2: Moonlit Pools
“Twilight Sparkle! Drop that book at once!”
Twilight squeaked in surprise. “P-princess! What’s wrong? I was j-just reading it ‘cause it was in the library and–”
The book was firmly encased in the kind, yet iron grip of Celestia’s golden magic.
Twilight’s eyes welled up with tears at the cold expression on her mentor’s face, which quickly softened to sympathy.
“Twilight,” Celestia gently said, “I am not angry with you. I simply wish to protect you from certain… things. Not all books are meant for everypony.”
Twilight hung her head. “I’m sorry Princess– erm, Celestia. I just found it lying on the ground in front of that statue of Queen Heliopause and–“
Celestia interrupted her. “In front of Heliopause?” she asked urgently, “Are you sure?”
“Y-yes, I mean, I just saw it lying there and went to pick it up, and then I just felt… compelled, I guess, to read it.”
“So the prophecy is true,” Celestia murmured to herself, “She is destined to be the Queen of Blood.”
Twilight looked up at her teacher. “What?”
Celestia’s eyes widened, then settled back to normal with a glazed look of uncertainty. “Nothing, my dear. I’m sorry for keeping you waiting for so long. Your friends are probably worried by now.”
Twilight’s eyes widened at the mention of leaving the book behind. “Oh no! They, uh know that I'll be out all day so it's fine-”
Celestia forcibly smiled. “I just received a letter from Spike asking where you were.”
Twilight sighed and teleported out of that library into the streets of Canterlot, crashing right into an elderly old apple green mare.
Her eyes widened in shock as she realized who it was. “Granny Smith! Are you okay? Oh my gosh, I am so sorry!”
The old mare’s eyes opened, revealing golden-orange orbs that looked as if they had never lost their shine.
“Eeh? Whasat?”
Twilight put on a weak smile. “It’s me, Granny. Your granddaughter’s best friend Twilight Sparkle.”
Granny wrinkled her nose. “ Limelight Sprinkles? Wha’ kinda name’s that?”
Twilight cleared her throat. “Twilight Sparkle.”
“Donut Twinkle? Which un’s yer real name?”
“Twi-light-Spar-kle.”
“Eh?”
Twilight gritted her teeth in frustration. “TWILIGHT SPARKLE!”
Granny Smith sighed and rolled her eyes. “Oh… Well, why didn’t ya say so in th’ first place, Miss Twa-light.”
“It’s TWIlight.”
“Twa-light.”
“TWIlight.”
“What’s yer name again?”
Twilight facehoofed. “Ahem, anyway, sorry about bumping into you. I’m on my way to research someone named Celeste Helios-Selene back in my library in Ponyville, so see you later.”
Granny Smith gave a wide grin. “Ooh! Ah knew her when she was just a lil’
filly!”
Twilight whirled around. “What? Bu–how–d–guh, how?”
“Cuz ah helped her a’course,” Granny replied to Twilight’s elegantly formed sentence.
Twilight said another grammatically wonderful sentence. “Buwgah…”
Granny rolled her eyes in exasperation, and swiftly whacked the flabbergasted alicorn with her purse.
Twilight thudded to the ground.
Granny Smith sighed and began to drag the purple pony towards the train station.
“Th’ things ah have t’ do these days… Pity she ain’t as light as that young ‘un Lula was.”
~*^*~
Twilight woke up to the refreshing smell of wood and apple pie. She opened her oddly heavy eyelids and found herself in a warm room with a concerned Applejack standing by her.
“Ya alright there sugarcube?”
Twilight groaned and rubbed a small lump next to her horn. “Never been better.”
Applejack sighed. “Sorry ‘bout that. She can get a bit… impatient, ah s’pose.”
“I noticed. Anyways, thanks for your help, but I’d better get going. I don’t think I should leave Spike alone at the library again–”
Applejack shook her head. “No can do, Twi. Ya got a bump on yer head ‘bout as big as yer horn. Ya better get some rest.”
“I WHAT?!”
~*^*~
After Applejack had left the now dark and moonlit room, Twilight noticed the old book lying by the table.
Her eyes widened when she saw the year on it.
“No way,” she murmured to herself, “This can’t be the same book.”
Completely disregarding Celestia’s warning, she opened to page one.
~*^*~
“Lestie!”
Ow.
“Lestie!”
What…? Huh, was that Lula-–
“CELESTE!”
“Ah!”
A small blue pegasus filly sat and watched as a tall, lanky pink unicorn fell out of bed.
The pale pink pony dazedly pushed herself up.
“Lula! You know the rules; no jumping, leaping, diving, nor any such activity that involves going up in the air and landing on the bed. Do I make myself clear?”
The dark blue filly leaned closer.
“What’cha say, sis? Oh, and, uh, you got a little something near your eye right ther–“
“Oh, come on!”
~*^*~
After an hour of brushing her rose-colored mane and searching for a spell to fix the bruise near her eye (most of that time spent fixing the bruise), Celeste was able to render it nearly invisible. Although it still hurt, it was a good thing she had done that.
“Mother, are you sure that the dignitaries are coming today? ”
Celeste looked up at a tall, regal unicorn, who had a long, pale blue mane and a creamy-pink coat. Elected the representative of Hollow Shades, or it’s original name “Votle Senčniki,” Lady Calypso Helios-Selene was well known by many famous ponies, including Princess Platinum.
Even though the three pony tribes had united to form Equestria, Pegasi, Unicorns, and Earth Ponies tended to remain to themselves, however. Thus, Hollow Shades primarily housed unicorns. Of course there were exceptions. Lula, for example had been born a pegasus in a family of unicorns. This had caused numerous rumors about bloodlines, but the family had checked the records hundreds of times and had never found a single flaw. When they checked her however, every test had proved her to be pure pegasus, with not a single drop of unicorn blood. Some speculated that she had been taken in, but she bore an uncanny resemblance to Calypso. In fact, the only difference was her dark blue coat.
The taller unicorn turned her head delicately toward her elder daughter, her teal eyes secretly smiling.
“Yes, Celeste, they are coming. Although, I believe that you would be happy to see them.”
Celeste snorted. “Since when have I been happy to see politicians? All they do is lie.”
“‘Good afternoon,’ lied the politician,” she mimicked in a high voice.
Lula came running in through the massive golden double doors, her mane scruffy and her feathers ruffled.
She leaped into her seat. “Ooh! I know! Is it Aunt Cadenza? And Liltizinn?”
Calypso’s eyes twinkled a yes.
Celestia’s ears perked up. “Aunt Cadance? And Lilt?”
Lula smiled. “Yup!”
“Wait a second,” started Celeste, “How could you possibly know that before me?”
“Because I saw them through the window. They looked kinda weird though. I mean, their guards were like SOAKED in blood.”
“What?!” cried two simultaneous voices.
~*^*~
Celeste panted as she ran down the stairs. Night had fallen, and Cadance had still not woken up.
Cadance was the current ruler of the Crystal Empire. Unlike other regions, the Crystal Empire had been its own nation, slowly conquering the frozen north. Emperor Sombra Solanáceas had originally ruled it. After he had become hungry for power, Cadance, or Mi Amore Cadenza II, had been able to create a jewel to capture and amplify the power of love. This later became known as the Crystal Heart. After a large rebellion, Cadance had been able to gain power, thus driving Sombra away into the ice.
Cadance wasn’t really her aunt. They were simply close to her family, and acted pretty informally toward each other. Cadance had at first been married to Prince Blueblood, Princess Platinum’s brother, but after a tragic accident involving a poisoned wedding cake, Cadance ruled the Crystal Empire alone.
Celeste smiled as she ran back up the stairs carrying buckets of water. At least her “aunt” had Lilt. Lilt, or Liltizinn, was the same age as her. He was only ten times as fun. He was pretty much hers and Lula’s favorite visitor, and had even managed to make the usually stoic Calypso laugh.
Finally, the pale pink unicorn reached the oak door leading to the infirmary. She opened the door using her golden magic aura, and was careful enough to shut it behind her. She levitated the buckets over to the orange-maned nurse, who gave a kind, yet tired, smile.
“Thank you, dearie. I’m sure she’ll be fine from here.”
The unconscious elderly mare rested delicately on the bed, her pink and gold hair swirling over the pillows, slightly streaked with silver. Her dark pink coat was unblemished, except for a long, jagged cut that ran from the base of her foreleg to her wings. Her breathing was erratic, and the cut was still bleeding despite Peach Heart’s efforts.
Celeste scrunched up her nose in worry. “Are you sure there’s nothing I can do to help, Nurse Peach Heart?”
The pale gold mare smiled. “I’m sure, Celeste. Now why don’t you go calm down Liltizinn? He’s been pacing around in here constantly until I sent him off. Knowing him, he’ll be in the observatory.”
Celeste’s eyes widened. “Oh! I, uh, actually didn’t think of that… Thank you Peach Heart!”
“No problem, sweetie. Now go, shoo!”
~*^*~
Twilight’s eyes blinked in confusion. She had read this for the first time, right? Then why did it seem familiar? Like– like a memory.
She sighed, leaning back onto her pillow. Maybe Applejack was right. She should get some rest.
She yawned, and just before she closed her eyes, she saw the last remnants of a few clouds in the sky. They shimmered as they went under the moon, looking like pools.
“Like… moonlit pools…” she murmured as she drifted off to sleep.
As soon as she fell asleep, all was silent. Until that was broken by a sparkling sound.
Twilight was still asleep. But her horn was alight.
And her magic was red.