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Magical Mystery Cure, prologue
May. 19th, 2014 08:51 pmIt's extremely rare for Twilight to get a knock on the door this late in the evening. When it does happen, it's usually Apple Bloom and her friends asking for help with their homework, or Pinkie inviting her to one social event or another.
Tonight, it's neither. It's a courier with a package for Twilight... from Canterlot Castle.
Twilight grabs the parcel away and slams the door so abruptly that she almost cracks the courier in the snout. It's not that she means to be rude; she's just stunned and intensely curious. What could Princess Celestia possibly be sending that she doesn't trust to be delivered by Spike's magic fire? (The fact that Spike is in the middle of a bath upstairs is beside the point. Twilight knows from experience that the Princess won't hesitate to interrupt Spike's bathtime if there's an urgent message to be sent.)
The package contains a single sheet of parchment and an old spiral-bound notebook. The parchment reads:
Dear Twilight Sparkle,
The spell contained on the last page of this book is Star Swirl the Bearded's secret unfinished masterpiece. He was never able to get it right, and thus abandoned it. I believe you are the only pony who can understand and rewrite it.
Princess Celestia
Twilight can't believe what she's reading. A spell from Star Swirl the Bearded? The Star Swirl the Bearded?? One of the greatest and most influential unicorn mages in the history of Equestria? This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. A once-in-several-lifetimes opportunity. Even though it's getting late, Twilight can't resist having a look at the spell right this second.
The pages of the notebook are faded and yellow with age, but still legible. The final spell appears to be a verbal incantation--something that would have been common in Star Swirl's day, but is rarely used in modern Equestria. Magic words may be powerful, but they just aren't practical for day-to-day spellwork. Twilight frowns in concentration as she translates the Old Equestrian glyphs and sounds out the words:
"From one to another, another to one.
A mark of one's destiny, singled out alone, fulfilled."
...and that's it.
"It doesn't make any sense," says Twilight to herself. "It doesn't even rhyme." Aren't all incantations supposed to rhyme? What does Princess Celestia expect her to do with this mish-mash?
Well, there's no point in puzzling over it now. She's got a clear schedule tomorrow (mostly); she can worry about it then. With a yawn, Twilight sets the notebook down on the table and trots back up the stairs to her bed. Maybe the incantation will make more sense once she's slept on it.
She never thinks to turn around and see the flickering lights emanating from the Elements of Harmony in their glass case.
Tonight, it's neither. It's a courier with a package for Twilight... from Canterlot Castle.
Twilight grabs the parcel away and slams the door so abruptly that she almost cracks the courier in the snout. It's not that she means to be rude; she's just stunned and intensely curious. What could Princess Celestia possibly be sending that she doesn't trust to be delivered by Spike's magic fire? (The fact that Spike is in the middle of a bath upstairs is beside the point. Twilight knows from experience that the Princess won't hesitate to interrupt Spike's bathtime if there's an urgent message to be sent.)
The package contains a single sheet of parchment and an old spiral-bound notebook. The parchment reads:
Dear Twilight Sparkle,
The spell contained on the last page of this book is Star Swirl the Bearded's secret unfinished masterpiece. He was never able to get it right, and thus abandoned it. I believe you are the only pony who can understand and rewrite it.
Princess Celestia
Twilight can't believe what she's reading. A spell from Star Swirl the Bearded? The Star Swirl the Bearded?? One of the greatest and most influential unicorn mages in the history of Equestria? This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. A once-in-several-lifetimes opportunity. Even though it's getting late, Twilight can't resist having a look at the spell right this second.
The pages of the notebook are faded and yellow with age, but still legible. The final spell appears to be a verbal incantation--something that would have been common in Star Swirl's day, but is rarely used in modern Equestria. Magic words may be powerful, but they just aren't practical for day-to-day spellwork. Twilight frowns in concentration as she translates the Old Equestrian glyphs and sounds out the words:
A mark of one's destiny, singled out alone, fulfilled."
...and that's it.
"It doesn't make any sense," says Twilight to herself. "It doesn't even rhyme." Aren't all incantations supposed to rhyme? What does Princess Celestia expect her to do with this mish-mash?
Well, there's no point in puzzling over it now. She's got a clear schedule tomorrow (mostly); she can worry about it then. With a yawn, Twilight sets the notebook down on the table and trots back up the stairs to her bed. Maybe the incantation will make more sense once she's slept on it.
She never thinks to turn around and see the flickering lights emanating from the Elements of Harmony in their glass case.
