//------------------------------// // Lunch time // Story: You're not Twilight // by Miner //------------------------------// At maretime bay café “One order of daisy sandwich,” “Thanks,” Misty Brightdawn says, paying the waiter and eating her lunch. It was lunchtime for everypony, and she was no exception. Sure, Opaline would get mad at her for spending money on a sandwich when she could steal it, but Misty is hoping that Opaline won’t notice two bits missing. But more importantly, they are late. Misty looks at Sunny’s smoothie stand, which hasn’t opened today. Usually, Sunny and her friends would come to work and leave the Crystal Brighthouse unguarded. She hoped to use this knowledge to enter the Crystal Brighthouse and find the source of the Prisbeam Magic coming from within. However, none of the ponies have should up work today. The only exception was Hitch, who was doing his daily patrol around town. Which makes her wonder, “What are those ponies up to today?” She took another bite when she could hear the voice of Izzy coming closer, “Speak of Nightmare… Wait, what!?” Misty did a double take when she saw the same group of ponies coming down the street, but something was different. For one, Twilight Sparkle was with them, along with a stallion she had never seen before. He looks like Sprout, but this one is differently taller and… “WHAT?!” Misty shouts, startling the ponies around her. She covers her mouth before making herself scarce. Once she had entered stealth mode, Misty went to get a closer look at that stallion, “I must have been seeing things, but it couldn’t be,” Misty looks around a potted plant as Aaron talks with Sunny. And to her surprise, she wasn’t seeing things, “He doesn’t have a cutiemark,” She whispers to herself; Misty couldn’t believe it. She thought that she was the only adult pony here that didn’t have her cutiemark. But right there in front of her is a full-grown stallion without one as well. A glimmer of hope ignited within her heart. Perhaps her condition isn’t so unusual after all. Misty looks at her blank flank, rubbing a hoof over it. Realizing that she is getting off-topic, she shakes her head and listens to the conversation. “I appreciate the help Twilight, but I am fine on my own looking for Canterlot.” Sunny smiles back, “Don’t think anything of it. After all, if you do find Canterlot, I want to be one of the first ponies to see it.” “If you say so,” “So, got any ideas where to start?” “I thought that you of all ponies would know that,” Aaron starts a pose, “To the library,” For some odd reason, a group of ponies with instruments was nearby and made a sound effect that Aaron could have sworn was the original Batman theme. Ignoring them, Aaron, and the others, enter Maretime bays library/bookstore, the Corner Hoof. It has seen better days with dust covering some of the books, but it will do. However, not everypony was enthusiastic as the rest. “So, Aaron,” Pipp says, grabbing a random book from a shelf, “What are we looking for exactly?” “Canterlot,” He deadpans, much to her dismay, “We get that,” Zipp says, trying not to stir up a dust storm and resort to walking, “but if these books had the answers, other ponies would have found it by now,” Aaron smirks, facing her, “Ah, but they were looking for the exact location of Canterlot. We are looking for the direction,” “I don’t follow,” Aaron browses through the shelves talking out loud, “You see, Zipp, over the thousands of years that passed. Hundreds of stories had been told since the time of Canterlot.” “And?” “Every story has a reason behind it,” He grabs two books looking between each one, “Be it fictional or nonfiction—entertainment or educational.” “SO, what are you getting at?” Zipp presses on, “I am saying that somewhere around in these stories, there may be some historical truth hidden within the story,” Aaron drops a stack of books on a table and opens one, “What we are looking for at the slight similarity between stories about some adventure leaving somewhere and the direction they took before they settle down. Then we will cross reference this with the reports that archaeologists have made to find Canterlot,” “Aaron, that is such a long shot that I have no idea where to begin to count the odds against it.” Zipp rubs her head, “There is no way to tell if the stories are true.” “You are right, Zipp, however, since historical knowledge was lost. Stories are all we have left to find what our ancestors left behind,” “Aaron, you could be at this for days before you even find a clue,” “Then I suggest that you girls start reading; we go a long day ahead of us,” Aaron says, making Zipp groan as she picks up a book, “How did you ponies talk me into this?” As everypony starts reading, none of them notice the sound of hooves leaving quickly from the library, Opaline's Dark Castle Home to the only known alicorn in current Equestria, Queen Opaline. She growls, moving to her mirror that had interrupted her lunch, “Whatever that mare has to say, it better be important!” Once in front of the mirror, her reflection changes to that of Misty’s face, “Report,” “Okay, so get this, I was in town waiting for Sunny and her friends to show up so that I could enter the Crystal Brighthouse,” Opaline interrupts her, “Did you successfully infiltrate the lighthouse?” “No, but-” Enrage Opaline lashes out, “NO! Misty, you have one job! Get into the Crystal Brighthouse and steal the source of the Prisbeam Magic!” Misty panics and tries to explain herself, “I know, but listen, Twilight is here!” Silence is the only thing that can describe the scene. Opaline was at a loss for words. There is no way she heard Misty say that. Twilight Sparkle has returned to Equestria! She grits her teeth, growling, “Explain yourself, young lady!” “I saw an alicorn mare that looks just like the torn-up picture with the knifes sticking out of it, the one above the fireplace.” “What were you doing in my room?” Opaline shakes her head, “I mean, are you sure it’s Twilight Sparkle? She has been missing from Equestria for thousands of years after she stole my magic.” Misty scratches the back of her head, “I think so,” “You think!” Opaline shouts, “I am going to need more than an ‘I think’ Misty! If Twilight Sparkle has indeed returned to Equestria! Then you need to capture her!” Panic and fear cross her face, “Capture her! How? She an alicorn.” Opaline scoffs, “Despite her being an Alicorn. Twilight’s greatest weakness is her friends. Look around for anypony that seems close to Twilight so that you can use them against her if needed. But I need her alive so she can return my magic to me after all these years!” She rubs her hooves together, “Once my magic is returned to me, I will finally take what is rightfully mine!” She chuckles, “And you, my faithful pony. Will finally get what you wanted,” “My Cutiemark,” Misty says with hope in her voice, “Yes, Misty. It will be yours once we get our hooves on Twilight Sparkle. Now then, you said you saw her in Maretime Bay. What was she doing there?” “She was with Sunny’s friends and a stallion I had never seen before. From what I can get, they are looking for Canterlot for some reason,” If a record was playing, someone did a vinyl scratch as Opaline's train of thought stopped, “Canterlot! Misty, why didn't you open with that first!” Misty is so confused right now, “But I thought that the princess was more important to discuss first,” “Forget about the princess! Misty, I need you to get to Canterlot before them!” “But isn’t Canterlot just a myth? A ponies tale?” “I can assure you, Misty. Canterlot is real. It has been unreachable to me for many years. But that is not important. Regardless I need you to look for a special book for me. It holds the key to restoring my magic from that ungrateful Princess. I originally thought of torturing her to get my magic back, but if I get my hooves on the book. That won't be necessary and will be much easier. It should be located in the secret archive in the lower chambers of the castle. I will send you a map later.” “I get that. But Opaline. Can't you lead me to Canterlot instead?” "I wish it was that easy. Let's say when I lost my magic. I also lost the ability to search or go to Canterlot actively like a curse. So, you will join their little group of explorers as their scout. That way, on the journey, once you find Canterlot, tell them that you will scout ahead to make sure it's safe and get to the archives before them.” “Yes, Opaline,” “Don’t fail me, Misty. This is one task that you cannot afford to lose.” “Understood, Opaline,” Misty says as her image disappears while Opaline storms off. “Now, where is my sandwich?”