NaNo2014: Shadows of Friendship: Part 5

“S…Sir Art Nouveau…” Spike stammered, bowing to the unicorn who was easily twice Twilight’s age and had been knighted for ‘his service to unicorns everywhere’ after his game had drastically improved the training of young unicorns across Equestria and beyond as they learned fine control of their magic through playing Duel Monsters. “It’s nice to meet you.”

Twilight winced as she recognised that Spike was going to gush about how much he loved Duel Monsters and start asking the millions of questions about how it was made and how Sir Nouveau had come up with the ideas that Spike had, at one point, been bombarding her with. They did not have time for that and she let out a sigh before speaking.

“Sorry, sir.” She bowed herself briefly, before she picked up Spike and plonked him back on her rear, “But the Princess is waiting. We really have to go.”

“A shame, I do so wish to talk with you at some point. I’ve heard you’re rather spectacular at Duel Monsters, even White Lightning was no match for you and he’s the best in all of Equestria. You might be just who I need to help me with a project.” The unicorn sighed, “But still the Princess can’t be denied, have a good night, Twliy-girl.” He bowed back to her, “I’ll try and catch up with you another day.”

“Yes sir.” Twilight nodded, “I look forward to it.”

He just smiled at her and trotted down the hallways, leaving the young unicorn filly to carry on towards her mentor. Spike sulked a little as they went, put out that he had not gotten to talk to Sir Nouveau for any length of time. It was not until Twilight reminded the baby dragoon that the genius behind the game of Duel Monsters wanted to talk to her about a project of his, which meant that they would be seeing the gentlecolt some point soon, that he cheered up any.

By the time she had managed that, they were almost at the great big double doors that led to the main hall, which, on occasion doubled as Celestia’s throne room. While the attempt to cheer up the baby dragon on her back had been a good distraction, the moment Twilight saw those doors the nerves came back with a vengeance.

They were slightly ajar and while she did not normally eavesdrop she could not help but hear the conversation within when she approached the entranceway. Inside her brother, who was Captain of the Palace Guard and the Princess were discussing options for the safety of the palace while Celestia herself was away at the Summer Sun Celebration’s main event, which this year was going to be held in a small rural town known as Ponyville.

“My Princess, if I might speak freely…” Twilight’s brother sounded tense, not that his sister could blame him. The Summer Sun Celebration was the biggest holiday in the Equestrian calendar and for the last few years it had been his job to organise the safety and security of the Princess while she travelled to and from the various cities it had been held in. If they were taking the threat of Nightmare Moon seriously on top of that, it was a lot for her brother to worry about.

“You’re practically family, Shining Armour.” Celestia on the other hand sounded calm, almost completely unconcerned, just as she almost always did, leaving Twilight with no idea of how the Princess was feeling, “Your sister’s grown up in my tutelage and your relationship with my niece…well…” The Princess chuckled slightly. “Of course you may speak your mind.”

Twilight poked her head around the door in time to see her brother shuffle from hoof to hoof, looking embarrassed. She would be willing to bet that he was blushing under his coat too. “Princess Celestia…you realise that if my sister is right and Nightmare Moon is returning, you will be fighting her alone according to your current plans? I really believe that I should sent a platoon of guards with you.”

“I thank you for your concern, Shining Armour.” Celestia sounded fond, “And that has occurred to me too. However I have yet to attend a single Summer Sun Celebration with an armed guard and I will not start now. Ponyville deserves better than to have their carefully planned events overrun. Besides the one pony I need will already be there, ready and waiting.”

“They will?” Shining Armour sounded surprised, “If I might be so bold as to ask, who are they?”

Celestia started to speak, saw Twilight was at the door and smiled instead, “Ah, my dearest Twilight Sparkle, come in. We have much to discuss.”

“S…sorry, am I early?” Twilight asked nervously as she entered the room, looking between her brother who looked exasperated and the Princess who seemed oddly amused. The phrase ‘dearest Twilight Sparkle’ put her mind a little at ease. She obviously was not in any trouble which was a good start.

“No, no, your brother can finish up after I’ve sent you off.” Celestia shook her head, her pale, shimmering rainbow hued mane flowing like water in the breeze coming in through the open window.

“Where am I going?” Twilight could not help but ask, “And why? I could help.”

“I know you could, my dear student.” The alicorn reassured her, causing Twilight to unwind a little further, “But I have a very important task for you to complete and it’s imperative that you do.”

Twilight stood ramrod straight at that. If the Princess was entrusting her with an important mission then she would do everything within her power to complete it.

“I’m sending you to Ponyville ahead of me to oversee the preparations for the Summer Sun Celebration,” Celestia informed her, “And while you’re there, I want you to try to do something that you’ve been shying away from since White Lightning left my school.”

“Princess?” Twilight asked, confused.

“Make some friends.”

“What?!” Twilight yelped, ignoring the poleaxed look on her brother’s face. “But Pri…”

“Hear me out, Twilight.” Celestia’s tone was firm, making the unicorn filly stop to listen. “You are young and there’s more to life than your studies. It’s very important now that you find other ponies that you can trust and you enjoy spending time with.”

“I don’t understand.” Twilight admitted, though she hated to do so, too caught up in her confusion to realise she was questioning the one person in her life she had never dared to question before, “Why now?”

“I want you to take this with you.” Celestia said, using her bright sun yellow magic to levitate a letter over to her. “And open it tomorrow evening, before I arrive in Ponyville. You’ll understand when you read it, but believe me when I say this is your most important test to date.”

Twilight still could not believe what she was hearing as she took the letter from her mentor. It was true she had kept mostly to herself since White Lightning had been withdrawn from the school, but even he had not really been a friend. A rival yes, they had competed in everything and they had pushed each other to greater things, but a friend…not so much. There had been no one at the school who had even come close to them by the time he had left and she found herself ostracised for both her grades and for ‘her part’ in White Lightning’s accident, even if she had not been involved in what had happened.

She had no clue how she was going to make friends with anyone from some backwater town where she did not know anyone. She certainly doubted that she would find anyone who held similar interests to her or could match her in learning.

“You know Twily.” Shining Armour spoke up, looking between Celestia and Twilight with an odd expression, as if something had occurred to him. “You might start with Duel Monsters. That’s something most people are interested in.”

“But I don’t play any…”

“You played today.” Spike pointed out, trying to be helpful. “And you’re still really good. You could totally make friends that way.”

Twilight harrumphed and shook slightly, causing Spike to yelp and dig his claws in as he nearly fell off of her back. She did not want his helpful comments, she wanted to comprehend why she was being sent to complete a test that she did not really understand and was not sure she could complete.

“I’m not going to change my mind about this, Twilight.” Celestia warned, her voice stern as he beheld her student’s displeasure and confusion. “No matter how much you dislike it. Now, do you have anything you need to get from the palace before you go?”

“No, Princess Celestia.” The unicorn bowed her head, trying to get her emotions under control. This was a test. She had been given an assignment and a test. It did not matter how she felt about it, or how little she understood. Celestia would not have given her this test if she did not believe that she could pass.

“Then I’ll wish you good luck and look forward to seeing you during the celebrations.” The Princess smiled at her, “Shining Armour, would you walk her to the chariot? You can join me in my private study once you’ve seen her off, but I’m sure you two would like to talk.”

“Yes, Princess.” Shining Armour herded his sister from the room and back down towards the courtyard. They travelled down in silence for while before Shining Armour sighed and asked, “Did you pack your puzzle?” to break the silence.

He was not expecting the reaction he got. He watched in both shock and confusion as Twilight’s head sank and her steps faltered, her shoulders drooping and she slowed to an almost stop.

“Twilight?” He asked, concerned, “You didn’t forget it did you?”

“Worse.” Twilight muttered, wincing, “There’s a piece missing. I can’t complete it.”