//------------------------------// // Too Long Ago // Story: It's The Thought That Counts // by DerpyMuffins15 //------------------------------// “You wanted to see me Princess? Am I in trouble?” Twilight asked. She limped through the door into a small office, after being asked to report to her. It was in a private wing, which she got lost several times just to find. Struggling to maintain her collectiveness, Twilight tripped twice before reaching her seat. “Yes Twilight, you are in trouble.” Celestia calmly answered. “Consider yourself expelled from this school. I no longer want to see you anywhere near the school’s premises.” “W-w-what?” Twilight flailed out of her chair and onto ground. Her heart raced around the prospect, hyperventilation soon following afterwards. As Twilight gasped for more air, Celestia let out a soft giggle from behind her desk. “Calm down, Twilight. Twas just a jest. Unless you do want me to expel you?” “Oh, n-no thanks, Princess. I think I’d prefer to stay a student.” Twilight gasped. She got herself back up on the seat and looked Celestia in the eyes. “I’m glad to hear that Twilight. Do you know why you’re here?” “N-no, Princess. Did I do something wrong?” “You mean besides trying to kill Silver?” Celestia asked back. Twilight looked away, turning towards a wall and kept quiet. “It’s nothing to be ashamed of Twilight, well besides failing.” Twilight returned to staring at the playful alicorn, finding Celestia to be grinning with amusement. “Excuse me, Princess? Were you expecting me to try to kill Silver?” “No, I expected you to fail and try again.” While Twilight stared at her with a confused look, Celestia ignited her horn in gold, whisking out a musty folder. She then levitated it to Twilight, undoing the seals as the auras switched from hers to Twilight’s. Opening the front cover, Twilight read the name inside. “Silver Swirl, born on the eve of the last Lunar year. Parents: unknown. Place of birth: unknown. Status quo: Princess. Magic: alicorn equivalent. Race: unicorn.” Twilight kept reading until most of the info was just common knowledge. “I don’t understand Princess. Why did you give me Silver’s file?” “Read the analysis on her genetic structure.” Celestia gestured. Twilight kept her skeptical look up, but didn’t question the all knowing promethean. “DNA results returned contain subject’s blood shows...” Trailing off, Twilight started to pale as she saw what it said next. “Subject shows clear signs of having... pure alicorn genes, as well as matching chromosomes, but seems to have a recessive gene that suppress the formation of wings. However, magic capabilities do not show any hinderage from these recessive genes.” Beginning to shake, Twilight closed the folder and set it back onto the desk. “Is Silver your daughter?” Looking Celestia directly in the eyes, Twilight began sweating as the princess let out a giggle. “I’m surprised in you, Twilight. What gave you the idea that she was my daughter?” “Well... who’s else could she? You’re the only alicorn alive, right? I mean...” Twilight began brightening on the cheeks as she turned away, “you’re not exactly a virgin goddess.” While Twilight remained antsy, Celestia giggled at the deduction. “No I am not. But I can tell you with certainty that Silver is not my daughter. The report however, is true though.” “Why... why are you telling me this? You said Silver’s file was... classified.” Twilight’s eyes then bulged as she realized the outcome of reading restricted information. “Oh, wow, will you look at the time? I think my sister’s calling me. Goodbye Princess, nice meeting ya.” Rushing to the door, she found it locked with magic, delaying her escape. “Twilight,” called Celestia, rising from her seat. She walked to the desperate filly and watched as Twilight begun using her chompers to forcefully open the door. Using a wing, she swept the filly away from the door, and back into the seat. “You don’t fear death, Twilight. So what do you have to worry about me?” “Hehehe...” laughed Twilight nervously, “oh just never being able to see my family again is all.” “Do you really see me as someone who would do that, Twilight?” Celestia lost her cheerful tone and asked in a more serious manner. In her efforts to try to calm her, Celestia only made things worse as Twilight began hyperventilating again. “Pardon-me-Princess-but-I’m-quite-sure-there-were-two-princesses-that-ruled-Equestria. Please-don’t-banish-me!” Twilight flinched and closed her eyes, waving her hooves around to whack the alicorn away. “You’re right, there were two Princess.” Celestia turned her back, facing the wall and unlocking the door with her magic. “But you have yet to give me a reason to banish you. You may return to your class Twilight, our talk is over.” “O-okay, Princess. It was nice to meet you in person.” Calming down, Twilight limped to the door and magicked it open. “Twilight,” called Celestia, stopping the filly at the door. “Do keep this between us. It wasn’t I that made her file classified. There are secrets worth dying for, and you now know one of them. Good luck in your studies, and staying alive.” Twilight didn’t bother staying in the office to hear Celestia’s warning, dashing out and halfway through a corridor before she even stopped to catch her breath. Note to self: never ask Silver for a favour. |~|~|~|~|~| “Please excuse my skepticism here, Trixie, but now I just know you’re making things up. If you weren’t even there to witness Twilight and Princess Celestia talk with each other, how do you know about it? If the Princess didn’t want Twilight telling anyone about it, how you possibly know about it? I’m sorry but you’re starting to lose me here.” “Well...” “And all three of you being so casual about killing each other? It doesn’t matter if you can magically heal your organs, I’m pretty sure at least one of you would be traumatized by it. And all this conspiracy with the Princess and this mysterious relative of her? I hope you can see why I’m skeptical.” “I might have made up a few things here and there... But only not to bore you!” “Believe me darling, I’m pretty sure I’d be more interested in hearing about your real life than some made up story just for entertainment. Now if you don’t mind? Could you give the real version? I know your sister is talented, you speak highly of her already, but I’m quite certain only alicorns have the ability to come back life.” “Do you honestly want to hear a boring version of it? I mean, a battle to the death? Are you sure?” “The truth, if you don’t mind. I really won’t think less of you. Sure life can be boring when you first think about it, but after you look back on it, you tend to laugh at how silly it was. What really happened?” “Alright there really wasn’t a battle to the death...” “Go on,” Rarity gestured with a hoof. “We went to the library instead...” |~|~|~|~|~| “How’s your latte Trixie?” Silver asked. “Great! Thanks Silver. What did you get?” “Oh, just some hot chocolate.” She answered. She beamed at the filly and turned to Twilight cautiously. “Twilight, are you sure you can handle an espresso? I don’t think you’re old enough to be anywhere near that stuff.” “I’ll be fine,” she reassured, waving a hoof to ward away Silver’s worries. “Besides, I could use something this strong on long study nights. What’s the worst that could happen?” “Just be careful Twilight, it’s hot.” Silver answered. She sipped from her cup, levitating a book from her saddle bags onto the table. Inside she had a page marked with a silk ribbon, and a picture of what looked like her family. “Who’s in the picture?” Trixie asked. She got a hoof to the rib from Twilight, and a stare saying it’s not their business. Looking closer, the photo was brown with age, cracking at the edges and the colour a monotone. “Oh just me and my friends.” Silver grinned. She stared blankly at it, eventually showing the sisters the photo. They saw Silver pose with her friends, all of them laughing and giggling with one another. “What were their names?” Twilight asked, examining the photo with care. “The top right was Morning Glory. She always thought of ways to help her friends even when she was overworked herself.” Said Silver, pointing to a pinkish pony. “Bottom left was Ivy. If you ever committed a fashion crime, she was always the first to know.” Silver moved her hoof to the other side, pointing to a violet pony. “Crystal was always the brainy one. She’d look at the stars most of the time and had a knack for seeing the future.” She moved her hoof diagonally, to another pink pony. “She was Twinkle Star. Twinkle had the power to grant any wish, but never her own.” Her hoof then moved to the last pony besides herself. “That’s Trixiebelle. She’d always try to get us to laugh, especially on a rainy day. And there’s me,” said Silver, pointing to the white pony in the center. “Hey Silver?” asked Trixie. “What’s your special talent? Your cutie mark doesn’t really say much about it.” She got another elbow from Twilight, which Trixie knew was starting to bruise. “Well, if you were wondering, it was being a guardian. I protected my friends with my magic and what not, and my mana shields always took the shape of swirls, hence the silver swirls.” “Ahh, I wish my cutie mark was just as interesting! All I can do is illusion magic.” Whined Trixie. “Everypony has a special talent that only they can do, Trixie. Not many ponies can do illusion magic that you probably can do in your sleep.” Said Silver, getting the picture back and putting into her book. “Yea, because illusion magic is gonna get me far in life. Just imagine how many ponies I could entertain with a magic show.” Trixie said, rolling her eyes. “Hey at least you know what your cutie mark means. I still don’t know what mine's supposed to be or what it does for that matter. Just a huge star surrounded by more stars,” said Twilight, pointing to it. “Yea, because the the unknown is better than trickery. I totally see that being true, Twilight,” Trixie scoffed. “Come on you two,” interrupted Silver. “Class is about is start. We’d better get going before we get detention for being late. Thanks again for the donuts Trixie.” |~|~|~|~|~| “Now that sounds much better, darling.” Rarity smiled. “Sure,” said Trixie. “If you want a totally boring version.” “I don’t mind it, Trixie. Honestly, I’d rather be bored out of mind and hear a truthful part of your lives than some pizazz version with nothing but explosions every five minutes.” “If you say so,” Trixie scoffed, rolling her eyes. “Oh, I know so. Besides, just because you don’t think it’s interesting doesn’t mean it’s not interesting for someone else. Sometimes it’s the quiet and easy life that’s most would prefer listening to. Now this Silver, she sounds rather intriguing, is she not?” “Now that part however, I didn’t lie about.” Said Trixie, her eyes sparkling with a sense of mystery. “What?” “Silver really was immortal, almost as old as Princess Celestia if not more.” “How’s that even possible? I thought only alicorns were immortal.” Rarity asked, a skeptical eyebrow raised. “Now that’s a million bit question.” Grinned Trixie. She opened her saddlebags and magicked out a book with a golden unicorn on the covers. “Have you ever of the Elements of Harmony?” “I think I’ve heard of it...” said Rarity thinking through her memory. “It certainly sounds familiar though.” “Well, isn’t it strange how we’ve all heard about it, but don’t exactly know what it is? Just like one of those déjà vu moment? After doing some research on them, I found something rather interesting about the Elements and Silver.” “Now, how do I know this is true?” “Truthfully, it’s mostly rumors and speculations, with a bit of guessing...” Trixie said, mumbling as her last words. “So it’s not true? That it’s just possibly possible?” Rarity asked, hearing Trixie’s mumbled words. “Ehh, right now it’s leaning towards legends.” Answered Trixie, flipping through the pages. “Two sisters blah blah blah... Night and day blah blah blah... more mumbo jumbo about harmony... Banished to the moon yada yada yada...” Flipping through more pages, she finally found it. “Here it is, Elements of Harmony. Greatest source of magic known to Equestria, but lost through time. Some speculate they lock themselves away, only revealing their true nature to those that have proven themselves worthy of their power.” Trixie flipped again to a picture of six glowing gems, each of them a different color. “And how does this relate to Silver again?” Rarity asked, glancing over the picture with her glasses. “Well, this is just a speculation right now, but I think she’s a bearer of the Elements.” Trixie whispers. “Aheh...” Rarity said. “Remind me again how this makes her immortal?” “Because of her cutie mark of course!” Trixie said, excitement in her eyes. “You’ve lost me, and that is quite hard to do.” “Her special talent was being a guardian right? Well, you put two and two together and you get this! Silver was granted immortality as the Elements saw her fit to protect them, but this isn’t alicorn type immortality. No, this is you can’t kill me kind of immortality.” More like putting sweaters and ties together. “And you figured this all out how?” Rarity interrupted. “With science of course! And a really big hydra.” “W-what?” “Anyways...” coughed Trixie. “Back to the story.”