Dark Horses: Daughter of the Night

"Why me?"

The sky was growing dark with storm clouds as the chariot raced towards Ponyville. It had been a long day for Equestria's newest princess as she had just finished what had to be the worst meeting she had ever had with her former mentor. Okay, maybe not the worst since the whole "Want it, Need it" talk had been even more troubling. But she was definitely not ready for what her for former magic, now "how to be princess" mentor had put her up to. It had only been one week since she became an alicorn and now she was tasked with what was probably (Quote Rarity) Worst! Possible! Thing!

She had to find a student to mentor.

Out of all the things she had done in the past, this seemed like would be near impossible. Sure facing Discord had been a challenge and a half, but she would rather face him again than do this. She had been alright with young fillies and colts but she had never had to be a mentor to one. She had no idea who she would pick let alone how she would be able to teach them...

"Why me? I just became a princess! I should be learning about how to do princess things! I should be learning about the court, or visiting with the Canterlot Nobles, or..."

CRACK!!!

"LAND, LAND NOW!!!" Twilight screamed as lightning began to flash around the chariot. Through her little panic attack she had failed to notice the malevolent sky that threatened to send her and her guards hurtling towards the ground.

"Hang on princess! We are almost there!"

The chariot began to drop rapidly as the library came into sight. Twilight braced herself for what was sure to be her end. They were going way to fast for her liking and after some "crash" courses in flying from her friend Rainbow Dash, she knew this was far too fast for a landing.

"SLOW IT DOWN! SLOW IT DOWN! FOR THE LOVE OF CELESTIA, LUNA, CADENCE AND TWILIGHT (wait, that's me...) SLOW IT DOWN!"

The guards suddenly pulled up and the chariot came to a almost painful stop. Slowly it lowered to the ground and landed right beside the library. Sitting in full shock, Twilight slowly took a step out of the chariot and began kissing the ground. Her once beatifully done mane was now a mess and she was now getting dirt all over her snout, but she didn't care. She had never wanted to be back on the ground. Slowly she looked back up to see the guards were chuckling at the young princess kissing the ground.

With sudden authority in her voice, "You may take your leave, or do I need to inform Celestia of the two guards who need to go back to basic training."

With a sudden burst of energy (and a newfound fear of the princess), the two guards took off racing towards Canterlot to beat the storm and to avoid something that no guard ever wanted to go through twice.

Twilight sighed. She looked up at her old home and smiled. She was glad to be back.

CRACK!!!

Rain began to fall in huge sheets that would make it hard for any pegasus to fly. She quickly stepped inside and closed the door behind her. This was going to be a long night. Not only did she have to think about her future student but now she had a violent storm going on outside. With another sigh she began to walk up to the stairs to her room.

"That is quite a storm out over Ponyville, don't you think dear sister?"

"Yes, it is..." Luna was studying this storm very carefully. She had just got a letter moments ago. It was not the letter she had hope to see. Something with the spell had gone wrong. And all she could do was watch. She now knew at least where the spell had sent Starswirl. Not that it would matter now...

Her sister, Celestia, sat next to her with a calm look on her face.

"Is something bothering you Luna? You haven't even touched the food that was brought up. Are worried about Twilight? Her guards have already returned and she arived saftly if that is what you are worried about."

Luna sat quietly debating what she would do. If she told her sister her plan, then Celestia would be angry with her. But if she didn't, then the life of someone that was precious to Equestria's survival would be lost.

"Luna?"

"Sister, forgive me..."

Still not asleep.

She was tired as hay, and she still couldn't sleep. Twilight had now fully given up. It was as though her mind had now officially removed its off switch.

CRACK!!!

Well there was also this blasted storm. It had been almost four hours and the storm still showed no sign of letting up. At least was now she was home with Spike. He had been running the library the last week waiting for Twilight to return.

Maybe if she closed her eyes one more time...

"BURP!"

Her eyes flung open as Spike sat in his bed rubbing his eyes with one set of claws while holding a letter in the other.

"What the... A letter? TWILIGHT! Your home!" Spike dashed out of his bed, dropping the letter, and gave Twilight the biggest hug she had ever received from the little guy.

"Yep! Pri... I mean Celestia wants me to continue my studies here, just like when I was studying friendship. Sorry I didn't wake you earlier but I was exhausted and you were already asleep so I decided to try to go to bed myself. Sadly I don't think that is going to happen..."

"You look like something that got dragged to Manehatten and back, no offence.."

"It's fine. Now what does Celestia want at this hour?" Using her magic she grabbed the letter and opened it up in front of her.

"To my faithful student," she read aloud.

"Sorry to disturb you this late at night and just after you arrived back home but there is a matter of great importance. It appears that my sister and someone else who she refuses to tell me have teleported a strange creature from a different world to ours. She also refuses to tell me why she did this. It appears that these creatures call themselves 'humans'. Unfortunately, something went wrong with the spell and the result is the storm that is now over Ponyville. I know it is late at night and there is an unnatural storm going on, but if you will please go and find this strange creature it would be very helpful. Just as a little warning, keep your guard up. I do not know anything about these humans but that they look different from ponies. Pleas be careful and report back in the morning if you find anything.

Princess Celestia

P.S. Her name, as Luna just informed me, is Starswirl."

Both her and Spike look at each other for a second until outside the window came a sudden blinding light.

CRACK!!! BOOOM!!!

"AHHHH!!!..."

Twilight and Spike both jumped to their feet and raced to the window. It was a young filly's cry they had heard from the outside. There, lying in the street below the window was the form of a filly lying on the ground. Instinct took over and Twilight raced to the door, not even grabbing an umbrella. The letter from Celestia didn't matter anymore. There was a filly who was out in the rain and possibly injured who needed help right away.

She ran with all her might and using her magic, she lifted the small form up onto her back and raced to the library. Running back through the already open doorway to the tree she raced to the nearest couch and place the unconscious filly down. That was when she froze.

"Twilight! Is she alright..." Spike said as he walked up and froze just as Twilight had. His mouth quickly dropped to the ground at what they were staring at.

There, lying on the couch, was a filly version of Princess Twilight,  wings and all. The mane was the same and fur color where the exact same. The only difference was the cutie mark. Instead of the stars that Twilight had, this filly had what looked like three blue comets all descending on a single blue dot.

Spike slowly began to rub his head as he spoke in a whisper, "Why does everything happen in Ponyville..."

Yep, it was definitely going to be a long night...