//------------------------------// // The Day After // Story: Little Star // by Admiral Q Ponyform //------------------------------// Little Star By Admiral Q It was a tired, but happy, Twilight that walked into her new home. Golden Oaks Library, a tree magically altered to be a library, was a quaint little place, though certainly not as large or stocked as her tower in Canterlot. However, that tower could not provide the one thing she wanted most: her friends. Friends. Such a strange, new concept for her. Those that many would consider her friends in the past were like family to her, and they were very few. Spike, Cadance, even Princess Celestia were like family to her, not friends. She made her first real friends yesterday. Five wonderful, if strange, mares willing not only to follow her into danger but also to offer the greatest gift of all to somepony they just met. She looked forward to studying this new, wonderful magic that friendship brings. She yawned, interrupting her thoughts. She partied with the whole town at not only the beginning of summer but also the return of Princess Luna, Princess Celestia's younger sister. Sadly, the Princesses had to go to Canterlot hours earlier, but they do have A LOT of catching up to do. Putting Spike in his bed, she walked to her own and lay comfortably on it, falling asleep soon after. When she opened her eyes, she found herself in a strange hallway that was both new and familiar to her. She carried something in her mouth. She felt scared, but didn't know why. She was running to the end of the hallway. When she got there, she saw Princess Celestia in a great room next to a statue, a statue that was very familiar. Twilight then saw the Element of Magic emerge from the sphere in the top of the statue and join with the other Elements in their original form. They spun around the white alicorn, creating a ring of rainbow colors as Princess Celestia floated into the air and through a broken skylight. Looking in the direction the Princess was looking at, Twilight saw Nightmare Moon. However, instead of fear at the sight, Twilight felt...happiness? That didn't make sense! Before she could think further on that, the two alicorns fired beams from their horns at the same time. Nightmare Moon's beam held for a second before being overwhelmed by the combined might of Princess Celestia and the Elements of Harmony. Twilight saw the beam hit the moon, followed by the appearance of the familiar silhouette of a mare. To Twilight's surprise, she felt shock. The item in her mouth dropped as sorrow began to take hold of her. From her lips she heard a word. “No...NO!” Twilight jerked up and panted, finding herself back in the library. "TWILIGHT!” Spike jumped out of his bed and ran to her. Responding to Spike's call, she looked at him. He had a very concerned look on his face. “You okay, Twilight?” Twilight took deep breaths and calmed herself a bit. “Just a dream, Spike, nothing to worry about.” She hoped. “Come on, let's get the daily checklist out and see what we have planned today.” “Uh, Twi, we never made one. We were kind of busy the past couple of days.” Twilight groaned at that and tried to think of something quickly. Then, an idea popped into her head. “Well, why don't we organize and catalog the library? See what needs to be changed?” Twilight was interrupted by a rumble from her stomach. She smiled sheepishly. “Okay, breakfast first.” Then, she'd make Celestia pay. Startled at her own thoughts, Twilight shook her head. 'What was that?' Such hostility, against Celestia? Her mentor and princess? Had to be a leftover from the weird dream. * * * * * * Celestia was doing a rare thing for her nowadays. She was flying using her own wings. Normally, she had to use her chariot and be all official, but this was too personal for that, not to mention faster. Thankfully, her time in the sun actually gave her some rest, because she had yet to sleep since Twilight managed to release her from Nightmare Moon's grasp. She spent all night trying to catch Luna up with all that has happen since Luna was gone and to apologize for ignoring her issues all those years ago. The results of that discussion...was a mixed bag. Both forgave each other for the past, and later they would work on how to co-rule again. However, Luna kept asking the one question Celestia has dreaded for the past thousand years. Celestia did her best to dodge the question, and eventually exhaustion caused Luna to pass out in Celestia's room. Returning from the moon, then being hit with the Elements of Harmrony, THEN a nearly all-day party, finally ending with their little talk would do anypony in. She can't even remember the last time she saw Luna in that form. They've both been in their powered forms for so long, Celestia could hardly recognize the depictions of her in books, way back when her mane was a bright pink. She was distracting herself with this trip down memory lane. She didn't answer the question because she didn't know how to answer it without causing too much pain. To be honest with herself, no matter what pain was in the future, she was afraid that the truth would cause Luna to become Nightmare Moon again. For once in her long life, she had no plan for this. She'd been so focused on Luna's return and restoration, along with trying to preserve her sister's reputation by separating Luna from Nightmare Moon in the lore today. What real plans she had died when that Sonic Rainboom happened. Since then, it's been a jury-rigged plan. She caught sight of Golden Oaks Library and teleported in, trying to keep this visit as private as possible. She heard a yelp and saw Twilight jump before the unicorn realized who it was. “P-Princess Celestia!” The unicorn bowed. Celestia was always uncomfortable with Twilight bowing to her, but there was no helping that for now. "Has something happened!? Is your sister alright!?” Celestia raised a hoof up to silence Twilight. “Nothing's happened, Twilight. My sister is resting right now. We...We haven't fully worked things out, but things are going well.” She looked back at Twilight, who had closed her eyes with a pained look on her face and a hoof held to her head. “Twilight, are you okay?” Celestia asked with great concern. The mare turned away from her before speaking. “Oh, NOW you are concerned about me. Or maybe it isn't me that you are concerned about.” Twilight said in a dark tone. Celestia was very confused and asked, “Of course I'm concerned. Why would you think otherwise?” “Well, you certainly have a funny way showing it, but since you have forgotten, I shall remind you.” Before Celestia could react, Twilight turned around and Celestia saw lavender before feeling pain in both her front and back and a crunch. She found herself outside on her back, the sun shining on her stomach. She got up quickly but groaned a bit from the pain. 'Yeah, I'm going to be feeling that one for a few days.' “Princess!” Celestia looked over to see the pegasus Rainbow Dash hovering nearby. “You okay, Princess?” Celestia didn't answer, as she saw Twilight emerge from the hole she made in her library. The mare's eyes were glowing white like they did ten years ago, and Celestia was filled with fear. 'No, no, please no,' Celestia begged internally. “Twilight! Did you attack the Princess?” Rainbow Dash asked. The mare looked at Rainbow Dash. “Stay out of this, Rainbow. This is between me and Celestia. I don't want you hurt.” Without waiting for a response, the mare looked back at Celestia. “I wonder, oh Princess, if this is a fear of yours? A nightmare, maybe?” Twilight chuckled. “Oh, you have NO idea what a Nightmare is. But I shall give you a taste. Twilight's horn glowed again, but, instead of a bolt forming, it caused a glow around Twilight herself. Cracks appeared along her side, and, within a minute, wings sprouted from them. For Celestia, this was the worse thing that could happen. The magic she felt from Twilight she felt once before. She had to stop this from happening again. Celestia spotted a frying pan at a nearby stall. She lifted it with her magic and threw it at Twilight's horn. Twilight didn't expect this kind of attack, and the pan connected, disrupting her magic and distracting her. That was all Celestia needed. She leaped into the air and tackled Twilight to the ground before charging her horn and touching it to Twilight, using a spell she really only used twice before. “No! NO! Not again! NOT AGAIN! LET ME GO!” Twilight pleaded in fear before the spell took full effect and Twilight lost consciousness. Celestia stepped back, feeling drained. A lock of pink mane showed how much magic she just used. And all she had to show for it was a sleeping Twilight. A Twilight with wings. To her, those wings were an omen. She had to face what had happened long ago. “Princess, you alright?” Rainbow Dash asked, closing in slowly. Celestia took a breath, steadying herself for what was to come. “I hope I will be, in time, Rainbow Dash.” “How in the hay is Twilight an alicorn? And why did she attack you?” Rainbow Dash asked. “Rainbow Dash, I will answer that soon. Please, get your friends and have them come to the library. Rainbow Dash saluted and zipped away. After assuring other ponies nearby that she had the situation under control, she took Twilight and walked back into the library, where she saw Spike looking at them, concerned. After altering his dragon fire so that a letter would go to her aide instead of her, Celestia had Spike write a letter. It told her aide to wake Luna and have her come to the library. If her sister asked the reason, the aide was to respond with, "Your question will be answered in Ponyville."