//------------------------------// // Prologue // Story: From Beyond the Vast Horizon // by Stygian Tiger //------------------------------// "I wonder how long it has been... How far I have come..." It was a beautiful day in the peaceful town that is Ponyville. The sun was shining, the birds were chirping and everything was right with the world. "Spiiikkkkeee!" Twilight Sparkle shouted from her perch on the windowsill of Ponyville library, looking up with a concerned eye. "Is something burning down there?" When she didn't get a response, she decided to get up and go see what was happening. As she rounded the corner into the kitchen, She saw spike with a fire extinguisher pointed towards the oven and white foam all over. "You..." She stuttered. "You set the oven on fire?" She asked, not looking impressed. All Spike could do is give a hopeless smile and hope she forgave him. Luckily for him, she was in a good mood because of some news she had received this morning. "You know, I should take the expense of a new cooker out of your monthly gem allowance," She deadpanned. "But you're lucky. If Shining Armour wasn't supposed to be coming over today, i'd probably be in a bad mood about this. I was wanting a new one anyway..." "Can't you just fix it with magic? " He tried "Yeah, but this one was getting old so we might as well..." She mumbled, thinking. "Anyway, you need to help me clean up, He's going to be here in a few hours and I want everything to be perfect and clean and neat!" She bounced back, teleporting the blackened appliance to god knows where. That was the exact moment Rainbow Dash and Applejack decided to crash through both the door and the window in quick succession, leaving the door in splinters and the window in shards. "Hah! Suck it Applejack! I told you I could outpace you to the library!" The cyan speed demon shouted in victory between breaths. Applejack just harrumphed and said "Yeah well maybe- if you didn't cheat and use your wings, it would have been a bit more fair!" "No rules say I can't!" Rainbow countered. "Ah just figured that would be common sense!" Applejack quickly fired back, putting emphasis on the third word. "STOP!" Twilight screamed, climbing out of a pile of fallen books, her mane all messed up and her eyes wide. Both of the arguing ponies dropped their back and forth to look at the seething Twilight. "Oh hi Twi... Fancy seeing you here..." Rainbow managed. "What are you two doing?" Twilight questioned. "Well," AJ started "Rainbow here figured she could beat me in a hoof race from the edge of the White Tail to the library... She clearly doesn't understand what the word 'hoof' means." She complained, scowling at her rival. Rainbow just leered at her. "That doesn't explain why my window and door are in so many pieces and why I was buried under hundreds of books!" They both just looked apologetic and began to put the books back onto the shelves, trying to avoid making eye contact. It worked for the most part. Just then, a white unicorn stallion with two-tone blue hair trotted through the remains of the door. "What in Celestia's name happened here?" He asked with the most confused look on his face Twilight gasped when she saw him, pulling him into a death vice grip of a hug. "I thought you weren't due here for another few hours!" "I was able to get a chariot, express delivery!" He joked. With that, his horn glowed and the door and window were as good as new and all of the books were in their appropriate positions. Spike just gasped for air. Twilight let go and face hoofed. "Why didn't I think of that?" She asked no one in particular. "Because you're silly" Shining said, booping his sister. "I'm sorry you had to see my house like that... A storm came through." Rainbow and AJ just looked away awkwardly. "Not to intrude or anything, but why have you come to Ponyville to see Twi? Doesn't she usually go over to Canterlot to see you, considering your job?" Rainbow asked. "Well that is surprisingly astute of you, Rainbow Dash." Shining replied "Well you are right, this isn't a social call anymore. I have been sent by the princesses to personally escort Twily to the Canterlot Palace." He sighed "What could possibly that important?" AJ questioned. "Is it Discord again? Are we going to have to use the elements again?" "I'm sorry Applejack, but I have been ordered to escort Twilight and Twilight alone. The words of the princess." She scowled but let go when she realised she couldn't dispute the princess. "Must be something pretty big... Just be careful, Twi" AJ said, turning to face the purple unicorn. Twilight just nodded at that. "Will do." She turned to her brother and asked "So when do we leave?" "As soon as possible... Even sooner than that would be good but unfortunately that is impossible." He mumbled the last sentence, teleporting them to the chariot that was parked just outside and taking them off to the palace. A FEW HOURS LATER CANTERLOT PALACE - THRONE ROOM The room was gargantuan, the ceiling was so high that you had to crane your neck to see it. The floor, polished marble, coloured by light flooding through several stained glass windows. Rivers of greens, pinks, yellows and blues cascaded through the room, giving it a sort of a dazzling aspect. Towering marble pillars stood between the window, giving way to arches painted in a way that depicts the stars of the night sky. Banners of deep blues and shining golds hung from the walls behind the single throne. A simple red carpet lead up to the imposing throne. Sat atop this throne was the most beautiful alabaster mare you could ever lay your eyes on, Princess Celestia. A goddess in the flesh. She radiated power, strength and motherly love, an aspect that comes with ruling for thousands of years. A small smile was mounted on her face. "Ah, Twilight Sparkle, Shining Armour, I hope your journey was pleasant enough?" Princess Celestia asked. "Unnatural amounts of Destabilised Psi Particles detected. Adjusting course."