//------------------------------// // Chapter 1 // Story: Growing Some Wings // by Madd the Sane //------------------------------// Twilight was in Celestia's bedchambers, reading the book that Celestia had given her, The Birth of The Royal Pony Sisters. The book seemed to be written in badly-spelled Old Equestrian, a fact that bugged her inner control freak. She sighed, looking at the door. Celestia had insisted that the book not leave her bedchambers, not even if Twilight teleported directly to her bedroom at the school. She turned her head, looking over at her bare back. Celestia had dropped a bombshell when she said Twilight would be growing wings, becoming an Alicorn. Just as likely for me to outlive my friends, was her sarcastic thought. Shaking her head, she returned her attention to her book. "…Fore the unicorne Celeste, not noeing the foul deed played bye her peeres, did raise the son alon, drawing on the poweres Arcane ande manifested Wings most becoming of a Goddess, ande did rise the son with greet glory…" I bet that was a sight to see, Twilight mused. From what she had gathered, both Celestia and Luna had been powerful unicorns, tasked with raising the sun and the moon, respectively. They were not alone in this endeavor, relying on the aid of fellow unicorns. She had a piece of paper with a list of questions she wanted to ask Celestia. She added a new one: What was the purpose of the 'foul deed' her fellow unicorns pulled? After a second of thought, she added What was the 'foul deed'? A soft knock on the door drew Twilight's attention away from her studies. "Oh, please come in," she called out, getting her notes ready to ask Celestia some questions. After a few seconds of waiting, the door was burst open by an angry dark blue mare twice as big a normal pony, with a flowing mane that showed the night sky. "Sister! Have you no.… shame…" Luna's shout turned into a whisper as she saw the occupant of of the room wasn't Celestia looking to humor her sister by imitating a long-dead Twilight, but Twilight herself now cowering behind a desk. "Twilight Sparkle?" Hazarded the moon princess. Twilight squeaked. Luna narrowed her eyes, mumbling. Finally, she addressed the frightened Unicorn with sternness. "Twilight Sparkle, as much as you would enjoy to know the future, it is unwise to jump forward in time, lest you get stuck." "Princess?" Queried a confused Twilight. "Starswirl made the mistake as well, but he only went a year into the future. You, however, have gone one hundred years; things have changed significantly from the time you have jumped. It's best that you try to jump back. In fact, I will aid you." "Princess…" Twilight said in a shocked tone. Bowing her head, Luna began channeling magic into her horn. "Do not worry, my friend, you will thank me one day." "Princess Luna!" Twilight shouted. The magic in Luna's horn expanded in an oval from her horn tip to fill the room. There was a tense minute after nothing happened as both mares looked at each other in shock. "This is not possible," was Luna's breathless whisper. She raised her head, her horn glowing faintly. Her wide eyes went wider. "Twilight Sparkle?" Twilight nodded. "How art thou an equal to us in power?" It was time for Twilight's eyes to bug out comically. "I–I don't–I'm sorry, I didn't–I'm sorry!" She babbled. Luna did a disbelieving shake of her head. "We have no doubt that thou art Twilight Sparkle, for no other mare… oh, forgive our-my manners. It has been far too long since we have last met." "But… just as powerful as you!? But your an immortal Alicorn and I'm just…" she cut herself off, looking guiltily at the floor. "I don't know what I am." She mumbled out. The change of tone caught Luna off-guard. "What do you–" "Celestia said I'd grow wings!" Twilight blurted out. After a couple of slow blinks, Luna did a happy squeal and ran up and hugged Twilight before she could react. "It is great to see that you have grown in power." Twilight began to flail her hooves weakly. "It warms my heart to have a friend to enjoy eternity with! Oh, my sister said you liked stargazing;" Twilight's flailing became more energetic. "we shall stargaze tonight, and we shall eat of the S'Mores." Twilight's flailing had become frantic. "And then we shall have a make-over and… yes, Twilight?" "Air!" Twilight gasped out. Luna quickly released the bear hug that she had put Twilight in, apologizing while Twilight took big, deep breaths. After a moment of awkward silence, Luna asked "What are you doing in here, Twilight? It is rare that my sister to have another pony in her bedchambers." "Research," was the mumbled reply, her head briefly turning to the bookshelves in the room. "Research? On what? What subject would require you to have access to Celestia's private library?" Luna asked, looking at the bookshelves. "Alicorns," Twilight continued to mumble. Luna made a derisive snort. "There is only one book that could even be considered as anything researchable, and I am fairly certain that book doesn't exist anymore. Any other book about Alicorns is pure conjecture and shouldn't be read if you want the truth." Twilight's ears laid back on her head. "Oh, I guess The Birth of The Royal Pony Sisters isn't any–" "WHAT!?" The force of Luna's exclamation forced Twilight to take a couple of steps back. Luna quickly turned to look at the desk, taking a look at the book that was sitting there. With a scowl, she closed the book before Twilight could protest and looked at the title. Sure enough, it read The Birth of The Royal Pony Sisters. Luna swore. "I had hoped that book was destroyed when I razed the old castle," was her glum comment. "Princess, what's wrong with the book?" Twilight asked with worried curiosity. Luna lashed her tail. "It is embarrassing to us." "Embarrassing?" "It talks about our history, and our hubris. And the author more than once goes off on tangents. More than once he commented on our 'goddess-like beauty,'" Luna stuck out her tongue. "My sister and I are nowhere near as powerful as a god; Discord had taught us that. I think the author had a 'thing' for both horns and wings. "I am curious as to why my sister gave you the book instead of talking to you about this." "Oh, Princess Celestia said she was busy with something important. I think I interrupted her, actually," Twilight winced. "'Interrupted'?" Twilight giggled nervously. "I kinda had a mental breakdown." Luna raised an eyebrow. "Did you enchant another doll with a spell to make it irresistible?" "It only happened once!" Exclaimed Twilight. After a second of composing herself, she continued in a more dignified tone. "No, the recent loss of Applejack hit me hard this morning. While I was teaching oh sweet Celestia I forgot about my classes!" Before Luna could stop her, Twilight disappeared in a flash of purple. Twilight arrived at the front of the class she had been teaching earlier that day. The class, usually bright and vibrant was now cold and dark. Confused, she looked at the clock. The clock read 7:41. Had it really been a whole day? She shook her head. Glancing around the now-empty classroom, she sighed and began to tidy up her desk. She looked at a large stack of papers. My students’ homework. She idly leafed through the pages, not really paying attention to their contents. I should have graded these two hours ago, was her morose thought. Gathering up the papers, she was prepared to teleport to her office when she heard someone clear their throat. Turning around, she saw a brown stallion with a well-maintained dark brown mane standing in the classroom's doorframe. Twilight immediately recognized the headmaster of the school. "You gave us quite a scare today, Doctor Sparkle. It's not often that a teacher runs out of her classroom crying. Is there something you need to talk about?" Twilight shook her head. "I already talked to the princess; she is the only one who would understand." "Understand what?" "What did my students do while I was gone?" She deflected. She did not want to dredge up painful memories in front of her boss. The headmaster narrowed his eyes but didn't comment. "For the most part, they studied. The more rebellious ones went out and caused a ruckus in the halls before another teacher came by and restored order. One colt seemed quite distraught by your sudden absence; tried to get into my office, said something about a 'Mares' swinging moods.'" Twilight snorted. "That would be Dusk Light; I think he has a crush on me. I thought he really liked learning, but one of the things I saw him doodling put his dedication in a new light. Where he came up with that phrase he used is beyond me; he must heard it from one of his fellow classmates." A soft pop caused Twilight and the headmaster to turn and see a disoriented Princess Luna. The headmaster immediately bent down into a bow. "Twilight Sparkle, your teleportation spell is a bit rough." Noted Luna. Twilight gaped. "You followed my teleportation slipstream? But that's…" she trailed off. Wasn't that impossible? Shaking off the lingering effect of the teleportation spell, Luna stood up. "I would have been here sooner if it was easy. Not to mention your magic resonates with that of the planet's, making it difficult to discover." Turning to the headmaster, she motioned him to rise. "It seems that Twilight Sparkle has a unique gift; a gift that we princesses wish to cultivate." Twilight felt a lump forming in her throat. No… Luna continued "As such, she is absolved of any other duties and obligations…" "No…" Twilight whispered. The princesses are going to take me away from my job! "We are sorry for any inconvenience this may cause, but we feel this is the best course of action-" "NO!" The headmaster and Luna turned to look at a distraught Twilight. "I don't want to go yet! At least let me finish up the semester!" Luna shook her head. "I am sorry, Twilight Sparkle, but this is the first time in nearly a millennia for this to happen. We're… anxious for you to stretch your wings, and that is all I will say about it." Twilight looked at her incredulously. Had Luna really said that? "B-but my students! They still need to be taught-!" "Twilight, this won't be the first time a teacher has had to drop out due to peculiar circumstances." He stopped short when Twilight gave him a withering glare. "Twilight Sparkle, trust me when I say we don't know if waiting is wise." Luna stated. Twilight, distraught, did the only thing that came to mind; a tactic she hadn't used since she was a filly. She gave Luna her best doe-eyes. Luna didn't even flinch. "Twilight Sparkle, you are going to be training with us and that is final," she stomped her front hoof down. Twilight sighed. "Okay, princess. I'll meet you at the castle." "No, Twilight, I think we shall go together," Luna said, her horn glowing. The two mares disappeared in a flash of blue.