//------------------------------// // Chapter 1: A Terrible Mistake // Story: Twilight's Turning, Part 1: Uncharted Territory // by TexThePony //------------------------------// Chapter 1: A Terrible Mistake Every attendee made their way toward the large chamber doors and away from a very distraught lavender unicorn who had just been harshly told off by her sibling, Captain Shining Armor. He didn’t seem to enjoy the sleep-deprived Twilight Sparkle accusing his bride-to-be, the Princess Mi Amore Cadenza, of evil. Not only was Twilight overwhelmed with regret, to make things worse, she had been uninvited to her brother and best friend’s wedding. “I’ve made a mistake… What ever possessed me to say those awful things about Cadence?” she asked, quickly realizing the sheer amount of emotional damage she had caused her family and friends, witnessing this sort of treatment towards a loved one. Thoughts of guilt and sadness rushed to Twilight’s head as she contemplated what she had done. After what seemed like a millennia, Twilight Sparkle decided that she should spare everypony the burden and leave. She took a deep breath in and slowly made her way to the castle exit via the halls. *        *        * Princess Cadence laid down on her bed, stifling her tears. Though however comfortable the royal guest quarters were, it wasn’t what she needed to ease the sadness she felt. All she could think about was the filly she used to know becoming a paranoid wreck. Twilight had faced some terrible creatures when fulfilling her role as Celestia’s protege, Cadence thought, but I had no idea how it had changed her. Cadence began to wonder how to confront Twilight about her behavior and make amends. She never meant to offend anypony, or be rude. Was I really that rude? she asked herself. In a moment, Shining Armor gently, but briskly, opened the door to Cadence’s quarters. “Are you okay?” he asked, approaching his bride with a concerned frown. Cadence gave a weak smile. “Yes, I’m fine. I guess,” she answered with uncertainty. Shining’s eyes shifted as he sat next to the pink alicorn. “Seriously, I don’t know what’s gotten into her. She’s been behaving strangely all day.” He looked her in the eyes. “And when she went off on you like that, I could tell she wasn’t the little sister I knew.” The more Shining thought about the incident, the more sadness could be seen in his eyes. “Shining, are you okay?” The Princess of Love gave her groom a concerned look. Shining leaned into Cadence. “I’ll be fine. She’s not attending the wedding, so she won’t even be around to mess it up.” Cadence frowned at him. “Not attending? She has to! She’s very important to both of us, no matter how rude she acted earlier.” She sighed, shifting her eyes to the floor. “I did go somewhat overboard with the wedding planning. Maybe I was the one being rude.” This comment caused Shining Armor to jolt upright. “No! You saw what she did! And tried to-” “Shining,” interrupted Cadence, “you can’t honestly say I’m completely blameless in this. I was thinking, she hasn’t seen me in so many years and then she has to see me act like that; it’s no wonder she blamed me for being evil.” Shining considered her point before standing up. “You know, you’re right.” He turned back towards his true love and smiled. “I’ll talk to her in the morning, okay? First thing.” Cadence smiled and nodded in agreement. “Sounds like a plan!” The princess stood up, leveling her muzzle with her significant other, and planting a kiss on his lips. *        *        * Twilight soon found herself deep in a forest with a multitude of different species of trees, no one identical to any other. She didn’t recognize this part of the Everfree forest and right now, that was a good thing. Some alone time would help her cycle through this grief. Though, she would have the hardest time getting over Shining Armor uninviting her to the wedding. It was a once in a lifetime event for her BBBFF, one that she would never get a chance to witness again. If Cadence is as good of a match for Shining Armor as I know she is, thought a tearful Twilight, then they will be together for the rest of their lives. Twilight found a clearing where she could see nothing but raw forest all around, lay down, and began to cry, letting her emotions take the reins. She cried and cried, until she just couldn’t cry anymore. “What’s next, Twilight? Happy thoughts?” she asked herself. “Cadence was so nice to me as a filly. Her and Shining are getting married… I’m happy for them.” That’s what she told herself, but she couldn’t be convinced of it. She couldn’t help but to feel upset that she was excluded. She had no chance in convincing herself that she would be happy with how things turned out. She wasn’t ready to accept it yet. The forest was soon overcome with evening shadows and darkness as Celestia’s sun left and Luna’s moon rose. Twilight used a light spell to keep the clearing bright. Surprisingly, the clearing was free of monsters. Something about the many different types of trees carrying different herbs warded monsters from this part of the forest. Perhaps they’re allergic, thought Twilight, or they can’t stand the smell. Feeling safe, Twilight decided to make herself comfortable and review spells to keep her mind off of the events at Canterlot. The tactic worked, and she found herself enjoying the practice. Eventually, she began to fall prey to sleep and her eyelids grew heavy. The light from her horn began to dim until it was completely out, just like the unicorn casting the spell. Two pairs of slitted snake-like eyes hidden in the nearby bushes observed the unicorn as she slumbered. “Now?” “Now.” Two pony-sized dragons darted like lightning from their hiding place and blitzed the unicorn. One took a thick coil of rope to bind her legs, while the other placed a paper sticker on Twilight’s horn. The commotion woke the unicorn,  but not before it was too late. It didn’t take her long to process the situation, given how rough the dragon was with the rope. “Stop it! Get off of me!” she cried out. “Help! Somepony help!” She attempted to escape with a spell to untie the rope, but to no avail. Her teleportation spell wasn't working either. In fact, the attempted use of such a spell caused the sticker to react and cause a painful migraine to bloom. Twilight Sparkle became helpless without her magic. After all, magic and friendship were the most precious things she had, and now both were taken from her in the same night. Twilight fought and squirmed as much as she could; her captors just watched and let the pony wear herself out. “Worth the trip, eh?” one dragon said to the other. “She’d fetch a high price as a slave!” In a low tone and a grin he added, “or a trophy wife back home.” Back home?, thought the worn pony, Where’s back home? I don't even recognize this species of dragon. She scrutinized the reptilian creatures, trying her level best from her position to discover anything that might give her a clue. No books she had ever read described anything like these dragons. The equipment they wore was foreign as well, with belts made of a tough brown material. Her heart stuttered when she realized the belts were leather, the tanned skins of other living beings. She had read about leather in a few very old tomes and the process required to make it. The very idea made her ill. Twilight didn’t want to think about what might happen to her while she was held captive by these depraved creatures; yet, she found herself imagining a fate far worse than death. She suddenly missed the disapproval of her friends and family, however harsh. End of Chapter 1