Flare of the Twilight

by Admiral Q Ponyform


Ponyville

Looking out the window of the castle’s dining hall, Twilight looking with longing at the distant town. Before her flare, her foal friends and their parents often told her of their vacations in that town to experience the rustic charms that the honest and modest, Earth pony town provided.

During the past couple days, she had unpacked and familiarized herself with the castle. Luna showed Twilight the castle’s nearby observatory dome, with a telescope with a cylinder large enough for Twilight to walk upright inside without her horn touching the upper surface. She also hanged out with Cadance and Shiny. But, both had official duties today and Twilight was left alone. Normally a good book could keep her mind occupied, but this day looked so beautiful. It was too beautiful to stay inside. Twilight saw the castle’s staff from skilled chefs to powerful guards, while off-duty, enjoying the warmth and sunshine, so why couldn’t she? She sighed before she heard a voice.

“Twilight come over and eat your breakfast.” Princess Celestia said. She walked over to the table and sat down next to the princess with a downcast look. “What’s wrong Twilight?” The Princess asked with genuine concern.
“It’s just that today is so beautiful. I want to check out the town just once. But I can’t, my flare may take me again and I lose even more time. I’m trapped by my FLARES!” Twilight couldn’t help burying her face in her forelegs and then started crying. She then felt the warmth of the Princess around her comforting her. And they both stayed that way for a few minutes as Twilight calmed down.
“I know it’s been hard for you Twilight. Being cooped up in the Castles prevents your flares, unless me or my sister was with you. Both of us have worked hard for a solution and thankfully we believe we have something that can give you some freedom till you’ve mastered your flares.” Twilight wipe her tears away and looked to the princess with hope.

“You have?” The alicorn nodded and walked back to her spot.

“We believe so. Luna worked well into the early morning to finish this.” Celestia picked up a torc in the glow of her yellow telekinesis and then presented it before Twilight. It was made of gold and looked like a much smaller version of Princess Celestia’s, but instead of a simple purple gem in the middle, it had a dark blue gem made to look like her cutie mark. “Put this on,” the Princess ordered. With a smile and a nod, Twilight took the torc in her purple telekinesis and then fitted it over her neck. It felt snug and she barely felt the weight.

“What does it do?” Twilight asked after she was finished messing with it.

“Two things, we’ve have tried enchanting it with a spell similar to what we have in the castles. This will allow you to cast low energy magical effects like levitation, while suppressing the chances of a flare, but there’s no guarantee. Thus, that is why we included a teleportation spell.  If you feel a flare coming on, just tapped the gem twice quickly and it will teleport you to the nearest castle. Now eat your breakfast and we’ll see if it works. If it does you can go into Ponyville for the day.”

‘To visit the town? To have some freedom? OH YES!’ Twilight nodded and digged in, as joy filled her mind again.



* * * * * *

After finishing their breakfast, Celestia then teleported them both to a wildflower covered meadow within a forest that appeared safer and felt more relaxing to Twilight’s mind than the Everfree.

“Where are we Princess?”

“This is Whitetail Woods. It looks like the Everfree that surrounds our vacation castle, but has none of the chaotic magic that Everfree endures. Now tap your collar as I instructed.” Twilight tapped the gem twice and she was enveloped in a light blue light. When it cleared she was in a room that was a simple but elegant bedroom with a large bed in it. A golden light appeared next to Twilight and she shielded her eyes. Soon the light disappeared and Princess Celestia was next to her. The princess looked at her with a smirk. “It seems our enchantment works in that at least. You can go to Ponyville. I’ll have a guard escort you through the forest.” Celestia lifted a saddlebag with Twilight’s cutie mark on it. “There are some bits in it for you to buy snacks or whatever fills your fantasy. There is also the latest Daring Do novel that your mother sent you. Now go enjoy yourself.” Twilight did the small, yes dance, but saying thank you instead of yes.

* * * * * *

For the record, the Everfree Forest is reealllly creepy, even when seen in Celestis’s warm sunlight and an armored stallion walking beside her. While walking on the road, Twilight noticed that the wild forest grew on both sides of the road to Ponyville, while the upper branches of tall trees created a green roof over the road itself. Why the Royal Sisters had constructed a castle in the Everfree, Twilight had no idea. For a pony whose contact with nature had been limited to Canterlot’s well manicured parks, the Chaos of the Everfree plants undisturbed by pony hooves was a bit nerve-wracking for the sheltered foal.

Thankfully they safely reached the outskirts of town. The guard, whose rank and name is sergeant major Maximum and has a guard shed for a cutie mark, took his leave saying in a Whinnyapolis accent that he’d be in the Town Hall when she was ready to leave. With that Twilight walked all around the town reveling in the freedom she now had regained. Twilight loved the rustic appearance of the town’s half-timbered homes and businesses, while the majority of the ponies Twilight saw were Earth ponies, unlike Canterlot where the majority of the ponies are unicorn ponies.

She was looking upward at a well done cloud house when she ran into some pony. Twilight shook her head and looked at the pink mare. “Oh I’m sorry.” Twilight replied looking up to the mare. The mare in question looked at her bugged eyed before somehow jumping into the air and staying there for a few seconds before gasping and disappeared in a cloud of dust.

‘Well, that was a weird pony, and fast to.’ Twilight continued her journey and noted a few key buildings, like a house fully adorned as a gingerbread house. ‘Must be the candy store; I’ll have to check that out later.’ Twilight smiled at a building that looked like a white carousel and was puzzled at one that was literally made out of a living tree. The sign said Golden Oaks Library. She just had to check the place out. She walked in and saw a cozy little library that appeared bigger inside than it was on the outside. As a resident of the royal castle, twilight had stopped questioning how pony engineers could fit a sixty foot indoor space within thirty feet of exterior walls. It seemed well stocked, but the place was also a tad dusty.

“Hello?” She asked but after a minute got no response. From the look of things there was no librarian for the town. With a bit of sadness at that fact she left the library and strolled through town a bit more. Her stomach grumbled so she decided to head for the market area for some fresh food.

Twilight looked around the stalls and saw many different veggies and fruits but one stall caught her eye. An apple stand. She trotted up to it and the vendor greeted her.

“Well howdy miss.” The orange furred mare with a cowboy hat said with a smile. “Care to try a Sweet Apple Acre apple?” Twilight nodded.

“They look tasty.”

“Well our apples are among da best in Equestria. Dat be one bit.” Twilight handed over a bit and was handed an apple. Taking it in her magical grip, she took a bite and oh my, was it the most delicious apple she ever had.

“Say, shouldn’t ya be in school right now?”  That hit home to Twilight. She had loved school, except for magic kindergarten. But, ever since the flare she hasn’t been in school.

She looked down to the ground and answered sadly. “Couldn’t go to school, couldn’t even go out till today. It was too dangerous.” She didn’t want to think on that more so she did a polite smile. “Good apple though, thank you. Have a pleasant day.” Twilight said as she walked away eating the apple.

“And a good day to you.” The mare said with a look of concern in her eyes.

* * * * * *

Twilight spent the next couple hours reading in a streamside park enjoying both the book and the outside. But her tummy complained since she only had an apple, hours earlier. She decided to check out that candy looking place. Putting her book away she headed back into town.

She noticed how much more quiet the town was at this time of day. But she was born and raised in Canterlot, not a farming community like Ponyville. She finally reached the candy looking store. The sign above the store said ‘Sugarcube Corner’.
‘Cute name,’ Twilight thought as she stepped in. It was surprisingly dark but before she knew it.

“SURPRISE!” Several voices shouted and the lights turned on and confetti was blown into the air. Twilight soon followed them before being caught by a pink mare.

“Hi I’m Pinkie pie and I threw this party just for you because I haven’t seen you before and if I haven’t seen you before you must be new to town. And if you’re new to town you haven’t had a welcome to Ponyville party so I threw one.”

‘Did she even breathe during that?’ Twilight thought to herself.

“Uh, Hi, I’m Twilight Sparkle. I’m....I’m gonna get a bite to eat.”

“Okie dokie loki, the cake is over there.” Pinkie said and hopped away and Twilight went and got a slice.
After some games Twilight got another slice of cake, a glass of good milk, and then found a corner to sit and eat. She saw another pony, a Pegasus with light yellow fur and a pink mane, but the Pegasus didn’t really respond to her. So Twilight just shrugged to herself, and then ate her cake while washing it down with her glass of milk.

“Hey Flutters there you are. Why are you hiding in the corner? You know most of these ponies,” said a cyan colored Pegasus with a mane colored like a rainbow.

“Sorry. There is just so many here.”

“It’s a Pinkie Party, of course there’s going to be a lot of ponies just because she made it.”

“Are her parties that popular?” Twilight asked.

“Yeah, she throws them often and always brings her A Game. This party must be for you if you didn’t know that.” The cyan Pegasus extended a hoof. “I’m Rainbow Dash, the fastest flier in Equestria. You heard of me?” Twilight shook the hoof.

“Twilight Sparkle and no I haven’t. I’ve been gone for some time.”

“Well, look who’s makin some friends.” Twilight looked over and saw the mare from the apple stand again. “You let so quickly I’d nevar gave ya my name. I’m Applejack.”

“Twilight Sparkle.”

“You met her already AJ?” Rainbow Dash asked.

“She came to my stall earlier today. I’m sorry if I made ya uncomfortable earlier. I wanted to introduce you to my little sister Apple Bloom, but I lost her somewhere in here.”

“It’s okay. I just rather not talk about it.”

“Okay Sugar.”

“Oh there you are Darling!” A voice that reminded Twilight of Canterlot’s upper class ponies said who was a white furred unicorn with a stylish purple mane and tail.

“I’ve been searching for you. It’s unlady like to not greet the guess of honor. My name is Rarity and I own the Carousel Boutique where everything is chic, unique, and magnifique.” Twilight again gave her name and Rarity continued. “My, that is a lovely torc. Where did you get such a lovely item?” Rarity reached for the torc and Twilight freaked out with fear. She batted the hoof away and curled in.

“DON’T TOUCH! PLEASE don’t touch. I don’t want to go away again.” She started to feel a flare coming and she tapped the gem twice and with a flash she was back in the castle. She looked around to see it was princess Celestia’s room. She saw the white alicorn lounging on a couch.

“Twilight, are you alright?”

“Sorry Princess, I was at a party and a pony tried to touch my torc and I was scared and I started to flare…” Twilight then felt herself hugged by the Princess.

“Ssssshhhhhh. It’s okay Twilight. That’s what the torc was designed for. It’s okay to be scared. You’ve suffered too much already. You are safe here. The Torc worked as planned.” Both remain silent for the next few minutes. During which Celestia lowered the sun and felt her sister raised the moon.  ”Twilight you said you were at a party?”Wiping tears from her eyes before answering.

“Yes, some pony named Pinkie Pie threw one for me.” Princess Celestia chuckled at that.

“Oh yes, ever since she moved into Ponyville it has become more lively. Both me and Luna rather enjoy those parties. Speaking of my sister. I do believe you need to thank her right?” Twilight nodded. “Well, she said she was going to be on the Organ to Outside tonight before Night Court. Why don’t you go to her?”

Twilight left the Princess’s room and went to the Organ room. She found it days ago to kill time, so she knew the way. It didn’t take long for her to hear the organ. It was haunting yet beautiful to her ears. Soon she got to the room and saw the lunar princess playing on it. She approached Princess Luna.

“Excuse me Princess.” She said loud enough to be heard over the organ. The princess quickly looked over to her and Twilight swore her eyes were dragonic for a second there before she saw the teal eyes fill with joy.

“Twilight Sparkle! I see you are wearing the torc. Do you like it?”

“Yes it’s comfortable and I was able to enjoy Ponyville. At least till I got scared that somepony wanted to touch it. And it teleported me back went I started flaring from my fears. Thank you for making it.”

“No thanks needed Twilight. I was happy to make it for you. Good to know it works. But did you at least enjoy your time in town?”

“Yes, they even threw me a party!”

“Ah that be Pinkie Pie for you. Well now that you are here would you like to listen to some more music?”

“Yes please. What you played earlier was so beautiful.”

“Then you shall experience the Music of the Night!”

Luna played several songs with the last being Come Little Children when she looked over and notice Twilight sleeping against her side. This caused Luna to smile and she carefully extended her tail and absorbed Twilight into it before going full smoke form and headed to Twilight’s room. Once there she reformed herself and laid Twilight on her bed. Removing the torc and tucking the filly in. She kissed Twilight on the forehead.

“Goodnight Twilight. My filly of the night.”
* * * * * * *
Meanwhile back at the party.

The filly disappeared in a flash of light with a soft popping sound after tapping the gem in her torc.
“What in tarnation happened!?” Applejack asked. Rarity thought hard on what she saw, heard, and felt magically. She came to a conclusion.

“I think young Twilight is a flare.” She stated.

“What in the hay is that?” Rainbow asked.

“It’s a very rare condition for unicorns. When we are born it is common for newborn foals to have magic surges. Flares are unicorns that still have that even when they are older. As their magic increases so does the strength of the Flare. I fear poor Twilight is suffering from this and it seems she has powerful magic, much more powerful than most adult unicorns. Such flare magic is unpredictable and can ever appear to have a will to do crazy things.”

“Like what crazy things?” Rainbow inquired.

“A flare can crate spontaneous spells unknown to the unicorn’s mind, like turning two ponies into potted houseplants like what happen in Celestia’s school years ago. Oh I feel so horrid. She must have suffered badly from her condition and that torc, a rather wonderfully crafted item, must help in some way. I simply must make it up to her.”

“Well, how can we help?” Applejack asked. Rarity looked around and saw Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, and even a smiling Pinkie Pie (wasn’t she was on the other side of the party hall just seconds ago?) looking eager to help. The lightbulb went off.

“IIIIIDDDDEEEAAA!”

* * * * * * *

Celestia had completed writing an important diplomatic letter, sending it using her magic. Then, she was about to put herself into her oversized bed, well oversized for most ponies anyway, when she facehoofed. “Darn, I forget to send a guard to return Maximum to the castle.” Taking her purse, she vanished away in a flash. Pony historians now believe that Celestia’s mistake was less about forgetfulness and more for an excuse to eat delicious Sugarcube Corner cake.