Chapter 2 - A Mystery In Canterlot
Meanwhile, in another universe entirely, a pony contemplated a fate worse than death.
"I can't believe I let you talk me into this," lamented Starlight Glimmer, her gaze downcast as she trotted along a street in Canterlot. "There's no way this is going to be anything less than a disaster."
"Really, Starlight, you're worried over nothing," said Twilight Sparkle with a smile as she kept pace with her friend and student. "This isn't like trying to do a difficult friendship lesson or going up against Queen Chrysalis again."
Starlight's head whipped up, her eyes wide and shimmering. "No, it's far worse! It's high tea with Princess Celestia!"
"Honestly, darling, you should listen to Twilight," said Rarity, who trotted along on Twilight's other side. "The Princess is nothing but a delight to be around."
"And it's not like you haven't met her before," said Twilight. "You helped rescue her from Chrysalis. She had nothing but good words to say about you."
"Well, yes, at the time," said Starlight. "And she had more important things to worry about, like opening relations with the new changeling king. What if she's just biding her time to call me on the carpet for everything else I've done?"
"But you've done nothing to--" Rarity began.
"Oh, right, stealing the cutie marks of the Elements of Harmony is nothing. Conjuring random alternate timelines is nothing. Mind-controlling those same Elements during a botched solution to a friendship problem is nothing."
"I meant lately, dear."
"Starlight, Princess Celestia knows everything you've done," Twilight declared. "She's trusted me to decide what should become of you. She never doubted me taking you on as a student. If she had issue with it, she would've said something by now."
Starlight lifted her head and gave the palace ahead a wary look. "I really hope you're right about that."
Rarity chuckled. "I do admit, you remind me so much of how dear Twilight would react to such things."
Twilight blinked. "I never reacted that way."
Rarity raised an eyebrow.
Twilight blushed. "Well, okay, maybe I did. A little."
Starlight snickered. She angled her head so her gaze passed over Twilight's barrel. "How bad was she?"
Rarity waved a hoof. "One had only to make a mere suggestion that the Princess had some sort of test in mind to make her completely lose it."
"I had to be prepared!" Twilight cried. "I was still her student at the time."
"Even in such mundane matters as writing equipment, she went a bit overboard. I mean, really, three sets of normal quills, four 'lucky quills', and sixteen emergency backup quills!"
"And each one was cross-indexed according to what mishap caused me to have to use them," said Twilight. "In case the residual magical resonance of the accident affected the writing surface such that it became sensitized to what kind of spells were written with the quill prior to--"
Her words were drowned out by laughter from Starlight and Rarity. Twilight managed a small smile but blushed harder.
"Apologies for the laugh at your expense," said Rarity.
"It's fine," Twilight said, her smile widening. "But I guess I see your point."
"Hearing that story did help a bit," said Starlight. "In fact, it would be great if Rarity would come along with us."
"As much as I would love to, my main reason for coming to Canterlot was to see how my boutique is doing," said Rarity. "But I'll come along as far as the palace, if for no other reason than to see the latest fashion trends among the nobility."
"If it helps any, I'll likely be monopolizing Celestia's time a bit," said Twilight. "I want to hear everything about how her negotiations went."
"Is there really much to them?" Starlight asked. "Thorax seemed pretty willing to be friends."
"There are more changeling hives than the one Chrysalis ruled," said Twilight. "Celestia decided to see if the other hives would allow her to approach and open relations with them now that Chrysalis' influence is gone."
"I will be very happy to hear that things have gone well," said Rarity.
"So will I," said Twilight with a smile. "That will be the last real outside threat to Equestria."
Starlight turned her head. "Really? You mean, Equestria will have no real enemies after that?"
"None of any power to speak of. The Griffon Kingdom is an ally thanks to Rainbow and Pinkie's earlier efforts. The dragons are interested in peaceful coexistence with ponies, thanks to their new leader. Finally, Cadance and Shining Armor just wrapped up a trade pact with Yakyakistan."
"Is it true the griffons threatened war once?" Rarity asked.
"Yes, that's true," said Twilight. "The worst of it was when I was just a foal, before I was Princess Celestia's student. I was a bit too young to really remember what was going on at the time." She hesitated. "I tend not to want to think about it."
Starlight raised an eyebrow. "Why not?"
"It brings back bad memories."
"But I don't understand," said Rarity. "You just said you were too young to remember it."
Twilight sighed. "Yes, but I did a paper on it once and ... I ... got a bad grade."
Starlight smirked. "You? Get a bad grade?"
"I know, I know! Don't rub it in!"
Rarity gave Twilight a suspicious look. "How bad was this 'bad' grade?"
Twilight shivered hard. "A-minus," she whispered.
Starlight and Rarity gave her a deadpan look.
Twilight swung her gaze between them. "What?"
Rarity smiled. "Nothing, dear."
Starlight grinned. "You know what? I'm just not as worried about this high tea anymore."
Twilight smiled. "Well, good, I knew you'd come around eventually."
Rarity and Starlight looked at each other over Twilight's barrel and winked.
Some of Starlight's resolve wavered as they trotted the wide hallways inside the palace, armed pegasus guards lining each side, their eyes tracking her carefully. Starlight looked down at her hooves and muttered, "Why do hoof-steps always echo ominously in places like this?"
"What was that, Starlight?" Twilight asked.
"Oh, nothing," said Starlight as the doors to Celestia's Day Court loomed ahead. "Um, you sure she won't be busy or something? Maybe we should come back later."
Twilight chuckled. "Princess Celestia set this up herself. She would be sure to clear her calendar." Twilight pointed. "See? No more nobles waiting their turn. The last one is probably finishing up now."
Starlight nervously waved a hoof. "Oh, well, then, maybe this noble has a long and complicated agenda, and he'll take ages to--"
The doors burst open, and a unicorn wearing the colors of Canterlot nobility cantered past them.
"Or ... not," Starlight concluded in a weak voice.
Twilight smiled. "Come on, let's not keep her waiting."
Starlight cantered to catch up with Twilight. With reluctance she swept her gaze forward and to the throne, yet instead of the gleaming alabaster white diarch of Equestria, her eyes beheld midnight blue.
Twilight stopped short. "Princess Luna?"
Luna smiled. "Good day, Twilight, Starlight. Please, come in."
"As much as I'm glad to see you, what are you doing here?" Twilight asked.
Luna rose to her hooves and approached, her astral mane trailing out behind her. "Filling in for my sister. She was delayed when her negotiations ran into a bit of trouble. She sends her regrets for missing tea with you and Starlight."
Starlight breathed a sigh of relief and smiled. "It's no trouble, really!"
"Well, that's a shame," said Twilight. "Is she okay?"
"Indeed, she is," said Luna. "She simply needed another day. She will be back this evening and has rescheduled tea for tomorrow."
"Oh, then all we have to do is return to Canterlot tomorrow," said Twilight brightly. "Isn't that great, Starlight?"
Starlight's smile faded. "Yeah. Great."
"Normally, I would be delighted to take Tia's place and have tea with you," said Luna. "But my sister asked me to review a copy of the Yakyakistan trade pact. Cadance is anxious to see it approved in Canterlot."
"Of course, I understand," said Twilight. "I'm sure we can find something else to do today."
Luna nodded. "Thank you for understanding, Twilight. It's good to see you again. And you as well, Starlight."
Twilight turned away from Luna. "Let's see if we can find Rarity. She may still be downstairs."
They indeed found their fashionista friend chatting with a member of the nobility. Her eyes widened as she saw Twilight and Starlight. She immediately excused herself and cantered up to them. "Is something the matter?"
"Princess Celestia is delayed," said Twilight. "She won't be back until tomorrow, so she had to reschedule."
Rarity smiled. "While I'm sure you're a bit disappointed, this is an absolutely fabulous opportunity! After I finish up my visit to the boutique, we can make a day of it here in Canterlot."
"Yes, I agree!"
"Um, doing what, exactly?" asked Starlight.
"Why, shopping, of course!" said Rarity.
"Why, reading, of course!" declared Twilight at the same time.
Starlight glanced between them. "Um ..."
Rarity turned to Twilight. "Did I hear you right? Reading?"
"This would be a perfect time to visit the Canterlot Archives," said Twilight with a smile.
Rarity face-hoofed. "One does not come to Canterlot of all places to spend one's time with dusty old books."
"Those books are not dusty! The curator there maintains them very well."
"Darling, you're missing the point."
"But I could show Starlight the complete history behind the whole high tea ceremony," said Twilight.
"Ceremony?" Starlight said.
"When it used to be an excuse for a behind-closed-doors highly-charged political debate--"
Starlight's eyes widened.
"Or back before that when sometimes it was used to judge and decide sentence on those committing certain crimes against the state that--"
"What?!" cried Starlight.
"Or before that, when it was used to decide the fate of--"
"You know what?" Starlight declared. "Shopping it is!"
Twilight's ears drooped as she uttered a long sigh.
Rarity chuckled and stepped alongside Twilight. "After our little shopping excursion, I promise to show you something that will satisfy your unceasing quest for knowledge."
"Oh?" Twilight said.
"Something Sassy Saddles had told me she had stumbled upon the day before while looking for a new restaurant to try ..."
Twilight looked on in awe at the towering spires of immaculate white as they rose on either side of a wide stone street. The area remained largely deserted despite the hour being one of the busiest of the morning in Canterlot. Sunlight glinted off large windows whose tops were fashioned into high, sweeping arches. Roofs soared to tapering points of glittering metal and glass. Hooves clicked against colored stone done in mosaics of Celestia's and Luna's cutie marks.
"I don't think I've ever seen this place!" Twilight said in amazement. "Even in all the time I was here as Celestia's student."
Starlight shielded her eyes with a fore-leg from the glare of light off a window. "I didn't think they made buildings in this style anymore."
"They don't," said Rarity as she trotted ahead of them. She waved a fore-hoof at the nearest building. "Many of these were built very soon after Canterlot's founding. The nobility once lived here." She pointed to a rooftop. "They would fly flags with their family crests at the tops of those spires."
Noting a distinct lack of such flags, Twilight asked, "They don't live here anymore?"
"Oh, no, darling, not with today's breed of nobles insisting on everything being new and modern. They look down their muzzles at this 'old style rich.'"
"Well, that's just silly!" Starlight said. "I would love to live here."
"Even somepony as fashion-conscious as me realizes that sometimes old is best," said Rarity.
"Does anypony live here now?" said Twilight.
"Certainly. There are some businessponies with a taste for the old school. The official name of this street now is Old Canterlot Way."
"Yes, I have heard about this place after all," said Twilight excitedly. "I think my family knew some ponies who lived in this part of town when I was a foal."
Rarity smiled. "If it were me, I would've been quite jealous of my fellow foals who had the privilege of living here."
Twilight chuckled. "Not me. I would've been upset if my parents had moved here, assuming they could afford it."
"Are you kidding me?" Starlight said. "You'd pass up a chance to live where nobles once did?"
"While this place does look nice and quiet -- perfect for reading and studying -- it's simply way too far from the library. Not only that, but ... um ..."
Twilight stopped trotting. Starlight and Rarity continued on a few steps before realizing their companion had fallen behind. They turned towards her as Rarity said, "Something the matter?"
Twilight frowned and looked around. "Don't you feel that?"
Her companions exchanged a look before Starlight said, "Feel what?"
"That very odd magical resonance."
Starlight stepped over to her and looked around. She finally shrugged and shook her head.
"I don't feel anything odd at all," said Rarity.
"Hmm." Twilight lighted her horn. After a moment's concentration, she turned around and faced one of the smaller spires, which she trotted towards. "It's coming from that way and up."
Starlight followed. "Wait, now I can feel it. You're right, that is odd."
Rarity joined them. "I fear I must take your combined word for it, as it still escapes me."
Starlight turned to Twilight. "What do you suppose it is?"
"I don't know," said Twilight. She unfolded her wings and flew up until she was about three stories from the ground. She thrust a hoof forward. "There! It's coming from whatever room is on the other side of that wall."
"Now I am noting something rather strange about this place, and it has nothing to do with magic," said Rarity. "Where are the windows?"
Twilight flew a complete circle around the building. "You're right! There's not a single window, as if the place was sealed up somehow."
"That's not all," said Starlight. She pushed her hoof against the air just short of the front door. It went no further than the length of a fetlock before magic glared and rippled. "It's not just sealed physically."
Twilight flew to the ground and lighted her horn again. "She's right, this place has been magically sealed as well."
"Can you break the seal?"
"I could, but I'm not sure I should. Things get sealed like this for a reason."
Rarity stepped up. "And doesn't that reason usually involve something dangerous?"
"Yes, which is what makes this very strange," said Twilight. "There should be royal guards here, or some other form of official presence."
Starlight prodded the seal again. "Maybe somepony sealed it up and then just forgot about it."
Twilight turned to the others. "I better ask Princess Luna before I proceed any further. If there is a reason for this, she'll likely know."
Rarity smiled gently. "Maybe it's nothing to be worried about."
"Normally I'd agree with you if I could identify the magic I'm sensing," said Twilight. "Where it's completely foreign to me, I'm a little worried."
"Could Discord be up to his usual shenanigans?"
"I doubt it. I know chaos magic when I see it, and this isn't it." Twilight glanced down the street. "We should go back to the palace and see what we can find out."
"I'll take a rain check on that," said Rarity. "I still have a few things I want to finish up at the boutique."
"I'll come along," said Starlight.
Twilight smiled. "Thanks. Let's go."
Princess Luna paced the width of the throne room, looking thoughtful. "Old Canterlot Way, you said?"
"Yes, house number five-eight," said Twilight.
"I cannot recall that address off the top of my head," said Luna. "But then again, if that place was sealed before I returned from the moon, I would not be privy to it."
"Surely there has to be some sort of record about it," Starlight suggested.
Luna turned to face them. "That is exactly what I was thinking. My sister is a stickler for detail, especially concerning things such as this."
"So you don't think it's likely somepony simply forgot about it?" said Twilight.
Luna trotted forward and bid them to follow. "Very unlikely." Her horn glowed, and the doors to the throne room opened. The guards to either side bowed as she passed. "But we'll soon find out, as anything of this nature would be recorded in the public works section of the Royal Archive."
"Royal Archive?" Starlight asked.
"It's a special section of the general Canterlot Archives," said Twilight. "Concerned mainly with the day-to-day functioning of government."
Luna nudged open a set of tall gleaming metal gates with her magic, her hooves soon echoing against shiny tile in the subdued light. On either side, huge bookcases rose from floor to ceiling, and the aroma of old paper and cloth bindings hung heavy in the air.
Twilight smiled as she took a deep breath. "Ah, this brings back so many memories."
Starlight smirked. "To me, it just smells musty in here, but, whatever."
"Master Archivist!" Luna's voice rang out, but silence was the only response. She sighed and shook her head. "While Master Wordy Scroll is an excellent archivist, he is getting on in years and sometimes forgets to put on his hearing aid. I suggest you cover your ears."
Starlight blinked. "Cover my ears? Why--?"
"MASTER ARCHIVIST! THOU HAST VISITORS IN NEED OF ASSISTANCE! THY TIMELY ARRIVAL WOULD BE MOST APPRECIATED BY US!"
Starlight quivered with her forelegs crossed tight over her head until the floor stopped shaking in the wake of the Royal Canterlot Voice. Twilight hid a smile behind her hoof.
The sound of galloping hooves approached, and soon a somewhat wrinkled old unicorn stallion with a brown coat and graying mane and tail skidded to a halt, both the hearing horn strapped to his head and his thick glasses almost tumbling to the floor. Age spots were scattered about his cutie mark, that of a long scroll completely filled with writing. "Yes, yes! Terribly sorry, Your Highness! I was simply nap -- er, I mean, cataloging! Yes, that's it!"
Starlight planted a hoof to her muzzle to suppress a giggle.
Wordy Scroll's horn glowed, and he pushed his glasses up his muzzle. He gasped in delight. "Oh, my, is that little Twily?"
Twilight chuckled as she stepped forward. "Not so little anymore, but yes, it's me. I had no idea you had been promoted to Master Archivist. I'm very happy for you."
Wordy beamed. "Thank you, Twily. Oh, I mean, Princess!"
Twilight laughed. "You can keep calling me Twily. I don't put on airs for old friends."
"You are simply too kind," said Wordy. "Now, what I can do for you all?"
"We wish to know about a location in the older section of Canterlot," said Luna. "Fifty-eight Old Canterlot Way."
Wordy looked thoughtful. "Well, nothing about it rings a bell, but let's see what we can find."
They followed him further into the library, where Wordy stopped seemingly at random before a bookcase. He looked up, his horn glowing as he plucked a book from among a hundred or so of its companions. "This is the residence manifest for that house," said Wordy as he laid the book on a reading lectern.
"Would this have a record if the place was sealed for any reason?" said Twilight.
"Yes, it would note that, Twily, but the actual sealing order would be elsewhere in the archive."
"The place is indeed sealed," said Luna. "Please find that sealing order for us."
Wordy was already backing away and nodding. "At once, Princess."
Luna opened the book with a glow from her horn as Twilight and Starlight stepped up. "Wow, look at some of these names in the first few pages!" Twilight said with delight. "I recognize the old noble families from Canterlot's founding."
"You would," Starlight said with a wry grin.
"Likely the last few pages are more relevant," said Luna before turning to the back. "Here. The last recorded time that this address was occupied was ... hmm."
"Just over twenty years ago, about when I was still a foal," Twilight said in surprise. She leaned forward and read the name of the pony who last lived there: Night Moonglow. "This name is not familiar to me."
Starlight stepped up and read the name. "Me, neither, but I'm not as up on Canterlot history as you are."
"But there's no record of it being sealed," Twilight said.
Luna frowned and turned a page back. "Nor for the previous resident. Or before that."
They glanced to the side as less eager hoof-steps approached and a glum Wordy appeared. "I'm terribly sorry, Princess, but I cannot find any sort of order for a seal on that residence."
Luna raised an eyebrow. "Are you certain?"
"Positive, Princess!"
"Could it have been misfiled?"
Wordy frowned. "A very outside possibility, but I wouldn't get your hopes up."
Luna turned away from the lectern. "I do not know what to make of this."
"Should we investigate?" said Twilight.
Luna glanced towards Wordy. "Thank you, Master Archivist. We'll be taking our leave now."
"Of course," said Wordy. "Sorry I couldn't be of more assistance."
"It's fine, Wordy," said Twilight with a soft smile. "I'll come back to visit soon and we can talk more."
Wordy smiled. "I'd like that, Twily, thank you!"
"I would hold off on doing anything just yet," said Luna as they entered the hallway. "Let me speak to my sister when she returns this evening. If anypony would know about it, she would. If not, I am sure she will be happy to let you get to the bottom of this."
"Looks like Rarity already left for the train station," said Starlight as she and Twilight stepped out of the Canterlot Boutique.
"It's too bad we have to head home," said Twilight. She sighed and glanced up at the sun. "I really wish we could stay until Celestia is back and can give us the go-ahead."
Starlight smiled. "Hey, I'm interested too. I want in on this."
"Of course. You think I would leave my student out of it?"
Starlight flicked her eyes to the side. "Well, you did seem to be going heavy on the friendship lessons and light on the magic lately. This sounds like something I can really tear into!" Starlight chuckled. "So to speak."
Twilight smiled. "I'm actually a bit eager myself for something interesting to investigate. I wonder if we should start with that last name on the residence roster, Night Moonglow."
Starlight tilted her head. "You mean Night Moonshine."
"No, it was definitely Moonglow."
Starlight frowned. "No it wasn't. It was Moonshine."
Twilight chuckled. "Now, Starlight, no offense, but I have a very good head for detail, especially considering my years of learning, and I tell you it was Moonglow."
"I don't care what kind of head you have, it was still Moonshine," Starlight declared.
"You're not going to let this go, are you?"
Starlight rolled her eyes. "You're right, it's not that important. Never mind."
"Except you still think I'm wrong."
"Well, yeah, because you are."
"But I'm not!"
"Twilight, it doesn't matter!" said Starlight.
"I can't stand the idea that you think I'm wrong." Twilight abruptly turned away and cantered towards the palace. "Let's go."
"Huh?" Starlight galloped to catch up. "Where are we going?"
"Back to the archives. I'm going to prove this to you."
"But we'll miss the train!"
"I'll teleport us to the station!" Twilight cried. "Now, come on!"
Starlight sighed and shook her head. "Whatever."
Twilight stood at the lectern, her mouth dropped open, her pupils shrunk as she stared at the book before her. "I ... but ... how ...?!"
Starlight gave her teacher a satisfied smirk as she leaned a foreleg on the lectern and propped her head up with a hoof. She reached over with her other fore-hoof and tapped the page. "So what does it say there, o learned one?"
Twilight closed her mouth and frowned. "Night Moonshine."
"As I had said."
Twilight whipped her head towards her student. "But that's not what it said before!"
"Oh, come on, Twilight. Just admit that you're wrong and I'm right."
Twilight turned away from the book. "I agree that you're right in that Moonshine is what the book says now. But I'm positive it said Moonglow when I first read it."
"So you're saying someone edited the book in the two seconds it took between when you read it and I did?"
"With a properly crafted spell, yes, that's possible."
"Well, do you detect any magic like that on the book?"
Twilight looked back to the book. Her horn glowed, and she soon uttered a long sigh. "No."
"And why would anypony do something like that in the first place?" said Starlight.
"For the same reason there's no record of that building being sealed, to hide something."
Starlight glanced at the book and closed it with a nudge of magic. "Well, we're not going to find anything here. We ought to head back to Ponyville and wait for word from Princess Celestia."
"I suppose you're right," said Twilight. In a more contrite tone she said, "I apologize, Starlight, for doubting you."
Starlight turned away from the lectern, her fore-hooves clopping to the floor. "Eh, it's all right. Just promise me that we'll work on this together, okay?"
Twilight smiled. "Of course. I wouldn't have it any other way."
Princess Celestia paused with the fork levitated halfway to her mouth. Outside, the moon hung low over the horizon, having just been raised by her sister. Finally, she slowly put down the fork, the morsel of dinner untouched.
Already, Luna had tilted her head at her sister's reaction, watching her carefully across the dining table. "Is something the matter, Tia?"
"No," Celestia said in a quiet voice. "I was merely thinking."
"So you know of this address?"
Celestia hesitated and glanced away for a moment. "I do."
Luna nodded. When nothing more was forthcoming, she prompted, "And?"
"And it's nothing for you to concern yourself with."
Luna blinked. "Well. That was unexpected."
Celestia managed a small smile, but her sister knew her well enough to tell it was forced. "Let me rephrase, please. It concerns something which happened while you were ... indisposed on the moon. Therefore, I don't believe you need to be worried about it."
"Twilight is worried about it," said Luna.
Celestia sighed, and her smile turned wistful. "Yes, she would be. I can assure you both that it is fully under control and needs no further investigation."
"So you do know why this residence was sealed?"
"Yes."
Another silence. Luna sighed. "And??"
Celestia picked up her fork again in her magic. "And there's nothing more to say on the matter."
"Except, perhaps, to explain to your own sister what this is all about."
Celestia paused to chew her bite of dinner, perhaps excessively as the tension hung in the air between them. "It's not something I'm prepared to discuss at the moment."
"So you will eventually tell me?" Luna said hopefully.
"I will. I just need to make a few discreet inquiries first."
Luna slowly nodded. "Twilight was concerned about the kind of energy she had detected."
Celestia hesitated before saying in a wary voice, "Did she identify those energies?"
"No, and that was her concern." Luna frowned. "Frankly, it is my concern as well."
"Twilight may be an alicorn and extremely well-versed in magic, but there are still things she does not know," Celestia declared. "And sometimes they are things that ought not to be known."
"I doubt that will sit well with her."
"Nevertheless, it is as things are," said Celestia. "Do you know there is a theory that states that Discord's existence is due to unicorn mages who themselves experimented with chaos magic? Supposedly, they accidentally gated him into our plane when they pushed things too far."
Luna raised an eyebrow. "That's a rather fringe theory, Tia."
"I use it merely as an example, dear Luna. My point is, just because something can be done doesn't mean it should. That is largely what this is about, and I implore you to trust my judgment in this matter."
"As much as I don't like being in the dark, I do trust you," said Luna. "But I hope I do not have to wait long for an explanation."
"I will speed this along as much as possible," said Celestia. "To be honest, it would be nice to have somepony to speak to about this."
As the moon climbed to its zenith, and as Luna slipped deep into the collective dreamscape of ponykind, Celestia opened her eyes to the darkness of her room.
She lifted her head, and without looking in that direction, she cast a silence charm on the door so that her ever-vigilant guards would not hear her stir. She alighted to her hooves, which clicked softly in the dark. Her heart raced as she prepared herself.
A moment's concentration, a brief blaze of her horn, and space folded around her. In an instant, she left the calm air of her chamber for the cool, stiff breeze that blew between the buildings of Old Canterlot Way and lightly ruffled her fur. She had not even reopened her eyes before she cast a charm around her that would make her fade into the background to anypony who happened to spot her.
Celestia felt a sharp pang in her heart as she raised her eyes to the top of the sealed building. She stepped forward, the seal parting to let her by and re-sealing behind her. She lifted a fore-hoof and hovered it for a moment above the first step before she extended her wings instead. She flew up to the third floor, the smell of dust only just barely hiding the lingering odors of chemicals and magical plasma.
Celestia lighted her horn, casting a pale radiance on blank walls and the dust-choked floor. She let out a sigh as she swept her sad gaze around her.
She advanced into a room where the mere smells of old magic were joined by a tangible force, detectable only to Celestia. Or at least that's what it should have been; that it wasn't was why she was there.
Celestia took a deep breath, steeled herself, and cast the spell.
Where an empty space had been, now a large, glowing tear ripped across the room. The light glistened in Celestia's widening eyes as she beheld exactly what she had hoped not to see. For two decades, these energies has been waning. Now, they were surging again.
Celestia dispelled her magic, and the room became empty and unremarkable once more.
She took a deep breath and set her eyes hard. "Fine," she said softly to the empty room. "Now that you know something is very wrong, Celestia, what are you going to do about it?"
The empty room had no reply, and neither did she.
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A pandemic causing pony transformation? A group transformation? That's one of those ideas that I love in principle and yet I've never seen executed on a level I was happy with. I have high hopes for this story with that premise.
7832444
I share your hopes Canary
After the sudden death of H1P1, I've been having a little itch for a pony pandemic thats been needing scratching
7832444 I'll second this. Now Second Chances pulled off the transformation from an interesting and complex perspective, with a narrator with an unconventional background and personality. This is upping the ante, but I'm hopeful it'll work.
7832444 There's the simple fact that it MUST be something deliberate from a very powerful and highly intelligent villain for a very specific purpose, OR, a crazy god trickster pulling a gargantuan transdimensional prank. Most stories that try this concept don't really grasp the difficulties very well and don't develop it beyond the very basic notion until many chapters in when they finally realize they need to explain how the heck this even happened in the first place, and then the cause feels tacked on because it actually is and wasn't part of the narrative up until then. When dealing with something like this, it's important to dig any deeper into the all-important 'why' and 'how' of such an intrinsically complex event from the outline stage, to then properly frame all the development from that point on within the context of the quest to explain the strange happenings, which would naturally consume the attentions of everyone involved.
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Why a villain?
Viruses and the like exist right now in the real world. Their development had been long and apparently accidental, moulded in the purest sense by the forces of natural selection.
The true question is what forces would make a virus to induce a transformation in species, to magical ponies in particular? It's hard to imagine any natural selection forces that would do such a thing, but I'm pretty sure an interesting case could be presented that involves no deliberate acts from anyone... just a larger lens than just the Earth, that had magic be a selecting force for development of the virus.
That said, I've always postulated that perhaps ponies are a genetically engineered species. In that case, a virus to induce such a transformation would likely come from the same source, regardless if the spread to Earth was accidental or intentional. If, for example, it had ponies be a terraforming race... and there is certainly enough evidence that they could, considering their control over the atmosphere (pegasi), the ground and growth of flora and fauna (earth ponies), and various other tasks like barriers (to, say, keep in an atmosphere) and control over heavenly bodies (bringing down meteors full of ice onto a dry planet? Unicorns). See, that's a possible reason for ponies existence, and it didn't require a villain at all. In fact, the entire terraforming race thing could be automated via probes sent through space, perhaps by a long dead species.
Not that I'm opposed to the creative use of a villain or trickster to drive the story. It was, in essence, what happened in the last story. Discord caused the transformation and translocation of the protagonist.
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Thanks
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I hope it lives up to your expectations. I tried to avoid falling into any cliche pits with this one.
Thank you.
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Seriously, this is a bit ambitious for me, having just come off my one and only novel-length story, but the idea for this just wouldn't go away.
So am I!
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This is one of the reasons why it took me so long to start posting the story. I had to have twelve chapters written in rough draft format before I was convinced that the story was heading in the direction I wanted. This is not the kind of story where I can just go "okay, a bunch of people are turning into ponies. Now what?". I even did a lot of extensive research into both biology and archaeology to make sure I could paint a believable picture.
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Wasn't quite thinking along those lines, but whatever works for you.
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Of course, I can't answer what the ultimate cause is here, since it would spoil the plot, but I can say that I did do some research into how influenza works so the plot would be believable as far as it goes.
Alright, I'm definitely hooked. I'll come along for this ride, as it seems it will be a good one. Full steam ahead!
Man, I'm just sitting here listening to the Pandemic Inc. soundtrack while I read this. Everything seems strangely menacing for some reason.
Happy New Year and thank you for this amazing fanfic.
It's not a concept I've never seen before, nor that I have seen very well handled. But it is you we are talking about. Chance of this being a huge hit are high.
And since I really like the idea...
Count me in!
This writing is fantastic. I love the way you describe the surroundings! Very vivid and immersive. I also like the characters, even the human OCs seem varied and fleshed out, playing well off of each other. I love the setting of an out of the way small town off in the woods. I don't really get the... name change to Moonshine. If anything, that would arouse more suspicion than it would divert attention. Could it be some residual spell that Night Moonwhatever cast to try to keep certain well intentioned regents from covering it up? But Twilight said the book hadn't been spelled to change the name!
I haven't been so excited about a story in a while. I wish you luck in writing it, and an easy life without complications to enable you to write it.
Alright, count me in for the ride. This looks very promising indeed.
I love me a good mystery, and the first tidbit with Moonshine/Moonglow was tasty. Right now I'm wondering if Twi or Starlight might even have had a third name implanted. So... the old 'just because I can', also called the 'never,ever, under no circumstances open this door' effect. Luna out of the loop, Celestia dealing with bad memories, Twilight's curiosity roused.
Tracking.
Though, seriously, if they even tried....
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Being an Alicorn and more attuned to magic, it does make sense that Twilight would be the first to pick up on it.
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This story has potential. You have my attention.
You have my curiosity, this story has a good premise and seems to be going into a very good direction...
The Doctor did it. Disguised Pony Doctor. Only person in town not sick. He wants the portal open for some reason, but there's some reason he couldn't keep it open- either because of its own peculiarities or some side effect- which he at least believes will be allowed, reversed, prevented, or mitigated by there being more ponies on the other side, thus why he magic'd up a pony pandemic. The question of why he's doing it and why Celestia is so afraid of it stand. But those natives apparently GTFO'd pretty fast the last time it happened... though whether that's because there are negative side effects or they saw Celly in rage mode is also up in the air.
That's my theory anyways.
Well now, you have certainly made me sit up and pay attention. An enticing mystery, secrets of the past, two worlds on (apparent) collision course, great and distinct characterization and voices for both your OCs and canon characters, all wrapped up in writing of great technical quality? Consider me sold!
But really, you have sent my imagination a-spin, and for that I applaud you - rarely does a story get me this fired up from just two chapters. The ancient contact between ponies and native Americans ... why did it happen, and more importantly - why did it stop? Did Celestia notice the side effects of magic leaking into Earth and closed off the bridge? Was the breach random, or did she cause it herself in the first place (only to find that sealing it was beyond her capability)? Are Jenny's "fantasies" indeed just that, or is there more behind her fairy tale about an ancient queen who almost turned evil, but deiced to become benevolent instead at the last moment, and keeps hiding her secrets ever since? And who stole the archeological evidence and records of ancient Equestrian contact?
Lots and lots of juicy questions I very much look towards being answered with time.
And the whole mystery surrounding Moonglow/Moonshine ... I might go off the rails here and be completely wrong here (in which case you can get a good chuckle out of this), but I feel like speculating a bit. The story description does say there are secrets surrounding Twilight's family, and I have a feeling this might be it. Assuming this means her immediate family (and not juts some ancestors) ... Twilight's father's name (or at least the one that 99% of the community seems to have adopted) is Night Light. I wonder if there is some connection there, seeing as both moon-glow and moon-shine are a type of Light that can be seen at Night. I might be grasping at straws here, but we do know Twilight's family is somehow involved, so ...
And I'm going to take a guess that, whatever magics Celestia has in place for keeping the place unnoticed and forgettable (since no one seems to have noticed the oddities about lacking windows or unregistered seals - or how such sealed places should normally have guards standing near them) either don't work on Alicorns, or Twilight's deepened connection to magic allows her to see through it ... or she has more personal/familial connection to it all than she might realize right now.
And who knows what's going on with that records book - After all, Night Moonglow was the correct entry the first time around. And though Twilight couldn't see the correct name the second time around, she still remembers it - unlike Starlight. Did she partly succumb to the spell? Or did someone indeed switch the book out, after realizing it is being looked in-to? Was it Celestia, or some third party?
Aargh, so many questions - and I'm very excited to find out the answers.
And this is what you're going to bring to me, 2017? You know, I had other things to do. I was going to finally drift away from all this "ponification epidemic" theme and fandom in whole. But no. In the first day, in very first day you pull me in again and show me this. And I have to change plans, also again. Sorry, "Gate" and popular russian fandom works. I have to deal with this first.
I hope it will be better than Friendly Fire.
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Thank you, all, for your encouraging words! I hope you all continue to like it as the story unfolds.
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You have to be really powerful at magic to pick up on the resonance there. I figured Starlight would sense it, too, once it was pointed out to her, since I see her as perhaps one of the most powerful unicorns there is.
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Interesting theories to be sure. We'll see which ones pan out
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I might have called it that if I was going more for tongue-in-cheek humor
I read the last line of the description as
lmao
7832598 For the simple fact you're almost grasped: the effects are much too specific and far too removed from a virus' primary goal of replication. There is NO REASON for a virus or any pathogen to trigger any sort of transformation unless DELIBERATELY DESIGNED to do so, such as with some transgenic pathogens created to add human genes to mice for research and so forth.
It is possible to get away with the concept a bit when a story is entirely set within a weird magical world where regular rules don't apply, BUT in this case this pathogen has found its way to OUR world... meaning somehow it traversed dimensional barriers, something requiring a huge amount of carefully focused and shaped energy... which INCREASES the likelihood of a deliberate infection from a villain.
7832692 And that's why I'm reading and not ripping it to bits! It appears as though something significant has been put into the story from outset, and this causative force will be a present thought both in the character's minds and the backstory, which hopefully means INTERNAL CONTINUITY!!!!
This alone makes me more excited than when reading most fanfics.
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Not that I'm disagreeing in principle, but careful with that line of thought, as it kind of resembles the argument for intelligent design of life via irreducible complexity argument.
7836074 Uhm... you're talking about this in the context of magical ponies in a world where they move their Sun and Moon and live alongside a chaos god.
So... yeahhhhh...
I am intrigued...
Enjoying the story so far. Reminding me a little of the unfinished but extremely good and regretfully likely dead story My Little Marriage: Mary is a Mare except on a much larger scale. Hoping this story delivers on that same type of promise. See a lot of "turned into a pony" trope stories but few really deliver excellent storytelling.
I am looking forward to see more of this story again.
Dang! This is a type of story that I have not read yet, and I like it! I'm going to be tracking this one from here on out because I want to see where this goes. Nice work so far, and I look forward to the next update!
~ Super-Brony12
7:30 *A pony in Equestria has sneezed*
7:31 *The Griffon Kingdom have closed their borders*
7:32 *Yakyakistan have initiated martial law*
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Seeing so many familiar faces in the vicinity convinced me this one was worth reading. So far, I am not disappointed. You have a strong vocabulary and your OCs have an undeniable charm to them.
If there's one thing that concerns me slightly, it's the alternating between multiple plot lines that converge. Maybe it's because I had difficulty wrangling them myself in my first fic, but you have to balance the task of making sure the moment they actually meet is right. There is an undeniable payoff when it does happen, but you mustn't rush it or it loses its potency. At the same time, string us along for too long and the burden of keeping the two plots afloat and interesting gets exponentially harder.
Good luck
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Pandemic 2... Your going along, spreading and saving up DNA points with literally no symptoms, and then BOOM! Everybody panics. WHY!?!
No! *Baps Celestia on the nose with a rolled up newspaper* Bad 'Tia! You do NOT keep world-threatening secrets hidden from your biggest troubleshooters until the last minute! *Bap* You do NOT act mysterious and evasive when said troubleshooters find out anyway and then start poking around. THIS IS HOW APOCALYPSES START. *bap*
Not really a criticism, I understand why this kind of trope exists. Just saying it's still one that makes me want to smack the character around.
7838969 I recognize your avatar.
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What's really funny is I actually had made that exact typo on the draft copy of the description and corrected it only just before I was ready to post.
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I actually did read the original Five Score story and rather enjoyed it. That had been an original perspective on the whole transformation genre.
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I believe I had read that one as well.
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Thanks! It does help that I have about a dozen future chapters already written in rough draft format so I have a good sense for where the story is going.
I know where Discord came from. But it was no accident. He was invited in... and I shall say no more at this point. For it has yet to be written.
Is that a "One does not simply joke"?
The answer, dear Sun Horse, is dive headfirst into denial until such time as you are able to acquire comfort food, then pass the buck as soon as possible.
The A-Minus line reminded me of something. Let me bring the video:
Start the video exactly at minute 6:47! That's the reference I'm reminded of!
8242141 Who are you replying to? Because the link at the start of your post doesn't go to any comment here on this story.
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As intrigued as I am so far, I have to agree with you. You have your sister and the Bearers for a reason, Celestia.
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At this point, I would say Starlight is more attuned to magic then even Twilight.
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oh, you made me think of a funny scene in the story "Astral Aegis" where someone threw a chair at Celestia! he got mad at her for messing with mirror-portals.
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Fits
Uhhhhh. You accidentally predicted a pandemic. Not about what it does, but you got the dates right and everything. Are you psychic?
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I agree as well, Celestia might have good intentions, but the old adage about the road to Tartarus exists for a reason.