Memories

by Sada Pazaki

Chapter Two

Fortunately Twilight wasn't late to meet the princess. However she did embarrass herself by rushing into the throne room right as some of the princess's guards were escorting the royal alicorn out. Celestia was quick to alleviate her embarrassment though, saying she was delighted to see her. They both settled down to a royal brunch being served by elegant servants. After delicious-looking salads were placed before them, the princess started the conversation with, “Again, I congratulate you and your friends for all your efforts in defeating Discord. You all went through much pain to put him back in his place.”

As thrilled as Twilight was to see the princess, those words made her feel awkward for some reason. She remembered the tears in the mysterious pony's eyes and nodded, “Thank you princess.”

“Perhaps we should have a holiday in your honor?” Princess Celestia continued cheerfully, “How about Harmony Holiday?” she delicately chuckled. Twilight felt her smile become strained, “Sounds catchy. Heh.”

Celestia became more serious, noticing her awkwardness, “Is there something on your mind my favorite student?”

“Well...” Twilight bit her lower lip, “I met this gray pony on the way here.”

Celestia nodded, all smiles.

“I don't know her name but she was in front of Discord's statue,” Twilight continued, “I think she was mourning for him. Luna told me that I should let you know.”

“Oh?” Celestia's smile had frozen, “What kind of pony was she? Unicorn? Pegasus? Or perhaps an Earth Pony?”

“I think she was an Earth Pony,” Twilight answered, “She wore a gray cape that covered most of her so I guess she might have had wings. Oh, and I couldn't see a cutie mark either so...are you okay?”

Princess Celestia looked shocked, “I just didn't think...” she said breathlessly, “But it makes sense...that she should show up now. After all this time.”

Twilight began to feel worried again, “Your highness, I think you should tell me what's going on. What is so special about this pony?”

Celestia looked down at her food then back up, “Her name was Serenity and...she's been gone for so long. I don't know how old she is. She was only a foal when Discord first found her and brought her to his palace.”

Twilight's eyes went wide, “His palace? But that can't be possible!” her mind went through several calculations, “That would mean she was around when he was still ruling...she would have to be over a thousand years old and she looks no older than I!”

The princess nodded, “I know it sounds a bit strange-”

“A bit strange?” Twilight interrupted, “You're talking about a pony: a normal, non-magical Earth Pony, being almost as old as you! And you're...you're-” she stopped, realizing how silly and disrespectful she was being. Embarrassed yet again and fearing the worst, she sank down, “I'm so so sorry Princess Celestia.”

Celestia quietly chuckled, “I can understand your confusion. I felt it myself for a long while after Discord was first defeated.”

Twilight quickly asked, “Then you don't know how she came to be so old?”

“No, I don't,” for some reason Celestia gave her a secret smile, “But I have my theories.”

Twilight waited for her to expand on that but she did not, “Okay, you said Discord found her? What do you mean?”

“Exactly what I said,” Celestia replied, “He just brought her back to his palace one day and it was there she stayed.”

Discontent with that answer, Twilight raised an eyebrow and Celestia sighed, “You have to understand, it was a difficult time for me. My sister and I were...servants under him. It was humiliating; he took such pleasure in pulling pranks on us...and with the most aggravating, immature jokes. Most of which involved buckets or pies,” she scowled for a moment before her face snapped back to its normal 'pleasant look', “Anyways, he had a habit of randomly popping in and out of rooms without warning so I wasn't surprised when he suddenly appeared in front of me while I was trying to unclean some floating tiles. He had his back to me so I'm not sure if he knew I was there at first...but he was cackling at something he was holding out in front of him. It was a little purple, dirt-covered foal. Much like yourself when you were young, only badly taken care of. The poor thing looked as though she had been through one of his hurricanes and then rolled down a rocky hill. Her mane and tail were messy and cut unattractively short. I was worried that he had done his worse to her but, for some reason she was grinning ear-to-ear.”

Twilight leaned forward, “So what happened?”

“He stopped laughing long enough to say something like, “Welcome to my palace of chaos! Feel free to walk along the walls and eat some clouds! They're melon-flavored today”. He then threw her into the air with another laugh, “Just don't fall through any holes you make while eating!” I was surprised by the foal's response. She laughed and started walking in the air as though she were born to do so. That was when he noticed me,” she rolled her eyes, “First thing he does is inform me that the buckets on my hooves were very becoming.”

“You were wearing buckets?” Twilight asked skeptically and Celestia quickly said, “They hadn't been there until he mentioned them.”

“I see. So what happened next?”

“Your highness!”

A blue stallion rushed into the room and Celestia straightened, “What is it Stormcloud?”

He saluted and stated, “There is a matter in Bridletown that needs your attention.”

She sighed, “Indeed? I will be there momentarily.”

Stormcloud bowed and rushed back out of the room. Celestia stood, “I'm sorry Twilight but it seems that I'm out of leisure time.”

“But what about Serenity?” Twilight jumped up, “You were acting so worried that I was afraid that there was some new villain on the loose I would have to use the elements on!”

“I wouldn't worry about that,” Celestia calmly stated, “Serenity might have been...well acquainted with Discord, but she was never evil like him.”

Twilight frowned but stopped the words “Who says Discord was evil?” that were teetering on the tip of her tongue. She didn't think Celestia would be too thrilled with that statement. Instead, she said, “I should probably know everything you can tell me about her though. Just in case. Maybe you could send me the information by letter?”

Celestia opened her mouth then sighed. Her long, white horn glowed as she said, “I will entrust something to you. Something you must not share with anypony, understand?”

Twilight eagerly nodded.

“Serenity spent much of her time writing,” Celestia continued, “She wrote down almost everything that ever happened to her...ah, in this book here.”

A large book floated into the room and gently landed on the table beside Twilight. She stared at it in wonder. It looked like a filly's art-project gone wrong. Colorful ribbons were crudely attached onto its cover and glitter had been glued on to form the words “Serenity's Adventures of a Lifetime!” Bits and pieces of paper stuck out of the pages and she started to lift the cover.

“Do not read it here please,” Celestia leaned down towards her, “It's like a diary. It should be read in private.”

Twilight frowned, “If it's like a diary, I probably shouldn't read it at all.”

Celestia shook her head, “It's not that much like a diary. There are no deep, dark secrets to be found. Besides, she left it at my disposal because she did not wish to have it anymore.”

“So she gave it to you?”

“More like she left it behind and never tried to get it back.”

Twilight blinked at Celestia's small 'n' sweet smile, “Okay then.”

Celestia touched her horn to Twilight's forehead, “I'm sure it contains all you need and more. Now, farewell my trusted student.”

There was a flash of light and Twilight found herself back in her library. She looked around in confusion before noticing Serenity's book beside her, “Wait, what? Did the princess send me here?”

“Hey Twilight!”

She looked up to see her dragon assistant coming into the room with a stack of books, “Hello Spike!”

“What are you doing back so soon?” he wobbled over to where a pile of books was slowly growing, “I thought you wouldn't be back until evening.”

“Well, the princess had to go to Bridletown so she sent me home early.”

“Oh, in that case, maybe you can help me with these books?”

“Sorry Spike,” she trotted past him, Serenity’s clunky book floating behind her, “But the princess gave me an assignment. I'll be reading on my bed.”

“On your bed?” he tried to put the books down gently and succeeded, “Why not in here?”

“I don't want to distract you from your work,” she cheerfully replied and disappeared. Spike sighed, “Okay, whatever,” and wiped his forehead before placing a hand on the stacked books. The books trembled and promptly fell around him, “Oh noooo!”

Twilight did not hear his yell as she climbed onto her bed, eager to read Serenity's book. Making herself comfortable, she slowly opened the book...

Discord's head suddenly popped up in a cloud of confetti. Twilight fell back with a gasp but quickly noticed his head was only paper on a spring. It bounced back and forth playfully. Almost mockingly. She frowned at it and its silly grin. Going back up to the book, she saw a hoof-written note in the corner of the first page:

Today Discord put this new joke in my book. It worked fabulously and made me laugh for the longest time. I could hardly write for laughing...

An image of a purple pony with messy black and violet hair filled her mind. Silver bracelets flashed on her legs as she happily walked among the many books that lay on the ground or floated in the air. With a bounce, she stopped in front of a book that looked much like the one Twilight was reading.

Humming contentedly, she opened it to be met with the same surprise Twilight had just encountered. The pony leapt back with a startled yelp and stared at the bobbling Discord head before letting loose howls of laughter. The image started to fade as the real Discord suddenly flashed into being behind the pony, pointing at the book and laughing loudly...

Twilight blinked. She was back on her bed...in her room. She looked around in confusion. What had she just seen?

Author's Note:

And the real story begins...

Comments

[chrismonteith]

interesting