//------------------------------// // Common Era Chapter Twenty-one/MLP Season Four Chapter One: Princess Twilight Sparkle Part One // Story: Return Of The Lunar Knight: A Sharp Sword's Knight // by Moonlit Novel //------------------------------// Author's Notes: Thanks to Deadinlight for beta-reading and helping me edit Common Era Chapter Twenty-one/MLP Season Four Chapter One: Princess Twilight Sparkle Part One “Check, check, check, check, and... check! Huh, whaddaya know? We're way ahead of schedule! I credit your extremely competent assistant.” said Spike trying in his own way to cheer Twilight up, the new princess was missing her friends who were still in Ponyville. She grinned in response. “So do I.” “The Celebration isn't until the day after tomorrow. We could still fit in a quick trip to Ponyville and be back in plenty of time to finish off these last few things before the main event!” said the young dragon and Twilight sighed at his enthusiasm. “That would be nice, Spike, but what if something else came up while we were gone? What if we were delayed getting back and I wasn't able to finish everything on that list? What if we lost the list on the way to Ponyville and then couldn't remember which things we'd done and which things we hadn't done, and then spent so much time trying to figure out what we hadn't done and what we had done, and we ruined the entire Celebration by not doing the one really important thing that we were supposed to do?!” se fell to the ground with a thud upon finishing her tirade. “Uh... so that's a 'no' then?” “These are the first royal duties Princess Celestia has given me. I can't risk letting her down!” said the newest princess while staring at her ‘number one assistant’ sternly. “And I'm sure you won't.” came the surprising reply from Celestia and both Spike and Twilight turned and bowed to her in surprise, “No need for that now, Princess Twilight.” “Sorry.” “Geez, princess, you’d think you were still part of the common rabble” teased Masao as he and Luna walked into the room, Sharp Sword having decided to get some sleep before she had to report for duty. “MASAO!” said the purple alicorn as she jumped him, nearly knocking him over as she hugged him. Masao for his part was very uncomfortable with how she had just acted, but said nothing as Luna used her magic to pry the newest alicorn off of him. “Calm thyself, Princess Twilight” “I must admit that it is wonderful to actually be looking forward to the Summer Sun Celebration.” said Celestia much to the astonishment of Twilight and Luna. However Masao nodded in agreement for his part. “What do you mean?” asked Twilight and Luna echoed the question “For my subjects, it has always been a celebration of my defeat of Nightmare Moon. But for Masao and I…” Celestia sighed, “It was just a terrible reminder that I'd had to banish my own sister, and for Masao, a close friend, now lover” “I guess I never really thought about it that way.” said Twilight which made Masao and Celestia smile. “I wouldn’t have expected you to, my Dear Student” said Masao with a smile as he ruffled the new princess’s mane. “But now it has become a wonderful reminder of her transformation back into Princess Luna,” at that Luna managed to quite obviously ‘sneak’ a kiss onto Masao’s cheek, “and our happy reunion. I am so pleased that you will be playing a role in the festivities. I know it must have been difficult to see your friends return to Ponyville without you.” said the Solar Triarch and Masao simply messed Twilight’s hair once more before leaving the room stopping at the door for a moment. “Twilight, I will not be available this month, something came up that demands my attention and I must handle it. If any of you need me, have Discord deliver the message himself” said the Lunar Knight, and for a moment one could see him channeling the darkness within him. Whatever it was, was truly upsetting him. “You may no longer be my student, Princess Twilight, but I hope you know that I will always be here if you need me. Just as I hope that you will always be there when I need you.” said Celestia a little confused as to the reason for Masao’s comment, was her sister and Sharp Sword not enough? No she wasn’t going to assume, but Twilight’s reaction when he entered the room… “You two, you’re coming with me” said Masao bringing Celestia back to the present, and she noticed two bat ponies give a slight bow before heading off to gear up, it seemed that the clan that Masao had brought back with him had successfully integrated themselves into the guard. As her sister and Masao left Celestia turned to look at Twilight she saw the newest alicorn receive a message via a messenger pony. “A letter from Ponyville, I presume?” she asked and Twilight put the letter away. “Never mind. It's not important. Spike, where were we?” was Twilight’s reply, and when Spike suggested that they call it a night Twilight gave a soft smile, “We should probably go over the checklist one more time.” “I knew you were gonna say that…” was the downtrodden dragon’s response. “I'll leave you to it” with that Celestia left the duo and was walking down the hall when something wrapped around her hooves and quickly pulled her out of the castle seemingly avoiding the guards of the castle… - - - The next… No that day the sun did not rise, as Twilight rose from her bed she looked at the time and was shocked to say the least. She soon started to search the missing princesses when she was ‘cornered’ by two of the castle guards who had also been searching. “Your Highness, you must come with us.” said the guard and the door slammed behind the duo as the guards ushered them inside. “It's Princess Luna and Princess Celestia.” said the guard gaining Twilight’s attention, only for them to gasp in response at the second guard’s exclamation. “They're gone!” - - - Having received a message about the princesses being captured by forces unknown, Masao had to grit his teeth and continue with his personal mission. With him were four of the best of the Lunar Guard, and he had to ensure, if he could, that Tirek never gained enough power to attack Equestria. “Grand Elder! We should go back to the castle! The princesses—” “Are missing, and all the guard there are already looking, you four are the best in the Lunar Guard, but even five more sets of eyes, mine included, will not find the princesses any faster. No we continue, we chase an enemy of unparalleled evil” said Masao calmly as the magical chariot that he rode in stood there in the air, the group having stopped as soon as they received the news from Discord, whom Twilight had sent to inform him of the plight. “So should I tell the newbie that she’s on her own then?” asked Discord and Masao glared at him for a moment before his eyes softened. “I know she will not be on her own, she has her friends and she also has you to help guide her in my stead” “I suppose I could watch her, but you owe me! I think there is a few—” “Go, Discord, I have a bad guy to find and you have a mess that you need to clean up” - - - “Winter Wrap Up, Winter Wrap-ooh!” sang Discord as he was poofed into the company of Twilight and friends he managed to conjure a shower to make it seem like he was in the bath at that moment in time. “Now, Twilight, you know Princess Celestia said that you were to give me a heads up before you summon me with that little spell she gave you. In case you haven't noticed, I was in the middle of a particularly invigorating shower.” he said admonishingly and Twilight scowled at him. “E-nough! Release Princess Celestia and Princess Luna, and stop the Everfree Forest from invading!” said the only alicorn in Ponyville making Discord frown at her. “First you demand that I delieve a message to that human Masao. Speaking of which he received it, but is intending on continuing on that mission of his. He said to tell you that he trusts in your ability to bring this crisis to a final end. and now you accuse me of what ever is wrong!” said the draconequus annoyed at the group of ponies in front of him. “Don't you play dumb with us, Discord! We know you're the one behind all of this!” argued Applejack making Discord grin before responding. “Don't get me wrong. I absolutely love what you've done with the place, but I couldn't possibly take responsibility. I'm reformed, don't you remember?” “Yeah, right! This has got your cloven hoofprints all over it!” argued Rainbow Dash much to Discord’s chagrin. “I'll have you know that I have only one cloven hoof. Such accusations. And here I thought we were friends.” he replied only to be accosted by Pinkie Pie who in turn accused him of ying. “ Ladies, ladies, I'm innocent. Would I lie to you?” and every one of the mares except Fluttershy yelled yes, Fluttershy however responded with a maybe. As the ponies started talking about blasting him back into stone Fluttershy flew between them and Discord “Hey! We can't do that! What if he really is telling the truth?” “Well, finally! Somepony willing to give me the benefit of the doubt. The rest of you could learn a lot about friendship from my dear friend Shutterfly here.” said Discord as he motioned to Fluttershy. “Um, it's Fluttershy.” “Oh, right, whatever.” As he dismissed them, he did point them in the direction of someone who could help them, the zebra Zecora…