Chapter 3
Into the darkness
Twilight jerked awake with a scream and landed on the wooden floor of her room. She was panting heavily and could feel the sweat that coated her body. After a moment she realized one thing.
“It was just a nightmare...” she whispered with a bit shaky voice, and what a nightmare it was. She couldn’t remember the details but it somehow involved Trixie and Nightmare Moon, taking their sweet time humiliating her and then assaulting her with the spells. The spells... even now fully awake she could almost feel the conjured rope, choking her. Twilight shuddered and instinctively reached her left forehoof to rub her neck. She couldn’t and didn’t want to remember the other spells her mind came up with and used against her.
At the moment the doors to her room swung open and a concerned and a bit sleepy Spike entered the room.
“You’re all right Twilight? I heard your shout...” when he reached the other side of the bed Spike saw how miserably Twilight looked. Entangled in her bed sheets, sweaty and shuddering now and then.
“Twilight, what happened?” the baby dragon asked with much more concern in his voice, as he made the last few steps to be near her and help her get out of the constricting material.
“It was just a nightmare Spike. Nothing to worry about, give me a few minutes and a cup of coffee and I’ll be all right” Twilight said when, with Spike’s help, she got out of the trap her bed sheets have become.
“Then one coffee it is. But you’re sure you don’t want to talk about it? You haven’t had a nightmare in... I don’t how long” at the end, Spike’s face became thoughtful.
“Just the coffee please.” Twilight said as they left the room and the baby dragon went downstairs. She on the other hoof, needed a bath right now.
When she looked in the mirror she was quite happy to note, that there was only a few traces of the scratches she got in her training battle with Princess Luna. Twilight looked at her backside to see that it too was almost healed. The bandages must have loosened when she was sleeping and had to fall off when she woke up. Her coat was a bit darker in the spot where the Princess’s spell hit her, but it looked good all in all. Princess Luna told Twilight that she had chosen that spell for their practice exactly for that reason, it healed easily. But she could still feel some pain in her ribs after the Princess bucked her. Not wasting any more time before the mirror she prepared a hot bath for herself.
Today she took her time and went down stairs after almost an hour. When she sat at the table her breakfast and coffee were waiting for her.
“Did anypony want to see me while I was asleep?”
“Well... It’s only quarter to seven. We still have more than an hour before we have to open the library. So... no” at hearing that Twilight had to look at the clock, Spike was right. Now she knew why she felt tired, she slept less than six hours. And even then, it was filled with nightmares. But now at least she had time to do something she should have done yesterday.
“Spike I think we should talk about how much sweets you ate at Canterlot...” Twilight started after taking a sip of her coffee and now was fully in her lecture mod. The baby dragon just barely withheld a groan.
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Twilight was reading one of the many books on magical theory that were in her library, when she heard the doors opening.
“Howdy Twilight” when the purple mare heard Applejack she immediately looked up from her book.
“Hi Applejack. What brings you here this early?” it was now 9 a.m., and normally Twilight didn’t see her friends before the noon.
“Well, nothin’ much. Ah just wanted to know where were you yesterday. We all want to know that in fact” the blonde mare stated while looking at Twilight with a bit of hurt in her eyes.
“I was on an assignment from Princess Celestia” was Twilight’s quick response... maybe a bit too quick if the suspicious look in her friends stare was any indication.
“Sugarcube, you don’t want to tell me, that’s fine. But don’t lie to me, Ah’m the Element of Honesty.”
Twilight sighed heavily. She was doing that quite often lately. Applejack was right.
“I kind of dodged Pinkie’s party. I don’t want to be exhausted and fall asleep in the middle of Princess’s Luna’s lesson” after saying that she dropped her head in shame.
Twilight heard how her earthpony friend came closer to her and saw her hoofs eventually. She didn’t know what to expect and was a bit surprised when Applejack hugged her.
“Ah told you in Canterlot, you have nothin’ to worry about. Just be honest with us... and come to today’s party later this afternoon” when Applejack let her go, Twilight had a small, nervous smile on her muzzle. Things were going too fast for her...
“This afternoon... As in this afternoon, afternoon?” the unicorn mare tried to joke, to lighten the mood.
“Eeyup, and you have to Pinkie Promise to be there this time” Applejack told her with a wide smile on her muzzle.
Twilight almost groaned. Only once did she make it and hurt her eye in the process, and Pinkie’s stalking abilities still made her wonder how she did follow her then. Also she once saw what happened when the orange farm pony that stood before her, broke that particular promise. She didn’t want to have a raging Pinkie on her tail...
“All right, I’ll be there. Cross my heart, hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my... eye” at least now Twilight closed her eye first before poking it with her hoof.
“Now then, Ah’m goin back to my orchard. Got some pesky bugs to deal with, seeya later Twilight” the orange mare left the library in higher spirits, her mission complete.
When Twilight saw the doors close she had to sit. There was just too much things happening around here in the last few days. It would seem that the change of her teacher was affecting her to a much greater degree than she imagined... Wait, how did she imagine it would be like? She almost facehoofed when she realized she hadn't thought this as thoroughly as she thought she had.
But now it was too late to change anything, now she could only move forward... Or maybe not? Her gaze shifted to her assistant dusting off some bookshelves. She could write to Princess Celestia. One letter was what it would take to return everything to normality. However there was the small, little problem of Princess Luna...
Twilight saw how the Princess of the Night looked at her sometimes throughout the two night they had spent together, like she was the only pony in Equestria that mattered to her... In fact, Twilight was certain that she was the only pony Luna considered as a friend, not including Princess Celestia.
So it seemed that there would be no letter to the Princess of the Sun about returning to being her protege... Damn it! What was she thinking! She wanted this in the first place, it was her choice and there was no place for second thoughts. She wanted to be prepared for any new threats to better protect her friends and Equestria.
From his spot on the ladder Spike saw and heard the whole conversation. He saw how Twilight went from being ashamed, to almost normal, then she became conflicted as he could tell from her muzzle expressions and back to being the confident mare that loved books.
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Twilight stood before Sugarcube Corner and could hear her friends talking inside. It was around 4 p.m., so she had around three hours to enjoy the party. Hopefully tonight's lesson with the Princess will involve less fighting, as Twilight was sure she will be tiered a bit after this party.
Even before she had the chance to knock or enter, the doors swung open. In the doors now stood Pinkie.
“Hi, Pinkie... Hey, sorry about yesterday...” Twilight slightly fidgeted with her hoofs as she said that.
In the meantime Pinkie Pie looked at Twilight with a seriousness that didn’t quite fit with the pink mare. The purple unicorn was beginning to sweat a little now, she hadn’t seen her pink friend like that often... but in an instant the pink mare just smiled and was her normal, bouncy self.
“It’s ok Twilight, we all know how you are when it comes to the Princesses. Now come on in, it’s your party after all” as she was saying that Pinkie bounced behind Twilight and almost pushed her into the Sugarcube Corner.
Inside Twilight found all her friends waiting for her. Balloons and confetti were everywhere on the ceiling and the floor.
“Hi girls” those two word that left Twilight’s mouth were some kind of signal to start the party it would seem. One second all her friends just stared at here, and in the next she was almost hugged to death by all of them. After that the party was in full swing, with Pinkie providing the music.
The mares chatted happily about small things at the beginning and Twilight started to hope no one will ask about anything concerning her and the Princess. But seeing as this was ‘Twilight becoming Princess Luna’s apprentice party’ such hopes were rather short lived. She had discussed it with Rarity and the fashionista wasn’t bothered by it so Twilight shouldn't have to fear the others reaction, but she had to take it into account.
“So Twi, Learning anything cool now?” Rainbow Dash asked as she sat down near Twilight with pink punch in her hooves. Of course even with the music playing everypony heard the question and now Twilight was under the gaze of four curious mares, Rarity just smiled at her reassuringly.
“Well, actually yes. Princess Luna will be teaching me battle magic” when she said that, Twilight had to force herself not to cringe when the music stopped abruptly.
“Umm... That doesn't sound... too nice” Fluttershy’s worried voice was drowned by their cyan pegasus friend.
“That’s soooooo cool! Any chances she would teach me any awesome moves?” Rainbow in an instant was by her side, her right front leg was hanging over Twilight’s shoulders.
“Well, it’s sounds like a thing that could have helped in a few of our adventures...” Applejack said what the purple unicorn knew to be the truth.
In some silent understanding the five ponies looked at Pinkie Pie that for now was just looking at Twilight. They didn’t have to wait long for their pink friend’s opinion on the matter.
“You know, I had a new twitcha-twitch the last few days. At least now I know about who it was, can’t say what it means, but it didn’t feel like nothing good.” that was all it took to dampen their moods significantly, even Twilight’s as she had learned to just accept the Pinkie Sense.
“So I will be extra careful then” Twilight reassured all her friends looking at them.
“You better be sugarcube” other five mares just nodded after Applejack words.
“Aaaaanyway... The cider will not drink itself” Rainbow said trying to salvage the party from becoming too moody and everypony got the not that subtle hint. Twilight had to excuse herself from drinking, but the others didn’t have to. The party started to become the cheery get together it was before Rainbow's question.
After almost an hour Twilight had to finally say her goodbyes. All in all, when she leaved Sugarcube Corner to meet the Night Guards she was one happy mare, with Pinkie’s warning shoved deep into her memory.
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This time around Twilight had no problems navigating the corridors of the castle. She didn’t see Princess Luna waiting for her when the chariot landed, so she assumed that tonight's lesson will take place in the Princess’s study.
When she arrived before the double doors, she stopped. Was she supposed to knock? Maybe... Twilight took a step forward, but when she saw that the guards were looking at her as subtly as they could she hesitated. After some quick thinking, Twilight took another step forward and knocked.
“Enter” when that one word sounded from within the room, the guards opened the doors for her.
The Princess of the Night was sitting behind a mahogany desk in the far left corner, which was decorated with silver vines. She was apparently writing something, as she held a beautiful swan feather with her magic. She didn't even raise her head when Twilight entered.
“Make thy... make yourself comfortable my apprentice” Luna said still engrossed with whatever she was writing. So without anything other to do for now, Twilight sat down near the fireplace on the same black pillow she sat on the first time she was here.
After a few minutes the sound of a quill scribbling on parchment stopped and the purple unicorn looked to her left, away from the fire she stared at until now, and saw that the Princess was now sitting near here with said parchment rolled up and sealed with a black ribbon and a blue seal, held before here.
“This is for you Twilight Sparkle, but do not open it for now. This is the diagram for the Searing Sphere spell I used yesternight” after hearing that Twilight eagerly took the scroll with her own magic and laid it on the floor behind her, close to the pillow. When she looked at the Princess again she saw that she looked slightly concerned.
“What’s the matter Princess?”
“You seem tired Twilight, it is I who should be asking, what happened?” the dark alicorn said with care in her voice, and Twilight just couldn't bring herself to just tell that it was nothing.
“I had a nightmare so I got very little sleep, and in the afternoon Pinkie Pie made a party I had to go to” Twilight said with a sigh. Now that she was here, in this dark and rather cozy room she was really starting to feel tired.
“Then I shall try to make this as short lesson as it could be. Or do you prefer maybe some of this... coffee I heard about?”
“Coffee will be fine” usually Twilight tried not to drink more than one a day if she could help it, but when it came to learning nothing was more important.
The Princess reached with hers magic and grabbed a small silver bell, that Twilight now noticed stood on a small table near the door. The bell chimed with a delicate, but loud sound. The mares waited only few minutes before a servant arrived and went to the kitchens to get Twilight’s coffee. To the purple mare’s surprise it took no longer than five minutes, and now she could enjoy her hot drink.
“Now then... Tonight I wanted to discuss with you the proper way of forming the spells you will be learning...”
“Is it that different from what I and other unicorns normally do?” Twilight instantly asked when she saw how Princess Luna made a pause to breathe.
“Yes, because it uses emotions. For example, when you use your telekinesis you make the object float, you think nothing of it, feel nothing for it. You only command it. With battle magic... You need to mean it Twilight Sparkle. You need to want to hurt your foes. Are you capable of this my apprentice?” at the beginning of the little speech the Princess gave, she stood up and started to circle the purple mare. That alone made Twilight uncomfortable but when at the end, the Princess stood behind her and leaned forward to whisper her in the ear, her eyes went wide as plates when she comprehended what the Princess was asking.
Twilight stood up, made a few steps forward to distance herself from the Princess and turned around to stare at her with incredulous look. Twilight took another step back when she saw the calculating gaze. She once saw that look... Nightmare Moon stared at her like that as well.
“Answer the question, Twilight Sparkle and be honest” Luna asked calmly, not moving from hers place.
“I... I don’t... No” Twilight answered quietly, looking everywhere but not on the Princess.
“Good. I would send you to the dungeons if you have said yes”
“But then how can I learn battle magic?” Twilight asked sharply, it made no sense to her.
“It is just a matter of practice, and your conscience and sharp mind will allow you to do what is necessary without turning into the very thing you want to fight ” Luna’s voice took on the standard ‘teacher’ qualities.
Twilight was now speechless and even closed her eyes. She did not expect that. Now she understood why Princess Celestia deemed battle magic to dangerous and banned it. She took a deep breath. She did promise herself today that there will be no second thoughts. The purple unicorn opened her eyes and looked directly into the Princess’s own eyes.
“How can I do it? How can somepony learn to... want to hurt others?” Twilight’s voice carried none of her resolve and even sounded week, she saw that the dark alicorn noticed it.
“Righteous anger. If your foe intends to hurt your friends, family or any other pony you want to protect... Wouldn’t you feel anger? If they did, would you want revenge? You my apprentice will have to learn to use those feelings and not hide them as everypony else does. This is the truth Twilight Sparkle, everypony has their inner darkness, but most are ignorant or hide it. You must at least acknowledge your own darkness, and the sooner the better for our lessons” Luna said, as she stood up and move closer to Twilight.
“Now lets start with that Searing Ball spell. Open the scroll... also make sure that Spike burns the seal with his flames. It will allow you to send me letters, the same way you can send them to my sister” the Princess said as she sat down beside the smaller mare.
Twilight did as she was told and looked at one of the most complicated diagram she has ever seen... It was going to be a long night, at least she had her coffee even if it was now cold. But it was a good distraction from the dark thoughts that plagued her mind. Would she truly be able to... want to hurt others? She didn’t know, but she was sure she would find it out sooner or later.
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A/N: To be honest I don't know what to think about this chapter... I kind of fought for every word in it. Anyway, I hope that at least you enjoyed it more than I did. Also a thank you for A Fox in Equestria for proofreading.