//------------------------------// // Chapter 12 // Story: Becoming Twilight // by RandomGreymane //------------------------------// Becoming Twilight - Chapter 12                by RandomGreymane (Mike Hebel)         Feeling strangely refreshed despite the hour of the morning Twilight woke with more than enough time to be ready for her workout with Scootaloo.         After the workout she and Scootaloo swung by Sugarcube Corner before they were open where they were both treated to fresh baked muffins courtesy of Pinkie Pie.         Having sent Scootaloo on her way Twilight went back to the library and cleaned up before heading off to her office at the council building.         Arriving there she found Princess Celestia in her office already in-progress with the day’s events.         “Twilight!” Celestia said smiling in greeting “So wonderful to see you back!  Ready to take over the reigns again?”         “Absolutely!” said Twilight “I’m itching to get back to work.”         “Excellent!”  Celestia said signing a proffered document with a flourish of her floating quill.  “Everyone!  If you could please clear this office until further notice I need to bring Princess Twilight up to speed.  Thank you.” Celestia finished as she watched everypony but Twilight file out the office door before she shut it on the last pony.         “Thank you...Tia.” Twilight said still hesitating on the lack of honorific “Thank you for everything.  So what did I miss?”         “One moment Twilight...” Celestia said as she suddenly concentrated intensely. With a flash two large cups of coffee and a half dozen donuts appeared on the desk between them.         “So you have a donut and coffee spell then?”  said Twilight with a smirk “You’ve been holding out on me!”         “Nothing so dramatic.” said Celestia levitating a donut and a coffee cup towards her “Remember that stack of extra donuts Pony Joe makes all the time?  Well it’s time for one more secret.  They’re mine.  All mine.  I make them disappear every morning.” Giggle to herself Celestia quickly consumed the donut and took a drink of her coffee.         “Hah!  I knew it!” said Twilight taking a sip of her coffee “You have been holding out on me!  It’s a donut summoning spell!”                                                   Twilight could not have timed it better as she watched her precious Princess Celestia choke slightly and fail completely to keep the pieces of her doughnut from falling from her mouth as she laughed unexpectedly.         “Damn you Twilight!” said Celestia in mock frustration as she cleaned up the crumbs “I’m a royal princess and supposed to keep my composure at all times!”         Twilight just raised an eyebrow and looked directly into Princess Celestia’s eyes before they both burst out laughing.         “Well now that you are free to resume your duties” said Celestia levitating a fresh donut “Here’s where things stand...”         Over the next few hours, and considerably more donuts and coffee, Twilight and Celestia went over the current business at hoof for the Twilight Council.  When they were finished Twilight magickally made all the crumbs and remaining uneaten donuts vanish.         “Ahh! The old ‘donut banishment’ spell!” Celestia said laughing again “I prefer the manual method myself.”         “Hmm....” said Twilight giving Celestia the raised eyebrow again “Didn’t I hear Luna commenting on your consumption of treats at the ceremony a while back?”         Suddenly without warning Celestia’s horn glowed and Twilight’s muzzle was wrapped in her tail which had grown to approximately three times it’s normal length.         With mock aloofness that changed quickly to a final smile Princess Celestia said “Princess Twilight Sparkle I bid you farewell!” and vanished in a flash of light leaving Twilight to untangle herself from her own tail.         Her aide could not understand why Twilight was laughing so hard when the door to the office opened allowing her entry. ======================================================================================================         Later that day Twilight finally got ahead of any of her backlogged planning.  She was surprised that Celestia had not pushed any progress for the plans Twilight had set in motion but had rather just resolved immediate issues despite knowing that the council must have besieged her with complaints about halting the flow of their projects over the fate of one pony.          She was also surprised to find that several of the decisions made by her beloved princess were actually not to her liking and would have to be corrected.         Well I suppose nopony can know everything. thought Twilight  She probably was just missing the rest of the information.         Shaking her head at the thought Twilight continued working until the time came for her to attend the twilight council session for that day.         The council session over, Twilight did a quick organization of her desk the left the council building.  Eager to get some rest before her early start tomorrow Twilight headed in the direction of her home.           She had not walked further than a few hundred yards when she was confronted by a group of ponies standing in the road.  Each carried a flower and some held signs with the words “Smile Princess Twilight!” and “Cheer Up Princess Twilight!” on them.         Twilight did indeed smile but after convincing her well-wishers that she was all right it was quite late and the path was now lit only with lanterns.         Relieved, Twilight reached the library and let herself in.  Climbing the stairs to the top she almost tripped on the last one.  Laying her saddlebags against the wall Twilight collapsed upon the bed and fell promptly asleep.         Only to wake up once again on a field of stars.  This time Luna was there waiting for her with a stack of plans and papers.         “Twilight!”  Luna said happily “I’m so sorry to abscond with you while you sleep but we have many things to discuss!”         Twilight listened politely and nodded her tired head at appropriate intervals.  At some point Luna concluded speaking but Twilight was still nodding her head as if still hearing spoken words.         “TWILIGHT!” shouted Luna “Pay attention!  I have little time each night as it is to speak to people so when I take that time please at least pay me the courtesy of staying alert!”         “Stay a lert” Twilight replied softly her head bobbing as she tried to keep it upright “Equestria needs more lerts...”         “Honestly Twilight” continued Luna “how are you going to be a princess for millennia if you can’t  deal with a simple thing like sleep?  I sleep each day but only because I’m using enough magick to raise and lower the moon AND walk the dreamroads.  It tires one out greatly.  But you - you are not even using a tenth of your magick.  How could you possibly be tired?”         “Not...sure...” said Twilight before doing something that even Luna could call unprecedented.  She passed out while still dreaming.         Her last image was a horrified Luna rushing towards her. ======================================================================================================         Twilight floated in darkness.  She was dimly aware she existed but little else.  After an endless time she became aware of a sound.  The sound repeated.  She was sure she’d heard the sound before but was not aware of where or when.         In time she could make out the sound.           “...Twilight.”         She attempted to collect herself in vain.  Once more the sound rippled through her.         “Twilight.”         She fought and reached and grasped with her mind but still was unable to connect the sound to her being.  The sound was louder this time.         “Twilight!”         A moment of clarity then...That’s my name. she thought.  The sound was suddenly a roar.         “TWILIGHT!”         In a blink of the universe the sound poured over her, enveloped her, and once again blotted out all things but itself.  Opening herself Twilight took in the sound and let it warm her and fill her.  With each passing moment the sound of her name warmed every corner of her being until at last she felt complete again.  Whole.         Twilight opened her eyes only to find that she was still within the dreamscape but this time surrounded by her sisters as well as her friends.  All of them intensely focused on her and her alone.         Luna was the first to speak.  “Welcome back.”         Twilight did not as of yet have the energy to form words but she smiled.         “This...” continued Luna “was not an easy thing.  We almost lost you.  I was deeply concerned sister.”         “She’ll be all right now though won’t she?” Fluttershy asked Princess Luna.         “She will be extremely weak magickally for quite some time.” replied Luna “Weaker than even before her transformation.”         “But she won’t go into a coma again right?” asked Rainbow Dash “I mean we won’t...almost lose her again right?”         “No my little bearers that shall never happen again.” stated Luna “We called her back from the brink of nothingness.  Her heart knows where that is now and shall never come close from this moment without reason.”         “Ah’m glad y’all brought her back Princess.” said Applejack “Ah truly don’t know what ah’d do without her.”         “I didn’t.” said Luna causing a surprised look to appear on more than one pony’s face.         “Say what now?” said Applejack sounding confused.         “I didn’t bring her back.” said Luna “You did.”         The ponies stood silently on the sea of stars in such a state of surprise they could only blink.         “In fact my young Applejack” Luna continued “You above all brought her back.  It was the voice in your heart that was the strongest.  This is not to say that any of you were LESS than her but more to say that Applejack’s heart is just a little louder in this case.  I believe her element played the part.  An honest heart is just a little stronger than others.”         “Ah luv ‘er.” Applejack said simply “Ah luv her like one of my own kin.  Mah heart wouldn’t ne’er be tha same if she were gone.  I can’t e’n contemplate the idear.”         “Thank you.” said Twilight “I can’t ever even...”         “It’s all right darling.” Rarity replied with a warm smile “As strange as it sounds I agree with Applejack.  My heart would never be the same without you as well.”         “Time to let her rest everypony.” said Luna “She is in no danger.  It is time for all of you to go back to resting peacefully.”         “Can we rest here with her?” Pinkie asked “Pretty please?”         “I see no harm in that.” Luna replied smiling “But rest you must!  Now gather around please!”         The ponies gathered in a circle around Twilight as Luna’s horn glowed softly and one by one they lay on the field of stars and closed their eyes until only Twilight remained awake.         “Will they be okay?” Twilight said with a yawn.         “They will be fine.  In time.  As for you...” Luna said “I have only a small inkling of what happened to you.  I will research the issue.  You are only the second new alicorn in 1000 years.  There is still a great deal that we do not know and much that has been lost while I was away.”         “You said ‘In time.’ What did you mean by that.” asked Twilight with her eyes closed.         “My dear dear sister...” Luna said with a frown “you are so lucky to have friends that love you.  Each of them gave up a piece of their immortality to call you back.  Even Applejack.  She didn’t hesitate Twilight.  She chose immortality and then she chose you.  I am more proud of your friends than any ponies I have ever met.  Cherish them as long as you can Twilight.  Cherish them beyond measure.”         Twilight suddenly felt tears roll down her cheeks but said nothing.         “Rest now my Twilight Princess.” said Luna her horn glowing slightly again drawing all the ponies together against Twilight.         Twilight sighed and lost herself in the warmth of her friends. ======================================================================================================         Twilight woke as she had gone to sleep - with her friends tucked in around her.  When she opened her eyes the first thing she saw was a very familiar fireplace and rug.  Celestia’s chambers she thought How in Tartarus did we get here? Oh ponyfeathers I just don’t care right now.                         Closing her eyes again Twilight listened to the quiet breathing of her sleeping friends.  As was typical it was Applejack who woke before the others and stretched setting off a ripple of movement in her sleeping friends.  Yawning she stood and walked quietly over to the window to stare out over the royal gardens.  Looking back Applejack noticed Twilight staring at her as if she was seeing her for the first time.         Uncomfortable, Applejack moved to a nearby mirror.  “Ah gots sumthin on mah face or sumtin?” she asked peering intently at herself while watching Twilight in the reflection out of the corner of her eye.         “Yes.” said Twilight not taking her eyes off her friend “The glow of an honest heart.”         Twilight had never before seen Applejack blush as deep as the apples on her cutie mark.         Still peering intently at her face in the mirror Applejack coughed a little and said “Well.  Ah couldn’t just letcha die now could ah?”         Twilight just nodded with her eyes locked on the orange earth pony.         “Ah knows whatcher thinkin about Twilight.” continued Applejack closing her eys “Mah choice.  The ‘Immortal Apple’ and what-all.  Well when it comes down ta it yer right.  Savin yer life proves it clear as a winter sky.  Bein who ah am means ah am there fer everypony.  And that means ah have a chance to be there for future generations o’ Apples...and friends.”         Applejack turned an opened her eyes to find all of her friends bowing to her in reverence.  Each one with a smile on their face and happy tears in their eyes.  Very quickly her eyes filled with tears as well.         The impromptu scene was interrupted by the door to the chambers opening and Celestia entering.  “Well!  All awake!” she said with an approving smile on her face “I’m more happy than you can imagine that you are all here and safe.”         “Happy to see you too.” Twilight said dropping any honorifics and leaning on Pinkie’s shoulder to keep herself upright. “Did Luna find the cause of all this yet?”         “Not quite.” Celestia answered seating herself on the rug “There are a number of ways and means and all manner of creatures that can drain life energy like that.  The worst ones are locked up in Tartarus but as Luna said before there has been a great deal lost over the years and much we still do not know.  We’ll find the answer though.  Now...who’s hungry?”         A chorus of assent rose from the ponies and Celestia turned and used her magick to open the door and inform the guard that they would all be eating in and to send up a kitchen pony to take their orders.         The efficient castle staff took almost no time in preparing their orders and soon everyone in the chamber was eating with enthusiasm.         Hunger sated the conversation over recent events resumed.  Pinkie Pie was the first to break the silence.  “Soooooo...where do we go from here?”         “Well, “ replied Celestia “from this moment on until we find out what affected Twilight we need to keep a close watch on all of you.  For the present time I must insist that you all be our guests here in the castle.  There’s plenty of room and it’s one of the safest places in Equestria.”         “Also” she continued looking at each of them in turn smiling all the while “I confess that it’s been a long time since I’ve had guests that I could call close friends.”         Once again there wasn’t a dry eye in the room.          =====================================================================================================         For the next few weeks life for Twilight settled into a comfortable routine.  Celestia had necessary documents and ponies flown in or brought in by train from Ponyville or indeed anywhere related to Twilight Council business.  Upon arrival anything relating to council business was placed in a waiting room for an hour while a team picked by both Luna and Celestia could verify there was no threat.         After being cleared it was business as usual which a still slightly tired Twilight reveled in completing if only to show she was still able to be the princess everypony expected.  In an effort to head off any rumors Twilight made a public statement in the company of the other princesses that she was currently experiencing a mild illness and had come to Canterlot for treatment.  Contrary to previous expectations everypony took this to heart causing an outpouring of gifts and flowers to arrive at the castle daily much to Twilight’s embarrassment.         Not a few were eaten by Pinkie Pie once Twilight and the others had deemed them safe for consumption.         In-between her work she spent time with her friends and reading in the immense royal library.           Twilight tried to enjoy those moments but she could still feel the effects of what had happened.  Sometimes it was something profound as not being able to do research into a particular spell. Sometimes it was something as simple as a levitated book slipping from her grasp and falling to the floor.         This is so frustrating! she thought not for the first time as she picked up a book carefully I know my magick is coming back but even the simple things are hard now!         This too shall pass my dear sister. Twilight heard in her mind.  The connection was enough to cause her to lose focus and drop the book again.         I know Luna. Twilight sent along their connection It’s just taking a whole hay of a lot longer than I expected.         You are strong but don’t have the reserves that build up after hundreds of years. thought Luna yawning mentally Time will take care of that my dear.  Unfortunately there’s no shortcuts for some things.  And wouldst thou pay the price for such a thing regardless?         Twilight only sighed and nodded her head in agreement before closing the connection.  Picking up the book once more she settled onto a nearby pillow and continued reading.         Somewhere during the book Twilight suddenly noticed a royal guard was standing next to her.  She had no idea of when he appeared but he stood there patient as stone waiting for her to notice him.         “Oh I’m sorry!  I got so caught up in my book I didn’t see you there!” Twilight said slightly flustered “Is there something I can help you with?”         “My apologies my princess I do not wish to intrude.” the guard said “But there is a pony at the front gate causing quite a fuss. She claims to know you personally.”         I wonder... thought Twilight.  Aloud she thanked the guard and asked him to accompany her to the front gate.  When she arrived she found a very flustered Scootaloo struggling to free herself from a slightly disheveled looking pair of guards that had finally captured the small orange pony.         “Scootaloo!” exclaimed Twilight “Please!  Put her down!”  Rushing forward Twilight promptly tripped over her own hooves and tumbled, landing at the hooves of one of the guards.  Shaking her head to clear it she stood and asked “Scootaloo are you all right?  I’m truly sorry!  I didn’t know you were coming or I’d have let the guards know.”         “It’s all right.” said Scootaloo smiling “I didn’t exactly plan to come here until I heard you weren’t feeling well.  Sweetie Bell and Apple Bloom helped arrange it.  I even have homework from Miss Cheerilee see!”  Scootaloo showed Twilight papers in her saddlebags.         “That’s good but that still doesn’t explain what you’re doing here.” said Twilight with a critical look at the young filly.         With as much seriousness as she could muster Scootaloo walked up to Twilight and stared up at her with a grim look on her face.  “You missed your workout schedule.”         “My...workout schedule...” Twilight said echoing the words.         “Your workout schedule.” repeated Scootaloo.         “You came all the way to Canterlot.” said Twilight “To work out with me.”         “Yes.” said Scootaloo.         “Why.” Twilight asked.         “Because you need it.” said Scootaloo “Most ponies take us fillies and colts for granted but we hear and see a lot.  I heard from someone in Ponyville that you were weak.  And when you are weak you work to build up your strength.  That’s what working out is all about!”         “Impeccable logic.” said a voice behind her that Twilight recognized as Princess Celestia.  “And wise too.  You better take her advice Twilight.”         I’ll get you for this. Twilight sent to her former mentor You will rue the day!         Rue the day? Celestia thought back Who says that?         Shaking her head in resignation Twilight told Scootaloo “Of course we’ll do our workouts again.  But as this is not first thing in the morning how about a tour of the castle starting with some ice cream from the kitchen?”         “Yes please!” Scootaloo said standing on the tips of her hooves.         “Meanwhile” Celestia said “I will see about assigning one of the royal tutors to help you with your homework so you aren’t falling behind while you’re here.”         “Not Yay!” Scootaloo exclaimed her enthusiasm wilting slightly.         “Oh buck up kid!” Twilight said “Let’s get that ice cream....Did you really think that would work?”         “No.  But it was worth a try.” said Scootaloo as they walked in the direction of the kitchens.