• Chapter Twelve: Kin Conflict •
…
Twilight Sparkle finished dusting the room, and gave a satisfied snort. She eyed the low basement for the last time, before climbing up the stairs and encountering Spike, who was holding all her books. His legs were shaking, and he was running all over the place, to ensure that the books at the top of the stack didn't topple off.
Twilight giggled, using her levitation spell to send a pink aura around the books, and take them off Spike. "You've been working too hard- let me carry these."
Spike gave her a thankful nod, before they exited the tree. Shining Armour was waiting outside for them, and he took half the books off Twilight with his magic.
"Where do we go now?" Twilight gave a miserable sigh.
"Where our hooves take us," Shining Armour nodded. The two ponies and the little dragon began to trudge away, when there was the sound of wings above. They didn't pay too much attention at first, figuring it was a bird or the everyday pegasi, but the pony descended before them.
"Flash Sentry? Any trouble?" Shining Armour gave the colt a concerned glance.
The orange pegasi saluted, and avoided Twilight's brothers gaze. "No sir. But... uh..." Flash Sentry peeled out of his Royal Guard stance, and addressed them as any regular pony would. "Can I come with you?"
"Yes! Can he, my favourite BBBFF?" Twilight gave Shining Armour puppy-dog eyes, but her brother seemed reluctant.
"And why is it you want to come?" Shining Armour narrowed his eyes, and Flash Sentry scuffled on his hooves.
"I was there to fight the changelings as well, so they will probably recognise me as part of your group too."
Twilight was still giving her brother the pleading look. Shining Armour raised an eyebrow to Flash Sentry, giving him the look as if there was more to the pegasi wanting to come than colt had mentioned. There was a few more awkward moments after that. Flash Sentry was glancing to the side, while Shining Armour's eyes still blazed down on him. Twilight stopped giving her puppy-dog eyes, and Spike gave them the look as if he was saying: 'what in Equestria is going on?'
Finally Shining Armour nodded slowly. "Fine, you can come- but you need to help us carry some of the books." Using his magic, Shining Armour took Twilight's books off her, and grouped them together as one with the books he had been carrying. Then he split them into quarters, giving one stack to Twilight, one to Spike, one to Flash Sentry and of course, one to himself.
"Ok... this has been awkward... let's go now!" Twilight gave Flash Sentry a brief smile, before being butted by Shining Armour, who was making sure that Twilight and Flash Sentry stood on opposite sides of the group. As they trudged along, Twilight began to get bored, and slowed down until the group were trudging in front of her. Then she trotted up next to Flash.
"Hi." Twilight chirped.
"Hey." Flash Sentry nodded to her.
"So... do you enjoy being part of the Royal Guard?"
Flash Sentry opened his mouth to speak, but Shining Armour stopped them. "Hey- look! A café! Why don't we go there?"
"Let's." Twilight replied coldly, giving her brother a stern look.
Once they had entered the small café, Shining Armour made sure that his sister and Flash were sitting on opposite sides again. He couldn't stop their talking though, as they sipped their milkshakes.
"Excuse me for a moment," Twilight murmured. She got up from the table, and trudged across the café towards the bathroom. She was still depressed about having to leave Ponyville. Of course the small town was no match for her old home in Canterlot, but it was still her home. By the time she got to her knew home, which she had no idea where was, she would be sick of travelling. Life was unfair. As Twilight Sparkle passed the counter, she approached the bulletin board. She scanned through all the fliers on it, each added a splash of colour to the wall. As she skimmed through them, none of them seemed to catch her attention, until her eyes landed on the one which looked like it had been put up the most recently. The writing on it was big and bold yet it was in a fancy font, which blended well with the golden paper. It read: 'Magic Competition for the most Talented Unicorns.' This caught Twilight's eyes, and her jaw dropped so low, it hit the floor. Twilight no longer felt the need to go to the toilet, and she used her magic to rip the poster off the board and trot back to her table.
"Look at this guys!" Twilight squeaked, dropping the flier right at Shining Armour.
Her brother picked it up, and scanned the text, before looking at Twilight. "And let me guess- you want to enter?" His voice sounded bland- not a single dab of hope in it, but Twilight kept up her determined display.
"Well duh! I think I actually might stand a chance in this- you know I'm good at magic, brother! Just look at my Cutie Mark! All I need to do is study a tiny bit more, and then I will be ready! Please let me enter, please?" Twilight Sparkle leaned towards her brother ecstatically, waiting for his answer. She one wished for one word, and the word she was not going to let be 'no.'
"No." Shining Armour shook his head.
"But Shining! You know I can do this! Spike and Flash Sentry seem to believe in me... why can't you?" Twilight looked at the ground, hoping that this display will make her brother feel bad. She gestured towards Spike and Flash Sentry, who were both sulking behind her.
"Don't play that card on me Twilight! You already know that I don't like Flash Sentry, and Spike is just an assistant- he has no authority to speak up." Shining Armour oppressively rose his head to the sky.
"I'm right here, you know?" Spike muttered, and Shining Armour gave him an icy look.
"But... I just really want to do this! This will be the second biggest thing I have done in my life- the first one was when I had the audition for getting into Celestia's School for Gifted Unicorns, and I got Spike. What do both of these have in common? They're both to do with magic! Please Shining Armour! Please let me enter?" Twilight narrowed her eyes at her brother, seeking his defeat.
"No!" Shining Armour declared stubbornly.
"Fine then. I don't need you making decisions for me anymore. You may be older, but you are still a pain in the backside! I am going to enter the competition whether you like it or not!" Twilight spat in resentment.
"Fine. And I will go finding a new place to live whether you like it or not." Shining Armour glared at his baby sister, and she glared back at him. Their eyes were full of anathema, as the two siblings bore down on each other spitefully.
"Come on Flash Sentry. Let's go," Twilight muttered, before trotting away. The orange colt gave Shining Armour an apologetic glance, before following Twilight.
"I was trying to protect her from him," Shining Armour muttered.
"Wait for me," Spike called, about to jog after them, when Shining Armour lifted him up with his magic and put the baby dragon on his back.
"Nope. You're coming with me." Shining Armour levitated the books into the air, as he trotted outside of the café, Spike clinging nervously to his back.
…
"I'm... sorry about the rivalry between you and your brother," Flash Sentry murmured, as the colt and filly trotted down the street in Ponyville.
"It's fine. You did nothing wrong. I'm just glad I have somepony supporting me in this competition!" She smiled at the Royal Guard. They continued to trot down the street, until finally they reached a park. Twilight sat down on one of the benches, and read through one of the books, in which she had snatched from the pile before exiting the café. Flash Sentry was lying on the grass below her, laying in his back and enjoying the warm beams of the sun tickling his belly. As the day passed, Twilight had read roughly through the book and she understood a lot of the spells from it. She needed to be as prepared as possible for this magic competition, which was conveniently being held in Ponyville. The competition was being hosted by a pony named Wonder, and the prize was a visit to the Canterlot Archives- which was only the place which held the most ancient and amazing spells. Twilight Sparkle had always dreamed of going there... reading through all the amazing scrolls, and learning new and mythical things. The opportunity was just too priceless to let go. Just a visit there, cost a lot of bits. After Twilight had read, she began to practice different spells, such as turning apples into oranges, and creating simple illusions. She used her magic to create a small breeze, which wafted over the ground, and she used her magic to make a small lullaby sound. She practiced her teleporting skills and even managed to get herself to hover above the earth. Twilight was a thaumaturge- and a brilliant one too.
"No doubt that if you keep practising like this, you will win the contest for sure!" Flash Sentry smiled effulgently at the filly, as she used her magic to create a blinding light.
The evening was nearing, as Luna's moon began to peek over the horizon. Celestia's sun was lowering at the same time, ready to go to sleep. Twilight Sparkle nestled besides Flash Sentry on the grass in the park, as they both watched the beautiful sunset.
"This has been a good day, despite the earlier conflict," Twilight murmured dreamily. She gazed as Luna's stars began to twinkle ever so softly as she rested her head on Flash Sentry's shoulder.
"Yes- I have had an amazing day- and it is all thanks to you. I can't believe I didn't know you before yesterday." Flash Sentry murmured, making Twilight blush ever so slightly.
"Same here. I would live yesterday a million times- with all the fighting and that- just to meet you," Twilight purred.
Flash Sentry gasped, and gazed down at Twilight, meeting her eyes. "You would?"
"Of course!" Twilight replied.
Neither of them really had anywhere to live, but that was the least of their worries. They were appeased enough to fall asleep next to each other, below the glinting stars and the luminescent moon.
…
A few days passed, as Twilight practised. Flash Sentry even managed to help- even though he wasn't a unicorn, but a pegasi. Finally, the day of the competition was up, and Twilight was growing more and more nervous as unicorns gathered in the area of the competition. Each of them looked reasonably confident, and prepared for the upcoming competition. A stage had been set up, in which an indigo, unicorn mare with a tawny mane stood.
"Welcome fillies and gentlecolts! I am Wonder; the host of this competition, and I am most pleased to see so many ponies gathered here today! Please, come over to this area so I can sign you up!" Wonder trotted off the stage, with a line of unicorns following her towards the table. Twilight followed, but was still unsure. Most of these unicorns were adults- barely any younger ones attended. Twilight quickly got into the growing line, and she was behind a pony who looked about her age. The filly was a normal shade of blue, with a lighter blue mane. She had purple eyes, and the cutie mark of a blue aura of magic and a wand with a star at the end.
Twilight poked her back, and the pony spun around, narrowing her eyes at Twilight. "What is it?"
"I am so nervous... and most of these ponies are all adults. There are barely any fillies like us! I am Twilight! What is your name?" Twilight smiled at the pony, offering a hoof to shake, but the pony only shook her head.
"I can't believe you don't know who The Great and Powerful Trixie is!" The blue pony narrowed her eyes, as Twilight stuttered for words.
"Should I know you?"
"Why of course! The Great and Powerful Trixie is only the most powerful pony in all of Equestria! Nopony comes close!" The blue unicorn raised her head to the sky prissily.
Twilight Sparkle raised an eyebrow. "Is that so?"
The blue unicorn swung around, back to the line, as Twilight muttered under her breathe. She knew she wasn't going to like this pony. Finally, Twilight reached the front of the line.
"Name?" Wonder smiled down at Twilight.
"Twilight Sparkle," Twilight replied.
"Ok! You are number thirty-two. Good luck!"
"Thank you!" Twilight replied, as she received a badge with her number on it. She quickly stuck the sticker on her, and trotted up to a second line. Unfortunately, she had to line behind Trixie, who was number thirty-one. After a few minutes, all the ponies had signed up, and Wonder was before them again.
"Remember ponies- this is not only a competition, but it is also a test. We need to see your display- show us your most finest and impressive skills. Only the most smartest ponies can win this, and I will give each of you a score out of one hundred! Number one, you're up!"
…
A few days had passed for the baby dragon and the white unicorn colt too. At this rate, they would reach Las Pegasus in a matter of hours. Spike had nervously sat on Shining Armour's back the whole time, only daring to get off when it was time to settle for the night. Neither of them had said a word the whole time. Spike was just waiting for Shining Armour's anger to die down as he trudged ahead.
Finally, Shining Armour seemed to be walking calmly, and Spike dared to utter a few words.
"Don't you think you were being a bit harsh?" Spike stated. The baby dragon felt Shining Armour tense, and the pony stopped from his walk.
"I was just being a good brother." Shining Armour disclaimed, about to continue his walk, when Spike spoke again.
"No- you were being overprotective." Spike gulped, as Shining Armour stood still for a moment.
"Get off my back." Shining Armour turned around and looked at Spike.
The baby dragon sighed, before clambering off the pony. Spike half-expected Shining Armour to bolt away, and leave him behind, but instead, Shining Armour sat down on his rump, facing the dragon.
"Tell me everything I did wrong." Shining Armour looked at Spike, and Spike couldn't tell what he would be thinking right now.
"But-"
"Tell me. I want to know." There was seriousness in Shining Armour's voice, and Spike knew that he could not disobey the order.
"Well, first of all, Twilight likes Flash Sentry. You knew that, and instead of encouraging them, you tried to separate them." Spike narrowed his eyes as Shining Armour faltered.
"But I can't let Twilight be friends with Flash Sentry! For one, he's a colt! I cannot let Twilight have a coltfriend before I have one... I mean, before I have a marefriend!' Shining Armour cried.
"Name how much friends Twilight has. We don't count." Spike raised an eyebrow, as Shining Armour stuttered.
"She has... she was... friends... last Thursday she went... there was this one pony... I give up." Shining Armour sighed in defeat.
"We need to encourage her to make new friends, even if the pony's gender isn't the same as her own," Spike mused. "And aren't you grateful that out of all colts it was Flash, instead of some creepy stallion, or a colt who was just using her? Flash Sentry is responsible. He can be trusted."
Shining Armour sighed. "I guess you're right... what else am I wrong about?"
"Not letting her compete in the competition." Spike didn't even pause when he said that. "Anyway, why didn't you let her?"
"Well there is a series of reasons why I disagreed. For one, it was being held in Ponyville. We are trying to flee from Ponyville, and then she decides to just go ahead and compete in a competition there. I was also worried that she would get all upset if she lost. I remember when she was no more than a foal, she lost at a game of knots and crosses, and she went insane. Literally." Shining Armour dazed.
"You need to learn to be a good winner and a good loser. She really wanted this competition, and you took it away from her. There are few things she asks for, and when she does ask for something, you need to encourage it. And then, what if she does win? It will mean so much to her! This is an opportunity of a lifetime, and you need to encourage it." Spike nodded, and a Shining Armour gave a sigh of defeat.
"Did I do anything else wrong?"
"Well... you stormed off. That's what you did wrong." Spike conveyed.
"Why?" Shining Armour sounded like a little foal asking for answers from their parents.
"Twilight is only one small little filly. Equestria is one huge place. You are her only family, and she needs your protection, guidance and company. You have left her in one town to fend for herself, with a colt you were unsure about. She is entering a competition, without your support, and only one pony to cheer for her. She may have been a thorn in your hoof, but she is your baby sister, and she needs you Shining! She needs her BBBFF!" Spike eyed Shining Armour, as his eyes blurred.
"What have I done?" Shining Armour murmured in disbelief, before levitating Spike onto his back, and galloping back towards Ponyville, which was miles away. "I'm coming Twilight Sparkle!"
…
Twilight Sparkle would be lying if she said that the acts she had seen weren't impressive. The unicorns before her were just overflowing with potential, and Twilight felt immensely threatened by it. Number twenty-four was currently up, performing her act. She was doing a simple, yet elegant display, as she managed to summon a few snowflakes. They wafted down to the floor, before melting. Once they had all melted, the pony levitated the water into the air and put it into a glass. The pony explained that the water was completely pure, and handed it to Wonder. All the performances continued, until finally it reached Trixie, the pony who stood in front of Twilight.
"Good luck!" Twilight murmured to the unicorn.
"Ew. The Great and Powerful Trixie doesn't need the luck of a lowly unicorn like you!" Trixie huffed, before stepping onto the stage. Twilight Sparkle narrowed her eyes. She was really disliking this pony now.
"Now let's see if she really is the most powerful unicorn in Equestria," Twilight murmured, peering at the performance.
"Behold, the Great and Powerful Trixie!" The blue unicorn reared up on her back legs, whilst summoning lots of fireworks. They exploded in the sky, colour showering out, in dazzling light. "The Great and Powerful Trixie shall now demonstrate some of her finest displays! Prepare to be impressed!"
Twilight watched as the blue unicorn summoned a rainbow above herself, before she drained all the colour out. Using the liquid, she moulded it into fine ropes. She made the sound of snake-taming music, as the ropes swayed from side to side, as if they were actually serpents. Trixie brought the ropes together, twisting them around until they created one long lasso. Trixie swooped the lasso into the sky, and it hooked onto a feather which was wafting down at the time.
"Hmm..." Trixie mumbled, before changing the rope back into the liquid of rainbow, and dipped the feather into the liquid. Finally, she used the feather as a quill, as she levitated it into the sky, and wrote rainbow writing in the air: The Great and Powerful Trixie.
Twilight was impressed. She was incredibly impressed.
"That was an interesting display. Is there anything you have done in the past which could also be impressing?" Wonder questioned.
Trixie held her head high, before summoning an illusion before her. "Why of course! When the ursa majors attacked Hoofington, The Great and Powerful Trixie saved the ponies!"
Wonder raised an eyebrow. "Have you got any proof to show us that this event happened?"
"Hasn't The Great and Powerful Trixie's magic display showed you enough?" The blue unicorn had a smug expression on her face, as Wonder sighed, and wrote in her score.
"Ninety-five. Best so far." Wonder instructed Trixie to leave the stage, and the unicorn tottered off.
"Ok! Number thirty-two! We have a Twilight Sparkle! Please enter the stage Twilight Sparkle!"
Oh no! It's my go now! Twilight gulped, putting up a smile, before trotted onto the stage. There was a few rows of ponies watching the performances, and Twilight's eyes met a pair of blue ones. 'Good luck!' Flash Sentry mouthed, and Twilight nodded.
Twilight gulped, standing in the middle of the stage, before her horn lit up. The bright yellow light was blinding, as it sent rays of light filtering across the stage. Then Twilight coloured the light to many, different, neon, colours as she twirled it around in the sky. Once the light had died down, Twilight summoned a rock, and turned it into a hat. She levitated it across the stage, and onto the ground, far away from her. Then Twilight Sparkle teleported underneath the hat, and it shot up above her head. Zigzagging her way across the stage, Twilight Sparkle used her magic to create a soft breeze. It blew the hat off her, and Twilight Sparkle changed the hat back into a rock. The rock went flying down to the ground, but just before it hit it, Twilight summoned a trampoline, and the rock went bouncing up. Getting rid of the trampoline, Twilight Sparkle stood right under from where the rock was falling. She gulped, as it fell inches above her. Right before it hit her, she turned it into the hat again, and it landed delicately on her head.
"I need a volunteer- how about Trixie?" Twilight didn't even wait for the pony to answer, as she teleported the blue unicorn before her. Then, with a burst of magic, she summoned a moustache onto her.
"What is the meaning of this?" Trixie spat.
"Here, have a hat!" Twilight levitated the hat from her head, and maximised its side, putting it over Trixie's whole body and scooping her up. Finally, Twilight sent a bolt of confetti, flying out of the hat, alongside Trixie, who was angrily flailing around. The hat changed into a trampoline, as Trixie toppled down. She landed on the trampoline, and went hurtling up, before Twilight teleported her back down, and used her magic to remove Trixie's moustache.
"Ta da!" Twilight grinned, teleporting the complaining Trixie off of the stage.
The audience was silent for a moment, until they all broke into an applause.
"Wow! That was incredible! Now Twilight- is there anything you have done in the past with magic, which you could tell us?" Wonder questioned.
"Well... when I was younger I hatched a baby dragon from an egg..." Twilight began.
Wonder's eyes widened in an unreadable interest. "Is the dragon friendly?"
"Why of course! In fact, Spike is my assistant," Twilight replied.
"Can you show him to us... just to prove this has happened?" Wonder's eyes were wide.
Twilight stuttered. "Well... I..."
"Yes." The voice shouted across, and a white unicorn stepped forward in the audience.
"Shining Armour!" Twilight cried in glee, racing off the stage and hugging her brother. "I missed you so much!"
"I missed you too! Now let's show the audience Spike," Shining Armour murmured back, teleporting the baby dragon off of his back.
"What's happening Twilight?" Spike questioned.
"Just come," Twilight replied, hopping onto stage alongside Spike. "This is the dragon which I hatched," Twilight explained.
Wonder's eyes glimmered. "This is incredible. I rank this pony..." She scribbled a number down onto a piece of paper, before holding it up. "One hundred! No need to see anymore competitors! I have made my decision!"
The remaining ponies in the line protested.
"This isn't fair!"
"I want a go!"
"I could do better!"
"Quiet!" Wonder roared, silencing everypony. "I as your ruler will not tolerate with this!"
Twilight could not believe what happened next. A green flame enveloped down Wonder's body, until finally she changed into the last pony Twilight would want to see.
"Queen Chrysalis." Twilight snarled. "You took our older princesses! You rule Equestria in tyranny! How dare you come here and threaten the citizens of Ponyville!"
"Twilight! Shh! She is the most powerful one here... she could kill us in a matter of seconds," Shining Armour whispered.
There was the rustle of feathers, and Flash Sentry descended next to Twilight Sparkle protectively. "If you hurt one hair on her head, you'll have to go through with me!"
Queen Chrysalis laughed mockingly. "It's not just her I want! I want the dragon too!" She turned her green gaze to the baby dragon icily. Shining Armour and Flash Sentry stepped forward, defending Twilight Sparkle and Spike. The rest of Ponyville was mayhem. Ponies were screaming, and galloping as far away from the area as possible. The only ones who seemed to be standing still, were Shining Armour, Flash Sentry, Spike and Twilight Sparkle.
"Why are you here?" Shining Armour hollered. A storm of clouds began to gather a above Chrysalis, spewing out lightning and rain. The clouds plummeted down, until they encased the four ponies into a thundery cage. Spike wailed, running towards the haze, but jolted back, as a slice of lightning zapped out. Chrysalis gave a proud laugh, admiring, her hooves, before turning to the ponies, her blazing green eyes ripping over them. Then she sang.
"Oh, ponies you act so confused.
So oblivious to my rule.
What you don't know is I've been bemused,
With the puzzle of them all!
"One is as competitive as a race with not one lack."
"Two is as determined as a needle in a haystack."
"Three is as beautiful as a top model created gown."
"Four is as hilarious as a flawed, clumsy clown."
"Five is as intelligent as one hundred percent."
"Six is a dragon but is so friendly would not make a dent."
You see ponies, I've found the first four!
Each and every one.
But the two I need for galore!
Twilight and Spike are the last then I'm done!
Cinderainbow, Red Applehood, Raripunzel and Pinkarial
I need two more blocks to this stack!
I need them before I growl!
I will get my true beauty back!"
Twilight gulped, and peered up at Chrysalis, and sung her own solo to the song.
"You'll get your true beauty back?
So this is all about your reflection?
You've destroyed these ponies lives with one smack,
No doubt, you face dejection!"
Chrysalis glared down at the pony.
"These 5.5 also serve another trait,
They take down my thrown!
My changeling's don't deserve this fate!
We have to keep on ruling, it is all we've ever known!"
She menaced forwards to the ponies.
"You're a monster Chrysalis! Haven't you forgotten that Celestia, Luna and Cadance were overthrown too... how can you say the changelings don't deserve this fate when you've done the same thing to the ponies?" Twilight yowled.
Chrysalis laughed. "At least us changelings are courteous, and we actually let the ponies live in Equestria with us!"
"The only reason we didn't let changelings live with us, is because you are all tyrants!" Shining Armour spat.
Chrysalis giggled. "Enough chitchat. Time to send Twilight and Spike to where they truly belong!" Her magic zipped around Twilight, until it opened up a portal.
"Twilight Sparkle, you have been so full of potential.
But in the future, you dare threaten Queen Chrysalis- me!
Your name is now Twilaura, your life is parallel
You will not see light again; I'm changing your destiny!"
Twilight Sparkle could no longer feel the ground with her hooves, as she was lifted up into the air, and went plummeting into the portal. Quickly thinking, she powered up her horn, and teleported out of it, attempting to run away, but the force pulling her in had grown stronger.
"No Twilight!" Flash Sentry cried, spreading out his wings, and zipping forward. He grabbed ahold of Twilight's hoof, as they went pummelling into the portal, and the two's purple and blue eyes met, for the last time. The wind in the portal ripped the two apart, and all Twilight could hear was the sound of Flash screaming out her name, and the sound of a gust of wind ripping so hard, it felt like it would tear her ears off.
"And as for Spike," Chrysalis purred, swirling a portal into shape. Shining Armour was prepared however, as he grabbed ahold of Spike, and went galloping towards the lightning cage surrounding them. With one mighty leap, he leapt out of the circle, and went galloping down the road, the dragon still in his jowls.
"No! Back here this instant!" Chrysalis let out a furious shriek, and gave chase. Her hooves clunk against the ground, as she went sprinting after them. Shining Armour was fast, but Chryalis was faster. She gave one mighty leap, and pinned Shining Armour to the ground, alongside Spike.
"Spike, you're life has been as pure as rain water
But in the future, you dare threaten Queen Chrysalis- me!
Your name is now Jaspike, your life is parallel
You will not see light again; I'm changing your destiny!"
Roaring in frustration, she swirled the portal again, this time, physically pushing Spike into it. Shining Armour jumped in after him, like she had expected. Finally, she peeled the portal down, and started laughing.
"I did it!" She began crying as well. "I did it!" She then collapsed to the ground. "I... did... it..!" She didn't say anything after that.