//------------------------------// // Chapter One: ...Princess Derpy??? // Story: Equestria's Fate // by Silver Shine //------------------------------// Twilight Sparkle, the princess everypony now knew, was reading a book in Ponyville's Library. "Hey Spike, could you take a letter?" She said. Spike nodded and grabbed a paper and pen from nowhere, as usual. "Dear Princess Luna-". She began, before Spike interrupted, "Um...Princess Luna? Isn't she, like, I dunno, maybe..." "Probably not." Twilight replied. "Dear Princess Luna, I have discovered an ancient power from when you were Nightmare Moon. A book I had read had noted that in your current castle, your old one, and Cadence's castle, each have a dark key in them. If said keys are brought together, it would separate you and her...But at the price of your heavy injury and plenty of chaos. Discord would enjoy it, but nopony else. If you find a key, please avoid letting it out of HEAVY protection. Your fellow princess-". Twilight stuttered for a moment, not used to calling herself a princess. "Twilight Sparkle." Spike immediately sent the letter. "So Twilight, there's one in the old castle right? Should we maybe find it?" "No. It's completely useless without the others." She continued to read her book. Elsewhere, Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo were in the Everfree Forest ziplining...And failed again. But nearby, there was an explosion . "That sounded like it came from the princesses' old castle!" Scootaloo said, running towards it. The others followed quickly. In Cloudsdale, Rainbow Dash was talking with another pony who looked like her. It was her sister, Rainbow Strike, a rainbow mane and rainbow tail pony, with the same light blue coloring. Her cutie mark was a rainbow lighting bolt shooting up from a flat rock. "So, you really think you can teach me how to do a Sonic Rainboom like you, big sis?" Rainbow Strike was about 2 or 3 years younger than her sister, but still an amazing flyer. "Of course I can, Rainbow Strike! You'll be able to do it in the Best Young Flyer Competition tomorrow with how fast I'll teach you!" "Yay!" The two flew over to some clouds and shaped them into a practice area. Rainbow Dash began, "Now, the first step is speed, but technique is a big part too. Remember that the straighter up or down your angle is, the harder it is to pull off, too..." And so the teaching began. Back at the old castle, about five minutes before, Derpy Hooves flew in from above. "Oh boy, I sure hope it's really here." She said. She had been sent to find an ancient scroll of hidden secrets and read it. Sent by Princess Luna. She walked around carefully, before finding a hidden room somepony left open all those years ago. The best part was that it took her about ten seconds, since it was right by the entrance...Near it, anyway. Inside was a scroll...Derpy ran over, almost taking off in excitement, we wings flapping at a controlled speed. "I found it, hooray! Now to see why Princess Luna wanted me to read it." Within minutes, she was engulfed in a flash of light, and there was a small but loud explosion. When the CMC arrived at the castle, they were surprised to find a secret room open near the entrance. A small hole was inside, and a string to hold a scroll together...With Princess Luna's and Derpy's cutie marks on it...How odd. Sweetie Belle immediately asked, "Any idea who was here?" "Either Princess Luna or Rainbow Dash's friend Derpy Hooves by the looks of it." Replied Scootaloo. Just then, a light flashed, and Princess Luna carried down a passed out silver Pegasus...No, she was carrying an Alicorn. "I knew you three would be here. Could you do me a favor as take this pony back to the library back in Ponyville and leave her with Twilght? I'm sure she'll know what to do from there." Luna asked, careful not to startle them with something that sounded like crazy talk. They nodded and smiled that a princess wanted their help....Or, maybe two? At LEAST one wanted their help. Almost ten minutes later, they arrived at Twilight's door, and Apple Bloom knocked. "Yes?" Twilight replied, opening the door. She gasped when she saw what was before her eyes, then smiled. "Another new princess! I take it you want me to handle her?" Apple Bloom nodded, a bit exhausted and let Twilight handle the princess. Twilight put Derpy on her bed. "Hopefully you'll be able to hold your responsibilities without worry, unlike me." She giggled a bit and walked downstairs. She got out another book from behind the rest. This was no ordinary book, though. It was the one that brought her together with her friends. She looked at Spike. "Spike, do you remember the day we first arrived here in Ponyville? We thought Pinkie was CRAZY. I remember not wanted them to go into the forest, thinking it was my mission, and mine alone." She said. "That day was amazing. But now look at us. Pinkie seems normal, I'm a princess, and we're about as close of friends as they get!" Spike laughed. "What?" "Nothing. You just seem so...different." "Well, I have so many things to do now, and it cuts time for reading and friends." Twilight and Spike continued their conversation, and the day continued. The sun began setting and they had been talking for hours. Back near the Rainbow sisters, a dark energy surrounded them. Rainbow Strike called out, "Rainbow Dash!" The darkness surrounded them completely. "Rainbow Strike, stay calm. Just leave the cloud from the bottom." Replied RD. Rainbow Strike jumped and dove through the cloud, emerging below, a key held by her wing between two feathers. Dash looked at it and asked, "Hey, what's that key?" Strike replied, "I'm not sure. It came from the direction of the ancient castle just before the darkness." Dash seemed confused, but suggested that they go to Twilight's house for the night. Rainbow Strike agreed and they flew to her house. Once they explained everything, from how Twilight hadn't met RS, to the key and darkness, Twilight gasped. "What's wrong?" Dash asked. Twilight shook a feeling off. "I'll explain in the morning."