2.8

Ten years had done many things to the three ponies. It filled their hearts with memories and made bonds completely unbreakable. They had also turned Twilight into the most capable unicorn in Celestia’s school and Shining Armor into a captain of the Royal Guard. Twilight was no mere adept but a complete prodigy. She had mastered spell-casting with the will of a master and graduated far ahead of her class as the valedictorian. This came at a price as Twilight became a bit of a shut in. Always more concerned with books than other ponies. She still had Shining Armor and Cadance, but no other ponies to call friends. Her only other companion was Spike, her baby dragon assistant that she hatched during her entrance exam. Celestia wasn’t too concerned about Twilight’s loneliness though, as she always seemed perfectly satisfied with life. Twilight was truly a marvel with spell casting though and Celestia enjoyed seeing her newest development, be it a new spell or a new imagining of an older one.

Cadance had maintained close contact with Twilight and Shining Armor, but was unable to see them as often because of her increased royal duties. Slowly, Celestia began to share her load with her and she was bogged down by various appearances and diplomatic ventures. However, when Cadance had a free day, she’d almost always spend it with Twilight. Usually in the Twilight’s library, but sometimes she’d go out and they’d do something fun.

Today Princess Celestia would reveal to Cadance what made her a princess. She had kept it hidden from her until the time was right and Luna’s return was not but a year away. Celestia had to make sure that Cadance was still capable of wielding the elements when the time came.

“You must be wondering why I summoned you,” Celestia said standing with her back to her, in the courtyard she first learned of Cadance’s powers those longs years ago. The moon was still inscribed in the floor.

“Yes, I am. I was going to see my favourite filly today and you had better have a good reason for why I can’t,” Cadance bit, clearly annoyed.

“Twilight is no longer a filly Cadance. But I assure you that this is very important,” Celestia explained, “Do you remember the day that you became a princess?”

“Yeah, you never told me why that happened, I also don’t remember very much of it. It was all such a blur. So is today the day I find this out?” Cadance replied, uninterested.

“Cadance please, I know I ruined a day with Twilight. I would feel the same way if you had done it to me, but I wouldn’t have done it if it wasn’t more important,” Celestia pleaded.

Cadance let out a deep sigh.

“Fine, tell me the story.”

“As you know, you weren’t born a princess, just a regular unicorn. But something happened to change that. You were present when I attempted to use a set of six ancient artifacts called The Elements of Harmony. Usually I am only able to use three, the other three belonging to my sister—“ Celestia explained.

“Sister?!” Cadance shouted confused.

Celestia explained to Cadance the story of her sister and the elements. She also explained how Cadance had become part of the Elements of Harmony and that Celestia needed her to fight off Luna when she returned. Cadance was quiet while Celestia spoke and asked few questions until she was done.

“Let me get this straight. Your evil sister is returning and can only be defeated by the Elements of Harmony which is a power that only works if you and I work together?” Cadance recited, “How do you know we still have them?”

“I’m going to tap into them and make sure they are still present within you. It shouldn’t take very long and you will still have time to see Twilight.”

“Well about of the magic of twilight?” Cadance asked, referring to Zecora’s last words.

Celestia shook her head. It was still one piece of the puzzle she didn’t fully understand, but she was fairly sure it referred to her and Luna’s special connection.

“Alright, do it. Make the elements work.”

Celestia’s horn began to glow as she tapped into the magic inside her. Cadance mirrored her almost perfectly, feeling a strong connection inside her to Celestia. They began to float, magical light filling the courtyard from corner to corner. Three balls of light surrounded each of them.

It had happened exactly the same way as it did all those long years ago. The balls turned to the colours of the rainbow slowly and Celestia knew they had almost reached their goal. Focusing harder, the balls began to spin and right as they began to connect and the rainbow beam was unleashed, something they did not expect happened.

The symbol of the moon underneath them glowed with the light of the moon and it shot a beam of lunar magic straight into the sky. It made contact with moon, shadowed by light of day, and flashed before the beam vanished. The beam had disrupted the two of them and they fell back onto the ground. Baffled, Celestia sat there and stared with horror and sadness at the moon.

“Luna, what have you done…?” she asked quietly.

Cadance jumped up.

“What just happened?! Was that supposed to happen?!” Cadance asked, frazzled.

“No, it wasn’t… It seems like we have fallen from grace,” Celestia choked out, despite the shock, “Go and be with Twilight, I have studying to do.”

Celestia had run straight back to her observatory and reread every bit of literature on the Elements she had. For time unknown, she fell back into an obsession with them. Months had passed and Heart Warming’s Eve was coming up. Only a few months remained until the Summer Sun Celebration. Zecora’s final words stuck out most to her.

“As the moon and sun meet at last to fight, place your hopes in the magic of twilight,” Celestia read out loud. She was confused, “What of the magic of twilight…?”

Celestia considered the phrase for a moment. It had haunted her so long now. She thought that the elements would be enough so she left that part alone, but since she lost the Elements, thats all she had to work with. What of the magic of twilight?

Obviously it referred to the magic between her and her sister, but it didn’t explain where the elements were. Celestia and Cadance no longer had them so they must have moved on to new ponies. There were thousands of ponies in Equestria and finding them would be impossible before Luna returned.

Looking through Starswirl’s old notes on the elements, she read something that blew her away. Never had she considered the possibility before.

“Upon studying the specific elements, I have deduced that ‘magic’ is the sixth element and is also the catalyst to the assembly of the elements. The other five will be drawn to it by forces unknown,” Celestia read further.

A note from Twilight Sparkle coincidentally appeared the moment she read the line, talking about her study of the anthropomorphic spell and its applications. Celestia stared from note to note. It was beginning to make sense.

“Philomena, you don’t think Zecora’s last words were literal, right?” Celestia said, jokingly. The joking tone in her voice was beginning to dissipate as the truth set in, “Oh my stars…”

“What of the magic inside Twilight?”

Philomena cawed reassuringly.

“She’s an excellent magic student, her name is Twilight and Cadance and I, the two most current holders of the elements, really like her for reasons we could never truly explain. It can’t be that simple…”

When Luna and she fought, they must have lost their control of the elements because it was very unharmonious to seal one’s sister in the moon. It didn’t entirely explain why Cadance had access to the elements, but there was something obviously elemental about her. What was more important was that Cadance and she had always had such a strong attachment to the unicorn. Twilight had drawn them to her by forces unknown. Anypony with a strong tie to the elements were going to be drawn to Twilight.

“Oh my stars…” Celestia said, dumbstruck again, “Twilight Sparkle has harnessed the Element of Magic.”

Celestia got up and began talking and pacing quickly.

“So assuming she is the Element of Magic, she should have attracted the other current elements, but that isn’t the case since she doesn’t seem to have any friends beyond her brother, Cadance and myself. This must change. Twilight Sparkle must locate the other five elements.”

Unfortunately Twilight had spent all her years cooped up in a library instead going out and finding the other elements. She probably didn’t even know of the elements yet. Celestia immediately found a book, “Old Mare’s Tales”, wrapped it and sent it to Twilight as a Heart Warming’s Eve present. She just hoped it wasn’t too late.

She needed to make sure that Twilight knew of the elements and Luna’s return so that she could activate them in the final hour. Celestia could then send her off somewhere that the elements would be attracted to her.

That Heart Warming’s Eve Twilight had anxiously awaited opening her present from Princess Celestia. It was delivered to her with a royal escort and had a powerful enchantment on it to keep it safe. Twilight figured it must have been an old and powerful spellbook. Even though the anticipation was killing her, she did however until Heart Warming’s Day to open it properly. Squeeing with delight she carefully unpackaged the book as not to rip any of the wrapping paper.

“Old Mare’s Tales? Why would the Princess give me an old filly’s book?” Twilight said. She was somewhat let down by the lack of an old and powerful spellbook that the princess usually gave her on Heart Warming’s Eve. The note simply read, ‘Please read.’

Twilight looked at the book carefully.

“Well it should go fast then. I’m sure the princess must have given it to me for a good reason.” Next Chapter: 2.9 Estimated time remaining: 21 Minutes