An ancient fortress city of an alabaster white jutted out of a deep forest, its walls scarred with signs of battle. Dead ponies lined the streets of the town proper and its houses and shops were reduced to rubble. Inside the hardened keep, the fate of the world was decided. All eyes within were fixated on five glowing orbs, each branded with a symbol. They were perfect in every way, spheres of exact dimensions and clear as crystal. Each was tended by a unicorn whose horn was glowing, energy visibly leaking from the magical focus into the orb. Standing aside, a pink alicorn with both unicorn horn and pegasus wings watched nervously as a rumble shook the fortress.
“We must hurry,” she snapped as it subsided and another unicorn fixed her with an annoyed expression. This one was a wizened old mare, her mane silvery-gray with an ash gray coat. Her name, whether the one she was born with or the one she assumed, was simply Librarian.
“Your Highness, this is a delicate procedure,” her voice said admonishingly. The old mare shook her head. “Truth be told I would think you might have a bit more respect for the process, considering-”
“No. I will not think on that.” The alicorn shook her head and squeezed her eyes shut at the thought. Hundreds of ponies had given their life essence to attempt to recharge the pure manifestations of the core Elements of Harmony. Predictably, the Elements of Loyalty and Generosity had taken the fewest sacrifices, as what could be more loyal than to face death for the ponies you love? Or more generous than to give life for the fate of the world? At the very least it was somewhat offset by the fact that theirs was not the first lives lost in the war, and that they might be the last ones given. The alicorn, known to the world as Princess Celestia, was counting on it.
Another tremble of the ground hit the fortress. Celestia's eyes darted to the doors and back to the altar in front of them. She hoped against hope that they were not found and that they could complete the distillation before –
A resounding boom echoed through the chamber as something crashed against the magical barrier outside the fortress. The soldiers within the chamber readied themselves. Their foe was not one that they could truly fight, but they had sworn their lives to the attempt. Another boom came, louder and stronger.
“Hurry...” Celestia muttered, but there was nothing she nor anypony else could do to make the process faster. As Librarian had said, the ritual was a delicate one and ancient – recovered from an arcane scroll which she had found while living up to her name. The fate of Equestria and perhaps the world rested on what amounted to a old mare's tale from untold years ago.
The loudest noise yet filled the fortress, and as it faded the door and the wall surrounding it exploded, with rubble filling the air. The occupants of the chamber watched anxiously as it cleared to reveal shadowy figures. They did not resolve as the dust settled further; these beings were of a liquid shadow, cruel mockeries of ponies that were committed to but one thing: destruction.
Without hesitation the soldiers charged forward as their horns launched bolts of energy. As they crossed the intervening space the bolts hit several of the shadow figures, dispelling them with a sudden explosion of darkness and an odd echo of screaming that was eerily imperceptible in the back of one's mind – and more horrifying for it. The soldiers reached the shadows and began goring them with their horns and bucking them with their back hooves. At first it seemed the battle would be over quickly, but more shadows manifested until there were as many as there had been in the first place. Another round of brave combat by the soldiers was met by yet another swarm of shadows, and another, and another.
The shadows themselves had less fighting to do. By merely touching the soldiers they caused damage – not physical damage but damage to the soul. The soldiers were sapped of their life force and emotion, becoming sadder and more terrified as they fought despite themselves. Such were the methods of the minions of Nightmare Moon.
The melee continued for a few minutes but the unicorns forcing energy into the orbs did not even so much as look up. They were conduits of the life energies of the brave ponies who decided the world was worth their lives, and their duty was perhaps the single most important one in the chamber. Celestia could only watch in shock as the soldiers fell one by one, some simply passing out and others breaking down from the emotional strain – one fell to his haunches, screaming in terror and another collapsed to the floor sobbing inconsolably. Celestia wanted to assist in the battle – but like the unicorns, the task ahead demanded she ignore the battle in favor of the war. She would need every ounce of magic she could muster.
As the last of the soldiers was slain the shadow creatures came to a disturbingly complete stillness. They simply seemed to watch Celestia and her few companions, making no moves to advance. Celestia held her breath; surely it didn't mean-
A bloodcurdlingly evil laugh echoed through the hall. Its owner suddenly appeared in the shattered doorway in a flash of lightning: Nightmare Moon. The creature was an alicorn like Celestia, but jet black with navy blue armor covering her body. Like Celestia her mane flowed in an invisible wind, but it was an inky blue filled with thousands of star-like pinpricks of light. Nightmare Moon grinned maliciously at Celestia.
“Tia, my dear sister,” she said mockingly, “I must admit I am shocked. I come to visit, and far from inviting me in, you kill my friends? How rude.”
“You are not my sister!” Celestia couldn't resist speaking in rebuttal against the creature although she knew it a futile effort. “Luna is gone and consumed by you, Nightmare Moon. My sister would never have slaughtered thousands of innocent ponies and cast this eternal night over the world!”
“You are right, Celestia,” the being said, its smirk widening. “Your sister wouldn't have. But then, she –" She paused and shook in silent laughter. "That is to say, I have changed from the whipping foal you thought I was. No longer will I stand to be relegated to second place, to allow you to bask in adulation while my beautiful nights are scorned by our subjects.”
“My subjects,” Celestia said angrily. “If there is any part of you that is still in there, Luna, then realize that the fact that you allowed yourself to come to this point of pure, unbridled hatred is unforgivable. But even if I do not yet know if I can expel Nightmare Moon from your soul, I hope you realize that I still love you.”
Nightmare Moon laughed heartily at that. “Love! Ha! Don't tell me about love, Celestia. All I did was get shunted aside, treated as an afterthought to the cycle of day and night. You never loved me Celestia, you only lie to try to justify yourself!”
Don't listen to her, a voice said in Celestia's head as she shook her head in denial. Remember, she is everything the Elements are not and she is trying to make you believe that the love you felt for your sister was false. Remember Luna, remember the little mare you taught to create the night, to fill the sky with a curtain of stars, the mare you played with and loved above all else, even Equestria itself.
“It is done,” Celestia finally said in a monotone. Nightmare Moon raised an eyebrow but Celestia's mind was already made up. “Librarian, are the Elements ready?”
“Your Highness, I do not think they have the power to do what you wanted them to do. We simply did not have the time. But the other- yes, it should be possible.”
“Very well.” Celestia drew herself up proudly with her neck arched regally and stared Nightmare Moon in the eye. “Princess Luna, for your crimes against Equestria and ponykind, I hereby declare you banished for the duration of one thousand years.”
“What's this?” Celestia was pleased to see that Nightmare Moon was taken aback. “So you couldn't kill me in the end after all, Tia.”
“Furthermore,” the pink princess continued while ignoring the creature, “You will be removed from the fabric of reality and left in a state of suspension. It is too much to hope that simply removing you from this planet would prevent you from ravaging the world.”
“You don't have the nerve, Celestia,” Nightmare Moon spat. “For that matter you don't have the ability. I know your power and while it is strong, it is nothing compared to mine.”
“True,” Celestia allowed, “but I do have the Elements of Harmony.”
A pang of worry struck Nightmare Moon's face unconsciously, but she quickly schooled it to stillness. “The Elements became inert after Discord was entombed in stone. They can not serve you now.”
Celestia pointed with a horn at the unicorns behind her. “Many brave ponies gave their lives to channel the purest incarnations of these emotions. For their sacrifice, I must believe.”
Nightmare Moon nodded and then quick as lightning pointed her horn at the altar. A blast of dark energy shot out, bound directly towards the glowing orbs.
“No!” Celestia cried, but the blast was intercepted by the leaping body of Librarian. “NO!” she screamed again as she realized what had happened.
“Please, Your Highness,” Librarian whispered from the ground, breathing already labored and slowing noticeably. “Do not worry about me. What is one more life given to end this insanity? Just remember that Luna can yet be saved. I promise you this.”
Celestia watched with tears in her eyes as the old mare gave her last breaths, and just that quickly the world's foremost expert on the history of Equestria was dead. Something snapped in her and a primal emotion of pure love began surging through her. Love for Librarian, for the ponies who had died for the Elements, for the ponies killed by Nightmare Moon's reign of terror, and most of all for Luna. She felt the energy flowing in her veins, a liquid manifestation of the goodness of the world, and suddenly a kinship for the orbs bloomed in her. That one, holding the joy of being happy; this one, holding the value of being honest; another one with the selflessness of helping others; one with the essence of treating others kindly; and one which represented the importance of always being there for one's friends.
Celestia closed her eyes, letting herself be guided by the energy flowing through her. She began rising from the tendrils of magic suffusing the chamber. The orbs hovered towards her and spread out in a line abreast with her in the center. Another bolt of dark energy shot from Luna but it was repelled unconsciously by the energy within Celestia – the magic of friendship.
“What is this?” Nightmare Moon shrieked. “Don't stand there, get her!” The last was directed at her minions, but as they leaped forward bolts of magic erupted from Celestia's horn and the Elements, purging the world of their existence; instead of screams, their death cries were murmured thanks as the souls bound by Nightmare Moon's dark magic were released. “This isn't how it ends, Celestia!”
“No,” Celestia said, eyes snapping open; they were a pure, glowing white, seeming to stare into the sun itself. “That task is for another. But this is where it begins.”
A torrent of energy began spiraling around Celestia and the Elements, each contributing a strand which formed into a stripe of a massive rainbow-colored cyclone of magic. Something held Nightmare Moon in place as the rainbow suddenly coalesced into a beam that shot toward her and she screamed wordlessly as the magic wrapped itself around her in a vortex, dismantling her very being. Soon the cyclone held only a dark purple cloud, and without warning it shot through the roof, smashing a hole in it. For a moment that seemed to last a lifetime the beam connected the ground and the moon. Just as suddenly it dissipated, and nothing was left of the evil creature.
Celestia fell to the ground, as did the orbs. They were now a stony material instead of the crystal they had been and the energy with which they had glowed was gone. As for Celestia herself, her coat had turned a pure white and it was all she could do to shift slightly to make herself comfortable enough to sleep on the cracked floor of the chamber. And high in the night sky above, the moon was now emblazoned with a unicorn's face watching the land below.
… And the day shall come, when the Nightmare waits,
Coming close to its return,
A foal shall ascend and fulfill its fate
And redeemed will be the one who was spurned.
Yuwatu
Zebra of the Obatu Tribe
Predictions and Prophecies, Year 687 ANM (After Nightmare Moon)
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“So, what do you make of it?”
An off-white unicorn mare, one Twilight Velvet, hair streaked in alternate bands of white and lavender and 3-star Cutie Mark on her flank, lay on a long couch, front hooves rubbing together in worry. For the 10th time in as many minutes she bit her lip, scanning the missive lying in front of her once again. On one hoof this was the Princess; her intentions could not be bad. On the other hoof...
My Dear Subjects,
Your daughter Twilight Sparkle is an extraordinarily gifted unicorn. So much so that I would ask if you might consider allowing her enrollment into my personal School for Gifted Unicorns here in Canterlot.
For motives I can not explain in this letter, this is more than just idle choice. There is a reason why I have selected your daughter in particular, a reason of which I will inform you if – and hopefully when – we meet in person. I give you my word that my intentions are of no harm to your daughter nor yourselves.
Please respond as soon as you are able so we can arrange a meeting. I look very much forward to speaking with you. You may bring your daughter if you wish but there are some things of which we must speak that must not be heard by her young ears.
Yours Truly,
Princess Celestia
“I think...” A pacing blue unicorn was the only other pony in the room, his mane simpler than the other's in that it was only a darker shade of blue. He spoke haltingly, as if mulling over the thoughts one word at a time. “We should at least talk to her.” Midnight Shimmer's Cutie Mark were two crescent moons, one inside the other, and he was not an unreasonable stallion. But neither was he naïve. “The way I figure, we see what she has to say and if we don't like it, we say no.”
“Can we do that, though?” Velvet asked her husband, for husband he was. “Can we say no to Celestia herself?”
Midnight paused in his pacing then nodded. “Yes, dear, we can. And we will, if it means protecting Twily.”
“Did you say my name, daddy?” A tiny lavender filly stumbled sleepily from the hallway, rubbing her eyes with a front hoof. “What're you two talkin' about?”
In an instant both parents' mouths slammed shut with an audible click, but the elder Twilight was the first to recover. “Twily, why aren't you in bed?”
“I couldn' sleep,” she said defensively before blushing. “An' I had to... to... you know...”
“I was taking care of that,” said yet another new voice, and the unicorn colt to whom it belonged stepped out of the same hall as Twilight, gently placing a hoof on her back. His coat was white, with hair streaked like his mother's but with blue and cyan. “C'mon, Twily, let's go.”
“Fine,” she said huffily, following him as he led her to the little mare's room.
“Shining Armor is going to grow up to be an impressive stallion,” Velvet said softly. “Just like his father.”
A quiet snort of derision answered her. “Nah, why put the colt down like that?” he asked dryly. “Captain of the Royal Guard, just you watch. He's already idolizing the Royal Guards around Canterlot.”
The subject was already racing back to the letter. The momentary respite was pleasant, but it only made it worse to face the potential decision ahead of them. The two unicorns spent the rest of the night in fervent and sometimes furious discussion.
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“Come on, BBBFF!” The little Twilight Sparkle skipped happily along the lane with a trotting Shining Armor attempting to keep up with her. “We've gotta get to the library!”
“We were just there a few days ago, Twily!” he said in consternation. “How are you already wanting to go to the library again?”
She giggled in response. “Because, silly, I already read all the books we got last time!”
Shining Armor pulled up short and Twilight skipped a few paces ahead before realizing he had fallen behind. His jaw had dropped. “Is something wrong, Shining Armor?” she asked in dismay.
“I... no, nothing's wrong, it's just... we just got you ten books! Ten! And half of them were way over your age level!”
Twilight rolled her eyes. “That's 'cuz I'm a fast reader! You should know that by now. Jeez, you're acting like this is a surprise!”
Although Shining Armor wouldn't admit it aloud it was indeed a surprise. Three of those books had been extremely difficult magical tomes filled with various obscure spells that required insane amounts of time and dedication to enact. And yet, he also knew that Twilight wouldn't dare return a book she hadn't read cover-to-cover in excruciating detail. As he thought about it he realized the spells Twilight was performing were getting more and more complex and powerful, especially considering she was just a filly – and, as a slightly jealous corner of his mind admitted, far faster than he had ever done.
His reverie snapped as he saw a group of other little fillies and colts cornering her.
“Hey, bookworm, what's got you lookin' so happy? You finally find a spell to get a friend?”
“Her books are her friends! She couldn't talk to another foal to save her life!
“Aww, what's the matter, bookworm gonna cry? You need a book to tell you how to do that?”
Twilight's eyes were indeed filling with tears as she cowered into the side of a building, hugging her saddlebag to her chest. “Please leave me alone,” she said in a quavering voice. “I just wanna read.” She squeezed her face into the saddlebag as she rocked back and forth.
Shining Armor's name was not idly chosen. “Hey, buzz off!” He galloped in, his horn creating a small force field around Twilight as he approached that pushed her tormentors away. He slid to a stop and glared at the other little ponies. “Who do you think you are, treating a filly this way?” He stomped a hoof and pointed with it down the street. “Now go on, get outta here! I catch you doing this sort of thing again, and I'll let your parents know about it!”
One was stupid enough to begin a sarcastic “oooh”, but the rest pulled him along hastily; Shining Armor's reputation for following the rules was well-known throughout Canterlot. He watched them go then turned to Twilight, expression softening in an instant.
“Twily,” he said quietly, “are you okay?”
She sniffed, but nodded. She looked at her bags, then up at his face; her own face was still marred with a look of sorrow and it broke his heart to see it. “Everypony makes fun of me for likin' to read,” she said sadly. “I don't like talkin' to other ponies, but is it bad that I like to read so much?”
“No, Twilight. Not in the least.” Shining Armor leaned down to put his face to hers. “You can and should do whatever makes you happy. I don't care what it is. Nopony should make you feel like you're doing something 'wrong'; they're the ones who are bad.” Another sniff from the lavender filly. “Come on Twily, let's wipe those tears and keep going to the library. I heard there's a new Daring Do book out...”
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Twilight Velvet watched the Royal Guardspony bow and step to the side of the door with his face locked into an emotionless deadpan, eyes straight forward but his every ounce of being seeming aware of everything occurring around him. His manner was just one more reminder that here in the Canterlot Castle, Velvet and her husband were an unknown quantity. The ensuing conversation would judge their place here and could very well end with them being thrown out the door, at the very least. She hesitantly raised a hoof to the door in front of them and knocked once. A voice inside bade them enter and she slowly pushed open the door.
A large, regal alicorn paced nervously in the study. Her snow-white coat was complemented by a turquoise, seafoam, blue, and pink mane that seemed to flow as if it were in a soft breeze, and the large sunburst Cutie Mark on her flank named her as easily as her size and shape – her royal highness, Princess Celestia. While the two unicorns had of course seen her at a distance at her various public appearances and even a few times more candidly during smaller functions, the pony in front of them was not quite what they were expecting. Her lips were pursed nervously and she almost seemed to be talking to herself, nodding and shaking her head slightly – not in the manner of insanity, but more along the lines of a difficult speech which she was practicing in her head. Exchanging looks with Velvet, Midnight cleared his throat. Celestia stopped, looking over as if realizing they were there for the first time – and, considering how deep in thought she had appeared to be, perhaps it was exactly that.
“Mrs. Velvet! Mr. Shimmer! Thank you for coming to speak with me.”
“You can call me Midnight,” the stallion said without thinking before clamping his mouth shut. Maybe talking back to the Princess wasn't the best idea.
Velvet thought so too, shooting him a glare, but she added her own correction. “Your Highness, you can keep on calling me Mrs. Velvet, or whatever you prefer. I think, though, that calling me Twilight would get confusing, considering...”
Celestia nodded impatiently. “Yes, yes, that's the subject of our conversation. As for me, you may call me Celestia if you would prefer, but for the oddest reason many ponies insist on 'Your Highness.” A twinkle in her eye indicated that it was the joke it seemed to be and Midnight released a breath he wasn't aware he had been holding.
“Of course, Yo- I mean, Celestia,” he corrected himself sheepishly. She smiled at him and he grinned back until he noticed the flat stare Velvet was giving him. The three stood silently for a few long seconds, none willing to breach the silence until finally all spoke at once.
“So what's this about Twilight coming to your school-” Midnight began, as Velvet chipped in with “Our daughter was very enthusiastic when we discussed the possibility-”, and Celestia's own words were like the beginning of a grand speech, “Twilight Sparkle is an immensely gifted filly whose abilities-”
The three fell silent once more, and then all three abruptly began laughing at themselves. When their mirth ended, Velvet raised one of her hooves and said “If I may?” Celestia nodded in assent while Midnight raised an eyebrow, but she was already off. “Celestia, while our daughter is absolutely thrilled with the idea of being one of your personal students, there is a matter of some concern to me – to both of us – with the wording of your letter.” The Princess seemed almost as if she were going to speak but caught herself, instead nodding again. “Specifically, Your Highness, there was a certain line that worried us. Let me see if I can...” Her horn glowed softly as she used a minor levitation spell to rummage in her saddlebag to pull out a scroll and she unrolled it as it came out. “Aha. Here we are. Right, so you said 'For motives I can not explain in this letter, this is more than just idle choice'. Pardon my bluntness, Celestia,” she said, letting it roll back up with a snap, “But just what are these motives? If you are asking us to allow our daughter to come to harm...”
Celestia raised her hooves defensively but did not seem angry in the slightest as she spoke. Indeed, it was more like regret. “Please, Mrs. Velvet, I will promise in whichever way you want – I will not harm your daughter nor allow harm to come to her if I can help it.”
“If you can help it,” Midnight wondered aloud.
“Yes,” Celestia said quietly. “If I can help it. And I fear it isn't just the typical burnout of a unicorn learning his or her magical talents of which I speak, but something far worse that may harm her.”
Midnight hazarded a glare at the Princess. “Celestia, you can be sure that, Princess of Equestria or not, if you want to put our daughter into danger-”
“I admire your spirit, Midnight, I truly do.” She bowed her head sagaciously. “It is pleasant to know that some foals are being raised by parents as heedless of their own safety compared to their children as you. But-" She paused, then looked at them with a somber expression. "What I tell you in this room may not leave these walls, do you understand me? If you can not accept these terms you may leave and I will not bother you again. But if I hear these facts entering Equestria at large...” Both parents nodded. Celestia took a deep breath. “Very well. It remains to be seen, and for all I know it may end up she is not the filly I am searching for, but I believe little Twilight may hold the fate of Equestria in her hooves. If I am correct, then I will ask that you allow me to set her on a course that may lead to her harm in about 10 years' time. If she is the one and I do not start her down that path, then she will suffer along with the rest of Equestria. The lesser of two evils, as it were.”
The pronouncement was met with dead silence as predicted. The two unicorns stared at her with a look of disgust, terror, and the slightest bit of consideration. Midnight was the first to speak. “If you think I'm going to let you sacrifice our daughter as some sort of weapon--”
He was silenced by a sudden stamp of Celestia's hoof, the noise loud and echoing in the small study. “You think I don't understand the pain of losing family for the greater good?” There was nothing in her face but anger and sorrow in equal amounts. “Once more I will tell you something that must never leave this room – but did you know I used to have a sister? Well, did you?” The two unicorns, expressions stunned, shook their heads. “I did. Luna was both my best friend and the other half of the whole. Together we guided Equestria to an era of peace and understanding, joy and love, never before seen. What has happened up till now, the product of nearly a millennium of effort, we did in a few short years.” The two were watching her with rapt gazes. She knew that it was time to lay the cards on the table, to explain why she was placing such a burden on two loving parents. “I'm sure you've heard of the legend of Nightmare Moon?”
In spite of himself Midnight scoffed. “Yes, we have,” he said dryly, “as has every little foal for generations.”
“You probably haven't heard this part,” Celestia said before sighing sadly. “Nightmare Moon was my sister.”
“Nonsense,” Midnight said after a stunned silence. “It's just an old pony's ta-”
“It is not, Midnight,” Celestia interrupted. “Believe me, I truly wish I could say it was. But it is not. Nearly 1000 years ago something happened to my sister, something I still do not understand, but it caused what was once one of the most caring ponies in the world to become something else. Something greedy, angry, mean, dishonest, and disloyal.” The last words were said in a tone that seemed almost to be recitation but she was not done. “Despite my feelings I knew that there was a choice: my sister, and a few hundred of history's bravest and most selfless ponies, or the world. I chose the world.” A bitter tear ran down her face. “Do not tell me I do not know sacrifice, for I have borne this burden for centuries.”
Celestia watched the two unicorns take in the shocking revelation. Both were utterly awestruck and well they should be; it wasn't every day that your monarch revealed she had an evil sister.
No, not evil, she told herself angrily. Luna is still there. I know it. Nightmare Moon will be purged from her.
“I want you to look at this, my subjects,” she said quietly as she levitated a book down from a shelf full of such tomes. It was bound in brown leather with golden bindings and a stylized unicorn head with an emerald eye was sculpted onto the cover. “This book holds the history of Equestria. The true history, mind you.”
She watched them peruse it, knowing what they would read. In the magical land of Equestria, there were two regal sisters who ruled together, and created Harmony for all the land...
“I'm guessing you were the one that raised the sun?” Velvet asked, and Celestia nodded. “So your sister - Luna? Luna became evil-”
“No,” Celestia snapped. “Luna was not evil. She was misled by her emotions. Nightmare Moon was a wholly different entity.”
“As you say,” Midnight said comfortingly but skeptically, and Celestia sighed.
“I'm sorry. I know it seems I'm defending her actions. Please do not think this the case.” Celestia tilted back her head to stare into the wall, but her vision stretched back many long years into her past. “Nightmare Moon wreaked untold havoc on Equestria. The realm was nearly destroyed. It was only due to the sacrifice of so many that I was able to unleash the Elements of Harmony and stop her reign of terror.”
“Elements of Harmony,” Velvet said musingly. “I could have sworn I've heard of that before.”
“You probably have.” Celestia nodded to an engraving on her wall that showed 5 circles around a six-pointed star. Each had a symbol on it – a lightning bolt, butterflies, diamonds, balloons, and apples. “What these symbols mean is anyone's guess, but these have been associated with the elements for as long as the legend has existed. As for what the Elements are- simply put, it is the core manifestation of the 5 basic positive emotions in the world: Generosity, Honesty, Loyalty, Joy, and Kindness.”
“Aren't there others, though?” Midnight asked. “I mean, there's...” he trailed off, looking confused. Celestia chuckled softly.
“Any other 'good' emotion is some combination of each of these. These are the basic building blocks for happiness.”
“How do you get a 'manifestation' of these, then?” Velvet asked. “It's an intangible. Pardon my curiosity, but I'm something of a researcher. It's my special talent.”
“A good question, Velvet,” Celestia responded sadly. “I will spare you the details, but suffice to say that with enough souls of ponies who exhibit a certain emotion-”
“Are you saying what I think you're saying?”
“That I had to watch hundreds of my subjects choose to serve the greater good of the world rather than die anyway?” Celestia's eyebrows drew down. “Yes, that is exactly what I'm saying.”
Midnight looked troubled. “So Twilight is going to be sacrificed to be part of this superweapon? This is exactly what you assured us you would not do!”
“No. You are incorrect for two reasons.” Celestia raised one hoof. “Twilight's purpose is something else. The Elements must be guided by a catalyst, an Ascended unicorn who channels the purest magic imaginable.” She pointed at the engraving with the upraised hoof. “The star there represents that central catalyst. It also represents that there is a sixth Element: Magic.” She put the first hoof down and raised the other. “The second is that the Elements should still have enough energy left to properly function, and we should not have to refocus them.”
“So you're going to teach Twilight to be this 'catalyst' thingy, give her some pretty gems, and throw her at a nearly-omnipotent evil being?” Velvet snorted. “Forgive me, Your Highness, if this sounds like a fool's errand to me. And why now? Why Twilight? Why not you? If this,” she said, pointing at the tome, “is what happened before, then you were the catalyst once already. Why are you recruiting a little filly to do the job for you.”
Once more Celestia stamped her hoof. “This isn't about me, or your daughter, or any other one pony, Midnight!” she yelled angrily. “Can you not see? When Nightmare Moon escapes, as it is destined to happen, we must confront her! And while it tears me apart to do so, if Twilight is the Element of Magic, then she is the only one who can do it!” The two stared at her with their mouths agape, and she hung her head sadly. “I'm sorry. It truly is the only way. But if you don't wish to believe me, or even if you do and you value your child too much, I will allow you to make the decision as you see fit. I suppose this is me making up for not being able to face Luna's rage earlier when I might have been able to rectify it before Nightmare Moon came to be.”
She pointed at the door. “Please, at least take one week to consider, you two. That is all I can ask. If your decision is to allow Twilight to receive my tutelage, you have my word as ruler of Equestria that I will protect her with my every fiber of being. And if your decision is to keep her with you, cherish every moment you have with her for you never know when you might lose her.”
The two unicorns exchanged a look. “Your Highness,” Midnight said in a pained voice, “If it means the salvation of Equestria-”
“No.” Celestia looked up, her tone and gaze resolute. “I will not have you feel as if you were forced to a decision. Think on it for the next week. Return at that time or any earlier if you feel that you have exhausted all debate on the subject, and inform me of your decision. I can ask no more of you.”
The two bowed and exited and Celestia sighed. She walked to the door, deep in thought.
“Could you send for Princess Cadance, please?” The guardspony nodded and she returned to the cushions in the center of the room, still considering the meeting that had just concluded. She had let emotion rule the day once again, as she had so long ago.
_______________________________________________________
New Canterlot was buried deep in the Green Forest, but its citizens were not isolated. Unicorns with teleportation magic were readily willing and able to bring supplies and goods to the arboreal city and despite its isolation it was a majestic sight to behold. At its center rested the Twilight Castle, the home of Princess Luna; it was an altogether different building from its cousin in Old Canterlot, far away and built along the side of a mountain, but no less regal for all that. But in spite of it all, its sitting monarch was not at all a pleasant ruler.
Within its audience chamber the walls were lined with alternating windows and arches with the dais placed in front of a particularly striking frame. And on the throne atop the raised platform, a glaring dark-blue alicorn lay staring at a petitioner.
“S-so, Your Highness,” the farmer said nervously as his trembling hooves held out paperwork in front of him. “It s-seems that despite my b-best efforts, th-this year's c-crop is going to be r-reduced...”
He trailed off as she stood, her eyes fixated on his and full of malice. “YOUR CONCERNS ARE NOTED, SUBJECT,” she announced in the Royal Canterlot Voice, which lent (on top of an extremely large volume increase) an odd flanging and echo to her voice that, coupled with her appearance, lent the Princess a terrifying air. “BUT IT IS NOT THE CROWN'S DUTY TO RESCUE EVERY INEPT FARMER FROM A BAD CROP.”
“B-but Your Highness,” the farmer sputtered, “As I have t-told you, it wasn't my f-f-fault!”
“SILENCE!” Luna roared as she stood up, the altered voice making what was already a yell into an unbearably loud scream. “WE TOLERATE MANY THINGS BUT DISRESPECTING OUR DECISION IS NOT ONE OF THEM. BEGONE FROM OUR SIGHT OR ELSE YOU WILL FIND YOURSELF IMPRISONED.”
“Y-yes, Your Highness!” the farmer managed to squeak before spinning around and galloping out of the hall. Luna watched him go with a disdainful twist to her lip before sitting back down on the throne.
“You may approach, Celestia,” she said angrily, and the named pink alicorn came up the stairs at the head of the chamber with an expression full of reproach.
“Luna, what... what was that?” Her voice was completely dumbfounded.
“Please, Celestia, do not pretend you are so slow of wit,” Luna responded dryly. “It was some peasant begging me to perform a miracle and rescue his crops.”
“Luna, even if you couldn't do such a thing – but I know you, as well as I, can, if the situation warrants it – it is not our royal duty to threaten our subjects with imprisonment for the mere 'crime' of wanting to speak with us.”
“It was only after he began challenging my decision-”
“He was filled with fear, Luna!” Celestia snapped angrily. “Completely and utterly terrified! And for good reason!”
Luna's eyes slowly became a glare. “Are you saying that I am that reason, Celestia?”
Celestia met her sister's eyes calmly, but also accusingly. “Yes, Luna, that is exactly what I am saying.”
The two stared at each other for a few moments longer before Luna's eyes began filling with tears and the glare became a sorrowful, wide-eyed expression. “'Tia?” Luna managed to mumble quaveringly. “I don't... I can't...” She buried her head in her front legs, sobbing, and Celestia glided forward next to her. As Celestia came closer Luna looked up, and her eyes contained more than just tears and redness; there was also fear. “'Tia, I don't know what's wrong with me. I just get so angry all the time, and I can't help it.”
“Luna,” Celestia said softly as she nuzzled her younger sister. “Sweet widdle Woona,” the old nickname managed to draw a shaking smile from the little alicorn, “I want to help you. I do. But you need to be willing to talk to me.”
“Every time I try,” Luna said despairingly, “Something just happens in my mind and suddenly I've forgotten, or realize I have something else to do, or... There's something wrong with me, dear sister.”
“I'm sure it's just the stress of being out here alone,” Celestia responded in a quiet voice. “It seems like this all started when we decided to divide our leadership so we weren't both in Old Canterlot. Maybe we should be together once again, and-”
“No.” Luna's voice was strangely adamant. “We can solve this, but I want to stay out here. I can do this!”
“Very well,” Celestia murmured in response.
_______________________________________________________
It wasn't just her being moved away from me that caused the change, Celestia realized as she did every time she recounted such memories. When New Canterlot was built, that was also when we stopped holding our nighttime festivals in Old Canterlot. We couldn't trade off on tending the sky so that the other could mingle with the subjects all night. And as ponies stopped having a reason to care about the night, Luna grew more and more resentful about being 'ignored', and-
“Aunt Celestia?”
Celestia jumped as she looked up at the door of the study. A pink alicorn, no more than a teenager, was poking her head around it, watching Celestia and biting her lip nervously. The little alicorn's multi-hued hair was tied back in an all-too-adolescent manner. Celestia took a deep breath before smiling at her, and the other alicorn grinned in response.
“Yes, Cadance, come in.” The small princess opened the door more fully and entered with a bounce in her step. Something was different about her that Celestia couldn't place. Before she could do more than begin to wonder, Cadance spoke.
“You notice anything new about me, auntie?” she gushed, and Celestia shook her head. Cadance twisted around and began wiggling her flank and just as suddenly Celestia knew – Cadance's Cutie Mark had appeared.
“Congratulations, Cadance!” Celestia said warmly. “What's your special talent?”
The smaller princess's grin became even wider. “Love!” she announced simply.
Celestia waited for a further explanation. When none was forthcoming she pursed her lips and tossed her head slightly to encourage a better description. “Which means...?” She prompted.
Cadance began skipping around the room happily. “Auntie, I can make love! Oh, there needs to be the potential there – I can't make two ponies who hate each other love one another – but so long as there's any sort of affection I can make it bloom!”
Celestia nodded but was taken aback. For all intents and purposes, this sounded almost like Cadance was to love what an Ascended unicorn was to magic. In a way, if the love that Cadance made was genuine, then the Elements of Harmony might include a new member – and, a cold, calculating part of Celestia noted mechanically, that Cadance might be used against Nightmare Moon. She banished the thought and smiled empathetically.
“I'm so proud of you, my dear niece,” she said merrily. “Your special talent is to make this world a more loving place and I can think of few tasks more worthy of a Princess.”
Cadance stopped skipping, and giggled at the elder alicorn. “Oh, Aunt- Er, Your Royal Highness, I thank you for your kind words of wisdom.”
Celestia had to laugh, both at Cadance's words and her own seriousness. It was true that she was laying the pomp and circumstance on rather thickly. “I'm sorry, Cadance, I got a bit wrapped up.”
“That's all right, Auntie,” Cadance said consolingly before flopping down heedlessly on the cushions next to Celestia as only a young pony could. “So,” she said curiously as she repositioned herself more comfortably by Celestia's side, “What did you need?”
“I have a favor to ask of you, Cadance,” Celestia said, and Cadance nodded. “I know how good you are with foals, and on top of how much I already knew you were a loving pony, there is your new Cutie Mark. I would ask that you foalsit a very important little pony sometime in the near future.”
“Oooh!” Cadance squealed excitedly. “Who is it? Did Blueblood finally have a foal of his own? Or maybe Fleur? Any foal of Fleur's would be an absolute darling-”
“No one of the royal line, Cadance,” Celestia said carefully. “I know that you are not used to spending much time with the subjects, but-” Celestia was cut off by an even more enthusiastic squeal.
“AUNTIE!” Cadance said both happily and loudly. “Are you saying I can foalsit for a subject?”
“You would not mind?”
“Pffffft! Why would I?” Cadance's front hooves danced in front of her as she gesticulated wildly. “How many times have you told me that is important that the royal family interacts with the subjects of Equestria? And what better way for me to interact with them than to do what I love, and take care of a foal?” Cadance hugged herself happily. “Oh, I just can't wait, this is gonna be the best royal duty EVER!” Suddenly, Cadance paused and looked at Celestia questioningly. “Uh... so who exactly am I gonna be foalsitting? Can I at least meet her, or him, and their parents?”
“All in good time, Cadance,” Celestia said distractedly. “It might not even come to pass. I do not say this to make you feel like I'm lying to you, only to make sure you are aware that this task may yet pass us by.” Celestia sighed, and began the long and arduous process of explaining.
___________________________________________________________
A stack of books surrounded by a levitation field approached the front desk of the Canterlot Library. Quill, the librarian, looked at it confusedly. She watched as it came closer and closer before settling onto the desk in a perfectly-aligned pile.
“Ms. Quill?”
She smiled as she realized to whom the books belonged. She leaned over the counter to see an ecstatic little lavender filly.
“Twilight Sparkle!” Quill was quite familiar with the precocious little foal that was one of the library's most avid readers. “So good to see you again. How are you today?”
The filly giggled. “Fiiiine.” She squirmed a little which added to her already incredible amount of adorableness. “I just wanted to check out some books, please.”
“Of course, dear,” Quill said absently as she began sorting through the pile. Elementary Unicorn Spells (Vol. 3), Basic Magic for Beginning Students, A Treatise on Obscure Unicorne Magicks by Starswirl the Bearded-
“Uh, hold on, Twilight,” Quill said slowly. “Starswirl's spells are very advanced, not for little fillies just learning magic. Are sure you-”
“Well, yeah!” Twilight's head popped over the counter as she stood up against it. “He's the father of obscure unicorn spells, you know! I really liked his theories on the application of ethereal transmutation to-”
“Okay, okay,” Quill said as she a hoof. “I didn't mean anything by it. I was just curious.” She continued to check out the books, which were an odd amalgamation of beginners' magic and highly-advanced spell tomes. Fortunately this wasn't Twilight's first visit to the library by a long shot, so Quill was already aware of the filly's odd preponderance for advanced spellbooks. Maybe she just liked the pictures.
With a satisfied nod she levitated the books to the edge of the desk. “There you are Twilight,” she said. “You're all ready to go. Have fun, and remember the library is always open!”
“Thank you, Ms. Quill!” The books levitated themselves down to floor level and disappeared into a saddlebag, causing it to bulge against its straps. Humming merrily to herself, the filly cantered away. Quill watched her go, enthralled by the aptitude the unicorn foal seemed to exhibit, and it wasn't until a cough interrupted her thoughts that she realized she had another patron. She looked over, and realized it was Shining Armor.
“Hello dear,” she said quickly. “Sorry for the wait. I was just a little distracted. I should have realized you would be around if Twilight was here.”
“That's okay, Ms. Quill,” the teenaged colt said calmly. “I just wanted to check something out.”
Quill raised an eyebrow. Shining Armor was a dutiful and loving older brother by all appearances, but he never struck Quill as much of a reader. “Of course, Shining Armor,” she responded as she quickly regained her balance. “What can I help you with?”
He looked around nervously before levitating a book out of his saddlebag. She looked down at it and saw that it was a history of the Canterlot Royal Guard with, as the cover proclaimed, a guide to becoming a member of the Guard.
She chuckled. So that's what it was. Dutifully she stamped the book and pushed it forward along the counter. “There you go, dear. I hope you enjoy reading it.”
“Thanks, Ms. Quill,” Shining Armor replied, but he cautiously surveyed the room again before depositing it back into his saddlebag. Teenagers get worried about the oddest things, Quill thought to herself fondly as the colt trotted to catch up with Twilight.
_______________________________________________________
“I can't wait to read these books!” Twilight said happily as the siblings walked down the lane. She showed little sign of noticing the extreme weight of her saddlebag, probably due to the excitement of having new books to read.
Shining Armor nodded but kept quiet. He rarely – that was to say, never – joined Twilight in checking out any books, but that one had caught his eye. I will be a Royal Guard! he told himself firmly.
“So what'd you get, BBBFF?” Twilight's voice cut through Shining Armor's thoughts and he gave a start. She stared at him expectantly.
“Uh...” he rubbed one of his front legs with the other's hoof. “Whaddya mean, Twily?”
She giggled. “Don't be silly, I saw you get a book!”
He blushed slightly. “It's nothing important, Twilight. Just something I wanted to read."
”
She walked up to him and looked up into his face. “It's okay, Shining Armor,” she said soothingly, “you can tell me!”
The mere sight of Twilight, one of the most withdrawn and self-confident fillies he knew, trying to comfort him forced Shining Armor to laugh at himself. He was being silly. “Here, Twily,” he said as he levitated the book out of his bag, “I'll show you.”
“The History of the Canterlot Royal Guard...” she read carefully, “With...” She smiled suddenly, then looked up at him happily. “With a guide to becoming a guardspony?!” She bounced from front legs to back legs excitedly. “Oh, Shining Armor, you're gonna be a great Royal Guardspony!”
“You think?” he said earnestly. “I don't know, it's just a dream of mine. A distant dream.”
“You can do anything,” she said firmly. “You're the best colt I know, BBBFF!”
Shining Armor nodded but that brought another worrying thought to mind. He wasn't just the best colt she knew, he was the only one. For some reason he couldn't quite put his hoof on, something about that seemed wrong. As if there was something important about her having friends like all the other fillies. As he had told her, though, he would never force her to do something she didn't want to; and if she didn't want to make friends that was her decision.
_______________________________________________________
Midnight once more found himself walking in circles around the living room of his family's house as he pondered Celestia's charge. Make a decision regarding his own daughter's future, and do so within one week. This would be difficult.
“Midnight?” Velvet came out of the kitchen with a bowl of salad held magically aloft in front of herself. “Are you hungry, darling?”
“Not really,” he said robotically, and she shrugged before taking a seat on the couch. He continued pacing as she munched on the leaves, watching him.
“That's it, Midnight,” Velvet said suddenly, and he drew to a stop and looked at her. “We must discuss this.”
“What's there to discuss?” He finally took a seat on the other couch and crossed his front legs. “We must allow Twily to enroll, if it means the future of Equestria.”
“That's not what I meant, Midnight,” she said reproachfully, and he looked at her in confusion. She took a deep breath before continuing. “Twily is a brilliant little foal. Mightn't we ask her what she thinks?”
“Of becoming the savior of all ponykind?” He snorted. “I doubt that would go over well.”
“Think of the bigger picture, darling,” she said in exasperation. “Or, more accurately, the smaller picture. Celestia's School is known for being an away-from-home experience. It isn't like other foals' schools, where they go for part of the day then come home; she would be expected to live with the Princess.”
“Oh.” Midnight paused, then looked up at her with widening eyes. “Ohh.”
“That's right,” Velvet said. “How far does Twily's desire to learn magic go? Enough that she would leave this comfort zone and the few ponies she knows to live with Princess Celestia?”
“Yet another strike,” Midnight said in annoyance. “If Twily is miserable the entire time she's learning to save the world, then it's not worth it. And besides, she might not even want it that badl-”
“You know she does, darling,” Velvet replied quietly. “How many times has she hinted that she wanted to go to a really good school of magic? How many brochures and informational fliers have you thrown away?”
“Do you think Celestia was manipulating her somehow?” he asked, and he gestured in a placating way with his hooves as Velvet glared at him. “No, no, just hear me out. I'm not accusing her of anything, I'm just saying. How curious that Celestia would pick out Twily, who also happens to have such an amazing wish to be a great spellcaster that she would do pretty much anything.”
“I agree that it adds up oddly,” Velvet allowed, “but it is what it is. I think we agree that we believe Twily should do this thing, but I also think we are in agreement that we should ask her if she wants to do it. Yes?” Midnight nodded. “So be it. We'll ask Twily tonight what she wants. If she wants to become a student at this Gifted Unicorn thing, then who are we to deny her? And the dark truth of why she will really be enrolling...” She grimaced. “Maybe one day, she will know the why of it. For now, we will only take this one step at a time.”
On the longest day of the thousandth year,
The stars will align, and the one who was lost shall once again hold sway.
Weep for the harmony that was lost and hope that it may be found again
Lest the world be cast into eternal nightmare once more
-Sooth Sayer
Royal Adviser and known clairvoyant
Year 232 ANM
