//------------------------------// // Hard Decision // Story: Flare of the Twilight // by Admiral Q Ponyform //------------------------------// When Twilight came to again, she was laying flat, face upward on a moving bed, being moved from a brightly lit room to a dark one. Her rolling bed was being pushed by two burly Earth pony mares followed by a unicorn stallion. Twilight recognized that all three of them were dressed in light blue shirts and pants of hospital orderly uniforms. When the lights in that room were switched on, Twilight saw that she was inside a plain patient room. The overhead light next to the door flashed with an audible pop and flickered out, creating a shadowy space over the doorway. All this was far too much to take in for the little unicorn. “MOM!” A startled Twilight cried out in fear. “I’m right here honey.” Her Mom Twilight Velvet said, while appearing next to her. Her father Night Light moved into her vision on the other side of the rolling bed. Before she could respond more, she felt magic from the unicorn stallion surround her and move her from the narrow rolling bed to a wider bed. Now on the other bed, the three uniformed ponies walked out of the room, leaving the family of three alone. With worry in her voice, Twilight asked, “Mom, Dad, why did you leave me in the school? And why are you older looking?” It was her Dad that answered. “Honey, we don’t know the answers to all your questions, but the important thing is that you are alive. Twilight, can you tell us the last thing you remember?” Twilight furrowed her brow in thought before answering. “I was trying to hatch that egg, but wasn’t doing well. Then, a heard a big boom from outside and felt a surge of magic. The next thing I know is that I’m in the same room, but everypony was gone, and it was dark and scary.” Twilight felt a hoof on her shoulder and looked up to see her mother. “It’s okay now Twilight. We are right here.” She then nuzzled Twilight, comforting her only daughter with the warmth of her gentle touch. “Twily?” a voice asked. It was familiar to Twilight, but she couldn’t quite place it. She looked over to the door to see a stallion in shadows. “T-twily!” The stallion emerged from the shadows in a gallop and before she knew it she was being smothered by white fur that had a familiar scent. “Oh Twily, I missed you SO MUCH! Why did you have to scare us like that?” “Shining, you’re smushing your sister.’ Night Light said with an eye roll. “OH! Hehe, sorry Twily.” Shining said sheepishly. Twilight looked up and it indeed was her brother, but bigger, older, and filled with such joy on his face that she had never seen before. The blue uniformed, unicorn stallion from before asked for her parents and after a soft nuzzle from each of them, they left her with Shining. “It’s so good to see you again Twily.” “Shiny it is good to see you as well, but how come you’re so much bigger, while Mom and Dad look older?” “I honestly don’t know sis, but you have been gone for eight years.” Though she didn’t know it, Twilight’s eyes went wide, with her pupils shrink to pinpricks. ‘EIGHT YEARS!’ Also, without her knowledge she started having parts of her mane curl outward. Recognizing the signs of intense anxiety, Shining came in close and hugged his little sister. “It will be okay Twily. You are here and alive. You’re safe with me okay?” Shiny’s foreleg around her, his nuzzling, and his voice calmed her down a bit. By then her parents had returned. After inhaling and exhaling a big breath, Twilight said, “Dad, I wanna come home now.” Her Dad did not have a happy expression on his face. “I know and we want you home. But the doctor feels it would be best to keep you for a few days.”Twilight shook her head with tears streaming down her cheeks. “No Dad, please!” Twilight pleaded. “Honey, they want to make sure you are okay and so do we.” “And honey one of us will be here with you at all times.” Her Mom interjected. Twilight sagged in her bed, defeated. Her parents saw it and hugged her. “We just want to make sure you are okay. We lost you once and we don’t ever want it to happen again.” Her Mom looked to Dad and Shiny. “Now you two get some sleep. I’ll have first watch tonight.” The two silently nodded and after Shiny giving her a little noogie, they walked out. Tired Twilight lay down on the comfortable bed. “Mom, have I really been gone eight years?” “Yes, yes you have my little Twilight. But what matters to me is that you are here now.” Mom looked over her and her face changed. “Twilight, when did you get that?” Twilight looked at her Mom who was looking at her flank. Twilight took a look and where she expected a blank flank; she instead saw a magenta six pointed starburst with white behind it and five stars around it. She had her cutie mark. * * * * * * Celestia basked in the daylight of her sun. After a delightful breakfast with her sister she was making her way to the throne room. As she entered the throne room she quickly took a seat on the throne she shares with her sister. She had to prepare for another long day listening to the nobles of Canterlot make idiots of themselves as they try to exploit other ponies or each other in their little games. More than once has she been tempted to let Luna run day court just to see them react to her little sister’s brash approach. She suspected that was why the common pony went to night Court. Luna listened to them and held them in higher esteem than the nobles. Thinking about that subject brought back a bad memory to her mind. Nearly a thousand years ago Luna was very unhappy with how ponies treated her and her night. If it wasn’t for some quick thinking and effort on her part Celestia feared what could have been the result. It was still a half hour before the Day Court began when her latest Captain of the Day Guard came in. He looked tired to Celestia’s eyes. “Captain Armor, didn’t sleep well last night?” She asked. He gave her a shy smile. “It was lack of sleep your highness, but worth every minute of it. My sister has returned.” “Oh, where has she been?” “We don’t know. She disappeared in a flash of light eight years ago during a test for your school. She reappeared in the classroom she disappeared from and hasn’t aged. Hay the only thing that has changed is the fact she now has a cutie mark. I’ve never seen one similar to it, a six pointed star with five smaller ones in white.” Celestia’s eyes bulged when she heard the description of his little sister’s cutie mark. ‘It’s just like the Tree of Harmony. Must let Luna know, and I have to see this filly.’ Outwardly Celestia regained her calm and pleasant look. “Captain Armor, I would like to see your sister later today.” Shining gave a smile to her. “I’m sure she’d appreciate it your highness. Seeing you and your sister during a Summer Celebration got her interested in magic. It would mean a lot for her to see you in person.” “Then I shall after lunch. But Captain.” “Yes?” “Make sure you get some rest. I believe I will find you often close to your sister but I don’t need a Captain asleep on duty. If necessary take some time off. I know how important it is to be there for your sister. I almost made such a mistake nearly a millennium ago.” “I understand Princess and I will rest if I feel I need to.” “Very well.” * * * * * * It was about three in the afternoon when Celestia joined Shining Armor to visit his sister. She was walking in the ornate halls of Canterlot General Hospital, which rarely saw the Princesses inside. But Celestia did know her adopted niece Cadance does try to visit sick fillies. That thought did bring a smile to her lips. Cadance will be a great ruler one day. Celestia saw up ahead of her an armored guard standing watch beside a patient room door. ‘That must be our destination’, thought the Sun Princess. Celestia has long seen Shining’s protectiveness. Celestia guessed she knew the reason now. She had nearly lost her sister once, so she has some understanding of the pain Shining must have felt to have lost a sister like that. The guard saluted them as they passed and went in. “Hey Dad, I’m taking over.” Shining said to his father. Upon seeing who was joining them, Night Light bowed. “Your highness, you grace us with your presence.” Celestia gave a smile to the stallion. “Well, when I heard of your daughter’s incident I had to see for myself.” She then looked at the filly who was jaw dropped in amazement and she was so cute. And Luna would adore her with those colors and name. “Hello, my little pony.” She said to the filly. “H-hello P-princess Celestia.” She replied, causing Celestia to inwardly squeal. ‘She’s just so cute.’ “Good to see you Twilight Sparkle. I would like to scan you myself. Perhaps I can find an answer to why you disappeared.” “O-okay. Will it hurt?” the filly asked sheepishly. “No.” Celestia replied with a chuckle. “You will just sense my magic.” Celestia focused her magic and a gold arua appeared around Twilight Sparkle. The alicorn of the sun just manage to keep her feelings from showing. ‘This filly is a powerhouse; she has much more magic potential than an adult unicorn now. Celestia had not sensed that much potential from Star Swirl. That much raw power, combined with little control over her power is very dangerous for her. I need to let Luna know at once, she needs to use her dream walking abilities to guide this filly; while I make plans to use her abilities for the good of our pony nation.’ “Wow that felt so warm.” Twilight Sparkle knocked Celestia out of her thinking with that phrase. She smiled down at the filly. “Why thank you Twilight. May I see your cutie mark?” Twilight turned to her side to show the sun princess her cutie mark. ‘Yup, just like the one on the tree.’ Celestia kept up a small talk to keep Twilight entertained, while the bulk of her mind processed what she has discovered. Yes, she needed to talk to Luna. * * * * * * Celestia raced into her sister’s private apartment and sealed the door behind her with a protection barrier spell. Luna was sleeping in her bed, looking as cute as ever. “Sister we need to speak.” “… tia?’ Celestia sees her sister yawn and sit up to look at her. That’s when Celestia saw the little fuzzy cap on her sister’s head. She tried to hold back a laugh. “This… (yawn)… better be good sister to wake me during the daytime.” “It is! Remember the report you gave me about last night in our school?” “Yes, I figured it was a professor experimenting with something.” “Nope, it’s connected to the flare we sensed eight years ago. Turns out that filly has finally returned… without aging.” Luna looked at her in shock. “That… is odd.” “I agree, but that’s not all. She has the largest magic potential I have ever seen in a unicorn. Even more potential than your student Sunset.” Luna was speechless, her student Sunset Shimmer was a magically gifted unicorn and almost became Celestia’s student, but Lulu beat her to it and in the end that was probably a good thing. Their personalities jibe better, but Celestia has done a couple lessons for her. “And to add to it, her cutie mark matches that third mark on the Tree of Harmony.” And that was when Luna’s jaw dropped. “Where is this filly?” Her sister finally managed to ask. “Canterlot General Hospital. She was sent there after passing out when she saw her parents visibly older.” “We must have her here for her own safety if her flares are that powerful. And we must learn of her connection to the Tree.” “Agreed.” * * * * * * The day after Celestia visited her, Twilight was having lunch while reading a book on recent history, trying to catch up to the missing time. Her mother was next to her writing the next book in her latest series when they were surprised by a SECOND visit by Celestia. “Greetings my little ponies.” The Princess greeted them with a warm smile. Both ponies bow to her in respect. “Your highness it is an honor, but a surprise you come to visit so soon?” The smile vanished on the Princess’s muzzle. “It’s more than a visit Mrs. Velvet. I am here to take Twilight to the Castle.” Fear swept through Twilight. “Did I… did I do something bad?” Twilight fearfully asked. With a smile, Princess Celestia shook her head. “Oh no Twilight, this is for your safety. You are unusually gifted in magic for a unicorn. Your magical ability far surpasses that of any adult unicorn. That’s why your flare was powerful enough to send you eight years into the future. Until you can control your powers, you need to live in the royal castle, as it is warded to prevent uncontrolled flares of magic within their walls.” “Your highness! I just got my little girl back and you want me to give her up to YOU!? Please don’t take my baby away from me.” Mom’s voice went from angry to fear and Twilight saw tears in her Mom’s eyes and she hugged Twilight close. “I take no joy in this Velvet. I really don’t. But we don’t know the cause of Twilight’s flare. If it happens again she could disappear for another eight years or longer. Imagine her having a flare right now and appear two hundred years later. Everypony she knows would then be long dead, alone in a world that no pony knows her. Could you do that to your daughter?” Mom looked down at me with sad eyes. “Twilight may live with me and my sister but I would never deny you from seeing her. Your whole family can move in if you want to. But our castle will protect Twilight while we train her to control her magic. No pony else can help her in this and the only way besides this is to keep her here while using a magic suppressor. Would you do that to her when her special talent seems to be magic?” Tears streamed down her Mom’s face as Twilight processed what was said.  She could disappear again, and that when she came back Mom, Dad, and even Shiny would be gone? She… she couldn’t handle that. The Princess was saying she could stop that, but only if she lived with her. Twilight’s eyes connected with her Mom’s. “Mom, I don’t want to disappear again. I don’t want to appear and you are all gone.” Mom nodded her head and hugged Twilight deeply. “No matter what Twilight, your family loves you.” Twilight nodded her head. “And you Princess, better take good care of my little girl.” “I promise you that as a sovereign of Equestria that Luna and I will teach your Twilight to control her remarkable abilities as if she was my own daughter. You better go home and get Twilight’s favorite things. I’ll take Twilight to the castle and show her the room she will have. And I meant what I said. You family is welcome to come at anytime, just be patient if we are in the middle of a lesson.” Mom nodded and she and Twilight gave one last hug, before Celestia herself checked Twilight out of the hospital. And then, Twilight was escorted by the Sun Princess into her radiant white and gold carriage.