//------------------------------//
// The Cutie Castle - Part 1 
// Story: My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic (Alternate Season Six) 
// by FlareGun45 
//------------------------------//



(Image by PowerPuncher, oh and PowerPuncher, you forgot Cadance's wings.)

We start off the episode at Carousel Boutique where Starlight Glimmer assists Rarity in making another dress for Sapphire Shores. 

“Ooooo!” Rarity says cheerfully. “This dress is coming along very nicely! Thank you so much for helping me make it, Starlight Glimmer!”

“It’s no trouble, Rarity!” Starlight said. “I’m just happy to help in any way I can.”

“Your friendship is definitely improving fast!” Rarity said. “I am impressed!”

“I’m just doing what you and the others taught me.” Starlight said. “So who’s this dress for?”

As Starlight levitates a sleeping Opalescence and uses her magic to take the silk that Opal was sleeping on and then gently sets her back down on the counter without waking her up as Rarity says, “It’s for the fabulous pop-star in Equestria, Sapphire Shores!”

“Sapphire Shores?” Starlight asked.

“Surprised?” Rarity asked as she takes the silk and starts to cut it. “I am her favorite costume designer, and for now, her only one!”

“Really?” Starlight asked.

“Oh yes! I find it so uncanny myself! But… it happened, and I am quite pleased to be in her service!” Rarity said.

“Are you sure about that, Rarity?” Starlight asked.

“What do you mean?” Rarity asked.

“I mean, Sapphire Shores isn’t that cool of a pony let-alone a celebrity.” Starlight said as Rarity gasps. “Plus, her music isn’t that creative. It’s just different beats and the lyrics all mean the same thing.”

“How dare you?!” Rarity shouted. “Sapphire Shores is like… the queen of pop!”

“And that’s the thing. Pop music just isn’t my thing.” Starlight said. “It’s just my opinion. Princess Twilight taught me all about them last week.”

Rarity starts to chuckle and says, “Oh, Starlight, Starlight, Starlight. Even though you’re improving. You still have much to learn about friendship.” Starlight rolls her and shakes her head.

Afterwards, Starlight starts to hear a strange noise coming from Rarity’s side, and Rarity feels a funny vibrating sound. “Uh, what’s going on?” Starlight asked.

“It’s my cutie mark!” Rarity said. “The map is calling me.”

“Why?” Starlight asked.

“Well… sometimes the map at Twilight’s castle summons us if there’s a friendship problem at stake somewhere in Equestria, and it’s our duty as the guardians of friendship to hear any distress and come to the rescue.” Rarity said.

“Huh?” Starlight asked.

“No time! I’ll explain later!” Rarity said as she runs off. Starlight follows her out. Once they both leave Opal awakens from her slumber finding out that her soft silk sheets were gone. She then gets fussy for her bed back so she jumps onto the pony manikin, rips off the dress from it which causes it to fall on the floor, and she jumps on it and falls back asleep.

Over at Fluttershy’s cottage, she attempts to put Angel in a bucket for a bath, but he keeps hesitating to go in there. “Come… on… Angel! You have to… take a bath!” Fluttershy said as she struggled to put Angel in the bucket. “Please, Angel? You need to get clean! You’ll get infections if you don’t take a bath! Pleeeease?” As Fluttershy tries her hardest to angrily ask him nicely to go in, Angel is just too strong. “Ok, Angel. I didn’t want to do this, but you leave me no other option. Time to bring out the big guns!” Fluttershy said, and just then, she began to tickle him. Angel starts to laugh but still hesitates to get into the tub. Just then, Angel tricks Fluttershy which leads her to fall into the tub instead of Angel. As Angel laughs at her, Fluttershy’s cutie mark starts to vibrate. “Oh… my. I’m sorry, Angel, but we’ll have to reschedule the bath for later.” So she hops out of the tub, and she rushes to the castle. Angel mischievously starts walking away from the tub, but not until Hairy the Bear pops up and roars which scares Angel and he falls into the tub, and then Hairy starts to laugh at him.

Over at Sugarcube Corner, Pinkie Pie takes out an oven mit, opens the oven, and takes out a tray of brownies. She takes a sniff and says, “Mmm mmm! Delicious! It’s the scent of chocolately brownie goodness! You take a sniff, Gummy! Tell me what you think!” But he just stands there with the mixer and bowl and covered in dough. “You’re right, Gummy! It does need more paprika!” Then suddenly, Pinkie’s cutie mark starts vibrating. “Aw shucks, looks like you’re going to have to hold the fort, Gummy. I’ll be back as soon as possible! Chow!” 

Pinkie starts to run off, but before she could, Pinkie’s customer, Merry May, starts complaining, “Um, excuse me? Any idea where my brownies are?”

“Sorry, Merry May, but… duty calls!” Pinkie said as she points to her flank, and then storms off. 

Merry then says in a disgusted tone, “Ugh! Didn’t need to know that information!”

At Sweet Apple Acres, AppleJack plays fetch with a Frisbee with Winona. She tosses it across the field, and Winona brings it back. She pats Winona on the head and calls her a good girl. AppleJack was just about to toss it again when her cutie mark vibrates, which causes her to lose her concentration when she throws it, and the Frisbee ends up knocking Big Mac on the head. “HEY!” Big Mac yelled as he rubbed his head.

“Uh oh. Sorry, Big Mac!” AppleJack called out. Big Mac just sighs and rolls his eyes. 

Up in the skies- no wait… down on the ground, Rainbow Dash was playing a game of chess with Tank. She makes her move and then chuckles mischievously at him, and says, “Beat that!” That was when her cutie mark vibrated. She started to complain, “Oh you have to got to be kidding me! Now? Out of all times? No, you’re going to have to wait. I’m playing a game with Tank, and if I leave, I’d have to forfeit, and Rainbow Dash never forfits, because Rainbow Dash never los-“ But as Rainbow turns back to the board and saw Tank already made his move and Tank won a checkmate. Rainbow stuttered surprisingly, “But… I… uhh… wha… I….” And then she tosses the board aside angrily. She then says to Tank, “Next time, I’m picking the activity!”

Over at the castle, Twilight was in her library, reading like she always does. That was when Owlowisious flew inside the castle carrying a letter. He hoots to get her attention and drops the letter down to her. “Oh! Thank you, Owlowisious! I wonder who it’s from?” she asks as she opens it. 

“Whatcha got there, Twilight?” Spike asked.

“It’s a letter from Shining Armor and Princess Cadance!” Twilight said.

“Cool!” Spike said. “Does say anything about their baby coming soon?”

“I don’t know. I haven’t read it yet.” Twilight informed him.

“Oh.” Spike said as he chuckles.

Twilight opens the letter and reads it, “Dear Twilie, I can already see who wrote this! Cadance and I have wonderful news about the new baby.”

“Called it!” Spike said.

“It is a beautiful little girl that we really want you to meet.” Twilight continued the letter. “Her name is Skyla and she really wants to meet her aunt. Please come when you have time. We both miss you. Love, Shining Armor. Oh, and look! There’s also a photo of her in here!”

“Can I see?” Spike asked as he hops on Twilight’s seat to check out the photo. It was a picture of Shining and Cadance holding the new baby in their arms. She was a tiny bright pink alicorn with purple and blue curly hair. The rest of her body was covered in a blanket, and her eyes were closed. “Wow! She is so cute!”

“I know, Spike!” Twilight said with tears in her eyes. “Knowing that my own brother has started a family with Cadance, I… I…” Spike gives Twilight a box of tissues, and she takes one with her magic and blows her nose, and then she gives it back to him, giving Spike a disgusted look. “I just can hardly believe it! I have to get packed for the Crystal Empire right away!” Twilight runs off, dropping Spike off her in the process and the tissue lands on his face.

“AAH! I think some of it went in my mouth!” he cried.

As Twilight runs through the castle corridors, all excited that she gets to meet her new niece, that was when her cutie mark started vibrating. Twilight’s excitement then died down. “Oh, no, no, no!” Twilight cried. “Out of all the times you had to summon me, why today out of all other days?!”



A few minutes later, the Mane Five and Starlight Glimmer all met in the castle’s map room for the meeting. Everyone walks inside the room and starts walking (or in Rainbow’s case flying, or Pinkie’s case hoping) over to their thrones. “Woo we!” AppleJack cried out in excitement. “Ah wonder where the map called for us this time!”

“I hope we get to go on an epic adventure through the outskirts of Equestria solving the friendship problems of monstrous beasts!” Rainbow said excitedly.

“Oh, I hope we get to solve the friendship problems of some cute little kind creatures not too far away.” Fluttershy said.

“Yeah, I dunno how opposites attract so much, Fluttershy.” Rainbow said.

“Maybe we’re going to a super far away place beyond the universe and start solving the friendship problems of a vicious worm race and a giant rock monster race fighting for a batch of the love of little fairy creatures with magical dust that makes corn grow!” Pinkie assumed. Everypony just looked at Pinkie weirdly.

“To be honest, I couldn’t care less where we go or who we meet.” Rarity said as everyone except for Starlight takes a seat on their thrones. “As long as they don’t mess with my hair.”

“It’s too bad the map didn’t summon me though.” Starlight said upsettingly.

“Aw shucks, Starlight. You’ll have your chance.” AppleJack said. “We all do at some point.”

“Yeah, I suppose you’re right, AppleJack.” Starlight agreed.

Twilight and Spike eventually enter the map room and each took a seat on their thrones. Twilight had a sad look on her face. “Are you ok, Twilight?” Fluttershy asked.

“Yeah, this is certainly not how we expected you to look when the map summons us.” Rarity said.

“Maybe it’s opposite day.” Pinkie whispered.

“No, it’s fine.” Twilight said. “I’m glad the map has summoned us all again. Unfortunately, it could’ve come in a better time, because I just got a letter from Shining Armor and Cadance that their new baby was born recently. All of Twilight’s friends cheered in excitement.

“But… shouldn’t you be happy for them?” Fluttershy asked.

“Oh I am happy for them.” Twilight smiled. “I am so proud of them for finally starting a family. I’m just upset that the map had to summon us before we got the chance to meet Skyla.”

“Uhh, Skyla?” AppleJack asked.

“Yeah. That’s her name.” Twilight said. “We have a photo of her if you want to see.” Spike passes the photo down so everypony will get to see.

“Awww! She is so adorable!” Rarity said. “I just love that mane style of hers!” She then passes it down.

“Woo we! This the second best newborn photo ah’ve ever laid mah eyes on!” AppleJack said as she passes the photo down. “First bein’ Apple Bloom of course.”

“It’s too bad we’re not going to be able to meet her right away.” Twilight said sadly. “I just wish we could go to the Crystal Empire right now so we could meet her.

“Maybe you don’t have to wait.” Starlight pointed to where the Mane Six’s cutie marks were on the map, and they were spinning over the Crystal Empire. Everypony cheered.

“Wow! I guess we’re going to the Crystal Empire after all then, Twilight!” Rainbow said.

“WOO HOO!” Pinkie cried out in excitement. “I can’t wait to meet Skyla! I’m great with babies!”

“Wow… it can’t be a coincidence!” Twilight said happily. “Not only do we get to meet Skyla, but we can solve a friendship problem while we’re there too!” Everypony cheered again. All except Starlight.

“Yeah… well… you girls have fun then.” Starlight said sadly. “I hope Skyla is as cute in person as she is on the photo, if not more.”

“Who says you couldn’t go, Starlight?” Twilight asked.

“Well… the map didn’t summon me.” Starlight said. “And Rarity said the map only chooses who gets to go.”

“Well, the map only summons the ponies to help with a friendship problem, but you’re not going there to solve the friendship problem.” Twilight said.

“Yeah, the map can’t say who you can or cannot meet.” Rarity said.

“Exactly!” Twilight said. “You can still come, and maybe you might learn a thing or two in the process.”

“Really?” Starlight asked as she smiled.

“Starlight,” Twilight places her hoof on her shoulder, “you’re my student now, and I want you to learn everything you could about friendship. Watching us perform our friendship duties would help you reach that goal.”

“Well… I guess you’re right, Twilight.” Starlight said. “I do want to learn what I can so I can be the best I can be. And besides, it wouldn’t hurt meeting your brother and former foalsitter for the first time, and try to get on their good side.”

“That’s the spirit, Starlight!” AppleJack said.

“Well, if Starlight gets to go, can I go too then?” Spike asked. “I mean, the ponies in the Crystal Empire do admire me.”

“Of course, Spike!” Twilight said. 

“Cool! I’ll bring my lucky pen if anypony asks for an autograph!” Spike said. Twilight rolls her eyes at his comment. So the eight of them all left the castle and boarded the Friendship Express to the Crystal Empire. Once the train reaches the Crystal Empire, the Mane Six, Spike, and Starlight all stepped out onto the station and began walking to the palace.

“Huh.” Twilight said. “That’s weird. Usually either Shining or Cadance, or both, wait for us at the station to welcome us.”

“Perhaps that might be a little too busy to.” Fluttershy assumed.

“Yeah, the two of them do run an entire empire by themselves.” Rarity said. “I’d admit, I’d have a problem running an empire too if I ran it by myself.”

“Ha! I’d never run an empire! I’m too awesome to run an empire!” Rainbow said. 

“Oh? And why is that?” Rarity asked.

“Because waaaaaay too much paperwork!” Rainbow said. “No, I’d rather be a general of the guard. That’s where the action is!”

“So I wonder what kind of friendship problem you guys are going to be doing?” Starlight asked.

“Probably a giant worm from outer space and a giant rock monster-“ Pinkie started, but she gets interrupted by AppleJack.

“Pinkie, ah would strongly assume that giant creatures from outer space wouldn’t be much of a friendship problem – more of a crisis.” She said.

Pinkie sighs and then says, “You’re such a square, AppleJack!”

“Just tryin’ to keep our heads in a place ah’d like to call: real life.” AppleJack informed her.

Just then, musical instruments started playing in the distance. A marching band of some sort started walking through the streets of the Crystal Empire along with floats dedicated to Princess Skyla. “Oooo! A parade!” Pinkie said excitedly.

“And so, the Crystal Empire starts a new age, as a new decedent to the throne has finally been born!” an announcer said. “Princess Skyla is said to bring peace and happiness to the Crystal Empire when her times comes to take the throne! We await that day as we celebrate next week’s Crystal Faire to honor Princess Skyla!”

“At least the crystal ponies are excited for the new baby.” Starlight said.

“Yeah, but it’s weird.” Twilight said. “Where’s the friendship problems? Everything seems to be… normal.”

“A little too normal.” Pinkie said. “I don’t like it.”

“Well, perhaps its best we go meet with Shinin’ Armor and Cadance first.” AppleJack suggested. “Maybe they’ll know what’s up.”

“Good idea, AppleJack.” Twilight said. So ponies all head up to the crystal palace to meet with the royal couple. When they got close to the throne room, Shining Armor was pacing back in forth right outside it, along with two guards guarding the door to the throne room; one bring a crystal guard, and one being a particular orange pegasus guard.  “Shining Armor?” Twilight called out.

“Twilie?” Shining asked. “What are you doing here?”

“You called for us.” Twilight reminded him. “I just got your letter saying that Skyla was born.”

“Yeah, but… that was three weeks ago.” Shining said.

“Really?” Twilight asked, and then she mumbles, “I guess that’s the last time I use Owlowisious as my source of communication.”

“It’s best to stick to the best.” Spike teased.

“Well, regardless, I am glad you all are here.” Shining said. “But wait… who’s that?” He points to Starlight Glimmer.

“Oh that’s Starlight Glimmer, the one I’ve been writing to you about.” Twilight said.

“Ah, so you’re Twilight’s new student! Please to meet you!” Shining shakes her hoof.

“Likewise!” Starlight said. “Twilight is lucky to have a brother like you!”

“Thanks!” Shining said.

“I wouldn’t get your hopes up. He’s married.” Pinkie whispered to her. 

Each of them all walk into the throne room as Shining explains the situation, “I’m glad you’re here, Twilie.”

“As am I!” Twilight said. “I would love to meet my niece for the first time!”

“Umm… yeah, about that.” Shining started.

“Oh no! Something’s wrong!” Rarity panicked. “Please, don’t tell me something is wrong with your baby!”

“Well, I wouldn’t say there’s anything… wrong with her. What she’s going through is completely normal… or, so I heard.” Shining said.

“What’s wrong with her, Shining?” Twilight asked nervously. “I hope nothing’s wrong with her! I don’t want anything bad to happen to my niece!”

“Sheesh! And I thought I was the drama queen!” Rarity said.

“She’s fine, Twilie.” Shining said. “Cadance is watching over her right now.”

“May we please see her, Shining?” Twilight asked.

“Umm…” Shining thought, “perhaps, I should explain-“

“I don’t want to wait! I want to see her… now!” Twilight demanded.

“Ok, ok!” Shining calmed her down. “But please don’t freak out once you see this.”

“See what?” Twilight asked.

“Follow me.” Shining instructed her. Everypony followed Shining down the palace corridors until they reached some double doors leading to another room. He was about to open them, but he hesitated. “Are you sure you want to see her now?”

“Just do it.” Twilight ordered him. Shining takes a deep breath and slowly opens the double doors and everypony walks inside. Everypony takes a look around the room, and there was Cadance on the other side of the room with her back towards Twilight and the others. “Cadance!”

“Twilight!” Cadance said as she hesitated to smile. “I didn’t know you were coming!”

“Cadance… what’s wrong with Skyla?” Twilight asked.

“Oh, Twilight…” Cadance said upsettingly as she moves over and sees Skyla sleeping in a crib inside a big glass box. Everypony gasped after they saw Skyla in there.

Twilight ran up to the glass with her nose and hooves against it. “Skyla! My niece! What’s going on?!”

“Twilie…” Shining attempted to calm her down.

“What’s going on?!” Twilight yelled. “Why is she in a box?!”

“Twilight, if you just let me explain, I promise you’ll understand why she’s in there.” Cadance informed her. Twilight was feeling really nervous, and then Cadance reminded her, “Remember what I taught you.” Twilight takes a deep breath and exhales calmly.

“Ok… ok… I’m calm.” Twilight said.

“Ok, I’m no expert on babies, but I don’t think this is the way to take care of one.” Rainbow said.

“I know, but I only put her in there for her own safety.” Cadance said as she presses her hoof against the glass.

“What’s wrong? Are you bein’ over protective around her?” AppleJack asked. “Because ah’ve been where you are.”

“No, it’s not that.” Cadance said as she sighs. “As you can see, Skyla was born as an alicorn, and alicorns are very powerful. When Skyla was born, she was the greatest thing… I’ve ever seen in my entire life. I never wanted to let go of her. I said to her ‘Skyla, I promise, I will always love you till the end of time. You will bring peace and happiness across the Crystal Empire.’ She giggled. It was the cutest smile I’ve seen… it… brought tears to my eyes.” She started tearing up. Shining offers her a tissue and she blows her nose on it, and then she gives it back to him, and Shining then had a disgusted look.

“But then later that day… she started crying.” Cadance said. “I wanted to help her feel better, but I thought it was nothing. Just a diaper change, or she was hungry, but when she cried, she started having a magical surge. Her magic completely destroyed the dining hall of the palace. That’s when I knew her magic was unstable. I didn’t know what to do, so Celestia gave me this anti-magic box to keep her in.”

“Celestia actually did that?” Twilight asked. “But… this isn’t a way to take care of a baby! A baby needs love. A baby needs her mother and her father. She doesn’t want to be left in a glass box in solitude!”

“I know, and it hurts me so to keep her in here!” Cadance said. “But I have no choice. If by any chance she cries, she may not just harm herself, but others around her. I care about Skyla more than anything, but I also care about the safety of my subjects, and I can’t just risk it.”

“But…” Twilight stuttered.

“It’s the only way, Twilie.” Shining said. “We try to go in there and play with her and take care of her any way we can. We let nopony else in this room. You eight are the first guests to ever enter this room with Skyla in here.”

“But there has to be something else we could do!” Rainbow said.

“If an alicorn was born an alicorn and started having magical surges, how did they learn to control them?” Rarity asked.

“Well… I wouldn’t know for sure since I wasn’t born an alicorn.” Cadance said. “But Princesses Celestia and Luna were. When I was young, Celestia told me stories about her and Luna’s childhood. When they were born, they also had  magical surges that they didn’t know how to control. That was when Starswirl the Bearded had to take action. He brought young Celestia and Luna to his castle on the mountains not too far from here where he trained them the alicorn arts, and even though he himself was not an alicorn, he was familiar with the magic, and in their young lives, they learned how to control their magic.”

“So… what you’re saying is… we have to go up to Starswirl the Bearded’s castle and find out how we can control Skyla’s magic?” Twilight asked.

“It’s probably the only way.” Cadance said.

“I didn’t know Starswirl had a castle near here.” Starlight said.

“Me neither. Out of all the time I researched him, I’ve always thought he lived in Canterlot all his life, but having his own solitary castle out here in the arctic, I guess it makes sense that he would need the privacy to invent all the magic spells he made.” Twilight said.

“Which is probably why the map summoned us here.” AppleJack said. “We should go look for whatever he used to train the princesses, and be able to solve the relationship issue between parents and child.”

“Because there’s no greater friendship than family!” Pinkie said. “Well, except relationship with cake. Nothing can top that!”

“So it’s settled. Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, Rainbow Dash, AppleJack, Rarity, let’s all head to Starswirl the Bearded’s castle and find a book or something that might help Shining and Cadance train Skyla to control her magic.” Twilight said. The Mane Five agreed. “Starlight, Spike, I want you two to stay here and help Shining and Cadance with Skyla in case they need it.”

“Will do!” Spike saluted.

“Wait, are you sure it’s a good idea to leave me here, Twilight?” Starlight asked. “I mean, how am I supposed to learn about the friendship issues on this mission if I’m not here to watch?”

“Starlight, all we’re doing is looking for a book, or a scroll, or something.” Twilight said. “All the friendship problems are right here, and you know what they are. We’re going to fix the relationship between parents and child by assisting them in controlling Skyla.”

“Oh.” Starlight said upsettingly.

“Don’t worry, Starlight. We’ll be back before you know it, and you’ll know exactly how we do to solve a friendship problem!” Twilight said.

“Oh… ok.” Starlight said upsettingly.

“Good luck, all of you.” Cadance said. “Please hurry back. I don’t want to leave me my daughter in there for too long.”

“We’ll be back before you know it!” Twilight promised. “Let’s go girls!” Then the Mane Six all ran off. Starlight sadly looked down, but Spike tries to comfort her.

“Don’t be upset, Starlight. I understand how it feels to be left out.” Spike comforted her.

“But… how am I supposed to learn being trapped here?” Starlight asked.

“Well… you can try napping.” Spike suggested.

“Yeah… I’m not much of a napper like you, Spike.” Starlight said.

“Well… maybe Shining Armor and Cadance would need some help with something.” Spike suggested. “Twilight did say they might want some help with Skyla. Maybe with our help, we can try to woo her from out here.”

“Well… I suppose we can try.” Starlight said. “I just hope we’re not missing out too much on their epic adventure.”

On the way to Starswirl’s castle, Twilight and her friends get stuck in an arctic blizzard outside the Crystal Empire. “Ahh! I should’ve brought my scarves!” Rarity called out.

“Chilly?” AppleJack asked.

“No, I just want to look fabulous in case I freeze to death.” Rarity said.

“I have no clue if that’s sarcasm or sincere.” Rainbow said.

“In Rarity’s case, I’m not sure either.” AppleJack said.

“Oh real mature, AppleJack.” Rarity said sarcastically. “And that one was sarcasm.” 

“Ya think?” AppleJack asked sarcastically.

“I see something in the distance.” Rainbow pointed out.

Twilight looked over and saw a shadow of a castle of some sort straight ahead. “I think that might be the castle.”

“I think it might be a mirage. I’m not falling for it.” Pinkie said.

“A mirage only happens when it’s hot, Pinkie. Not cold.” Twilight informed me.

“Or the coldness is making hallucinate. Making us see ghosts that give us messages to go to swamps or something.” Pinkie said.

“Hallucination or not, we should check it out.” Rainbow suggested. The Mane Six walk over to the shadowy figure, and up a hill was indeed the castle. They open the doors and walk inside, and close the door behind them to leave the blizzardy snow out. 

They take a look around the abandoned castle and Rarity comments, “I’m sorry, are we at Starswirl’s castle, or are we at the Castle of the Two Sisters again?”

“The two of them do look similar.” Fluttershy said. “Dark… spooky…” A pebble falls on her head. “…falling apart.”

“They must twins or something!” Pinkie said.

“C’mon, girls. We could admire the scenery later.” Twilight said. “We need to find something relevant that relates on how Starswirl the Bearded trained Celestia and Luna to control their magic.”

“This place is huge though. Where do we start?” Rainbow asked.

“I think the best strategy is to split up.” Twilight suggested.

“Isn’t splitting up, like… the worst thing to do in a strange place?” Rainbow asked.

“Good point.” AppleJack agreed. “We should split up in twos just to be sa-“ Before AppleJack could finish that sentence, Fluttershy grabs on to her legs. “Ah guess Fluttershy’s with me then.”

“I’ll go with Rainbow.” Rarity said. “Just in case anything falls is about to fall on my hair, she’ll be the first to know and warn me ahead of time.”

“Whateves, as long as you do the reading.” Rainbow shrugged.

“I guess that leaves us, Twilight!” Pinkie said.

“I guess so.” Twilight said. “Pinkie and I will search the basement, Rarity and Rainbow can check the downstairs, and Fluttershy and AppleJack can check the upstairs.”

“Oh good.” Fluttershy said in relief. “Thank you so much Twilight for not having me go down to the basement.”

“I’m always there for you, Fluttershy!” Twilight said.

“Yeah, all you’ll have to worry about is the spooky attic!” Pinkie informed her.

“The a-a-a-a-a-a-a-attic?!” Fluttershy stuttered and started shaking nervously.

AppleJack rolled her eyes and said, “Relax, there are no attics in castles. There can’t be an attic unless there’s a roof, right?”

“I… guess not.” Fluttershy said.

“Exactly, and there’s no roof. Just a flat concrete ceiling.” AppleJack said.

“Well if we’re all done hanging around. Let’s go find that guide so we can all go back to the palace and have some hot cocoa, ok?” Rainbow suggested.

So they all split up around the castle to find the hidden guide. Twilight and Pinkie start off at some sort of lounge area with sheets covering the furniture. Twilight walks over to a book shelf and uncovers the sheet covering it. She uses her magic to quickly study all the books, but as she was studying the books, a dark shadow blocks her light from behind her. She then looks behind her and sees a ghost. “Wooooo!” the ghost moans.

“Pinkie, quit it.” Twilight instructed her.

“Whoooooo’s this Pinkie Pie you speak ooooooof?” the ghost asked.

“I didn’t say ‘Pinkie Pie’, I said ‘Pinkie’.” Twilight corrected her.

“Awww! How did you know it was me?” Pinkie whined as she uncovers herself with the sheet.

“Because that’s the oldest Nightmare Night trick in the book.” Twilight informs her.

“Oh you and your books, Twilight!” Pinkie complained as she unwrapped herself. Twilight glares at her. “Yeah, maybe you’re right. There is no ghost here. Orrrrr… IS THERE?!” Just then a tiny ghost pops out, and it doesn’t startle Twilight one bit. She just glares at her some more. That mini ghost turns out to be another little sheet on her tail. “You used to be so easy to prank.”

“I’m not in the pranking mood right now, Pinkie! We have to find clues on how Starswirl the Bearded taught Celestia and Luna how to use their magic!” Twilight informed her. So Pinkie heads off to continue looking for the clue, and so does Twilight. She checks one of the books and sees there was a book marker in it. She opens the book and checks out the page it’s marked. “Hmm…” she thought. “I think I found something.” 

“We find new things every day.” Pinkie said as she keeps pressing random keys on the piano with her hoof.

“No really, I mean, this here is a book containing Starswirl the Bearded’s deep research into magic.” Twilight said. “There are discoveries in here that I never even seen in the Canterlot Archives. There’s content that Starswirl has never released onto the public.”

“Cool!” Pinkie said. “Is there a magic spell that can make an infinite amount of cupcakes?”

“Maybe, but that’s not what I found in here.” Twilight said. “Look at this.” She shows her. “It’s a spell on how to clone yourself temporarily. Make doubles of yourself.”

“You mean like a changeling, or something out of the mirror pond?” Pinkie asked.

“Not quite.” Twilight said. “It’s more like a decoy that copies the last movement you’ve done before the spell was made, and it keeps doing that same move until the spell wears off.”

“Cool!” Pinkie said. “Perhaps that spell might be useful to cover the front of Sugarcube Corner while I go into the kitchen and sneak into the cookie jar even though I’m not allowed to.”

“I wouldn’t use the spell like that. I mean, these spells in this book are pretty advanced.” Twilight said. “I’m not sure if even Celestia has ever performed these spells before.”

“But Celestia has performed every spell ever!” Pinkie said as she flops on her back.

“Maybe, but… I dunno.” Twilight said. “It’s pretty advanced magic.”

“But some of it could come in handy.” Pinkie said. “You use magic for a useful purpose very often. What if a big worm or rock monster attacks Equestria and you’d need to make a Twilight, Jr.?”

“Come to think of it, maybe.” Twilight thought.

“Oooo nice book marker though!” Pinkie commented as she grabs it. “It matches the one on the piano book!” She shows Twilight both of the markers.

“Hmm… I didn’t even know Starswirl played piano.” Twilight said.

Meanwhile with Rarity and Rainbow Dash, they were searching the basement corridors for anything they could use. “Oooh!” Rarity said as she opens one of the doors and searches the room.

“What did you find a library?” Rainbow asked.

“Nope, not what I expected.” Rarity said. So they went through the corridors some more and searched room to room for anything useful. Rarity searches another room and her eyes light up. “URIEKA!” Rarity cried

“Whoa, that’s a new word!” Rainbow said. “Find the library?”

“Even better!” Rarity said as Rainbow flew inside. Rainbow’s smile quickly turned into an annoyed look.

“The dressing room, of course.” Rainbow complained.

“Eeee! These old ancient robes!” Rarity observed Starswirl’s old robes. “Ancients are totally trend this season! If I could take these back to the boutique, maybe I could clean them a bit, add a little bit of sapphire, maybe re-dye the color to make it look newer – oh, Rarity, you are a genius!”

“Uhh, wake up, Rarity! We’re not here to find trends. We’re here to find some dusty old book or something.” Rainbow reminded her.

“Uhh… I’m looking for a dusty old book.” Rarity reminded her. “I thought you were just going to protect me from falling debris?”

“Yeah and so far, nothing has fallen.” Rainbow said.

“Hmm…” Rarity observed one of the robes. “Yeah, these will definitely work!” 

“Yeah well for a basement there seems to be a lot of different rooms.” Rainbow peeked her head out to the corridor. “One of them’s bound to be some kind of cool lab with a bunch of different potions. Oooh! Maybe one of them could turn me into a giant mutant rat! That would scare the bajeebers out of Pinkie!”

“Eh, do what you want.” Rarity shrugged.

Rainbow was just about to fly out of the room when suddenly she knocks into a shelf, and a box on top of the shelf started shaking and it falls right onto a statue and knocks it down. “Oh… woops.”

“Rainbow Dash!” Rarity said angrily at her. “Can we go on for five minutes without you breaking any-“ Just then, the wall next to the bust opened up a new passageway. “Well, I stand corrected. Your clumsiness has surely paid off!”

“It was NOT clumsiness!” Rainbow yelled at her. “I was just not paying attention!”

Rarity giggles. “Whatever you say, dear.” She then looks down into the corridor. “Hmm… we should tell the others about this.”

“No way! We can totally take care of ourselves!” Rainbow corrected her. “Or… I’m not sure you can, but I can!”

“Do what you want. I’m telling Twlight.” Rarity said as she walks out of the room.

“Hey, whoa, whoa, whoa! I’m coming with you!” Rainbow follows her.

“Scared to be alone?” Rarity asked.

“No! It’s just… dark, and I thought I needed a light, so… best to wait.” Rainbow fibbed.

“Mmhmm.” Rarity said, not caring.

“IT’S TOTALLY TRUE!” Rainbow yelled.

At the upper floors, AppleJack was searching around for any clues. “Find anythin’ yet, Fluttershy?” AppleJack asked, but there was no answer. “Fluttershy?” Behind AppleJack there was a plate of armor rattling. “Fluttershy, get outta there.”

“No! It’s too dark and scary in this castle!” Fluttershy said.

“And it’s not dark and scary in that armor?” AppleJack asked.

“Huh…” Fluttershy figured. “Good point.” Just then she immediately jumps out of the armor flying way into the air really fast, and then flying back down and holds onto AppleJack. “I don’t like this place, AppleJack! I find it to be a lot more scary than the Castle of the Two Sisters.”

“Why?” AppleJack asked. “There’s nothin’ different about this place.”

“You may think so, but I keep hearing roaring sounds down the halls. Could there be… a dr-dr-dragon or something?” Fluttershy stuttered.

“It’s not a dragon, Fluttershy. It’s just the blizzard wind outside. There’s nothin’ to worry about.” AppleJack said.

Fluttershy takes a deep breath and smiles. “You’re right, AppleJack. Now that I know it’s the wind, it doesn’t sound that bad anymore.” Fluttershy listens to it. “Come to think of it. I think it’s playing a song!”

“Well let’s not get too scared away, sugarcube. The wind does tend to blow on certain objects making it sound like it.” AppleJack said as she and Fluttershy continued walking.

“I kinda like it!” Fluttershy said as she started to sing with the wind. 

AppleJack felt pretty relieved when Fluttershy wasn’t afraid anymore, but before she could continue searching, Rainbow flies up to them and says, “AppleJack! Fluttershy! We found something down at the basement. Perhaps it’s something worth looking into.”

“The b-b-b-basement?” Fluttershy stuttered. “I kinda like the singing wind better. There’s no wind in the basement. Just…” She gulps.

“Spiders? Cobwebs? Dust bunnies?” Rainbow asked.

“Oh that? Spiders are just adorable, and cobwebs and dust never bothered anypony.” Fluttershy said.

“Except Rarity.” AppleJack teased.

“But I just don’t feel comfortable in the dark, and I know this is an old castle and all, but… I… I really don’t like furnaces.” Fluttershy said.

“Well there’s no furnace here, Fluttershy. Just an old castle.” AppleJack informed her. “And trust me, Twilight will provide plenty of light. You’ll see!” She walks off.

“Oh… I hope you’re right, AppleJack.” Fluttershy said as she follows along.

Down in the basement, the Mane 6 all meet up down in the basement and looked into the secret passageway. “Are you sure this is where we’re supposed to be?” Rainbow asked.

“The secrets to alicorn magic can be very dangerous.” Twilight said. “A wise wizard like Starswirl the Bearded knows that just leaving the secrets lying around would cause chaos.”

“Somethin’ tells me a secret passageway won’t be the only thing in our way.” AppleJack said. Twilight lights up her horn and leads the rest of them down into the corridor. They walk down the circular stairs getting deeper underground. 

Fluttershy shakes in nerves, and AppleJack knew she had to do something. “Remember, Fluttershy, if you’re too afraid, just keep singin’ that wind chime. It’ll keep ya calm.” AppleJack suggested.

“Oh… ok.” Fluttershy said as she started singing again. She sang as they walked, and all the singing was starting to annoy Rainbow, but before she could say anything, AppleJack shakes her head to her, and Rainbow sulked.

“Ooo! Ooo! Can I join along?” Pinkie asked.

“Oh… sure!” Fluttershy said as she started singing again, but then Pinkie started screaming which made Fluttershy’s eyes shrink in fright.

“Pinkie!” AppleJack yelled.

“Uhh… AppleJack?” Rainbow pointed in front of them. Twilight shines her light a little higher, and there it was, a giant rock creature that awakes from its slumber. It makes a big yawn, and it makes everypony else scream.

“AH HA! I told you there would be a giant rock monster!” Pinkie teased.

Back at the crystal palace, Starlight and Spike were watching Skyla sleep in her box. They were both staring at her with worried looks on their faces. “You feel it too.” Spike said to her.

“Feel what?” Starlight asked.

“You feel sorry for Skyla too, don’t you?” Spike asked.

“I do.” Starlight nodded.

“Wow, heh. What we said might make a good poem.” Spike chuckled.

“Spike… you think it’s wrong that Shining Armor and Cadance keep their daughter locked up in there?” Starlight asked.

“Wow… look who’s talking.” Spike said sarcastically.

“No I’m serious, Spike.” Starlight said. “She didn’t do anything wrong. She’s only a child. A baby trapped inside a box against her will, and it doesn’t even bother her.”

“She might feel that when she gets older though.” Spike assumed.

“Yeah… but… Shining and Cadance did say she needed to be in there.” Starlight said.

“But she’s so innocent.” Spike said. “She can’t just stay in there! She’s all alone while her parents just… leave her in there! They’re not doing anything about it!”

“I know! I really hope they have good reasons!” Starlight said angrily. “They leave a filly in there against her will! They just lock her up as if they’re dictators or something! I should march over to them and tell them it isn’t right!”

“No, Starlight! They won’t accept it.” Spike stopped her. “They think it’s best to leave her in there for the sake of the crystal ponies.”

Starlight thought it out, but then she knew what had to be done. “Spike… open the door.”

“What?!” Spike asked surprisingly.

“Open the door!” Starlight ordered.

“Starlight, I already let Cadance down twice. I don’t want to let her down again.” Spike said. “They told us to keep watch over Skyla while they plan for the Crystal Faire, and that’s what we’re doing.”

“You just said though that you think she’s miserable in there and it would affect her later in life!” Starlight reminded him.

“I know! I did! I-I wish we could let her out, but we can’t do that, Starlight!” Spike explained.

“If you won’t… I will. The door doesn’t even have a lock on it. I’ll just open it.” Starlight said as she walks over to the box’s door and was about to open the door, but Spike stops her.

“Wait, Starlight. I’ll do it.” Spike said as he walks over to the door. “At least Cadance trusts me. If she caught you doing it, I don’t know what would happen. Let me take the fall on this one.” 

He places his claw on the handle as Starlight smiles and says, “You’re a good dragon, Spike. Not letting royalty tell you what to do, I’m really proud of you!”

“I’m not doing this to disobey royalty.” Spike said as he opens the door. “I’m doing what I think is right.” Spike starts walking into the box and walks over to Skyla’s crib. Skyla giggles as she kicks around. Spike smiles once he sees her. He then lets his arms down onto the crib and was about to pick her up, but that was when Shining and Cadance walk into the room.

“SPIKE! NO!” Cadance and Shining yelled. Spike picks Skyla up and then Skyla continues to giggle. As she giggles, her horn activates and her magic completely vaporizes the anti-magic box, and wind was blowing all around the room.

“What have you done, Spike?” Cadance mumbled worriedly and Starlight grins mischievously. Just as Skyla was giggling, her eyes for the first time open up revealing a white abyss within them.

TO BE CONTINUED…