//------------------------------// // Prologue // Story: City of Vices // by A Pony Typewriter //------------------------------// Night in Equestria, a time where ponies of all kind and ages retreated to their bed, or a time for parties and go out with friends. The streets of Canterlot were now absent of any sign of life, only candle lit street light illuminate the empty roads. Within the Canterlot Archive the newly crowned princess, Twilight Sparkle, was pulling an all nighter, learning about forgotten spells. Since her coronation, Twilight was given the privilege of accessing a section of the Canterlot Archive that wasn't accessible to the public or herself before. This section of the archive contains forbidden and forgotten knowledge, its shelves held many scrolls, books, notes and the occasional tax evasion cases records, that was forbidden for the public to see, and tonight, this very section became the venue for Twilight's study on forgotten and forbidden spells. In the section where Twilight resided, only the sound of pages turning and scrolls shuffling can be heard. Only her and the knowledge surrounding her were inside the archive. "Hmmmm," Twilight hummed. As she levitated a book. The book was a hardcover with numerous markers decorating the pages, it was black in color, much like the book of Starswirl the Bearded unfinished spell book that was given to her not long ago. She opened the first page, revealing it's previous owner and author, Starswirl. This discovery created a wide grin and glittering eyes on Twilight's face, and an urge to just devour any knowledge stored within the book. "Amazing, this book must be ancient !" said Twilight. "Written by Starswirl himself." Her mind drifted to a vision of applying knowledge and experimenting spells that the book held, but her trail of thought by the lack of light in the room. She realize that the sun had set, turning her head to face the clock, she saw that it was one hour pass midnight. "Oh no, I promise Spike I'll be back at ten !" the lavender alicorn said. With a glow of her horn and a loud pop, Twilight teleported to her guest room at the palace,taking the book with her, leaving scattered documents all over the archive floor, and a very irritated archivist. Twilight arrived in her room surrounded by darkness. She scan the room searching for her number one assistant. She found the purple dragon already fast asleep on the bed, she was supposed to take Spike to Donut Joe's Donut Shop for a gem filled donut tonight, but her studies got the better of her. She decided to go to bed and fulfill her promise of gem donuts for Spike tomorrow. Twilight set the book on the bed stand and went to sleep. *** *** *** Celestia's sun rose over the horizon, signaling that the night had ended and a new day has begun. Twilight, still laying on her bed, was awaken by the sound of somepony knocking on the door, she descended from her place of slumber and approached the door. Opening the door, her sight met by a mare in a maid outfit. "Good morning princess," the maid pony said, while lowering her head to the tile below. "Good morning," the new princess answered, but receive no reply. Twilight, still new being part of royalty, forgot that her social status was now level with both Luna, and Celestia, not to mention her former foalsitter Cadence. "You may rise." Twilight commanded to the maid. "Your majesty presence is expected in the dining hall." the maid mare said. "Thank you," Twilight replied."I'll be there in a moment." Twilight then turn around facing her room again, to find her bed empty. Where was Spike? She stuck out her head to call the maid pony. "Have you seen a purple baby dragon anywhere ?" asked Twilight. "Yes our highness," the maid answered, "The dragon that you speak of is in the dining hall along with your friends." "Again, thank you," the new alicorn replied, "and please there's no need to be so formal call me Twilight." After mending her mane, Twilight made her way to the dining hall. Upon entering, two royal guards standing with stoic expression open the door for her, she thank them by giving a silent nod. Inside the hall, a long dining table with food on top await her, along with five mares, two princess, and a very grumpy yet sleepy baby dragon. "Mornin' sugar cube," said an orange mare, "had good night last night? " "Darling you look terrible, have you been up all night last night?" a purple maned unicorn asked. Twilight let out a light chuckle, and blushed in embarrassment being caught red handed. "Well.... don't just stand there dig in," offered a pink pony, "Breakfast is the most important meal of the day remember?" Twilight answered, "Wouldn't miss for the world," She then took an empty seat located between the Princess of the Night and her number one assistant. The breakfast this morning was simple yet appetizing, it was pancakes and waffles, as Twilight was reaching for a maple syrup she felt someone elbowed her, the lavender mare look to her right, her vision met by a face of an irritated baby dragon. Glaring at Twilight, Spike said, "You still owe me a gem donut ya know." Before Twilight can reply to Spike's demand, the baby dragon face was assaulted by a pair of white hooves, "Oh, Spikey Wikey, don't be like that," the white unicorn said. "She just been crowned princess, let her have her fun." "S-su- sure thing Rarity," replied Spike. Then his face turn to Twilight again, with a lower tone Spike demanded, "You still owe me." For the next hour during breakfast all ponies present on the table, discuss what will they do today in Canterlot, after Twilight's coronation, the element bearers were given a week stay, free of charge in the Canterlot Palace. The discussion lasted during the whole breakfast. Applejack plan to look for some quality cider that her family made in other parts of Equestria, Rarity declares that she was going to find fabric and gemstones to stock on her inventory, while Rainbow Dash was going with Pinkie, to look for a prank store. The last of the group that haven't said anything was the pink maned mare, Fluttershy. Twilight was the first to ask, "So Fluttershy what are you going to do today ?" Before she could answer Pinkie interrupted,"Oh,oh, lemme guess, is it visiting the cutesy wutsy animal at the zoo?" Fluttershy answer with a side to side motion of her head. Before Pinkie continue on Rainbow Dash shove a muffin into the pink mare mouth to suppress the rambling, but that did not stop her to try talking. "Yeah Shy, what are you going to do today?" inquire the rainbow maned pegasus, "I mean, I know there's not much things to do that is related with animals in Canterlot besides the zoo and the vet." "Uh-um I was planning to visit......Discord." answered Fluttershy. "Who 're you gon' to visit again?" asked Applejack. "Discord," replied the butter coloured pegasus. Her answer attract every pair of eyes in the room to her and invited a very awkward silence, and all the attention she got only makes her slides down under the table further and further. *** *** *** After the breakfast, the Elements made haste for the door, they were eager to start the day of activities in the capital city. Twilight was about to exit the dining hall, but was stopped by a familiar voice, "Twilight Sparkle," it was Luna, "Our sister would like a word with you, please follow me." She led Twilight to the throne room, within the room, the Princess of the Sun was sitting on her throne waiting for anypony to enter her day court. "Good morning, Princess," said Twilight with a bow. "Good morning, Twilight," answer the white alicorn."I have something to discuss with you." Princess Celestia then order one of the guard stationed at the throne room to notify that the day court will be held later than usual. Both Twilight and Celestia then walk down the hallway. "What is it that you want to discuss princess ?" ask the lavender alicorn. With a smile, Celestia answered,"Twilight, before I let you go I have one more task for you." "Let me go?" said Twilight, "What do you mean let me go?" "Twilight, you are now a princess, soon you will no longer need my guidance on the path you're about to take." "B-But there are things that I haven't learned yet, there is still so much that you haven't teach me an-" "Twilight, I am not letting you go now," said the raiser of the sun with a light chuckle, "Not just yet." "But when?" asked the newly crowned princess. "I have no answer to that question," replied Celestia."Only time will tell." There was a momentary silence between them, but eventually the white alicorn mare broke it. "But, before that happens I am giving you one more last assignment." "What is it princess?" questioned the lavender mare. Celestia lowered her head and her horn glow red, out of nowhere a black note book came into existence between the two ponies. The book was the same book Twilight "checked out" of the archive. "I believe you are familiar with this?" asked Princess Celestia, Twilight gave a nod, as Celestia continued."This is another book of that Starswirl wrote," Celestia explained,"Inside there is one spell that he never finished." "And you want me to finish it," Twilight completed the sentence. Celestia nodded in agreement. Twilight now knew her assignment, her last duty from her mentor. "It will be done immediately princess." "No need to rush," said Celestia. "Oh, don't you have a baby dragon waiting for you." Twilight gasp,"I almost forgot!" The new alicorn then gallops towards the castle gate. Leaving Celestia as she joined by her sister. "Don't thou think that soon will still be far away?" asked Luna. "What makes you say that ?" Celestia asked. "Thou realize being a princess Twilight Sparkle have to deal with courts, politics, and nobility correct?" Luna replied. With a sigh of defeat Celestia walked back to the throne room along with a giggling Luna.