Ancient Rivals

“A vacation?” Twilight screamed, clutching the scroll that Spike had coughed out not a second ago. “She can’t take a vacation! She moves the sun! How will she read my letters? What if Equestria is in danger?”

Rainbow Dash poked her head in through the window of Twilight’s Library. “What’s going on, Twilight? I heard you screaming on my way over to Fluttershy’s.” Twilight moaned, unresponsive, clutching her head and rocking back and forth. Spike handed Rainbow Dash the scroll.

“My dearest Twilight, I am sorry to inform you that I will be taking a short vacation and will be unavailable to continue your lessons for an indeterminate amount of time. I’ve become so caught up in royal affairs that it’s taken a toll on me. I know my best student will understand. Don’t worry about the sun; everything’s been taken care of. Yours truly, Princess Celestia. P.S. Luna is coming too,” Rainbow Dash peered at the letter. “Huh. So the Princess gets tired too. Don’t worry about it Twilight, everyone can use a break once in a while.”

Twilight talked muffled with her face pressed against her hooves. “No, not so suddenly, not so unannounced! I know my teacher, and she wouldn’t… she couldn’t…” Spike walked over and patted her on the shoulder.

Rainbow Dash thought for a moment. “If it would really make you feel that much better, how about we pay the castle a visit? To make sure everything’s okay? I mean since your teacher can’t read your letters right now, and all, you don’t really have much to do, right?”

Pinkie pie popped out of a nearby vase. “I heard the whole thing! I’m coming too! I’ll get the others!” She squeezed out of the open window, leaving Rainbow Dash and Twilight staring. Twilight opened her mouth to say something, then stopped.

An hour later, Twilight Sparkle, Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, Rarity, Pinkie Pie, Applejack and Spike were on a train over to Canterlot. Applejack turned to Twilight. “So you wanna explain what this here trip is all about? We kinda got… Pinkie’d into it.”

Twilight was pacing back and forth. “Princess Celestia is… is…” She stopped. Applejack, Fluttershy, and Rarity looked worried.

“She’s on vacation and the egghead wants to check on her.” Rainbow Dash snorted.

Rarity glared. “I can see why she is worried. Why would a princess ever take a vacation? What could she even do on a vacation? I mean, when I take a vacation, I treat myself like a princess, but…” she trailed off and her eyes lit up. “Do you suppose there’s some sort of life even more glamorous than that of a princess?”

“I just hope everypony’s okay…” Fluttershy stared at the floorboards of the train. She had a bad feeling about this adventure.

“Will you all relax?” Rainbow Dash interrupted. “Everything’s fine, Twilight’s just being her normal worried self.”

“We’re here!” Pinkie screamed, bouncing up and down. Indeed, the train had arrived. They disembarked and made their way through the streets of Canterlot to the royal palace.

“Twilight!” One of the guards called, waving. “Come on in!” It payed to be the younger sister of the guard captain. The gates opened and the seven made their way towards the throne room. They were interrupted by the loud clearing of an official-looking pony’s throat.

Standing behind them was a tall, golden unicorn with streaks of silver down his mane. His cutie mark, a sunrise, was partially covered by a royal-looking uniform. “I am Helios. Celestia has appointed me to be in charge of her affairs during her leave of absence. Is there something I may help you with?”

Twilight turned to face him. “Why haven’t I heard of you before? Celestia was my teacher, and she just left without telling me she would be gone. How do I know she’s safe?”

Helios raised an eyebrow. “I can assure you that Princess Celestia and Princess Luna are simply tired from their daily and nightly duties. I can understand your frustration, as a scholar myself, I sympathize with your situation but there is nothing I can do. Canterlot is, however, in my capable hooves. Now if you’ll excuse me…” Helios moved over to the window and rose up on his hind legs. His horn glowed a bright white light and the sun moved over a few degrees. “As you can see, I am perfectly capable of handling Celestia’s duties during her vacation.”

Twilight relaxed a little. Day and night were taken care of. Applejack pushed her way to the front of the group. “Pardon my asking, sir, but where did the Princesses go exactly?”

Helios smiled, “Not at all, my dear. Princess Celestia and Luna have gone to an area of great significance to them to reflect on their thoughts… The exact location escapes me, but its name is Tranquility Lake.” Applejack nodded and stepped back.

“Do you know what time they will be back?” Rarity asked. “And by the way, that is a very charming uniform.”

“Thank you, my lady, but unfortunately the princess did not say. I do know the location is quite a distance away, so it could take a fair amount of time for them to return. Rest assured, they are safe, as I doubt even the mightiest dragons would dare tangle with two of the strongest alicorns in Equestria.” He smiled reassuringly.

Fluttershy spoke up. “Did she say who was taking care of Philomena? I’ve been working on my magical creatures care and I would be happy to help, I don’t think we got off on the right hoof the last time.”

Helios’ smile faded, as if remembering something. A shadow crept across his face and he turned to the side. “No… not… this… how could I have forgotten something as obvious as that empty birdcage? That blasted bird!” He muttered under his breath, and then regained his composure. “I am sorry, but Philomena is being tended to by our most trained specialists in the Royal Bestiary. Phoenixes have a lot of needs, if you’re aware.”

Fluttershy nodded. “Oh yes, I’ve had to find that out first hand. Sorry to bother you.” Helios looked at the group of ponies.

“Well, if that’s it then, I do have some more royal duties to attend to. Would you be so kind?” The guards opened the gate and Helios motioned for the group to leave.

Twilight stopped for a moment. “While I’m here, is it alright if I drop into the library for a couple books?” Helios was about to talk, but the guards had already let her through. “I’ll meet up with the rest of you outside!” She called behind her before strolling through the main door.

The friends were walking in the garden when Applejack felt somepony knock her hat down. “Well that’s just darned rude!” She exclaimed, retrieving it from the grass. There was a note inside. “What’s this?” She read it silently. “You seem more sensible than the rest of them. Meet me at Donut Joe’s so I can tell you what I know. I will be sitting in the corner by the window. P. S. if anypony asks, you never got this message.”

“Hey, uh, do yall want to stop for donuts before we head back?” Applejack asked before another passing pony knocked her hat down. She retrieved it, and there was another letter, this time in all caps: “ALONE” she read. “Heh, nevermind, I just remembered there was a thing I had to do. Better go do that there… thing!” She stammered, galloping off, scattering a pile of raked leaves.

“Big city’s finally gotten to the country girl.” Spike remarked.

Twilight returned from the Castle with her bag looking considerably heavier. “All ready to go, girls?” She asked. “Where’s Applejack?”

After an hour of searching, Applejack found Donut Joe’s. “Good for nothing maze of a city. Hope this pony’s the patient type,” she mumbled, entering the mostly empty restaurant. There was a suspicious-looking pony in a trenchcoat by a corner seat. “You wouldn’t happen to be the feller with a thing against hats, would ya?”

The pony looked startled and started talking at an extremely fast pace. “No ma’am, I’m just here for the food! I’m not bothering you, am I? My psychiatrist says I talk too much when I get nervous, oh hehehe I’m doing that right now, aren’t I? It’s kind of strange really I just keep talking and talking and don’t even realize I’m doing it. You know what? I think I’ve had enough sugar for today, why don’t you have my table.” He paid the bill and shot out the door in a matter of seconds, leaving Applejack wondering what just happened.

The door opened and a royal guard galloped in, out of breath. His mane was gray and his fur was pure white. A disorderly uniform revealed his cutie mark, a tornado with a lightning bolt.  “Oh good…, you’re still… here. It’s a good thing you’re… patient, I always get lost whenever I go outside the palace... just give me a moment to…” He didn’t seem as professional as the other guards. He got over and collapsed next to Applejack, doing his best to convey an air of importance. “Sorry… I’m new here… big city…,” he paused for a moment and took a deep breath.

“Yall better cool your jets and have a drink before you go sunny side up on me.” Applejack ordered two glasses of cider and watched as the guard gulped them both down. “Actually, one was for me. Aw shucks, looks likes could use them both anyways. Now tell me, what the hay is going on?”

The door opened and Twilight, Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, and Spike entered. “There you are, Applejack! We thought you’d gotten lost in Canterlot and went searching for you. Spike said you went to get donuts, but you were gone for one and a half hours now, so… Are you done eating yet?” Twilight asked. “What are you doing with that guard?”

“Darnit, you were supposed to come alone!” The guard exclaimed, finally catching his breath. “Whatever, as long as nopony else knows I’m here…” The door flew open again and a larger guard came in.

“So there you are, Stormy. Donut break, eh? Your night shift’s starting soon.” The guard went over to the counter. “Hey, could a guard get a glazed and a glass of cider here?”

“Stormy”, as the first guard was called, glared at the guard who just came in. “I was attending to some business, Aegisbright. Cider’s on me if you fill in my shift just this once. As a favor? Please?”

“Alright, I see what yer getting at,” the guard winked at Applejack and Stormy in the booth for two. “I got a big heart. And a big stomach. Three mugs of cider tonight then.” He headed for the door.

“Now that there are no more interruptions, allow me to introduce myself. I am Skyward Storm, of the Canterlot Royal Guard. I am… a little new to my job, but there was something I witnessed that I felt it was my duty to report. However, Shining Armor is still absent despite his summons and I’m not sure which of my comrades I can trust.” Skyward Storm rocked back and forth nervously. “Late last night, Princess Celestia sensed something wrong, although she did not say what. She sent me to retrieve some quills, scrolls, and bird, so I was gone for about twenty minutes.”

“Wait. It took you twenty minutes to grab a quill, some paper, and a birdcage?” Rainbow Dash interrupted.

“We were low on supplies, I went to the basement, and Philomena was sleeping. Do you know how cranky a sleeping phoenix can get?” Skyward snapped. “Anyway, twenty minutes later, I dropped off the messages and… um… returned to my guard duties... on a nearby sofa. I was tired, okay? I heard her sending off for Shining Armor, and then I fell asleep just as Philomena escaped.”

“You fell asleep as a phoenix burst out of its cage and flew out the window?” Twilight asked, lifting an eyebrow.

“I. Was. Tired. Okay?” Skyward Storm said. “I know what I saw, and I know what I heard, and I know that when I woke up, the princess was ‘on vacation’ and somepony named Helios I had never heard of before was lording over the castle like he owned the place.”

“Are you certain it was not, perhaps, a dream?” Rarity asked, worriedly. This guard seemed a little odd.

“I assure you, it was no dream.” Skyward Storm replied grimly, and belched loudly. “Sorry for ruining the mood. It’s the cider.” Rarity took a step back.

“Well I’m just not sure what to believe,” Applejack said after a long period of thought. “But let’s just assume that yall are telling the truth. Wouldn’t that mean Philomena is still out there? So if Philomena’s not in the Castle, being cared for like Helios said, then that’s a step in the right direction. Something seemed a little fishy about Helios, but I can’t quite place my hoof on it.”

“I could look for Philomena if you’d like,” Fluttershy suggested timidly. “But I don’t think I’d get much help here. The animals of Canterlot are a little shy around strangers.” Spike glanced at her, suppressing a snigger.

“I’m just going to let you all think over how ironic that statement was.” The dragon took a bite out of a donut. “Anyway, why don’t we just check over at the palace? It would be easier than searching who knows where for Philomena.”

“The bestiary is usually closed off to visitors, but I’m taking a shift there tonight.” Skyward said. “Why don’t the seven of you stay awhile in Canterlot?”

The ponies discussed among themselves for a moment. “Beats having to take another long train ride in the middle of the night,” Rainbow Dash said. “And there are more fine materials available here for my dresses.” Rarity added. “Mmphmmphh!” Pinkie Pie agreed with a mouthful of donut. “Don’t worry Twilight, we’re gonna get to the bottom of this.” Applejack rested a hoof on her friend’s shoulder. “I would be happy to help,” Fluttershy said. “I even brought Angel here in my bag in case we would be staying longer.”

Twilight turned to Skyward Storm. “We’re in.”

Skyward nodded. “Good. Now can anyone spot me three bits for some cider? Aegisbright has a big stomach.”