//------------------------------// // 2 - Let Sleeping Nightmares Lie // Story: The Ninth Enchantment of Mage Meadowbrook // by Thornwing //------------------------------// “I’ll be fine,” Twilight said. The awkward pose she held, tail end half propped up on her hindquarters with horn and mane dangling over the edge of the pillow-rest of the Rarity designed, velvet padded bench in the Friendship Express royal passenger compartment, said otherwise. Starlight stared back with a disapproving glare. “You passed out and spent the entire afternoon in the hospital. I don’t think you realize how not fine you are. You should get some rest.” The afternoon had flown by, for some. Starlight and Starswirl rushed Twilight to the hospital where Doctor Horse took no time at all in giving his standard prognosis of princess-induced stress that always plagued his favorite patient. Twilight roused, the trio spent the next few hours debating if she could be forced to stay the night and sleep it off, or if she would just up and leave by invoking royal prerogative on account of important friendship duties she had to attend to — the usual. Having arrived at another stalemate, the magical trio found themselves boarding a train for Canterlot, much to the chagrin of Twilight who wanted to just have everypony teleport there instead. Starlight forced her hoof using common sense and logic, the worst kind of way to win an argument with Twilight, by pointing out the fact that all three of them weren’t in the best of shape to be using that kind of long distance travel magic when they weren’t all feeling their best - that, and they could all use the chance to rest that a long train ride would provide. A nice, quiet train ride. Not only had the events of that morning worn them down, the recent battle with the Pony of Shadows hadn’t done them any favors. Twilight and her friends, along with the ancient Pillars of Equestria, had given their all to overcome the darkness and save the pony trapped within, Stigian. Even for an alicorn princess, the amount of magic brought to bear in that fight gave Twilight plenty of reasons to take it easy for the next few days, if not weeks in magical recovery. Starlight, and even the great Starswirl the Bearded, could say as much given their part in the shadow play. For even the most powerful unicorns, magic had its limits and needed time to regenerate, or there stood a very real chance of losing it altogether. The ancient stories of ponies expending their magical energy stores in managing the rising and setting of the sun and moon gave one pause to think before exerting magic beyond its natural limits. Fortuitous though it was, Celestia and Luna’s gift for controlling celestial bodies saved many a unicorn from what some would consider a fate worse than death, but with untold numbers having succumb prior to their ascension. Starswirl gazed intently out the window as he bounced along in his seat with the rhythmic clacking of the wheels of the train car rolling down the track toward Canterlot. “I can’t wait to get back to the castle and see what’s become of my research and notes. Back in my time, it would have taken the better part of two days travel from your village to Canterlot. That is, if you didn’t just teleport, or fly, for those so inclined.” The non sequitur barely grazed Twilight’s comprehension as she lay in a relative daze. “Yeah - we’ll get settled in tonight, and get a good sleep so we can start fresh in the morning,” Starlight quipped, then held up a hoof to mask her mouth from Twilight, “at least that’s what you promised we’d do in order to get Twilight released from the hospital and make sure she doesn’t over-stress the mission, right?” Starswirl waved a hoof nonchalantly and continued to gaze out the window. “Oh, of course. Tomorrow.” Twilight looked like she was about to say something in return, but opened her mouth to a giant yawn instead. The urge to argue the point of teleporting nearly escaped her mouth, but she held it in owing to how tired she felt. However, she stretched out a leg and wiggled her backside into a more comfortable depth of the crack between the seat cushion and the seat back before replying. “We’ve been tasked with a friendship mission, and as the Princess of Friendship, it is my duty to make sure that I do everything in my power to help resolve the friendship problem that the map sent us to handle. It can’t wait. I can’t take a vacation, or even a nap, knowing that somepony out there needs our help.” Her foreleg flopped back down to her side. Starlight just shook her head. “Twilight, I don’t know if this is the best idea for all of us to dive into this friendship mission right away. You and Starswirl both seem to have some lingering issues from the battle with the Pony of Shadows, and the map wasn’t exactly clear on where this journey might take us.” Starlight had her own misgivings about heading into trouble, not the least of which was her own state of being. Not that anypony else needed to know, but looking at her companions, she felt like she might be the most able-bodied pony among them, and that thought alone made her anxious like she’d never been before. “I said I’ll be fine.” Twilight rubbed her left eye and blinked hard to try and keep it open all the way. Her feelings at the moment teetered on the verge of an emotional hurricane. On the one hoof she had to deal with the fallout from meeting and immediately having to prove herself to her idol, and then the actual fight that had drained much of her magical fortitude, not to mention the hours long debate with Starswirl from that morning and again that afternoon. “Like you said, I’m just a bit tired and a little stressed about what we’re supposed to be doing is all. For all we know there could be a flock of sirens attacking Equestria from all sides. We have to get to the bottom of this, and… [yawn] I can’t stop to rest when the map made it clear that I was needed to help solve a friendship problem.” She glanced over at Starswirl, still gazing out the window and looking none the worse for wear given his advanced age. “That’s exactly what I’m afraid of. Maybe the map was wrong — maybe you can sit this one out, or we could get somepony else to help?” Starlight’s brow furrowed as she watched her friend fighting the need to sleep and recover after all that she had been through recently. Starswirl certainly put on a good front, but she could tell he wasn’t running at one hundred percent either. The old mage was an expert at hiding things, but she was an even better expert at seeing through ponies deceptions. “This whole area used to be a swamp,” Starswirl quipped, pointing out the window, seemingly ever so oblivious to the mares continuing conversation. Twilight waved off both comments with a flagging sweep and flop of a foreleg. “There isn’t anypony else that can help right now. Everypony’s off helping the Pillars get reacquainted with what remains of their old homes and families. We’re the only ponies left that can do this… whatever it is.” “What about Princess Luna, or Princess Celestia? Maybe we could ask Sunset Shimmer—” “Princess Luna is helping Stygian… uhhh… adjust to life without the influence… evil that lived inside him… nearly consumed him. Princess Celestia… visiting the Crystal Empire… making sure… Cadance and my brother… overwhelmed with… baby alicorn. …And Sunset… finals… human problems…” Twilight rolled her head down against the pillow at the end of the bench. “…all Equestria’s got… have to…” Starlight just shook her head as Twilight dozed off. Starswirl hummed softly to himself as they rode through the countyside and into the foothills of the Canterhorn Mountains, making their way into the outskirts of Canterlot proper as the sun began to set against a glimmer of sparkling lights from much further North while Luna’s moon rose into place above the peak. “Rise and shine, sleepy head.” Starlight drew back the curtain letting the early morning sun spill across the royal bed where Twilight lay. Twilight cracked open an eye and quickly pulled a wing across her face while rolling away from the light. She groaned and began to rub her flank which felt like it had taken a buck from one of Applejack’s tree shaking kicks, just without the bruising plainly evident in the spot where her cutie mark sat. Starlight approached her bedside and gingerly placed a hoof against Twilight’s shoulder. “Sorry to wake you, but it looks like Starswirl wanted to get an early start.” Twilight heaved a heavy sigh. “How long have I been asleep?” She rolled her head around to face Starlight, an awkward smile forming with the crust of an extended night’s drool clinging to the matted fur around her chin. “Long enough.” Starlight pulled a hoof to her mouth to hide a grin of her own. “Let’s get you out of bed, showered, and fed, and then maybe we can catch up to what Starswirl’s found so far.” “What?!” Twilight sprang to attention. “I thought we agreed to work on this together? What has he been up to?” The sheets tangled around Twilight’s legs as she kicked to free herself from their grasp. Her wings flapped as she struggled, near smacking Starlight in the face. “Ahhhh!” she snorted, lighting her horn and instantly teleporting a whole two feet in the air above the bed. A few feathers broke loose and drifted to floor as she flapped her way toward the wash room, mumbling to herself as she went. Starlight tailed behind, tidying the fallen plumage in her wake. “I’m not sure, but by the looks of things, he’s been up all night tearing through the Royal Archives. I think he’s looking for something in particular.” The wash room door slammed in Starlight’s face as Twilight crossed the threshold. The fall of running water came soon after. All Starlight could make out in the series of grunts and groans coming from the shower included a few references to an ‘idol’ and ‘promises’ and ‘trust’. She waited patiently as Twilight put herself together thinking that she definitely got up on the wrong side of the bed, that side being the up-side. After the long train ride and tending to Twilight through most of the day before that, she was gradually getting used to the role typically handled by Spike. Straight off the train, she’d half-carried and mostly levitated Twilight up the hill from Canterlot Station, waived off the guards at the door of the Royal Tower, and made sure she got her settled in bed before retiring for the night herself. A good night’s rest came as welcome balm given their abrupt departure from Ponyville. She hadn’t even packed for much else than what got tossed in or swapped out of her small travel bag from the last journey she had taken with the girls. However, the old wizard either didn’t find a bed to his liking, or discovered that after one thousand years in limbo, he didn’t require much sleep to keep himself vertical. The guards just shrugged when Starlight questioned why the Archive looked like Pinkie Pie had detonated her super-duper party cannon after magically tracking Starswirl’s hoofsteps leading from his room straight over to the Archive shortly after she woke. She continued her minor interrogation asking them how long he had been searching through the stacks, and the only response they could give was that he had been at it since at least the last shift change. That’s when she turned her attention to Twilight and making sure she didn’t miss any more of the fun, leaving Starswirl to continue his search in peace, at least, for the moment. Twilight emerged from the wash room looking ten times better than when she went in, but that still wasn’t saying much, all things considered. Her matted fur and feathers had partially settled into place as she ran a stiff brush through the length of her stubborn mane continuing on through her tail. The magical brush strokes were quick and careless, yanking the hairs rather than coaxing them into submission. The aura holding the brush aloft sputtered and reformed multiple times in the process. A toothbrush fell from the edge of the sink as she tossed the brush aside. Neither pony gave it a second thought. “Where is he?” Twilight said, eyes focused straight ahead as she marched toward the door and into the hall beyond. Her grumpy attitude had soured even further in the time it took to wash the drool off her face and attack the mess of feathers in her wings that dared be crooked at a time like this. Starlight shook her head and fell into a brisk trot keeping pace with the Princess. “Probably still in the library - been there for a while by the guard’s account. Do you want to get breakfast first?” She already knew Twilight’s answer, but she asked anyway. A couple bowls of oats, some fresh fruit, and a muffin or two had already been laid out in the dining room, the castle staff tending to their guests even in the absence of the Royal Sisters. Twilight clipped through the hallway with a steadfast determination in her trot. The guards patrolling throughout the castle living quarters dove to the side and saluted as she went. She knew the fastest way to the library, and could have simply teleported there, but Starlight noticed she made a point of announcing her approach with every echoing hooffall. She was building to a boil her emotional steam. And then, she stopped. Starlight nearly ran straight into Twilight read end. A sudden flick of her own magic teleported her safely to the other side in avoiding the collision. Twilight reared up, backpeddled a couple feet, and pivoted to the side. She lowered her head and stomped past the still saluting guard standing watch near an open doorway. Mere feet through the door, a now somewhat familiar voice greeted her. “Good morning, Princess. I trust you slept well?” Starswirl sat at the table, an empty bowl of oats and a half-eaten bran muffin in front of him. An old, weather-worn tome perched in his horngrasp in the air beside him like he was taking in the morning paper with his couple bits of breakfast. “Care to join me for a bite to eat?” Starlight approached. Twilight took a few deep breaths. Starswirl took another deep bite of muffin and went back to studying the book. “Come on, Twilight. Let’s have something to eat and get things started on the right hoof.” Starlight gestured reassuringly toward the table. Twilight snarled and begrudgingly made her way forward. “Looks like somepony’s already started without me.” She carried herself to the bench and propped up on her haunches to the sight of the buffet spread in front of her. Starlight took a seat by her side. A kitchen assistant hurriedly levitated over another pair of place settings. Starswirl never took his eyes away from the book. “You know, Twilight, it’s almost as if the royal librarian didn’t want me to find this old thing. I spent practically the entire morning trying to track it down.” Starlight kept her head down and began munching on her bowl of oats. Twilight stared straight ahead ignoring the food. “Oh really? Don’t you mean, most of the night?” The tone of her voice could be felt as chill and biting as it sounded from the echo throughout the dining chamber. “Well,” Starswirl replied, turning the book aside and raising an eyebrow in Twilight’s direction, “I tried to go to sleep, but I couldn’t stop thinking about it. Since I didn’t actually leave my bed chambers to start my search until after midnight, it was technically morning when I began my hunt. As well, this old beauty wasn’t exactly where I left it, but I suppose that was to be expected after one thousand years.” He raised a strawberry from the fruit bowl and devoured it in a single bite. Starlight glanced up for just a moment before grabbing a muffin and sunk back into her chair, pretending not to notice or get in the way of the chess match from the previous day now resumed. “So, where was it,” Twilight said, annoyed mainly with the fact that he hadn’t involved her in the search but also concerned about the mixing of breakfast food and ancient relics, “and what is it?” “Well, to be perfectly honest, I thought I had left it in my personal washroom pile next to the old study hall in the Royal Archives, but the librarian kept insisting that whole area had been annexed by Celestia centuries ago and was now referred to as the restricted section. I always did enjoy a good read while relieving my—” “You broke into the restricted section?!” Twilight howled. “But, but how?” “Ha! It wasn’t hard. It seems Celestia never bothered changing the locks, so my horn still had access. Such a careless filly, she was, and apparently still is.” Starswirl smiled proudly. Twilight fumed. Starlight held up a hoof, sensing the climax of Twilight’s rage building past the boiling point, and Starswirl oblivious to the way he was making it worse with every word that came out of his mouth. “I think we should focus on the what, and not the where or the how of the book Starswirl recovered from the restricted section.” She glanced quickly between the two of them, nodding and smiling, passing from Twilight’s grit teeth and swirl of smoke lifting off her horn then back to Starswirl with the obtuse gleam in his eye. “So… what is it?” “It’s the oldest known book in Equestria!” Starswirl beamed. “At least I think it still is. Perhaps you’ve discovered something older than this over the course of my absence, but that doesn’t change the fact of how old this particular book is. Even if it’s the second oldest book in all the land, it’s still—well—old.” Twilight’s jaw nearly hit the table. Starswirl continued. “This tome is so ancient, not even I understand half the things that are written in here. It was passed down to me from my mother, and her mother and mother before her and beyond. Book’s been in my family for countless generations.” He casually flipped it around to show the girls. Fancy glyphs in a language never before seen in Twilight’s studies filled the page the book was open to display. “I had a feeling it might come in useful seeing as ever since I returned from limbo I’ve been hearing the strangest voices in my head—not that I’m hearing voices—just something I haven’t experienced in a very long time. The effect of the map seems to have clarified the source of the voice which has been calling me here ever since. So, please forgive me if I got an early start. It doesn’t really matter since it took me all night searching to find it, which also gave you plenty of time to rest. So, shall we can get going?” Starswirl closed the book with a thud as the pages snapped back together as if belying their true age. He got up from his seat and turned toward the exit. Pausing briefly, he motioned back to the girls. “So, are you coming, or not?” “Where are we going?” Starlight asked through a mouthful of milk-soaked oats. “The Cavern of Crystal Lights,” Starswirl said. “Are you ready to go, or do either of you need to use the little fillies room first?” Twilight yanked a muffin out of the basket and swiftly drew it over to her mouth taking a huge bite and nearly devouring it whole. Following that up with an achingly big gulp of juice to wash it all down, she hopped down off her chair and said, “Ready as I’ll ever be.” Starlight levitated what she could from the leftovers on the table into her pack and fell in line with the other two as they quickly left the dining room without saying another word.