“Princess Celestia!” Rainbow Dash called, leading her four friends through the great double doors and into the throne room. They stood in the immaculate hall, chests heaving from their frenzied run through Canterlot.
Princess Celestia looked up and smiled in relief. She stood proud and regal as ever, but the dark circles under her eyes hinted at a restless night.
“I got your letter. We came as soon as we could,” Dash continued, sweeping a hoof toward her friends. Applejack stood right behind her, fighting back a yawn. Her blonde mane was unkempt under her usual stetson. Rarity was beside her, looking just as tired if somewhat better groomed. Behind them were Pinkie Pie, as energetic as ever, and Fluttershy.
“Ah don’t think Ah ever saw so many guards,” Applejack said, looking back at the doors. “Not even when Discord was runnin’ free. And they look more nervous than a balloon at a needle factory. What the hay is going on here?”
“They feel the extra protection is needed. You see, somepony made an attempt on my life last night.”
The five friends stared at the princess in shocked silence. After several seconds, Rainbow Dash managed to form a coherent thought. “Who? What pony could possibly be that dumb?”
“A powerful unicorn,” Celestia answered. “Her coming was told in a prophecy long ago. Please, follow me.”
Celestia led them along the familiar path toward Canterlot Tower. Rainbow thought they were going to retrieve the Elements of Harmony, the most powerful artifacts known to pony kind, but rather than climb the stairs, Celestia turned to descend.
“What’s down here?” Rainbow asked. The spiraling staircase grew cold quickly as they walked. Celestia’s horn was the only source of light in the growing dampness.
“What is to come,” Celestia answered. “Much like the tower above holds our history, this area is a hall of prophecy. I spent a lot of time down here in the days before Nightmare Moon broke free, making plans.”
Dash lifted her chin proudly. Defeating Nightmare Moon and turning her back into Luna had been one of her first great accomplishments. She still remembered the day Spike had come to Ponyville to prepare for the Summer Sun Celebration.
After descending for another few minutes, they reached an open hall. Its ceiling was lost in the shadows above, and the sound of dripping water came from every direction. Dash shivered slightly and edged closer to the princess.
Along the walls of the chamber were stained glass windows. Each glowed softly, though where the light came from was anypony’s guess. Dash tried to get a good look at as many as she could as they walked. One depicted a swarm of dragons flying over an empty wasteland. In another, misshapen black ponies swarmed over Canterlot, covering it in green fire. Yet another showed a circular city with a large tower at the center.
“Here we are,” Celestia said, coming to stand before an image of a unicorn mare. Her purple mane seemed to be fluttering in the snow and wind. Beside her, caught in an aura of magic, was a heart carved from a blue gem. Here eyes and horn glowed with a sickly green light, and she appeared to be laughing to herself.
“Her name is Twilight Sparkle,” Celestia said. “She’s already tried to kill me, and I have no doubt she’ll be after all of you next.”
*****
Twilight Sparkle’s lungs screamed as she stumbled wildly through the Everfree Forest. Branches clawed at her, tearing locks of her mane and leaving scrapes along her lavender coat.
This is wrong, she thought over and over as she ran. Just wrong!
How could there be a prophecy about her? It didn’t make any sense. She was Twilight Sparkle, personal student of Princess Celestia and bearer of the Element of Magic.
Wasn’t she?
Yes. Her memories were all true. She was sure of it. It was the rest of the world that was wrong. She lived in Ponyville, in the Golden Oaks Library. She had an assistant named Spike. She’d been studying the magic of friendship under the princess. She’d saved all of Equestria from Nightmare Moon and Discord for pony’s sake. How could they just forget her?
What was the last thing she remembered? They had been in the Crystal Empire. They were celebrating... something. Something important. But it had all gone terribly wrong. After that, she was in the Canterlot library. Celestia had found her there. She’d tried to take Twilight as a prisoner and...
Twilight stumbled and finally fell. She curled into a ball as her stomach writhed uncomfortably and tears formed in her eyes.
She’d attacked the princess. She still couldn’t understand why. Sure, she’d been panicking, but that couldn’t be enough to turn her against somepony she admired and loved so much as the princess, could it?
She still remembered the moment of panic and desperation as royal guards closed in on her. A strange energy bubbled in her chest, slick and grimy feeling against her mind.
Twilight covered her head and sobbed as night fell around her.
*****
“Her coming was foretold a thousand years ago,” Celestia began.
“Why is it always a thousand years?” Pinkie interrupted. “Was that just a really bad year for you?”
Celestia smiled slightly and shook her head. “It’s just faster than saying nine-hundred-seventy-four years ago. It was said that Twilight Sparkle would rise at the end of the longest night. I thought that meant the day you five defeated Nightmare Moon, but she never appeared. She’s supposed to be a unicorn of immense power, on par with the magic of the Elements of Harmony.”
Applejack whistled slowly. “Ya mean one unicorn can match all five of the elements?”
“If I understand the prophecy correctly, yes,” Celestia answered. “The next of the prophecy explains that her dark magic would return the ruler in the North to their rightful place.”
“A ruler in the north?” Rainbow asked.
Celestia nodded. “His name is King Sombra. He ruled the Crystal Empire one-thousand-twenty-six years ago. When my sister and I overthrew him, he cursed the entire kingdom, and it vanished without a trace. I believe Twilight Sparkle will be responsible for allowing him to escape.”
Celestia moved on to the next window. Twilight Sparkle stood on the mountain overlooking Canterlot, face turned down with a tear running down the side of her face. A tiara rested on her head. The city below her was in ruins.
“She looks so sad,” Fluttershy said from her place at the back of the group.
“The final part of the prophecy,” Celestia said. “Twilight Sparkle will destroy harmony in Equestria forever.”
Predictions and Prophecies
Twilight’s earliest memories were of the library. She’d always loved to read. Picture books, chapter books, text books, the content didn’t matter. Only the glorious act itself was important. It was fitting that Twilight’s first memories upon waking were of the Canterlot Library.
She found herself walking through the dark halls. No, not walking, sneaking. She hurried through the halls, making as little noise as possible, turning her head every which way.
She didn’t know what she was looking for. She’d been with her friends in the Crystal Empire. What seemed like seconds later, she was back in Canterlot. She needed to be quiet, but she had no idea why. There was only one thing she was certain of, but she didn’t even know what the source of that certainty was.
She didn’t have much time. The clock was ticking, and any wasted seconds could cost lives. How much time did she have? She didn’t know that either.
She came to the barred door of the Starswirl the Bearded wing and cut the lock with a burst of energy. The door swung easily and she ducked inside.
Using only the slight glow from her horn, Twilight scanned the shelves. She shifted old scrolls aside and choked on clouds of dust, searching for whatever it was she’d come for.
She came across a familiar scroll after several minutes, but something told her it wasn’t what she’d been looking for. It was a single use spell for traveling back in time. Not that it could be used to change anything. She tucked it into her saddlebags anyway.
“That scroll is worth more than most ponies make in a year,” somepony said from the darkness between two shelves. Twilight jumped, heart racing, and turned the light from her horn to the shadows. A tall pony looked down at her, pristine coat shining in the dim light.
“Oh, princess. It’s just you,” Twilight said, sighing with relief. She took a second to catch her breath and smiled up at her beloved mentor.
“Just me?” the princess asked, eyebrow arched. “I really hope you weren’t planning on stealing that.”
Twilight frowned at the tone. This wasn’t the first time Celestia had caught her in the Starswirl the Bearded wing. Why did the princess seem angry? “I wasn’t going to steal it,” Twilight said, with a nervous laugh. “I was just borrowing it. This is a library, after all.”
“I suppose,” the princess said. “What’s your name?”
Twilight hesitated. “My- my name?” The princess nodded. “It’s me, Twilight. Twilight Sparkle.”
“Twilight,” Celestia repeated, as though testing the name. “I should have known that part of the prophecy was literal.”
“Prophecy? Princess, what’s going on?”
Celestia stepped forward, causing Twilight to take an involuntary step back. “There is a prophecy of your coming, Twilight Sparkle. I’ve seen your face many times, and I am not happy to see it now.”
“What? There can’t be a prophecy about me!” Twilight objected. “That doesn’t make any sense.”
“I admit, you don’t strike me as evil,” the princess said.
“Evil?” Twilight squeaked in surprise. “Oh, nononono! I’m not evil! Really. Princess Celestia, it’s me, Twilight.”
“Yes, you’ve said that already.” Celestia frowned thoughtfully. “You certainly don’t look like a threat, but sneaking into the castle and stealing from me don’t help your case any. I’m sorry, Twilight, but I can’t take any chances. You’ll have to come with me until we can sort things out.”
“I can’t. I don’t have much time,” Twilight said. “I have to...” she trailed off uncertainly.
“Yes? Have to what?”
“I don’t know, but it’s important.”
“I see,” Celestia said. “If you don’t come peacefully, I’ll have to call for the guards.”
“Please don’t do that princess. I don’t have time for this.”
“Guards!”
“No,” Twilight said, panic bubbling up in her chest. Her heart began to pound as quick hoofsteps echoed down the halls. Something else came with the panic, a feeling of sickening energy burning through her. Green fire seared through her mind as her fear overflowed. “No!”
*****
Twilight opened her eyes. Everything was sideways for some reason. It took her a moment to realize she’d fallen. She pushed herself up, wincing as a wave of nausea hit her. After shaking her head to clear it, she opened her eyes again.
Everything was still sideways. Bookshelves had toppled like dominoes. Scrolls laid scattered on the floor. In the center of the mess, with broken shelves all around her, was Princess Celestia. The princess’s wing was pinned under her, bent at an odd angle.
Guards were standing in the doorway, mouths gaping. At the front of the small group was Twilight’s brother, Shining Armor. He broke the silence first. “Princess!”
All at once the guards rushed toward their fallen princess, carelessly trampling priceless scrolls. Twilight stared, eyes glued on the princess, confusion and fear at war in her head. She took a hesitant step forward.
Her brother turned toward her, eyes narrowed in suspicion. Twilight hopped back, horn glowing in panic, and a moment later she was running frantically through the streets of Canterlot. Her horn glowed again as another teleportation spell began to carry her even further away.
*****
“Spike, what are you still doing up?” Rainbow asked, walking into her living room. It was early morning, a few hours before the princess was due to raise the sun. Dash and her friends had been given the Elements of Harmony to keep with them and sent home in a personal chariot.
“I couldn’t sleep,” the baby dragon said, sliding off the couch and onto the floor of Dash’s cloud house. He’d stopped worrying about falling through after a few days, once it was clear the princess’s cloud walking spell wouldn’t wear off. Now he never even thought about the distance to the hard ground below.
“Every time the princess asks you all to go to canterlot, it’s because some big bad monster they seal away a thousand years ago is back, and you have to beat it. So what is it this time? A seven headed dragon with laser eyes? A magical chimera that wants to eat all the ponies in Equestria?” Spike glanced over his shoulder and added in a more subdued voice, “It isn’t zombie ponies, is it?”
“Please, like we couldn’t handle a couple of zombies. Those things move so slow.” Dash shook her head. “Nah, this time it’s just a unicorn.”
“Just a unicorn? Why does the princess need your help with one unicorn?”
Dash shrugged. “Maybe the princess wants us to use the elements to turn her good, like we did with Nightmare Moon.” She hopped onto the couch and folded her forelegs behind her head. “Whoever she is, we’ll beat her easy.”
She watched Spike move around the room, tidying up. It was a habit he’d picked up any time he didn’t want to go to bed. As long as he looked busy, he could usually buy himself a few minutes.
Dash had learned most of his habits in the past two years, since he’d come to live with her. She hadn’t been happy with the idea at first. She liked having the place to herself, but the princess needed a way to stay in contact with the elements. Her house had been cleaner lately, and she’d never really been much of a cook. The baby dragon had started to grow on her.
“Hey, Spike, remember when you first came to Ponyville?”
“Yeah,” Spike answered, straightening a pile of magazines. “It was during the summer sun festival.”
“Yeah. I was just thinking, you heard about Nightmare Moon from a book, didn’t you?”
Spike paused, eyebrows furrowing in thought, “Uh, yeah, I think so. It was a few years ago, but I remember reading a reference guide on predictions and prophecies.” He shook his head. “You’d think I’d be able to remember something like that better.”
“Do you know if the Ponyville library has a copy?”
“I think so. Why?”
“There’s something I want to check out tomorrow.” Dash reached out and brushed his claws away from the stack of magazines as he moved to straighten it again. “Now go to bed already.”
Spike sighed. “Fine. Goodnight.”
“‘Night,” Dash answered.
*****
Twilight’s entire body ached from sleeping on the cold ground of the Everfree Forest. Her mane was horribly tangled and her coat was streaked with mud. She moved quietly through Ponyville. It was just before sunrise, and not many ponies were about to see her.
When she'd woken up, she wanted nothing more than to close her eyes and wait for the nightmare to be over, but she knew she couldn't do that. If she wanted things to return to normal, she'd have to fix them herself. To that end, she was doing what she did best: research.
The Golden Oaks Library looked the same as ever. Warm, comforting, like home. The front door was locked tight. With a quick glance over her shoulder, Twilight’s horn flashed and she was inside.
The library looked like it had when she’d first moved in. Her telescope was missing, as were a dozen little touches she’d added over the past two years. She felt herself drawn upstairs out of some grim sense of curiosity.
Her bedroom was stacked with dusty boxes along the walls. All of her stuff was gone. Even the bed that had been there when she’d moved in was nowhere to be found.
Twilight turned back toward the door, eager to find her book and get out.
“Here it is,” Spike said downstairs. “Predictions and Prophecies.”
Twilight jumped, shoving a hoof in her mouth to keep from shouting.
“Alright, see if there’s anything on a unicorn named Twilight Sparkle.” Twilight recognized Rainbow Dash’s voice, slurred with the usual tiredness she’d expect at the early hour. Twilight edged forward to peek down on them from the top of the stairs.
Spike was holding the book in one hand, rifling through the pages as Dash sat yawning.
“Nope, no mention of her,” Spike said finally.
“Alright, try the end of harmony,” Dash suggested.
Spike flipped through the pages and answered a minute later, “Forty-seven entries.”
“Ugh. Okay, how about a ruler in the North?”
Spike flipped through the index again. “Hey, here’s something.”
“Great, what’s it say?”
Spike turned to the proper page. “Let’s see. There’s a lot of speculation on it, uh, do they have the full prophecy?” He turned to the next page. “Aha, found it.”
“Great, let’s hear it.”
Spike cleared his voice. “On the longest night, Twilight bridges day and night.”
“Ugh, puns,” Dash said, rolling her eyes.
It must be talking about Nightmare Moon’s return. I did help reunite Clestia and Luna, Twilight thought.
“A pony bearing magic of the elements will rise to strike down a great power,” Spike read.
Still no problem, Twilight thought. I am the bearer of the element of magic, and we did use them to beat Discord.
“Yeah,” Dash said, “the princess mentioned that. She said Twilight is a unicorn as powerful as the Elements of Harmony.”
What? That’s not what it means at all!
“Wait, like, all five at the same time?” Spike asked.
“Yeah.”
Five? There’s six elements! What the hay is going on here?
“Fear and doubt follow her through even the happiest of days,” Spike continued.
Fear and doubt? That part must be talking about Cadence and Shining Armor’s wedding.
“Wow, sounds like a nice mare,” Dash said. “What’s next?”
“Through dark spells and terrible traps, she will restore the leader in the North.”
Dark spells? He must be talking about... Twilight trailed off, eyes closing as she shook her head. Sombra! That’s right, that’s what we were doing in the crystal empire. He had all those traps, and then we helped Cadence take her spot as the Crystal Princess. Twilight almost laughed with relief. This entire prophecy is a big misunderstanding. I knew it couldn’t be serious.
“Last part,” Spike said. “In the final hour, with power greater than ever before, she will tear the world asunder and strike harmony from time itself.”
“Dang,” Dash said with a whistle.
“What?” Twilight asked, blinking in shock.
Dash and Spike turned to look up at her.
“Spike, go find the others,” Rainbow Dash said.
“Why? Who’s that.”
“Just go.”
Spike looked from her to the unicorn standing above them. He took a nervous step back before turning and running to the door.
“The princess thought you’d come for us,” Dash said.
The unicorn tilted her head menacingly. “She did?”
“Yeah, but I ain’t afraid of you.”
The unicorn frowned, evil thoughts clear behind her dark eyes. “Why would you be afraid of me.”
“We know you attacked the princess, Twilight Sparkle.”
The frown deepened as the evil mare thought regretfully about her failure the night before. “This is all just a big misunderstanding.” She sounded so miserable, Rainbow Dash almost believed her, but she remembered the princess’s warnings and shook her head.
“You mean you didn’t attack the princess.”
“No! Well...” the unicorn trailed off.
“I knew it!”
“Look, I don’t know what was wrong with me last night. I don’t even remember it all. I’d never hurt the princess on purpose. I wouldn’t do that to any of you.” Tears formed at the corners of Twilight Sparkles eyes as she spoke. Dash had to admit, she was a good actress.
“Why would you give a flying feather about what happens to us?”
“You really don’t remember me, do you?”
Dash blinked and she raised an eyebrow. “Remember you? Where the hay would I remember you from?”
“We’re friends,” Twilight Sparkle said, turning to descend the stairs. “Me, you, Applejack, Rarity, Fluttershy, and Pinkie Pie. We’re all best friends.”
“Uh-huh?” Rainbow said, watching the mare draw closer. She suddenly doubted Twilight’s acting abilities. If the unicorn expected her to believe that, she was crazy. Crazy and powerful, Dash remembered as the unicorn reached the bottom of the stairs and started closer to her. She stepped back automatically and Twilight stopped, face looking even more hurt. Dash didn’t know if she should be more scared or uncomfortable.
“You have to remember me,” Twilight pleaded. “We hang out all the times. What about the weekly pony pet playdates?”
“How do you know about those?”
“It was my idea to start having them.”
Dash shook her head. “Fluttershy came up with them.”
Twilight stepped back as though she’d been slapped. “That’s... what about the Daring Do books? Do you still read them? Don’t you remember who showed them to you?”
“Nopony showed me those, I found the first one when I was laid up in the hospital.”
Twilight Sparkle disappeared in a flash of light, appearing right in front of Dash. Dash jerked back in surprise. Twilight opened her mouth to say something, but was hit as Dash flailed her hooves in a panicked gesture. She stumbled back, stunned, as Rainbow Dash reared back and ran for the door.
Before Twilight could say anything, her friend was gone. She sat on the library floor, clutching at her sore jaw and blinking back tears. Her teacher, her friends, her own brother had forgotten her. She knew she only had so much time before Dash came back with reinforcements. Her horn glowed and a moment later she was sitting in the everfree again.
Some time passed before she heard somepony approaching. The shadows around her had shifted, but the branches above her prevented her from guessing at the position of the sun.
“Who’s this I’ve found, lying sullenly on the ground?”
“Zecora?” Twilight asked dully, turning toward the voice.
The zebra came up short, tilting her head. “How is it you know my name? For me to forget an acquaintance would be a shame.”
Twilight’s head sank lower. “It’s nothing.”
“I’m sorry if I’ve forgotten something I should know. Come back to my home and tell Zecora what upsets you so. The sun will set very soon, and we don’t want to meet any creatures that hunt by the moon.”
Twilight grudgingly agreed and followed Zecora through the forest. It wasn’t long before they were on a familiar path.
“Prehaps you could remind me when we last met? It’s not like me to forget,” Zecora said, glancing down as though trying to remember.
“Tuesday,” Twilight said flatly. “Last tuesday.”
Zecora looked even more confused, but said nothing until they arrived at the hut. Zecora quickly went about making tea while Twilight sat and stared at the table. Zecora set a cup in front of her before taking her own seat. “Now, tell Zecora what upsets you so, why does your heart seem so full of woe?”
“I don’t think you’ll believe me.”
The zebra waved her hoof dismissively. “Zecora has seen much that can’t be believed, and she isn’t one to be easily deceived. It may be for the best, to let your troubles out and lay them to rest.”
Twilight took a deep breath. “Nopony remembers me. Not my friends, not my family, nopony knows I exist.”
Zecora took a deep drink from her cup, and Twilight had to admire her poker face. Or maybe the story just wasn’t that strange to the zebra.
“So I am not the first you’ve met, who, of our friendship, seems to forget? When did this start, when did these memories begin to fall apart.”
Twilight had to think for a moment. It seemed like a long time ago. “Last night. I was with my friends in the Crystal Empire, and what felt like seconds later I was back in Canterlot Castle. I might have blacked out or teleported or something, but it happened in the time it took me to get back to Canterlot.”
“This is most unusual, I must admit,” Zecora said. “With my own memory, it doesn’t fit.” Twilight opened her mouth, but Zecora raised a hoof and she kept silent. “Of course, if what you say it true, that would be the case. There are no traces of a lie in your words or face. If you would like to stay here for the night, feel free, I wouldn’t send you out against the beasts of the Everfree. In the morning we may talk more, if you tell the truth, this odd magic is something I’d like to explore.”
Twilight nodded grateful and minutes later she settled onto Zecora’s woven bench under a blanket. It was a bit scratchy, but better than what she’d had the night before. As the moon rose slowly into the sky, she fell into a fitful sleep.
