//------------------------------// // Chapter 3 - Gleam // Story: Fading Light // by Cabral095 //------------------------------// Chapter 3 - Gleam ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The salty tears rolled down the purple mare’s cheeks as she sat before the four ponies. Unsure of how to act, they sat there and watched her. After a moment, Twilight had composed herself and asked to be excused from the room. The dry mountain air greeted her as she exited the run down abode. Casting her gaze down the street, the castle came into view. Surely they couldn't have found everything… She thought. Without hesitation, the alicorn cantered towards the ruins of her teachers home. Her hooves clacked against the rocky and stony roads that guided her. As she neared the castle, the scene around her altered. The homes here were not as that from the outskirts; here they were rubble. There was no distinguishable form to them, just mounds of rubble and charcoal. Skeletons were lined in their ranks, prepared for battle. The mare halted. What happened here? Her eyes surveyed the sad ruins of Canterlot that laid before her. The once luscious and large domiciles that lined the streets were now tombstones to those who had fallen here. The ground was cracked and scorched, torn and ripped; this was no battle, it was a slaughter. “Celestia!” Twilight shouted. She lunged forward into a sprint, her wings beat the air around her and raised her body above the ground. Flapping with as much might as she could, the mare sped towards the castle. The scene fled behind her and she arrived at the castle. Upon landing, she wiped the tears from her eyes and looked to what was left of the entrance. The large double doors that once stood strong and proud had vanished altogether. The archway was cracked and sagged, the white marble had faded into a dull yellow brown. The sound of echoing hooves filled the empty halls of canterlot castle. Many of the columns that had lined the grand hall had fallen, the few that remained creaked and cracked under the pressure of supporting what was left of the grand building. The hoof weaved carpets were torn out from the floors and the tiles were practically dust beneath her hooves. Each hall and room told the same story, all of their belongings had been stolen and all of their windows broken, there was nothing. Each and every room, empty. Trotting up some stairs in the west wing, Twilight had arrived at the bedroom of Princess Luna. Gently placing her hoof upon the door, she gently pushed it open. The dusty room before her was empty, there was no evidence that anypony had lived her once before. Using her magic, she closed the door, and left the west wing. She trotted her way over to the east wing, Celestia’s wing. She soon found what she was looking for, Celestia’s room. Looking carefully at the door, Twilight could see no outer damage to it. There were no scratches, burn marks, or hoof marks of any kind. It’s as if the room itself had never been touched in the past two thousand years. The door would not open. She pushed and strained to try and push the door open, but nothing happened. It was locked. Her horn flared and a beam of purple fired at the door. Nothing happened again. Why would Celestia lock her door? What could she be hiding? I’ll have to see if I can maybe find some clues lying elsewhere in the castle. With a sigh of defeat Twilight walked away from the curious door, and trotted further down the hall. Her eyes scanned and searched the ruins for anypony, anything would suffice by now. The mare had reached some stairs that she knew led to the upper balcony. The long climb up was quiet, eerie some may say. The ruins of an old abandoned castle watched the young princess as she continued her ascent. The last of the steps were reached, and before her lay a sight she had not seen in some time. Walking out to the edge of the balcony, careful of her strides on the old structure, Twilight looked out to the valley below. It had seemed as if a darkness had consumed the valley, her old home. Ponyville could not be seen, as it was hidden by the shadow of the forest that lay next to it. She sat herself down upon the ledge, and with a heavy sigh, she shut her eyes. Her muscles had ached with stress and pain. Her mind was trying to grasp exactly what had happened to her. What had happened to her home. Why Celestia? You could have at least told me… I should have known…. The mare looked up towards the scenery before her. The darkness of the valley, the mountains off to the west, and the setting sun. Much of the land had appeared burned and scarred. She needed to find out more history, perhaps her old library may hold answers of its own. The alicorn’s thoughts continued to ramble in her head. Perhaps Celestia’s room will….. wait… The mare blinked once more, her eyes cast to the sun. It was setting. The sun… it’s, it’s setting! That must mean. Without missing a beat, Twilight sprang up from her resting position and rushed across the balcony. She sprinted as fast as she could down the stairs, and to the east wing. Tears again forming beneath her eyes, and a giggle escaped from her lips. “Celestia!” She cried, “Celestia I’m here!” Twilight reached the door and knocked. “Celestia, open up please! It’s me Twilight!” Her ears caught the sound of something, hooves. Clicking and clacking their way towards her. She happily panted and waited for the door to open. Looking at the door, Twilight could see the magical shield that had been covering the door dissipate. The door slowly creaked open, and an elderly sounding voice rang in her ears, “Twilight? Did I hear somepony say Twilight?” Soon Twilight’s smile faded, and was replaced with confusion. “Who are you?” Within the doorway stood an old mare, her light blue fur had grayed, a horn graced her forehead, and her brilliant purple eyes looked over the princess. “It is you Twilight…” she said, “After all this time I… I didn’t think it’d actually come true.” “That what would come true?” “Why your return of course.” “My return?” Twilight inquired. “Please, come inside, it’s not safe out here.” Twilight obeyed and followed the mare inside. Placed in the middle of the room was a table with a journal on it. Towards the back wall was a fireplace, fire still crackled in the pit. A large bed was to the left side of the room, the east side. To the west, was a window just like the one that graced the opposite wall. Beneath her hooves was an illustriously weaved carpet that sported Celestia’s cutie mark. A dresser, a closet, and a bathroom were also located near the back wall. “You must be starving,” the old mare spoke up, “Here, have some crackers, I have plenty to share.” A plate of crackers appeared in front of Twilight, which she graciously accepted. “It’s been a long time Twilight, I’m sure that you wouldn’t remember me all that well. I’m surprised I even remember you.” The old mare used her magic to pass over a cup of water to the purple mare. Twilight finished her chewing, and proceeded with a question, “Who are you?” “Time does a lot of things to a mare Twilight, it lets her think. A lot. I never did thank you for what you had done for me that day. I was just a young mare, showing off what magic I had learned and perfected in a wooden carriage that I traveled the country with. It was a great experience, seeing all the sights, meeting all the new ponies. But then I met a pony more powerful than me. I met you.” “...Trixie?” “Hello Twilight Sparkle, it’s been quite a while. Has it not?”