Light began to seep through the windows into the room, signalling the beginning of the day with the rise of the sun. This is when most farm ponies wake up to begin their work, when shifts of weather patrol pegasi end and change, when late workers go to sleep, and for a certain pony? It was just a reminder of how close her exam was.
The young filly known as Twilight Sparkle had not met the face of slumber last night. Despite the insistence of her parents (and her having to pretend to be asleep), she could not get herself to rest. How could she? Her entrance exam was in 4 and a half hours!
She had to be ready for this; she had to re-read all the books her mother brought her, go through all the magic practices she knew, and have a couple of cookies while she could! What? Cookies calmed the young filly.
Twilight kept pacing around in her room. She tried her best to do what she intended, but her nerves were just making everything impossible, and it was infuriating to the nth degree.
“Why am I not surprised?” Said an amused voice across the room. Twilight leapt out of shock and would have hit the roof if it wasn't for a gentle magenta glow lighter than her own that surrounded her in the form of a sphere. She turned her head to look at the cause of her shock and saviour from a serious headache with a sheepish smile. The kind of smile a foal makes when caught doing something they shouldn't, like stealing cookies from the cookie jar….okay maybe she had a problem with cookies.
Her dear B.B.B.F.F (Big Brother Best Friend Forever), Shining Armor, stood near her door with a smile on his dorky face. His golden guard uniform gave an extra glow when the rays of the sun hit it (much to her eye's dismay). She forgot her brother woke up early for duty…Crapbaskets she's forgetting things now?
“Uh, Good morning Shiny?” She said weakly, preparing for the scolding to come.
“Good morning, Twili,” Shining said as he trotted forward. He put her down when he was right in front of her and before she could say something, she felt a brush work its way through her mane.
She blinked once or twice before she looked up at her brother with a confused look in her eyes; why was he brushing her mane? And why was he not scolding her?
As if on cue, he answered the unasked question. “Hey, Twilight, it's okay. I'm not going to scold you or anything. I get it. And I expected you to be awake.”
Her withers relaxed, and she leaned slightly into the brush now. “You do? And you did?”
He let out an amused snort as he nodded. “Of course, Faust knows that I couldn't sleep at all on my first day of training. I'm not surprised that you couldn't sleep with an exam on the horizon.”
“But this is different Shiny! You couldn't immediately fail on your first day, and you already had a cutie mark about protection! I only get one chance with this test, and I have to be ready, yet here I am, forgetting things and not being able to revise any of the material or practice! What if I fail? What if my talent isn't related to magic?”
Shining Armor simply let out an amused snort before he took a knee. Now with him closer to the level of the filly, he gave her a comforting nuzzle before he spoke.
“Listen Twili, it's going to be okay. You're going to pass, and if you don't, there's always another chance.”
“But what if I'm not meant to do magic?”
“Twili, what do you love to do whenever you have free time? Other than spending time with me.”
“Well…I like to study and read books.”
“And what is your favourite subject to study?”
“Well…if we go into specifics it will be mana flow magic theory.”
He smiled and leaned so his face was right in front of Twilight's. “And would you say that pursuing such studies is something that you're passionate about?”
“I guess? But what has that to do with anything?”
He chuckled and shook his head slightly as if she was missing a vital point. Twilight was sure she wasn't, so what was funny?
“Hey! This isn't funny Shiny!”
“No, no it's not. I'm sorry Twili, it just reminded me of something. Twilight, your talent would be something you get by pursuing your passion. We may not know when or how you'll find it and get your cutie mark but it's something you'll get while doing what you love. And since you love magic and it's your passion, can you tell me what's more likely than not?”
She paused at that. Since when did her dorky brother become wise? This was the same colt who struggled with basic algebra. Nonetheless, she did take a moment to think about it and then she answered. “It's more likely that it would be related to magic than not…but what if it isn't?”
“Who cares? It would still be about something you love and are passionate about, plus it doesn't define you.”
She took a moment and stared at her brother before she smiled and hugged him. It wasn't very comfortable, thanks to his uniform, but the gesture still meant a lot.
Eventually, she broke the hug and couldn't help but ask a question that still lingered in her mind. “Why did you brush my mane?”
He simply smiled as he answered, “Your mane gets frazzled when you're obsessing over something, Twili.”
“Does not!” She protested. That can't be true now, can it?
“Does do!” He said as he ruffled her mane with a big smile, undoing any work that he might have done to it. His smile proved to be infectious. Twilight felt her cheeks lift and her worries ease. They weren't gone, it was just a tad bit easier to deal with them
“Now I'll have to go or I'll be late. I'll see you after the exam okay?”
“You won't be coming?” Twilight felt her smile falter. She understood why; her brother is a part of the royal guard. She was still disappointed that her B.B.B.F.F wouldn't be there for her in case things went right or wrong.
“I'll try Twili. I'm not sure if the captain will allow me, but I'll try. And If I can't? Then I'll take you out for a treat later on, no matter the results. Okay?”
The young filly nodded and gave her brother another hug, “Thank you Shiny. I needed that.”
She relaxed as she felt him hug her back. “Least I could do for the best sister ever. Now go get some sleep. You don't want to be exhausted when the exam comes, do you? And don't forget to brush your mane!”
She giggled before she nodded and headed to bed. She waved goodbye to her brother as he left the room, he waved back as he closed the door with his magic.
Twilight took a deep breath and wrapped herself in the covers before she closed her eyes and welcomed slumber with open arms. Soon it all faded to black despite the abundance of light.
— — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —
It was time. She was now at the academy, and her test was just about to begin. She looked at both of her parents who simply gave her nervous smiles of their own, doing little to assure her. She wished Shining Armor was here.
Soon, the sound of doors opening caught her attention as 4 ponies walked into the classroom; they all took a seat in the highest (and last) row. As the yellow mare clicked her pen, the door opened and a cart with a big egg was placed in the room.
“Well then Miss Sparkle, show us what you got,” said the same yellow mare while the others already began to write notes down.
Twilight gulped and turned towards the egg. She assumed that the task was to make it hatch. It would have been a relatively easy task but the size of this egg managed to intimidate the filly. It was the same size as her, if not a bit bigger!
“Miss Sparkle, we are waiting for you,” Spoke the same mare once again. She started getting on Twilight's nerves. Nonetheless, she took a deep breath, remembered her brother's words and focused on the eggs. No matter what, he'll still be there for her once this is over.
She focused her magic on the egg, letting the invisible flow of magic make its course and wrap around the egg. She willed it to form and seep into the egg yet…it disobeyed. The magic slipped from the egg and dissipated much to the befuddlement of the young filly. What just happened?
A couple of coughs came from the back, adding to the stress that she was feeling. In panic and fear, Twilight tried again, with much less focus and more emphasis on power. She knew that raw power was seldom the answer but she was desperate now. She had to give her all in this, for herself and her family and the effort they put through to get her to this point…yet the result was the same.
Twilight felt herself get crushed by the weight of failure. Her hunches fell and she felt tears forming in her eyes. She did her best to keep her voice from, breaking as she spoke, “I'm sorry for wasting your ti-”
Before Twilight could finish her sentence, a loud boom was heard from the sky, shocking everyone and startling the filly… then she felt the power surge from her, shooting towards the egg and hatching it. Though Twilight didn't know that.
The magic surge expanded her senses. She heard the world and saw it in a way she never knew before. Unconnected to her body untethered from the world. Twilight flew into a void of space, ever-changing and uncaring. Somehow, neither hot nor cold, neither loud nor quiet. It was chaos, yet it was balanced, an illogical harmony between the two. Twilight didn't get to dwell on it nor view her surroundings, though. The peace of the moment was interrupted by a laugh …or to be more accurate, Twilight's attention turned towards a laugh that already began.
It was a voice she never heard before. It was feminine, soft and melodic yet it was also booming and energetic. It was powerful. It was so powerful that Twilight felt herself freeze in fear. Whatever or wherever she was, it was not meant to be here. She was not supposed to be here. Whatever semblance of control of herself was gone and she felt her magic go haywire.
She tried to gain a grasp of herself or view her surroundings but it went nowhere. She tried and tried and then she failed and failed, each attempt filled with more panic and urgency than the last…then without warning the laughter stopped
“Oh? A sonic rainboom and a magic surge at once? Fate smiles upon us once again!” said the voice once again. This time Twilight felt the presence of the speaker, and they were close. Way closer than Twilight would have liked.
“Thank Fate not friend. Much work is left to be done. A chance presented itself and we must seize it. Let us begin," said a booming masculine voice. A voice that made Twilight feel like every bit of the filly that she was. It was deep and grandiose, and despite the mirth that it had for the other speaker, it still made Twilight feel like prey. She felt every muscle in her body contort and spasm in a desperate attempt to get away, to flee and seek the embrace of her family or anyone. Yet, she did not move an inch.
“Indeed,” said the feminine one. “And it's all thanks to you little Filly.”
Twilight thoughts were the ones to freeze this time, she was as still as a rock mentally and physically. “I promise you this little one, you will not have a frightful dream ever again. I'll reward you further should I find you upon my return.” it was behind her. The owner of the voice was standing right behind her. Wherever that was. She just knew it. She tried to turn, to thrash to scream but to no avail. She felt it draw closer and closer…and soon she felt its touch upon her withers.
Her vision returned, she saw the normal world again, and she had control of her body once again. She wanted to cry, she wanted to run to her mother and hide and cry. Faust knows she would've if it wasn't for the face that she saw in the normal world. It was a face that everypony knew. It was Princess Celestia, the ruler of Equestria and the princess of the sun.
Twilight's mouth went agape at the sight. She did not know what to say, what to think or what to do. So she simply gaped. Why was the princess here? Did she hear the voice too?
It was then that Twilight’s attention went to her surroundings. The egg was gone, the classroom was a mess, everypony except the princess looked like they were recovering from a stampede and there was a hole in the roof…
Twilight felt the shame rise within her. She lost control, she didn't know where all the magic came from but she lost control and she destroyed the building to some level. She had to apologize and worry about the voice later.
“P-Princess I'm So So-” Before Twilight could get her apology out, she was interrupted by the great monarch.
“Twilight Sparkle, You have a very special gift. I don't think I ever came across a unicorn with your raw abilities before. But you need to learn to tame them through focus and study.”
The princess knew her name? How did she know it? Heck let's ignore that, THE PRINCESS KNEW HER NAME. Twilight was about to make a response but felt her body go stiff. The presence that she felt before, no, both of them. She felt both of them in the sky. Whatever attention she had paid to the princess was gone and dread started to fill the filly’s heart.
The princess’s words fell on deaf ears as Twilight looked through the hole in the roof, where she felt it all. She was not the only one to look there.
Audible gasps filled the room as a sight never seen before came to be. The Moon was in the sky and began to cover the sun, its smaller size prevented it from covering its entirety but it gave it an intimidating Sun’s corona giving it an intimidating presence.
The colour of the Moon was swapped, where there was once silver and grey was now a threatening black, and the mare on the moon gained a glowing silver sheen, somehow visible through the darkness. It was a scary display. What was going on?
Twilight quickly looked at the princess for answers but found the princess frozen as well, her eyes as small as a pin and her breath accelerating.
Before anypony could speak, another impossibility occurred. 3 pairs of enormous wings made of stars and what seemed to be the night itself emerged from behind the Sun’s corona, spreading and reaching out to cover most of the sky. The upper and lower pairs spread to a certain area before stopping as if they grasped something, and then, they pulled what happened to be 4 stars towards the moon.
“No- this can't be!” Is all Twilight or anyone in the class heard before a Bright flash blinded everyone. Twilight was sure she heard crying afterwards but she didn't know who it belonged to.
With the light gone, so was the mare on the moon. Its image gone within the blink of an eye.
No one spoke or moved. All shocked and in various levels of fear and wonder. The teachers at the back decided to escape, or so Twilight assumed thanks to the sound of the doors opening and closing quickly. It wasn't worth the attention, however. The mighty roar that shook everyone to their core was. It was only then that Twilight noticed a dragon hatchling clinging to her leg while crying in fear.
They never got the chance to see the source of the roar nor where the mare on the moon went. The princess quickly called out to them and ordered them to huddle around her. Twilight didn't need to move as she was already close to the princess. Soon, a golden light filled her vision and within a moment, Twilight, her parents, the hatchling, and the princess were in an unfamiliar environment.
It was a cottage of sorts, it was in the middle of a town which was odd but acceptable….wait town??!
Twilight quickly looked at the princess and spoke “Princess, my brother isn't here!” She didn't know where here was, but she knew it wasn't Canterlot. And it didn't take a genius to know that Canterlot was not a safe place to be if they escaped from it.
“I'm sorry my little pony, but I can't return there, it's too risky. Hide here until I return. Please, it's for your own safety.” The Princess left no room for questions as she disappeared in another Golden glow.
Twilight turned to her parents with a worried look before she huddled with them and embraced them. She was afraid, she wanted her brother, and she didn't know what to do. All she could do was pray for her brother's safety.
— — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —
Hours passed and day turned into night with no news of Canterlot nor the Princess. Her parents did their best to soothe her and the dragon hatchling that clung to her but it was a fruitless endeavor. Even the fact that she got her cutie mark did little to cheer the filly up, and only made her wish that her brother was here even more.
However, the wait did not last for much longer. Soon a gathering was held in the town’s center. Seeing no harm in joining, they all went to check it out.
There in the middle of the gathering, stood two ponies. One of them was a unicorn, and the other was a pegasus. Both wore dark blue cloaks with the insignia of the moon etched into its side. The two ponies looked proud and gleeful as they addressed the crowd.
The first pony, a stallion with a lime green coat and a yellow mane, took a deep breath, a wide grin spread across his face as he addressed the crowd with glee, “Citizens of Ponyville, rejoice! A new era has dawned upon Equestria. The reign of Princess Celestia has come to an end!”
The other pony, a pegasus with a light blue coat and shimmering wings, stepped forward with a triumphant air, her voice strong and brimming with pride. “Queen Nightmare Moon has ascended, and she has rightfully claimed the throne! Equestria is now under her magnificent rule!”
The crowd gasped, and mummers soon spread among them, many with voices shaking with fear. Twilight may have been silent, but she was shaking as well. The two ponies exchanged gleeful glances, they seemed to revel in the uncertainty and fear spread among the crowd
The green-coated stallion beamed, “This is a momentous occasion, a time of celebration! We stand on the brink of a new era where the night is given its dues! Where true balance and harmony are to be met!”
The pegasus spread her wings wide, her voice filled with pride. “Embrace the night, for under our Queen’s rule, we shall witness the wonders of our dreams!”
The crowd began to stir, fear making its presence known now that the initial shock was gone. The two ponies stood tall, with grins on their faces.
Twilight's own heart sank. She didn't find herself caring about who ruled Equestria or what the future held. She simply wanted her brother. If Equestria was under this Queen’s rule now then that meant that Princess Celestia was defeated…why? Why was any of this happening? Why couldn't Shiny be with them? She wanted her brother!
As Twilight began to tear up, fear and worry overtaking her heart along with exhaustion, the the loud chant coming from the two ponies who spoke before was the last thing she heard before she decended into blissful sleep
“All Hail the Queen! All Hail the Queen! All Hail the Queen!”
