//------------------------------// // I: Sick of the Sun // Story: Pride of the Pantheon // by PurplePolymath //------------------------------// They say everypony, unicorn, pegasi, and earthbound inhabitants possess the ability to grant a wish, magic of their very own. This wish however… comes with a price, their very talent, the mark that only they bear, earned by mysterious means. But there exist those who are able to transcend such sacrifice, one of these creatures, also seen as an abomination, even to those that have long since thought the beasts to have gone extinct. Known to very few the last was spared, saved in stone as a nonsensical sculpture, representing a warning, failure if nothing else. But this encased entity will have his time, sooner than you’d expect. "Come on, I won't ruin it for you, I promise!" "No, Rainbow Dash. I'm not making that mistake again." "Please-please-pleeeeeaaasseee, Twilight!? "For the hundredth time, no. If I let you read it now you'll just brag about the book and spoil the entire ending before I even get the chance to open." Twilight turned her back to her friend; the very friend who had been buzzing about her like a gnat for hours now, this was the third day this week she'd bothered Twilight about this particular piece of literature. And each day the weather worsens, if it weren't for the unforgiving heat Rainbow Dash could go last all day. Of all the places in Ponyville it would seem that the sun had chosen to shine, or rather "scorch" its pupil's place of residence. At the library there was no calm, no quiet. In this lack of silence books slept out of order, numerical, symmetrical, alphabetical, or otherwise. For the past few days or so you could come and behold the only contrary library Equestria has to offer, Golden Oaks. The purple polymath had read, proof-read, and triple-checked every scroll, book, and parchment in search of a remedy. All of her best friends were there beside her in her time of need, doing their best to read just as swiftly as she did, of course they couldn't, but it’s the thought that counts. There sat stacks of books, papers out of place, desk dressed in rows of documents. Everypony with their collective collections of literature that their eyes had already invaded what seemed an infinite number of times over. They believed persistence would provide them the answer, now all they had to do was prove they possessed enough of it. Rarity had finished the last of her jewel-encrusted orders days ago and refused to take on anymore after hearing the horrid news from her friend. Fluttershy was sure to tend to every creature of hers, big and small, leaving them properly groomed and left with plenty of food knowing she'd be gone for more than one moon. Against her better judgment she put Angel in charge while she was away, she hoped things wouldn't be too hectic in her absence. She knew how Angel could get if even the slightest of authority was given to him, but who else was to look after her precious critters while she was away? Pinkie Pie herself wasn't doing anything in particular. She'd already had her tenth party this week, and it was only Tuesday! And like every party she'd ever thrown, she never charged for a single one, which could have caused at least one of her dear friends to question her ever full cannon and seemingly endless amount of stocked supplies if not for the situation at hoof. Regardless, she was always willing to help a friend in need however she could, besides, there was always the possibility of an "afterparty." Applejack in all her honesty was just glad that this incident hadn't come up during zap apple juncture or some other season that beckoned the fullest attention of the Apple family. She'd left the farm in capable hooves, to her brother and dear Granny Smith, her sister was somewhere far from the barn at the moment. Although given the hog-sized problem presented, regardless of the season she would have stayed by her friend's side. The rainbow-mane mare had taken a short leave of the Wonderbolt Academy, she was as loyal as they come, truly, and not even her own dreams could outweigh this matter. Spike had just finished checking off the last item on the list, containing all the books read in all the days the friends had did their best with their noses in them, the obvious disappoint and sadness upon his face. After Twilight closed the last book, the heat that slowed the others pace finally registered with the librarian herself. This only made her worry more, the light from the sun, Princess Celestia herself... was deathly ill. She was suffering from an almost unbearable pain for days now, she'd also broken into an odd fever and the scorching sun was a signal to the scholar. The little pony took the sun's rising temperature for a thermometer, assuming Celestia's fever had grown, unfortunately she was correct... The castle and its guards would have been in chaos if it hadn't been for the orbiting moon to keep the order, and her sister's sickness a secret. Nopony knew exactly what was the cause of the princess' sickness, most had honestly forgotten or were just simply unaware the celestial mare was capable of carrying disease, known or unknown. All the girls gathered around the library's number one assistant as he made certain everypony had a full cup of relief from the sun, known as lemonade by most. The library remained an organized mess and the ponies all looked at their now empty glasses, exchanging glances and sighs. Considering the lemonade did little against the heat and the dire situation of a goddess fallen ill to some corrosive sickness, who could blame them? "Come on everypony, cheer up,” said the baby dragon while trying his best not to let the collective sorrow weigh upon his scales as well. "Besides, Apple Bloom hasn't arrived yet. Who knows, she might come through the door holding some funky brew that'll fix the princess right up.” Spike ended with a snap of his claws. This time it was Ponyville's most dependable pony that spoke, removing her hat as she did and placing it to her heart. "I reckon yer right Spike, my sis will come bargin’ in with just the right stuff for her majesty." The farmer put a friendly hoof over the dragon's shoulder in smiles, the room of friends exchanged a few of the infectious themselves, the final set all aimed toward their lovable bookworm. Twilight found her own smile in their support, she was about to speak words of appreciation to her wonderful friends, but just as she readied her tongue, a knock came upon the door, Twilight restlessly approached. She manipulated handle and lock with an unspoken aura, she opened the door, and surely enough it was the youngest filly from Sweet Apple Acres. The librarian's smile was bright, it remained lit... until she saw the filly's expression, and her heart sank as the little one shook her head, she wouldn't dare raise her head to meet what she'd imagine as the saddest student she'd ever see. And just like that the same melancholy atmosphere that once threatened to swallow the library came once again. That was until the little apple finally stepped inside and handed the unicorn a parchment from her saddle bag. The unicorn readied her eyes for the news, levitating the literature into her line of vision as she read it silently to herself, gasping to everypony's surprise and flinging the parchment to fall anywhere other than near her. "Twilight, what's the matter!?" asked her assistant, as he saw his best friend's eyes widen to an unhealthy size. The hatchling latched to her leg as natural instinct and desire to comfort her consumed him. The stricken mare left the room, teleporting with a magical burst, only to escape the reality of the letter itself. The student of the sun had never felt such a heat build inside her, excluding that one fiasco with Pinkie, but this was far worse. Her rage rapidly increasing, allowing her earlier sorrow and frustration from the crisis itself to merge, augmenting her anger. She had only gone to her bedroom, the calmest, safest place she'd known since her decision to stay with her friends in Ponyville. But the solace that usually surrounded the room was on the verge of being devoured, instantaneously as the librarian and unintended assistant entered. "What's it say?" Rainbow Dash asked hastily. Her robust wings already keeping her afloat as she had been only seconds away from going after her friend, before she happened to realize she had no idea where the egghead had gone or why. Rarity being the curious one, nosy to some, cast the parchment from the floor, bringing it to her side with her own magical ability and adjusting it for all to see. In the end she decided to simply read it aloud. As everypony was invading her personal space, in that oven of a library, their perspiring pony faces threatening to leave her fur and mane matted for even a moment was too dreadful to bare. And the dressmaker would have no such thing, not with her supplies at Twilight's stay already running low. After finding her space once more and ignoring Applejack's glare only a few feet away, she cleared her throat and read the parchment aloud. Dear Twilight Sparkle, I apologize to you and your friends. I have tried my best, every book and brew, but I cannot find a cure, a remedy, nothing here will do. I will still continue my research, but read carefully dear for this is no joke. I feel the princess may have been poisoned; perhaps you should interrogate some pony folk? Sincerely, Zecora The room fell silent then, after the collective gasp, as one might expect. At that moment they all had their sure impression of why Twilight had left so abruptly as she did, they could all sympathize with her earlier display. A few more moments passed, as the surprise from the shock personally registered within them and the lot finally finished exchanging wide-eyed glances, and thus the collective comments began to fill the room. The first was a lady like, "Oh My!" "Goodness!” "Well who in tarnation would…?" And followed by a crude, “What the buck?!" And the loudest gasp Equestria had ever heard coming from the pink party pony, one could assume not only from the letter but also due to her friend's colorful language. Every proclamation came after another, seemingly interrupting the previous and thus not receiving a response. All questions came and went, without answer of course, as there were none to be found in this room. The friends contemplated in different furies, the fashionista spotted the intense glow coming from Twilight's room, revealing her present location. The flashes of light becoming violent, being a unicorn herself Rarity knew all too well the danger of frustration and swelled magic all being contorted and constricted to a single place, namely the horn. She signaled her friends as they all rushed upstairs to the door. Spike was indeed still clung to Twilight’s leg, pleading she'd calm down and at least explain the contents of the parcel. But just as far from reality as she was with her face in the books, she couldn't hear a single word from the dragon. The unicorn's horn was emitting a brilliance that filled the entire room, her assistant could see the intense strain and frustration on her face, he could also feel the heat brimming from her coat, and she’d never been so warm. At that point spike had no idea how fortunate he was, for the heat she was radiating could have easily singed a pony's coat or skin, not fully but severe enough to cause a burning bruise. A knock came from outside the door, "Twilight dear, are you alright in there?" beckoned the marshmallow pony, her words couldn't reach the purple polymath either, but the knocking still persist. Her anger was reaching its limit! Just as her own rage was coming close to rival the sun itself, the little dragon belched forth an emerald flame. Charring the mare's muzzle black and cooling her wrath, a scroll hitting her in the face and dropping carelessly to the floor. The knocking ceased as the company outside noticed the violent light-show from within the room came to a halt. "Yo, Twi, you okay in there?” Rainbow Dash waited, and still there was no answer. The librarian had her face planted in the scroll, locked with her eyes. More than a few minutes passed in silence outside Twilight's room, and there was an ear pressed to ever notch and frame of her door. As the silence had lasted too long, the rainbow mare was processing the thought of bucking the door down, and if not her, Applejack had undoubtedly been debating the same thought. Just as her friend’s patience had run dry, the door abruptly shot open causing everypony, and dragon, to collide with themselves and the stairs as well. Twilight found she’d make it down the stairs quicker than might have imagine when she first walked through the door, regardless she found her way from underneath the dog-pile containing the elements, blueprints rather, of harmony itself. She emerged with a smile, one mimicking her success when she'd just mastered a new spell, and also the first "true" smile her friends had seen from her in days. To their surprise they watched the frantic mare gallop here and there, equipping her side with star-imprinted saddle bag and only practical supplies. She held the scroll housing the royal seal up high with glee as she brought her friends up to date, to the cure Luna had found amongst the royal chamber's library. And with that she told her friends to prepare. The six mares left the library in full gallop, the pegasi in flight, their party having two less than before. Spike was left to clean the library, it’s true that Twilight believed in organized chaos, but after their spill from before, the library was left in any adjective "but" organized. At least Spike was able to read the scroll before the girls left so he was at least aware of the new development. Apple Bloom was told to go straight to the farm and help watch over her granny Smith, Big Mac couldn't possibly watch her all day with his chores, seeing as he had almost twice as many now that his dependable sister wasn't there. And that was that. The six were off to meet the lunar princess' guardsmen. They were appointed as escorts, at the point and time told, only a few miles outside of Ponyville and far from the Everfree. She didn't want them seen directly at Twilight's residence, least to avoid any suspicion, unnecessary questions, query or eyes. Luckily everypony was told before they arrived at the polymath's place to bring their bags and essentials just in case, the word essentials meaning something completely different to Rarity as she brought not only her saddle-bag but, her designer bag, blankets, umbrella, conditioners, dresses, shoes, and soaps of a different variety, most of which was now under Spike's watchful, appreciative eye. Just as they arrived at their destination, the sky darkened and thunder crashed as lighting pierce the sky, and the carriage pulled by not only two, but three of Luna's intimidating guards shot down below. Their blue, almost jet black armor appeared to cover them in night itself, no matter the time of day. With darkened coats blowing in the wicked wind that somehow seemed to be brought by them against the very weight of their wings, as if the storm were the source of a coming nightmare. The death of a sudden storm usually marked they descent, rarely did these guards ever smile, but when they did you were sure to see fangs and feral eyes that gave the glow of a predator when a meal was marked for certain. The girls had all grown accustomed to such an arrival, no longer cautious of the lunar knights. That was clear as they made way for the guards to clear their landing, the guards gave the girls only the most necessary, mandatory greeting and salutes. One by one they all entered the carriage, except for one pegasus who was yet to be seen since the first crack of thunder came down. The carriage was about to take flight until Pinkie shouted in what they assumed never seemed like shouting to her. "WAITTTT!" she proclaimed, the other four turning to address whatever issue she had, some with covered ears. "Where's Fluttershy?” she inquired. With that, the rest began looking every which way for the shy cottage owner. "Oh! Oh! There she is! She must have forgotten something in those bushes." The pink pony pointed and sure enough there she was with butterflies, hooves, and tail flailing in view, the other half doing its best to get the rest of her into the bush. "Come on Fluttershy.” The braver pegasi tried to reason with her, before finally taking her friend's trembling tail between her teeth and carrying her to the carriage. Dropping her flatly as usual, but with enough concern to make sure the fall didn't injure her. "I'm sorry everypony, the thunder just shot down and umm... I—“The pegasi was met with a hoof to her muzzle, and a reassuring "It’s alright." from Rainbow Dash who'd brought her back to the carriage. The others, now alongside her, gave reassurance as well, in the form of nods. "Now, is everypony ready and accounted for?" Twilight asked her final question before the departure. As the collective and familiar check came six times over, they were ready for take-off. With a motion of magic and a final nod, the guards took flight into the sky and the best friends were on their way to Canterlot, to learn of the cure the moon had found… and to see the condition of the sun.