//------------------------------// // Chapter 2: What do you fear? // Story: Apprentice of the Stars // by Vohira //------------------------------// Chapter 2 What do you fear? “Tw...ht get...p” somepony was calling to her, but she was too tiered to answer and mumbled something incoherent instead. She had such a good dream about night sky... “Twilight, get up! It's past 1 p.m. already!” Spike's voice finally made it through her sleep addled mind with a bit of help from poking her back with his baby dragon claw. Twilight rose from her bed with a wide yawn, her mane was a mess as it always was in the mornings. She was still a bit sleepy when she made her way to the bathroom and ignored the worriedly looking baby dragon. A quick bath later she went downstairs and into the kitchen. As he made the dandelion sandwiches, Spike looked at Twilight and waited for the inevitable explosion, when his adopted sister will finally look at the clock herself. In the meantime Twilight looked at him with an inquisitive look, he was nervous about something. She just couldn't tell what. Was it about all the sweets he ate at Pony's Joes donut shop? That could be it. She then looked at the clock. The explosion that the baby dragon expected never came only a quiet, resigned sigh escaped Twilight's mouth. That totally confused the little dragon to the point where he almost dropped the plate with the two sandwiches he made. “Was anyone trying to see me when I was asleep Spike?” the purple mare asked before she started eating. “Well Pinkie Pie was here. She told me to remind you of the party for becoming Princess Luna's apprentice. Rarity wanted to invite you to spa, because she told me that Fluttershy had an emergency with her animals and couldn’t come with her. And there was that one stallion that looked for a book, but I managed” Spike counted on his claws as he gave her the small list. Twilight munched on her second sandwich as she thought about it. She could probably go to spa with Rarity. But the party... Pinkie's party's could last long and their were well, draining. And she didn't want to fall asleep in her lesson with Luna. The last night was challenging enough. It was some time now from the last time when she had stayed up for the whole night. On the other hoof, not going to the party would dampen the mood of her pink friend... “Twilight, doesn’t it bother you that you slept for almost half a day? Your schedule...” whatever Spike wanted to say was silenced by a hoof on his mouth. And an annoyed look from the unicorn. “I know, I know all right? But I also knew that Princess Luna's lesson would most likely be at night. It will take some time, but I will just have to make up a new schedule. And everypony else will just have to... get used to it I suppose. This is too important Spike!” and so it was now the baby's dragon turn to sigh, he took the empty plate from the table to clean it. “I'm going to see Rarity” Twilight said as she left the kitchen and went outside. The day was warm. There was not a single cloud in the sky over the town and the purple unicorn could see a rainbow streak flying in the sky and doing loops and sharp turns. On the ground ponies talked, shopped and worked. One time a small filly chased by her friends, from what Twilight could tell, ran past her laughing. All in all, a normal day in Ponyville. On her way to the Carousel Boutique, Twilight began to think about last night. It had taken her amazingly long to tell about her adventures and answer the Princess’s questions. She left just before the Princess had to lower the moon. In the end, the Night Princess didn't say to her anything else other than she will be expecting her again tonight and that they will be staring her normal lessons now. And that alone made her uneasy, she knew that Luna's lessons probably will not be the same as lessons with Celestia. But the question was, how different will the lessons be? Princess Celestia liked to give her challenging tasks and questions and pointing her in the right direction, if she had troubles solving them on her own. She doubted Luna will do the same. The Boutique came in her sight faster than she thought. Twilight opened the doors and the bell that hung above the doors rang. “Just a moment! Welcome to Carousel... Twilight dear! I'm happy to see you. Did Spike tell you about my proposition?” at the beginning Rarity’s voice came from behind the curtain which usually concealed the dresses which the fashionista deemed as her masterpieces. When the white unicorn walked from under the curtain she began her normal welcoming speech, but stopped instantly when she saw her guest. “Yes, about that. Is it still on?” Twilight asked looking around a bit, spotting a few new dresses. “Why off course. Just give me a moment and we will be off.” True to her word she just picked some kind of cosmetic, and flipped the sign in the window to 'Closed' and they were on their way to the spa. On the way there Rarity went on about the cosmetic and how she wanted to give it to Lotus Blossom and Aloe for testing. When they got there Rarity explained to the two earthponies about her find and then ordered her 'usual' and Twilight just went on with it ordering the same. The white unicorn immediately began to share with her all the gossip she heard in Canterlot. Next half an hour was spent first in sauna, then in mud bath and when they were cleaned of the mud the earthponies started their hoofacure. And now they were being massaged. “Say Twilight, what kept you in bed for so long today?” Rarity's voice broke the silence that had developed since the spa ponies began to massage them. “The lesson with Princess Luna. It lasted almost... well, all night to be truthful. I was just tired” Twilight answered. She was felling far more relaxed now than before, she probably should try to find time for more frequent visits. Well, not that she didn't promise it to herself few times already... “I heard that Pinkie Pie's making a party for you today. The one you didn't want to have at Canterlot?” Rarity turned her head slightly to look at Twilight. “Ah, that. Well... I don't think I will be able to come” the purple mare answered with uncertainty in her voice. She knew, her friends knew, the whole town knew that one just didn't simply say 'no' to Pinkie Pie's invitation to a party. And definitely one didn't say 'no' to a party that was meant for them. So it was justified that Rarity watched Twilight with worry evident on her muzzle. “You do realize... Never mind that, you know. Twilight, surely there is something you can do to be at that party?” “I would love to Rarity, but it's just too important. Not only for me. But for the whole Equestria!” Twilight's statement was meet with a look of disbelief from Rarity. “What is so important Twilight?” this short question made Twilight gulp loudly. The purple unicorn knew she didn't have much of a choice but to answer or lie. She didn't want to do the later. “I'm learning battle magic from Princess Luna” that answer brought concern to Rarity's eyes. “But what for? It's dangerous and it's only purpose is to harm others” the white unicorn knew what the term 'battle magic' stood for. But like most unicorns of the last few centuries she didn't know any. It was thought as uncivilised and unnecessary. “The changeling attack at the wedding. We... in the end I was so useless Rarity. And I plan on changing that.” was Twilight's quiet response. “Darling, you're too hard on yourself. We did fight the changelings quite well if I say so” Rarity's answer brought a small, sad smile on Twilight's muzzle. They had fought quite well... But she was Princess Celestia's protege for Celestia's sake! She had some standards to uphold! For the rest of their time in spa the mares picked up lighter subjects to discuss. And after about half an hour after their argument, they left fully relaxed once more. ********** This time around Twilight waited before her home for the chariot and as soon as it arrived she jumped on it. And so without a word exchanged between her and the Night Guards she was on her way to her second lesson with the Princess of the Night. On the way there Twilight had time to reconsider if dodging Pinkie's party the way she did it was a good idea after all. She did it by closing herself in her room in the library and telling Spike to say she was out of town on Princess’s orders. The baby dragon was reluctant to do so, the most she had ever seen him. But in the end he listened to her. That off course didn't stop him from telling her how saddened Pinkie Pie was when she came to the library to find her for the party. He even told her that Pinkie's mane had straightened a bit when she left the library. Twilight knew she would have to make up for that one to Pinkie in the coming days. The landing was a bit rough and it brought her out of her thoughts. But Twilight supposed it was because of the limited space the pegasi had for landing. There was even more chiseled stone lying around than the last night. This wasn't what drew her attention however, it was the fact that this time Princess Luna was waiting for her. “Twilight Sparkle. Tonight we shall have the lesson outside as I do not wish to have my chambers destroyed. Come along now” the dark alicorn said and headed down a path Twilight now could see and she instantly followed. It should occur to Twilight that this was a warning about what was to come but she was to busy looking around the Everfree to think about it. After a few minutes of a steady trot, Twilight and the Princess reached a small, oval clearing. The smaller unicorn stayed close to the Princess at all times, that is until the Princess teleported away from her. Twilight began to frantically look around the clearing, and she saw a blue coloured ball of magic headed her way just in time to perform her teleportation spell. When the ball hit, it scorched the earth where the purple unicorn just stood. “Defend thyself!” was all the warning from the Princess she got, when she saw another two of those balls heading her way. Thinking quickly she levitated some loose branches and small stones in the spell’s paths, hoping it would work. It did. But she did not have time to celebrate, as the Princess teleported right in front of her rearing on her hind legs and ready to smash her forelegs down on her. Twilight had lost sight of her, when her impromptu shield exploded into dust near her and she closed her eyes on instinct, that created an opening that Luna used. Twilight jumped to her right and a second later she heard a and felt as ground and rocks cracked beneath Luna's hooves. “Always mind your surroundings!” the dark alicorn shouted at her scornfully. Igniting her horn, Twilight conjured ropes in an attempt to restrain the Princess. “Conjuration... and it’s very good, but pointless” was Lunas commentary as Twilight's magical ropes snaked their way around the alicorn's form but to Twilight shock Luna changed into a bluish mist filled with stars. Almost faster than she could follow, the Princess flew behind her and reformed, her horn already ignited and casting a beam of pure, blue magic. Twilight had no other option, she had to create a domed shield of her own magic. Magic shields could become almost impossible to penetrate, if one knew how to shape them properly but they were draining. And now being under assault from alicorn magic, her energy was draining too fast. “Your shield is almost flawless. If you can build them, then you should also know their limitations.” After another one of the Princess's comments, Twilight took the risk and teleported to Luna's left side and with a small cry of determination charged her horn and rained small bolts of magic on the Princess, the same she used against the changelings. They were created to stun and were weak, but they should do. She did not take into account, when performing her move, the crackling with black lightning wave of blue magic spreading from the Princess, that erased her own Stun Bolts and was quickly approaching her. She had to teleport again. Twilight was becoming slightly dizzy with all the teleporting but she could do it a few more times. This short lapse in observing her surrounding to asses her power levels almost cost her dearly. With a yelp she dropped to the ground to not get bucked in her flank by the Princess. Twilight saw her chance and send the alicorn flying backwards by using her telekinesis to push her. What she had forgotten was that Luna had wings. The Night Princess spread her wings and took flight raining the blue balls of magic on the smaller mare. Twilight dodged and blocked but she finally made a mistake and took one of the balls to her backside. It burnt, it was unpleasant and all in all hurt badly, but she could feel that there was no major wound. But her body and magic reacted and she could see that her body was becoming obscured by white flashes of her raw magic. Not now, not now... was all she could think in this situation. She concentrated on controlling her magic. She succeeded, and when she opened her eyes she could see Luna's rapidly approaching rear hooves. Next thing she knew, she was lying under one of the surrounding trees dazed, with a hurting backside and a few new scratches. She was breathing heavily. Her mane and tail in total disarray. The Princess of the Night stood above her with one of her front hooves now caressing her right cheek and turning the smaller mare's head so she could look her in the eyes. “You're quick, intelligent and powerful. But you fear your own power. Tell me, Twilight Sparkle, what do you fear?” Luna's voice was now soothing, but still full of authority of a teacher somehow. ********** When Twilight stood before her library later that night with the moon still in the night sky, there was hardly any evidence on her of what transpired in the forest, only the bandages on her backside remained. She quietly opened the doors and went to her bed. But she couldn't fall asleep. She kept thinking of the things she confessed to the Princess. Her obsession with being highly organized and tied to it the fear of failure, her fear of loneliness and her fear of her own power. When they were talking about it, by the small camp fire that the Princess had set up in the same clearing, she felt defenceless but at the same time strangely compelled to tell it all. Twilight remembered the first few words of the Princess when she was bandaging her back. “Night has always bore the stigma of fear to some degree. I have learned how to master it and I shall show you how to control your fears and even how to use fear as your own strength.” After that the two mares started some ‘lighter’ talk. Mainly, magical theory. This was mostly why she couldn't sleep now. The Princess told her that if she overloaded her Stun Bolts, they would become lethal by just stopping the heart of her target, if said target was weaker magically than her. And after that she started to think and discuss with the Princess the other spells that unicorns knew today that could be... misused. The possibilities even now sent a shudder down her spine. But after a while of staring at the ceiling and counting Spikes snores, she finally closed her eyes and fell asleep. ********** A/N: A tiny bit shorter than the last one, but I hope you were not disappointed.