The Forest Team
Translations of the Shakespearean will be at the bottom. Thank you for reading.
She should’ve known better than to let Nova out of her sight. Her sweet naive child was too eager to explore. Nightmare Moon understood. Of course, she did. Every time her horseshoe scuffed against the dirt or brushed past the grass it made her breath catch in her chest. All of it was so alien compared to the bone-chilling ache of being stuck in between death. Every breath was savored before being exhaled.
Over a thousand years ago, if someone told Princess Luna that she would find breathing to be taken for granted, she would’ve thrown her head back and howled with laughter. Nightmare Moon breathed in, letting the air swirl in her chest, fanning the flames of terror and anger. How dare her sist -- no, that heartless alicorn did not deserve to be called her sister. Not anymore. Not after what she has done and what she will continue to do.
How dare the Queen steal her child away. Precious Nova, who did not know much of anything except the freezing cold and hard rock, starving and unable to breathe but not dying. Yes, Nightmare Moon was beyond anger. The alicorn breathed, letting her pacing settle. Her eyes landed on her newest companion.
Spike Sparkle was a small conundrum. He’d been so very brave at the Ceremony, defending a drakon from her her full wrath. But now he was listless, tear tracks dried on his muzzle, and staring off into nowhere. His little vest was filthy from the dust of the chandelier. The only good thing, she supposed, was that his eyes flickered when she entered his field of vision.
“Art thee good now? I can't has't mine own captain of the guardeth be-est weak.” She tried her hardest to restrain her voice to a manageable level after noticing he constantly flinched when she used the Royal Canterlot voice. “If it be true thee wanteth, I can showeth thee where thee can catch but a wink?”
Spike Sparkle whimpered but nodded, hiccuping slightly as he spoke for the first time since he’d stepped hoof in the old castle, “You talk like Shakespeare. You’re lucky Mom made me study him. I wouldn’t understand without that.”
“I knoweth not of this Shakespeare thee speaketh of,” the alicorn admitted as she led the colt through the broken halls, pleased he was showing signs of incredible intelligence.
She pushed open the door of what used to be the barracks and winced at the destruction. The roof was just flat out gone and vines crept in from the cracks in the walls. The beds, if they even deserved to be described as such anymore, were nothing more than rotted flaps of questionable material suspended by rusted iron framework.
It used to be grand. Home to a battalion of Thestrals and Ponies that loyally served. Back then they were simply called the Royal Guard. She could still name her closest officers. Shadow Prancer, Black Thorn, Night Flight, Silent Owl.
“I’m sleeping here?” the boy’s voice was soft as if she would explode and curse him for asking a simple question. He quickly added upon seeing her narrowed eyes, “I don’t mind of course. I’d be happy to sleep here.”
“Nay, of course not. I wast simply did strike by nostalgia.” She glanced down at him and snorted, “It isn't wise to forswear to thy Master. Doth not doth it again.”
Spike Sparkle flinched and the alicorn pushed away the flare of rage that accompanied the action. Whoever raised this child had not done so correctly. Who was she kidding? The entire society that surrounded this child was wholly wrong, to begin with. A simple sweep of the gathered ponies at the Celebration revealed mainly unicorns.
She would not stand for it when she took the throne proper. She would search the deepest ravines and the highest of clouds to find the remnants of her Thestral Guard. They had to exist somewhere. Unless the Queen had seen fit to eradica-- no she would not think like that. Her Night Children were alive. She did not raise cowards and weaklings.
“Bid me,” the alicorn said, startling the colt in the quiet that fell as they walked, “What didst thee doth to earneth thy second nameth? Bid me thy knightly escapades.”
“It’s my mom’s.” Spike Sparkle said, carefully picking his words, “I was uhh, birthed…? Yeah, let’s go with that. I was birthed in a shower of sparkles.”
The child was lying to her again. But then again, it had been quite a personal question. She would not punish him for sparing her something embarrassing from his colt-hood. She hummed in response, finally cracking open a door that revealed a somewhat nice room. A quick spell fixed up the mattress and a second spell scrapped all the dust in the room into a small ball that she banished.
The child walked in and turned in a circle, looking curiously at the carved Runes and Sigils on the walls. Before the alicorn could open her mouth to tell him not to touch, lest he accidentally activates the thief alarm, he pressed his hoof into the stonework and pressed his Magic into it. Instantly, the room warmed and the colt sighed in relief.
“Ever not doth something liketh yond again. Thee couldst've been hath killed!” Her voice echoed in the small room.
Spike Sparkle jumped like he’d been struck by lightning, ears folding flat on his head. “I can read some of them. I knew what that one would do.”
“Yond is nay colours. Doth not, ever.” Nightmare Moon said coldly, heart beating wildly at ‘what if’s.
“Yes, Master.” And it was the way he said it, with that hopeless tone tinged with resignation. She swallowed the bile that threatened to escape the confines of her mouth and bade him a good rest. She closed the door and teleported back into the Throne Room, mane shimmering and fluttering like blue flames.
As upset as she was, she still had work to do. First thing first, she had to somehow fix a damnable Leyline. She pushed her frustration away. She was Nightmare Moon; if anyone could fix a Leyline, it would be her. For Nova. For Spike Sparkle. For her Night Children. Or she would die trying. The alicorn set to work.
The Magic of the Everfree hung like a haze over the trees. The Magic here was like Canterlot’s in the sense that it smothered all it encompassed. But mostly the Magic was different. Canterlot’s was bright, blinding, and almost completely overwhelming to the dragon. The Everfree’s was more natural and slightly easier on the senses. It didn’t chase away Twilight’s pounding headache though.
The dragon hissed through her teeth as Fluttershy poked and prodded at the broken scales along her back. A bitter-smelling salve already coated most of her back, leaving the slimy cooling sensation to cover the most damaged parts. It was itchy. Her limbs twitched as she fought her instincts to get up and start running again.
“Stop moving, child,” a voice boomed kindly, “Thank you, Fluttershy. I can take over from here.”
“Oh, Donnie. No problem. I already finished with the salves. You probably know more about this than I do.” Twilight twisted her head around, jaw dropping open in surprise at the much larger earthly-toned dragon that appeared. The dragon trailed chains and his scales were cracked and dull. One of his eyes was white and milky. He had no wings and a long serpentine body.
The dragon laughed without opening his mouth. In fact, his mouth was bolted by a band of Magic suppressing titanium strapping it mostly shut. The metal was a void, an abyss threatening to suck Twilight down. Everything had Magic to it, no matter how small there would be trace amounts. The metal was nothing, had nothing, and would continue to take and take. Twilight shuddered.
“You have done well, dear. Leave it to old Don. Go on, eat, rest. Bring me Lady Applejack after. After!” he chided again when Fluttershy opened her beak. The hippogryph smiled before leaving.
“What happened to you?” Twilight rasped to the older dragon before she could even think, “How come your…” she trailed off, embarrassment making her voice die.
Donnie’s eyes crinkled, “This, child, is what happens when our kind go out to see the world. Zero out of ten, I would not recommend. Now!” he clapped his hands, adopting a professional air, “I am your assigned Healer. I am De-lóng, in Ponyish. Don or Donnie is acceptable. No introduction is needed, Taskmaster Sparkle. Let’s see what can be done for you.”
“...Did someone hurt you?”
The dragon shot her a rather flat look that made Twilight quail, but his voice was kind and patient when he spoke again, “You’re showing signs of hoard withdrawal so be sure to spend some time in your den when you’re done here.”
“What withdrawal?” Twilight croaked and the old dragon frowned. It was a frightening expression with his bushy eyebrows drawn low over his eyes and his mouth turning down at the corners.
“Oh, dear child. Where were you hatched? I might go to your Tribe and have words with them about educating their hatchlings properly.” he sighed, sitting next to her bed of leaves, “Hoard withdrawal happens when dragons like you -- by which I mean a more Western type like you -- don’t spend enough time with your hoard. See your limbs child? They have an energy to them, don’t they?” Twilight nodded, mind whirling faster than a tornado and clenching her claws to keep them still. “Your body is telling you to return to it.”
“I wasn’t hatched. I don’t have a hoard,” Twilight responded slowly. “I don’t have a Tribe. I don’t have any of those things, you see. My Mother and Father are-”
The dragon snarled and growled suddenly making Twilight snap her mouth shut. The rumbles in his chest and throat made the bed shake with minute tremors. His single eye looked at her expectantly. He chuffed and hissed and Twilight flinched. Then his expression became blank.
“You did not understand.” After hearing his growls Twilight finally realized he was Magically projecting what he wanted to say to the area around him. No wonder the words were so clear. She needed to learn how to do that. But his statement wasn’t a question.
Donnie looked over her again, “Child,” he said impossibly gently, “Do not fret. Tell me your story. There are not enough dragons left in this world, I will not harm younglings. I can see you will not be resting. Tell me your story so that I may understand.”
Twilight wanted to roar and rip at her bedding. She didn’t have time for this, but the old dragon’s expression brokered no argument. She wasn’t foolish enough to try and disobey him when he could very well wrap a single hand around her throat with ease. So, Twilight took a deep breath and began, “I was born to unicorns Twilight Velvet and Night Light in the Capital…”
Dear Queen Celestia,
To begin, I hope you are well. I don’t know if this letter will appear to the intended recipient, but I hope so. Honestly, I do not know where to begin with this. Many things have happened in a very short amount of time. I am currently resting before setting out to find Spike. As you know already, probably, the alicorn Nightmare Moon has made her return along with Princess Nova.
Truthfully, I am still slightly dubious about their claims. If they were alicorns, you would’ve mentioned them at some point. Is it true Nightmare Moon is your sister? The beings here in Ponyville have been so kind to me even though I’ve been ruder than I would’ve liked. The stress of the Celebration really got to me.
Many sources in this town say they must submit paperwork to Canterlot every year and that the fines are astronomical. Do you know anything about that? The town is still in debt from a mistake in the system, something about lost papers, from decades ago! It’s quieter here in Ponyville. There are not even enough unicorns to have a Leyline form. Imagine that, my Queen. It’s very different from the hustle and bustle of Canterlot.
My limbs are all restless from being away from Spike. I’m sorry if the legibility of this letter leaves much to be desired. A mentor of sorts has informed me that it’s called hoard withdrawal. I didn’t even know it was possible for someone like me to have a hoard! That makes it kind of dangerous since my hoard is a living breathing pony. My mentor promised to show me how to slowly detach from all that later on. It’ll be much safer for everyone involved. Books or scrolls would be cool hoarding materials I reckon.
Did you know that Dragons have their own Magic? I’m not sure if I can tap into it since I’m so attuned to Unicorn Magic. My mentor said it’s supposed to come naturally, so I’m not sure how that’s supposed to go. It sounds like a worthwhile project to start on when everything is all done and dusted.
I miss you and I hope you’re in hiding like a sensible pony. If you’re in a position to do so, would you be able to send someone to check on my parents and my brother? I may or may not have lost my mind a little after Spike was taken from me. I don’t remember anything after that until I woke up. Do you know what became of the rest of my family? I hope no one was hurt.
Don’t you worry, I’ll report back to Canterlot as soon as I have recovered and ensured Spike’s safety.
Your pupil,
Twilight Sparkle, Student of the Sun
<hr>
Don clucked in a disapproving manner upon finding her sitting upright. She handed over her letter and the charcoal she borrowed from him, “Do you think it’s too long?”
He skimmed her letter, “The Queen is not your master, child. The world hasn’t yet fallen apart has it? Trust in her that she knows what to do. Retrieve your young and then rest. It would not be wise to go about dragging your youngling around after being rescued, would it?” he sighed, “A child like you shouldn’t already have children at such an age.”
“I know, you said that when I first told you. And again, ponies are considered adults when they reach eighteen summers. In their eyes, I’ve been an adult for six summers already.”
“Bah!” Don waved her words away, watching her curiously as she set the parchment alight with Letter Fire, “What is a single summer to a creature like me, eh? I’ve seen at least two hundred of those and I have yet to be a sire to any younglings.”
Twilight watched the smoke spiral away into the canopy above. At least that meant it was going somewhere. The old dragon pushed a bowl of stew into her claws with a single stern reminder to eat all of it. He settled himself near the edge of her vision, closing his eyes to doze.
Her limbs were twitcher than ever, trembling, jerking, and occasionally causing her to splash stew into her face. Five hours since Spike was stolen. Three hours since she’d jumped that bloody ravine and nearly fallen to her death. And one hour since her conversation with Don. She was ready to vibrate out of her scales. Stew splashed over her snout and Twilight frowned.
Lady Applejack chose that moment to enter the calm clearing. Twilight immediately put her bowl down, earning the stink eye from Don.
“Tha Timberwolves came back from searchin’,” Lady Applejack said without prompting, carefully eyeing Twilight, “They didn’ find him, but the scent’s ‘round that old castle like ya said. There’s some old Magic ‘round that place, stops them wolves from goin’ in.”
“Thank you, Lady Applejack. I’ll head out right away-”
“What in tarnation-!”
“Child.”
Lady Applejack looked gobsmacked while Don simply sounded exasperated.
“Ya doggone nearly fell down that cliff! Ah can send out some Magic teams-”
“I specialize in Magic,” Twilight said angrily, “Any and all. That’s my cutie mark, Lady Applejack. Give me a type of Magic and I will find a way to master it given enough time. Don’t bloody test me! That’s my son.” She added with a hiss.
A chain smacked her shoulder and her teeth were clamping down on the metal faster than she could process the fact. Don’s eyes crinkled at the corners, kind, and patient. Sheepishly, Twilight let go, allowing Don to lean back, taking the dark pull of the Magic suppression with him.
“She is well enough to travel, Lady Applejack.” he glanced at her again, “Any more time away from her hoard is time lost.”
The earth pony looked skyward at the stars for a moment, visibly composing herself. “Alrigh’ then. Meet us in Camp. Twenty minutes. Let’s git yer kid back.”
The team Lady Applejack put together was large. At least to Twilight, it was. Including her, there would be six in the group, not counting the pack of wolves that would be shadowing them. Lady Rarity stood at the head of the group, nodding impassively at the dragon. Behind her stood Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash, and the small pegasus, Pinkie Pie.
“Impressive team, Lady Applejack.”
“E’yup, this way no one is goin’ to be affected much by all that pesky Magic. ‘Less I bring you along, Sir Don, this’ll be the best we got.”
Don boomed a laugh, “The flattery will get you far in life, little pony. This dragon is far too old to be galavanting off through the forest.”
“Didn’t you say you weren’t old-”
“Our little secret, child. Go on. Come back and I’ll teach you some more. Gives these old bones something to do.” Don winked. It was only ruined by the fact that effectively with only one working eye and it turned into something more like a blink. Pinkie Pie giggled, ruffling her feathers. Don chuckled back and waved as they set out.
“‘I’m still young’ he says,” Twilight muttered under her breath as the group started walking, “‘Dragons live long’ he says. Then he goes about telling everyone he’s a decrepit old beast ready to wither away for his own amusement.”
“I think he does that to make Granny Smith feel young,” the pink pegasus stage whispered, “She brags about ‘running circles around that old coot’ sometimes.”
“Oh come on now,” Lady Applejack laughed, “Don’t be goin’ ‘round spoilin’ all her fun. Granny Smith knows. Them old dogs like to pretend no one else does.”
“Sir Donnie has been here for so long, no one’s kept track,” Fluttershy explained to Twilight as everyone chuckled.
The trip was relatively uneventful, guided by Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash while everyone talked and laughed. As the group approached the heavily protected castle, Twilight could see what the wolves meant. Unlike everyone else, Twilight could actually see the Magic thrum in the air, winding around in the familiar pace of Alicorn Magic. The scouting wolves crowded around the edge of the glowing barrier.
“Why’re you guys stopped?” Rainbow Dash frowned.
“Wait!” Twilight cried.
Rainbow Dash’s talons stepped neatly into the glowing bubble that only she could see and a sound not unlike thunder roared through the trees. Sharp pain bloomed behind the dragon’s eyes as she threw up the strongest shield she could make without passing out. Lady Rarity was only a moment behind as a wall of what looked to be diamond exploded out from the ground to add to the protection.
Two wolves were left outside, clawing pathetically at the walls to be let in. A blinding flash of light crashed down upon Twilight’s shield and she grunted, screwing her eyes shut. The sound came a second later, ripping through the tranquil air of the forest.
When Twilight opened her eyes, the two Timberwolves were nothing more than flaming branches on the ground. The two wolves that had been spared whined pitifully at the sight. Twilight dispelled her shield with a sigh of relief, frowning at the Forest Magic that floated above the smothering branches. She lifted the blackened branches in place, substituting the missing wood with her own constructs.
The Magic of the wolves slipped back into their bodies and yipped happily, glowing green and purple. Everyone stared at her, open-mouthed. Her tail lashed awkwardly as she asked, “What?”
“Did you just give Leaf and Reed real paws and tails?” Rainbow Dash asked incredulously, “How’s that even possible?”
Twilight looked back at the wolves. Her constructs had turned into transparent lavender tails and paws complete with fur. “I guess I did. I just gave them constructs. The wolves made that on their own.”
“You struggle to do simple spells but you can simply ‘make’ constructs?” Lady Rarity asked with an arched eyebrow, “I’m sorry darling, that is rather hard to believe.”
“I’ll explain how that works later,” Twilight said impatiently, “If we don’t move, more lightning will come down in the next few minutes.”
The group hurried on, Twilight taking point as she navigated them around Magical pitfalls and Dream Fog. “I don’t have a limiter in my horns,” the dragon said when she felt confident enough to talk and sense traps at the same time, “I keep making Magic until it spills over. I can sense and see Magic, always have. Making constructs is easy because it’s not a spell. It’s just like me ripping a scale off and giving it to one of you.”
“And you called us the mad ones,” Lady Rarity sighed, “You’re an enigma wrapped in a riddle, Taskmaster Twilight.”
She drew breath to reply, but a huge looming Magical signature appeared before them. Twilight stopped suddenly and Rainbow Dash crashed into her tail spikes, her armor taking the brunt of the damage.
“Hey, what gives-?”
“Well well well, behold what tis,” Nightmare Moon said silkily appearing through the fog, “The drakon arrives. Impressive navigation through mine own traps. Thee deserve applause.”
“Geter!” Rainbow Dash ordered the wolves.
The wolves charged, but a single spell from the alicorn immobilized the wolves. The alicorn snorted, “It seemeth I has't been mistaken. The Night Children liveth. Thee wilt knoweth where mine own thestral guardeth liveth.”
“Ah don’ know what fancy shmancy talk yer talkin’. Give us Spike an’ no one gits hurt.”
The alicorn hummed thoughtfully, making no move to attack, “A tradeth then. Who isn't shall thee giveth me in his lodging?”
“Me.” Twilight immediately said, speaking over the group’s collective disapproval, “A dragon is stronger than a pony. Is that a fair trade, Nightmare Moon?”
“Forsooth,” the alicorn agreed, “Didst thee heareth yond, Spike Sparkle? Thee servitude ends on this hour. Farewell. I shall misseth thy enlightening conversations.”
There was a clatter of hooves on the ground and then her world settled as Spike threw himself into her arms. She breathed in his scent. “Voluntarily leaving your hoard is a way to prevent the energy from gathering. Being taken from or having it getting taken from you is what causes this energy.”
“Let my friends pass through.”
“'Twill be-est done,” the alicorn promised.
She squeezed Spike tightly, pretending she couldn’t hear his sobs as he tried his hardest to stay in her grasp. “I need you to be brave for me, Spike. You’ve been so brave, but you need to be brave for a little longer okay? I love you.”
Her son was crying too much to be able to get a word in. She passed him off to Fluttershy, claws burning where she last touched her child. She stepped into the fog, deliberately under the wing the alicorn extended. The shadows around them writhed, swirling around the alicorn like a hurricane. Very quickly, she lost sight of the group.
They reappeared in what looked to be a throne room. The alicorn huffed at Twilight’s wince. Up close, the alicorn's eyes were bloodshot, and a mirror of Twilight’s eyes if they were blue instead of magenta.
“Catch but a wink, drakon, until I knoweth what to doth with thee.” The alicorn shoved her horn into Twilight’s forehead and the dragon could only dread the Magic induced Dreams. The spell flashed and Twilight knew no more.
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This is going to throw a teeny-tiny wrench into Celestia's plans, for sure.
And, because I cannot believe no-one mentioned it in the chapter before (including me!): Re-reading that chapter just once again highlighted this Celestia's haughtiness, egocentrism and plain corruptness when she not only treated Spike like an object, but plainly stated that no student could ever surpass their teacher, i.e. her. What an asinine, backwards-thinking stance.
Quite the hypocrite considering she just did the same thing by kidnapping Spike from his mom to use as a bargaining chip.
Heh, reminiscent of when Rarity used Magnet's scale to cut off her mane in the show's Nightmare Moon arc.
Hmm, come to think of it, without facing the original trials that the show characters did, how do they prove themselves worthy of the Elements? I guess from the time Twilight spent with them in Ponyville and they displayed the attributes to her there?
More intrigue and character development in this chapter! Can't wait for maore!
Twilight personality is very vexing as I would imagine a dragon having much MUCH stronger parental instincts