• Chapter Thirteen: Granted Curse •
…
Chrysalis regained her composure, eyeing the town around her. Everything was an unsettling and eery silence, as leaves and twigs rustled in a spectral wind. The Changeling Queen sighed. "Too much exhilaration for me. Now what to do... oh yes! I must guide Twilaura... I don't want to do that though! I have been struggling for too long." Chrysalis narrowed her eyes. "Instead I shall curse her."
…
Babs Seed raced down the slope, overexcited for what was happening. "Cute Mark Crusaders! Urgent meeting! Gather now!" Her voice resonated across the land, as she galloped down hills and hills, leading down to her home. Sweetie Belle was first to hear her, as the white unicorn cantered outside.
"Girls! Babs Seed is calling us!" Eventually, the two other ponies trotted out of the brick house in confusion.
"What is it Babs?" Apple Bloom questioned, sitting down on the grass next to Scootaloo. Babs Seed finally reached the home, and panted for a bit, before she began to explain the great news.
"I think I know how we solve the puzzle for the wishes! Zecora told us that twilight could be a name... look at this!" Babs Seed hoofed a small piece of paper to the three fellow Crusaders.
Scootaloo read it out aloud. "You are invited to Princess Twilaura's ceremony. Held in The Castle of The Two Sisters, on Tuesday at twilight..."
"It's Tuesday today!" Apple Bloom cried.
"Where did you find this?" Scootaloo looked up from the card.
"It was given to me... by the mail pony- that Derpy one!" Babs Seed cried.
The four Crusaders let out cheers of excitement.
"But wait- how do we know that this is actually true? Ah mean- it could just be some random princess's birthday, which has nothin' to do with our riddle?" Apple Bloom asked, in doubt. Suddenly, Sweetie Belle's horn lit up, sending a green aura sailing around the card, and swapping and adding letters to the name Twilaura.
"What are you doing Sweetie Belle?" Scootaloo asked in shock.
"I don't know! I am not controlling this! Unicorn magic has it's reasons... when it means something, it will do whatever it takes to give you a clear message!" Sweetie Belle yelled back in shock, writhing around, trying to stop her horn. Eventually, she was done, and the card lay before them. The name Twilaura was gone and it was replaced with the name Twilight.
"It's an omen! We have to go there," Babs Seed concluded.
"Princess Twilight! Let's go straight away!" Scootaloo declared. The four fillies triumphantly skipped down the path, towards the Castle of the Two Sisters, which they knew by heart was located in the dreaded Everfree Forest.
…
Twilight Sparkle's eyes shot open, as she peered around to examine her surroundings. She was on a queen-sized bed, with a vail over the top of it. The room smelt like fresh-flowers, and the bed was the comfiest thing Twilight had ever felt. The unicorn slowly lifted the sheets off of her, and crawled across the blankets until she could properly examine her surroundings. The room was massive, quite spacious indeed. The walls were beautifully hoof-painted with delicate flowers. There was a door on one side, made of expensive timber. On the other side was a broad window. Twilight nervously lifted the bed's vail over her head, and ever so lightly trod across the fluffy carpet, which seemed to melt under her hooves at each step. Twilight finally reached the window, and peered through it, to see a beautiful horizon, with trees. The nature coiled up with vines, and a deep-blue river ran through it, fresh and luscious water. Twilight Sparkle gaped at the beautiful sight, as treetops peeked underneath the mansion she was in. The door suddenly slid open, making Twilight Sparkle jump. She spun around, to see a small cream pony, with a short blue mane, and shy teal eyes.
"Your majesty, Princess Twilaura." The small pony crouched low to the ground, making Twilight's eyes widen.
"Princess? Twilaura?" Twilight Sparkle uttered, but the pony quickly hurried up to her, dragging a small dress behind her back.
"I hope I got your measures right! Does this dress come to your likings?" The small pony questioned. She bent over her back, taking the dress and holding it before Twilight.
Twilight examined her dress, which was a bright purple. It had silk lining the edges, with small stars dangling from the edges, and spattered across the sides. It was threaded with a deep blue, which seemed to shine in the sunlight.
"It's the most beautiful dress I have ever seen," Twilight stuttered, awestruck. "And this is for me?"
The pony giggled slightly. "Of course, your highness. I will go now, while you get changed for the ceremony. I'll make sure the maids make your bed while you're gone." The pony quickly scampered across the room, to Twilight's shock. Once she was gone, Twilight gave a confused look to the roof.
"Maids?" Letting the word slide, Twilight quickly slipped the dress on, and admired herself through a mirror set up on one side of the room. Twilight barely recognised herself. The reflection looked like one of those ponies in advertisements for fashion products. Perfect, not one single flaw. Sighing, Twilight shuffled to the door where the pony had disappeared through, and creaked it open, ever so slightly. Twilight peered through the crack, to see a glossy hallway, with a beautiful pink carpet running through the centre of it. On the walls, were amazing paintings and banners, each lined with a golden frame. Twilight gulped, before stepping out of the room, and tiptoeing down the hall. All of this confusion had gotten to her- it had bombarded her mind- preventing her from thinking about what life was like before she woke up to royalty.
"Princess Twilaura!" A voice suddenly sounded behind her, and Twilight whipped around, to see a Royal Guard standing there. "I am sorry that we left you waiting. Let us guide you to the throne room this instant." Two other Royal Guards flanked the one that had spoken.
"Royal Guards... Royal Guards! What happened to Flash Sentry and Shining Armour?" Twilight cried in shock, as the guards began to strut around her, leading her to her destination.
"Flash Sentry? Shining Armour? We know not of these ponies, we apologise," one of the Royal Guards gruffly replied.
For a few moments, they were just walking in silence, until Twilight asked again. "Who was the pony who made this beautiful dress?"
"Coco Pommel, our finest designer in all of Equestria."
Twilight sighed. It was as if all the royal guards were just one pony. Finally, they reached a massive door, and two of the Royal Guards marched forward, opening the doors with their unicorn magic. Twilight stepped forward into the room. It was wide, and two ponies stood at the end of it. Both of them were unicorn... and both reminded Twilight of two ponies... it was impossible, was it? No they couldn't be... they passed away four years ago...
"Mum? Dad?" Twilight spoke, her voice echoing across the room, reaching the ears of the ponies all the way across.
The female one turned around, a grey-white mare, with a purple and pure white mane. She had light blue eyes, and three stars as a Cutie Mark.
"Twilaura! How is my little filly doing?" Twilight Velvet's voice ricocheted back across the room to Twilight Sparkle, who let out a squeal of delight, cantering forward.
"Mum!" She leapt into the pony's arms, crying softly. "I've missed you so much!"
Twilight Velvet giggled. "Yes, a few hours is far too long!"
Twilight Sparkle released herself, and glanced at her mum. "No- you weren't gone for a few hours! I have thought that you and dad were dead for the past four years!"
Twilight Velvet gave a confused glance. "Whatever brought that thought up? We've been here all along Twilaura- you must have had a dream or something."
"Where's my hug?" Twilight Sparkle spun around to see a dark blue stallion with a darker blue mane. He had yellow-green eyes, and a tiny moon shaped like a banana next to another larger one as his Cutie Mark.
"Dad!" Twilight Sparkle cried, jumping into Night Light's hooves. "I've missed you too! Where have you both been all this time?" Twilight Sparkle finally let go off her dad, and glanced at her two parents.
"We've been preparing for your ceremony of course!" Twilight Velvet smiled.
"My... ceremony?" Twilight Sparkle questioned.
"Of course Twilaura! You only recently turned ten, and we are now having a ceremony for it... Everypony is welcome, we even invited four enchantresses to grant you wishes! Isn't that exciting?" Night Light beamed down at his daughter.
Twilight Sparkle slowly nodded, before looking up in confusion. "How come you keep calling me Twilaura?"
Twilight Velvet gave a confused look to Night Light, before looking back down to her daughter. "You have been acting quite strange today..? Your name has always been Twilaura! Should we get you checked by a doctor?"
Twilight Sparkle was deep in thought, slowly remembering Chrysalis's words, before she had sent her into the 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!"
Realisation hit Twilight Sparkle faster than a bullet. Chrysalis has basically changed my life, for making me live the life of a royal... my parents must own this castle! She has also changed my name to Twilaura. This is my new destiny.
Twilaura shook her head. "I am fine. I think I just had a mental blank when I woke up this morning. Now tell me- when is this ceremony being held again?"
Twilight Velvet and Night Light, smiled, satisfied at their daughter's realisation. "Tonight- exactly at the second of twilight! That's why we got Coco Pommel to make you that beautiful dress... I must say, you look fit for the crown- like you always are!" Twilight Velvet giggled, and Twilaura quickly mimicked the amusement.
"Well... can I please go outside to get a bouquet? I think some flowers would look nice in that vase over there," Twilaura explained, pointing to the empty antique in the corner of the room.
"Oh, we can get one of the maids to fetch some flowers for you!" Night Light scoffed, but Twilaura shook her head.
"No, I'd like to go get them myself... I could do with some fresh air." She trotted away from her parents, and towards the Royal Guards, who stood all the way across the room, still staring blankly at the sky. "Please escort me to... the garden. Once I arrive there, please leave me be," Twilaura put up a posh voice, and the Royal Guards obediently nodded. They headed out of the room, and through the halls again, Twilaura at their heels. The walk took a while, as they descended down a few stairs, but finally, the Royal Guards stopped at a door, and allowed Twilaura to trot passed. The purple unicorn peered at the ground, waiting for the clomping of the Royal Guard's disappearing hooves to quieten, before she threw herself through the garden and collapsed on the dew laden grass. Tears ran down her cheeks endlessly, as she breathed in the morning touch to the grass stalks. Finally, once she had cried until her heart was content, she roused, and peered around the garden. It was beautiful, with roses of every colour, and a pond, with bright pink and yellow lily pads sprouting up. A flicker of golden splashed beneath the water, as goldfish quickly swished away. Twilaura trotted across the garden, mesmerised by its beauty, as a swarm of butterflies flittered passed. She paused as she reached a porch swing, surrounded by the glorious forms of nature. Sighing, Twilaura nestled down onto it, and swung back and forth, taking in the events which had just happened in her life. This couldn't be true- could it? Where was this castle even located? Twilaura spun around, and stared into the distance. Her question was eventually answered, as monstrous trees sprouted above in the distance, with an eery fog zipping passed the branches.
"The Everfree Forest? I must be in The Castle of the Two Sisters... which has been modernised!" Twilaura gulped. Allowing all the tension to fade, she relaxed on the porch swing a while after that. She was comfortable, closing her eyes, and listening to the chirping of insects, and the twittering of birds, up hidden in the trees. The rich colour enveloping through the clearing, as the flowers shone. Red, blue, yellow, purple, green, white, orange- every colour of the rainbow was located in this very garden. Twilaura was so placid... she didn't know what happened after that. Her eyelids had just fluttered down, intentionally for a second, but instead, sent her to a tranquil sleep.
…
"Twilaura?"
"Mm hmm?"
"You need to wake up!"
"Sounds good!"
"Guests are beginning to arrive!"
"Sure."
"Open your eyes this instant, young filly!"
Twilaura opened her eyes with a shock. She jumped up, falling off the porch swing in an awkward angle, before getting up, and peering up at her mother.
"Oh Twilaura! You need to be careful! You can't get your dress dirty! Come on now," Twilight Velvet trotted away gracefully, with Twilaura following her. Her mother was wearing a fancy hat, which had feathers perching out. Twilight thought is looked quite ridiculous, but she never had the eye for fashion, and she wouldn't question it.
"Remember to greet your guests in an orderly manner. They are there to see you, and you need to treat them with the respect they deserve!" Twilight Velvet was going through a few rules, which Twilaura obediently nodded to. As they trotted through the castle, the sound of voices began to resonate through the halls, growing louder by each step. Eventually the two ponies reached the room, in which they had been in earlier. Twilight Velvet confidently stepped through the doors. More hesitantly, Twilaura peeked through the opening, before quickly scampering inside. She attempted to avoid the eyes of the fancy-looking ponies inside.
"Twilaura! Come here!" Twilight Velvet beckoned towards her daughter, leading her up to the front of the room. Twilaura nervously followed. Finally, the two stood at the front, and a few ponies turned towards them, glancing up in excitement.
"Today we shall celebrate, the birthday of our daughter. Twilaura has proven herself, and now we shall commence her ceremony!" Twilight Velvet stepped backwards, allowing Twilaura to have her space. What am I meant to do? Twilaura peered around, to the ponies who were watching her with glee. Twilaura faced the crowd, waiting for something to happen.
"Where are the enchantresses?" Night Light appeared next to Twilight Velvet, glancing around in confusion.
"Thee shan't wait no more. Thou wishes shall be granted!" Twilight peered up, trying to peer passed the audience, but she was unable to see anything.
"What in Equestria was that meant to mean Scootaloo?" Another voice sounded... Twilaura thought they sounded quite... childish?
"Oh, I don't know Sweetie Belle! It just sounded fancy so I decided to stick with it!"
The audience parted, to reveal four small foals standing right at the doorway. Twilaura had to bite her tongue to stop herself from squealing at their adorableness.
One of them was a pure-white unicorn, with green eyes and a purple and pink mane. Another, was bright orange, with a purple-pink crazy mane, and purple eyes. The third, was cream-yellow, with golden eyes, and a red-pink mane, tied up behind a cute little bow. The final one, was a brown-orange one, with a short pink mane, which dangled over her green eyes.
"Who are you four and what are you doing here?" Twilight Velvet narrowed her eyes, as the four foals scampered up to the front of the room, right before Twilaura.
"We're the Cutie Mark Crusaders- and we're here to grant four wishes to Twilaura!" The cream-yellow one cried.
Night Light stepped forward. "We ordered professional enchantresses- not a bunch of foals!"
The four ponies glanced up, hurt expressions in their eyes.
"Well I think they are adorable," Twilaura stepped forward, crouching down so her face was at level with the ponies. "What are your names?"
"Ah am Apple Bloom!" The cream-yellow one chirped. "And these are Scootaloo, Sweetie Belle and Babs Seed!"
Twilaura nodded. "And you are here to grant me wishes? I don't understand- only one of you is a unicorn!"
"Celestia and Luna visited us! They told us that we were given three wishes to grant!" Scootaloo explained.
"Celestia and Luna?" Twilaura gasped. "Were they all right? Where are they now?"
"They visited us while we were unconscious... not literally," Babs Seed murmured.
Twilaura nodded.
Sweetie Belle stepped forward. "They said: There is a balance between night and day which is called twilight. You must grant the balance your wishes for it to keep the sun to shine and the moon to glow."
Twilaura nearly fainted. "That has to be me!" She lowered her voice, so only the foals could hear. "My name used to be Twilight."
"What is going on?" Twilight Velvet stepped forward, a concerned expression on her face.
Twilaura beamed, as she announced, "I- Twilaura, daughter of Twilight Velvet and Night Light, declare that these foals are true enchantresses and they have my permission to grant four wishes!"
"Are you sure?" Night Light questioned worriedly.
"Positive," Twilaura replied, before turning to the foals, waiting for them to begin.
Sweetie Belle was first to step forward, as she began to speak. "I bless you with intelligence. Whenever you are unsure and doubtful, you shall be able to work your way out of any situation, and to see the best in everypony." A golden light evaporated from the little white foal, before it showered down on Twilaura with an immense pressure. Twilaura was barely able to keep standing, as the power absorbed into her mind.
"Thank you," Twilaura dipped her head, as the foal backed away, and the orange one with the purple-pink mane took her place.
Scootaloo dipped her head as she spoke. "I bless you with beauty. You shall grow, to be fair and pretty among the land, every other shall feel good when around you. Let your radiance guide you on." Like before, a golden light began to swivel around Scootaloo, before it whipped down on Twilaura. This power wasn't as strong as the other one, and it didn't aim for her brain, but her heart. The power surged around, until finally, it completely dissolved into her skin.
Twilaura nodded respectfully to Scootaloo, before peering up, as Apple Bloom took her place. "Ah bless ya with amiability. Ya are to be affectionate and loving towards yer kingdom, which is an important role for any princess. Ya never look down on anypony, and look at them as yer family, other than yer subjects." A golden light reflected off of Apple Bloom, before it slipped around Twilaura. She felt it rush down her fur, making ever hair stand on end, before it seeped into her skin and into her soul.
"Thanks," Twilaura peered up, as Babs Seed stepped forward, and opened her mouth to speak, when suddenly, the lights flickered on and off in the room, casting a deathly effect. Ponies let out shrieks of shock, and tried to work out what was going on. Eventually, the lights went completely off, making the room pitch black. Everypony was silent, huddling together in fear.
A silky, yet rasped voice echoed through the room. It sounded exhausted, yet slivery. "Are you ponies scared?"
The ponies held their breathe. Twilaura peered around, trying to work out what was going on, and gasped before shivering, as she felt something brush against her side.
"Good." The voice hissed again, and the lights flickered back on. Twilaura's eyes locked with a pear of green ones, as the changeling responsible, let out an evil laugh. "Tremble before me, my worshippers. I am your queen, am I not?" The voice echoed through the halls, and one by one, the ponies began to crouch to the ground in fear, creating a wave.
Queen Chrysalis teleported into the sky above all of them, and she glared down at Twilight Velvet and Night Light.
"What is the meaning of this?" Twilight Velvet stepped forward, but was held back by Night Light, who prevented her from pouncing forward.
"Tut, tut Twilight Velvet. You know that curiously kills the cat, you should know that lesson by now." Queen Chrysalis smirked mockingly, as Twilight Velvet let out a vicious snarl. "Anyway, I am slightly annoyed... nopony told me a party was being held. Why didn't I receive an invitation?"
Night Light gulped, before stepping forward. "We are gravely sorry, our Queen. Is there any way we can make it up to you, your highness?" The blue unicorn bent down to the ground in sorrow.
Chrysalis let out a derisive laugh. "You had your chance Night Light! You should know I don't give second chances! Now I shall grant my own wish to your daughter!" Chrysalis smirked spitefully and Twilaura, who was now glaring.
"You destroyed my life! I won't accept any wish given from you!" Twilaura stepped forward menacingly, peering at the Queen, who was hovering above her, her insect-wings buzzing lightly.
"How come I am giving lessons to everyone in your pitiful family today? Twilaura, your new lesson is, when you are living in a tyrannical world, you don't get everything you want!" Chrysalis lowered to the floor, until she was facing Twilaura. "I bless you with power like no other. You have the sophistication, and the magical ability to perform great spells, and become successful for the coming future." Chrysalis turned away.
Twilaura looked up in shock. "That is actually quite... not evil?"
Chrysalis smirked. "You will sadly, never mature to your full ability. On your sixteenth birthday, you will prick your hoof on a spinning wheel, and will drop down dead!" A black magic, coming out of Chrysalis's horn, and twirled around Twilaura. She could feel the sickly, purple, wraths clinging to her skin, before clamping down.
"No! Queen Chrysalis! Please be merciful, we beg!" Twilight Velvet stepped forward, tears welling in her eyes.
"I have made my decision! Now I shall be gone!" Chrysalis disappeared, a puff of black mist in her place.
"Our daughter is going to die..." Night Light sniffed, as he hugged his wife close, horror lingering of each and everypony.
Twilaura peered at the ground in misery. I am going to die... Chaos rang through the room, ponies crying and running around. Every so often, one would let out an agonistic shriek.
"Silence!" The voice echoed across the room, making everypony stop, and glance for who was responsible for the voice. "Everypony- stay calm, I think I have a solution!"
Twilaura peered up, her eyes resting on the brown-orange foal with the short-pink mane named Babs Seed.
"I still haven't granted my wish yet. I may not be able to completely get rid of Chrysalis's curse, but I will be able to lighten it. On Twilaura's sixteenth birthday, she will prick her hoof on the spinning wheel, however, she won't drop down dead, but will fall into an deep slumber. The only thing that can rouse her from this sleep is..." Babs Seed paused for a moment, before she looked up. "A kiss of true love."
Twilaura stared, through tear-filled eyes, as the final shot of gold sprouted from the fourth filly, before it spiralled around Twilaura and seeped into her soul.
"True love? But... how is she supposed to... it's impossible!" Night Light cried in despair.
"Dad! Shush! Be grateful that this beautiful foal was able to do this... thank you four so much!" Twilaura bent down, and exchanged a hug with each of them, crying as she expressed her gratitude. Oh how am I going to get out of this? All of the ones I truely loved were sent away by Chrysalis...
…
Queen Chrysalis smirked, strutting through her room in her dark chamber. Her hooves clinked lightly against the marble black floor.
"It's your turn now, Flash," Chrysalis stepped towards the cage, peering through, and glaring at the orange pegasi with the blue mane.
"Leave me alone... and let Twilaura go, or you'll have to deal with me!" Flash Sentry let out a furious growl at the back his throat, which Chrysalis only laughed to. Compared to her, Flash Sentry was only a tiny puppy, trying to play-fight with it's litter mates. Chrysalis's horn lit up, and she teleported Flash Sentry before her. He attempted to flap his wings and swoosh away, but Chrysalis put a force around him. The colt was unable to move. His flailing wings let out several feathers, wafting down to his nose, and making the poor colt let out a quick sneeze.
"Poor Flash Sentry, poor saviour.
I'm making you a dwarf.
Your personality is now sneezy.
You must be feeling awf'.
You will never wake Twilaura from her sleep.
There'll be five others just like you.
True love? As if, it's not going to happen.
You're life is now askew!"
Chrysalis's magic snaked around him, before the green aura minimised his size. The colt let out a gasp of shock, as her magic began to tease his face, before she sent a portal behind him, and the colt was lifted up. Finally, he disappeared, and Chrysalis let out a triumphant sigh. She looked at the ground, and saw seven feathers from Flash Sentry lying there. Chrysalis held her breathe, her eyes locked on the feathers for a second, before she shook her head, and gave a disgusted snort, sending the feathers into ashes at a zap of her magic.