The Apprentice

   While I walked with the two guards to the palace, I watched the castle's residents closely. They gave me a look or two, but none of them took it any further than that, unlike the first time.

   We arrived at the main courtyard, once there, I met the Well Dressed Colt again: the one that greeted the whole gang and myself when we first arrived.

   The guard with a scar stopped once we reached the palace doors, then he turned to face me. "This is your stop."

   The guard with a mild accent turned as well, then laughed. "Sure is, it's been fun boy'o, but you don't need us anymore."

   "Yes, we have other duties we must attend to." The guard with a scar added. "So, we must leave you to this fellow."

   "A most benevolent of salutations to you, Sir." The Well Dressed Colt said in a well mannered tone.  "I will be your escort throughout the palace grounds for tonight."

   He motioned for me to follow him. "Sir's dormitory is just this way."

   "Alright then, lead the way." I lightly waved back at the two friendly guards.

"You two have a good night, and thanks for all your help. You guys really hit it out the ball park today."

   "No worries kid, it was our pleasure." The guard with an accent bent his head closer towards the one with a scar, then whispered to him. "What, in Saint Gale, is a Ball-Park?"

   He just shrugged, then returned my wish for a good night.

"You have a good one as well, and don't worry, we will be there if you ever need an escort again."

   I nodded to them, then I turned to follow the colt. I froze, then turned back to ask the guards for their names, since they never said who they were exactly; but, they both had already went about to their nightly duties and were no longer in sight.

   I left hoping we would meet again, since I found them very likable fellows.

   "I am Fernsworth." The colt told me, while we walked on through the main doors.

"I am the personal butler of her majesty Princess Celestia. If sir is ever in need of any assistance, please do not hesitate to call on me."

   "Finally, we meet officially, I'm Argyle by the way."

   "Indeed, you are, Sir. The princess heard much about Sir's many accomplishments and she has placed much faith in Sir's abilities, in result."

   I did not know whether to take that as a complement, or a warning that I had only peaked Celestia's interest and expectations.

   "You don't say?" I asked with my right eye brow up, while watching for his answer.

   "Indeed, I do, Sir." Fernsworth said with that same mannered tone, while smiling happily.

   After seeing his reaction, I chose to assume it was both a complement and a warning.

   I walked with him through the palace's huge white halls. Down one great hall I saw many huge stained windows. Each one told a story to their oun. One looked like two alicorns flying in a circle, like a yin and yang of light and dark. I realized it was the window that showed Celestia and Luna together, before NIghtmare Moon happened.

   "This is the Hall of Equestrian History." Fernsworth said.

"If Sir would but alternate his sight, Sir would see our full history. From the times of peace, to the times of unrest, to our more modern time, it all can be seen here forever captured in iron and glass."

   "Incredible, this must have taken centuries to complete." I observed with astonishment.

   They really were a true sight to behold. Some of them even moved, like the events were happening as they did all those years ago, right before my eyes.

   "Indubitably, Sir, but the antiquity of this hall extends far before this millennium."

   After a few minutes of walking down the Hall of History, we turned into a hallway that looked familiar. I realized I was near the palace library. Twilight would go there every chance she got to find knowledge on something and she knew the guard protecting it, so he would let her in.

   "The library seems to have caught Sir's attention." Fernsworth observed.

   "Yes, this is the place that Twilight always comes to when she visits the palace."

   I recalled that there was a wing completely dedicated to Starswirl in that very hallway. That drew my attention, and it fueled my sudden need to gain access to the inside of that iron gate.

   "Assuredly, with good reason Sir, as this is the hall to the Canterlot Library. It houses one of the largest collections of knowledge in all of Equestria, challenged only by the ancient library vaults of the Crystal Empire, or indubitably more so, by the hallowed world archives of the Four Kingdoms."

   "Great, when can I get access to this wing, if I may ask?" I was eager to at least sate some of my burning curiosity.

   Fernsworth cleared his throat.

"Beg Sir's parden, unequivocally, the library is open to all; however, I'm afraid, Sir may have to anticipate to gain access to the Starswirl wing, as only the highest of trusted individuals are ever allowed entry."

"Then I will have to wait for Luna to gain access."

"I see, thank you."

   "Indubitably, Sir. And if I ever so may, Sir's new mentor can always accompany Sir into the wing, should her highness ever so choose."

   "We can only hope, Fernsworth."

   "With baited voraciousness, Sir." He half smiled.

   I laughed lightly at that.

   After we reached the end of the library hall, Fernsworth turned to the left, and I followed.

  "Sir's residential is just down this hall." He said as we walked on.

   We came upon a huge white hallway that crossed with two other hallways, but my room was further down from the intersection into a hallway of its own. No windows could be seen in any of those halls. I assumed at the time that meant I must have been near the palace's center.

   We reached the door, it was large and it, unlike the other doors, was rather plain. It looked like a standerd solid wooden door, with iron fastenings and a forged lock.

   "Here we are, Sir." Fernsworth opened the door with a key he took from his left front pocket. When we walked into the room, I noticed all of my belongings were already organized inside the room.

   "I hope the accomodations are to Sir's liking? I personally ensured this room would resemble, as much as possible, to  the lavishly adorned domicile in Sir's previous occupancy with madam Twilight."

   I walked to the center of my new room, then I took the whole thing in. The room was very large in comparison to the one I had at twilights. Big book shelves filled with books familiar and strange, lied about the walls of each side of the room. The same writing desk that acted as my nightstand at Twilight's stood near my new bed; it had fresh ink pots, quills, and scrolls neatly adorning it.

   The new bed was just my size. It had obviously been tailored to me somehow, as it was the largest bed I had seen in my short time in Equestria. A beautiful comforter lied folded upon the bed and looked freshly pressed. It was white, embroidered with a wide array of Equestrian flowers and fawna, and it looked just the right thickness for summer or winter.

  "You did all this? It is marvelous." I said mesmerized.

   "I mearly adorned this room with Sir's personal belongings. It was my pleasure, Sir."

   I noticed the only new objects in the room were the bed, some books of mine, and my writing desk. I saw lines on the wooden floor. It looked as if an older bed had been replaced resently for that newer one.

"That means there was someone living here before me. Whom, I wonder?"

   "Who lived in this room before me?" I turned to face Fernsworth.

   "Astute as aways, Sir. This was madam Twilight's room, before she departed to her current place of residence. Her majesty Celestia, imformed the staff to prepare this room for you."

   Fernsworth walked towards the door.

"I am afraid, we must now part ways for the time, Sir, as I have many other duties to attend. I trust Sir is comfortable?"

   "Yes, thank you for showing me to my room. You have a good night Fernsworth." I nodded to him in appreciation.

   "Very good, Sir." He bowed. "A most pleasent of nights to Sir as well." Then he closed the door, while slowly walking backwards.

   I walked around the room, and out of everything, it was my new dresser that caught my eye. It was a real piece of artwork. A seamless décor of what looked like a whole forest landscape was cut into the hardwood center of the dresser.

   Different pieces of wood were arranged in wide array, melding and colouring each part of the dresser. One type made the trees in the forest on the right door, another kind made the grass planes on the left door, and other types formed the rock and snow capped mountain scape behind both scenes.

   It also had vines cut into the outer edges of the dresser, making it seem as if they were growing from the floor, wraping around, and encompassing the whole dresser. The vines also had a wide array of unique wood types pieced together, making each vine its own beauty.

   I walked over to it, then I opened the dresser's doors. It contained my whole wardrobe from back at Twilights.

   As I checked each of my pockets, I felt something large and heavy in my left pocket. I dug in, then brought out, astonishingly, my ipod. I had given it to spike before we left, so that surprised me. I would have been worried I took it by accident, were it not for the letter I also found in that pocket. I opened it and read the following.

"Dear Argyle.

By the time you read this, I will be back at home with Twilight and you will be living in the palace. You are probably wondering how you have your ipod by now, don't worry: I snuck it into your pocket when we all hugged at the carrige, before we left.

I am still riding in the carrige as I write this, so I will send this to you when I get the chance.

Anyway, thank you for giving your ipod to me, but I think that you're gonna need it more than I will; plus, I don't even know how to recharge it anyway. You were the brains behind that. Hey, maybe you could teach me how to?

Thank you again, and see you soon!

Your thoughtful friend, Spike.

Ps. I can still listen to it when I visit, right?

Your now concerned and thoughtful friend, Spike.

Pps. Twilight says to keep on your best behavior.

Ppps. Oh, Rarity also says to make sure you send her any clothes that get teared.

Pppps. And Pinkie says

Pps. Everyone says good night."

   "Just warms the heart." I said outloud. I thought for a moment. "I wonder what Pinkie said that spooked him?"

   I put my ipod down on my writing desk, with the neatly folded letter near it. I went back to my dresser, and with a little work, I soon took off my 19th century attire, then I retired to my lounging clothing.

   I walked over to one of the book shelves and looked at some of the books. I quickly chose one, then I went to lie down on my new bed to read for a time. It was a rather large book, with the title "The Dawn That Never Broke" in sun yellow on its black front.

   I opened the book's cover, and read the introduction.

"A biography of a pony who lived during the Equestrian civil war, huh?" I muttered to myself, wondering if it was any good.

   I turned to chapter one then started reading.

   That book was chalk-full of huge battles. It also had a personal account of each event that led up to the war, and its whole aftermath; but, I never got to read that far in just that night.

   After about the tenth page, I nodded off. I suppose the events of that day cought up with me right then. That was the last sound nights sleep I ever had.

                                                                     ***

   "Argyle?" Luna whispered. "Art thouest- I mean, are you asleep?"

   My eyes shot open. They took in the cave's moist mossy walls, then gravitated to the dark alicorn laying at my left side. "I was just very deep in thought." I whispered back. "Why, are you alright?"

   "Yes, I'm fine now." She whispered in answer.

   I looked out towards the cave's entrance. It was still dark out.

   "What time is it?" I wanted to know how long we had stayed in that cave.

   "Three hours passed midnight." She answered.

"Not but a minute ago, I noticed the moon's orientation was wrong for the hour. So, I was just about to reorient it, when it fixed itself. I am perplexed by it."

   "It fixed itself, how?" I raised an eye brow, I too was perplexed.

   "Two ways I know of, ether Tia did it ... or..."

   "Or?" I was unsettled by her pause.

   "Father fixed it." Luna answered wide eyed, as if hope had then ignited in her eyes.

  I shrugged. "Your father? Well, let's hope so. If he noticed something was wrong, then he might come here to check it out; and, we could really use his help."

   "We can only hope." She smiled reassuringly.

   "Well, at any rate, nearly four hours have passed since I came here; with two and a half hours for you. It's hard to believe, but time really does fly."

   "Indeed it does." She whispered, then paused for a minute. "Um, by the way, I had a dream."

   "Oh, what of?" I smiled.

  "You had graduated from your training, and there was a big celebration held in your honor. My sister was going to give you the title of court mage, with a speech and all, but you turned it down. You said that position belonged to Twilight Sparkle, and you could never take it knowing that. Tia was a little upset later that night, as she told me she spent a week getting that speech right."

   Luna laughed lightly. It was wonderful hearing her laugh again. I was afraid what had happened before would have embittered her, but she, as aways, persurvered. Luna was strong like that.

   I kept smiling, letting her continue.

   "But she understood non the less. We soon came to be standing outside on my room's balcony. There, I asked you what you were going to do now that your training was over. You smiled, then pointed out towards the setting sun. I awoke after that."

   "Man, my dream self sounds like a rude guy." I laughed. "He didn't even give you a straight answer."

   "Well, he did drink all of the punch." She smirked and laughed with me.

   I looked down at her figure, she was completely healed. I sighed inwardly, and felt great joy, even though everything else felt like jello. Every second I spent in that cave was in pain.

   First it was my mutilated arm, then It was the sharp pins and needles feeling all over my body, but right then it was beginning to feel like I was suffering from magic overuse.

   Pushing yourself too far is very dangerous when it comes to magic, as in doing so you will risk a Burn-out. You do not want a Burn-out.

"Oh yeah great, Burn-out sickness, now it's just a fucken party in here. Well ... at least Luna is alright, and that is enough for me."

   I was very close to a painful death and I knew it, but fortunately for me, Luna was there.

   Luna caught on that I was in some trouble. "You pushed yourself too far by healing me, did you not?" She looked a little angry, but more concerned.

   "I think we all were run a little thin today." I answered in a raspy voice, as it was getting harder to breathe. "But, I will be fine in a few."

   It felt as if the muscles in my chest were tightening like a corset. "Besides, it worked and I'm still here, so it's fine."

   Luna shot up from her place of rest, and stomped her hoof on the floor in defiance.

"Nay! Tis not fine, neither will you be fine in a mear few minutes. Twill take hours for you to recuperate in your current state."

"Hours? No way, we have been here for too long. I will not risk her nag of a sister finding us here, if she does..."

   I knew it would all be over if the Empress caught us hiding in that cave. That was something I would happily die trying to prevent.

   "We can't stay here for that long. This place is a corner just waiting for us to be forced back into."

   "Even still, you must rest." She came closer towards me. "We can deal with Tia later."

   I waved her away. "No, we really have been here too long as it is..." I tried to stand. "I'm fine -ugh- see?"

   My leg muscles shot a knife of pain up to my spine, then gave way under my wight. I stumbled, but Luna caught me.

"You may fool yourself Argyle, but you cannot fool me."

   I was laying on her back, utterly helpless. Even the slightest movement made me regret everything magic, as the pain was horrific.

   Luna turned her head to face me then shook it. "You really must be more careful." She slowly walked over to a better spot to set me down, near the back end of the cave. "Have you forgotten what I told you about pushing yourself?"

   "Yeah, infernos, lots of pain, death, et cetera." I rolled my eyes, but gasped as a shock of pain shot through my shull.

   Luna sighed. "A lot of good it's obviously doing you."

   "Really, I'll be alright." I smerked through gritting teeth. "It's gonna take more then -ow- mere Burn-out sickness to stop me."

   She huffed. "Well of that, I have little doubt." We reached the end of the cave, then she gently let me down.

   My whole being then felt like it went through a meat tenderizer. It was very hard to think straight with such pain.

   Luna frowned, her expression was full of worry. As her horn glowed, a wave of warmth washed over me. The intense pain suddenly melted away.

"A calming spell, huh? Well, at least I can rest now."

   I looked at her, with the pain almost gone, I could think a bit clearer. I wished it had not, as pictures of what had happened before flashed across my mind. Each and every horror returned again to haunt. That grin, the taste of iron, what my friends and Celestia had become, all of it, it was all an utter horror.

   "It's going to be alright." I said outloud. Although it sounded like I was telling Luna that, it was more directed towards myself.

   "I am the one who should be saying that to you." She gently spoke. "Sleep, I will keep watch." Luna narrowed her eyes. "And, do not move from there, even if you gain the strength too."

   "Move? I can barely move my fingers." I laughed lightly.

   She smiled. "Good, uh, that you wont move I mean." She turned her head, and walked to the cave's entrance.

   My exhausted everything sreamed at me that moment, then failed me, as I lied my head down on some soft cave moss.

"I guess it's now time for me to board the useless train, ugh, this cave will be our tomb if I don't finish this soon. I need to continue where I left off, so for now, I will rest."

   It only took a few moments to drift away. As rem embraced my tired mind, and calm eased my stricken and battered figure, my past flooded my thoughts yet again, for the last time.

                                                                ***

                                                            Day one.

"Hark, Student!" Suddenly boomed from the right side of my room.

   "Holy shit!" I nearly jumped out of my skin, as I yelled from the shock of such a rude awakening.

"Heareth my royal voice and arise! Thy's Mentor commands it!"

   I fell onto the cold stone floor. I franticly shot up to my feet, as my half asleep mind tried desperately to find the source of such a terrible noise.

   My shock widened eyes settled on a dark alicorn standing near the doorway with an unimpressed expression.

"LUNA?! What, are you trying to give me a heart attack?!" I yelled inside my mind.

   "Pleasant morning." Luna said bleakly.

   "Right, good morning, Luna." I answered with a forced smile.

   "Tis Mentor to thou." She stiffend her stance and angled her head slightly upwards.

"Remember it, for I shant repeat it."

"Eh, what? Did I do something wrong? Maybe she's just having a bad day? I mean, I couldn't have been the cause of that... Right?"

   I just narrowed my eyes at her, as I could not get anything else but heat from her gaze. It was as if she hated me. I had no idea why.

   "Alright then, what now, Mentor?" I crossed my arms over my chest defensively. I already did not like how that day was going.

   "Follow." Luna turned, then started walking towards the door.

   "You want me to walk around the palace half dressed?" I gestured at myself with my head tilted to the side, while still in my lounging clothes.

   She turned her head to look at me, then rolled her eyes.

"Very well, robe thyself, but make haste." She turned her head back, then continued towards the door. "Oh, and wareth thy's Student robe."

"A robe, really? Ugh."

   "You're kidding me, right?" I said candidly, while shrugging.

   "I jest not." Luna did not even turn her head to say that, as she just kept walking.

   I shook my head. Once I opened my dresser, I sighed. The robe was more like a cloak meant for a potato rather than a wizard.

"Ah, great. I swear, if I am called a spud mage while I ware this shit..." I frowned, then grabbed the robe and my other clothes.

   "I trust thou canst find the Starswirl wing by thyself?" Luna stood at the doorway.

   "Yes." I was getting my clothes on, so Luna could not see just how much of a frown I was waring.

   "Thy's Mentor shall await there." I heard the patter of hooves on stone, as she walked away.

"Oh yeah, I can't wait." I grumbled.

"Well, look at the bright side Argyle. You get to go inside that wing now, and you didn't have to wait long ether."

   I then only had the robe left to put on. After I pushed back some colourful words, I sliped it on. It had a loose fit, but it could have been worse. It looked like I was waring a brown sack cloth cloak with a hood.

   I laughed, as I thought of what Rarity would have said if she saw me with that robe on.

"Of all of the worst possible things you could ware, that has to be. The. Worst. Possible. Thing!" I pictured her pulling that lounging sofa, out of nowhere like she always does, and fainting into it.

   While chuckling, I got my shoes on, then I walked out of my room.

   I remembered the way to the Starswirl wing, but half of me wanted to take his time getting there, while the other half did not want to test Luna's already thin temperament.

"Just who spit in her alfalfa sprouts today anyway?" I wondered, then I froze in place wide eyed at what I had just thought.

"Mother of god. Now I'm starting to think like them."

   I rested my forehead on both my palms as I stood there, while dragging them over my face downwards stretching it. After stopping halfway, my fingers were over my mouth pulling it into a half frown.

   Normally, I would not have been so apposed by the thought, but I knew what it implied. I continued onward, pushing the thought back into my mind.

   I arrived after walking for ten minutes. Despite Fernsworth making it look easy, the palace hallways were quite tricky to navigate.

   The guard at the gate looked at me when I approached him.

"Oh hey there, you must be Luna's Student. She told me I would know it when I saw you. And boy, was she right. You humans do dress strange."

"Oh she did huh? Heh, I'm gonna mess with you for that one."

   I stood there with a bleak expression. I waited for a solid ten seconds, staring at him without blinking.

   "Oh, I guess you want in huh?" He gestured at the gate behind him.

   I nodded very slowly. While still holding my blank expression, I widened my unblinking eyes  as they stared right into his.

   I must have looked like a crazy person, given the weirded out look the guard was starting to give me.

   "Uh, alright. Just let me get the lock for you." He went to unlock the gate, while I continued to stare at him.

   When he opened the gate and motioned for me to go in, I walked forward slowly, taking care to not break eye contact with him.

   While shrugging at me with obvious discomfort, the guard's head moved slowly backwards with each step I took. I froze once I was standing near him, still meeting his eyes with beams. I finally broke eye contact after slowly looking forward, then I finished walking into the wing.

   He shut the gate quickly once I was inside, with a loud metal clang.

   "Piffff." I cracked lightly, as I held back laughter. "Oh yeah, I'm going to hell."

   Still smiling wide after the stunt I pulled, I looked around. It was rather big for a whole wing just dedicated to one mage.

   A massive hour glass stood in the center of the whole wing. Huge dusty book shelves with scrolls and tomes alike, ran throughout the whole wing. It almost looked like a library to itself.

   I went to get a closer look at the huge hour glass. It was beautiful. The sand glowed with a light blue hue while it floated up the glass. That was strange to me. I looked up and saw the hour glass had the letters "PM" cut into the metal top, while after looking down the metal bottom had "AM" instead.

  "When it's day time the sand must flow up, but at night it must flow down. Then that means this can be compared to an analogue clock back home." I whispered. "That is definitely twenty present cooler."

"Damn, I did it again." I shook my head at myself.

   I found it very strange that the ponies had the same PM and AM time frame system that humans used on Earth. I started to not believe in coincidences anymore, especially when they started happening all the time.

   After studying it, I was able to read that the time should have been around two PM.

   "Student!" I heard from across to my right. I looked up and saw Luna standing near the elemental isle.

"Once thouest hath availed from thy's stupor, join me."

    Now, I was usually very unforgiving when it came to an undue lack of respect. I believed respect was something that had to be earned, with only a mutual amount ever given freely. Luna, was testing my already thin disposition, but I swallowed it and gave her the benefit of the doubt.

"Alright, she obviously is having a bad day and remember she is a princess. So, don't go and blow your top over some poorly used words. Just grin and bare it, Argyle."

    "Sure, I'm coming." I answered with an obvious bit of heat in my voice, but I was doing my best to hide it.

   I walked over to the isle of book shelves Luna was waiting for in. The isle opened up into a rather big alcove, with a sofa and pillows on it. There was also a desk near were Luna was standing in the alcove.

   "Wow, this is cool. I guess you come here often?" I tried to drum up a sensible topic to ease the tension.

   "But of course, tis the silent part of this wing. Nopony else canst hear one who remains in this spot." Luna gestured at the stool near the desk. "Sit." She commanded.

   "You got it." I sat down facing her.

   Luna sat as well, but on the sofa. "Now, I assume thou knowest the basics of magic?"

   "Yes. Magical affinity-"

   "Nay, the ones of import." She interrupted me.

   "But, are they not all important?" I tilted my head, wondering just what she was playing at.

   She stared me dead in the eyes.

"If thou really thinkest magical affinity a skill, then thouest art a waste my time."

   Luna went back a few steps, but remained standing.

"I will useth smaller words for thee this time. What art the basics of import in magic?"

   I just sat there, ready to buy a ticket to the rage train. I did not want some brat of a princess turning around and calling me a bad student. Doing so could have ruined my chance at learning how to get back home. I was not about to lose that lightly, but I did not know that was just the beginning.

She seem so nice in the show too... Of all the let downs, it had to be her and it had to involve me."

   I sighed, then answered the way she wanted me too. "Focus, visualization and concentration." I bleakly said.

   "Harder then it should hath been, but twas correctly answered." Her horn glowed as a old tome hovered over and landed neatly on the desk I was sitting at.

   A dark blue tome with golden letters on its front that read "The guide to advanced magic" lied before me.

   "Start on chapter one, then let me know when thee reaches four." Luna walked towards the sofa, but froze then looked back at me. "And tis chapter four by the way. If thee were about to ask "four what?"

   I gritted my teeth then read the book Luna gave me. It described features about magic that I was not familiar with at that time. Like spells that would bind something, or someone, into a room. They would not even be able to flashport out of it. It explained the physics behind it, but I was missing a few laws of magic as it was hard to fully understand.

   I read on, hoping something would make sense. I found the page on healing spells, but that one was rather complex.

   "The vitality spell? I am not familiar with that."

   Luna straightened. "Tis not chapter four."

   "I would still like some information on it."

   Luna sighed, then walked over to me and pointed at the tome.

   "Tis not chapter four." She repeated.

   Luna then walked back to the sofa while saying, "Besides, it is too high a level for thee."

   I balled my left hand into a fist while it rested on my lap. "Chapter four, huh?" I whispered.

   I skipped to the fourth chapter. If she wanted it, I was going to give it to her.

   "Alright, I'm at chapter four. Now what?" I smiled.

   "Oh?" Luna shifted on the sofa. "Pray tell, how canst thou go from chapter two to chapter four in but mear seconds?"

   The alicorn hopped off the sofa and walked slowly towards me, while narrowing her eyes in anger.

"Dost thou thinkest me an idiot?"

   I stared at her, utterly speechless.

   She snorted at me. "I clearly left thee at chapter two but a minute ago. I sayest again four, not one, not two, or three, but four. Now, read it all again until thouest hath learned how to follow the simplest of commands!"

   Luna went on a tangent over such a silly thing, but it was not silly for me at the time. She was really beginning to piss me off. I counted down, as I lost each one of my nerves.

"One."

   "Honestly Tia, what was thou thinking? Student indeed." She walked around the alcove, ranting up a storm.

"Two."

   "Thee canst even read a simple tome! Nay, thou art not my Student! Thy will never be my Student! Thouest art not even worthy of polishing my hooves!"

"Three. All aboard."

   WIth that final straw, I slammed the tome closed with a loud thud. "That's it!" I yelled as my ability and willingness to hold back failed.  "I don't give a damn who you are, or if you actually can help me get back home!"

   I shot up from my stool, red with pure anger. I shook my fist at the alicorn, who looked at me with a mix of shock and bewilderment.

   "I will NOT have my life wasted with the company of such a loathsome creature! I am going to Celestia right now and I am going to DEMAND for a way back home!"

   I turned sharply then walked at a brisk pace towards the exit.

   Luna shook her head. "Celestia?! Nay, halt!" She commanded while pointing a hoof at me.

"I sayest stop! Thy's Mentor commands it!"

   "I'm sorry, what was that? You have to use small words so I can understand, remember?" I answered back still burning with rage. I just wanted to leave, so I kept walking.

   Luna yelled in her royal voice, "As thy's princess we order thee to be still!"

"You are not my princess and never will be." I did stop, but it was only to say something I should not have. I was still so angry, that my judgement was cloaked in its haze.

   I have always regretted what I told her next.

   I turned once I stopped walking, then spoke loud enough for her to hear me clearly. I did not want her to miss a word.

"Man, it's no wonder everybody hated you and loved Celestia instead. You're horrible."

   I turned without even looking at her reaction. I did not need to. I very well knew how powerful that would hit home.

   I walked for about three seconds, until I heard whimpering.

"Please." I heard through light sobbing.

   My heart sank, as the rage train turned into a wreaking ball of guilt that shattered my anger into shards of pain.

   I turned around, only to see Luna in a very bad way.

"I'm ... sorry." She was in full tears right then.

"Ah, damn it. Smooth as broken glass. I can be a real ass sometimes."

   I walked over to her, as I could not leave her like that.

   I bent down beside her, with my heart in my stomach. "Hey, I'm-"

   "Nay, do not apologize." Luna said while her head was shaking, as she began sniffling. "Thouest are currect, I am truly horrible."

   Luna then bent her head down as she lied there on the cold stone floor, tears falling at full blast.

   That was my doing. I did that to her and I hated myself for it. I needed to fix it. I had to try.

   I bent down to sit near her. I put my hand on her back, then looked her dead in the eye.

   "No, what I said was wrong. I will not let myself get away with that. I am the one who is sorry."

   She just looked at me. After she sniffled a little she asked me, "Why? I treated thee like refuse, and looked down upon thee the same."

   "Because, I let my anger blind my judgement. The decisions you make when you're mad are always the wrong ones."

   "I can attest." She said weakly.

   "But most of all, I know what you have been through. So, what I said can never be justified."

   Luna huffed, then turned away from me. "What dost thee knowest of what I went through?"

   I very gently turned her head back to face me by her chin. "I know it was not your fault." I answered with a smile.

   She teared up again wide eyed at me. Then a pain sticken expression soured her features, as she bent her head into my chest. "Thank thee." She burst into new found tears.

   I sat there suprised by her sudden action. My hands were up in the air, as I was completely unsure of what I needed to do next.

   That was the first time I ever helped a girl and that was definitely my first time ever being in that kind of a situation with one. I cursed my luck that the same girl in question was a pony and not a human.

   "Thouest hath no clue, how long I hath waited to hear that."

   "Surely, your sister must have told you that once or twice?" I desided to let my hands rest on her neck.

   "Nay, not even my Tia." Luna answered with a shakey voice.

"Wow, she really is a bitch."

   "I can say it again if you want." I smiled at her.

   The dark alicorn returned her head back from me, then stared at me. She giggled while wiping away the tears off her face with a hoof. "No, twill not be needed, but thanks."

   "Are you going to be alright?" I asked Luna.

   She got up then brushed herself off with her wings. "I believeth so, with my thanks."

   I got up, then put my hand on my sides. "Well, my mentor. What now?"

   She laughed, "Argyle, surely thouest must know my name? Tis not Mentor. Call me Luna."

   I grinned, "Alright Luna, what shall we do now?"

   "Now, large works remain untouched." She pointed at the shelves full of tomes and scrolls.

"And their secrets unlearned."

   "Well then, let's get to it!" I cheered.

   "By placing a hand over the heart with this spell, thou canst heal a whole body at once; however, twill take time and energy."

   We sat on the sofa as she read the passege of the spell I asked her about earlier.

    "So, useth this only when thy must. And remember, never pusheth thyself too far."

   "Why? What happeneds?" I asked Luna.

   "Surely Twilight Sparkle told thee the dangers of magic?" She shrugged.

   I shook my head no. Luna shook hers in disappointment. "Very well, but I do findest that disturbing."

   "Tis known as Burn-out. Tis a horrible fate for any mage." Luna cleared her throat, then continued.

   "When a mage would pusheth passed pain, twould leadest to vital damage. That damage will causeth his magic focus points to burst. Thus, he would loseth his control over magic and then be killed by a volatile explotion of purest energy; and Sometimes, in a inferno until he turneth to ash. Given the mage in question."

   "Damn." I uttered. "Well, I will certainly be careful."

   "See that thouest does. Once it starts, there shant be a return." She narrowed her eye at me.

   "We hath been here for thee's time of today." Luna got up from the couch then stretched her back.

   "What, already? How long is that?" I got up as well.

   "Four hours per day."

   "We have been here for four hours already?" I looked at her dubiously. I could not believe that we had spent four hours there. It felt barely like one had passed.

   "Look towards yonder hour glass, if thee dost not trust me."

   We walked to the hour glass and sure enough the sand filled at six PM.

   "Man, time just flies."

   "I shall retire for the day Argyle." Luna yawned. "Tis very much passed my bed time."

   "Oh, sure no problem."

   Luna was the care taker of the night, so it made sense she needed to sleep sometime in the day.

   "Pleasent evening Argyle." The alicorn walked out of the wing through the iron gate. The guard gave Luna a salute after opening it. Then he looked back into the wing only to see me, staring at him.

   He just returned to his post with his back turned to me. He left the gate open so I could walk out.

   After I walked out of the gate, I made no attempt to force eye contact. I continued down the hallway to the left; however, I turned then waited a few good minutes.

   I slowly leaned my head out of the corner and stared at the guard without his knowledge. It took him a few seconds to notice I was just around the corner, staring at him like a crazy person. When he did, his eyes went wide like he just saw a ghost. His head shot forward, as if to pretend I was not really there.

   I let my head back, then walked on towards my room's direction.

"Why is that so much fun?" I laughed lightly so the guard could not hear me.

   I finally reached my room after walking down the hallway. I walked inside, then went to change my clothing. I was very tired of looking like a potato sack.

   I was opening my dresser when I heard the door open and a voice say, "Cozy, Sir?"

   I turned to my left and there was Fernsworth at the door. "Hello, Fernsworth. I am so far."

   "Pardon my intrusion, Sir. I was just in to check on you."

   "I am fine." I tilted my head to the side. I was wondering how a personal butler of the princess always had time to waste on me. "Thank you."

   "Very good, Sir. I must away then. Good evening." He bowed while closing the door.

"Cozy... Interesting word choice, Fernsworth." I pushed the thought back. It was a very common word after all.

   After I changed my clothes, I went about my day. It was rather uneventful after that morning's events. So, I will skip to when I returned to my room at night fall.

   I was pretty tired. I had walked around the palace and the castle's city all that day. My friends had yet to visit, but I would not need to wait long.

   I settled down on my bed after I got comfortable. I lied there and read that book on the Equestrian civil war. I got to around five chapters into it that time, before I blew out my night candle then tried to sleep.

   As crazy as it sounds, I felt like someone was watching me sleep. That cold shiver you get up your spine shot up mine that night. Like if the grim reaper himelf ran his boney hand up my back.

   I tried my best to shake the feeling and after a few minutes of tossing and turning, I fell into a dream. I had some idea it would be one of those nights. If only I knew what I was in for that cold and creepy night. On a brighter note however, I did not have to go through it alone.