Act I - Chapter 12 - I...See...You...
The Alicorn Warrior
Written by iAmSiNnEr
Edited by Stinium_Ruide
Chapter 12- I...see...you
Twilight opened her eyes to familiar surroundings. A brown polished mahogany desk stood in front of her, along with an empty chair. Two burly stallions stood in front of the door as if they were waiting for somepony. And Twilight knew exactly who they were waiting for.
“This is Quick Leash’s office,” she whispered under her breath. “But why am I here? And more importantly, how…?”
She stepped up to the stallions. “Why am I here?” she demanded.
The stallions remained silent.
“Hello?” Twilight asked. “You there?” She reached out a hoof to nudge the stallions. As her hoof was about to make contact, it passed through the stallion. Twilight yelped and leapt back in surprise.
“A memory…” she murmured. “But of whose?”
Voices filtered through the door as two pairs of hoofsteps got closer, one of them filling Twilight with hatred. “Him,” she snarled. “How-”
The door opened, revealing Quick Leash and a blue coloured griffon. “I understand,” Quick Leash was saying. “But the ramifications of having an alicorn-”
“What would an alicorn princess be doing so far away from her home country?” The blue griffon interrupted. “I see two ways this might have happened. One, she was cast out. Two, she’s on a foolish adventure that somehow brought her to us. Lady Shadowcrest would surely want us to capitalise on this.”
Lady Shadowcrest? Twilight frowned. I’ve never heard of that name...
“The thing is,” Quick Leash retorted. “I know her. Her name is Twilight Sparkle, the Princess of Friendship. If her mentor, the princess of Equestria, comes looking for her, we’re all screwed if she brings hellfire down on us.””
Quick Leash sat down behind his desk and brought out a few papers. “Records show that she was severely dehydrated and was already starving,” he read. “The physician says that she’s been travelling for several days, at least a week, and her wings have not been in use for a long time, judging by their state.”
“That only proves my point,” the griffon argued. “If she was on official business, why did she not get any supplies? It just shows that she’s unwanted and would be a gold mine for the arena. Creatures from all over the Badlands will want to see an alicorn fight-”
“Larkin,” Quick Leash interrupted. “I was from Equestria. A princess will not simply be cast out. They stick together-”
“What about that Nightmare Moon incident then, eh?” Larkin countered. “We didn’t even know that was a thing until that day when the moon covered the sun. From our spies, we discovered Nightmare Moon was banished by her own sister. Princesses can turn on each other. Who knows? Maybe she offended the Princess of the Sun in some way.”
Quick Leash growled. “You’re not seeing this rationally. You may be Lady Shadowcrest’s deputy, but you still haven’t learnt how to see past profits. We should send the alicorn back, before any repercussions happen.”
“No,” Larkin stated firmly. “You said it yourself. I am Lady Shadowcrest’s deputy, and I make the final decisions here if she’s not around. I say we keep the alicorn, put her out on display for fights. If the reports are right…” he snatched a piece of paper off the table. “Her mana levels are enormous. She should be interesting to watch-”
“And here we disagree again, idiot,” Quick Leash said irritably. “She may have a high mana level, but think about it for a second. If you really want her to have free reign of her magic, you have feathers for brains.”
“You dare-” Larkin started.
“I do.” Quick Leash cut across him. “She. Is. An. Alicorn. Princess. Or was, according to your theory. She would have a high sense of righteousness. Do you think she’s going to allow what we’re doing here? If you want her to fight, we’ll have to put inhibitor rings on her, or else she’s going to break out, or worse, break out then release every fighter we have.”
“Bah!” Larkin tossed the piece of paper back at Quick Leash. “How is no magic fighting worth anything? The audience won’t be entertained.”
“What if we bring out some of our medium strength fighters?” Quick Leash mused, before shaking his head. “What am I saying? Why am I even trying to help you in this foolish endeavour?”
“Because I say so,” Larkin snarled. “Remember where you come from, Leash. Lady Shadowcrest could have had you executed. But you only lived because she saw your value. I’m beginning to think that she had miscalculated-”
“You doubt Lady Shadowcrest?” Quick Leash raised an eyebrow. “I’ll be sure to mention it in my next report to her…”
Larkin suddenly looked afraid. “I’m sure there’s no need for that,” he mumbled. “Okay, okay, she’ll fight without her magic.”
“Let’s just say I’m going along with your harebrained idea…” Quick Leash muttered. “Which I am still sticking to my opinion that it’s completely idiotic. But, let’s just say, theoretically, we go along with your plan of using the mare. I’ll offer her a choice. Fight for us, or no magic. Of course, I won’t mention the second option.”
“She’ll rake in the gold,” Larkin said gleefully. “Once the Badlands hear we have an alicorn, everyone will start flocking to us. They were already coming in droves when they heard that we have managed to get a dragon. A bit of a disappointment for them when they found out he had no wings, but we still earned quite a lot from that.”
“Not so fast,” Quick Leash said, annoyed. “You’re getting tunnel-visioned again. I still have to set everything up. If she’s as powerful as the reports show she is, I’ll need to hire a blacksmith to design us an inhibitor ring that can contain her magic. In fact, I’ll probably order five or six just in case she breaks one or two.”
“Fine, fine,” Larkin replied, his confidence setting back in. “Do what you need to. Get her set up and into that arena. I’ll be reporting back to Lady Shadowcrest today, do not disappoint her.”
“Of course,” Quick Leash sounded bored now that he was back in his element. “And I assume I’ll receive the usual commission? It was my ponies that found her, after all.”
“You’ll get your commission,” Larkin replied as he opened the door, about to leave. “Just get the alicorn into the arena. Goodbye.” The door closed as he left.
Quick Leash sighed as he stared at the pieces of paper he had on his desk. “Twilight Sparkle,” he murmured. “I can see that being catchy…” Twilight yelped in surprise as the scene dissolved, turning into a swirl of colours.
“How am I seeing this?” Twilight asked herself as another scene began to construct itself. “This shouldn’t even be possible…”
This time, she was in Canterlot Castle. For some reason, the place was eerily empty.
“Hello-? Oh, yeah, this is a memory…” she wandered the corridors, looking for somepony, or even anypony for that matter. The emptiness...it disturbed her.
As she turned the corner, she saw the two tall doors that led into the throne room. She blinked in surprise. I hadn’t even intended on coming here…
The doors swung open as Twilight neared, and this time she wasn’t even surprised. It’s as if somepony wants to show me something…
Princess Celestia stood there, and Twilight flinched a little as memories of her banishment came rushing back. She so wanted to hate her mentor for it, but she could not find that hatred in herself to do so. “Princess Celestia…” Twilight murmured. “I know you probably can’t hear me in this memory, but I want to get this off my chest. I don’t blame you for that day, well, maybe a little bit, but I have mostly forgiven you. Four years is a long time to think about the day I’ll finally see you again, and I’ve thought over how this could go several dozens of times.
“Maybe,” Twilight said ruefully. “When we get back together we can-”
“What?!” Celestia snapped. Twilight’s eyes widened as she backed up.
“Y-you can hear me?” Twilight squeaked, but Celestia gave no indication that she heard her. Celestia seemed to be distracted by something, her eyes focused on nothing.
“Twilight…” Celestia said sadly as her eyes refocused. “What have you done?”
“Princess,” a formal voice said from behind Twilight. Twilight blinked. That voice…
Raven Inkwell stepped into Twilight’s sight, her ever-present clipboard floating in front of her. “Princess Celestia,” she said respectfully as she sank into a bow.
“Raven,” Celestia said distractedly. “You and I have gone over this many times. You need not bow to me.”
“I know,” Raven said. “But you are the Princess of Equestria, and I am obliged to do so. You looked distraught when I entered. May I ask what is disturbing you?”
“Twilight,” Celestia replied after a moment’s thought. “I just felt a giant wave of time-magic from her castle. It shook the very foundations of time itself, and I am worried as to what has happened.”
“Time magic?” Raven said curiously. “Isn’t that forbidden magic?”
“It is,” Celestia said gravely. “Which is why I am conflicted. Normally, if it were any other pony, I would banish them, but this is Twilight we’re talking about, and she must have had a good reason-”
“Princess,” Raven interrupted. “If I may be so rude to interrupt, but you yourself said that you have no favourites. Princess Twilight is no exception. If you make exceptions for her, the others will start to question you.”
So it was Raven who convinced Celestia to banish me...Twilight was flabbergasted. But she’s the last one I would have thought to have done this! She’s never been anything but nice to me….
Celestia sighed. “I know. But-”
“Princess Celestia,” Raven said silkily. “You know that this is the right thing to do.” Twilight blinked. Raven’s tone had clearly just shifted suddenly from formal to persuasive. What in the…
“Princess Twilight is a threat to this nation,” Raven continued. “If you allow her to stay, she will only keep using her magic to shake the foundations you’ve built up, and cause chaos to run rampant.”
Celestia shook her head, but she looked confused now. “What…?” she mumbled. “Twilight isn’t a threat…”
What is happening here?! Twilight blinked hard, and then dug a hoof into both her ears to make sure she was hearing it right. Why would Raven do this to me?
“Banish her,” Raven said persuasively. “And Equestria will be safe. You know that this is the right thing to do.”
“Yes…” Celestia muttered. “I will.”
“And of course,” Raven smirked. “I was never here.” Only now did Twilight notice that Raven had her horn lit. “You thought of this yourself, and I am still settling the accounts for you.”
“You were settling the accounts,” Celestia muttered. “You were never here.”
“Celestia!” Twilight cried out, even though she knew Celestia couldn’t hear her. “Don’t listen to her! She’s using beguiling magic!”
Celestia nodded firmly as Raven slipped away, exiting the throne room and disappearing round a corner. “Twilight must be banished. This is too grave of an offence to let it slide.” She materialised a quill and parchment, scribbled something before her magic teleported it to Twilight’s castle. “Now…” a tinge of regret came into her voice. “Comes the hard part.”
The scene dissolved, and Twilight bolted upright in her bed, breathing heavily. So that’s why she banished me! Twilight stood up and looked out of her window. “When I return to Equestria,” she swore. “Raven, you and I will have words.”
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Huh... interesting. Please, continue.
Thanks for the update
Raven, WHY???
I know it's supposedly Chrysalis or something, but I hope she is okay, because I like her character design. ;_;
I was expecting that, another story that can't follow through with Celestia as a villain, and tries to find another scapegoat 😒
Just for once, this story could have killed her off as a villain.
10731892
I've already hinted at this since the start, so if you're mad at me or anything I can't even find the words :V
And yes, Celestia is not the villain here. I'm gonna clarify things before things get confusing.
I am trying to follow canon events, and change it according to what has happened here( Twilight being banished), please don't get mad at me for taking my story in this direction :(
10731892
yeah, no... As much as i have been annoyed with the plot so far I have to side with the author here. As long as this is not another Chrysalis plot...
Is this Lady Shadowcrest an alias of Raven? I wonder...
See, I like the way this is going. One thing that would disappoint is if it was a Chrysalis plot. There are other villains after all. It might be interesting if someone had set up Raven as there agent to control Celestia. Which begs the question is there ponys set to control Cadance? Luna? Was Twilight being controlled and not knowing it?
Ok, we all know its Spike.
Huzza! Update!
10731986
10 bucks its blueballs trying to take control, ah bluey every ones favorite pony shaped punching bag
also talk, talk!! no no no twily raven is the pony who fucked you over and ruined your life you don't stop till she and her conspirators are a red smear upon the walls
10731879
If it was Chrysalis she'd be a character tag or there would have been a hint to that already, for dramatic irony. At least I would hope so. My money's on the upper class unicorns having their hooves in the power structure through such subtle magical machinations as this. Celestia was the sole ruling body for a thousand years. The high families have had generations to perfect their craft if they ever had this idea.
10731982
That's exactly what I was thinking.
10731982
That's exactly what I was thinking.
10731892
I haven't started reading this story yet, but I agree with your sentiment about wanting to see Celestia get punished for wrongdoing. Maybe not in the direct context of this or any particular story, but it's a perfectly normal and understandable desire.
Like, Celestia is a pretty complex character, and remains very mysterious and open for interpretation. She show doesn't go nearly as in depth with her as a lot of others, so she can easily be written a lot of different ways without author having to even consider the AU tag.
And she has done a crazy amount of good in the MLP world. But she does mess up sometimes. She lacks a lot of remorse in situations that really should call for it. She decides ponies' fates for them without any input. She risks the entire world on a gamble that Twilight will succeed in tests of her own making, multiple times.
Celestia is a very flawed character, yet the entirety of the MLP world seems to treat her as being beyond reproach. So does a lot of the fandom, because every time a comment like yours pops up, it gets a silly number of downvotes, no matter how delicately put or well-argued the comment can be.
I also feel incredibly frustrated on how everyone treats the idea of Celestia, and I also occasionally like to see her taken down several pegs in stories where it is deserved, even to the point of her being the actual villain. It's amazingly cathartic, and a very healthy way to deal with frustrations about the character.
So regardless of how many downvotes we get, I just want to say that I totally agree with you, and that our opinions are perfectly reasonable.
10732133
Okay, before things get confusing, I'd like to clarify something.
No tags doesn't mean they're involved, I might just want to keep spoilers away. But what I can safely say, however,is that Chrysalis will play her part. Although...I never did say she's the main villain...
nice
Her friends still need to grow up and deal with the unfortunate necessity of killing in combat.
10732513
That is true. Unfortunately this is due to not my reluctance to write Villain Celestia, but because I have a plan for the story that I had a long time ago. If you want villain Celestia, you can check out Descent of the Seven by my good friend Serene Gust, and I'm cowriting that too xD :)
10733152
this is true
10733157
That's what I meant when I wrote my comment because I knew it you left it the second a new scapegoat appeared.
It's, unfortunately, a common theme here in fimfiction and I would even call it clickbait because of how many times it happens and how some descriptions are written.
10733224
First of all, technically we have to clickbait a little to attract readers. Would you read a story that has a bland description like, "Twilight gets banished, she is now a warrior." Although it is grammatically correct, most people would not click on it as it does not appeal to others. I hope you agree with me on this because it is the description and cover art that draws people into the story.
Secondly, yeah, it may be a common theme in fimfic, but I'm sure there's a lot too that write other tropes too! :)
10733408
The term "Clickbait" means something a little bit different than that, or at least has different connotations. Regular, good advertising makes people want to read stories and buy products. Clickbait is often called that because it uses dishonest means to get views. It baits you into clicking on the link without really giving you what it promised in a satisfying way.
For instance, have you ever been scrolling through youtube videos and saw a thumbnail for a short video, clicked on it based on that thumbnail, and then realized that it didn't have anything to do with the actual video, or that the video didn't even contain that image? That's a perfect example of clickbait. The uploader got your view, but without delivering what it promised.
I'm not saying that your story even did that, but the "Celestia was brainwashed" plotpoint was at least bait-and-switch. I started reading this story assuming that there would be some kind of revenge plot against Celestia for banishing Twiight. I've read past the point where I realize that that won't be the case, but in the back of my mind, I'm constantly thinking, "Gosh, I would really enjoy this story more if there was going to be some kind of revenge against Celestia, or at least it would have been cool if the story outline mentioned that the decision to banish her was made under duress so I didn't get my hopes up for that part of the story that won't happen."
Of course Chrysalis is involved. Figures.
Honestly, why is Twilight not immediately thinking Chrysalis?
Interesting. This seems to be an unpopular opinion but I don't mind the twist. Seems interesting enough, I wouldn't like to see things change because some people don't like it.
Hmmm...yes. Twilight and Raven with have a "talk". A nice, long, "talk".
Nice! I've been waiting for this old plot tread to be picked up again.
I picked up how Celestia had been influenced by an outside force right from the beginning, but that was so long ago I'm guessing a lot of readers have forgotten. perhaps you should add in some periodic flashbacks or letters from Twilight's friend to Celestia during the time they had been searching to keep that sub-plot fresh, if you ever revise the story.
10733620
Did I not mention a hint in one of the earlier chapters? I swore I did.
10731892
I genuinely dislike it when people are giving their own conclusions to the story. They make this huge assumption about how the story is going to go, and give feedback on their imaginary future. Maybe it'll be bad, maybe not? Let's find out before making polarising comments.
Let the author do what (s)he wants, it's their story. If you really have a better idea, go write a spin-off after asking their permission.
But hey, like yours, this is just my opinion.
10732603
Beware of messing with tags. I understand some is for spoiler reasons, but I've seen authors bashed very harshly for editing/modifying tags mid-way through a story. It's probably an overreaction but just giving you a small heads up: Unless you really have a change in where you're taking the story, prevent adding tags to mislead readers.
10734164
Because plot, thats why.
10772494
I have realised -_-
Hmm... 666 comments
I'm gonna crush that
10772535
C'mon, man...you didn't even allow me to realize and take a screenshot 😅
10772535
how dare you
I think someone let Ol' Sunbutt sit on the publish button by mistake
nope! i still blame fatass celestia on this! EVEN though raven was the one who instigated it and used mind control or what not!
How in the bloody heck does raven out power celestia and mind whammies her...
Some dang maguffin as usual i bet
10772535
nerd i deleted a chapter and I now have a screenshot of 666 comments take that
10775084
😅😂😂😅
I think Raven is SO DEAD!!!! And Celestia might get a Huge Slap from Twilight, just to get her anger out of her system. And for Celestia being NAIVE and STUPID enough to be mind controlled by a "very weak" Unicorn Secretary of all ponies. How the mighty have fallen ( Celestia).
10780504
Raven was Chrysalis
10783935
Good possibility. I mean, Chrysalis is the NUMBER ONE Suspect on EVERY "Betrayal" Story I have seen.
So it was Celestia after all. Well, okey, when she effectively sent the rest of the Harmony Gang into exile, she was already brainwashed. But not to understand "something happened in Twilight's castle "=/= "Twilight did this" - this is her thought. Or rather, their absence.
And Twilight makes the same mistake, getting knowledge out of nowhere and not even trying to question its validity.
10780504
And celestial barely took responsibility for her mess up. If you are tricked into something you right it as soon as possible as well make it clear to everyone what happened. By being vague about who trick her she is avoiding making sure raven can't do it again.
Now here's something still bothering me.
Celestia still immediately jumps to "it's Twilight's fault", when another perfectly sensible explanation would be "a villain is attacking Twilight's castle". Heck, that's what actually happened! Super-powerful magic types going for the princesses isn't exactly a novel thing in Equestria even at that point. So, why not incorporate the blame-shifting into "Raven's" mind-control as well?
“Twilight,” Celestia replied after a moment’s thought. “I just felt a giant wave of time-magic from her castle. It shook the very foundations of time itself, and I am worried as to what has happened.”
“Time magic?” Raven said curiously. “Isn’t that forbidden magic?”
"It is,” Celestia said gravely. “Which is why I am conflicted. If she is the one who did it, I would have to banish her, but this is Twilight we are talking about and-”
“Princess,” Raven interrupted. “If I may be so rude to interrupt, but you yourself said that you have no favourites. Princess Twilight is no exception. Who else would have the magic power required to cast a spell like this? If you make exceptions for her, the others will start to question you.”
Just a tiny change, but I think it fits the show's character a little more.
Fear the person not sitting on the throne, but standing behind it.
Ok, so.... questions? I'm gonna guess raven is Chrysalis, how she picked the right time to interfere? That is questioning.
And how is Twilight able to see memories that doesn't even have herself in them? That should be impossible, and who or what is showing these memories?