Hello there! Long time no see Fanfiction. To everyone that watches me for AATC stuff I want to say, sorry but I'm a Brony now. I will still be reading and reviewing AATC stuff. And there is one story that still needs to be written before I can fully move on. I hope everyone like this!
The idea for this was sparked in me while reading one of Buttersc0tchSundae's fanfics over on DA.
Twilight Sparkle was sitting at her desk next to the window on a cool and breezy spring day. She was deep in research as her young purple dragon assistant was rearranging the many stacks of books that littered the floor of the library as a result of Twilight's research.
The young dragon took a moment to wipe the sweat from his brow, "Twilight, do you have to read so many books at once, or could you give a dragon a brake for once?" Spike went back to placing the books onto the sheaves without waiting for the unicorn's response.
"Oh Spike. You know I have to keep my mind sharp. You never know when what you read in a book could come in handy." The purple coated unicorn's horn began to glow as she used magic to turn the page of the tome that sat in front of her.
Spike muttered to himself while re-shelving a particularly large book on the principles of rainbow magic. Twilight couldn't quite make out what he was saying but she was sure it was something akin to, stupid books, who need em. She giggled quietly at her friends banter.
The sun was starting to set. Twilight smiled when she saw this, as it marked her favorite time of the day. In fact she was named for it. The twilight, the time when both night and day are present. She had always loved this time of day ever since she was a little filly.
Spike had climbed up one of the many ladders that rested against the numerous bookshelves in the library. He had a stack of three books balanced on one of his claws when he suddenly felt a message coming from Canterlot, "No, not now!" Spike quickly tried to make his way down the ladder before it was to late but only made it halfway down. The young dragon let out a cough that sent him, and the books on his claw, crashing to the floor.
"Aw man..." There was another cough which was quickly followed by a belch and in a puff of smoke a rather large scroll appeared in the air above Spike.
"Oh, a message from the princess!" Twilight let out a excited gasp. She trotted over to Spike and payed him no mind as she levitated the scroll in front of her.
The unicorn raised an eyebrow as she examined the scroll. It was larger then any of the others the princess had sent before. And in addition to it's size it was marked with two seals. One, the sun, the other a crescent moon. The parchment itself was decorated with gold leaf around the edges, "Wow this seems important. Not that any message sent by Princes Celestia is ever unimportant." Twilight was unsure why she felt the need to explain that.
Spike stood up and rubbed his lower back with one of his claws, "What does it say Twilight?"
There was a pit in Twilight's stomach as she looked at the rolled up scroll. "I don't know... I'm nervous to open it."
The dragon's tail bounced as he walked over to his friend, "Well it can't say anything bad. I mean you haven't done something to make the princes mad... Have you?" One side of the purple dragon's brow raised and he gave his friend an inquisitive look.
The unicorn's head tilted upward as she thought. "No, I don't think so..."
Spike looked at Twilight and shrugged, "Then open it..."
Twilight's dark mane bounced when she nodded her horned head, "You're right, Spike."
The purple glow around the scroll increased in brightness as Twilight unraveled it with magic. She moved it closer to her face and read it aloud.
"To our dearest subject, Twilight Sparkle. We hope this letter finds you well. You are summoned to the royal court at sunset in three days. A chariot will arrive to escort you just before sunset. Sincerely, Princesses Celestia and Luna. Rulers of all Equestria."
A whistle rang forth from Spike's mouth, "Wow, this seems like a big deal. Though that's a pretty fancy scroll for just a summons."
Twilight re-read the letter wondering if she missed something. It was odd for the princess to send her such a short message and even more strange for Princess Luna to send her one. Not much had been heard from her since the Night Mare Moon incident. What ever was going on Twilight was sure it was important.
"I'm sure I am over reacting. We've been here for almost a year, maybe they want me to report on what I've learned in person?" She looked at Spike hoping he would reassure her, but the little dragon only shrugged.
Twilight magicked the scroll closed and laid it on her desk next to the book she was reading. "Well no sense in worrying about it for now, right?" She went back to her studies, but found it had to keep eyes from wondering to the scroll.
After about five minutes of futile studying Twilight lifted the scroll and opened it so she could read it again, "Maybe if I read it again..."
Spiked placed a claw over his face and let out a sigh, "Oh, Twilight..."
It had been three days since the letter from the princesses had first arrived and now Twilight waited for the chariot to come and take her to Canterlot. She had spent the last few hours making sure that her mane and coat shimmered.
"I don't know what you're so worried about Twilight. You need to calm down." The young dragon placed a claw on the unicorn's right foreleg to comfort her.
"You're right Spike, I just need to relax." Twilight closed her eyes and took a few deep breaths to relax. It was working until she heard the signature sound of two sets of hoofs and a cloud chariot touching down just outside the library. She nearly jumped out of her skin and immediately the tightness she had felt in her chest returned with a vengeance.
"Calm down! You got this, remember you're her favorite student. Now get going, you don't want to keep the princesses waiting." Spike slapped his claw against her flank. Instead of causing her to get moving like he had planned, it caused Twilight to give him a death glare that was only slightly less scary the Fluttershy's infamous "stare". The baby dragon quickly pulled his claw back and nervously twiddled his thumbs. He let out a nervous chuckle, "Sorry..."
The purple unicorn took another deep breath, "Alright, I can do this. Spike I'll be back but if I don't return by tonight Rarity said you could sleep over at her house if you like."
A massive grin covered the dragon's scaly face, "Alright. Take you're time Twilight, you don't want to rush these things. What ever this thing is..."
Seeing her friend so excited helped relax the unicorn. "Wish me luck." She called as she trotted out of the library.
The dragon's call of encouragement could be heard from behind the now closed door.
In front of the old tree that housed the library there was a chariot with two white pegasus stallions. They each wore ornate gold armor that covered most of their bodies, including there cutie marks.
"Good afternoon Miss Twilight Sparkle. Are you ready for your trip?", the pony closest to her asked in a deep voice.
Twilight nodded and cantered over to the chariot. She took a moment to take in the wonderful cart. It was decorated with gold and silver. Sun and moon crests covered it. The moon crest had once again been adopted as a royal symbol since Princess Luna had returned to the throne. Twilight smiled when she remembered how happy Princess Celestia had been upon her sister being freed from the darkness that gripped her heart for a millennium.
Her mane shifted back and forth as she shook her head to clear her mind and get back onto the matter at hoof. She climbed onto the chariot and once she was safely on board the two stallions began to gallop to gather speed before taking off.
Equestira looked breathtaking in the late afternoon light as the sun was about to complete its journey through the sky, especially from such a high altitude. The bright light that bathed the land was slowly fading to orange and the ponies below, which looked like little more then ants from up high, were beginning their evening rituals.
With the two strong pegasi pulling the sky chariot it was not a long flight to Canterlot. The carriage touched down in the main garden outside of the royal palace. Twilight took in the sight of her former home and her mind wandered back to the long afternoons she had spent reading in this very garden. Many unicorns and pegasi were moving about and enjoying the flora. Not many earth ponies lived Canterlot, it wasn't that they weren't welcome in the capital but rather it was just too inaccessible to those without magic or wings, being constructed on the side of a mountain.
Twilight disembarked the chariot and bowed to the stallions that had brought her here, "Thank you both for your time." The one who once again found himself closest to Twilight responded, "Not at all, Miss."
Twilight blushed lightly at being called miss again, it had been a while since anypony called her that. The two pegasi took off again, no doubt still having much work before the day was over. Once they were out of sight Twilight found that the pit in stomach formed again. She gazed upon the large, ornate doors that lead to the main court of the two alicorn rulers of Equestria.
She slowly made her way to the threshold and the tightness took grip of her chest once again. 'Come on Twilight... It's nothing just calm down...', Twilight found talking to herself did her no good. She arrived and the large gateway opened of it's own accord. The two pegasi guards, who looked almost identical to all of the other guards, that stood on either side announced her entrance in unison, "Presenting, Miss Twilight Sparkle. Favored student of Her Royal Majesty, Princess Celestia. As well as savior to Her Royal Majesty, Princess Luna. She is also the embodiment of the Element of Harmony, Magic."
The unicorn's cheeks grew red at the introduction. "Well that doesn't sound like the way they would welcome someone who is in trouble to the court...", Twilight said quietly to herself.
As the large door's closed quickly but silently Twilight took in the sight of the court. Adorning the wall were large banners marked with both the sun crest and the crescent moon crest. The large room was rather empty as the sun began to set. At the end of the hall Twilight could see the Princesses sitting on their thrones. Both of their horns were glowing as they simultaneously set the sun and began to raise the moon.
The young pony looked on in awe. Even in all of her time spent with the Princess she had never actually seen the process of controlling the sun and moon. In fact as she looked around the room she noticed only herself and the princesses were present. 'Am I the first pony to see this?', she wondered to herself as she silently watched. Both of the princesses sat with their eyes closed, deep in consecration.
Once both of the celestial bodies had been set on their paths the princesses opened their eyes. Twilight felt slightly sheepish as both of their gazed fell on her. Most of the tension she felt was quickly melted away when they both smiled at her.
"Twilight, my dearest student, why are you standing so far away. Please come closer." Celestia's gentle voice filled the hall as she beckoned the unicorn to her.
In response she quickly rushed so that she was standing before the twin thrones, one white and lined with gold. The other black and lined with silver. She knelt on her forelegs and bowed her head to the Princesses, "Your Majesties. It is an honor to be here."
"Rise, dear friend." Luna's voice held a timid tone to it but still commanded as much respect as her sister's.
As Twilight stood once again she blushed at being called a friend by the princess of the night. She nervously avoided eye contact with both of her alicorn rulers.
"I can tell you are unsure of why you have been summoned. To enlighten you, the three of us must take a walk to a long forgotten part of the castle." Celestia rose from her seat as she spoke. She was quickly followed by her sister.
They both began to walk towards one of the many exits of the royal court, "Please follow us, Twilight."
As she cantered behind the sisters Twilight's mind began to race. 'What could be going on? They summon me here and now take me to a secret part of the castle? Also they call me here at a specific time which just so happens to be when they are changing the sky? A ritual that to my knowledge I'm the only pony other then the princesses themselves to witness. Something is going on, this is no simple visit...'
The corridors of the castle seemed for more empty then they should be. The stone walls echoed the sounds of all three sets of hoofs colliding with the floor. The relative silence caused Twilight's anxiety to return.
The princess of the sun sensed the tenseness coming from her student and decided she would try to lighted things up, "You know Twilight, I do enjoy your reports on friendship. They have shown me that you are learning much and even faster then I thought you would."
Twilight relaxed a little, "Thank you. I'm glad I do not disappoint you."
The princess shook her majestic head, "You could never disappoint me, my student." She turned her head back and smiled as she maintained her stride alongside Luna.
After a long walk down progressively more and more dusty corridors the three of them arrived at a large set of doors. they were decorated with beautiful carvings of alicorns of all different colors. On the left door a large golden sun stood out on the door. In the same spot on the right on a silver moon was located.
"Stand back. It has been a long time since this door has been opened." Luna's warning was spoken softly.
Twilight did as she was told and stepped back. She watched as the princesses nodded to each other and their horns began to glow. In response the sun and the moon began to shine. A loud creaking noise came from the door and the sun and the moon slowly began to turn in opposite directions The sound of a long forgotten locking mechanism could be heard shuddering to life for the first time in many years. With one last thud the doors slowly began to open and a large plume of dust rushed out into the hall were the three stood.
All three erupted into a coughing fit. In between coughs Luna manged to speak, "We... should have... remembered it would do that." Finally the coughing stopped as the air cleared. With clean air once again in their lungs the three proceeded into the room.
Once they were all inside the door quickly slammed behind them and it could be heard locking again. This made Twilight very nervous. She gazed around the room and found that it breathtaking. It was a long hall, the floor was covered in a long red rug.
But what truly caught her attention were the statues that took up the majority of the floor space. There had to be at least a dozen of them each a large statue of a alicorn, at least as big as Celestia, if not bigger. The next thing to catch Twilight's eye was the paintings behind the statues. Each was of a pony, some unicorns others pegasi and even a few earth ponies. They each looked similar to the alicorn statue in front of them.
"What is this place?" Her mind was swarming with ideas. To her knowledge the princesses were the only alicorns in all of Equestria. But this room contradicted that fact.
"Be patient my dear. The time for answers is near." Celestia comforted her while they walked towards the end of the ornate statue room.
The paintings seemed to get newer and newer the closer they got to the end of the long hall.
"The room you are standing is the hall of rulers past. Very few are aloud here, Twilight Sparkle." Luna spoke as they reached the end of the hall.
What Twilight saw next made her gasp. Two status stood next to each other. One of Celestia, the other of Luna. But what was truly shocking was the painting that hung behind it. A white unicorn with a prismatic mane and tale was smiling with a pegasus hovering just above her, her coat was a few shades darker then Twilight's and her mane and tail were light blue.
"Is... Is that you?" Twilight stammered as she tried to cope with what she was seeing.
The princesses looked to each other and nodded before turning to the shocked unicorn, who's mouth was ajar.
"Yes it is, my dearest student. That is from a time long past. Before we were given the power of the sun and the moon." Celestia's words echoed throughout the ancient hall.
"W...why are you showing me this?" Twilight stammered as she was still trying to figure out what was going on.
"The time for that answer is not now. But soon, child. Do not worry. First we must tell you a tale of how one is chosen to rule Equestria. And even more important, we must reveal the truth of your linage to you." The timidness that had earlier occupied Luna's voice was gone.
"My linage? But I know who my parents are... Don't I?" This was all becoming to much for even Twilight's mind to wrap around.
The moon goddess looked at the young unicorn with pity, "You may want to sit down..."