Twilight calmly stood over an anvil, she wore a brown leather apron, a set of tinted goggles and her hooves were covered in wraps as she griped a hammer. Laying upon the anvil was a suit of armor that glowed red as she slammed the hammer into it slowly bending it to the shape needed behind her stood several dwarf watched her smelt and pointed out ways to improve her skills. After several hours the armor was finished and one of the dwarfs stepped forward cleared his throat causing Twilight to stop and look to him. "You have done well young princess." He said as he examined the armor.
Twilight smiled. "Thank you Elder Forlum." She said with a bow.
The Elder nodded. "When you came here I did not believe you would be capable of learn our ways but you have surpassed any expectations, in only a few months you have mastered what takes we dwarfs years." He said with a small bit of pride seeping into his voice.
"You humble me Elder but I could not have advanced without the guidance of Dogma and the other dwarfs that taught me." She said calmly.
The Elder smiled and chuckled. “You are like your father." The elder said with a smile. "He too mastered our secrets quickly though you learned them much faster, his kindness and humility have worn upon you and made you into a fine mare." The Elder smile faded slightly as he looked at her. Twilight had grown slightly since she had arrived, her legs had become slender and her muscled now showed firmly against her coat. "Young Princess, you have been with us for many months and learned the secrets of the earth from us, from our dark cousins you learned magic’s and runes but sadly I feel it is time for you to continue the journey you began so long ago." Twilight seemed confused and moved to speak but the Elder raised a hand. "You have done nothing wrong child but we sadly have very little left for you to learn." He explained.
"I... I understand Elder." Twilight said sadly. "It had been an honor and I promise that I will continue to hone my skills." She said with a bow that the Elder returned.
"Please your highness, the honor was ours but I would ask you not leave yet." he said as he turned to the many gathered dwarfs. "My People, today we celebrate the rise of a now Master Smith!" He called out. "The Young Princess has proved her skill but as we all know, she cannot stay with us. However today is not a day of lament and sorrow but of rejoicing!" He called with pride. "Let us celebrate the Princesses departure with a grand feast fit for the great Lord Seven-Souls-Lost!" He yelled and the dwarves cheered in joy. The Elder turned to Twilight and smiled. "Tonight we dine in the great halls of our forefathers, and celebrate as we have not in centuries, after I ask you meet me before you leave on your journey. I have somethings to give you." He said as he walked away. Twilight smiled as she joined the dwarfs as they left to celebrate.
Shining Armor sighed as he stepped through the door to the family manor. "Difficult day Master?" Asked a stallion dressed in the dark suit of a butler as he appeared with a bow.
"You don't know the half of it Alastair." Shining said to the butler.
Alastair smiled. "I remember when your father first became the head of the house; he was so busy that the mistress had me lock him out of the study on occasion to make him relax." The butler said with a chuckle as he took Shining’s coat. "I can't imagine you serving in the Guard and acting as a Noble is easy."
Shining sighed as he entered the study. "Why must our family always suffer so much, sure it's earned us a good reputation and we respect the common pony but honestly why must our house shoulder the weight of responsibility?" He asked as he sat down and sighed.
"It doesn’t help that you have to take up the slack after-" Alastair paused and bowed. "Forgive me master."
Shining waved a hoof. "It's fine Alastair, you know them better than I did and I won’t lie that that doesn’t make me envious." He said sadly. "But I still don't think they killed Twilight."
Alastair sighed. "Master how long will you hold on to this foalish belief?" he asked.
Shining turned to the butler with a grimace however instead he rose and motioned for the butler to follow him. The two walked out of the room and down the halls of the manor till they reached a set of large double doors that Shining pushed open revealing what looked like the master bedroom. "Master, Why are we in your parents room?" Alastair asked concerned.
Shining went to a small jewelry box on the nightstand and pulled out a small glowing pendant. "Do you know what this is?" He asked.
"That would be a Mana stone made from your magic." Alastair replied.
Shining nodded. "Every parent makes these when their child is born; they are then linked to the one whose magic it is made from. When the pony dies the stone will crack and stop glowing." He explained as he pulled out two others. "Mom kept everyponies here together, when she and dad died theirs stopped glowing but..." Shining trailed off and pulled out a third crystal pendent that glowed brightly. "Rather than die this one was simply dim and over the years it's light has only grown stronger."
Alastair’s' eyes widened as he saw the pendent. "That's your sister pendent but that means..." He trailed off in shock. "Have you told the princesses about this?"
Shinning nodded. "They and the Griffon King know but aside from them and you no one else does." Shining said as he returned the pendants to the chest however as he went to return his sisters Alastair stopped him.
"Take her pendant." He said calmly. "If you ever find her then this pendent will tell you." He said his voice soft as he took the pendant and tied it around shining’s neck. "You will find her but for now keep it with you." He said as he looked at the3 young stallion. "Hold it close and keep it safe." He said quietly. Shining nodded and closed the jewelry box quietly before the two stallions left. "You should go rest master, tomorrow is another long day." He said.
"Thank you Alastair for everything." Shining said as he turned and walked down the halls leaving the butler outside the doors to the master bedroom.
Alastair sighed and walked down the halls to the servants’ quarters where he entered his room and changed into a pair of pajamas and looked out the window. "Where ever you are my lady I ask you remain safe, for your brother’s sake please." He said as he looked up at the night sky. "Oh Luna, I have not spoken to your night in so long but I suppose that there is no better time." He said quietly. "If you will hear this humble butlers request I ask you to watch over my lost young mistress. Protect her and watch over her till the time she may return to us." He prayed before entering his bed and drifting into the land of dreams.
Deep within the palace lay the Lunar Wing; dedicated to the princess of the night, the halls were always cast in deep shadows and patrolled by the Thestral Night Guard. As the end of the main hall stood a door carved from black oak and behind that door was a bed set in a circular chamber. These were the chambers of the Lunar Princess of Equestria and aside from the bed and its occupant the only other thing in the room was a single guard who watched over the princess. It was here that she often spent her days in slumber battling the curse she had been inflicted with a thousand years ago.
Fortunately the Lunar Princesses single duty in the waking world was the raising of the moon and bringing the night, a duty that her sister had long since taken up as her curse worsened. Now the Lunar Princess was rarely seen awake as the strain on her body was often too great but just because she was not awake did not mean she was negligent in her duties. Within the Dream Realm Princess Luna performed the duties of all princess, she held night court, patrolled the Dream Realm for Nightmares and interacted with her subjects tending to their needs and keeping them happy. On this night she sensed someponies plea and for a moment her eyes opened to the waking world.
Though Luna often lay in a deep sleep she would often awaken when she sensed something and was often known to give riddle like warning of the future itself; every guard know that when she awoke they were to listen carefully and deliver what she said word for word to Celestia no matter what it was. And so as Luna awoke the Guard who was standing by her side snapped to attention and listened.
"The one who disrupted Harmony shall appeared, a whispering evil lies rises once more. On the longest day of the thousandth year the stars shall aid in their escape." She said in a weak voice.
"Understood Princess, I shall send word immediately." The Guard said, Luna nodded and closed her eyes returning to her slumber as the guard quickly exited the room and ran for Celestia's chambers.
Twilight sighed as she entered the large room where the Elder asked her to meet. "I wondered when you'd get here." He said as he sat quietly in the corner.
Twilight chuckled. "Sorry to keep you waiting Elder." She said as he waved his hand.
"It's fine, Dwarven celebrations are something we all enjoy and as it’s your send off they wanted to make it special." He said as he stood. "Now I have some gifts for you. He said as he approached a table with several sheets covering the items on it. "First I give you a sat of armor, custom made for you to wear." He heard as he returned to a covered item. Twilight slowly approached and reached a hoof out and removed the sheet revealing a shining suit of gold. "Well, are you gonna gawk all day or take it?" He asked snapping Twilight out of her shock.
"Right, I'll try it on." She said as she slowly picked up the armor and examined the pieces before pulling them on. "They fit perfectly." She said with a smile and the Elder nodded.
"Good, the will serve you well in the days to come. All the dwarves helped in some capacity in the construction of it as a thank you for your dedication and determination." He said as he gestured to the next item "Next I give you a sword I forged myself, this is my thank you and way of honoring you." He said with a smile. Twilight slowly used her magic to unwrap the blade and her eyes widened. The Blade was housed in an ornate sheath carved with symbols, slowly her magic gripped the blade and she pulled it free her mouth curling into a smile as she examined it. The craftsmanship was extraordinary and the blade was perfectly balanced to her. "Her name is Eclipsed Sky, take good care of her." He said sternly.
Twilight nodded as she returned it to its sheath. "I promise to always cherish it elder." She said as she bowed to him.
The Elder nodded. "Rest well tonight Twilight, tomorrow you will face the floor Guardians of the First Floor.