Dark Magic

by Florina

In Which the Flag is Raised

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Hum, hum hum hum, hum, hum, hum mmmmmmmmmm were the sounds of a particular Princess, as the late dawn rose above the skies, and the shadow of Celestia hung silently on the Equestrian ground.

Twilight Sparkle was brushing her graceful, long flowing hair, as she had just had it styled, you see. Sparkles flew wild in the rage of purple and pink hair, and Twilight's long white, purple and golden dress was obviously a comfortable bed for Spike.

"Spike," whispered Twilight, gently hooving him off and smiling warmly.

"It's close to the Flag Raising," she rasped, adjusting her mane to a maximum grace and trotting to the cupboard. As she opened it, she walked through all the magnificent dresses adoring ponies had created. The ones up the front were Rarity's.

The alicorn had missed her friends dearly after the move to Canterlot two years ago. Not a moment of rest, as Twilight now taught magic to young fillies and colts at a speciality magic school. The cupboard had connected to the Canterlot library, so Twilight had easy access to the library.

Sometimes, this place was the only place in Equestria where she could be not harassed. Greeting the guards who were still surprised how she could teleport herself to the library with no magic, she sat down a table and pulled out a book from a close shelf.

History of Making Alicorns it read. Twilight's eyes widened at the sudden thought of making her friends alicorns so they could live together in Canterlot. She sighed and shook her head.

"TWILIGHT, COME OVER TO ME," called out Princess Luna. Twilight shook her head and exited oddly through out the official grey doors.

"Ahh, Miss Twilight Sparkle, Celestia is close to finishing threading it. Want to see it? We incorperated something into it," said Luna. The purple alicorn just followed the Night Princess quietly up the trailing stairs. A massive set of golden doors made Twilight gasp. Luna just laughed and brushed the smaller alicorn's flank.

"This is our Flag Making room, guards," she said, as the two guards opened the doors.

Trying to avoid the masses of midnight-blue hair from Luna, Twilight felt a silence in the room, and she could feel herself being the loudest thing there. She walked more slowly, and watched as Cadence raced over to her.

"Oh Twilight, you inspired us so much, our flag is dedicated to you," she said excitedly.

Celestia smiled warmly at Twilight.

"You want to see it now, or do you want it to be a surprise?" she asked. The purple alicorn shrugged and thought carefully about it. If I saw it now, it wouldn't be as magical as in the early evening's light and...oh, of course I love surprises she thought, reminding herself of Pinkie's parties.

"I'll see it later Celestia," smiled Twilight, her eyes shimmering as Luna guided her out.

"Do you want to go to the balcony with me?" she asked, as her tall, dark figure walked down the seemingly endless halls of Canterlot Castle. Twilight Sparkle was shocked, her, go to the Royal Balcony and look at her subjects.

"Yes Luna, I'd be honoured," she breathed in, trying to rest a peaceful gaze onto the smiling Night Ruler.

"Very well Twilight," she whispered. She haulted and whispered something to the guards. They nodded and pulled away the 'concrete' and a secret, dusty hallway approached them.

"Thank you," said Luna. "Come on, stop gawping and look at the sunset," she said, beginning a slow walk down the hall.

Twilight had never imagined that the balcony was a secret doorway, to a beautiful hallway, she had thought, but it made her fur crawl when she saw spiders move around, her reflection glistening in their eyes. Twilight shivered and sped up, trying not to walk too fast.

When she saw a spotlight of sun, her heart exploded with happiness. Twilight wanted to stretch her elegant wings and fly out, although she was perfectly capable of using doors. Twilight felt a wave of strength around her, and she noticed there was a sun portal, and she watched as Luna changed it to blue.

"My sister must of come here last," she sighed sadly, walking through and standing next to Twilight. "Magnificent, right?" she asked the purple alicorn, who automatically agreed.

"Twilight, Luna, Celestia is awaiting you at the east balcony for the Flag Raising," called Cadance, who fluttered her wings. "We'll fly," she said. Twilight hadn't a lot of practise, so she flew slowly behind the two older princesses as they flew down to Celestia in a sort of arranged flying angle.

Twilight heard loud cheering when all four Alicorns huddled around, and she beamed brightly. "Today we mark a special day in pony history. The Raising of the Flag. Every year, we seem to raise a special flag, every year different, to mark the changes of Equestria. This flag is represented to Twilight Sparkle defeating Nightmare Moon, who had trapped my dear sister for 1000 years," she said.

A murmmer in the crowd continued as with a flash of pink light, Celestia ripped off the blanket. Twilight gasped, and she noted this down, as the official scribe did. Purple, like herself, the mare in the moon pattern with her cutie mark with six ponies casting a spell, towards the moon. It was truly magnificent. If Twilight said so herself.

The colours of the sunset blending in with the purple made a glimmer of gold around the edges, and the black cutiemark illuminate with perfect light. She could hear ponies talk in the crowd, and she knew basically every pony in Equestria, so it wasn't hard.

"What a gorgeous flag!" That was Berry Bunch. 'Beautiful", began Daisy, "Looks like my colours in the sunlight. Especially my mane!" Twilight smiled, then looked shocked. But Daisy's mane was green she thought. And, it might 've been her imagination, but a green smoking mass of the Canterlot Castle was brought her horror-struck attention.