MLP: Equestria (Getting used to this) Part 3: Nightmare Castle
Author: Draconis187
The next day I woke up very early – must have been 6 or so, the price of living with Early Bird Fluttershy I guess – in the room I met Nightmare in, got up and made some breakfast. Rainbow Dash appeared later on, about 7 in the morning, ready for me to tell her what weather I wanted to have.
“You actually don’t have to do it Dash.” She looked angry at me and started shouting.
“No ways! We made a bet, I lost and I need to fulfil my end of the bargain. I still think that was plain luck but I need to do what I said I would.” I don’t think I could win in this conversation, not in this life or the next.
“Ok Dash how about this instead then: please request for this section of Everfree to be clear for the duration of the reconstruction, because otherwise the reconstruction could be heavily delayed if it rains or something.” She looked at me a second, lost in thought, nodded and gave one of her cocky grins.
“Sure, I’ll do it. All I need to do is ask one of the head weathermares for the Everfree region to change the schedule and I might as well ask to be transferred to this area so I can wipe my debt clean.” She won’t give it a rest will she?
“Ok then Dash.” I rolled my eyes, she is a really persistent or stubborn Pegasus and sadly I don’t know which is worse. She sped off after that and I wondered what I should do for the day since Luna scheduled the construction for tomorrow. She also wanted me to rename it as it would be my home. I thought it should be Nightmare Castle, as a thank you to Nightmare Moon, she finally saw the other side of the spectrum she was fighting against, only to sacrifice herself to save me. I donned my AC clothes and headed to Rarity’s.
Ponyville actually has more buildings than most believe especially on the way to the Boutique, so I climbed up the side of one of the buildings and ran to Rarity’s. I jumped from building to building in true AC style (those of you have played will know what I am talking about), getting down a building to get to another that would be too far to jump (I could’ve flown, but that would kill the fun). I got to the Carousel Boutique in no time at all.
As I entered I saw Rarity, showing off an outfit to Filthy Rich’s daughter: Diamond Tiara. Knowing that spoilt brat, nothing good can come out of that filly’s foul mouth.
“Don’t you have something… better?” Diamond Tiara said turning her nose up at the dress Rarity had, I see a broken heart in Rarity’s very near future. The one thing you never do is insult her clothing. That is if you plan on living for more than the next 10 seconds.
“Well dear, I do have, uh… this.” She pulled out another dress for her. This dress was as white as she was but had rubies and sapphires in along the neck line and evenly spaced along the hem line, navy blue striping across the one side and even had gold stitching around the gems on the hem line!
“Nah, too ugly.” Uh oh… TAKE COVER!!!
Rarity stared at Diamond Tiara for a few seconds and then she just sighed and put the dress back. Filthy Rich – as well as most of Ponyville - knew Rarity well enough to give her space so he took Tiara away to ‘go get some more jewellery’. He greeted me on his was out though, he is a nice pony but his daughter… well, let’s say she leaves a bit to be desired…
“You ok Rarity?” I said, I hoped she was not too upset about that comment Diamond Tiara made about that lovely dress. She ran into me with so much force she knocked me over, tears streaming from her eyes.
“NO, OF COURSE I’M NOT! I worked a full week on that dress. I searched for hours to get the best quality gems and worked my hooves to the bone to make it fabulous! It’s one of the best dresses in my possession and she tosses it aside like a common filthy rag! What am I to do Michael?!” I hugged her tight and wiped the tears from her eyes.
“Rarity, she is a spoiled brat, I’ve seen them all the time. I wouldn’t worry to much though, karma has a way of evening the score with those kind of people or ponies in this case. Anypony who does not think your work is fantastic deserve a lesson in what fashion truly is. It is an expression of one’s self just like any form of art, how they feel, how they think, and sometimes how they see the world itself to be, you though? You do it fabulously.”
She smiled at me and whispered a thank you. She held on to me for a few more minutes. She then ran upstairs to ‘freshen up’ as she put it. I knew there was something I can do to make her very happy. I sat down on a couch and waited for her. 15 minutes later Rarity came back down the stairs, and back to her cheerful self. She decided to sit down next to me as she spoke.
“Sorry you had to see that dear, I take great pride, and passion into every creation but to be brushed aside like last year’s line… is very depressing for me. So then, is there something I can help with darling or did you just come for a lady’s company?” I chuckled a bit.
“I actually came for a couple of reasons, I would like to ask you to make this (I pointed to my AC clothes) but to fit my Alicorn half and to please reverse the colours.” She nodded at this and I carried on, “The other reason is, can you spare any broken, unneeded mannequins please.” She nodded again and smiled.
“Of course darling, the first thing is easy, not really much of a challenge. I’ll just make a mannequin for your Alicorn half and make the outfit. The other thing is fairly simple as well, I’ll just ask Sweetie Belle to look for any old mannequins I no longer require. Anything else you need?” Ok then, time to make her day.
“You know about the project to rebuild the old castle in Everfree?” Rarity nodded again, currently anypony in Ponyville that didn’t know probably lived under a rock. “Well, how would you like to be the one to decorate it?” Well I tell you, she must have jumped 5 feet into the air, screaming at the top of her lungs, with her front hooves on either side of her face like a human does with their hands. I don’t think anypony else will get that kind of reaction out of her anytime soon.
“You really mean it dear?” I nodded and smiled.
“Of course, I can not think of any better designer or friend with the talent to do such a monumental job. The reconstruction will be starting tomorrow so I’m going to ask if Luna has any old pictures of the original castle’s décor, just for inspiration’s sake.” Rarity thanked me over and over. She said she’ll start on my AC clothes for Starlancer and I left her to it, I still wanted to visit Twilight.
It was 1 o’clock or so when I got to Twilight’s place. Spike let me in and told me Twilight went to Pinkie Pie to get something. Thanking him I decided to head to Sugarcube Corner rather than wait for her to return.
I went the AC way to Sugarcube Corner, I was not going to miss any opportunity to do this kind of stuff and it does not feel right unless you do it in these clothes, they suit it. I did get some looks by some passing Pegasi and any observant ponies, a few waved at me and I waved back, but I paid no attention to the ones giving me weird looks, I was having too much fun.
I found Twilight talking with Pinkie Pie just outside Sugarcube Corner. I was standing just above them and just about to jump when I noticed that Pinkie was messing with her knee. Ignoring it I leapt from the roof to the ground, right in front of them. I gave the two quite a scare.
“What was that for Michael?! You gave me a heart attack!” Twilight was pretty upset but Pinkie Pie just laughed, she is a really strange pony. “I knew something was going to happen. My Pinkie Sense was telling me something scary was going to happen. That was amazing, you have got to teach me to do that! But why are you here though aren’t you meant to be at the castle?” Twilight just groaned. That’s Pinkie Pie for you.
“Pinkie’s right. Aren’t you overseeing the reconstruction?” I shook my head. “Ok then, why are you here then? It’s not that we mind!”
“I would like to learn Twilight.” Being vague is fun sometimes, it leaves so much space for them to try and guess.
“Learn what?” I just looked at Twilight, “Magic, Twilight. I wish to learn the magic in this universe and I can not think of anypony else who can, and Celestia sure as hell won’t teach me.”
The other reason was that I lost my abilities after the hard reset. I did know how to levitate objects as Starlancer but I wanted to know more than that.
“I guess that’s true, are you sure about this though, I do have ask Celestia first and I’ll have to tell her you came here you know?” I nodded; Celestia did say Twilight sends her messages. “But if she says I can I will gladly help you learn magic.”
“Thanks Twilight, oh and Pinkie? The construction is only happening tomorrow, with Princess Luna supervising everything.” They seemed to be a little shocked which is to be expected, Luna is not known to come out to such a small town often.
“Why is the Princess com- (Pinkie gasped) is she throwing a party that we don’t know about why wasn’t I invited or better yet why am I not throwing it?!” Celestia above Pinkie! What am I going to do with you? Other than the usual laughing at your jokes, attending your parties and tolerating your weirdness. Thank Celestia there is only one of you.
“It’s not a party Pinkie and besides I have a feeling Celestia doesn’t know of her sister coming here either.” It was true, Celestia still didn’t seem to trust me very much despite her apology and would probably forbid Luna from coming...
“Did you decide what to call the castle, Michael?” Twilight asked.
“Yeah, Nightmare Castle.” They seemed a little worried at that though. “I thought of it as my final thank you to Nightmare Moon for saving me. Oh yeah I never told you all about that did I?” They shook their heads.
“You remember when I arrived at the wedding as Nightmare Moon right? Now that attack that eventually made me fall unconscious was meant to kill me.” They gasped. “But in order to save me Nightmare Moon somehow took the damage herself and in doing so spared me by killing her instead. It seems it took a while for all her power to fully leave me, since I only transformed into Starlancer after I woke up. That is why I owe her.” Twilight and Pinkie nodded their heads smiling.
“I understand why now you defended her when no one else would, despite everything she had done in the past. I think she wished to redeem herself but paid the ultimate price for it.” Twilight, was that I tear I just saw? “I think naming the castle after her is a brilliant idea.”
“Thanks Twilight, I honestly don’t mind you telling Celestia, in fact I want you to tell her. But that is enough for me today, I need to head back to the castle now. Please Twilight, ask Celestia and see, but I would not hold my breath.” With that said I climbed up to Sugarcube Corner’s roof and ran off.
There really wasn’t much to do once I got back, so I just laid on the grass and looked at the sky. After a while I thought I may as well do some practise with my halberd so I took it out. I spent a good hour or too training against an imaginary opponent who seemed to get every advantage possible, seeing as the best way to train is to imagine the worst possible situations.
I finished my imaginary training and put my halberd back, it was not the same without a proper opponent or a dummy to fight against but it was the best I could do in this world for now until I get those mannequins from Rarity. I decided to head back inside the castle to think.
As I walked through the castle, I looked around the ruins with a smile. Soon all this will no longer exist and a proper castle will be in its place. I could only wonder what this castle used to be in its glory days. My thoughts soon turned back to Nightmare Moon, I approached the full length mirror Rarity gave me and changed to my Alicorn self: Starlancer. Looking at myself I could still see some of Nightmare Moon’s influence in my body, the eyes, my mane were the main parts that stuck out but I feared that there was something else, sure I felt her leave my body but what if a small part stayed? If my adventures have taught me anything is to expect anything to happen no matter how outrageous because something worse may happen. I took a deep breathe and spoke into the mirror.
“Are you there Nightmare? Please, if you are still there, say something.” No response, I thought that was going to be the case so I wasn’t really surprised, I just needed to confirm it for myself. As I turned around to walk to my bed to take a nap I heard laughter. Wait, I know that laughter… that’s Nightmare Moon!! I looked back at the mirror and I saw HER in it, clear as day!
“Miss me, Starlancer is it? Cute name, suits you.” Wait how is it possible? “A little surprised? I’m not so easy to get rid of, you should know that.”
“B-b-but how? How can you still live? You said either you or I would die from that attack from Chrysalis.” She just held her hoof to her mouth, chuckling.
“True, but I’ve faced worse: the Elements of Harmony for one. I did not lie regarding me having to leave our body because we WOULD have died, but I decided to come back here and possess the mirror since I could not possess my armour again.”
“Can anyone else see you?”
“Possibly, yes. But I want a new body though, but I need an Alicorn, or another human, I guess. I wish to walk among my subjects once more and be loved not feared.”
“Anyone in mind?” Please let it not be who I think it is.
“Yes, Chrysalis. In order for me to possess her body, the mirror has to come into physical contact with her, smashing it over her head could work.” Oh good, I thought she would say either Luna, myself, Cadance or Celestia. It would be funny to smash a mirror over somepony’s head, but who would get the 7 years bad luck? Chrysalis, Nightmare or me?
“But I don’t know where she is after she got blasted away and I fell unconscious. Not to mention she is not really an Alicorn or a pony for that matter.”
“We don’t need to find her, she will find us. I’m sure that she is planning her revenge as we speak but it may be weeks, months or years before she resurfaces. She does have a horn and a pair of wings, the main physical traits an Alicorn possesses so that makes her a valid candidate. I can wait, I was banished to the moon for 1000 years after all, Luna only went with for the ride.” She laughed at her own statement. So that was the ‘trip’ Dash was referring to.
I was still reeling from this revelation after leaving the room: Nightmare is alive and she wants Chrysalis’s body! I felt like I needed a very stiff drink so I went off to Sweet Apple Acres since they have apples, logic would dictate that they possibly made cider – which can be alcoholic - as well.
Applejack was bucking apples in an orchard named ‘Red Delicious’ which was the nearest one to the farm so I didn’t have to look very far. I asked if she had any strong drink.
“Well a’course we do sugarcube, lets go to the barn, got some stored there. Y’all ok? Ya kinda look like ya’ll seen a ghost or summin’” I told her it was something like that. “Wanna talk bout it sugarcube?”
“Sorry Applejack, I don’t think you want to know. Trust me.” She nodded and took me to the barn’s cider storage. She had quite a hoard of alcohol but I only needed one drink so AJ got me a glass and I drank some. She started to get worried from the rate I was downing the liquor.
“Come on partner, it can’t all be that bad.”
“Trust me its worse. You sure you want to know? You won’t forget it or believe it, I know I STILL don’t.” She nodded and crossed her front hooves in a ‘I’m waiting’ pose.
“Ok… Nightmare Moon is still alive, somewhat anyway.” She just about keeled over in shock.
“Whatcha just say? That old snake in the grass is still around?” I nodded. “But she left ya.”
“All I know Applejack is that she is still around. She is currently in the mirror Rarity gave me a while back. Maybe she can’t die if I or Princess Luna still live or something, it’s a mystery I think I'm better off not solving. But I plan on telling Luna at least when she comes tomorrow.” I can’t tell AJ yet about Nightmare wanting to gain a body, let alone Chrysalis’s body. Thanking AJ for the drink, I went back to the castle. She sat there in shock and I could hardly blame her.
It was already night when I entered Everfree, but I could not help but worry what Luna is going to think or do when I tell her. I knew I had to. I reached the castle, realising now that its name fit it better than it ever should have. I went to my room and stood in front of the mirror for one last time. It did not take long for her to appear.
“I need to know that I can trust you Nightmare.” She looked at me and smiled.
“Remember when I fused with you and saw your memories? I’ve seen what you are capable of when you’re angry at somepony, I don’t believe betraying you is in my best interests. So I won’t, I promise that.” She seemed sincere saying this. Sadly I lost all of my capabilities, hopefully she didn’t know that.
“Ok, I’ll put my faith in you. Luna is coming tomorrow to oversee the reconstruction of the castle and I WILL tell her about you, whether you agree or not.” She just nodded at me and gave me another smile.
“I understand, but it’s getting late isn’t it? You should sleep.” I hate it to admit it but she’s right. She blew a kiss at me with her hoof and laughed. I jumped onto my bed and went to sleep. I have a funny feeling about all this.
The next day I woke up, still worried about Nightmare Moon and Luna meeting each other. She was still in that mirror but moved so I could see my reflection: I decided to meet Luna in the clothes I came to this world in. I changed to my human form, got dressed, left my halberd and Starblade inside the room and went outside to wait.
I didn’t have to wait long for Luna to arrive. She flew down to the entrance with three guards, if her sister had a say in this she may not have come at all. She came up to me and… hugged me. Her guard seemed a bit confused, judging by the expressions on their faces.
“Uh, it’s good to see too Luna.” Awkward situation much? She let go of me and smiled.
“The ponies I asked to come and help with the construction will be arriving shortly. I thought I would come earlier to see how you are doing.”
“I’m fine thanks Luna, but what’s with the guards?” The guards smiled at us.
“They are here at my sister’s request, but these guards are among those who believe that you are good despite having been fused with Nightmare Moon as I- are you well?” My eye twitched a bit at that name. I guess I am terrible at hiding some things. I had to tell her anyway about her anyway.
“I need you to come with me Luna, there is something you need to see.” She nodded and the five of us entered the castle, and made our way to the mirror. As we got there I only saw myself, Luna and a guard in the mirror so I changed to my Alicorn half thinking that may get her to appear. And sure enough, Nightmare Moon was standing where I was, smiling at us.
“Hello Princess, it has been a while hasn’t it?” Luna was as shocked as myself when I first saw her, the guards ran between us and the mirror. I raised my hoof and got them to back away.
“It’s alright guys, this is what I needed to show you Luna. Nightmare Moon still exists, somehow.” She turned to me, in a near rage and turned back to Nightmare.
“So Nightmare, what are you planning this time? Still wanting to bring eternal night to Equestria?” Nightmare laughed at Luna, but before she could respond I interrupted.
“She wishes to make amends. She is also after a new body and has found a suitable host: Chrysalis.” Luna was shocked at this news.
“He speaks the truth Luna, I did actually learn my lesson. All I ask is for a chance to make amends for what I put you and you sister through… Somepony is coming, we can talk later.” And just like that Nightmare Moon was replaced by my reflection.
“Michael, are you there?” That’s Twilight’s voice! We met Twilight halfway down the hallway after leaving the room. Twilight bowed to Luna.
“Greetings Princess. Michael I have good news! Princess Celestia gave me permission to teach you our magic! Is that not great?!” She was jumping around like Pinkie Pie does, happy as can be. This was great news though. “So whenever you want to start, just come by the library and we’ll start. I just wanted you to know. Oh and Rarity says the she has the items you requested, whatever she meant.” She then turned round and teleported away. Luna turned to me and asked.
“What did you want Rarity to do, Starlancer?” I then told her about the clothes and the mannequins. “But I also asked for her to do the décor for the castle once the construction was complete. On that subject, I also wanted to ask if there are any pictures of what the old castle’s décor looked like.” Luna just nodded.
“I will get the librarians in the Canterlot Archives to look for anything related when I head back. Well this is enough chat, the workers should be arriving by now.” Once we got outside I saw the workforce that wanted to help me out. I felt like I was in an Extreme Makeover: Home Edition episode. There was a literal army of Pegasi, Earth and Unicorn ponies, all with hard hats, carrying toolboxes and pulling carts filled with materials.
“Thank you all for coming to partake in one of the biggest undertakings in history: restoring this castle to its former glory. You shall all be given your assignments. So then, begin!” Luna bellowed in a much deeper voice, I swear you could probably still hear her even if you were standing on the outskirts of Everfree. After this there was a scramble as all the ponies were given their assignments. After that they all set to work. Luna sure can motivate with just a few words.
“It will take some time before construction is completed and you may need another place to stay for the time being. Do you have somewhere in mind?” Oh yeah, forgot I would need somewhere else to stay. Who would allow me to stay with them and I am NOT asking Pinkie Pie.
“Sorry I’m not sure Luna. I honestly did not think that far but I’ll make a plan.” She nodded and came closer to me.
“We also have the issue about your own guards-”
“Sorry Luna but I don’t think that is a good idea, not while your sister still doesn’t seem to trust me very much.”
“I wouldn’t worry too much about Tia, Starlancer. But I do suggest finding somewhere to stay, maybe Fluttershy’s place? You did stay there when you first arrived did you not?” She was right, but would Fluttershy let me? Hell, I’ll try anyway. Thanking Luna I left to go to Fluttershy’s cottage. Fluttershy wasn’t home when I got there but I did run into Pinkie Pie.
“What you up to? Looking for Fluttershy?” I nodded. “Weeeellll, she went to Rainbow Dash because she has to cover for her because Dash said that she had a job to do for the next few weeks and couldn’t do all the weather for Ponyville during that time so with Fluttershy one of the few Pegasi she trusts she asked her to take over, so while she does that she went to Twilight to ask her to help with her animals.” Wait, Pinkie can you ever slow down when you speak for Celestia’s sake, but then again you are… well, you.
Thanking her I made a dash to Twilight’s. I saw Twilight waving goodbye to Fluttershy, they must have just finished. I spread my wings and took off after her. She saw me coming after her and stopped so I could catch up.
“H-Hi Michael, or do you want me to call you Starlancer?”
“Whichever you prefer Fluttershy, I don’t mind, really.”
“Ok, what’s wrong?”
“I need a place to stay while the old castle is being rebuilt. So I thought I would come and ask you since I did stay there when I first got here.”
“Of course you can stay in my cottage until your home is fixed. It’s no worry, the animals will be happy to see you again.” And there she goes with another of those smiles…
“Thanks Fluttershy. I have some things to take care of so I’ll see you later, is that ok?” She nodded and flew off, probably home, given the direction she is travelling.
I flew off to Rarity’s to see how she was, Twilight said Rarity got those things for me. I was outside the window watching her make another one of her ‘masterpieces’. She noticed me and opened the window.
“So being an Alicorn today are we?” she chuckled. “I must say though, being a pony does suit you darling. Come on in, but just come through the door, it is the civilised way to enter a lady’s home you know.” Nodding, I flew down to ground level and walked in. As I got through the doorway, Rarity came down, carrying my Alicorn AC clothes. I slipped them on; they fit just as perfectly as the suit I wore at Cadance’s wedding. The hood had a hole for my horn, it covered my Cutie Mark but Rarity put gem versions of my Cutie Mark in its place, made of sapphires and rubies. The knife pouches were under my wings and were easily concealed when on the ground. Like I asked she had reversed the colour scheme. Where the white on my human AC clothes there was black and vice versa. I was ready to defeat the Templars, pony-style!
“I gather you like it dear?” Rarity asked.
“As always, I love your work Rarity.” She beamed at me.
“I also have the mannequins you requested as well, come I had Sweetie Belle put them around the back as I can not have such ugly things in my Boutique.” She walked out the door with me following suit.
We went around the back to see the dummies Rarity salvaged for me. There were 10 in total. They either had a torn hoof, or the stitching came undone in several places and there was a human shaped dummy as well but its proportions seemed… wrong: it had a waist line that was far too wide; the shoulders seemed lower that they should be; the arms were too thick and the knees were in the wrong spot. I gathered it was Rarity’s first try at making the one she uses to make my clothes. She blushed as I was looking at this monster of a dummy.
“I do hope that these will suit your needs Starlancer, please do inform me of when the construction is complete so I can start decorating your home.” I nodded at her.
“Of course Rarity. I may come earlier than that with the old pictures of the original castle if the ponies in the Archives find anything.” At least I was able to lift the dummies with my magic. I’m glad I know this basic spell, carrying them all would have been a pain. I went back to the castle with my new training buddies in tow.
It was starting to get dark when I got back to Nightmare Castle, but everypony was still working hard. When I looked up I then noticed a rainbow shooting from one cloud to another and as it reached them the cloud disappeared. Well, I now know what Pinkie Pie was talking about: Rainbow Dash was taking care of the weather for the construction. Luna was walking around, shouting orders in that voice again every once in a while. Her horn was glowing though, but then I realised that she was busy raising the moon. It was amazing to see her multi-task with no effort at all.
I took the dummies to an area behind the castle, it was wide, only had grass and the nearby animals kept clear of it. This was going to be my training area once the castle was finished. I placed them down and headed to Fluttershy’s cottage. I found Fluttershy was taking some things out of the room I used to sleep in, saying she had been using it as a storeroom since I left. I helped her carry the remaining boxes out of the room and set up my old bed. We said our goodnights to each other and Fluttershy went outside to check on the weather.
She came back after 25 minutes looking exhausted. I heard from somewhere that Fluttershy is not the strongest flier, which makes her friendship with Dash – who is her complete opposite – all the more ironic and special. I heard her walk up the stairs and go into her room. I stayed as my Alicorn half as the bed was better suited for ponies rather than humans and fell asleep.
The next day was a bit of déjà vu. We both woke up at around the same time, Fluttershy made breakfast, I helped her with her animals, just like the first time I came to Ponyville. She even still paid me despite my protests. She told me she had to cover Rainbow’s shift because she was still busy. Fluttershy can be too nice for her own good sometimes.
As for me, today I was going to get started learning magic with Twilight, like Celestia said I could, I still wonder how Twilight pulled that off. I flew over to the library and knocked on the door. As usual Spike opened the door and I walked in. Twilight was out again, Pinkie Pie apparently dragged her off for reasons nopony can explain and it was probably best to not know. Spike showed me some of the books Twilight told him she first used to learn magic from. I was half expecting the ‘Equestrian Magic For Dummies’ book to appear somewhere. Luckily it didn’t exist. Spike went out saying he and Rarity are going to go gem hunting for her dresses, he seemed to blush a bit while he said that. I noticed it and I couldn’t help teasing him.
“Are you sure that’s the only reason Spike? Hmm?” He then completely turned red and ran out. I chuckled to myself and carried on reading. After going through the first couple of spells I found out I could perform them fairly easy, maybe because I was currently an Alicorn. I eventually found the teleport spell that Twilight used the previous day. I tried to perform it and landed on the second floor on top of her bed; when I tried again I was upside down in her bathroom… with my head in the toilet and for the third attempt I ended up under her bed. I got myself out from under the bed but I knocked her bedside table accidentally and a scroll fell off. It had a gold ‘C’ seal on it, I gathered it was Celestia’s seal. I went to it to see why it was on her bedside when the rest like this one were downstairs in a drawer named ‘Letters from Celestia’. I opened it to see what it said and I was surprised:
Dearest Twilight
I’m sorry but I must refuse your request to teach Starlancer any form of our magic. I fear that there is more to him and Nightmare Moon that he cares to inform us. I must forbid you to teach him anything without me there to supervise. I also heard that my sister went against my wishes and went to the ruined castle, along with a sizable workforce to repair it. I need you to tell me what it is that Starlancer is up to. He may have earned your trust but I fear it is misplaced. Please for your sake and Equestria’s, you and nopony else should not be near him.
Your teacher
Princess Celestia
“Michael, uh what are you reading?” Damn, Twilight! I was so busy reading that I didn’t hear her walk up the stairs, let alone come in!
“Oh… uh, its nothing Twilight, just one of the letters you sent to Celestia. It is interesting to see what you and your friends were learning about friendship.” From that look on her face she didn’t believe me, I know when I'm beat. “Ok, I accidentally teleported myself up here, namely under your bed, don’t ask me how, I just did and then after trying to get out from under your bed I knocked the letter off the table. The rest you kind of know.” She stared blankly at me for a few seconds, then she turned her head to the side and looked as though she was just about to cry.
“I’m sorry! It’s true Celestia forbade me to teach you magic but I don’t get what she sees. We’ve known you longer than her and even her sister believes in you. That’s why I’m going against Celestia’s wishes this one time because as much as she may be right, she might be wrong now…” She seemed determined to prove Celestia wrong, and so do I.
“Thanks Twilight, shall we start?” She nodded and I began to show Twilight what I had picked up from the books I had read, she seemed impressed.
“I think it’s time to take these lessons outside, we need to go get Rarity and then we can continue.”
“Why? I thought you knew more magic than anypony else in Ponyville.”
“That is true but Rarity is better at some other spells than myself and she knows how to multi-task with magic very well so that’s why I would like for her to join. She already agreed when I asked her yesterday.” I nodded and Twilight’s horn started to glow… and then we were standing outside the Boutique. We went inside to see Rarity waiting for us with a picnic basket next to her.
“Are we all ready darlings? I’ve gotten us something to eat.” Twilight then teleported us to an open field, perfect for practising magic. The one strange feature about this field was this large boulder in the middle. Twilight saw my confusion to this really out of place object.
“Oh, that’s Tom.” I just raised an eyebrow.
“Long story darling, so Twilight what is Starlancer starting with?” Rarity said.
“We’ll start basic: levitation of objects also know as telekinesis. While you can perform this, you have only been doing it with light objects so now you are going to lift something far heavier… Tom over here.” So I tried to lift Tom. Turns out the heavier the object, the harder the spell is to perform and the more you need to concentrate in order to maintain it. I was eventually able to lift and move it about as if it weighed as much as any of Twilight’s books. The next part was Rarity showing me how to perform multiple spells at once. We started with several instances of one spell then to three different types with three instances each. It took a couple of hours but I managed it in the end. They were all impressed, turns out Alicorns are better at magic than unicorns, but I think it was also due to my ‘unusual situation’.
“Now for something different, you see Tom over here? Break him apart. I doubt Rarity will mind.” Twilight said and Rarity nodded her head. I used my wings to throw ten daggers from their pouches on my sides at Tom. Nine landed in a star pattern while the tenth hit square between them. I took out my halberd and charged, I slammed the tip on top of the tenth dagger and Tom exploded in a hail of pebbles. Twilight managed to cast a shield spell over her and Rarity in order to protect themselves against the hailstorm. They were shocked at this display.
“Wow, Tom must be in a million pieces. That was a fantastic display.” Rarity said. I put my daggers back in their holders and covered them with my wings. I pulled out my halberd, ready for the next phase: using the halberd to help focus my magic capabilities while human. Turned out using the halberd like a staff gave me better control like my horn does when I’m an Alicorn. I turned back into my Alicorn form as I was finding it more and more preferable. Twilight looked at me and smiled.
“Are you ready for the next lesson?” I nodded “We are going to try teleporting. First short distances to long distances and then with more than one pony.” I moved my head from side to side and warmed myself up.
It took until night time before I got proper control of the spell. I ended up in trees; in the middle of Ponyville; I even wound up at the construction site a few times which gave everypony a shock. I had to apologise… repeatedly. At least at the end of the day I got the hang of it, I could teleport anywhere and teleport others with me, it was only Rarity, Twilight and I but we were going to try with more ponies if we could convince any to help. Saying our goodbyes Twilight teleported us to the library, then I teleported Rarity and myself to the Boutique and then just a short distance away from Fluttershy’s cottage since she scares easy.
Fluttershy returned later in the night, I made her something to eat, said goodnight and went to bed.
This routine carried on for the next three months with nothing to really take note of. The magic lessons were progressing nicely, Fluttershy was able to cope with all her work with me helping, the castle’s construction was finished. The Archives turned up a few pictures for Rarity to look at for inspiration, you should see her work: so serious yet refined, in her own way. I have talked a few times with Nightmare Moon, oddly enough so has Luna but none of them would tell me what they talk about. Celestia came twice during this time but we all managed to pull the wool over her eyes regarding the secret magic training and I've seen her having an argument with Luna each time. Pinkie was insisting on hosting a party, as I was arguing with her, her hair went flat again and started to speak slowly which made me uneasy so I caved in and let her do her planning.
The party was to be in the next two days and Rarity finished the décor. Well I tell you words can not be enough to describe what this castle looked like: the entire floor was white marble, there was black carpeting with white stitching in the hallways, gold lacing in the curtains, there were a few small tables in the hallways with some lovely flowers, there were some paintings here and there of my friends and the little adventure we’ve had so far. There even was a stained glass window of Nightmare Moon with my halberd in her mouth standing over Chrysalis! On the door for the room I met Nightmare room was a plaque saying: ‘Nightmare Room’ inside it had a statue of herself with a plaque on the base saying: ‘To our beloved Nightmare’. Corny I know, but that’s what they wrote on it.
As for the main hall there was a mural in the centre of the floor: there was a picture of the moon which was the centre piece; a picture of my halberd under the moon, pointing away from it; my human and Alicorn forms on the left and right hand sides respectively, my Starblade was above the moon, also pointing away and a picture of Nightmare Moon inside the moon with her wings spread out touching the sides. There was a stained glass window of me as Starlancer; another one with Shining in it running, at first I wondered why it was there until I saw myself in human form, pointing past him (he must have told them what happened in his room). The original pedestal which had the original Elements was repaired and got slightly changed: it was coloured gold and deep cerulean; where in place of the Elements there was a picture of the Mane Six on an orb with a plaque stating which Element they represented.
Since the party was in two days Pinkie was running around Ponyville with Surprise, a white Pegasus pony from Cloudsdale with a bright yellow mane and tail. She also shared Pinkie’s joy for parties. I swear you couldn’t tell them apart when they were together: they spoke at the same speed; had the same attitude; hell their Cutie Marks and their manes matched for Celestia’s sake! Thanks to Surprise, the party was going to be gigantic, even by Pinkie’s standards.