The sound of beating hooves echoed through the room. Papers were thrown around, books franticly stacked, quills and ink set.
“Spike! Where’s my book on constellations?”
Rushing from one side of the room to the other, the purple Unicorn could feel sweat forming on her brow as she weaved her way around the room.
“Got it!” Called the baby dragon from across the room, his scales gleaming the light of the lantern that lit the room from the darkness that enclosed the sky. With a magenta magic, she swooped up the thick book as she crossed the room and planted it atop three other books, each sharing the same subject.
With his master running franticly around the room, gathering other unneeded items, Spike plodded over the table, where he lifted himself and sat down as he watched the eager Unicorn.
“Twilight, you sure you need all that stuff?”
Pausing in confusion, the mare gave him a stern look of anger. “Of course I need it! This is a very important event. Princess Celestia and Princess Luna have invited me to watch the Thousand Star Fall with them! It only happens once every thousand years, and I need to record what commits cross what constellations and stars!” With a scoff the baby dragon swung his head, examining his glistening scales with awe.
Flipping the books open with a quick examining, Twilight Sparkle tossed the books into a nearby saddlebag, followed by papers and quills with ink. With a quick glance at the dragon admiring himself, her purple magic levitated a worn scroll in the saddlebag, slipping it undercover.
After taking a quick moment to double check her bag, Twilight glanced at the baby dragon before picking him up by the purple magic she possessed. “Remember to go to Fluttershy’s after my train leaves” she scolded, slipping the saddlebag on after setting her companion down gently.
“Okay, okay.” Mumbling as he followed the purple mare, Spike felt a soft breeze and tiny claws pinch his shoulder. Turning, he saw the red flames of Peewee slip onto his scales and a floating brown owl holding his place in the sky a few inches behind him.
“Oh my! I almost forgot about you two! Fluttershy promised to take care of them too.”
Turning with her brown pet planted upon her saddlebag the two purple creatures took off, both in a hurry, one to get to the station while the other was admiring his scales to impress a fancy mare.
As pony and dragon scurried through the silent streets of the starry dawn, a hoot sounded from the owl perched upon the mare’s back. Coming to a stop at her pets cry, Twilight Sparkle turned to see a dark shape coming toward the two, not noticing the baby dragon come intact his her back hooves. With a low grumble, Spike looked up at Twilight before turning to where her gaze pointed.
The sound of hooves sounded closer, echoing through the empty streets as the shadow moved closer. With a trembling dragon as her hooves, Twilight took a step closer, trying to identify the creature.
With a magic sprouting from her horn, ready to defend herself, it suddenly disappeared as the creature stepped under a street lamp, revealing a quiet little mare. Getting a look at the purple pony, they yellow mare galloped toward the two, Spike wiping a light sweat off his brow. When reaching the two, the mare flapped her wings, giving an apologetic gaze.
“I’m sorry Twilight, did I startle you?” With a laugh that was a bit unstable, the Unicorn looked down at her companion who gave the Pegasus a tight squeeze on her foreleg. “A little. What are you doing here, Fluttershy? I was going to send Spike and the pets to your cottage after I boarded the train.” With a slight blush Fluttershy twisted her neck, looking down at the purple dragon. “I thought I should come pick them up at the station. It worried me to think they would be walking out her in the dark. I should have told you though. Not many ponies wake up at dawn and walk around the streets of Ponyville.”
With a grin, Twilight enclosed her winged friend in a tight embrace. “That was very thoughtful of you” Twilight spoke, pulling away to look at Spike who was now chatting with his bird. Feeling her pet lift from her back and onto her animal-caring friend Twilight Sparkle looked down at the dragon, which looked up at her happily.
“Have a nice trip, Twilight!” He whispered, leaning into her for a hug. Leaning toward her head, he whispered, “I’ll miss you.” A light smile bloomed on the Unicorns face, replying in the same low tone. “Me too.” Planting a soft kiss on his head they broke away, Twilight alone as her dragon and pets gathered around her friend.
“Have a safe trip, Twilight!” Called Fluttershy as she began her trek down the gravel that led to the train station. Pausing to wave a cheery goodbye, the note she had slipped into her bag suddenly came to the front of her mind.
Turning, she began walking down the road, her thoughts back on the scroll.
She’d been thinking about it ever since it arrived. How it was sealed with a magic only she could break. In a way the note spooked her. It still did. The news was dreading, in fact, horrifying. If only Princess Celestia had informed her earlier, maybe it could have been resolved. Princess Luna may be safe by now. She still couldn’t rack her mind of why her mentor would tell her of such news on an important event.
Reaching the platform to the station, Twilight took a quick glance around as she noticed few ponies loitering in the area, most carry bulk luggage. Trotting at a steady pace, the purple mare could hear distant engines as she reached the counter, a sleepy stallion sitting behind the window.
“One ticket for Canterlot, please!”
Startled by the sudden mare, he looked up, a familiar recognition hitting his face. “My, my” he stated, searching through a box under the desk. “It’s been awhile since I’ve seen you, Twilight Sparkle. How’s life been treating you?”
Placing several bits on the counter, the purple mare froze at the last part of his statement. “Fine” she muttered, sweat forming on her brow. Retrieving the ticket, the stallion gave Twilight an odd look as he handed the boarding pass to the Unicorn. Grasping the thin slice of paper between her front teeth, she slyly trotted to the loading area, where a train seemed to come in at a slow speed.
Letting others cut in front of her, Twilight Sparkle paced eagerly in worry. After reaching a tall mare that seemed to be taking tickets, she passed her's, where it was deposited into a small box as she stepped onward to the machine of transportation.
With heavy bags resting on her shoulders, the Unicorn made her way to the last boxcar, for where she sat on a small booth, no other ponies coming near, for there was no reason to anyway, with the fact only several ponies were onboard at this hour.
Double checking for any ponies, Twilight found herself slipping the sealed scroll out from the purple bags as she sat them beside her. She knew it was very risky to be doing this. Mostly because she was in the public. But it was early morning, and nopony was in sight.
Hearing the clanking of engines begin to work their way into a spinning motion, the seal broke, revealing the earlier read scroll. How she hated the news the letter read, but she had to double check it. Scanning the fancy letters scribbled down, it read:
My Faithful Student,
I am delightfully inviting you to Canterlot to enjoy the legendary Thousand Star Fall. As you know, this event comes around every thousand years. Due to this time, Princess Mia Mora Cadenza and Shining Armour will be joining as, along with Princess Luna who was volunteered to host the ceremony.
Twilight, I will need you to help me when you arrive in Canterlot. Unlike the others, I don't need you to help with decorations for the festival or such. I need you to help me with Luna. I have troubling news about my younger sister. I am afraid for her, for she is losing. Dying. Her spirit is fading. I know you can help her, Twilight Sparkle. I need you to help her. She does not know what is happening. Only you can help her before she knows. Or worse. You can do it, Twilight. I have faith in you.
And please. Remember to say hello to your brother and Cadence.
-Princess Celestia
Taking in a gulp of worry, the mare sealed the note once again, slipping it into the saddlebag before sprawling out on the empty seat and falling into a deep slumber.
Author's Note
This chapter was written by Diamonddice.
I would have published it quicker, but I kinda lost the file I had put it on (not really).
I found some free time, not feeling like working on any other story at that certain momment. So here it is, first chaper finished.
