"Good morning dear sister," said Luna, "We trust the sun doth shine o'er our fair land once more?"
"Of course Luna," said the solar regent, "though it does get harder to raise during the summer." She sipped from a small porcelain cup and browsed through the pile of scrolls sitting on the table in front of her. "Anything interesting happen last night?"
Luna sat next to her sister and placed the hearty bowl of vegetable stew on the table. She closed her eyes and sniffed her dinner in anticipation. "There were reports of a large meteor crashing east of Trottingham," said Luna as she levitated a spoon into the bowl. "I had nothing of the sort scheduled; tis most odd."
Celestia dropped the small cup onto the floating saucer and looked to her sister in concern. "Nopony was hurt were they?" she asked, "Do we need to send the guard to help?"
"Calm yourself Tia," said Luna between mouthfuls, "I would not be so calm if that were so. A hooffull of chickens may be wary about the sky falling, but nothing of value was lost." She dropped a piece of crusty bread into the stew while mimicking the sound of an explosion. "The reports I received don't sound like a meteor," she said, "No fire in the sky; no explosion heard for miles around. According to the scouts, it was as if a giant dropped a few hundred tons of rock in the middle of nowhere."
"Very odd," said Celestia, "I'll have the astronomer's guild double check their maps." She finished her cappuccino and set it to the side. "Imagine if that had happened over Manehattan. It would be like a bad Michael Hay movie." She pulled the top scroll from the pile and unrolled it in front of her. "Ah, Captain Spitfire's report," she said happily, "prompt as usual." She read through the precisely penned report and set it next to Luna. "Lieutenant Soarin has requested an extended leave."
"Really?" asked Luna, "He's such a crowd favorite. Did the captain provide a reason?"
"She seems to think it's about a mare," replied Celestia. She pulled the next scroll from the pile and placed it in front of her. Luna continued eating as her sister continued browsing through her morning correspondence.
"Well good for him," said Luna after sipping from a glass of crystal clear spring water, "Perhaps I'll visit his dreams to wish him the best of luck." She rolled Spitfire's report up and set it aside. "Tia, did you hear anything from the others?"
"Nothing yet," replied Celestia while reading another letter, "the consensus has agreed on a course of action. We all have the situation under control."
"I know big sister," said Luna, "I know it doesn't effect us directly, but tis no less worrying." When Celestia didn't respond, she looked up from her dinner. "Tia?" asked Luna when she saw the look of shocked indignity on her sister's face, "has something gone awry?"
Celestia floated the scroll to Luna and searched through the pile for two more letters with identical seals. "I think my faithful student may have lost her mind," she said while opening the two scrolls and flattening them side by side on the table.
Luna unrolled the scroll that had disturbed her sister and examined it.
From the desk of Twilight Sparkle, Princess of Harmony, Element of Magic:
Dear Princess Celestia,
"She has preprinted stationary for sending you correspondence," said Luna with a chortle. She continued reading:
Gess wut! Today I lerned that you're an old mare! I mean I knew you wer old, but the cards don't lie! Exclamation points everywhere!!!!!!! YOu know wut? Bein a princess suuuuucks. Yeah...mor u's means it reaaaaaally suuuuuucks. SHut up ArGent, she'll hear you. Ha ha ha, nuh uh. I bet you and luna don't even get to kiss handsome colts. wut? is just a word argent, monkeys hav hands. wha was i writing? o yea, everypony treats me all difrent, and I can't do nothing without worrying about making a big production out of it. Oh, we overthrowed...throwed over...overthrew, yeah that's it, we overthrew the chief of the Zebras, but he diserved it, guy was totally loco en el coco. Crazy yellow powder made magic go away for awhile, Orcle says its called forkroot, she's pretty smart. I won't Argent, shut up. Zecora made a potion so Applejack can have her baby now. Oh yeah, applejack's preggers, no idea how that happened. Ugh, eww, Argent I know how it happened, i dont know how it happened. Really? yeah, k, that sounds fun. gotta go princess, even tho yer old and no fun, i still love you.
"There appear to be several crude drawings at the bottom of the page," said Luna, "is that you using one of those walking aides used by senior citizens?" She looked over to her sister and saw that a blue vein was throbbing on her forehead as she stared daggers into the pages below her. Luna levitated one to her and began reading:
After action report: Argent Defender, Cpt. RHG.
sucksesfuly escorted Hotflank to meal with Gropesalot, and GuyStripes. Hotflank selected sexy dress, RHG approved of equipment decision after occular patdown. Deployed at sundown. Gropesalot appropriated GuyStripes some gear, scouted target, hensforth called YummyAlpha. Separated from Gropesalot and GuyStripes, carried on with mission, rondavoos uncertain. Food not poisoned, cleared for Hotflank. Good vino. Room cleared for Hotflank, cake enjoyed. Exfiltration at...watch at Dragon's Roost...Exfiltration at moon five hoofs over town hall. Hotflank boarded RHG. RHG approves of vehicular decision. Vehicle encountered dificlut terrain. Hotflank attempted inverted oral stimulation on RHG. RHG fully functioning, proceeded to Dragon's Roost. Roost secure, sentry not to be disturbed. Fell back to RHG saferoom. Sparred with Hotflank, further Oral stimulation commencing. Further action may be necessary.
Luna put the note down in confusion and reached for the third and final scroll. "Oh," she said when small squares of paper fell out of it, "Photographic imprints." She picked up one of the new technological marvels and immediately slammed it back down to the table. She picked up another and brought a hoof up to her blushing cheeks. "I never imagined that Twilight Sparkle could be so..."
"Irresponsible? Irreverent? Foalish? asked Celestia, her aurora mane swirling in a tempest of light.
"I was going to say flexible," replied Luna, "but yes, those too."
Celestia slowly stood, her right eyelid twitching in anger. She stepped away from the table and began deliberately walking towards the balcony overlooking the castle courtyard. A trail of hoof sized scorch marks followed her. "Come sister," she said while extending her wings to their full glorious span, "We fly to Ponyville." With a few mighty flaps, she was airborne and headed south.
Luna sighed and grabbed the pictures and scrolls in her dark blue shimmering aura. "This is what I was talking about," she said in annoyance, "all the good stuff happens in the day." She jumped out of the balcony and struggled to keep up with the fiery comet that was her big sister.
"Well maybe I can get my cutie mark in tracking!" exclaimed Apple Bloom, "You must know all kinds of tricks Zephyr. Zecora says I'm good at finding the plants she needs, maybe I'm good at finding other things too." The filly looked up at the stallion with an expectant stare.
Zecora snapped the stems of the lilies and dropped the large blooming flowers into a hoof woven basket. She picked up the handle of the basket with her teeth and carried it over to a cluster of wild sage. She dropped it next to the fragrant bush and looked over at the young filly hopping around the Zebra stallion.
"These cutie marks I do not quite believe," said Zephyr, "Do you truly not know when one you'll receive?"
Apple Bloom kicked a pebble and pouted. "No," she said sulkily, "and I'm gettin' tired of waiting. You hafta know something new me and my friends can try."
"Your skills in tracking you have already shown," said Zecora, "If I recall you were nearly turned to stone."
"That was Sweetie Belle's fault," said Apple Bloom, "She scared the chickens away."
"I'm not sure you would enjoy the things I can do," said Zephyr, "navigating forests and swamps would surely bore you." He patted the filly on the head and looked out over the meadow on the edge of the Everfree. "If this mark appears for every colt and filly," he said, "worrying about its arrival would be silly."
"Ya'll don't understand," said the filly, "I don't think I can handle another school year of teasing."
"I have no mark upon my rear," said Zephyr, "the lack of it denies me no cheer."
"T'aint the same," said a grumpy Apple Bloom, "What if ya'll didn't have them pretty black stripes?"
Zephyr cocked his head and looked back at Zecora who shrugged. "The Golden Zebras are celebrated among our kind," said the stallion, "To have stripes of gold I wouldn't really mind."
"Ah forget it," said Apple Bloom. She looked back across the field to the old apple trees. "Oh yeah," she said, "Mah brother and Fluttershy are over by that apple tree if ya'll feel like takin' a break." She pointed across the meadow and galloped towards the ample shade.
"It would be rude to refuse such a gracious offer," said Zephyr, "There's still plenty of daylight left to gather your ingredients."
"Of course," said Zecora, "I'm sure the promise of more apples has nothing to do with your eagerness."
Zephyr tried to feign innocence and was about to protest the accusation when a hollow boom from above their heads caused him to duck and cover. "By the spirits," he said, "You didn't say anything about fiery sky demons!"
Zecora looked at the now distant mote of light and opened her mouth to reassure her friend when a second, slower form flew above their heads.
"Fear not citizens," shouted the dark blue blur, its voice booming across the meadow, "there is no danger. Go about your day." The voice trailed away as it disappeared behind a bank of clouds.
Spike stretched his arms into the air and dropped his blanket back into his basket. "Hmm," he said to himself while looking at Twilight's pristine made bed, "Guess she had to get up early." He waddled to the door and walked down the hallway towards the study. "What the hay happened here?" he said while looking at pile of unused parchments littering the floor. A pool of ink appeared to have been the source of the hoof shaped stains covering much of the floor. Spike frowned in annoyance and resigned himself to a morning of scrubbing. He hopped down the steps two at a time and turned towards the kitchen and the washroom beyond.
"Hmmph," grunted the young dragon as he returned to the stairs with a bucket of soapy water and a mop, "She could have at least waited for me to have breakfast before making a mess." He had just begun climbing the stairs when the front door flew open, nearly coming of its hinges as it slammed into the wall.
"TWILIGHT SPARKLE," shouted the Solar Princess, her aurora mane blazing in deep reds and oranges. Spike dropped the bucket and stared at the alicorn as she stomped towards him. She ignored the young dragon and climbed to the second floor.
"Prin...pr...Cel..." stuttered Spike. He looked up and watched as her fiery tail disappeared down the hallway that led to their bedroom. He felt the soft caress of feathers on his shoulder and looked behind him to see Princess Luna standing with look of concern on her face. "Is Twilight in trouble?" he said, tears welling up in his eyes.
"I do not believe so my draconic friend," said Luna as she glanced upstairs. Her horn flared and a small bag of bits blinked into the dragon's hands. "Why don't you go get everypony some sweets for breakfast while I calm them down." Spike nodded and jogged out of the Library, giving a wide berth to the scorched hoofmarks on the floor. Luna walked up the stairs in time to meet her sister as she returned from the bedroom. "Perhaps it's best if you calm down dear sister," she said to the fuming alicorn.
Celestia ignored her sister and looked into the study. "The scene of the crime," she muttered, "when I get my hooves on that filly..." She once again passed Luna at the top of the stairs, looked down at the floor, and followed the black hoofprints to the other end of the second floor landing. With a narrowing of her eyes, the leader of free ponies everywhere strode down the hallway and threw open the door to the small bedroom.
She stood motionless and speechless as she looked in at the two ponies on the messy bed. Twilight and Argent laid together belly to belly, their limbs draped over each other's matted coats. Twilight's muzzle was buried in the hollow of the stallion's neck, heedless of the soft rumbling snore emanating from Argent's muzzle. Her exposed wing was hung loosely over Argent's hoof, its feathers matted and ruffled. Scattered around and on top of them were bent and torn playing cards.
Luna peaked her head into the room in time to see her sister's horn flare brightly. A single flash of pure sunlight later, the ink stains had disappeared from the floor and the clothing sat neatly folded on the small chest of drawers in the corner. "Sister," whispered Luna, "leave them be, this is none of our concern." Celestia turned her angry glare on Luna and flared her wings. An aura appeared around the two slumbering ponies and lifted them from the bed. They remained in their embrace, legs tightening around the each other's chest.
"Twilight," barked Celestia as she tried to pry the two apart.
"Sister, be gentle," said Luna from behind.
Celestia saw the watering can in the planter outside the window and levitated it above their heads. With a swift flick of her horn, the pail upended itself and dumped its payload of water over the heads of the still sleeping ponies. With sputtering and shaking of their tousled manes, Twilight and Argent were jolted awake.
Twilight's eyes snapped open and immediately closed shut, the light streaming in from the open window searing her retinas. "Oh Celestia that hurts," said the young alicorn, unaware that the goddess she named was currently holding her a few feet above the bed. Twilight whined in pain while squeezing onto Argent as tightly as she could.
Celestia's angry visage softened immediately as she let go of her aura and sent the two hugging ponies falling a few feet to the bed, bouncing up and back down on the rebound. The alicorn lunged at the bed and laid her hooves on Twilight's head, feeling the young mare's forehead for fever.
"Ughh," moaned Argent. His stomach heaved from the sudden rude awakening and impromptu carnival ride. "I think I'm gonna be-" said the stallion before he lost all control. Celestia, focused as she was on her student's groans of pain, failed to notice the telltale signs of nausea on the stallion's face. Luna, watched on in horror from the doorway as her sister's legendary ethereal mane was covered in the contents of the stallion's stomach. Argent, oblivious to his desecration, slumped his head back onto the mattress.
The solar regent's right eyebrow twitched involuntarily as she gently opened the lids of Twilight's eyes with her magic. Bloodshot pupils dialated, the young mare groaned as she turned her head back into the stallion's chest.
"Sister," said Luna as she walked behind her sister and placed a hoof on her neck, "she is well. I have watched the aftereffects of enough nights of revelry to know an epic hangover when I see one." Luna watched as Celestia released her magic and stepped away from the bed.
"Please watch over her Luna," said Celestia, "I need a few moments to... compose myself."
"Of course Tia," said Luna. She stepped aside and watched as her sister disappeared into the large bedroom and the bathroom beyond. She turned back into the room and used her magic to clean up the two ponies as best she could. With the two ponies miserable, but awake, Luna quickly trotted downstairs to the kitchen are retrieved a pitcher of water and two glasses.
She walked back into the room in time to see Twilight caressing Argent's mane as the stallion rested his head on her shoulder. "Here," she said floating two glasses full of water to the bleary eyed ponies, "drink this, you'll feel better. Don't use your magic, unless you want to know what real pain is."
"The curtains," muttered Twilight. As she drank deeply from the glass, Luna covered the windows and knelt at the side of the bed. The princess of the night waited patiently as Twilight and Argent tried to compose themselves. The sound of running water coursing through the hollowed out channels of the tree home filled the room with white noise.
"So what do you two remember?" asked Luna.
"A little," said Twilight as she stroked Argent's head, "but why are you here?"
"We, Twilight," said Luna, "My sister is... cleaning up his mess at the moment." Luna pulled the scrolls she had tucked away from beneath her wing and floated them to the younger alicorn. "I'm no stranger to the odd things ponies do under the influence," she said, "but why in Equestria did you feel the need to document your every drunken thought, and why did you send it to my sister?"
Twilight cringed as she read every clumsy misspelled word. "I don't... I wouldn't... I couldn't," she stuttered, "The punctuation. Sweet Celestia, the punctuation."
"Perhaps you should focus on the content," said Luna, "and the pictures."
"Pictures?" asked Twilight. She unfolded the bulkier of the remaining scrolls and immediately crumpled it up. She looked at the stallion who was busy rubbing his temples with his hooves. "You!" she moaned angrily, "I sure didn't take these!"
Argent cracked open his bloodshot eyes and looked at the candid photos the mare held. "Nope," he said as he covered his head with a pillow, "but you ordered me to take them." The misery he felt could be heard in his muffled voice.
"Well you should have said no," said Twilight. She fell onto her back on the bed and curled up into a ball. "She's going to banish me isn't she?"
"You're probably fine," said Luna, "he might be enjoying a nice moonscape very soon." She looked over parts of the young stallion that she could see. "At least he'll blend in well with that coat of his," she said, trying to elicit some cheer from Twilight.
Between the stinging of the light and the sword of Damarecles hanging over them in the form of a judgemental lecture from her mentor and idol, Twilight was hardly surprised to feel her eyes watering. "We didn't mean anything by it," she said miserably, "I just don't usually drink much, and we were having fun, and-"
"So nice to know that you had a good time, my faithful student," said Celestia as she strode back into the room, "but as you pointed out in your latest report, I don't know anything about having fun." Her mane of many hues was gathered in a towel atop her head. "I was afraid Discord had returned to his old wicked ways," she said as she walked to the foot of the bed. She examined Twilight and sighed in relief. "Thank goodness you didn't harm yourself."
"Princess," said Twilight, "I didn't mean to send those letters, you have to believe me."
Celestia ignored the young mare's pleas and ripped the pillow from the stallion's head with her magic. "And you," she said angrily, "When Shining Armor told me that he was assigning a single guard to watch over Equestria's newest princess, I was concerned. He assured me that you had both skill and character." She swept her imperious gaze between the two ponies. "Clearly he was mistaken in his judgement," said Celestia, "a mistake that will need to be rectified sooner rather than later."
"Your Highness," said Argent to the two Celestias floating in front of him, "I humbly beg forgiveness. I swear that something like this will never happen again."
"No it will not," replied the keeper of the sun, "because you will return to Shining Armor and assume your previous duties. A proper squad of guards will watch over Princess Twilight from here on."
"No," said Twilight.
"Excuse me young lady?" asked a dumbfounded Celestia. No was a word she had never heard from her student. "You have lost the privilege to determine this. You could have seriously injured yourself, or worse."
"I said no," said Twilight resolutely, her forelegs crossed in front of her, "I'm a princess, not your student. Argent is mine; you can't take him." Twilight shocked herself by how angry she had become. "And you know what?" she asked, "I did mean what I wrote. If being a princess means that I have to be a miserable bird in a cage, then I quit."
"You're still a child," spat Celestia, "a foalish child without a lick of common sense. I'm thinking a few weeks in Canterlot might remind you of your duties." The two alicorns turned smoldering gazes at each other, neither willing to budge.
"That's enough," said Luna, "both of you." She used her magic to grab the ears of both alicorns and dragged them from Argent's bedroom. The stallion stayed on the bed and stared at the floor in misery. The two protesting alicorns flanked their herder as she led them into Twilight's bedroom.
"Luna, release me this instant," growled Celestia, "I want that stallion out of this tree, now!"
"Sister," said Luna, "You are going to calm down right now, or I'm going to invoke your pledge." Celestia's jaw dropped, but she quickly closed it and looked away. "Thank you," said Luna, "Now we both know this isn't about Twilight having a bit too much to drink, or even her sending a few poorly written letters."
"We would not be here if that were true," growled Celestia.
"Oh please, Tia," said Luna with a wave of her hoof, "We both know about your occasional dip into the royal wine cellar, and let's not even go into what you've done to sate your legendary appetite for sweets." She laid her forehoof on her sister's shoulder and looked at her with as much empathy as she could muster. She knew her sister well enough to tell that something deeper was bothering her. "Twilight Sparkle is a princess now sister," she said calmly, "If she wishes Captain Defender to remain, that should be her decision to make. You've not stepped between me and my chosen Nightguards."
"That's different!" shouted Celestia.
"How so?" asked Luna, "Would it shock you to learn that I've been known to have a night of revelry with my guards? We all need to enjoy ourselves every now and then, sister."
"He laid his hooves on my little Twilight!" replied Celestia angrily, "He's lucky he's not on the moon right now."
"I'm not a little filly," said Twilight, "and if you banish him I'll never forgive you." Twilight turned away from her mentor and looked out the window.
"Twilight..." said Celestia in a pleading tone. She reached her hoof towards the young mare.
"Sister," said Luna, "come here." She grabbed her sister's hoof and turned her away from Twilight. "We went through this before Cadance's wedding," said Luna in a low volume.
"This is different," groused Celestia.
"Tia..." said Luna with an expectant look on her face.
"It is different!" she exclaimed. "Cadance never snuck into my chambers at night when she was homesick. I never baked cookies with Cadance to celebrate her successes." Celestia looked at the ground and wiped a tear from the corner of her eye. "She would meet me every morning with this look of adoration on her face," said Celestia, "I know I'm supposed to love all of my little ponies with all of my heart, but how could I not want her to be the safest, happiest, most loved pony in all of Equestria?" She looked over her shoulder at Twilight and back to her sister. "I waited a thousand years for her," she said, "and after ten years of furious study and tutelage, I sent her into danger without the slightest warning. I know it had to be that way, the consensus has always been clear on that, but I will not let her come to harm; not when I can help it; not after she returned you to me."
Twilight gasped from the window and raced past the two sisters. Celestia moved to block her path but was held in place by the slight shake of Luna's head. They watched as the young mare disappeared down the stairs and heard the front door slam shut. Luna walked to the large oval window by Twilight's bed and looked out over the plaza.
"Sister," said Luna, "I think Twilight might know what makes her happy."
Celestia climbed the small staircase that led to the alcove that held Twilight's bed and stood by her sister. Luna reached out, pushed open the window and flared her magic. A small blue orb floated out of the tree and settled above the two ponies who stood a few dozen feet from the library.
"-heard what the Princess said," said Argent, "and she's right. If I can't be trusted to keep a clear head, how can I be trusted to keep you safe?" He shifted his hastily packed saddlebags on his back and turned to continue walking towards the rail station.
"I already told you," said Twilight, "we keep each other safe." She trotted around the stallion and stood in his way. "If you really believe I'd be better off with a squad of gold armored statues standing outside my tree every day, I'll step aside and you can leave," she said. His silence answered for him. "I didn't think so," said Twilight.
"It doesn't matter what I think," said Argent, "The princess gave me an order."
"And you'll follow it, even if you don't agree?" asked Twilight, "even if it makes you sad? Even if it makes me sad?"
Argent looked down and nodded. "I won't let you fight with Princess Celestia," he said sadly, "I know how much you care for her. How could I come between you two?"
Twilight looked towards the tree and back at Argent. "I do love the princess," said Twilight, "she's like a second mother to me, but she can't make me send you away."
"Why, Twilight?" asked Argent, "Why anger the pony who means so much to you? Why not let me go back to your brother. I can spend a few more years learning how to be a proper guard, and maybe someday I can come back."
"Yes, Twilight," said Celestia, tucking her wings after leaping down from the window of the tree home, "that is a question I'd like to hear the answer to." She loomed over Argent, her imposing height casting a shadow across both younger ponies. "Luna," she said, "would you please keep Captain Defender company?" With a flash of golden light, the stallion blinked out of sight.
"I'm a princess too," said Twilight, "and despite what you think, Argent is a wonderful guardspony."
"Those are excuses," said Celestia, "not answers. I'll ask again; why disobey me for one pony you've known for so short a time?"
"Because he makes me happy," said Twilight, "and because his actions have made many others happy too."
"Better," said Celestia, "but this precludes the notion that you could be happy without him. You were happy before his arrival."
Twilight felt like she had become a filly again, arguing obscure magical theory with her mentor. The princess had always led her down a logical path of axioms and aphorisms until she admitted her mistake and accepted what she was being told. "You assume that I would want to be happy with somepony else guarding me," said Twilight, trying to turn her mentor's arguments against her.
"We were never talking about what you wanted Twilight," said Celestia, "this is about what you need."
"I do need him," she said without thinking.
"Why?" asked Celestia. The eldest alicorn looked on in expectation, adopting the same pose she always had when she knew that Twilight had been led to the edge of a breakthrough in her studies.
Twilight looked at her mentor's impassive face and blushed. "Because I think I love him," she said softly, "and because I think he might love me too."
"And why does that matter," said Celestia.
"Because you always said that love is all that matters," said Twilight as the answer to her mentor's questions snapped into place. "Everything we do, we do for love. If I have to make you angry with me, or... disappointed in me, I will."
"Correct," said Celestia as she softened her stern demeanor, "And you could never disappoint me. Surprise me, yes, but never disappoint."
"So does that mean..." asked Twilight hopefully.
"Like you said," replied Celestia, "you're a princess too. It was never my decision to make." She smiled as Twilight stepped forward and rubbed her head against the taller alicorn's chest.
"I'm so sorry for making you worry," said Twilight, "and I know that it will be a cold day in Tartarus before I drink that much again." She remembered the letter she wrote and looked up into her mentor's eyes. "Can we just pretend the letter never happened?" she asked in desperation.
"Oh, I don't know about that," replied Celestia, her muzzle stretched in a wry grin, "I was thinking of having it framed and hung in my quarters. An eternal reminder of the night Twilight Sparkle acted the fool." She turned back towards the tree and leisurely paced to the front door.
"No!" whined Twilight as she hopped around the princess, "at least let me rewrite it."
"But the misspellings and reckless punctuation are the best part," protested Celestia, "and who knows, it might be worth quite a few bits a few hundred years down the road."
Twilight continued begging as they reentered the library and walked up the stairs. Celestia held out her hoof, stopping and silencing the younger alicorn. They both listened from the slightly opened door.
"Tis not so bad," said Luna, "you've not lived until you've seen an Earthrise. I admit, the landscape is drab, and the locals are less than social, but you'll hardly notice after the first decade."
"Wait here," whispered Celestia. Twilight saw the twinkle of mischief in her mentor's eyes and nodded.
"What will I eat?" asked Argent miserably.
"Perhaps I should send up a few barrels of wine," said Celestia as she strode into the room, "since you're so fond of it." She nearly growled as she stared down the stallion. He sat on the bed with Luna patting his shoulder reassuringly. "Now that my esteemed student has been thoroughly chastised, I find myself thinking that I have perhaps been too lenient with you." She stood before the stallion and unwrapped her now dried mane, letting it ripple in a non existent breeze. "You did... soil... the royal mane," she said menacingly, "do you have anything to say for yourself?"
Argent resigned himself to a long stay off world and hung his head between his forelegs. "No your majesty," he said, "I just beg that you forgive Twilight."
"That's enough," said Twilight as she threw open the door and galloped to her bed, "you two have had your fun." She placed a hoof below his chin and raised his head level with hers.
"Your highness," he said, gazing at her through watery, bloodshot eyes, "I'm so sorry for-" His apology was cut short by the caress of Twilight's lips against his. Despite the ache in his head and the royal audience, Argent couldn't help but return the kiss.
Luna stood from the bed and walked to her sister's side. As the seconds turned to minutes, the two alicorns began snickering. Twilight raised a hoof and waved towards the door. Supremely satisfied with her first sober kiss, Twilight refused to let a silly thing like embarrassment ruin her experience. The two sisters turned to walk back towards the door and noticed the young dragon holding two large paper sacks. His fanged mouth hung open as he stared at his best friend and de facto sister.
"Huzzah," exclaimed Luna, "The sweets have arrived!"
"Hurry up Twilight," said Argent, "the guard should be coming back this way any second."
Another book in the seemingly endless line of floating tomes found its way into the bulging panniers on her back. "Just a few more seconds," she said , "I'm almost through the temporal mechanics section." She glanced at the titles of the last few books and sent them back to their proper places on the bookshelves. "Okay," she said while charging her horn, "we're good." They disappeared in a flash of light just as the armored mare looked through the metal gate that led into the Starswhirl the Bearded section of the royal archives.
They reappeared outside the walls of the large domed building that held all the collected knowledge of the ages. Twilight looked around the statue garden that abutted the archives. "Nopony the wiser," she said smugly, "I told you we could do it."
"I guess there's a place for brazen daylight heists after all," admitted Argent. He followed Twilight as she led them through the perfectly manicured park. "No sign of the princesses," he said happily, "I think we're in the clear."
Twilight pulled at the collar of the bulky sweater that hid her wings. "Rarity was right," she thought, "early summer is no time for cashmere." From the corner of her eye she saw a beacon of refreshment in the form of an ice cream cart. "I think we've earned a reward," she said while pulling Argent behind her.
"Oooh," she said, wiping the drool from her mouth as she looked at the flavors, "fig with chocolate chunks!"
Argent fished out a few bits and dropped them into the salespony's waiting hoof. "That just seemed far too easy," he said while licking the melting vanilla ice cream that dribbled onto his hoof, "I'm waiting for the other hoof to drop."
"Not everything has to be a struggle," said Twilight around a mouthful of the frozen delight, "this is actually the second time I had to sneak in there." She ran her tongue around the edge of her double scooped cone. "I didn't even have to wear the sleek black bodysuit this time," she said huskily.
"Sleek, huh," said Argent, his attention focused on the mare's swirling tongue.
"Yeah," replied Twilight, "It was so tight around my flank." She bumped her rear against his and laughed. "Too bad it got all those rips and tears in it," she said, "I looked like something out of Con Mane movie." They turned down the main avenue that led down into Low Canterlot and the train station. Arriving in time to catch the late morning Friendship Express back to Ponyville, they were soon lightly dozing in their car, waiting for the locomotive to depart.
A knock and the sound of the car door sliding open roused Argent from his nap. "Sorry to wake you sir," said the unicorn mare, "but it looks like we'll be sharing the car with you." Her light purple and white mane brushed against the top of the door frame as she stepped into the narrow aisle and levitated her bag into the luggage rack above her. "Night," she said to the stallion outside, "pass me your bag."
A small black suitcase preceded the blue coated and maned stallion. "Sorry to barge in on ya," he said softly upon seeing the dozing mare, "we're running a little late. Somepony just had to stop at a book store."
"What kind of mother would I be if I didn't buy my little filly a treat every now and then?" said Twilight Velvet.
"A richer mother," replied Night Light, "most daughters would be happy with a pretty saddle. These limited edition first printings are pricey." He looked at the wide eyed stallion on the bench across from the one they had settled themselves into. "Ah, where are my manners," he said, "I'm Night Light, and this is my wife Twilight Velvet."
Argent took the proffered hoof and shook it. "Horizon Walker," he replied, "Sleeping beauty here is Oracle Dreams." The napping mare twitched in her sleep and mumbled something inaudible. "Apt name don't you think?" asked Argent with a laugh.
"Don't disturb her on our account," said Velvet, "she looks like she could use the sleep."
"Don't worry about it," said Argent as he prodded Twilight's stomach with his hoof, "she loves meeting new ponies." She batted at his hoof and continued lightly snoring. Argent continued rubbing her stomach, dodging her unconscious counters.
"Stop it," she said with closed eyes, "you know I'm ticklish there."
"We've got some company Oracle," he said, emphasizing her alias.
Twilight opened her eyes and saw her parents sitting across from them. The shock on her face was evident to all in the small car. "Don't worry about it dear," said Velvet, interpreting the shock as embarrassment, "We've had a few late nights ourselves." She winked at Twilight and nudged her husband with her hoof.
"Such tact and grace," said Night Light, "it's a wonder you aren't the princess."
The loud sound of a steam whistle accompanied the lurch of the train as it slowly pulled away from the station. "So what are you two up to in Ponyville?" asked Velvet.
"We actually live there," said Twilight softly, "we were in Canterlot on business."
"Oh!" said Velvet, "It's probably dumb to ask, but do you know our daughter? Twilight Sparkle?"
"Well, everypony knows Twilight Sparkle," said Argent, "I'm quite close to her bodyguard actually." Twilight rolled her eyes and patted Argent's hoof with hers. She let him chat with her parents and instead watched as the landscape outside the train flew by. Their early morning trip to Canterlot, combined with the adrenaline and sugar crashes she was starting to feel, had left Twilight in a hazy, semi lucid state. She listened to her parents' happy voices and stared out across Equestria.
"Are you all right dear?" asked Velvet.
"I'm fine mom," she said drowsily.
Velvet laughed heartily. "I swear you sound sound just like my daughter," she said, "still a bit sleepy, or are you saying I look old enough to be your mother?"
Twilight waved her hooves in protest. "No, no, no," she said, "you're absolutely beautiful for a pony of any age. I'm just homesick, and hearing you two chatting reminds me of my family."
"Well you should go see them then," said Velvet, "absence makes the heart grow fonder and all that."
"We're trying to find the time to get back," said Argent with a grin, "we've got all sorts of catching up to do."
The four middle aged ponies continued enjoying each others company as the speedy train steamed its way down the mountains and across the open plains of central Equestria. Hearing her mother and father brag about their princess had put Twilight in a happy but embarrassed mood. They pulled into the Ponyville depot just as Velvet recalled her daughter's voracious appetite for books.
"It was lovely meeting you two," said Velvet as she pulled down their luggage, "I do wish you would reconsider. I'm sure my daughter wouldn't mind a few more unexpected visitors."
"Oh I'm sure she wouldn't," said Argent, "but we really should get back to our place, it's been a busy morning."
Twilight hugged her mother tightly as she made her way from the train. "Make sure that daughter of yours visits you more often," she said, "If she can spend so much time reading, she can take a few days to visit her family too. Guilt trips work, and if that fails, try blackmail."
"I like the way you think Ms. Dreams," said Velvet as they parted in front of the busy train station. "Come on Night," she said to the stallion who levitated their luggage, "Let's go see our little filly."
Argent and Twilight waved as her parents trotted across the plaza. Argent shouldered the book filled saddle bags and followed Twilight towards their home. "I know that must have been hard," he said, "you feeling okay?"
"Actually, I think it's just what I needed," said Twilight, "I've got the books I need, and now I've got the motivation I need. I'll see them again, and I won't have to hide behind this illusion." She kissed Argent on the cheek and smiled. "And I'll be able to tell them about us."
"About that," said Argent, "when we go back, won't all the changes we've made alter everything? Will we even remember going back?"
Twilight patted the bulging panniers with a hoof. "I'm not sure," she said, "but if the answer to that question is anywhere, it's in one of these books." Argent looked less than reassured, but kept following her in silence. Their little house on the hill soon came into view, its white picket fence nearly shining in the bright midday sun.
Twilight saw it first: A set of small red smears along the fence, as if somepony had drug a red paint covered hoof along the length of it. "Argent," she said worriedly, "is this...?"
"Blood," replied Argent, " wait here." He dropped their bags and slowly followed the trail of blood to the gateway.
Twilight watched as he hesitantly opened the fence door and walked up the short path towards the front door. "Twilight!" he shouted just as he crested the hill, "Help!" The mare levitated the bags of books and quickly galloped to his side. The bleeding mare at their doorstep was barely recognizable. Her normally flowing silver mane was tangled and dirty, and her blue coat was crisscrossed with cuts oozing blood.
"Trixie!" said Twilight as she fell to her knees at the young unicorn's side. She bent over Trixie's head and listened to her ragged, rasping breaths. "Get the door," she said to Argent, "and clear off the table in the cellar." Twilight lifted the mare with her magic as gently as she could and followed Argent as he threw open the doors that led to the small cellar.
"Not again," moaned Trixie, "don't leave us again."
"It's going to be alright Trixie," said Twilight, "just hold on."
Argent swept the notebooks and writing tools from the long table Twilight had been running her experiments on. Twilight gingerly set the squirming unicorn on her back and examined the cuts along her belly. "These aren't that bad," said Twilight with a sigh of relief, "grab some towels and some rubbing alcohol." Argent nodded and disappeared back up the stairs.
Twilight bent over to check the mare's head when Trixie grabbed her by the ears. "Are you real?!" she asked, a look of mania in her eyes. She let go and curled up into a ball. "You can't be real," she said while grabbing at her head with her hooves, "get out of my head. I won't go again, you can't make me!"
"Trixie," said Twilight, "no one is making you do anything. It's me, Twilight."
"No you're not!" shouted Trixie, "you just want me to think you're Sparkle. Then you'll steal my magic, or crush my brother, or have me banished." She cackled madly while shaking her head. "I won't play your games or dance to your tune anymore," she hissed, "I'll die first."
"Trixie," said Twilight fearfully, "you're scaring me."
"Good!" shouted the wounded mare, "about time you monsters felt fear. But you don't do you." Trixie held her hooves over her eyes and wept. "You bring fear; you love fear; you are fear." She continued the mantra, even as Twilight began dressing her wounds and cleaning her up.
"C'mon sis," said Argent, "snap out of it." He had knelt beside the edge of the table and looked into his sister's eyes. "You need to tell us what happened. What did this to you?"
"I did this to me!" shouted Trixie, "You things can get in my head, but blood remembers. You can't erase blood! You can't wipe away pain." Argent reached out to her and had his hoof slapped away. "Not again!" she screamed, "I won't let you strangle me again."
"Twilight," pleaded Argent, "do something."
The alicorn was already at work mixing herbs with a mortar and pestle at the small workbench against the wall. She brought over the fruits of her labor, a viscous brown tincture bubbling from some unseen reaction. "This should help her relax," said Twilight, "remember when you had bonebreak fever?"
"No," said Argent.
"Exactly," said Twilight. She set the tray on the edge of the table and gently prodded Trixie's shoulder. "Trixie," she said softly, "we need you to drink this. It'll make you feel much better."
"Poison again?" growled Trixie, "Not again monster; not again."
"Hold her head still," said Twilight to the worried stallion at her side. Argent nodded and placed his hooves on the side of his sister's head.
"No!" she howled, "not again damn you. Not him again!" She flailed her legs, desperately trying to hit the stallion who held her down. Twilight's horn flared and four magenta auras surrounded Trixie's hooves. Twilight used her magic to hold the mare's legs to her side as she floated the glass of medicine to her mouth. Trixie clamped her mouth shut and tried to shake her head away from Twilight.
Argent flared his horn and grabbed her jaw with his magic. Moans of protestation filled the room as Twilight began funneling the potion down Trixie's throat. She gagged and sputtered but failed to expel the thick liquid. Argent released her head and sank to his rear. Twilight released her legs and watched as Trixie rolled onto her side.
"No more," she whispered in terror, "no more." She continued muttering until her eyelids closed and her breathing became steady and deep.