//------------------------------// // Once Upon a Time // Story: The Magic Within // by Night--Mist //------------------------------// Once Upon a Time Six years had passed since Twilight's vision of nightmare moon. She was now a respectful, but sometimes rebellious Alicorn teenager. she was about the size of most ponies her age, maybe towering them by an inch or so, but it wasn't too noticeable, compared to her mother and sister. She had become a very gifted alicorn and was so focused in her studies that she would sometimes find some extra studying to do. Today though she thought she would read an old book that had the face of a unicorn on it. She found a secluded spot where she could be alone with her thoughts and studies near a tree sitting next to a lake near the castle grounds. She laid on her belly and placed the book gently in front of her after pulling it out of her bag. She opened the book and began to read. The Banishment of Nightmare Moon Once upon a time, in the magical land of Equestria, there were two regal sisters who ruled together, and created harmony for all the land. To do this, the eldest used her unicorn powers to raise the sun at dawn. The younger brought out the moon to begin the night. Thus the two sisters maintained balance for their kingdom and their subjects, all the diferent types of ponies. But as time went on, the younger sister became resentful. The Ponies relished and played in the day her elder sister brought forth, but shunned, and slept through her beautiful night. One fateful day, the younger alicorn refused to lower the moon to make way for the dawn. The elder sister tried to reason with her, but the bitterness in the young ones heart had transformed her into a wicked mare of darkness, 'Nightmare Moon'. She vowed that she would shroud the land in eternal night. Reluctantly the elder sister harnessed the most powerful magic known to pony kind, 'The Elements of Harmony'. Using the magic of the Elements of Harmony, she defeated her sister, and banished her permanently in the moon. The elder sister took on the responsibility of both sun and moon, and harmony has been maintained in Equestria for generations since. "Hmmm, Elements of Harmony. I know I've heard of those before. But where?" The lavender pony asked herself. As she thought about this she figured best place to start looking would be in the Canterlot royal library. She packed up the book along with her other supplies she had taken with her and started heading towards the castle. It didn't take long before she was stopped before she was stopped by three ponies that knew her pretty well and one said as the three ponies bowed in respect, "There you are Princess Twilight. Moondancer is having a little get together in the west castle courtyard. You wanna come your highness?" The three look at her with a pleading stance and Twilight said, "Oh, Sorry girls. I've got, uh, lot of studying to catch up on." She gives them a smile to try and get herself out of any more questions and makes a dash past them. "Does Princess Twilight do anything, except study? I think she's more interested in books then friends," the same pony said. As Twilight ran towards the library, she said to herself, "I know I've heard of the Elements of Harmony." She passes ponies that either bow or give her a wave and soon makes it to the steps leading to the library, where her assistant Spike, who was now old enough to walk and talk but still a baby dragon, was putting away the books that needed to be shelved. She soon made it to the doors, opened them and yelled, "Spike? Spiiiiiike? Spike?" She saw him dazed on the floor and said, "There you are. Quick find me that old copy on predictions and prophecies. (she saw a banged up gift on his tail). What's that for?" Spike looked at his tail, pulled of the gift and said, "Well, it was a gift for Moondancer, but." She cut him off and said, "Oh Spike, you know we don't have time for that sort of thing." "But we're on a break," Spike argued. Twilight was being stubborn and sparked up a spell to start puling the books off the shelf. "No, no, no, no no no no, rrrrr, SPIKE!" the little Princess yells. "It's over here," Spike said. He was about to climb down, but with Twilight being impatient, got pulled off the ladder with the book. "Ah," was all Twilight said before taking over to a pedestal to read and began flipping through the pages. "Elements, elements, e, e, e, e, ah ha. Elements of Harmony, see Mare in the Moon?" Twilight questioned wondering why it said that. "Mare in the moon? But that's just an old pony's tale," Spike stated. Twilight flipped through the pages once more and said, "Mare, mare, ah ha. The Mare in the Moon, myth from olden pony times. A powerful pony who wanted to rule Equestria. Wait, my mother told me this tale when I was younger. This is not a myth. That's the story about Nightmare Moon, the pony who once was my Aunt Luna. She is no old pony's tale Spike. But I think I'll read on. Defeated by the Elements of Harmony and imprisoned in the Moon. Legend has it that on the longest day of the thousandth year, the stars will aid in her escape, and she will bring about night time eternal. (Gasp) Spike, Do you know what this means?" "No," the little dragon admited. He then began to fall from the ladder he was using to put away the books Twilight had pulled out and dropped. He then landed on her back and Twilight said, "Take a note please, to my mother." "Okey dokey," Spike replied. "My dearest mother, my continuing studies in pony magic have led me to discover that we are on the precipice of disaster" Twilight started. After a few mishaps with wording they finally finished the letter. "Send it," Twilight commanded. "Now?" Spike questioned. "Of course," Twilight responded. "I don't know Twilight, your mother is a little busy getting ready for the Summer Sun Celebration. And that's like the day after tomorrow," Spike informed her. "That's just it Spike. The day after tomorrow is the thousandth year of the Summer Sun Celebration. It's imperative that my mother is told right away," Twilight stated with urgency. "Impera? Impera?" Spike mumbled. "Important!" Twilight shouted, knocking her assistant backwards. "Okay, okay," Spike said, a little annoyed at Twilight's response. He took a deep breath and blew his magic flames to send the letter. "There it's on it's way, but I wouldn't hold your breath," Spike said. Meanwhile Princess Celestia and Princess Cadence had just received Twilight's letter and were busy reading it. Celestia gasped and asked, "Cadence, you know what this means, right?" "It's time isn't it?" Cadence asked, wishing the answer would be no. Celestia nodded and Cadence gave a sigh. "Well, hopefully this will free our Aunt Luna from her dark form," Cadence said. "She will succeed, but we must find a way for her to make friends, without giving away the fact that without them she won't be able to defeat Nightmare Moon," Celestia said. "I know one way, but this is going to sound a little harsh and make her think we feel she's overreacting," Cadence said. "And how do we do that honey?" Celestia asked. Cadence proceeded to pull out a sheet of parchment, as well as a quill and a bottle of ink. She wrote down the message and showed it to her mother. Celestia read the message and then said, "You're right, that is a little harsh, but I can't think of a better way to get her to do it right now." Celestia the signs her name on the parchment and sends the message via magic. Once it reaches the library, Spike belches up the letter and reads it out loud to Twilight. The lavender mare was a little shocked at her mother's response and soon took off towards her room to prepare for her stay in Ponyville. 'Well at least I might bump into old Granny Smith. She's always a treat to have conversations with,' Twilight thought, and laughed at her own irony in it when she was finishing her packing the next morning. "Hello there Twilight," said a familiar sisterly voice. "Oh Cadence, I didn't hear you coming," Twilight responded. "Well, I came in to check on you to see how you are doing," Cadence said. "I'm a little stunned at mom's response to my letter. I wasn't expecting what she told me," Twilight told her elder sister. "Well, you are the best at looking over things to make sure their in order. I don't think she would have given you the job if you weren't up to the task," Cadence said. "But it just seems like such a menial task anypony could take care of," Twilight argued. "Trust me Twilight, every job is important, no matter how small it may seem. And you should have seen what we had to go through on your 8th birthday without your help," Cadence said. "Was it that bad?" Twilight asked. "Worse," Cadence said and they both started laughing. "Well, I'm finished with the packing," Twilight stated. "Why don't I see you off. Mom has arranged a chariot pulled by two of our finest pegisi to take you to Ponyville," Cadence stated as they walk out of Twlight's room, and the servants following with Twilight's luggage. "Well, they better be, or I will be giving the Captain of Guard, Shining Armor a peace of my mind if I'm stuck with Silver Sword on the trip there, and at least I'll get the chance to get away from escorts all the time," Twilight commented. Cadence chuckled and then said, "Well, I hope you have a good time. Mom has arranged for you to stay at the library. I hope that makes you happy." "It does, after I'm done making sure preparations are in order, I'll head to the library and see what I can find out there about the Elements of Harmony," Twilight said. "Well, don't spend too much time in the books. Remember mom's other assignment she has for you to complete," Cadence pointed out. "Sis, I don't think the fate of Equestria rests on me making friends," Twilight said. "It just might one of these days, little sis. You never know how powerful a bond of friendship can be," Cadence said, trying not to give away the real reason for sending her there, for she needed to discover the power within her on her own. "Well I guess it's time for me to get going," Twilight said, as they arrive at the chariot for Twilight's departure. "Let's do the song one more time sis, just for one last sisterly memory before you go," Cadence pleaded. "Alright, here we go," Twilight said. "Sunshine, sunshine, ladybugs awake, clap your hooves and do a little shake," The two princesses said and laughed like little fillies once more. "Well, see you later sis, tell mom I'll miss her," Twilight said as she nuzzled her sister. "I will, don't get into too much mischief while you're down there," Cadence said as she pulled out of the nuzzle and winked at Twilight. "I would never" Twilight joked. "I'll be down to visit you soon," Cadence said. "You better," Twilight demanded. Soon the chariot took off with Twilight and Spike and she waved goodbye to Cadence one last time as the alicorn of love waved back. Soon she was out of sight and Spike started to lecture her the same bread and butter that Cadence had about halfway to Ponyville.