Authors Note: sorry about the late update. A massive storm knocked out power to most of the city. I’m on a generator right now so unfortunately I won't be updating again for a bit. They estimate the repairs will be done saturday.
August 7,
Pinkie brought Jynx her order of pickle cupcakes and Twilight her blueberry muffins.
“Thanks, Pinkie.” Jynx said as Twilight took the odd order.
Twilight had barely left Jynx's side in the past four months. She hadn't even seen her own room in that time. She only stopped by the library to clean up. Patrons who needed a book just left a note with their name and the name of book. Twilight would file them and take the returns.
Many would find this strange for the bookworm, but Jynx had a little library of her own full of unique types of magic. Twilight was more than happy to study the magic that powers Jynx's flying machine, and the thing with the crystal.
Twilight wanted to ask about the spell she used to hold Shiro, but knew better. Jynx already hated her part in dooming Shiro to an eternity in stone. She found a few books with information on crystal spells but they didn't have very much on the subject.
After they ate they went to the train station to catch the train to Canterlot. The two of the had done this every week for three months, now. It was still painful for Jynx to see Shiro in the gardens, but it also helped to talk to him.
The mares boarded the train and found their seats. Twilight had to help Jynx into hers.
“I'm not going to be able to keep working on my projects if this keeps up.” Jynx said finally getting situated.
Twilight shook her head with a sigh, “You shouldn't be working on them now. I made a promise to take care of you, but I can't do that if you lock yourself away in your shop. At least let me in there so I can help you.”
Jynx laughed, “And give away my secrets. No way”
Twilight facehoofed, “I swear you and Rainbow Dash are just alike. Always trying to make everything a competition.”
“Except I got the PhD, and she has rainclouds.” she said with a smug grin, “What do you have again?” she gave her friend a playful smile.
Twilight returned with a grin of her own, “A crown.” she said matter-of-factly. They both shared a good laugh.
The car was empty so she had no problem with her station coming up. In fact she kind of missed Shiro's nick name for her now that he was gone.
“Do you think I should just tell everypony?” she asked, “You know, about who I really am.”
“I highly doubt anypony is going to treat you any differently.” was Jynx's answer, “As always it's your choice. Personally I think you should just do it now. Your wings will be visible in like a year or two anyway. How will you hide it then?”
“I could just say it was a spell that went wrong.” Twilight said.
“Oh please, you botch a spell. That's never happened.” Jynx said being sarcastic.
“Well, Well I thought I heard a familiar voice.” said a pony from the door.
Twilight looked with a scowl, “Trixie, what do you want. I’m not giving you another rematch.”
Trixie answered, “Oh, please. I’m past that little phase. I’m actually on my way to Canterlot to start a new tour. Before you say anything, it's not like my last attempt. I’m not going to be trying to show anypony up. I’m just going to dazzle them with fireworks and tell some stories with my illusions.”
Twilight was surprised by this, “If you're serious I might just want to see it.”
“Well, I'm flattered. It's not every day a princess offers to see my show.”Trixie said giving Twilight a knowing grin.
“Yeah well... wait, did you say 'princess?” Twilight asked.
Trixie laughed and nodded, “I'm not surprised you don't remember me. I was one of, what, a hundred servants you had at the palace.”
“You were a palace servant?” asked Jynx.
Trixie nodded again, “in fact Twilight is the one I have to thank for being able to put on my show.” she turned to Twilight, “You gave me a book on advanced illusion magic.”
Twilight gasped, “I knew I recognized you from somewhere! We stayed up all night one night talking about the practical applications of illusion spells.”
“I'm glad you remember that. I'll be stopping by Ponyville in a few days. I'm going to make that show free as an apology for the last show I did. I especially want to thank that Shirotora fellow, is he with you?” asked the showpony. Twilight and Jynx went quiet, “What?”
“I suppose we could show you.” Jynx said.
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
Fluttershy looked at the flower in the pot with pride. What was once a dandelion was now in the shape of a pink butterfly.
“Good, Kataya, very good. Your song is strong. You have mastered the manifestation. Now you must study the language.” Fluttershy's Grandmother, Laalia, said.
The great gold dragon brought several books to her waiting granddaughter. There were five in total all bound in leather, a rare sight in pony culture. One had a silver dragon, one a blue, one a green, and one a red. The last one was smaller with a black dragon and a lock.
Fluttershy looked at the last book with fear, “Is that what I think it is?”
“Yes, the Tash Ik Tagal, the Shadow Song.” said Laalia.
Fluttershy gulped, “A-a-are you s-sure I need th-th-th-that?”
“I hope you will not, but it is better to have an unneeded tool than to be without a needed one.” answered the seer.
Fluttershy nodded and put the tomes in her saddlebags. She strapped them on and hugged the dragon.
“I love you grandmother. I’ll visit you soon.” she said.
“Safe journey, Kataya.” Laalia replied, “Corth ord Ena Frath.”
“Corth ord Ena Frath.” Fluttershy returned before flying out of the great cottage toward home.
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
Trixie Jynx and Twilight walked through the royal gardens. By now they knew the way quite well. They didn't take the quickest path. Instead they took the path that would take them past all the great heroes Equestria had known
the first was Gaia, The princesses mother, who sacrificed herself to seal away Chronos, her husband.
There were several others after like Fus Rodah the dragon who, to create peace between his clan and ponies, weaved a spell that allowed dragons to survive by eating the plentiful gems. There was Applesauce Who killed Count Clovenhoof, the last vampire lord. Buttercup Charged the hill at Stalliongrad, hoisting the Equestrian flag, and inspiring the Equestrian forces to fight on, and win the battle.
Then they came to Discord. He disappeared after the massacre. As to not cause a panic Celestia made a replica of Discords statue and placed it on the pedestal.
Finally they came to Equestria's most resent hero, Shirotora. The enraged monster looked ready to kill, and has replaced Discord as everypony's least favorite statue in the gardens.
Jynx, on the other hoof, never saw the evil black beast. When ever she looked at the statue she saw the caring, playful smile of her lover. She saw the antics he use to pull with Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie and the Crusaders. She saw the father of her unborn foal.
“Is this where you're meeting... him...” Trixie grew silent as she recognized the beast in front of her, “That's not who I think it is, is it?”
Trixie and Twilight left Jynx alone, and sat on a bench out of sight.
Twilight told her about the events on hearts and hooves day. She told about discord, Shiro turning black and killing everypony he saw, and Jynx binding him with some kind of crystal magic while the elements turned him to stone.
“We thought it would just banish the evil from him like with Nightmare Moon, but instead... he never even knew he was having a baby.” Twilight finished.
“He's having a baby? I didn't see any others of his spices in town.” Trixie said.
Twilight giggled, “You didn't notice Jynx put on a few pounds? They were a couple. Before you ask I don't know how she's pregnant but she is. Shiro was a chaos mage so most likely it's his magic at work.”
Trixie sat on the bench thinking about this before asking one more question, “So is it a foal or a cub?”
--- --- --- --- --- --- ---
“Hi Shiro,” She reared up to kiss him on the cheek, “I have something to tell you. Twilight used a spell and found out our foal is male. You're going to have a son, isn't that great?
“Dean Higher Learning, put me on maternity leave, can you believe that?! He's such a douche... what the hell does that even mean. You never did tell me.” She had picked up several words and phrases from the ex-human.
She sat there looking at her fiance with a sad smile, “I miss you. We all miss you. Dash barely does anything but work, Mephisto doesn't play with Winona anymore, and Twilight almost never goes to her library. I don't even think she's seen her room sense I found out I’m pregnant.”
Her expression turned somber, “A wyrven's been attacking Ponyville. It's already killed two pegasi and Rainbow barely escaped with her life. One was Gusty a pony that just moved to town like three weeks ago. The other was Gentle Mist, Scootaloo's mom. The poor kid's devastated. Sweetie Bell and Applebloom are trying to help her cheer up, but poor Thunder Struck is in over his head with grief and now raising a filly on his own. I know if you were here you would kick that things flank right out.”
She lowered her voice, “I'm looking for a way to fix you. Just you wait, I’ll have you back to your old self in no time.”
She sat in silence for another hour looking at the one she loved. Twilight rejoined her.
“It's almost time to go.” said the lavender unicorn.
“And I really must be going as well if I want to get my hooves on a mobile stage for my tour.” Trixie said, “If you'd like I could do a tribute to Mr. Tora.”
Jynx nodded her head, “Thank you, I’d like that,” she turned back to Shiro, “I'll see you next week. I love you.”
The trip back was quiet. It always was. The two mares sat in thought and memory.
Less then two hours later they were approaching Jynx's house when Twilight saw a familiar yellow pony flying towards her home.
“FLUTTERSHY HAY, OVER HERE!!!” Twilight called.
Fluttershy turned towards her friend. Twilight smiled, happy to see her friend again... until she noticed she wasn't slowing. Fluttershy tackled Twilight sending them both tumbling.
“I missed you so much!” the timid pegasus flutteryelled.
“I missed you, too, Fluttershy.” Twilight said, “How was your visit? How's Laalia?”
“She's fine. I learned so much from her. Hi Jynx how's the baby doing?” Fluttershy asked.
“It's a colt and he's fine. He's always hungry though.” Jynx answered.
“So you said in your letter that you were learning something from your grandmother?” Twilight asked.
“I’ll show you.” Fluttershy said. She removed her bags and pulled out the green dragon book, “Ahem.”
She cleared her throat and began a beautiful rumbling melody. Twilight and Jynx stared wondering what was going on. Their confusion turned into shock as a mound rose out of the ground and slowly formed into a bowl shape, almost like a mini volcano. Vines and flowers grew around it as the bowl filled with water.
Jynx and Twilight stared in awe.
“That's the Derat Tagal...” Jynx said, “I've read about it. I’ve even seen the Lostar Stones that were made by Jimka, the creater of the song, but I’ve never seen it done before.” ancient magic being her specialty, neither of her friends were surprised that she knew about it.
“I have to get a record of this!” Twilight said, “I'll be right back. I need to get something from my room at the library... if I can even remember where it is.”
She ran at a full sprint. When she arrived she was gasping for air. She slowly walked up the stairs into her room. It was exactly as she left it... except for the strange glowing coming from the three black pearls on her desk.
“Three? Where did the third come from?” she asked herself.
She saw the package she had gotten from Derpy before everything went bad.
She approached the three glowing objects cautiously. Just as she neared the shot off the desk and enveloped her in a ball of black energy. When it faded she was gone.
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
Twilight regained her senses and opened her eyes. Instead of the bright light of the library, she was greeted by the faint glow from crystals. She took a moment to look around. It was familiar, she knew she had been here before.
It didn't take her long to recognize this as the cave beneath Canterlot. She tried to figure out how she got here, but was interrupted by voice.
“There you are, Twilight. You're late.”
From the shadows a pony stepped out, a unicorn stallion that Twilight recognized immediately. He was a pony she had, at one time, had feelings for, a pony she hadn't seen since he had his skull crushed on Hearths Warming night.
“Candle Light?”