//------------------------------// // Becoming Princess // Story: Growing Wings // by Twilicorn //------------------------------// Twilight Sparkle awoke with a start, glancing around nervously. She knew she had been having a nightmare, but of what, she could not recall for the life of her. Taking a second look around, she became even more confused. She wasn't in the hospital, or on the train-in fact, everything after her boarding the train was gone. Slowly clambering out of her bed, she glanced over at the side table. A half-filled glass of water sat over a note scrawled in Princess Luna's cursive writing. Lifting it with incredible ease using her magic, her eyes searched over it with worry. I apologize for you awakening where you are unfamiliar. You are in your old quarters. I had to carry you here, for you slept quite soundly on the train. As soon as you awaken, call for a guard and ask for me. The ones outside your doors are under command to follow reasonable commands from you, so perhaps ask from your food if you so wish. As soon as the guards summon me I will be there, for you coronation is just before sunset. You will raise the moon symbolically, representing you know have control of the moon from my regalia. Luna Twilight nodded slowly, and sighed. Of course Luna wouldn't have stayed with her-but was it too foalish to wish so? "Guard?" She inquired, wondering if one would come at all. Of course one did, opening her door with his magic and walking in in a smooth, militant manner. "Can you please get Princess Luna for me?" "Of course, Madam Sparkle." The guard politely ducked his head, leaving silently and shutting the door behind him. Twilight smiled. This could take some adjusting to, but I can definitely grow to love this! She was about to turn and see how similar this room was to how it had been when she left it when Princess Luna ran in through the doors, shutting them angrily. "Somepony slept far too late! We have to get started!" Her voice was raised, but not yelling, and Twilight was shocked. A tear welled in her eye, but she brushed it away. If that was how her mother was going to be, so be it. "Then lets get started!" Twilight's voice was of equal strength, and Princess Luna looked shocked before returning to a slightly kinder gaze. "Very well. Now, we need to practice. But first, a small tidbit of information on my Regalia. It is these that control the moon, not my own magic. You must have both to control both. It took Princess Celestia a very long time to realize she could control both the moon and the sun, since I had become Nightmare Moon. Since Celestia will not be unable to control the sun and the moon, with my Regalia you can only control the moon. Even if Celly were to become a Nightmare version of herself, unless she was banished out of Equestria, you can only control the moon. Be careful, and consider yourself warned. "Anyways. The procedures. Do you recall the front of the castle, where there is a platform?" Twilight nodded, an image of it flashing into her mind. "You will stand upon it, and I on your right. I'll say some fancy words while Celly is behind you, lowering the sun behind you. As the sun stands directly behind you, I will magically lift my Regalia and place them onto you. You'll have to levitate yourself a bit so the hooves slip on, and tada. You will become Princess of the Moon. Your mane will become like mine, but only slightly. You will need both Regalias for it to become perfect. Now, I brought some practice things," smiled Luna, magically lifting two orbs from her bag. One was a pale orange and glowing, the other white like the moon. "I will levitate the sun slowly behind you while speaking the fancy words. Then you will raise yourself so these can slip on." She levitated a few more objects, paper forms of the Regalia. "They'll slip on, and then I will drop the sun as you raise the moon." "Yes teacher!" Cried Twilight, forgetting she wasn't in school, and immediately stood in the position she'd be in for the coronation. Luna smiled, her eyes twinkling as she lifted the sun behind Twilight, slowly setting it. Luna began speaking, and Twilight couldn't help but smile at the beauty of her mother's voice. The sun continued setting until the light from it back-lit Twilight elegantly, and Twilight levitated herself slightly, letting the papers slide onto her hooves, neck, and head. Slowly falling to the ground, flapping her wings merely for show, she landed just as the sun set, using her magic to lift the small white orb into motion above the sky. "And then, my dear daughter, you will say a few words of your own, and bow to your people." Princess Luna demonstrated, and Twilight giggled. "A few words to my people," said Twilight elegantly, and bowed, her horn nearly touching the floor. "You must take this seriously!" Yelled Luna, her voice rising again, and Twilight jumped up. "Okay! Just leave me alone!" Twilight's nervousness got the better of her as she snapped, and Luna gasped, shocked by Twilight's outburst. "So be it! See you tonight!" Luna scowled and stomped off, leaving Twilight to run and collapse on her bed in a fit of tears. Twilight awoke from her nap, this time not confused as to what had happened. Glancing over at the window, she jumped out of bed. The sun was past its peak, nearing dinner time, and she moaned, slumping back on her pillow. After a few minutes, she hoisted herself out of bed, glancing over at the mirror. Her mane was in decent enough order, and she opened the doors magically, stepping out into the stone hallways. Walking through them to the dining hall, she was shocked at how guards bowed to her, as did other ponies in the castle. Even the small group of foals here from their school stopped to bow to her, and she curtsied back before the teacher hustled them away. A guard opened the dining hall door for her, and she walked in, more graceful than ever. I'll have to write this down, she thought giddily, turning to sit at the seat to the right of where Celestia sat. "Nonsense," spoke a familiar voice, and Twilight jumped up to bow to her mentor. "You needn't bow to me, Twilight. We are nearly equals, after all." Twilight blushed and stood back up. "Now, Twilight, who says you sit in my spot today?" Twilight smiled, jumping like a giddy schoolfilly. That had always been a secret dream of hers, to sit where the Princess and leader of Equestria sat. Sitting down, Celestia sat in Twilight's old spot, smiling. "Now, what to eat?" Twilight wasn't really sure until a menu appeared magically. Glancing over it, she was shocked by the assortment. It folded out into three pages, and she wasn't sure she wanted to open it more. "Just say what you want," smiled Celestia, and Twilight was confused. "I'll have some apple juice, a fried daisy sandwich, and a vanilla cupcake." Her voice teetered with uncertainty, but within the blink of an eye, the food appeared. Twilight giggled, filled with nerves but converting it to eagerness. Lifting the sandwich daintily, she took a bite, finding she could eat much faster than she used to be able to, since her mouth was bigger. She finished off the sandwich and half the apple juice, then began gnawing at the cupcake. Princess Celestia had ordered as well, and they both looked at each other at the same time, then burst out giggling. Twilight set down her cupcake, nearly rolling as she laughed. "Nervous, my student?" "You know me far too well, Princess Celestia," smiled Twilight, and Princess Celestia smiled back. "Well, no pressure, but it's nearly time." Celestia pointed with a hoof out the window, and Twilight gasped. Stuffing the cupcake in her mouth, she ran out of the room, leaving Celestia confused. Twilight arrived in her room in mere moments, it being just down the hall from the dining room. She was shocked to see she wasn't out of breath, but ignored it and ran towards the vanity. Stopping in front of it, she began speaking to herself in a low voice. "One Canterlot Castle, Two Canterlot Castle," she lifted the manebrush as she counted, counting the strokes through her extended mane. She felt herself slowly relaxing until she was done hyperventilating, and she set down the brush. "Much better," she decided, looking at her mane again. Magically lifting a random bottle off the desk, she read the label. "Midnight Mystery," she said with a chuckle, lifting another. "Solar Flare? Sparkling Sunshine?" Lifting them to her nose, she took a short sniff of each of them, and set them down with disgust. Lifting the fourth one, she sniffed it and smiled. It was the one she had used once, on the night of the "Grand" Galloping Gala. Spritzing it magically through her mane and across her body, she winked up at herself with a cheesy grin. Leaving the room much more distinguished than when she had entered, she headed to the main stairs, trotting down them. Luna was waiting by the doors, as well as Celestia, and Twilight dashed towards them, grabbing Luna in a tight hug. "I'm so sorry mo-mommy," she sighed through Luna's pelt, and Luna returned the hug, Celestia staring at them with a loving expression. "Hate to interrupt the moment, but it's time." The guard was none other than Twilight's brother, and Twilight tackled him in a hug before the doors opened slowly. "Good luck Twily," he whispered as she stepped out into the whispering crowd, standing boldly on the wooden platform. The crowd silenced as Luna stepped forward next to her, followed by Celestia behind them. Her back was turned to the audience as she slowly lowered the sun, and Luna cleared her throat. Back in Ponyville Every citizen of Ponyville was gathered around the Mayor's Magic Mirror, staring at the incredibly large thing with disbelief. "Is that Twilight Sparkle?" Whispered one pony, only to be silence by hundreds of 'Shhh's. They all leaned in as Luna cleared her throat, and Twilight's friends were at the front of the crowd, a knowing smile on their faces. Back to Canterlot "As you may or may not have gathered, you are here today to see the half-coronation of your new leader. My own daughter is here to lead you, and many of you know her from her fillyhood. I present to you Twilight Sparkle!" Everypony in the crowd bowed, and Twilight smiled as Luna continued. "I was not there for most of her life, but I know what strong mare she has grown to be. She will be taught by your dearest Princess Celestia, and I will become another one of you, as a pegasus." The crowd collectively gasped at this, but Luna raised a hoof and they fell silent once again. "She will be your greatest leader, leading you with a brave heart and open hooves! Now, I shall crown thee Twilight Sparkle!" At that moment, the sun fell behind Twilight, and she levitated herself several hooves above the platform, now towering nearly ten hooves above the crowd rather than seven. Princess Luna gulped, as if regretting what she was about to do, then spoke the finishing key. "Ego coronam te princeps, ad ducere populus per laborem et solliciti ut sola et fortis ducem. Mea ornamenta et assumat te dominum!" The Regalia lifted itself from Princess Luna, first the crown, then necklace, then hoof-covers. Slowly setting themselves on Twilight Sparkle, they morphed. The crown became an elegant deep violet, nearly black, and set itself upon Twilight's head, black diamonds glistening in it. The necklace followed in a similar manner and color, the center stone this time a dark amethyst. The hoof-covers came last, securing themselves tightly and becoming the same deep violet. Her mane and tail also changed, becoming a lightly blowing array of magenta, violet, and dark blue, twirling and shifting through an unseen breeze. The crowd, shocked, stood unmovingly, and not even a breath was audible. Then the first row came into a bow, followed by each row in a wave-ish pattern. Twilight Sparkle copied them, bowing so her horn scraped the ground. Slowly raising herself, she turned to face the crowd, the butterflies in her stomach gone. "I stand before you as a new leader. Some of you do not know me well, many not at all. But I will lead you with all my strength, putting your lives above mine to save the land of Equestria!" Silence echoed across all of Equestria, and Twilight gulped. Suddenly, a storm of hoof-clapping could be heard, echoing where the silence once had been, and Twilight Sparkle's smile returned. "I now deem you Princess Twilight Sparkle!" Cried Princess Celestia and Luna, and Twilight glanced at Luna. The urge to gasp was overwhelming, but she kept her cool. Luna had changed to a much paler blue, now the average size of a pony. Her mane was simple, and she overall represented how she had been after being rescued from Nightmare Moon, save two differences. Her horn was gone, and her Cutie Mark had changed. Rather than a moon, it was a telescope. Twilight shook her head with a grin and turned towards the opposite horizon of where the sun had set. Sitting down, she flared her wings out, and her horn began to glow its familiar pale magenta. Her eyes were closed as she searched for the moon, finally grabbing hold of it. Bowing her head down, she lifted the moon, moving her head with it as she raised it into motion. Opening her eyes, she glanced up in the sky, and gasped. There it was, the moon she had raised herself. The hoof-clapping continued, and Princess Twilight Sparkle's mother smiled, looking so... different now. Twilight Sparkle bowed once again, then turned and left, followed by Princess Celestia and then Luna, who had each bowed as well. As they entered the castle, the first thing Twilight saw was her brother, bowed down to her at the side of the hall. Walking over to him, she waved him up, embracing him in a tight hug. "Well now you're the big sister, aren't ya Twily?" Chided her brother in a teasing voice, and Twilight giggled. "I suppose so." Twilight sighed, suddenly extremely tired. "I'm feeling quite fatigued-please go back to your duties." Her brother nodded, and Twilight turned to Celestia. "You don't mind if I retire for the night, do you?" "Of course not. But tomorrow, you have your night court," smiled Celestia. "And paperwork. Pleeenty of paperwork." Twilight groaned, eliciting another smile from Celestia. "Groaned like a true princess. I'll handle court tonight though, dear." Twilight nodded gratefully and stumbled towards her room, the corners of her vision turning black as she shoved open the door and slammed it shut behind her. The two guards standing outside it gave her a worried glance, but Twilight ignored them and ran over to the window. Sticking her head out, she began panting, hoping the fresh air would clear her mind. Unfortunately, it failed to do so, and she simply felt more sick. Turning to the single bookshelf, she cast a simple spell to find a healing book. The effort sent pangs of pain through her mind, but she managed to grab the book and set it on her bed. Opening it with her mouth, she glanced over the contents and flipped to 'Stomach Pains, Nausea, and Other Internal Pains'. She scanned rapidly through the pages, hoping to find a spell that could at least get the dizziness away. The words swam on the pages, but she managed to find a spell that should help. Closing her eyes, she began the spell, and immediately her mind was cleared. Her stomach still hurt, but she could fix that later. And of course, the blackness still remained at the corner of her eyes. She turned to the index, searching for something having to do with eyesight. Flipping open to the page, she was shocked at the category. Poisons. Reading over it, it fit all the symptoms she was stuck with. Nausea, messed up eyesight, stomach pains. It said the poison was transmitted via food, and was rarely an accident. The only cure was sleep, and in some cases, chewing ginger was rumored to help. "Guard?" She whispered, the pain too strong to speak any louder. The guard immediately burst in, and Twilight sighed. "Quiet, please. Can you get me some raw ginger and a medic?" The guard nodded and ran off. Twilight grunted with effort as she climbed up into her bed. Laying on top of the cool covers, she realized how warm she was just as a nurse ran in. "What's wrong, Princess?" She ignored the bowing, immediately rushing towards Twilight. "I think I'm poisoned. My book's opened to the right page," Twilight Sparkle whispered, the room spinning and distorting before her. "I feel really hot too." "Guards! Get the Princess to the infirmary immediately!" Twilight was about to insist she didn't need any infirmary when the world became completely black. Meanwhile, the guards rushed her to the infirmary, carrying her magically as the nurse ran behind them. Setting the princess on a large bed, the guards immediately left the nurse to do her job. Setting an IV in the Princess' forearm, she began injecting a simple pain-relieving/sleep medicine. She then turned back to the book the Princess had been looking through. It appeared as though the poison was deadly if not treated properly-yet no one knew the proper treatment. Sighing, the nurse began flipping through her own books, searching for any cure to the so called "Nightmare's Curse". Running out of the infirmary, the nurse began charging towards Princess Celestia's chambers. Banging nervously on the door, her pale pink hair was slipping out of its bun and her pale grey coat was becoming disheveled. Celestia opened the door with a glare, but stopped at the sight of the frazzled nurse. "What's wrong, Nurse Grey?" "Princess... Nightmare's Curse... Know a cure?" Her breathing was more of panting, and Celestia led the nurse inside to a comfortable chair. "I do not personally, but I believe a friend of Twilight's does. I'll send a letter to Spike immediately," added the Princess, mostly to herself as she began scrawling a letter rapidly. Dear Spike, Please deliver this to Zecora. Immediately. Celestia The writing was cramped, but Celestia adjusted it for the attached letter to Zecora. Dear Zecora, It seems Princess Twilight Sparkle has been cursed with Nightmare's Curse-a rare poison with no known cure for ponykind. Do you know a cure? Please let me know immediately-Spike will send me a reply. Princess Celestia Rolling the scrolls magically, she bound them with a black ribbon, the sign for urgency, and sent it off with a wave of her horn. Turning back to Nurse Grey, she sighed. "Tell me exactly what happened." "The Princess called for the guards to get me, and when I got there, she said she was very warm, and her book was open to the right page. It was open to Nightmare's Curse, and she fit all the symptoms to a T." Nurse Grey's breathing had returned to normal, and her Canterlot accent was far more caring than that of the average Canterlotian. Princess Celestia nodded just as her horn spurted a reply. Dearest Princess, I know the cure indeed, but the cure is found in a weed. Poison Joke is the antidote. Zecora "Of course," whispered Celestia, before turning to the nurse. "She needs Poison Joke. You do have some, correct?" Her voice took on a hard edge, and her pupils shrank slightly. "But of course, Princess," smiled the nurse, bowing before running out of the room back to the infirmary. Once there, she began searching through her shelves anxiously, glancing over each jar until she found the blue plant. Removing it carefully, she knew she had touched it, but the curse was nothing compared to saving the Princess. She carefully peeled off the leaves, grinding them into an incredibly fine powder and adding it to the IV drip. Let's hope this works, she sighed, her hooves literally crossed under her. Staring intently at Princess Twilight, her eyes rarely blinked for half an hour, until she saw color returning to the Princess' cheeks. "Of course it worked," grinned the nurse, before looking down at her hooves to see they had turned to chicken claws. "Of course."