Canterlot
The newly crowned Princess Twilight Sparkle walked onto the castle's ceremonial balcony flanked by Princess Celestia, Princess Luna, and Princess Candance. Soaking in the gathered crowd's praise and admiration, Twilight Sparkle felt a bit of unease wash over her as she looked over her new subjects. "Subjects” thought Twilight. She was sure she would never get used to the idea that she was now a co-ruler of Equestria. All of her new subjects were going to be counting on her and although she had saved Equestria on countless occasions she knew that this was the beginning of a completely new chapter of her life unlike any other she had encountered. Twilight’s confidence wavered for just a second as panic at the idea of letting so many ponies down began to fill her mind. Lucky for Princess Sparkle, Princess Celestia saw the growing apprehension on Twilight’s face and lowered her head to whisper into her former student’s ears.
“You are going to do just fine my faithful student,” whispered Princess Celestia “or should I say Princess Sparkle” Celestia let out a small giggle at her slip of the tongue.
“I still cannot believe how much you have grown in such a short time,” said Celestia as she smiled proudly like a mother on her daughter’s wedding day. “It feels like just yesterday that you applied to my School for Gifted Unicorns.”
The pride that grew within Twilight from the kind words of her teacher and friend scattered all of the fears and doubts that had begun to grow within her, for the time being. Twilight knew that no matter what lay ahead of her that she would always have her mentor to help guide her. With the boost to her confidence, Twilight faced the crowd of thousands of waving and smiling ponies with her head held high. The ceremony lasted only a few hours before Princess Celestia gave a final speech then said fare wells as she and the other princesses turned and reentered the castle.
“Princess Celestia ─”
“It is just Celestia now dear, “Celestia chimed in, the smile ever growing on her face “there is no need for such titles among equals.”
“I am sorry Pri─ Celestia… this is going to take some getting used to.” Twilight said, her cheeks turned a bright shade of red.
Once back inside the castle a sudden bump from her right and left caught Twilight off guard.
“You will get used to it,” said Cadance and Luna as they both tackle hugged their newest sister. Smiling at her family, Celestia wrapped her forelegs around them all her eyes beginning to water as her smile shone brightly. The group hug went on for a few minutes as sisters, old and new, basked in the company of one another. Celestia was the first to break the embrace.
“I believe that is enough bonding for the moment,” Celestia signed as she looked at the clock on the wall. “Luna, it is time to raise the moon and make preparations for the night court.”
Luna lowered her head as she slowly released the others and turned to walk out mumbling under her breath about stupid schedules and whiney nobles. Celestia moved to join Luna on the balcony leaving Twilight and Candance as they composed themselves.
“I wonder what kind of royal task I am going to have to take on seeing as there are no more heavenly bodies that need moving” Twilight pondered out loud.
“I am sure that they could just leave the safety of Equestria up to you now, heaven knows that you have saved it more than enough times here lately,” Cadance said with a wink.
“Indeed she has, I believe that Equestria will finally know true peace with Twilight safe guarding the land.” Celestia said returning once more inside.
There was a sound not unlike a thunder clap that filled the room as three formless shades appeared in the center of the room. The shades began to take on shapes of a unicorn, a pegasus, and an earth pony all wearing robes that were well used and battered. “Hello again Miss Sparkle,” the pegasus said grinning from ear to ear. Twilight’s eyes changed from one of shock to one of pure terror. “We have some to collect on what we’re owed.”
Ponyville a little over a year ago
“Twilight why can’t I go with you?” whined Spike.
“It could be dangerous Spike. I don’t know what I will run into on my search for the pool of Dodona, if it even exists, but I do not want to risk anything happening. The Everfree forest is going to be dangerous enough besides what every danger the pool of Dodona has to offer.”
Twilight had made up her mind after the return of nightmare moon and the mirror pool incident that she would look into all of the old mare tales. Twilight was glad that Candycolt and Slendermare had turned out to be just stories to scare little foals, and one lavender unicorn. Twilight checked over her book on Ancient Legends of Equestria for what seemed like the hundredth time then she placed the old tome into her saddle bag along with a few black scrolls.
“If it is so dangerous then why are you going alone?” asked Spike giving Twilight a disapproving glare.
“Like I already told you Spike, I am stopping by Zecora’s hut for possible directions on the pool’s location and advice on what I could possibly be facing there. Plus, I have all of my magical gear and I will teleport at the first sign of trouble.” She hated lying to her number one assistant but if the stories of the pool of Dodona were true there was a treasure of incalculable wealth there. She couldn’t risk Spike’s greed getting the best of him while in an unknown and possibly dangerous place.
“Why aren’t you at least taking the girls with you?” asked Spike, his face a wash of longing for adventure and concern for his caretaker.
“Spike,” Twilight snapped. “You know that Applejack is busy planning for her family reunion, Rarity is up to her neck in unfinished orders, Pinkie Pie is working a double shift at Sugarcube Corner, Rainbow Dash is at the weather pony convention, and Fluttershy would be too afraid to go into the Everfree forest in search of something that may not exist.”
Twilight realized that she had lost her cool in her frustration and wrapped her number one assistant in a hug. “I would love for my friends to come with me but this is the only time I have in my schedule to go looking for it.” Twilight broke the hug and walked toward the door. “I promise to be careful and that I will be back by tomorrow.”
“Pinkie promise?” Spiked sniffled.
“Cross my heart and hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my─ ARGH!” Before Spike could see her cheeks redden from embarrassment, Twilight headed out the door and off towards the Everfree forest.
The Middle of the Everfree Forest
“I am sure that oak grove is around here somewhere,” Twilight panted as she trudged through the undergrowth of the forest.
The myth said that the pool of Dodona was set in the heart of an oak grove and Twilight had begun to find more and more oak trees as she continued down her current heading. Twilight began to wonder if the myth was even true right about the time that she tripped over what appeared to be the ruin of a former structure. Twilight turned to look over what she had tripped on to find the remains of stone structures hidden randomly within the undergrowth.
"These structures are very out of place there are not any records of a civilization in the Everfree forest that predates Celestia’s and Luna’s rule” Twilight pondered aloud.
“There is much that you do not know Miss Sparkle….” A voice upon the wind whispered.
“Hello? Who said that? Is anypony there?” Twilight asked in a panicked tone.
“You are so close Miss Sparkle, come closer and learn of things forgotten and ancient…”
“Why should I go toward something that would not give me its name?”
“It is you that have come looking for me….”
“The pool of Dodona? How can you be talking?”
“Step towards the glove and all shall be revealed.”
Twilight carefully trotted in the direction of the faceless voice, a million questions buzzing through her head. About three hundred paces away there was an opening in the undergrowth which led to a small pool in the middle of an oak grove. The pool of Dodona was nothing like Twilight had imagined. The book had described the pool of Dodona as a pool of the purest water and overrun with beautiful flowers. The truth however was far from story book prefect. The pool was full not with pure water but with rotten and stagnant water. Any sign of growth and life had long since decayed around the pool.
“This is the pool of Dodona? Where are its pure waters?” Twilight asked.
“Much has been lost,” the words bubbled up from the pool.
The pool stirred and boiled as three figures rose from the murky water. Twilight thought about running but shock over took her as the figures one shape of an earth pony, one the shape of a unicorn and the last the shape of a pegasus all dressed in moth eaten robes arose from the stagnant waters.
“Come hear the story of what was…” the pegasus spoke.
“The story of ancients and their gods….”