//------------------------------// // Chapter One ~ Big News // Story: Treaty Between Lands // by Harmony Note //------------------------------// It was a beautiful morning in Ponyville. As the sun rose over the castle, Twilight was already awake. Spike was still sleeping, but she didn't wish to bother him. The reason Twilight had been up so early was because the princesses requested her presence in Canterlot first thing today. Still half-asleep, Twilight decided to take the train since her wings weren't quite awake with her yet. She left her castle, and then went down to the train station. As Twilight boarded the train, she wondered what the princesses needed her for. Twilight sighed, "What could the princesses need me for? It must be really important if they're asking me to come at the crack of dawn. I wish I had my friends to keep me company...but the princesses orders must be respected." as she wondered what the emergency was, she kept panicking over it. Had Tirek returned? Did Discord become evil again? Has the Bug Bear come back? There was only one way to find out, and she had finally arrived at the Canterlot train station. "Canterlot train station! Last stop!" the conductor yelled. Twilight hopped off the train-car she was on, and landed on the platform. She walked away until she reached the heart of the city. "Oh, great...I need to get my barrings. Next time I need to come up with some kind of time-schedule with Princess Celestia. It's like a maze in Canterlot when you're exhausted...maybe I shouldn't have stayed up studying strange animals in the EverFree Forest." Twilight groaned tiredly and kept walking towards the castle once she found her way. Once Twilight had reached the castle, she immediately ran inside to the throne room. It seemed like all the other halls were dimmed or had no light. Twilight gulped, "Hello? Princess Celestia? Are you here? Luna?" she didn't get a reply, "Cadance?" beginning to worry, Twilight used her magic to light the way. She began to navigate the hallways of Canterlot Castle. "Wow. It's been so long since I walked around the palace. This isn't much better than the city, but at least it's almost day time so I can see where I'm going." Twilight paused, "Wait a minute...'almost day time'! That means Celestia should be raising the sun! But...where? Maybe I should just wait in the throne room...if I can find my way back." Twilight began roaming the halls yet again. She ran into a guard she was familiar with, one of Luna's. "Oh, hey! Nightfury!" Nightfury turned around, "Oh, hello Twilight! What are you doing here?" "The princesses requested that I come to Canterlot this morning, but I kinda lost my way for not being here in so long. Could you direct me to the throne room, please?" Twilight asked. "Oh, sure! Just go down the rest of this hall, take a left, and keep going straight, and you're there." Nightfury smiled. Twilight remarked, "Thanks, Nightfury!" she trotted away down the hall. "Anytime!" Nightfury continued his patrolling duties. Twilight made it to the throne room, and by time she made it back, the princesses were already sitting on their thrones. Shining Armor stood on the side of Cadance's throne. All of them had been waiting for her. "Princess Celestia, I'm so sorry if I was late, I forgot where I was going." Twilight explained. Cadance replied, "It's alright, Twilight. You were only three minutes behind. Celestia, didn't you have news for her?" "Oh, yes...Twilight, you know of Griffonstone, correct?" Princess Celestia questioned. Twilight grinned, "Of course I do! I especially love their griffon scones! I've had them imported before, but I have never actually been to Griffonstone myself." Princess Celestia continued, "Well, I hope you enjoy Griffonstone and it's qualities...because..." "Because what?" Twilight began to get worried. The princess turned to Luna and chuckled nervously, "Luna, why don't you explain?" "That is rather polite of you, dear sister, but I believe Cadance has the honor of doing so." Luna responded. Shining Armor grunted, "Oh, for crying out loud! I'll tell her!" "Tell me what? What's going on?" Twilight questioned. "Prince Talon has been rescued by a few of his griffon guards after being stranded on a mountain with an injured wing. With King Guto gone, Talon is his son, and is the heir to the throne of Griffonstone. Since Prince Talon is in charge now, he had threatened to invade Equestria and take all of its gold and riches as a revenge plan for us attacking them back in our history. He wants to avenge his ancestors which is completely unnecessary since we made peace with Griffonstone already. Talon doesn't think it's foolish and wishes to strike us anyway. Celestia and Luna tried to reason with him a few days ago in a meeting, but he would only accept one peace-offering to leave Equestria alone." Shining Armor said. Twilight looked at him, "And that one thing would be?" "A-A wife." Shining Armor stated. Twilight laughed, "That's all? Well, who is he marrying? I could plan it out and organize it if you want, really, it's no trouble at--" Shining Armor stopped her, "That won't be possible Twilight...because, it's your wedding..." "M-My wedding? What?! You can't be serious! Please, tell me this is a joke!" Twilight shouted. Princess Celestia frowned, "Unfortunately, it is not. As a Princess of Equestria, it is your duty to marry this griffon and move to Griffonstone along with him. If not, a war will breakout and both the griffons and ponies will battle. If you don't do this, everypony will be endangered. Children, families, even your friends." Twilight was really upset, "I guess I understand, but if I move to Griffonstone, doesn't that mean I'll never see my friends again?" There was a moment of silence, then Cadance spoke, "That's the way it has to be, Twilight, and we are all very sorry. But Celestia and Luna need to rule together or balance will be destroyed in Equestria, and your brother and I are already married. You are the only possible mare to unite our countries and make peace." Twilight began to shed tears and her voice broke, "W-When does the wedding take place?" "The wedding is to be held in four days here in Canterlot, but the reception is in Griffonstone, and you'll never be able to return once you leave. You can of course write to us and your friends, but you won't be allowed to see them physically." Princess Luna answered. "Why won't I be able to?" Twilight questioned. Princess Luna responded, "If you come back to Equestria, the treaty will be broken, and a battle will spread. That's the deal Celestia and I made with the griffons. I'm sorry, Twilight, but it is the only way our subjects will be safe." Twilight's voice sounded like it was breaking up again, "I-I understand...I need to be alone for a while..." "Very well, Twilight. Just return to the throne room tonight. That is when Prince Talon is arriving for dinner." Celestia mentioned. Twilight asked, "Dinner?" "We figured it was a bit unfair to just jump straight into a wedding, so we convinced Prince Talon that you two should get to know each other better." Cadance replied. "Alright..." Twilight sighed and then flew back to Ponyville in her castle. Princess Cadance frowned once she left, "I feel really bad for her...no pony should have to be forced into marriage. Especially if it isn't for love." "In time I'm sure she'll grow on Prince Talon. He is about her age, he was lost in the mountains on an expedition only a few years ago." Princess Luna reminded them. Princess Celestia smiled, "Do not worry about Twilight. She isn't even married yet. I'm sure that she'll have a plan once she is. She is our Twilight, after all." Shining Armor also smiled, "Yeah, Twily always has an idea." "Maybe it is better if we don't worry about it too much." Cadance agreed. Princess Celestia asked, "Who wants some morning tea?" They all muttered in agreement and began walking towards the garden to have some tea and teacakes. Twilight was crying in her bedroom. "I can't...I don't know how I can go through with this...I don't want to marry somepony I don't love...even if we are having dinner later tonight. Plus, I'll be leaving my friends...I'll never see them again..." "Twilight?" a voice called out. "Twilight, what's wrong?" it was Spike. "Spike!" Twilight quickly wiped her tears away. "N-Nothing's wrong. What gives you the idea that something's wrong? Because I am totally fine. Is something wrong with you?" Spike was confused then replied, "Uh, no, but I'll just leave you be a bit..." "That would be best." Twilight sighed once Spike closed the door and walked away. "There has to be some way out of this..." Spike snapped his claws, having an idea, "I know! I'll get our friends! Maybe they can cheer Twilight up!" Spike hopped on a stool near by and started writing letters on a desk.