Prologue

“Good evening, Glow.” Luna smiled at the elderly unicorn as she slipped into the western wing of the Canterlot library.

“Princess. So good to see you. I’m glad you’ve decided to answer my request…”

“Of course, Glow. And how many times must I ask you to call me Luna?” The white-maned old colt chuckled as he flashed his signature grin at her. All these years, and he still had every bit of poise and grace that he had had when Luna first met him.

“Old habits die hard, milady…”

“Heh. I suppose so… What, pray tell, would give the Archmage reason to call me away from my oh-so-important duties of stargazing and watching the grass grow?”

“Aah… About that…” Luna’s smile wilted a little as she watched the old pony slide off of his chair, his expression wincing slightly as his bum hip bore his slight weight. “I have been… Scrying lately.” He muttered, licking his dry lips as he hobbled along. Luna followed at a respectfully slow pace, making sure she didn’t push him too fast with her presence.

“Scrying? In your condition?”

“Bah. I’m not in my grave yet. I can handle a few readings.” He glanced back at her, his expression a cross between an indignant scowl and a warm, kind-hearted smile. Luna, normally very stoic and admittedly cold whenever she handled official business, had to fight to keep from smiling around him. He had such charm and wit. But he was very old. Celestia mentioned a number once, and Luna hardly believed her… Nocturnal Glow was going on three hundred years old, and his body showed nearly every year. Thin and emaciated ribs, more than one artificial bone, and a painfully pronounced limp were all that was left to this pony.

She had once seen a photograph of him when he was much younger, a strong colt of the age of fifty. Back then, his mane was still a brilliant, deep black, dark as the night itself, and thick as anything. His coat, on the other hand, was a smooth, milky white, the same color as the luminescent glow of his magic, and of the moon. His cutie mark was not dissimilar to Luna’s own, but lacked the ephemeral wisp and white sparkles. Instead, it was a slightly darker grey crescent shape, and had much more definition on the impact craters. Naturally, Nocturnal Glow’s talent was astrophysics. When he began preparing for the position of Archmage, however, he became so much more…

Despite his sickly appearance, his horn readily lit the dark interior of the room he led Luna into, the bright white glow almost the exact same color as the milky-white light of the moon on a full cycle. Luna was always mystified by the old colt’s magical prowess, in spite of his old age. He hobbled along slowly, grimacing almost every step of the way. The weather was growing colder, so his joints were likely bothering him more and more now that autumn was approaching. Luna feared that he wouldn’t last the winter…

“What do these readings tell you, Glow?” Luna asked softly. The dark interior of the library readily leapt to light as Glow, as she had taken to calling him, led her away from the archives and into the Arcane Applications department.

“As you know, princess, I’m not long for this world…” Glow groaned, taking a moment to pause and let his gaze slide over a painting hanging in the hallway. Luna let her vision wander over a portrait of Nocturnal Glow and Celestia together, smiling faintly. He heaved a sigh and hobbled on, continuing his thin, raspy speech. “My time draws to an end… Tradition states that the Archmage’s position be chosen by the Archmage himself… Heh. There’s irony for you… I can cast some of the most advanced and complex spells known to pony kind, but I can’t see past five feet in front of me.”

“Is it that bad…?” Luna asked quietly. Glow either didn’t hear her, or ignored her… Either way, the implications were concerning…

“So I’ve been scrying lately… I figured I’m not doing my job unless I at least help. My eyesight may be shit, but my magical vision is keen as ever…” He straightened slightly as they entered another pair of double doors, his milky glow causing them to swing open as if two strong colts were putting their entire strength into moving the massive doors. Inside, Luna’s gaze settled on the scrying pools.

There were four in total, each one raised onto a short pedestal with a bowl atop it. The water contained inside the bowl was blessed by the lunar princess herself, and had all the forecasting prowess of the constellations themselves focused into one gallon of the purest water from the deepest, darkest springs of Equestria. Glow led her to the nearest one, their long journey finally complete. He settled down onto his haunches next to the bowl of inky-black water, his glazed-over eyes focusing as intently as they possibly could.

“I’m afraid time and health… Or lack thereof… Are pushing me into a decision I may not be prepared to make…”

“Glow,” Luna said softly, stepping closer. “My sister knows more of the Archmage’s dealings than I… Perhaps you ought to tell her this? In the morning?”

The look he gave her said it all.

“I only regret that I hadn’t made this decision sooner, milady…” Glow muttered. His horn blazed to life once again, the milky aura settling around the bowl. “Perhaps then she would have had more time to prepare…”

“She?” Luna asked, arching an eyebrow. “Does this mean you have chosen your successor?”

“I have. It’s a break from tradition, given she’s no student of mine… But she’s a damn sight better than any other unicorn I was able to find…” The inky-black liquid in the bowl began to ripple, it’s hue slowly growing lighter… It changed from black to midnight blue, into a dark hue of purple… White pinpricks slowly formed, blossoming into stars, all of it accentuated by a pink overlay… Luna inhaled. She knew this mark. “I, Nocturnal Glow, herby proclaim Twilight Sparkle the next Archmage of Canterlot.” His glow died, the liquid quickly returning to it’s inky, dark blackness, and Glow slowly slid down from the pedestal. His thin body was wracked with a horrible coughing fit. Luna raised a hoof, ready to assist.

“Glow… You’re pushing yourself…”

“I’m done, princess…” He wheezed. “No more for me… No more spells or incantations…” He shook his head then, his white mane hanging limp down his neck. In this pony, Luna saw no more strength. His heart was failing. His body was done. But his spirit remained indomitable. Somehow, he mustered the strength to raise his head, to look at her one last time. “Forgive me, my princess… But… There’s one last thing I must say…”

“Anything, Glow… Anything at all.” She stepped closer, hardly a foot away from him now.

“Luna...”

The old unicorn collapsed. His magic died along with his last breath.

In the darkness that enveloped the room, Luna wept.