//------------------------------// // "I came to warn you." // Story: The Fall of Celestia // by Leon Declis //------------------------------// +++The Day Before+++ ???: "It's been nearly six years since the Battle of the Changelings in Canterlott. Since Queen Chrysalis was defeated by Commander Shining Armour and Princess Cadance's spell, things have gotten from bad to worse." Old Bayonet coughed, eyeing up the new recruits. The flames gave him a twinkle in his eye. The colts and mares gathered around the fire looked nervously to each other. They were new recruits with barely used barding and sore feet from their iron horsehoes. Bayonet snouted, making one or two of them jump. "With the Changelings vanguard having been defeated, there were celebrations. The mood was good, you know. The Princess and the Commander got married, there were parties, and the mares..." He coughed, and leaned down to puff on his pipe. "Well, it was a good time for everyone, shall we say? However, there was trouble a'brewin. Some of the smaller towns near the Changelings started going silent. Her Highness sent that mare of hers, the star pupil, Twilight, helped face the Changelings. All they found were dusk and empty buildings. I went on one of them tours, you know? You know what I found?" Bayonet leans forward, close to a colt who visibly shook. "Did you find Changelings?" His voice shook. "Nope," Bayonet grinned, "we found nothing." He was silent for a few moments, let the quiet set in. "There was nothing. No bodies, no sign of fightin', not a hair nor hide of anyone. Twilight cast a few spells here and there, and so did a few of our own unicorns, but whatever they found, they didn't share with us common soldiers." "So there we was, after that mission, enjoying our time with the celebrations, when the first of dem arrived. And at the time, the only one of dem." Bayonet shook his head. "What do you mean, sir?" The shaking colt raised his hoof. "I mean the one dat started it all. Her." Bayonet said darkly. +++5 years, 11 months, 3 weeks, 4 days prior+++ Canterlott, The Royal Palace, Front Door: "Do you doubt me? ME!? I must see the Princess, it's a matter of greatest urgency!" The ultramarine blue unicorn stamped her hoof. Bayonet raised an eyebrow. It was quite early in the morning to have to deal with these ponies... "Look, the Princess is busy, there are official hours when she will take public queries..." Bayonet began patiently, even though it was the fifth time he had said the phrase. It wouldn't do to shout... the splitting headache from the previous night's festivities ensured that. “I do not care what you think, commoner. Move, or I shall move you.” She swept back her hair, showing a glowing horn. Bayonet grunted. “Listen, pony,” he put heavy emphasis on the word; he’d had enough of her now, “If you think you can simply barge past me and wander in on Her Highness, with or without your fancy magic, I hope you got so wings too so you can outrun me.” He shook his head angrily, and stamped a hoof. It was far too early to be dealing with this particular pony. They stared at one another for a few seconds, before the blue unicorn lowered her head and her horn. “I’m sorry, but I very much need to speak to the Princess. Either Princess.” “You and everypony else. Scram.” He cantered forward, but the unicorn fell back before him. He felt a moment of regret- he was taking his hangover out on civilians now. Maybe he should have taken that holiday. “Listen… ummm…” “Trixie. My name is Trixie.” Her voice became petulant under her white mane. “Right, Trix, listen. Tell me what you want to pass on, and I’ll make sure that it goes to the right person.” Bayonet said in what he thought was a kind voice. “Will you now? Can you get across the severity of the situation?” Trixie raised her head, her eyes flashing angrily. “Can you tell them exactly what I saw? Because I can’t, so I seriously doubt you can.” “And what is it you did see?” Bayonet patiently asked. “I saw something. It was big, and dark, and black, and it scared the magic out of me. And this… thing… It will… Look, get out of my way, I don’t have time to explain it to you.” Trixie tried to run past him, shoving him to the side. “Hey, colts, a little help here? We’ve got a galloper.” He chased after her, with one of the Royal Guards swooping down from above. There were always a few crazy ones... +++ 5 years, 11 months, 3 weeks, 1 day later +++ Twilight's Library, Ponyville: “Hey, Twilight?” Spike shouted up the stairs. She was probably at her books again. He turned to their guest. “Wait here for a second, will’ya?” Without waiting for an answer, he ran up the stairs. Twilight was sitting on her bed, turning the pages of a book with her hoof and blissfully unaware of anything. There was a small piles of book piling up that Spike would have to clear up later. He walked over. “Twilight?” She remained in her own world. He got closer. “Twilight?” Nothing. He got onto the bed slowly, as to not jog her. Still hadn’t noticed. And then jumped on her back. “Twilight!” He shouted. He then found himself being picked up by magic and thrown off. “Spike!” She shouted. “How many times have I told you to not jump on my back when I’m trying to read!?” Spike righted himself, and brushed himself off. “But you’ve got a visitor, Twi.” “Oh!” Her eyes grew big with excitement. “Is it Rarity? Or Applejack? Or did Rainbow Dash hear I got the latest Darring Do book finally?” She said with a smile. That smile quickly disappeared when she reached the bottom of the stairs. “Not quite, my dear, for it is I, the Great and Almighty Trixie.” Their guest stepped in, announcing her presence. Twilight rolled her eyes. “What do you want?” She smiled through gritted teeth. “I came to warn you of a danger, Twilight. I feel someone of your level may be able to help even I.” She said grandiosely. “Did you now? How lucky. What is it?” Twilight looked at Spike, who raised an eyebrow back and made a face. “Something dangerous indeed. Something that threatens the entire realm.” Trixie said, her voice going for melodrama. “I’m sure it is. But if you don’t mind, I need to quickly pop out.” Twilight awkwardly tried to sidestep Trixie. “Twilight…” Trixie sticks her hoof out in front of Twilight, and gulps. “Please, this is serious. There’s something you need to know…”