Memories

Twilight Sparkle watched the scenery pass as she flew high above the ground.

“It never gets old doesn’t it?” A voice said from right next to her.

She turned her head to Celestia.

“Yeah, I remember my first time flying high above the ground… hehe, I admit, it was a little scary, but it was truly beautiful.”

She smiled and looked down. Then she looked to her left and right, and saw many guards flying right next to the chariot. She opened her mouth to speak, but was cut off by Celestia.

“We’re here.”

Twilight Sparkle walked right next to Princess Celestia. Once they entered Ponyville, they were approached by her friends.

“Twilight!” Pinkie called out. She ran up to Twilight and gave her a hug.

“What’s the situation?” Celestia asked.

Rainbow Dash walked up and spoke first.

“Somepony took hostages and is holed up in city hall. Whenever we tried to speak to the captor, he only says that he will speak to Princess Celestia, and princess Celestia alone.”

Celestia bowed her head.

“So I have heard… I will deal with this, alone.” She said once the royal guards began to walk towards the city hall.

“But your majesty,” A guard spoke up. “It is dangerous in there; we cannot risk your life trying to save the hostages.”

“Don’t worry about me, Swift Sword. I’ll be fine.” Celestia said with much confidence.

The guards looked at each other, then looked back at the princess.

“I’m sorry your majesty, but we cannot allow that.”

Celestia simply glanced over at the guards, then thought up of something. She smiled and glanced at Twilight.

“Twilight, will you follow me.”

Twilight looked at the princess, then walked over to her. Celestia began to walk towards city hall, but stopped half way.

“Twilight, I need you to place an illusion spell on yourself to disguise yourself as me.” Celestia whispered. Twilight smiled.

“Alright, when do I begin?”

“On my cue.”

Celestia glanced back at the guards. Her horn began to glow as a spell came into her mind.

Stop time.

Suddenly everything stopped moving. Celestia and Twilight were the only ones breathing.

“Alright Twilight, I will walk into city hall, and by then the spell should wear off. By then you should have the illusion spell on.”

Twilight nodded, so she began to walk towards city hall. Celestia opened the door and walked in. Right next to her were two changling bodyguards, armed with their weapons, just like the guard said. Celestia chuckled to herself, then waited for a few seconds. Soon, time caught up with her, and everything began to move once more.

The changlings glanced at Celestia, then glanced at each other. They shrugged, then turned around, and began to walk towards the center of city hall.

“Ah, Celestia, so glad you could make it.”

Celestia frowned.

“I knew you would be back, and my, you look handsome… but why, why would you take hostages.”

“Oh Celestia, only way to get your attention was to take hostages.” Starlight responded. “Oh, and by the way, I couldn’t help but notice that strange feeling earlier. Did you cast a time spell? And if you did, why not take the hostages then.”

“Very observant, Starlight… and even though I casted a time spell, it wouldn’t be fair to take the hostages then.”

“Don’t talk to me about fairness!” Starlight cried. “You take many Changlings hostage, and accuse them of treason, then take their lives?! How is that fair?!”

“Some things cannot be achieved without sacrifice, Starlight, you know this. My plan was to stop death, however, now that that has been achieved, I have no reason to…”

“Enough of this!” Starlight walked over to a hostage.

“It’s time you learned your lesson.”

He unsheathed a knife with his magic, causing Celestia to gasp.

“You wouldn’t…”

Celestia glanced behind Starlight and the hostage, then smiled.

“Of course I… why are you smiling?” Starlight asked.

“Oh, nothing.” Celestia responded.

“I know your hiding something!” Starlight screamed.

Celestia suddenly began to laugh.

“STOP!” Starlight stuttered. He then lifted up the knife, and brought it down.

Ding!

The blade suddenly flew out of Starlight’s magical grasp. He gasped, then glanced down at the hostage.

“I’m pretty sure I took off the shield apparatus.” He uttered to himself. He then grabbed a second blade, and brought it down on the hostage.

Ding!

Celestia continued laughing.

“What, what did you do?” Starlight stuttered.

Celestia then made a turnaround motion with her hoof. Starlight obliged and turned around.

“What’s a dead tree doing in here… AAHHHHH!!!”

Celestia freed the hostages, and motioned for them to exit. As soon as they exited, Celestia turned back to the tree.

“Don’t worry, these criminals will be dealt with, severely, and don’t worry about repaying us, consider it a favor.”

“Thank you.”

“Celestia” stood fast, yet she felt her strength failing her.

“Your majesty, what’s wrong, why won’t you speak?” A guard asked.

“Celestia” didn’t answer, but she thought in her mind.

I can’t believe I forgot the vocalization part of the spell!

Rainbow Dash glanced at the princess with narrow eyes.

“I don’t think this is the princess.” She said.

Oh no…

“How do you know that?” Swift Sword asked.

“Didn’t you notice that Twilight went missing? She’s done this trick before.”

Swift thought about it for a moment, but the sound of a door opening caused him to look to his right.

“The hostages, they’ve been released!” He shouted. Suddenly the crowd broke from the guards’ wall, and ran to the hostages.

“Celestia” took the opportunity and ran towards city hall.

Once she reached city hall she opened the door, right when a flash of light went off, causing her to cover her face.

“Princess!” She called out.

“Yes, Twilight?”

Twilight closed the door and released her spell.

“What was that?”

“Oh,” Celestia smiled. “an old friend.”

“What happened to Starlight and the changlings?” Twilight asked.

“Oh, let’s just say they’ve been dealt with.”

Twilight raised an eyebrow.

“Ok, Princess, tell me what really happened.

Princess Celestia sighed.

“Oh, alright, here’s what happened.”