight delving into the mystic arts, a study that had both confused and frightened her family, she had found little based on the summoning of Angels. Twilight had exhausted every single library within Canterlot City, well the ones that she had managed to gain entry to in her youthful age.
She had then turned her search to the various interlocking webs of the internet, scouring site after site for any potential way to summon an angelic being to pass on her thanks to her savior. Yet once more there was nothing for her to find. It was at the age of 10 years five months and 22 days that she decided to get her thanks to her savior in a less direct way.
Turning back to the acquired knowledge that she had initially deemed irrelevant. After all, when one was seeking to contact one of the so-called heavenly hosts, one did not need to memorize the incantation to summon the spirits of the recently departed. Turning ever deeper into the field of magical mysticisms that she had been sifting through. Seeking to find a messenger for her gratitude.
Twilight had not forgotten the scientific principles she had initially devoted her life to when deciding who or what would carry her message. For the weeks before she made her first attempt nearly 20 spiral-bound notebooks had been filled with reasons for and against each of the entities that she could rely upon to complete her goal. At the very top of the list was basic human necromancy, at the bottom even below attempting to contact a god to act as a messenger, was summoning a demon.
After all, demons were often considered the antithesis of Angels. If at the end of her list, one that was rather long, she would at worst turn to summoning a demon. That said, however, Twilight had a much more pressing issue on her hands. She had to become a necromancer. That meant that she had to summon the recently departed. Twilight had no other way to think of it, but she needed a human corpse.
Perhaps she could work her way up, Twilight morosely thought as she put the shovel down. Sighing in the cold night that she had long since been out in. Contemplating if she was willing to dig up this grave, which had its tombstone long since destroyed. It had been chosen as it was at the farthest reaches of the graveyard and there had not been any visitors to this grave in the two weeks that Twilight had been checking it.
A bright light pierced the place of final rest. Twilight winced as she threw herself to the ground next to the shovel that she had earlier placed. Holding her breath Twilight hoped that whoever was looking through the graveyard was not seeking her. Twilight’s hopes were quickly dashed by the familiar voice that pierced the silence she had been lost in.
“TWILIGHT?” Her brother shouted, causing Twilight to grimace. None of her family was supposed to be aware that she was still awake, much less had whisked herself out of the house and towards the cemetery. “TWILIGHT, I KNOW YOU’RE OUT HERE.” Shining Armor continued to shout to the graveyard as he swung his flashlight around in an attempt to catch Twilight.
Twilight, however, did not answer her brother. There was no way that he actually knew that she was out here. She had performed the perfect escape from the house, she had even constructed a decoy Twilight to rest underneath her bed covers and give an appearance that she was still soundly asleep.
Twilight breathed a sigh of relief as the light from her brother's flashlight dissipated in the other direction. Perhaps she should start on something smaller than a human and work her way up. Scientists have been using rats and mice before they began to experiment on human subjects, she would do the same. Mind made up her next steps, she grasped the shovel that was next to her before a piercing beep filled the air.
Twilight immediately realized the culprit, it was her phone! She had kept it on her in the case of an emergency and now it was the device that was going to lead to her downfall. Hastily pulling it out and silencing it, but the damage had been done. She was caught in the center of the spotlight. Twilight couldn’t see the expression that was on her brother's face but judging from the speed that he was dashing through the rows of graves to get to her, he wasn’t exactly pleased.
This was a situation that required another miracle Twilight mentally commented as she glanced around for her guardian Angel. It was worth a try. After Twilight’s first plan failed, she moved to the next one, magic. Pulling out a charm that was meant to allow her to pull magic from the very air itself as she softly began to chant.
“Memories vanish, a clean slate found. Spell of forgetting, no trace around. Gone in whispers, lost without a sound.” Twilight intoned hoping that the old ratty tome of magic wouldn’t steer her wrong. She would have preferred having been able to test out this spell or any sort of magic before being forced to rely on it. Twilight was expecting something when she finished the spell, perhaps a flash of blinding light, maybe even some sort of warmth crawling down her skin. Instead, nothing seemed to happen.
Twilight thought for a singular moment that her spell worked as Shining Armor came to a harsh stop before her.
“Twilight…. Why do you have the missing remote?” Shining cut himself off from the very obvious rant he was about to go on and instead focused on the mystic charm she had fashioned out of what was once the TV remote.
“Yes, it worked!” Twilight couldn’t help but exclaim in pure elation. She had performed her first feat of magic. It had been on her brother, which was unfortunate, but this meant that she could with enough work summon a messenger to pass on her thanks to her savior.
“Twilight, what worked?” Shining asked as he was even more confused than he had initially been. He had initially been attempting to sneak out of the house himself to visit his not-yet girlfriend Cadance when he had spotted his younger sister dashing down the street holding a shovel. Thoughts of Cadance, while still ever-present in his mind, were put behind the concern for his sister.
He trailed after her to ensure that she wasn’t about to do anything dangerous, and to potentially bail her out of whatever situation she had gotten herself into. He had however been expecting his sister to go out and perhaps dig a hole in a neighbor’s yard, not travel halfway across the city to the cemetery and then head inside. That had certainly given Shining Armor a pause.
Now he had never been as deeply invested in the scientific method as his younger sister, but he had learned to trust his gut. So, when his gut began to scream out that he should not enter the graveyard after his sister he paused, allowing the fear to rule for that moment. After all, perhaps it wasn’t his sister. Perhaps he was just sleep deprived and hallucinating again. It wouldn't be the first time it had happened. However, usually, he had seen hallucinations of Cadance, not his sister.
That moment where fear held dominion over Shining Armor was enough for him to lose track of his little sister. He was forced to search for her throughout the graveyard and when he couldn't find her after nearly 10 minutes of frantic searching, he had doomed himself, in an effort to protect his sister. He had called his parents and asked them to check and see if Twilight was in her bed.
What had initially started as a relatively annoyed conversation became frantic as neither of his parents could find Twilight in the house. Shining Armor had however informed them both that he was in pursuit but they could perhaps use their parental controls to set off an alert on Twilight's phone as she wasn't answering any of his calls. Thankfully that plan had worked as he was now standing before his sister who seemed oddly triumphant about being caught sneaking out.
“The spell! You now won’t remember anything that I tell you to forget.” Twilight explained to her brother that she was about to erase every single moment of this event. Shining Armor really was the best big brother she could ever have. He proved that magic existed and that she could use it. Her big brother seemed to agree as he hugged her.
“Twilight. I hope your spell works as I already told our parents about your little escape.” Shining Armor explained as his arms tightened around Twilight. Twilight stiffened at his words, she now not only had to erase some of her brother’s memories but also her parents. Even if she was a natural savant at magic, she still shouldn’t be casting spells she hadn’t perfected on her family.
“Forget everything regarding me tonight!” Twilight demanded after she gulped down the fear that threatened to paralyze her. After a few seconds of silence still encapsulated in her brother's arms Twilight spoke up once more. “Did it work?” She questioned.
“Twilight, I love you to death but if it had worked it would have been pointless for you to ask me, as I would have forgotten.” Shining Armor said with a sigh. Twilight frowned as she knew that she had performed the spell perfectly. She had her charm, and she had correctly recited the words. Why did the spell not work? Perhaps she would have pondered further on the failure of her first spell, but Shining Armor once more spoke up. “Shame that it didn’t work. Would have saved us both from getting in a whole boatload of trouble.” He said almost resigned to the fate that was quickly approaching the pair of siblings.
Shining Armor of course was thinking about how his time with Cadance would no doubt be reduced if not gone entirely. He knew that she would understand, she loved Twilight just as much as he did, if not more. “Why were you even at the graveyard with a shovel? Don’t tell me you were going to dig up a corpse?” he asked with a grim chuckle. Yet Twilight didn’t answer the question and Shining Armor could feel her stiffen within his arms.
Pausing to ensure that she wasn’t going to answer he continued. “Twilight please tell me you weren’t about to dig up a corpse.” He demanded in horror and sheer confusion that colored his tone.
“Is this one of the scenarios where I am supposed to lie?” Twilight asked as she ran through her mind for any other of the various spells she had read about. Perhaps a spell that would allow her to time travel? No, she had no idea where any ley lines were, Twilight also didn’t think that her brother would appreciate slicing open her hand for the spell.
“Twilight the time for lying has come and gone. Now it is time to answer questions. One of which in particular is why ARE YOU ATTEMPTING TO GO GRAVE ROBBING?” Shining Armor was cursing himself, wondering how this had happened. He was supposed to be Twilight's role model. The one that she looked up to and followed after. He wasn't perfect. He was willing to admit that, but he liked to think he put forth his best foot when his sister was around.
He certainly had done his fair share of stupid things but this… This was far beyond anything that he had done. Thankfully Twilight seemed to understand the gravity of the situation.
“I needed to practice necromancy. I was hoping that it would be easy to master after all everyone says that it is one of the easiest schools of magic.” Twilight answered her older brother's question and was utterly confused as to why he buried his mouth into her head and groaned. Did her spell break her brother?
Author's Note
A change of pace from what I normally write. Mostly the perspective change from 1st person to 3rd person. It was an interesting experience shifting my style of writing to 3rd. It doesn't seem too bad after I have edited it a few times. This story is meant to be a lighthearted take on the teenage demon summoner trope. Cadance and Shining Armor are meant to be the ones corraling the hijinks of the other two. Word count for this chapter is a little low but I got everything I wanted to put in it so whatever. Otherwise have no idea how often this will update but wanted to publish this after having sat on it for a little bit.
Twilight Sparkle was grounded. She wasn’t well balanced or stable, and while she was at the moment prevented from flight she was not grounded in that particular meaning. She however was still grounded. Her parents Night Light and Twilight Velvet had not taken kindly to the fact that she had attempted grave robbing, Twilight solemnly resolved to never let her parents figure out what she had been planning to do with the corpse.
Past failed grave robbings aside, Twilight Sparkle was still grounded. Had been grounded, and if her father’s words were to be taken literally instead of figuratively she would be grounded until she was 30. While it was unlikely that her grounding would indeed last that long she had been so far been grounded for an entire month.
She had been allowed to go to school and then back home. Her days of heading to the library to pore over relatively ancient texts were gone. She instead was forced to make do with the family computer that was heavily monitored by her mother. Twilight would freely admit that perhaps it hadn't been her brightest idea to look up on that computer ways to not get grave robbing. The scolding that her mother had given her had only compounded that fact.
This situation was unlikely to change any time soon. However, thankfully there were small mercies that she was afforded during this time. Shining Armor also was grounded for being out that late and his argument that if he hadn't been sneaking out he would have never caught her didn't help his case in Twilight's opinion. Her parents seemed to agree as he was grounded with her. This did however allow Twilight to spend more time than usual with Shining.
Which compounded into Twilight roping, Shining into her studies of magic. He agreed after two weeks of her persuasive arguments, and in Shining Armor’s own words “Soul crushing boredom.” Twilight however managed to finally acquire her best big brother's help. It only took the two of them nearly being entirely locked in the house during any moment that they weren’t at school.
Shining Armor had initially seemed incredulous at her desire to have him help her before she explained her reasoning to him, which then caused him to grow misty-eyed and agree. Twilight was nearly certain that he was helping due to a misplaced sense of pity but she would accept all the help she could get. She, after all, had yet to cast a spell.
Well technically she had cast 1032 spells at this point but who was counting? The problem was that none of the spells she had cast had worked. From the spells that should have teleported her across the room to even a simple spell meant to summon a small flame. One after another they had all failed.
Twilight was willing to believe that for the first 100 spells that perhaps, she was simply having a flawed set of data. At the 200th failure, Twilight could have believed that she simply needed an even larger data set. The 500th failure was met with a grim determination to continue on. By the 1000th Twilight was determined that by the end of her life, she would cast a spell even if it killed her.
Shining Armor did not take kindly when he walked into her room when she made that vow to herself. However Twilight managed to convince him that everything was ok and that he didn't need to go tell their parents. That this wasn’t anything he needed to worry about.
Unfortunately for Twilight, Shining had no better luck when it came to casting any spells. However Twilight had no idea that Shining was rather glad that his attempts had failed. He knew that had he actually succeeded that his sister would have never left him alone. Yet he loved his sister, even after the grave robbing.
Even if it had severely limited the amount of time that he managed to spend time with his now-girlfriend Cadance. Who was horrified at the little ladybug she had at times babysat for had turned to graverobbing. That had not been a fun conversation for the two of them. Especially considering that Cadance had revealed that she was hoping to take the next step in their relationship that night.
Shining had been equally awestruck and horrified at that revelation. First, his best friend had confessed her feelings to him, even if she had been shouting at the time. Next said friend, had realized her words and surged towards him pushing him against the wall, capturing his lips in hers. Shining could clearly remember the pressure that had all but encapsulated him in that near-ethereal moment.
“So then Shining would you care to dance with me?” Cadance cooed as her eyes flashed with a desire that Shining knew would swallow him alive. However, that did not prevent him from returning the kisses upon the smiling girl’s lips. That one moment had allowed Shining to survive the long days that had quickly approached. He may have no longer had a life outside of school but his life within the school building was quickly improving even if his life outside of it deteriorated.
“Shining? Shining! SHINING!” Twilight shouted into the ear of her brother that had once more gotten lost in his mind. Twilight had learned how to efficiently get her brother out of the thoughts he had lost himself within. The swiftest and easiest way was to shout his name until he came out of it. The tried and tested method once more worked wonders as her brother jumped with a small shriek on his lips.
“Twilight what have I said about shouting!” Shining attempted to admonish his little sister even as he attempted to calm his heart which was currently attempting to escape his ribs.
“You said not to and I had been attempting to attain your attention for the last five minutes. I have the preparations for the next test prepared.” Twilight said as she pushed the beaker into her brother’s hands. “Remember you need to drink every drop.” She reminded her favorite brother.
Shining just sighed as he looked at the ‘potion’ that Twilight had created. Supposedly drinking it would awaken a person’s innate magical talents. However, it in reality was a mixed fruit drink that actually smelled half decent. It was far better than the other things that Twilight had been preparing lately. Perhaps she actually was onto something or maybe she was no longer actively attempting to poison the two of them.
Either way, after seeing some of her first attempts at brewing these so-called potions for the sake of his sister's safety and wellbeing he had volunteered himself to be the guinea pig. Thankfully Twilight seemed far more hesitant to have him imbibe some of the more dangerous potions that she had been looking at creating. He wasn't sure where or how his sister had managed to get a bottle of arsenic but in truth, he didn't want to know. All he knew is that it had taken some convincing from his chemistry teacher, Mr. Bond.
Thankfully the elderly teacher had accepted the excuse of him finding it in his attic and not knowing the proper way to dispose of the bottle. Mr. Bond had even commented about how not everyone would go through the trouble of properly disposing of hazardous materials before taking the bottle off his hands. Cadance had managed to see the entire thing and made him promise to refuse any concoction that seemed to be dangerous. It wasn’t as if he was planning on drinking anything obviously dangerous.
“Sorry, Twilight,” Shining said with a small grin as he downed the most recent attempt that Twilight had created. An almost overpowering taste of citrus flooded his mouth. It definitely tasted as it smelled. Gulping down the remnants of the potion from the vial. “Ahh” Shining said as he opened his mouth to show his younger sister that he actually had consumed the entire vial.
“Good, now are you feeling anything different?” Twilight asks as she looks down at her written notes. “It says that you should be feeling an almost tingly sensation running through your diaphragm.” Twilight reads off. Missing the way that Shining frowned at his sister’s words.
Shining Armor didn’t know what a diaphragm was, but he felt nothing tingling. Which was a good sign that he wasn’t about to start losing his lunch. Especially since Cadance was going to be coming over later. It had taken plenty of convincing on his part to get his parents to agree to have her come over. After all, they were going to be going away for the evening and it wasn’t as if they could trust him to watch Twilight. Shining frowned at how that thought stung, even if it was worth being able to see Cadance again.
“No tingling at all.” He reported to his younger sister that was frowning but marking down on the pad that she had been writing upon. “Do you want me to try to cast a spell?” He offered a potential way to mitigate the failure.
“No, it is unlikely that anything would have changed.” Twilight sighed. Rummaging through the assorted mess that she had made while creating this most recent concoction. “Thank you, Shining.” Twilight thanked her older brother as she once more began to look into the possible reason that this attempt has failed.
Shining Armor briefly contemplated attempting to drag Twilight from once more going on a crusade. However, he knew when discretion was the better part of valor and instead chose to retreat from the scene. He placed the now empty vial down at her desk. Leaving his sister to the books and tales that had consumed her life he instead went to await the arrival of Cadance.
However, instead of spotting Cadance, Shining instead found both of his parents waiting for him as he bounded down the steps. He paused right before he would have barreled into his mother Twilight Velvet.
“Is Twilight going to see us off?” Twilight Velvet, asked in fruitless hope to see her daughter who shared her name.
“She just started on her next attempt.” Shining winced as he dashed his mother's hope. He knew that his mother blamed herself for everything that had happened to Twilight. Even if it wasn’t her fault. It was an unfortunate scenario that Twilight had escaped from, even if it had led his sister down a path that some would consider strange. However, if any dared to call his precious sister strange when Shining was within earshot would be in for a rude awakening.
Twilight Velvet glanced up towards where her youngest child was once more attempting to bring the impossible into reality. She had known that ever since that incident that had nearly stolen her daughter away from her those years ago, Twilight had found an entirely new world. One that she didn’t fully understand. One that she had however attempted to help her daughter explore.
That was before she realized how far those delusions had taken hold of her youngest child. Spirited her off into a place so dark that she had resorted to graverobbing and attempting to cast magic herself. She had done her best to try to understand what her daughter had been attempting to accomplish but she in truth could not understand it. Magic after all wasn’t real.
“I see, please don’t let her distract Cadance from actually ensuring that she gets something to eat.” Twilight Velvet said with a shake of her head as a faint sound of the horn being honked sounded through the house. “It seems your father is worried that we will miss the preview.” Her eyes hardened as Shining went rigid. “I do expect you to not distract Cadance either. She is after all here to watch Twilight.”
Shining Armor knew that there was no correct way to answer the demand other than silently nodding, so he, much like a trained dog, performed the trick. Thankfully his mother smiled before ducking out the door. Even as his parents left, Shining did not allow himself to break from the well-practiced routine. Only when they crested the horizon and slipped out of sight, did he once more allow himself to relax.
Only for his gaze to once more catch on the flashing of multicolored hair, that glistened in the sunlight. Instantly he was running out the door to greet the now chuckling Cadance.
“I see that you have missed me.” Cadance cooed at Shining’s response to wrap his arms around her. “Well let me tell you something. I missed you too.” She said with an amused smile at her boyfriend's actions. Some things never seemed to change. Hopefully, they never would.
“Well, that just means I haven't managed to chase you off yet.” Shining retorted with a smile as he loosened his arms from around Cadance once more meeting her shining purple eyes.
“Please we both know that once I had sunk my claws into you I wouldn’t let go.” Cadance’s smile grew feral as Shining gulped. Her hands snaked forwards and caught him by the scruff of his shirt pulling him ever closer to her. “However, that doesn’t mean I don’t appreciate the chase.” Shining could only thank his lucky stars as once more he felt her lips upon his.
“Perhaps we should go check up on Twilight?” He sputtered out gasping for breath as they finally split, nearly a minute had passed. Cadance had made mention about setting the record for the longest kiss in the world. He however didn’t think that she was serious about it.
“What afraid she is going to go out searching for a new cadaver?” Cadance joked before considering that it actually was a real concern. One that would be rather difficult to explain to the authorities. “Perhaps we should go check up on the little ladybug. After all, who knows what she can get up to without someone responsible by her side.”
“I would like to say something in my defense but I know how pointless it would be so I am going to wallow in my shame,” Shining said with a chuckle. That quickly turned brittle as he spotted the billowing purple smoke pouring out of his sister's room. “Damn it Twilight.” Shining exasperatedly cursed as he quickly left Cadance’s embrace. Once more sprinting back to the house.
Pounding up the stairs all the while shouting for his sister. “Twilight are you alright? You better not have been playing with fire again! I swear I will tell…” He fell silent as he made it to the door that had been at the doorway of Twilight's room. His blood began to freeze as he turned and saw his sister sitting at her desk looking frazzled.
No, she looks like an explosion went off in her face. “Twilight are you alright? Do I need to drive you to the hospital?” He asked as he made his way to her side. Only to feel his heart nearly stop as her head impacted the desk. Thankfully she didn't impale herself on anything. Instead, all she did was begin to cry.
“None of them are working. I have tried almost every single one and yet nothing. None of them work. Why? Am I doing anything wrong?” Twilight blubbered still not noticing her brother who was beside her, nor Cadance who had appeared at her door with an expression of worry plastered upon her face.
No matter what field of magic she had tried nothing. From spells that were as simple as levitation to even a grand spell meant to make someone immortal. None worked for her. None of them had allowed her to grasp that so-called spark that her angel had sensed.
“Twilight you are attempting to redefine what is considered real. I would be more surprised if you got it so easily.” At Cadance’s voice, Twilight jolted back to reality.
“Cadance? What are you doing here? I thought that you…” As Twilight’s head twisted from the face of her favorite babysitter, even if she was a little old to have one, towards a clock that did show 16:03. “Never mind. But what do you mean?” She asked Cadance her head tilting in a clear show of her confusion at the older girl’s words.
“Well if it was easy someone else would have figured it out before you would have had a chance to. After all, it stands to reason that the only reason that it has taken so long for someone to discover how to once more use magic, is that no one as smart as you has attempted to do so.” Cadance softly explained as she bent down to meet Twilight’s gaze.
“Really? Even after all my failures?” Twilight whispered. Cadance only nodded. Shining put his hand on her head and ruffled her hair back into a much less exploded state.
“Werent you the one who keeps reminding everyone that she can, that each failure is simply a way to not do something?” Shing reminded his sister. “You just have to find the correct way to do it.” He continued on seeing Cadance’s smile widen as she nodded along with his words.
“Why don’t you have me try one of these spells you have been working on? After all, I wouldn’t want to be left out when you eventually become a grand wizard.” Cadance offered her own participation in the magical trials that Shining had been keeping her up to date with. “Then afterward you will be helping me and your brother fix up your room, little ladybug.”
“I’m not little anymore Cadance.” Twilight pouted for a moment before she looked through the various spells that had all failed. “What would you like to attempt to cast? A blood boiling curse, a spell designed to rupture someone’s eyes, or maybe-.” That was all Twilight managed to get out before Cadance cut her off.
“Perhaps something simple? Maybe it could do with love?” Cadance asked, trying to steer Twilight from spells that were designed to cause bodily harm. All the while silently mourning the once innocent child that she knew would have never suggested learning those spells. Twilight however unconcerned with her inner turmoil excitedly nodded as she began to search for a spell having to do with love.
“Here we are. Do you have a preference?” Twilight exclaimed after a few moments of finding the particular binder she had sorted all spells that had to do with love. Cadance could only gape at the rather full binder that Twilight had pulled from one of her desk drawers. Even the emblazoned smiling hearts that were stuck upon the front of the binder did anything to help her shock.
“Maybe something simple?” Cadance asked as she saw Shining backing away from the two of them. Twilight nodded and began to leaf through the binder before stopping on a page that was filled with various notes and quotations. ‘Awen Gwydd’ was written at the top of the page, below was written what the spell's origins were and what it was supposed to do.
“A spell that was based on an old druidic ritual meant to test the love of those within the circle. It is hypothesized that it was a spell that the druidic clans meant to detect would be traitors or any that held hatred in their hearts.” Twilight rattled off in succinct order. Pulling out what appeared to be a paintbrush and a small mason jar of paint. “Shining, can you go grab three blades of grass?” She asked her brother as she pushed the binder into Cadance’s hands.
“I am assuming for the spell?” Shining asks, seeking some clarification only for his sister to look at him as if he was dumb. Sighing at the cruelties of life he quickly retraced his steps grabbing a handful of grass before making his way back to his sister's room. It said something about how used he was to Twilight's recent actions as he barely even paused when he saw her painting strange symbols on Cadance’s face.
“Thank you,” Twilight mumbled to her brother, as she focused on ensuring that the designs she was copying onto Cadance were identical to the ones in the book. She wasn’t the most artistically inclined person but she felt that she did a decent enough job. “Alright, Cadance you just have to focus on the blade of grass within your hands while focusing on your feelings for the two of us. If the feelings are reciprocated the grass should bloom, while if either of us were intending to cause harm our blade should wilt.” Twilight excitedly explained before she paused. “Well if the spell works this time.” She continued with far less fervor.
While Twilight was busy explaining to Cadance what further steps she needed to perform for the spell to hopefully succeed she missed the way that both her elder brother and Cadance grinned at each other. Only for the grins to falter slightly at Twilight’s final words. Shining gave a blade of grass to both Cadance and his sister, as Twilight directed Cadance where to sit. Then following his sister's orders himself.
“Shall we cast some magic then?” Cadance questioned with a chuckle as both the siblings nodded in turn with the other. Closing her eyes, Cadance thought of the two of them. Shining Armor was someone that she likely would have never met. A chance meeting in after-school detention was what set their fates together. She had of course heard the various rumors about the so-called gallant knight that had stepped into a fight, and ended it in short order. She, however, at the time when she was attempting to find out more about the rumors, had asked the subject of them himself.
After she had gotten over her embarrassment that one interaction was all it took for them to share their names. From then on, they were friends, even if they were not close. They spent time together when they could but it was never something that either of them planned. Eventually, those meetings became planned. The two of them would forge a friendship that quickly was becoming evident of blossoming into something more.
Cadance’s thoughts then turned to Twilight. She was someone that you knew would do something great. It was clearly evident in the way that even at her young age that she was special. She was performing research that even with its particular topic being fantastical, was still being completed. So far she had yet to find anything yet Cadance knew that if there was anyone that could find the final embers of magic, she knew that it would be Twilight to find them.
Cadance upon hearing a gasp opened her eyes to an impossible sight. The blades of grasses sprouted small pink flowers that were reminiscent of roses. Cadance couldn't help her own gasp as she faintly saw the flowers continue to bloom, quickly growing larger in size. Becoming ever grander and more illustrious as time passed. It was an impossible sight that broke countless rules that she had grown up with and yet it was beautiful all the same.
“You did it.” Shining whispered out. “You performed magic.” Shining continued to mumble as he was too busy gaping at his girlfriend who has managed to perform this feat of pure mysticism. Cadance however managed to corral the amusement she felt at her own success to shoot a victorious grin at her boyfriend.
“I did indeed.” Cadance couldn't help the laughter that spilled from her mouth as was quickly lost in the accomplishment of what she had managed to do. Eventually, however, that laughter turned to a faint choking. Shining moved to ensure that Cadance was alright as the choking turned to hack, as Cadance closed her mouth in an attempt to stop the fit.
“Cadance are you alright?” Twilight asked her babysitter. Watching the way that the elation in her purple eyes from accomplishing the feat of magic quickly turned to panic. “Shiny I don’t think Cadance is alright!” Twilight exclaimed as she watched in horror as Cadance opened her mouth and blood began to seep out.
“Cadance I need you to move into the recovery position. Can you do that for me?” Shining Armor immediately asked his girlfriend as he made his way over to her side. Cadance didn't acknowledge his words. Instead, she put her hand to the blood that was still gushing from her mouth. Her purple eyes widened as she saw the life force that she was leaking.
Shining Armor slowly repeated his words, this time Cadance slowly nodded in understanding. Slowly she began to move towards the ground only to crumple. Shining Armor however didn't let her hit the ground, instead, she fell into his waiting arms. “Twilight, can you give me one of your blankets?” He asked his sister as he began to slowly lower Cadance to the ground. Her purple eyes had completely lost focus, as she lost conscience.
Immediately Twilight moved from where she had been frozen at her desk and grabbed a purple sheet from her bed. She turned around and quickly brought it to Shining who had just laid Cadance down, still supporting her head with his hands. “Can you fold it twice for me?” Shining Armor continued to ask his sister as he kept his gaze on Cadance. Twilight nodded and folded the blanket twice before pushing the blanket towards him.
Shining Armor took that moment to ensure that Cadance still had a pulse and was breathing. Thankfully for her, she was as he reached out for the blanket after carefully removing one of his hands and then lifting Cadance’s head so that she could now rest her head on the blanket. Once Shining Armor was certain that Cadance’s now unconscious form wasn't going to move he quickly fished out his phone and quickly called an ambulance.
“Why did this happen?” Shining Armor could barely hear his sister ask as he was relaying what had happened, minus a few key details, to the operator. “Why did Cadance get hurt?” Her confusion was ever present in her voice as she tried to comprehend what had just happened. “The spell shouldn't have hurt anyone.” Shining grabbed his sister’s hand and gave it a slight squeeze as he relayed their house’s address.
The two siblings stood vigilant over Cadance’s unconscious form; the only true sound still heard was the unseen operator on the phone ensuring that the situation did not worsen. For Twilight, however, that voice and even her brothers were but static spouts of noise. Something that should have made sense but to Twilight's senses was indecipherable. That was until the promised whine of salvation screeched through the air. Twilight finally turned from Cadance’s still form to see out her window what appeared to be a quickly approaching ambulance, blurring towards them.
“Twilight, can you go unlock the front door?” Shining Armor asked his sister who just gave a shallow nod before scurrying off down the stairs. Once his sister was out of sight, Shining Armor took a deep breath. “Everything is going to be alright Cadance. Hold on just a little bit longer. Please just hold on a little bit longer.” He begged at his unanswering partner's side.
The pounding of footsteps resounded through the air. Shining Armor could hear the screeching of tires. Shouts asking where everyone was, and what had happened. Thankfully it sounded as if Twilight was just leading them up the stairs. Only leaving her side when Cadance was being loaded upon the gurney.
Both siblings were unaware that a door previously locked had now been opened. For they were far too busy sharing concerns over Cadance as they quickly made their way after the ambulance that she had been loaded into. They were unable to see how the shadows of the house began to tumultuously roil. Whispered words spoken to unhearing ears.
“The Spark once more struck,
The Shield once more readied,
Love unshackled from chains of mortality,
The last freed,
Split in twain,
Tainted yet Pure,
Pure yet Tainted,
Endless eternities having awaited,
The Sun watches from far beyond,
as the final deal was taken.”
The final words whispered the shadows once more stilled. Eagerly awaiting their return.
Author's Note
This chapter introduces the very real impact of magic and its cost to the unprepared. All the while showing that there were countless failures until once more the spark of magic had been brought into existence. Three of the four main characters have already been introduced. Unsure if there will be one more chapter before the fourth and final one will be introduced. That aside next chapter has a few potential avenues for me to go down and I am unsure which will be the most appropriate at the moment.
-LittleFaerieFire
