//------------------------------// // Chapter Eleven - "Is It Possible To Live With A Curse?" // Story: Twilight's First Foals -- Episode II - The Foal of The Origin // by One Universe One story //------------------------------// “Twilight, we've tried explaining as best we can ,” Lunair said as she and Solair followed Twilight through the halls of her castle. “I know, but I still can't wrap my head around it,” Twilight replied before opening the door to the library. “Spike!” she called looking for her dragon assistant. “Spike! Where are you, Spike!” “I'm right here, sheesh,” he said as he began descending a ladder on the opposite end of the library. “Oh, good, write this down,” Twilight said before he pulled out a scroll and feather pen. “Dear: Princess Celestia, The Twins’ first day back at school didn’t go as planned. To make the long story short, the Djinns proposed a challenge for them to live in their true forms for a complete year. It is imperative-” "Impara- Impera-” “Important?” “Important.” “Important that you come see us as soon as possible. Accommodations-” “Acoma- Accomma-” “Arrangements?” “Arrangements.” “Arrangements will be made if you need to stay. As always, Twilight Sparkle, Princess of Friendship.” “Got it,” Spike said before he sent the scroll by burning it. “What makes you think Princess Celestia will want to come to see the Twins?” Spike asked before he belched out a scroll. Lunair then picked up the scroll and began reading. “Dear: Princess Twilight Sparkle, I will be there first thing tomorrow morning. Until then, do not let them outside the castle. It is of great importance to do this as seeing them may cause ponies to panic. Although, causing them to return to school could prove good, I don't want any unnecessary complaints from ponies in Ponyville. As always, Princess Celestia.” “Sounds like we're restricted to the castle again,” Solair said as he lowered his head. “It's not as bad as you think,” Twilight commented as she looked at Solair. “Twilight, the Djinns challenged us to live with a curse for a year,” Lunair started. “A curse that, need I remind you, returned us to our true forms. Not only that, but if we fail to complete this challenge the two remaining Djinns have all rights to remodel the world into one of whatever they choose,” she finished before a tear came to both her eye and Solair’s. Twilight then walked over to the twins and sat between them putting a wing around each one. “You two are the strongest willed ponies I know,” she started. “If there's anypony that can live with a curse for a year and not have it affect your lives much, it's you two,” she finished before she nuzzled each of them starting with Lunair. “Thank you, Twilight,” Solair started. “It's good to know we at least have you who believes our will is strong.” “Twilight, may I go to our room?” Lunair asked as another tear came to her eye. “Certainly, why?” Twilight responded as she looked at the Grey draconic filly. “I would just like to think something over,” she replied as she looked down at the floor causing a tear to run down her muzzle and fall. “Is it about Pip?” Twilight asked before Lunair just nod her head once. “I believe you that he said he loves you, and you should be thankful that he does,” she continued. “It's not often a filly will find a colt that she loves as much as he loves her,” she finished before nuzzling Lunair. “I know, it's just…” “You're not sure that he truly cares as much as he says?” Twilight asked gaining a another nod. “Maybe I can arrange something with Pip’s parents so that he could come over and prove his love for you,” she finished before Lunair looked up at her. “Please don't, I would like to find out by myself,” she replied. “Alright, but if you want help, come to me,” Twilight said before she stood up and walked out of the library. “If either of you get hungry anytime soon, I'll be happy to fix you something,” Spike said before exiting as well. “I'm going to our room,” Lunair started as she looked at her brother. “If you need me, I'll be there,” she finished before she stood up and left the library. ========= “Present, her vitals are stabilizing,” a male's voice resounded in the darkness Lunair saw. “Good, Future, she should be ready for fusion with the other,” said a voice with identical pitch, tone, and depth. “Shouldn't we be concerned for her?” said a third identical voice. “She is, after all, a living creature.” “She is only alive as long as we keep her so, Past,” Future said. “Future, we both know that killing is not our nature,” Past said rather sympathetically. “And you know I would do anything for my sister not to have to live in that wretched sewer system in Trottingham,” Future replied angrily. “Stop arguing! Look, we're getting off topic,” Present said. “Future, we all know what you want and we know what we want. Past, since you feel strongly against fusing her with the other, you may be the one to test her sensitivity to pain.” “Fine by me,” Past said rather perturbed. “Future will be the one to deal the damage to her,”Present concluded. “Hehehe, time to burn,” Future said before Lunair began to scream in intense pain. As she screamed, her breath became so cold it began to form ice shards that looked as though she could breathe Red-Ice, a fire so cold that it is made of red coloured ice. ========= Lunair awoke in her bed screaming. She stopped screaming when she realized it was only a painfully real nightmare. It was a nightmare she only ever had when she and Solair were Contact and in their true form. It took a few moments for her to realize her bedroom was completely covered with Red-Ice. “Bother, I need your flame,” she thought to herself. A few minutes later, a blue flame began peeking out from under the door. Soon, the entire door was surrounded in blue flames. After the flames stopped showing through the cracks around the door, Solair burst the door down and looked at his sister. “Your ice is needed in the library,” he said before they headed to the library. When they arrive the entire library was engulfed in blue flames, however, the flames were not actually burning anything. Lunair then inhaled deeply and blew red ice on the flames causing the flame to stop and the ice to melt. “You felt the pain of my nightmare as well?” Lunair asked as she looked at Solair. “Yes,” he replied as he lowered his head. “What's going on here?!!” Twilight said as she entered from the other side of the library. “First I smell smoke, then I find your bedroom covered in red ice while I looked for the fire, and now I can't find any fire!!!” she concluded while looking at the ceiling. “I had… an unpleasant nightmare,” Lunair said as she lowered her head. “And what does that have to do with red ice and fire?” “I breathe Blue-Fire,” Solair said as he looked at Twilight. “And I breathe Red-Ice,” Lunair said as she looked at Twilight as well. “That might explain it then,” Twilight said as she looked at the twins. “Do you have any other abilities that I need to be made aware of?” she asked. “If we eat semi-precious stones, we can use what another dimension calls ‘Bearer’ magic,” Solair said. “What is ‘Bearer’ magic?” Twilight asked as she looked at the twins confused. “A very primitive form of our dimension’s magic,” Lunair started. “It's limited in reach, duration, strength, and variation,” Solair continued. “It's used primarily to move things around, make you faster, help you climb higher, and it can also be used as a power source for certain machines if it is crystallized,” Lunair concluded. “How do you crystallize it?” Twilight asked as she looked intently at the Twins. “I don't believe you can crystallize it in this dimension,” Solair started. “In the dimension we referenced, it comes as crystals to power the machines or one is born with a crystal shard embedded below their right eye,” Lunair concluded “Well, you’ll have to show me that power sometime, but right now you two need to get rid of that ice in your room,” she said before turning around to walk away. “Twilight,” Solair started causing Twilight to pause and face them. “Do you honestly think it's possible to live with a curse?” he finished. Twilight then began to ponder what Solair meant by his question. “I believe it is possible to live with a curse if you are of sound mind and strong will,” she replied before she left the library. “Sister, I don't think our will is as strong as she says,” Solair said as he faced Lunair. “Nor do I, brother,” she replied.