“It’s strange, this… thing, we call life. The closest comparison that I can give is a trail, that we all have a choice on. We can walk forward, following the hopes and ideals of those before us. We could walk back, never quite making it to the end. Or, we can walk off the trail, we could clear a path of our own that maybe, just maybe, others will walk after us. - Eric Longtooth [12:25 PM, May 12, 2017]

The night, the time when all is quiet and addressed. When ponies sleep and shun the tapestry of black and pearl whites that graces the sky, crafted by the goddess of the sun in a haphazard spectacle of misplaced grace.

And yet, in the centre of it all, built into the side of a great mountain, a city stood in defiance of the night. Cast in marble and gold, crafted to serve the sun and to be lit even in the conferting darkness of the night, was Canterlot. A maze of high rises all surrounding the great castle of the sun, home to masses of the rich and the powerful. Be they the nobles, born into power, or the great goddess of the sun, Princess Celestia.

The city was made up of three main sectors, and dozens of sub-sectors. Three rings, one in the middle, made of the castle, another just outside, for the richest of the rich, and the last, for the lucky ‘plebeians.’

And yet, in the second ring, a tall building stood in defiance to the overarching ‘rules.’ Employing the ‘plebeians’ to craft advancements for all, this building was a thorn in the side of most high-brow nobles. This building, was the Royal Canterlot Magical and Technological Research Department.

Like the city, this building was separated into multiple sectors. Everything from the Industry division, to the Agricultural. But, the jewel of it all would have to be the Enchantments Division.

It was by far the largest division, with ties in almost all others, it handled anything involving Enchantments. And due to this, it had one of the most sought-after jobs in the world, be it the highly paid testers, or the prestigious Director role.

Oh how the nobles fought over the role, each expecting it to be hoofed over to them as their birthright. Bribes, backstabbing, smoke, mirrors, and years of planning all built around taking this role. Ever since Starswirl the Bearded founded the division, it was destined to be a role to be fought after in near cold-war like situations.

It was almost like something out of Shake Spear’s plays, when the title was given to a commoner with a dream. Given to a pony from a backwater town by the last director’s final act before retirement.

Years of planning, ruined as the nobles struggled to find a loophole to exploit. Each in uproar as they tried their damndest to keep it all from Celestia’s gaze, after all, she wouldn’t understand the birthrights of their own. With her gaze jaded by the commoner’s problems, and her mind clouded by mudpony-like ideals of equality.

But in the end, it was too late. The commoner unicorn had done it, and there was nothing they could do about it.

This commoner had no idea, even now as his sky blue eyes scanned through some of the paperwork that had made its way to his desk. Even as his dark, dull blue fur sat against the cold wooden chair of his office.

It was amusing to some, infuriating to others, to see the name ‘Arcane Quill’ cast into the bronze nameplate of the room. Its presence like a promise whispered in defiance to the underhoofed plays of politics.

‘Knock, knock.’

A pair of sharp knocks rung out through the night, rousing Arcane Quill from his work.

“C-come in.” He stuttered, his surprise at being interrupted at such a hour plaguing his voice. His dirty steel-grey mane being brushed out of his reading glasses as a nervous habit.

From the door, a lavender unicorn strode into the room. Her attitude as active as if it was the middle of the day, rather than the night. Her purple eyes stuck in a book even as she began to speak. “Professor Quill? I’ve found something I need your opinion on.”

“Ah. Yes. What would that be Twilight?” Arcane replied, leaning back into his chair. ‘Yep. She’s still a social hermit.’

“Have you heard of the ‘Mare in the Moon’?” Twilight asked bluntly, her eyes still glued to her book.

“I can’t say I have, why?” Arcane answered with a question of his own, not expecting an answer.

“Doesn’t matter. Good night.” She hastily replied, her interest in the other unicorn lost as his uselessness in this topic became evident. Waiting barely a second before she teleported out with a signature crack of time and space warping before her.

‘As tactless as ever it seems…’ Arcane sighed, telekinetically taking off his glasses to rub his eyes with a hoof. Turning his gaze to his room, he glanced over the piles of scrolls and books that crowded his generously large office. ‘Well, it was… before all this damned paperwork.’

Almost as if to heed its call, another crack of space-time heralded another pile of paperwork appearing on top of the ‘in’ box.

With a deeper sigh he turned back to his piles of work. His eyes catching on a red envelope half hidden by the sheer bulk of ink and parchment.

‘Oh? A letter? It’s been awhile since I’ve gotten anything other than paperwork… Well, work can wait. This’ll only take a moment.’ He shrugged, drawing it out of the pile and opening it with practiced ease.

From the envelope, a letter and a potion vial dropped out. The letter was unremarkable at first glance, being written in the flowing calligraphy typically associated with pegasi. The vial on the other hoof, was extremely odd.

Cast in thicker than average glass and stopped with a wooden stopper, it contained what looked like transparent molten gold. Its surface danced with optical illusions of fire that drew no fuel, and gas that didn’t ever build up.

‘Very interesting… I can’t say I’ve ever seen anything like that before.’ Arcane thought before turning to the letter. ‘Maybe the letter will bring some light on this…’

Dear Arcane Quill,
Director of the Royal Canterlot Magical Research Department, Enchantments Division.
-
It’s been awhile, hasn't it? How long has it been again? Ten? Twenty-odd years? Ah, time really has slipped away from us.

I'm sure you haven't forgotten about your own brother, Steel Quill? You know, green pegasus? Just because you’ve run off to prissy Canterlot, doesn’t mean you can just forget about us back home. Heck, I’m sure Mum is still waiting for a letter from you.

Anyway, I found something. I’m not sure what it is, and it doesn’t like me for some reason, but I’m sure you can figure something out. Here’s hoping I attached it, it seems to have some sort of wallflower spell on it. Regardless, I've got important news for you.

It’s Mum and Dad, they're not well, and after they left each other a year or so ago, they’ve gotten ill. Really ill. The Docs are saying they aren't going to live long, and Mum’s went into the hospital. Dad should go as well, but he’s acting like his usual self. Stubborn old mule... You know how he gets sometimes. They say it's some sort of virus, eating their magic and whatever else it can find. I'm not even sure if they’ll be alive when this makes it to your desk.

I know Dad told you not to come back, but I think you should see Mum, one last time…
I hope this reaches you quickly, and I shall eagerly await your reply.

Kind regards,
- Steel Quill.

“I…” Arcane murmured, re-reading the letter just in case he had gotten it wrong the first time around. ‘No…’

‘I’m sure I’ve got enough holidays saved up for a quick trip… Now, where did I put my wallet?’ He rationalised to himself, summoning an old, dusty, briefcase with his magic.

In a nigh’ panicked rush, me began grabbing items from all around the room with his telekinesis as he dug through piles of stuff with his hooves. ‘Alright. That should be enough bits for a while, there’s my ID, my notepad should still be in the case…’

“Where did my necklace end up?” The blue unicorn murmured, casting a quick spell to aid in his frantic search. “There!”

Said necklace was an old trinket from long ago, a parting gift from his mother before he had left home. It was a double sided emblem brought together with a fine silver chain. With a wolf’s head cast in shining bronze, flanked by the head of an owl carved from an ancient redwood tree.

With a sigh, he paused momentarily to turn it over in his hooves, admiring it as he did all those years ago.

“It’s been a while, hasn’t it?” He whispered under his breath. “You were always there for me, even when Dad wasn’t…”

The metal shone in the candlelight as if it was giving an affirmation, a comforting coincidence found when one needed some certainty in their lives.

“Celestia damn it Dad…”

Author's Notes:

AN:
Wooo! The rewrite has landed!
Here's hoping this is better than the original. xD
Unfortunately, it's just as short as the original. But, if anyone cares to look at the other chapters, they are muuuch longer.
Sooo... yeah.

Thanks for sticking around! Trust me, the chapters get more interesting after this! It may take a bit, but it'll take off before the chapters get to double digits. :P