Ponyville Town Square, Evening of the Summer Sun Celebration
Leaning against one of the tall columns of the town hall as the party swept back and forth around Twilight Sparkle, the citizens of ponyville driven by salt-spiked apple cider, and run into sugar-fueled dancing sprees by a combination of Pinkie and Apple family treats, the party raged around her like nothing else in the world could. The very thought brought a warm glow of a smile to her face as she watched Pinkie Pie dare yet another unwitting guest from out of town to a cupcake eating contest. Up on the main stage, Vinyl Scratch unloaded her trademark music into the crowd of dancing ponies, bright lights and magical lasers streaking across the crowds in a cacophony of light and sound that seemed determined to keep its listeners awake eternally.
But Twilight yawned anyway. Wide and jaw creakingly long, she felt her head slump against the town hall’s column as the Cutie Mark Crusaders went charging by with another load of records for Scratch. The music and lights seemed to fade away as exhaustion snuck up behind her and claimed her consciousness for its own, pulling her down into the warm inky blackness of her dreams.
Yet the dreams seemed to become more and more real, seizing at her imagination with feelings of safety, drawing her in to what she knew were her memories of that night three years ago. The night where the fate of her entire life would change against her will, leaving her bound as the Element of Magic, one of the six Elements of Harmony, Guardian of Equestria against the dark forces that sought to destroy it. But her dreams focused tonight not on those future threats, but on that incident what seemed so long ago. That night that had brought to her the closest friends a mare could ever ask for. ..
The feeling of a hoof being shaken almost to the point of being pulled off, A strong grip, Shining green eyes and a bright twang in her voice that just rippled with hospitality…
”Well, Howdy-Doo, Miss Twilight! A Pleasure makin your acquaintance. Ahm Applejack.”
~Applejack. So Honest. No one works harder than she does. But She’ll do anything to keep from disappointing her friends…anything…~
A flyaway mane, created by a virtual tornado of speed. The multi-hued mane of the one responsible seeming to mock her, yet nothing but friendly interest in a voice dripping with pride…
“Lemmie guess. YOU’RE Rainbow Dash.”
“THEEEEE One and Only! Why, ya heard of me?”
~Dash. As loyal as a puppy, and almost as smart. So Loyal, she’d never even question me if I told her what to do…~
The cultured voice. The elegant sweep of her mane, her impossible grace even under the heaviest of pressures. Those sharp eyes, and a talent for style not even the most hoity of toity’s could possibly match..
“Oh My Stars, DARLING! Whatever happened to your Coiffure? “
~Rarity, more generous than any dozen other ponies. Perhaps a bit full of herself, but if one can convince her to start giving, It is oh so hard for her to learn when to stop…~
The bright yellow coat, the pink mane. That painful, total shyness. Little else could describe the pony teaching the southern birds to sing as gorgeously as any choir…
“Hi Spike! Im Fluttershy…”
~Fluttershy. She couldn’t even speak to me at first, yet her courage can be as boundless as her kindness should it be called to the fore. She least of all would oppose my direction, so long as I was firm and forceful enough…~
Chaos. Energy. Happiness. Laughter. What else could be said about the pink maned wonder? Who could seemingly bend the very laws of space and time to her will, oblivious to all but her never ending quest to make everypony in Ponyville smile…
“SURPRISE! Hi, I’m Pinkie Pie and I threw this party JUST FOR YOU!”
~And finally, Pinkie Pie. What else can I think? Pinkie Pie is Pinkie Pie. So long as she’s making other ponies happy, I don’t think she cares about anything else…~
“You see, Little Twilight? You’re already starting to learn…certainly, they are your friends, but oh the things they will be able to do for you once you have learned…And you had best be ready, my faithful student…your first lesson is coming very soon…Wake up, Twilight Sparkle….Wake up….Wake up!”
“Wake up, Twilight!”
Applejack was shaking her shoulder as she suddenly sputtered awake – The sun was getting ready to set in the distance, and Twilight rubbed her eyes out, wondering how the heck she’d slept unnoticed through so much of the afternoon. Applejack gave her a distinctly worried look, one that mirrored that Spike’s from yesterday evening. “Are you alright, Sugarcube? You look like ya just seen a ghost…” Applejack frowned a little, gently placing hoof against Twilight's head as if to take her temperature.
Twilight shook her head and put her very best comforting smile on, trying to project as much confidence as she possibly could as her mind roiled over the vivid, disturbing dream she’d just awoken from. For the briefest of moments, her vision felt doubled, like she could see two different Mares before her – one the warm, calm Applejack she knew so well, stubborn and strong…the other…An obedient minion, Strong, for certain, but desperate for her approval and love..She shook the vision from her eyes and pasted the smile on more strongly, vowing to write Celestia in the morning about this.
“I’m fine, Applejack. Just a little tired from all the partying and preparing for those storms we had to go through…” The truth, but not the whole truth. Applejack might be able to spot a boldfaced lie a thousand yards away, but she still had trouble with the subtleties sometimes. Twilight felt sick at deceiving her closest friend, but on such a glorious night as this, she didn’t wish to worry her unnecessarily over some dark dreams.
Applejack, for her part, just grinned at her. “Shucks, Twilight. You ain’t hardly hard any fun at all yet! C’mon, geddup. We’re havin a little private moment with the whole gang for the Sunset ritual.” Applejack tugged Twilight to her hooves and for her part, Twilight trotted along in good order and speed, ignoring the strange feeling in the back of her mind that she really was missing something…
The Friendship Express, Crystal Empire Station, Five hours earlier
“Prince Shining Armor! What ‘n the world brings you ‘ere?”
The Station conductor looked absolutely gobsmacked at the sight of the white coated prince bedecked out in the armor of the Captain of the Royal Guard, his eyes intense upon the station master who for his part shifted a bit uncomfortably in his chair, trying not to swirl his cider like a nervous recruit. Shining armor spoke tersely, but not unkindly. “I am sorry to interrupt your private celebrations, Full Steam, but I need to get to Ponyville as quickly as is possible.”
The stationmaster looked up in shock – It was well known by nearly everyone working in the area that Shining Armor and Cadence had been planning a private personal celebration tonight, a chance to get away from the difficulties of rebuilding the Crystal Empire. “Well o’course, I’ll rouse the boys and load the engine up proper, but…What’s going on? Some kinda’ emergency?” He stood up, setting his cider down half nervously, the giant wooden mug rattling noisily in the otherwise silent train station.
Shining armor shook his head firmly and growled out his next words in a voice that sent a chill up the stationmasters back. “I don’t know yet, Steam. But I’m not taking any chances. We need to double time it. Any passengers we might inconvenience I will personally apologize to later. Now Move!”
For his part, the stationmaster did not argue, leaping out the doors and yelling as he went for the express pull-pony team, and to load up the steam engine with a fast load of coal. One car only, this was going to be a speed run. Shining Armor, for his part, glared out into the chilly countryside, feeling the gentle touch of Cadence’s magic on his cheek, wishing this dark feeling in the pit of his stomach would go away. It felt like the black magic of Sombra again, driving hope and love from his heart and replacing it with fear and doubt.
~Shiny….be strong. I’m sure whatever is wrong, Twilight will be alright until you can arrive..~
Shining armor blew out a breath as a six-pony team of bulky earth ponies trotted up to the front of the station, pulling the Friendship Express engine car and a single passenger vehicle with it. Shining moved out to the car and hopped aboard the train, yelling over the blowing winds to the Stationmaster. “Don’t worry about the formalities! Let’s just get going! We don’t have much time!” The train pulled slowly out of the station, as the engine began to pick up speed...
Manehatten, Unicorn Square, The Rich Hotel
Celestia blew out an exaggerated sigh at Luna's intransigence. “We have at least a little time, dear sister. What is worrying you so?” The sleek penthouse suite of the Rich hotel was a study in elegance and design. The finest Saddle Arabian silk, imported marble from the Diamond Dog warrens, hoof-stitched hangings from some of the most legendary of Equestria’s own designers and artists. Hoof crafted furniture from the artisans of Fillydelphia. Yet it all paled in comparison to the two regal forms who sat across from each other by the small tea-table that served as the center for the room.
A sleek white horn glowed gold with ancient power and lifted the china cup to her lips, tasting the simple green teas she was so fond of, and refocused her gaze upon the dark blue coated Alicorn across the table. Luna had that look again, that set of body posture and facial expression that told her sister she was very, very concerned about something, and equally determined not to bring it up. Luna, for her part, jerked her head from side to side and lifted her own teacup with far less elegance, a few droplets spilling out onto the soft rug beneath her hooves as she took a long pull of the black teas she preferred when she had to be awake before her normal hours.
“Lulu…” Celestia began, and was rewarded for her prod with an irritated glance from her sister. Just the sight of that defensive glare brought a smile to Celestia’s face – both of them hated being called by their childhood nicknames. It was their own, private way of needling at one another, and a gentle reminder of just how old they were in comparison to so many other ponies.
Luna huffed out a breath after a moment, realizing she’d been played. Then she stuck her tongue out at Celestia and sighed, now only half glaring at her. “I am worried about Twilight Sparkle.” Just the mention of her Most Faithful Student brought a gentle smile, but then a worried frown to her face.
Celestia arched a delicate eyebrow at this sudden announcement of a problem, setting the ancient gears of her mind to turning…“What in the world do you mean? Her letters have not indicated any issues.” Her tone indictated she clearly did not believe this could be at all serious. Then Luna huffed out again, obviously frustrated at something Celestia had absolutely no knowledge of.
Sometimes, she felt incredibly silly for being totally unable to see into the dreams of other Ponies, as her sister could. It was perhaps too much to ask, yes, but it would make her life so much easier sometimes if she could just go in and see whatever was bothering them. Luna, on the other hand, while she was blessed with the ability, maddeningly did not use it unless she saw a pressing need to. Her tone was petulant, but continued on that strong tone of worry,“Her dreams have been cloaked in shadow as of late. I have not been able to see what her dreams pertain, nor why her dreams seem not to change from night to night as other ponies do. It is as though she is plagued by some problem she wishes not to speak of to anypony else.”
Now Celestia was worried. If her student could be said to have one truly overriding flaw, it was that sometimes her incredible logic worked against her own good sense, stymieing her from asking for help when she had become convinced she could handle a problem that was clearly beyond her ability to deal with. Even worse, she was prone to making mountains out of mole-hills, as the saying went, so Celestia could not even be sure that whatever dark thoughts plagued her student, that it was anything of pressing importance.
She sighed gustily, wishing she could have just one day where something did not seem to be going wrong somewhere, and calmly sipped at her tea, forcing her mind back into Serenity. Now was not the time to be panicking. “Leave her be for the time, Luna. I will raise the issue in our next letter after the Celebration tomorrow. Should she continue to be evasive, we will take further steps to aid her.” Her eyes crinkled in amusement. “For all we know, it could be as silly as that issue with the letters she had.” The memory of what Luna had come to call ‘Lesson Zero’ brought a giggle of humor to both of them, easing the tension that seemed to be building up in the room. It was going to be a fine Summer Sun raising, and the two of them would get a chance to cut loose and enjoy the party for once amidst the Manehatten social scene.
It was going to be All Right.
The Golden Oaks Library, Summer Sun Day, Just before Sunset.
“It seems incredible sometimes that it all began here, doesn’t it, Applejack?” Rarity’s sweet dulcet tones floated through the mostly empty library, where six close friends, and one baby dragon, stood around the central library table. A special cask of Sweet Apple Acres Cider sat somewhat precariously in the center, surrounded by mugs half full of cider and bowls of various treats, snacks and a bulky album of photographs taken from their adventures over the years..
Applejack grinned and drawled out, around a mouthful of baked goods “Sure does. Heck, I never thought anything important’d ever happen here! Er, no offense, Twilight.”Twilight, for her part, only rolled her eyes at applejack as she grabbed one of Pinkie Pie’s legendary crumb-cake-cupcake-supremes and devoured the flaky treat with no small amount of relish, feeling far more awake than she had in days, surrounded only by her closest friends.
Pinkie pie, for her part, was bouncing up and down by the photo album as Fluttershy gingerly turned the pages for them all.“Ooh Ooh! That bridge sure was scary to cross, wasn’t it! And Ooh! It’s Steven Magnet! I wonder how he’s doing down in Appleloosa? Oh yeah, and there’s that picture with the Princesses! And they SIGNED it! That was so awesome I was like whoaaaaaa Princesses here in Ponyville! And there’s our first Pet Playdate! And-“ Pinkie Pie’s constant pep got a smile from everyone except for Rainbow Dash…who predictably, was eyeballing the brand new Daring Do novel that sat prominently in Twilight’s ‘Read Me’ pile.
Twilight noted with some concern that Rainbow looked absolutely beat, but was running on pure bravado to convince everyone she was perfectly fine. It was obvious, even to Pinkie Pie, though that she was even more tuckered out that Twilight was after dealing with the massive storms all night. Fluttershy looked up to the tree window and softly spoke into the tirade of Pinkie..“Um…girls?” Pinkie pie gave a huge deep inhale just in time for Applejack to shove a hoof into her mouth
Applejack turned to Fluttershy, conscientious of how quiet the little Pegasus could be. “Go ahead, Sugarcube, what’s up?” Fluttershy pointed a delicate yellow hoof at the window and everypony turned their head and Rarity gave a little gasp and a squeal of delight, practically bouncing in place.
“Why, It’s practically Sunset! Get your mugs full girls, Hup to!” Each of the six friends quietly refilled their mugs with the foaming apple cider and trotted up to the window which overlooked the horizon of Ponyville. There, they stood in silence, hoof in hoof with one another. Every year since they had met, they had me the Summer Sun celebration’s sunset together, just as they had the very first time they met.
They used this moment to reflect, and to simply be together as the closest friends anypony could ask for. As the sun gently dipped below the horizon, each one of them took a sip of their cider, and a sip from the mug of each other pony, punctuating it with a hug, or in Rainbow Dash’s case, a Brohoof, even if only a timid one from Fluttershy. The sweeping darkness of the night poured over ponyville like a warm blanket, the shining silver moon slowly rising above the other horizon as a curtain of brightly sparkling stars began to appear overhead, bringing the glorious night of Luna’s own making to the world again.
Each of the six friends gabbed over how they were intending to spend the rest of the evening before the sunrise, save for Twilight, who could not take her eyes of the shining silver moon coming over the buildings of Ponyville. Somewhere at her core, she felt a soft tug, willing her, pulling her towards the Everfree Forest.
Twilight’s hoof lifted and was about to come down when suddenly she was crashed into by Rainbow Dash, who grabbed her around the shoulders and grinned, speaking loudly over the other ponies. "Well I know what I’M Gonna do. I’m gonna take the egghead here and make sure she has the party of her lifetime! And no more sleeping or bein all books and nerdy tonight, Twi! Or running off and being a little wallflower just cuz yer’ Sleepy! Cmon, Let’s go get a coupla salt licks in ya, and then we’ll really cut loose!” It was like being pulled upon like a force of nature, One that didn’t believe in the word “No” or “But” – As twilight felt herself, and shortly Fluttershy along with her, by an eager eyed Dash and Pinkie, both of whom seemed determined to drag Twilight into the hardcore partying scene if she liked it or not. Even as they crossed the threshold of the library, she could feel that gentle, strong tug – and the faint whisper of words on the wind…
~Twilight….Twilight…come to us, Twilight..It’s almost time…~
The Friendship Express, Sunset
Shining Armor watched the sun set in the far distance as he sat silently in the padded chair of the Passenger car. As the darkness slowly poured over the land, he felt a tight rope seem to snap in his very gut – Time was running perilously short.
He could only hope he would arrive before it was too late.