That Which Was, and That Which Is
Twilight Sparkle loved many things. She loved Equestria, the beautiful land of her birth. She loved her friends, for all the smiles and warmth they gave her. And she loved her mentor, Princess Celestia, for the guidance and support she had provided over the years.
But none of this compared to the love she felt for getting lost in a good book.
Twilight lay on her bed, an imposing tome of ancient history open before her. Her eyes were bright as they skipped along the text, absorbing stories of ponies and nations long dead. She came across a particularly moving passage — a passionate speech delivered by a unicorn duchess, accusing the princess of violating the rights of the other tribes — and her wings fluttered softly.
Below, she could hear Spike softly humming as he tidied up, sorting scrolls and reshelving the odd book left lying open. The sounds of his activity were a gentle backdrop to Twilight’s studies, but her attention was pulled from the history of the ancient tribes when she heard a familiar sizzling belch.
“Twilight, letter for you from the Princess!”
“Be there in just a moment.” Coming downstairs, she saw Spike holding a scroll of fine parchment with Celestia’s seal. She took the scroll and unrolled it, her mouth moving soundlessly as she read.
My Dear Princess Twilight,
Over the past week, a number of troubling reports have reached me from across Equestria. It would seem that pegasi from every corner of our land are suffering some form of sickness, whose cause remains unknown. These pegasi all complain of the same symptom: a chronic weariness whenever they fly for an extended period of time.
It is therefore my request that you speak with the pegasi of Ponyville to determine if they too suffer this disease. If so, I also request that you attempt to study it, the better that a cure may be found.
Please keep me apprised of any developments in your study of this malady. I am deeply concerned for the fate of our land, and the sooner a solution is found, the sooner my mind will be at ease.
Always your devoted mentor,
Princess Celestia
P. S. Please show this letter to no one, and conduct your research as discretely as possible. I cannot explain further at this time, and must simply ask that you trust me.
Twilight read the letter twice more, her lips pursed. Spike stood patiently at her side, quill and parchment at the ready for her reply. Finishing her perusal of the letter, she rolled it back up and levitated it up to her bed. “Spike, take a letter please. Dear Princess Celestia,
“I would be happy to look into the problem you mentioned in your letter, and will begin my research at once. I trust you implicitly, and will promptly inform you of any discoveries. Your student, as always, Princess Twilight Sparkle.”
Spike finished penning the signature and looked up at Twilight. “Done. But what problem did the Princess mention? Is something bad happening?”
Remembering Celestia’s postscript, Twilight pawed the floor for a moment, casting about for an answer. “Oh, no problem... it’s just... Celestia wants me to look into something important. Y’know, princess stuff.”
Spike raised an eyebrow. “If you’re not supposed to tell me, you could just say so,” he deadpanned. “I’m not gonna go around blabbing the secrets of Equestria’s newest princess.”
Twilight frowned and placed a hoof on his shoulder. “Sorry, Spike. And yes, it is a secret. I’m sorry, but Celestia’s trusting me not to tell anyone.”
“Don’t worry, Twilight, my lips are sealed!” Spike pantomimed running a zipper across his mouth, then rolled up the scroll. He inhaled deeply and breathed out a green flame, which consumed the letter and carried it off to Canterlot.
Twilight giggled, patting Spike’s shoulder again. “Thanks, number one assistant. Now then, do you think you can manage the library for the rest of the day? I have a project to get to work on!”
As she walked through Ponyville, Twilight couldn’t help but dwell on the tone of Celestia’s message. In all the time she had known the Princess, she had never received such a letter; her insistence on secrecy, her mention of the fate of Equestria... It felt like her mentor hadn’t told her everything.
Trotting down Main Street, Twilight noticed she was drawing some glances from the surrounding ponies. She made sure her wings were tucked in tightly; her status as Princess still made her feel self-conscious. Her first few weeks back in Ponyville had been a huge embarrassment, with everypony she passed in the street scraping and bowing in her presence.
It wasn’t long before Twilight found the pony she was looking for. Scanning the sky, she spotted a colorful tail dangling from the edge of a low-drifting cloud. She smiled to herself and walked to the cloud’s other side to call up to the pegasus resting on it.
“Rainbow Dash, do you have a minute to come down and talk?”
Dash yawned and opened one eye. “Yeah, I was just chilling out after taking care of this morning’s weather. But aren’t you forgetting something?” Twilight simply blinked at her.
Smirking, Dash sat up and patted her cloud. “You can come up here now, remember?”
“Oh, right!” Twilight unfurled her wings, taking to the air with practiced grace and alighting gently on Rainbow’s cloud. “I keep forgetting I don’t need spells to walk on clouds anymore. Even after all the practice, I guess I’m still just a unicorn at heart.”
“You really oughta fly more, Twi,” Rainbow said, leaning back into the cloud with a small puff of mist. “You’ve gotten a lot better at it, and it was fun helping you learn. Besides, there’s nothing better than feeling the wind in your mane.” She fluttered her wings, gazing at them. “I don’t know what I would do without these babies. Anyway, what was it you wanted to talk about?”
“Well, about flying, actually.” Twilight said, sitting next to her friend. “Have any of the pegasi on your weather team complained about feeling unusually tired lately?”
“Uh, yeah, actually, they have.” Rainbow furrowed her brow. “A bunch of the pegasi in town have been talking about feeling worn out really fast whenever they fly. We’ve even had a few of the weather team members take sick leave. I figure it’s just some bug or something going around.”
“Do you remember when the pegasi first started feeling under the weather?”
“Maybe about a week ago? I’m not really sure.” Rainbow sat up again, her eyebrows raised. “Um, should I be worried about this?”
Twilight quickly smiled and waved a hoof. “Oh, no, just curious. Although, do you think you could do me a favor? If you could round up the ones who have been feeling sick and have them drop by the library this afternoon, that would be a big help.”
“Sure thing, Twi,” Rainbow Dash replied with a nod and a grin. “Are you gonna do some sciencey egghead stuff and make ‘em better?”
Twilight snorted, lightly batting Rainbow across the back with a wing. “It’s not ‘sciencey egghead stuff’, it’s research. But yes, I’ll be trying to find a way to make them feel better.”
Dash chuckled and knocked Twilight’s wing away with her own. “Same difference! But I bet if anypony can get them back in the sky, it’s you. And not a moment too soon. With my team getting sick, the weather hasn’t been so great lately.”
As Twilight prepared to depart, a thought struck her. “Say, Rainbow? You haven’t been feeling tired yourself, have you? No problems flying?”
Dash shook her head. “Nope, still tearin’ up the sky like always!”
Twilight gave her a smile. “Good. Make sure you keep yourself healthy, okay?”
“As if I’d do anything else! Don’t worry, Twi, I won’t let some pegasus bug get me down.”
Twilight glided back down to earth, suddenly feeling sure of herself once more. Perhaps Dash’s confidence had rubbed off on her. Soon she would speak with the ponies affected by this strange illness, and she had no doubt she could find a solution.
By afternoon, a line of pegasi stretched from the library’s door and down the street. Inside the library itself, Twilight sat at a simple desk, armed with the scrolls, quills and ink she would need to take notes from each pony. A red velvet cushion was positioned in front of the desk, to give each interviewee a comfortable seat. Spike stood by the door, waiting as Twilight double-checked her supplies. Finally, she gave him a nod.
“Okay, Spike, we’re ready. Let the first one in.”
Spike opened the door, greeting the first pony in line and motioning her in. Blossomforth poked her head in the door.
“Um, hi, Twili—uh, I mean, Princess.”
Twilight smiled. “Blossomforth, you know you can just call me Twilight. But come on in and take a seat.”
Blossomforth cracked a grin, stepping up to Twilight’s desk and sitting on the cushion. “Uh, thanks. Rainbow Dash said you wanted to talk to the pegasi who were feeling bad, right?”
“That’s right. And have you been feeling bad?”
Blossomforth shifted, scratching her head. “Uh, well... sorta? It’s kinda hard to explain. I mean, right now I feel perfectly fine, but whenever I try to fly... I dunno, I just get tired so fast.”
“I see,” Twilight replied, scribbling down some notes. “And how does it feel when you try to fly? Do you feel any kind of pain?”
“No, it doesn’t hurt at all. It just feels…” Blossomforth cocked her head, her tail flicking as she tried to describe her symptoms. ”Well, it’s like I feel heavier when I’m in the air. Like there’s a big weight tied to me. And I have to flap harder than I ought to just to stay airborne, which wears me out really fast.”
“Uh-huh...” Twilight continued writing, the scratching of the quill filling the momentary silence. “How long has it been since you started feeling this way?”
“Well, it’s only been a couple days for me, but some of the ponies on the weather team have been complaining about it for awhile now.”
Twilight looked up, her quill paused. “Oh? When was the first time you heard a pegasus mention it?”
“About a week ago, I think. Skytrail was the first one to say he was feeling tired, and he was also the first to say he couldn’t work the weather until he got better.”
Twilight nodded as she wrote. This corroborated Rainbow’s estimation of when the problem had started. “Okay. One last thing: have you talked to a doctor since this began?”
Blossomforth shook her head. “No, it hasn’t gotten bad enough for me to visit the hospital or anything. I think some of the ponies that took sick leave may have seen a doctor, though.”
Twilight scribbled down the last of her notes before looking up with a smile. “Thanks Blossomforth, you’ve been a big help. I hope you’re feeling better soon.”
“No problem, Twi—er, Princ—um…” Blossomforth blushed, her ears laying back.
Twilight rolled her eyes and smiled. “Twilight. Go on now, and tell the next pony in line to come in, okay?”
Blossomforth returned her smile, and stepped out of the library. A moment later, a black stallion with a silver mohawk entered.
“Hey there, Thunderlane! Why don’t you take a seat, and we’ll get started?”
By evening, Twilight Sparkle was still sitting at her desk, surrounded by the notes she had taken from each pony’s testimony. There had been forty-four pegasi to interview in all, and each had given almost exactly the same answers to her questions. She stared blankly at the fresh scroll in front of her, trying to organize the jumble of thoughts and worries churning in her mind. With a small sigh, Twilight levitated her quill, dipped it, and began to write.
Pegasus Flight Illness: Initial Findings
1. All affected pegasi complain of acute exhaustion while flying. Flight time till onset of exhaustion varies per pony.
2. Affected pegasi consistently describe sensation of “heaviness” while flying, and claim this heaviness makes ascending and maintaining altitude difficult.
3. All affected pegasi are, at first glance, perfectly healthy.
4. None of the above symptoms are observed except when the affected pegasi are in flight.
Of 44 pegasi interviewed, 7 have sought medical attention for stated illness. All claim to have been examined and passed with a clean bill of health.
Of 7 pegasi who sought medical attention, all display pronounced symptoms of stated illness. All 7 also noticed symptoms within 3 days of illness’s estimated onset in Ponyville.
Illness seems to have begun in Ponyville early last week (estimated March 5th). Number of affected pegasi has increased steadily since.
Twilight paused, feeling the unease in the back of her mind and trying to form it into a coherent statement. What did she think about all of this? The quill went back to the parchment as she idly wrote down her train of thought.
Symptoms only observed in flight, illness attacks wings? Doctors observed no problems with wings of 7 pegasi... only basic exam though, could’ve missed something. Viral in nature? Spreads quickly, 44 ponies infected in a week, and not all in close contact. Could be carried by earth ponies/unicorns immune to symptoms. No symptoms except when flying, pegasi healthy and strong while grounded... pegasus flight inherently magical... illness possibly blocks pegasus magic?
Twilight stirred from her thoughts and stared at the last line she had written. Illness possibly blocks pegasus magic. In a way, it made sense. All pegasi had an instinctual connection to the magic of Equestria, although they could not channel it consciously like unicorns. Instead, their magic was invoked when they took flight, allowing them to propel themselves at speeds and altitudes far in excess of what their physiology would normally allow.
Her quill scrawled a dark line beneath the final words as Twilight began forming her hypothesis. A disease that attacked the pegasi’s connection to magic... it was an unsettling thought, and Twilight found herself secretly relieved that such a disease hadn’t adapted to affect unicorns. But magic was her specialty, and a disease that worked on a magical level was something she could understand and overcome. With her confidence returning, Twilight continued writing.
Conduct flight tests on infected pegasi, cross-reference data with flight data gathered last year.
Interview doctors who examined pegasi.
Test effectiveness of spells to treat/cure illness.
Determine outbreak’s point of origin.
Leaning back and looking over the finished document and its to-do list, Twilight allowed herself a small smile of satisfaction. She had her work cut out for her, but research in all its forms was a joy to her. She was sure she could gather the knowledge needed to beat this disease.
Twilight rose early the next morning, prepared to throw herself into her project. She began by writing to the Princess, requesting that she compile the reports she had received of the illness; in particular the regions affected, the estimated number of pegasi displaying symptoms, and the approximate date the illness had struck said region. Spike seemed a bit sullen at the fact that Twilight had written the letter herself rather than relying on him to take dictation as she normally did, but he was soon cheered by the promise of a gem snack when she finished the day’s tasks.
Leaving the library, she took flight, wasting no time in seeking out Rainbow Dash again. As she flew, she noticed that she experienced no unusual strain or fatigue. Perhaps alicorns were immune? She spotted Rainbow in the air above a grassy field to the north of town; her favorite practice spot. Twilight approached, seeing that her friend was in full swing, practicing a number of flips, loops and stunts.
“Hey, Dash, do you have a minute?”
Rainbow Dash pulled up out of a high-speed dive. “Oh, hey Twi! You taking my advice and catching some more air?”
Twilight grinned. “I guess I am. Say, Dash, do you think you could do me another favor? It has to do with the pegasi who’ve been feeling sick lately.”
“Sure, whatever you need. Have you found a cure yet?”
“Not quite, but I think I’m making some progress. Do you think you could get some of them together tomorrow for some flight tests? In particular, I’d like to test the ones who’ve called in sick on the weather team.”
Rainbow nodded, folding her arms. “Okay, that makes sense. Where do you want to do the tests?”
Twilight gestured to the field below them. “Here would be fine, if you don’t mind giving up your practice spot for the day.”
“Your wish is my command, Princess,” Dash replied, delivering an exaggerated bow as the two hovered together. Twilight shot her a glare, and Rainbow chuckled.
“I’m kidding, I’m kidding. I’ll let ‘em know to be here. But hey, since you’re up here, you wanna try out some stunts with me? I bet you could pull off some sweet tricks with some practice!” Rainbow did a little loop-de-loop to emphasize her point.
Twilight shook her head, smiling. “I’d love to, but I’ve got a lot on my plate today. Tell the pegasi to be here bright and early tomorrow morning, okay?” Leaving Rainbow Dash with a grin and a wave, she soared off to her next destination: Ponyville General Hospital. Upon entering, she was greeted by a gasp from the receptionist.
“Oh! Oh m-my, Princess Twilight! What brings you here today?”
“Hello,” Twilight replied as she stepped up to the front desk. “Do you know if Doctors Rose and Nightingale are in? I need to speak to them as soon as possible.”
“Oh, dear, you’re not feeling poorly, are you?” the mare asked, wringing her hooves. “I-if it’s not a personal question, your highness…”
Twilight waved a hoof. “Oh, no, not at all. There’s simply a matter of some importance I need to speak to them about. Royal business, I’m sure you understand.”
The receptionist nodded vigorously. “Oh I see, it must be very important! I’ll page them right away, your highness!”
Ponyville’s princess thanked the mare at the desk and trotted off to the waiting room, chuckling quietly to herself. Royalty could be a burden sometimes, but it wasn’t without its advantages.
The interview with the doctors went largely as Twilight had expected; both reiterated the testimony of their patients, and confirmed that all seven of the pegasi who had come to them were, for all intents and purposes, completely healthy. When asked if they had performed anything other than a basic physical, however, both doctors shook their heads. Before departing, Twilight scheduled an appointment for the same seven ponies to receive a more thorough examination, including wing X-rays and blood tests.
Departing the hospital, she struck out for her final destination of the day. As she walked, she mulled over her plans for the flight tests. If she used the data gathered during last year’s Highland Reservoir twister as a baseline, the tests would give her a good snapshot of the rate at which the pegasi’s abilities were falling. And if she could prove that the illness was in some way linked to pegasus flight magic, then she would be one step closer to finding an effective treatment, or perhaps even a cure.
Lost in her musings, Twilight hardly noticed where she was going until she arrived at the ornate doors of Carousel Boutique. Rousing herself from her thoughts, she opened the door, the bell jingling merrily.
“Be with you in just a mi-nute,” a familiar, sing-song voice called from upstairs. A moment later Rarity descended, her head held high as she turned to greet her visitor.
“Welcome to Carousel Boutique, where… Oh my goodness!” Rarity’s eyes went wide when she saw Twilight. “Princess Twilight! You do me such an honor by visiting today!” She performed a graceful curtsey.
Twilight rolled her eyes. “Rarity, I wish you’d just call me Twilight…”
Rarity rose, shaking her head. “But dear, it simply isn’t the done thing! You are a Princess now, proper etiquette must be observed!”
Twilight walked up to her with a small sigh. “Can’t I just be your friend like before?”
“Of course you can, darling,” Rarity replied, grinning and pulling Twilight into a hug. “I was only teasing. You’ll never stop being my friend. I just enjoy being a little dramatic when my humble shop is visited by royalty,” She said, giggling as she pulled away. “Now then, what brought you here today?”
“Well, I was wondering if you had any gemstones to spare. I promised Spike I would give him some for his help with a project I’m working on.”
“Oh, I’m sure I can part with a few measly stones for my precious Spikey-Wikey,” Rarity replied. Twilight followed her into the boutique’s storage room, where Rarity began rummaging through some chests. “Does he have any preference?”
“I think he mentioned wanting emeralds to add to some mint ice cream,” Twilight answered.
“Oh, I have more than enough emeralds to spare,” Rarity said, levitating a sizeable chest down from a shelf and opening it. Bright glints of green danced across her face as the emeralds within caught the light. Raising a large one in her hoof, she studied its facets.
“Mint ice cream, you said? You know, I’ve always wondered how gems taste to dragons. I keep meaning to ask Spike.” She ventured an experimental lick, before smiling and depositing the gem in a velvet pouch. “I suppose it’s just as well I can’t taste them, or I might eat them all before I had a chance to use them in my outfits.” Rarity filled the bag and passed it to Twilight, who stowed it under a wing.
“Thanks, Rarity. How much do I owe you?”
Rarity waved a hoof, frowning as if the offer of payment was an affront. “Oh, Twilight, think nothing of it! I still owe Spike for his assistance in the Boutique last week. Just be sure to give him my love when you give those to him, and we’ll be even!”
Twilight cantered home, the pouch of gems a pleasant weight under her wing. She mentally listed the books and resources she’d need to consult for her research that night. Arriving at the library, she was greeted by the lovely smell of a home-cooked meal. As she stepped inside, Spike called from the kitchen.
“Twilight, is that you? You’re just in time, dinner’s almost ready!”
Twilight quickly stashed the pouch behind an impressively large book (noting the title as Amberbark’s Agricultural Almanac, vol. 19) before heading to the kitchen. Inside she found Spike clad in a frilly apron. He stood on a chair in front of the stove, stirring a simmering pot of carrot and cauliflower stew.
Twilight took a deep whiff of the concoction. “Mmm, that smells delicious, Spike! And good thing, too. I’m gonna need a lot of energy for tonight’s study session!”
“Still working on your secret princess project?” Spike asked as he stirred.
“Yes... I hate having to keep secrets from you, Spike, but...”
Spike tapped the spoon against the edge of the pot. “I told you already, Twilight, it’s okay. Now come on and let’s eat. You need your strength to study, and I need my strength to fetch books and stuff for you!”
Dinner was a short affair of stew and rolls, and after polishing off the meal and washing the dishes, Twilight and Spike were ready to hit the books.
Twilight seated herself at her favorite desk and rattled off the list she had prepared. “Okay, Spike. I need you to find A Guide to Pegasus Anatomy, Pony Plagues and Poxes, and Spells to Soothe the Body and Mind. Also, see if you can dig up the flight data I recorded last year at the Highland Reservoir.”
“On it!” Spike replied with a salute, before rushing off to hunt down the requisite texts. After he had deposited the books and scrolls on Twilight’s desk, she turned to him with a grin.
“Oh, and one last thing... could you grab volume nineteen of Amberbark’s Agricultural Almanac?”
Spike hurried across the room and struggled to shift the ponderous book. It fell to the floor in a cloud of dust, revealing the bulging pouch Twilight had hidden behind it.
“Uh, Twilight, what’s this thing doing here?”
She suppressed a giggle. “I don’t know, Spike. Why don’t you open it and find out?”
Spike undid the pouch’s drawstrings and gasped when he saw what it contained. “EMERALDS!” he shouted, racing across the room to embrace his caretaker. “You remembered! Oh, and they look so delicious...”
Twilight returned the hug, laughing. “They might taste even sweeter if I told you that I got them from Rarity... and that she told me to give you her love when I gave them to you!” Spike’s eyes glassed over as he contemplated the gift from his beloved unicorn.
Twilight giggled once more. “Go enjoy your treat, Spike. I can take care of things for the rest of the night!”
Rainbow Dash came through once again. After sunrise, just after Twilight finished setting up the equipment needed for the tests, a troop of about twenty pegasi began trotting into the field. Among them, Twilight saw the seven who had spoken to the doctors, but as she looked the group over, she noticed that many were ponies she hadn’t even interviewed. Had the disease spread that quickly in a single day?
Twilight began by informing the initial seven of the appointments she had made for their examinations at Ponyville General, promising to pay for them in full (Princess Celestia had granted her a healthy annuity upon her coronation, which could easily cover the costs). Then, after sorting the ponies into groups based on how long they had been suffering symptoms, the tests got underway.
Twilight tested along several parameters: wingpower, top speed, altitude and flight time. As she recorded the pony’s statistics and compared them to last year’s, it became clear that each was drastically underperforming. What was more, it seemed that there was a direct correlation between the time symptoms appeared and their severity. Pegasi who had noticed symptoms within the same time frame all had remarkably similar flight performance. Twilight made a mental note to crunch the numbers that night and determine the average rate of performance loss for each pony.
The tests took nearly the entire day, and the evening sun was casting its gentle light down on the field as the last of the pegasi completed her tests and departed. Twilight was sorting her notes and preparing to pack up her equipment when she spied another mare approaching from town. Recognizing her, she waved.
“Hello, Fluttershy! I haven’t seen you around lately, how have you been?”
Fluttershy approached slowly. “H-hello, Twilight. Um, Rainbow Dash said I could find you out here... she said you were trying to help the pegasi who are having trouble f-flying?”
“That’s right,” Twilight replied, before comprehension dawned on her. “Oh, Fluttershy... you haven’t been having problems flying too, have you?”
Fluttershy stared at the ground, and Twilight could see tears welling in her eyes. “Yes... for a while now... I didn’t want Rainbow Dash or the others to know, so I waited till they were gone. It’s so h-humiliating...” She raised her eyes to meet Twilight’s. “Have you found a way to make it better yet?”
Twilight frowned and shook her head, a pang of sympathy shooting through her heart. “Not yet, I’m sorry. But I’m working on it every day, and if I make a breakthrough, you’ll be the first I tell.” Fluttershy nodded with a sniff, and Twilight rested a hoof over her withers. “Since you’re here, would you like to try the tests? The more data I have, the faster I can find a cure.”
“I’m n-not sure I can, Twilight.” She hung her head, her eyes barely peeking from behind her mane. “It’s been bad for me... worse than the others.”
Twilight rubbed her hoof across Fluttershy’s back. “I tell you what... how about I try casting a spell on you first? I’ve been studying some healing magic, and I think a re-invigoration spell might help the pegasi who are sick. If I do that, will you at least try?”
Fluttershy sniffed once more and nodded. “Okay, Twilight... if you really want me to, I’ll try.”
“‘Atta girl!” Twilight said. Channeling power into her horn, she wove the magic into the formula for the re-invigoration spell. The spell was designed to fill ponies with energy, allowing them to exert themselves beyond their normal limits. Feeling the spell reach full power, she directed it into Fluttershy, a stream of purple light flowing from the tip of her horn into her friend’s chest and infusing her with its glow.
“There we go. How do you feel?”
“A little better,” Fluttershy said. She smiled, throwing her shoulders back and standing a little taller as she felt the energy coursing through her. “Okay, what test should I do first?”
“Let’s start with a simple wingpower test. Just like when you were practicing for the twister last year.” Twilight led Fluttershy over to the starting line, a thin strip of white cloth she had placed on the grass exactly fifty yards from the anemometer. After walking over to the device, she called out to Fluttershy. “Okay, whenever you’re ready!”
Fluttershy crouched at the starting line, flapping her wings rapidly before launching herself forward....
...And hitting the ground again a few feet away.
Twilight’s mouth hung upon. She watched in shock as her friend stood up, staring at her wings. Moving back to the starting line, Fluttershy crouched and warmed up once more, but again failed to take off. She moved back a third time, tears streaming down her cheeks. She flapped her wings furiously and leapt as high as she could, kicking her hooves as if trying to gallop through the air. But her frantic efforts did no more than slow her descent, and she came to a rest less than five yards away from the line. She stood for a moment in silence, trembling, before collapsing to the ground with a ragged sob.
Twilight ran over to embrace Fluttershy, her mind racing. Even the most advanced cases she had tested had been able to fly for upwards of ten minutes before having to land. Was this the final result of the disease?
Kneeling by Fluttershy’s side, Twilight threw her arms around her friend’s neck and draped her wings around her as Fluttershy heaved with sobs. Twilight felt the hot tears seeping into her coat as Fluttershy buried her face in Twilight’s chest. Fluttershy had never been a strong or skilled flyer, and in truth she loved the earth far more than the sky. But for any pegasus to be grounded, completely cut off from the wind and clouds… Twilight couldn’t even imagine the despair the poor pony was feeling.
“I... I could still fly this morning... It wasn’t very far, but I could still fly,” Fluttershy choked out. “Why... why can’t I fly anymore? Why is this happening?”
Twilight had no answers to give. Tears of her own began to spill as she held Fluttershy close. She rocked back and forth, letting the little pegasus ride out her grief.
It was dark by the time Twilight returned to the library, weary and drained. It had taken over an hour to console Fluttershy and walk her back to her cottage. The distraught pegasus had cried until her tears simply ran dry, and when Twilight helped her up, she had followed in a daze, her eyes downcast.
Twilight tossed the sheaf of notes she had gathered from the tests on her desk before sitting, cradling her head in her hooves as she contemplated the day’s events. While they had walked, Twilight had asked Fluttershy how long she had been suffering symptoms. She had mumbled that it had been nearly three weeks.
Nearly three weeks... that would place the time of her infection around the middle of February, much earlier than any of the other ponies. And Twilight’s magic had been completely ineffective... With an exhausted sigh, Twilight undid the twine she had bound her notes in and pulled over a fresh scroll and ink, beginning the calculations of flight efficiency loss for each pony. But it wasn't long before a troubling pattern emerged.
Twilight had expected to find a link between the time symptoms started and their severity; what she hadn't expected to find was that the ponies’ flight performance was dropping at a precise, fixed rate each day. Each pegasus’ flight stats were dropping steadily, and when she factored in time of infection and extrapolated from last year’s stats, she arrived at an exact 5.7% drop in wingpower per day, per pony.
She stared at the figure. If this were a disease, the progression of symptoms ought to fluctuate between ponies, depending on the strength or weakness of their immune systems.
The door opened and Spike entered carrying an armful of scrolls, pulling Twilight from her reverie. “Oh, hey, Twilight, you’re back! How’d the tests go?”
Twilight gave her assistant a thin smile. “They... went well,” she replied, trying to drive the memory of Fluttershy’s breakdown from her mind.
“Good. Oh, did you find the letter from the Princess? It came while you were gone, I left it on your bed.”
Twilight stood from her desk and trotted to her room. Sure enough, a scroll with a familiar seal rested on the pillow. Unrolling it, a spark of hope flared within her. It was the compiled reports she had requested from the Princess. But her heart fell again as she paged through it and came across a map of Equestria.
Every major city and region across Equestria was marked in red, with an annotation by each declaring how many pegasi had been infected, and the dates on which reports from that area had been received. Even Cloudsdale was not exempt, with a full twenty-six percent of the pegasus bastion’s population displaying symptoms.
More worrying, however, were the dates. For each region, the majority of the infected pegasi had begun suffering the illness on or after March 6th, much like Ponyville. But the first reports for each city placed the initial date of infections much earlier, sometime around February 18th. Almost exactly when Fluttershy’s symptoms had started.
Twilight stared blankly at the map, her mind racing. There was no way a plague could have spread this quickly. For each region of Equestria, a land thousands of miles across, to be infected almost simultaneously...
Once more, Twilight’s thoughts were interrupted by Spike, stepping into her room to speak.
“Oh, one more thing, Twilight. Doctor Rose came by while you were gone, and she asked me to tell you that she examined the pegasus ponies like you asked. She said the X-rays and blood tests all came back clean.”
My Dear Princess Celestia,
I write to you to report the initial findings of the research I have conducted on the pegasi of Ponyville. While I am afraid I have made little progress in the days since you requested my assistance, I feel that what little I have learned is of great enough importance to be worth informing you.
I have been operating under the hypothesis that the illness in question works on a magical level, effectively limiting (or, in extreme cases, entirely blocking) the magical elements of pegasus flight. I came to this conclusion after observing that of all the pegasi studied, each was seemingly in perfect physical health. This was further confirmed by professional medical diagnosis (see p. 5 for statements by Doctors Rose and Nightingale).
This illness behaves very strangely, apparently affecting clusters of pegasi each day, and continually sapping their flight abilities at a fixed rate per day thereafter (see p. 6). It is my belief — and fear — that the ultimate result of this progression will always be the same: rendering the pegasi completely flightless.
Lastly, I wish to direct your attention to the blood test results (p. 7) of several affected pegasi, as well as the map included in your compiled report (p. 15). As you can see, each pegasus examined was completely free of any anomalous bacterial or viral agents, and as the map illustrates, each region of our land, separated by hundreds of miles, was affected almost simultaneously.
With these two pieces of information in mind, the only conclusion I can draw is that the illness is not in any way pathological in nature. No disease is capable of spreading so quickly, or evading all forms of detection. I can further attest that the malady is thus far impervious to magic, having stymied every healing spell attempted.
It is with sadness that I must confess that this illness has eluded my abilities as a researcher. I have no idea where it came from, how it works, or even how it may be treated, let alone cured. If I were a superstitious mare, I might call it a curse... but until I learn more, I am afraid I will be no closer to a solution than when I began.
Regretfully,
Princess Twilight Sparkle
Stone-faced, Twilight set her quill down and rolled the letter up with copies of the relevant documents. Hoofing them to Spike, she watched impassively as he sent them off, the flash of green flame reflecting in her half-lidded eyes.
A week of hard research... and for what? What did she have to show for it, aside from vague guesses and anxiety? What had she learned, except that her friend may never fly again? An image of a sobbing yellow pegasus, trembling in grief and shame, flashed across Twilight’s mind, and she sighed. She had failed.
She looked across the expanse of her desk, piled high with notes, reports, statistics, interviews... information completely wasted, because it had not brought about progress. She might as well have been doodling like a little filly, for all the good she had done.
After an hour of brooding, Twilight received Celestia’s reply.
My Dear Princess Twilight,
When I wrote to you and requested your assistance in this matter, I did so in the hope that your findings would quell the unease which has been growing in my heart of late. The issue of this illness has weighed heavily on me, for I had my suspicions of it’s cause before I enlisted your aid. Rather than assuaging my fears, however, I am afraid your discoveries have only confirmed them.
I feel you are right in your assessments thus far. The malady in question does indeed affect the pegasi's magic, and is not transmitted from pony to pony as a virus or bacteria is. Rather, it is a much deeper problem, and I dread that it may not end with the pegasi.
I must again ask, my protege, that you let nopony else see this letter... indeed, it may be best to burn it, for what I am about to reveal to you could cause a mass panic were it made known to the public.
The reason behind this illness, Twilight, is that magic in Equestria is dying.
A sharp knock sounded on the library’s front door, and Twilight jumped, gasping. After scrambling to stash the letter amidst her research documents, she answered in a shaky voice.
“Y-yes? Come in!”
The door opened, revealing Rainbow Dash. She stepped inside, a sheepish grin plastered across her face. “Hey, Twi. You’re not busy, are you?”
Twilight put on a false smile, the Princess’s words still emblazoned in her mind. “No, not at all. What do you need?”
“Well, uh, you know that bug that’s been going around? The one that makes it hard to fly? You’re still working on a cure for that, right?” Rainbow asked, licking her lips and rubbing the back of her head.
“Yes,” Twilight gulped, a chill running down her spine. “Why... why do you ask?”
Rainbow shuffled her hooves, chuckling. “Well, heh, y’see... this is a little embarrassing, but... I think I may be coming down with it, too.”
Princess Celestia stood on the balcony outside her bedchamber, gazing into the horizon. Her face was placid, giving no hint of the turmoil within her. The evening sun hung low, its lower rim just grazing the horizon as Celestia completed her duty for the day. Behind her, hoofsteps approached.
“Good evening, Luna,” Celestia said without turning.
“Good evening. Have you informed Twilight Sparkle of the situation?”
Celestia nodded, her eyes closed. “Yes. I can only hope she will understand. Our world is changing... I fear irrevocably. She has a hard road ahead of her.”
Luna nuzzled Celestia’s neck. “I believe she has the strength of spirit to walk that road. You chose well when you made her your apprentice.”
“I hope so, sister, for the sake of all our subjects—”
Celestia stopped short as she felt a deep rumbling. For a brief moment, she thought the turmoil in her heart had translated itself into her body. But the shock in Luna’s eyes and the rattling of her bedchamber’s windows told her otherwise.
As swiftly as the tremor began, it subsided. Beneath the balcony, guards ran about amidst the barking of orders. Luna turned to her sister, her breath coming short as she spoke.
“Celestia, what was that? Is it over?”
Celestia returned Luna’s gaze.
“I only wish it was.”
And All That in the End Shall Be
The reason behind this illness, Twilight, is that magic in Equestria is dying.
The words burned bright in Twilight’s memory; bright like the flame which had burned the letter, bright like Fluttershy’s tears in the evening sun, bright like Rainbow Dash’s eyes as she stood chuckling nervously in the doorway.
The reason is that magic in Equestria is dying.
It had been such a simple thing; just a short sentence on a harmless piece of parchment. And yet it had caused an upheaval in Twilight’s mind as if it were a great earthquake.
Magic in Equestria is dying.
A golden chariot pulled to a halt in front of Twilight, the clatter of its wheels and stamp of the pegasi pulling it rousing her from her thoughts. Twilight began loading her bags into the chariot, assisted by Applejack and Rainbow Dash. It had been a week since she had received the fateful letter, and Celestia had summoned Twilight to Canterlot, promising to explain the situation to her in full. Her friends had come to see her off.
As she stowed one of Twilight’s suitcases, Applejack glanced at Twilight. “I wish you would just tell us why you have to leave so sudden.”
Twilight avoided Applejack’s eyes, concentrating on securing her luggage. “I told you, the Princess summoned me.”
“I know that. That don’t tell us why she summoned you, though!” Applejack snorted.
Rainbow Dash grunted as she lifted a case of books into the chariot. “Yeah, and don’t try to act like there’s nothing wrong! You spent all last week shut up in the library, reading like fifty books a day, and you only ever act like that when you’re worried about something.”
Twilight forced a smile. “That was just a research project! I’m sure Celestia just wants to talk about my responsibilities as a princess or something.”
Applejack stood staring at Twilight. “I don’t believe you,” she said, her voice flat.
Twilight opened her mouth and then closed it again, struggling to find the right words. “I… I really can’t tell you. I’m sorry. I wish I didn’t have to be so dishonest with all of you, but I don’t have a choice.”
Rarity stepped forward, laying a hoof on Twilight’s shoulder. “Twilight, dear, this is obviously eating you up inside. We’re your friends. Please, just talk to us.”
“Whatever the problem is, it can’t be too bad, right?” Pinkie asked, frowning. “If it was, the Princess would’ve summoned all of us so we can zap it with the Elements! Couldn’t you give us just a teensey hint?”
Spike stood next to Rarity, fidgeting with his claws. “Twilight, I won’t ask you what it is, but will you at least tell me this? Is it anything to do with that project the Princess gave you? The one you weren’t allowed to tell me about?”
“What about all that studying you did about the pegasi having trouble flying? Is that what it’s about?” Rainbow Dash asked, cocking her head.
Twilight looked at the ground, debating internally. She could unburden her heart to her friends, but in doing so, wouldn’t she just place a burden of fear and worry on theirs?
Then a quiet voice piped up. “It’s okay, Twilight. You don’t have to tell us if you don’t want to.” Twilight looked up to see Fluttershy sitting behind Rarity, her mane covering her face and her tail curled around herself. “Just please promise to come back soon, okay? We’ll be lonely without you.”
Twilight stepped forward and pulled Fluttershy into a hug, drawing a squeak from the startled mare. The others joined in as well, wrapping their arms around Twilight in silence.
“I promise,” Twilight said, melting in her friends’ embrace. “I don’t know how long I’ll be gone, but I’ll take care of things and come back as soon as I possibly can. And besides,” she added, “Spike will be staying here to take care of the library, so we can send as many letters as we can write!”
They finished loading the luggage, and then gave Twilight a final farewell. Applejack and Rainbow Dash gave her a hoofbump and wingslap respectively, and Pinkie nearly crushed the wind from Twilight’s lungs with a bear hug. Rarity and Spike gave her another quick hug, and Fluttershy smiled softly and wished her a safe journey.
At last Twilight climbed aboard, and the gold-armored pegasi bore her off into the sky, away from their waves and final shouts of goodbye. In moments, they were just pony-shaped dots on the ground, and Ponyville began to recede into the distance.
Twilight sighed and turned away, wondering how long it would be before she saw her home again. But beneath her worries there was a touch of stern determination. Before she could return to her home she had to save it, and she would go to Tartarus and back to do so. I’ve done so once before, in fact, she thought with a smile.
In the distance loomed the spires of Canterlot, silhouetted against the morning sky. Perhaps the Princess could ease her mind.
The chariot pulled to a stop just outside the palace gates, where five guards stood at attention. These ponies were not clad in the traditional gilt armor of the Canterlot Guard, however, but rather in suits of burnished steel plate, with skirts of chainmail hanging around their legs. As Twilight stepped forward, one of them approached. He was a unicorn with a pale brown coat, his yellow mane and tail neatly cropped. His armor was polished to a silvery sheen, and a red crest protruded from his helmet. He gave a short bow before addressing Twilight.
“Good morning, your highness. I am Sergeant Enarme. Princess Celestia bade me to greet you and escort you to her majesty’s presence upon your arrival. Are you ready to proceed?”
“Yes, of course,” Twilight replied, returning the bow. Sergeant Enarme turned and led her through the gate. The remaining guards took up a four-cornered formation around her. Nopony spoke as the little party made its way across the palace’s lush grounds. Casting her eyes over her honor guard, Twilight cleared her throat, desperate to break the oppressive silence.
“So, Sergeant... I notice you’re all wearing unusual uniforms. Are you not members of the Canterlot Guard?”
Enarme shook his head, stone-faced. “No, your highness. We are members of the Equerries.”
“The Equerries?” Twilight echoed, the word tickling a vague memory. “I’ve heard that somewhere before, but I’m not very familiar with it.”
“The Equerry Guard is a small cadre of soldiers, independent of the Canterlot Guard. While the Canterlot Guard is tasked with defense and peacekeeping within the city as a whole, the Equerries serve in a much more focused role as personal bodyguards to the Princesses.”
“Oh, that’s right!” Twilight blurted out, suddenly recalling where she’d read the term: The Early Years of Canterlot, one of the first books she’d read after being taken under Celestia’s wing. “The Princess founded your order after she had banished Nightmare Moon. She said she wanted a group of soldiers that could be trusted with anything.”
Enarme nodded, the plates of his armor rasping against one another with the gesture. “Correct, your highness. Equerries are typically chosen not only for our discipline and martial skill, but for loyalty, intelligence and discretion. We serve as more than mere bodyguards, but as confidants and advisers to the Princesses and other dignitaries.”
“I see,” Twilight replied, her attention rapt. “How is it that I’ve never seen any of you before, though?”
“As I said, we’re a small order. We number no more than fifty at any given time. And besides,” Enarme added, allowing himself a thin smile, “When we do our jobs correctly, few ever know we are there. Our role as advisors to the Princesses often sees us entrusted with their secrets, after all.”
“If that’s the case, have the Princesses told you anything about the... the situation?” Twilight asked, glancing at the sergeant sidelong to gauge his reaction.
Enarme’s face remained expressionless as he answered. “I’m aware of it, but I doubt I know anything more than you do, your highness. I believe Princess Celestia will explain the details to you when we arrive.”
The group reached its destination, a sprawling building of old stone which Twilight recognized as the Canterlot Archives. Enarme led Twilight through the archive’s corridors, finally opening a set of ornate double doors to the Magic History Wing. Within was Princess Celestia, speaking to a group of ponies in low tones. She turned as Twilight entered, greeting her with a smile and stepping forward, the princesses sharing a momentary embrace.
“Thank you for coming, Twilight. We have much to discuss.” Pulling away, Twilight studied her mentor’s face. Celestia was still smiling, but Twilight could see dark circles beneath her eyes.
Celestia turned to the Equerries. “If you would, please go to the chambers prepared for Princess Twilight. See that everything is in order, and then return to your barracks to await further instruction. You may stay, Sergeant. Our discussion concerns you as well.” The Equerries bowed and departed, while Sergeant Enarme took up a position by the door.
“Now then,” Celestia continued, “I suppose I should tell everypony what’s going on.”
The ponies Celestia had been speaking to gathered closer. Standing by her mentor’s side, Twilight saw the group was about twenty strong. She recognized many of them, ponies famous for their accomplishments in nearly every field of magic. It was a panoply of excellence that left her giddy. There was Doctor Orion, head of the Experimental Magic Department of Canterlot University, and to his left stood Silver Corona, Head Librarian at Celestia’s School for Gifted Unicorns, and noted expert on Magical History. Behind them was Professor Starstruck, head of the ISBEM (Institute for the Study of Biological Effects of Magic).
Twilight suppressed a squeal at the sight of so many great minds gathered under a single roof. Just as she was about to ask Celestia how such an accomplished group of ponies had come together, the Princess spoke once more.
“A few of you are already aware of the reason you have been summoned here,” Celestia began, throwing a glance at Twilight, “but for the sake of those who are not, I shall explain the situation. I am afraid that Equestria’s magic is fading.”
A murmur rippled across the group. “Equestria’s magic fading... How could such a thing be... Is this related to the rumors of pegasi losing their flight... An unprecedented tragedy...” Celestia took a moment for her statement to sink in before holding a hoof up for silence.
“I have feared this was the case since receiving reports of the pegasi’s difficulty flying of late. It was confirmed to me by the research of my protege, Princess Twilight Sparkle,” Celestia continued, laying a wing across Twilight’s back. Twilight blushed and smiled, still unused to the attention.
“Each of you is an expert on an aspect of magic; therefore I need not tell you the suffering that would befall our land if magic were to fade entirely. It is my hope, however, that this crisis may yet be averted. This is why you have been brought here. I hereby decree that you will research the decline of magic, for the purpose of finding a way to halt or reverse it. You will conduct your research under the direction of Princess Twilight Sparkle.”
It took a full three seconds before Celestia’s words hit her. Twilight gasped. “Wait a minute... under my direction?”
Celestia nodded. “I can think of nopony better qualified to lead this project than you, Twilight. Very few possess the same broadness of magical knowledge as you, and fewer still have your passion and skill for research and problem-solving.”
Twilight opened her mouth to protest, to say that surely somepony, anypony among these august academics would be better suited. But Celestia shushed Twilight before she could speak, her face bearing a frown.
“You were crowned Princess, Twilight, not for your lineage or power, but because of your capacity to lead. You have displayed this capacity time and time again, and I believe that the task I am setting can only be completed with your leadership. Twilight... will you accept this burden?”
Twilight stood for a moment, gazing into Celestia’s eyes, before finally nodding. “Of course, Princess. I humbly accept.”
Celestia smiled once more. “I knew I could count on you, Twilight. I will leave you to acquaint yourself with your research team. Oh, and before I forget; Sergeant Enarme, would you approach, please?” Enarme left his place at the door and stood by Twilight.
“I am assigning Sergeant Enarme to be your Equerry during your stay here,” Celestia continued. “He is one of the most promising members of the Equerry Guard, and will serve you in whatever capacity you require.”
Sergeant Enarme bowed to Twilight. “I hope my services may be of use to you, your highness.”
Twilight quickly returned the bow. “Oh, er, of course, thank you.” Enarme nodded, his expression stony, though Twilight noticed he held his head a little higher than before.
Celestia turned to address Twilight’s new research team once more. “Before I depart, I have one final reminder for you all. As I said, this crisis has the potential to cause devastation and suffering on a scale unseen for thousands of years. Because of this, I must ask that you all keep your knowledge of the crisis, and the nature of your research, a secret. Riots and panic will benefit nopony.”
Celestia nodded in Sergeant Enarme’s direction. “You may place absolute trust in the Equerry Guard, and any reports or missives to Luna or myself should be sent through them. And with that,” the Princess concluded, “I leave you to your work. I wish you luck, my little ponies. You have a heavy burden on your shoulders.”
Twilight, Enarme and the newly founded research team bowed as Celestia made her exit, striding gracefully across the room and out the doors, magically swinging them shut behind her.
Rising from her bow, Twilight saw that the other ponies in the room all had their eyes fixed on her, waiting for her commands. She cleared her throat.
“Ahem... heh... So, I guess we should get to know each other first, huh?”
A solid thwack sounded through the orchard, followed by a chorus of thumps as several dozen apples fell neatly into the baskets arranged beneath them. Applejack turned to inspect the tree, frowning at a number of apples which still clung to the branches. She gave the tree another kick and the offending fruit fell, bouncing off their brethren and rolling away from the baskets.
“Oh, for pony’s sake,” Applejack snorted, stepping up to the nearest one and tossing it into a basket. That made the third tree this morning that hadn’t released all its apples at once. It had been years since Applejack had needed more than one buck per tree.
“Am I gettin’ soft?” she mumbled to herself as she rounded up the rest of the stray apples. She sighed and took her hat off to wipe the sweat from her brow. “Nah... must be this darn heat.”
Applejack moved on to the next tree, trying to remember the last time it had been so hot this early in the year. It was only mid-May, normally a month of mild, breezy days and cool nights, yet this year it seemed summer had gotten a head start. The sun beat down relentlessly during the day, and the nights were little better, muggy and oppressive.
Another buck, a little harder this time, and the apples fell. This time the tree let go of all its fruit at once. The next tree proved much stingier, however. Even after three solid kicks, a small cluster of apples still refused to fall. AJ grit her teeth, pulling back with both legs and lashing out with a grunt. The last stubborn apples finally dropped.
Applejack stood for a moment and glared at the tree, panting, before suddenly realizing how short of breath she was. Was she winded?
Pressing a hoof to her chest, Applejack felt her heart racing underneath. “What in the hay is wrong with me today? Haven’t even done half my work, and I’m pantin’ like a little filly!” She threw a glance at the sun’s position in the sky, estimating the time: nearly noon. She should’ve been done with this section of the orchard by now.
Applejack scowled. “I must be overworkin’ myself again. Yeah, I bet that’s it. Too much work in this heat. And I ain’t been sleepin’ well, neither.”
Hoisting one of the apple baskets onto her back, AJ set off in the direction of the barn. She could finish this section of the orchard this evening, when, Celestia willing, it would be cooler. For now, she had a lunch date to get to.
Sugarcube Corner was busier than usual, crowded with ponies seeking relief from the heat in the form of ice cream sundaes and cold beverages. Spotting her friends seated at a booth near the back, Applejack threaded her way between the patrons. Pinkie waved to her as she approached, and Rarity gave her a courteous nod. Rainbow Dash mumbled something, while Fluttershy merely sat in the corner of the booth, making no acknowledgment except to briefly make eye contact with Applejack before lowering her eyes to stare at a spot on the table.
“Hey, y’all. Sorry I’m late, I had to get some buckin’ done and stow the apples away,” Applejack said, sitting down next to Pinkie.
“Oh, that’s quite alright, dear,” Rarity replied, fanning herself with a menu. “Although how you can bear to work in this dreadful weather is beyond me. I hope you’re not pushing yourself too hard.”
Applejack grinned. “Yeah, well, I’m kind of on a break right now. I was hopin’ to get the south side of the Red Delicious field bucked before I came here, but it’s just too hot for it. How’ve y’all been doin’?”
“I’ve been super busy all day,” Pinkie replied, laying her head on the table with a yawn. “I’m on a break too, ‘cause the Cakes said I should stop baking and visit you guys, but there’s just so many customers! And normally that wouldn’t be a problem, but the ovens make the kitchen even hotter than outside, and when it’s hot I turn into such a Sleepy Pie!” Pinkie yawned again, her eyelids drooping.
“I’ve been really busy too,” Dash put in, her head leaning on one hoof while the other tapped the table. “This is the first rest I’ve had since I got up this morning, I’ve been flying all over town trying to get enough clouds for a rainstorm. Say, have any of you heard from Twilight lately?”
Applejack shook her head. It had been nearly a month since Twilight had left for Canterlot, and she had kept up a sporadic correspondence with them through Spike.
“Last letter of hers I saw was the one from last week. And Spike would come an’ tell us right quick if she sent another, so unless she sent us a package or somethin’ by regular mail, we would know pretty soon.”
Rarity scoffed. “If that were the case, it would likely be lost before it got here. Derpy is hardly a reliable mailmare even on the best of days, and with this heat she’s been even less so.”
“Oh, for Pete’s sake! I wish you guys would pipe down about the heat,” Rainbow Dash interjected. “We’re doing all we can with the weather, but we can’t work miracles! My team only has ten ponies that are still in the air, how am I supposed to work with that?!”
“Aw, it’s okay, Dashie,” Pinkie said, laying a hoof over Dash’s. “We know you can’t do much if half the pegasi in town can barely even fly!”
Dash jerked her hoof away, glaring at Pinkie. “So what about it!? You think they wanna be grounded?!” Pinkie cringed as Dash stood in her seat, shouting. “It’s not their fault they got sick with this stupid whatever-it-is! So why don’t you just lay off about the dumb weather?!”
Pinkie’s eyes darted between Rainbow and her other friends, her mane wilting slightly as she stuttered. “I’m s-sorry... I was just trying to—”
“Trying to what, make us feel bad?!”
Applejack brought a hoof down on the table, the sudden bang making everypony jump. “Simmer down, Rainbow! She didn’t mean nothin’ by it, there ain’t no call for you to yell at her like that!”
Her expression softening, Dash blinked for a moment before sitting down, averting her eyes from those of her friends. “I’m... I’m sorry, Pinkie. I didn’t mean to blow up at you. It’s just, this whole thing with the pegasi has me really worried. Even I’ve... I mean...” She faltered as her voice caught in her throat.
“It’s alright, Dashie,” Pinkie replied, placing her hoof on Rainbow’s again. “I know you’re just worried about the ponies on your team. I’m sure they’ll start feeling better soon though, and then you can all get the weather right as rain again! Wait a minute, that was a joke! Weather... Rain!” Pinkie giggled to herself.
“A good rain is just what we need to cool things off,” Dash sighed, ruffling her mane. “I wish Twilight was here, She’d probably have some book or something that could tell me how to get a decent storm going with such a small weather team,”
“Speaking of Twilight, I’ve been thinking of taking a trip up to Canterlot next month to visit her,” Rarity chimed in, taking a sip from her soda. “The last time I was there was for her coronation, and that’s far too long a time to go without seeing such a lovely city. Oh, and you’re all invited, of course!”
Applejack shook her head, smiling. “Sorry, Sugarcube. I’d love to see Twilight again, but I’ve got my hooves full with farm work right now.” Rainbow Dash and Pinkie excused themselves as well; the bakery and the weather demanded too much attention for them to take a trip.
Fluttershy, however, squirmed in her seat before speaking for the first time since Applejack had arrived, her voice barely above a whisper. “Um... If it’s not too much trouble, Rarity... I think I’d like to come with you. To see Twilight, I mean.”
Rarity regarded Fluttershy for a moment before patting her shoulder. “Of course, dear, you’re more than welcome to come along! Why don’t we stop by the library after lunch, and we can ask Spike to send her a letter informing her of our visit?” Fluttershy gave a slow nod and resumed her staring contest with the table.
The rest of the lunch was passed in pleasant, light conversation, and afterwards the five friends parted ways again: Pinkie back to the kitchens, Rainbow Dash to the skies, Rarity and Fluttershy to the library, and Applejack back to Sweet Apple Acres.
Applejack noted with displeasure that the temperature didn’t seem to be falling. If anything, it felt hotter than before. Apparently there would be no relief for her as she bucked that afternoon. Eager for something to take her mind off the heat, she thought back to the events during lunch.
Ever since Twilight had left for Canterlot, a strange tension had been growing between her friends. Rainbow Dash had become moody and irritable, lashing out at others with little or no provocation, while Fluttershy seemed to be withdrawing deeper and deeper into her shell. Rarity had hardly left the boutique, claiming to be working on some huge order, an excuse Applejack knew was untrue. Sweetie Belle had confided to her that her sister had hardly done any work lately, sitting around and listlessly flipping through sketches of her old designs.
But of the four, it was Pinkie that Applejack worried about most. To the casual observer, Pinkie Pie was still her energetic, joyful self, but Applejack had known her long enough to recognize the signs of exhaustion. Pinkie always worked so hard to see everypony happy, and Ponyville seemed anything but happy these days. This, of course, just made Pinkie redouble her efforts, pouring so much of her time and energy into others that there wasn’t enough left for her.
Coming within sight of the farmhouse, Applejack stopped for a moment to look out over the orchard. It was funny how empty Ponyville felt without Twilight. Normally, Applejack would have taken her troubles to the library, where she knew she could always find a sympathetic ear and a bit of sound advice. But for now, all she could do was work a little harder and hope for the best. And besides, Twilight’s stay in Canterlot wasn’t permanent. Once she was finished with whatever Princess Celestia had called her there for, she’d come back, and everything would be alright again. Anyway, there was no use worrying when there were apples to buck. Smiling to herself, Applejack began walking towards the farmhouse once more, when she was suddenly overtaken by a trembling sensation.
It felt as though her legs were wobbling uncontrollably, and she placed a hoof against a nearby tree to steady herself. But as she did so, she noticed the tree seemed to be having the same problem, its branches shaking without a breeze. The trembling increased and Applejack struggled to remain standing, stray apples from the surrounding trees falling around her. The air was filled with the sound of soft thumps and creaking wood, and she heard a sharp crack and the tinkling of shattered glass from the direction of the farmhouse.
At last the shaking passed, leaving Applejack’s heart pounding. In the distance she could see Big Macintosh emerge from the farmhouse, approaching her at a quick trot. She ran to meet him, stepping over the fallen apples.
“Big Mac, what was that just now? Did you feel it, too?”
Mac nodded. “Eeyup. It broke the kitchen window in the house. Scared Granny near to death, too. I think it must’ve been an earthquake. You alright, AJ?”
“I’m fine, but an earthquake?” AJ exclaimed, tilting her hat back to scratch her head. “I’ve never heard of there bein’ earthquakes in these parts!” She glanced at the orchard around her; apples littered the ground, and here and there a fallen branch.
“Just what in Celestia’s name is goin’ on around here lately?”
Rarity sat huddled against a trembling Fluttershy, the two ponies cowering beneath a pile of books. The room was silent, a stark contrast to the crashes and panicked yelps a few minutes earlier as the world had heaved violently under their hooves.
Peeking out from under a heavy encyclopedia, Rarity surveyed the room before pulling herself out of the pile. The library was an absolute mess. The floor was covered with books and scrolls, several windows were cracked or shattered, and quills, candles, inkpots and other accoutrements of Twilight’s were scattered haphazardly.
“Fluttershy, are you alright?” Rarity asked. Fluttershy simply nodded, her eyes big as plates, as she sat shaking among the books. Glancing over her, Rarity let out a slow breath. Fluttershy seemed uninjured.
From the kitchen, a series of bangs and clatters was heard, and Spike stumbled into view through the doorway, nursing a large, ugly bruise just above his right eye. Rarity and Fluttershy gasped simultaneously, both scampering over to assist him.
“Oh my goodness, Spike! Are you alright, darling?!”
“Oh, Spike, sit down! I’ll get a cloth for your head!”
Rarity picked up a cushioned chair from where it had fallen and eased Spike into it while Fluttershy ran into the kitchen, emerging moments later with a cloth and a small basin of water.
“M’fine,” Spike finally said as Rarity laid the cloth across his brow. “Was in the kitchen trying to get a jar of pickles from the top shelf when it fell... wait, what happened in here?”
“I’m not sure, dear... the whole room suddenly began shaking, and the next thing Fluttershy and I knew, we were buried under a complete set of Encyclopedia Bitannica,” Rarity said, dabbing Spike’s bruise gently.
As Rarity tended to Spike, Fluttershy stepped up to one of the front windows, peering through its cracked panes. “There are ponies running around outside... and some of the houses look damaged. I think it must have been an e-earthquake.”
“An earthquake? In Ponyville?” Rarity soaked the cloth and applied it to Spike’s head again. “I’ve never heard of such a thing!”
“I hope nopony was injured... Maybe we should tell Twilight,” Fluttershy said, walking back over to Spike’s side.
“Oh goodness, the letter! I completely forgot!” Scanning the floor, she spotted a crumpled and inkstained scroll sticking out from beneath the overturned writing table. Pulling it out, she saw what she had written before the terrifying interruption was now quite illegible.
“We’ll have to rewrite it anyway, so we may as well tell her about it. And if nothing else, it provides a suitable excuse for our visit. I certainly don’t want to remain in Ponyville if earthquakes are happening here!”
Spike let out a deep sigh, looking at the ruined letter. “I really wish I could go with you guys. I miss Twilight so much, but she’s counting on me to stay here and look after the library for her. I don’t wanna let her down.” Looking over the room once more, he began to get out of the chair before being pressed back into it by a white hoof and a yellow wing.
“And where do you think you’re going, sir?”
“Well, I’ve got to clean the library up! It’s even messier than it gets after one of Twilight’s week-long study sessions!”
Fluttershy nuzzled Spike’s cheek. “Rarity and I will clean, you just sit and rest. And when we’re done, you can help us write the letter to Twilight, and you can tell her all about how much you miss her.”
The cleanup took less time than expected. The majority of the books on the floor had fallen from the lower shelves, and with Spike’s knowledge of the library’s cataloguing system, they were soon back in their proper places. After sweeping the broken glass from the floor and cleaning up the odd inkspill, the library looked good as new, albeit with broken windows. Afterwards, Rarity penned the letter informing Twilight of her and Fluttershy’s visit, and gave it to Spike to send.
Spike held the scroll out in one hand, exhaling a gout of green flame at it. But when the flame had dissipated the scroll still remained in his claws, scorched around the edges and burning at one corner. Spike hurriedly threw it to the floor and stamped it out as Rarity and Fluttershy watched, perplexed.
“Um... That’s never happened before.” Spike blushed, picking the scroll back up. “Lemme try again.”
With another deep breath, Spike breathed flame once more. This time the flame consumed the scroll and continued on through the air, drifting through an open window and into the distance.
“Weird. That pickle jar must’ve done something to my head.”
A fight was breaking out in the Canterlot Archives.
“I’m telling you, the arcano-biofield flux is crucial to our understanding of this crisis!”
“It sounds to me like you’re just trying to trump up an excuse to validate your theory!”
“‘EXCUSE?!’ Now see here, you over-inflated windbag, I’ll have you know—”
Twilight sighed, rubbing a hoof against her forehead as she listened to the bickering ponies. The preceding month of study had disillusioned her of her fantasies of collaborating with the scholars Celestia had assembled. For all their credentials and reputation, they couldn’t even cooperate long enough to make headway on a single assignment.
“—And what’s more, your denial of my theory is nothing more than a transparent attempt to deflect scrutiny from your own substandard efforts! Subconscious enchantments, indeed!”
“Why, you pompous, egotistical—if you refuse to acknowledge the superiority of my theory even now, then I shall take it as a personal affront!”
“So be it then! Weansbury Rules?”
“Agreed!”
Professor Nightshade removed his glasses, slicked back his salt-and-pepper mane, and stood on his hind legs, forehooves gyrating in the air. Professor Starstruck mirrored the pose, throwing off his tweed vest. The two stood off, circling one another. Professor Nightshade threw a respectable left hook, but before it could make contact, Twilight Sparkle intervened, teleporting herself between both ponies and forcing Nightshade to check himself, lest he strike royalty.
“And just WHAT do the two of you think you’re doing?!” Twilight shouted, her voice indignant and imperious. “This is a library, not a playpen for foals! Do I need to remind you how important this is?”
“Well, no,” Professor Starstruck started, shuffling his hooves and avoiding Twilight’s eyes.
Professor Nightshade tried to seize the initiative. “I was merely explaining to Professor Starstruck the inadequacies of his theory—” he began, before wilting under Twilight’s blistering gaze.
“The two of you understand what lies at stake for our project,” Twilight stated dryly, her eyes moving between them, “and you know what stands to be lost should we fail. With this in mind, is your little feud really so important?”
The two professors averted their eyes. “No, I suppose not,” Professor Starstruck responded, while Professor Nightshade merely shook his head.
After throwing one more withering glare at the two ponies, Twilight’s expression softened. “Very well, then. Professor Nightshade, please continue your research into the fluctuations of Equestrian leylines. As for you, Professor Starstruck, I’m sure Lady Mornstar and Doctor Orion can provide some input on your theory.”
The two ponies glanced at one another one last time before turning and walking off to consult their books and colleagues. Twilight breathed a short sigh, glad to have defused this little altercation for the time being. Though she was sure the professors were still at loggerheads, at least research that evening could continue.
So far, leadership wasn’t all it was cracked up to be.
Twilight looked across the room, a long, two-tiered hall of the archives which Celestia had set aside for their use. The other members of her research team continued their work, either willfully or blissfully unaware of their colleague’s scuffle. The ponies pored over their books and scrolls, taking notes, consulting with their fellows or privately debating among themselves. Morale was dropping. Even after a month of hard research, the team had yet to identify so much as a single causal factor in the fading of Equestria’s magic.
It seemed to Twilight that too many cooks had spoiled the stew. While each pony on the team was an expert in his or her own field, when brought together they clashed with one another to the point of deadlock, resisting each other’s knowledge and input for the sake of their own pet theories. More of Twilight’s time was spent moderating arguments and trying to organize the team’s efforts than on actual research.
Seating herself at her desk with a thump, Twilight closed her eyes and massaged her head again, trying to soothe the dull ache that had been her constant companion over the last month. There was a clinking sound as something was set on her desk, and Twilight raised her head to see Sergeant Enarme placing a saucer and steaming cup next to her. The scent of hot tea filled her nose.
“You looked like you could use it,” Enarme said softly.
“You have no idea. Thank you.” Twilight levitated the cup to her lips and took a sip. “What I really need, though, is some progress. We’ve been at this for over a month now. A month of backbiting, arguing and threats to leave the team, and for what? What do we have to show for it?”
Sergeant Enarme moved to his customary place by Twilight’s side, the plates of his armor producing a quiet scrape-and-clatter as he did. “I’m sure you’re close to a breakthrough, your highness. Princess Celestia wouldn’t have assembled the team and placed you at it’s head if she wasn’t confident you could get results.”
Twilight took another sip and stared at her reflection in the teacup, her face wavering and distorted in the liquid.
“I wish I shared that confidence, Sergeant. I’m not sure I’m as qualified for this as the Princess thinks. I can barely even keep the team moving in the right direction, much less focus on my own lines of research.” She set the teacup down, her eyes roving over the piles of open books and scrolls scattered across her desk.
“Everypony’s so eager to prove their own personal theory that they’re not seeing the bigger picture. And some of them are even flat-out ignoring evidence. Like these earthquakes,” Twilight rifled through her scrolls until she found a map of Equestria and unrolled it. The inked landscape was dotted with red X’s, mostly concentrated in the regions around Canterlot.
“Earthquakes in Equestria were almost unheard of until this crisis began, and they’ve been increasing steadily in both frequency and intensity ever since. I know the two are related, but everypony’s too busy trying to win credit for themselves to look into it. And then they start fighting, and then I have to calm them down again, and we lose more time that we can’t afford.”
Enarme stood quiet for a moment before he answered, his voice still soft. “Princess, as you know, the function of the Equerry Guard is not just to protect and serve, but also to advise. With your permission, may I offer you some advice?”
Twilight set her teacup down. “Of course you may. Please speak freely, Sergeant.”
Enarme turned to face Twilight. “As you have said, this petty infighting is costing you time that you cannot afford to waste. In the Canterlot Guard, we have a system for dealing with recruits who refuse to get along with one another.” He paused, and Twilight nodded for him to continue.
“First, we take the offending recruits and put them in the same squad. Then,” Enarme said, a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth, “we make that squad suffer. Forced marches in cold, wind and rain, reduced rations, combat drills at all hours. The recruits quickly learn that they can’t hope to make it through the ordeal without the help of their squadmates, and that they can’t get that help unless they provide it as well. Bonds of trust form quickly in adversity.”
“I’m sure that’s the case, Sergeant, but I can’t exactly send a team of scholars on a forced march,” Twilight replied, suppressing a giggle at the thought.
“No, your highness, but all the same, you must find ways to force them to work together. Assert your authority, if you must.”
“I’m not sure... I mean, I don’t want to be too hard on them. And besides, wouldn’t they just leave? I don’t really have the authority to force them to work together!”
“With respect, Princess,” Enarme said, looking Twilight dead in the eye, “as you said earlier, much stands to be lost if the team fails. There’s more at stake here than a few a bruised egos, and time is a luxury you do not have. The team must be made to cooperate. And as for your authority, you are the only pony in this room that is a member of royalty. You have the personal mandate of Princess Celestia herself. If that isn’t authority enough, I don’t know what is.”
As Twilight mulled on Enarme’s words, the main door of the hall opened and an Equerry stepped inside, bearing a scroll in his mouth. Striding up to Twilight’s desk, he set the scroll down and bowed. “A letter for you from Ponyville, your highness. It just arrived.”
Sergeant Enarme dismissed the Equerry as Twilight snatched the letter up and tore off the seal. It had been nearly a week since her last correspondence with her friends. Her eyes shot back and forth as she devoured the letter. Her elation wilted as the letter continued, however, and she slowly lowered it as she reached the end.
Sergeant Enarme cleared his throat. “Good news or bad, your highness?”
“A little of both,” Twilight replied, brushing her mane from her eyes. “The good news is that my friends Rarity and Fluttershy will be coming to visit next week. The bad news...” Twilight paused, glancing up to meet Enarme’s eyes. “The bad news is that the earthquakes have spread to Ponyville.”
Twilight felt a sudden, curious sensation of hardness in the pit of her stomach. Turning away from Enarme, she stood, rapping her hoof sharply on her desk.
“Your attention, everypony! Your attention! EVERYPONY, MAY I HAVE YOUR ATTENTION, PLEASE!” The ponies of the team ceased their activity to stare at Twilight, the background noise of conversation and scratching quills fading into silence.
Twilight let the silence stand for a moment before speaking again. “As you are all aware, there have been a number of incidents of arguing and fighting among our colleagues here. Well, everypony, that stops today.”
Dear Rarity,
I would be thrilled to have a visit from you and Fluttershy. I’ve been very busy with my work for Princess Celestia... I can’t say much about it, but it’s been exhausting, and I think a visit from my friends is just what I need right now. I know you said the others wouldn’t be able to make it, but see if you can’t change their minds. I’ll arrange to have rooms prepared for you in the palace, and they should be ready by the time you arrive next month.
Also, if you could, bring Spike along with you. I know he’s been very lonely lately, and I’ve been missing him, too. Tell everypony I said hello, and I hope they’re doing okay.
Lots of love,
Twilight
Placing her quill back in the inkpot, Twilight scanned the letter one last time before rolling the scroll up and sealing it. A lonely bell tolled in some distant square of Canterlot, chiming eleven times.Twilight looked up at the tall, narrow windows of the library hall, gazing at the stars twinkling through the glass.
This had been the first chance she’d had to write back to her friends since their letter had arrived. The hall was nearly empty now, with only herself, Enarme, and one of her researchers, a unicorn with a soft pink coat and bright yellow mane by the name of Amaryllis. Twilight watched as Amaryllis levitated several stacks of notes into a briefcase, preparing to leave. She turned to Twilight.
“Well, your highness, I think I’m about ready to hit the hay. We had a good day today though, especially after that speech.” She grinned. “Maybe now those dunderheads will stop fighting and start doing their jobs.”
Twilight smiled. “I hope so. You have a good night, Doctor. I have a few things to finish up here.”
With a wave, Amaryllis departed, stepping out through the hall’s doors. A moment later, however, the doors swung open again, and a regal form entered,
“Good evening, Twilight Sparkle. We are not intruding, we hope?”
“Princess Luna? Oh, no, of course you’re not intruding!” Twilight stood and the two ponies embraced briefly. “What brings you here tonight?”
“I saw the windows of the hall lit, and thought I would visit you. The hour is late... you are not overworking, are you?”
“Oh, no, I was just finishing a few things up. We have a lot of things to cover tomorrow, so I was just collating the day’s results.”
“I am glad to hear you are making progress, but please be sure to get enough rest. It will do nopony any good if you are too exhausted to perform your duties.” Luna seated herself at a table, sighing as she did so. Twilight noticed dark circles beneath her eyes.
“Princess? Are you alright?”
Luna smiled, her eyes half-lidded. “Yes, just a little tired. I am afraid this time has been trying for my sister and I.”
“How is Princess Celestia? I haven’t seen her since the day I arrived, and even then she seemed to be exhausted, too.”
“Celestia and I see little of each other these days,” Luna said, her smile fading. “We exchange a few words when we meet at dawn and dusk, but we do not have a chance to speak at any other time. The demands of her duties, both of the sun and of government, are taxing.”
“I’m sorry to hear that, Princess,” Twilight replied. “Is there anything I can do to help?”
“No, Twilight, but thank you for offering. The best thing you can do right now is continue your research.” Luna paused for a moment, turning away and biting her lower lip, before turning back to fix Twilight’s gaze in her own.
“Please find a remedy for this crisis as soon as you can, Twilight. In truth, I fear for my sister. The burden of raising and lowering the celestial bodies has grown difficult since the problem began, and I am afraid Celestia is overexerting herself. By sunset she is so weary that it’s all she can do to stagger to her bed. And I don’t think she’s eating, as well.”
Twilight moved to Luna’s side, placing a hoof across her back as she continued. “I try to help where I can, to lift some of the responsibilities of government from her shoulders. But even though I am a princess, I have little power. My past sins, it seems, still make ponies loath to trust me. And my own duties with the moon have become so draining...”
Luna stared at the floor, her voice hollow as she spoke. “For as long as I can remember, I’ve always been able to count on my big sister. But now, when she needs to be able to count on me, I can’t help her. My sister is killing herself, and all I can do is watch.”
Twilight listened in silence. Once again, she found herself desperate to comfort a friend on the brink of despair, searching for the words that would give Princess Luna hope and strength. The sensation of hardness in her belly returned.
“I won’t let that happen, Princess. I swear it. I’ll find a way to stop this, and everything will be back to normal.”
Luna raised her head, a weak smile crossing her face. “Thank you, Twilight. If there is anything I can do to help, do not hesitate to ask.”
Standing, Luna bowed to Twilight. “And now I must take my leave. The night is yet young, and I have my duties. Thank you for listening to my troubles.”
“Of course, Princess, it was no trouble.”
Luna began to walk to the door, before pausing and looking at Twilight over her shoulder.
“Oh, and Twilight? Please just call me Luna. We are friends, and there is no need for such formality between us.”
“Oh! Of course, Prin— er, I mean, Luna.”
The doors shut softly behind Luna and Twilight turned to her desk, still piled high with the notes and reference material of the day’s research. Enarme stood behind it, his face impassive as always.
Twilight could still feel that strange, hard sensation, as if her insides had turned to iron. She was going to find a solution to this problem, no matter how long it took or how hard she had to work. As she began to walk to her desk, Enarme stepped forward, blocking her path.
“Princess Twilight, with respect, I believe you should follow Princess Luna’s advice and get some rest. It’s nearly midnight.”
Twilight scoffed. “Rest? Now? There’s still too much to do! I haven’t finished organizing the day’s findings, and I still need to plan out tomorrow’s goals—” Before she could finish her sentence, a heady yawn escaped her, and Twilight suddenly realized how tired she was.
“Your highness, you have been up since before dawn, and it has been a very trying day for you. As your Equerry, it’s my duty to ensure you remain in good health, and right now, that means a good night’s sleep. I’m afraid I have to insist.”
Looking between the stacks of notes and books on her desk and Sergeant Enarme, Twilight finally nodded. “I suppose you’re right, sergeant. I won’t be any good to anypony if I’m sleep deprived, and those ninny-hammer doctors and professors can barely put together a report without me there to organize them.”
Twilight walked to the door with Enarme close behind. She could save the world in the morning.
