Nightmare Moon's Tiny Adversary
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Chapter 3
Part 3
“We’re here,” Overwatch stated mechanically. Already, there was a chariot with two pegasus guards at the entrance to the library, ready to take Twilight directly to Canterlot. “Damn, they move fast,” the charcoal mare muttered under her breath before she turned to the unicorn on her back. “I don’t see Steelie or Spike, so they’re probably still asleep or something. Even so, I’m sure they’ll be overjoyed to hear that you’re alive and well.”
Twilight just crossed her forelegs in response, turning away from her guard. Overwatch took a deep breath, releasing it in a long sigh before she spoke again. “Twilight, listen. I understand that you’re angry with the princess, but she just wants to keep you safe and happy.”
Twilight let out a huff, and Overwatch breathed out another sigh as she levitated the little mare off her back onto the ground in front of her. “Look, I know why you’re so angry. You feel that your mentor does not trust you, that she does not have faith in your abilities and skills, but have you even once thought about how she feels through all this? It doesn’t take a genius to see that Princess Celestia is shouldering a lot of pain and guilt.”
“I… I know. She misses her sister and just wants her back after a thousand years, but that’s why I want to help. Why does my mentor no longer have faith that I can help?” Twilight asked, her expression crestfallen. “Is it because I’m small?”
Overwatch let out a snort. “I sincerely hope you don’t think the princess’s guilt over her sister is the only reason for her problems,” she stated bluntly. “You are also a big factor in all this. Over the years, you’ve become a very important pony in her life.”
“I-I’m glad. I did my best to make her proud—”
“And it’s not about your studies, nor how hard you work. It’s how enthusiastically you handle every single moment of your life and how you never let anything bog you down,” Overwatch said earnestly. “Steelie and I have worked fairly closely with Princess Celestia over our time in the Royal Guard, and I have never seen her so happy or so open, to other ponies until you appeared.”
“B-b-but…” Twilight stammered out, trying to say something, anything, to stop her guard.
“Twilight, why won’t you realize that you’re like a daughter to her?” the unicorn guard continued, and the tiny pony in front of her deflated at her words. “You were always so focused on pleasing her, hoping not to disappoint your perfect mentor, that you’ve never realized how close to her lonely heart you’ve become.”
“B-but I’m just her student! Her subject!” Twilight responded hastily. “Nothing more than a little pony under her mighty wings. As much as I have done to please her, I know that I am just one of the many subjects she cares about, one who will pass away just like every other pony she meets. Compared to her eternal sister, I’m not important at all—”
“Twilight!”
The little mare recoiled at her friend’s outburst, her ears ringing from the ferocity. Overwatch let out a snort, scowling, before she continued. “You are not just a mere pony to her. Please remember that! Everything that has happened tonight with Princess Celestia and Luna, every word you’ve exchanged with them, has accomplished nothing besides cause you and them even more agony and heartbreak. Twilight, it’s hurting me to see you all like this! Please, just stop!” she cried out, clutching a hoof to her heart.
“No, that can’t be right. It’s not true,” Twilight mumbled, turning her head away from Overwatch’s pained expression.
“She wants to keep you safe as much as she wants to save her sister, and the best way she knows to prevent the loss of two of the most important ponies in her life is to get you out of harm’s way,” the guard mare said firmly.
Twilight turned back to Overwatch, her expression set and determined. “But I know how she can keep both of them. She doesn’t believe that I can bring her sister back, but I will prove her wrong!” she exclaimed, lighting up her horn and teleporting away before Overwatch could even register what was happening.
The unicorn guard looked around in panic before she caught Twilight reappearing several meters away, galloping out of the town. The two pegasi at the chariot simultaneously freed themselves from the harness, flying straight for the tiny unicorn, who quickly teleported again before they could catch her.
Overwatch caught where Twilight appeared the second time, and took in a deep breath as she prepared her shot. She narrowed her eyes in concentration before firing off her bolt, which flew with laser-like precision towards the base of Twilight’s head, striking as instantly as lightning and causing the tiny mare to tumble to the ground.
The pegasus guards landed lightly where Twilight had fallen, looking with concern at her unconscious body as Overwatch trotted over. “Don’t worry, she’s fine. I just used a sleep spell. She should be out for at least an hour,” she said, levitating Twilight off the ground to her back as she walked back towards the library.
To her surprise, however, Overwatch had not even taken three paces before her charge disappeared in a magenta flash. “W-what just happened?” she stammered out, swiveling her body around as she looked around in alarm. She finally noticed Twilight out of the corner of her eye sprinting into the cover of the nearby forest. “How?” the guard mare said in disbelief, her mouth agape.
The other two pegasus guards had immediately taken up the chase again, a chase that Overwatch knew would ultimately end up fruitless. Somepony of Twilight’s size would be impossible to find in a dark forest with plenty of cover. Instead, she just plopped down into a sitting position, her head hung morosely as she murmured, “Figures she would have some way around my sleep spell.”
“Whoa nelly, wha’s all this commotion about?” Applejack asked, catching Overwatch’s attention as she trotted over with a small group of familiar mares.
“What are you ponies doing here?” the guard mare replied morosely. “Didn’t I tell you to go home and hide? Nightmare Moon is still at large.”
Rainbow Dash swooped in much closer, pressing her nose against Overwatch’s and giving her a challenging glare. “And why we should care what you want? This is Ponyville, not Canterlot, and we’re not going to listen to a bully guard like you,” she said, jabbing a hoof at the guard mare.
Overwatch shook her head. “Fine, do whatever you want. Foalsitting fillies like you isn’t really on my to-do list right now, “ she replied, her tone indifferent as she stood back up and trotted away.
Rainbow Dash quickly intercepted her, landing with a stomp directly in the charcoal unicorn’s path and snorting aggressively. “Fillies, you say? Give me ten seconds and I’ll show you what a filly can do!” she said. With that, she attempted to charge forward to tackle Overwatch, only to be arrested mid-flight by Applejack biting onto her tail.
“Calm ‘own, Rain’ow ’ash,” the farm mare said, only spitting out the tail when the pegasus’s hooves hit the ground. Dash let out a huff, though she still shot glares at the female guard.
“Please accept our deepest apologies for our energetic friend’s rather rude behavior,” Rarity said with a tiny bow, ignoring the frown she received from Dash. “After Princess Celestia fought off that… monster, we noticed that the Royal Guards had become a great deal more lively, and we were curious as to why a large number of them were sent flying into that dreadful forest.”
Applejack sighed. “In less fancy words, we came here t’ see wha’ all tha’ fuss is about.”
“And...umm…” Fluttershy murmured quietly, tapping her hooves together nervously under the stony gaze of Overwatch.
“I think what Fluttershy is trying to say is that we wanted to check on Twilight’s health too while we were here! I even brought her a cupcake!” Pinkie Pie said, a cheerful smile on her face as she whipped out a surprisingly bright purple and pink cupcake from out of sight.
Overwatch’s brow furrowed together at the sudden pastry, but she quickly shook her head. “And how did you know that she would be here?” she asked, looking at them suspiciously.
Pinkie quickly answered, “Well, Rainbow Dash told us that she knew that Twilight was still alive, and then Rarity went over and said that the princess was reviving her student just inside the giant hole in Town Hall accompanied by a pink alicorn and a handsome white stallion—” Rarity let out a brief snort of annoyance “—So then when Dash went over too and saw you and Twilight coming back to the library, I thought, ‘how about we all come and organize Twilight a “Thank You For Saving Ponyville” party’? So now we’re all here!” Pinkie Pie finished with a flourish of her hooves at the end.
“What she said,” Rainbow Dash said. “That black monster gave even the princess a hard time, and Twilight still stood up for us against her. I mean, I tried to fight too, but Applejack got in the way of that plan, but the point is that the monster was like few hundreds, if not thousands, times larger—”
“Rainbow Dash, you are exaggerating her proportions again," Rarity said, but the pegasus cut her off with a hoof.
“Like I said, that monster was like a few hundreds times bigger than Twilight. She could’ve squashed her like a bug. Even I would have thought twice about confronting her if I was that small,” Rainbow Dash said, before she stopped for a moment, looking thoughtful. “Actually, forget that, I would have stood against her anyways, but that’s not the point. What’s important is that Twilight’s got the guts when the rest of Ponyville faltered. She stood up for all of us against a giant, and we figured that we should thank her for something that few others would do.”
Overwatch opened her mouth to answer, but she was interrupted by the slam of the library door opening as well as by the pegasus guard suddenly in her face. “Where’s Twilight? Is she alright? What did Nightmare Moon do to her?” Steel Blade asked frantically, grabbing Overwatch in his hooves as Spike ran out of the library towards her.
Overwatch looked uncertainly at the ponies surrounding her as well as at the baby dragon listening in closely, biting her lip nervously. “She’s… She’s gone,” she said finally. “She ran into the forest after Nightmare Moon.”
“W-w-what?” Fluttershy suddenly burst out, her eyes wide in shock.
"But why? Why pursue a monster?” Rarity exclaimed, just as surprised at the news.
“W-we need to go after her!” Fluttershy continued. “I mean, we should go after her. She could get herself hurt in that big scary forest! Or even eaten alive!”
Applejack nodded. “Fluttershy’s right. We can’t jus’ leave Twi alone t’ face down Nightmare Moon agin.”
Overwatch pushed away Steel Blade, freeing herself from his hold, before looking squarely at the mares before her. “You… you would go into the Everfree after a pony you barely know?” she said.
“Of course we would! We wouldn’t just abandon her! That’s what friends do!” Rainbow Dash said sternly.
Overwatch stared at them with wonder, before bringing a hoof to her face and letting out a small chuckle. “Of course. Of course Twilight would have been right all along. I should have known.”
“Known what?” Applejack said, her brow furrowed.
“That this is just part of what love is, isn’t it? Putting somepony else’s needs before your own? It’s been in front of my face this entire time. I’ve been blinded by my own hesitation, but I won’t make that same mistake again. Not this time,” Overwatch said resolutely, looking around at the determined ponies and dragon around her. “We need to get going. I’ll explain everything along the way.”
With Shining Armor leading his soldiers again in order to regroup search parties and aid wounded or unconscious guards, Celestia and Cadence had decided to search on their own. Any monster or animal who dared to get in the way ended up running scared and lightly singed, though the hydra had to be knocked unconscious, one head at a time.
Cadence was surprised by the groups of unconscious Royal Guards scattered about or lying in tree branches, hurt but alive. Shadowy figures stood sentry over the bodies, scaring off local wildlife and retreating only when another group of Royal Guards approached to find and aid their fallen comrades. Celestia, however, seemed to be on the verge of razing down the forest, and she was loath to let the creatures of the Everfree off with just a warning.
“Celestia, calm down. Please… Don’t let your anger at Nightmare Moon get the best of you,” Cadence said in an attempt to calm Celestia’s rage, but the powerful alicorn shot her a glare, causing her to back off slightly.
"I'm not angry at Nightmare Moon!"
Cadence blinked her eyes in confusion. “If not her, then who?”
“I’m angry at myself,” she said, increasing her pace to a trot, “for failing to see Luna’s pain for decades before it was too late. For thinking that a few words would somehow lift her spirits after the continued abuses our subjects heaped on her! I don’t know when or how Nightmare Moon possessed my sister, and I fear that I have even less of an idea of who or what Nightmare Moon really is, but it’s clear that she’s not the monster I thought her to be.”
“But she’s possessed Luna and killed many guards. You had to banish your sister to the moon because of her actions,” Cadence replied, the branches and leaves scratching against her wings as she tried to keep up.
“The actions of Nightmare Moon were harsh and direct, but they came from desperation and distrust. She tried to help Luna in her own way, and it’s only now that I can finally see it. Just today, she spared the life of my student and showed mercy to her guard. The only pony I hate here is myself,” Celestia stated dispassionately, shooting a scorching fireball at the ground in front of a timberwolf as she passed, scaring off the creature before it could even think of acting.
“And it’s true,” she continued. “I used the Elements of Harmony against Luna because I thought Nightmare Moon wished to bring about eternal night. I was hoping to purge the darkness from my sister’s heart, not banish her to the moon! Even the incident today where Twilight put herself in danger was a result of my original plans to use her against my sister. I cannot take back my mistakes, but I will make up for them. I can only hope that Luna and Twilight will forgive me one day.”
Cadence just let out a sigh and followed. No matter how afraid she was of the monsters lurking in these woods, she couldn’t leave Celestia alone in her time of need, and she was going to do everything in her power to bring love back to Luna's heart.
Nightmare Moon levitated another unconscious guard safely into the castle ruins despite the jolts of pain from the wound in her foreleg. More than once her injuries nearly caused her to crumple into a heap amidst the rubble, but she worked past it, spurred on by the memory of her talk with Twilight. The heartening discovery that Equestria not only enjoyed but even tried to discover the secrets of her night gave her the will to keep moving and the determination not to bring harm to anypony, despite her weakness and injuries.
Anypony, except Celestia.
“I’m sorry, Twilight. I cannot forgive my sister, but I will spare the lives of her soldiers,” Nightmare Moon said, breathing heavily. “That is the least I can do to prove to you that I am a queen worthy of your respect… Of your loyalty.”
The dark alicorn lit her horn, and another batch of summoning circles appeared around her. The effort made her lose her balance and fall down to her knees, but she managed to finish the spell and bring in more of her shadowy soldiers.
“Go… keep anypony from reaching these ruins until my strength returns to me, but remember, do not kill anypony, no matter what,” she ordered, before finally falling to her belly. From her position on the ground, she watched her shadows move towards the forest until her head become too heavy to lift. Slowly, she closed her eyes, a smile on her muzzle as the silver light of the moon washed over her wounded and exhausted body.
Twilight galloped over twisted roots and hard rocks, swerving in and out of the underbrush as she dove deeper into the forest. The Elements. They’re the key to reuniting my mentor and her sister. Nightmare Moon’s desperate, and she would rather die than give up. I have to get to them before it’s too late.
Twilight wasn’t entirely familiar with the insides of the Everfree Forest, but she had already stumbled across an old path during her escape and knew enough from her readings that it would take her towards the former Castle of the Royal Pony Sisters. She knew better than to walk along it though. Patrols of Royal Guards passed by overhead even here, and they seemed to be following the same path she was.
Sweat poured down her brow, but to Twilight’s surprise, she didn’t feel tired at all. Her energy seemed nearly endless. Furthermore, in the darkness of the night she was able to see through the gloomy forest just as clearly as if the sun had been shining down with all of its force.
Even Overwatch’s spell failed to put me to sleep for very long. Twilight looked up through a break in the canopy at the moon as she passed, her hooves easily finding their way through the tangled undergrowth. Nightmare Moon, what did you do to me?
Her thoughts were interrupted by a loud hissing from the bush in front of her, and she dug her hooves into the ground to stop, a shiver in her spine.
“W-who's there?” she stammered, looking warily at the bush, only to let out a loud scream when out of the leafy cover sprang a giant snake, large enough to snap her up whole. She bolted without thinking, scrambling across the forest floor in her panic until she burst into an unexpected open expanse, an isolated field devoid of canopy cover, and ran straight into a massive lion paw.
Twilight was swat from behind by another paw, tumbling helplessly into the middle of the open area. Her heart beat faster and her legs trembled uncontrollably as she looked up at the mighty beast approaching her. Her eyes trailed from its humongous red mane to the sharp teeth inside its hungry mouth to the large stinger waving about behind it.
She slowly rose to her hooves and began to take a few hesitant steps back, not daring to look away even for a moment from the humongous beast.
“So is this how it all ends?” Twilight squeaked out, barely audible. ”As a s-s-snack?”
She shook her head. "No! I'm not gonna let this overgrown kitten stop me! I am the student of Princess Celestia! I can do this!"
She gulped in nervously as the giant hybrid licked its chops, staring at her menacingly.
"I hope..."
Go Twilight! Go and unite the shadows with the light!
Oh, and I'm now always the last comment with newest first :D
My place shall never change.
Neither shall my life lose it's energy for as long as I live.
This is the fate of the cosmos that have been destined to lead victory to the select few and remorse to those unlucky.
So shall it be as is determined by the eternal goddess of Fate and Death, Queen Ezimeth I
How long shall this comment be? It shall never be no less nor no more than what is necessary to emphasize my points.
Speaking of which, Having 6 teeth extracted isn't fun, at least it's not surgery on the eyes or brain...
Anyhow, I am enjoying each twist and turn that is included inside this story.
Such as where Twilight now inhibits magic and the effects of a sleep spell no longer have as much effect.
I'm kinda curious if Twilight will be turning into an alicorn thestral (batpony) instead of a pony alicorn.
This is just a collection of comments, some pertain to others but by themselves shall their true meaning reveal itself.
oh my i hope Twiny's friends arrives on time to stuff the overgrown kitty well Flutters will stop it while the rest fails to stop the manticore
4750942 Vat.
4750954 ALL HAIL FLUTTERSHY! QUEEN OF THE FLUFFBALLS!
Wish I knew what was going on in Nightmare Moon's head. This whole thing is confusingly delicious story. And I can't wait for more!
4750485
To be fair, while Celestia was sorely lacking in tact and patience due to various factors involved and how obviously emotional she is about the whole thing, Twilight kinda doesn't deserve to be treated wholly seriously - that she gladly marched in to (what appeared at the time) certain doom with little regard for those she would leave behind is true, and what's more so - and what is Twilight's biggest character flaw (and is slowly starting to grate on me and make me like her less and less) is her nigh absolute refusal to let go of the shrinking spell, even in a situation where her life could potentially depend on having her full power available.
Instead she hides behind excuses and empty words about "fairness" and "not being ready" (which she never will be, considering she doesn't put forth even a sliver of effort to train with her magic at full size) and simply refuses to face what is all but a phobia of being big at this point - she could literally be on death's door and would be just as likely to die tiny as releasing the spell and going for broke.
Twilight in this story is actually pretty spoiled and everyone is usually happy to indulge her - she is kinda used to having things her way while living through her twiny adventures and avoiding thoughts about truly being the best she can be - which includes actually doing something about her magic control at full size.
Considering that she doesn't though, the thought that she isn't being taken wholly seriously is not unjustly earned, considering she isn't invested in being the best she can be either, even where her own safety is concerned. She is reckless and has somewhat of an invulnerability complex while refusing to give it her all.
Yes, Celestia treated her somewhat as a child, but it's not as simple as the big, bad Alicorn picking on the diligent little Twiny. These are two quite flawed characters with real faults, fears and deep seated issues who found their opinions clashing, and that's what largely made this such a good scene.
Celestia obviously needs to work on trusting others more, especially those close to her, before her plans drive more walls and misunderstandings between them, and Twilight actually needs to start taking her own situation seriously instead of dutifully ignoring the elephant in the room, before she demands to be treated as such by others.
That's a lot of editors and proofreaders...
Squeeeeeee!
This is so exciting, I really envy the folks who stumble on this story after it's all uploaded. This is awesome, and way too easy to devour.
LOVE IT can't wait for more
4749195
Yes, but Twiny can stop NMM without any violence, whereas Celestia will mostly likely resort to at least some.
Anyway, I'll probably comment again after I read the new chapter.
And this is why we use logic. It can help you find the correct theories in stories!
Now to just wait again....
Hahaha , while I read this chapter I couldn't help thinking about the comments on the previous chapter , and it's like this chapter answer and adress everything that everyone said.
Either you predicted what people would say quite well , or you just though about everything from the start. Either way , good job author.
Oh , and while I am at it , thanks for taking the time to respond to everyone like you did , it's quite commendable.
Yay for double update! Great two chapters!
Wow. That was fast.
This Twilight's... suicidally stubborn. She needs to accept that her small size is very much limiting her potential to do her task and puts her in far greater danger.
Break the damn shrinking spell already! It's getting rediculous how stubborn she is about keeping her current size.
4750384
Alrighty then, scratch the PM I just sent and i'll keep it.
Need more now
Twiny never saw that coming?
Is she really that blind?
Over: Uh, nothing. You were just levitating some weights and randomly teleported into Ponyville, how, I don't know. But luckily Celestia had a scanner on you so we could find you, and when we did, you were passed out. Let's head back to Centerlot
Twi: Ok then.
Just Fluttershy and Pinkie now..
Alright, the Five is here, now for the sixth
Rarity, don't let Twi or Cadence catch you saying that!
img2.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20120217000805/smuff/images/7/7a/You_don't_say_Pinkie_Pie.png
Hydra, as in cut a head of and two more grows back hydra?
Crap
Woah, that never even happens
Is her being hurt good or bad?
They aren't physical, well, except from the balls of stone in the ruins, but they're just stone now, you need the keys to activate them, and they're trying to find you.
Crap.
So is it that beast from the season 4 episode where Apple Bloom is home alone?
Yeah good luck with that.
4750954
Ever since Fluttershy meet Twilight, she became a bit overprotective of her. Just imagine what will happen if she find the tiny mare facing Manticore.
I am sure she will protect Twiny the same way she would any of her animal friends.
4751078
Vengence against her sister, kingdom to take over, tiny unicorn becoming her advisor, you know, the usual.
4751124
You summed it up nicely, though I can only say sorry for flaw that make you like Twilight less and less.
I try to keep Twiny from being to OP character and while she is good at magic, sport and is knowledgable, she also have flaws that balance it, flaws that she won't overcome in one mere chapter.
Maybe one day she will finally decide to face this flaw.
As for her not unshrinking herself in time of danger, that's not enterly true. Whe increased her mass to 9kg in My Little Medic sidestory because the mission called for it, and the only reason why she didn't unshrink herself to face Nightmare Moon, it was because she knew it would accomplish nothing.
When she first fought against her mentor in tiny duel. Celestia not only lacked experience in combat and was in poor shape, but she also shrunk herself to Twilight's size ( Twiny is 1/100, tiny Celestia was 1/400 ) and didn't used protection spell, and yet the fight was nearly a draw.
If Twilight returned to her full size, she would still be smaller than Nightmare Moon, and protection spell would not longer aid her. Basically, Twilight knew she would not win, so didn't bother to grow for this encounter. All she wanted was to distarct her foe, and being tiny sure helped to distract Nightmare Moon for a long time.
4751224
True. But only my top editors did majority of work. Others helped with small portion, for example, one person helped with AJ accent while another with Nightmare Moon sentences and old Equestrian.
4751466
Sadly, you will need to wait few weeks. My editor focus on quality, not on speed.
4751537
Twilight already tried to convince Nightamre Moon to abandon her vengence, it didn't worked though.
Anyway, Celestia doesn't want to take any chances (first she captured Nightmare Moon, and after they will negotiate or they will work to unlock Elements of Charmony, at least this is what Celestia decided).
4751613
I just like responding on comments. It is the top reason why people write fanfics in the first place (to talk with others about your story).
As for the story itself. Maybe it was just a coincidence that what I wrote answered most of questions previous chapter, or maybe I predicted everything from the start? Who knows.
4751673
Thanks. It just happened my editor worked on two chapters at once. But next update will take a lot of time.
4751698
She already increased her size to 9kg in My Little Medic during a mission, and she knew it would accomplish nothing when facing somepony as powerful as Nightmare Moon. The real question is, will she increase her size against Manticore, or not?
Sorry for the cliffhanger.
4751124
Finally! Someone else who isn't just sitting here letting the text spoon-feed them and is actually using their brain. A major problem most people have in these comments and indeed on this entire site is that they look directly at the story and figure that everything is as it seems. They abuse their omniscient reader aspect to say what a character should have done better, without bothering to understand the character only knows very few certain things that the reader knows, and they thus refuse to understand anything more than what they're so certain they saw - not the slightest hint of extrapolation. Which is entirely their fault and makes them bad readers.
Though, to be fair to Celestia. When you're an immortal more or less responsible for the whole world in a daily basis and you have diplomats and nobility sucking at your blood like leeches, you -shouldn't- be open and trusting. It's unbelievably hard to just turn on and off the emotional and mental shield that protects you from politics and being used, so that you can enjoy beyond open and happy with the people you do trust. It's not a matter of time spent trying to do it, it's just too hard for the brain to deal with. Considering how long Celestia's dealt with such issues, she's likely had to contend with some of - if not the best manipulators and schemers the world has EVER produced. When everyone with power wants your head on a plate and is willing to do anything underhanded to do so - you can't show even the weakness of trusting and loving someone or they'll try to use it against you. Only a matter of time until one of them is successful. And if Celestia is forced to kneel as such, then what happens to Equestria?
That aside, I completely agree with you. I understand that the whole point of the story is Twilight being small, but with the way she's being treated and the fact she bucks authority and good sense at every measure to still somehow save the day and remain her size is starting to feel more like a Micro-ist's fantasy and less like an intriguing decision. I'm hoping some sense gets smacked into her here soon, and she gains the character development of a bitter pill to swallow.
4751792
Twilight: I am contemplating, not daydreaming. Two diferent things.
Actually it was several minutes ago. But yea, Twilight recover fast, and forget about her pain even faster.
Yeap. Twi is screwed.
Actaully, Celestia nearly beat Nightmare Moon in a duel, and her guards almost captured her. I think that Nightmare Moon is the only pony that need saving before she kill herself in pointless battle.
4751881
Sorry, you will need to wait for a while until next chapter.
4751901
She didn't. She was to busy to get best grade on her studies to notice how much her mentor love her. (If anythink, she is not just a tiny pony in body, but also in heart. When it comes to her mentor and friends, she is to humble for her own good.
More like, a little delusional. She cannot accept to be more than a mere subject and student in her mentor's eyes.
Lol, this wouldn't end well.
It is the same Hydra from Pinkie Keen episode. 4 heads, each more stupid than last. It seems that their encounter with the pricness ended poorly.
She just had a fight to the death with Celestia and got bombed by unicorn guard's spells that nearly burried her in Town Hall. I think that her alicorn's magic barely keeps her alive while connection with the moon recover her body.
Nope. Just manticore from season 1 episode 2.
4751979 that is okay i understand thank you for telling me
The previous chapter makes more sense now.
Well, it's a good thing I got these two chapters out in quick succession. It looks like a lot of the stuff left up in the air with the first chapter were fixed with the second, from what I can tell from the comments.
4751979
Exactly. That's why she's going to fail. I don't know what, but there's just something wrong in Celestia's plan. Most likely the "capture and negotiate" part.
Oh, come now, Twilight. You've had experience with this kind of thing before.
Remember the Birthday Cake Incident?
I love this story! It's one of the greatest I've seen! But out of AJ's two lines of dialogue this chapter, one really made me cringe.
Fanceh? Really? Sheesh. You don't go out of your way to write Rarity's accent, because we all know it. Similarly, don't mess with AJ too much. It hurts.
This story is AWESOOOOOOOOME!!!!
4748222
Oh, well that makes sense. Thanks for clearing that for me.
The manticore? This might not be pretty, but at least it'll be heart-pounding. Stand tall, oh Ye of diminutive (yet adorable) stature, for thy trials have begun anew.
And so, Twiny will reenact the tale of The Mouse and The Lion by taking apart that splinter out of the Manticore's paw while healing it.
...I vote for Twiny to name the Manticore Monthy!
4752730
Well, the diference is that Manticore's teeth are far bigger and sharper.
4752796
Ok, I will use "fancy" instead.
4753861
I think those trials are a bit to big for our tiny adventurer. Hopefully her friends arrive in time to help.
4753942
One problem.What if there are no splinters, but instead just one big hungry cat?
4754024 Thanks! Sorry for giving you grief, it's just that I get really nitpicky whenever reading AJ, as she is best pony. Yep.
4753861 I agree. She is adorable. Very much adorable. <"Hug Me, I am adorbs".
4751901
Nope. That, my friend, is a Chimera. This is just a Manticore.
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4754024 sure she will figure out something, there are lots of trees and branches all over there...
BTW: I think ther previous chapters in which Twiny was in the Apple Family Reunion at least must be edited to add Green Apple and his family in there they would inmediatly recognize Twiny after saving their lives back there in the Fillydelphia incident on "My Little Medic" side-story, they would be the most upset with Appejack for attacking Twiny.
Personally, I was hoping Luna and Nightmare Moon would be treated as the same pony rather than Nightmare Moon being an entity that's simply possessed her, like every other other fic has done.
You still have me interested with her characterization, though. Still hanging on the edge for the next part.
4753942 I think Fluttershy and the rest of the mane ponies will come and save her
4757424 To save her? more likely to save the manticore though, you're underestimating Twiny
I hope that when the Ponyville gang arrives they say that Princess Celestia stepped in Poison Joke and is waiting for Zecora to bring the bubble bath mix that will cure them.
I also hope that they will also walk in on Nightmare Moon addressing the injuries that Twilight got from the Manticores.
4757625 Well Tiny is kind of cowering in fear sooooo.....Yeah she'd probably teleport every where
4754528
I think being adorable is not going to help her this time.
4754694
I will consider it, but I am afraid it may be to late to add such change. Will see.
4757095
Who said Nightmare Moon is possesing Luna. They are the same pony, but diferent personalities in one body.
4757424
This is a possibility.
4757625
It can go both ways, but manticore is not a pushover.
4758378
They do not know Zecora, nor poison joke (at least main 6, Celestia may know this flower from experience).
4758721
Wait, Luna has Disassociate Personality Disorder?
4758546 And unlike the Fillydelphia Incident in My Little Medic, she doesn't have to worry about healing anypony in the vincity (which consumes lots of magic) and and she's even boosted by Nightmare Moon herself.
4758721
1) Is never too late for corrections, rectons and chapter revisions.
2) Indeed, the manticore is no pushover but compared to what happend in Fillydelphia and what she fought there, The manticore is at disadvantage by a large margin considering that Twiny does not have distractors or have to worry abou the safety of anypony else in the vincity, let alone she's been completely healed by Celestia and Cadance and power boosted by Nightmare Moon herself.
4758970
It was just response to:
Basically what I tried to tell him was that Celestia see Nightmare Moon as monster who possesed her sister, but later on, she find out that there is far more to it.
It is all up to interpretation from diferent point of view.
Celestia saw Nightmare Moon as something that is forcing her sister to rebelion while using her jelousity and anger to accomplish that.
Guards in the past suspected that Luna was a monster who was hidding it's true color.
Twilight when she first meet Nightmare Moon. She thought that she and Luna is the same pony who trasformed because she was jelous of her sister. Basically, she is treated diferently by diferent ponies.
4759819
Well, you are forgetting about one important factor.
In little medic, Twilight had time to find out that on her current size, she cannot fullfil her responsibilities. She increased her size to 9kg before the giant worms started to attack the building, and in the end, if it was for Celestia, Twilight would fail to safe Soarin', or she would return to her normal size while swallowed (or after teleporting away from monster's mouth) to take it down and help her friend.
In this situation, Twilight thought that she can just sneak into royal sister's castle thanks to her small size and skills, avoiding patrols of guards who would most likely try to capture her. She didn't expect to run into manticore and didn't considered that her size is not suited for threat level. Right now if Twilight would decide to increase her size, she will need to hope that manticore won't interupt casting process (in little medic, she was not disturbed while increasing her size, in here, she is facing monster).
Long story short. Twilight can:
a) Try to run thanks to her small size, agility and tekeportation (and eventually grow when away from monster's vision.
b) She can try to fight with her size disadvantage, where her magic can barely exceed level of normal size unicorn, hoping that her agility will make up for weak attack and endurance.
c) She can try to increase her size while facing the manticore, hoping that a giant paw won't interupt it (even if she can grow up, doing it is a dificult task and require a lot of concentration).
4759819 Yes But what i was thinking is she is immobilized by fear
Graaaaah, why don't you just finally let go of the shrinking spell, Twi? You can always go tiny when you're done. Stupid, stubborn little filly...
it seems stupid now that Twilight doesn't increase to full size. I mean then she wouldn't have to worry about the guards at all anymore. From what we've seen before her powers are incredible so at full power she can overpower those guards of her easily. She could also protect herself far better if she again get's caught in the crossfire.
unlike some other readers I think Twilight is right in that she needs to help. Nightmare moon trusts her and this is what she's been training for after all. This is something that she needs to do. It's just that those guards simply refuse to help her, they just keep hindering her. She needs to do this but she needs help. I hope the others of the mane 6 can somehow ditch the guards or turn them around.
4760598
4760688
Good points, both of you.
4762037 It takes a lot of magic and a few minute s to work she could get attacked
4760688
That can affect her performance.
4762037
She already tried to do that in My Little Medic during a mission, increasing her mass to 9 kg, it was rather harsh experience.
She may increase ger size if situation calls for it, but only as if necesery (maybe she think that it will be better to sneak into the castle and grow up if elements would not respond to her if she was tiny, or she may grow if the danger overhelm her, but not before).
4764863
Twilight had trouble to restrain herself when she was 9kg heavy (when she pulled Soarin' towards herself, he slammed against the floor. When she pushed Wonderbolt who rubbed her like a kitten, he ended up with head stuck in ventilation, when she tried to get colt out of harms way, she slammed him against the rock.
if Twilight increased her size and was found by the guards, she would need use magic to escape or push them away (and she may accidently hurt them, and knocking a guard in the middle of everfree forest is bad idea). Basically Twilight hoped that she can just sneak pass by forest thanks to her agility and small size, reach the castle, find elements, and grow only if she needed to unlock them.
Right now when she face manticore, it would be a good moment to grow up, the problem is that, she is captured of guard, so no clue do she can reverse shrinking spell while under monster's attack.
I think Overwatch, Steely, Spike and main 5 are on the way. Will they arrive in time though?
4765206
Pretty much. Maybe it won't take minutes, but it sure is not an instant spell. Casting it while facing a monster is dangerous (Twilight should have done that before encoutering any monsters, oh well, to late is to late).