//------------------------------// // Twitchy Tail // Story: Among Luna's Stars // by LadyofSorrows //------------------------------// Twilight sat looking through her telescope at the stars. She was tired from a long day of reading, and of course the impromptu party to celebrate Pinkie’s thousandth party. The only reason she was not in her bed right now can be blamed on the meteor she had seen. She was hoping to catch another, but it was not looking to promising for Twilight. She lifted her head from the lens, and caped both before taking one last look at the night sky. “Thanks for the show Princess.” Twilight doubted Luna could hear it, but if she could it would boost the Princess of the Night just a little. Twilight could never understand how anypony could shun the night. Yet one thousand years ago things could have been different from now, all history now, and Luna was adjusting remarkably well since Nightmare Night. Twilight had to smile remembering the letter from Princess Celestia shedding a little light on her younger sisters attempts to make friends with some of the palace staff. It was vague, but Celestia was happy to say it was a success. Twilight pulled back her covers with her magic, but the crinkle of paper stopped her, and levitating the parchment from underneath the fold she smiled seeing the crayon drawing of herself sitting at a desk like Cheerilee. She remembered that a young foal at the party gave it to her since she gave a small lecture about stars the day before at the request of the elementary teacher. She levitated it over to her already stacked desk and laid it on top. Twilight crawled into bed and pulled the covers up, the snoring from Spike remarkably putting her on the fast track to sleep, she just closed her eyes when a rumbling shook her home. Instantly her eyes were open and looking towards her window she saw huge flaming streaks passing over and more rumblings that shook her home. Horn alight she threw the covers aside as she galloped back out on her balcony. Parts of the Everfree Forest were ablaze, nothing too close, but a loud whoosh and bright flame light caused her head to jerk to look and a large piece of flaming whatever slammed into the edge of the Everfree Forest near Fluttershy’s cottage. This shook the library tree violently, knocking things off shelves in her room, and she could hear one or two bookshelves fall downstairs. Lights were coming on all over Ponyville as shrieks of frightened foals joined in with shouts from parents, ponies where coming out, looking around they could see the glow of fires coming from the forest, and questions were being thrown around as groups began to form in the streets. Twilight was torn away from the scene by a semi frightened voice. “T…Twilight…why is the floor shaking?” Twilight looked at Spike hunkered down in his basket his face and eyes visible. Twilight moved over and placing a gentle hoof on Spike she answered; “Something fell out of the sky, I don't know what it is, but pieces of it have been hitting the ground. I need you to take a letter Spike; the princess needs to know that Ponyville is okay. I promise you will be safe, but we need to check on Fluttershy once you send the message.” Fluttershy opened her eyes in a room with the sky lighting up with the dawn. Pinkie Pie was snoozing with her head on the bed. Fluttershy felt the dull pain in her right side. She lifted her head to look at her side noticing just singe marks on her fur and feathers. She was ever so grateful considering the circumstances. Fluttershy lay her head back on the pillow her attention drifting back to Pinkie. The now open eyes of Pinkie looked back at her getting ever wider by the second. Fluttershy shuddered with soft “eep.” Pinkie shot up into the air, Fluttershy tried to retreat back towards the headboard. She was denied by two pink fore hooves pulling her back into a tight hug. “Ohmygoshyourawake...” Fluttershy did her best to relax; even if her friend was vibrating like a spring under tension, and she was in a hospital. The latter she could really do without since being in the hospital meant no one to take care of her animals. If no one took care of them they could starve. This was making her anxious again, but another voice cut in which made Fluttershy calm down. “Pinkie you should probably let her go now.” Rainbow Dash came into Fluttershy’s field of vision after Pinkie let go, and moved to stand back beside the bed rather than on it. Fluttershy resettled the pillows so she could stay sitting up; “Umm…Pinkie…Dash…what happened….after I was knocked out…” Rainbow Dash waived a hoof at Pinkie; “Well you kind of owe Pinkie Pie, her Pinkie Sense had her out getting me up before anything started falling. When the big one hit near your house, I was already on my way back from Cloudsdale with rain. I found you being hauled off by that bear you take care of, he was hard to convince to let me take you to the hospital, but I managed to distract him while Lyra pulled you away. “ Fluttershy smiled softly; “He is such a nice bear…I will have to thank him later…and thank you Pinkie for helping everypony out. I’m sure all my animals are okay…I was trying to get them away from the forest after the little pieces started hitting. I was helping some birds with their little ones when I was thrown by a heavy gust of hot air.” Fluttershy gasped; “Oh Angel will be worried about me…” Pinkie ducked below the edge of the bed, and then popped up holding a grumpy looking Angel. “Nope…I brought him here when I came. I figured it would be harder considering he can be such a Grumpy McGrumpy pants around anypony but you.” Angel was set down on the bed, and he turned to glare at the pink pony. Pinkie only giggled, and Angel crossed his front paws. His stern pose was interrupted by Fluttershy swooping him up in her front hooves. He just took the cuddling like a champ even if Rainbow was smirking about the whole scene. Cecilia groaned as she regained consciousness. Pushing herself up off the floor, she shook her head to clear her vision, and surveying her flight deck littered with shattered crystals and cables. A spot where she had been laying had blood on it, but she found what she was looking for. A large dark brown egg, and getting to her feet she walked over to pick it up. “Good job Yulee, when you hatch out again it’s a bushel of carrots. However, I guess that means I have to cut my way out of here." Cecilia found her uniform jacket and using it to make a crude backpack. Slipping the egg in and with her hands now free she stepped to the curving wall. With a deep breath she began channeling power to her right hand claws. When her hand glowed a bright blue she slashed downward send an arc through the crystal wall easily. With a few more cuts the wall fell inward to shatter. Cecilia stepped out of the way, and walking out into the crater she looked up at the rim of it to see she was being watched by three white miniature horses clad in golden armor. One of said horses had a horn which was glowing a pale green. Cecilia figured she would have this discussion later, but she was quite uncomfortable with them having the high ground. “My name is Cecilia Barnum, to what government do you serve?” Cecilia looked between the three of them hoping for an answer. She could tell they understood her, but their silence was not helping the situation. She needed them to speak. The guards stiffened their poses. The two pegasi guards spreading their wings in preparation. Cecilia heard the crunch of soil; her ear turning on her left side in time to pick it up better. Years of training taught her not to turn immediately to the sound though instinct screamed at her to do just that. Twilight looked at the odd creature facing the guards; clearly civilized given the clothing. Cecilia also possessed powerful technology given what she just came out of. What confused Twilight was the species. She didn’t know many cats that could walk upright on two legs, or look like Cecilia. Twilight looked at the ear pointing her direction, and she knew that Cecilia knew that she was in her blind spot. Twilight took a deep breath; “To answer your question, Cecilia Barnum, they serve Equestria and its Princesses. If you don’t mind them escorting us, I would like to take you back to my library, and perhaps ask a few questions.” Cecilia turned her head slightly to put Twilight into her corner vision; “I would like nothing better than to get out of this hole, I am quite thirsty, and would like a mirror to properly check myself for injuries.” Twilight nodded and started up the side of the crater; “Well, I don’t have much more than a first aid kit for ponies. I can provide as much water as you need.” Cecilia felt great once she climbed out of the hole; “That sounds great Miss Sparkle.” Twilight stopped and looked back as Cecilia froze in her tracks. Twilight's question already hitting her ears. “I don’t remember introducing myself to you Cecilia. How do you know my name?” The questioning look of her eyes with a hint of caution only made Cecilia swear. Cecilia just started walking forward speaking as she did; “It's a long story...” Cecilia stopped as a lavender hoof blocked her path. She looked to the side and down slightly at Twilight who was wearing a smirk. "I have plenty of time Cecilia." Cecilia looked back up at the sky; "I was afraid of that." Author’s notes: I’m well aware I was few on details about Cecilia, I was going to have Cecilia explain it more when they get to Twilight’s library. I tried to split the paragraphs up and separate the speech parts as I have seen it done in other postings here. Any and all comments for improvement are welcome. Hopefully you enjoy it.