//------------------------------// // Chapter 10: Aftermath // Story: Shadows // by Dusty //------------------------------// Time passed in Equestria, and as time passes wounds heal. To Ponyville, it was just another passing storm, but to Celestia and the others, it was a reminder that they had thwarted the greatest threat to ponykind. ~ "It was raining on that day...Do you remember, Lucent?" Celestia spoke to the night sky. She was laying on a cushion on her balcony, with her sister Luna curled up against her in a deep slumber. Luna had raised the moon and then gone to bed early, the young alicorn still had not learned to focus her powers correctly and had pushed herself over her own limits. A star in the night sky blinked, as if responding to Celestia. She smiled at the star, knowing it was Lucent calling out to her from the heavens above. She knew Lucent didn't perish that day, as it is impossible for an Alicorn to die. An alicorn always has a choice of when he or she wishes to join the others in the heavens above. "I apologize Lucent, as I still have much work to do her," She said as she looked down to her young sister. The rain began to lighten up. ~ "Another storm..." Twilight said as she looked out her window. It had only been a few months since Lucent left, but it seemed like it had been years without the alicorn. Twilight shook the thoughts of the alicorn away, "I only knew him for two days, yet..." Twilight said as she brought a hoof to her chest. "He was Celestia's first pupil, I could of learned so much from him. He was an alicorn of old who knew the first of ponykind well. He was like a walking history book." Twilight was forcing the thoughts into her head. "And he was so...Handsome." Tears began to form in her eyes. The door to the library opened, and Twilight worked quickly to wipe the tears from her eyes. "Just one moment." Twilight descended her stairs, wondering who her late night visitor could be. When she had fully descended the stair, she saw Princess Celestia standing inside of the library. ~ "I spoke to him again, Twilight." Celestia said as she took a sip of tea. Twilight had used a recipe that Rarity had taught her. "What did he say?" Twilight asked. "Nothing really, it's hard for him to talk. I do most of the talking and he merely answers. It's hard for an alicorn to reach out from the sky. Celestia looked out of her window and out to the stars. "Oh, I see..." Twilight said with a bit of a disappointed look. Celestia smiled, "Would you like to speak to him?" Twilight's face let up, "Can I?" "Come." Celestia called as she walked outside. The rain was lighter then before, but it was still coming. Celestia and Twilight stayed under the grand branches of the tree, to keep from getting soaked. "Close your eyes, focus your thoughts to the heavens." Celestia said, also closing her eyes. Twilight could feel Celestia's magic around her, and leading up to the sky. Twilight tried to follow the trail up, tying herself to Celestia's magic. Twilight looked down and could see her own body, and Celestia's. But when she looked up, she saw herself holding onto Celestia as the two flew higher and higher. They reached high above the world of Equestria, and were among the stars. "Look there." Celestia didn't speak, but the thought entered Twilight's head in her Celestia's voice. Twilight looked over and saw a set of stars swirling. "Celestia, is that you again? I can see you much clearer now, and I see Twilight is with you as well." That voice was Lucent's, Twilight was sure of it. "Yes, Twilight is here. You're already talking a lot more then usual." Celestia said wit ha chuckle. "Your magic is much greater this night, it's a much easier task to reach out to you. You two are like...A light in the dark." Lucent said, he laughed as he realized the irony. "That pupil of yours really is something, Celestia." "Thank you very much Lucent. Twilight? Why don't you speak? Simply think and we shall hear it." Celestia looked to Twilight. "H-Hello, Lucent." Twilight tried the technique Celestia explained. "There you go." He said with a smile. "I can feel a lot of magic coming from you Twilight. You're really something special." Lucent could feel her warm aura surrounding them. "I think it was you who I found so easily." Twilight did the equivalent of blushing in whatever form it was that she was in. Lucent merely laughed at the unicorn's display. "Thank you, very much Lucent." Twilight said. "You're very welcome. Is there any special occasion for which you have visited me twice, Celestia?" Lucent asked. Celestia shook her head, "Not at all. Twilight here simply wanted to talk to you." "I mean, if that is alright with you." Twilight said. Lucent nodded, "That is fine, Twilight." The three talked for what seemed like hours. "I'm sorry Twilight but my energy wears thin, and I'm afraid I must rest to regain my magic." Twilight's look of sorrow returned to her face, "Oh, I see. I apologize for keeping you so long." Lucent laughed, "One hour here is but a minute on Equestria, Twilight." "Oh." Twilight said. Lucent approached Twilight, "You know the spell now, you followed it well. You may contact me anytime you wish, Twilight." With that, Lucent nuzzled against the unicorn in an attempt to cheer her up. With that though, Lucent began to fade away and once again become a set of stars. "Farewell, Celestis. Goodbye, Twilight. I hope to see you two again very soon." And with that, Lucent was gone. Celestia and Twilight began to fall back to their bodies at a very rapid speed. The two regained consciousness in their bodies. They looked up to the sky as the rain began to fade. The clouds parted directly above Celestia and Twilight, and a single star shone a little brighter. The clouds separated farther, and the rain above Ponyville began to vanish slowly. Twilight was ready to study harder then ever. She would learn all she could, and train her magic all she could. She would surpass Lucent as Celestia's student, and she would impress him. Celestia saw the determination in her pupil's eyes. She laughed lightly to herself as her gaze rose back to the heavens. "She is a keeper, Lucent. She'll get there before me, so I hope to hear many stories from you as well, child." Celestia giggled once more as Twilight gave her a confused look.