//------------------------------// // 1 - A Secret Once Hidden // Story: My Little Equis: Darkest Night // by Conna-Stella //------------------------------// The sun was shining above the pristine marble of Canterlot Castle, the birds were chirping and all seemed to be right in Equestria.  Yet for one frantic purple unicorn, things were not alright. In fact, things could not have been any worse. Spike, who had been with Twilight since he had been hatched, was well adjusted to the frantic tendencies of his sister, so all he could muster pertaining to expression was a tired, flat face of boredom as he was carried down the castle halls in Twilight’s magenta magical aura.  Not for the first time, he tried to reason with his wayward sibling, not really expecting anything different from the previous three attempts.   “Twilight,” he tried to muster some force in his tone, although given he had been dragged out of his basket long before he usually awoke, it wasn’t easy, “I’m sure the Princess won’t be mad if you are only a few minutes later getting to the throne room.” Twilight didn’t seem to hear him at first, teleporting past a few cleaning staff who just happened to walk out of a side room, startling the maid as she jumped into the front hooves of the hoofman next to her.  This resulted in all of the clean sheets she had been carrying to fall to the ground, the duo blushing at their predicament, all while Twilight continued her blind sprint towards the throne room. “Sorry Featherduster!  Sorry Clean Plate!” Spike called out as Twilight carried him around a corner, leaving the two bewildered ponies in their wake to slowly untangle themselves.   Finally, Twilight and her unwilling sibling arrived at the double doors that led to Celestia’s public audience chamber, the two unicorn guards stationed at either side barely bothering to roll their eyes as they opened the door ahead of the speeding unicorn.  Spike knew that they were only trying to prevent another head-on collision with the gold-plated doors, given Twilight had done so many times in her fillyhood before she learned that the doors were magically locked. Given her current mental state, she probably wouldn’t have remembered, assuming she didn’t try to teleport through the door and end up getting thrown out on her head by the protective barriers.   The doors opened with a mighty creak, announcing the duo before Twilight’s frantic hoofbeats could do so.  Princess Celestia looked up from the paperwork that was floating in her golden aura and smiled at them, her motherly tone echoing through the grand space as Twilight and Spike came to a stop at the base of the dais.   “Twilight, my faithful student, I’m glad you came so quickly,” she noted that Spike was still held captive in Twilight’s magic, “although you didn’t need to wake Spike up this early in the morning.” “I’m so sorry Princess!”  Twilight finally blurted out as she bowed her head low, Spike being pressed into the floor by her magic as the unicorn grovelled while apologizing profusely.  “I knew I should have studied more for that test you gave me last week! I’ll try better in the future, I promise! I won’t ever get a ninety-nine percent ever again!  Please don’t send me back to Magic Kindergarten! I knew that my answer to question twenty-three wasn’t thorough enough! What about question number six, was my three page essay not sufficient? Please don’t take Spike back!!” Celestia giggled softly behind a hoof as she freed Spike from his pancaked position on the floor, “You have nothing to worry about Twilight.  I don’t expect anypony to be perfect. Your test was a stunning example of why you are my most prized pupil,” the alabaster alicorn’s face suddenly fell, “although there is something important I wanted to speak with you about.” “What is it Princess?”  Twilight had temporarily gotten over her manic terror.  Spike gave it about five minutes before she had another episode as he dusted off his scales.    “Come with me.”  Celestia stated cryptically, “there is something that you must see.” The Princess led the two siblings out of the throne room and through several long hallways, winding their way up the side of one of the castle’s towers until they finally came to a stop at two large doors, emblazoned with gold inlays of the shining sun.  Twilight and Spike knew these doors well, as they had been here many times before when they were both a lot younger.   This was the entrance to Celestia’s personal chambers.   The doors were unlocked as Celestia’ golden magic infused directly into the gold inlays, allowing them past the multitudes of magical protections that surrounded the most private of places.  The familiar chamber decor was spread out before them as the doors closed behind them, leaving the two ponies and dragon all alone. The bed with its sweeping white curtains was on the right, while a small regalia stand was on their left next to a large standing mirror.  Paintings of Celestia’s favorite vistas were all over the walls, but it was one in particular that drew the siblings’ attention as Celestia walked over to a small picture that was hanging next to the bed.   Twilight gasped as she looked up at the small painting, faded with untold age and yet still recognisable as two alicorn fillies.  One was a pearly white with bright bubblegum pink for her mane and tail, while the other was a deep midnight blue with soft sky blue for her mane and tail.  The white one was leaning over and hugging the smaller blue filly, who was sticking out her tongue in mock disgust, although Twilight also noticed that the blue filly’s hooves were wrapped around her companion anyway. “Who are they, Princess?”  Twilight asked as she looked up at her mentor. Celestia let out a wistful sigh, the first either of them had ever heard, “They were sisters, long ago, and the first rulers of Equestria.” “What happened to them?”  Spike asked, his voice shaking slightly with nerves. “They drifted apart,” Celestia stated plainly, “and now there is only the eldest.”  The great alicorn shook her head as if to rid herself of the mood that had set in, “But that is not what I have brought you here to see, but rather what is behind it.” Much to Twilight’s amazement, the picture was affixed to a swinging panel, which swung out to the left to reveal a combination safe, hidden until that moment by powerful illusion spells.  Celestia cranked the knob so fast that Twilight couldn’t see the numbers, before taking the handle in her aura and opening the door. Twilight expected some great treasure, perhaps an artifact or a prized possession.  What she was not expecting was a worn pair of saddlebags, so threadbare that they were nearly falling apart and covered in stains to the point she couldn’t see the original colors. Celestia pulled out the saddlebags with almost reverent care, setting them on the bed before closing the safe once more.  She gestured to them with a single hoof and smiled as Twilight walked up to them. Carefully, with only her hoof to open the flap, Twilight did as she was instructed and looked inside, only to gasp as her eyes beheld something that she had only read about in the most ancient of texts. Twilight looked over her shoulder, her eyes the size of dinner plates and her mouth trying to form words.  Celestia simply nodded while Spike walked up and looked inside the saddlebags for himself. “What’s so important about a bunch of carved gems?”  The drake asked, much to Celestia’s delight and Twilight’s horror. “Spike!”  Twilight nearly screamed as she got muzzle-to-nose with her younger brother, “These aren’t just ordinary gems, these are the fabled Elements of Harmony!  They are the most powerful magical artifacts in the world and are tied directly to the Tree of Harmony! How could you not know this? I told you about it when I was reading Sacred Script’s Equestria’s Prophecies and Ancient Legends last month!  Princess Celestia herself made it a required reading assignment!” Spike simply rolled his eyes while Celestia pulled the artifacts out of the saddlebags and laid them out in a semicircle before the trio, “And it is for a very specific reason I included those legends as a part of your learning.  Do you remember your entrance examination back in your fillyhood?” “How could I ever forget?  It was when I first hatched Spike from his egg, and the day I got my cutie mark.”  Twilight recited, “But what does that have to do with the Elements of Harmony?” “On that day, I was here in my chambers when you had your flare, and I saw the Element of Magic react, as if somepony was calling out to it.”  Celestia’s gaze leveled with Twilight’s in a hard stare, “I soon figured out that it was you who had summoned its power, and it is because of that reason that I took you under my wing as my student.” “So what does all of that mean, exactly?”  Spike asked, his gaze travelling over the gems placed before them. “It means that something very important has been put into motion,” Celestia said, “and an old foe of mine is soon to return.” “Who is returning?”  Twilight asked. “Nightmare Moon,” the name sent shivers up and down the siblings’ spines as Celestia’s eyes hardened in anger, “an alicorn of darkness that threatened to destroy the word, and took away somepony who was very close to me.”  Celestia’s gaze softened again as she turned back to Twilight, “As the new Bearer of Magic, you must find the other Bearers and work together to stop Nightmare Moon. I used the Elements long ago to seal her in the moon, but that seal is weakening.  In six moons’ time, when the largest moon of the year lines up with several powerful stars, she will escape and I will not be able to stop her by myself.” “But you used the Elements before,” Twilight stated, “can’t you use them again to seal her away once more?” Celestia shook her head, “I cannot.  When I used them to banish Nightmare Moon, my connection with them was severed, leaving them inert until you awakened them once again.  Now it is up to you to find the other Bearers, and to stop Nightmare Moon before she can bring about eternal night.” “But how will I find them?”  Twilight’s mane started to frazzle as her nerves got the better of her, “Is there some kind of book I can read or chart I can follow?” Spike’s hand impacted with his face as Celestia shook her head, “Unfortunately there is no easy way to do this.  The Elements themselves will guide you to their respective Bearers, and only together can you muster the power that will be needed to stop Nightmare Moon.  I have a feeling that things will get easier along the way, but you must act quickly. You only have six moons until the seal is broken.” “We won’t fail you, Princess!”  Twilight’s head lifted and she smiled at her mentor as she turned to Spike, “Spike, take a note.  We’re going to need a lot of supplies if we’re going to find five Bearers in six moons.” They only made it a few steps towards the Elements when Celestia interrupted them, “I’m sorry, but Spike cannot help you.  He has his own mission to undertake.” Both siblings gaped at the Princess as she averted her gaze, “I’m sorry, but an old ally has called for Spike, and I’m afraid it is out of my hooves.  Spike will journey to the lands of Lord Blaze to undergo the Trials of Dragonhood.” “The trials of dragonhood?”  Spike’s expression was the very definition of confused, “What’s that?” “It is a rite of passage that every dragon must undergo once they come of age.  I would have let you go once you were a little bit older, but Lord Blaze has demanded that you return and undergo training before taking the trials.” “And who is this Lord Blaze to demand that Spike go anywhere?”  Twilight countered, “I’ve never even heard of him.” “She,” Celestia corrected, “is the leader of the Firebrand Clan, and also the one who laid Spike’s egg.  She is also one of the leading members of the Council of Lords, which rule over all of the clans that make up dragon society.” That stopped both of them in their tracks, Twilight’s jaw dropping to the floor while Spike started to sway on his feet.  Celestia caught him in her magic as the small drake fainted, shaking her head slowly as she placed him on her bed.   “Wait a minute,” Twilight’s brain had regained enough power to speak apparently, “are you saying that Spike is dragon royalty?!” “Nobility, technically,” Celestia countered, “but yes, he is a member of one of the noble bloodlines.  Much like your own family to be honest.” “But my parents don’t do anything in the court.”  Twilight tried to argue, “All they do is work in the observatory and write books.”   “But what about your grandmother?”  Celestia continued, “Haven’t you ever spoken to your parents about why Duchess Nova Sparkle is one of the most respected members of the Noble Council?” “Well my parents never really talk about my grandparents all that much, I mean I knew that Nova Sparkle was my grandmother, and that she was a Duchess, but we never have much to do with noble things.  My mother goes on cruises and bungee jumps in her free time. My father runs the Royal Astronomy Guild here in Canterlot for fun. We’ve never even stepped hoof in a meeting with other nobles.” “And that is because your grandmother didn’t want you to be a part of the nobility until she thought you were ready.”  Celestia stated plainly, “She knew how corrupting the noble households can be on young minds, and wanted to spare you from that fate if she could.  As it stands, it seems that Harmony has more important things in mind for you both.” “Does that mean I have to go find the other Bearers by myself?”  Twilight’s voice had gotten very small, and she shrunk into herself as she glanced over at Spike. Celestia sighed as she draped a wing over Twilight’s back, “I’m afraid so, my faithful student.  Spike has his own path to travel, and it will most likely be some time before you can see each other again.” Tears began to fall from Twilight’s eyes as she buried her muzzle in Celestia’s chest, “I’m going to miss him.  I’ll miss all of you while I’m gone.” “It won’t be forever, Twilight.  You will see Spike and your family again.”  Her wing slowly retracted as she lifted Twilight’s face with one hoof, “But right now you must go.  Time is short and you have a long way to go before your journey is complete.” Twilight broke down even harder as she wrapped her hooves around Celestia’s foreleg, “I’m sorry.  It’s just I’m so confused. I don’t know where to even start.” “I may be able to help a little, to get you started.”  Twilight looked up with hope in her bloodshot eyes, “There was a time when I visited a little town just south of Canterlot.  There weren’t any ponies there that reacted to the Elements, but one of them did start to glow slightly when I was flying in and out of the village.  You might be able to find clues if you start your search there.” “Which Element was it?”  Twilight asked. “Generosity.” “What was the name of the village?” Twilight was smiling now as she wiped her tears with a fetlock. “Ponyville.”  Celestia’s own lips had curled into a smile now, her magic gathering the Elements and placing them back in the saddlebags, “Now go, there is no time to lose.” Twilight placed the bags over her barrel and nodded, “You can count on me, Princess.  I’ll just stop by the Canterlot Library and - ” “I’m afraid I’ve closed all of the libraries around Canterlot.”  Celestia interrupted Twilight, “because I know you and how your mind works.  I’m afraid you don’t have time to research anything and must simply work with what you already know.  I am sorry, Twilight, but the answers you seek cannot be found in any book.” Twilight’s mane started to frizz, but she took a deep breath and let it out slowly, holding a hoof to her chest and pushing it away as she did so, “You’re right.  I can do this. I will find the other Bearers. Nightmare Moon won’t win while I have a say about it.” As Twilight turned to leave, Celestia’s voice caught up with her, “Oh, and Twilight,” the unicorn turned around to see Celestia holding a small bag of bits in her magic, “you might need some money to buy things while on the road.” Twilight sheepishly grabbed the bag with her own magic and smiled at her teacher, “Thank you, Princess.” “You can thank me once you return.”  Celestia smiled, “I shall tell Spike your farewells once he wakes up.  You have a train to catch if I am not mistaken.” Twilight glanced at the clock hanging on the wall and gasped as she realized what time it was, “Eleven-thirty-three!  Oh my gosh, I have twelve minutes to get to the train station!” In a flash of teleportation magic, she was gone, not seeing Celestia’s face fall as she glanced at the still out cold dragon on the bed, “Goodbye, my faithful student, and good luck.”