//------------------------------// // The First to Speak — The Ups and Downs // Story: Ghost from the Machine: Friendship from Nothing // by Drawdex //------------------------------// The Ups and Downs "A little while ago, my teacher and mentor Princess Celestia sent me to live in Ponyville. She sent me to study friendship, which I didn't really care much about. But now, on a day like today, I can honestly say I wouldn't be standing here if it weren't for the friendships I've made with all of you. Each one of you taught me something about friendship, and for that, I will always be grateful. Today, I consider myself the luckiest pony in Equestria. Thank you, friends. Thank you, everypony!" —Princess 'Twilight Sparkle’, day of ascension. Ponyville ̷̸̵̯͈͔͜ͅ ̢̻̤̮̖͕͎̗̘̺̯͚̖̙͡ ̫̫̝̥͎͝ ̶̨̛̬̫͉̻́͘ ̶̷̰͇̬͚̖͕̯̥̤̳̱͖̘̱̫͞ ̦͖̝͉͚͈̮̗̼͙͈͟͞ ҉̡̬͕̲̰̙͙̦̱̻̘͈͇͖̙͇̜͖́̕ ̀͏̸͔̹͙̞̘̹̼̳̗͎͘ͅ ̡̜̯͍̪̱̳̹̦͈͇̼͚͢͟͞ ̶̢͎̜̟͔̘̤̱͉̝̬̪̕ͅ ̵̯̦̣̫͘͢ͅ ̀͝҉͏̨̻̩̖̻̥̯͔͇͓̦ͅ ̛̣̫͇̤̫̪̳̲͚̫̼̜̘͎̺̱͢ͅ ̬̠̪̲̜̣̱̯́͝ ̼͚̺̟͕̦̭̪͕̩̼̘̳̲͙̩͓̠͞ ̧̺̖̣̗̙͈̹͍̝͉̞̲̝̙̱͓͉̬̀̕ͅ ̕҉̧̛̼̰̲͈͉̫̗̝̫̗̮͖̰̼͚̪͟ ̶̘̱̹̮̭͓̹̯͕̫̰͚̠̪̹̞̺̝́ ̶͜͠͏̯̥̰͔̺͚͕͖ ̨͏̶̱͉̰̞̺̦̩̜͎̬̤̻̜̘̼͖͈͉ͅ ̨̡̺̣̬͕͍̟͇ ̵̨́҉̟͔̰̰̝̺͞ ͏̢͟͏͍̱̲̗̜̠͇͔̥̗̘̣̗ ҉̲̯̱̭̗̪͉͇̳̰̪ ̸̧̧͇̫̭͔̮̤͘ ̵̧̟͖̬͓̺̣͕͇͔̫̲͚̬̘̬̬̫͟͢ ̡̧͚̱̙̻͓̩̣̗̮̼̱̜́̀ ̛͠҉̜͙̜͔̻̻̪̠̝̦͉̟͇͜ ͚̮̝̠͉̗͎̭̙̹͜͝ͅ ͓͖̦̬͓̦̙̗̟̮͔̗͖̻̠̹̱͇͞͠ͅ ̵̴̺͚̖̣̪̝̼̯̼̰̲͇̠̀ͅ ̶̬͚̜̙̺̣̜̺̳̕̕ ̶̙̭̦͙͕̠̙̬̭͈̗͟ ̷̢̹͕̥̮͉̤̙̘̜̦̜̝̜͕̞̟̪́͝ͅ ̴̴͓̟͎̜̦͓͖͔͔̜̜̣͈̫̻́͞͝ ҉̸͙̯̻͙̯̲͘ ̧̣͖͎̦̖̠̩̬̺͎͖͔̝̹̥͝ͅ ̷̡̲͓̪͎͔͕͇̯̱̜ ҉̶̼͈̟̻͎̜͚̪̪͓̦̟͍̀̕ ̸̦͙̘͓͉̰̹̥͎̱̭̘͘͝ͅͅͅ ̨̛̕͏̭̰͈̞̙͖͓̞̟̲͈͔̫̙͝ ̸̨̮̜͉̮͈̺̬̯̝͚͙̝͔̼̠̫͍̪ ̀҉̵͙̯͈͕͔̯̖͙̞̮͇͖̲̜̩̹͜ ̟͍̗̤́͘͘ ̢͕̪̫̹̫̫͓̼͍̲͠ ̸͕̳̠̮̼̪̖͉͖͕̜̠̩̗̺̕͡ ͏̧̹̳̩̩̻̲̗̖͚͔̻̫̘̻̖͕̝͔͉͝ ̶̷̟͍͕̗̱̮͖̤͍̀͜͞ ͖̖̰̼̳̥͙̕͢͟͠ͅ ͏͜҉̛͓͓̼̪͓̠͈̹̲̭͈͇̼ ̡̛͖̲̖̘͍̘͘ ̶̧̨͇͖͖̝͖̤̮̙̹̼̞̦͖̜̲͙̺͞ ̧̢̧͠҉̜͓̜͔̙͖̖̠͍ͅ ̧̡̮̪͕̞͎̗̺̦ ̨̭̟̫͙̬̤̜̗͔̣͖͔͍̼̬̕ͅ ̴͚̝͙̭̘̺̩͎͟͞ ҉̨͙̖̪̲̺̘͇̝ ̢̤̹̲͙̘̻̮̮̖̞͈ ̡̗̟̝̞̪̗̠͈͚̟̗̜̘̟̕ͅ ̷̴̱̹̜̥̣̭̤̪͓̝̺̻̳́̕͟ ͏̸͖̻͎̱͖͙̲͈̲̩͔̤̲̯ͅͅ ̸͘͟͏̗̰̘͔̗̼̠͍̖͎̖̫̥̻͙ ̨̞̟̖̞͇͇̹̤͈́̀̕ ́҉̱̺̭̹̦͙̩͔͓̬̫̱͕̺̺͍͍͖̙͡ ̨̝̥̝͔͓̦̯͙̗̟̻̞̮͔̠̬͈͡͝͝ ̷̡̲͓̪͎͔͕͇̯̱̜ ҉̶̼͈̟̻͎̜͚̪̪͓̦̟͍̀̕ ̸̦͙̘͓͉̰̹̥͎̱̭̘͘͝ͅͅͅ ̨̛̕͏̭̰͈̞̙͖͓̞̟̲͈͔̫̙͝ ̸̨̮̜͉̮͈̺̬̯̝͚͙̝͔̼̠̫͍̪ ̀҉̵͙̯͈͕͔̯̖͙̞̮͇͖̲̜̩̹͜ ̧̛͠͏̞͇͎̼̰͍̯̻̤̗ ̸̛̥̣̱̺͉͍̫̦̣̬̫͡͠ͅ ҉͍͖͚͖̦̺̖̺̤͉͡ ͔̱̘͕̣̮̩͍̼̣̗̳̟͖͝ ̡͏̼̻̺̭̞̲̯̬̭̥̗͙̫̦ ̴͕̟͇͖͚̟̥͙̮͙̻̮̗̠͇̥͓̱̱ ̴̮̠͇̞̞͎̯̯̺̫͇̼͖͘ ̕͜҉̬͓̰̟͍̞̯̮͉͔̱̖̱̟̙͎͓ ̧̧̨͙͔̜̰̹͙̺͙͖̖͍͟͠ ̨҉͈̣͔̗ ̶̪̙̼̘̥̺͓̗̻͇̥̤̭͖̘̖̀͠ ̭͚̖̺̬͟͢ ̧̛͙̤̺͍̬̻̟̼̺̤̪͙̥̠̭͎̙͘͞ͅ ͡͏̢̪̩̬̝͇̯̺̺̰̱ ̵͏̤͖͚͍̘̳͔̝̩͔̠̦͇̦͖͔̪ ̶̶̗͓̭͍̫̣̟̺͕̖̲̭͙̳̰̣̦̻͜͝ ̵̯̘͔̘̺̟̮͈̗͚̞̕͞͡ͅ ̡̘̝̙̮́̕ ̷͏̦͕̼̦͚ ̵̦͈̝̬͙̳̲͎̭̩͔̘͓͖͇͢ ̴̧̧̛҉̫̙̺̜̩̦ ̸̧̛͎̭̪̹͕̫̺̹̲͝ ̧̥̠͔̠́͘͠ͅ ̛̗͖̳̦́͜͢ ̛҉̲̳͕̝̬̪̣ ̶̨̢͔̙̘̼̹̖̫̣̩͝͠ ̗̮̬̟̦͇͘͝ ̸̡̢͙̣̼̥̬̺̟̲̕͡ ̶̟͇̰̯͍͙̲̀ ̴̣͓̮͕̜̼͡͡ ̶̵̳͚̱̞̱̘̖͖͙̫͍͝ ̵̞̰͈̬̱̝̣̥́́ ̼̲͔̫̙̝̰̘̺̻̥̳̦͕̙́͠͞ ̡̛̘͓̘̯̳̱̮̝̟͈̯̕ ̷̛̖̹͉͓̘͖̞̥̘̗͇͓͔̩̦̥͇͜͞ ̷̡̲͓̪͎͔͕͇̯̱̜ ҉̶̼͈̟̻͎̜͚̪̪͓̦̟͍̀̕ ̸̦͙̘͓͉̰̹̥͎̱̭̘͘͝ͅͅͅ ̨̛̕͏̭̰͈̞̙͖͓̞̟̲͈͔̫̙͝ ̸̨̮̜͉̮͈̺̬̯̝͚͙̝͔̼̠̫͍̪ ̀҉̵͙̯͈͕͔̯̖͙̞̮͇͖̲̜̩̹͜ ̟͍̗̤́͘͘ ̢͕̪̫̹̫̫͓̼͍̲͠ ̸͕̳̠̮̼̪̖͉͖͕̜̠̩̗̺̕͡ ͏̧̹̳̩̩̻̲̗̖͚͔̻̫̘̻̖͕̝͔͉͝ ̶̷̟͍͕̗̱̮͖̤͍̀͜͞ ͖̖̰̼̳̥͙̕͢͟͠ͅ ͏͜҉̛͓͓̼̪͓̠͈̹̲̭͈͇̼ ̷̨̻̱̫̙͔͕̯̻̼̲̰̣͚̙̜̜́ͅ ̡͖̭̖͍͡͞ ̸̵̵͖̦͍̣̱̥͡͞ ̸̴̧̨̝̖̯͔͚͙͍̹̬̻̘̗̬̼̞̤͙͍͠ ̶̧̖̰̠̲͙̟̘̜̥͚̠̯̟͖̣̣̩̻́͠ ̛̳̭͍̹̼̙͙̦̱̗͈̥̀͘̕ ͏̷̶̧̙̗͉̯̻̖̘̞̬́ ̸͙̳͍͕͖̖̫́͠ ̶̸̛̺̰̠̖͇̠̮̜̝͈̳͔̀͠ ̨̢͍̼̣̗ ̕͏̱̟̰̻͎̗̬̼̘̬̯͇̖̩̼ ̛̰̼͙͎̰̫̪̭̲̗͓̙̹͟ ̸̛̣͚̟̞̖̬͈̥̲̀͟ͅ ̵̴̲̦̩̳̟̳̩̪͔̬͕͡ ̶̭̭̭̭̀̀ ̵̨̥͖̩̮͈͇̞̣̻̖̦̥͓̠͘ͅ ̢̧̝̬̟̗͓̠͕̞͙͔̼̫̺͔͙̼͕̖ ̴̸̨̠̮͓̦̱̻̘̦͔̰̗̦̖̕ ̛̛̛͏̗͔̟̭̬̻̺͓̠̞̻̰̫̼͖ ͏̴̡̲̞̟͕̱ ͝҉̬͎̞̹͈͎̫̩͕̗̟̖̲͉ ̢̧͙̜̬̫̗̺̲̼̹ ̢̬̤̟̠͕̞́͠ ̴̸͖̩̺̳̣̤̭̺̝̙̹̭̠̰̖̘͎͟ ̨̞̰͙͉̯̹̠̜͔͔̀͟͡ ̴̘̣̜̱͢͢ ̴̛̗̦͔̣̠̙̰̟̻̭̮͉̩͖̠̹̘͖̀͞ͅ ̵̸̷̛͙̩͈͔̭̫͎̱͈͟ ̶̵̢̙̟̖̟̳̠̘̮̠̠ ̧̢̣̭̪͍͍̬͈͚̭̕̕ ̶̫̦̘̹͖̦͈̯͜ ̷̧͚͚̣̖͚̩͖̙̥ ͏̭̻̤̱̙̰̳̞̩̱͎̺̤̰̯̰̜̀ͅ ̶̡̲̞͓̘̲͔͇̠̜̼͇͇͚̪͖͕͜ ͏҉̙̺̰̮̝͔̝̺̺̜̭̣ Well, I’m next right? But... I have no idea where to start. Or when, I mean. I have told you everything about me—I think? There could be more. Not that I was in the best mind set... sorry about that by the way. I have told you of my time in Ponyville. Meeting my friends. Of when I decided to stay. The things we did. The evil's we faced. The lessons we learned. Or should I say I was forced to learn, not that I would never really know, right? Too convenient and peculiar. So many signs of something wrong and strange but I didn’t care for them, not once, why would I? Especially when I was a princess. The princess of Friendship. Heh. Pathetic right? Like if those times of me being princess were mine to begin with. But what else could I do? I had nothing! Have nothing... just watch. Sorry, I tangented again, he-he. .̵̣̯͇̞̞̬͆͆͗̍ͅ.͚̯̫ͥ̽̂͌̏͑.̯̰͙ͨ͐ͤ̏́̚ Well, I was a princess when I was told of the meeting. I didn't suspect a thing. I would have done better if I were not so blind. Sorry, 'me', I always get those confused. ... I was in thought most of the time, actually— Hey! Maybe I can tell a story from there. I remember it perfectly. Especially when Spike couldn’t keep me out of my thoughts all day. ̡͂̐ͯ̅̊̓̋͐́ ̨̛̓ͦ̎̐͌̔͊ͬ͑ͪ̏͋͛̾̏̀̚͘͢ ̧ͯ̄̊͛ͬ́ͯ͟ ͪ̋͛̐͋ͦ͢͡ ̵̡̛͂ͥͮ̈́̒ͥͯ̓ͫ́̆ͥ͌̿ͬ͊̇̊͝ ̴̧̓͗ͧ ̸̴ͧ͋͒̋̈́̕͘ ͥ͒̏͂ͮ̊̀̊̐̋̂͏̶́͝ ̢̿̽̓̐ͭ͗ͤ̎ͨ̈́̌͝҉ ̐̃̍̈̔ͫ̊̇͋ͧͣ̌̊͏͠ ̢ͮ̃̽̎̌ͩ́ͨ͊̐͊ͮͤ̔́ͬͫ̈̀̚ ̌̽̈́̈́̂ͯ͝҉̡̕ ̵̡ͧͨ̐͗̈́͛̔͗ͩ̿͊͐ͯͤ́͠ ̡ͭ̒ͯ͌̍ͭ̇̇̈͂͂̈́̉͊́ ̡̈́̔́̿͊̏̆ͯͤ̐͢ ̊̈͑̇ͥ͌͌͘͢͡ ̨ͧ̍͊̽͜͝ ̶̧̛̏͊̽ͭͭͦ̂͒̉ͭ͂ͬ͛ͨ͗̚ ̶̀ͯ͋̊́͠͠ ͂ͫ̃̿͛̐̓͘͢ ̧̡̢͌̂̓̈̈̊̏͢ ͤͥ̈́͗͂͊ͫ͒҉̴̴̢ ̀͑ͣͭ̉̈́̍̋ͮ̏̓͌̌̃̊̐̕ ̶̨̀͐ͪ̍̽̽̊ͤ̉̚͟͡ ̴̴̎̾͒̋͂̌̑̊͞ ͨ́ͤ͆̇̄̏̓ͩ͂̉ͤͪͧ̎́͘̕͡ ̶̨ͭ͗ͦ̽̈́̂́͟ ̈͌̃̀̍̾̿̉̒̆͊̇̈̐͛͛͋͊̒͟͝ ͋̅ͧͬ̿͐́̈̎̒͘͏̴̧͘ ̵̡͛̈́͐ͣ̊̐̊ͥ̋ͪͪ͆̉ͩ̐̍ ̧̐͗͋̈̏̊́͑͑̋͆̈̀ ̴ͥ̂̆̎̅ͭ̄͆̇ͥ̄͞ ̋͊̈́ͪͮͥ̎ͩͯͩͦͭ͆͜͞҉ ͂ͧͮ̎̂͛̆͘͏̡̡͟ ͮ́ͧͩͮͣ̒͋̈͐̐͒́̕̕͜͞ ̓̔̓̇ͣ̎ͧͥͪ̌ͪ̽̊̊̀͟͟͝ ͯ̍͛̾̊ͨ̅̚͏̵̡ ̢̈ͦ̓̂ͩͩ̈ͮͭ͒͗ͦ͆ ̓͑ͣ́̈́̽̋͜͢͜͞ ̧̈̔̅̿̀̍̉͛͛̈͑ͮ͆̓̽̿̅ͣ͜ ̿͛ͭ̄̓̍͘͢ ̵̶̛̆̔͆̄̑͛̔͌ͫ̈́͆̾̉̆ͫ͆̚͘ ̡̏̊̓̅ͬ́͘͘͜ ̸̨̃ͮ̑̆ͧͫ̾͐̎ͯ͐ͮ̍ͨͥ͋̾͘ ̶ͩ̅ͤ͂͂̒̆̈́̿̌͐̑̂̚͞ ̴̷̵̧ͧ̌ͪ̐҉ ̶̌ͧ͊̔ͬ́ͥ͊͛ͪ͐͋͆̈́̿̍͞ ̸̨ͪ͌̍̃̌͗̇ͩ̄̋̈́ͤ̉ͫ̂͏ ̧̧͆̀ͯ͋́̚͢͜ ̡ͯͣ̈͒̎ͯ͌̃̃̈́͐̏̿̄̄͒̎̔҉͏ ̋͂ͥ̽̈́͊͑͂̓̃̀͏̸ ̷̆̒͗ͦ̉̌̇ͭ͒ͯ̊̿̄̀̓̈́̇̔̚͢͝ ̛̽͛̉̌͞͏̷͢ ̸̨͌̽̇ͥ̂̋̑͘͜ ̸̶̽̔ͫ̄ͭ̀͛͘ ̨͌͂̂̀̚͘ ̶̧̏ͩ̊͛ͪ̎ͤ̎̌̕͜ ̃ͫ͒ͦ́̆̉͌͂͢͡ ̢̧̛̑ͯͪ̅̎͑̽̕ ̵ͧ̏͊ͪͦ̅̕҉̸̛ ̑̑̔͂̐ͥ̏̂̋͢͜͏ ̷̒̿ͤ̆͊̕͞ ̨͆̄̃͌̐̽ͦͨ̍̓̐ͤ͑ͬ̓ͣ͟͡҉ ̈́̅͐͑͐̽̑̍ͧ҉҉̶̢̛ ̧͆́͌҉͘͜͞ ̶̶̸̧ͦ͂ͨ̇͢ ̵̛̎̾ͩͧ̑͌ͦ͗͗͋̉̽͋ͤ͋ͫ͞ ̧̢ͯ̔͌ͨ̏́̀ ̵̡̛̊̽͛̑̀̎̿ ̵̶ͩ͒͒̏ͥͣ̅͘ ̴̸̡͐ͯͦͦ͗͠͝ ̡͐̅̈́͂ͤ̏͆͋ͩ̈́ͯͪͫ̾ͩͥ̉͋̈́̕͠ ̢̧̓̾̓͂͂̉̾ͪ̃̾ͦ͛͛́̈́̽̒͆̏ ̴̵͛́͒̋͊̓̋̇́̿͊ͨ́ͨ͐́̑͞͝ ̸̢̨̡͆́̿ͩ̊̓͆͛ͪͣ̉͟ ̸̢͛̎ͥ̒̚ ̾̽̃͆̓̾̀̂̎ͩ͂̍ͧͦ̈ͨ͜ ̛̀́ͫ̀͌̔̿̽ͯ̽̌͆ͮ͠͏ ̵̇ͤ͆ͣ͆̐̿ͦ̓̈͒͋͗ͥͤ̍͊̆ ̋ͬ͊̆́̕ ̆̒̎̔ͩ̿̽͘̕͜͟ ̢͒̀ͦͤͩ̉ͦ͊̌͆ͭ̽ͥͥ̀̋̅̀͞ ̛̉ͪͪͪ̓̎̈́́͠͞ ̛͌̄̂ͫ̿̃̔ͧͯ͐͗̄̈ͬ͘͢͢ ̸͋ͦͭͣͣ͒̕ ͌̓̀̽ͦ͢ ̵ͨ͛̈́̿ͭ̿̍̍̓͆ͮͪ̈́̎ͭ̄̈́̓ ̊͌͒͐ͨ͆͌̐̒̐́͜ ͯ͗ͮͭ͆̾̓͝ ̨̌̒͊́̂̽ ̶̧̛̉͆͌ͬͧͮ̇͗ͯ͊͗̑̍ͥ̚ ̸̂ͭ̏ͫ͆̆͘ ̵̵̔͂ͮ̏̽̍̃͘͡ ̧ͧ̆͊͒͆̿͌͢ ̷̵̓ͥ̃ͫ̔ͯͣ̍̐ͥ̀ͭ̍̑͗̚̕͞ ̈́̓̋ͮͩ̒̋͒́̍́̊̃ͤ́͘͟͢ ̵͑ͪ͋ͦ͋̆́̚͟ ͂ͩ̏͑͆͛̂ͭ͑̾̃̔̔ͣ͞҉̴̨ ̷̧̛̐͂̃͛̎̌͗ͦ̒̓̑̇̅͂ͣͧ́̚ ̏̆ͪ͆͊̏͑͂ͧ̋ͪ̆̾ͨ̈̇̋͠҉ ̸̨͗͋͌̋͛̔ͬ͂̎ͤ̽͑̇̓̾̏͂̂͘͟͢ ̶̨̉̃͋̑̓̄͝ ̷̵̢̿͒̔̓͒̀̈̒̈́͗ͯ͞ ̵̒͆ͬ̄͑̓̂͛͘͟͜ ̴̡̡̏̉ͫ͑̌͊̒ͫ͗́͆̏̉̀ ̷̡̅ͨ̿͂͒̌̏ͫ͛̃͠͝͝ ̡̧ͩ̃ͥͮ̆̏ͩ̄̊̑ͧͯ̔̋̎̚͠ ̵̾ͩ͂ͭ̒͌̌ͩͧ̔͑̂̀͌ͮ̊ͬ͆͟͜͡ ̵̸́ͫ̾̉̃͑ͣ̏̈̚͢͝ ̶͌̉̓ͬͨ ̔ͥ̊͌͐͋ͣ͠͡ ̵̡́̐͋̊̑̆̀ͭ̽͡ ̴̶͂͂ͪ͛ͨͭ͌ͮ͐̌̏̆ͨͮͬ͊͑͐̚ ̡͆̒ͮ͊ͫ́̚ ̸̸̾͐̇̅͊͑ͧ͊͂͌͡ ̴̨̢̈͊ͥ͌͆ͪͨ͋͊ͫ̓̎ͤ̓ ̷̷̧̎̆̿̽ͭ̓̓͛̂͋̅̍ͭ̔̆́ ̶̄ͫ͋̈́̀͗̔ͪͨͧ̓͢͜ ̷̡̛͑ͭ͗̋̈́̅ͣ͒ͣͪ̋͢ ̧̂͑̽̉ͧͨ̽ͭ̅̏́́͡ ̸̍̓̊̍͂ͧ̈́ͬ̾ͯ̈́̄ͪ̏ͧͣͤ̋̕͜͠ ̢́̆́̏̐ͤͧ̃͛ͧ̾́̽ͥ̕͘͞ ͮ̃̽̈́ͭͭ̀͏̧ ̊̽̍̌͌ͤ̔̿̀ͥ͗͏҉̡ ̴̧ͤ̔ͪ̊͗͒̋͆̍̀̃͛ͤͬ̎̆ͪ̏͛͏͞͡ ̂̇̓́ͯ̒ͦͥ͑̋͐̚̚͜͟͠ ̸̉̈́̐ͮ͐̊͆͊̆̕͞͝͝ ̷̛̾͑̂ͬͤͦ̑̀͟ ̨̧̐͑̈̅ͩͭ̓̈͜͟ ̶̛̂̂ͪͧͯ͋͂̑͗̍ͮ̐̏̀̉͡ ͬ̉͊͐͗̆ͮ̋ͫ͌͂̔̾͂̔̚҉͜ ̈́̓́̑ͣ̑͛̍̑ͦ̉͆̚͏̧̕̕͝ ̸̵̡̓̔̅̈́̓̂̏̔̅̊͘҉ ̶̨ͦ͑͐ͭ́̈͆̍ͨ̇̌̑͛̌͑͑̽͊͡ ̵̀̿̒ͨ̆ͨͫ̀̂ͣ͂̀̈́ͬͩͣ͢͟͝ Canterlot Castle. Dusk. “Twilight…” “Hmm.” “Twilight.” “Hmm?” “Twilight!” “What?!” “Aren’t you going to answer?” Spike asked with confusion all over his face, hints of frustration lingered there as well. “Wait, what was the question?” I asked, and at my response Spike smacked his claw to his face. I was distracted in thought of everything, still trying to believe it wasn’t a dream at the time. Not even a month had transpired where worries came from day to day lists one and two, the weekly friendship report, now I had to worry about all of Equestria. Well, not really but—oh just pass it off Twilight. I got to do so much now, I could change things that I found wrong and I had word and power to carry it through, I was with no limitation on what I could do and who I could do it with. Being a princess with a past filled with reading everything really gives you a boost in dropping the know-it-all tittle. But not really. Being the newest princess of Equestria, Friendship should not be taken lightly, it was not what everypony paints it to be, when it comes to the royal duties of course. Events and meetings were needed every occasion somepony important did anything, and I needed to meet new ponies that partake in high society; taking in influence and acknowledgement from all. It was not as hard as it would have been without the help of my friends. Spike was knowledgeable of the activities, to my surprise at the time. Only now I understand how much influence he holds. And thinking of my friends, they were happy for my ascension to royalty, or some claim to be. Rarity was especially too obvious of what she felt, she wasn’t a good liar to her friends, not that I was good at detecting it either. But as long as I was with them, I was going to be fine, it always was. We even shared our diary entries together, we did those instead of friendship letters. But I could stop myself from thinking of the real trails. They never commented on their own thrones though, they didn't even dared glance at them after the whole Tarek fiasco. One would think I could invite whoever I wanted, especially who they are, what they are now, each and every time, right? Wrong, the events were for a reason. Only those that had little importance included extra invitations for my friends. Not because they were not invited but because the girls themselves wouldn't really come. It always depended if they had that particular time of day to give up their jobs in Ponyville. Yeah sure, if it involved the princess or a quest they could come and leave things behind, because of the princess help, and now being part of royalty, somewhat. Anything like an event or a gathering of boring proportions to encounter a key noble, aristocrat or elite, they usually didn’t have the time to assist. Not for lack of wanting mind you, but it wasn’t that important, and I came to the new crystal library at at dawn, unless there was another event later. And each was no different from what I experienced on the Grand Galloping Gala. It was about ten times worse! Now it was actually my job to hear everything they say. Even Pinkie Pie had trouble coming to most of them, but I enjoyed every time I got see even one of my friends there, even if they didn't got to be themselves most of the time. And I couldn’t act as myself either. I almost forgot, we couldn't act as our normal selves anymore in public. ‘Now you're royalty, you have to act as such’, that lofted pretending left hoofed white stallion mapper... Huh, I would really like to see what Applejack and Rainbow Dash would say if they heard him talking to me like that. Fluttershy wouldn’t know, or should I say, I wouldn’t know how she would react, after her strange acting with Discord I have no real idea where to place her. Rarity would enjoy this whole charade. I knew Celestia had told me I needed not to worry, no noble with a right mind would do anything about her decision, especially with what I have done. But I saw it in their eyes, all concluded the princess made a wrong choice, that I was just lucky, just deep inside. Some were happy for a new princess, others didn’t care, but the weeping, complaining and whining bunch just wouldn’t accept it. Never up front though, they wouldn’t like themselves to marked as anything against the princess, now would they? I knew they were wrong, but I wasn’t going to ruin the princess's name by not acting like a royal princess for no reason. She always made the right decisions in my mind, and I would make sure it remained unchanged. Princess Celestia said it would be that way for a couple of weeks before it calmed down, both the talking and the need for my presence. But worst of all, making all the last bad things shade under its horrible, dreadful mantle... I didn’t get to read a single book since it began. Where was I going with thi— Oh, right! Spike was saying something. I even tangent after, hah, funny. Sorry it shouldn't happen again. “I meant the door Twilight…” Spike said with a groan. My confusion turned to embarrassed once a banging from the door got louder. In a hurry I dodged a books of foreign countries and social norms I was attempting to read in my non existent free time. I didn’t get to pass the cover. “Yes?” I asked once I was in moderate speaking range of the door. “Princess Twilight, Princess Celestia has requested your presence.” ‘How long did he wait outside?’ I asked myself, by his irked tone it was long enough for me to feel angst and respond without question. “I’ll be right there.” The temporary bedroom I was staying represented big, spacious and cozy. But none could see its features with all concealed behind large towers of notes covering everything except the bed. Notes I apperently believed I could read in my sleep, harder than it sounds. Most made by my number one assistant, who was on the summit of the note tower number two, making sure all the pages are arranged from least to most important. “Spike, the princess is calling, I—” “Go, I’ll be fine.” Spike interrupted me grumpily, as he balanced himself looking over the pages again. I thought it was because he was too concentrated that he shushed my words, I still didn’t understand his indifference. “Be careful with it, Spike,” I said trotting to the door, wary of the inclination of the pillar he stood on, “when you’re done you should come find me, alright?” “Yeah, yeah.” Spike said dismissing me. I should’ve seen Spike’s unhappiness right then, or even before. I was always distracted of what he wanted. Of what he did. He was my assistant after all, and he liked being my assistant. It gave him purpose. I thought it was all he did, and nothing more, nothing else. I can’t believe I even forgot he had friends in Canterlot when I stayed in Ponyville and he was forced to change his life because of it. I think when it happened again with our friends in Ponyville —after our last great adventure— even if it was just for some weeks, it was then when he started to catch on how much weight carried his will. Nothing. Not that I thought of anything at the time. There were royal duties to fulfil, which were so few and far between that I treated them all like quests given by any of the Princesses. Ha-ha, SIKE, I still couldn't feel my hoof from how much I hoofshaked last time. Though maybe now I would actually do something important? Yeah. I opened the door hopeful and exited with a skip on my step. The two of the three guards at my door followed behind as I tracked the trail to the throne room. The castle had been in constant visit almost every single week. So the maids, butlers and talented decorators had changed the theme each time to let visitors feel the unique experience of the Canterlot castle. The theme then was spring spread, the usual chocolate flowers placed on unique places to give the little fillies and colts going to the school for talented unicorns a little adventure on finding them all. So it wasn’t surprising to see constant movement here and there of smiling fillies and colts going around trying to find the next flower. Even with them halting to stand in wonder of the guards shepherding my annoyed person. This obtained annoyence came from the nearby parents, maybe just caretakers, who stared and then bowed as I passed, some even smaking their heads to hard as they didn't notice me coming and thought bowing quicker would help. I said nothing but straightened myself as they did. Saying it was not necessary would have been a waste of breath. I had tried before and it doesn't work on Canterlot citizens, at least when they are not panicking. And with hope they had enough respect to not ask me to do another blessing on something, those were getting on my nerves. The trip to the throne room was uneventful. Thankfully. Arriving at the door one of my guards —I never thought I would say that— set hoof in the room leaving me to wait for my call, I deduced the Princess had important visitors. Even though it's just to say hi, politics need to be successfully pulled off. I've learned some things that could make other ponies doubt my old self, but it was all for the good citizens to keep a clear idea of the princesses, and therefore, me. I straighten myself, tightly tucked my wings, took a deep breath and arranged the calmest expression I could muster, royal even, those were hard. I always felt both nervous and excited when doing anything 'princes-y'. Boring or not. I waited patiently for my call. Thankfully it wasn’t long as in less than a minute my guard entered the hallway and gave me a nod. I entered the throne room head held high. The crowd spread on both sides of the long throne room, only allowed in when the event was news related, making me relax inside. The high nobles were the first to greet me, as much that they could say greet having their noses pointed to the ceiling and a huge pole up their... excuse me. And of course when I enter, whispers, how could I have thought less. There was a noticeable amount of reporters and ponyrazzi's in the crowd, a picture or two was taken as I observed. It was not unusual, waiting for my wrong move or inappropriate act. Cadance told me of it's commonplace, but never at the scale of mine. I ruled Equestria for a day after all. Hiding the princess disappearance is not as easy as many would think. "Lots and lots of gossip," that was Rarity's last rundown. Closing in the ending stairs of the throne, I give myself a metaphorical pat on the back as my deduction was right, yet again. The princesses did have unique important visitors. Now don’t get me wrong, griffins are not unusual in Equestria, but messengers from the royalty of Griffdom were rare, more so than any other griffin related kingdom. There was… friction in between our nations, but I had yet to find out why. And it’s really something when it comes from somepony who has read entire libraries on history. There were three of them, all with dark feathers, clear yellow fur and straight a posture. Small saddlebags were strapped in their chests and backs; where they could hold and protected the scrolls the contained. The nine guards around the throne were wary of those. My mind wandered as I advanced gracefully. ‘Could this be another invitation or letter of congratulations? But then, why would they call me? Something important? But then why the audience? I always had issues with satiating my curiosity. My contemplations continued as I passed by the griffin messengers, they didn’t even glance to see me. Princess Luna was next to Princess Celestia, both addressing me with a smile which I easily returned. Reaching the Sun throne, next to Princess Luna the mumbles that had subsided grew louder as I drew closer, I knew what they wanted to see. I used all my will and a little more to not bow as I passed in front of both princesses, I did nod respectfully. I was not crazy. The whispers stopped after that. Princess Celestia spoke, giving a nod to the messengers, “Please begin." “Alright, you know what to do.” Said the biggest of the three griffins, voice remarkably feminine. The messengers nodded at each other, swiftly pulling out something from their respective back-bags. The two back griffins brought strange candle-sized keys as the big griffin pulled a container which could be confused with a filly by its sheer dimensions. I strained my neck as many in the room, seeing as the keys clanked perfectly into place on the green container and with a simple turn cranked its inner workings and opened the canister. It was always something interesting to see advanced mechanics with no magic, yet to understand how they got things like that. I had read that darker the color of the container, more important the message it transported, and for those that like history while reading this fact Luna implied how it was inverse when she was around long before, let that sink in. But anyways, once a strangely long scroll was released from the mysterious cylinder, the two griffins backed away as the main messenger opened the scroll with her talons, careful not to accidentally cut it and prepared her neck for a long session. ‘I’m sure it’s just some kind of summoning, it can’t be that important.’ I thought to myself again as I re-solidify my serene expression. It’s really difficult to keep up. Especially when half the glances of the crowd were directed to your face, expecting a reaction. “Princesses of Equestria, as you should know, twenty days ago the treaty of free passage between the United Griffdom and Equestria, ended,” My calm expression almost ended, but I remained sturdy. ‘Keep calm and wait until it’s done’ I alleged to myself, I had been practicing being calm and I wasn’t going to fall so quickly. It didn’t stop my eye from giving a twitch. “And as responsible rulers of our lands we will be always prepared to keep anything like this from becoming into a major problem, the papers of agreement should be with the messengers this letter was sent.” I felt a breath I didn’t know I held escape me. Just a reminder, not major problem I would be responsible of. I had only a while as a full blown princess with own not-really castle and all that, and even with the last taste of responsibility, I didn’t believe I could take it again without pressure of the entire kingdom in panic. I couldn't keep calm when a simple town went nuts. But then again, that town is special. I smiled, heart going steady, as the messenger continued. Announcing about relations, which was bad, trades, which had grown, how happy they were to trade and exchange. They were not however happy on what had happened recently to us, affecting other nations. I smiled embarrassed on that last one. Internally of course. “The event planned shall begin in two sun cycles from the delivery of this letter, and as you know, all of the unified Griffdoms’ rules shall be there, and we intend to speak the most important subjects between us.” A round of cheers was given by the crowd of nobles and pictures were taken to capture the moment. The Princess Luna-sized griffin seemed to have concluded, taking the scroll with her talons she enrolled it slowly. Princess Luna herself took a hoof forward to speak, “This session of important messages is at its end, you are allowed to leave immediately.” Princess Celestia continued as if part of her sister's words, “And to the news-ponies present, I shall be with you after a brief minute.” There was a pause, nopony stirred from place except for their eyes. I was confused for a moment until I was aware where those eyes resided. I felt a link of hairs of my tail spring out of order as I remained serene looking. But by pure weight of the stares I nodded my head and added with a cracking soft smile. “Have a nice evening.” And after an awkward silence, the nobles, reporters and ponyrazzi’s slowly left the room, some taking a few pictures at us three together, and more fiery debating while rising their voices as they strode outside of the double doors. I remained tranquil up until the last one was out the door and I was free to loosen up a little. I was about to ask the princesses why they had required my presence, most of what was said I already knew —by reading of course— and also due to the information sessions with the council. But the instant I saw them, confusion reached a peak with them not budging from where they stood. Princess Celestia detected my puzzlement and motioned in front of us. I followed her guidance to the griffin messenger remained still, not even an inch from her original spot. Worse, she was in the waiting. My ears perk up as I heared a, “please continue.” From both princess as they shared a giggle from speaking out with such synchronization. The messenger gave them a nod and from her chest bag she revealed a small black scroll container with golden patterns all over. Then I voluntarily held my breath, then glanced to Princess Celestia and Luna and saw their faces not even shift. ‘What’s going on?’ was my thought. The griffin gave a few coughed before she began to read. “Princess Celestia of the Sun, Princess Luna of the Moon and the new Princess Twilight Sparkle of Friendship, this is an important message for your pointy ears only, its purpose is with our relation in general, and how it’s about to change, I personally told you the details of it years ago, but if you do not remember, or not informed, it is detailed in this scroll…” The messenger stopped, looking at us for confirmation. I wasn’t sure what the whole affair was so I nodded encouraging the griffin to read. Immediately feeling the boastfulness I just did I turned to the two antient rulers for their take, they looked at me as if saying "are you joking?" I retired my sight without question. “This message’s purpose began with the expedition, one made six years ago. It took off for exploration purposes towards the unexplored space of the map disaster, one that you allowed to cross over your brothers to accomplish, it was set to return six years ago if it didn’t find anything, it was taken as failed and forgotten as you already know.” I grimaced at the mention of the unexplored map incident, it was aware of several details from many books commonly placed under the tragedy label, called "The biggest loss of adventures ever known to ponydom.' And for good reason. About ten years ago, there was this rumor of a place unexplored of the map no pony had even tried to explore. The notion was conveyed out by a fictional novel, an adventurer investigating the land and returning without telling a pony, but supposedly to have wrote a book before disappearing. The novel was a nice to read fiction. But the idea had so much controversy and enigmatic bases, none could refute its possibility. Not even Celestia, not that she was asked dirrecctly. Well, I did, but she didn't respond dirrectly. Like she always does. And so throughout the land, every adventurer with a ship who heard the tale flew out to be the first to discover what was there. But there was nothing to be found, the furthermost anypony had gone was Captain Cologne Ball. Captain and mapmaker, partner of Compass Blueblood, in name of the princess both sailed with a crew for eight months in one straight course west to where it was supposed to be, but for evident lack of supplies and complaining of their stallions, sense came to their minds and they turned back. Controlling what they had left, they were able to return alive to tell the tale. They were greatly rewarded for their bravery and commitment of serving Equestria and were given permanent noble status. For better or worse. Griffon ships wouldn’t get half the distance as they lacked any talent explicit unicorns to use magic for fuel or compasses. “And after many times of need you allowed us, with much less than a speech, to achieve for our own research and development, and so you planted a seed, a seed of influence. Such influence had blossomed, and so, the council has considered your proposal that is as antient as I am bad at writing simple letters.” “As you know, we are sealed out from the rest of the nations because of our position between Equestria and the eastern badlands, and by these restrictions we can do little to make our people happy, we have lots of silk, but there's so much we can feed ourselves with it, trading has been the only reason this small province is even able to florish as it has. And the people ask for more. And so, we have considered your friendship agreement treaty, that old thing mentioned by our highest proffesor and advisor, it was told to us part of Equestria but—” The rest of the message escaped from my hearing. My eyes got wide, ‘The Treaty of Friendship’, a treaty in the foundation of Equestria itself by the three tribes, the union between nations to become an even bigger one, equal harmony to all. The combination between different nations of equine species was common in Equestria, donkeys, sheeps, cows, goats, deers etcetera, and even the recent horses from Saddle Arabia. Always equines. Or those sharing similarities. But never a hunter’s species’ nation. Not only by differences in culture, but the values and morals taken as well, each ideal had some conflict. It was impossible to find common ground between us as a whole. The griffins in Equestria passed for an official visit and once done headed back to Griffdom, or they were complete Equestrian citizens following the rules and values of Equestria. This could be a historical event bigger than anything not related with the princesses. Sure it would be hard but there wasn’t any book saying they have ever even considered it! And I was going to presence it as a princess. I turned to princess Celestia, whom saw my reaction and motherly smiled, making made me realize this was why I was called. My calm expression was shattered by a grin that would match Pinkie Pie’s. I didn’t even think of why they looked as if they knew all along. And then I noticed the messenger had stopped reading. Glancing at her I saw the awestruck courier had fallen on her flank gawking at the scroll in her eyes as if it was on fire. I giggled a bit, I was also amazed, really surpiced, but not enough to make me stumble. I watched the other two griffons, they didn’t even flinch at the message. My first thought was ‘Perhaps she wasn’t ready for that?’ I heard Luna giggle besides me and say, “Sister, it seems that the emissary has caught her own tongue." I saw Celestia’s right brow rise at Luna’s observation, and somewhat roll her eyes. Those kinds of jokes were unique for Luna and hopefully only her. Grim. I was about to try calm her, until she abruptly wobbled her head changing her awestruck into pure seriousness. It startled me a little. She ogled at the griffin at her left, gesturing with her talon for him to come near her. He hesitated, watching us three confused princesses before slowly closing in to the messenger. I was bemused as confused to why she would call her partner. It was not like with another griffin reading would make the words change, the union was happening. But the thought wiped out by the pale look on the new griffin reading the scroll. He gently nodded and backed away. The messenger turned to address us three. “Is something wrong?” Asked Princess Celestia with her worried but controlled voice. The griffin coughed loudly, almost nervously, and straightened herself once more into a respectable posture. “It caha—“ The griffin lost part of her breath, but before anypony in the room could say anything she raised a talon to stop us, and back on posture she said loud and clear. “It came back.” And so I frowned. “In this letter it is stated that the FUG sailor, after six years of its two month quest of exploring the uncharted map, fulfilled its duty, and returned back safely.” “Princess Celestia, Princess Luna…did…did you hear the same as me?” I asked. Sure to have misunderstood. The princess had their heads tilt as I was sure they thought the same. “Discoveries made will forever change the view of our realm, and due to this, we are ready to renegotiate every treaty made between our countries, and as a sign of good faith we are to share what we have discovered with those that helped us achieve it. Equestria, as well as others.” Now it was the princess’s time to frown. My eyes couldn’t widen more if they tried. There was something there, confirmed to have nothing. My only thought, 'Impossible!' But they claimed it true on an official document... so it couldn’t be a lie. By then I needed a place to sit down. "What is the meaning of this? Lying to our faces." Princess Luna said loudly for the messengers to hear, and those outside the castle, creating three nervous messengers. “You expect us to believe such a thing? We have had our own pioneers sent to the unknown, they accomplished to barely return assuring nothing was there, and if yours were to have explored for that long, how would they too have survived? A cargo could be made to hold food only would not make it over one year, much less four months.” Princess Luna said in a tone that could only be described as unfriendly, I was automatically nodding at each conclusion she got. But the way she said it… it sounded dangerous. Making me even doubt calling out how she had technically nothing to do with the pioneers as she claims, but thanks to my better judgment I restrained myself. "Sister," Celestia initiated, touching Luna’s leg with her hoof, "let them finish and maybe then you will get your answer." Luna looked at Celestia, and then she stared long and hard at the messenger before coughing to her royal hoof. She was annoyed, that much was evident. Princess Celestia shifted her eyes to the griffins, "please continue." They remained unmoving a couple of seconds before the messenger even begun to see the scroll. “The details of our achievement shall be presented to you at the harmony celebration in which we shall converse of this matter.” I could hear Luna huff, she was not pleased, neither was I. “And you should know you are not the only ones helping us in our journey, so those that helped us are to be present as well, this was a united effort of course, your old friend, Queen Silver Peak.” The female messenger relaxed as she finished the letter, I was about to ask about who else was in the ‘united effort’, which caused the griffin to flinch as I got closer, until I remembered that it was a written letter. With the message done, the griffin messengers marched to leave, one faster than others, but the biggest one got closer to the guards next to the exit and gave him the scrolls for us to possibly re-read. A couple of guards followed them to escort them out the castle. What would make one of the most traditional nations of our realm, a predator nation nonetheless, unite with Equestria? I understood they said it was due restrictions and our help, but they had those for many years. What had changed? What could they have possibly found that would make this decision acceptable for them now? How they would've even gotten that far to begin with? My pretty little mind got to work, a pain to think as it was impossible to answer questions until they were here to ask them.But those were only the tip of the iceberg with questions flowing in my head. It had been a while since I got that curious. After the long day I needed some sleep, and a good book. Especially the book, I didn't care about the schedu— oh, what am I saying? The schedule was sacred. But a new book wouldn't have hurt. “Twilight.” My ears amplified Celestia’s call, trying to turn with grace and class. But to the viewer I twisted so mechanically it could make small foals laugh thinking I was a bad mime. It did make both princesses smile though. “How are you feeling?” “What do you mean Princess, I am perfectly fine.” I said with unintentional wincing on part of my ears and eye, I couldn’t stop those. And to the princesses cringing looks I understood it was evident. “That bad, huh?” “Truly, I have seen kuduses have the same troubles, but they were hunted daily or their horns a long time ago, so it must be stress.” Luna said honestly, but it was so bluntly I was in pure. Celestia looked at Luna, disappointed. It would take two days for Luna to notice how bad it was, but for now she looked uncertain. “I say, it isn’t that bad.” A new, familiar and annoying voice added itself to our conversation making us three deadpanned. At least I found it annoying after hearing it day and night and every time I did something silly and no one saw. But he saw, he always saw. May it be Celestia almost tripping, Luna accidentally sending a pony to prison or me being a statue around nobles, he was always there. “Discord.” We said in sync. “Hello, your highnesses!” Discord appeared in the entrance of the throne room, upside-down, and with a sickly colorful looking pony in between his grasps. “I seem to have missed something important. There was a whole herd of the little fellas outside the room with little fun in their lives.” Discord, reformed embodiment of chaos. Body a combination of talon, paw, left hind hoof, right dragon leg, left griffin wing and right dragon wing. That alone gave the idea of what kind of creature Discord was. Erratic. “Discord. What did you do?” “Wow, are you three trying for a quartet? I don’t think it works without the fourth one. And even if Cadance is nowhere near to help you, no need not to worry! I can be the replacement!” Before we could say otherwise Discord snapped his claw the pony disappeared with a yell and Discord wore a strange looking outfit of stripes of red including a hat, a moustache on his face I remembered to find every time I made a particular spell. Or Pinkie Pie acting Pinkie. With our collective stares he chuckled enthusiastically. “I simply walked through the crowd, none tried to stop me or talk to me. It’s funny really, when I moved they flinched. But as promised, no scaring or fainting.” We kept looking Discord in the eye, not amused. “Fine, I scared one or two, but they were gaping at my tail and you know how sensitive I am.” “You are?” “No.” Discord answered me as he chuckled at my change from stoic to curious to deadpan again. “Oh, aren’t you princesses a treat. I shall leave and come back once the party is started. Ta ta—Oh! But what kind of low voice of the quartet I would be if I didn’t give a last lone goodbye note~” But before Discord could commence his musical number, Princess Celestia shined her horn and teleported him away. I huffed with amusement when I heard a distant ‘you are no fun’ echo through the castle. “Well, I will need help calming and talking to the agitated visitors. So who is coming with me?” Princess Celestia asked walking up to the door, turning to look at me and Luna. Luna and I glanced at each other for a moment. And I recalled a game Pinkie had shown us both on how to select the carrier of bad acts between friends in a fair manner. And if there was anything in the glister of Princess Luna’s eyes, she remembered as well. “Not it!” “Not— oh darned it all.” “Don’t worry my sister. They're still are fond of your presence.” “Yes, as fond as a worm is to meet a bird on its home.” “Come, sister. Twilight, is there anything you would like to ask of the meeting? I know you have questions.” “Oh, well, I do! But I can ask them another time. I need to refresh the captain Cologne’s statement and then I will make sure I have all the theories of the OutSpace on a list, and after—“ “You don’t have to tell me step by step Twilight, I trust you know what to do.” I nodded happily. “Good luck..” “Thanks Princess.” My happy reply was not reciprocated as Celestia and Luna looked at me with a frown. I was confused to say the least. “What?” “Twilight, you are a princess as well. When alone, please call all us by name.” I nodded not sure if it was right. It was not that big of a deal, I knew, but calling the princesses by name… It didn’t feel right. It was a hard habit to get rid of, but with full will upon it, it was relatively easy. “Good Night, Celestia, Luna.” “Goodnight Twilight.” “Good Night Twilight Sparkle, may I not need to help thy dreams.” I laughed nervously at Luna’s… goodbye but I did notice Luna becoming a little happier once I called her by name as she had a little more energy as she trotted for the door. ‘Is it such a big deal?’ ̸̡͔̞̹̮̝̺̪͟ͅ ̡̱̣͎͍̖̬ ̠͉̪͚̪̗̗͖͘͜͝ ͏̵̛̪̝̦̖͇̰ ͇͖̩̀ ̯̙̣̹̟͙̀͞ ̶̵̪̬̖͇̙̼̳͝ ̨̨̯̰̳̠̠͝ ̴͚͉͖͙̜̣͕̮ ҉̷̟̖̪̣͜ͅ ̢̭͖̟͘ ̩͇̜̤͞ ̶҉͉̝ ̸͔͎ ̢̖̜̳̳ ͕̜̯̀͞ ̖͓͍̱͢ ̛̞̘͖̜̣̲̩ͅ ̼̪̀͟ ͉̗̤̹͢ ͓͖͙̥͇͓̰̟̥͢ ̰̮̰̰̩͍̭ ̥͖̭̝̲̥̤͍ ͙ ̯̯̬̦̪̫̞͘ ̵͍͔͉͙͔͍͔ͅ ͎̖͡͝ ҉̮͈̙͍̙̯̯ ̧̺̩͖̻̭̟͟͠ ̧̻̳͖̭͖̪͙̭ ̶̡̛̦̻̹̭̥̙ ̸̳̣̯̮̗̜̀͠ ̺̹̖̙̯̯͉̕ ̵̡̪͉̠̪͕̹ ̷̶͔̦ ̬̫͈̠̥̰̠͞ ̹̼͉̪̺̞̱̲̭͘͞ ͎̠̟́ ̶̻̰̙̩̟̣̭ͅͅ ̧͏̤͇͖̩͕̤͕̪ ̭̰̯̫͎̖ ̭̹̻̗ͅ ̝͓̺̼̝̳͙ ̱͚̲̣͉̻ ̞͓̙͉̳̖̰͚͝͝ͅ ̷̛͎̥͍͇̹̟̣̦̗̕ ͉̥̬̼̻̟͘͠ ̻̯̬͈͉͙̫ͅ ̠̦̮͉̠ ̶̼̙͕̦ ̸̟͟͢ ̸͈͎͎͇͙ ̴̲̥͚͜ ̵͞͏̘̱̻̼͇ͅ ̧̰͎̩͖͙́͝ ̩̗̪͉̭̯̯͜ͅ ̴̷̫ ̴̘̹͎̮̹͇̕ ̠̹̪͈͎̖͕̼͈ ̵̧̪͙͇͈͔͍͙̕ ̨̫͉̙ ͏̟͓̲̖̭̫ ̧̬͕ͅ ̡̺͖̭̞̥͈͚̠͇͢ ҉҉͖̟̣͔͚̣ ͎̀͘ͅ ͏͓̩̗͡͠ ͡҉̩̤ ̶͙̥̩̤̥̀ͅ ̷̥̤͇͚̙̕ ̶̴͓͔̝͕̦͍͍ ̶͚͙͎͓̹̖̯ ̺̹̖̙̯̯͉̕ ̵̡̪͉̠̪͕̹ ̷̶͔̦ ̬̫͈̠̥̰̠͞ ̹̼͉̪̺̞̱̲̭͘͞ ͎̠̟́ ̶̻̰̙̩̟̣̭ͅͅ ̧͏̤͇͖̩͕̤͕̪ ̭̰̯̫͎̖ ̭̹̻̗ͅ ͡҉̘̪ ̛̘̺̲̞̤͚̞ ͖̬̟̻̰̗̣̠̭̕ ̤͚̞̘͖͕͇͘ ҉͚͕͚͡ ̟͉͔͙̮ ̛̗͎̰ ̷̥̗̯̞̲̗͜ ̡͎͇͜͢ ̰̘̙̤̀ͅ ͍̤̟͔͇ ͏̨͖̺ ̺̳̮̹͍̝̻̀͠ ̧̰̞̟͠ ̟͕͓̞͍͘ ̧͈̤͓̫̯͡͠ ͏̩̮̰̤̤̯̹̺̠̕ ҉̢̱͎̭̘͚̩̝ ̧͎͕̼͓ ̸̡̳̰́ ̢̖̮̹̝̩͙̠͙͢ ̡̞͉̼̝͎͍́͞ ̵̞̦̞̲̙͟ͅ ̺̹̖̙̯̯͉̕ ̵̡̪͉̠̪͕̹ ̷̶͔̦ ̬̫͈̠̥̰̠͞ ̹̼͉̪̺̞̱̲̭͘͞ ͎̠̟́ ̶̻̰̙̩̟̣̭ͅͅ ̧͏̤͇͖̩͕̤͕̪ ̭̰̯̫͎̖ ̭̹̻̗ͅ ̴̹͍̺̩͈͎̘̳̀ ͚̞͕̖̲̳̤ ̸̟̯̀͟ ̱̩̹̼̗̕͝ ̜̦͎̙̙̀͡ ̸̜͕̮̮̮͘ ̡̳̟̕ ͍̰̩̀͝͞ ̷̛̰̻͘ ̷́҉̖̹ ̺͇̙̰̬̝͞͞ ͓͖͔͇̻̫̱̤̻͢͜͡ ̩̕ ̹̦̥̤ ̬̟̗̝ ̶̧͉̞̬͖̣̪ͅͅ ̥͝ ͓̹̦̙́̀ ͝͏͉̞̖̰̝́ ͉̜͕̫ ̣̀͘ ̸͉̺̦̤̀̀ ̵͇̩̬̦͎͘ ̼̠͎̻̼̞͖͝ ҉̼̲̺̤͘ ̀҉̱̪ ̰̟̦̣̟̜͜͟ ̥̲̳͚̞̯̠͝͝ ̢̛̥̞̠ ͕ ̯̳̗̠͞ ͏̯͡ ̢̞̠͎̰͜ ͏̛̲͓̟͙̺́ ̺͉͟͞ ̵̡̬̝̤̱̘͚ ̢͟҉̤̬̣̳ͅ ͖̲͖ ̡̰̲̝͈͚̹͉͖ ̵͓̰̭̜̮͔̮͞ ͞҉͕͓̼̯̱̰̳ ̗͕̰͎͔͢ But the day wasn’t over. I was going to look under every stone and leaf for any rumor, statement or legend holding the truth. And I thought the meeting was a deal big enough to get all my friends to assist. All I needed to make sure is to send the letter on time and wait. I was not as desperate to see my friends as I make myself sound to be I— Oh forget it, yeah I was as desperate as I make myself sound to be, in more ways than one. What can I say, I got used to something and by all that is good I wasn't going to let it go. Not that I would admit it— Sorry, not that 'I' would admit it. But back to the telling. But, I don't think hearing of me rounding around in the castle would be entertaining in any way. And I did check, Spike didn't do anything of interest either. My friends were too far away and the princesses were doing too many political talks to be stimulating. So I kept myself to reading an open book and passed the time until something started happening. This is, as you know, the week where it began. And even before it started, in the morning, it was bad. Heh. .̓̌ͫ̌̃͏̯̙͝.̨͒̎̐̃̐҉̥.̴̙̯̫͛ͥ Huh? Oh, yeah! I do remember that night. But shamefully I wasn’t inside the castle. I was more interesting to watch what happened on the forest, right? .̡̹͓͖̻͎̪̝̱͌̊ͪ.̩̳̟̳͛̌̔̆̾́͆͐͠.̬̖̤̦̞̼̰̉ͦ̅ͅ What, you didn’t see it? ... Ha! You neither? Wow, I can see why you two like to hide so much. It feels powerful. ... .̴̦̥̤̜͖͉̺̅ͧ̈̾.̖͓̠̖̗͖ͦ̚ͅ.̘͖͎͚͖̬̆͗̕ Alright, alright, don’t need to get worked up about it… well… ͫͥ ̅̈ͧ͌ͤ͋ͣ̔ ͦ̀ ̴̿̇̈̒ ̂̈́̕ ̍͐͗͊͌ͧ̿͜͢ ̃ͫ̉̓ͦ͘ ̵̊̆̂̉ͥ̂͠ ͩͩ̑̓͟ ̉̓͒ ̵ͬ̀́ ̍͋̊̚ ̸ͯͧ͗͛͞ ̈͊͐̊ͦ ̷̅̆̕ ̵̢͌́͑̇̉͞ ͧ̽ͮͬ̊̎ͫ͘ ͋̈́͂̑̊̀̏͊҉͞ ͨ̿͑ͦ͒ͤ͆͘ ̶̧̑̽́ ̂̃͟͡͏ ̵ͨͣ̏̄́̀ ͒̆͛̕͝ ̸̉͑̓̾̃͐ ̢͂̉͒̆͗ͭ̎ͬ ͩ̆͋̐̇͑̚̚҉ ̢̒ͯ̄̊̍͑͜ ̢̛ͮ̍͒̓ͧ̓͆ ͗͆͌̄̂̑͢ ̧̡͌̀ͨ͆̾́ ̸̡̋̅͊̆ͥ ̓͏͝ ̈́̆͐̀ ̽ͧ͑̂͐̚̕͟͢ ̃̂̎ͤ̉̂̽̒͂͏ ̉͗ ̨ͩͫ̆̈̊ͫ͂̊ ̐ ̶̴̆̔̍͋̕ ̴̌͂̈ͯ͊͋ͯ͐ ͆͌̅ͨ̉ͭ͆ͫ͘͠ ͯ̂̈̅̉̔̎̀͜͞ ̷̛̾ͭ̑ͦͤ̉̊̑͡ ͬ̏̽ͯ́́ ̛̌̾̄͏ ̵̽͆ ̷̢̧̆͑ͫ͆̊̓ͯ̚ ̡̒̃̌̓ͯ͑̚͡ ̴͛ͫ̉̆́̇͊ͨͩ ̷̏̑͆͐͆ͫͧ̀ ͑ͤ̓ ̴̌͂̈ͯ͊͋ͯ͐ ͆͌̅ͨ̉ͭ͆ͫ͘͠ ͯ̂̈̅̉̔̎̀͜͞ ̷̛̾ͭ̑ͦͤ̉̊̑͡ ͗̈ͥ͟ ̴ͣ̓̈́̐̓̇̈͂̚ ̿ͩ̒ͨ̋̚̚ ̵̨͐̓̓̓̾͘ ̇͟͞ ̐͗̓̈́̋̀͡͏ ̅ͭͫ͋̀́͜ ͂ͧͩ͝͏ ͐̄̀͐̾ ͐͒͊͑͑ͣ̿͂͜͠͞ ͨ̆̋̓̽̀͏҉ ̴̌͂̈ͯ͊͋ͯ͐ ͆͌̅ͨ̉ͭ͆ͫ͘͠ ͯ̂̈̅̉̔̎̀͜͞ ̷̛̾ͭ̑ͦͤ̉̊̑͡ ͥͨ̏̃̎ͨͫ̔ ̋ͨ̎́̈́̔ͦͫ͑ ̴͐̒̿̇͐̉̕ ̽̅ͨ̊̂ ̛͛͋̎̓̚ ̵̴͌̄́̌̀ͪ̇͢ ̛̍̕͝ ̴̅ͥ̀ͤ̌͆́̀́ ̡̽̎ͪ̆̒̓̐̌ͩ ͩ͑̿͛̓̓ ̸̐̉̃̓̀͘ ̡̅̔ͧͨ̓̽̀͐ ̢̽̆ͫ͡͝ ̌ͯ͆̒ ̶̸̶͐ͬ̒̾͑̃ͪ͂ ̴͛ͫ̉̆́̇͊ͨͩ ̷̏̑͆͐͆ͫͧ̀ ͑ͤ̓ ̴̌͂̈ͯ͊͋ͯ͐ ͆͌̅ͨ̉ͭ͆ͫ͘͠ ͯ̂̈̅̉̔̎̀͜͞ ̷̛̾ͭ̑ͦͤ̉̊̑͡ ̡́ ̧̉ͩͤ̎̑ͧ́ ̑̾͛ ̴̡ͮ͆͞ ͤ̊̄̐́ ͨ̅̏̿̇͌ͯ͝ ͗̐̎͊͆̈̈̀ ͌̃̌͟ ͯ̒̄̓ ̸͐ͩ̓̉̇͊ͧ̈ͨ ̵̴͋̅͘ ͫ̌̒̊ͪ̃͘͘ ͨ͗͐̄̚҉̶́ ͤͥ̊̀҉ ̴̎ͯͮ̄̀͠ ̸ͣ͊́̚ ͭ̽ͦ̔ͪ͋͐ͯ͏̴͡ ͥ̓͗̑ͩ͘͏ ̓̓͞͞ ̴̊́ͩ͆̂ͮ̂ͫ ̏ͪ͒ͣ́͗͗͜͞ ̶̧͗͋͑̚̕ ̔̀̓ͭ̽̕͢ ̴̌͂̈ͯ͊͋ͯ͐ ͆͌̅ͨ̉ͭ͆ͫ͘͠ ͯ̂̈̅̉̔̎̀͜͞ ̷̛̾ͭ̑ͦͤ̉̊̑͡ ̨ͨ ̴̌͂̈ͯ͊͋ͯ͐ ͆͌̅ͨ̉ͭ͆ͫ͘͠ ͯ̂̈̅̉̔̎̀͜͞ ̷̛̾ͭ̑ͦͤ̉̊̑͡ ̎ͮ̃̾̈̀͂͢͠ ̷̴͆ͧ́̚ ̽̓̉̄͗̐ͦ́͜͢ ̶̢ͬͥͮ͜ ̢̾̾̆ͪ̌ ̎͐ͮ̃̂ ͥ̂͠͝ ̢̐̅̈͑͟ ̡̈́̈̏̂ͭ̀̉҉ ̴̌͂̈ͯ͊͋ͯ͐ ͆͌̅ͨ̉ͭ͆ͫ͘͠ ͯ̂̈̅̉̔̎̀͜͞ ̷̛̾ͭ̑ͦͤ̉̊̑͡ ͫ̐̎ͬ͏ ̌ͮ͞ ̇͠ ͊ͣͭ̾̐̓͂̑̕͞ ̶͆ͩͨͦ̏̆̄̿ ̅̏̐͘ ̌͆͋ͨ͌̊̉ͭ͟ ͨͥ̀ ̔̎̅ͥ ͛ͦ̀͟ ̵̊ͭͣ͗̈́̃ ̃̎̎ ͌̓ͨ̂̒̚ Canterlot Valley. Night. Week after. First to notice was the night sky. A lovely wonder for those that could observe it. Many would say its unique beauty has conveyed much more than simple visible features. Thoughts, dreams, and concepts, you name it, but of course in reality the same sky can bring so much more. And this idea couldn’t have been truer that night. White Tail woods. A forest whose name was placed by its founder, was known to be an abode of peaceful slumber for beings of many sizes. Its natural trees would only grow when helped to do so, its weather would change when commanded to do so, and its residents would always be sure to hear those that cared for the forest said. But this night was different, dangerously so. Smoke was the first sign of trouble, the night sky easily blending with it. Only careful small creatures in trees could catch its foul smell and obscure coloration as it blocked stars from the sky, the light of the moon barely helped its vision. But for those at the place of birth of the smoke, there was no denying it. The White Tail forest was on fire. The dangerous night began violently. A collosal shake snapped the whole forest awake, all big and small. Those whom saw the forest fire were already far away from the place of growth of the heated savage, or stayed in wonder of its bright and warmth. Never had they seen such a thing, and it’s true that curiosity could be ones doom, but certain group of critters that were observant of the flame were not curious of its bright form, or abnormality, but by its fuel. Fire, glass, steel and blood, made the scene. Only the fire enjoyed the moment, rising with the soft wind and spreading through the green grass. Not even the trees were safe, those which were already broken were effortlessly consumed and helped made the wildfire grow. The creatures continued to stare, some with an expression of worry, and there was an obvious reason why, if listened carefully. The sound in the night was of the wind blowing, the flames crackling and groans of pain rising from between the chunks of steel. Some creatures attempted to help whichever critter of the forest was in the blaze, trying to clear a path, and once that failed, trying to look for the over-watchers of the forest. But it looked as if they wouldn’t make it in time as the great first watcher was nowhere to be found. That of course was until the strange being stood from inside the inferno. It was as strange as it was tall, fire blocking from any actual observation. For any small creature that watched as it rose from the pieces and stood in two legs, it would be forever a miracle that none wanted to be too close to see. It seemed to contemplate its surrounding, as if in marvel, right in the middle of the flame. As if it just considered its predicament, the thing ran, but in the wrong direction. Entering in between the pieces of steel instead of leaving the burning space, it searched. And only those animals with a tuned hearing that could overcome the roar of the flames could understand why. There were more cries for help. And thanks to those cries it became a bigger surprise when the creature pulled not another creature like itself, but a small red cylinder. Many watched in confusion as to what it was, and some thought the poor bipedal was ‘co-coos’ or just cared for the tube more. At least until the being grasped the red cylinder’s tip. The red cylinder was neither a toy nor a treasure, it was a vessel, a vessel that contained the breath of winter. The voice howled in the night, making everything it touched part of its cold season, wherever it touched. Including the infernal flame. The creature holding the vessel was thorough, not leaving a spot untouched by the cold voice. Covering every alcove and fissure until all was concealed in strange snow and mist of cold. Once done, it left such an impressive connection with a whole season spirit, fall hastily on the now snowy grass. Heading back again in the twisted steel, surely searching for its pack. And it was successful, as it consecutively pulled about three like itself, all still impossible to see by the curious creatures, but now by a mystical mist instead of a terrifying danger. The recently rescued tall beings seemed to ask the first to find the nearest hill and scale it, whichever was said, it did the last anyway. The unknown nature of things was too much for some of the residents of White Tail woods, mainly on the young and the squirrels. One in particular, Snuggles, as the guardians of the forest had named him, carrying himself with pride as he was the one brave enough to meet every creature in the forest without missing one, and this would be no different for him, no matter how scared he was. Snuggles made a dash to the first being as it carried itself in two legs to the nearest hill. The being stumbled now and then, obviously unbalanced. Snuggles followed, sure to keep his distance until he was seen to make contact. And once it reached the top of the hill the thing looked at the looming smoke, following its trail. In curiosity, Snuggles did the same, and following the being’s direction of sight. He noticed the separating nature of the smoke, and following the trail with his head he reached the smoke’s destination. Snuggles tilted his tiny head. It was the beautiful white rock, all the way up on the side of a mountain. Snuggles had seen over-watchers entering it now and then. Snuggles had seen it many times before. Its white colored smooth stone and yellow tops, its high columns and twisted earthworks, its destroyed rock towers and falling rubble— Snuggles made a double take. Undoubtedly, the beautiful structure was missing one of its beautiful white rock towers, pieces of it fell due to the nature of its location. The strange formed white rock, which was unnatural by itself already, was half destroyed. Exactly where the smoke made contact with it. And as if to add to his thoughts there was a continuos tickle on Snuggle’s ear, it didn't take much thought to recognize its purpose. Laughter. Snuggles searched for the source, and to his horror, he found it. It was the new being, its shoulders were trembling with how hard it was laughing. By that moment Snuggles wasn’t sure if he wanted to meet it anymore. But before he could give a paw back, a flash from the destroyed towers of the white rock stopped him on his tracks, almost blinding him. It took him some time to dare look again, but when he did, he didn’t know if he was permanently affected by the light, or he was still sleeping in his leaf bed. He could have sworn by his tiny eyes, that a side of the rock structure was missing completely. A little shiver moved up Snuggle’s small spine, feeling he was being watched. Slowly turning his head, he looked at the being, scared for his life. The being was no longer there. All bravery gone, Snuggles decided it was time to leave. But it was not to be. Snuggles collided hard. A little squeak escaping as he stumbled forward. He was already scared out of his little mind, but then he turned. Looked up. And his blood ran cold. It was the being. A smile spreading from side to side on its disturbing looking pale face, barely with any fur, and black marks from the fire it has recently been inside of, covered in shadow. Its eyes were small but sharp, reflecting with the little light the night had, looking deep into Snuggles' existence. Everything got dark. ̶̷͓̰̜̮͜ ̸̴͈͖̞́͡ ̼̤̪̤͝ ̶̴͇͚̯͚͞͡ ̧͙̜̟̪͎͓̥̙̹̦͜ ̶̨͙͉̲͉͔͍̬̝͖̞̪̲̕͟ͅͅ ̡͠҉̮͖̣͕̥̠̱̤̬͔͉͕̱͈̫ ̨̖̭̥͍͔͉̯̭̞̰̠͈͖̮̺̤̀͠ͅ ̷͓̳̳͇͙̬̘͟ ͏̷̼͎̫̮̲̮͕́͜ ̴̨̨̧͔͇̭̲̻̭̭͓͢ ̸͢͠͏̵͖̺̫̹̼͙̭̻͈̪̖̖ ͜͠҉̠̥̳̣̘̻͖̳͚̯̩̝͇͚̳͇͕̬̼ ̶̶̖͈͙͈̳͇̭̣̭̠̀ͅ ̧̫̭̙̤̙̫̤͎̞̘̹̱̗͇͟͜ ̵̪̤̻͚͓͜ ̛͇̼͎̩͖̟͖͚͕̘̠̞̜͓̪͍͟͝͡ ̢̀҉̞̬͙͈̘̗͕̜̖̺͚̳̻̩̰̖͖ ͝҉͙̬͓̪̠̳̩͖̞̟ͅ ̵̸̢̩͙̼͕̻̗̳̣̰͓ ̡̱̲͈̪̠̘̳̲͔͕̬̻̕ ͏̡̟̼̰͚̳̪͔̦̞̹̯͈̮̣̘ͅͅ ̵́͏̜͕͉̼͚̪̠͍̩͖̯͈̖͈̼̠ ҉̤͓̞̳͠ ̶̡̢̛̳͎̙̳͍̘͖̙͕̜ ̴̡͉͍͖̰̳͝ ͖͈̙͖̱̙͙̪̣̜̘͟͜ͅ ̡̢̢̙̱̝̥̘̗̳͕̘̥̻̤̘̲͠ͅ ̸̻̳̫̫̙̥̠̱̜͖͉̫͟ ̵̰̝̼̪̺͎̣̼̙̲̯̀̕͜ ̡̡̛̜̙̥̥̯̘̩̭̹̘̟͜ͅ ̷̵̱͍̞͍̹̺͍̺͡ ̶̡̜̻͚͉͙̠̝̬̯̠̙͟ͅ ̴̠̬̗̹̼̻̞̙̖̭̤͓̟̖̻̖͠͡ͅ ̴̢̡̺̪̤̦̙̭͕̤̞̻̮͙́͡ ̧҉͏̞̥̺͈̝̯͈ͅ ̴̵͎͈͚͈̞̫͈̝̞͍̫͠͝ ̶̶̶̬̯̟̳͘͠ ̸̛̩̝̯̠̀͘ ̸̸̲̥͎̬͍͈̳̩̙̣̭̩͘ͅ ̷̛͙̮̙͓͙͕͚̩͚̫̖͍̳̘̺̦̀͢ ̴̜͚͎̙͟ ͏̦̝̣͈̠̬͈̥͓̪̖̬͚̬͚͡ ̴̯͖͓͟ͅ ̨̪̞͍̪ ͏͉̦͚̹̳͖̠͙̙̪̞͠ ҉̨͏͚͎̻͟ ͟҉̥̤̼͙̙̠̠̠̫̺̖̼̹͔͞͡ ̭̜̤̦͢͝ ̶̧̞̼̬͍̣̩̱̪̲͇̣͔͡͞ ̶̨͓̯̩͇̼͙̼͞ ̷͘͝҉̫̗̺͎̭̗͔͎̦̺̭͚͚͞ ̢̖̝̳̖̩̮̞̮̺͖̠̥̹̫͚́͢ ͓̮̺͎̜͓̰͢ ͡͏̷̙͉͚̲̭͚̠̪̘̗̭̩̮͍͉͈̱͝ͅ ͏͝͏̶͖̻͔̫̰̼̹͞ͅ ҉̢͔̺̰̥̼̰̼̗̜̞͖̱̠ ̸̶̨̛̞̠͎̠̀ ̦̗̣͚̲̙͓̝̦̣̳̜͔̘̝͔͖͜͠ͅͅ ͏̸̴҉̢̞͇͖͍͕̫̖̮ ̸̶̗̝̻͔͉̠͍̗͍ ̸͖̪͎̦̬̯̹̦̳̳̯̀ͅͅ ̠̤͖̻͉͉̤̦̣̘́́͝ ̧̰͍̰̦̙͚͚̜̳́̕̕̕ ͏͇̗̜̻̮̰ ̢̹̥̞̱̜̺̳͠ ̼͉̱̱̼̰̗̳̺͚̠̟̗̫͈͘͢ ̸̪̳̼͍̼͇̞͕͕̲̜̣͓̫̥͙͕͈̕͞ ̴̵̡̯͖͉͓͙̜̼̥͕̻̯͈̘̦͉͚ ̴̵͠͏̟̫͓̙̱̪̜̩̜̙̥̭̠̯͖͠ͅ ͏̸̨̡̟̜͇̭̮̳̻̝͙̺̘͔͔̘͟ ̨̛̛͙̻̖̪̼̖͟͢ ̴̰̮̰͕͍͎̺̲̜͔̫̝͙̻͚̞̕ ̷̵̧̡̣̟͕̞̘͎̣̬͕̥̘ ̸҉̵̪̗͕̤̺̗͎̦͘͢ͅ ͏̵̤͉̥̬͉͚͓̻̙͕̪͝ͅ ̷̻̯͍̼̠̟̪͈̥̫̲̭̗̠́ ̧͔̠̦̖̼̜̤̹̳̰̠̥͍̝͓̮̳͉́ ̴̸͔̰̥͕͜͠ ̤̻̣̻͙̥͚̳̟̳̪̪̥̯̟͍̱͔͠͞ ̸̴̯̳̼̻̞̰͕̻̪͘͡͠ ̴̷̨̧͓͙̹̹͇̮̯̞̦̻̘̦̣̼̯͡ ̸̷̶̵̪̮̙͉͞ ̛̳͍͍̤̰̭͉͖ ̢̀͡҉̪͉̞̞̹̫͚̥̕ ̢̟̜̮̳̟̬̠̠͙̩͚͙͠ͅ ̶̦̣̤̣̬͉͉͎͔̱̘̯̭͉̹̼͔͢͞ͅ ͟҉̥̤̼͙̙̠̠̠̫̺̖̼̹͔͞͡ ̭̜̤̦͢͝ ̶̧̞̼̬͍̣̩̱̪̲͇̣͔͡͞ ̶̨͓̯̩͇̼͙̼͞ ̷͘͝҉̫̗̺͎̭̗͔͎̦̺̭͚͚͞ ̢̖̝̳̖̩̮̞̮̺͖̠̥̹̫͚́͢ ͓̮̺͎̜͓̰͢ ͡͏̷̙͉͚̲̭͚̠̪̘̗̭̩̮͍͉͈̱͝ͅ ͏͝͏̶͖̻͔̫̰̼̹͞ͅ ҉̢͔̺̰̥̼̰̼̗̜̞͖̱̠ ̸̶̨̛̞̠͎̠̀ ̴̞͕̪̤͖̘͈͍̬͉͔͈̘͈̳̣͞ ̴̨̱̭͙̗̬̦̜̰͇͙̦̞͘ ̀҉҉̴̖͉̞̞̪͔͕̹͈̮̝̥̘̰̤ ̡̼͔̥̦̣̰̯͍̻̮͚̹̠̭͘ͅ ̤̘̫͈̟͔͔̮͍̩͞ ̸͈͖̟̝̺̲͈̼̳͙̩̯̼͍̪̕ͅ ̵̨̯̭͖̬̯͎̥͈͖͇̺̀ͅ ̴̼̤̠͚̖̫̳̪͚̝͚̙̫̖̰̦̀͜ͅ ̷̞̲͓̝͠ͅ ̷̰̱̞̣̤͎̝̞͍͉̖͟ ̵̴̱̜̲̪̝̖̳̮͖̻͇͎̀͟ ̷̵̛̦̬̹̙̗̼̠̬̫̱̤͓̀͠ͅ ͢͟҉͎̤͓͓̹̳̙͖̭͜ ̡̛̛̜̤͈͕̙͔̣̗̳̬̺͚̦̟͉̀̕ ͟͡҉̛҉͙̰̫̳̪̭̝̬͈͚̺̪̱̠̹͎ ̡͘҉̧̩̙͖̪͎̪̟̹͉͓͍̩̬͖̫̣ͅ ͟͏͈̱͍̺̘͇̬̫̥̗̣̪ ̨̲̺̳̤̺̰̟̜͖͢͢ ̶̴̨̟͕̗̩̫͕̥̣̩ ̶̨̣̥̻̻̥̰̻̗͕̜͉̹̣̼͈̺̰̤͟ ͟҉̥̤̼͙̙̠̠̠̫̺̖̼̹͔͞͡ ̭̜̤̦͢͝ ̶̧̞̼̬͍̣̩̱̪̲͇̣͔͡͞ ̶̨͓̯̩͇̼͙̼͞ ̷͘͝҉̫̗̺͎̭̗͔͎̦̺̭͚͚͞ ̢̖̝̳̖̩̮̞̮̺͖̠̥̹̫͚́͢ ͓̮̺͎̜͓̰͢ ͡͏̷̙͉͚̲̭͚̠̪̘̗̭̩̮͍͉͈̱͝ͅ ͏͝͏̶͖̻͔̫̰̼̹͞ͅ ҉̢͔̺̰̥̼̰̼̗̜̞͖̱̠ ̸̶̨̛̞̠͎̠̀ ͏͢҉̺̜͈͈͓͖̮̳̥̠͚͉̰͔̭̙͉͍ ̧̢̺̱͍̳͍̻̫̖̙̠̼̜͍ͅ ̷̢͉̼̘̲̘́̀͢ ̡̨͔̹̫̣̜ͅ ̶̸̛͖͕͓̤̖͚̗̙͚͓͉̘̘̬̮͠ͅ ̡҉͏͈̰̞͇̺͚̯̖̟̟̬͕͓̞͢ͅ ̛̠̙̼̗̞̹͓̖̖̙͙͓̤̀͘͠ ̧͏̡͔̜̬͉̯̦̬̘̭̼̟̟ ͚̭͇̫̘͉̹̜̫̪̕ͅ ̴̫̦̻̥̳̖͚͕̪̘͙̹̝̯̪̗́͘ͅ ̫̣̩̱̝̗̩̮̺̼͕̠͞ͅ ̶̴̛͏̭̭̦̖̞ ̷̨̺̮̠̗͖͖̦͍͙͍̺̲̕͢͝ ̢̨͕̦̤͓͕̻̣̪͕̳͚̩͕̩͔̻̕͢͡ͅͅ ̷̢̦̬͚̖̮͕͉͈̳̯͉͓̯̰̬̠̘͈͢ ̸̝̥͈̺̲̦̱̤͙̘̖̯̯̗͖͝ ̦̭̜̘̰͚̹̝͇͟ And from there forward I couldn’t see anymore. I… "Well, who’s next?" Twilight said in the darkness. The others were there, that much she knew, and that's all that mattered. .̙͓͕͓̲͇̞̅̊̔ͦͮ.̶̮̻̇́ͥ͐̆̂̂͡͠.͑̃̔͂͛̐ͪͦ҉̸͈̭̟̮͈ "Ah, of course, Cristal, right? Sorry for asking, I just sometimes forget your name, I mean, you tell me it's spelled with an I instead of a "Y"and it just sounds weird to me. He-he." .̪̥̮̻̣̻̽̃ͦ̔ͧ̔.͊̊̉͏̸͓̰̣̞͇̱.̜̟͌͂̒̽ͤ̒ "Alright, fine, get yourself calm, I'm not looking for... much trouble? Heh." Twilight remained in the static nothing, expecting something to respond back, and recieving nothing, she rolled her eyes. "Fine, fine, tell your story, think of anything, I can wait. It's not like we're going anywhere in a while." ̡̨͛̆͑̐̑ͯͧ͌͛̍̆ͤ̔͂̀ ̶̨̧̅̃ͯ͒̓͊̓ͤ̚͡͝ ̷͊͆ͧ̈́̈̃͑̋̔̚͜҉̛ ̡̨̛͒ͯ̍ͤ̃ͬ́ ̛ͩͨ͆̍ͩͧ̉ͨ̽ͤ̉ͮ̋ͨ͗ͨ͏͘ ̵ͯͣͮͨ̃͌͂͑̾̈́̌ͦ̍͏̡̛͞ ͯͬͪ̓̒͒ͯ͆҉̶͞͞ ̵̑̿̇̉̈͊ͭ̂ͦ̔̑͢ ̛̉̓͒ͦ̍͂̐͆̓ͨ̃͂͘͘͘͜ ̵̡́͒̊̀͛̋ͤ͒̆͋ͣ͢ ͮͪ̀͛̇͂̅ͯ̆̄҉̸͘ ̨̊̓̄́̄̄ͮͭ̂́͊ͨ͝͡ ̛͋̿͊͒̓̂҉ ̸̅͗̽͂̆ͨ͆͛̋̔͑ͨ͒͡͠ ̧̨̂ͫ̉̈̄ͧͪͪͪ́͜͝ ͩ͊̆̉̄͊̾́́ ̓͑̍ͬ͌̍̊҉̸̴̢̡ ̢ͥ͑̏ͣ̒͟͞͠ ̸̸̈̅̌̏̆͠ ̡̓͒̏ͣ̍̅̈́̿̃ͧ̉ͣͣ̽͟ ̡ͭ̍̄ͬͬ͞ ̏ͬ̓́̚͢͠ ̸̾̍ͯͤ̈́ͣ͗͒̄̂͐͆ͣ͝ ̵̨̛̆̓͊̒̅ͦ̉͒̏̓̕ ̡̛̽̿̑ͥ͒ͫͭ͐̃̌̅͂̑̓ͫ͌̓́ ̢̈̾̏̒ͭ̿͑͡͞ ̢̒̇̔͆̂͑̉͆́ͤͦ̇̓̀̍̿̐ͣ͡ ̴̅ͯ̎̒̈́̉̆̽͟͢ ̧̔̈͊̍̍ͩ͘͜͢ ̷̨̽ͫͧ̿ͪͬͣͥ̍̅́͠ ̨ͬ̽͑̀ͦ͒ͣͭ̈͂͟ ̶̨͆̔͛ͤ͋͋͗͏͝ ̸͐͒̌ͮ̈́͌͘ ̶̶̴̷ͤͮ͑̋̇̿͗̓ͨ̓͐́ͤͧ̚ ̔ͭ̍͌ͧͭͫ̂͛̈́ͤ̃ͩ̄͆̚͝ ̨̛̎͆ͮ͗ ̵̴̓̀̇ͪ̍͆ͫ̎͞ ̏̀ͪͪ̌҉̨̡̡͝ ̸̑͊ͫ̿̄̌ͪ̆ͪ̊̂ͬ̾͊͟͟͝ ̛ͦ͛́̑̎̽͑̑͂̏ͩ̅ͥ͂͘͜ ̧ͪͤ͌̈̎̂ͣ̍ͥ͊̆̍̎̓̿̾ͯ͡ ̵̇̍͆͂͋̐̅̔̎͆̓̑́ ̧̢̊̈̾̊ͭͬ̃̌̓͗ͤ̽̇͑̃̂̾͑͂ ̸̾̐̅͂͆͊͊̀͋͌͢ ̶̎ͣ̑̒̈͒̆̏͐ͬ̓̑ͣͭ̃ͮ҉ ̸̡̡ͬ̏͂͛ͦ̅ͪͧ̌͒͢ ̨̢̏͑ͧ̍́͂ͪ̅͌͆ͫ͊́͌͏҉ ̢̄́̔̍̉͂̎̄̑ͩ̅͑̒͂̏̚͘ ̵̨̛̔ͫ͌͐̒ͤͫ̉͛̆͆͂̓́̓͋͌ ̌̍͌̋̄̐ͫ̊͛̑̀̊̆͗͋́͏ ̧ͥ̈́ͭͣ̂͆̾̕ ̨̒͋̆̂̑ͧͩͣ̓́̀ ̸̵̨̊̂̂̎ͫ̐͑͌̄̆ͣ̃̋̍͟͜ ̵̢̒ͮ̎ͨ̑̀̃̎ͫ̉ͪ́͑̆ͥ҉ ̓̈ͦ̀̋̊͊͝ ̑ͤ̿̿͑͘͟͡ ̵̈͆͛͛͊ ̵̨̨ͤ̋̐ͨ̏͐ͭ̃̓̄̈͆̊̑ͫ͢͠ ̶̨̛̛ͧ̃̋ͣͤ ̷ͫ̓̅̏͊̍͗͌̅͌̍̐́̀̚̚͢ ̶̈́ͥͤ̅̚̕͟ ̷̧̧̨ͩ̅͗̽ͥ̆ͥͧ̆̓͂͜ ̈͆̎͑̍̊͂ͪ̀҉̕͝҉ ̛̃̍́ͭ̾̒̀͝ ̶̋ͧ͂̐̃ͯ͟͜͡ ̷̨͗̑ͦ͒ͪͯ͌̄͒͛͂͒̋ͧͪ̓̚͏̕ ̸ͬͥ̉ͥ̇͆̉͆̒̈̍̄̓́ ͤ͌̑̽̀͊ͨͪͪͧ́͌̒͢͢͏̷́ ̧̔̈͊̍̍ͩ͘͜͢ ̷̨̽ͫͧ̿ͪͬͣͥ̍̅́͠ ̨ͬ̽͑̀ͦ͒ͣͭ̈͂͟ ̶̨͆̔͛ͤ͋͋͗͏͝ ̸͐͒̌ͮ̈́͌͘ ̶̶̴̷ͤͮ͑̋̇̿͗̓ͨ̓͐́ͤͧ̚ ̔ͭ̍͌ͧͭͫ̂͛̈́ͤ̃ͩ̄͆̚͝ ̨̛̎͆ͮ͗ ̵̴̓̀̇ͪ̍͆ͫ̎͞ ̏̀ͪͪ̌҉̨̡̡͝ ̸̑͊ͫ̿̄̌ͪ̆ͪ̊̂ͬ̾͊͟͟͝ ̛ͦ͛́̑̎̽͑̑͂̏ͩ̅ͥ͂͘͜ ̧ͪͤ͌̈̎̂ͣ̍ͥ͊̆̍̎̓̿̾ͯ͡ ̧̔̈͊̍̍ͩ͘͜͢ ̷̨̽ͫͧ̿ͪͬͣͥ̍̅́͠ ̨ͬ̽͑̀ͦ͒ͣͭ̈͂͟ ̶̨͆̔͛ͤ͋͋͗͏͝ ̸͐͒̌ͮ̈́͌͘ ̶̶̴̷ͤͮ͑̋̇̿͗̓ͨ̓͐́ͤͧ̚ ̔ͭ̍͌ͧͭͫ̂͛̈́ͤ̃ͩ̄͆̚͝ ̨̛̎͆ͮ͗ ̵̴̓̀̇ͪ̍͆ͫ̎͞ ̏̀ͪͪ̌҉̨̡̡͝ ̸̑͊ͫ̿̄̌ͪ̆ͪ̊̂ͬ̾͊͟͟͝ ̛ͦ͛́̑̎̽͑̑͂̏ͩ̅ͥ͂͘͜ ̧ͪͤ͌̈̎̂ͣ̍ͥ͊̆̍̎̓̿̾ͯ͡ ̷̨͆ͭ̏̾̓̿̀ͩ̐̀͢ ̛ͬͫ͆ͮ̏̀̓͋̕ ̡̛͐̍̈́͑ͤ̍̚ ̸̐̉̈ͤ̽̅̄̾͋͌̿͑͑̀ ̶̌̏ͪ̎͘͜ ̋̾ͪ͛̿́͏̸ ͐̓̾ͧͭͨ͂̊ͨ̐͝҉̧͠ ̸̡͐͌͆͐̚͡͏ ̶̡ͪͨ̈́̂̂̊̍̍̔̔͑̄̋̿́ ̈́̎ͯ̒ͭͤ̌̾ͦ̓ͦͨ̆͢҉̸̀͟ ̷̶̧̛͑̀̒̃͒ͦ͌ͣ̾́̃̂̒͑̃̈́̈́ͯ̚͡ ̶̑ͤͤ҉̛ ̨ͪ̾̂ͣ͞ ̷̧ͧͣ̍͒͐̊̈́͗ͩ͆ͬ̆ͬ ̑̈̿ͫ͐̾̓̏̇̑̆͐̋ͭ̿̉͐̄̚͡͠ ̧̔̈͊̍̍ͩ͘͜͢ ̷̨̽ͫͧ̿ͪͬͣͥ̍̅́͠ ̨ͬ̽͑̀ͦ͒ͣͭ̈͂͟ ̶̨͆̔͛ͤ͋͋͗͏͝ ̸͐͒̌ͮ̈́͌͘ ̶̶̴̷ͤͮ͑̋̇̿͗̓ͨ̓͐́ͤͧ̚ ̔ͭ̍͌ͧͭͫ̂͛̈́ͤ̃ͩ̄͆̚͝ ̨̛̎͆ͮ͗ ̵̴̓̀̇ͪ̍͆ͫ̎͞ ̏̀ͪͪ̌҉̨̡̡͝ ̸̑͊ͫ̿̄̌ͪ̆ͪ̊̂ͬ̾͊͟͟͝ ̛ͦ͛́̑̎̽͑̑͂̏ͩ̅ͥ͂͘͜ ̧ͪͤ͌̈̎̂ͣ̍ͥ͊̆̍̎̓̿̾ͯ͡ ̨̛̋ͥͣ̽ͨ̿ͨͪ̎̋͋ͬ̐̎̀͞ ̶͛̅͐̅̐̋́̍̈́̀͜ ́͐̾̏̏ͩͩ͌̏̍̓̃͑ͯ͋͏̵͏̢͢ ͩ̌̅̔̔ͨ͋ͧͪͮ̚͏͝͏̴ ̶̑̎ͫͬͪ͑̇̍̀͜͠ ͪ̀ͨ̂͂̂͆̀͛̈́ͥ͂̐̉̋̃͏̧͟͢ ̶̽̉̏̒̔̅̈́̾̂̃͐ͩͪ̄̀͏̧ ͣͥ̑̈́̐̌̏͐̓͑̀͘ ̾ͩ̽ͥͬͮ҉̷̶͜ ̊̓ͧ̓͂́ͯͬ́̽̆͑҉̢͢ ̢ͥ͛ͩ͒̾̀ͥ͂ͮ̽̈́̀̕͘ ̢̇ͯ̀̔̈́͑͊̐͆̎̍ͫ̔͂̄̅ͭ͘ ̃͌͐̽̍̓͒̋̔̆͗̈́̒͆̈̆̂͋̚҉̕̕͢ ̧͒̿̾͊̑ͧ̈́̿̓̇̍ͫ́̍͂҉̵̶̨ ̡̨͂̄̃͛ͫ͑̐̀̄ͧ͗͊͒̌́͟ ̴̈́ͤͧͭͧ̓ͥ͐̍ͫͤ̍ͥ̉̈̾͘͞ ͌͂̎̔ͫ͌ͧ̚͏̸̛͢͞ ͬͣ̈̃̂͐͘͘͜͜͞ ̢̛ͬ̋̆͋̄ͦ̌̾̾͟ ̢̈́̊̇ͬ͆̋͟͏̵ ̴͋͆̍̉ͪ̀ͪ҉̴̵͡ ̸̷̢̢͌̈́ͮ̓ͤ̋̿̑̓ͯ̎ͮ̑̅ͦ ̶̡̿ͯ́͗ͨ̅̅̆̋͒̇̾̾ͮ̏̇ͧ̀̕͘ ̵́͋͗͂̅ͬ͂̓̋̈́ͩ̎͟ ̵̛̂ͯ̂͛̓ͣ͐̉ͭ̐ͨ͒ͮͤ̊̎́̏͟ ̶̴̈́̊̉̐ͪ͋͋͗̈́͂̑̚͘͘͡ ̢͂̊ͯ́ͦ̂ͩ͋̿ͫ̊͂̐̇ͧ͋͛͞ ̴ͨ͂̓͛ͥͨ̔͒̚͡͞ ͑͛̓ͧ͋̽͟ ̷̀̌ͨ͋ͨ̌̀͏̵͟͢ ̵ͮ̋ͩ͗̓̅́̆̂́̏̿͗ͤ̅ͦ͛͟ ̧͛̽͂ͪͥ̊͛̚̚͜ ̵̛͗̊͛̑̅̋͒ͩ͊̾͢͞͝ ̨̢ͥͨ̈́̎ͦͬͣ̿ͧ̓̉̌ͬ̌͂ͨ̀̚͠ “What happened? What did that light do? Wait, I have wings now? What? Princess? Where are you? Hello? Anyone? Hello?!” —Twilight Sparkle, day of ascension. Unknown.