The Rainbow That Never Was

     ‘Nononononono, this can’t be happening, not now!’ Twilight Sparkle concentrated as hard as she could on the egg in front of her, but even with her eyes closed, she could feel the gaze of the examiners on her. It wasn’t a good feeling; it was a feeling of being judged, and very critically at that. No matter how hard she tried, for some reason, she wasn’t able to produce even a spark of magic. ‘I have to do something... or... or I’ll fail!” Failing. The one thing Twilight was truly afraid of.

‘I wish they would just say something, instead of being so quiet...’ Twilight knew she wasn’t wowing anypony, but there was hardly anything she could do about it. Normally, she was a veritable well of magic, but it was as if she’d just locked up. The oppressive silence in the room wasn’t helping, and beads of sweat rolled down Twilight’s face as she strained to have any kind of effect on the egg. She braced herself against the floor and focused; she was so close, but it there was a feeling as though something had put a cork in her magic.

She relaxed, catching her breath before another attempt. “Miss Sparkle.” The proctor’s voice caused her spine to go rigid, and she knew what was coming next. “Your display of magic was... less than impressive, to say the least.” Twilight let out a sigh. “It is with great regret that we inform you that we cannot admit you to Celestia’s school for gifted unicorns.” Well, that was it then. She wished they would just come out and say it instead of stepping around the facts; she’d messed up, and she knew it. ‘I had one chance to get into this school. And I blew it.’ Twilight hung her head, a combination of crushed dreams and embarrassment following her out of the room.

That night, Twilight lay awake on her bed. Her parents had tried to comfort her, but she had gone straight to her room when she got home, and hadn’t come out since.  Even her big brother, normally able to console her in the face of any problem, was of no help. Her only spark of comfort came from smarty pants, the small doll that she clutched to her chest.The pillow beneath her head was stained with tears, but she’d long ago stopped crying. She’d drifted from the stage of disappointment and sadness to the stage of resignation and acceptance. She really wasn’t sure what she would do now, with her chances at the school squandered.

     Twilight slipped out of bed, absentmindedly floating Smarty Pants alongside her. “Well, looks like the magic is back on again, at least.” She didn’t sound very relieved about it. She trotted slowly over to her desk, flipping through the pages of an open book, before slamming it shut. There wasn’t anything in there that could help her get back into the school, she knew that for sure. The sound of the book shutting echoed through her quiet room.

‘An open window, a breath of fresh air, that’s what I need.’ Twilight thought to herself. She walked over to the window, gently pushing it open letting the cool night air wash over her. The sky was clear, and a beautiful full moon shone amidst the twinkling stars. The familiar silhouette of a pony stood out against the smooth surface of the moon, “At least she doesn’t have to worry about getting into schools...” She let out another deep sigh. She looked at her clock, and realized it was already far past midnight. “I suppose I should get to sleep.” She accentuated her point with a yawn. It had been a long day, she might say the longest of her life, and she hadn’t realized just how tired it had made her.

Twilight swung herself onto the bed once more, pulling up the covers to her chin. She pulled Smarty Pants close, drying a tear or two that tried to form with the small doll. “I just wish.... I just wish today hadn’t happened...” Twilight closed her eyes, determined to escape to a world of dreams, where none of this would matter.

     She could feel herself start to doze; her limbs became heavy and her mind began to wonder. Just before sleep enveloped her, she heard a noise. Her eyes flew open.She sat completely still. She listened for the noise, and heard it again. It sounded like a quiet whisper, but not from someone trying to go unnoticed; it was from someone a very long way away. “H-hello?” Twilight questioned the darkness. There was a reply, still quiet, but she could tell for sure it was a voice now.

     Twilight slowly pushed her covers back, creeping to the edge of the bed. “Who’s... Who’s there?” She asked tentatively, still unsure if she was actually hearing anything. Once more, the voice could be heard, and this time, she could tell it was coming from outside. She stepped into the puddle of moonlight flooding through her window, and suddenly, the voice became as clear as that night’s sky.

     “Listen closely, child.” Twilight looked up into the sky, where it seemed as if the voice was coming from. “I see much potential in you; you are far more powerful than anyone knows.” The strong and melodic voice flowed like the moonbeams that seemed to carry it.

“Who.... are you?” Twilight asked once more, eyes locked on the moon.

“Me? I am the most powerful pony ever to have set foot in Equestria; I am the Mare in the Moon; I am Nightmare Moon.” The voice stated with a small hint of pride in its title and name.

“Nightmare Moon....” Twilight let unfamiliar name tumble from her lips.

     “Yes child, that is my name.” The voice continued on in its soothing tones, calming Twilight even in the face of something so strange.

“N-not to sound impolite but... why are you talking to me?” Twilight asked, a genuine tone of wonder. ‘I’m talking to the mare in the moon! THE mare in the moon! I always knew There had to be a pony up there! Twilight one, naysayers zero.’ She thought with satisfaction, waiting patiently for a reply from this mysterious being.

“I speak to you, Twilight Sparkle, because I see not what you are, but what you could be. I can teach you to harness your powerful magic, and become the pony you were destined to be. All that you must do, my dear child, allow yourself to be taught.”

     Twilight’s eyes lit up, shining in the moonlight. “O-of course! When can we start?” The filly was filled with so much anticipation she could hardly stand still.

“It’s quite simple.” Nightmare Moon began, “All I require of you, child, is that you leave your home, and come to the ruins of old Canterlot, deep in the Everfree Forest.” Even this voice couldn’t soften the blow those words dealt to Twilight’s enthusiasm.

“You mean.... I have to leave Cadence? My parents? And.... and my brother?” Tears edged to the surface of her eyes once again; she’d lost track of how many times she’d cried today.

“Hush, child. You may feel the pain of separation now,” A twinge of empathy could be felt as much as heard in the mare’s voice, “but the pain will fade, and I will care for you as if you were my own child.” Twilight sniffed, wiping the tears from her watering eyes.

“I.... I want to learn.... but isn’t there another way? There has to be another way....”

   “There is no other way, I am sorry, child.” Nightmare Moon’s voice was dripping with regret, “You can stay with your family, or you can come learn from me and surpass the power of even Celestia. The choice is yours.” When presented with options such as those, she found that the choice practically made itself. As much as she loved her family, the offer of such magic was something that she couldn’t turn down.

“I... I’ll do it...” She said after a long consideration, her voice flat and joyless.

“Good. Take only what you need, child, and hurry, the night grows short.”

     Twilight slung her uninteresting saddlebag over her back, sighing as she shifted through the books covering her desk.  She tucked away a few of her favorites such as ‘Starswirl the Bearded’s theory of magic’, ‘The Magical Method’, and a few other odds and ends, such as her quills and scrolls. Just as she was about to leave her room, she looked back at her bed, and the small homemade doll sitting there. She walked slowly back over to Smarty Pants, slowly picking her up and tucking her in with the books. “There’s no way I’d leave you, you know that.”

     Twilight crept slowly down the stairs of her house with a look of grim determination on her face. A sharp pang of guilt jabbed into her as she walked past her parents’ room. “I should at least leave a note, shouldn’t I?” She asked herself. She trotted into the kitchen where her family always kept a notepad and quill, quickly tearing off a sheet and picking up the ink soaked quill. She began to write:

   Dear Mom and Dad,

I know you’re worried about me, and you must be wondering where I am. Please, please don’t worry. I’ve gone off to   learn magic, from someone who doesn’t require an entrance exam, and won’t turn me away. I love you both so, so much, and I don’t want either of you to fear for my safety. As for Shining, just tell him one thing. He’ll always be my BBBFF.

Sincerely, Your loving daughter, Twilight Sparkle

P.S. I’m going to miss you all so much. Goodbye...

     As Twilight finished, tears ran down her face onto the note, smearing the letters. She quickly returned the quill to where it belonged, sliding the note onto the table in the middle of the kitchen. Nightmare Moon was waiting, she was sure, but it was so hard to say goodbye to her life on such short notice. She walked slowly to the front door, taking in the sight of her house for what she was sure would be the last time. She opened the door, pausing in the door-frame to look back at the family portrait in the entryway. She quickly turned away, stepping out onto the street. “Lead the way, teacher...” She said halfheartedly, softly closing the door on everything she knew.