I think some people will think this story moves too fast..
--
Concentrating all her might on making her wings disappear, Twilight didn't notice Shadow Steel and Stardust speaking in low, slightly worried voices. She was in her own world, and it paid off; her wings disappeared. It was then that she noticed their whispering. "Is something wrong?" she asked the duo, who turned to look at her in surprise.
They had stopped for the night, right before the Gymkhanan-Equestrian border. They were less than a day's walk from Canterlot, so they stopped earlier than usual. There was no fire yet; no one felt a need for it, as the sun was only just setting.
"Nothing is wrong, milady," Stardust answered, giving a bow. Despite being a mare, Stardust bowed in the same way a colt would. She felt it made for less division between her and the other guards.
For once Twilight actually stopped and observed the mare. She was pretty, but tougher than any other mare Twilight knew from all the training she was put through. Usually Stardust's eyes were a calming blue, but right then they looked like an ocean during a storm; dark and worrying. Then Twilight noticed how the sunset off her white hair looked a lot like blood, and the stars on her flank-usually a bright yellow- turned a sickly orange-yellow colour. Her fur, light blue, was as unsightly and unsettling as her cutie mark was.
Twilight Sparkle wasn't superstitious, but that was an omen if she'd ever seen one. Usually somepony looked beautiful in the sunset light; Stardust-and, she realized, all the other guards-seemed transformed into monstrosities. It had never happened before then.
The princess laughed at her own stupidity; of course she was thinking these things. Everyone seemed worried and nervous, but that was to be expected; they were leaving their princess with strangers. There was nothing else to be afraid of.
~~Line Break~~
They arrived in Canterlot the next day, right before the sun began to set. Twilight greeted Princess Celestia in the throne room, and answered questions as to her lack of wings.
Upon noticing the guards leaving outside the window, Twilight frowned. "Why are they not staying the night, Princess?"
Princess Celestia glanced towards the window. "I believe they feel the need to return home as soon as they can," she answered. She smiled then. "Come with me, Princess Twilight Sparkle. Let me show you to your room."
~~Line Break~~
Twilight set the last book on the shelf and sighed, looking at a clock on the wall in her room. It showed that it was midnight. Well, Twilight thought as she headed to her bed, books don't arrange themselves.
She lay on her bed and stared at the wall, wondering how her family was back in Gymkhana. Equestria wasn't nearly as different as she had thought it was, but the citizens were infinitely happier, and the air among the royals was a lot more casual, despite the ruling princesses being a thousand years old.
The foreign princess thought about everything she had learned today and people she had met.
Cadance was the same age as Shining Armor, but she was an alicorn. She had thousands of years ahead of her, just like Twilight and her own family did. Celestia was the elder ruling sister who rose and lowered the sun; Luna the younger who rose and lowered the moon. They were the two princesses who affected the entire world, not just Equestria, she realized the moment she met them. Then their was Cadance's cousin and the ruling sisters' nephew, Prince Blue Blood. He was a normal unicorn-didn't even have the advantage of alicorn blood to help him live a thousand years like Shining Armor did. He was horrible, Twilight had decided by the end of dinner.
The guard in Equestria was made of unicorns and pegasi, unlike Gymkhana where there were no pegasi. The only cities where the three races didn't intermix were cities like Cloudsdale, situated on clouds that unicorns and earth ponies couldn't walk on.
Equestria was completely peaceful. There were no revolts, no violent protests... it was like a paradise.
Twilight could only hope it would stay that way.
Yawning, the mare fell into a deep sleep.
~~Line Break~~
"Now Twilight Sparkle, what spell did you use to conceal your wings?" Princess Celestia asked when they began their lessons two days later, after Twilight had settled in.
"Just a simple temporary spell to make objects disappear," Twilight answered. "One that has to be renewed every hour, on the hour."
"So when you sleep your wings will come back," Celestia asked, though it sounded more like a statement. Twilight nodded sheepishly. "That could be a problem when others come into your room to wake you in case of emergency, if you truly wish to keep your wings a secret. You need to learn a spell to be rid of them for at least six hours, preferably twelve-but that may be asking a little much from a mare your age."
"I'm sure I can do it," Twilight stated self-confidently. "It might take me some time to learn, but I will."
Celestia smiled. "Such confidence-I like that. You're eager to learn. That's good too. Just don't let your confidence get the best of you. Now, let us begin."
Eventually Twilight did learn the spell flawlessly, but it took three days of practicing. Soon, however, she was able to make her wings disappear for six hours at a time-she would begin working on twelve afterwards.
However, right then she was confused. Everyone in the castle glanced at her nervously, as though they knew something she didn't know. They whispered until she came near, then they'd smile nervously and ask her how her day had been. When she matched someone's gaze, they quickly averted their eyes. Twilight had begun to think someone had seen her wings and it was going around, but no one wanted to say anything.
The mare nearly drove herself crazy with worry... until she found out it had nothing to do with her being an alicorn, that is. She was given something knew to worry about then.
During magic training-something simpler, turning a leaf into a pillow-a pegasus guard burst in the room. "Your Majesty! A stallion has been found wounded on the steps of the castle. No one knows where he came from-he came in the night, the unicorn guards believe!"
Princess Celestia nodded seriously, and Twilight saw truly why everyone respected her so much. In that moment she went from the friend to the ruler. "Come, Twilight Sparkle."
Celestia and Twilight hurried towards the infirmiry where the stallion had been taken. When they entered, Twilight paled and stumbled.
"Sh-Shining Armor," she whispered, running over to the white and blue unicorn. He was unconscious-she was glad of that. He would be in much pain if he were awake.
Twilight could hear the doctors and nurses whispering together, and she could see why. The wounds Shining Armor had sustained would have killed a normal unicorn-but he had the blood of alicorns. Yes, they were painful, and yes, just a few more would have done him in, but he was saved somehow before they could finish him. He was covered in what looked like stab wounds and trample marks.
"Twilight Sparkle," Celestia spoke, quietly. "You know him?"
"It's my brother," she answered, stunned. "Shining Armor. But why is he here? He should be with Mom and Dad, in Gymkhana..."
"Gymkhana?" One of the nurses overheard her and turned to look at her. "Miss Twilight, revolts surfaced in Gymkhana several days ago. Many citizens-over half, according to statistics, and growing- have attacked the capital where the royal family lives. Did no one tell you?"
"We are doing all we can to help," Celestia told the stunned princess-the princess everyone knew was from Gymkhana but didn't know she was the princess. "We've sent our guards to help fight; your father's guard was overpowered, and some even turned."
"Why did no one tell me?" Twilight asked, still in shock. "Why did no one tell me they were being attacked? I would have gone home to help immediately!"
"Twilight," Celestia started quietly, kneeling down to wrap a wing around the pony. "There was nothing you could do. They were after your family and your supporters; you would have been attacked the moment you crossed the border. From the condition of your brother, I do not think they were fighting fairly. You would have been overpowered and hurt, if not... killed. It was best you stayed here. I did think you knew what had happened, though- Prince Blue Blood had told me he would tell you." There was a note of disapproval in her voice, as it was obvious Blue Blood hadn't kept his word.
"Are Mother and Father alright?" she asked quietly, staring at her brother. Celestia didn't answer. Her silence was answer enough.
All of a sudden Shining Armor woke up. "Twili!" he cried out, sitting up and immediately regretting it. He winced. "Twilight, you have to get out of here...!"
"What? Why?"
"Some of the guards who brought you here joined Them," he started, and it was clear he was quickly losing consciousness again. "They told Them where you are. They'll be here within three days. They want to kill you, Twilight, They won't rest until... You have to get out of here..."
As Shining Armor lost consciousness, Twilight frowned. "What about you?" she asked, though she knew he couldn't answer. "What about you?"
"I suppose 'they' believe him to be dead," Celestia told Twilight quietly. "Twilight, if what your brother says is true, then you really must be out of Canterlot in three days' time. If 'they' have formed an army, there is only so much time Canterlot can fight them."
Twilight bit her lip. "By helping us we've endangered your entire country," Twilight said quietly. "I'm sorry."
"Do not worry. Luna and I will take care of everything. I am sure 'they' will wait longer than three days. To regroup. I'm sure they lost many, and they'll need more ponies to join them to fight against us. They're only half a country; we're a full one."
"Princess, I can't leave, I have to help."
"You and your brother are the only chance Gymkhana has at redemption," Celestia stated. "We will save your brother, and he will have his choice of staying here, disguised as one of the guard, or joining you. They believe him to be... delt with. It is you they search for. It is best for you to be where they do not expect you."
"I don't know where I would go, Celestia. I don't know how easily I could hide... you know." Twilight glanced at where her wings should have been. "And the guards knew how I am disguising myself."
"I know, Twilight Sparkle." She looked around. "I will send you to Ponyville," she said. "It is a diverse town, and you can easily blend in there. Befriend ponies you can trust with your life. Hopefully one day you can trust them with your secret."
"Princess-are you sure? I don't want to endanger them."
"Do not worry, Twilight Sparkle-they will be safe. I am sure of it."
~~End Chapter Two--