//------------------------------// // The Test // Story: Lost Harmony // by Cafe Ponies //------------------------------// Sunlight was shining through the window of Twilight's room. The new Princess slowly opened her eyes and got out of her bed. Twilight brushed her mane and tail and did her usual other morning activities. Suddenly, she realized she had only 10 minutes to get ready for the test her mentor, Princess Celestia, had assigned her. She began to panic. "Spike! Spike!" Twilight yelled. The purple dragon jumped in surprise and fell out of his bed. "W-What is it!?" he asked, getting up and breathing heavily. "The Princess wants to see me!" Twilight explained. Spike relaxed and sighed. "So? Go see her, then. Her room is just down the hall," Spike pointed out. "Oh, no no no! This is a test she wants me to take!" the nervous mare shouted. "But you're really smart and strong! Remember last time you freaked out when Princess Celestia gave you a test?" Spike tried to reassure her. "Yes, but-" Twilight began, being cut off by her assistant. "You did well on the test! You passed! There's no need to panic again," Spike interrupted her. Twilight looked down at him. "Well...you never know," Twilight said, trying to figure out an excuse for why she was so nervous. "C'mon, Twilight. What's the big deal?" Spike asked calmly. "It's just that...I'm a Princess now. Princess Celestia will expect more of me," the librarian answered Spike quietly. Spike paused for a moment. "That doesn't mean it'll be the end of Equestria if you fail! By the way, you're still really new to all of this royal stuff, so Princess Celestia will understand if you're distracted by your royal duties," the purple dragon reassured Twilight. Twilight looked at him gratefully. "You're right, Spike. Thanks," she said. Twilight left the room and trotted down the hall. "Just relax, Twilight..." she said to herself. She looked up at the large door that lead to Princess Celestia's room and hesitated. "No, I'm not ready!" she whispered. "Or maybe I am..." Twilight argued. She slowly opened the majestic door and saw Princess Celestia at the window, gazing down at Canterlot. She cleared her throat. "P-Princess Celestia?" Twilight said nervously. The Princess turned around. "Ah, my faithful student. You're here," Princess Celestia greeted her. Twilight walked up to her mentor. "You...called me here for a test?" Twilight asked politely. Her mentor nodded. "This is a simple test, but not on paper," Princess Celestia explained. "N-Not on paper?" Twilight echoed in disbelief. "Does this mean you'll test me on my...r-royal duties?" Twilight asked, beginning to panic. Princess Celestia put her hoof on Twilight's shoulder, making the worried Princess calm down. "This test will be easy. I am certain that you will pass," the majestic alicorn told Twilight. Twilight remembered the technique Princess Cadence taught her. She stepped away from the Princess. Princess Celestia put her hoof down, slightly confused. Twilight put her hoof across her chest and outstretched it, then put it down as she sighed in relief. "Right, I'm ready," Twilight informed her mentor. Princess Celestia stared at her for a moment in silence. Twilight couldn't help letting out a gasp of shock and confusion as Princess Celestia's eyes flashed with fear and bitterness. "P-Princess Celestia? Are you okay?" Twilight asked worriedly. Princess Celestia walked past her student. "I am fine," she replied. Her horn glowed a soft orange color, then the large doors glowed orange as well. She opened the doors for her student. "First, I want you to get used to this castle. Try to locate every room of the castle and name them correctly," Princess Celestia instructed. Twilight nodded. They both left Princess Celestia's room, then the Princess closed the doors. The orange aura surrounding her horn and the doors disappeared quickly. "I guess this test will be easy," Twilight murmured to herself. She followed her mentor down the hall and down the long path of stairs. "So..." Twilight began, her voice echoing in the stairway. "Is it only locating rooms in the castle, or are there other assessments?" she continued. Princess Celestia nodded. "You do not need to know right now, but you must know later," the white alicorn answered Twilight. The purple alicorn looked away from Equestria's ruler and gazed forward. Why won't she tell me?, Twilight wondered. Eventually, the two Princesses got down to the last few steps and trotted out of the stairway. Princess Celestia stopped, and so did Twilight. "Do you see that guard?" the Princess asked Twilight. Twilight's gaze swept over the hall, and she spotted a white stallion guard. "Him?" Twilight asked, staring directly at the white pegasus. "Yes," Princess Celestia replied. "Then what do I do?" the librarian asked. "Give him a command," Equestria's ruler explained. "Oh...alright," Twilight responded, then she walked up to the royal guard. "Greetings, your majesty," the royal guard greeted her politely. Twilight tried to think of a command for a moment. "Uhh...check the castle for any intruders," the purple mare ordered. "Yes, your highness," the guard replied, running off and disappearing around the corner of the hall. Twilight turned and looked at Princess Celestia, waiting for her reaction. "You've done well. I am sure you will become a wonderful princess," Princess Celestia praised her student. A small smile spread across Twilight's face. "Now you must locate every room in the castle and name them," the Princess explained. Twilight nodded, feeling confident now. For the rest of the morning, Princess Celestia tested Twilight on various royal tasks. When they finished, Princess Celestia informed Twilight that she had passed the test. The purple alicorn let out a delightful gasp, and her mentor dismissed her. As Twilight entered her room and closed the doors, Spike ran up to her. "Twilight, look! Princess Celestia sent this to me just now, after you finished your test," Spike told her. He held up a book that looked like it had been kept by Princess Celestia for several moons. Twilight stared at the title of the book. "Myths of Equestria," she read out loud. Twilight walked past Spike. "I don't get it. What's so important about it? It's just myths," she said. "But it has the myth of Nightmare Moon in it!" Twilight's assistant pointed out. "Spike, I've already read that myth plenty of times, and we've already defeated Nightmare Moon too. Princess Luna was reformed after that as well, remember?" the librarian explained. "Yeah, but..." Spike said, trailing off as he tried to find the right words to argue with Twilight's statement. "Spike, just put it on the shelf," Twilight ordered him, her eyes clouded with annoyance. "Okay..." Spike muttered, running up to the large shelf of books Twilight had and put the book under the M section. Just then, Princess Celestia came in. "Huh?" Spike said, dazed. He looked at the Princess. "Princess Celestia? What is it?" Twilight asked. Spike ran over to Twilight's side. "Nightmare Moon is back," Princess Celestia informed Twilight. Her voice was full of bitterness, and just like before, her eyes were blazing with fear. Spike stared at the Princess in disbelief, while Twilight's heart had nearly stopped.