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// Twilight Sparkle Takes Her Place 
// Story: The Hidden Story 
// by Cryogenii 
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Celestia smiled to herself as she read Twilight Sparkle's letter. The young pony had found Clover the Clever's second prophecy just in time.  Although that particular founder of Equestria had lived and died long ago, she had written an account of the Princess of the Night's return from exile.  Whilst this feat of clairvoyance seemed impossible in its farsightedness it was not unexpected from one as accomplished as Clover.

The prophecy came, unbidden to Celestia. She'd read it so often that the ancient stanzas were easily brought to mind…

"Beware, Equestria, of the longest day,
For it will be the return of a foul display.
The Mare in the Moon, from icy embrace,
Shalt escape that prison and take her place.

The stars shall aid the escape from her cell,
And the kingdom shall tremble under the spell.
For she brings with her an everlasting night,
And all of Equestria shall be plunged into fright.

The longest day of the thousandth year,
Shall be the day when her reign shall reappear.
Fearth not, for there doth be still hope,
For one shalt arise, with strength to cope.

The Elements of Harmony, shall be their guide,
To face the darkness, and turn the tide.
But more shall come, with hearts pure and true,
Joined in friendship, to see battle through.

With friendship as their weapon, they shall fight,
And vanquish the darkness with all their might.
And though the night mayth be long and cold,
The dawn shalt break, a new day to behold."

That Twilight could bring together the astronomy, archaic language and long dead calendar style was a testament to her intelligence and desire to learn all she could about everything she saw.  All except for her disregard for her fellow ponies. Indeed Twilight Sparkle was surely only fascinated in the lives of others only when they'd been dead for at least a couple of centuries.  This kind of ancestor worship was a troubling character flaw, except that it served the princess's needs perfectly.

A second smile came to Celestia's lips as she realised that she was an ancestor, her very immortality perhaps the one thing that made her of note to her student.  When had Celestia become a living fossil? Well, maybe her fatigue was making it seem that way this morning.  She needed to be clear headed now though,as this was the key moment; now she needed to start Twilight on another path.

What Twilight hadn't seen, and maybe should never see, was the sequel that Clover the Clever had written to the prophecy she had read.  Only one copy of this text existed, which was kept in the hidden, locked and magically sealed part of the royal library's restricted section.  A prophecy that was addressed to a single being, one for whom Clover had some specific but impossible advice across the ages.

The princess wondered exactly when Clover had written these prophecies.  Had he known what was to happen before even meeting the two sisters?  Maybe this foresight was only gained after years of friendship, but in either case it was unsettling to think that that wise and gentle soul had maybe been compelled to keep their precognition to themselves knowing full well what would happen between them.

It had almost seemed as though things were in ruins when Sunset Shimmer had disappeared. All that time coaching and training, the most powerful young unicorn in all Equestria. Celestia had concentrated on leadership skills, those that might command the royal guard to battle. Where the princess had utterly failed was in understanding that Clover wasn't directing her towards a general, but a leader of a different sort:

"Sun Princess, thou art strong and fair,
But in thy heart, a belief thou dost bear.
That day must reign supreme, over the night,
And so thy sister's rule, thoust doth fight.

But beware, for in thy quest to maintain the light,
Thou may overlook what's needed for the night.
And in that void, chaos may arise,
Bringing to ruin what thou dost prize.

Oh Princess, thy fate is set,
The longest day, do not forget,
A thousand years have come and gone,
And now 'tis time to right the wrong.

A third party found, with qualities rare,
Who can bring closure to this affair.
One who stands betwixt and doth see,
The strengths in both day and night's majesty.

That one must rise,  who knows the way,
To rule with friends, both night and day.
With the qualities rare, to bridge the divide,
And bring harmony to all by Equestria's side.

So heed my words, Princess, and search with care,
For the one who can both lead and share.
And with them in thy place, balance shall reign,
In Equestria, forevermore, without pain."

That she'd even been blind to the young fillies name was a private embarrassment. Too self-absorbed to notice that sunset only covers one interaction between day and night. Twilight, on the other hoof, stood between day and night, night and day.  Could this student learn her final lessons in time though? She'd been made to foster a baby dragon when just a filly herself, to learn to bear a great responsibility, but of friendship Twilight was a stranger.

The board was set now though, and all the pieces were in place. The summer sun celebration of the millennium was going to be in the town closest to the ruins of the Castle of the Two Sisters. In her duties overseeing the preparations for the festival, Twilight would meet the ponies that seemed most likely to embody the elements of harmony.

Celestia couldn't interfere in the events of that night, but she knew that she would have to be close by. If there was the slightest chance that Luna would betray her, then Celestia had to be ready to destroy her.  Would she be able to, though? She'd condemned Luna all those centuries ago to make a statement, but now she felt as though she had to end her sister's existence rather than return her to eternal torment if she couldn't be redeemed.  These thoughts were suppressed by her sense of compassion, which had developed over the centuries and her sister would be surprised to learn the existence of.