//------------------------------// // Chapter 1: The Quest Begins // Story: Equestria Online // by Featherwing //------------------------------// Equestria Online Chapter 1: The Quest Begins Twilight Sparkle sighed. Her ears drooped down as she walked past several of the newly arrived humans. These creatures were new to the unicorn, she had never encountered one in her entire life. Twilight intended not to if she could get to the Everfree forest without any distractions, but this was just beginning to weigh too much. The Princess had made an announcement to all of Equestria that humans had returned and were openly welcomed in their land. The unicorn couldn't understand just how casual some of the ponyfolk were around these creatures. Twilight was cautious, she tread carefully making sure not to make eye contact with any she crossed paths with. She had stopped in a nearby town called Ponyville. This was the Princess’s first instructions to her student, to obtain a certain item of some sort? She was to go to the library. “Everything will unravel with time my student.” “But Princess.” Twilight looked away from her teacher. She always hated when Celestia gave her cryptic messages. Couldn't she just be direct with her? Twilight shook her head pushing away her negative thoughts. This was probably a test. The Princess always had good intentions for Twilight, why would this be any different? The pony trotted out of the courtyard and down Sugarcube Lane until she came across a large tree. The library was integrated into the large oak. The sign outside the door read Ponyville Public Library.’ Twilight couldn't help, but be impressed they didn't have architecture like this in Canterlot. It was quite unique. Moving into the library she pushed the door open with her magic. As the doorbell rang she looked into the library only to be met with a dark eerie silence. “Uhm, hello? Anypony home?” She asked glancing at the rows of unkempt books. She furrowed her nose and sneezed sending up a pile of dust. Threw watered eyes she looked around until she found a lamp. Using her magic she turned the small nob until the light covered the entire room. “Now that’s much better.” Once Twilight got a good look of the library she shrieked. If there was anything scarier than humans returning to Equestria it had to be an unkempt library. Books lay on the ground and all around the tables all out of place. The shelves were no better garnering nests of dust bunnies and books in the wrong place. Cobwebs hung from the lamps and ceiling. Looking around the unicorn spotted a broom and smiled. “I’m sure the librarian won’t mind if I just tidy up a bit.” She giggled beginning her way around the floor. Soon she found herself using her magic to fix tables and refurbishing furniture to its natural beauty. Twilight sighed as soon she found the whole library had looked new once more. She giggled a bit looking out the window. Noticing just how dark it had gotten. “Oh-uh I must have lost track of time. I don’t want to keep Spike waiting.” Twilight casted one last look into the library. She just wondered why the Princess had told her to come here if there would be no one here. She sighed starting towards the door; she decided that she would come back tomorrow. Hopefully someone would be waiting. Before the pony’s hooves touched the wet pavement outside a voice boomed. “Twilight Sparkle!” The unicorn jumped in shock and turned around to face an alicorn with a deep blue coat, a dark luxurious mane, and dark iris’s piercing in her direction. In shock she stammered. “P-p-p-princess Luna!” She hesitantly bowed to her mentor’s sister who acknowledged the young mare. “W-what are you doing here Princess?” The Princess used her magic dragging two nearby pillows near the fireplace. Twilight obliged taking seat next to the Princess as her horn glowered a dark orange flame. She shot it into the fresh wood Twilight had previously laid out giving them some warmth. “My sister sent me here to guide you in your quest Twilight Sparkle!” She spoke in a loud booming voice making the unicorn shift nervously. Noticing her fault she smiled sheepishly and took her tone down. “I am here to assist you Twilight.” Twilight smiled grateful. “I would greatly appreciate it. The Princess didn't really give me much to follow up on. Just to go out into the Everfree forest and search for Applejack.” Luna nodded. Applejack has been missing for a quite some time. She was one of the Queen’s most trusted knights and had volunteered for a dangerous quest. The details were quite shady. Twilight guessed that something may have gone wrong. She was very worried when Celestia told her to find Applejack; they had become good friends ever since the orange mare had joined the Order. “Is she alright Princess?” Twilight asked looking hopeful at Luna. Luna pursed her lips as she looked to Twilight. “I truly wish I could tell you Twilight Sparkle, but truth be told… me and my sister’s powers are waning. With the return of humans into this realm something is happening to our magic. It grows weaker every day and I fear that… that if we don’t find your friend and this thief.” “Thief what thief?” Twilight looked confused at Luna. Celestia failed to mention a thief to her. Could Applejack have been pursuing her? Luna shook her head. “It matters not Twilight Sparkle, you must go out into the Everfree forest and find what secrets it holds, but you cannot go alone.” “Of course not, I have Spike with me.” She gave a weak smile, but Luna’s gaze told her otherwise. Twilight felt an uneasy knot in her stomach. She knew that the Celestia had planned something for her when she sent her on this quest, but what enamored her. Luna stood up, her gaze slowly shifting to the moon. “As loyal as Spike is I have no doubts that you’d want to take him, but you will need a different type of valor for this quest. Allies who may dose you’re insecurities yet. You’ll find your path. You walk your own path not I.” She murmured. Smiling at the unicorn she ran a gentle hoof across her mane. “I and my sister both have faith in you Twilight Sparkle.” The Princess made her way towards the door casting a glance back at the unicorn who stared into the fire. “It would do you good to take care of this library as well. My sister did good sending you here. This library has many secrets left to be found. It may benefit you.” A sudden flash blinded the unicorn and with it, Princess Luna had vanished. The pony made her way out into the street. Luna had only helped confuse her more. Not only was Applejack missing, but there was a thief of sorts involved in the matter. Twilight headed back towards the inn she had sent Spike to. She would return to the library in the morning. If anything she would look harder the next day to find what the Princess had hidden. When Twilight arrived at the inn she was shocked to find it was filled with humans. The pony couple running the inn had fillies’ running back and forth bringing food to the new business in Ponyville. Twilight groaned. Her ears drooped low as she moved amongst the humans. Even though she was quite cautious around the new species she couldn't helped, but feel intrigued. There were so many different characters, they were like the ponies. She could tell some had the gift of magic, it brimmed in their eyes and she had even witnessed a few casting minor spells to their own amazement. While others weren't as gifted and constricted to their own abilities like earth ponies. Some of them even possessed wings on their backs varying in all sorts of sizes, just like the pegasi. She steadily began to realize how many similarities that they shared together, but she shook the notion out of her head. Ponies and humans were very different. She had read stories about their race. Humans were a great evil and not to be trusted. “Twilight, hey, Twilight!” she heard a familiar voice calling. Up the stairs her trusty baby dragon waved to her. She trotted quickly up the stairs happy to see him. “Hey Twilight did you find anything in the library?” She shook her head a bit discouraged. “Not today, little guy. I’m going to have to try again tomorrow.” She decided not to tell him about Princess Luna out loud. She wanted to make sure that they were in a secure location where no one would be able to eavesdrop. “Oh well that’s no good.” Spike motioned her to follow. “I got a room Twilight!” “That’s great Spike.” She trotted to where he stood, but before he could stop her the mare pushed the door open. To Twilight’s horror standing in front of her was a human. His back facing the pair. Her mouth fell ajar as her cheeks turned a bright crimson and she faced the baby dragon. “Spike… what is that human doing in our room!! I told you it was a priority that we have a private study!” “W-w-well that’s the thing!” he stammered scratching the back of head. “This was the last room available and when I got her, the human was here to…” Twilight glanced at him. The human seemed generally focused on whatever he was doing. The pony frowned she felt too uncomfortable with him around. Either he had to go or she did, and Twilight didn't intend to leave. Coughing she used the most polite Canterlot manners she could muster and approached the young man. “Excuse me human, my name is Twilight Sparkle…” His movement immediately stopped. Growing still she twitched a bit. “Urm…” the unicorn’s ears drooped and gave a nervous smile. “I am quite sorry to bother you, but I was wondering if I and my friend could perhaps commandeer… this.” The pony grew nervous as the human teen turned around facing the pony with a wide grin on his face. He had a crazy look in his eyes. Twilight took a couple of hoof steps backward as he approached. The human fell to all fours matching Twilight’s height and examined his eye twitching. “You’re… a pony…” The unicorn stepped backwards until she was cornered into a wall. “Uhm yes… yes I am…” she giggled nervously. “And you are a human… quite a strange human.” The human scoffed sitting back rubbing his hair. His demeanor quickly calmed as he look up to the ceiling chuckling dryly. “I’m strange, you are a talking horse!” The unicorn looked baffled at the human! He called her a horse! Twilight took a hoof forward her horn glowing a bit brighter with every step. “What did you just call me?” Spike quickly stepped in putting his hand against his friend’s chest. “Now just calm down Twilight I’m sure he didn't mean it.” Twilight scoffed as the teen smirked looking amused in the pony’s direction. “But Spike he called me a horse.” The mare frowned pointing a hoof in his direction. “Don’t think this is over twolegs!” A large smile appeared on his face as he burst out laughing. “Twolegs is that the best you have pony!” Twilight scrapped her hoof against the old wooden floors. “My name is Twilight Sparkle!” He gave her another amused look shrugging. “This is the part where you give me your name?” She asked at least attempting to make peace. The human looked away uncomfortably scratching his arm. Like something was troubling him. “Look how late it is! I think I’m going to hit the hay!” “You’re crazy!” Throwing her head back the pony trotted back to her bed. “Ughh!!” She had tried at least to communicate with one, but this proved too difficult. The books hadn't lied; the humans were an arrogant race one she rather not associate herself with. The human muttered something under his breath as he slid into his bed. He shifted position till he was comfortable under the covers. Twilight frowned casting a glance at him. The mare hopped into her bunk Spike along with her on across the other side after he had turned the candle off. Minutes of silence passed between the three and finally the mare could hear the snoring of the human across from her. Looking up the ceiling she murmured. “Spike are you still awake?” “Ngh…” her baby dragon replied half asleep. “Di- ya need something- Twi?” Twilight shifted uneasily looking towards the wall. Something felt strange, just the aura in the room bothered her. It was like there was something off about it, something she had never felt before. Twilight decided to ignore the notion. “Spike I don’t think the Princess has realized what she has done by bringing the humans here. I think their somehow connected to Applejack… to this mysterious thief.” “Uh-huh?” Spike yawned. “I love you to Rarity…” “Who?” Twilight looked up at her friend smiling. The dragon was knocked out cold. She shook her head, maybe it was like Princess Luna had said. ‘You’ll find your path.’ Twilight thought on these words as she nestled into the covers and quickly fell into slumber under the moon’s pale light. That morning when she had awoken the mare noticed that the human who had been staying in the room was gone. When she and Spike went to pay their bill for the night’s stay the pony couple running the inn had told her someone had come and paid for the two. Twilight didn’t want to assume it was the human who did so. She highly doubted it that was. The couple didn’t give good details on who it was as they were hidden under a hood. It somewhat bothered her on her way to the library. She was so distracted that she didn’t realize where she was going into she bumped into another pony. “Oh I’m quite sorry…” She apologized, but only received an accusing hoof pointed at her face. “There she is! There is the pony that stole all of our books!” Countless mares and stallions looked angered and frustrated at the unicorn and a few humans amongst them. Twilight’s ears drooped once more as a pony with a tan coat, grey mane, and glasses approached her. She could only assume this was their mare as everyone made way for her. “I have never seen you around Ponyville before!” she declared. “Countless ponies spotted you snooping around the library yesterday and you didn't leave for quite some time.” Twilight gasped. These ponies really were accusing her of stealing their books. She did admit she had been there for quite a while, but she would never go and steal any of the books. “Mayor, I didn't take any books. You see I am on a quest for Princess Celestia.” “Yeah, yeah and I’m Luna’s daughter!” another mare countered. “Without the banishing spell we won’t be able to get rid of the manticore!” One of citizens wailed making some look nervous. Even the humans look at one another nervously and whispered. “Manticore! Around ponyville that’s crazy!” “What is a monster at that level doing around here? No way am I taking that thing on.” Twilight took a step forward. “I promise that I am not lying to you! I did not come to steal your books just to research. I’m as surprised as you are that they are missing.” The mare looked around confused wondering why anyone would want to take all of the books and for what. “I may have stayed for quite a bit inside and spruced the place up, but I would never take something that isn't mine. The mayor didn't look satisfied with her answer. “That still doesn't fix our problem with the manticore… if we can’t find that spell someone will have to go out into the Everfree forest and rid us of such a beast. Ponyville won’t be safe until it is dealt with.” Everyone in the crowd remained silent all eyes were on Twilight. “I- I- don’t…” The mare was close to dashing out of the town if not for Spike taking charge. He got in front of Twilight in her defense. “Fine, I know what you all are thinking, a manticore. Who can stop it and save Ponyville? Well I will not deny your request. I Spike will go out into the Everfree forest and slay this beast for you!” he declared. Twilight’s mouth fell ajar as the crowd began nodding with approval. The mayor looked satisfied enough nodding in acknowledgement. “Then return to me as soon as the task is done with the manticore’s tail. I trust that you do come back alive. “ Spike saluted the mayor as she trotted away and turned back to his friend whose mouth was wide ajar and speechless. “Well that was easy enough. Now comes the hard part, you ready Twilight…. Twilight?”