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// Chapter One- Without a Sun 
// Story: Worse than the Cold 
// by Shivy-Erebus33 
//------------------------------//

Chapter One- Without a Sun
By Shivy-Erebus
“Your faithful student, Twilight Sparkle,” Concluded the purple unicorn, smiling with content at her latest lesson. Spike happily finished the letter with a flourish, and then spewed his magic green fire on the letter, sending it off to Canterlot. 
Twilight smiled at her most favorite assistant. “I’m so excited that Princess Celestia is going to let me advance in my studies!” She was so giddy that she started to trot around the table in the middle of her library. She was very excited; Princess Celestia made her anticipate it greater each week.
“I wonder why she hasn’t informed you of your new task yet,” Spike inquired, setting his quill into the ink. “It’s been about three weeks. Don’t you think she should’ve given you the assignment yet?”
The lavender unicorn stopped trotting, but still held the gleaming look. “Oh, Spike, she’s most likely busy with other things. Princess Celestia will tell me my assignment any day now!” With this, she trotted up the stairs. Her horn glowed with magic, levitating a book with her as she went.
Spike sighed and followed her. Slight anxiety was pricking at the young dragon’s mind as he asked, “Did you even try to ask her?”
Bouncing up onto her bed, Twilight scoffed lightheartedly at the pressing dragon. “She is the princess, Spike. I just can’t go and ask her anything whenever I want! She’ll tell me my task when she sees fit.”
Spike mumbled for a bit before padding off, leaving Twilight in peace. She couldn’t help but think about what he had said; it has been a while since she’s heard from Celestia. In fact, she hasn’t heard from her since she arrived home from the Crystal Empire. Twilight shrugged off the sense of worry; she was probably very busy, being a princess and all! Besides, she wouldn’t forget about her most faithful student.
When Twilight started reading, things were calm and peaceful. Spike was busying himself with other things while she read about advance spells (just to be ready for Princess Celestia). It wasn’t until a nice hour later when something was horribly wrong.
Twilight glanced at the clock; 7:30 p.m. She glanced outside; it was still bright as day, the sun still shining right at the peak of the sky, as if it were noon. Twilight cast the book aside and called out, “Spike!” staring out the window at the broad daylight. How could this be?
“Yes, Twilight?” Spike ran up the stairs, looking at her.
“Its 7:30 Spike, and it’s sunny outside. Why is it sunny?”
The purple dragon glanced at the clock, and then outside. He didn’t say anything, but his face said it all.
“Something must be up with Celestia!” he exclaimed, running to the window beside Twilight. “What do we do?”
Twilight was still too dumbfounded to answer. The sun should’ve been set a while ago, but it was still out there! Why had it not set?
“Twilight!” Spike prodded her with his elbow, than gestured outside. “What do we do?”
“We,” Twilight Sparkle began, “We have to alert the princess! We have to check on her!”
“She isn’t responding to your letters,” Spike reminded her as she raced passed him, clomping down the stairs.
“I’m aware, Spike. We’ve got to try any method to reach the princess. She’s never late with her sun duties. Something awful must be happening!” Twilight had grabbed her saddlebag and started to fill it with anything that could become a necessity; four quills, plenty of paper, her book on advanced spells.
Spike was beside her in moments, the little dragon now frantic. “What if something terrible happened to her, Twilight?”
For once, Twilight didn’t reassure him. What would become of Equestria if Princess Celestia wasn’t here? She flicked her tail suddenly, as if to dismiss the idea from her mind. “Maybe she just forgot. We have to go check on her anyway. Spike, can you keep packing for me? I’m going to go gather my friends.”
Spike nodded in understanding and took the saddlebag from Twilight. The lavender unicorn then galloped outside right away, down the cobblestone streets of Ponyville. Her hoof steps echoed distantly in the nearly deserted streets; curtains were drawn, shops were closed, everyone was settling down. And only now was the moon beginning to show in the dark sky.
Twilight ran to her closest friend (location wise), Rarity. She knocked on the door furiously, willing Rarity to answer faster, and then waited impatiently. The white unicorn opened the door; there were rollers in her hair, so she must’ve been prepping for bed already. She looked unexpectedly at Twilight, but she smiled nonetheless. “Why, hello there, Twilight! What brings you around this time of night?”
“I think something’s wrong with Princess Celestia, Rarity. We have to get everyone and meet back at the library, okay?” Twilight’s voice was tight with urgency, which Rarity picked up on right away. She quickly shook the rollers out of her hair, and started to gallop with Twilight away from the Carousel Boutique.
“I’ll fetch Pinkie Pie and Applejack. You get Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy, okay?” Twilight panted to Rarity as they sprinted. She nodded briskly, and turned onto a new cobblestone street, away from the lavender unicorn. On Twilight ran, though; the worry for her mentor was a growing lump in her stomach. Each moment she thought about it, the worse it seemed to her.
She neared Sugarcube Corner. While the Carousel Boutique’s lights were dimmed, Pinkie Pie’s place was alive with light. Twilight picked up on distant crying; the Cake twins must still be up. When reaching the door, she rapped on it hurriedly.
Mr. Cake answered it, cradling a whimpering Pumpkin Cake in one of his arms. Twilight said immediately, “Mr. Cake, may I please speak with Pinkie Pie? It’s an emergency.”
Pumpkin Cake wailed loudly, making Mr. Cake wince a bit. He responded with a nod, than called for the pink pony. She hopped down the stairs merrily, hopped all the way to the door, and flashed her friend a toothy grin. “Hi Twilight!”
“Pinkie, we have to go right away! I think something’s wrong with Princess Celestia!”
The party pony opened her mouth as if to declare with disbelief, but Twilight had already turned tail and was racing away. Pinkie charged after her, and Twilight instructed her. “Go get Applejack; Rarity is getting RD and Fluttershy. Meet back at the library when you get her!”
“Okey-dokey-lokie!” Pinkie said, still sprinting ahead towards Applejack’s orchard. Twilight than turned around and took off towards home. Her breathing was becoming heavy from constantly running, but she couldn’t stop. She had to get to Ponyville as soon as she could. Princess Celestia could be in danger this very moment! She never raises the sun late!
When her library came into view, she slowed to a quick trot and started to heave, gathering her breath back. Her horn glowed with magic as she opened the door and slammed it behind her. Spike had filled the saddlebag to the brim; the poor dragon was pacing about, calculating. When she entered, he ran up to her. “Where’re the others?”
“They’re on their way,” Twilight panted. She levitated a nearby rag and wiped her face, ignoring the roughness of the fabric, than tossed it to the side. Twilight sat down, gazing out the window at the soft moon. Stars twinkled around it idly. It would’ve been a beautiful night for a stroll, if it weren’t for the possibly endangered princess.
Spike hadn’t noticed the serenity of the night, though. He was shifting through some crumpled papers. Twilight scrunched her nose a bit, gazing at them. “Did you dig those out of the trash?”
“I have to make sure I didn’t miss anything important,” Spike said hurriedly, looking through the useless papers. His hands fumbled, and the papers flew out of his hand and skewed themselves on the floor. He started to gather them frantically. 
Twilight levitated the papers and stacked them neatly. “Please don’t freak out. We have to stay calm in case there really is danger. The others will be here soon; why don’t you go and get us some hot barley tea? It’ll sooth all of our nerves.”
“Barley tea,” Spike muttered hurriedly, as if he didn’t hear Twilight at all, “Got it! Hot barley tea coming right up!” He scampered off, leaving Twilight alone.
She busied herself by pacing quietly beside the window, checking the time frequently. 7:43. She made a pattern of this: pacing, checking the time, pacing even more, glancing at the sky, checking the time. Time seemed to be crawling. 7:44, 7:46, 7:47. She didn’t cease until she heard Spike pad back up the stairs. He was accompanied by the clanking of the teacups and pot.
“Are the others here yet?” He inquired, setting down the tray on the table.
“Not yet. It shouldn’t be taking them this long!” Twilight stated, getting frustrated with worry. She stopped pacing at the window and walked over to Spike, gazing into his frightened emerald eyes. She sighed heavily and pulled him into a hug; he nuzzled close, taking the counsel. “I didn’t mean to scare you Spike. I’m sorry.”
The purple dragon nodded into her lavender coat, and then pulled away at the knock of the door. Twilight pulled it open with magic, allowing her sweaty, panting friends inside. Twilight distributed the cups of barley tea to each of her friends.
“Okay girls, thanks for coming. There shouldn’t be any further question about it; the sun’s pattern was irregular today. Something must be wrong with Celestia.” Twilight started right away. All of her friends looked horribly concerned, hardly acknowledging the tea in front of them.
Applejack spoke first. “Are ya sure, Twilight? I mean, it coulda just been a slip up.” 
“I have to agree with Applejack,” Rarity chimed in, stepping beside the orange mare. “I mean, honestly, Twilight, everyone messes up! Maybe Celestia was distracted, or she just forgot.”
Twilight shook her head at what her friends were saying. She never forgets!
Rainbow Dash put in, “Plus, Princess Celestia always calls you if something’s wrong. She always does.” Her eyes were droopy and her hair was more frizzed than usual. She must’ve been napping when Rarity fetched her. 
Fluttershy, seeing the conflict brewing, stepped up beside Twilight. She put a hoof gently on the unicorn’s shoulder. “If you really feel like she’s in danger, we’re behind you to help her. You do know her the best, Twilight. We trust your judgment!”
Twilight smiled and opened her mouth to speak, when a sudden flurry of knocking at the door started. Everyone jumped; the knocking grew more desperate every hit. Twilight quickly trotted to the door, pulling it open as she just neared it. There stood Shining Armor, panting heavily; his mane stuck to his forehead with sweat.
“Shining Armor?!” Twilight exclaimed; she stepped back, and her brother entered her home. All her friends gasped at his entrance. Twilight slammed the door shut and ran to him, who now sat, still panting heavily. “What are you doing here?”
He chuckled slightly, Twilight was unsure why. Shining Armor regarded her friends with a nod, and then turned to his younger sister. After a second, he muttered to her, “I failed, Twily.”
“Failed at what?”
“My job.”
Twilight felt herself grow tense. He was the captain of the Royal Guard. “How did you fail?”
Shining panted more, and Twilight saw his face shift. He was getting anxious, frightened; she recognized this face from when he was only a colt. He didn’t respond to Twilight at first; he glanced nervously at her friends, at Spike, at the glowing moon.
She prodded him with her hoof lightly, and he turned his attention back to Twilight. He took a deep breath, and then stated a bit shakily, “Princess Celestia’s gone. So is Luna. We couldn’t find them anywhere. Not in Canterlot. Residents as far as Manehatten, Las Pegasus, and Vanhoover haven’t sighted them. They’re missing.”