The pages of the tome turned with a crisp swish. The scratching of a quill, the scrap of bindings across the table’s surface and the subtle hum of magic were all the sound in the world at that moment. Twilight punctuated the end of the sentence and rolled up the parchment. She walked across the room and set it in the neat stack of similar scrolls on one of her many writing desks. Each one was a report to Princess Celestia on some subject or another that she’d been meaning to complete for weeks.
They were arranged by date completed and patiently awaiting delivery. She was planning to send them as soon as…as soon as the Princess wasn’t so busy. Twilight levitated the book back to its place on the shelf and took a moment to reorder all of her materials. All of her ink set to the top left of the desk with the open one just slightly forward, rolls of parchment on the right and facing toward the writing surface, extra quills at the top angled for the most convenient access. She straightened a bent filament on the one she was currently using and set it down. All was in order.
Another book floated down and laid itself on the table, open to the first page. She unfurled a new sheet of parchment, inked her quill and settled in for her next report. It would be her twelfth in the day and a half since the second group of recruits left town.
It was busywork. Just something to keep her mind occupied so that it wouldn’t dwell elsewhere. She took refuge in the simple task of reading and writing. Her thoughts were focused and concise. The outside world did not intrude. Indeed, it could not. She’d constructed a magic soundproof barrier around the library to keep the hammers of the blacksmith and bustle up and down the streets from driving her mad with distractions. Or was that reminders?
She turned the page and skimmed through a technical section that she knew by heart. The subject was relative speeds in magical transfers. It covered the time a Unicorn might spend “in transit” when using teleportation spells as well as the delay on teleporting an object. According to the author, physical distance had no measurable effect on the time. Twilight was cross-referencing his theory with her experiences. He insisted that the familiarity of the caster with the subject of the spell, whether a point in space or an object, would be the determining factor in the time for the object to materialize at the desired location.
While there was no way to prove if this theory was accurate since there was no way to measure a pony’s familiarity with something against another’s, Twilight was trying to see if his observations correlated with hers. She knew that one had to picture the result before the spell would be successfully cast but she was unsure if any delay afterwards was the result of the same limiting factor. This particular report would likely require significant practical tests. She relished the challenges of setting up a control group and immediately started hypothesizing ways of measuring the…
A shudder passed through her and broke her train of thought.
She looked out the window at the part of her barrier that had been disturbed. A single Pegasus was looking back at her. The sight of his armor would have had her racing down the stairs for the door to let him in, but seeing the distress in his eyes, she skipped all of that.
With a sharp pop, she was beside him. “Yes? What is it?” she asked with enough apprehension to raise her voice an octave.
“I’ve come with a message for the visitors to Equestria that have been in your company.”
He sounded a bit unsure as he spoke, as if he’d been told to use those particular words. Twilight took a second before responding to get over the sudden increase in volume around her.
“I’m sorry, why did you need them?”
“Princess Celestia requests an audience with them immediately in Canterlot. It’s urgent,” he added unnecessarily.
“They aren’t here actually. They left to prepare to fight the Trolls.”
“It is imperative that I find them. Do you know where they’ve gone?”
“I was under the impression they’d gone to the Army camp with the other recruits from Ponyville.”
“Thank you. Also, the Princess has requested your presence as well. You should make your way to Canterlot as quickly as possible.” He turned, spread his wings, and lifted off, leaving Twilight to work through her puzzlement alone.
~*~*~
After a full day in camp, Cor and Zacon had mastered the agility course. Or so they claimed, since they had only practiced when they were sure no one would be in attendance. Jason had long since moved on to the target fields to get a better feeling for engaging enemies without moving for each swing. He’d even begun using two swords at once, each whirling through the air in opposite directions. He hadn’t used his own blade, preferring to practice with the standard swords issued to the other ponies.
Zacon had been so amused by the clay statues that he’d hardly left the field even to eat. His dexterity with his Axe was becoming fluid and controlled enough that Jason didn’t avoid standing near him anymore. But not all of them were adjusting to these new weapon styles so easily.
Cor found that aiming a bow with his hands was quite different from aiming a bow with his mind alone. Having been shocked and appalled by his first few practice shots, he’d done nothing else since. Now, he was able to hit a moving statue, levitated by a helpful Unicorn, from thirty yards. He refused to acknowledge his improvements, insisting anything short of his old skill was a failure.
This day, they had worked to fine-tune the skills that they were not yet fully comfortable with. Each had kept apart for the morning, but as noon eased slowly nearer, they had come back together on the hillside looking out over the camp. Jason was winding down from his early morning routine. His swords turned over and around in a simple coordination exercise. Zacon lazed against a large stone, watching the camp’s inhabitants go about their business. Cor was working the fletching of an arrow that had been damaged in practice.
Idly, they discussed what they’d seen of the pony recruits since they’d arrived.
“I’m sure they are capable of learning,” Zacon drawled. “What I’m saying is that they are not going to.”
“We can see from right here that they are learning.” Jason pointed with his hoof at the drills in the field below them.
“Yes. We can see them marching around and swinging at quaint little targets. But that’s just following orders. Learning would be applying these lessons in a real battle.”
“Oh, stop your griping,” Cor interjected. “It’s not like you care, right?” He gave Zacon a mocking smile.
Zacon instantly shut his mouth and looked off at the mountain as if it had interested him from the start and these illogical simpletons had distracted him from its study.
“By the way,” Jason said to Cor. “I’m still not quite onboard with this place even having war at all.”
“And I still don’t really care. What are you going to do about it? Tell them it’s not allowed just because you don’t like it? Besides, we’ve finally got something to do. And I even understand it! I’m as content as I need to be.”
“Wading into a war?” Jason tried to keep his voice even, but a momentary rise in volume betrayed his disapproval.
“Yes.” Cor said it simply and without any real feeling.
“Oh, I forgot.” Jason’s tone turned suddenly hostile. “You’re used to running straight into bloodbaths as long as you have a goal in mind.”
Cor looked at him sharply. “Don’t talk about that. Ever! I’ve moved past it and I expect it to be left in the past.” He looked closer at Jason. “What’s really bothering you?”
“It’s…” he began, but his eyes drifted to something behind Cor. “What’s bothering me is that there’s a guard headed right for us and he looks…”
The guard landed before Jason finished speaking. His feathers were ruffled from hard flying and he was breathing heavily. He wiped his brow before attempting to speak.
“I’ve come…with a…message.” He took a huge gulp of air and tried to stand a little straighter. “Princess Celestia asks that you come to Canterlot immediately. She urgently requests audience with the three of you.”
His knees gave way and he fell on his side in the grass, gasping for breath. They blinked at him for a few seconds but he made no further attempt to speak.
“Didn’t we clear everything up with her before?” Cor muttered.
“Tell her we gave at the office,” Zacon grumbled.
“Things have probably changed in…” Jason stopped and looked at Zacon. “Wait, what did you just say?”
“Isn’t that the human expression for ‘we did it already’?”
“Well, yes, but why would you say that?”
“She is requesting that we meet her in Canterlot. She was leading the Royal Guard against the Trolls last we heard. Obviously that battle has concluded and she has returned. If it’s urgent and she’s asking for us, we can assume she’s asking for our help. But we’re already preparing to fight.” Zacon delivered the explanation in a bored tone. “Thus, we gave at the office.” He looked at them for any sign of dissent.
Cor and Jason glanced at each other uncertainly.
“Oh come on!” Zacon snarled. “You think I haven’t been paying attention? I’m not stupid, you know.”
They shrugged and moved on.
“So we’re headed to Canterlot.” Cor made it a statement of fact while looking around for consent.
“It appears so.” Jason nodded.
“I don’t think we need to,” Zacon said. “We’re perfectly capable of assisting in the war from where we are. We don’t need the Princess trying to give us orders.”
“This isn’t going to be about orders,” Jason replied.
“Oh? You know so? Enlighten me.”
“Her mannerisms didn’t give me the feeling that she would take that approach. If anything, she’d make it a request.”
“Oh, excuse me for insulting your ‘feelings’. I wasn’t aware they were so perceptive about the rulers of other worlds. Any other deep insights they want to share?”
“Cut the crap,” Cor said, stopping any other snide remarks. “We’ll go there, see what she wants, and come back. Simple.”
“Fine,” Zacon said. “But we’re not going to be sent off anywhere else just as things are about to get interesting.”
Jason set his training equipment aside and strapped his own sword back on. Cor slipped his arrows back into their quiver and stuck his bow in its sling. As they made their way down the hill back toward Ponyville, Zacon roused himself and followed, putting his Axe safely at his side again.
The messenger, who was just getting his hooves under him again, called out.
“Wait! I have transport for you.”
He reached under his armor and drew out an amulet. It was designed with a pair of wings in the center of an intricately stylized circle. Its teal material glowed softly. The Guard whispered something into it and it flashed brightly. Almost at once, they noticed a dot of movement as something took to the air over Canterlot in the distance. They waited in silence as it came steadily closer.
~*~*~
When the chariot flew in, nopony paid it more than a passing glance. They were hard at work with their training, after all. But one pair of eyes caught and held when the chariot took off only seconds later. There was an urgency in its departure that triggered some instinctive unease.
Lyra nudged Time Turner and pointed.
“Aren’t those the ponies that followed us here?” she asked, trying to discern details on the now distant figures.
“I believe so,” he said.
They continued walking on their way to the armory to have their swords sharpened after the day’s drills.
“What do you think it was about?”
“I’m sure I don’t know,” Turner replied, sounding equal parts annoyed and amused by her persistence.
“You aren’t the least bit curious?”
“I don’t expect to find the answers here and now, if that’s what you’re asking.”
“So…you do want to know what that was?”
“You don’t give up do you?” he asked with a sideways smirk.
“Not when it’s something important. And a chariot ordered to pick them up seems pretty darn important.” She frowned in thought. “Who are they anyway?”
“If I’m not mistaken, one of them was the Unicorn that raced and beat Rainbow Dash.”
“That actually happened?” Lyra asked in surprise.
“According to her closest friends even,” he nodded. He chuckled before adding, “They were out in the streets correcting the ponies that got the details mixed up.”
“Huh. I guess I didn’t pay any real attention to it. And those other two?”
“I don’t know specifically. They were with him when the recruiting started. They had an argument with Rainbow Dash in front of half the town about joining the army.”
“What did they say?”
“What, are you writing a newspaper column on it? That’s all I know.” He gave her an amused shake of his head.
She let the matter drop there and they deposited their equipment with the stallion marking inventory at the armory. They started towards the tents to find a few minute’s rest before evening drills but a shrill whistle summoned them back to the central fields. The four Sergeants at the camp and a Royal Guard officer waited for the camp to gather. The officer consulted a list from time to time while the Sergeants spoke to each other in low tones.
When they were all assembled, the officer called for them to listen up. By this time, it was an unnecessary gesture, as he was the undivided center of their attention.
“I am Lieutenant Long Watch. This platoon will be under my command when we take the field. You will be assigned an official squad under one of the Sergeants here. Form up as you are called and get familiar with those in your groups. We’ll start with Sergeant Iron Link in First Squad.”
He went down the list, calling out names and watching as the pony would trot hesitantly over to their new group.
“I hope this doesn’t change us around too much,” Lyra said in a whisper while Sergeant Flint Gray gathered Second Squad. “It would be a pain to get used to formations with some ponies and then get stuck with others.”
“Savoir Fare…Caramel…Davenport…” the officer went on.
“I agree,” Turner nodded.
“Third Squad with Sergeant Obsidian Blitz…Goldengrape…Night Watch…Big McIntosh…”
“But it would be unlikely for it to work out exactly,” Turner continued. “We’ll likely get a few new faces to contend with.”
“Lyra Heartstrings…Carrot Cake…Time Turner…Jack Hammer…”
The Lieutenant paused to flip the page and started Fourth Squad. Neither of them heard him though because a jolt had gone through Lyra and from the look on his face, she could tell Turner was having a similar reaction. Hearing her name read off had made it official in her mind somehow. She was going to war and she was not turning back. Turner’s jaw worked for a moment before they walked over to the rest of their squad. Goldengrape was the first to greet them.
“It’s good to see familiar faces by my side!” He beamed at them both and they found themselves smiling back. His bold cheerfulness was infectious.
“Felix…Coco Crusoe…Eiffel…and Karat,” the Lieutenant concluded. “You’ll continue to practice field drills and weapons training with your new squads until we receive our orders. Good luck, all of you.”
He turned in time to see a pair of Pegasi landing behind him. The larger one was having trouble staying aloft. The other approached the Lieutenant and spoke to him in a low voice. With a glance that conveyed volumes of disappointment, the lead Pegasus took off again. The Lieutenant spoke briefly with the remaining Pegasus and made a change to his lists.
“Sergeant Blitz!” he called.
They spoke, after which the Sergeant and the Pegasus walked back over to the rest of the squad.
“We’ve got a late addition,” Sergeant Blitz growled.
The Pegasus had a white coat and a dull bronze mane. His body rippled with tight muscle and his sheer size would have been menacing if not for one detail. Every eye was drawn to his wings, which were several sizes too small for the rest of him. His chagrin at this obvious discrepancy generated a less than imposing demeanor.
“This is Bulk Biceps,” the Sergeant said.
Goldengrape reached out a hoof. “Great to have you with us, Bulk.”
He waited but the Pegasus didn’t accept the greeting. Instead, Bulk glanced around guiltily and tried to hide his wings.
“Why isn’t he with the Air Corp?” Lyra asked bluntly.
Bulk descended into full mortification.
“He hasn’t got the wing power to handle their flying requirements,” the Sergeant said. “They need to fly tight formations and carry equipment quicker and higher than he can. So says the Lieutenant that threw him out. But here, he’ll be a powerhouse with a card up his sleeve.” He turned to Bulk. “And if you aren’t one yet, we’ll make you into one.”
Bulk nodded defeatedly.
“Don’t you worry, we’ll get you set up right.” Goldengrape patted him on the shoulder encouragingly.
“I’m glad you think so,” Blitz grinned. “Because you’re assigned to him to make sure he gets up to speed on the things we’ve already covered. I want you all down in the field in an hour to drill with the new squad. See where we still work and where we need a bit of oiling. Dismissed!”
~*~*~
The chariot landed in the Canterlot Castle courtyard. A Guard was waiting for them and led them to the throne room. The group hardly glanced at the décor this time. The doors to the throne room were closed and a pair of guards flanked it. Twilight was waiting there and sporting a bulging saddlebag. She informed them that another audience was being held and they would need to wait until it concluded. They were silent, Twilight lost in anxiety, and the others having dispensed with idle chatter on the way there. The audience concluded within minutes and a small collection of professionally dressed, but civilian-looking, Pegasi left with haste.
Cor glanced after them as he, Zacon, Jason and Twilight entered. Their escort remained without. Princess Celestia sat on the throne, this time with Princess Luna standing at her side. A dozen guards stood along the walls. Excluding Twilight, their eyes followed the visitors with suspicion, lingering on the fine weapons they carried. The group came to the base of the dais and bowed.
“Thank you all for coming on such short notice,” Celestia began.
They all noticed weariness beneath the power in her voice. The light that had shone from her in their last meeting was muted now and the tone of the room became grim with it.
“First, to the three of you, I realize that I am hardly within my rights to make this request,” she said slowly. “But the situation has become desperate. Understand that I would not be asking this of you if I did not think…”
“We haven’t the time to be delicate about this,” Luna interrupted, speaking firmly over her sister.
Celestia fell silent and Luna took over.
“We seek your assistance in the defense of our country. No doubt you have defended your own homelands from invaders. You must understand our need to protect our ponies. Will you help us?”
Both Luna and Celestia waited for their response. Cor and Jason looked at each other and then at Zacon. Zacon simply raised an eyebrow at the Princesses.
“As it happens, we were already preparing to assist,” Cor said. He shrugged his quiver and it rattled at his side. “We’ve been in one of your training camps, waiting to see where we could do the most good.”
“That is wonderful to hear,” Celestia beamed. “I had been hesitant to ask for fear of overstepping the license of courtesy. And it is true you have military experience?”
Cor made an effort not to laugh at what he obviously felt was an understatement. Zacon did no such thing.
“There is less blood in my veins than military experience,” he said slowly, stressing their term with contempt. “My people are hunters from birth and theirs are born into war. We have all of the military experience you could ask for.”
Luna glanced at Celestia, concerned with the tone of his response. Celestia ignored it. She got up from the throne and gestured for a servant. The pony brought a table and set a box of scrolls and maps on it. They gathered around. Twilight, who had been hanging back, joined them when Celestia gestured her over.
“Let us give you an overview of the situation.”
Celestia spread the map of Equestria and placed several figurines of horse heads and swords in certain positions.
“These are the last known positions of the enemy forces. According to our latest reports, they were moving thus,” she said, indicating the sword figurines and the directions of their advance. She then pointed to the horse heads. “Our own forces are concentrated in Canterlot and in the camps, awaiting orders.”
From the scale of the map, they could see that the Trolls were pushing three fronts and that the closest one was within forty miles of Canterlot; little more than a day’s forced march. No pony forces were in position to oppose them.
“Tell me,” Zacon began, examining the map closely. “What sort of warriors are they? You’ve faced them in battle; what do you make of them.”
“They are brutish and relentless. They seemed to relish battle and cared nothing for the deaths of their comrades. They relied on physical strength alone and sheer numbers to overwhelm us. Even when our scouts first encountered them near the border, they attacked on sight. We had originally thought it was but a single force, but since the discovery of these three hordes, we fear there could be more. My hopes to find a peaceful way to end this were dispelled at our first battle when they refused an audience with me. My hopes to end it quickly were similarly lost with the discovery of additional hordes.”
"Did you say ‘peaceful way to end this’?” Zacon asked slowly. A hideous grin spread across his muzzle. “Ha…haha…hahahaHAHAHAHA!”
Everypony present eyed him with growing alarm, including Cor and Jason. Luna was just about to object to his behavior when he snapped back to a serious expression.
“You must forgive me your highnesses, but what did you really expect? You said it yourself that they attacked your scouts without provocation. Why would peace still be an option?”
Celestia frowned deeply. “I will not just write off a chance to protect my ponies. All I wanted to do was get them to cease their attacks. I would be willing to negotiate an agreement with them to spare my subjects from harm.”
"You think that they have conditions, common ground, terms of surrender?” Zacon sneered. “I have seen their type in my own realm. The only thing they want is all of your corpses on spits."
“And what then would you suggest we do to stop them?” Celestia asked contemptuously.
“Fight them. That much should go without saying.” Zacon rolled his eyes.
“We’ve already faced them once and it was a victory, more or less. But with this many of them, and so few of our Guard left, I fear they will be too much.” Celestia walked over to the window and looked out at the city. “This army I’ve raised; they do not know what awaits them in battle.”
Jason gave Cor a meaningful look. Cor frowned at him.
“That much is obvious,” Zacon grumbled.
“What makes you say that?” Celestia asked. “I know that these times of peace have made my ponies ill-equipped for war. What makes you so sure?”
“I’ve spent a mere ten days around them. But that’s more than enough to know there is not a shred of a fighting spirit among them…” He paused thoughtfully. “With one exception, and I wouldn’t risk money on that bet. They can learn to fight, sure, but none of them are warrior stock.”
The Guards around them were beginning to glare at the grey stallion as his remarks became more and more offensive.
“Ponies were not made for war,” Celestia said simply.
“Again, that is obvious. I may only have seen a small part of your country, but it is enough. Just look around your capital! It’s the heart of the country and the seat of power and not protected by more than a company of troops. It’s as if you don’t believe anything threatening will ever present itself.”
“Few have before. Not that required a more significant military presence than we possess.”
“And how is that working out now, your Highness?” Zacon pressed with a smirk.
“Enough!” Luna stepped forward. “You will watch your tongue or you will lose it.”
Zacon looked her up and down as if daring her to try it. Cor put a hoof on his shoulder.
“Ease off. They know they’re not prepared. That’s why they’re asking for our help in the first place.”
"Exactly. They asked us here for our help, and that is what they are getting from me. And the first thing they need to hear is what they’ve been doing wrong so they can fix it."
“We’re working on it,” Cor hissed before he could continue. “And the first step is to stop running your mouth at foreign royals.”
Zacon huffed in derision.
“Perhaps you should keep the beast on a leash as well, Prince Hightalon,” Luna observed mildly. “Lest he continue to bark at polite company.”
“And yet you stoop to the same level so quickly, Highness,” Zacon laughed.
“Can it Zacon! We need to focus on…”
“Not this time, Twiggy!” Zacon cut him off. Cor’s eye twitched dangerously at the nickname. “I’ll say whatever I want to them. We’ve all got crowns here.”
“But this is their country,” Jason reminded him. “Our ranks don’t carry nearly as much weight as back home.”
“And you’d do well to remember your place, Captain,” Zacon barked. “I’ve waited too long to tell them exactly what’s wrong with this place and I’m not about to be stopped by you.”
Jason made a face at the affront but said nothing more.
“I hardly think now is the time to be arguing about this,” Celestia said.
“You’re right.” Zacon’s brows creased as he turned back to her. “That time has long passed you by. Now all we can do is put out the fires.”
“Now hold on.” Cor pushed Zacon roughly. “Who made you the judge of their society?”
“The body count they asked for help with, that’s who!” he said, pushing back.
Luna’s eyes narrowed with scorn. “And just what do you find so lacking in a victory tallied at forty to one, oh Prince of Wars?”
“Only the fact that you seem to be out of troops.”
“We have raised an army…”
“That will be carved up and served medium rare in their victory feast,” Zacon interrupted with a laugh.
“Stop it! Right NOW!”
Up until then, none of them had been paying attention to Twilight. They all turned to find her glaring back at them.
“We can’t do this. We can’t argue like this! Not when we need to stand together if we hope to win.” She looked between them. “Please, ponies’ lives are at stake here. They’re depending on us!”
A minute passed in which they all considered each other thoughtfully.
“Your Highness,” Cor began, tentatively breaking the silence. “In what way can we be of assistance to you?”
Celestia did not answer right away. When she did, she seemed to be coming back to reality from very far away.
“I hoped you could give us another opinion of our plans. We’ve prepared a defensive strategy but would like to be sure that it is sound.”
“Oh fine,” Zacon growled. “Let’s see it.”
Celestia frowned but let his tone pass without comment.
“The enemy will have to cross this river as they approach Canterlot,” she said, indicating the map. “They will reach it near noon tomorrow. We’ve sent word for our troops to form up on the opposite bank to engage them.”
The three stepped closer to study the area more clearly.
“There’s a danger over here,” Jason said. “If they decide to ford here and here, we could be flanked badly on this side.”
“Those are rapids,” Cor pointed out. “They could try it, but they’d end up down river too far to do much damage for hours. Not to mention risk drowning a good portion of their troops.”
They were silent again, pouring over the map. Nopony interrupted them, waiting instead to see what conclusion they would draw.
“Could this bluff here offer more coverage of the bank?” Cor asked. “See how the slope would force them to circle around in range of anyone at the top.”
“It might,” Zacon agreed. “But if we put enough troops up there to do any good, we might as well abandon the water’s edge without a fight. There are too few of them to make use of it.”
“What about as a fallback point?”
“No,” Jason said. “There isn’t enough room for a retreat to make it up there without being caught halfway and nowhere to run once we do.”
“I see.” Cor went back to scratching his chin in thought.
“What if we tried to draw them back this way after they cross?” Jason began, tracing a route with his hoof. “We could harass them and keep them busy while the rest of the army fortified another position.”
“No, no.” Cor waved the idea down. “Even I’d need a large team of Rangers with me to get their attention.”
“Hmm.”
Again, silence.
Cor gestured to a spot for Jason to look at. Jason saw what Cor was meant and shook his head.
“If we had a week to prepare, I’d say go for it. But as it is, we’ll be lucky if the army can all be there when they arrive.”
“Damn,” Cor muttered.
They looked the map over for another minute before turning back to the Princesses.
“We don’t see any holes in this arrangement. In fact, we’re hard pressed to find a way to improve it.”
Zacon snorted in disdain.
“Do you want to add something?” Cor asked, giving him a mock gesture of permission.
“It’s passable,” he said grudgingly. “And they don’t have time for better.”
Cor turned back to Celestia.
“It seems all that is left is to make it so. We ask your permission to join your defense of the river as an independent command.”
“You have my permission, Prince Hightalon. The assistance of you and your allies is most appreciated. I shall see you in the field.”
Cor and Jason bowed. Cor elbowed Zacon hard and the grey stallion bowed as well. They left to make final preparations.
Celestia watched them go with a small frown. Luna’s scowl was much deeper.
“Why must we resort to enlisting their help?”
“There is no one else, sister.”
“Still,” Luna let her head droop. “Did they have to be so…so…?” She trailed off with a sigh.
“Combative?” Celestia suggested playfully.
Luna half smiled at the joke. “I’ll see to it that our forces are ready to be underway at first light.” Her smile faded again. “I wish you luck
tomorrow, sister.”
She left then. Celestia took a deep breath and held it for a long time. When she let it out, she found Twilight still standing beside her, shifting anxiously.
“Um, Princess?”
“Yes Twilight?”
Twilight glanced around the room as if to confirm that something was missing. “Where is my brother?”
“You needn’t worry. He is on his way north to assist in the defense of the Crystal Empire. He is the Prince after all.”
“Oh. I was just worried he’d been…“ The word caught in her throat.
“He was injured,” Celestia said. “But his most serious wounds had recovered enough for him to travel yesterday.”
Twilight tried to respond but couldn’t bring herself to say anything more. Celestia waited sympathetically, giving her time to sort out her feelings.
“Was there anything you needed me here for?” Twilight asked at last.
“Actually, yes. There is an important request I have for you.” Celestia took a deep breath and then smiled sadly. “You have been my faithful student for years now and have mastered many forms of magic. I know your training has not prepared you for this, but you are still a highly talented Unicorn. I’m afraid I must ask you to serve alongside our mages in battle. We will need all of the spell power we can get.”
Twilight gulped. “Serve in battle? I-I don’t know if I can.”
“Twilight,” Celestia said softly, standing next to her and putting her wing around her. “I know you are a gentle spirit and that fighting is against what I’ve taught you. But this war has changed everything. Equestria needs you. I need you Twilight.” Celestia nuzzled her gently.
Twilight nuzzled Celestia back and tried to keep her voice from quavering. “I’ll try.” She stepped away and smiled, making an effort to sound resolved. “I won’t let you down Princess. You can count on me.”
“I know I can. Now get some rest. We leave at dawn.”
Twilight left the throne room at a measured walk. She made it around the first corner and out of sight before she had to collapse against the wall and breathe.
No more hiding behind books and barriers, she thought to herself spitefully. The real world called and it’s not happy to have been ignored.
“Celestia needs me to do this,” she said out loud. “She needs me. I can’t back out.” She shut her eyes tightly. “No matter how much I want to.”
She stood up straight again and took a deep breath. With her resolve firmly in place, she marched around the corner intent on gather a few materials she would likely need. So intent in fact, that she almost walked into the guard coming to find her. She squeaked in surprise.
“Miss Sparkle,” he said with a salute that ignored her reaction with perfect professionalism. “Celestia sent me to help you in your preparations. Is there anything I can do for you?”
Twilight recovered her composure quickly. “Yes, I believe there is.” She whipped a checklist out of her saddlebag. “I’ll need all of the items on this list ready by the time I leave tomorrow. Can you get them for me?”
He gave the list a cursory glance. “I’ll see to it. Is there anything else?”
“No,” she began but stopped. “But perhaps you could make sure a guest room is ready for me tonight?”
“No need. Your room is already prepared.”
She blinked. “Oh. Well in that case, that should be all I need. Thank you.”
The guard saluted again and left. She watched him go, still fighting the urge to run. But she didn’t know where to. She didn’t even know what from.
This war?
Impossible, she reasoned. I wouldn’t run from my obligations to Equestria.
From Celestia’s request then?
Equally preposterous, she admonished. Celestia wouldn’t ask me to do anything I couldn’t handle.
Perhaps it was being pulled away from her studies?
No, she answered immediately but hesitated.
She wasn’t so attached to her work that she thought it was more important than the safety of the country, but the thought of leaving it was nearer to the cause of her anxiety. It was leaving the familiar and entering the unknown.
Or the ‘known to be bad’, she amended.
Twilight stayed where she was, alone in the hall, empty except for herself and her troubled thoughts. When the setting sun coming in the window made her blink, she realized how long she’d been standing there. With a shaky breath, she made her way down the familiar path to the last good night’s sleep she expected to get for a long time.