[Spike's point of view]
"Spike..."
A familiar voice called my name as my body was assaulted by gentle nudges. "Hey, Spike..."
Instinctively, my body shifted away from my rouser. My consciousness still in half-slumber, wishing that whoever it was trying to wake me would give up their attempts. Sad to say, the decision only provoked a more agitated response. At once my body was shook much harder than before, their empowered nudges more violent and decisive.
"Spike, wake up! You can't just sleep here! Wake up!"
I turned groggily to look at my rouser, light filtering into my still sleepy, irritated eyes. Everything was blurry, nothing but a piercing light behind a silhouette. I rubbed my eyes and my vision slowly began to clear with the silhouette becoming more defined until finally all the light was balanced and an image of a worried Twilight was left.
But this Twilight was different. With no horn, no wings, and hardly any fur, you could barely call her a pony, let alone an alicorn.
"Spike? Earth to Spike, are you okay?" she asked, waving what appeared to be a scaleless, talon-less, fleshy claw - if you could even call it a claw - a few inches from my face.
"Huh, what? Oh yeah, yeah. I'm okay. Sorry," I mumbled back.
Still curious and doubtful, I looked at her with more aware eyes. Her face still directed to me, her expression still plain with unfounded worry. Strange yet familiar dark purple eyes gazed at my visage with both concern and care, while two streaks of pink and purple adorned her dark black hair.
As I looked into this alien my instincts called Twilight, memories of days past came back to me with an odd sense of welcome and warmth. And although physicalities told differently, there was no doubt in my mind that this being was and is Twilight Sparkle.
Heartwarming it was to know she concerned for me, regardless if her worries were unfounded or not, I couldn't let her worry any more than she already had. I did not speak, however, instead just gave her a warm, simple smile. And even without words she understood, replying with her own.
A few moments passed and she returned to her book. I was still rather groggy from my impromptu nap, but I knew I had my part to perform. I sifted through her research materials already on the table, making sure she had everything she needed. By random chance or by volition, my gaze came to turn towards Twilight.
She sat at her side of the table, her face serious and concentrated, but at the same time content and happy. Twilight was a person that enjoyed reading as a hobby and would most times lose herself to the arcana held by the pieces of literature. But these sessions was something more than a simple time-sink, this was something of utmost importance.
"Hey, Twi… sorry for falling asleep. I guess I just couldn't keep myself awake. Sorry."
She looked at me with puzzled eyes initially, but then smiled softly soon after. "It's okay, Spike, you don't have to apologize. Besides, I know you didn't really sleep so well last night. So I understand if you're not really up to it today. In fact–" She paused as the smile on her visage dropped and became a look of solemnity "–I think I should be the one apologizing for waking you. Sorry, Spike. I… I just felt... lonely," she finished, her last sentence almost too weak to hear.
Even after I heard her statement, I still couldn't help but feel useless. It was true that I wasn't getting much sleep ever since this whole mission started, but even so. "But still, I should be helping you whenever I ca..."
But before I could continue, Twilight interrupted me with a voice that carried with it comfort and forgiveness. "Spike, it's okay. You've helped a bunch since we've got here. You have nothing to be sorry for. So please, don't beat yourself up over this. Please?"
I stared at her for a moment but then snickered at that. If I wasn't already convinced of this person's identity, I would have been convinced now. "Thanks, Twilight."
After our conversation, I decided to take a look around the empty library. Giving her proper warning, I left Twilight to her reading while I tried and look for other things that could prove useful.
The library building was a large structure made of brick and concrete. Its high ceilings and its story tall stained glass windows added to its rather overbearing aura. And yet, once a person enters its huge double doors, the feeling of smallness would instantly be replaced by a feeling of a warm welcome and the offer of open knowledge.
The library's interior spaces were mostly colored with the hues of wood. The walls were lined with large oak shelves that housed multiple things of intellectual significance. The main room's center space was filled with bookcases, arranged in neat aisles. To one side were the chairs and tables provided for the building's patrons; to the other corner was the library's counter, where not long ago a 'Help Wanted' sign dangled on a thumb tack.
This library definitely wasn't the Golden Oaks Library of Ponyville; we weren't even in Equestria anymore.
It's already been a five days since we went through a magic mirror to a place called Earth. We were tasked to get Twilight's crown back – The Element of Magic. Actually, that wasn't quite true; Twilight was supposed to do it all alone. I just happened to be too stubborn to listen, so I ran after her. Even with the warnings, I still ran after Twilight. And the funny part... I regret nothing.
[Five days earlier]
My gaze was to my window, images of trees and mountains passed by at considerable speeds while a seemingly unmoving sun hid behind the horizon, waiting for the will of its matriarch to raise it to its proper position in the sky.
I was by the very definition of the word… bored. It had been two hours since I and the six element bearers left Ponyville for the Crystal Empire. I had nothing to keep myself occupied, and I was getting more bored by the minute. I've tried everything with what I had, but I have to say... nothing seemed to be working.
A hoof tapped at my shoulder and I turned my gaze from the beautiful sight to Twilight who sat beside me. She pulled her hoof back and smiled softly. "Thanks again for helping me with the packing, Spike."
"Don't mention it, Twi. It's my job, remember?" I answered as I slammed my fist to my uninspiringly small chest.
"Still, Spike, thank you." She then hung her head, ears drooped in depression. "It's just, with all those visitors and delegates coming to Ponyville just to meet me, I almost forgot about the invitation to the Crystal Empire! Even the girls were more prepared for the trip than me!" I could hear her grit her teeth as she finished her sentence.
I turn my head towards the left side of the passenger car. There sat the rest of our friends; Applejack and Rainbow Dash were having a rather heated competitive... chat. While Pinkie Pie was sat in front of them, stuffing her face with cupcakes, enjoying her front-row seat to the friendly debate. Behind the two athletes were Fluttershy and Rarity. Fluttershy sat there as she enjoyed the scenery through her window seat. Beside her was the lovely Rarity. With a sleeping mask, fluffy ear muffs, and a rather cute snore.
I smiled. "And yet here you are, Twilight, on your way to the Crystal Empire. All that trouble you had to go through is just part of becoming a princess. You'll be fine."
"... But... I never asked to be a princess," Twilight whispered to herself.
Her answer didn't surprise me. Though this was the first time she ever admitted it, it was easy to tell that she hadn't yet come to terms with her ascension. Although she's not someone who takes responsibility lightly, the responsibilities a princess receives isn't anything ordinary by any stretch of the word. And with the fact that she was a pony who preferred the peace of a library; the added attention only helped to make her transition worse.
I didn't give her an answer. I didn't know what to answer her with. And it hurt that I couldn't offer her any solace.
A few minutes later, we finally arrived at the Crystal Empire. Two Crystal guards greeted us the moment we stepped out of the cart. They bowed to Twilight and informed us that the other princesses were still holding royal court inside the citadel. That left us with some free time to burn. And with an agreement set, we decided to walk around the city to try and get something to eat while we waited.
The guards offered to take our luggage to the castle, to which the girls thankfully accepted. I on the other claw choose to decline, not wanting to bother the guards with my rather light luggage. Also, with the bag carrying Twilight's Element of Harmony, we'd rather not take any chances.
As we walk along the streets of the Crystal Empire, the girls chatted like they normally did. The walk itself was fairly bland, though it wasn't without its shenanigans. Pinkie curled herself into the smallest ball she could crunch her body into. While Twilight crashed, face first into the crystal pavement, with hardly any grace whatsoever.
The day went on fairly uneventfully. We met with the other princesses once their royal court was over, we had dinner with them, played a few games, and even got to watch Princess Luna raise the moon.
Yeah, I guess I can't really call meeting royalty uneventful, let alone the other things we did with them. But in my defense, I'm a baby dragon - baby by pony standards anyway - who was hatched from my egg by a pony, was raised by no less than the princess of the sun herself, is friends with six heroines who saved the world on multiple occasions, is the only dragon known in existence to live in harmony within pony society, and is heralded as the savior of a lost city state that was terrorized by a dark emperor bent on the subjugation of all of ponykind... 'Yep, my life is awesome.'
Twilight and I were about to getting ready for bed, our room being one of the largest guest suites in the citadel. She was unpacking her things into a drawer cabinet, while I was busy fixing my basket. The basket didn't carry anything special in it. Only some bed sheets and pillows... The basket was my bed.
'Though you'd think saving this city-state would qualify me to have my own full-sized bed. Sigh, it's not like I'm asking for a giant monument made of solid diamond or something!'
This is one of the negatives of my 'awesome' life. Being a baby dragon in a society of ponies, leaves you being treated as a, well… a baby. Most species know the fact that dragons are an ancient race with an age range bordering on immortality. But what they don't understand is that though we live very long lives, we mature as fast as possible. We do this for two things, survival and our need to hoard.
Compared to every other dragon out there, I'm one hell of an anomaly. Not only was I raised within pony society, but I also intentionally inhibit my dragon instincts. I know doing so will leave me in my baby dragon body for a few millennia or two, but I think I can live with that. Especially if I can spend that time with friends I consider family.
From the other side of the room, Twilight finished emptying her bag into the drawer cabinet. She was about to put the bag away till she saw what was left inside, the literal crown of all her achievements, The Element of Magic.
She took the tiara out of the bag with her telekinesis and placed it on her head. Most other ponies would be ripping their lips apart, trying to perform a smile that can do the title and the crown justice if it was them in Twilight's shoes. But all I could see from Twilight was a questioning frown, and a look of defeat.
"What's wrong, Twilight?" I asked.
"I don't know, Spike. I'm just... worried I guess." Twilight paused, the emotion evident on her face. "Princess Cadence was given the Crystal Empire to rule over. What if now that I'm a princess Celestia expect me to rule over a kingdom of my own?!"
Though I have no true claim to the throne, having lived half my life with the highest ranking royal of Equestria gives me a decent idea on the stresses of ruling one's own kingdom. But even with this knowledge, there is nothing I could do to help her. All I could do was keep her out of such negative mindsets. Twilight is one the smartest ponies in Ponyville, no one would contests that fact. But once her neurotic side starts manifesting, her mindset snowballs for the worst. And that's something I need to prevent. Usually I just have to make her laugh. And the only thing I could work with was her question.
I walked towards her and propped myself up with my tail. "That would be... AWESOME!"
"No. It. Would. NOT!" she answered quite emphatically. "Just because I have this crown and these wings, it doesn't mean I would be a good leader!" She said as she levitated her tiara and spread her large wings.
I've lived together with Twilight long enough to know every small chink in her personality. Though most ponies could be faulted to think they know a lot about her uncontrolled side with the whole 'Smarty-pants incident', they have no idea how much of a true pain her neurotic self could be to deal with. But at the same time, my life with her gives me the confidence to say that she has what it takes to master her flaws and succeed. She just needs to see it for herself.
She walked toward the crystal-framed bed, levitated the crown off her head and placed it on top of the bed-side cabinet, her face still emanating out her insecurities. I followed her soon after, and tucked her in. "Oh, sure you will, Twi. You're the Element of magic! Leader to the Elements of Harmony, of course you're a great leader. Now come on, you should get some shut eye. You have a big day tomorrow!" My statement brimming with honesty that could rival that of Applejack's.
Twilight's face slowly softened and I could tell the tensions in her mind loosened; not enough for them to vanish, but enough to give her peace for tonight.
With a pull of a string, I turned off the bed-side lamp and readied my own body for my basket. I tucked myself in, close my eyes, and wait for sleep's sweet embrace. Sad to say, it didn't come as fast as I would've wanted. Rustling and grunting sounds from Twilight's bed forced my eyes to open and look for the origin of the noise. There, I saw her twists and turns on her bed, Irritation plain on her face. The reason, the appendages that just a few days ago, sprouted from her side as one of the signs of her ascension to princess. Not only would they not fold to her sides, but they were also spread in a way that prevented her from lying in bed in any conceivable way, let alone comfortable.
As I look at the struggling Twilight, a random question hit me. 'Now that I think about it, did Celestia ever have problems with her wings? Weird,'
On top of a cliff standing tall along the sea, I stood overlooking a starlit sky. A mare was sat near the edge. A unicorn with a crescent cutimark. Her coat was indiscernible from the darkness that blanketed everything. Her mane was of a royal blue hue that reached shoulder length, styled straight and parted to the left. Curiosity took over and I found myself walking towards the mare.
I sat next to the unicorn and turned to eye the same scenery she's had been looking at. The night sky was awe-inspiring, the stars and planets twinkled in absolute magnificence, creating images and icons of amazing detail while the moon stood as the distraction of the sky with its brightness and looming presence.
I knew who this pony was and where we were, the night sky giving me every clue I needed to make my guess. What I wanted to know was why.
"That is one beautiful sky," I stated with a blank tone.
"Quite... The princesses always did work with a very intrinsic artistic flare," she answered, not even turning to face me.
I couldn't help but roll on the ground laughing when I heard her reply.
"What was so funny?" She asked as she turned to glare.
I wiped a tear off my eye as I tried to recompose myself. "Though the princesses' work with 'artistic flare'; you princesses aren't much known for being subtle." Her pupils shrinking as her anger-induced glare was turned into the look of disbelief. I raised a claw and waved it at her, a sly smile on my lips.
"Hi Luna."
Her muzzle stuttered as she tried to get her words out.
Having seen my handy work and the possibility to make it better, I pointed a clawed finger to the heavens. "Since when was the big dipper made of more than seven stars?"
One of her eyebrows raised itself and she immediately turned to the sky. Her jaw dropped when she spotted the constellation in question. I could've sworn her eyes were as small as pinheads.
The celestial formation wasn't its usual seven points. Instead it was a cluster stars numbering maybe by the thousands, forming a very well defined, image of an intricate water dipper: cup, handle, embedded gems, and all.
I kept silent as I watched her stare at the night sky.
Her lips curled upwards slightly into a small smile before turning towards me. "Well played."
She was then enveloped by a bright white glow that overpowered the darkness of night. When the light finally waned, the unicorn was no more. In her place, the princess of the moon sat with her galactic mane flowing in the dreamscape air.
Luna turned my way and eyed me with an air of superiority. "Do you consider yourself my equal enough to not call me 'Princess' Luna?" she stated seriously, though her eyes had a different glimmer than what her tone portrayed.
I smirked at her comment, the very tinge in her tonality giving away much of what she wanted to start. I stood up and bowed my head low with my right claw to my chest and the other to my back. "Forgive my insolence princess, for I am but a mere dragon hatchling to ponies. To your peers and subjects, I do not know any better. Would you like retribution against me?"
"I think I'd rather pass. Detestable as you might be, I'd rather not risk my sister sending me back to the moon," Luna said before her cheeks puffed up and she bursted out laughing. A few second later and I couldn't help but join in. We laughed for a few minutes, just enjoying the lightness of the moment.
We both enjoyed these lighthearted banters. Whenever we found time to talk to each other, we would engage in these rebuttal battles until either one of us couldn't hold their laughter in any longer, or - in rare cases - until one of us becomes visibly offended. At first Luna couldn't keep up, but as time passed, I had to admit that she was getting better at it.
Luna was the first to recover. "Now, this is my next question: How do you know you are in a dream and not in some island somewhere?"
Already knowing she'd ask that, I raised my claw towards the big dipper and rotated my wrist. The constellation began to morph from the water dipper into a dinner bell then into the princess's crescent cutiemark. She kept her eyes on my manipulations, smiling at every change.
"So, what are you doing here Luna? Didn't we just meet today? Or was that a dream too?"
"No, my dear Spike. Everything about this morning was all real. You and the others did meet us at the Crystal Citadel," She answered with a slight grin.
"Then why invade my dreams?" I asked her again.
She looked at me with an obviously faked expression of offense. "Isn't the word 'invade' is a bit harsh? I think 'visit' would be more appropriate. And as to why I am 'visiting' your dreams, I just wanted to spend some time with a friend. And though you might think we've already talked, I could remember a certain dragon that did not take to talking too much if not at all," She paused, and then looked at me with concern as she continued. "I want to know what's in your mind, Spike. Is something bothering you?"
I snorted despite myself. It always amazed me how the princesses still found time for their subjects even with their celestial duties. This was far from being the first time I've been on the receiving end of a royal's graces. And knowing Luna, she's not gonna let me off easy.
"I don't really know. The closest thing I could think of is the stress from the past week. I guess I'm just that tired," I answered, trying to keep my words as honest as possible.
"Were the visitors really that problematic?" She answered back, her eyes scanning my expression.
I snickered at her. "Numerous and Incessant would be the best adjectives."
"Yikes."
"Tell me about it."
I rested my chin on my crossed arms while my eyes were fixed towards the luminous moon. Time seemed to slow down. Luna was right there sat next to me, her face devoid of emotion while she looked at the same imaginary sky I was looking at. As seconds ticked by, I allowed myself some time to think; time I very much wanted, needed.
Lines manifested on my scaled face as I remembered the past week. Still gazing at the moon, I called to the alicorn's name besides me. "Hey Luna, do you think it was a good idea to turn Twilight into a princess?"
She didn't turn her head towards me. But I could tell she was looking at my direction, if not directly at me. She then spoke with a soft but stern tone, "If you want me to answer your question, you have to answer mine first. Do you?" she finished.
I couldn't help but let out a snicker. Though I expected Luna's rebuttal, I didn't really have answer ready. I could only let my mind roam through the recent events of the last month "I'm not entirely sure. Yes, Twilight has done a lot for Equestria and its ponies. But does she also deserve the crap that comes with the crown? I don't think so." I paused to look at the night sky. "I've known Twilight literally all my life. And I know for a fact she's the type of pony that prefers to keep to herself; always preferring quiet solitude over unabashed attention. Twilight's the type of pony that never wants to be defined by something like a title. And with her new position as a princess, the whole thing is just puts more strain on her than she deserves. Heroine or not."
Silence dominated my dream-scape for what seemed like hours. Luna didn't answer me instantly; instead just kept her eyes on me. She then smiled and placed a hoof on my shoulder. "Though I may not have the experience you have with Twilight, I do agree that she has earned the title of princess completely. With the adventures Twilight, you and your friends have gone through, you freed me from my nightmare shell, converted the chaos that is Discord, saved the Crystal Empire, and stopped the changeling invasion. There is in no doubt in my mind that Twilight deserves her new role in Equestria. And as for the grievances to her crown, I believe she's handled worse. I should know," she said, finishing with a smile.
We continued to talk about what the past week has been in Ponyville, bursts of laughter here and there. Luna kept listening with true interest, as if the emotion of the last topic never happened. Though I didn't expect her to invade - I mean visit - my dreams, I'm kinda glad she did. We kept talking for what seemed like hours; though I couldn't really say since it was hard to tell time in dreams. But out of nowhere, Luna silenced me. I was offended at first but as I looked at her face. I could definitely tell that whatever her reasons were, they were very much valid. "What's wrong?" I asked, my face wearing its own serious expression.
"I cannot say, Spike. I just ask that you be vigilant and ready. If you wake up, gather your wits and be ready for anything. Do you understand me, Spike?" she said, with a tone that sounded like a general at war.
I stood from the edge of the cliff and straightened my stance. "You can count on me Lun-"
But before I could finish my sentence, I was ripped from my slumber by a body stepping on my real tail.
I bolted up from my pillow, screaming from the unexpected pain. I pulled my tail closer to me hoping to relieve a little of the pain when I heard a hard thump of a body hitting the floor. If there's one thing stepping on my tail did, it was wake me completely.
I looked towards the direction of the thump, my claws still clutching my throbbing tail. There I saw a cloaked mare. I wasn't able to tell much else about the intruder since the room was unlit. But the now awakened Twilight saw something much more important than the cloak. "MY CROWN! MY CROWN! SHE'S GOT MY CROWN!"
The intruder dashed out of the room and into the castle hallway, Twilight's crown still in tow. Twilight and I gave chase and followed the would-be thief around the castle.
Some castle art pieces became casualties to the chase, frames, vases, even decorative pony armor. To some, the pieces would have meant millions worth of bits. To us, they were mere annoyances if anything else. With the racket we were making and the fact that the route we were running along passed every bedroom in the castle, it wasn't too surprising everyone was awakened prematurely. Those that recovered from the rude awakening followed suit soon after, with the other members of the bearers being the first to join the chase.
Twilight chanted a teleportation spell in an attempt to cut the thief off. But she was caught off-guard when the intruder proved to also be capable of the same high caliber spell, teleporting behind Twilight, leaving her cloak behind deliberately, snagging Twilight's face with it. But even if one had high level magic, there was only so much running one can do along the halls of a crystal castle. And Twilight - though being a very bad example of athleticism - was able to close the gap and forcibly tackle the thief to the ground after the pony entered one of the castle's many storage rooms.
The others and I formed a circle around the two, making sure no other escape route was available for the thief. Twilight took rapid small gulps of air as she pinned the thief down, her legs visibly shaking from the untimely marathon.
I never saw Twilight exert this much physical effort in dealing with a problem. She would mostly try to outwit, outclass, or out plan most opponents. And sometimes, if mental skills weren't enough, she was just lucky and would succeed regardless. Then again, with the Element of Magic being the thing she stood to lose, I could understand giving it all she's got.
Once Twilight had gotten her breathing straight, she shot a glare at the thief and asked, authority loud in her voice. "Who are you and why were you stealing my crown?!"
The prisoner only looked away at her captors, her mouth shut hard .
Though the situation was tense, it wasn't as tense or as physically demanding as the chase. And with the respite I was able to get my wits about me. I turned my gaze on the thief, cataloging her appearance and trying to remember if she was in any way familiar to me. She was a unicorn who was possibly older than Twilight. Her cutiemark was an intricate sun. Her coat was of a yellowish hue similar to applejacks, while her long mane and tail were styled with curves and swirls and held the colors of fire. I looked into the eyes of the pinned unicorn. A myriad of emotions lined her surprisingly gentle pony face. Anger, betrayal, guilt, hesitation, but then I saw something that caught my attention, fear. Fear in itself wasn't too surprising an emotion to have, especially if you're a caught-red-hoofed criminal. But the fear I saw in her wasn't born of being captured, no. It was born of something else. A pang of pity and curiosity began to manifest itself in me as I continued to look at the incapacitated pony.
'What was this unicorn so afraid of when here she was about to be put in jail and be charged with theft and possibly high treason?' I asked myself as I looked into the unicorn's teal eyes. Until suddenly I saw something else emerge from her visage. Something I knew very well: determination.
At that very instant, the unicorn shifted her gaze towards one of the many pony armors that lined the corners of the room. Sparkling lights and a shimmering sound emanated from the unicorn's horn as she levitated the armor's helmet towards Twilight at considerable speeds, knocking the alicorn clean off her body. The others and I quickly tried to close the gap. But before we could even take our first step, the unicorn was able to cast a teleportation spell instantly, hardly speaking any incantations. She then materialized besides an odd looking mirror in the center of the room. All seven of us were stunned, eyes wide at the magical feat the pony was able to perform especially Twilight.
Though unicorns were magical in nature, most of them only know basic telekinesis. Very few unicorns knew high level spells, but for this would-be... no, 'skilled' thief to be capable of teleportation, let alone incantationless teleportation was surprising to say the least. The only other ponies I knew that were capable of such feats were the four princesses.
The pony then turned to look at our still stunned faces. Her face contorted, not into that of a gloating grin, but that of a sorrowful grimace. "I'm sorry it had to be this way, princess."
The pony passed through the mirror. And just like that, she was gone...
Everyone in the room was speechless. To think that a lone thief was able to overpower and escape the Elements of Harmony was nothing short of unthinkable.
Several moments passed and the other alicorns made their appearance; their manes and tails amiss due to a rather untimely awakening. We all bowed down to their presence. Then Twilight began filling the other princesses on the situation, coaxing a gasp from them now and then. But when Princess Luna asked for a description of the pony, Twilight turned awkwardly silent. I couldn't blame her. With her heart pumping adrenaline and her body being pushed out of its physical comfort zone, she couldn't have had the time or the thinking power to remember the thief's appearance. Luckily for her, I did.
I took a few steps forward and asked if I could be allowed to speak. All four alicorns nodded their heads slightly as their approval; from there I gave an account on the unnamed pony's appearance. And as gave my description on the thief, I couldn't help but notice Princess Celestia's expression. She was a mess with emotions, contorting her face outside the usual radiance that most ponies know her to have. Twilight took a step toward her former mentor and asked, "Princess Celestia, what's wrong? Did you know who that unicorn was?"
Celestia didn't answer. Instead, the princess who gave Twilight a response was the alicorn of love, Princess Cadence. "She's fine, Twilight. And yes, we know who that pony was. Her name was-"
But before she could finish, she was interrupted by Celestia who it seemed had recovered her composure albeit not completely. "Sorry, Cadence. I'm okay now; I can tell them from here." Hearing Celestia's statement, Cadence nodded to her hesitantly then stepped back.
Finally, having the stage for herself, Celestia took a deep breath and expelled the air along with every inhibition she had in her system. "Her name was Sunset Shimmer. She was a former student of mine."
All of us gasped at the revelation. When Celestia saw that we were beginning to settle down, she continued her tale. "She became my student not long after the lunar rebellion. She-"
Rainbow Dash being impatient as always, stood up. "That's impossible! That pony we chased looked so young, so in her prime. I can't really see that happening unless this Sunset character was actually an alicorn."
As rude as Rainbow was, her question was a legitimate one. So I leaned in and waited for Celestia's answer.
Celestia only smiled at Rainbow before she continued. "You will know as I tell you her story. For now I ask that all of you to hold any further questions until I finish."
Everyone only nodded in unison.
"Like I've said, Sunset Shimmer became my student not long after I was forced to banish Luna to the moon. She was highly adept at magic. She was quite powerful, and like Twilight, she had a large pool of magical energy to pull from. But, unlike Twilight, Sunset had full access to it, regardless of emotional stability. She was a fine student when we began. But as the years went on, she started to change for the worst. And I'm probably the reason for it."
Celestia paused, her visage dropping the warm smile and adopting a slightly sorrowed expression. "One more difference between Twilight and Sunset was their teacher. I was... a different Celestia then." The curves of her muzzle dropping further as she continued. "Unlike the princess you know now, I was more... unstable during that specific era. Having to banish Luna corrupted me more than I was ready to admit. Though most ponies of Equestria weren't able to tell, those that lived in the castle saw every change that I had to go through. And regrettably, Sunset Shimmer was the one affected the most. All she only wanted to be recognized for the things she achieved, to be loved because she deserved to be loved. And yet I wasn't able to see that before it was too late. I ignored her, used her as a scapegoat for my own faults and fears... And to think most of Equestria think me invulnerable." To this at least, the princess let out a small chuckle. A chuckle that died out as soon as it was let out.
"One day, the young Sunset and I got into a heated argument about the current state of the monarchy. We were both on edge until finally we both said things that shouldn't have been said. She lost control of her magic soon after, accidentally infused everything within the Everfree forest with magic, making most of the area uninhabitable for centuries. We had to leave everything behind. I lost almost everything that reminded me of my sister. Out of rage, I placed the poor foal on trial. And without anyone to save her, she was at my mercy; something that I regret not giving her-" She paused, her eyes finally starting to moisten.
"... I convicted her of high treason and sentenced her... with petrification."
Celestia went silent, finally overwhelmed by the emotions of the memories. Luna stepped forward putting a hoof on her sister's shoulder. "It's OK Tia; I'll take it from here." She then regarded us and sat on her haunches.
"Though my experience on the matter is not my own, my understanding on of Sunset Shimmer is... shall I say, sufficient. Now to continue on where Celestia left off; Sunset Shimmer was – I regret to say unjustly – petrified with the help of the Elements of Harmony. Though by that time, the elements were no longer as powerful as they were when Tia and I wielded them against Discord. Through the years, the spell weakened until finally it was brittle enough to break and set Sunset free. It just so happened that her cage broke when all of you were still foals, hence why she seemed like she was in her prime. After she was liberated, she wanted to escape further prosecution and she found it in – or rather – through that mirror," she said, pointing to the reflective article that stood at the very center room. "That mirror, as you saw for yourselves, is no ordinary mirror. It is a gateway that connects our dimension to another; a gateway that only opens once every three months. And when the passage opens, it stays open for three days, and today is the third."
Luna paused. She turned to Twilight who was lost in thought on the implications of the revelation, then asked. "Twilight, does Sunset Shimmer still possess your Element of Harmony?"
Twilight hung her head, ears drooping as the thought of something so important slipped everyone's minds. She raised her head slightly, her visage still weary and tired. "I'm afraid so Princess Luna. She escaped through the mirror with my crown."
Luna only let out a small but noticeable chuckle before she spoke. "I see. She planned this well. I guess it stands to reason that she was already in Equestria two days earlier, gathering information on the kingdom's current status quo."
Twilight's face then shot up back towards Luna, urgency clear on her face as thoughts crossed her mind. "But then, why would she steal my crown? Sure it's an Element of Harmony, but without the other Elements it's nothing more than a crown right?" She asked, eyes set on the Luna.
"Yes and no, Twilight Sparkle. Usually, the Elements of Harmony are useless when separated. But that is not the case with the Element of Magic. Alone, the elements are conduits of what they represent. And among the elements, the Elements of Magic, your crown, has the greatest capacity to affect the waking world. The Element of Magic has the ability to give its wearer access to their latent magical abilities so long as they are in-tune with the crown. Though to Equestrian, such an ability is most of the time inconsequential. To a world born without magic, chaos could become a real possibility. Especially if somepony of her caliber was to use it for her own ends." She finished, looking away from us, imagining the possible destruction the exiled prodigy could wreck.
Cadence, the princess of love, took a step forward and spoke, "Twilight, you need to retrieve your crown from Sunset Shimmer; if not for yourself, then for the inhabitants of that world and ours. And if you were to lose your Element of Harmony, Equestria would also stand to lose its greatest means of defense!"
Celestia then stood up from where she broke down in tears and asked, "Do you understand the importance of your task, princess?"
To this, Twilight seemed unsure of herself. Being told what to do was easier said than done after all. She took a look at Cadence, then Luna, then Celestia, who appeared to have recovered from her emotional breakdown. They all looked at her back, confidence in their eyes as they knew that the person they were giving this important job to had never once failed them, never once gave up on saving the land she called home. Confidence welled up inside the purple alicorn as she nodded brimming with determination as she accepted the responsibility.
"Of course."
"Then you must go at once!" said the white alicorn, her tone absolute.
But before the purple alicorn mare could take a step towards the mystic mirror, a raspy female voice shot woah stopping Twilight in her tracks. I turn my head to the direction of the whoas to see Rainbow Dash, wings unfurled and eyes fiery with determination. And she wasn't alone. All the others bearers, Applejack, Rarity, Fluttershy, and Pinkie Pie had their own versions of game faces on. Pinkie Pie in particular, who just seemed to have a manic smile on her face as she said the word "nervous-cited".
'I'm never going to understand Pinkie logic.'
Rainbow stepped forward, determination still in her yes. "If egghead here is going, then were going with her! Right girls?!"
As Twilight let those words hit her – sans the derogatory nickname – she couldn't help but give a thankful smile. These five mares were willing to go with her to someplace she herself has no idea what it's like. They were willing to get into the fray for her, disregarding the dangers that could come to them.
'Twilight, you're lucky to have friends them, unlike someone like me who can't even do anything useful… I'm sorry.' I thought to myself as I saw this show of comradery. But even friendship couldn't be the most important thing to consider with a situation like ours.
"I'm afraid I cannot let you go," said the princess of the sun with the same absolute tone as before. An audible gasp from everyone in the room was heard as the words of the white alicorn sank in. Rainbow Dash was the only exception, taking a defensive stance, eyes locking with the princess.
"WHAT?! WHY NOT?!" she said with a stomp, vaporous fumes expelling out of her flared nostrils.
"Sending a pony from Equestria to another realm is already a risky proposition as it is. To send all of you would just risk upsetting the balance of the two world's even more, causing untold damage than what even Sunset Shimmer can do with the Element of Magic. Also, if word were to spread that all six bearers of the Elements vanished, Equestria would undoubtedly be targeted by enemies of the kingdom. And without the Elements, even with three alicorns to protect Equestria, many innocent lives will be put in danger. And that's a proposition I can't risk."
Everyone was silent. It was evident that none of the bearers wanted to accept the alicorn's logic, but none of them had a rebuttal or the will to answer back.
"It's OK girls, I'll get my crown back and we'll all be back in Ponyville, chatting before you know it," said Twilight with a smile, though her eyes betrayed her.
After the girls have said their reassurance, Princess Luna stepped towards Twilight. "You can go and prepare if you want to, Twilight Sparkle. Celestia, Cadence and I can try to keep the gate open for as long as we can."
Twilight only shook her head. "No need, Princess Luna, I'll go immediately. Besides, I'm not completely sure bringing supplies would be of any help, considering what you and Princess Celestia have said already," She answered, not losing any politeness in her tone.
The dark furred alicorn only nodded at this. But Luna wasn't completely satisfied; she put a hoof on Twilight's shoulder and briefed her one final time. "Alright then, but remember Twilight. You will be forced to remain in that dimension until the next time it reopens, even if you manage to retrieve your crown much earlier. Remember that you can't risk letting the inhabitants of that realm know of our dimension's existence. Blend in as much as you can." Luna paused, breathing in large gulps of air as she thinks of how to word her last sentence properly. "There is very little room for error. Twilight Sparkle. Be careful."
Twilight nodded. She stepped in front of the mirror and placed her hoof on its reflective surface, only to have it phased through without any resistance. Unsurprisingly, she pulled her hoof back in hesitation and fear. But then she stole herself from the fear... and took that fateful step.
As I let Luna's words sink in, a rather heavy thought hit my subconscious. Twilight was about to enter a dimension with no concrete idea what's waiting on the other side, without the option of pulling back if things get too problematic, with the high possibility to have her without magic, and she has to go to it alone...
'She's not gonna survive.'
All those scenarios – regardless of how unlikely – spell disaster if the one to face them is a pony like Twilight, especially Twilight. I don't think this to play up my role in the history of Equestria, nor do I do it to downplay hers. I think this because I know her all too well. Even with all the lessons she's learned in the past years, she still remains vulnerable to such possibilities; most especially the last one. I've been with her all my life and I've had my share of glory and failure with her. And all I have to say from all of my experiences with her adventures is: "I can't let her do this alone."
I sprinted towards the other side of the room where the mirror stood, my stubby short legs moving as fast as they could without any hesitation, shoving anyone in the way. As I ran, I heard the shouts and calls of my friends who saw what I was gonna do but not understanding why. In a matter of seconds, the mirror was just inches from me. But then things began to... change.
The colors of the wall and decorations that adorn them began to swirl, while the floor I was sprinting on began to vanish. The mirror was still there, except now it was devoid of color. Everything was strange. It was as if I was in a different place, or rather... a different plane of consciousness. I knew what this place was. And I definitely know who brought me here. I slowly turn my head to face the pony capable of such a feat, knowing full well who would be there standing behind me. In the midst all the swirling colors, stood the white alicorn of the sun. "Hello mom..."
This was far from the first time I've been put into this 'daydream' as some would call it. Just as Luna can invade - I mean visit - a person's dreams, so can Celestia. But there are two differences when compared to Luna's dream-walking. One was that Celestia could forcefully drag a person into one. And two, inside one, time is of no consequence.
"What do you think you're doing, Spike? Did you not listen to what was said?" She confronted, her eyes stoic, almost too stoic for my – or anyone's – liking.
I turned my body to face her completely. If not to confront her, then to show the prerequisite respect required in gaining an audience with a monarch. "Every single word; why do you think I'm running after her?"
"Do you not trust her?" she said, emotionlessness in every word.
My cheek twitched when I heard those words. "You of all ponies should know my answer. I trust Twilight enough to bet my life on her a thousand times over!"
"Then why?" Celestia asked, her face still bearing no readable emotion.
"Why?! It's because I know her like I do that I can't let her do this alone. What you're asking of her is downright suicide!" My childish tone ringing venom and fire. "Not only do we know very little about this world you're sending her to. But you also expect her to stay there for three months without any way to pull back to Equestria? There's even the possibility of her not having magic there. I know Twilight has one hell of a lucky streak, but this is just pushing it!" I paused, drawing a heavy gulp of air so that I could finish my rather fiery statement with a calmer tone. "But most of all, most of all... Is that she has to do it alone."
I peered into the eyes of the alicorn I call mother and I saw that they were as stoic as before. And yet, something was different. A lone tear was slid down her cheek, oblivious to the rage-filled words aimed at the one that bore it. The tear was soon followed by a second, then a third on the other side of her muzzle.
My words hit home more than I intended.
Her muzzle, marked with fresh tears, began to move. "What would you have me do then, Spike? What could I do that doesn't put the ponies of Equestria in danger? That doesn't have me lose more of the ponies I care about..."
She took a pause, closing her eyes and continued, "I don't make these decisions out of spite or malice. I make them because it is my responsibility as one of Equestria's diarchs. I make them because someone has to." She sighed. "I've had many students in my centuries of existence, almost all of them I've lost. I'd prefer to keep my most successful one. But sometimes, the life of one can never equal the life of the many, no matter how much we don't agree with it."
I don't want to hurt anyone. By claw, sword, or word; whether dictated by my dragon instinct or not, I do not want to hurt anyone. And yet here, reality demands that I hurt someone in order to save another. Oh how I hate the sadistic natures of the world. But sometimes, it just has to be done.
I took a deep breath, steeling myself from hesitation and look back at Celestia. "Let me go after her, mother. Let me help her. You might think that by doing so you'd stand to lose me too, but by letting me go you stand to lose no one," I said with a calmer, softer tone.
"How will I know I won't lose both of you?" Celestia asked, her face still dishevel by the heat of the moment.
I had to grit my teeth at that. "...You don't."
She only slumped her head at this, ears downward as she heard those two words. 'Who can blame her?'
If I was to leave Equestria, to disobey an order from her, at the very least I could leave in good terms. "Please, mother, let me go and help her. If I don't go, Equestria… No... BOTH realms stand to lose everything. But If I do, at least we up our chances," I explained, my expression pleading and yet brimming with determination. "Two equestrians crossing over shouldn't be that much of a problem. And as Equestria's defense is concerned, I'm inconsequential. Very few ponies know that I'm your adopted son. To almost everyone I'm nothing more than a librarian's assistant. We both know Twilight's chances of getting her crown back alone is near zero. I can't be sure nothing bad is gonna happen if I go. But I can promise you that I'll do everything in my power to bring her back to Equestria, along with her crown; that you could be certain of,"
She was silent for a few seconds, her eyes closed. On her gentle white muzzle, a small smile manifested itself on her regal lips. Her eyes slowly opened and regarded me with a face I recognize very well, a face she dons whenever she knights ponies of honor. Her expression was that of satisfaction… pride. "I may have been the one to raise you after your hatching, but it seems my replacement has done a much better job than I."
I was happy that she at least now shown understanding for what I feel I must do. But having been given an opportunity to wisecrack, I wouldn't wanna waste it. "Don't thank her too much. We're lucky I haven't been turned into nerd."
Celestia only looked at me with rather playful eyes as I said this. I squinted at her expression, and then caught her mouthing one word... "Yet."
'Well, at least I know where I get that from.'
Celestia then began righting her posture, regality returning to her person. "As one of your monarchs, I have the power to make you stand down..." she paused as she regarded the disappointment that slowly became evident on my visage. "But as you mother... I know with a heavy heart that stopping you would only serve to do more harm than good. I only ask that you be careful, and know that I am proud to have someone like you call me 'mother'."
As soon as she finished, things began to right themselves. The swirl of colors began to separate until only solid hues were left. The daydream was breaking.
I turn my whole body to face the mirror once more, its colors returning. I ready my stubby short frame to sprint, determined, empowered. "Thank you. Wish me luck, mom," I whispered as time began to restart itself from the daydream, unsure if my words met my mother's ears.
And just like that, I was through.
