Revelations
Thus Rimeglitter said to the ponies, “The Light entrusts to you this crystal heart as a symbol of Her love, so that all who see it shall know that the Light protects and loves her ponies.
The ponies did rejoice, and began to build a temple around the crystal heart. For forty years they laid stone on stone, until at last the temple was complete, and all would come and enter the temple and see the crystal heart, and know that the light was with them.
Rimeglitter 32:4-8
To the Most Holy Celestia, Scion of the Sun, Guardian of Equestria,
During my studies, it has revealed itself that ‘The Mare in the Moon’ may, in fact, be Nightmare Moon, a villain most foul, the return of whom has been foretold for this very week.
While I know that in Your infinite knowledge and wisdom You must already be aware of such events, and have taken steps to protect the faithful, I, lowly though I may be, wished to voice my concerns to You.
Your obedient servant,
Twilight Sparkle
Twilight sat back and wiped the sweat from her forehead. Everything had to be as perfect as she could make it. The hoofwriting, the spelling, the grammar, everything had to be impeccable, since the words could be seen not only by Celestia herself, but all her ministers, advisors, and anypony in the throne room. It would be Judged.
That Twilight could write a letter that might be seen by the Scion of the Sun was the source of great confusion. Confusion, and quite a bit of fear. Twilight was a nobody. She was not part of the Hierarchy, she didn’t come from a wealthy or noble family, she was just some filly that Celestia had picked one day to be her acolyte.
This made many of the established classes suspicious and angry. As such, Twilight’s position was dangerously precarious. Should she lose Celestia’s favor, her only course of action would be to flee for her life.
Hopefully, Celestia be praised, that would never happen.
“What do you think, Spike?” she asked. “Do you think it’s good enough?”
The purple dragon rolled his eyes, but leaned over dutifully to read the letter.
“I’m sure it’s fine, Twilight,” he said. “I don’t think Her Radiance is as worried about grammar as you think.”
Twilight frowned.
Anything she wrote would be judged. There was no avoiding it.
She sighed.
“I guess it’s good enough. I can’t see anything wrong with it, anyway. Go ahead and send it.”
Spike rolled up the scroll and bound it with a ribbon before seemingly incinerating it in green flame. In reality, it had been sent to Celestia herself. That Spike was considered Twilight’s assistant, and that he had such ability, was another mark of Her favor.
Twilight began to pace.
“How long till she answers?” she asked.
“I still think you’re worrying over nothing,” Spike said. “But you know she never takes long to-”
His words were interrupted by a jet of green flame, from which a new scroll emerged.
Twilight snatched it from the air and unrolled it eagerly.
So sayeth the Scion of the Sun, Defender of Equestria, The Most Holy, Her Majesty Queen Celestia,
To My most honored acolyte and disciple, Twilight Sparkle,
It is remarkable that thy studies should revealest such dark omens. Should such things lie in the future, thou speakest rightly that precautions would need to be taken. However, let not such concerns plague thee.
Instead, We decree that thou shouldst travel to Ponyville to ensure the preparations for Our Summer Sun celebration are complete. This task is well suited to thee, and We are confident in Our acolyte to accomplish such things efficiently and completely.
So sayeth Her Majesty Queen Celestia, Scion of the Sun and Defender of Equestria, as transcribed by her obedient servant Ink Blot.
Twilight stared at the scroll, her hopes crumbling.
“Look at the bright side,” Spike said gently. “Most ponies wouldn’t even get a response.”
“But…” Twilight cried, “but this could be important! Nightmare Moon could be returning! I… I can’t just let this drop.”
Any further protest was interrupted by a knock at the door.
“Come in!” Twilight barked.
The door opened to reveal one of the palace guards, who entered silently and closed the door behind him.
“Pardon me, Miss Sparkle,” the guard said. No title, just ‘Miss Sparkle’. That was as much respect as she got being Queen Celestia’s one and only acolyte and student. That, and a sash with the Sun emblazoned on it. That was all.
“Her Majesty sent me to escort you to the chariot for your departure to Ponyville.”
“Well that was quick,” Twilight sighed. “Just let me grab a few books…”
“Her Majesty Queen Celestia, Scion of the Sun, Guardian of Equestria, wishes it known that you will be staying at the Golden Oaks Library in Ponyville. As such, you will need to bring no books, as the resources there will be at your disposal.”
“Yes, but what if I need…”
“Her Majesty Queen Celestia,” he interrupted, “Scion of the Sun, Guardian of Equestria, wishes it known that you will be staying at the Golden Oaks Library in Ponyville. As such, you will need to bring no books, as the resources there will be at your disposal,” the guard repeated.
Twilight rolled her eyes.
“Anything else I need to know?”
“If she goes for books,” the guard muttered under his breath, “tell her she’s staying at a library. If she tries to pack… Oh. Uh, Her Majesty Queen Celestia, Scion of the Sun, Guardian of Equestria, wishes it known that all necessities will be provided for in Ponyville. It is not necessary to pack.”
“Lovely,” Twilight groaned. “Let’s get this over with.”
Her walk to the door was interrupted by another knock.
“What in Sol’s name,” she groused, opening the door. “Yes?”
Twilight opened the door to reveal a herd of Queen Celestia’s ministers and advisors.
“Ah, good,” one of the ministers said, looking down her nose at Twilight. “You haven’t left yet. We need to make sure you fully understand Her Majesty’s requirements before you go.”
Twilight put on her best fake smile.
“I appreciate your attention to detail, m’lord, but I am familiar with Her Radiance’s preferences.”
“Indeed,” the minister said with a sneer. “While I don’t doubt your… intimate knowledge of Her Majesty's tastes, it is the specifics of the celebration we wish to clarify. The setting should accurately reflect the theme. Every detail must be perfect, and we will not leave anything to chance.”
“Wonderful,” she muttered under her breath.
-
“...and colors,” the adviser continued as they neared the chariot. “You, of course, know that gold is Her Majesty’s official color, so don't let yourself be persuaded into settling for less. Yellow is not an acceptable substitute, nor is that abhorrent orange color ponies try to claim is gold. It should glow with an inner light… or at least be metallic. Ideally it should look somewhere between a yellow-orange, and and orange-yellow in hue If the bumpkins you are dealing with are unable to arrange such a thing, white should be used on a sky blue background. Now, as far as food…”
As she approached, she exchanged a look with the charioteers. One rolled his eyes at the unending droning coming from the advisors. Twilight stifled a chuckle and covered her mouth to hide her smile.
“...and yellow or orange daisies as well as dandelions, as they are fitting representations of the Sun. Pastries are encouraged, but only if they are sun-themed and the appropriate color. Croissants are definitely discouraged. As far as fruits or vegetables, obviously appropriate color choice and theme should be taken… into…. account….”
Twilight glanced up curiously as the words died in the minister’s throat. His face had gone ashen, and his eyes bulged wide. A dread-like certainty dawned on Twilight. She turned.
There sat Her Majesty Queen Celestia, Scion of the Sun, and Guardian of Equestria, seated regally on the floor as though she’d been there since the dawn of time.
Twilight bowed to the ground, knowing the ministers would be groveling behind her.
There were many things that one needed to get used to when one was in the presence of Her Radiance. First and foremost was the fact that no one ever ever saw her move. She didn’t walk in casually, greeting people on the way. No, she simply was, as though it were a universal constant. One never saw her face change expression or move. She spoke and smiled. Everypony agreed on that. Everypony knew that. But nopony ever recalled seeing that. It was one of the great mysteries surrounding her that nopony ever spoke of, like how whatever she needed always seemed to be nearby.
“I would speak with you before you departed,” Her Radiance said. She must have. Twilight remember hearing the words. At least, she thought she did. Her eyes were on the ground, so there was no way to know by looking.
“Please,” Her Radiance said to the ministers, “leave us.”
“B-b-b-but, R-r-radiance…”
Queen Celestia smiled at them, or at least gave that impression.
“I will take care of it. I’m sure you have more important things to do.”
The gaggle of ponies gaped at her, but none could muster the courage to argue. One by one, they bowed and fled. Twilight frowned slightly as she noticed Spike slipping from the room with the advisors, leaving her alone.
Satisfied, Queen Celestia turned her attention to Twilight.
Twilight trembled, her legs shaking. Queen Celestia’s presence was almost a physical force bearing down on her. It was difficult to bear for long.
“They mean well,” Queen Celestia assured her. “Nevertheless, you’ve known Me for most of your life. You know what what is pleasing to Me, and what is not. I trust you to use your best judgment, and not be swayed by such silly nonsense.”
“Y-yes Radiance,” Twilight replied, keeping her eyes low.
“Twilight, do you love Me?” Queen Celestia asked.
“With all my heart, Radiance,” Twilight answered without hesitation.
“That’s good to hear. Sometimes I have doubts, since you seem to have forgotten My name.”
“B-but, Majesty! I-”
“Celestia,” Queen Celestia interrupted.
“Buh… what?” Twilight replied dumbly.
“Celestia. Try calling Me ‘Celestia’. Just once.”
Twilight risked a glance up. Queen Celestia’s eyes were filled with mischievous glee. It was a strange, unsettling sight to behold. Regardless, once she met the Queen’s gaze, she was caught. The rest of the room fell away, leaving only the two of them. Twilight felt as though she were floating. She felt strangely naked. Exposed. As though all protections had been stripped away. As though she was being judged. Weighed. Gauged. As though every impure thought, every error, every misdeed, from the idle fantasy she’d had about the fine-looking guard stallion she’d seen last month, to the way she ‘relaxed’ after Spike had gone to sleep last night were open to reading.
All this was exposed, and yet there was acceptance. There was love.
“C-Celestia,” she gasped.
“Good,” Celestia said, radiating amusement. “Make no mistake, My titles are not of My making. They are thrust upon Me. My Will is that all ponies should know and love Me as I love them. Now, I ask again; do you love Me, Twilight?”
“Yes, Rad-” Twilight hesitated. “Yes, C-Celestia. I love you with all my heart.”
“Good,” Queen Celestia replied with the oddest sensation of a smirk. “I love you, too. That love forms a bond between us. It’s like an invisible thread that ties us together. Those bonds, those threads, form between ponies all their lives. They are essential to what makes you ponies. They bind the herd together. Whenever you form a relationship with another pony, a new thread, a new bond is formed. Do you understand?”
“Y-yes, Radiance. Celestia,” she added.
Twilight didn’t understand at all. Threads and bonds were straightforward, but what this had to do with anything was a mystery.
Queen Celestia sat, unmoving and silent, for a moment.
“Good,” she said finally. “Have a safe trip.”
Twilight returned to Equestria. She sagged to the ground, knees giving out and energy spent.
Her audience with Her Radiance was at an end, she realized. All Twilight’s worries and the memories of her research came rushing back to her.
“Radiance!” she called, struggling to her hooves. “Wait! Nigh-”
The words died as she stood, finding herself under Queen Celestia’s gaze.
“I am a married mare,” Queen Celestia told her. “StarLight’s son is my daughter’s sire. What am I to StarLight?”
A riddle. It was nearly impossible to be detached in the Her Radiance’s presence, but this was not the first puzzle She’d given Twilight without warning. With some difficulty, Twilight cleared her mind and began to break down the words, mapping out the information spoken.
“You’re his daughter-in-law,” Twilight told her.
“Excellent. Everything will work out, Twilight,” Queen Celestia said. “You worry too much. You know, you spend far too much time either with Me or with those dusty books. You need to get out and make some friends. Create some new threads. I think this trip will be good for you.”
Twilight sagged to the ground once again, any response dying before it formed.
When Twilight looked up again, She was gone.
“Whew,” one of the charioteers said. “I don’t envy you for being Her student.”
Twilight just about jumped out of her skin. She’d completely forgotten the charioteers were there.
“OHNOohnoohno… you can’t tell anypony about me calling Her Celestia, pleaseIbegyou-”
The charioteer shook his head.
“Settle down, girl,” the charioteer rasped gruffly, though not unkindly. “We won’t say anything. She commanded you to, and we all heard that, didn’t we? You did what you were told, right team?”
The other charioteers nodded.
“Her Radiance,” one of the others added, “She’s very… .”
“Yes,” Twilight agreed. “Very.”
--
“Come on, Twilight, snap out of it,” Spike admonished as they neared the ground.
“You left me alone with Her,” Twilight exclaimed.
“She told everypony to leave,” Spike reminded her.
“She was talking to Her ministers. The charioteers stayed, why couldn’t you?”
“Come on, Twilight. It’s not like She was going to hurt you or anything.”
“I… I know,” Twilight admitted. “But it would have been nice to have the support. She can be… intimidating.”
“Sorry,” Spike said. “So… what now?”
“Now?” Twilight asked, surprised. “I… I don’t know. I… . Maybe If we get our tasks done quickly enough, I can get some research done in the Library, and figure out how to stop Nightmare Moon.”
Twilight stared out over the landscape as the chariot continued to dive.
“The stories talk about a group of magical artifacts call the ‘Elements of Harmony’. Our only hope is to find them.”
“I dunno, Twilight,” Spike said. “It sounds like an awful long shot.”
“What else can we do, Spike?” Twilight asked as the chariot dropped. The ground rose smoothly to meet them.
“We have to do something,” she said. “I’m not going to just stand around celebrating while Equestria goes to hell.”
The chariot jolted as the wheels bumped the ground, but otherwise the team did an exemplary job gently slowing the chariot to a stop.
“Come on, Twilight,” Spike chided, “you don’t even know-”
“No, Spike,” Twilight interrupted as they stepped from the chariot. Twilight gave her brightest smile and most respectful nod to the charioteers.
“I’m right,” Twilight continued. “I know I’m right, and I’m not going to sit around and do nothing. All we have to do is get everything done early so we have time to do some research in the library. The ‘Elements of Harmony’ referred to in some of the stories are the key. If we can find those, we have a chance.”
“That still seems pretty slim.”
“It’s all we have,” Twilight shrugged. “We just need to be ready.”
“Pardon me,” she said to a passing pink pony. “Would you know the way to-”
“GAH!” gasped the mare. “New pony!”
Immediately she turned tail and ran out of sight.
“I really hope that wasn’t Hospitality,” Twilight muttered, “or this is going to be a long day.”
--
The smell of ripe apples told Twilight they were close long before she saw any tree or barn. The smell made Twilight’s stomach rumble, and reminded her that amid all the rush to get to Ponyville, Twilight had neglected to eat.
She entered through the gateway into the Apple family farm.
“Uh, hello?” she called tentatively.
“Well howdy there,” a strong voice called.
An orange mare trotted up cheerfully.
“Welcome to Sweet Apple Acres.”
“Hello,” Twilight said respectfully. “I’m here to check on the preparations for the Summer Sun Celeb-”
“Well that’s just fine,” the mare exclaimed, grabbing Twilight’s hoof in a teeth rattling hoofshake. “We always like to meet new friends. I’m Applejack.”
“N-new friends?” Twilight stuttered. “N-no, I just…”
“Come on and meet the family,” Applejack said cheerfully. She proceeded to drag Twilight along with an iron grip.
“This here's Apple Fritter. Apple Bumpkin. Red Gala. Red Delicious, Golden Delicious, Caramel Apple, Apple Strudel, Apple Tart, Baked Apples, Apple Brioche, Apple Cinnamon Crisp…” she paused to take a breath, “Big MacIntosh, Applebloom and Granny Smith,” she recited as a seemingly unending parade of ponies marched past her.
“Up 'n at ’em, Granny Smith,” Applejack called. “We got guests.”
“Now, ‘dya care to sample what we’re serving for the celebration,” Applejack asked, shoving a tart into Twilight’s hooves.
Twilight looked from the pastry to the expectant faces staring at her. She felt like she’d suddenly forgotten how to eat.
She took a genteel bite of the tart.
It was wonderful, elegant in its deceptive simplicity, both sweet and tart, balanced in every way. It tasted like the distillation of summer married to the comfort of one’s mother’s kitchen. There were no heavy creams, no complex sauces, no exotic ingredients, only ripe, crisp apples softened and muted by the oven, light buttery dough, and a hint of sugar. It was everything that Her Radiance loved. Her ministers were going to hate it.
“It’s perfect,” Twilight gasped.
“That’s great!” Applejack exclaimed. “Then you won’t mind joining us for dinner.”
Suddenly Twilight felt quite trapped.
--
Twilight lurched out through the gate with a groan. Spike licked his claws while he lounged cheerfully on her back.
“That was wonderful,” he gushed.
“Guh,” Twilight grunted. “I feel like I’m going to burst.”
“I know!” Spike replied. “What nice ponies.”
Twilight frowned. The problem was they were nice ponies. There was an openness to them that was completely foreign to Twilight. They chatted and gossiped freely, without much care of who might be listening.
And they’d all treated her like she belonged.
It was so damned alluring.
Twilight wanted to belong. To talk. To be unafraid of judgment, like the colts and fillies running round the field playing.
Instead, she spoke platitudes and nothings until she could conveniently escape.
Twilight took a steadying breath.
“What’s next on the list, Spike?” she asked.
Focus on the task at hoof, then focus on the bigger problem. Everything else was tertiary.
“Weather next,” Spike replied. “The skies need to be clear for the ceremony. We’re supposed to make sure the weather team has covered it.”
Twilight looked at the sky critically.
“It doesn’t look like they’ve been doing a good job of it,” she said, frowning at the clouds.”
“Our contact is named Rainbow Dash,” Spike told her. “She should be around here some-”
“INCOMING!”
The cry drowned out whatever words were next to come. Before either of them had time to react, a blue body shot into the middle of them, sending them all sprawling. Twilight tumbled, finally landing in a mud puddle.
“OOOOooooow,” Twilight moaned, staggering to her hooves.
“Heheh, sorry ‘bout that,” a new voice said with a sheepish laugh. “Downdraft caught me.”
“It's… it's no problem,” Twilight said, looking herself over. Mud clung to her coat, and oozed off every bit of her. Everything was covered except for her sash. No matter the circumstances, it never seemed to get dirty.
The prism-maned blue mare gave another sheepish chuckle.
“Lemme help you out,” she said with a smirk.
Without another word, the pegasus shot into the air, returning with a cloud. She punched into the center, and it exploded into a torrent of rain, dousing Twilight. Twilight coughed and sputtered, utterly drenched.
“Whoops,” the pegasus chuckled. “Overdid it. Just a sec.”
Before Twilight could protest, the pegasus hit her with a gust of air that nearly knocked her off her hooves again. She staggered from the blow. As she regained her footing, she looked down at herself. She was mostly dry. Her mane felt disheveled, but she was relatively clean.
“With the way my day has been going,” Twilight muttered, “you would be Rainbow Dash.”
“In the flesh!” Rainbow replied. “Ya heard of me?”
Twilight groaned.
And the Light said unto Starswirl, “The Light warms and watches over the ponies, but there shall come a time when the Dark blots out the Light. When the Dark comes, the herd will scatter as light from a shattered mirror. Only the chosen few will retain courage, but even those few will be tested, and the brightest among them will fall.”
Starswirl 13:8-12
Twilight laid in bed, her stomach clenching and cramping in rebellion of the day’s events.
The day had been absolutely miserable.
The ponies in this town were crazy. That was the only logical conclusion.
First had been the Sweet Apple Acres and the Apple family, where Twilight had been dragged into a family reunion and stuffed with so much food she could barely walk. That… hadn’t… been too bad, actually. The food was wonderful, and the ponies friendly.
But then had been Rainbow Dash, who’d run into Twilight while practicing for some hypothetical future Wonderbolts tryout, instead of clearing the skies… which hadn't really hurt that much. It had been embarrassing, being thrown in the mud, but Rainbow had immediately checked to make sure she was okay, and even if she was a bit… unrefined, she wasn’t uncaring.
Twilight bit off a sigh as her stomach roiled and burbled.
And so it continued with the mad-ponies. Rarity, who took time from her stunning, if creatively non-traditional, decorations to see that Twilight was seen to. Fluttershy, who conducted a chorus of birds. Birds!
The last event Her Radiance had attended had had a full sixty-piece orchestra in attendance, who played an original work that had taken the composer, a hot up-and-comer, a full year and three nervous breakdowns to write.
And the Summer Sun Celebration, the single most important celebration of the year, was going to have music by BIRDS!
And it was beautiful.
Then, when she’d finally escaped to the library, she been greeted with an impromptu party in her honor, which, while flattering, did nothing to facilitate her research. Neither did that bottle of hot sauce placed on the drink table. The same bottle which Twilight had half-downed before the realization made it through her taste buds and into her brain.
Twilight wondered if she was the one going mad. Perhaps this was some fever dream she’d fallen into, and the whole thing, from her research on Nightmare Moon to now, was simply some delirious hallucination.
She also wondered if she was going to run to the bathroom for the fifth time.
“Twilight,” Spike hissed from the stairwell, “it will be sunrise soon.”
Twilight could hear the festivities below her moving out into the street.
Regretfully, she hauled herself from the bed, her stomach protesting the sudden movements.
Maybe she’d been wrong, she thought as she slowly made her way down the stairs, one careful step at a time. Maybe it really was all going to be alright.
She trailed the ponies out the door. There was already a crowd pushing in on the simple white platform which would soon support Her Radiance. Though the rest of the town was decked in finery, the platform held none. All decorations paled in comparison to Her Radiance. She was all the decoration anypony would need. Afterall, what finery had the Sun need of? It gave light and life to all. Its luminous form was the very definition of awesome.
“Ladies and Gentleponies,” the Mayor intoned into the microphone. “On behalf of the town of Ponyville, I welcome you all to the Summer Sun celebration. We are honored that our small town was chosen to host this year’s celebration. Now, without further ado, I am honored to introduce Her Radiance, the Scion of the Sun, the Guardian of Equestria, the Most Holy Queen Celestia!”
The throng of ponies went wild with cheers. The roar of the herd filled the tiny town, overflowing, and spilling out in every direction. The expectant crowd cried until their throats were raw, and their energy spent.
Yet there was no Queen Celestia.
FOALS
The new voice cut through the crowd like a scythe, yet there was no sound. Instead, it was a snake with scales of glass, which slithered through their souls. In its wake it left unsettling, numbing cold, and ragged cuts.
FOALS
The platform became occupied, though not by Queen Celestia. Instead, it was a dark figure, looking like a negative image of Her Radiance, standing in stark contrast to the pristine white platform. Her mane did not flow or flutter in the breeze. Instead, it seemed to infect the air around her, reaching out as though searching for a victim. Her mad, red eyes swept over the crowd.
Twilight shuddered. That… thing… was pony-shaped, but it was not a pony. It was wrong. Alien. Other.
YOU WAIT FOR A SUN WHICH WILL NEVER EMERGE
WHY DO YOU WAVER
WHY ARE YOU STILL STANDING
DO YOU NOT KNOW US
KNEEL
Ponies nearest the platform fell to their knees. A wave of despair washed over the herd. The brave in the back managed to run.
Twilight watched in horror. Her knees were locked, and she couldn’t move. The sharp, acrid scent of ammonia told her that we wasn’t alone in that she had a rapidly cooling trail down her leg.
Some ponies were sobbing. Most were shivering. None knew what to do.
PITIFUL FOALS
LOST WITHOUT YOUR MOTHER
FEAR NOT
WE WILL KEEP YOU
FOREVER
IN OUR ENDLESS NIGHT
THOUGH YOU DO NOT KNOW WHO WE ARE
“I know who you are.”
It took Twilight a moment to realize the voice was her own, just as it took time to realize she was walking forward.
Her legs seemed to be moving of their own accord, especially when her every instinct was to run in the other direction.
“I know you,” she said. “You are the Mare in the Moon. You are Nightmare Moon.”
The mad red eyes found and rested on her. They sparkled with malevolent glee.
Is some ways it was like being in Her Radiance’s presence. There was the pressure. The intensity. The nakedness.
Yet it was all wrong.
Where being in the presence of Queen Celestia brought the feel of acceptance, here it brought revulsion. Nightmare Moon’s presence stripped her bare with cold, savage calculation. It delighted in every foul discovery, every failure, every fault Twilight had.
Twilight looked at herself and was disgusted. She was worthless. A blight.
Her legs shook so badly she wasn’t sure how she was still standing.
AT LEAST YOU HAVEN’T ALL FORGOTTEN
The nightmarish creature grinned.
AND YOU WEAR CELESTIA’S MARK
WHAT DELICIOUS IRONY
WE SHALL MAKE YOU THE PROPHET OF OUR RETURN
UNTIL THEN
REVEL IN OUR DARKNESS
The mad Queen vanished, but in her place was… something.
It was as if darkness was distilled into something tangible. It swelled, billowing out like a drop of ink in a glass of water.
Some few remaining ponies, still clinging to their senses, screamed as the inky blackness spread throughout the town, leaching light wherever it spread.
Twilight stood stock-still, her legs deciding not to respond. She needed to get to the library. She needed look figure out what to do. She needed to come up with a plan.
Instead, she decided she was going to pee again.