Friendship is Arcane

Chapter 1: Twilight the Wizard

The Twilight Mage was a rare title given to those who worked and studied under both princesses. The Princess Celestia and the Princess Luna, who were the highest priests in the land. They had the power of the sun and moon at their finger tips. The only mage of this age with that title was the elf Sparkle. She lived in Canterlot Castle with her teachers. She learned history, tactics, diplomacy and magic. Her soul mark was a six pointed star with six sparks coming off of it, located on her right shoulder blade. It meant her talent was magic. Usually she would practice and study with her Dragonborn, Spike. Today was different however. Today Twilight, as she took to calling herself, would head to a small horse raising town to prepare for the Summer Sun Festival. It was one of the biggest holidays of the year. The festival was a celebration of the sun and all that it stood for. This year the Princesses, and therefore Twilight, would go to Ponyville.

“Twilight, why won't you go to the moon dancers recital. It's the last time this year that it'll happen.” said the young Dragonborn. His purple scales shimmering in the morning light shining though the grand windows into the library. “We never get to do anything fun and now Princess Luna herself invited you.” He ran his clawed hand over the green ridges on the top of his head. Though he was only 14, an infant by dragon standards he had small stubs of horns on his forehead.

“Oh, Spike. You know we have no time for that nonsense. The Princess only invited us as a formality. She asked all diplomats and ranking officials to come. We have to go to Ponyville and prepare for the festival celebration. Now, find me that book on Ponyville history.” Twilight looked out the double doors to see to guards in bright steel armor and white tabards walk by. She wondered if her brother The Knight in Shining Armor would be in Ponyville.

“Here it is Twilight. This is the only book on Ponyville. It's not very big.” spike said as he brought the leather bound tome to Twilight's desk.

“Good job, Spike. You can go get ready for the trip. We leave at 3 today.” With that Spike left, smiling. Twilight opened the book to the contents page. Skimming through the chapters, Founding, Early Years, Building Phase, Modern Ponyville, the Apple Family, Elements of Arcana. Wait, that didn't fit. The Elements of Arcana were ancient artifacts that many believed didn't exist. Why would this hundred year old farm community have connections to mythical artifacts? She couldn't turn the pages fast enough to the chapter. She read as fast as she could. The magic objects were under the control of the princesses until something caused the to separate. Turns out that Ponyville was the last town were the Elements were seen. They appeared and then traveled into the Everfree forest. The elements were lost after a previous Princess Luna tried to usurp the other Princess' power. That was almost a thousand years ago. The then active Princess was defeated and trapped by the elements. The tear between the two caused the break in the artifacts power and the losing of their physical forms.

Twilight looked up from the book, violet eyes blazing. This book had more information about these artifact than the rest of the library combined. Except for one thing. Twilight remembered a prophecy about the captured Princess. She wished Spike would come back so she could keep reading.

“Hey, Twilight, I have a few questions.” Twilight smiled, he always knew when she needed him even without her calling.

“Can you find me Page Turner's Book of Prophetic Tales, please?”  Twilight asked nicely, turning to the Purple Dragonborn.

“Of course. I'll be right back.”

Before Twilight knew it, Spike returned holding a book as big as his chest above his head. He hastily placed it on the table before it crushed him. Twilight waved her hand over the book. Both her hand and the book had a magenta aura cover them. The volume's pages turned themselves to the correct page. Headed The Return of Nightmare Moon, Fallen and Disgraced Princess, the page described how after a thousands years the old Princess Luna would escape with the help of the stars in the night sky. Twilight read this aloud to Spike. “Do you know what this means? This year is the thousandth anniversary of Nightmare's capture and imprisonment. She will be released tonight. Take a letter to Celestia. Tell her the news.”

Spike ran over to another desk and grabbed a scroll and quill. Writing as fast as he could the little man spoke out note “Dear Princess Celestia, Nightmare Moon's return. Twilight found support, wanting to know course of action. Sound good?”

“Of course.” Twilight responded. Spike breath a small green flame onto the parchment causing it to evaporate into a glistening dust that traveled out the open window. “Now we have to wait for her response. Now what were those questions?”

“I just wanted to know how long we are going to be in Ponyville.” He looked down at his yellow vest and black shorts. I only want to pack whats necessary.” This caused Twilight to look down also. Her purple robe was okay around the castle because people already knew she was a wizard.

“I don't know, Spike. Pack as much as possible. Better to have to much then not enough.” As she spoke, the scaled boy's eyes flashed pure, bright white. He breathed out more glittering dust that formed into a scroll in front of twilight. She opened it and read aloud, “My Dearest Student Twilight Sparkle, You must stop reading those dusty tomes. I am sending you to Ponyville not only to take care of the final preparations but to make some friends. To be a better leader, or a better person you have to have friends. I hope you find some when you get there. By the way, you should leave immediately. I have received word they need your guidance and final touches. Your teacher, Princess Celestia.”

“Well, Spike. It seems we are heading there a bit early. Go pack as much as you can, I'll meet you at the castle gates.” With Spike gone, Twilight went to her own suite. Spike had lived with her, but as he was approaching the age where Dragonborn become sexual, she thought it best for him to have his own room. Hopefully spending a night or two in Ponyville won't be bad. With that thought in her head, Twilight pulled out her wand, a white and purple piece, and pointed it at her closet. She could cast simple and weak spells with her hands but for this she needed her wand. The briefcase came out first, flying open and landing on her bed. The clothes then hovered over neatly, folded themselves, and were packed away. The elf picked up the newly packed baggage with her hands and went to the train station, picking up Spike at the gates. In less than an hour they would be in Ponyville, where Twilight hoped for once in her life she would be wrong.