Twilight rambled off the last of the nine great wizards that formed the first teaching staff at Celestia's School for Gifted Unicorns, along with the spells they created, the classes they taught, and the feats they had accomplished. Twilight had learned so much that she half-expected Celestia to make her list the lengths of their horns. Thankfully not, even she had her limits.
It took an hour, but she was finally finished. She welcomed the water pitcher that her teacher offered, and gulped it down, trying to soothe her sore jaw. Nearly turned her head straight up, knowing full well that the Element of Magic would remain on her head thanks to the spells Celestia had cast on it.
"That was very good, Twilight," she nodded. "Very good. I think you've memorized just about every bit of history I can teach you."
"Really?" She didn't sound pleased. "There has to be something else!"
"Oh, don't worry, Twilight," she soothed. She outstretched her wing, and Twilight took the invitation. There was plenty of room, Celestia's bed was enough for five ponies. As Twilight's purple magic floated the crown to the side of the bed, Celestia soothed her. "Even if I can't be your teacher, you know we'll always be friends. And I didn't think you'd want anymore of the hard truths that came with history."
Despite the warmth Celestia naturally radiated, Twilight felt a chill. She had learned some unpleasant things. Sombra, who had conquered the Crystal Empire and brutally destroyed the unicorn and pegasus crystal ponies in the Culling. The changelings, an entire race trapped in mindless bodies thanks to Discord. Legends of a time before the Age of the Three Tribes, when humans walked the land, and threats like Tirek, and Catrina, and the Smooze threatened the peaceful Dream Valley. Fairy tale rubbish, Twilight had dismissed, until she remembered that NightMare Moon had once been the same.
And the thought that the nightmares of foal's tales might have lived wasn't the most terrifying, it was knowing that the others certainly plotted even now.
"Any word on..." She swallowed a lump before going on. "...on Trixie? Where she is?"
"I'm sorry, Twilight, but no. You know I'd have told you first, of all ponies."
"I know. But... what she's become..."
"She doesn't have the Amulet anymore, Twilight. She won't be as powerful now."
Twilight rubbed her head. "I know. But... I'm sorry, Princess, but seeing what she turned into... she was just a showmare, but..."
The chill was back, the same chill she had felt when she first saw Trixie with the forbidden amulet around her neck, casting humiliating spells on her friends. That amulet... it had revolted her. Even locked in Zecora's box, it gave her an uneasy tinge. Even now, locked away deep in the castle vaults, she still shivered just thinking about it.
And there was Trixie herself. Oddly, those few moments of confusion when she realized she had been tricked were when she was at her most coherent. Then she seemed to go even madder than before. Twilight had tried to restrain her, of course she had, but insanity was too much of a wild card for a logical pony like her, not helped by the power boost she still had.
She had gotten away. The Everfree Forest was combed for days by the Royal Guard, but she simply was not there anymore. She was gone, added with the changelings on the list of unaccounted threats that blighted Twilight's life.
Her fear must have shown. Celestia's wing tightened around her. "You'll be able to handle it. I know you will."
Twilight gave a smile. It was weak, but at least it was there. She nestled into her mentor, as if she weren't a full grown pony with a child of her own, likely asleep in the room that he insisted they share, even in a castle full of hundreds of bedrooms.
She had been on edge since the Wedding. Nightmares of changelings roasting her on a spit still frequented, though thankfully her other series of nightmares, of her friends sneering and cheering at her death, had dropped out of the subconscious. Still, she was jumpy, and constantly looking for new ways to protect herself and her loved ones. Among these, the most radical, was asking if the Elements of Harmony could stay with their bearers at all times. After some uncertainty, Celestia agreed. Twilight had proved that she was capable. The corruption of the Element of Magic, a side effect of Luna's fall, was not likely to happen a second time.
Celestia pushed the thought out of her mind that she had once had that kind of faith in her sister as well. She returned the nuzzle, then quite against everything she wanted she pushed her away. Just a bit. "You've been learning a lot over the last year. I know I've been doubling your studies ever since the incident up at the Empire, and I've been stealing time from your friends, but it has all been for a good cause."
"I know. I trust you."
Celestia felt a familiar pain, one she had felt since that horrible day she met Discord. From her family's death, then Luna's banishment, and most recently Cadance and Twilight at the Wedding, among several other things in between, trust in her seemed to be a worse idea all the time. Or at least, she thought so.
"I think you're ready."
Silence.
"Ready?"
Celestia nodded. "Yes, Twilight. You're ready for something I've known you wanted since the day you became my student, even if you never had the nerve to flat out ask me."
Twilight held her breath. Her eyes were wide, and sparkling. It made Celestia smile. She seemed more like the filly that she had met years ago than ever.
"I think you're ready for the Trials."
Immediately a purple blur jumped from under Celestia's wing and began bouncing around her chambers, each leap punctuated with a "Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes!"
Celestia laughed, using her magic to stop her in the air. “Calm yourself, do you want to wake the castle?”
“You’re really sending me?” Twilight said, a distinct squeal in her voice. “The Trials? I’m ready? Really?”
Celestia smiled and nodded. "These last three years, you more than proved yourself... I take that back, in the first two years you proved yourself, and this last year I’ve been preparing you for life as an alicorn. All the political knowledge and history you’d need... I think you’re ready.”
“Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee! Yes! Yes! Yes!”
Twilight threw her forelegs around the neck of her mentor, burying her muzzle in her neck. Celestia felt wetness. She was crying. “I... I don’t believe...”
Celestia gave a knowing smirk. “Why not? You’ve proven you’re brave, kind, smart. You’re worthy to wield the Element of Magic, you’ve proved adversity will not erode your good will. There’s no reason you are not worthy.”
“Oh my... oh my...” Twilight looked up at her mentor. She was breathing deeply. “I... when do I leave?”
“In a few days. I’m going to announce your departure to the nobles... you’re to keep quiet of it, by the way. It won’t do if the changelings know that one of the Element Bearers is missing.”
“I... I understand.”
“You’ll set out with supplies. Alone. Not even Spike can accompany you.” Celestia tried to keep smiling, but they were getting into territory she didn’t like talking about. “It... it will be dangerous, Twilight. Or it can be. There have been tales of ponies who came back mad...”
“I’ve heard.” She didn’t sound any less excited. “But... I can do it! I’m ready.”
“I know,” she smiled, nuzzling her. “I have faith in you.”
Scootaloo yawned as she pulled the covers even further over her. It was hard, Tank had decided it was her turn to have his company that night, so he was resting on top of them, but it was far enough.
She looked around. Her room, decorated, was something she could still hardly believe, even all this time later. A poster, signed by every high ranking Wonderbolt Rainbow Dash could get an autograph from (which was plenty; nearly everypony at the camp knew the new recruit had a filly at home), was hanging on one wall, with a few models hanging from a mobile on the ceiling. A bookcase filled with Junior Daring Do novels and a few other fantasy series, with her schoolbooks on the bottom as an afterthought. A desk, the same from her old house, sat with an unlit lantern and some of her school work. A closet half-opened showed only her flowerfilly dress, since she had little need for clothes. Her scooter, still cherished even as she learned how to fly, was leaning in one corner.
It occurred to her, for the first time since she had moved in with Rainbow Dash, that this could have easily been her room when she had lived with her mother and father. Hard cloud instead of wood, yes, and a bookcase where she would have retched before, but it was still very much the same. There was just one thing different: Rainbow Dash was sleeping in the next room, not Speedy and Quick Delivery.
She flopped back onto her pillow. It felt safe. She never thought life could get this good. Rainbow Dash had taken her in, and whenever she had to go train, Soarin' himself tried to get time off to come watch her. When he could not, the Apples always had room for her, and even if it meant sharing a bed with Apple Bloom, she still loved it.
She loved this life. It was perfect, even if it was a bit different than she expected.
Rainbow Dash seemed to be three different ponies sometimes. In peaceful times, she was laid back, almost lazy. When training her, she was tough, but fair, like what she suspected a Wonderbolt drill sergeant was like.
But a third Rainbow Dash had come out. One that seemed to actually act like a grownup. One that made sure that she was maintaining a B-plus average, flight school scholarships were getting harder to get and she didn't want to beg Celestia for the money if she could help it. It was hard at first, Speedy had never cared and she had a stellar C and D grade average, but Rainbow Dash had asked Twilight to tutor her, and together they managed to help her. One that made sure she was home by sundown, in bed by eight o' clock. Alfalfa before dessert, reading every night, be sure to do the dishes and feed Tank, it's your turn today.
Even as it annoyed her, it seemed almost as good as a hug. Rainbow Dash cared, and that made all the difference. It did kind of weird her out how she could switch between the roles so effortlessly. Once, when Fluttershy was babysitting, she asked her about it. She merely shrugged and said Rainbow Dash could be counted on once you convinced her it was important, and she had decided Scootaloo was important.
Tank had noticed that his little Master wasn't asleep. He reached over and gave her a playful lick on the cheek, perhaps his first since he and the other pets caught the Crusaders proclaiming Angel the cutest thing ever. Scootaloo smiled and stroked his head.
"Still can't sleep, Tank," she whispered. "I can't wait."
Soarin' was getting some time off. The three of them would have a long day together, going to Cloudsdale and seeing the weather factories, a chance for her to use actual Wonderbolt equipment at the stadiums, dinner at a nice restaurant. Nothing could spoil her mood.
The hallways were filled with guards, and yet they didn't see the intruder.
She might as well have been a moving shadow, with how effortlessly she blended into the darkness. The lights the guards shined had to be avoided, or course, but that was easy enough.
She knew, roughly, the layout of the castle, so it didn't take long to find the room she was looking for. Waiting for the guards to move too far away to see her, she slipped in.
Twilight Sparkle was asleep. She had leapt into the room, waking Spike. She scooped him up, tossed him in the air, laughed and cheered, kissed his face several times, and told her news. He cheered too. Spike wanted to go to Donut Joe's and celebrate, and Twilight was inclined to agree, but when she layed down, her fatigue overcame her excitement, and she fell asleep with her son in her arms. He was soon asleep too, but not before taking the crown from her head and placing it on her nightstand. He didn't mind having to share a bed.
She was pleased. Her sources said everything would be this way. It was the best possible opportunity. Carefully, she made her way toward the nightstand. Then, with her magic, she lifted it.
By fate, Twilight stirred, and her eyes opened.
As it turned out, it wasn't the thief's best opportunity. If Twilight had been alone, she might have seen an unknown figure that likely had sinister intentions near her, and reacted with fear while she tried to defend herself.
Instead, she saw an unknown figure that likely had sinister intentions near Spike, and reacted with rage while she tried to defend him.
The blast from Twilight's horn just missed the mysterious pony, but it blew a rather nice hole in the wall.
Instantly there was actions. Guards shouted orders as they investigated the explosion. The thief leapt toward the hole, the Element of Magic in her magical grasp. Twilight yelled "Thief!" and leapt from the bed, her hooves barely touching the ground as she ran.
The hallway was already abuzz with activity. The thief ran down the hallway, but three Royal Guards were already standing between her and her destination, whatever it might be.
"Halt! In the name..."
The thief jumped, but not over the guards. In fact, she only gave a tiny hop, and when she hit the floor, she kept going, sinking into the shadow. That shadow passed under the baffled guards, their surprise only ending when the shadow touched their hooves. They cried in pain and fell to the floor, feeling like they'd been placed on a large skillet.
Twilight did leap over them, the sole reason she was no longer firing was to not risk hitting any guard that might try to stop her prey. As the thief rose from her shadow and looked back, Twilight edged closer, still yelling "Stop! Thief!"
She got close enough to grab onto her cloak with her teeth.
She regretted it immediately. She felt a burning sensation through her teeth, and her tongue felt like she had eaten fire. She let go almost at once, the unexpected pain too much for her.
Luckily, the snag caught the thief off guard. She stumbled forward, falling on her face. As she rose, her hood fell back, and Twilight recovered in time to get a brief look at her face.
It was a pony, the color of a setting sun, whose mane was a mix of orange and red.
That was all she had time to notice before the fire came. A large fireball was inches from Twilight's face before she got her shield up. As soon as the flames subsided, she fired. The thief wasn't struck, she ran into a wall, a shadow of her continuing to run along the wall, over decorations and pictures of past nobles.
Twilight chased after her, through the hallways. The thief didn't stay in the wall, Twilight was beginning to think she couldn't very long, but every guard that tried to stop her was sidestepped in a similar way. Twilight tried everything she could think of. She upended the rug ahead trying to trip her up, only for her to see it and leap over. She lifted up anything she could reach and threw it at her, but they were as sidestepped as easily.
Finally, they turned down a hallway that had a single door open. It was here, just after the door, that Celestia landed.
"You've made a mistake..."
And like a switch had been thrown, Celestia went from angry to shocked, as if she had seen her niece once again change into the Changeling Queen. "S-Sunset?"
The fire came again. Celestia didn't even flinch as the shield came up, she was too shocked. The thief, Sunset, Twilight supposed, turned and entered the room.
Twilight followed, jumped up and tackled the thief again.
It burned, just touching the cloak, but it had the desired effect. The thief hit the floor, and the crown flew out of her grasp, spinning through the air and toward the room's only bit of furniture, a full length mirror.
And then, in keeping with the night's theme of unexpected events, the crown didn't hit the mirror. It went through it, the glass rippling like it was a particularly thick form of water.
"No!" Sunset cried. She threw Twilight off of her, not too hard with all the pain she was in, and leapt through after it.
Twilight was torn between nursing her wounds while gaping at the mirror and wondering whether to chase after her assailant. Celestia must have seen it, because she enveloped her in a golden magic.
“Don’t follow. Not yet.”
“But... the Element of Magic...”
“You can’t recover it right now. Not until you heal... and you know more about your opponent.”
Twilight blinked. She had seen it happen, but only now just realized that Celestia had recognized the thief. She looked at her mentor, then at the mirror. “Princess... who was that?”
Celestia sighed, with a look in her eyes that Twilight had come to know over the past year, one of regret and sadness. “That was Sunset Shimmer... my last student.”
Okay, actually looking forward to what happens next. The Sunset arc is going to turn into Twilight's Trials, I'm pretty sure, which is why she has to be alone. Also, that thing with Sunset's cloak of shadows was pretty awesome.
So let me see if I've got this straight, Trixie had a chance to explain herself after being freed of the Alicorn Amulet and instead she took off running into the Everfree Forest where all sorts of vicious creatrues are known to exisit. I take it Trixie is not all that smart if she made a move like that. She's lucky if she hasn't been attacked yet, especailly since Zecora probably doesn't want her around.
Ooooooohhhhhh!!! This just got interesting!
So, that's how you're continuing to make Trixie an antagonist. And, apparently, a madpony.
I'm not entirely sure what to make of Twilight Sparkle always having wanted to be an Alicorn.
In this continuity, are unicorns the only ones who become alicorns? Is there a reason for that?
Also, considering immortality was Discord's curse, I'm guessing that Twilight will become a mortal alicorn.
Did you perhaps mean "from angry to shocked"?
I can honestly say I didn't see Sunset coming. In hindsight it makes sense, but it still comes as a major surprise.
The first part sounds awkward. A better wording for this would potentially be "Twilight smiled. It was weak, but at least it was still there."
Should be "leaning".
Ooooh, this is gonna be good...!
3604080
What he said
Aww, man. You're not showing this version of EqG? Why? I mean, it'd be pretty interesting to see Families!Twilight go through all of this, especially without Spike, who in canon....
Wait, without Spike....
EqG without Spike....
I take it back! Whatever you do, DON'T show this version of EqG!
(Seriously though, it might be interesting to see the Humane Five reacting to Twilight being a mother, and Twilight's reaction to EqG!Trixie, among other things which could randomly be interspersed for comedy relief from time to time, along with a little glance at what Twilight's up to, throughout the plotline of the story.
Maybe relegate that to a side story or something?)
So wait, is this after season 3? . Guess I've been reading it wrong the whole thing , now I feel dumb. Now for the highlights of this chapter.
holy shnap! the tab button works!Nice worldbuilding with the little bits of ancient history, special kudos to the reason of why there aren't Unicorn or Pegasi Crystal ponies.More Scoota-love, YAY!
You don't mess with Momma-Sparkle!
And after being told she's going to the Trials, she's gotta go first to retrieve the Element of Magic. That's inconvenient.
Anyway, Good chapter, I can't wait for the next one. Honestly.
3603976
Thank you, I needed that.
3604011
It isn't that she's dumb, it's that she's not free of the Amulet. She's still half-insane from the dark magic, and not entirely cured.
3604057
I hope so! That's how I get readers!
3604079
I'm glad I surprised at least one person.
Thanks for the corrections.
3604080, 3604135
I hope so!
3604366
First off, Spike will be coming with her.
And second, we'll learn what happens to Twilight in the human world soon, very soon.
3604768
Thank you. I'm glad some of my old readers are still reading. And I'm glad you liked the world building.
3604804 I see. And everyone is just okay with the fact that there's a potentially dangerous maniac on the loose who knows where and could at any time emerge and attack? I mean if Trixe's not herself then who knows what she'll do. Surely there's some sort of security or guard in case she for whatever reason were to return while still crazy.
3604834
There are still ponies looking for her, even though most sources are tracking down the changelings, since they're the bigger threat. Was that not clear? If it wasn't I'll look at it again.
3604839 It just seems odd how this whole time Trixie is on the loose while still insane and it seemed as if though there was no concern as to where she might end up.
3604846
Twilight is shown to be worried about her. Celestia tries to downplay it, but it's because she wants to comfort Twilight. Plus, like I said, the changelings are the bigger problem, so more worry goes there.
3604876 Well not placing much priority on Trixie's not a good idea either way. It would really suck if Trixie bumped into the changelings while still half insane and was brainwashed into joining them to get revenge. I doubt that would happen as Trixie strikes me as the kind of mare who always works alone.
3604892
Resources aren't indefinite. Some things just have to take priority. Celestia doesn't have a thousand soldiers to spare.
Yes because telling the nobles, is so not gonna give the chance for the changelings to know about Twilight. Like they haven't infiltrated the nobles, or that the nobles aren't even trustworthy in your fic universe. Sorry about the sarcasm but come on!!!!!
Well that was....unexpected. it makes total sense and fits perfectly with what we knew was going to go on, plus its awesome, bu I really did not see Sunset coming. Since Trixie was discussed early in the chapter my thought turned to her first. Kudos, kudos indeed.
I can only assume that whatever we see of Canterlot High is going to be significantly more...intense than the movie version. (I would love to see the reveal scene with this version of Spike.)
Also, Scoots and parental Dash. Yes. Just yes.
3604918 Well it's not like Celestia really gives two bits about what the nobels think anyway. They were the same ones who sided with the rebels and tried to overthrow her. She's learned by now that they don't like anything that interrupts their way of life, even if it's for the better. If the nobels learned of Celestia's plans Celestia would just be putting up with the same complainining and whining all over again.
3604804
Why would people stop reading this series?
But seriously, your -verse is so good that it was one of the stories that finally convinced me to make my account, and it's sure a 'must read' in the fandom (at least in my pov).
well now, this should be fun...
I just figured all this time that Twilight would be off on the Trials and that was enough of a reason for her and Spike to be absent... and then this. Well played. And Sunset knows some kind of shadow magic this time around... I can only hope we get more details soon about what happened with Sombra....
Nice to see more Scootaloo & family, though I'm a little on edge from that "nothing can go wrong now" feeling she's having....
It seems some serious SQUEE is about to go down all around Equestria....
Sunset Shimmer?
Hell to the Yes!
3605053
So if you wanted to keep quiet that the Element of Magic is going to be gone that just shows even more that they shouldn't be told. Unless you are actually trying to tell the enemy that bit of info why would you tell those whiny, moronic, brats?
3604918
Um... the whole business of the Nobels being corrupt is really more fanon than anything. Unless I missed something, the only two we meet are Blueblood and Cadance, and even the former was just a jerk, not necessarily corrupt.
BTW, Jet Set and Upper Crust and the like =/= Nobels in my fanon. They are the Elite: rich, but not in government. If they were referred to Nobels in canon, then I made a mistake and forgot.
3604938
We won't be seeing Canterlot High for awhile. For now, this is the other's story.
3605053
It wasn't really the Nobels that sided with Olive Branch, just easily manipulated ponies in Canterlot. And even any Nobels that did support him would be back to scraping for Celestia's favor after the whole incident.
3605082
A lot of people just wanted more slice-of-life. Oh well...
3605171
I hope so!
3605193, 3605402
Honestly, I'm surprised incorporating Equestria Girls has gone over so well. I thought people would hate it...
3605406
As for why they were told, they are members of the government. Equestrian law states they must be informed before sending a pony to Trials
3605419
Yes
3604078
Whoa, I missed you the first time around. Sorry.
To answer your question, no, any breed of pony can ascend to an alicorn. We've only seen unicorns so far because... well, the story told me that Celestia, Luna, and Cadance were born unicorns. A non-pony can take the Trials, but they'd ascend in a different way (not saying how just yet). Yes, Twilight will be mortal, though she will live longer than your average pony. Thanks for the correction.
3605540
I thought so. Still, something to look forward to in the distant future right? And meanwhile I can look forward to whatever shenanigans the other 5 get up to.
One of the few things in EQG was the high school setting. Since that won't be in this story my interest is in this story and how it will play out.
3605540
I am working on how you have portrayed them in this story.
Oh snap! Things just got real in this place! MOAR!!!!
Woah, didn't expect to see Sunset show up. Can't wait to see what happens next.
3604366
Spike's not supposed to go with her. Of course, he wasn't supposed to go with her in canon EQG either...
Hmm, why do a I get the feeling the mirror isn't going to be leading to the human world this time, especially with that little tidbit about some ponies going mad from the trials.
3605540 Wow, you're the first person I've seen that remembers the corrupt nobility was invented by fans to inconvenience Celestia, most people these days assume it must be in an episode somewhere. It makes sense that in this universe Twilight has wanted to be an alicorn for a long time, since it means she will get a lot more time to spend with Spike, rather than dying off while he's a pre-teen or something.
Hmmm, all that happiness with Scootaloo worries me, or maybe i'm too cynical for my own good.
I guess I'm okay with this setup. I await patiently now.
Glad to hear you won't be using Equestria Girls, you are making your own story.
Commence read.
Welp. That was something.
I'm ok with this.
How far is this from Families? I'm confused on the timeline of this fic.
Rebecca Shoichet!
Did you really need a second excuse for why Twilight was gone? The trials were more than enough.
nice did not even know there was another story after families lol
4755137
Are you referencing Solrac?