Luna soared gracefully over Canterlot as she guided the moon. Below her, the gathered ponies prepared for the tournament, while her sister explained the part Twilight had to play. She sighed, annoyed that they had to take such risky methods, but if the stars were to be believed, they didn’t have much time before ‘She’ would make her move.
Suddenly, the wind blew sharply at Luna. Fighting to stay steady, she heard it, the laugh that had haunted her nights on the moon, as a symphony of her imprisonment. She felt her blood freeze and stopped flying, despite herself.
“Impossible” she whispered, “I’m not Nightmare Moon.”
With a forceful nod, she flew on.I must get speak to my sister , she thought fearfully. I can’t let the past dictate events, I won’t hurt her, not this time.
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The sun rose slowly over the castle, basking the assembled ponies in a warm glow. They waited with baited breath as Luna rose to the stage again. Behind her, a large purple curtain lay draped over something to which everypony’s eyes were riveted.
“Assembled ponyfolk, it is with great pride that I officially declare this one thousand and twelfth Celestial Tournament open!” Luna spoke loudly. With a burst of magic, she raised the curtain upward.
A large golden board was now revealed, before which hung the element of magic, suspended in midair. Twilight felt her breath catch in her throat as she felt the element before her. It called out, as it always did, to be worn and used by her, its keeper.
“There will be contests in a variety of fields, but the overall champion will be decided by the duelling. Anypony who wishes to enter this must be marked by the element of magic to allow us to keep track of your progress, and for your own safety.”
The excitement of the crowd had almost reached fever pitch. Only the line of royal guards kept them from swamping the board, where several nervous clerks waited for them to sign up. Under careful control, the assembled unicorns lined up and began putting their names down.
Twilight made no move, instead looking over at Luna. Once the ponies had turned their attention away from her, she dropped her smile and regal detachment, and practically ran from the stage. Narrowing her eyes, Twilight followed quickly. She found the Alicorn outside the hall looking out at the rising sun.
“Princess Luna, what’s wrong?” She asked, staring sadly at the mare.
“Isn’t the sun beautiful?” Luna replied mournfully. “Was I wrong to be jealous of the ponies’ admiration?”
“The moon is beautiful too.” Twilight said quietly. “We may not play in the dark but we aren’t afraid in the moonlight. They both remove the darkness, but when the darkness is eternal and enveloping, the moon is our companion light.”
Luna smiled sadly, and turned to Twilight.
“Thank you for your kind words, and I do know that now. Yet whilst some things can be forgiven, they are never forgotten.”
Twilight raised an eyebrow, but the alicorn only shook her head.
“No, Twilight, my pain is mine to bear alone - only I can face the demons of my past.”
“You should always be able to count on your friends, Luna,” Twilight countered, “and as your friend, I want to help you.”
The princess turned, her eyes set and determined.
“This is something I must do alone. Tell my sister I am sorry, but it must be this way.”
Twilight blinked, taken aback, she had never heard such sorrow in Luna’s voice. She could only only stand silently as the alicorn spread her wings, staring at the sun.
“Don’t follow me.” and with that parting remark, she rose out into the sky and away.
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Mysteria giggled as Gently began juggling the class textbooks. Seeing her smile, he gave an exaggerated wink and began arranging them in a box around another competitor, with only a hole for the eyes to see out. The surrounding ponies cheered and he took a low bow.
“Wow Gently, you are really good at levitation!” Mysteria gushed when he had extracted himself from the crowd.
“I try.” he responded, giving a modest shrug and looking around at the others.
They were in a vast hall where lines of ponies were being called up to demonstrate their skill at multiple feats of levitation. Mysteria had already been called, and impressed the onlookers by reading a book whilst playing three games of chess against herself.
Gently and Mysteria both went off for something to eat, followed by several envious glances from the struggling competitors.
“It’s a wonder you haven’t got your cutie mark in levitation.” Gently told Mysteria earnestly as they walked.
“Oh, I dunno. I mean, it’s kinda easy but I find it a bit boring. I think you are supposed to get your cutie mark in something you enjoy, as well as being good at it.”
“True, “ he conceded. “What about magic then, like your teacher?”
“I wish, but Twilight didn’t want to do any contests, especially not the duelling. So maybe she has a different kind of magic.”
They arrived at the canteen, taking an apple each.
“Twilight entered the duelling.” Gently said nonchalantly, taking a bite from the apple as he leant against a wall.
“She what!” Mysteria exclaimed loudly, drawing glances from nearby ponies.
“I saw her put her name down as we left to do levitation,” he continued, still munching on the apple.
“I don’t believe it.” the grey unicorn muttered to herself. “After all the talk she gave me last night about it being too dangerous for me to enter, she puts her own name down.”
Gently watched her mutter, feeling the awkward pang again as he continued with his role.
“You could be her second.”
She stopped and stared at him, confused.
“Her what?”
“Second. You fight some of the matches in her stead, but lose to her in the semi finals.”
“I have to lose?”
“Yeah, some kind of silly rule about there being only one victor.”
Mysteria grinned, her eyes twinkling.
“If I can’t enter the duelling for myself, I’m fine with being a second.” A thought struck her, and her face fell. “Does that mean I’ll have to face you?”
For a second, his face grew dark and withdrawn, but then he smiled again.
“Hah, not likely. I’ll make sure I’m in a different set - that way only Twilight will face me in the final.”
“You sure you can make it to the final?” She asked him slyly, the mischievous smile back on her face.
“You doubt my power?” He replied in a mockery of being indignant, then smiled.
“I’m sure you’ll do well.” Mysteria told him, smiling encouragingly, “In fact, if it were between you and Twilight, I don’t know who would win.”
He looked at her curiously. As she turned away, he said very quietly to himself.
“We’ll never know.”
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As the last rays of sun peeled away from the castle, the tired ponies from the day’s events gathered again in the hall. Though lectures had taken place, it was the results of the first competition that were on the forefront of everyone’s minds.
The only event on today had been the levitation. Now they would find out the four ponies who would be continuing to the semi-finals.
Twilight, Mysteria and Gently had all taken seats around a small table, where the two younger ones were talking excitedly about the various ponies they had seen.
“I think that white one we saw might go through, you know the one who levitated a table, along with all the cutlery.” Mysteria said, twirling her hoof around as she recollected the memory.
“Well he might have, had he not dropped it.” Gently countered with a smile. They both grinned, to which Twilight could only sigh and bury her head in a book. Their behaviour had begun to get on her nerves, and she felt increasingly like a background character in one of those trashy romance novels that Rarity read.
She looked up at the end of a chapter to find herself staring into Gently’s eyes. He smiled slowly as he asked her a question.
“What did you do, Twilight? I hear you made... quite a splash.”
She rolled her eyes at him but put down her book.
“Ha, Ha. Well I levitated a body of water over the crowd who were yelling that I was taking too long. I guess that should teach them not to rush me.”
Mysteria chuckled.
“I wish I could’a been there when you did that, Twilight. You must have had a laugh.”
Twilight did find herself smiling.
“Well maybe I did allow myself a chuckle.”
She then looked over to Gently, who looked contemplative, rubbing his chin slowly with one hoof.
“What’s the matter, Gently, worried about your title?” She felt little guilt that her voice entertained some snideness in the ribbing.
Gently turned to her his eyes flashing red, snarling for a split second. Then he was smiling, his eyes a soft yellow.
“As if. I suppose it depends on whether ponies prefer power or style, won’t it?”
She nodded numbly, trying to comprehend what she had seen - unless she hadn’t. Perhaps I was just picturing him as I think of him. It must be my subconscious.
Mysteria, oblivious to this interaction, watched as the procession of ponies marched up to the board and began levitating names to the far left side of the board.
“Hey guys.” she said shaking them to get their attention without turning away from the stage.
They all turned to watch the assembly, falling silent as Princess Celestia took the stage.
“Assembled fillies and gentlecolts, it is with great pleasure that I announce the four ponies who will be appearing in tomorrow's finals. I apologise for my sister’s absence but an important matter came up which has called her away.”
Twilight sat bolt upright and caught Celestia’s eye, though they only held contact for a second, it was enough for her to understand that Luna was missing and her sister was worried.
“Fancypants from Canterlot.”
The audience broke into cheers as the well groomed unicorn got to his feet giving a bow.
“Dustymane from Manehatten.”
Again cheers were responded by a nervous looking colt wearing an apron.
“Gently Star from the Everfree Forest.”
He rose to his feet earning polite applause but mostly curious looks.
“Finally, Twilight Sparkle from Ponyville.”
Blushing slightly, Twilight got to her feet as she was met by hoof stamping and cheers. Everyone here remembered the Royal wedding and her defeat of Discord and Nightmare Moon.
“The contestants will demonstrate their skill tomorrow evening after the second round of duels. Goodnight everypony.”
The gathering began to disperse as Celestia left the room, buzzing with anticipation for tomorrow.
“Oh yeah Twilight, about the duelling tomorrow.” Mysteria asked, after an encouraging nod from Gently.
“What is it, Mysteria?” her teacher responded, giving her student her undivided attention.
“Since you’re entering the duelling, can I be your second?”
Twilight opened her mouth to argue, but seeing the smug look on Gently’s face thought better of it.
“Fine,” She grudgingly agreed, “but you must be careful.”
“Of course I will, Twilight, goodnight.”
Mysteria and Gently left her alone as they walked towards the gardens.
“What is your game, Gently - what do you want with her?” Twilight asked herself, closely watching the retreating ponies with increasing suspicion.