The Code's Apprentice

by Lapis-Lazuli and Stitch


Chapter 1 - The Apprentice

Chapter 1 - The Apprentice
"Only Alicorns deal in absolutes." - Star Swirl the Bearded, Attributed.

Princess Celestia, ruler of all Equestria, spoke to the pony before her in a lecturing tone, “There are two powers upon this world that encompass all others; these we call Harmony and Dissonance. Each is opposite the other, yet they cannot exist separately. For as long as there has been a world, these two forces have warred for control over it.” Her voice rang out through the bare stone of the secret training hall - which currently contained only six bowls of water and two figures, standing opposite one another.

Celestia’s voice continued on, as unstoppable as the tide. “A thousand years ago, Harmony conquered Dissonance and drove it from the land we call Equestria. It did this, not because Harmony is inherently stronger, but because of the Elements which form it. Now, lift the bowls.”

A strong glow of dark violet magic sheathed the horn of Twilight Sparkle, apprentice of Harmony, who stood in the center of the room as a look of fierce concentration crossed her face. Around her, six large wooden bowls full of different colored liquids slowly rose from the ground up into the air. One at a time, all of them floated above her head, perfectly still in defiance of the gravity that threatened to bring them down and the liquids within them not moving in the slightest.

The serene voice of Princess Celestia spoke through the haze of magical effort, somehow reaching Twilight’s ears. “We gain our strength through Harmony and the six Elements which make up its power. Each bowl represents an Element. You know them well - Honesty, Loyalty, Kindness, Generosity, Laughter, and Magic. Alone however, these Elements can accomplish very little. Though they are each powerful in their own right, when constrained from one another they cannot hope to oppose Dissonance. Now, remove the bowls, apprentice”

This was the hard part - or so Celestia thought - and was immediately surprised as each of the bowls gently sank to the ground while six bowl shaped pools of water remained in the air just as unmoving as before. Each water-pool began to glow with subtle magic, drawing from the very threads of Harmony itself as Twilight wove her magic into them and made her magic a part of each pool.

Seconds rolled on and Celestia saw the look on Twilight's face slowly transform from intense effort to serene calm as she continued with the lesson, her voice still cutting through her student’s intense concentration. “Freed of constraint, the six Elements gain strength from one another. From the Kindness of one pony to another, we gain their Loyalty. From the Loyalty of friends, we learn to practice Generosity. Through that Generosity, we learn to be Honest with one another about even the littlest thing. With Honesty, comes the Laughter of friends who need fear nothing, and when all of these things combine, Magic is born.”

Each of the pools of water began to move slowly above her student's head, rippling gently across their surfaces, but remaining in the shape of the bowls that once held them. Celestia's eyes brightened just a little - her apprentice was coming along even faster than she had hoped. Her most faithful student never failed to surprise her at the most unlikely times. Each bowl held a strong illumination in the appropriate colors, too - a sure sign of Harmony infusing her magic.

Then again, Twilight's obsessive studies of Star Swirl the Bearded's tomes ought to have reminded Celestia that it was he who had first invented this spell form. It was likely Twilight had practiced the art during her time in Ponyville. Furthermore, the soft white light beginning to spread from Twilight's hooves across the stone floor in geometric patterns was also a sure sign that her place in Harmony was growing even stronger.

Celestia continued the lesson, no longer distracted by her pride. “From Magic comes our ability to wield Harmony itself. Through the creation of Harmony is our magic made powerful enough to oppose Dissonance, and it is this that has assured order and prosperity for Equestria for one thousand years. That is why we do not delve into the dark arts of Dissonance. For every use of those powers weakens the greater Harmony and with it, our Magic. Our Magic is a tool, a gift given to us by Harmony to spread its truth to all creatures of the world. It is not to advance ourselves in the world. If you seek to master its power, you must master your own desires.”

The white light was moving further out and upwards from her apprentice’s hooves, and Twilight’s form was enrobed in the white, silky strands of Harmony magic. It was even beginning to slowly spiral around her horn: making it longer with a sharper point and wings of pure light were beginning to form at Twilight’s shoulderblades.

It was too early for that to be happening, far too early.Twilight was not yet ready for that power. So Celestia’s voice cut in, quickly dispelling the magic which was taking hold of Twilight. "Very good my student, now put the water back into the proper bowls, quickly and neatly," she spoke in a clarion call, loud enough to cut through her student’s Harmonic trance.

The water slowly descended, a sigh of strain parting Twilight's lips as the water gently flowed into the bowls still surrounding her with nary a drop spilled - the magical field around her horn collapsing and her body sinking to the floor with soft, panting breaths. The soft white light that surrounded her burst into a cloud of magical motes and vanished into the thin air. It was all Celestia could do not to burst into applause and give the hard working apprentice a hug, but now was not the time for such histrionics. “Very good, apprentice. Rise, and speak the Code.”

It was as though the words were pure energy as Twilight went from patently exhausted to determined and solemn. She rose to her hooves, her head proudly held high. Celestia waited, head canted regally towards her apprentice as she caught her breath and began to speak.

Her tone was even and rhythmic, just as she had been taught to speak it, for there was a Harmony to these words. “There is no Wrath, there is Kindness.There is no Greed, there is Generosity. There is no Vanity, there is Loyalty. There is no Deceit, There is Honesty. There is no Despair, there is Laughter. There is no Discord, there is Friendship.”

Celestia then chimed in with her apprentice, their voices joining together in the murmured words. “There is no Death, there is Harmony.” It was like a prayer, the first one Twilight had learned from her teacher. Celestia smiled brilliantly then, willing to unbend some of her naturally stern teacher role for a moment. “I am so very proud of you, Twilight. You have come so very far in such a short amount of time. Soon enough, your training will proceed to the next level.” A level which would change everything, one which would see the culmination of a century of planning.

Twilight on the other hoof, was ecstatic about the very concept of her training advancing. Celestia had so often hinted at the greater magics she might learn beyond what could be deduced from books, and her own natural curiosity about such things was a powerful force. It took all of her remaining energy not to start jumping for joy as Celestia glanced at the clock hanging from the wall and nodded. “You have a meeting with Princess Cadence in an hour. I suggest a quick bath before you go to meet her.”

Twilight squeaked at the reminder of her meeting, looking in mild panic up at the clock. She was going to be late if she didn’t hurry her hooves! She paused in mid step, half about to run ungracefully through the doors before remembering herself. She turned back to her teacher and bowed her head deeply to Celestia. “By your leave, Teacher?” Twilight mumbled out, trying to keep from making a total flankhead of herself.

Celestia was only amused though, and raised her hoof from the ground to gesture at the door to their little training room. “May Harmony guide you, young one, and may the Code enlighten you.” Her words flowed serenly, looking down with undisguised pride and love for her apprentice. A brief flash of darkness in the corner of her vision brought her the sight of Luna standing on the balcony, watching them with an unreadable emotion on her face as Twilight smoothly raised her head back to look at her Teacher.

“May Harmony guide you, teacher,” she returned the ritual prayer and vanished in a flash of violet magic, with enough of a hurry to expend a little more energy teleporting to her rooms rather than simply walking there. Luna silently crossed the smooth flagstones of the training room to stand beside her Sister, looking through one of the windows as a violet flash appeared in one of the tower bedrooms.

Celestia started to speak, but Luna cut her off in an unusual lack of protocol between them. "Be cautious, Sister. Do not make the same mistakes you made so long ago. There is a deep hunger in her that you are already underestimating, and it will be her downfall if you do not take care.." Her tone was a dark reminder of the mistakes that had cost them both dearly.

Celestia huffed indignantly, rounding on the Princess of the Night in anger... but tempered it almost immediately, quashing the feelings of wrath that threatened to arise in her. Every time her sister needled at her for that failure so long ago, she wanted to scream her lungs out. Instead she exhaled calmly and placed the serene gaze upon Luna, who was smirking knowingly at her sister, her voice oozing with insincerity. "What is wrong, Sister? Griffon got your tongue?" she jeered, not her first attempt to get under Celestia’s skin since she had returned. This was not normal, however. Something was bothering Luna, and very badly.

Celestia allowed herself a mild reproving glare before responding, the gentle calm and peace in her voice as firm as it was in front of the most annoying courtier in Canterlot. She would not allow Luna to crack her resolve outside of private quarters, and so she remained composed. "Twilight is in no danger of that, I assure you. I do not call her my most faithful student for naught, dear sister. She will Ascend, and join us as a true Sister in defense of Harmony...” her voice rang with conviction as she parried Luna’s verbal blow. “All is proceeding according to plan.” A stomp of her hoof put a period upon the discussion, or so she thought.

She was about to turn away when her ears twitched with an unexpected sound. Luna was laughing, a tinkling sound that reminded Celestia often of broken glass. It was the laugh she gave when nopony else was around - a brittle, complex thing that spoke of dark nights and darker shadows. Her eyes focused on Celestia and just for a moment, looked like the eyes of an angry dragon bearing down on its prey. "That, dear sister, is when one most often feels the snare tighten around one's throat.” Her voice spoke softly, so softly that no spy could possibly hear the next exchange between them. “I have brought you ill tidings. Our foe is not as thoroughly vanquished as we once thought, the Shadow King yet lives.”

~~~~~~~

Twilight Sparkle, Element of Magic, sister to Prince Shining Armor, and most faithful student of Princess Celestia waited just until she was out of the sight of her teacher before slumping against a stone wall and panting heavily to get her breath back. The teleport spell had been necessary, but exhausting just the same. The magical exercise she had just been through had pushed her magic to its utmost.

There were days she wondered if Princess Celestia was intentionally trying to push her limits in order to expand them. Not that Twilight had never undertaken such mental exercise; since it was customary for any unicorn to do so in order to improve the scope of one's talent, especially when they were young. Twilight was no exception, and the time she had spent under the tutelage of Zecora had proven to be invaluable in today’s lesson. Celestia would probably have disapproved of her learning from another teacher, but there were some things unicorn magic alone could not accomplish.

Of course, not every unicorn filly or colt bore the Element of Magic, and even fewer pressed themselves to the breaking point as often as she did. So often in fact, that Nurse Redheart had threatened her with being knocked out and tied to a bed in the recovery ward of the Ponyville hospital for a month if she did it more than once every two weeks. Twilight for her part, had huffed and puffed and then given in without another word.

The thought brought a smile to her face as she felt her wind finally coming back and began to quickly clean and brush herself into decency. Her brow furrowed for a moment as she contemplated using her magic... and a slight pain from her horn convinced her otherwise. Instead, she hopped her hooves up onto the wash basin and just dunked her head - mane and all - into the warm water, then pulled it out in an arc of flying water droplets and shook it out, smiling into the little mirror on the washstand.

She’d been told by Rarity just how incredibly fetching she looked with a wet mane, though Twilight couldn’t tell. Her eyes were just as bright as they’d been the day she entered ponyville, but lately she’d been noticing... glimmers of something when she looked in her mirror. Some sort of white wisps of power that seemed to gather and flit about her. Celestia had spoken of something like this; that as she grew in power she would be able to see the very fabric of Harmony.

She glanced at her clock, noting the time and paced over to the middle of her room to sit on the small round cushion that lay there. She lay in the meditative position as her horn floated her brush over from the dresser and slowly divested her mane of water. She practiced her breathing, in and out, focusing on the Harmony of the room around her. She believed in her place in the greater Harmony. She would make her Teacher proud of her.

~~~

Precisely fifteen minutes early, Twilight appeared with a flash of light in front of her second favorite place in all of Canterlot. Pony Joe's was a Canterlot institution, and legend had it that there had been a Pony Joe's on this very corner of Trotsdale and Wine St. for as long as there had been a Canterlot. It also, by no small coincidence, happened to be where many students of Princess Celestia's School for Gifted Unicorns often came to relax and study with a freshly baked treat close at hoof.

A rough, friendly voice of Pony Joe called across his shop. “Well well, Twilight Sparkle. I was wonderin’ if you were gonna come visit! How you been, kiddo?” he rumbled, a goofy grin on his face that was the same as it had always been. Given the relative disheveled nature of his shelves, he was probably recovering from a major rush, but the sight of the brown haired, heavy built proprietor of the place was enough to brighten Twilight’s mood up several notches.

Twilight slipped up to the smooth cloth of the barstool, one she had sat in since she was just a little filly, and smiled with her own fervor. “Hi, Joe. You know I’ll always make time to come and see you when I visit, even if the Princess has me working my hooves off,” she said, letting some of her fatigue show. This had always been a place she'd never felt awkward, and Pony Joe had never minded her stacks of books or unrelenting questions on the subject of his donuts, pies, coffees, and cocoas.

She grinned a little bit, but before she could even open her mouth to place her order, a pair of glazed, cinnamon cake donuts were crossing the old oak bar top, followed by a steaming mug of hot cocoa with exactly three Marshmallows. “The usual, for my favorite customer.” Pony Joe winked at her with his own grin. A bloom of purple magic floated three bits up from her saddlebag and he shook his head. “On the house, kiddo.” He winked again. “I hear we’re gonna have some celebrity company, which is more than worth a coupla’ donuts.”

Twilight could only laugh gently as she floated one of the cake donuts up and dunked it enthusiastically into the cocoa, biting through the chocolaty, spicy treat with a fervor that bordered on the religious. "Joe, am I ever going to be able to convince you to open up a shop in Ponyville?" Twilight pleaded with him, putting on her best big, puppy-dog eyes and using a tone of voice she’d learned from Pinkie Pie.

That got another guffawing laugh from the shopkeeper, who magicked up a bright, spotless white cloth and began to clean away the debris of previous customers. ”Sorry, Twilight, I aint' so dumb as to think I can compete with the Cakes on their own home turf! I wouldn't stand a chance in Ponyville." His chuckled kept rolling, his long standing friendly rivalry with the Cake family was the stuff of culinary legend.

As they chatted with one another about the goings on in Ponyville and the Castle, the doorbell tinkled again and a set of stark white hooves ambled into the room, followed by another figure enshrouded in a deep blue cloak that covered every inch of of the figure from sight. Shining Armor grinned at Pony Joe, who returned the smile with warmth. “Heyla, Captain - and who might your lovely friend be?” His eye twinkled with barely restrained glee - having Princess Celestia in here for a few minutes after the Gala had done wonders for his business, but now...

Shining Armor rolled his eyes and tapped the blue-cloaked figure on the shoulder gently. "It's alright, Cadence. It’s Pony Joe’s! No one’s gonna bug you in here for an autograph or anything.” The blue hood was magicked back a moment later, the cloak removed to reveal Princess Cadence beneath it, wearing only the torque of her office, a crystal heart set into the center of the shining silver jewelry.

Cadence had just enough time for a warm smile with Joe and a half-voiced “Hello, Joe” before the clattering of hooves predicted the arrival of Twilight. With eyes as bright as any crystal pony, she threw her hooves around Cadence’s torso and hugged close to her, burying her face into Cadence’s side and squealing happily. For Her part, Cadence simply wrapped her hooves back around Twilight, holding her close and biting on her own lower lip to keep from squealing right back.

Princess Cadence looked upon the little unicorn in her arms, her eyes noticing the thousand little changes in her since they’d last met. She would always be her little Twilight Sparkle, but now a cloak of light seemed to hang over her shoulders to Cadence’s trained eye, shimmering with the power of Harmony. The pure joy in Twilight’s eyes at seeing her nearly set Cadence’s heart afire with pain. She was close, very close, to breaking through to a state only a select few ponies ever did in the course of their lives. Fewer still of them unicorns, who so often could not see past their own special gifts to the Truths of Harmony...

She shook her head and simply embraced the young mare fiercely again. Seeing her now, she wished that Celestia would not take away this simple joy she had in the Magic of Friendship. That she could just let Twilight be the joyful, vibrant mage of Ponyville and live out her life in the quiet scholastic study she so adored. Celestia could be as implacable as The Tall Mountain itself when she believed she was following the right path, but it did not take away Cadence's fierce desire to demand that Twilight, at the very least, could be spared the terrible knowledge she shared with her Alicorn Sisters.

Twilight broke into her reverie with a tug on her hoof and that ever delightful tone of voice that promised long stories to come. "It's so very good to see you, Cadence! Come on, I wanna tell you about all the things that have been happening in Ponyville!" She practically bounced in place and Cadence could not help it, she laughed and let herself be dragged along to the bar, where Twilight sat between her and Shiny and began to natter on about all the various things that had been going on since she'd last seen them.

Shining Armor gave her a look of both love and eternal patience as Twilight’s stories washed over them both, and she could not help but smile. Pony Joe grinned at the three of them, and she could feel his barely restrained glee radiating off him at having such presences sitting at his bar. Then the puff of a camera flash told her that her picture would soon be joining those of other famous ponies hanging on the wall, and she sighed expressively. She returned her eyes to Twilight and pressed her hoof down to grasp at Twilight’s, squeezing it warmly.

Celestia would probably not listen, but Cadence would try. Should all else fail, she would not leave Twilight alone to Celestia’s tutelage. If nothing else, she could perhaps soften the blows that were to come. It was the least she could do for her precious little filly friend.

~~~~~~~

Far away from Canterlot, past the Mist Crowned Mountain, down the Apple Valley, and just outside the tiny town of Ponyville loomed the Everfree Forest. The citizens of Ponyville had long told and retold the dark stories of the terrible wild creatures that lived within, and of weather that no pegasus could control or guide - of dark magics, sinister traps, and the strange forgotten ruins of ancient civilizations.

They knew very little beyond these things, despite the hard work of Fluttershy and Zecora to enlighten them as to the truth of the forest. Everypony knew the Everfree Forest could not be contained or tamed, and all those souls who had tried had rarely been seen again, and so nopony with any degree of sense ever ventured inside.

Yet deep within this forest, near the ruins of the Princess' Palace, a tomb laid. One would not notice it unless one knew it was there, for it had long ago been obscured behind a curtain of thick vines covered in sap and poisons. Its statues were hidden behind bushes grown amok, and all of it was protected by trees so thick in trunk no three ponies could encircle them hoof to hoof. But that was all a facade.

Down the ancient, broken road walked a lone pony. His hoofsteps were punctuated with the gentle clank of steel against steel, the rustle of ancient armor against his body, the sound of chain mail brushing the verdant growth of weeds and grass.. He lifted his hoof up to the vines covering the tomb, and spoke in a rumbling deep voice that echoed with ancient, restrained power. “Harmony is a Lie, there is only Passion. Through Passion, I gain power. Through Power, I gain Obedience. Through Obedience, I find Truth. Through Truth, I gain Courage. Through Courage, I gain Victory. Through Victory, my chains are Broken. Magic will make me Free.” His voice rang powerfully, his eyes blazing with shadows and a green pulse of magic.

A rumble punctuated his final words, and the vines cracked and broke beneath the strain of old magics returning to life. The vines slowly parted, revealing an ancient stone slab set into the monument - a large pictograph revealing three ancient symbols. The figure pressed it’s hoof to one such symbol, and it filled with a deep green magical power. The slab slowly slid to one side, grinding with disuse of the ages to reveal an opening leading down a dusty stone staircase.

As he stepped onto the landing, the dust blew away from him in a blast of unseen, shadowy power, and the ancient torches on the wall burst to life with warm, bright orange flames. The dust blew out of the opening behind him, clearing the way as his iron-shod hooves rang against the stone. Torches sputtered to life as he passed them, a critical eye noting his spells were returning to life with his return to this place.

It was a place he had created long ago: his haven against the Alicorns. Here, he would have a place to retreat should the unthinkable happen, and he be defeated in detail. He had anticipated every possibility and need he might encounter. Though when he was being honest with himself, he did not anticipate that they would first drive him insane, forcing his power into a feedback loop that left him crazed, then cite his madness as the excuse they needed for their atrocity, and banish him, his subjects, and his very kingdom into a time bubble, not to be seen again for more than one thousand years.

For Sombra the Shadow King, it had been a humiliating defeat. Yet it had also provided him with an unexpected windfall. For time had done what his magic could not, and worn down the spell that had locked him within the madness in which the accursed Princesses had placed him. Even better, in a moment of delicious irony it had been the youngest and newest Princess who had freed him from his chains and banished the madness from him completely. The purification had been painful, but pain was not always a bad thing.

Even more incredible, that same Princess had proven to be a guardian of a very interesting young unicorn. One who, to his delight and amazement, had tasted of Dissonance’s power without even realizing it. Oh, she was frightened and rightfully so of the dark magic she had sampled, but that she was even capable of using it was promising news indeed. Sombra smiled toothily into the darkness as he blasted a thousand years of dust from the tables and tapestries of his refuge.

He would need to call upon the old allies, those who would see this for the opportunity it was. He looked up with glowing green eyes upon the three great Tapestries which hung in the foyer - each representing the great powers which had once stood for the Freedom of all creatures from the tyranny of Harmony. He would call them first, for they would be the key to bringing a new power into the fold. He needed an apprentice after all, and he much doubted Celestia would make it easy to gain access to the filly.

It would not be impossible though. Celestia was likely only barely aware of his survival, and none of her agents would find his little hidey hole until it was far too late to confront him directly. With some aid, he would soon have a new power to turn upon the forces of Harmony. After all, it was not so long ago he that he himself had once been a faithful student to an Alicorn Princess...

A coarse, dark laugh filled the halls of his haven even as magic pulsed from him his horn to make the place fit for living once more. His iron shod hooves rang through the stony halls as he moved through its dark corridors. There was work to be done.

~~~~The next day...~~~~

The Friendship Express quietly chugged its way down the rail tracks, its length sinuously weaving it’s way down the mountain and through the tunnels, heading back to Ponyville. Twilight Sparkle sat alone in the first class car, watching Canterlot’s bright lights fade into the darkness behind her before settling herself down onto her seat. Her saddle bags were stowed overhead, bulging with various borrowed books, reams of paper detailing her next few homework assignments, and the various souvenirs her friends back in Ponyville had begged her to bring home.

For now though, she focused on a slim book worn heavily along the spine and edges where it had been opened and held repeatedly by hoof and magic. The gold leaf letting on the front of the worn green leather binding read ‘The Code of Harmony’. Twilight often consulted it every time she left her Teacher to return to her duties in Ponyville, taking strength and faith from the words and catechisms within.

The Magic of Harmony is the greatest power anypony can wield, and not even Dissonance - for all of its might - can counter a group working together with all of the Elements of Harmony behind them. Dissonance has only kept itself from being utterly obliterated through the use of corruption, lies, and deceit. For centuries, its greatest tool has been to strike at a group which is strong in Harmony and bring it down from within. The methods by which Dissonance accomplishes this are varied in the extreme. Do not presume you know the mind of those that follow the dark path.

Make no mistake, those who follow the path of Dissonance are not to be treated lightly. They are often canny operators who have had years of experience hiding their power and manipulating others. Only through constant, unflinching vigilance are the corrupt uncovered, the lies exposed. Yet even those who have strayed down the dark path are not beyond redemption, for it is the Way of Harmony to bring them back to the light by whatever means necessary. The Code demands we see them not as our enemies but as those led astray. Only through showing them the Truths of Friendship and Harmony will we triumph over the dark path once and for all.

Twilight gave off a gentle sigh, absent mindedly brushing her mane away from her eyes... It was not as though she needed such advice. There had been no powerful practitioners of Dissonance in hundreds of years.

They had either been destroyed by their own power, or driven from Equestrian soil. None of those who might be alive would dare cross into Celestia’s lands, lest their natures be uncovered and imprisoned by the crown - for their own good, of course. She shook her head to clear it of such serious things and flipped to a much more important part of the book.

The Code demands many things from those who seek to live by its creed. It is not an easy path, nor is it one without dangers. One who seeks to live by the Code must look beyond their own ways and means, they must always live in the silent service of those around them. Often they will never be praised for the deeds they do, yet without these sentinels of Harmony, all would be lost. A true Paragon of Harmony must be prepared to give of themselves selflessly as is demanded by the element of Generosity, but they must also remember to be Honest with themselves about how much is too much to give.

Remember, gentle reader - while the Code guides us to give in Generosity, if we cannot feed ourselves or ensure a roof over our heads at night, we cannot serve others as the Code demands. Though we cannot have any single being be more important to us than any other, if we do not have ponies who are close to us to grant us the greater powers of Friendship and Harmony, we cannot wield the mighty power that is our burden to bear. We must live by many restrictions, so that those we serve may live in freedom and Harmony. Even though that may mean we must remove our ambitions from the world, we cannot remove ourselves. The Code demands nothing less.

She gently sighed again, and closed the tome with a wisp of magic. Had she read that last part all those years ago, perhaps she would have been better prepared for the events in Ponyville. She smiled nonetheless, as her thoughts drifted to her friends. No doubt they’d be waiting at Ponyville station in the morning, each clamoring for their gifts and wanting to hear what she had been up to in Canterlot.

Rarity would be demanding the latest fashion news that she probably already knew, and Fluttershy would need to be spoken to later - due to being unable to talk even in the crowd of her closest friends - likely with tea. Dash would demand to know if she’d heard anything about this year’s Wonderbolts selection committee, and Pinkie Pie would throw a Welcome-home-Twilight party.

Twilight felt her thoughts wandering to her home, her library. She wondered what a disaster it would be in after Spike had been without supervision for a week, and suppressed a giggle at the thought. It would not take him long to set the place to rights, once she’d gotten his dragon flank out of bed.

She closed the book’s latch with a touch of magic and tucked it away in her saddlebags above her head, deciding that the best thing she could do now was mediate and get a little sleep. She wiggled down to the floor of the train and sat perfectly still, slowly matching her breathing to the rhythm of her heart. She slowly raised her forehooves from the ground and continued slowly breathing in and out, feeling the gentle rock of the train along the tracks.

Focusing deeper, she drew out that inner serenity Celestia so often spoke of, her teacher's words echoing in her mind."We all have our place in the greater Harmony, my student. Each of us contributes something to it, and through that contribution we come to know contentment in our lives. Some of us are called to be simple contributors - farmers, craftsponies, merchants. Others still must take on more complex roles - advisors and politicians. We, my student, are the most important of those who give to Harmony, and through our gifts to it, we come to know Harmony in a way no other pony can. She could feel it, that power of Harmony just out of reach, as her breathing settled into a gentle rhythm.

It was as though something lay just outside her sight, flickering bright white threads of Harmony. The very glue that held the world together, and kept it from descending into uncontrolled chaos. Celestia's voice soothed through her memories again, and she felt relaxation and contentment seeping into her body. When we meditate, we deepen our connection with Harmony. We come to know it as we know ourselves. We seek out and clear away Dissonance from the world, and in so doing we ensure all other ponies can live in undisturbed Harmony. This is our foremost duty, my student. One day, that duty will also be yours. Her breathing slowed as she felt the stresses of the day melt away completely; her eyes closed in the simple pleasure of the feel of raw Harmony flowing through her that slowly began to fade away as she opened her eyes, squinting a moment as she stared out into the slowly rising sun.

She stared for a moment in awe at the beauty of the sight, then blinked a little. She had to have been meditating for nearly eight hours for it to already be sunrise. The thought that she had been lost in the ebb and flow of Harmony for so long without even noticing was an event great enough to merit a little hop in place and a big beaming smile. Ponyville, her friends and home, would not be far away.

Little did she notice the gaze of the conductor withdrawing from the windowed door into the cabin - a sleek wave of bright green energy flickering over it to reveal the black chitinous form beneath, his jagged horn glowing a dark sickly green for a moment, and the faint sound of quill scratching against parchment.

A few moments later, a tiny black beetle buzzed out of the cabin window, flying pell-mell towards the Everfree Forest even as the dark wave of green energy flickered back over his chitin, briefly illuminating the husk of the conductor's body before a pulse of energy obliterated it into specks of dust and chitin. His duty complete, the Changeling reassumed the form of the Conductor and raised the blinds that obscured the light from entering the engine cabine, and smiled pony-like out into the world.

It was a brand new day in Equestria.