//------------------------------// // Twilight // Story: Eclipse // by Foals Errand //------------------------------// “I cannot believe I am doing this,” Celestia grumbled as she slowly walked through the Everfree Forest, trying to balance Destiny on her back. The nervous human-turned-pony clutched to her neck as Luna walked beside them, trying insanely hard not to laugh. Her own horn was lit to stabilize Destiny as she kept sliding down the side of Celestia’s back. “I…honestly can’t believe that you are either Princess Celestia.” Destiny squeaked out as Luna’s magic grabbed and centered her again. “I’ve been horseback riding before…” She trailed off, her eyes going wide as Luna snorted. “N-not that you’re a horse, your Highness. I mean, the size is comparable. I uh…” “Destiny, dear?” Celestia’s voice interrupted the nervous mare, whom she could absolutely without a doubt state was not Nightmare Moon.  “Um, I uh, yes, Princess?” “Please stop before you hurt something. We’re close to the edge of the Everfree. Luna, are we safe to precede?” Celestia glanced at Luna, who was desperately trying not to snort through her closed mouth. “I am certain we are, sister. While I enjoy the ponies of Ponyville, night owls, they are not.” Luna and Celestia both paused in their stride. This had the undue effect of causing Destiny to begin to slide again. This time, Luna wasn’t prepared to catch her, and both mares winced as she hit the forest floor hard. “I’m okay…” Destiny mumbled, “It’s fine. I landed on my head, not like I needed it or anything… What the. Oh, come on!” Destiny cried in a manner very familiar to Luna. “Um, Princesses… my horn is stuck.”  Celestia glanced over to see that Destiny’s horn was buried in the soil. “I’m going to pull you out. Do not brace, or you’ll likely fly out and knock us both to the ground.” “Don’t brace, got it! Uh, whenever you’re ready?” Destiny swallowed as she stopped trying to pull her horn free. Instead, she froze in place as she felt Celestia’s magic wrap around her and tug her free with a small pop. “And there you are, my Little Pony. Free again.” Celestia smiled down at Destiny. The longer she stayed with the young mare, the less concerned she became. She was like an adorable toddler. “Thank you.” Destiny smiled a touch nervously as Luna walked over to her. Her horn was glowing again as she lifted Destiny back onto Celestia’s back, tying her to her back with summoned ropes.  “That should keep you safe from slipping off Tias’s back before we reach Twilight’s palace. Tia, I suggest that night owl or not, we proceed at a gallop.” Luna smiled as she watched Destiny’s eyes go wide. “Wait, hold on a second, gallop? Let me grab tight.” Destiny scrambled to grab hold of Celestia’s neck as the mare took off at full gallop. Oh my God! I’m gonna die! I’m for sure going to die! But man, what a way to go! Twilight looked up from the book she was reading when she heard a loud knock on her front door. “That’s odd… Who would be coming over so late at night?” She flapped her wings a few times before she flew from the library to land before the front door, hoping that whoever her late-night visitor might be, they weren’t in huge peril. She swung the door open, and for a few seconds, she wondered if it might not be a better decision to simply close the door and head straight to bed as she had obviously been awake for far too long. She gave herself a shake and took another look.  In her doorway stood Princess Celestia and Princess Luna. It was obvious to Twilight that Luna was doing everything she could not to burst out laughing. The cause of this was obvious, as Twilight just stared at Celestia. As always, she looked immaculate until you noticed that tied to her barrel was… “Uh, why is Nightmare Moon tied to your back like that Pri-Celestia?” Twilight finally got out. She honestly wasn’t too concerned that Nightmare Moon seemed to be back as she looked as harmless as a foal. “That would be because she is not Nightmare Moon except in body,” Celestia answered with a smile. “May we come in, my precious Twilight Sparkle, to explain?” “Yes! I mean, of course, Celestia.” Twilight backed up to allow all three mares to come inside. She took a better look at the mare, who at least appeared to be Nightmare Moon. She seemed to be trembling, her forelegs tight around Celestia’s neck. “Fast…very fast too fast, way, way too fast.” Destiny shivered as Luna carefully removed the ropes and set Destiny down on her hooves. The pony looked a bit shaky, but she managed to keep from falling. Destiny followed the others very slowly, kind of getting the hang of walking. Almost as if she had once known how long ago. She watched as Twilight pulled out four pillows and sat on one with a happy sigh.  No more falling on my head, at least. I have got to stop doing that “Twilight Sparkle, I’d like to introduce Destiny Yaeger. She is a human similar to the creature Sunset Shimmer is now. Somehow, she was brought from her world to ours. While Luna and I search for a way to send her home we were hoping she could stay with you.” “Absolutely! I mean, another type of human? Think about what we can teach each other! Just, um, one little problem?” Twilight hesitated as Celestia nodded. “Yes, her appearance is rather startling if you aren’t expecting it. Luna and I felt the best idea would be to place a glamour over her. A three-layered one so that it will not fade under neither the sun nor the moon and as long as friendship fills her heart, of course.” Celestia gave her former student a fond smile. “Of course! What type of glamour are we going to be placing on her?” Twilight seemed to be channeling Pinkie as she trembled in anticipation. “One of age, a filly alicorn will be far easier to explain than a mare of any one race without a cutie mark,” Luna said with a sad smile as Twilight nodded in agreement. “If you are prepared, I will prepare the spell; I only need you both to add your magic to mine.” “Of course, Sister.” “I’m ready, Luna!” Destiny looked up at Luna to see both her eyes and horn glowing brightly. She squeaked once before she felt Luna’s horn touch hers and closed her eyes tight on reflex.  “...Are you sure you didn’t possibly go a bit far with the glamour, Lu?” Celestia asked as she blinked a few times. “I’m sorry, but did you see how she toddled after us? If anything, I did not go far enough.” Luna frowned at her sister. “I think she looks adorable.” Twilight beamed at where Destiny still had her eyes closed. Destiny finally opened her eyes to see she was far closer to the ground than she had been. “Could… er, may I see a mirror?” She asked after a moment. Twilight quickly produced a mirror so that Destiny could look at herself in the mirror. Her fur was still space black, and her eyes had normal pupils but were still turquoise Thank God for small favors Her wings, which had been large and intimidating things, were now fluffy little things held to her sides. Her horn was far shorter and dull. Nightmare’s mane was gone, replaced with a mop of purple hair. She looked a lot like Penstroke’s original character, Nyx. The only thing was she was certain Nyx had been like nine? Destiny didn’t look that much older than the Cake twins. Transported to Equestria for a magical fantasy adventure, and I’ve become Mini Nyx…fan-fucking-tastic.