<<Canterlot: Seven Days Ago>>
Twilight sighed contentedly as she landed, swaying a bit from the lightheadedness. Rainbow Dash had told her that the loss of equilibrium was always temporary, and would go away if she practiced flying enough. The newly-anointed alicorn doubted that it was really just a loss of equilibrium rather than a rush of adrenaline; she really enjoyed flying.
Moving away from the balcony, she nodded two a couple of patrolling guards as they bowed politely, who parted as she passed between them. They snapped a crisp salute, earning a sheepish smile from Twilight.
“A-at ease; no need to salute me,” she said, shaking her head.
“As you wish, your highness,” one replied, still standing at a stiff attention, minus the salute.
Frowning ever-so-slightly, the alicorn hurried along, feeling uncomfortable with the formalities. There was no way she was going to get used to this. She needed to find one of her friends, the only ponies that still considered her as who she was: regular old Twilight—with wings.
Eager to feel somewhat normal again, she doubled her pace down the hallway.
When she turned the corner, she was pleasantly surprised by who she ran into.
“Heya, Twilight!”
The orange farmpony trotted up to the alicorn. “Have a nice flight? Hope yer not tryin’ to pull off any of them stunts Rainbow tried t’ teach ya earlier.”
Twilight shrugged her wings. “Well, I might’ve given a couple of them a bit of practice.”
Applejack shook her head in mock disappointment. “Tsk, tsk. One of these days, Twi, yer gonna end up with yer head stuck in the dirt after a crash, and you’ll say, ‘Oh, I shoulda trusted good ol’ Applejack and stuck to casual flyin’.”
“Oh, come on,” Twilight rolled her eyes. “You know you’d like to give some of those tricks a shot if you had wings to do them with.”
“Heehee, yeah. Ya got me, there.”
The two shared a brief chuckle before continuing down the hallway. “Did the girls already head home?”
“Nah; they’re havin’ a picnic in the royal garden. Ah just came up here t’ fetch ya,” AJ explained.
“Oh, good,” Twilight sighed.
“Don’t think we’d leave ya fer a second; we’re just as anxious as you are to know where yer gonna be livin’ from here on out,” AJ said, patting Twilight on the back.
“Yeah… I’m sure the Princesses will figure out a way for me to stay in Ponyville.”
AJ grinned. “That’s the spirit! Now, c’mon. Let’s get to that picnic. Got hungry just waitin’ fer ya.”
***
Twilight couldn’t help a wide smile as a chorus of greetings met her ears. “Hi, girls! Thanks for waiting!”
“Couldn’t start the picnic without the guest of honor, now could we?” Rarity said, returning the smile.
“Whoo! Party time!” Pinkie cried.
“Heya, Twilight! How them wings holding up for ya?” Rainbow asked.
“Great! Just great! I can see why you like flying so much, Rainbow,” the Alicorn replied, still smiling.
“Heh, I KNEW you’d like it if you tried it; beats the books anyday, am I right?”
Twilight became completely serious. “No. It doesn't.”
A pregnant pause filled the thick summer afternoon, the only noise being the lazy buzzing of bumblebees going about their business with the nearby rows of tulips.
The young princess cracked a grin. “It’s close, though. I’ll give you that.”
Rainbow laughed nervously. “Somehow, I knew that was going to happen.
“I’m glad you’re taking well to your new wings, Twilight Sparkle.”
The group gasped quietly as Celestia’s regal figure appeared from the hedgerows behind Twilight, bowing low as she approached. Luna was quick to join her sister, giving the group a small smile.
“Greetings, everypony. We hope you don’t mind if we join your picnic?”
A chorus of “not-at-alls” and “but-of-courses” convinced the ruler that she was indeed welcome. After the Celestial Princess had sat, everypony else followed, taking seats around the assorted tarts, scones and pastries piled high on a ceramic plate in the center. Napkins were passed around before everyone tucked in to the vittles.
The Solar Princess dabbed her mouth daintily with her napkin. “So, Twilight Sparkle, we must discuss your new duties as a Princess of Canterlot.”
The ex-unicorn coughed noisily, trying to rid her trachea of the strudel crumbs that had tumbled into it. “Ugh! Er, yes. I wanted to ask you about that, too.”
Celestia winked at her sister. “Perhaps you could take the reins, Luna. These cinnamon scones aren’t going to eat themselves.”
The Lunar Princess frowned in disdain as the Princess of the Sun began her genocidal campaign on the helpless scones. “Er… As my sister has said, we must discuss the role you will play now that you’re a Princess.” The alicorn’s frown deepened. “However, this means that you must remain in Canterlot—”
This earned a chorus of gasps.
“—For a short time while we get the formalities straightened out. The ceremony was just the beginning, you see.”
A chorus of sighs followed.
Slightly amused by the mares’ reactions, Luna continued her explanation. “Instead of giving you tasks to complete, you are going to act as an ambassador to the Solar Sister Diarchy. Unfortunately, this requires a lot of travel. We do not know how often you will be able to return to Ponyville, or even Canterlot, for that matter.”
Another chorus of gasps.
“Princess! Ya can’t be serious!” AJ exclaimed.
Twilight frowned. “Princess Luna… Are you sure?”
“We’re afraid so, Twilight Sparkle. Our relations with the other Equestrian kingdoms have become rather stale, and we require somepony we know who can utilize the meaning of friendship to refresh and strengthen those bonds we share with them. Until this task is completed, We’re afraid that your visits back here will be seldom, if anything.”
“What are we supposed to do, then, Princess?” Rainbow began hovering involuntarily. “We all need Twilight with us; she’s very important to us all, and having her thrust into something as pointless as this—!”
“RAINBOW DASH. THAT IS ENOUGH.”
The pegasus bit back her words as the full force of the royal Canterlot voice met her eardrums.
Princess Celestia’s eyebrow arched towards her sister in a brief moment of disapproval before she took a small sip from her tea.
“If you were to let us finish, we were going to tell you that we have yet to teach Twilight a scrying spell, so that she may stay in contact with you all.”
There was a long pause.
“Scrying…?” Rarity ventured.
“It’s a sort of seeing spell. All it requires is a bowl of water, and Twilight may contact any one of you through it. Do you recall the story of Beauty and the Manticore?”
“Of course; who hasn’t?” Rainbow replied.
“Then you know of the magic mirror the Manticore used to look out into the world without leaving his castle. It is similar, if not exactly the same,” Luna explained. “My sister and I use it to keep in touch with Princess Cadence. Although you will not be able to physically interact with the viewer on the other side, you will hear and see everything the mirror’s face sees.”
“But, still! You’re sending Twilight to goddess-knows-where to talk to some acquaintances of yours?! That’s so stupid!” the cyan speedster cried.
“Rainbow, please, you’ll still be able to—!”
“It’s still the same Twilight we know and love! Just when she grows an extra pair of wings, she’s suddenly obligated to do these things for you!”
Luna’s eyes narrowed. “Rainbow Dash, we are doing the best—!”
“You can’t just take her away! Label her your servant and snatch her up! Cut us off from her like that! It’s unfair!”
“UNFAIR?!”
Princess Luna’s wings unfolded, her eyes glowing a haunting white.
“THOU KNOWEST NOT THE TRUE MEANING OF UNFAIR! THOU KNOWEST NOT OF THE LONELINESS AND SOLITUDE A PONY IS FORCED TO ENDURE FOR A HISTORY SHE CANNOT RECTIFY!”
Rainbow Dash shrank in the face of the Lunar Princess, which only encouraged the alicorn more.
“TO BE SHUNNED BY PONYKIND, AND EVEN BY THOSE THAT WERE ONCE CLOSE TO US; TO BE AVOIDED LIKE A DEADLY PLAGUE, OR A DANGEROUS ANIMAL! IT… It…”
The Princess’s illusion magic began to recede, her once-enormous figure receding to its normal size. She slowly exhaled, letting out a sad sigh as she did.
“…We are sorry. As much magic as there is in this world, we can only offer you scrying to keep in touch with Twilight.”
“My sister does not lie, Rainbow Dash.” The Solar Princess rose, wiping a few crumbs off her lips with her napkin before depositing it on her vacant plate. “However, once the task is complete, and reestablishment of negotiations with all of the territories is done, you may return to Ponyville and continue your studies in friendship.” She winked. “Although you have learned much, you have not learned everything there is to know; Friendship is not a perfect science.”
Relieved smiles returned to the group’s faces. “Oh, thank you, Princess Celestia!”
“Do not thank me; it was Luna’s—”
She turned to acknowledge her sister, who had disappeared from her side.
“Oh, dear… Well, then, Twilight, I already have a mission for you. Here.”
A scroll appeared out of thin air with a quiet pop, which levitated itself over to the purple alicorn. “You’re to travel to Gryphus, capital of the Gryphon kingdom. The ruler there is an old friend of mine, but I haven’t contacted him in awhile, so this should be a good warm-up for you as an ambassador.”
Shooting a sorrowful glance at her friends, she took the scroll in her telekinesis. “When do I leave?”
***
“Ah wish ya didn’t hafta leave so soon, Twi,” Applejack sighed.
“I know, I’m sorry. A week doesn’t feel that long once it’s over, does it?”
Twilight, Applejack and Rainbow Dash shared a chuckle on the deserted train platform. Fluttershy, Rarity and Pinkie Pie were too busy to make it—Fortunately, they had made sure to say their goodbyes ahead of time; the Princesses were kind enough to inform them all of Twilight's departure date.
“Twilight, you don’t have to do this, you know.”
“Rainbow, we’ve already been over this…”
“Yeah, I know, I know. It’s just… Why can’t we go with you? I’m off of work all week, and I could totally tag along!”
“I wish you could.” Twilight’s ears perked up as the quiet chuffing of an approaching train could be heard. “It’s just that this is official Equestrian political business, and they’re only expecting one pony.”
The pegasus kicked the platform dully. “They don’t have to accommodate me! I don’t have to stay with you… All I need is a cloud to sleep on; you know that.”
Twilight smiled sadly. “I’d bring you all along, if that were possible. I wouldn’t feel homesick if you did, actually.”
“Then let us come with ya, Twi!” AJ insisted.
“I’m sorry, girls. This is something I have to do on my own,” Twilight stated firmly. “As much as I’d like you to come with me, it’d be encouraging me to keep to my current circle of friends rather than try to find a new one. Specifically forging a friendship with the current regent.”
The brightly colored train pulled into the station, bathing the three mares in an explosion of steam as it slowed to a stop at the platform.
“All aboard! Equestria’s Northern Line! Last stop, Flankfurt, Germaneigh!”
Twilight pulled the two into a brief hug. “I won’t be long; I promise. I’ll be sure to contact you once I get to my lodgings at Gryphus.”
“How long will that take? The train doesn’t even go all the way there,” Rainbow asked.
“Not sure; upwards of a day or two. But don’t worry! I’ll contact you as soon as I get there!”
“We won’t wait up fer ya, Twi. Now, git! Train’s leavin’ soon.” Applejack nodded to the alicorn, returning her sad smile with one of her own.
The three shared a final hug before Twilight boarded. Picking a window seat that faced the station, she waved again at her friends. A harsh ringing filled the air as the train began to pull away with its only passenger, leaving Rainbow and Applejack to watch it recede into the rolling hills that surrounded Ponyville.
After a long silence, Rainbow let out a pitiful sob.
***
Twilight awoke to a darkened room, finding herself in a single shaft of light which filtered in from an unseen source far above her. Squinting out in the darkness, she spied a single pair of slitted white eyes.
Generosity disappears with Hate.
Laughter is silenced by Violence.
Loyalty crumbles under Anger.
Kindness is overpowered by Despair.
Honesty is corrupted by Doubt.
Magic diminishes with Fear.
We are bladed shadow. We are the Sha. And we shall be reborn.
Twilight scrambled backwards. “G-Get away! Leave me alone!”
You cannot escape us forever.
The alicorn continued her retreat until she backed into something behind her. Slowly, she turned to face the creature.
A hooded figure wielding a fiery blade stood before her, watching her with half-lidded eyes partially hidden under a stark-white hood.
Twilight screamed so loud, she managed to wake herself up.
“End of the line! Flankfurt, Germaneigh!”
Struggling to bring her breathing under control, the alicorn moved away from her resting place against the window, stepping off the train and onto the deserted train station. Her heart still beat in her throat, threatening to leap out onto her tongue.
“What… What was that…?” She whispered.
“Miss Sparkle, I presume?”
She jumped again, whirling on the source of the voice. A young mare stood before her, looking slightly startled. “Er… Madam, are you okay?”
Twilight calmed herself, her willpower working overtime to keep her composure. “Y-yes. That would be me.”
“Ah, das ist gut! Some luck at last. Mein name is Doctor Schneider; I am to escort you to your carriage zat vill take you straight to Gryphus.”
Twilight forced a smile. “Thank you. Lead the way.”
As the mare made a sudden about-face and moved towards a waiting buggy, Twilight gave the train one last glance, as if it were haunted or somewhat responsible for the dream.
Shaking her head, she followed Schneider down the steps, wearing a deep frown.
A dream will always remain a dream. Right...?