//------------------------------// // Summon // Story: Luna Wants a Windigo // by Lazauya //------------------------------// “Sister, what have you dragged me all the way to the Canterlot Archives for? You know I’m never up this early.” “It’s two o’clock in the afternoon.” “And I’m the Princess of the Night.” “Yes, and I’m the Princess of the Day.” “But sister, Cadance was voted as princess of the day. Don’t you read the daily newspapers?” “Clever.” Celestia nodded with a uninterested look on her face. The royal sisters passed through the gilded doors of the Canterlot archives. Luna noted elegancy of the library, and internally tisked about how gaudy her sister could be. The two trotted past the attendant who was lazily skimming through an upside down catalogue. The librarian looked up as she heard hooves on the tiling near the desk, and had only but a minor heart attack as she saw who they belonged to. She quickly closed the book and stood up straight. “How can I help you, princess...?” she said softly but with intensity. “—es,” she added. “Ah, we were looking for an... interesting book.” “I think you’ll be able to find it in the ‘Interesting Books’ section, on the third floor in the northeast section.” “Oh, no, we don’t want an interesting book, we want an... interesting book.” “Ah, then you must be looking for the ‘General Magic Tomes’ section up on the second floor in the west wing.” “Thank you…” Celestia said, implying the question of the librarian’s name. “It’s Kinky Lace.” “Oh, my...” Luna said quietly, shocked. “It was a pleasure, Kinky Lace.” “Please, the pleasure was mine.” Kinky made a mock bow. “Come, sister.” “Yes.” The two departed and walked to curved stairs hugging the high walls. Out of earshot, Celestia whispered a question to her sister. “Do you think she’ll be alright?” “Hm?” “She had a minor heart attack.” The two sisters walked nonchalantly in the wing, basking in the enormous amount of information around them. “Isn’t it funny?” Luna inquired. “What is?” “How we have so much information about our world, yet new, equally important information is always trivial to find.” “Yes, Luna, every philosopher has long since realized that.” Luna scowled and shrugged defensively. The pair trotted up to the section labeled “s” and turned down the aisle. Books lined the shelves—as expected—and the long bookcases towered over the sisters. “I’m so glad that I had these shelves reorganized,” Luna said. “Pfft, they were fine the way they were.” “Sister, random untitled scrolls laying on the ground and haphazardly stuffed on the shelves is not fine. We’ve been over this.” “They weren’t all untitled. The ones that would harm you by reading were labeled ‘Dangerous’ at the bottom of the parchment and stuck on the top shelf.” “Wait, why were there dangerous scrolls in a public archive?” “We can’t just withhold information, Luna. That’s tyranny.” “Sister, what?” Celestia smiled and shook her head dismissively. “Someday, Luna, you’ll understand.” “I really hope I won’t.” After some time spent scanning the various books, Celestia found the book she was looking for. “Ah, here it is!” Celestia exclaimed, earning some shushes from the other patrons. “Oh? Summoning Spirits by... N. Mare. M?!” Luna earned some sushes as well. “Sister! You can’t be serious!” “Hm?” Celestia asked, already looking for the information she needed. “Oh, no, I wouldn’t worry, Luna.” “Why?!” “The author’s full name is Necro Mare Mancer, also known as Necromare Mancer, or even Necromancer Mare. I’ve even read renditions of her name saying ‘Mare Necromancer’.” “Tha—What?!” Luna stared at her sister in disbelief. “Why is this even here?!” “What? “Why are there materials by necromancers here, and WHY ARE WE USING THEM?!” “This is not her real name, Luna, this is just her pseudonym.” “Oh….” Luna began to cool down. “Her real name was Apocalypse Harbinger.” “What?!” A stray book fell on the floor with her shout. “Luna! Calm down, she changed her name later in life; she felt her birth name didn’t suit her, so she had it changed.” Luna glared intensely at her sister, as if about to have an aneurysm. “Her name was Dark Mage.” The book held in Celestia’s magic caught ablaze. “Oh well, I guess the book didn’t have anything useful in it,” Luna said wistfully. “Luna, I’m telling Twilight on you.” The blue alicorn’s eyes widened. “Sister, where are we headed now?” “If I tell you, Luna, will you promise not to burn anymore books?” “But—” Celestia shook her head, interrupting her sister, “No ‘but’s, Luna.” “Fine.” “We’re going a notorious book vendor…. It’s a bit hectic, so be ready.” “Alright. But can you promise that there won’t be any Shades involved? My trust in dark magic has… weakened.” “I guess; dark magic always seems to work fine for me.” Luna followed Celestia into the store front. Books stuffed the shelves, and the wood bulged at the seams from the strain. It looked as though a simple tap would send books flying everywhere, strewing them across the room. Several ponies stood by the warped cases and studied the titles intently, looking for the book they needed. Amazingly, Luna saw, when one of the patrons needed a book, it came out with ease. The stallion behind the counter yielded a green coat and grey mane, and had the cutie mark of an open book. He looked away from the customer he was helping and greeted Celestia formally yet in a casual tone. “Ah, Princess Celestia. May I have a moment?” Celestia nodded. The stallion finished and turned to the princesses. “So what can I help you with today?” “Yes, Open Book, we’re looking for an… interesting book,” Celestia responded. He arched his brow. “Ooooh, back for volume three, are we?” “No, no, not that, no that!” Celestia replied frantically. Everyone in the store looked at her. “I-I mean… no, n-not today. I’m here with my sister to retrieve a book of… instructions? Would you call them that, Luna?” “Hm, I’d say more like… rituals.” “Yes, rituals. We are here for an... interesting book about… rituals.” “Princess, I… don’t know what to say….” The stallion looked disturbed. “No, not that either!” Luna interjected, blushing and frowning. “Oh?” “We need some books on summoning creatures.” “I see. Follow me, I think I have a few tomes you may find helpful.” The sisters followed Open Book to a door leading into a back room. The room held many more books and many more shelves, but lacked the decor of the front. Open Book walked to a case with a small piece of parchment waxed on to the wood titled “Magic Rituals.” With his own unicorn magic, he grabbed a few titles off the shelf. “Rituals of Ancient, Magic Circles and Principles of Structured Magic, Summoning Familiars, Summoning Beasts, Structured Magic Circles Reference Guide….” He went on, naming all of the books that were given to the Princesses. “That should be all of the books I have about summoning. How would you like to pay?” “Alright, sister, let us start looking!” “Right behind you, Luna.” “Sister, this book has instructions on how to summon you!” Luna said, laughing. “Really?” Celestia asked, intrigued. “Yes, oh my, this is too good! Here, Step one: enter your washroom and look towards your mirror. Step two: transcribe the circle below with thaumic chalk onto a flat surface in your washroom. Step three: douse the candles. Step four: repeat our princess’s name three times in concession without turning away from the mirror. Step five: enjoy.” Celestia laughed. “Who wrote this?” “This was a work done by… Green Leaf.” “Ah, well. All in good humor.” “Sister, I found it! I found it, I found it!” Luna shouted, excited. She hopped in place, pointing at the page with a hoof. “Oh! Finally! Come on, let’s set up the ritual.” “Oh, but wait…. Part of the circle diagram appears to be worn down…. What should we do?” Luna asked with worry. “I’m sure it will be fine. What could possibly go wrong?” “Sister, why?” “What?” “You just jinxed us. Very badly.” “Says the one that thinks withholding information from the public is a good idea. Really sister, you worry too much.” “Alright, I think we’re all set!” Celestia stated eagerly. “Did we do everything? Did you reread all the steps?” “Yes, think so. We have the circle, the candles, and the sacrifice. And the nets too, just in case.” “Are you sure it’s alright to sacrifice a chicken?” “Oh, it’s not like Fluttershy actually knows which one is Elizabeak. She probably won’t even notice her missing.” “I suppose you’re right.” Luna looked over the book again. “Charge your horn!” Celestia did as was told and an aura grew around her horn. She touched the glowing appendage to the chalk circle, and a shimmer of light went around the room, following all of the intricacies of the pattern. A magic bulb illuminated the room from the center of the circle in a blinding flash of light. The light subsided, and the sisters could see a blue mass in the center. “It worked! It worked!” Luna called out, excited. “Wait!” “Yes?” “Throw a net over it.” Luna took a net in her magic and bound the creature. “Good call, sister.” “Thank you.” Luna approached the laying down creature. A scowl formed on her face as she saw the shape it was in. The creature was misshapen, and its limbs were strewn around its body. Celestia trotted up to the creature, and breathed sharply in through her mouth. They were both silent for a moment. Celestia broke the silence. “Well, Luna, half—” “Aap!” Luna interrupted. She breathed through her nose, trying to calm herself. “Do not say it.” Meanwhile, a small, pale head peeped in through the window. The creature was amused by the antics of the sisters. “Squawk?” Philomena asked as Celestia trotted into the room. Celestia sighed. “No, it didn’t. I don’t know what we were doing wrong!” “Squawk?” “We tried seven times…. Fluttershy’s going to be so angry with us.” “Squawk. Squawk.” “I know it was a failure, you don’t have to rub it in. “But…. Ugh… What to do?!” The Sun Princess sat on her bed in deep thought. “Maybe…. No, that’s silly,” Celestia thought out loud. Noticing her friend struggling, Philomena made a suggestion. “Squawk,” she offered. “Squawk?” She raised her wings in a shrug. “Squawk.” “Philomena, you’re a genius. I think you deserve a present….” “Caw!” “Oh, oh, but later!” Celestia squinted hard and bit her bottom lip, holding back her urges. “I’ll get started on it right away!” “Celestia, Celestia, Celestia! Dammit, it didn’t work! Maybe I need the title, too. Princess Celestia, Princess Celestia, Princess Celestia!”