//------------------------------// // Chapter 16 // Story: Becoming Twilight // by RandomGreymane //------------------------------// Becoming Twilight - Chapter 16                by RandomGreymane (Mike Hebel)         Waking without pain or confusion was becoming familiar to Twilight again.  After all I’ve gone through lately it’s good just to wake without having to worry about something. Twilight thought as she opened her eyes to the bright sun beaming in through the castle window.         Bright. Sun. she thought.  “Oh ponyfeathers!” she said as she sat up abruptly.         As she was quickly brushing her mane there was a knock at the door.  She opened it with her magick while continuing her routine.  As she expected there was an orange filly standing there.  Unexpected though was Rainbow Dash standing behind her.  While Rainbow looked properly irritated, Scootaloo looked sad and apologetic.         “Rainbow?  Scootaloo I’m very sorry.  I was so tired that I just didn’t wake up!” Twilight exclaimed while setting the hairbrush carefully on the dressing table.         “What am going to do with you two?” asked Rainbow Dash.  She put a hoof to her forehead before continuing. “I tell you guys to practice and work out but here I find you both missing routine after routine.”         “Both...” Twilight started to say before she came to the realization.  Scootaloo slept in too!    Chuckling to herself a little she levitated Scootaloo onto her back.  Smiling at the filly she said “Well!  Then I think it’s time we made up for that!  The three of us will go to the garden courtyard and do our exercises like the pros we are.”         “Sounds goo..wait!  I don’t need to do wing exercises!” exclaimed Rainbow Dash “I’m the pinnacle of awesome!”         “Well Miss Awesome Dash weren’t you the one telling people you got that way by lots of practice?” Twilight said to her friend.  Her raised eyebrow and mocking expression was more than enough to cause them all to burst into laughter.         “All right ya got me.” Rainbow said once the laughter had subsided.  “Double-time to the courtyard!” she yelled as she disappeared in a streak of colors she owned to her very core.         Twilight, much to her surprise, wasn’t far behind her friend as she too leaped out a nearby window.  Scootaloo clung to her back but could hear Twilight tell her “Leave like a flier leaves Scootaloo.”  The smiles were wide on both their faces as they caught up to within a few lengths of Rainbow Dash before landing in the courtyard of the royal gardens.         Rainbow wasted no time in leading the pair in the daily routine.  By the end of it they all were sweating.  A feeling of accomplishment washed over them as they finished the last repetitions.  For Rainbow Dash the feeling was mixed as she realized that perhaps she had not been working out as hard as she could have.  I’ve focused on precision flying lately. she thought as they cooled off under a nearby fountain. I’ll have to fix that when I get back home.  Huh.  Maybe I need to workout with Scoots and Twi. Snorting slightly, Rainbow just shook her head and mentally filed the thought away.         Once the workout was finished it was time for lunch and in true form Rainbow Dash didn’t want them to just sit and eat.  At her insistence they walked from the gardens to a cafe on the edge of Canterlot just off the castle grounds.  By the time they arrived their exhaustion had dimmed and they were ready to eat.           As was typical, Scootaloo was focused on Rainbow Dash.  The two of them talked flying during the meal.  Also as typical, Twilight was lost in her own thoughts.         Looks like I’m not going to gain any serious weight as a princess. she remarked to herself as she finished a second large sandwich and her plate of hay fries.  I wonder if this is part of what fuels alicorn magick.  Maybe that’s why Celestia eats so much cake.  Maybe she’s become dependent on the extra sugar boost.  Do I have to stage a ‘Cake Intervention’?         Without warning two of her hay fries suddenly got misdirected and stuck in her nostrils.  Surprised, Twilight sneezed which of course ejected the offending objects out into the street.  Without missing a beat Rainbow Dash and Scootaloo applauded.         “Good distance Twi!” exclaimed Rainbow “I don’t think I could sneeze fries half as far as you!”         “Or get them stuck in a flowerpot across the street!” Scootaloo chimed in.         “Not only distance but precision!” said Rainbow in agreement “You’re a professional Twi!”         “Ha!” said Twilight with a smile “We princesses are trained to be good at everything!”         I am sooo going to get her for that. Twilight thought to herself as she recalled the faint whiff of magick on the fries.         A quick chuckle rolled through her head as an internal voice said ‘Cake Intervention’ indeed.  Without warning one of the donuts that Twilight had become slightly infamous for consuming appeared out of thin air and slid down the tip of her horn to rest on the top of her head.  Frosting side down.  With purple jimmies.         Rainbow and Scootaloo didn’t stop laughing even after they parted ways from the cafe.  Twilight could hear their laughter until they turned a far corner.  The last thing she heard was “Twilight Sprinkle” as their voices faded.         After removing the offending confection and cleaning up, Twilight spent the remainder of the afternoon browsing the book stores and curio shops along the lane of the main Canterlot marketplace.  By the end of the day she had accumulated two new bags of books and a box containing random items.  What would appear to most ponies as everyday things were in fact a smattering of cursed items she had noticed and detected while shopping.  Nothing too serious but still we don’t want these in the hooves of the general public. she reflected as she turned the box over to the royal guards at the gate to be taken to magickal storage.  I wonder why the archivists didn’t pick them up. she mused.  Probably too faint for them to detect on a random scan.  I wonder if recent experience has made me more sensitive.         It has. came a thought in her head. We picked up that sensitivity in Trottingham.         Stopping cold caused Twilight to drop the bags of books she had been levitating.  Twilight stared at the books on the ground as if they were foreign things to her.  Slowly she levitated the books back into their bags and set them against the castle wall.         It’s nothing serious sister. the voice in her head continued After-effects of the reunification spell.  We are...mostly...whole.  It just took me this long to wake back up.         Nodding to herself, Twilight quickly made her way to her room.  When there she magickally barred the door.         Sitting on the rug in front of the fireplace Twilight calmed her breathing and entered a meditative state.  Slowly she created a quiet mental location for her to go to.  Willing her mental eyes open she saw herself sitting across from herself.  This Twilight though was not the ‘well worn’ Twilight from before but a mix of that pony and herself.         Hello sister! the other Twilight said with a smile I take it you’re a little surprised.  Trust me.  I am too.         Well looks like our calculations were a bit off she told herself as she imagined a pot of their favorite tea and two cups.  How long do you estimate we’ll be like this?         I estimate that it’ll be a couple weeks at most. her other self said While it pains me to say this, all I am is an overflow of mental and magickal energy.         Well I suppose that’s not too bad.  Twilight replied I had wondered why some of the memories hadn’t organized themselves yet.         You mean you haven’t been using Mendora’s Memory Mastery?  the other Twilight asked  I used it almost exclusively the time we were separated.         I didn’t want to apply anything that would possibly prevent things from sorting out things naturally. Twilight said in a bored tone.         Our precious memories and you didn’t think to take action? the other Twilight said.  Her expression of horror brought Twilight up short.         I’m sorry.  I did what I thought was best. Twilight replied as she set down her now empty cup. Obviously you disagree. she thought.         Hey! the other Twilight exclaimed I can hear you remember!         Sorry. Twilight said.  Look this is getting us nowhere.  The way I see it we can make the next couple of weeks good or bad.  I vote for good.  Deal?         Twilight who are you talking to?         The sudden intrusion of Luna’s ‘voice’ into their conversation startled both Twilights so much that it broke their concentration and Twilight was thrown back into the world outside her head.  She opened her eyes and stood up and stretched.         Reaching out to Luna she said It seems I’m not quite whole yet.  It’ll be about another two weeks roughly.         We are not surprised. Luna said in reply.         Wait.  You knew?? said Twilight.         I am the guardian of the pony dreamworld after all Twilight. Luna continued Twas a simple thing - you had two dreams at once.         Huh.  Well that’s one way to find out I guess. Twilight said nodding her head to herself Regardless it’s only for a short period of time.  I’ll try not to get into any more arguments with myself.         It matters little to me dear but please remember that a princess presents a certain image.  T’would not be seemly for one to be seen talking to oneself in public.  Agreed?  Luna said.  Her mental voice was tinged with a note of concern.         I think...we...can handle that. Twilight assured her sister.         Well it is in your hooves of course. This time Twilight could hear a smile in Luna’s words. I bid you...both...good night my sisters.         “And you as well sister.” Twilight said as she lay on the bed and stared at the rising moon out the window. ===================================================================================================         True to their agreement Twilight and her mental sister kept things civil for the next two weeks.  Over that time though Twilight could feel her mental other half start to fade.  She became quiet and sometimes, when she forgot that her physical self could still hear her, she cried.           Twilight almost broke the first time she heard her other self crying.  I don’t want to go. were the words between the tears.   It took all of Twilight’s will at times not to cry herself.  If those around her noticed they never said anything.  Cadance smiled weakly as she passed Twilight in the hall one day but said nothing.  The next day she took flight to The Crystal Empire without saying goodbye.  Twilight found a note in apology on her night stand but could not read it through the tears.         To try and distract herself Twilight buried herself in magickal research.  The items she had picked up in the marketplace all had different minor curses on them but one in particular, a stone carved in the shape of a pony head, felt stronger than the others.         For days both Twilights worked to determine what the spell on the head was but to no avail.  One day in the testing chambers Twilight had the head inside a protective barrier while she fed it energy in a careful pattern she’d worked out earlier.  Engrossed in her studies she failed to notice her former mentor inspecting the research area.  As Celestia approached, Twilight stepped away from what she was doing and gave the royal princess clear view of what she was so interested in.         “Great Heavens!' Celestia gasped “Twilight!  Get out of there immediately!”         “Wha?” Twilight said in confusion.  Turning to look back at the stone head she found that the eyes had lit with a bright green magick and the head was growing in size.  As she watched in horror the head expanded in size and filled out into a pony easily half again the size of Celestia.  The stone monster began to smash at the barrier.  It was clear that the target was Princess Celestia herself.         “EVERYONE OUT!” Celestia bellowed.  Wasting no time every pony within the underground space headed up the stairs.  This left Twilight trapped in the barrier as the stone beast attempted to beat it’s way through to the target standing before it.         Holding her ground, Celestia said “Twilight it’s focused on me!  I’m going to put up a shield and lift the barrier.  When that happens you get out and then help me push it back into the circle.  Got it?”         A nod from her former student told Celestia all she needed.  In front of her she formed a u-shaped barrier facing away from her.  Counting silently to herself, Celestia raised the containment barrier on zero.         With a roar the beast rushed forward into the u-shaped shield and Celestia was pushed back across the room.  Twilight shouted something to Celestia but it was lost in the din.  Eventually the beast pushed the princess back against a rock wall as it hammered again and again at the shield with its hooves.         Twilight attempted to push the beast back but it was too strong.  Mentally she heard Celestia’s strained voice.  Twilight.  It’s...this is a Beater.  It’s resistant to all forms of magic.  If we can force it back we can contain it but I’m not strong enough myself.  You must summon the bearers.  Hurry!         Without even nodding she reached out and triggered the spell to swap the Elements for their pendants.  In moments the symbol of her element was on her head.  Reaching out she teleported her friends from their present locations to the top of the stairs.  Fortunately they were all inside the castle. she thought.  Again without delay she reached out and opened the magic door a mile above her and felt her friends enter.         She could hear the rest of her companions running down the stairs and in moments they appeared.  Before they could take action, the barrier in front of Celestia crumbled and the creature struck a blow to the front shoulder of the princess as she failed to dodge.  Bone snapped.         Time stopped for Twilight.  She’d only once seen the princess be attacked at that was not nearly so brutal.  In the moments in-between a quiet voice came to her.           Throw me.         What?  What the hay are you talking about?  Twilight thought.         I’m mostly mental now.  Not a lot of magick left in me.  I think I can take over the Beater and shut it down.         Mentally cursing Twilight powered up her horn, ripped a portion of herself free, and threw.         What appeared from her horn looked for all of Equestria like a Windingo with Twilight’s colors.  The ghostly pony shot into the stone creature and the results were immediate.  The Beater fell to the floor twitching violently.  It’s hooves gouging chips from the floor with each spasm.         Sparing no attention to the stone beast on the floor, Twilight rushed to Celestia’s side.  Celestia had passed out the moment the beast stopped hitting her.  Levitating her gently Twilight laid her royal highness out and inspected the damage.  Her right shoulder was broken and her leg twisted at an odd angle.           Applejack came to Twilight’s side and in moments took charge.  She carefully instructed Twilight in setting the bones so they could heal without damage.  Reaching out to the princess, Applejack could feel the ugly red of the injuries.  Carefully she soothed the red into a light green color.  Working quietly so as not to interrupt Applejack, Twilight magickally molded the legs of a nearby table into a custom split which she tied to Celestia’s leg using some nearby cord.   When they were finished, Celestia’s breathing had slowed.         Looking back over her shoulder, Twilight saw that the Beater had stopped moving as well.  With a frown on her face, and not a little sadness in her eyes, Twilight sat down next to the stone pony.         Well that ends that I guess. she thought to herself.  “Rest in piece.” she said.         “Just resting my eyes.” the Beater replied with a sleepy tone in it’s voice.         Startled, Twilight stood up and just stared at the stone pony before her.  “Umm...okay...weirdest thing ever.”         The next thing that startled Twilight was Rainbow Dash and Applejack bursting into laughter. ===================================================================================================         “Well my sister this one will certainly be a story to tell.” Celestia said while resting on her side on the rug in her chambers.         “I can agree with that.” Twilight said as she sat besides Celestia.  “The healers say you’ll be back up in almost no time.  And you’ll be happy to know I reamed the archivists an new...well I yelled at them anyways for missing something so strong in their scans.”         “In truth it was not their fault Twilight.” Celestia said.  “The Beaters were designed by their creator to be almost undetectable when not activated.  It was no surprise you were the only one to detect it.”         “I think I will ask for that story another time.” Twilight said with a smile.  “Though I’m sure there is someone else who would like to hear that.”         “Agreed.” Celestia said as she shifted slightly on the rug.  “She should be here shortly.  Are you ready?”         “She, if that truly means anything in this case, and I had a long talk.” Twilight said while looking at the floor. “She has very few of our joined memories.  In a very real sense she is something completely new.  I would be less than honest if I said I knew how I felt about that.”         Celestia smiled softly but did not reply.         Before Twilight could continue there was a knock on the door and a large stone pony stuck her head through the doorway. “May I come in?” she asked.         “Of course!” Celestia replied.  “This was once a treasured place for you as well.  I hope it still is.”         “I will always think of it as such.” the stone pony replied. “Though this room seems so much smaller now.”         “Duh.  You’re much bigger.” Twilight said.         “It was a joke.  Egghead.” the pony said with a smile.  Twilight’s only reply was to stick out her tongue.         “Have you chosen a name yet?”  Celestia asked softly.         “Not yet.”  the pony said as she looked at one of the pictures on the wall.  “I don’t even have a cutie mark any more so it’s hard for me to even know who or what I am.”         “What you are...” said Twilight “is one of the bravest beings in Equestria.  Period.  And regardless of that body being cold stone I know the heart inside is warm.”         “I can’t cry.” the pony said as the emotion welled up in her voice.  “I...discovered I’m unable to cry.  Not surprising really but like so many things right now, not quite right.”         “You’ll get through it.” Twilight said as she placed a hoof on the calf of the stone pony.  “Where will you go from here?”         “Well...I don’t have any magick any more so I think I’m going to try farming.” she said “I hear there’s a cherry orchard that could use some help.  Applejack has promised to show me the art of bucking cherries and I think this body is strong enough.  I’ll start there.  Though she warned me about an accident prone pony out there so I still have to be careful.”         “Sounds like a good plan.” Celestia said.  “I would request only that you write to us.  You are one of a kind in more ways than you know and I would be honored to read about your experiences.  NO time pressure.  It’s not an assignment Tw...”  Celestia stopped awkwardly.         “I’ll pick a name eventually.  AND I’ll write.  Promise.” the stone pony replied with a smile.         “I have a gift for you.” Twilight said.  “I did some research on Beaters and it turns out that the material they are made from is unimportant.  I’d ask you to close your eyes but...”         Closing her eyes and reaching for her magick, Twilight enveloped the stone pony in a swirling ball of light.  Slowly she replaced one molecule with another until at last she was finished.  The spell complete, Twilight opened her eyes to behold a pony made of clean white stone.  The lines and edges were smoothed and polished and the stone was of uniform color.         “Alabaster.” the pony said in a surprised tone of voice “You turned me into alabaster.”         “It looks good on you.” Celestia said with not a little mirth in her voice.  “I mean of course it does!  I’ve always been partial to the color white.” Celestia finished with a grin on her face.         “Alabaster.” the stone pony repeated.  “Alabaster!  It’s perfect!  That’s my name!”         “Greetings to you Alabaster!” Twilight said with a bow “I formally welcome you to Equestria.”         Alabaster bowed in return and with a smile said “Thank you Princess Twilight Sparkle.  I am honored.” ===================================================================================================         The next morning Twilight escorted Alabaster to the train and watched her leave.  They shared a private chat on the way but for the most part kept silent.         When she was gone, Twilight once again found herself seated next to Celestia in her royal chambers.  Without speaking Twilight levitated an extremely worn book of stories off a nearby shelf.         “This time I get to read to you when you’re sick.” Twilight told her sister.         “About time.”  Her Royal Highness Princess Celestia replied with a slightly smug look.         “Hush Tia.” Twilight said.  “I’m picking a story.”         In the waning light of the day Princess Twilight Sparkle began to read.