Celestia's Dusk

“Twilight... Just tell me where you're going...” Spike moaned. They sat in the library as the afternoon light shined in through a row of windows. The train ride back to Ponyville was quick, that was convenient as she had so much planning to do for this journey out into the wilderness. Maps were out and ready, books open to gather information about where the mythical mountain of Fausmor was... She had little to go on, a few map scraps and lines of text which suggested what direction she could walk in from what destination to proceed in the right direction. Fausmor Mountain was a long way south, at least a few days of constant fast paced trotting. Departure tonight was imminent if they were to have any hope of getting there and back in time. There would be a little contingency and time for sleeping, but most of the time would need to be spent walking.

“I can't, this is something I have to do alone.” Twilight focused on a certain piece of paper which she carefully plotted out a map with a pencil. A purple glow surrounded the tool as it made precise marks. To her left was an open book with a green cover. It was an old tome, tattered at the edges and a faded picture on front. It was titled 'Demeanour of a Forbidden Foe', a novel about the mysterious inhabitants around Fausmor. It described a town, lost in mists and rotting away with time. The pony who wrote the tale was diagnosed as being a mad mare and strangely murdered in the night over a century ago... The only evidence of who performed that crime was a letter with the words 'cruel fate comes to those who break promises'.

“Come on, you're going to need my help.” He persuaded, but to no avail. Twilight was busy trying to plan out a journey without distractions. She began walking upstairs, ignoring Spike's offer of companionship. Even after being rejected, Spike was not about to give up. He was determined to nag Twilight into accepting him on the adventure, wherever that may be to.

He followed the purple unicorn upstairs, listening to the mares reply. “You'll be fine with Fluttershy. This is important and I need to do it by myself.”

“This is because of the Princess isn't it?” He taunted, trying to expose the obvious truth. “It's because she's dying.”

What? How could anypony know already? That happened late at night, if Spike knew then there was no doubt every other pony already knew about it as well, considering his lack of keeping up to date with the latest news around town. So the assault on Canterlot was no secret, just as it shouldn't be, but was it really the best idea to let that sort of news out to the public so soon?

Twilight stood outside her room, staring at the door and reminding herself how important this quest was. She knew more truth than others, Celestia was dying. She wasn't getting any better, not this time, not like the other times Celestia has suffered from painful wounds which threaten her life. It was up to her to sort of the whole situation out...

“Twilight. Stop acting so weird.” Spike groaned. He gave her a nudge at her side, shoving her a little to the left and snapping her out of a daze. She looked down at him with a disappointed frown, but also showing anxiety in rushing forwards to the task ahead... However, the young dragon did deserve some explanation as to what was going on.

With a quick flash of her horn the door of her bedroom swung open. While trotting in she levitated flew a satchel which sat in the corner of the room onto her bed and started searching for a few necessary items which would help in the wild. “Spike.” She began, while continuing to work. “I know you're worried. But this is something I really need to do alone. Celestia isn't just sick, this isn't just some usual dagger wound. She's suffering from some sort of poison.”

“What are you saying?” The dragon wanted to get straight to the point. Celestia was ill, that he knew, but he didn't know what Twilight was dedicating her full attention to. Did Celestia ask something from her when she went to see her in Canterlot? It would've been nice if she stopped to talk about her visit to the castle instead of barging back into the library and immediately yanking fifty books from every shelf.

“I'm saying I need to find the cure to the poison.” She replied, sliding a hat and scarf into the bag. She knew she was going to need them, especially at Mount Fausmor, it was a barren wasteland covered in snow. It also had one of the highest summits in all of the partially known world.

Spike raised his eye brow; crossed his arms and questioned further. “And where is this cure?” The answer wasn't going to be something which he would understand. He didn't expect to understand. If Twilight was this focused then it was a surely serious adventure, it always was.

“It's far south, beyond Apple Loosa...” That was the start of a long explanation. She looked towards Spike before continuing, the lack of change in his expression indicated he wanted to know more. “I've planned out a map and I have an idea of where I'm going. I can take a train for the night to get some way south, but after that I'm on my own to travel into the wilderness...” She paused again, the next part made the whole idea seem suspicious. “Nopony has perfectly recorded the location of Fausmor, it's a land wrapped in mystery, adventurers visited the area and either they did not return or they went mad shortly after returning. It doesn't make sense.”

“And the cure is there?!” Spike was worried now. That description sounded quite intimidating, and when his closest friend and master wanted to travel there it became a worry.

“Yes Spike. And I can't sit around for long.” Twilight explained while putting one last item into the bag: a bottle. With a quick glow of her horn the bag closed about began floating. It sprung up and fell onto her back, perfectly matching her size. “Celestia is dying and she needs my help.”

“Then let me come too! You'll need the help. And I won't get in your way, I'll keep up however fast you go.” The baby dragon pleaded for the right to join the quest. His master was going so he wanted to help out. But it wasn't helping, the purple mare continued to trot back down the stairs towards the kitchen where she would grab some sort of food for the journey. Spike followed and kept attempting to beg. “I want to help, if noPONY came back without going bad then what if a dragon went?”

That... Was an interesting point. Would species really affect anything? Twilight was not an experienced adventurer. If famous names have headed to that Celestia forsaken place only to return with insanity later on... Then what would become of her? A friend to walk alongside her might help in prevention to that demented defeat.

So... Maybe she would benefit from the assistance. He was good servant, and a great friend, no doubt he would want nothing more than to help however he could... That's what friends did: help each other out even in the direst of times.

“Okay then, Spike, you can come.” Her decision was made. Whatever was ahead they'd face together as a team. From Twilight's description, they knew this was a horrific risk, one which would result in doom if it ended up in failure... However, that did not matter. If they tried hard and fought well then they would truly avail without a doubt.