//------------------------------// // Chapter 1 // Story: Twilight's little princess problem // by sakuralovelight //------------------------------// It was a cold winter day in Canterlot, and Princess Celestia was heading to her school along with her faithful student, Twilight Sparkle. To which said the student was very excited about what was happening. Today was midterm exams and Princess Celestia thought that Twilight could be a good example for the young fillies and colts who were turning in their final exam projects. “Princess Celestia I can’t believe you’re having me accompany you during the midterm exams!" Twilight smiled gratefully, normally any type of exam made Twilight worried to various extents. But since she wasn't the one taking the exams, she was fine and can't wait to see what will happen. But Princess Celestia was thinking about the upcoming summer of the 1000 Summer's Sun Celebration; the very same celebration that celebrates the time she sent her sister to the moon because she did not see that her sister needed her. The guilt still eating at her with every day that passes. But this Summer's Sun Celebration was different. Because this one is the one where her sister will come back but not as Princess Luna at first, but Nightmare Moon. She hoped that Twilight will be ready when she comes and will be able to turn Nightmare Moon back into Princess Luna. Luckily for her, she was able to catch what Twilight just said. Celestia mirrored her smile. “But of course, my most faithful student can join me! After all, this midterm exam. It is a little bit different than any other midterm that we have done before. We’re trying something new…With this group of students.” Twilight started getting all giddy and excited about this new form of exams at Celestia School for Gifted Unicorns. “You mean the one where students tried to make a technology item? To which the goal to have it work with a spell that they learned so far?” Celestia nodded, “That’s right. Who knows what new findings we can have with the mixture of technologies and spells put together? And with such bright minds and young thoughts to bring out new ideas and such. We might be able to make Equestria even better than it is now.” Twilight just nodded and continued walking to school with Princess Celestia. The two made it to the classroom where is Professor Bright Mind. “Ah, Princess Celestia and Twilight Sparkle. So glad you to come to our midterm exams." He greeted pleasantly. Princess Celestia chuckled at that, “Well, we are trying something new at the school and I couldn’t resist seeing what will happen.” Bright Mind nodded at her statement with a smile on his face. Just then, they heard two ponies arguing nearby. “Oh no," Bright Mind groaned. "Not the 'Time Twins' again.” Princess Celestia and Twilight gave each other confused glances as Princess Celestia spoke up, “Um, pardon me Bright Mind, but who are the 'Time Twins'?” Bright Mind gave an anxious look and grabbed a handkerchief out of nowhere, wiping his forehead with it. “Oh, my apologies Princess! The Time Twins are a pair of twins who like competing with each other. One of them is named Past Time, and the other one is named Future Time.” Both Princess Celestia and Twilight just nodded their heads to him, but Twilight is a little bit worried from hearing about it. “I see...Is there going to be a problem with the exams?” Bright Mind just shook his head and gave Twilight the best smile he could manage; even though he was worried himself. “Well, most times we just let them do their presentations at the same time. It gets them distracted, and it’s normally safe when we do that with these two. Let’s just hope it goes smoothly again like normal.” Princess Celestia gave Bright Mind a skeptical look, “I thought when the students give out presentations during the midterm or finals, each student goes one at a time. Why would you have two go at the same time? Isn’t that a little dangerous?” Bright Mind gave Princess Celestia a blank expression, “Trust me, Princess Celestia, it is more dangerous to have those two go at separate times. Then, at the same time, they have been students here for up about three years now and I have learned it the hard way: giving them the exams. Or presentations at different times, it’s a bad idea. We even try putting them in separate classes, but it ends up them complaining that the others getting a better education than the other. They can sense when the other uses their magic. So if one class is having it where they are doing some type of magic tests, the other will know and think that the others are getting a better education and more practice with their magic. Trust me, it is not pretty. So~ we just have it this way with those two.” Princess Celestia and Twilight just gave him a terrified look but nodded their heads. That is until Princess Celestia regained her composure and gave a small cough, “Well, why don’t we start with those two first so then we can get them done without having to worry about them destroying each other’s projects?” Bright Mind was smiling happily at Princess Celestia, “That’s the spirit, Princess! We always start with those two when we do projects or magic tests with their class. Follow me, and we can get started.” The three walked up to the two little colts. “Hello, boys. Princess Celestia and her student are here to watch you perform your projects. So what great magical discovery with technology take you to come up with?” The Time Twins look exactly alike: white coats, brown mane, and tails with sapphire eyes. Even their cutie marks were almost identical. Each one has an hourglass. The only difference is one hourglass was blue while the other was red. The colt with the blue hourglass was the first one to speak, “Greetings my ladies. My name is Past Time. My magical invention is a device that works with some pony's magic frequency to allow them to conduct an age reduction spell; which will help turn expired food into fresh food as if they were just made yesterday. Shops and markets will be able to take their expired produce and freshen them up; therefore will not need to worry about wasting perfectly good food. Or if there comes a shortage, we don’t have to worry about that needed food being wasted. Like for wars or famine or droughts.” Just then, his brother pushed him away, “My name is Future Time, and my project is a device that can help transfer spells to other ponies. This way, a family spells and style of magic can be passed down through generations much easier without the need to practice or trained the unicorns to know the family spell.” Both ideas were very interesting, but Twilight preferred Past Time’s idea over Future Time’s; she thinks unicorns should work for the spell that they use, not get an easy shortcut. Princess Celestia was thinking the same thing, but she was also thinking if Blueblood heard about Future Time's spell invention. He would probably never stop bothering to get all of her spells so he could just misuse use them or brag that he can do the same things she can. She made a mental note to get his copies of the blueprints and destroy them along with the machine in hopes that this never comes out of the classroom. “That sounds very interesting mind showing us how they work?” Asked Princess Celestia. The two nodded their heads and began focusing their magic on their own devices. Everything seemed to be going well until both of them at the same time thought it was a good idea to focus a little bit of their magic into their sibling's invention. In hopes to sabotage the others sibling’s project which cost both machines to malfunction, the magic from both devices merged into one bouncing off the walls. Everypony was screaming in panic as they were trying to get away from the ball of magic and the ball of energy was now heading towards Twilight. “Twilight, watch out!” Before the magic could hit Twilight, Princess Celestia came in between Twilight and the spell. As soon as Princess Celestia got between the two she began to cast a shield spell. Unfortunately, she was not quick enough and was hit by the ball of magic. Twilight panicked, “Princess Celestia!!!” Just then, near the climax of the spell of beam came out of it, heading toward the nearest thing around Princess Celestia. To which said spell was making her feel as she did when she had her magic flared during the entrance exam back when she was a filly. When the magic finally subsided there was a lot of smoke. Everypony was either looking at the current technology, the two colts, or where Princess Celestia and Twilight were.