//------------------------------// // Chapter 1 // Story: Salve Terra // by Memento Mori //------------------------------// Sparks fly as blue and white meet. It momentarily stops before an even bigger surge of magical power erupts again. The world shakes and looking down reveals Equis floating peacefully below. Looking closely you could see the small figure of a mare floating in space, her purple coat contrasting the inky darkness of space. She raises her head and tries to cover her eyes from the bright light, you soon find yourself trying to run closer. You run and run only to see her face. Starlight Glimmer, Twilight Sparkle's student. She does not see you but the scars and the cuts that run though her body twist your heart. You try to power your horn but you know you hold no power in this dream" =================================================================================================================== "Hey Starlight, are you ready?" a squeaky male voice asked. The purple unicorn was currently packing an overstuffed satchel "Not yet Spike, almost there" she replied without turning her head. She picked up a scroll, unfurled it, and then shoved it again in her bag. "Uhhh, Starlight? Why are you packing so much papers?," he scratches his head and walks toward the bag "I mean we will only be there for a few weeks, and I'm pretty sure Princess Celestia wouldn't mind handing you a room filled with paper if you asked for it" he said as he poked the bulging satchel. Starlight who had finished locking her closet picked up one last scroll from the desk and placed it on the bed. "That is true Spike, but I would like to be prepared to show my friendship reports to Twilight and maybe even make a new friend" she gently lifted the satchel and placed it on the floor with her magic "I mean we aren't just going to some crazy place, we are going to Canterlot" she gave a contented huff and closed the poor bulging satchel. "You are beginning to sound like Twilight" he huffed under his breath but managed to pick up the satchel. "I'm heading to the station already," he said as he pulled the bag "Lock the castle when you are done okay? Just the front door anyway" he huffed again before loading the bag onto a barrow he had brought. "Thank you Spike. I'll be there in a few minutes" she called out, a resounding grunt acknowledged her. When he was out of the castle, she sighed heavily before flopping on the bed and pulling the scroll and unfurling it. To: Ms. Starlight Glimmer Greetings of peace! You and your friends will be arriving in Canterlot and staying for a few weeks to help finish this book my sister is planning to create. Although I would like to greet you there and discuss all the happenings, I would be in the middle of a diplomatic mission with the griffons. Meaning I would be in Griffonstone to assist a diplomatic meeting. I would hope you would keep these meetings and this letter a secret from my sister and Twilight. I know from Twilight's reports on how hard it is for you to lie, but I must stress the importance. The dreams, the omens you have been witnessing are key to what may happen in the future. The help I ask of you will be a bit hard but I would need you to watch over the coming delegates. My sister had called some of the librarians from different leaders to share their proud history to try and make the book a bit more "accurate" as both her word and mine are automatically biased. Report to me as soon as you find anything slightly suspicious. I know this must seem confusing to you but something is stirring and the cosmic winds are stirring. Celestia senses this as well but do not mention this at all. Starlight I trust you and I hope you enjoy yourself. Thank you again. Stay safe. From her majesty Princess Luna Starlight sighed again and rolled up the scroll. She rubbed her eyes and lit her horn up to hide the letter in her pocket dimension. She would not deny how tired and how afraid she was, as she been the enemy for who knows how long. As much as she is entitled to Luna, her loyalties lie with Twilight who gave her redemption, or at least she tried to make herself believe. She looks out of the window and nearly forgot to lock the doors as she ran out of the castle, she was 5 minutes late. She soon sees the girls climbing up the train, and the clock chimes, showing her that she had a few minutes to spare before the train left. An anxious gut feeling began to gnaw at her as she stepped on the train. Something didn't feel right and she was certain it wasn't her paranoia acting up. As she started talking with the others a feeling of worry begins to gnaw at her. All she could think was how long the trip to Canterlot would be, at least she wasn't alone. =================================================================================================================== "Sister, take care of yourself" Celestia whispered as she watched Luna board her chariot. It would be a long trip to Griffonstone and she was afraid how the meeting would go. Luna on the other hoof looked extremely proud and raring to go. "Sister, I wish you luck in writing that book of yours" Luna said suddenly, causing Celestia to smile. "Good luck with your diplomatic mission. Though I think the Griffons wouldn't mind agreeing with us now" she replied mischievously. A smile appears on both their faces and Celestia walks up to hug her. "Be careful Luna, as much as we could smite all of them, I don't think it's a good track record" she whispered. Luna gave a small laugh and they both break away. "I love you sister" Luna said and turned to face the bat ponies "Are you ready to start?" she asks them. They nod in unison and begin flapping their wings. "I love you too!" Celestia said before Luna left the balcony. As she watched her sister's chariot fly off an anxious gut feeling began to gnaw at her stomach. "Auntie Celestia, we can not keep the court waiting" a smug, haughty voice spoke behind her. Celestia bit back a sigh and a roll of eyes, opting to just give a gentle smile. "Thank you Blue Blood" she replied gently. He gave her an arrogant smile before turning around and going down the stairs. She took one last glance to the direction Luna headed and went down.