It was time for Princess Twilight Sparkle to raise the sun and hide the moon.
Although, she was still asleep.
Something extremely strange was happening, Spike had woken up early and before Twilight, when normally it is Twilight who always woke up at the necessary time for her current daily task of moving the sun and the moon.
The little dragon was being hugged by the front legs of his older sister, he smiled as he felt safe not to have that horrible nightmare again, even so, it was time for the princess to wake up, "Twi, Twi, you should wake up, unless you want it to remain night.”
Twilight opened her eyes slowly and the first thing she saw was her little brother's face, green eyes stared into purple eyes for several seconds until Twi broke the silence, "Good morning Spike, I hope you slept well."
After Spike nodded, Twilight kissed him on the forehead, then she got out of bed and went directly to the balcony to raise the sun and hide the moon.
“How does it feel to move the sun and the moon? Princess?" Spike asked comically.
“I feel like it's easier now that I have a better understanding of how this works,” Twilight replied with a smile.
Hours passed and the day passed like any other day, Twilight taking charge of Equestria and Spike helping her with that, everything went on like this until they finished their work today.
"That was tiring, but nothing I can't handle," Twilight said as she used her horn to charge a pen and paper with her magic as she wrote.
"Speak for yourself, there are many relationship problems between the Dragon Kingdom and the Land of the Zebras, problems that I will have to solve," Spike replied sarcastically.
"I'm sure you can do it Spike, besides, you know Ember, that's why I chose you for the job," Twilight said.
Spike was touched by those words, "Thank you Twi."
Suddenly the sound of various construction tools was heard outside the castle.
"Huh?" Spike said as he looked out the window to see what it was about and saw several builder ponies working very close to the castle.
"I wonder what they're doing?"
"Oh yeah, they're building a school," Twilight replied.
"Another magic school?" Spike asked.
Twilight giggled, "No Spike, a school in general, I know Canterlot is where magic is taught a lot, but we also need more schools like the one in Ponyville."
"Oh, that's interesting," Spike replied.
"And the best part, is that it will accept any creature, ponies, griphons, hippogriffs, yaks, changelings, zebras," Twilight continued, then emphasized the last species she mentioned, "Dragons."
"Wow, I'm sure that news would make Ember happy for her dragons who want studies."
"I don't just mean Ember students."
Spike was confused, he didn't know what Twi was getting at, he put the gears in his brain to work until something clicked.
"One moment…." The dragon noticed.
The unicorn smiled at her little brother's reaction.
“Did I….” Spike said but was interrupted by Twilight.
"That's right Spike, when the semester starts, you're going to school."
The dragon did not know how to feel, it was clear that he has the age to keep his studies and that it would be a new experience, but he also thought that it would be a bit useless since he knew many things, surpassing the average intelligence of a foal of his own age.
"Are you sure Twi, I think you've already taught me what I need, I don't know if it's a good idea."
"Spike I know you're scared about this big change, but I assure you everything will be fine, just give it a chance."
Spike, still unsure, decided to believe in Twilight, "It's okay Twi, I feel like it's for the best."
"Of course yes, besides you won't be alone, since the Crusaders will be your classmates."
"Really? Thats cool."
"Yeah, Cherilee's class is graduating, so with my princess influences," Twi emphasized that part, "Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo all earned scholarships to study here."
"Should I worry about those 'Princess Influences'?" Spike said but was also comforted that he wouldn't start class without friends.
Twilight only responded with a nervous giggle.
Hours passed and it was already night, Twilight and Spike were in the dining room having dinner with the ex-princesses, they looked the same only they no longer had their crowns.
"This is delicious, how did you prepare it Twilight?" Celestia asked marveling at the taste of the hay they ate.
"Oh, actually, Spike made it," Twilight replied.
"Well this is delicious Spike, you should have been the royal chef of Canterlot," Luna said.
"Daww, thanks Princess Luna and Princess Celestia, the trick is to use the correct temperature, which is easy when you have magical fire," Spike replied.
The princesses laughed at her comment, but then Celestia spoke up, "Oh Spike, we're not princesses anymore my little dragon."
"Sorry, it's still hard to process that fact," Twilight said to which Spike nodded.
"And how are you spending your retirement," Twilight asked them.
“A bit boring,” Luna answered.
"Oh Lulu," Celestia replied, "Sorry Luna but she hasn't found anything to do in her spare time."
"And what about you mom," Spike said and then sighed, "I mean, princess, I mean, Celestia."
Celestia smiled moved because the dragon was still calling her "mom", "Well, lately I've been taking acting classes, so I can improve for my theater debut."
"That's great princess," Twilight said and then remembered, "I mean, Celestia, you'll be a better actress that way, um, no offense."
“None taken,” Celestia replied.
"Don't worry Luna, I'm sure you'll find something you're passionate about," Spike said.
"Thank you very much Spike, it feels good to hear that coming from you."
More than an hour passed, the 4 were talking quietly until Luna broke the ice.
"So, is someone going to talk about the elephant in the room?" Luna asked.
"Umm, what are you talking about Luna?" Spike asked nervously.
"Oh please," Luna said, "I won't be like Applejack but I know when you're keeping something from me."
Spike and Twilight looked at each other.
"Twi, Spike, whatever's going on with you, you can tell us," Celestia chimed in, "We won't be the princesses anymore, but we'll still be your friends."
“Well, the thing is….” Twilight spoke up but thought it would be best if Spike said, "Spike, it'd be best if you explained it yourself."
"Um okay," Spike spoke up, "I've had this nightmare twice, I think it's a little thing, but…."
"Spike, why didn't you say so before, I will gladly enter your dreams and fix the problem," Luna interrupted in a sweet tone.
“Oh thank you prin…. I mean, Luna,” Spike said.
"That's very kind, Luna," Celestia said, then turned to Spike, "Oh, poor thing, it must have been a horrible nightmare for you to have those dark circles under your eyes, Spike."
Spike looked at himself in the mirror and saw that he had dark circles under his eyes.
"Would you mind telling me what happened in your nightmare?" Luna asked the dragon but then she thought it might be traumatic for him, "Umm, unless you don't want to, I'll understand if that's the case."
"No, it's fine Luna, I'll tell you every detail," Spike replied.
Spike began to tell them every detail of his dream, needless to say that the further he went, the former princesses' faces became more terrified, Spike kept counting until he reached the end, by the time he finished, Celestia looked terrified.
"Oh by Equestria," she went straight to Spike and hugged him as hard as she could, "I'm sorry, I didn't expect..."
"Don't worry, I'm fine," Spike said.
But Luna had gotten the worst of it.
“Umm Luna? Are you OK?" Twilight asked.
Luna was paralyzed, she was trembling, it seemed that she knew something.
“Sister,” Celestia stepped closer.
“Tia, I must go, I have to investigate something,” Luna said as she teleported away.
“HEY WAIT,” Celestia yelled.
Luna reappeared, "Thanks for dinner, and Spike, don't worry, I'll get to the bottom of this."
Luna teleported again.
"That was weird," Celestia and Twilight said at the same time.
"Well Spike, you said that creature had green eyes," Celestia said, "I'm sorry, I have no information on such a creature, only Queen Chrysalis is the only one I can think of."
"Well, she's a rock right now," Twilight added.
"Still, like my sister said, don't worry, she'll make sure you sleep well, and we'll get to the bottom of this."
"Celestia, is there something we should know?" Twilight Sparkle asked.
Celestia was honest with them, "Yes, I think so, if the castle of the 2 sisters appeared in Spike's dream, then there is information that they must know, but not today, I must first find it."
Twilight and Spike were looking at her very carefully.
"But don't worry, I don't think it's a bad thing, you go on with your lives, we'll take care of it," Celestia said as she said goodbye to them, "I have to go, I wish you good night."
Before leaving, Celestia kissed Twilight and Spike on the forehead, then teleported away.
“Huh, that was very motherly,” Twilight pointed out.
"I hope they're lucky to find whatever they are looking for," Spike said.
Meanwhile in Celestia and Luna's new home.
Celestia arrived at the place looking for Luna, "Lulu, where are you?"
Then she heard sounds in the basement, she went downstairs and saw her sister going through a chest that seemed old.
"Lulu, what are you doing?" Celestia asked.
“Tia, this…. It can't be real... They should have been destroyed….” Luna answered a little scared.
“Perhaps you mean…..” Celestia said but was interrupted by Luna when she found a book whose cover showed 7 stones similar to the elements of harmony.
“That's right Tia, someone activated them….” Luna said, “The Elements of Sin.”