//------------------------------// // Ill Omens // Story: Revenge of the Windigos // by Solid Script //------------------------------// “Twilight, Twilight, TWI…LIGHT!” Twilight Sparkle’s eyes shot open as she zipped into the air, hitting her head against the sealing, and landing back on her bed with a thump. As the stars began to fade from around her head, her vision began to clear as she saw a certain baby dragon smiling sheepishly at her. “Oops, ha-ha, sorry, I’ll just… ah go get some ice for that bump,” Spike said as he began to back away from Twilight. “Don’t worry Spike I got it,” Twilight as she conjured an ice pack and placed it gently on her head. “But seriously Spike what in Celestia’s name was the shouting for?” “I should be asking you that, did you read The Spotter before going to bed again?” interrogated Spike. “No Spike and that night terror only happened one time, but I was having a nightmare,” Twilight said. “It must have really been a nasty one because you were twisting and turning in your sleep, it was kinda freaky,” Spike said. “Oh Spike you don’t know the half of it.” As Twilight was about to relay her dream Nyx poked her head into her mother’s room with a look of worry. “Mommy are you okay, I heard a loud thump in your room, are you alright?” Nyx asked. Twilight quickly put on a smiled, “No Nyx I’m fine I just had a little scare that’s all. Now go wash up, pack , and double check your saddle bag it will be time to leave before you know it,” Twilight said shooing her daughter away with a gesture from her right wing. “Alright mommy I’ll be ready soon.” As Nyx walked out the questions began to fill her head. “Why was mommy so jumpy this morning?” Nyx thought to herself as she quietly trotted off to the bathroom, possible scenario is zipping through her head and all of them involved her. Had her mother found out about her returning abilities, was she at risk of becoming Nightmare Moon again? “No,” Nyx said firmly to herself. “If that was the case then mom would have told me, maybe she’s just nervous about planning the celebration, yeah that’s it,” Nyx said even though she did not believe it. When Nyx arrived at her little bathroom, she knocked on the access point of the door and it opened. She walked in and magically closed the door, careful not to use so much magic that her mother sensed it. Nyx concentrated and a blue-purple light radiated from her horn and enveloped her toiletries and levitated them around her as she used each one to, as Rarity would call it “Make herself presentable”. When everything on Nyx was either washed or brushed, she put everything away and put on her pair of magical glasses that disguised her eyes. As Nyx walked out the bathroom, Twilight walked out of her room with Spike trailing behind her. Nyx stared open mouthed at her mother’s new look. “Well how do I look Nyx?” Twilight asked. “Mommy you look like…a princess,” Nyx said gasping in awe, even though Twilight did not look that different, the air about her radiated royalty. She wore a gold collar connected by a magenta gem carving of her cutie mark in its center. On her hooves were golden horseshoes each bearing the symbol for her element. Her mane and tail looked as if somepony, most likely Rarity, had taken all the colors of the twilight and artfully put them into Twilight’s hair. They sparkled from the light that bounced of the tiny gems on Twilight’s crown that now rested on Twilight’s head. “Yeah Twi you’re going to have to beat the stallion’s off with a stick,” Spike said as he walked up from behind Twilight. Twilight blushed as an embarrassed smile passed across her face. “Stop guys you’re embarrassing me, after all, I’m still the same old Twilight,” Twilight saw a look of melancholy come over her daughter as her eyes fell to the ground. “Nyx, sweetie what’s wrong?” Twilight asked as she nuzzled her neck. “Oh it’s nothing mommy it’s just that…you are so amazing mom you’ve done so much for Equestria and you’ve earned your place as a Princess of Equestria and as an alicorn…I just feel like such a fake,” Nyx said as a tear trailed from her right eye onto the floor while she confessed her sadness. “Nyx nopony deserves to be a princess or even an alicorn, it must be earned.” “Yeah kiddo trust me when I say if some pony told me that Twilight would have become princess one day I would have called the stallions in the white coat,” Spike confessed laughing. “Thanks a lot Spike,” Twilight said as she rolled her eyes sarcastically. “Nyx you’ve come so far and have overcome much. I know you’re destined do great things and you know that you can tell me anything.” Twilight conjured a tissue and wiped away her daughter’s tears. Nyx smiled at her mother’s assurance. “I know mommy and I will. Well I’d better go check my room to make sure that I have everything and pack my saddle bag,” Nyx said her sadness now gone. “Okay sweetie we’ll be leaving soon.” Nyx gave her mom a hug and slipped into her room. As soon as Nyx closed the door behind her, Spike turned to Twilight. “Twilight you know that there’s still something she’s not telling us right?” Twilight let out a sad sigh and turned towards the stairs. “I know Spike, but we can’t force it out of her, have you managed to get anything out of her?” “Not a thing Twi, but I do know that whatever it is, is really eating her up inside,” Spike said as he followed Twilight down the stairs. “Oh Spike I nearly forgot did Owlowiscious come back?” “Yeah Twilight he’s downstairs warming up by the fire and before you ask he knows he’s supposed to go to AJ’s farm. I just hope the guy has more luck taking care of the pets than I did,” Spike said as he followed Twilight down the stairs. When Twilight and Spike reached the bottom level of the library Owlowisicous greeted them with a hoot from the stand he sat on by the fire. He flew over to Twilight and landed on her back nuzzling her neck in affection. Twilight then turned to Spike and conjured up her magic trunk that held both here’s, Spike’s and Nyx’s luggage. She levitated its contents out of it a made a checklist appear in Spike’s hand. “Alright Spike, let’s make sure we have everything. Let’s see, yours, mine, and Nyx’s clothes and auxiliary clothes.” “Check,” Spike said striking that item from the list. “Books on world cultures, traditions, etiquette, and languages.” “Check.” “Quills, scrolls, journal, and charts.” “Check.” “Jewelry box. “Check, alright Twilight it’s like we have everything,” Spike said as he rolled up the list. Twilight levitates all the objects back into trunk and makes it once more vanish into nothingness. “Come on Nyx we’re ready to go,” Twilight called up the steps as she conjured winter attire for Spike. “Coming mommy,” said Nyx from the top of the stairs as she raced down to Twilight. Twilight could not help but smile at the as she said saw Smarty Pants hanging from her daughter’s saddlebag. Do you have everything sweetie?” Twilight asked Nyx as she conjured weather gear onto her daughter. “Yes mom I’m ready to go I have everything on my check list,” Nyx said. After Twilight did a quick inspection, she decided that everything was in order, now came the part that she did not like. “Mommy come on we don’t want to be late,” Nyx said as she bounded fo the door. “Nyx,” said Twilight. “If we don’t hurry all the good seats will taken,” Nyx whined trying to stop what was to come. “Nyx, I have to put it on,” Twilight said as her horn began to glow. “It’s not fair I’m not Nightmare Moon anymore, I apologized for everything, why should do I still have to wear a stupid disguise?” Nyx asked. “Nyx I don’t like doing this anymore than you do but there are ponies out there that don’t understand the magic of friendship like we do so for them forgiving does not come easy. This can and will cause them to try and do things to you for one reason or another. I just want you to be safe,” Twilight said as her magic engulfed Nyx. However, nothing seemed to happen, Nyx looked herself over and looked into the nearby mirror on the wall she looked the same. “Twilight did that spell go bad or something because Nyx looks exactly the same?” Spike asked confused. “To you, me, herself, and her loved ones, but to other ponies she looks like a white unicorn filly with platinum blonde hair and blue eyes. I know it’s not much of a consolation sweetie but...” Before Twilight could finish her sentence Nyx ran up and hugged her mother tightly, Twilight nuzzled her daughter affectionately. “Don’t worry Nyx, there will come a day when you won’t need a disguise and people will see you as I do,” Twilight said. “I hope it comes soon mommy,” Nyx said. “Me too Nyxie me to,” Twilight said. “Guys I hate to break up the moment but if we don’t get to the train station soon we’re gonna have to fly to Canterlot and I am not going through that again,” Spike said as he opened the door Owlowiscious hooted his goodbye as he flew up into the air on his way to Sweet Apple Acres. Just then, a rumbling noise emanates from Spike’s stomach, Spike smiles bashfully as a huge blush spreads across his face. “Opps sorry, Twilight do we have time for some breakfast?” Spike asked. “Sorry Spike no time for a big breakfast you can get something to tide you over on the train,” Twilight said as she magically closed and locked the door, which enacted the spell of protection that she had placed around the library. As the spell finished taking effect, Nyx looked at her mother in both confusion and worry. “A spell of protection in Ponyville?” Nyx thought to herself in confusion. “Mommy are you sure that you’re alright?” “Yes Nyx I’m fine, now, stand next to me and Spike I’m going to teleport us,” Twilight said. “Oh thank Celestia I worried that you were going to say fly,” Spike said remembering the first time he rode on Twilight while she was flying. Twilight chose to ignore that comment as she filled her horn with power, she, Nyx, and Spike vanished in a flash of light. Train Station At the train station Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Rarity, Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy, Sweetie Belle, Scootaloo, and Apple Bloom all waited for Twilight and Nyx. Opal sat on one of the suitcases and taking a catnap, while Angel Bunny sat on Fluttershy’s back. “Where en tarnation are those two?” Applejack asked as she paced back in forth. “Applejack, darling you must stop pacing you’re wearing a hole into the floor,” Rarity said as she pointed to the circular groove that Applejack had made. “Yeah AJ chill out,” Rainbow Dash said reclining on cloud. “If nothing else can be said about Twilight it can be said that she is never late for anything.” “Besides if we miss this train then we can just take the next one,” Fluttershy said. “Personally I like it when a friend is late,” Pinkie Pie said hoping in place. “They can totally appear at any time it’s like a surprise party.” Just then, magic began to gather in the air as Twilight, Nyx, and Spike appeared in a flash of light near the group. “See what did I tell ya,” Pinkie Pie said as she trotted over to Twilight. Upon seeing Princess Twilight, many of the ponies much to Twilight’s chargin bowed to her in greeting. “I wonder who that little filly is with the princess,” An old mare whispered to her husband. “Maybe she’s decided on taking a student of her own,” The dappled colt whispered to his wife. The CMC clopped over to Nyx a look of confusion on their faces at the statement of the older couple. “Nyx care to explain what’s going on?” Scootaloo asked. “Ow, mom put a spell on me so that nopony but you guys and a few others can see me as I am. However, to everypony else I’m snowflake,” Nyx said. “Wow that’s sum spell,” Applebloom said in awe. As Spike cleared the light out of his eyes, he looked at Fluttershy’s luggage in dismay. “YOU!” Spike exclaimed pointing his claw at Angel Bunny who gave him haughty wave. “What is he doing here?” “Ow, Angel jumped out his carrier and sneaked into my saddlebag as I dropped him off at Sweet Apple Acres,” Fluttershy said. Angel stuck out his tongue at Spike, quickly retracting it as Flutterfly turned her head to face him. “Now Angel you promised to be good if I let you come with me. Besides it’s Hearth Warming can’t you both put your differences aside for one day?” Fluttershy asked. Angel rolled his eyes but nodded in agreement. He’d do this for Fluttershy but the minute that dragon peeved him off it was on. Fluttershy turned expectinly at Spike who folded his arms and glowered. “Yeah sure I guess, but I’m watching you furball,” Spike said pointing a claw at Angel. “Opal didn’t like the idea of spending Hearth Warming on a farm so I decided to take my dear Opalescence with me,” Rarity said. Opalescence cracked one eye open to acknowledge Rarity and then went back to sleep. Sweetie Belle looked at Twilight and stared in wonder. “Gee Twilight you look amazing,” said Sweetie Belle “Thank you Sweetie Belle but I don’t look that different.” “Twi if I didn’t know ya I’d think that you were Celestia’s younger sister,” said Applejack. “Alright I admit I look pretty but I wish I could take these off these horseshoes,” Twilight complained. “DON’T YOU DARE TWILIGHT SPAKLE!” Rarity commanded. “Without those horse shoes the entire ensemble will be incomplete and I will not have any friend of mine going half-dressed especially in Canterlot. Do you think that it was easy of comfortable for me when I wore those glass slippers at the gala and I was in excruciating agony but I toughed it out darling.” “But I don’t understand, if those shews were so uncompfortible the then why’d yew wear um?” Apple Bloom asked. Rarity looked at looked at Apple Bloom in shock and gave Applejack a scandalized look. “Just what are you teaching her Applejack?” “Apple Bloom my dear sweet little filly you will one day learn that great beauty requires sacrifice,” Rarity proclaimed as a white light radiated around her. “Alright if we’re all done speech-a-fying then let’s get on the train,” Applejack said as she got ont the train. As Nyx walked behind her mother, she had the strangest feeling that she was being watched. She turned around and she saw the same mysterious mare in the Ursa Major furred cloak standing in the middle of the crowd unseen and unnoticed by the other ponies, time seemed to slow down as Nyx felt the eyes of the mare starring at her. “Nyx,” Twilight said as she starred as she noticed her daughter’s trance like state. “Huh what?” “Are you alright?” Twilight asked. Nyx looked back out to the crowd but once again, the mare was gone. “Nothing mom I thought I saw somepony that I knew,” Nyx said. When Twilight and her friends entered the train the conductor bowed his head to Twilight. “Your majesty it is an honor. Please follow me,” The Conductor said as he raised his head and guided the group to their seats. “I will never get used to that part of being a princess,” Twilight said. “Ow but Twilight that’s one of the perks of being a princess darling,” Rarity chided as they got to their coach. The conductor bowed again to Twilight as they entered the compartment, seeing that they were comfortable he returned to his rounds. The CMC bubbled with excitement as they took their seats all except Nyx. “I still can’t believe we’re going to Canterlot guys,” Scootaloo said bouncing slightly in her seat. “Yeah, maybe we’ll get our cutie marks in helping planning parties,” Apple Bloom said. “This is going to be so fu….Nyx are you alright?” Sweetiebelle asked. "I’m fine guys just thinking about some things is all.” As Nyx looked out the window she wondered if she was slowly losing her mind as the train whistle sounded and the train trudged down the tracks. Hidden in the shadows of the trainstation a pair of green electrified eyes looked at the departing train with glee. Crystal Empire Shining waited at the bottom of the stairs levitating his, Cadence, and Skyla’s luggage, plus the Hearth Warming gifts that that they’d bought for his family, waiting for the love of his life to finish getting Skyla ready. As he waited Shining talked to crystal stallion with a shining white coat, an emerald colored mane, eyes, tail, and crystal empire flag cutie mark. “Loyal Regent, are quite sure that you don’t need us for anything,” Shining Armor asked. “Ow quite your majesty, everything is in perfect order, besides everypony should be with their families on Hearth Warming, if there’s a problem I’ll be sure to contact you both, but you’d better hurry sire train waits for nopony not even royalty,” Loyal Regent said. “Come one Cady we’re going to miss the train if we don’t hurry up,” Shining Armor said as he called up the stairs. “In a minute Shiny I have to finish getting Skyla ready,” Cadence called down the stairs as she finished magically wrapping Skyla in her winter cloth. She levitated Skyla into her crystal carriage, a strong gust of wind blew open the double window. Cadence turned towards the window to close it, but a strange feeling engulfed her as the cold breeze blew in her face, it was a feeling of malice, anger, hatred, and a deep sadness kept alive by a great pain. As she fell deeper into the trance a small voice called out to her crying out her name, steadily the voice grew louder and louder until she recognized it. Cadence shook herself as she saw her husband standing before her. “Shiny, what happened?” Cadence asked as she started to become fully aware of her surroundings. “I don’t know, I heard Skyla crying and I galloped up here as soon as quick as I could,” Shining said. At the mention of her baby, crying Cadence snapped out of what was left of her stupor. “Skyla, is she alright?!” “Yes dear she’s fine as soon as I came in she stopped crying. But are you alright?” Shining asked concerningly. “I’m fine Shiny, really, I just blacked out for…a minute.” Cadence saw the picture frame that held the family photo that was taken last Hearth Warming. Cadence levitated it with her magic and an eerie feeling came over her. The glass of the frame over the faces of Celestia, Luna, Twilight Velvet, Flashlight, Twilight, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, Rainbow Dash, Applejack, Rarity, Sweetie Belle, Scootaloo, Apple Bloom, and Nyx had been smashed and only those areas. “Evil reveals itself on the wind,” Cadence said aloud. “I’m not superstitious but I can be very open minded at times,” Shining Armor said slightly unnerved by the exact smashes made in the glass. Suddenly, Cadence began to laugh and soon was joined by Shining Armor. “Shining listen to us we sound like a bunch of superstitious old mares,” Cadence said as she gained control of herself. “Yeah we do sound silly, come on let’s go we don’t want to walk to Canterlot,” Shining said as he magical closed the window and walked out the nursery. Cadence made sure Skyla was all right and magically pushed the stroller out of the baby room and closed the door behind her. As Cadence, Shining, and Skyla left the castle they were greeted by their subjects and escorted by royal guard to the train station. As his family entered the train Shining’s guard instincts kicked in as he felt that they were being watched. However, as he scanned the perimeter he found nothing out of place. He entered the train as its whistle blowed and it started to trudge down the tracks. Shining Armor did not understand how right he was for up in the sky above the empire a suspiciously black cloud hung in the air watching the royal couple and their child leave for Canterlot. As the cloud moved towards Everfree, it shifted into a black spectral stallion with electrified blue eyes, mane, tail, and hooves. Stratus soured through the sky transforming into mist as he slid under the rock that hid the Mirror Pool, were he saw his brothers awaiting his return. ““Brotherss, the monarchss of the Crysstal Empire go to Canterlot asss we sspeeak,” said Stratus. “Exxccellent, Nimbuss reportss the ssame of the Princcess of Magic and her enteroouge. Our king will be pleeassed,” Cumulus said. “IIIII am pleassed,” Noreater’s voice echoed throughout the cave as his image appeared on the mirror pool. “All iss going according to plaan. The ruling powersss of Equestria in one convenient placce to destroy at my leissuure.” “My kiing, sshouldn’t we destroy them now before they prepare for IIt?” Nimbus asked, his mane crackling with rage as the memory of the Fires of Friendship still burned in his memory. “Nooo, let the triibess think they are ssafe, let them fill their homess with giftss and friendsshiip. When their hope iss at itss peak we…will…CRUUSSSH IT AND THEIR PATHECTIC NATION WITH THEEM!” Cumulus, Nimbus, and Stratus whinnied with twisted glee and mad blood lust.