Dark Skies

Hoofstin had procured a balloon for us to travel with, mostly due to his friend Pearl Highkick pulling some strings. I was too scared to ask why he got the name though. Hoofstin didn’t tell me where we were going next but I brushed it off and went along with it. The trip lasted at least a week and our supplies were running a little low, I was beginning to question whether Hoofstin had the right intentions when he looked over the basket.

“All right, were here!” Hoofstin exclaimed. I peak over the basket to see a mountain, tall and dull; I was beginning to think he was nuts. Then I did a double take, hanging off the side of the mountain was a castle…not even that, it was a whole town!

“Hey, Doc…where exactly are we?” I questioned.
Hoofstin looked at me with a grin.

“We are in the most prestigious magical city in the world, and it happens to be the capital of Equestria. Silver…Welcome to Canterlot."
Canterlot? As in the kingdom of unicorns? The birthplace of peace since olden pony times?! That Canterlot?!?! I began to fill with excitement. I’ve always wanted to go to Canterlot! And my parents said I could never get into it.

I was awestruck by the architecture, the shops and the restaurants that I almost got separated from the Doc. I just came back from my ogling the city when I saw tall golden gates and in the royal courtyard inside.

“Halt!” One the guards proclaimed.

“The Princess demands an audience with scheduled appointments only.”
I began to shake in my hooves. The guards were covered in a golden armor, white like snow fur and a stern, unyielding face that sent chills up my spine. The Doc looked at him, unmoving and not backing down in stare off that I could almost see sparks flying between them. He the leans towards the guards ear and whispers something to him, the guards face changes dramatically from stern to shock. He looked at me with a sense of disbelief.

“R-right…My sincerest apologies. The Princess will see you right away.” And then the guard galloped into the castle. I looked at Hoofstin as he guided me into the walls of the palace, trying to understand what he said to change the guards mind.

“Uh…Doc?”
He looked down at me, but not stopping to talk.

“Yes? What is it?”

“What did you say to that guard?” I inquired. The doc just chuckled and continued walking, not answering my question. Jeez, I hate it when no one answers my questions.

I was led into a very large, circular room. The walls were lined with open air windows that could overview the massive landscape below. Man, it must have been beautiful to see the world from this room, but now everything is either burnt, rubble or disintegrated.

“Ok, you stay here and wait, sit on the bench if you want to, I’m going to go into that room over there for a small chat."
He pointed a hoof of a long hallway lined with mosaic, colored glass windows leading to a door at the other end of the hall. Hoofstin trotted off and left me in the lobby as I grew accustomed to call it. An hour or two passed when he finally emerged from the doors. He motioned for me to come in, as I walked towards the doors; I got a better look at the colored windows. Each one depicted a scene, probably from history. One window had six ponies, two of each type firing a beam at one blue alicorn in a ball of shattering glass. Another depicted the same six ponies surrounding a weird greyish-white creature with various animal parts. And finally, there was a purple dragon, small with no wings or claws, but it was holding a blue heart that was surrounded by what I assumed to be an aura of some sort. There were other windows, but I didn’t have time to analyze them all. As I walked into the room, the doors shut behind me with a loud *CLANG!* and my heart skipped a beat by the startling noise.

“Hello, you must be Silver Shore, I’ve heard much about you.” A voice said. The voice was soothing, serene and even made me feel safe. I turn around and sitting on a throne was a rather tall alicorn. She had gold jewelry on her that made her look in a word…regal, her mane and tail had a three way color of a light green, pink and light blue that almost blinded me and it was sparkling. On top of that, it waved constantly like it was being affected by the wind, yet I could feel no draft in the room.

“Who are you? And…how do you know my name?” I asked.
The alicorn smiled, stood up and began walking towards me; I refused my impulse to run away, but I was in a slight stance ready to do so. She stopped in front of me, or rather above me due to her height and looked down with a content smile. Her facial features were pretty angular and she had eyes of the deepest purple I ever saw, her mane almost made it impossible to see her whole face as it covered half of it.

“I am Princess Celestia, ruler of this kingdom and guardian of its inhabitants. And you…Silver Shore…have been brought to my attention about the power you possess.”
I was gob smacked…not only was I in Canterlot, I was requested to have a private audience with the freakin Princess!!

“Power…I possess?” I stuttered, being shocked at the sudden twist of events.

“Yes,” Celestia stated, “and I want to train you to master your gift.”

“T-teach?! You…want to teach…me?!” I stumbled.

“Well, not me exactly…you will be taught by my sister, Princess Luna.”

“What was that sis? You said you needed me?” A voice came out of nowhere. I was startled to no end from this voice, even worse than Chase’s balloon cake. Another alicorn landed right next to Celestia. This one looked radically different; she had a very dark coat, like a mix between a navy blue and indigo. Her mane was a dark purple with a blue center and waving in the same fashion that Celestia had her mane. Her face was visible, but I felt almost…threatened…and scared. Her expression seemed more…stern, like she hadn’t experienced happiness for millennia.

“Oh good, you’re here. This will be your new apprentice.” Celestia stated. Luna scanned up and down of me, which made me feel a little ill at ease. She raised a brow and I instinctively turned my head, but I looked back and gave her a nervous smile.

“I would be honored to be taught by you, Princess.” I said, bowing to give a little flare.
Luna looked at her sister and then back to me.

“Very well, I will teach you what I know. Meet me in the observation tower at dusk; we will begin your training there.”

“Y-yes, right…will do, uh, your Highness.”
Luna held up a hoof.
“Please, call me Luna. Just Luna.”
I look at her with slight disbelief as she smiled at me, and then flew away; it was like I saw a whole other pony.

Dusk rolls around and I stand on the observation deck, feeling slightly nervous of what is to come.

“So…are you ready to begin?” A voice spoke in the darkness.

“Y-yes.” I stuttered.

“You don’t seem sure of yourself.”

“It’s just…I don’t know why I’m here, in Canterlot, the palace and being trained by you. Things just seem to move too fast.”
Luna clops up next to me.

“You seem worried. Is there somepony you care about? Somepony you miss?”
I look out into the still night, full moon overhead and stare off into space, “Yea…my best friend…”
Luna raises an eyebrow seeming intrigued of my statement, “And what of this friend of yours?”

“I just want to see him again…but I’m not sure if I will.” I look down, tears slowly forming in my eyes. I felt something soft drape over me and I look to see it was Luna’s wing. She looked at me as she said,

“Don’t think like that. You have somepony who is precious to you, a friend you care more than any other pony in Equestria. It is clear that the bond you share is stronger than another unicorn I know of. So I will train you, and if you keep that hope that you will find your friend, then you will be able control a power that could help protect the one you care for the most.”
I look up, moved by her words and bury my head in her chest; tears flowing around my cheeks.

“Luna…Thank you.” I say as I cry. She just wraps her wings around me, comforting me with her feathers. I will gain that power, and when I do…I will come find you, Chase.