High above the city of Canterlot, Twilight laid among the clouds, watching as the stars came out for the night. One by one they appeared, always in the same order. Twilight shivered as a cool breeze blew through the air. It had been six weeks since she had returned home from Cloudsdale, and already she felt lost without her friend.
★flashback★
“But Cadance, do I have to go home now?” a disappointed Twilight said, as a tear ran from her eye.
Cadance knelt next to her student, and gently rubbed her mane. “Yes Twilight, we've been here a week... I'm sure your parents are just dying to see you.”
Twilight looked away, not wanting the others to see the tears flowing from her eyes. “But... but... I don't wanna go... I have.... I have a friend here and.... there's so many ponies like me here.... I don't wanna go.”
Fluttershy approached Twilight and wrapped her forelegs around Twilight's neck and pulled her into a loving hug. “I don't want you to go either but um... it's not like you will be gone forever right? I mean... we will see each other again... I just know we will.”
Cadance scooped Twilight into her forelegs as Morning Dew pulled Fluttershy into an embrace, while hiding her own tears.
“Thank you Cadance...” Morning dew whispered. Cadance smiled sadly as she unfurled her wings, and took off into the evening sky, cradling a weeping filly in her forelegs.
★★★★★★
Another tear fell, as Twilight pulled her forelegs further into her body. She stared intently in the direction of Cloudsdale, and... her friend. Twilight gasped as a shooting star flew by, and she followed it until it disappeared by Canis Minor.
Shivering, Twilight looked down to her house. Shadows danced in the light of the living room, and she watched as one moved towards the door, ultimately opening it to reveal her mother, Twilight Velvet, exiting the house.
“Twilight, come inside sweetie, it's getting late, and it's cold.” Twilight Velvet spoke into the sky.
Twilight huffed as she rolled off of the cloud, quickly plummeting to the ground below. Twilight kept her eyes closed, she loved this feeling: the feeling of the wind rushing through her mane, her fur, her feathers. In these few seconds, nothing else mattered. It was a state of euphoria for her.
Twilight Velvet however, gasped in shock as she watched her daughter fall lifelessly towards the ground. She summoned up what magical ability she had, and focused into her horn, resulting in a pale blue light to emanate forth from it. She aimed her magic towards Twilight, attempting to slow her fall, but held back as she watched Twilight open her wings when she was but a few meters from the ground.
“OK mother...” whispered Twilight, as her hooves touched solid ground for the first time since that morning.
“Twilight...” Velvet cooed, but soon she was overcome with a sense of guilt as she watched her daughter walk in the house; not paying her any attention as she passed her.
“What am I supposed to do?” she thought to herself.
Minutes passed as Velvet sat on the front lawn, staring into the sky, thinking of a way to cure her daughter's sadness. She sat deep in thought, her only companion being the wind's howl, and the glow of the waxing moon.
“It's not fair to her...”
Velvet looked to her side to see her husband, Nightlight, laying down on the lawn next to her.
“It's not fair... being born a Pegasus into a Unicorn family... let alone a mostly Unicorn city...”
Velvet closed her eyes, and snuggled up into her husband's side. “What... can we do Nightlight?” She asked, looking up into his deep golden eyes.
Nightlight shook his head, looking up intently into the night sky. “I... don't know.”
“Her entrance exam is tomorrow you know...” Velvet whispered, as she watched the candle light fade from her daughter's bedroom.
Nightlight lowered his head, laying it atop of his wife's. “She is definitely smart enough, and witty enough to take on anything they throw to her but... I hope she is mentally ready for this.”
“Do you... have any idea what they have for an entrance exam?” Velvet asked.
Once again, Nightlight shook his head. “No I don't but... If anypony would have any insight into what the test consists of... it would be Princess Cadance... and I'm sure she has been preparing Twilight for this.
★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★
Twilight floated amongst the stars deep within her soul plane. She kept her eyes fixated upon Orion, seeking comfort from the outside world. She inhaled deeply, no particular scents came to mind.
“You've come to realize your own soul plane very quickly Twilight Sparkle. I must say I am most pleased with this.”
Twilight smiled as the pony from her dreams entered her “soul.”
“Good morning, or is it Good evening?” Twilight asked.
The black pony chuckled as she took a seat next to Twilight. Her horn lit up with a lavender glow, dimming the stars, leaving but a few present. What happened next, was truly magical for Twilight, as a plethora of auroras came into existence, covering the entire sky.
“Wow...” Twilight gasped.
The black pony smiled, lowering her head to meet Twilight's. “Are you impressed little one?”
Twilight's ears perked up. “You bet!” she cheered. “This is truly amazing! One, I've never seen an aurora in person before, two... you can control the stars, and three... this is all within MY soul plane. I... I never thought anypony other than myself would be able to influence what happens here.”
“Well...” the black pony started. “You are right, only you can affect what happens in here... only you.”
“But...” Twilight said, but was interrupted as a black hoof was placed in front of her muzzle.
The black pony smiled, with a glow of her horn, the scene changed to the Canterlot Archives. “When you go to the castle tomorrow for your entrance exam... go a little early. There's a book I would like you to look over beforehand.”
The scene moved in onto a particular book shelf in the far back of the castle.
“This book here.” She said, as she pointed her hoof towards it.
Twilight squinted her eyes, and turned her head as she read the title. “The Sanctification of Souls... The Embodiment of Latent Magical Abilities?”
The black pony nodded her head.
“I've heard of this before... but where?” Twilight whispered.
“Twilight... there is... much more to yourself than you may realize. I am, in a way, a part of you. I can see the innermost workings of your soul...” the black pony said, as Twilight stared intently into her eyes: captivated by her words. “While I would love to tell you exactly what to do, and where to go, I simply must not. Life is short, and discovery of who you are is a wonderful part of it, as most ponies never quit learning new things about themselves. This is what makes life bearable for most.”
“Come...” she whispered as she unfurled her wings and took off with Twilight close in tow.
Twilight smiled at the chance to fly with somepony else. “Where are we going?” she asked. “Couldn't you just change the scene to bring us wherever it is you wish to take me?”
The black pony chuckled. “I wish not to bring you someplace, but only to take a flight. It has been far too long since I've used these babies.”
Twilight smiled, as she watched the black pony glide gracefully amongst the stars.
“Think you can keep up?” She smirked.
“You're on!” Twilight growled.
In a flash, Twilight sped off. Each powerful thrust of her wings subjected her to heightened speeds. The lack of gravity helped increase her wing power, and coupled with her reduced body mass, she was rocketing to speeds she had yet to realize possible.
“You're not bad Twilight Sparkle.” The black pony said as she effortlessly passed Twilight. Twilight growled as she pushed her wings even faster, propelling her to a new sense of realization of her abilities.
One thing Twilight noticed, was the lack of wind... It was a strange feeling, to fly without the comfort of the wind in her mane, but still she pressed on. Moments later, she began to slowly catch up to her flying partner, who was now beginning to flap her wings in a more steady pace.
Twilight huffed, and gasped for air as she was now at equal pacing, one moment she would take the lead by a nose, only to lose it a second later, and yet would regain it once more a few seconds later.
“Twilight...” the black pony whispered.
Twilight folded her ears back, closing her eyes she pushed herself just a bit harder and began to slowly pull away. “I can't hear you!” she called out. “Try catching up... to... me...” she stuttered as her flying partner once again effortlessly reclaiming lost ground.
“Twilight... you are trying to hard. Close you eyes.”
“My eyes are closed already.” Twilight retorted, earning a chuckle from the black pony.
“Indeed they are.... tell me... what do you see?”
Twilight stared into the black abyss.... “absolutely nothing...”
The black pony called forth her magic, surrounding Twilight in a lavender glow.
“Anything now?” she asked.
Twilight stared into the darkness once more... “Still nothing but.... it's warm now...”
“Good.” The black pony said, as she closed her own eyes. “All she needed was a push.” she thought to herself.
“What you are sensing Twilight... is the souls of the stars.” the black pony said, as she slowed to a stop, with Twilight following suit.
Twilight gasped as she collapsed. “What...do you... mean... souls of the.... stars...?”
The black pony chuckled once more. “It is as I said. Each one of the many stars here... share a soul with that of their counterpart in the real world. Every star here was created thousands of years ago, and with each one, a soul was placed within to ensure the stability of the Universe's magic... Tell me Twilight... have you learned to enter your soul plane at will?”
Twilight sat for a minute and thought before shaking her head. “No... I seem to enter it only when I sleep.”
“Page 782 of Sanctification of Souls. Remember to read that page especially before your test. There is a bit of an... experiment on it I would like you to try.”
Twilight nodded, a buzzing was beginning to fill her mind.
“It seems my time here is done... until next we meet Twilight Sparkle.”