Chapter Five
One and a half years had passed. Twilight Sparkle was close to wrapping up her tenth grade year, Trixie her ninth.
The two had formed a budding friendship. Twilight helped Trixie out with her magic, and Trixie helped Twilight with her less-than-stellar social skills.
But then came graduation day.
Twilight walked down the aisle last. Unlike everypony else, her cap had an additional tassel hanging off of it. The red ribbon represented a student graduating with the highest possible honors--only one pony each year could receive it. Trixie sat in the back rows with the other ninth-grade students--the sixth-graders always got to sit in front so they could see first-hoof the fun they would be having in a few more years.
‘Next year,’ she consoled herself. ‘Next year will be your turn to get up there and show them your stuff, Trixie.’
Twilight took her diploma from Princess Celestia and took her place at the end of the long flank of her 99 classmates standing up against the wall. Most smiled at her, and, as always, a few tried to turn her into a changeling with their glare.
Celestia made a quick speech about adulthood or something (nopony ever really listened), and, with that, Twilight and the others threw their caps into the air and hopped off stage. They got first dibs on the refreshments buffet laid out in the next room, after all, and not even Twilight was one to turn down free cake and punch.
Twilight was filling up a large glass with the fruity, rainbow-colored concoction when Trixie intercepted her.
“Hey, Twilight...congratulations.”
“Thanks, Trixie. Don’t worry, I’m not going anywhere, and I’ll be here for you next year. And I can still help you out with your magic sometimes.”
“Really? Thanks a million, Twi.”
“It’s no problem. Really,” Twilight replied reassuringly, finishing off her punch. “You’re the one that’s taught me so much about making friends, and isn’t that what friends do?”
“Yeah...I guess...”
“We are friends, right?”
“Of course!”
“Ugh,” Twilight groaned as she walked out of her psychology class, her saddlebags bulging. She was taking it for fun, but sometimes it didn’t seem that way when combined with her university courses. She was going for full Senior degrees in Applied Magic, Arcane Theory, and Equestrian History and Government, and all of that that entailed quite a bit of work on her part.
She had come to sequestering herself in her tower at almost all hours of the day, leaving only to attend classes, eat, and tutor Trixie every once in a while. Princess Celestia had been the first to criticize her new routine, which left no time for friends or parties.
Checking her agenda, Twilight noticed that she had two full free hours before she had scheduled some time with Trixie to work on her teleportation--again. Deciding it would do her good to spend at least some time outside, Twilight she made her way over to the Esplanade, the long stretch of green fields that ran along the banks of the Trough River.
Finding a suitable shady tree, Twilight plopped down and selected a book to read: “How Equestria Was Made.”
“...and harmony has been maintained in Equestria ever since,” she concluded, gazing upwards. “Elements of Harmony...I know I’ve heard of those before, but where...?”
Twilight, her interest piqued, quickly packed her things and rushed back to her tower. Along the way, she crossed paths with three of her classmates.
“There you are, Twilight,” once of them said. “Moondancer’s having a little get-together in the West Palace Courtyard. Wanna come?”
“Sorry, girls...I’ve got a lot of studying to catch up on,” Twilight told them as she sped on her way.
As she retreated towards her tower abode, she could hear another one of the mares snorting in disgust. “Does thatpony do anything but study?”
“I think she’s more interested in books, than friends.”
“I know I’ve heard of the Elements of Harmony,” Twilight repeated to herself as she ascended the long, spiraling stairs that led to the tower.
She barged in the door. “Spike! SPI-IKE!” she called to her draconic assistant. Celestia had finally let him out of her care about a year ago, and he had finally been allowed to begin living with Twilight in the tower.
Twilight soon noticed Spike, a bit disoriented, splayed across the balcony floor.
“There you are,” she said as Spike grumbled. “Quick, find me that old copy of ‘Predictions and Prophecies.’”
Noticing a small gift-wrapped box Spike was clutching in his small claws, she asked “What’s that?”
“Well,” Spike began. “It was a gift for Moondancer, but...” he soon trailed off.
“Oh, Spike. You know we don’t have time for those things.”
“But we’re on a break!” the dragon protested.
Twilight didn’t answer, but began rapidly unshelving books with her telekinesis, scanning each one’s title.
“No, no, no, nononono!” she tossed the books aside, crying “Spike!”
“It’s over here!” the dragon called from atop one of the bookshelves, waving a thick volume out. Twilight reflexively grabbed onto it, pulling Spike to the floor with it.
“Elements, Elements, E, E, E...aha! Elements of Harmony...see Mare in the Moon?” Twilight recited aloud, flipping through the book, now laid out on a reading stand.
“Mare in the Moon?” Spike questioned from atop another bookshelf, replacing the mess Twilight had made. “But that’s just an old pony’s tale.”
“Mare in the Moon...myth from olden pony times...a powerful pony who wanted to rule Equestria, 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 nighttime eternal! Spike, do you know what this means?”
“No.”
“Take a letter, Spike. To the princess!”
“Okie-dokie!”
“My dearest teacher,” Twilight dictated. “My continuing studies of pony magic have led me to discover that we are on the precipice of disaster!”
“There. It’s sent and on its way.”
A few minutes later, a swirling green-and-black smoke cloud entered through the window and materialized into a rolled scroll at Spike’s feet. He picked it up and undid the wax seal.
“See? I knew she would want to take immediate action!” Twilight proclaimed, trotting over to the balcony window.
“My dearest Twilight: you know that I value your opinion and trust you completely...”
Twilight smiled.
“...but you simply must stop reading all of those dusty old books!”
The smile disappeared and Twilight gasped.
Twilight and Spike stood on the tarmac at the Canterlot Chariotport, awaiting their private transport to Ponyville. Shining Armor had come to see the two off. Twilight had been forced to cancel her plans for the rest of the day--Celestia’s orders.
Two guards dressed in snappy flight suits approached. “Hello, Miss Sparkle. I’m Thunderbolt, and I’ll be your Leadpony today,” one said in a gruff voice. Motioning to his companion, he went on. “This is Stormbrewer, he’s my Wingpony. We’ll be flying you to Ponyville today. It’s a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Ma’am,” he finished, holding out a hoof. Twilight shook it.
“Sergeant Armor,” the two said in unison, saluting their superior.
“At east, gentlecolts. I’m just here for Twily.”
“Oh, she’s your little sister, eh?” Stormbrewer joked. It earned him a stern glare from Thunderbolt, but Shining laughed it off.
The two hooked themselves into the saddles attached to the small chariot and waited until Twilight and Spike had clambered aboard.
“Ready for takeoff, Stormbrewer.”
“Affirmative. Let’s go.”
The two pegasi began to accelerate down the short landing strip, and soon took off in the direction of Ponyville. The flight would only take about ten minutes.
From below, Trixie saw the chariot take to the air. She sighed.
“Good luck, Twi. Come back soon.”
From her window, Princess Celestia also saw Twilight’s departure.
“Just as planned.”
“What was that, Your Highness?” one of the door guards piped up.
“Nothing.”