//------------------------------//
// Castle of the Royal Pony Sisters 
// Story: Once in a blue moon 
// by Feefers 
//------------------------------//

“Have you two recovered?” Princess Luna asked as she looked towards Kale and Drake the armored pegasus.
Kale stepped forwards sliding into the harness, “Yes your majesty, we are ready.”
“Good, don’t push yourself too hard.” Princess Luna said, she looked back to Twilight who was nervously walking towards the carriage, her gaze fixed on the ground as various ponies peered out of windows at what the commotion outside was.
“Sorry... I am very sorry...” She mumbled, quickly trotting now as the two pegasus ponies started to flap their wings with unease.
“I will lead the way,” Princess Luna commanded, “I am going to go slower, do not deviate from my path it could be dangerous as we fly over Everfree.”

Kale glanced to his flying partner Drake and nodded standing up to attention, “Of course your majesty, “ He said looking back as Twilight climbed into the carriage.
“You will need to hold on tight, this will be a bit of a ride,” Drake said spreading his wings starting to fly from the ground desperately trying to keep up with Princess Luna.

Twilight did as she was told holding on tight, she was very glad to have paid attention, the ride over Everfree was as terrifying as a trip into it, sudden eddies of air currents rocking the carriage tossing it from one side to another.
“Hold gentlecolts, let me deal with this!” Princess Luna commanded as she stretched her wings, hovering in the air and lowering her horn, a nimbus of dark purple energy flowing from it separating the trees and revealing a dusty, ruined castle.
“The castle of the royal pony sisters, I’m not sure you recognise it from this angle!” Luna said starting to circle to land.
Twilight had to agree, from up here it was significantly more regal looking, less damaged, more intact.

Kale and Drake flew close to the ground not actually landing, enabling Twilight to hop off easily.
“We’ll be back to collect you, best not hang around this place, “ Said Kale.
Twilight gulped and looked to Princess Luna as she landed right beside her.
“It is safe here princess?” Twilight felt foolish asking, but she wanted the reassurance.
“No we are not safe here, you are quite likely in danger again, “ Replied Princess Luna much to Twilight’s distress.
“Danger, but … there’s nothing here anymore!  We took the elements of harmony to Canterlot,” Twilight said.

Princess Luna nodded softly, “What remains is an echo, a fragment of your greatest challenge.”
Twilight approached the door, magically using her horn to swing it open, trotting inside.
She looked around carefully her horn suddenly flaring with power, lighting up the room.
“My name is Twilight Sparkle!” A voice suddenly boomed around the room, “Wielder of the element of Magic!  Who seeks to steal the elements of harmony?”
Twilight looked to princess Luna, “Does my voice really sound like that?”
Princess Luna giggled softly and nodded, “Well it’s the part of you which is magic.”
“Hello … me? “ Twilight offered trotting into the room, “I’m not here to steal anything!”
A unfocused shadow moved across the room, leaving inky blotches in the moonlight as it approached.
Twilight gasped slightly, staring in disbelief at the shadowy figure across from her, standing there was a mirror reflection of Twilight, but made from Shadow rather than light.
“You already stole everything worth taking.” The shadow Twilight spat, it had hollow empty eyes just staring out at her.
“I stole? No we needed the elements of Harmony to defeat nightmare moon.” Twilight protested standing her ground.
“NO!” Twilight shadow screamed, “Not the silly elements, your future, your destiny as Princess Celestia’s most faithful and intelligent student.”
“Say what?” Twilight backed off a little confused.
“Admit it, you allowed your friendship of these other ponies to unduly influence you, to change you!”
“But … they are my friends now.” Twilight mumbled, he hoof sheepishly grinding against the ground.
“NOW!  See you do admit it!  What future would you have beside princess Celestia instead of your so called friends! How grand it could have been!”
Twilight shook her head from the corner of her eye catching Princess Luna.
“N..no it.. wait it’s really not true!” Twilight retorted.
“Yes it is...” The shadow twilight said sounding unconvinced now.
“No!  It would not be, Princess Celestia still thinks I am her most faithful student and would probably have less dealings with me if I was there in Canterlot!”
“No that’s not true, you could have been amazing... you could have been a queen...” The shadow Twilight started to shrink back edging towards the corner of the room, “Now look at you.”

Twilight took a step forwards thinking of her friend Rainbow Dash, “As a team we took the elements of harmony and defeated nightmare moon, with friends, I am stronger then I am alone.”
The shadow twilight opened its mouth screaming without any noise coming out before vanishing into nothingness.

Princess Luna trotted across smiling, “I’m very proud of you Twilight, saying no to your dreams can be very hard.”
Twilight shook her head, “But that’s never been my dream princess, not now I have so many very good friends.”
“We should be getting on, the next place we must visit will not be so easy.” Princess Luna frowned trotting outside the ruins with Twilight.
The armored pegasus ponies over head swept down suddenly as Twilight hopped into the carriage.
“Where are we going to next Princess?” Twilight asked as Princess Luna started to fly off.
“To the Canterlot gardens.” Princess Luna replied stretching her wings and starting to fly ahead.
“Couldn’t we have just started there?” Twilight asked clinging on as the pegasus gained speed, getting no answer from Princess Luna as they flew into the night.