Meet Your New Students
Twilight Sparkle sat in the Canterlot throne room and groaned to herself, day court had just ended and she was happy that the kind of court she held in Ponyville was much more informal than the displays of what passed for formalities amongst the nobility in Canterlot. It had been seven years since she had ascended to the ranks of the Alicorns and after the first year she found the she was getting used to being treated like royalty at almost the same point she found the novelty of being an alicorn was wearing thin on her. Celestia and Luna had told her that somepony needed to operate in Canterlot castle and keep the court running while they attended to a matter near one of Equestria's boarders, fortunately they were still maintaining their duties over the sun and moon (to which Twilight was truly greatful, after having to manage the sun and moon during the “Tirek Crisis” as many ponies were now calling she decided she did not want to handle the celestial bodies again without assistance.
Although the princesses had said it was for few days it had been almost two weeks, the only thing that kept her stable during this time was Spike's daily updates, reports, and notes on what she had to do in the day (and sometimes night). Spike himself had grown to almost half her size and grown longer limbs along with a pair short stubs near his shoulder blades that were obviously going to grow into wings in the coming years. Twilight found the reports surprisingly soothing, however she found her days feeling empty without interaction with at least one of her friends over the past two week. “Some princess of friendship I am,” Twilight muttered to herself as Spike made his way out from passing her the reports, all he did was pat her shoulder supportivly and give assurances that her time as a temporary stand-in/proxy for Celestia and Luna would probably be ending soon.
All of her friends were busy with their lives The only ones she saw regularly now were Fluttershy and Applejack. The castle had been big and lonely when her friends started having less and less time to spend with her, in an effort to make it feel more lived in she made it so that she now had a castle staff of her own only a couple of years prior. She was also working on establishing her own Royal Guard (but that project was still having problems, despite being started up three years prior).
The lives of her friends were more demanding now. Rainbow was finally a Wonderbolt, and had been for the past four years. Rarity finally got her Canterlot boutique, and was being overwhelmed with orders for the past three years despite having a highly competent staff to help her with most of the orders. Pinkie had been given a party planning business only four years prior, she called the place Party Palace Deluxe, and was busy planning and executing parties all over Equestria. Fluttershy had begun an massive animal housing and medical facility, and would be opening it later that month if the reports on the project Twilight had been reading were accurate. Of course Applejack had an increase in her responsibilities on the farm, despite the fact that she had Big Macintosh and Apple Bloom to help she was still getting buried in her work every couple of months when winter wasn't happening.
Twilight started flipping through the requests with a pen and ink floating next her, she kept them on the table by throne, and habitually crossed out requests from half the Canterlot nobility before writing down the responses (that unfortunately had also become habitual in her time of tending the thrones of Celestia and Luna). She was in the middle of yet another letter to Prince Blueblood when Spike rushed in with a big grin on his face.
“Spike wha...” the rest of Twilight's question evaporated when she saw Princess Celestia stroll in, the ivory alicorn's four color layered mane was beyond the most magnificent thing Twilight thought she would ever see at that moment. Her eyes went wide when she saw Luna stroll in with a white filly with a black mane and tail on her back, when she returned her gaze to Celestia she saw the alabaster alicorn had a black filly with a white mane and tail on her back.
“It is good to see you too, Twilight Sparkle,” said Celestia in the caring maternal voice the lavender alicorn remembered fondly, “before you ask, yes these fillies are part of the reason we have been absent from Canterlot for so long and yes they are part something I wish to discuss with you.”
Luna smiled at Twilight before saying in her own gentle voice, “if it is any consolation she hasn't told us about the arrangements she's made either,” after she finished an electric green pegasus stallion carefully trotted in and gave the lavender mare a bow of respect, it was at this point Twilight noticed not only his sky blue mane but also his cutie mark of three pendant shields that each bore a representation of each of the pony tribes.
“Who are these three?” asked Twilight carefully, “they are unfamiliar to me, and those fillies look no older than 7 or 8 years old.”
“6 years actually,” said the stallion with a respectful tone, “they're my little sisters, my name is Storm Walker. I would prefer the two them introduce themselves.”
After the stallion introduced himself Twilight began examining the fillies more closely as the princesses lowered them gently to the ground, one of first thing's noticed was the saddlebags next to the black filly that were clearly too big for her, yet were clearly too small for the stallion or the princess. The saddlebags were a dark, almost black, red that sent a shiver down Twilight's spine when she looked at them. The next thing she noticed about the black filly was her indigo stripe going down her mane and tail. Inspecting the white filly she found an emerald stripe going down her mane and tail where and indigo one went down the black filly's.
Just as she was about to turn to the stallion for questions a bright pink mare with dark pink mane and tail with blue eyes popped up in her vision and whispered, “hi Twilight, it's been ages since we saw each other, I don't want disturb the sleep of the little darlings since that wouldn't be nice.”
Before anypony could say anything else the fillies stirred and immediately showed an interesting reaction. The white filly immediately retreated behind Princess Luna while the black filly, in act that seemed defy logic (including that of Pinkie, surprisingly enough) rushed over to the saddlebags where they had fallen on the floor when she had been placed down and dragged them by her hoof with her until she and the bags were securely hiding behind Twilight. Celestia just smiled and gave a curt nod. Storm Walker made a quick groan before face-hoofing.
“I am deeply sorry your majesties,” he said, “the twins haven't had much proper interaction with other ponies, and as such are quite easily frightened when seeing a new pony. Go ahead and introduce yourselves girls, it's alright,” he said in a calm voice that reminded Twilight of her brother.
The white filly went first and said in a voice that was uncertain and very concerned, “My name is Dream Step, my sister and I have rare abilities yet still haven't gotten our cutie marks yet. I... I...I can't continue with this it's just so...” she went back to hiding behind Princess Luna, an act that only made the ebony alicorn smile a bit more.
Everypony heard a loud gulp as the black filly took a few frightened steps out from behind Twilight, before she could speak Spike entered her vision and she took a few panicked looks around the room before settling on Twilight with her big emerald eyes pleading for an assurance of safety. Twilight gave the filly an assuring smile before saying, “that's just Spike, my number one assistant. He's really very nice.”
The black filly said, in a timid voice that reminded Twilight of when she first met Fluttershy, “my name is Eclipse Touch. My brother helped get us away from the terrible place we were told was our home,” she then flipped open the saddlebag flap closest to her and reached in with an scared hoof before pulling out a large dark maroon book that read The Tome of Mind Magics: the book for reading minds, and dominating those of lesser force, Eclipse Touch visibly gulped and began forming genuine sad tears in her eyes before she said, “there's a spell in here that will let you see our memories, there's also one for telling you how to do a dream walk, but most of it is a detestable volume that tells a pony how to use magic to exert their influence over others. I took this from that place's private library to prevent somepony from using it for questionable means. Am I in trouble because I took the books from that place's library without permission with the intent to not retu...” the rest was cut off by Twilight embracing the filly in a hug, at this point Eclipse broke down and cried into Twilight's coat.
Storm Walker and Dream Step just stared in surprise for a few minutes before Storm Walker said, “that's the first time she's ever run to somepony new and the bravest I've ever seen her. She's always had a love of literature, even though our parents and grandmother have done all they can to limit her reading.” At this moment the other flap on the saddlebags fell open and large dark green, almost black, book fell out with the words Ancient Curses and Hexes: for those occasions where standard punishment spells are not enough, Everypony just stared at the book.
After a few minutes Eclipse Touch said, “I didn't want them using these books on anypony when we left so I took them along with all the liberated journals."
Twilight's ears perked up and she said in both excitement and surprise, “Journals? Who's?”
“A great unicorn from a long time ago,” said Eclipse Touch," who are you? Everything about you makes me feel safe. I know we've never met before today, so, why do I feel safe around you? Your voice makes me feel secure, your scent makes it easier for me to calm down, and the feel of your body against mine feels more than comforting!”
“I suppose that's a good thing then,” said Princes Celestia, “because I have decided it was time Twilight Sparkle had a personal student of her own, and You Eclipse Touch are just the pony I had in mind for such a task. Twilight, you've learned many things, but some things can only be learned through the act of teaching and instructing. So it is with a pleasure I would like to announce that in light of your lack of decision to choose and apprentice I am appointing you the mentor of Eclipse Touch.”
“You're going to love Twilight as a teacher,” chimed Pinkie Pie, “she'll take foal-steps with your for as long as needed, and she's just as much into books as you are if not more,” Pinkie took a deep gasp before saying, “we need to get you three a 'Welcome to Equestria Party', I'll get on that right away, but before I do,” she reached into her mane and pulled out two lollipops with a mass of colors swirling all through them and and passed one to both of fillies before bouncing off in excitement.” Twilight took a quick surprised look at her former mentor before looking back at the filly that had decided to use her as a safe haven.
Both fillies took questioning sniffs at the strange confections, but it was Eclipse Touch who took an experimental nibble on the sweet (much to the surprise of her siblings) before chewing it a bit and swallowing it and saying in a much sweeter voice than before, “it's tasty, we never had anything like this in Bridleton.”
“Maybe you should start at the beginning,” said Twilight turning to Storm Walker.
“Of course,” said the green pegasus, “but first you'll need to know a bit about the nation we come from. You see Bridleton is a nation that is ruled by a long line of unicorn kings and...”
**********************************
Four hours, and many questions, later Storm Walker finished explaining about their home nation and what their home lives were like. During the course of the story Celestia and Luna's smiles went from mildly intrigued to condemning frowns. Twilight had a similar reaction due to her scholarly nature.
“When I told my sister about the vision I had of you three arriving, and how I felt it was quite close, she set to work making some arrangements. However the only arrangements I was aware of were for him,” Luna said gesturing with a wing to Storm Walker, “from Twilight's surprise I can tell you wanted her having a personal student to be just that, a surprise. But what about the other?”
“Dream Step will take on the roll of your personal student Luna,” said Celestia with a smile, “you've been trying catch up with everything that has changed while you were... away, and have only recently caught up on everything. I was confused as to what to do in terms of instructing ponies without you for the first decade or so, after all we had always paired up together when instructing other ponies.”
“Until the...incident,” Luna finished.
“Yes, and it is time that you began instructing in your own way, part of my arrangements was filling one of the larger empty rooms in your private wing of the castle with a variety of art supplies and musical instruments. Also I wanted to take the liberty of turning one of the rooms next to yours into your new student's bedroom, but it looks like you took care of most of that one yourself. So I just had a few minor adjustments made to the room.”
The umbra alicorn smiled at the ivory one and said, “I'm actually okay with you meddling with my private wing of the castle, but you know this still means our agreement is in affect, because you didn't inform me you would be doing something in my wing before-hoof.”
Celestia gave an almost convincing fake confused look while Twilight giggled before the alabaster alicorn said, “I assure you I have no idea what you are talking about, sister.”
Twilight rolled her eyes and said, “Princess Luna told me about the arrangement you two have regarding your private wings of the castle, I think you should stop playing pretend Celestia.” The three newcomers just stared at the three alicorns with a sense of confusion. Seeing the confusion on their faces Twilight decided to ask Eclipse Touch a question turning to the black filly she said, “your sister said you both have rare abilities, what's your ability?”
Eclipse Touch visibly gulped and said, “I can cancel out any spell no matter how strong or complex, but I can't control it all that well, please don't hate me,” the filly's ears drooped and her whole body made a sullen look.
Twilight just pulled her into a hug and said in a gentle soothing voice, “I could never hate you, in fact over the years I've learned it's better for everypony if you don't even let hate into your thoughts about others. Disapproval, disappointment and anger at other ponies are all fine if you have a proper justification, but hatred should never be something you let in. Even if you think it can be justified you should never let hatred in, it has a way turning your intentions against you and twisting everything around you to the point it's doing nothing but hurt you and others. I am the Princess of Friendship, and this is one of the most important lessons I've come to realize when it comes time to advise others.”
Celestia and Luna smiled at the display, noting how almost maternal Twilight had become in her interactions with the filly she was told was now her new student. It was at this point Dream Step drew Luna's attention and said in a more confident voice, “will this mean that I'll be separated from Eclipse? We've never been apart like this before. I don't want to be kept away from...” tears were starting form in her eyes when Luna stopped her with wing to the muzzle.
After cutting off Dream Step's plea Luna said, “you two might have different mentors and might be taught in different places, but I can assure you that the two of you will not be separated. Yes you two will be kept separate, but you will not be separated. The only time that happens is when you intentionally sever your connection to each other. That almost happened to me, but my sister and I managed to repair that connection before it was potentially lost forever. Twilight can attest to something similar.”
Twilight nodded and said, “that's right, I almost ruined my relationship with my big brother to the point he would willingly cut off one of the connections I held most dear. It all turned out all right in the end, but I still feel bad about what I did even though my actions turned out right. No matter how far you are physically that won't mean your hearts will be far from each other as long as you keep the love and compassion you hold for each other.”
“That last part sounded a bit like something Cadance would say,” said Celestia, “which reminds me, how are you going to introduce your new student when she next comes to visit?”
“I'll think of something,” said Twilight, “but it looks like Spike, Eclipse and I will need to catch a train to Ponyville since her natural ability might cut my teleportation spell short.”
“Is that place far from here?” asked Dream Step.
“What's a train?” asked Eclipse touch, “everypony flew here after we met the princesses.”
Twilight turned her attention to Filly in surprise before saying, “you don't have trains in Bridelton?”
“The most advanced piece of technology in Bridleton are the roads and coaches the the nobility travel in,” said Storm Walker, “well that a few siege weapons and running water, but only the nobility have access to running water.”
“Why didn't this come up when you were explaining what that nation was like?” asked Luna.
“He thought it was a given fact,” said Eclipse Touch, “as wonderful as our big brother is he has a tendency to believe that the nobility have access to all the common knowledge he has, even if it's not the same nation he's used to.”
Twilight looked at the black filly for few minutes before saying, “those saddlebags give me the creeps, I suggest you empty them into a new set of saddlebags before we head out to buy our tickets for the train.”
“We might need more than one new set,” said Eclipse Touch before going over and tipping the bags up with her hoof so they faced down then gave few quick pats at the bottom of the bags before becoming buried it what looked like a little over a hundred journals or diaries with old wooden covers. Twilight gasped and quickly dug through the books before finding Eclipse's face and clearing a space so the filly could better breathe.
“The saddlebags were enchanted to hold more than they should, that's amazing," said Twilight, "but why do they creep me out so much.”
“Probably because they're made from the hide of another living creature,” said Eclipse pulling herself out, “I felt filthy just being near those bags, but they were the only ones I knew had the enchantment. They're made from the hide of a deer and dyed the color you see. The book on hexes and curses also creeps me out because I was told its cover binding was the hide of a real pony.”
Everypony looked at the book before Celestia said, “such affronts must be destroyed no matter what we could learn from them.”
“Not that easy,” said Eclipse Touch, “I tried burning it in the fireplace when nopony was looking once, all that happened was it got ash that could be easily scraped off on its cover and pages. I suggest you put it somewhere where nopony will ever find it and strike all mention of the book from official and unofficial records. The book of mind magics isn't as bad, but when you open it you can hear somepony whispering in your ear temptations to use all each spell and how the spell could benefit you. I was told the spirit of the pony who wrote it was bound to the book.”
“We have to free that pony then,” said Twilight.
“The spirit has been bound for centuries, whatever the kind of pony it used to be has probably been lost to madness because of how the book was used before I liberated it from our family collection. Only those with a strong will can withstand the spirit's influence.”
“Then you must have a strong will,” said Twilight.
“My canceling ability is what safeguarded me, it acts as a defense mechanism most of the time.”
“That just means you have a very special ability," said Twilight, "it doesn't mean you don't have a strong will. Can you tell me what pages the spells that may prove most useful.”
Eclipse Touch took a deep breath before saying, “you might want to get some blank sheets of paper and a writing utensil.”
Twilight nodded to Spike who rushed of and came back with some quills, ink pots and a blank notebook. “Okay,” said Twilight, “let's limit my exposure,” Celestia, Luna, Dream Step and Storm Walker all gave her concerned looks, when Twilight looked up at her former mentor the ivory alicorn smiled at her with a deep knowing in her lavender eyes.
“Okay,” said Eclipse Touch, “if you're sure, page 317 has a four page spell for dream walking and page 742 has a 7 page spell for experiencing another pony's memories.”
“That works just fine for me,” said Twilight, “I know a spell for sharing memories, so I think those two will compliment each other. Princess Luna has the ability to walk in another pony's dreams, I'm looking forward simulating the experience.”
At this Dream Step's eyes grew wide and she stared up at Luna before saying, “you can do it to? You can teach me how to manage it! I keep going into another pony's dreams when I try to sleep, the only exception is Eclipse because her ability blocks me out.”
It was Luna's turn to show surprise before she said, “dream walking is dangerous for those that are inexperienced, we'll have to teach you how to manage your magic before your dream walking lessons. Twilight, I suggest, no decree, that you tell me when you intend to practice the spell for dream walking so that I may assist you. It will also give the twins a chance to see each other again and compare notes on their experiences.”
“This is the most open Eclipse has been to anypony,” said Storm Walker, “she's only about half as friendly with me as she is with Princess Twilight Sparkle, and I'm the her trusted big brother.”
“I'm her twin and she's not nearly this open with me,” said Dream Step, “it's almost like she trusts Princess Twilight unconditionally like a... true mother.”
“But why would she latch on to Twilight so much?” inquired Luna.
“She's always seemed to have an intuitive knowledge of a pony's true nature from time to time,” said Storm Walker, “it's why she was so scared of Great Spell, Great Seal, and Grand Charm.”
“You mentioned them in the back story you gave, they're the lords of the manor you're from.”
“Great Spell is our our mother, Great Seal is our father, and Grand Charm is our grandmother,” said Storm Walker, “none of them are very pleasant, in fact Grand Charm is about as far from charming as you can get.”
“Well, she doesn't sound all that fun,” said Pinkie seeming to pop up out of nowhere, “okay Twilight, Eclipse's welcome to Equestria, and Ponyville, party is set to go at your palace, I wanted to make it a surprise party but then I noticed how uncomfortable she is with new ponies so it's just some close friends from around Ponyville, and I'll be there too. In fact I'm moving my party central control to Ponyville in a couple of weeks, I really miss my friends in Ponyville.”
“We miss you too Pinkie,” said Twilight, “and Rarity and Rainbow Dash. In fact everypony cleared up their schedules last month for us to have a few days next week to get together and catch up, you're the only one who hasn't confirmed yet.” with that Twilight floated a sheet of paper from under her left wing, “here's everything you need to know, I would have gotten it to you sooner, but your hectic travel made it difficult.”
Pinkie grabbed the floating, sheet with her mane, yes her mane, and looked over it and smiled before saying, “I'll be there Twili, I hope she'll be joining,” said Pinkie pointing with a hoof at Eclipse before bouncing off.
“I'll get the spells transcribed then we can go and buy our tickets,” said Twilight, “I'm eager to get back home, hopefully nothing urgent comes up while we're on our way to Ponyville.” With that Twilight opened the maroon book and felt like she was assaulted by malevolent force the moment the book was open, even Celestia and Luna could feel the presence of the malicious force from where they stood. Twilight quickly flipped to the pages and copied them into her notebook before slamming the book shut and saying, “this thing isn't a book, it's somepony's idea of a sick joke. I never thought I would say anything like this, but, that thing that pretends to be a book needs to be destroyed. You tried and ordinary fire, let's see how it does against a fire with magical properties. Spike, this is something you never thought you would here me say, but burn this horrendous maroon book so that it can never affect another pony ever again.”
“Are you sure, Twilight,” said Spike in his new deep rumbling fiery voice, “it's not like you to say something like that!”
“I would normally agree with you, but I just glimpsed a spell for effectively turning another pony into a mindless puppet and almost contemplated using it, which is against not just my nature but the teachings of Equestria. This book needs to be destroyed so the temptations it presents are never present for anypony to use it ever.”
“On it Twilight,” said Spike before taking in a deep breath and belching fire on the maroon tome. To everypony's horror the book didn't even look like it had been touched while telltale signs of dragon's fire left a scorched circle around it on the throne room floor.
“There's only one place to send these terrible tomes,” said Celestia with weighted words, “For your piece of mind, Twilight, Luna and I can not name where the books are going, so even if it is found you are aware of the existence of these books you can honestly say you do not know where they are if somepony were to force you with a truth spell. I suggest you go now.”
Twilight nodded and said, “Spike gather our things and meet us at the station, I'm taking Eclipse to the station to buy our tickets home.” Spike nodded and scampered off.
*****************
Ten minutes later Twilight, Spike and Eclipse were riding the train. Eclipse sat next to Twilight looking out on the passing countryside with fascination. After her watching of the passing countryside for a few minutes Eclipse Touch curled up next to Twilight and fell asleep. “You just sleep,” said Twilight as she petted the filly's mane affectionately, Spike just smiling at her the whole time, “you've had a busy day, we'll take care of everything we need tomorrow. But once we get home you'll have something to worry about before you're encouraged to have fun.”