Archmage - Chapter 32 “Connections”

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Twilight felt like she was drowning. Her lungs burned for air. In the next instant, she felt like she was falling. The cold wind bit into her drenched coat, making her wince with the chilled feeling. Then she was crushed. All around her, the walls pressed in, hugging her sides, weighing her down from every conceivable angle. But the worst of all of the feelings was the burning. Fire scorched away her hide, set her lungs aflame as she drew a breath to scream. A scream that never came.

Not until she shot up.

“What is it?!” Luna’s worried voice was what ultimately calmed her. Twilight’s chest heaved with each ragged breath, and the chain she wore around her neck with Luna’s pendant dug into her hide. She winced as she lay back down, looking up at the ceiling with wide, frightened eyes. “Nightmare?” Luna asked, nuzzling her neck gently.

“A pretty bad one…” Twilight nodded, shivering despite the warm covers Luna gently pulled up around the two of them.

“I’m sorry, Twilight. I should have done something about them. You must have seen some terrible things on your trip to the library…” Luna whispered, nuzzling her neck affectionately. Twilight idly wrapped a hoof around Luna’s shoulders, pulling her closer.

“I don’t think this one was related to the library. It felt like I was drowning, and then falling… Then it was like I was being crushed.”

“Oh.” Luna’s soft utterance made Twilight turn to her with a quizzical look. Luna was smiling back at her. “The connection dream. I know of it.”

“Connection dream?” Twilight asked, her frown intensifying.

“Don’t worry about it for now, Twilight.” Luna said gently. “You haven’t slept more than three hours. Go back to sleep. I’ll guard your rest.” The princess’ horn glowed as she cast a sleep spell on Twilight, putting the exhausted Archmage to rest despite her questions about the dream Luna mentioned. True to her word, though, Luna guarded Twilight’s rest. Her sleep was dreamless and blank. It felt almost as if the moment she closed her eyes, they were open again, and she felt more rested.

“Hmm…” Twilight’s legs stretched out a little as she tested her sore muscles. Despite the dull ache of not being used for the past two days, she felt somewhat rested. Luna was gone from her side, likely off handling some business. Rather than wait for her lover’s return, Twilight rolled out of her bed. Landing on her hooves made her wince, but she had to move or she’d go crazy. Moving carefully against the tightness in her muscles, Twilight went to the kitchen to drink a glass of water as slowly as she could manage.

“You’re awake.” Luna smiled as she swooped in through an open window, landing without so much as a whisper on the thick carpet. “And moving. This is good.”

“I couldn’t lay there any longer.” Twilight admitted with a sheepish grin. “I need to stretch my legs. Just a little.”

“I can’t blame you.” Luna shrugged. “I couldn’t possibly imagine having to lay there for two whole days. I’d go insane.”

“Nopony’s saying you haven’t already.” Twilight laughed at the look she got from Luna, limping forward to give her lover a quick, tender kiss. The distinctive sound of their necklaces clacking together made Twilight smile against Luna’s lips, pulling away from the breathless kiss with a teasing grin. She glanced down at the joined pieces of the jewelry before slowly pulling away. When they separated, the dull impact against her chest was a reassuring reminder of all the times Twilight had felt the simple necklace during the long trip to the library and back. Luna’s own face mirrored Twilight’s smile, assuring her the lunar princess felt the same way.

“Come.” Luna quipped. “I’ll cook you some food.”

“Oh, yes.” Twilight nodded with an eager smile. “I’m starved.” Together, the two made their way back into the kitchen to prepare a simple meal. Twilight didn’t eat much, but what she had filled her up plenty. Afterwards, Luna helped her shower, and set her gently back on the bed.

“I think you’ll be ready to return to your duties tomorrow.” Luna nuzzled Twilight’s neck gently.

“Do you think?” Twilight asked with a soft yawn. The relatively small amount of activity had taxed her fatigued muscles considerably, and she felt another nap coming on.

“You’ll need to drink a little more water, and taking it easy for a day or two would be recommended, but yes. I think you’re more or less ready to return to the world of the living.”

“Har har.” Twilight rolled her eyes sarcastically before setting her head down on the pillow. “Will you come back to me?”

“After I set the moon, I will.” Luna gave her a quick but passionate farewell kiss. “See you soon, Twilight.”

“See you.” Twilight watched as Luna departed through an open window, leaving her alone to sleep through the rest of the night.

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Twilight’s recovery took just one more day after that. She felt Luna press against her side in the early morning, and after casting a few simple rejuvenation spells, the two emerged from her chamber with a mission.

“Since you’ve had the connection dream, I think it’s time you started learning elemental magic.” Luna explained, leading Twilight down a previously-unvisited hallway. She followed silently, but was listening intently. “There are many ponies throughout Equestria who are at least familiar with the magic, but this isn’t the sort of thing you can learn from a book or even from example. Elemental magic depends on how strong the connections between you and the incumbent energies of Equestria are. They can be developed over time, strengthened through training like you would a muscle. Or they can be natural, depending simply on how well your magic attunes itself to the forces around it.” Luna led them out into a wide open field at the edge of the castle. Glancing over her shoulder, Twilight noticed Luna had just led her out of what was effectively the back door. Before them was the garden and the hedge maze. It was there that Luna turned them to next.

“Elemental magic isn’t how strong your own magic is, it isn’t about spell-forms and diagrams and formulas. It’s simply how well you connect with the land around you.” Luna waved a hoof around them, her horn glowing faintly. “Air. It’s everywhere. We breathe it, we live in it, day in and day out. But it is mastered by nopony.” Twilight felt a breeze kick up around them, swirling around the two ponies. The leaves in the hedges sifted and rattled together, making a calming melody to the soft breeze.

“Water. It’s everypony’s life force. Without it, we cannot live. We would die of thirst. Water sustains us, but can also be cold and unforgiving.” Twilight watched in wonder as Luna lifted millions of tiny droplets from the grass all around them. She hovered the dew together in a medium-sized ball, which steadily continued to grow. The way the water hovered above the ground mystified Twilight. She felt a giddy sense of excitement and wonder begin to well up within her.

“Earth.”

“Aah!” Twilight gasped as a large section of ground before them tore itself from the rest of the grassy path, dropping large chunks of itself onto the grass. Twilight stilled her racing heart in appreciation of Luna’s prowess.

“Earth is strong, but immobile. It doesn’t yield, at least not easily. You must be strong to command it.” Luna set the chunk back in the ground, and with a flourish of magic, covered the spot over as if it had never been disturbed. Twilight made a connection in her mind in that moment.

“You and Celestia used earth elemental magic when teaching me about hatred, didn’t you?” She asked. Luna smiled down at her.

“Indeed we did, Twilight. We have used it many other times, as well. For instance, we hollowed out a large portion of Horseshoe Bay, to give the griffons the access to the sea they needed.”

“Wait...” Twilight paused. “You hollowed out all of Horseshoe Bay?”

“Well... I hate to brag, but...” Luna blushed and smiled. “It was an exhilarating experience.” Twilight looked at her for a long time, completely and utterly shocked that Luna and Celestia had done something so monumental. “Come on. We’re nearly there.”

“But... There’s one more.” Twilight fell into step beside Luna, looking up at her.

“Aah. Fire. Well, it’s not very practical, and it’s difficult to control even for somepony like myself. Not without doing some harm to the gardens here. But, let me see...” Luna looked around, frowning intently for a while. She spotted what she needed and trotted to it briskly. Twilight watched as she used her magic to hollow out a small indent in the earth, and place a dried bundle of sticks in it. She watched in awe as Luna’s magic sparked an intense blaze on the sticks, making a roaring blaze leap to life before their eyes.

“Fire is destructive, Twilight. It cannot exist without burning at least something. But it is also a useful tool. Without fire, we wouldn’t have metal or cooking.” Luna sighed as the blaze died down, leaving nothing but a pile of blackened sticks, half of them turned to ash. “Fire is emotional, and difficult to control. You have to find the delicate balance between guidance and letting it burn freely.

“All of these things come together to make elemental magic.” Luna concluded, indicating Twilight should follow her with a tilt of her head. “What I want you to do is meditate. That’s how we make the connection to the elements. However, Canterlot isn’t a very good place for you to try and establish a connection. There is a lot of interference in the air, what with the caverns beneath us, and all of the spells being constantly cast throughout the city. Even the presence of Celestia and I might hinder somepony from making the crucial connections they need. Therefore…” Luna turned the corner of a hedge maze, smiling at what lay before them. Twilight blinked at what she saw.

“A partition?”

“Correct. Inside, the space is free of magical influence. Not mine, not Celestia’s, not anypony’s magical energy will interfere.” Luna stopped before the partition. It was, effectively, a shield. But instead of absorbing and negating magic, this one rebounded it in full. On the outside, the partition appeared to be a soapy bubble. The surface was transparent, but shot through with rainbow-colored energy that swirled and shifted. Inside, Twilight could see nothing out of the ordinary. The partition appeared to be covering a simple patch of grass.

“Let me guess.” Twilight glanced up at Luna before focusing on the bubble before them. “You want me to meditate inside of there?”

“Precisely.” Luna confirmed. “Specifically, focus on the elements. I’m sure you’ve read on them, and I’ve just showed you each element, so just remember; strength of the earth, flow of the water, intensity of the fire, and freedom of the air. Think on their properties, and how well-suited you might be to one or the other. I find it’s best to try and have a conversation with yourself. Talk over your perks and your flaws. Find out what makes you who you really are. Then, the elements will be yours to control.”

“I understand.” Twilight smiled up at Luna. “I’m sure I can do this.”

“Confidence. That’s good.” Luna gave her a quick, reassuring hug. “It’s easy to lose track of time in there, so I’ll come retrieve you in a few hours.” She left with a passionate kiss, leaving Twilight standing alone before the partition. With a soft breath, Twilight made sure she had no magical influence in or around her, and slowly stepped into the partition. The bubble-like wall bent under her weight before sliding over her, feeling not unlike a slippery fish against her coat. She shivered as it passed over her tail, closing behind her, locking her inside.

“Woah.” Twilight realized then how much interference there really was in Canterlot. In the absence of the shield beneath her hooves, deep down in the caverns, without the hundreds of spells and levitations being cast by unicorns at all hours of the day and night, Twilight felt surprisingly clear and lucid. It was like putting earplugs in at a loud event. All around her, there was a constant hum of energy. It permeated everything, even the thickest wall wouldn’t protect her from it.

But inside the partition, it was all gone. She was alone with herself, with no magical energy to interfere. It was like shutting off a switch. The oppressive silence was remarkably peaceful. Twilight took a few moments to relish the feeling of being completely free of any magical interference. Alas, she had something to accomplish. With a soft breath, Twilight sat on the grass and closed her eyes. Her breathing began to grow deeper and more even. She inhaled through her nose and exhaled through her mouth, letting her muscles relax until she was at ease.

“The elements. Earth, wind, fire, water. To all of Equestria, these are the four building blocks of the world. The earth provides us a solid anchor, and keeps us all oriented. The wind refreshes us, and carries seeds across the world to help plants grow. Fire keeps us warm in the cold, and enables us to build and create things we normally couldn’t on our own. And water keeps us alive, hydrated, and clean.

“Earth is the strongest of all of the elements, but is also stubborn. It doesn’t yield easily, and can be difficult to work with. But for those of us who are strong and can shape the earth to our needs, we find happiness and fulfillment in our lives. Through our blood, sweat, and tears, we make things that are concrete and stable. Finite, but warm and comfortable.

“Air is free and wild. It cannot be tamed, will never be mastered, and exists solely for the sake of being unhindered. Which is also it’s greatest flaw. The air is undedicated and wanton. It floats to and fro of it’s own accord, and cannot be forced to do as anypony pleases. For those of us who try to stand and scream at the wind, willing it to do as we please, we are met with failure. But there are some who can let themselves loose into the flow of the wind, and let it carry them where it will. One way or another, through some miracle that will never be known to the world, they find themselves where they need to be.

“Water is flexible and adaptive. It flows into the cracks and washes past the most obstructive of obstacles. A little water cannot accomplish much. But great amounts of water can level mountains. From the smallest stream to the mightiest river, all water is free and unhindered. In small amounts, it is manageable, and easy to work with. But the more and more one tries to control, the easier it is to get swept away. Only those who have great reflexes and much skill can master the water and what it has to offer. Even then, they cannot stand against the flow. They must lose themselves to it, and learn to overcome their obstacles in ways other than meeting it head-on.” Twilight took a breath, opening her eyes as she came to the last element.

“Fire. It is powerful and destructive. Without the proper respect, a fire can rampage out of control, and burn even those we care the most about. But taking small steps, and keeping our passions in check, we can accomplish great things. Using fire is both dangerous and fulfilling. It is a wonderful tool to have at our disposal, but a terrible weapon to behold if wielded improperly. Connected almost directly to our own emotions, fire can either be cool and calm, or blazing hot and wild. Only by controlling ourselves can we control fire.” Twilight’s lips drew down in a soft frown. She took several more deep breaths.

“So which element am I? Am I Earth? Strong and hardy, able to withstand anything thrown at me? No… I am not very stubborn, nor am I all that reliable. I’m more likely to step back and look at a problem rather than rush into it, fixing things my way… Am I fire? Passionate and strong? I don’t think so… There was a point in time when my anger would get away from me, but I’ve learned to control it. I can-“

“Twilight.”

“Aah!” Twilight’s eyes snapped open at the sudden interference. Luna stood before her, smiling faintly. Twilight gulped air, trying to get her heart to calm down. “You frightened me.”

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to disturb you. But it’s been six hours.”

“Six hours?” Twilight rubbed her temple with a hoof, frowning down at the grass. “It didn’t feel that long… It only felt like a few minutes.”

“Such is the nature of meditation.” Luna teased. “You haven’t done it yet, so I wouldn’t expect you to understand. But you’ll find spending even a few minutes thinking away from the influence of so much magic will soon evolve into hours or even days. Are you hungry?”

“No…” Twilight frowned. “I’m really not… In fact, it feels like I just ate.”

“Another side-effect. When you meditate, your body doesn’t use much energy. Ponies have gone months in meditation without eating.” Luna nuzzled her neck gingerly, coaxing her towards the walls of the partition. As the two of them stepped through the oily surface of the shield-like bubble, Twilight could feel the buzz of magic all around her. It was like the droning of a thousand bees. It permeated her head and her ears, making her frown intently.

“I never knew it was so prominent. I’ve lived my whole life without entering a partition. Wow.” Her senses began to dull over a little, to compensate for the sudden change. Stepping into the partition was blissful, almost like slipping inbetween cool sheets on a hot summer afternoon. But stepping back out was an experience in and of itself.

“I’m sorry to put you through this, Twilight.” Luna said softly, nuzzling her yet again. “But meditating around Canterlot is almost impossible. You’ll have to get used to it, I’m afraid.”

“I’ll be fine.” Twilight grumbled, shaking her head slowly. She felt a headache beginning. “Just takes a little getting used to is all.”

“Hmm. Come on, let’s get you some water. I’m sure that’ll help.” After a quick break and a short conversation with Luna, Twilight was ready to re-enter the partition. Bidding the princess farewell, Twilight stepped through the oily surface, sighing as the influence of Canterlot left her, leaving nothing in it’s wake. She took a moment to enjoy the sensation of being free of magic’s influence before closing her eyes once again.

“Where was I? Right. Fire. Emotional and wild, it can burn through any obstacle in it’s path. Fire can melt stone and metal, burn away water, and even ignite the air. But it will also burn the ones you care about. I don’t think I’m the type to let my friends or loved ones be injured by my lack of control. Fire certainly doesn’t suit me.

“I am most definitely not air. I can seldom relax for more than a few hours at a time. Letting my problems go, not worrying, that certainly isn’t me… I can’t just let things be. I have to have control over the situation. Some sort of input, or handle on what’s happening. A master of my own destiny. No, I am most certainly not air…” Twilight’s eyes opened then, and a faint smile played across her lips.

“I am water. Cool and refreshing. Always in control, but never concrete. I can flow and adapt. My obstacles are best met on my own terms, when and where I please. If the situation isn’t ideal, I will change position, and attack from a different angle. If all else fails, I will wear it down until nothing remains. I can grind mighty mountains to sediment, and carve deep trenches in the earth. In small amounts, I am easy to control. But the more power I devote to something, the harder it is for me to control it. I never step outside of my comfort zone, and will often take the path of least resistance.” Twilight breathed out, and inside the partition, the solitary hum of her own magic filled the air. From the grass beneath her feet, hundreds of tiny droplets began to rise.

She could feel it deep inside of her. Twilight was connecting directly to the elements. Her horn glowed with a pale purple light, lifting and guiding the water around her. It condensed in the atmosphere, and came out of the ground beneath her hooves. Twilight was surrounded by a ring of water, hundreds of thousands of tiny droplets of liquid all floating together.

“Well done, Twilight.”

“Aah!” With a start, Twilight’s eyes snapped open. Luna stood in front of her once again, though this time she was laughing at Twilight. The water she had been controlling fell back to the grass, painting the blades around her with a shining ring of precipitation. “Seriously,” Twilight blushed, her heart hammering against her ribcage. “You have got to stop doing that.”

“It’s difficult to get your attention. I stood there for fifteen minutes, watching you play with your water.” Luna chuckled, wiping a tear from the corner of her eye. Twilight glowered at her, but went to give the princess a gentle hug anyways.

“I felt a connection, Luna.” Twilight muttered seriously. “I think I’ve discovered my element.”

“I always suspected you would be connected to water.” Luna returned, stroking Twilight’s mane tenderly. “it’s a strong element to align yourself with. You should be happy.”

“I am.” Twilight smiled up at her, pulling away from the embrace. “It’s kind of a relief, knowing what it is you’re best at doing.”

“Hmm.” Luna nodded at her before sweeping a hoof out, inviting Twilight to step out of the partition. With a grimace, Twilight pushed through the oily surface and into the humming Canterlot air. It wasn’t as bad as the first time, but the sensation was still intense. Twilight blanched visibly. Luna, however, seemed unfazed. “You’ve made your connection to the element you identify with the most. Tomorrow, you’ll learn how to control the others.”

“Tomorrow?” Twilight looked around, frowning intently. It was dusk already. They had started close to dawn. It felt like the day had just barely begun, but here she was, standing on the brink of night. “Huh. I’m not even tired.”

“Well, nopony’s going to stop you from meditating through the night.” Luna gave her a quick kiss. “Come. Let’s meet Celestia.” Together, the two of them made their way out of the hedge maze and back to the castle proper. After ascending the observatory tower, Twilight and Luna pushed out onto the balcony, smiling at the small party gathered there.

“Hello, Twilight. Long time no see.” Warden gave her a kind smile, stepping forward for a quick, friendly hug. Twilight returned it readily, smiling at the sturdy unicorn.

“Good to see you again, Warden. Night Dancer. How are you?”

“Peachy.” Night Dancer bubbled, giving Twilight a friendly embrace. She and Warden stood side-by-side, smiling brightly at her. Twilight felt her own lips spread in a silly grin.

“I trust everything went well in my absence?”

“I’d say so.” Celestia offered, pushing her way onto the balcony behind Luna. “These two have performed admirably these last few weeks. I dare say they’re the best we’ve seen, aside from yourself of course.”

“I’m flattered.” Twilight teased. “But I think it’s time I take my responsibility back.”

“No complaints here.” Night Dancer chuckled. Twilight watched as she and Warden shared a quick glance and a nod. “We’ve nothing to share. This morning’s cycle went over perfectly. The azimuth and vector angles should all be aligned properly.”

“Perfect.” Twilight smiled, turning to Celestia with a firm nod. “Whenever you’re ready, princess.” At her signal, both Luna and Celestia took their respective places. Twilight braced for the impact, and was soon engulfed in the energy of both princesses. She shielded herself, Night Dancer, and Warden together, withstanding the energy perfectly. Once they were finished, the sun sat well over the horizon, and the moon hung half-full, low in the sky. It was going to be a beautiful, cloudless night.

“I’ll say good night now,” Celestia sighed. “I have something to take care of before I rest. Good bye, you four. See you in the morning, Twilight. Sister.” With one last serene smile, Celestia dove off of the balcony, turning in a wide, banking turn away from the observatory tower. Luna and Twilight stood opposite Night Dancer and Warden, who hadn’t quite left yet. It appeared as if the two had something to share with them.

“Something the matter?” Luna asked after a brief silence.

“It’s no secret the two of you are a couple.” Night Dancer started, stepping forward just a little. “I would have hoped you felt confident in the two of us that you would have shared this either way. With or without your little returning episode.”

“I’m not sure what you mean…” Twilight frowned.

“She’s saying she hoped you two would have told us one way or another.” Warden offered. Night Dancer glanced at him before lifting a shoulder. Twilight and Luna shared a look.

“We… Hadn’t exactly intended to go public.” Twilight offered. Luna nodded her consent. “But it just kind of… Happened.”

“That sounds pretty close to the truth.” Luna smiled back at the other two unicorns. Warden and Night Dancer shared a quick look as well before turning to them with a smile.

“Well, we have a little announcement of our own.”

“’S about time.” Twilight scoffed. Luna smiled. Night Dancer blinked, and Warden’s jaw dropped.

“What do you mean?!”

“I mean I saw it coming.” Twilight chuckled. “You two work awfully well together. It was only a matter of time.” Both of them blushed at her explanation, but didn’t offer any protests. She watched as Warden gently leaned against Night Dancer’s side.

“Well, there goes our big confession.” He muttered.

“Out the fuckin’ window.” Night Dancer grumbled. After a short pause, they all laughed.

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“That wasn’t that big a surprise.” Luna kissed Twilight’s cheek as they entered her own chambers. Twilight nodded with a slight blush.

“You saw it coming, too?”

“You should have seen the two of them,” Luna chuckled, padding towards her bed. “After each cycle, they’d stay on the balcony and talk for hours at a time. It was like watching school fillies.” She slipped up onto the thin bedspread, patting the bed next to her. Twilight climbed up, returning Luna’s passionate look.

“Well, good for them. I’m actually kind of glad they’re doing so well.”

“Hmm.” Luna moaned, looping her foreleg around Twilight. “More power to them. I wonder what their foal will look like.”

“Now there’s a thought.” Twilight teased Luna’s neck with a gentle kiss. “Night Dancer’s a mare of the night, and Warden’s a guard…” Luna’s chuckle was cut short by a soft gasp as Twilight pulled a small bit of her neck inbetween her lips, nibbling the warm flesh teasingly.

“Hey now.” Luna whimpered, squirming a little bit against Twilight. “Don’t get too frisky…”

“Give me one good reason I shouldn’t.” Twilight muttered, kissing a little bit lower.

“I’m… Ah. A little tired.”

“Oh.” Twilight stopped with a slight blush, glancing up at Luna. “Sorry.”

“I should be the one apologizing.” Luna teased, kissing Twilight’s forehead. “I’ll make it up to you. I promise.”

“Hmph. You’d better.” Twilight smiled as she gave Luna’s collarbone one last kiss before curling up against her. She didn’t feel all that tired.

“You can go, if you’d like.” Luna mused, rubbing Twilight’s back in slow circles. “I know you’ve been meditating, so you’re not very sleepy.”

“Do you mind?” Twilight asked, peeking up at the princess.

“Not at all. I’ll fetch you before dawn.” Luna pressed her lips against Twilight’s, moaning into the kiss slightly.

“Good night.” Twilight gasped after the kiss.

“Good night.” Luna nestled down into the covers, and Twilight pulled away gently. She watched as Luna’s eyes slipped closed, and her breathing evened out. Leaving the slumbering princess with one last kiss to her cheek, Twilight went back out to the hedge maze.

“Aah.” The oily texture of the partition slid over her coat, enveloping her in the silent, relaxing space free of magic. She sighed happily, breathing deep the earthy scents of the maze around her. “So,” She looked up at the stars, talking to nopony but herself. “I am water. Flexible, adaptable, transient. Powerful. How can I become other elements?” She looked around her, frowning slightly. She could feel the soft breeze playing over her flanks, and the hard earth beneath her hooves. The grass glistened with a fine layer of dew. The only thing missing was fire. With a quick spark of her horn, Twilight summoned a healthy blaze. All around her then were the four elements.

“Fire. Earth. Water. Wind. Fire is passionate and strong; intense. Water is flexible and quick. Earth is strong and stubborn. Air is free.” She looked around, musing over each one.

“Let’s try my own element first. Water.” With a soft breath, Twilight’s horn began to glow. The droplets on the blades of grass all around her flickered slightly as she gingerly pulled them upwards. They hovered into the air, quivering with her magic. Slowly, she pulled them all together, forming a single sphere of water that hovered in the air before her. She could feel the current swirl around inside, spinning a lazy circle. Slowly, Twilight pushed her hoof into the sphere. The water swirled around her hoof, passing over the obstruction with ease. She didn’t even disrupt the current that much. The deeper she went, the more water she displaced, but it didn’t disrupt the flow.

“Okay. Easy enough.” With a thought, Twilight spread the water back out over the grass, misting the blades with millions of tiny droplets. “Let’s try something close to my own element. Air.” Twilight exhaled gently, her horn still humming faintly. As her breath left her lungs, she felt the breeze around her pick up. The flames of her magically-summoned fire fluttered next to her, being pulled on the wind. She could feel the air spin around her, caressing her coat like the touch of a passionate lover. The sound of it picked up in her ears, increasing until it felt like she was running full-tilt into a headlong wind. When she looked around, she could see the blades of grass pressed flat to the earth, pinned down from the force of the wind around her. Gently, she inhaled a breath, drawing in the intensity of the wind. It died away slowly, until nothing but the gentle nighttime breeze caressed her flanks.

“Woah.” She was shocked. The wind had leapt to her command readily. She never really controlled it, but she could certainly guide it. “Right then… Earth.” Twilight drew her brow down and spread her hooves. For this, she would have to be strong. Immobile. Nothing could sway her. Earth was all about strength. To move something, you needed to be stronger than it. Right then, Twilight needed to be stronger than the ground in front of her. Her horn hummed with a dense sound, filling the air with her magic. Under her guidance, it slipped into the ground, filling the dirt and the roots with her will. And her will was stronger than that of the dirt.

A massive brick of earth tore itself from the ground around it, sending chunks of dark-colored soil tumbling along the grass. Roots jutted out at odd angles, dangling in the air as they were ripped from their places by Twilight’s magic. She held the chunk of earth aloft, though her hooves began to dig into the soil around her. She withstood it’s weight. She was strong. Her combat training with Luna long ago had hardened her muscles. She wasn’t as capable as Applejack, but she was definitely stronger than most other unicorns.

She let the earth fall back in place. The tremor made her own hooves shake a little, and the uneven ground would not go unnoticed by the palace staff. But she smiled nevertheless, proud of her achievement. Next was the one element was fearful of more than the others. She would have to be careful about it. The light of the fire danced in her eyes as Twilight stood opposite the flames, staring intently at the flickering reds and yellows.

It happened without much thought at all. Twilight gasped as the flames surged at her command, roaring with intensity. The heat beat against her face, every bit as intense as a strong summer sun. She grit her teeth, breathing deep and easy as she fought to harness the energy. As close as she got, the flames licked at her coat, threatening to burn her. But she stayed just the right distance, feeling the heat. All around her, a ring of flame danced in the air, spinning lazily as it crackled with energy. Inch by inch, Twilight scaled the flames back, guiding them into the makeshift pit she had constructed. After a few moments, the fire was respectably small, crackling happily in it’s place. She panted with excitement, her coat beaded with sweat.

“I did it.” She breathed, grinning from ear to ear. “I controlled the elements.”

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“Well done, Twilight.”

“She really is going to do it, isn’t she?”

“I think so.” Celestia turned to her sister with a smile, both of them looking down at the castle gardens, and the hedge maze. They had witnessed Twilight’s demonstration, watched her control all four of the elements, one after the other. “You know what this means.”

“She’s finally fulfilled the prophecy.” Luna smiled back at Celestia. Together, the two of them turned off of the balcony and back into Celestia’s office. They entered the magically-hidden library, descending down amongst the millions of books. Celestia led them both to one book set on a stand. The book with Twilight’s cutie mark emblazoned on the front. Slowly, she flipped through all of the empty pages, where the parts of the prophecy had already come true. Each one of them was blank. Right up until the very last page.

“So that’s it, then.” Luna whispered, staring at the last page.

“The last bit.” Celestia nodded. “And it’s rooted.” She glanced at her sister, frowning just a little. “Have you decided how you feel about it?”

“I think so...” Luna muttered, though her expression was still dark. She gingerly laid a hoof over the pendant on her neck. “We’ll just have to see. I doubt it’ll happen as it says...And even so, we still can’t be entirely sure of its meaning.”

“Tell me about it.” Celestia harrumphed and looked back at the text on the last page. It was just one line. But that one line was probably the most important in all of Equestrian history. She and Luna looked at it for a long time, both of them frowning with thought.

Neither of them could possibly be prepared for it.