Twilight, Princess of the dragons. Moondancer, the saviour of Equestria. Cadance, a bride-to-be acting strange. The world is peaceful but it is fragile. Not all powers are willing to compromise and the delicate balance is tilting.
Twilight lives in the land of dragons with her dragon family. She is content to be surrounded by her personal library, assist her high priestess mother with her rituals, occasionally organize her high-ranking officer father's files, tutor her little brother in royal manners and sometimes hang out with the third princess.
Moondancer is princess Celestia's protégée. She loves to hole up in the Canterlot research center and eat ice cream with her friends. She is also sporadically insecure about her worth, but she knows that her friends are there to help her through. With them at her sides, she can overcome anything ; she is invincible.
Simple wedding invitations would be the things to disrupt the surfacing tranquility. Except they are not simple wedding invitations. They are entrance tickets to a sinister plot and the gateways to a war between the three empires.
This story was inspired by Twilight: The Dragon Sorceress written by Wicked DG. The premise might be very similar, but I expect my way of handling it, and by extension the end result, will be completely different.
Please note that this story was planned before Gauntlet of Fire. The elements presented in the episode will most likely be completely ignored.
(Credit of the cover image goes to JaDeDJynX on Deviantart for her piece Twimage.)
The grandfather clock in the vast library chimed twelve times. Twilight Velvet jumped in her seat, letting the small amulet she was enchanting fall on the desk, and looked up. It was indeed the witching hour already. She was suddenly aware of the ringing silence. The thick darkness enveloped her despite the valiant battle the elegant candles delivered. Velvet laughed to herself as she wondered just how long it had been since the last time she could concentrate without interruption.
Since the birth of her daughter last year, probably.
With her magic, the mare picked up the amulet to admire Night Light and her's strong, intricate magical work. It was a star-shaped, midnight blue gem with a pulsing lavender-pink core. Just like her beautiful daughter's mane. A warm feeling bubbled in her chest as she felt the magic and love her husband had woven into the jewel on the night of the new moon. Tomorrow, she would finish the enchantment on the night of full moon and, the day after, on Twilight's birthday, they would bless their beloved child. Then, Twilight could finally be a part of the clan too.
She smile beatifically as Velvet recalled how Shining overflowed with enthusiasm and anticipation. He was probably the most excited for his sister's initiation to the House of Lights. The colt's love for his sister had never dimmed the slightest, even when Twilight would wake the household up, late at night, with her cacophonous cries. Velvet pressed the gem on her chest, close to her heart, and slid it back into the light lilac pouch. The mare rose from the chair and stretched to work out her kinks, feeling the ever so satisfying cracks in her lower back. She blew the candles and exited the library.
She had intended to return to her own bedroom. Instead, she decided to check on Twilight first despite her exhaustion. Her motherly habits screamed at her to make sure of her daughter's safety. Velvet lit her horn. She climbed down the stairs leading to the second floor. She was humming a lullaby, when, once again, she noticed how silent the whole house was. The only sounds audible were the creaks and groans of the old wooden floor produced under her hooves.
Normally, her daughter would be screaming on the top of her lungs. She would be attended by Night Light and, occasionally, by Shining Armour. Fortunately, the young ones seemed to have spent all their energy during the day because neither her husband nor Velvet would've had the strength to take care of them. Twilight's birth took a toll on their total hours of sleep after all.
When Twilight Velvet had returned from the Advanced Magical Research and Learning Institute earlier in the day, Night Light had pulled her aside and spent over an hour recounting the event that had transpired during her absence. Apparently, their daughter–who had become hers during the conversation–had shattered all the windows with a mighty wail and promptly teleported away. Every time he had spotted her, she just magicked herself away again. Even as he had enrolled Shining, they had only caught the little one when Twilight had tired herself too much and went back to her crib to sleep.
Only a tiny part in the back of her head had voiced disapproval when she had heard the story. Velvet had felt an overwhelming pride at the phenomenal quantity of raw magic her baby possessed. She had known that Night Light had also been proud but felt the need to act sternly to provide a serious role-model for their children. She had decided not to ruin it for him.
Twilight Velvet arrived in front of a dark blue door and opened it, beaming widely. The smile disappeared as she froze. She felt ice spreading in the pit of her stomach. The silent ringing in her ears became more and more acute. Her knees buckled under her weight and fell painfully to the ground. She would have given anything for the sight in front of her to be a illusory image, a painting, or anything except real.
The pale moonlight gently illuminated the centre of the room with a bluish tint. The open windows let the wind blow through and the curtains swayed lightly at the rhythm of the breeze. In the middle of the room, the crib rocked peacefully. Tiny sections of magical strings woven into the dark blue carpet shimmered like stars in the night sky.
The scene was wrong, wrong, wrong. Velvet knew for a fact she had closed the windows before kissing her daughter goodnight. She knew she had set up a a crystal mobile, which laid broken on the floor. And the worst of all, the crib was empty.
She felt her throat tighten until she could no longer breath and her heart thudded violently against her chest. Her eyes widened as her mouth dropped open. Bile threatened to rise up and the most horrified, bloodcurdling scream reached her ear. She had screamed, she realized.
Twilight Velvet fainted.
~~~
Emperor Glaurensúrg rubbed his temples wearily and sighed. Deeply... The sunlight filtered through the wide gaps between the tall pillars carved from white stones. The Hall of Elements remained beautiful throughout the centuries, even when exposed to nature's volatile temperament, with its white marble flooring and gargantuan statues of the dragons' most illustrious ancestors.
Seated on his throne, the Dragon Lord listened to one of his officers' report. Earlier, at the first light of the day, a cloaked intruder had stumbled upon their maritime borders, carrying a small package. When the guards had asked it to go through the local authorities with them for accidental trespassing, the creature shouted loudly and incomprehensibly. Then, it charged. Using the element of surprise, it had attacked and almost killed two guards. The aggressor had been executed on site.
"The intruder and the package smelt like Equestria. The main characteristics of the creature were its front body of an eagle and their end of a lion."
The emperor groaned internally as his subject continued to blabber on. He immediately recognized the description of the creature – a griffon – from the ancient texts he used to read obsessively. He also remembered that Equestria had hosted a small community of griffon in the south of the country, centuries ago. It probably still did, Glaurensúrg wouldn't know.
Over thousands of moons had passed since the last time Equestria and the Dragon Empire had maintained some semblance of a diplomatic relationship. Two centuries ago, a foolish tyrant had attempted to invade the land of ponies despite the peace treaty between the two countries. He had tasted the terrifying rage of the Sun Princess while he burnt to death. In the aftermath, the dragons, with none to govern them and terrified of the princess, had closed up all their borders to reorganize their inner structure. They had never reestablish their casual partnership.
Of course, the Dragon Lord hadn't done anything which might be considered too foolish or immoral during his rule. He was, however, still terrified of the gigantic flying white horse with a mane of rainbow coloured fire the legends had described. The last thing he needed was to let her know they might have killed one of her beloved subjects, no matter grow reasonable she might turn out to be. He simply didn't want to risk it.
"Also, it would seem like the package was a pony foal."
Great, just great. The emperor could feel himself loosing the rigidity of his position and sighed again. There was definitely no way to better the situation anymore; he might as well face it. He waved his hand vaguely.
"Bring it to me then."
~~~
The heavy air crackled. Dark storm clouds covered the sky sinisterly. Suddenly, a streak of light ripped the heavens apart. The rain poured down just as brusquely. It was as if the thunder tore down a dam.
At the mountain top, there was a small village filled with collapsing stone buildings. Most lacked the impermeable straws which composed their roofs. Amongst them, the dingiest was covered in graffitis with insults written around and bore the marks of repeated rock strikes. The rain slowly washed away the paint.
Inside, Guillaume was singing an old folk song to his beloved granddaughter. It was a story of a great hero who crossed the oceans, the deserts and the grassy plains to prove his worth and gain riches. Silently, he revelled in the sight of his little treasure cradled to his chest, snoring lightly.
He didn't stop singing but he could feel the magic in the air shifting and twisting. Something immense was coming and he knew it. No matter how delusional and crazy the other griffons thought he was, Guillaume knew he was right and had always been. The actions of a certain creature were going to be the catalyst to an event on a scale that possibly no one had ever witnessed. The brewing storm will be much, much worse than the one flooding Griffonstone at the moment.
Guillaume bent his neck to kiss his granddaughter's forehead. Quietly, the knowledge of the best course of action, the best way to protect her, slid to the front of his mind.
"My dear little Gilda, how about we go live with your great aunt in Equestria?"
The harsh sunlight intruded upon the chamber through the tall windows. It illuminated the mountain of books stacked in the corner and the form of a young mare stirring in her slumber. Her blanket was strewn across the the very bottom of her mattress. Twilight flipped onto her back with a tiny grimace.
The sudden feeling of a large quantity of water on her muzzle awoke her. Startled, she tried to rise from her bed but a dark figure covered her face with her blanket. She was suffocating! Yet, Twilight didn't panic. She grabbed her opponent's tail with her magic and tugged. Hard. A squeal reached her ears and she threw her cover off. The young mare laid with her stomach on the mattress and propped her head on her hoof. Looking at her aggressor, she spoke in an annoyed tone.
"I don't know why you even try, Lorigus Bacyvileía. You never win anyway."
A dragon dangled upside down, held in midair by the unicorn's magic. He was of small stature and soft grey with faded blue accents. His underdeveloped wings, normally tucked in his back, were flapping furiously in an attempt to escape his older sister's clutch.
"You're just angry I used the silly little blanket you love so much against you! If you sleep without one like everybody else, I can't choke you."
"This is a special gift from Father and Mother! It's not silly at all!" replied Twilight hotly, shifting into a sitting position. "Besides, you don't need a blanket to attack me. You're a fotiás dragon, remember? You know, sentient reptiles that breath fire and fly? My coat is flammable so burning should be easier than suffocating."
Lorigus flinched when he abruptly stopped struggling. With his wide fearful eyes, he stared intently into his sister's. His voice quivering, he declared, "I will never actually hurt you..."– he was now whispering– "Not by burning. 'Specially not by burning."
Twilight discerned the dread in his voice and a part of her– a rather large one at that– wanted to give him a big bear hug until she squeezed the worry out. Instead, she gave him a smile she hoped was comforting. "I know that, you idiot." she chided softly. "Now, would you please get out while I prepare myself?"
The little dragon beamed widely at her as Twilight lowered him slowly to the ground. He was walking towards the door when he exclaimed, "Oh right! Twi! Mom wanted me to fetch you while I'm here."
"Understood. Tell Mother I will be there after I finish grooming." She looked up from the towel she had picked up and grinned. "So, it's twelve wins for me and none for you, huh?"
Her brother closed the door behind him, grumbling about pony magic : Twilight chuckled triumphantly.
~~~
Twilight stared down at the assortment of brushes and different lotions carefully arranged in their ornate box. Her damp mane stuck uncomfortably to the nape of her neck and her forehead. She shivered slightly when the gentle breeze grazed her coat. The young mare magically picked up the drying brush and started combing through her mane and fur. She would have to repeat the same boring brushing process for about thirty times before applying all twenty types of lotion. Naturally, Twilight allowed the mechanical movements formed by habit to take over and let her mind wander freely.
Traditionally, a dragon's grooming routine would consist of polishing one's scales with thirty types of stones or minerals – it depended heavily on the subject's political status – and twenty types of oils extracted from various plants and animals. But Twilight was a pony. Fortunately, her parents wanted to make sure their daughter would be included in the dragons' proud customs. They had commanded the court artisans to craft Twilight her own set, tailored to her specific needs. There were many advantages which came with being part of the royal family, she supposed.
The young mare looked out of the window. Judging by the large puddles strewn on the streets, it must had stormed last night. She sincerely sympathized with the dragons living on lower levels. Twilight realized belatedly that the air was indeed quite humid. She set down her comb on her lavishly decorated vanity, allowing herself a moment of respite from the arduous routine. She stuck her head out of the opal frame which served as her window. Twilight was once again grateful for the enchantment placed upon the it: the magic regulated the passing of weather conditions.
The Dragon's Faith dictated that connecting with nature was a vital part of life and they believed that communication could be achieved by allowing the elements to affect oneself. Of course, some were more rigid about the customs than others: as an example, Twilight had known an old maid who had requested a room without a roof several years ago. For families like the Bacyvileía's, the use of charmed window frames were common. In such a way, they could freely adjust the level of intensity to suit oneself.
After a few moments relishing in the feeling of the wind in her mane, Twilight guiltily remembered her mother waiting for her. She sat reluctantly and went back to brushing her coat. Once she completed the tedious procedure, she eyed her reflection in the highly polished silver mirror.
The young mare's adult entourage had often pointed out the inconspicuous yet tangible changes that occurred on Twilight's body: her horn was gently curved and the tip was coloured white; her pupils were slitted, just like the ones of a cat; light marks streaked from the middle of her eyes to just below her cheekbones. Like tear streaks, she had thought. Her coat had also darkened over the years and a subtle, thin line of white scales had grown on her spine. It trailed from her neck down to the base of her tail. Her royal uncle had once explained that the land's magic was affecting her physique because her species was unadapted to it. The changes on her body were indications of the subtle morphing of her own magic. Her gaze swept lower and the unicorn saw the mark – a pink six-pointed star circled by five smaller white one – on her rump.
Twilight shuddered as the memory of that day resurfaced in her mind. The excruciating pain coursing through her tiny body while she had vainly fought to control her magical surge was something she would forever remember. But the worst part was perhaps the what the event had forced her to conclude.
~~~
The temple was strangely tranquil for a place where dozens of priests and priestesses went to and fro. Lying on the marble floor, Twilight looked up. The white stone pillars stretched towards the heavens in a hopeless attempt to reach it. The idols carved from the tip seemed endlessly less significant than they usually would. Maybe it was the whole point.
The sky was clear and the air was cool. She watched the lazy shifting of the rare, thin clouds. Stars were sprinkled all over and they twinkled in an oddly lively manner. Amongst the mass of tiny white points, the silver moon gleamed and shone serenely. The zephyr gradually dried her damp coat and the candles girding the earthy mound flickered faintly. The stream surrounding them flowed, singing a pleasant crystalline melody.
It was a mid-summer night.
Twilight's ear perked when they heard the approaching footsteps. The filly forced herself to rise as regally as possible to prepare to greet the priests and priestesses who would execute the cleansing ceremony alongside her mother, high-priestess Ágieros. They bowed in greeting and the dragons encircled the heap of earth. Her mother entered last. She smiled at her little filly when she spotted her and took her place: the centre.
Twilight crossed the water and sat on the grass, ready to witness one of the four most sacred rituals. She wished she could help but knew that her magic was sadly inappropriate.
The arcane chanting commenced and Twilight allowed the rhythm to lull her into a peaceful trance. Tiny orbs of light slowly swirled around and above.
The sense of peace brusquely changed. It was replaced by something similar but inherently different. Her body was lifted into midair by the magic coursing through her body. It was a music impossible to read: it was fast yet slow, it was a jerky staccato but also a smooth glissando. A powerful feeling of belongingness washed over and Twilight relished in it. It felt wonderful and the filly briefly thought that whatever connected with her must have been something beautiful beyond words.
Then, the agony tore in.
It was as if a spear of ice punctured all her internal organs, shattering her body into minuscule pieces. A unimaginable pressure closed on her and Twilight could have sworn her horn was ground into fine dust. When she opened her mouth, she must have swallowed thousands of needles because she felt them lodged firmly in her throat. From her eyes leaked tears. Her vision was blurred but she could still perceive the orange sparks: her coat had combusted. Twilight finally managed to scream.
She was only dimly aware of the dragons closing in, chanting furiously; she was too far gone. The pain worsened and worsened until it came to an abrupt halt. Her body fell on the ground with a sickening crunch and she would've sensed something tickling her rump had she not been so near unconsciousness. Twilight felt a big warm claw caress her with infinite finesse. A distinct voice broke through the buzzing and urged the others to carry her away. She did not hear where to. The voice sounded tearful. The filly was very very concerned but her body wouldn't move. She couldn't open her mouth to reassure the one stroking her sides. She couldn't lift her hoof to wipe away the tears. She couldn't even smile to console the broken voice. Suddenly, Twilight had an urge to cry too. The incessant buzzing grew louder and darkness swallowed her.
When she woke up, the first things Twilight saw were big bandaged claws clutching her hoof tightly and a white feathery wing covering half of her bed. Her eyes moved up. Her mother was lying at her bedside with a blanket clumsily wrapped around her waist. Evidently, her three years old brother struggled to cover their mother in a caring gesture but gave up halfway. Twilight tried to grin feebly but white hot pain shot through her and she gasped. It discouraged her from any other movement thereafter.
A few moments later, her father pushed the door open and entered the room with Lor following him. Glaurenberg saw Twilight watching and a beamed brilliantly.
"How is my cute little pony doing? How do you feel? Do you need anything?" He seemed to be awaiting answers but upon Twilight's continued stare filled with frantic alarm, he said. "Oh right. I'm sorry. I forgot you can't move... which is a strange thing to forget considering you're bandaged all over." He waved his hand vaguely over his daughter's body while approaching the bed. He eyed his sleeping wife and smiled tenderly. "You slept for over two days. Your mother insisted to stay with you all this time." He sat on the opposite side of Ágieros and clutched Twilight's available hoof just as tightly as his wife. "I am so happy you're fine. I wanted to stay too, but um, there were... er, emergencies..." he trailed off, voiced tense and strained.
The implication was clear. Twilight might have been a young filly but she was educated in all the domain an emperor would be.
The population was unhappy. Twilight Bacyvileía, the controversial honorary princess, had interrupted a sacred dragon ritual. Surely, as a pony, she would have no qualm in disturbing the order of nature so important to a race beneath her own and injuring the high-priestess, her kind mother. Or so must have been told the story spreading like wildfire.
Twilight always knew she was mostly tolerated at best, despised at worst ; the hatred especially apparent in places further away from the capital. They seemed to view her as an intruder, a self-entitled individual from a race that knew nothing of dragons. Oddly enough, instead of the wretched feeling Twilight had expected, her mind only numbly acknowledged the news.
Something stirred beside her. Ágieros slowly lifted her head and froze for a few seconds when she saw her daughter blink back. Next, she burst into tears. It was obvious that the white dragon was using all her willpower not to simply launch herself onto her little filly and squeeze her in a motherly embrace. Glaurenberg gave Twilight a sympathetic grin.
It took several minutes for Ágieros to calm down. At her husband's urging, she stifled a sob and started to recount the happenings from after Twilight fainted.
The distance between the temple and the hospital had been huge but Twilight's life had been sustained through the effort of the dozen of panicking priests. They'd efficiently transported the filly out of the temple and descended upon the red sandstone hospital. The nurse who'd received them – Ms. Wendika, she was called – had only allowed herself an instant of confusion before leading them to the emergency wards. She had performed first aid on Twilight's burns while waiting for the doctor to arrive. Her condition had been stabilized by the time Glaurenberg had reached the hospital and had started to demand to see his daughter.
"Because yes, your father ordered them to lead him to you," said Ágieros with a smirk. "He even invoked the Royal Name because they hesitated. I must say though, it was a sensible decision to take a few minutes and examine that strange, panicking, very – and I do mean very – disheveled black dragon. He probably looked a tiny bit insane. Just enough to get his very own personal ward."
By the end of Ágieros' sentence, Glaurenberg was of a noticeable red shade, which was an incredible feat considering he was entirely black.
"At least, I was not the one being restrained by half a dozen full grown dragons because the doctor seemed to cause their cute little filly pain while bandaging her."
This time, it was her mother that sported a heavy blush, readily apparent against her stark white skin. She tried to hide it by burying her face into her wing. "It must be my motherly instinct." she muttered. "Anyhow, the priests and the disciples wanted to come see you but the nurse refused since you needed quiet to rest. They should be able to visit now. I will go bring them up. Oh yes, they have their own room now since Ms. Wendika was tired of seeing them crowd the waiting room."
"Wait a minute, Ági," said Glaurenberg. "I have to pick something up at the front desk ; I will go with you. Now, Lorigus, come with Dad."
Lorigus stayed firmly seated on his chair, seemingly unwilling to move.
"Do you want to stay with Twily and look after her?" asked his father in a hesitant voice. The infant nodded firmly. "Um, okay then. We will be back in no time. Remember to behave, son."
The moment the door closed, Lor scuttled towards Twilight and climbed on the stool where his mother sat. He kneeled on it and gripped Twilight's hoof with his tiny claws. It was becoming a very popular gesture in her family, she remarked. Must have been because it was the only part that wasn't horribly burnt.
Her brother locked his eyes with her. "Twi not wowwy. Low becom' wawy-a when big an' pwotect Twi. Pwotect Twi fwom fwya." he said with a utter and complete conviction only a child could muster. Twilight knew he must have been scared because his voice quivered slightly. But his pale blue burned with determination and Twilight felt a surge of pride towards her brother. He would indeed make a fine warrior.
Apparently satisfied with his heroic speech, he found an empty spot on his sister's bed and curled up to sleep. Twilight stayed wide awake in a lethargy.
The door crept open and almost two dozen dragons filed in. They were arguing in hushed tones whether they should wake Twilight or not.
"They somehow managed to multiply over the course of four hours. I believe they really like you, Twilight." said Ágieros in tired amusement.
The whispers stop and everyone turned to stare at the injured filly. A collective sigh of relief was heard in the room. Then, a monstrous cacophony erupted.
"Twilight! We were so worried–"
"You were almost dead–"
"We need to get you out of here, the food is–"
"You look in such a bad shape–"
"Is it still hurting?"
Facing the chaos, Twilight was overwhelmed. She scrambled for words before remembering she couldn't speak anyway. Fortunately, Glaurenberg seemed to have noticed her dismay and silenced the room.
"Now, I'm sure Twilight would like to hear what occurred during and after the ceremony." he said, glancing at the unmoving filly. In reality, she didn't want to know the cause of her outburst. However, unable to refuse, she braced herself as well as she could. Something akin to dread rose to the surface of her consciousness.
"Oh, of course. Since she seems so curious." an elderly blue dragon said. He cleared his throat and started. Twilight silently wished for a disturbance or anything that could stop the words from flowing out of the elder's mouth. Nothing happened.
He went on a long-winded narration stuffed with flowery and poetic language by the end of which the filly felt like curling up to sleep with her undisturbed brother. To summarize the story, the priests had been performing the ritual like usual and everything had been proceeding smoothly. That is, until they'd felt heat on one side of their circle. When they'd opened their eyes, they had spotted a flaming Twilight. Of course, they'd disturbed their circle and had rushed to help their whimpering friend. The rest was history.
"The weird part is that nobody felt the magic changing," said a young priestess. "And even though the ceremony was cut right in the middle, the magic feels the same as it usually is after a complete ritual. Makes you wonder what's happening, doesn't it?"
The adults continued talking between between them while Twilight tuned out. They were all wondering why they hadn't sensed the surge coming miles away. There was in fact one explanation to everything. But it was one which nobody wanted to acknowledge.
Twilight Bacyvileía was the danger.
Suddenly, as the realization struck her mercilessly, all the feelings she tried to block with numbness drowned her. The acute shame at causing all the trouble, at injuring her mother, and simply at her sheer incompetency in controlling her own abilities crushed her heart.
Twilight had always secretly wished more than anything to be loved by the people and help running the country. She could have become an advisor to the future emperor or empress. She had wished to make her parents and uncle proud, make them never regret adopting her, loving her. Instead, she was the hazardous element in a terrifying equation. Twilight's magic – one she had always loved despite its deviation from the norm – was a threat to her beloved country, to its citizens and to all the dragons so very precious to her.
Excitement throbbed in the air as the adults discussed celebrations for Twilight's eventual recovery. The little filly's dreams and hopes were silently extinguished like a dying star overlooked by all.
For over four months, Twilight Bacyvileía was unable to use her magic.
~~~
Twilight arrived in the dining hall and smiled at the peaceful scenery her family painted. She sat at the excessively long table while her brother recounted animatedly his confrontation with her.
"Then whoosh she used magic again so she won. Again. It's super duper unfair!"
"Really? I simply utilized all my assets to my own benefit and maximized its effects. You can't accuse me of anything concrete." said Twilight.
Lorigus proceeded to pout in that dangerously cute manner that always managed to soften her somehow.
"Good morning sweetie," said her father with a grin. "You should eat fast, your uncle wishes to see you afterwards."
"So early in the morning? Is there a problem?" asked Twilight worriedly.
"Oh no. I believe it's a good news. I can't tell you however ; Brother would surely like to announce it to you personally."
"But Mother needs assistance with her morning rituals..."
"You don't have to worry about that, honey," said Ágieros. "We will have enough members now that Priest Voithós and Pristess Daro are back from the western campaign."
The young mare nodded in understanding but apprehension coiled her stomach. Twilight ignored it.
~~~
Moondancer walked into the resting area chatting excitedly with a grey mare.
"... and that's why I believe Haycartes' theory of matter transposition can be applied to second degree universes," she concluded.
Twilight Velvet smiled affectionately. "I'm glad to that see my favourite student hadn't changed much. 'Oh, I'm the saviour of Equestria now. Never mind that, did you know an ancient spell forgotten by the world can be revamped? It's totally useless but the theory's fascinating!'"
"W-well, it is! You can't pretend you're not interested," retorted Moondancer as she felt her cheeks warming.
"We're sure it's interesting, Moonie, but it's not the time for this. The great and powerful Trixie needs her daily dose of theine the researchers have so cruelly denied her," declared a blue unicorn, throwing her cape back with a flourish. "In other words, we're going to a tea sho–" Trixie stopped abruptly. Her eyes widened comically and words stumbled out of her mouth. She was frantically trying to analyze the situation. "Oh, uh... Hiya there– I mean greetings– Mrs. Velvet. I hope you are well... What are you doing here? Is there a field trip for school foals? No! Wait! You're a researcher here. I knew that... I'm not causing trouble!"
"Nice to meet you again too, Bellatrix. I can see you're not showering fireworks on the staff here like you used to."
Moondancer noticed the almost predatory grin on Mrs. Velvet's face and concluded that her favourite teacher hadn't changed much either.
"Well, Trixie, where are the other girls?" asked Moondancer in an effort to steer the conversation in a less embarrassing direction for her best friend.
"Er, Lemon Hearts and Minuette went to the restroom a while ago," said Trixie, obviously grateful for the distraction. "Twinkleshine and Lyra are not done with the examinations yet and Bonbon went to buy"– she shuddered– "coffee. Let's sit somewhere and wait for them."
The three mares found a free sofa and conversed for a while. Then Lemon Hearts, Minuette, Lyra and Bonbon joined in one by one.
"By the way, how is Shiny doing? I heard he became Captain of the Royal Guards. I had thought he might change majors and become a teacher or something at some point since he was so good with kids when we were younger. Oh right, how is Cadance? It's still kind of unbelievable a princess babysat us but there we were. Sorry, off topic. Anyways. Is she doing anything in particular? Is she seeing someone? Ooh, let me guess. I'd say she's dating Shiny!" babbled Minuette with her usual overflowing amount of enthusiasm.
Mrs. Velvet lit up and a broad grin split her face. "I'm glad you mentioned this. Shining is getting married to Cadance! Princess Celestia herself would be presiding the wedding. The news is not very known yet but I suppose the princess will announce it soon."
Moondancer wasn't expecting to hear that. Anypony from her old class could have predicted this outcome, if the sweet way they used look at each other during their volunteering periods was anything to go by. It simply happened earlier than anticipated. Nevertheless, she felt overjoyed for them. They were such wonderful ponies by themselves but formed an even more delightful couple and truly deserved to find happiness together.
The atmosphere was quickly charged with excitement and the chatter continued a while until Mrs. Velvet excused herself, her obligations calling her to elsewhere.
They didn't have to wait long for a relatively disgruntled Twinkleshine to appear in the hall, stomping the ground a little harder than usual. With a puzzled look on her face, Lyra asked, "What's wrong, Twinkle? You look kind of angry. Well, I mean, as angry as you can look."
"I am kind of angry, Lyra. That inspector just wouldn't believe me when I told him that nothing changed, the pillar of Recognition is the same as ever, yadda yadda yadda. He just outright dismissed me! He even dared to tell me I don't understand my own magic. And those useless tests he passed..." Moondancer could feel Twinkleshine's temper flaring as she ranted on a few minutes before cooling down speedily. "In the end, he was forced to admit defeating Nightmare Moon did nothing. He didn't apologize for wasting my time," she ended resignedly.
"That sounds awful, Twinkle. I believe a trip to the tea shop, basking in their aromatic and relaxing scent, ought to do you some good," said Trixie.
"You just want tea, don't you?" asked Moondancer, amused.
Her best friend sniffled once as they exited the shiny building that was the headquarters of the Advanced Magical Research and Learning Institute. "I feel insulted that you thought I had ulterior motives, dear Moonie. I suggested tea because it is truly the best therapy for any kind troubles, mind you. In fact, any problem should be resoluble as long as you have enough of that delicious and miraculous beverage. Though you might be a teeny tine bit right," conceded the blue unicorn in a low voice.
Moondancer was trying hard to hold back her laughter when a letter appeared in front of her in a soft yellow flash. Momentarily destabilized, she stumbled backwards and fell on her flank.
She heard a sigh on her left. "It's been years since you started to exchange letters like that with the princess. How can you still be surprised by one?" mocked Lemon Hearts in a gentle tone as she help Moondancer to her hooves.
Moondancer gave her a sheepish grin. She tore the seal off and her eyes scanned the letter written with a remarkable penmanship. She lowered the letter when she finished and sent it to her apartments in the castle, right on her desk. She looked at her curious friends and said, "Princess Celestia is summoning me for tomorrow morning. She told me to bring the Pillars of Order too. I guess it should be related to Shining and Cadance's wedding."
At those words, Lyra smiled at Bonbon apologetically, "I guess you'd have to wait outside then."
"When do I ever not?" sighed tiredly the candy mare.
"Cheer up, Bonbon. Today is not tomorrow yet so we're going to stay with you for a while, to bring you to a tea house namely, before scathingly abandoning you in the beautiful yet cold building that is the Canterlot Castle where you will lose yourself and thus never see ponykind ever again. Maybe this time will be my final attempt to convert you. I shall at last convince you that tea is superior to your horrid coffee."
Bonbon snorted. "Not likely Trixie, but nice try." A smirk formed on her features and she added, "All hail coffee overlord. Guide us to destroy the pitiful ones that are the tea blends."
Trixie made a defiant noise. "I refuse to take part in your pathetic attempt at a childish squabble. Now if you would please excuse me, it's time for business at the Flowery Aroma & Delicate China. Tea, tea, tea!" Trixie exclaimed as she trotted bouncily.
Truly, Trixie never fails to entertain, thought Moondancer.
"Man, sometimes I wonder if Trixie isn't actually from Great Briddleton," mused Minuette.
The silence hung oppressively, almost crushingly in the air.
The throne room was a marvel to admire when the morning sun shone with its brightest and purest light. White marble statues of illustrious scholars, fierce warriors and holy priests supported the weight of the roof along pillars of white stone. Though the Hall of Elements lacked wards against rain and wind, the tall effigies hadn’t lost any of their sharpness nor their details.
An atmosphere of peace usually surrounded this sacred place. Even the emperor rarely used this room out of respect. But today was not such a day.
The early spring breeze cooled the warmth brought by the sunlight as pairs of eyes darted furtively between the standing figures of the honorary princess, Twilight Bacyvileía, and Emperor Glaurensúg.
Twilight’s stance was straight and rigid. She carefully kept a detached expression despite the swirling anger and anxiety in the pit of her stomach. She was stubbornly retaining herself from responding to His Majesty’s words but she was on the verge of abandoning. She already knew she could never refuse a request, even less a mission, from her Royal Uncle.
Glaurensúg emanated an overwhelmingly dominant aura and an inherent regality which made it hard to disobey him. He stared down at her from the top of the stairs leading to the carved throne. His face softened and he smiled a smile that he reserved only for the ones he loved the most. Twilight cracked.
She bowed.
“With all of our gratitude, we, Twilight of Bacyvileía will be honoured to receive a mission of such importance.”
“C'mon now, Twi. We're going to a pony wedding!” said a tall green dragoness, her upper body hanging from the edge of the bed. She swung her arms around in broad gestures as she talked. “It's gonna be totally awesome. I get to do nothing at all and you... well, you can learn their culture –you always liked learning about that kind of stuff– and master magic or something.”
Twilight raised her head from the marble desk, shot her a baleful glare and growled in response.
Haerod Bacyvileía Cefnor, third princess of Draigdraeth, the land of the dragons, scrambled into a sitting position with the grace of a Flobberwurm (the Tatzelwurm's lesser cousin), and thrust her claws into the air. “Wow, someone's feeling touchy here. And that someone's obviously not me,” she laughed, trying to alleviate the tension Twilight emanated.
Yet, Twilight continued to groan in a manner akin to the aggressive Komodo dogs. Seeing her sullen cousin, Haerod sighed, her face turning serious as she leaned in and scrutinized. She scratched her head and asked with a concerned voice, “Seriously, Twi, why are you even so irritated?”
As if she didn't already know.
“Equestria,” she grinds out.
“Yeah, I realize,” she says in a flat, unimpressed voice. “I meant why are you so –how should I say this– hostile towards the ponies in the first place.”
The mare opened her mouth, poised to fire a scathing reply, but it never came. In fact, Twilight froze, slightly confused by her own reactions. Just why did she detest the idea to its core? A dozen excuses shot through her head but none were particularly pertinent or convincing. She would fool neither herself nor her friend. The real answer to Haerod's question was a mystery, for Twilight herself couldn't quite put her hoof on it. Apprehension wrung her stomach like a wet cloth but the cause was unknown. It frustrated Twilight to no end.
“I don't know,” she quietly admitted, slouching back onto the desk, her head still directed towards Haerod. “I don't know why I don't want to go. Maybe I just don't like ponies?”
For an instant, Twilight thought Haerod's face screwed into a frown of understanding but when she blinked, her cousin was wearing her usual easy grin. “Well, for someone who hates ponies, you sure seemed enthusiastic about the idea when Father suggested it. Not a hint of irritation,” she said, claws motioning to underline invisible words.
As Twilight stared at her cousin—who was possibly the only friend of her age she had— she wondered, not for the first time, why in world did she continue talking to that tease. Her reply was an obvious jab at both the way Twilight behaved around the Dragon Lord and how she stormed into Haerod's room to sulk after the uncomfortably brief meeting.
“You know I couldn't possibly express discontentment when Uncle—no, Haerod, I will never call him Dad Number Two—obviously did that for my sake,” sighed Twilight. “And no matter how weak common ponies are, a good economic relationship with them can be tremendously profitable.”
“Also, you could finally learn more magic. While I admit that you came pretty far for someone who had to figure out everything by herself, you could do with more spells than levitation and shielding. By the way, I’m sure Dad’ll be overjoyed if you called him Dad Number Two. That's basically what he is to you. I don’t understand why you won’t,” she said, leaning on the wall while casually liming her claws with the stone she had grabbed from her bed stand.
Twilight grumbled under her breath. Obviously, Haerod agreed with the emperor; Twilight should learn more of her pony heritage. She knew they were right and perhaps she shouldn't feel so annoyed. Also, Dad Number Two is obviously disrespectful: His Majesty should never be second and Twilight will not call him her dad either.
The unicorn had accomplished amazing things for someone with no guidance. For example, the magical watchtower her Royal Uncle had officially commissioned from his niece. From the window, Twilight eyed the massive grey watchtower situated just outside the royal palace of the capital city, Ionad Y Mynyd. It was her masterpiece. Though the basic structure had been drawn by experts, every single stone had been laid down and cemented with only Twilight’s magic. As she’d worked, she had woven a dozen impermeable shields which would be activated when the invisible barrier detected a certain amount of rainfall. It prevented floods and protected the city from landslides. The tower had been completed within two month, at least five times faster than normal workers. Not to mention she had reinforced the walls of some buildings surrounding the tower during that two months period.
Had a crazily loyal scribe not burnt down the entirety of the Equestria section of the imperial library two hundred years ago, Twilight was sure she could have gone even further. All things considered, she should've been immensely proud of herself.
But she wasn't. A tiny, nagging voice in the back of her head constantly reminded her that it would've never been enough. Equestria surely held extensive archives detailing every aspect of magic—some which Twilight couldn't even begin to fathom—in their royal libraries. How could the knowledge gained from her pathetic little experiments measure up to that?
It felt like a bitter defeat.
Eyeing her sulking cousin, Haerod tapped the spot next to herself. “Twilight, if you are sad, please remember you are always welcome to talk to me,” said the dragoness, her voice comforting. Moments like this reminded Twilight of why she always felt so insulted when some dragons acted as if Haerod were an insensitive idiot, unable to understand delicate situations. It reminded her that those petty baronets from the countryside would always remain petty baronets from the countryside. “That is, if you bring me the fresh blood of a virgin and all your demonic arithmetic books on a sunless day,” whispered Haerod in a conspiring tone, her claws cupping her mouth.
Startled by her cousin's sudden shift of tone, Twilight let out a laugh.
”Don't even pretend. I know for a fact that you love arithmetic and you're only after my rare, ancient books. Your ridiculous ploy doesn't fool me.“
She magically lifted a pillow and aimed at Haerod's snickering face. Her target groaned in surprise. A satisfied grin appeared on Twilight’s face as warmth flooded her and, suddenly, she wasn’t worrying about the visit to Equestria or her insecurities anymore.
The stained glass cast colorful images depicting various mythical events on the white marble flooring of the Canterlot Castle Legends Hall. Seven mares walked in. Their chattering and the clopping of their hooves were the only disturbance in the perfect silence. Within the group, Minuette monologued about the scientific discovery of her new friend, a certain Doctor Whooves. Moondancer slowly but surely zoned out. She could feel guilty later. The noises faded to the back of her mind. She only snapped back into focus when she noticed that Bonbon was lagging behind, staring intently at the illustration of the Pillars.
A stylized Nightmare Moon stood in the middle, hooves raised menacingly and evil eyes opened wide, as her black heart shattered. Encasing the enemy was a six pointed star, formed by two perfectly symmetrical triangles. Surrounding it was a perfect circle, joining the six mares residing at the extremities of the barrier as they glowed with auras of different hues.
“You know, I always forget you're heroes,” said Bonbon, wrinkling her muzzle. “You all just seem… so normal.”
Moondancer laughed and replied, “We are normal. Our bond is the special thing here. We were simply able to prove it.”
Bonbon turned to face Moondancer, a searching expression plain as day. The scrutiny lasted for a while before a smile formed on her lips wordlessly, as if satisfied by what she had found.
“You say it modestly but you're really bragging, aren't you?” She said, teasing, and Moondancer grinned back sheepishly.
“I guess I am. You guys really are so special to me though. It’s like my friends are the pillars supporting me. Without you all, I would've collapsed long ago.”
“Wow, that was really cheesy,” said Bonbon, a smirk playing on her lips. “I like it.”
They stood in companionable silence in front of the portrait, the peaceful and slightly mystical atmosphere of the hall naturally losing them in the flow of time and making the intricate details of the tall stained glass window all the more beautiful.
“Uhm...Are you really sure I should meet the princess with you guys?” she said as she bit her lower lips, uncertainty dripping in her echoing voice. “I can't possibly be allowed to hear—well, you know,—that top secret stuff.” She waved her hoof around in big swipes. “Maybe I should wait for you outside. I could go see my dad or something. Yeah, I should do that.”
Surprised by Bonbon's words, Moondancer was about to protest but before she could, a hoof tapped her on her shoulders.
“You know, you two should’ve told us if you wanted stay behind. I was really surprised when I saw you missing,” pouted Minuette.
Meanwhile, Twinkleshine approached the earth pony, putting a hoof on Bonbon.
“Princess Celestia requested for you in the letter didn’t she? And the guard let you in after the scanning, didn’t he? I’m sure she wants you here.”
“Twinkleshine is absolutely right, Bonbon. You are important to the mission this time,” said a gentle, serene voice.
They all started from surprise when they heard Princess Celestia and turned to bow with utmost respect, but Trixie jumped, straightened her position immediately and dipped her head lower than the others. If the princess had found the display bizarre, she didn't show it. Instead, a small but genuine smile found its way on her ethereal features.
“Please rise,” ordered the princess. “Hello, my diligent student Moondancer, the Pillars of Order and Ms. Bonbon. I hope your day has been pleasant so far.” Princess Celestia waited for them to respond. They all nodded so, pleased, she continued on, “Normally, I would assume that you are all curious as to why you were summoned here today. However, if my speculations on Mrs. Sparkle's character are correct,”—her elegant smile slipped into an amused, knowing grin—“ you are already aware. Princess Mi Amore Cadenza and Captain Shining Armour of Light have arranged a marriage in a fortnight. It is meant to be a secret until the official announcement. All of you will be invited as special guests and I wish for you to take part in the planning stages of this event. I can give you a quick overview if you want. If not, the details will be in the report on the current state of affairs that Inkwell had prepared.“
Oh, Inkwell. Moondancer held back a cringe as she remembered her upperclassmate who used to exasperate even the most tenacious of professors with lengthy, detailed essays which took at least twice as long to correct. She was not ready to tackle a probably fifty page long report on a beautiful and tranquil day.
“Well, we all have our day free so...” Moondancer eyed her friends who all seemed to reflect her own distress. “We might like a summary, thank you princess.”
Celestia chuckled at their collective reaction and began talking.
“Good. To begin with, the employees will mostly be citizens of Ponyville. It serves as one of many ways to apologize for all the destruction the battle against Nightmare Moon had brought upon their town square. Luckily, in my search, I have found that one of Cadance's favorite indie designers resides there, and so did a branch of the Apple family as well as a certified party planner. They will take part in the preparation of the wedding. I already have Cadance's approval.
“For the guests of honor, the nobility will be present of course. Representatives of different regions will attend too. As per tradition, I expect the griffon community to bring two additional guests. The southern dragons have declined the invitation, like usual.
“Now, we arrive at the crux of the matter. While I hope you can help with the other facets of the preparation, I want you to concentrate on this one. Several months ago, the Dragon Lord had reached out to me in hope of reopening our borders.”
Moondancer knew that interrupting the princess would be incredibly rude, but she couldn't help herself. “The Dragon Lord!” she gasped in disbelief. “B-but it's been centuries since our last contact with dragons. They had plenty of opportunities to open borders before. Why now?” The suspicion creeping into her tone was uncalled for and, while she was fully aware of it, Moondancer was unable to curb the growing mistrust in her mind.
The dragons living in the Badlands were notoriously savage and socially primitive: Moondancer cringed as she tried to imagine a whole nation of them. A single brush with death at the claws of those creatures had been enough for a lifetime. At her sides, Moondancer felt her friends growing uncomfortable at the idea as well.
“The current Dragon Lord and I have been corresponding over the last months. He is a charming individual, truly. Entirely unlike Equestrian dragons, I must stress,” said Princess Celestia, looking into the eyes of her student. Her voice remained gentle and understanding, yet there was a finality and a hint of reprimand. Moondancer wouldn't have a say in this matter. “I had originally decided to invite him to the wedding as a sign of goodwill. Unfortunately, it coincided with the Cyhydnos. It's their sacred spring celebration,” she added when she saw her listeners' furrowed brows. “The dragons of age won't be able to attend in preparation for the holy festival and rituals. As Cadance is unwilling to delay her marriage, their two youngest princesses will be sent instead. They are around your age so I ask you to please accompany them during their stay and keep them company when needed.”
She wants me to befriend the representatives, realized Moondancer as she nodded slowly.
“Very well, that is all. Everything is in place now,” she said with a smile, hunching her back a little and relaxing her neck. “You are all free to leave. I bid you a nice day. Don't forget to read Inkwell's report,” she called, surely knowing full well how much all of them dreaded the task.
Princess Celestial beamed in amusement in face of their misery. However, the smile was not quite as... energetic as usual. It was only then that Moondancer noticed just how tired her mentor looked. Normal ponies might not realize that, but Moondancer had been the princess' student for almost ten years and knew many of her mentor's countless secrets. Exhausted, Celestia's mane always appeared to float less, her melodic voice seemed to be a tiny bit raspier, and her posture was tenser, stiffer in front of other ponies. They were all small hints but she would have noticed them earlier, had she been more attentive. A wave of guilt washed over her.
“Princess? Is there something worrying you?”
Celestia's ears twitched before she sighed resignedly, as if she had taken a spell she had spotted from far away squarely to the chest. “Perceptive as always, Moondancer. Indeed, I do have something on my mind. Luna had very recently expressed her wish to participate in the wedding planning beyond her short appearance as the co-ruler of Equestria by, for example, conducting a speech. However, seeing her current state…”
Moondancer nodded again to indicate that she knew about Luna's condition, though it was probably unnecessary. Princess Celestia must have expected her to, since she had been the one who forced Princess Luna into her current predicament. Twinkleshine, who had been working with Princess Celestia on magical mind healing, had determined that the Moon Princess' monstrous information absorbing capability was the result of the Pillars' attack on Nightmare Moon. When Nightmare Moon had been destroyed, so had been a part of Luna's psyche, which explained why her mind was destabilized. To compensate for the blank in her psyche, she was subconsciously collecting as much information as possible. When exposed to a large influx, the burden might very well cripple Luna.
“I realize her eagerness to leave her room is out of loneliness. I am currently the only one who would willingly visit in my free time, after all. The only other equine contacts she has are a few night guards who are rather distant when serving. New faces should do her some good, but I am afraid my little ponies are still understandably frightened.”
Once again, Princess Celestia had displayed one of her only habits Moondancer detested. It wasn't so much because the princess had such a habit, more so the fact that she'd ever needed to develop it. Celestia's secretive behavior in front of Moondancer's friends only reminded her constantly of what thousand years of ruling had done to the sun princess' trust. The unicorn mentally sighed before deciding her answer to her mentor's implied request.
“If Princess Luna doesn't mind,” articulated clearly, albeit reluctantly by Moondancer,“ I could keep her company sometimes.”
The way Celestia lit up, her smile radiant despite the signs of fatigue, would've pleased Moondancer if she hadn’t spotted the obvious gratitude in princess Celestia's eyes. She looked at Moondancer like she owed her student the world and Moondancer felt sickened, nauseous at the thought. She was the cause of Princess Luna's current predicament, she was the one who screwed with her mind, she was the one unfit for the Elements of Harmony. Moondancer averted her eyes. Silence hung in the air a little longer than comfortable.
“Moondancer,” the princess' soft voiced called, and the unicorn mustered all her courage to look at her mentor in the eyes.
Bathing in the light of the brilliant sun, the ugly traces of fatigue marring Celestia seemed so insignificant in face of her ethereal beauty; even more so than usual, she looked imposing, powerful, surreal. Just like the goddess that she was.
“Some of the more altruistic ponies underestimate the good their actions might bring to another's life. They tend to dwell on what they could have done better instead of the incredible things they have achieved. It is, however, not a wise course of thought. One must learn to see the light, do you understand, my diligent student?”
The meaning of the words rang loud and clear. Moondancer nodded despite the lump clogging her throat. If the warm and powerful Princess Celestia said so, then it must be true. Her mentor sent her a small smile. She turned towards Bonbon.
“I believe your father is waiting in his office, Bonbon. I am sure you all have your own businesses to take care of and so do I. I will sadly have to leave you here.”
Moondancer and her friends quickly bowed and strode out of Legends' Hall. Moondancer's heart ached. Even Princess Celestia’s words couldn't quell her suspicion towards the dragons yet. Or fill the abyssal hole that opened up in her heart when her thoughts drifted to Princess Luna.
