//------------------------------// // Chapter 1 // Story: Secrets and Lies // by Metaphor //------------------------------// Celestia sighed heavily as she looked out at the star filled night sky that enveloped Canterlot. Her heart hung heavy, the alicorn carrying a burden that she had hoped would never come to pass...at least not yet. A slight breeze fluttered past her wafting the banners behind her and causing a slight chill to run across her body. “Sister, what are you doing out here?” asked a voice calmly. Celestia turned to find Luna gazing at her expectantly from the doorway. It was a needless question, one that Luna knew the answer to all too well and yet Celestia found herself obliged to answer it as if doing so made the situation easier. “I was just thinking about things,” she replied after a moment. “About her you mean?” “Yes...her...” “Tia you know all too well what must be done and what will happen if we don’t. I have been watching over her dreams, trying my best to stop the nightmare from taking her too soon but...” “I know you’ve tried Luna, it was the same with him...the same as it was with all of them. I just feel so powerless.” Luna approached her, stopping just next to her and lying her head across Celestia’s back. The white alicorn herself returned the gesture, the pair standing silently in a loving embrace for a moment. “Fear not Tia,” said Luna, “I will continue to watch over her tonight, please try and get some rest.” “I will try Luna but it is not easy to sleep soundly when you are holding the executioner’s axe...” -------------------------------------------- Twilight Sparkle woke with a start, a cold sweat clinging to every hair on her body. Her eyes were as wide as saucers and her breathing came in short sharp gasps. She couldn’t focus on anything, the room around her a blur of meaningless colours and shapes. Only one thing occupied her mind, the same thing that had plagued her dreams for several nights. She could even see it now, a black hoof reaching out towards her and behind it a pair of glowing green eyes. She shook her head hard, forcing the image aside as she tried to steady her breathing. She looked a mess, her fur tangled and her mane stuck out in all directions. Even her wings hadn’t survived unscathed, her constant tossing and turning in the night having caused all manner of chaos with the delicately arranged feathers. She lay back down, staring up at the ceiling above her. Initially she had thought it was just a bad dream but the same dream four nights in a row? That was more than just a bad dream, something was going on. She had been tempted to discuss it with her friends on several occasions over the last few days but they were all so busy that the right moment had never presented itself. Not that she hadn’t been busy either, her new lifestyle as a princess increasing her already full schedule with another cartload of extra work. It didn’t help that for the last few nights her sleep had been interrupted by this reoccurring nightmare. Perhaps she should speak to Luna, after all she was the princess of the night and would know a lot about dreams and what they meant. Taking a deep breath she made a mental note to add it to her schedule whenever she could find a slot. She glanced over at the window, the curtains just managing to hold back the first rays of the sun as it rose above the horizon outside. Twilight was an early riser but even she wasn’t used to getting up quite this early. Even so she knew that lying in bed wouldn’t help her and the sooner she made herself busy the sooner she would be able to forget about the nightmares. Firstly though she needed a shower and breakfast. Sliding from her bed she slowly made her way to the bathroom and turned the shower on. For quite some time Twilight stood in the flowing water, her exhaustion never leaving her but her body feeling much better for the experience. By the time Twilight stepped from the shower the roosters of Sweet Apple Acres were finally beginning to announce the start of the day. Even so Twilight found herself in no rush as she sat down opposite the bathroom mirror and began to dry her fur and straighten her mane. It was only when the smell of freshly made pancakes began to waft under the door that Twilight found herself paying attention to anything else around her. She followed the smell downstairs to find her ever present number one assistant stood over the kitchen stove pouring out what looked like a third batch of pancakes. “Morning Twilight!” he chirped happily as he effortlessly flipped a pancake in the pan. Twilight gave a small groan as she slipped herself into a seat at the table. “Bad night sleep?” continued Spike as he slipped a finished pancake onto a nearby plate. “Several more like it, replied Twilight as she rested her head on the table. “Well a good breakfast should wake you up,” continued the dragon before he placed a stack of pancakes on the table in front of her. Twilight couldn’t help but lick her lips as her stomach gave an appropriate rumble. Reaching for the syrup she quickly poured a large amount over the stack and then levitated a set of cutlery into the air before tucking in. It was after her seventh mouthful that Spike returned to the table, placing a rolled up scroll next to Twilight’s plate. “Oh yeah, this came for you this morning while you were in the shower,” he said with a hint of annoyance, “Darn thing woke me up too, I really don’t understand why the Princess has to send you letters so early.” Twilight stopped, her cutlery clattering to the tabletop as she reached for the scroll. “Spike, why didn’t you tell me about this before? If it’s from the Princess it’s bound to be important!” “Yeah well so is breakfast,” replied Spike, “I know how you get when you receive one of these letters. You always race off without thinking and you really looked like you needed breakfast this morning.” Twilight gave a small chuckle, “I suppose I do get a little carried away sometimes. It’s just that I don’t want to let her down. Now that I’m a princess it means I have a lot of responsibility.” “And I’m sure Celestia doesn’t start the day without having breakfast first.” “Ok ok, I get it…thank you Spike, I don’t know what I’d do if you weren’t always looking out for me.” “Ah shucks…” Spike blushed slightly as he wandered off again leaving Twilight to read her letter. For a moment she paused, her eyes glancing back at her nearly finished stack of pancakes. Spike was right; the letter could wait a few moments. Turning back to her food she placed another mouthful into her mouth before unrolling the scroll. The letter was brief but it didn’t need to be long. Dear Twilight A matter of great importance has arisen and I need to speak with you immediately. Please come to Canterlot as soon as possible and please, don’t bring anypony with you or tell anypony about this. Your Fellow Princess Celestia The letter seemed rushed, written hastily and without much care or attention. The ink was smudged in a few places and the general tone itself didn’t feel like her previous letters from Celestia. Something important must be happening for the Princess to send such a letter. She quickly placed the letter down and looked at the clock. It was a little before nine and Twilight knew the first train to Canterlot left at 9.27am exactly. She didn’t have much time. She turned and raced from the kitchen, nearly colliding with Spike and a pile of books he was carrying. Twilight didn’t even seem to notice as she made her way upstairs to her bedroom. Pushing open the door her magic sprung to life, lifting various objects from around the room and cramming them into a set of saddlebags that rested at the foot of her bed. With a final check of her mane in the mirror she ran from the room and back downstairs. “Twilight? What’s the rush? What did the letter say?” asked Spike as the lavender pony arrived in the library. “I don’t know Spike,” replied Twilight, “Princess Celestia wants me to go to Canterlot immediately.” “Great, do you want me to bring anything?” “No Spike, she said to go alone. Something really important must be happening, just stay here and look after the library. I’ll send word as soon as I can.” Spike looked a little disheartened but at the mention of looking after the library his face seemed to brighten, “You mean I’m in charge?” “Yes you’re in charge until I get back,” replied Twilight as she rechecked the contents of her saddlebags. “You can count on me.” “I know I can,” replied Twilight with a small smile. Spike gave a quick salute and smiled back before Twilight quickly ruffled the spines on his head. A moment later she was out of the door, trotting quickly across town towards the rail station. -------------------------------------------- The doors to the palace throne room opened forcefully as Twilight fluttered into the room. She landed as best she could, the new princess still a little unsteady with her wings, and gave a short bow. “Princess Celestia, I came as fast as I could, your message sounded urgent,” she said quickly. There was no reply from Celestia except a soft sigh. Twilight looked up to find her former mentor sitting on her throne looking incredibly melancholy. Part of her face looked happy to see her, the rest seemingly cast in deep shadow by something that troubled her greatly. “Princess?” questioned Twilight slowly. “…Oh Twilight, you don’t have to use such formal terms,” replied Celestia suddenly, “We are equals now, how many times must I ask you to call me Celestia?” Twilight felt a blush passing over her face, “It…just seems so weird to say it like that…even if I am a princess now too. You’re so much more powerful and experienced than me.” Celestia gave a small chuckle as she stood and descended the stairs towards her former pupil. As quickly as the look of happiness had arrived though it faded and a frown settled across her face. “Walk with me Twilight, there is something very important we have to discuss.” Twilight slowly fell into step beside Celestia, both alicorns leaving the throne room as they began to walk along the palace corridors. For a time Celestia was silent but Twilight could see the dancing emotions playing back and forth behind her eyes. “Twilight,” she said at length, her voice firm but soft, “What do you know of alicorn magic?” “A-Alicorn magic?” Twilight blinked, she hadn’t expected a question like this and Celestia seemed to anticipate her reaction. “As I suspected, you haven’t heard of it have you?” she asked. “I…I think I remember Zecora mentioning something about alicorn magic back in Ponyville when you and Luna were taken by the Tree of Harmony,” replied Twilight finally, “She said it was the only thing that could make the time vision potion work.” Celestia nodded, “It isn’t the only thing that alicorn magic can do.” Celestia stopped in her tracks and turned to face the wall. She sighed slowly and closed her eyes. As they opened Twilight couldn’t help but gasp, her eyes had gone green and a wisp of purple drifted into the air from the corner of them. Next came her horn, a sharp prickly mass of purple black magic flying up it before it shot from the tip and struck the wall. The wall itself sparked and crackled and a moment later a door faded into view within the stonework. Twilight felt herself backing off slightly, she recognised the magic that Celestia had used. It was the same type of magic that she had shown her before she had gone to the Crystal Empire for the first time. The same type of magic she herself had used on the traps within the palace during her search for the Crystal Heart. The same type of magic used by… Her dream suddenly returned to her, the outstretched hoof and those green glowing eyes. A cold sweat ran across her body as she stared ahead at Celestia. The white alicorn stepped forwards, opening the newly revealed door. Behind the door lay a long corridor cast in shadows and Twilight found herself swallowing at the thought of what might be down that dark passage. Celestia looked back at her, her expression neutral and unreadable. “Come Twilight, there is still much to do.”