Chapters

Prologue: Waiting
Chapter One: Of Rooks and Chamomile.
Chapter Two: The Book
Chapter Three: Out of the Frying Pan, Into the Fire.
Chapter Four: Newton and Lana
Chapter Five: The First Lesson

Prologue: Waiting
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Nopony Lives Forever, Twilight

Prologue: Waiting

Celestia sighed. The bar smelled like smoke. What was it's name again? It didn't matter. Just so long as nopony she knew was there. Not that they would recognize her in her disguise. Sunny Skies the pegasus was a nopony. Sunny Skies could go anywhere unnoticed. If only Celestia could just stay away from her royal duties. If only "Sunny Skies" could move to Ponyville. But of course, Celestia couldn't do that. Luna wouldn't be able to take over for her.

Celestia sighed again. These days things were so hard. Nopony understood how hard life was for her. Even Luna, her so-called "sister" had no idea of some of the things eating at her soul. She wanted to tell somepony. Anypony. But who to tell? She didn't want her subjects to know everything that she had done, but she couldn't tell her sister, or Cadence. They can't know. That is the way it must be, the way it always must be.

Celestia sighed for the third time, then chastised herself for sighing too much. She looked down at the drink in her hoof. Was it wine? Maybe... It was something darker than beer or champagne, that was for sure. The current song ended and a new one began. Jackle App & Mic The Microphone - One Trick Pony. Celestia gazed off into the distance. Was that all she was? A one trick pony? She sure felt like one. She almost sighed again.

Celestia finished off the drink, not even tasting it. If she had, she would have noted that it was whiskey, and not wine, but she didn't and it didn't matter. The bartend, despite the air of gruffness and stoicism he wore, glanced at Sunny Skies from the corner of his eye, worried for her safety. The old unicorn was reminded of his daughter, who took every chance she got to get into trouble. He sighed and returned to his work, which as of now, included scrubbing the stains from the dark mahogany wood of his bar. Tonight was a night for sighing.

Miles away, a young, lilac alicorn just learning how to be a princess was still awake, frantically rushing about the library she lived in. Her assistant groggily handed her the book she'd been searching for, and sighed. Meanwhile, a dear friend of hers stood over a tangled mess of sleeping fillies, clucking at the mess they had made of her boutique. She glanced down at her younger sister, who was snoring ever so slightly. She sighed as well. As did a rather large burgundy colt on the nearby apple farm, looking down upon his sleeping sister, who had worked herself half to deathbucking apple trees all through the night. As did a certain tired blue unicorn, laying in an uncomfortable, crooked bed in a dingy motel, contemplating where her lfe had taken the turn that had led her here. And as did countless dozens of others, all across the land, and their collective sigh was felt by the thousandfold by their beloved sun Princess, who sighed once more. She knew something none of them knew. Something that would seem obvious to one of them, but to Celestia, it meant much more. She knew, that she was going to die, and she was going to do so soon. And so, she walked out the door to the bar, knowing she was soon to die, waiting.

Waiting to die.

Waiting.

Chapter One: Of Rooks and Chamomile.
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Nopony Lives Forever, Twilight

Chapter One: Of Rooks and Chamomile.

Twilight Sparkle woke with a start. She had a book stuck to her face with nothing but drool. She must have fallen asleep while studying… She glanced at the clock and gasped, "Spike!? How could you let me sleep in so late? It's Thursday, Spike, Thursday!"

Spike groaned as he was pulled out of his beautiful, amazing bed. "It's only 6:30 Twilight, and what's all this about Thursday?"

"Spike," groaned Twilight, "Thursday is the day I have tea and chess with Princess Celestia! And now, thanks to you, I only have half an hour to get there!" Spike grumbled something about it always being his fault, then threw himself onto his bed, wrapping his blanket tightly around his little scaly body. "Gee, some assistant you are."

Exasperated, Twilight picked up a brush with her magic and started the long task of brushing her mane, before stopping suddenly. Flying there would ruin her mane anyways… Twilight tossed her brush into her saddlebags, along with a few other things, and slid them onto her back.

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As Twilight flew past the royal guards bowed deeply, much to the lilac unicorn's embarassement. The guards spoke not a word as she trotted down the hallway to Celestia's tea-room. The two had been meeting there for tea and a game of chess evey Thursday for the last month nd a half now, and the guards knew the schedule. Twilight looked up at the clock hanging over the doorway before she went in. 7:06. She had beaten her personal record, but she was still six minutes late. Thankfully, with some training from Princess Cadence, Twilight had gotten past her long-lived fear of tardiness, although it did still make her nervous to be late to a personal meeting with the sun princess.

"Hello, Princess Celestia, I'm so sorry I'm late! I was-"

"Nonsense, Twilight, you have no reason to be sorry, in fact, I should thank you, now I'm less likely to burn my tongue on my tea." She smiled lightly as she gestured to her teacup, which looked as if she had been waiting for Twilight to arrive before partaking in it. "And please, we're both princesses, call me Celestia, I insist."

"Sorry, Prin- Celestia. Didn't Luna call you Tia before?" Celstia flinched visibly at the mention of her sister's nickname for her.

"I prefer Celestia, thank you." The sun princess began placing pieces onto the board, silent. The game began, and niether player spoke for the better half of the game, until finally, Twilight spoke up.

"Celestia? I've been thinking, you said I was a princess, but the princess of what?" Celestia froze, her hoof over a bishop. "Am I like the princess of some new kingdom, or is there something here in Equestria for me to take over?" At the words 'take over,' Celestia flinched once more. Her hoof moved to a knight, and she moved it across the board. "Why, Celestia!" Twilight gasped, "you've been holding back for me!? Why didn't you say anything?" And with that, She moved a rook from its starting position to the other side of the board, "check." Twilight was shocked to see that the princess was glaring at the board as if willing it to burst into flame. What did I say? Wondered Twilight, perhaps now would be a good time to change the subject… "Errm… So, Celestia? Now that I'm an alicorn, does that mean I'm going to live forever, like you?" Twilight was execting the change in subject to calm Celestia down, but that was quite the opposite of what actually occurred.

"I will NOT!" Celestia slammed her hoof onto the table, knocking over a few chess pieces and spilling her tea. "Live forever," she finished gravelly.

Twilight stared in shocked silence. The soft pitter-patter of hot tea dripping onto Celestia's hooves was the only sound that could be heard as Celestia stared at her student angrily. Celestia's eyes widened, "oh, Twilight, I- I'm so sorry, I don't know what's gotten into me! It's just- My-" Celestia sputtered.

"Oh, goddes, Celestia, I should be the one apologizing ," Twilight interrupted, "I didn't realize how touchy a subject that was for you."

"No, you couldn't have known, I've kept it a secret all this time…" Celestia sighed, and it was a sigh that told stories of millenia past, stories that had never been spoken aloud. "Twilight, my most faithful student, I have a story to tell. How fast can you write?"

Flustered, Twilight looked at her teacher, "write? Well I can write faster than a pony can talk, but why-"

Celestia interrupted, "great, now listen closely, I am only immortal for as long as I am needed, for that was the power bestowed upon me by the goddess. I can already feel my youth slipping away and-"

"But why? We still need you, Celestia,I need you."

Celestia smiled sadly. "I fear that my immortality began to leave me back when I took you on as a student, but do not fret, if not for you, my existance would have been for naught."

"No!" Twilight was shouting now, "you're wrong! You can't die! I'll make sure-"

"Please Twilight, be at peace. There is nothing that you can do." Tears streamed down Twilights face as Celestia continued, "I want you to record my story, and I want you to publish it at the time of my passing." Twilight sobbed incoherently. "Twilight, be strong for me, can you do this?"

"Yes!"sobbed Twilight, "Anything, anything for you, Princess!" Twilight tried to stop crying, but managed only to slow down the tears. A stack of paper was brought into existance and floated over to the sobbing alicorn by Celestia, along with a red quill and an inkwell.

"I am about to begin my story, are you ready to begin, or shall I give you a moment's rest?"

Twilight nodded, "I'm ready," one final tear fell from her cheek and hit the stack of paper with a soft pat!

Celestia gazed fondly at her student and began her story.

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"I was a small, white unicorn, and had no family to speak of. I was shipped back and forth between foster parents who hated me and orphanages. I was lucky. Luna had one foster mother. She was tortured. When I say tortured, I don't mean treated poorly, I mean chained to a bedpost, beaten, starved, I mean, by the time she was eight years old she was being sold off as a sex slave to anypony, or other sentient species, I might add, with a bent penny. When I say she was tortured, I mean, she was tortured.

"When she was ten, I was sent to her foster mother as well. I was twelve at the time, probably worth my weight in gold to the old bitch. Thankfully, that same day, before I had been sold off, the authorities came and saved the day. Or, at least we thought they did. Instead, they bought us from the old hag to keep for their own personal pleasure. That night, we escaped. But not before I had made myself well known. A drunk cop had come into my cell and forgotten to lock the door behind him. Thank the goddess he was such a fool. I took his own baton and got him in the testes. I hit him a great many times before taking the keys and running. I think I killed him. I was only twelve, and I think I killed him.

"From there I went and unlocked all the cells containing children. Luna asked me how I'd gotten the keys. I think she knew, when I didn't respond. I never told her, but I think she's known. She stayed with me when we all ran. Along with a little colt who's name I forget. He died while we were living in the streets. We moved from town to town, leaving when we were unwelcome. It was a cruel time to live in.

"Eventually we came to a town called Greysmane. I was fourteen, and I got a job at a bookstore. I hated books, even though all my life I had wanted to be a writer. I tried so hard to write stories, but they were horrible, dull summaries at the very best." Celestia gazed off into the distance, seemingly looking at nothing, lost in memories.

Chapter Two: The Book
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Nopony Lives Forever, Twilight

Chapter Two: The Book

Celestia sat in a tree in front of the bookstore, trying to write a story. She had been writing it for the past week, but couldn't find a way to move the story onwards. Luna was at the base of the tree, singing to a bird that sat in her mane.

Oh, when the wind blows, softly through the leaves,

as big sister writes, hiding in the trees,

the branches, they will rock,

big sister, she will drop,

and when she does Luna will laugh.

A rolled up paper hit Luna's head, scaring away the bird, "shut up," called down Celestia, "I'm trying to write."

Luna giggled, "maybe I'll stop talking if you let me read what you're writing?" she looked down at the wadded up ball of paper at her feet. There were words written oni it, and thanks to Celestia's teaching, Luna could read them. She picked up the paper, unrolling it, "Celestia blushed deeply as Sir Charming kissed her on the cheek, she-"

"It does NOT say that you little-"

"Little what?" interrupted the dark blue unicorn.

"You are an adorable little prick!" Giggled Celestia, hopping down from her perch, "I'll get you!" She chased Luna in circles around the tree. The two laughed and played like that for hours, but as all good things do, it came to an end. A terrible, frightening end.

Celestia chased Luna back towards the tree, smashing into her as she came to a sudden halt. The sisters were silent as they stared through the shattered glass of the bookstore window. They were far enough away to go unnoticed, but they could still see clearly that the colt standing in front of the broken glass was not Green Bindings, the owner of the bookstore. The unfamiliar grey colt had his rear to them, and was shouting into a bright crystal ball, "No! He says he doesn't have it any more! No, of course I don't believe him! Yeah, yeah, I'll check the whole thing! Okay I got it! Good as done." The crystal ball dimmed, and the grey colt muttered something the sisters couldn't hear before shouting into the bookstore. "Can it, Grandpa! Nopony's comin' ta help ya!"

Celestia gasped, why would Green Bindings need help? She motioned for Luna to stay where she was and moved closer to the building. The grey colt had dissapeared to the back room, probably to search the storage areas. Celestia cried out when she saw Green Bindings lying in a heap, surrounded by broken glass, and covered with bruises. A large stab wound marred his lime coat. Somepony had stuck a knife into his stomach and dragged it back and forth through his vital organs. What was worse than that was that he was still awake.

"Celestia! Quiet!" The injured unicorn motioned her closer. "Celestia, I need you to be a brave girl for me, okay?" Celestia nodded. "I want you to go to the secret cellar- you remember how to get in? Good, okay, go in, find my workbench, get the book off of it, the one with the six jewels, inset the cover take, away not here, six-" he was making less and less sense, "six jewels, one missing! Take it, run far, away from Omega. They are the end! The-" he coughed up blood."Go!" He urged, "don't let them get the book…" Celestia stared as the closest thing she had to a father stopped breathing. She stared for only a moment, but it felt like a lifetime. He had shared his home with her, fed her, paid her, but now, now he was dead.

Later Celestia woud look back, and wonder. She hadn't cried back then. She just left him there, to get the book and leave. She would wish that she had buried his body. But she hadn't, and never would. Celestia stood and walked over to a bench that doubled as a storage crate. It looked empty, but in reality it had a false bottom. Celestia opened it with a slight creak, propping it open with a book off a nearby shelf. She quickly headed down the steep stairsteps. In the small cellar there were a few bookshelves, and a large workbench. Lying on the workbench were stacks of tomes, all relting to magic in one way or another.

There were spell books, books on magic theory, and right on top of one of the stacks was a brown tome, with seven holes in the cover. Six of which were occupied by colored stones in red, orange, yellow, green, purple, and pink. The fifth hole was empty. Celestia opened the book and looked at the strange writing. It seemed as if every character in the book had been replaced with a strange swirly symbol: § . Celestia gazed at it for a moment before remembering the urgency of her mission, returning to the stairs.As she climbed out of the false bench, she accidentally hit the book propping the lid open with her hoof. With a loud bang! the lid came crashing shut.

Celestia froze. The door to the back storage room flew open, and there was the strange grey unicorn from before. A knife hung suspended by his magic. He leered at Celestia. "Hey, kiddo, you shouldn't be in here, you might-" He stared at the book held in the air by the pink maned unicorn. "Where did you-?"

Celestia ran. She galloped out the broken window, jumped over the ditch and grabbed Luna's hoof, "run!" Luna's eyes widened, but she was silent for the time being and followed Celestia.

Chapter Three: Out of the Frying Pan, Into the Fire.
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Nopony Lives Forever, Twilight

Chapter Three: Out of the Frying Pan, Into the Fire.

Celestia grabbed Luna's hoof, "run!" The two ran towards the city hurriedly, Celestia glancing behind them. The strange grey unicorn was catchimg up to the two fillies. "Faster!" Celestia shouted, straining her legs. They turned a corner, hoping to shake off their follower. He was getting closer, not quite close enough to grab Luna's tail in his mouth. He did, however, try multiple times to grab her with his hooves. Luna shrieked, but thankfully her slightly grimy blue mane provided no purchase for their follower's hooves.

The three turned corner after corner, their pursuer falling slightly behind with each turn, but nowhere near enough. As they turned another corner they ran smack into the back of a mare in fancy fleur-de-lis, who shrieked at them like a banshee. A large crowd of ponies were gathered in the street, looking at something.

"'Scuse us, pardon me," the two unicorns shoved their way through the crowd, earning a good number of dirty looks from a large variety of ponies. As they looked back they saw a certain angry unicorn trying to catch up with them, recieving worse than just angry looks.

One old colt banged him over the head with his walker, "damn young'uns! No respect for the elderly…" Meanwhile the two younger young'uns were trying desperately to make their way to the other side of the crowd.

"Watch in awe, as the great and powerful Newton Lulamoon bends the laws of physics themselves, all just to enterain you!" The crowd roared and stomped their hooves, "but first, I need two volunteers! How about… You two gorgeous young ladies?" Shocked, Celestia and Luna found themselves at the end of the speakers hoof.

The speaker was a blue unicorn, slightly brighter in color than Luna. He had a deep black mane that was slicked back in a very unique pattern of swirls. "Well don't be shy, I don't bite," he grabbed Celestia's hoof and pulled her up onto the stage. As he helped Luna up, she scanned the crowd for the grey unicorn. They made eye contact, and he smiled in a way that seemed he really wanted to scream a few choice four-letter words at the entire crowd. The blue unicorn was finished helping Luna up onto the stage. "Hello you two," he said quietly, with none of his previous bravado, "I'm Newton, and I'll get you out of this mess," he shushed as Celestia tried to speak, "just do as I say." With that, the colt turned back to the crowd.

"All right, everypony! Prepare yourselves, for I, The Great and Powerful Newton Lulamoon, will now teleport these two young fillies," he paused for dramatic effect, "Without the help of magic!" The crowd gasped, a few of the unicorns looking at each other as if to ask 'Is that even possible?' "If you two will just step over here to center stage?" As he guided them to the middle of the stage, a red pegasus in a sequined dress rolled out a large blue box coveredwith intricate patternns and swirls. It reminded Celestia of something she'd seen before, but she couldn't put her hoof on it. "These two lovely fillies, who so generously volunteered, will step into this magical, not magic, mind you, box, and be transported far away from here, all without the power of a single unicorn!" The crowd continued to mumble amongst itself.

Luna looked skeptically at the older unicorn, "are you sure that's safe?"

Newton chuckled along with the audience, "I'm sure, Luna. Besides, your big sis can help you, just look at that spell book she's got there!"

"Whoah, how did you know my name?"

"I'm a magician, I know everything," the crowd chuckled lightly as Luna gazed at the colt in awe, "now, could you please walk into this box? You too Celestia, don't worry, there's plenty of room for you both," as Celestia squeezed her way next to Luna she noticed four magic batteries, in the shape of short candles. That was when she finally realized what the swirls on the box were. A drawn spell! And more, a carved one at that! Despite his skill, Celestia had trouble trusting him. How did he really know thier names?

The door to the box closed. Celestia froze. A magic battery still requires smepony to light it. If Newton wasn't going to use magic, who would provide the magical spark? Celestia studied the carved spell carefully.

Outside of the box, Newton continued his monologue. "Now, pay close attention to my horn, you don't want me being sneaky with my magic, now do we?"

Insode the box Celestia gasped. The swirling carving was a draining spell! Now Celestia knew Newton couldn't be trusted! He was draining her and Luna's magic for the spell! Starting a teleportation spell could give a weak unicorn a heart attack! "Let us out! My sister, you'll kill her!" Celestia banged her hooves against the box as hard as she could, tears streaming down her face. Unfortunately, outside of the box a loud drumroll was playing, effectively masking her cries for help.

Luna looked up at her sister, confused and scared. "Tia? What's happening? Why would I die?"

Celestia picked up the younger filly in her hooves, "no no, Lulu, nopony will hurt you, Tia's here to protect you..." Celestia planted a kiss right on the top of Luna's head. She knew what came next. First the two would begin to get dizzy. Then, if they couldn't generate enough magic to light the batteries they would slowly be drained of their magic, until they didn't have enough magic to keep their hearts beating. She hugged Luna as tight as possible, waiting for the inevitable.

Chapter Four: Newton and Lana
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Nopony Lives Forever, Twilight

Chapter Four: Newton and Lana

Celestia opened her eyes with a gasp.

She and Luna were standing in the middle of what looked like somepony's living room. A tall yellow unicorn towered over the two. She looked at them with motherly concern.

"Did Newton tell you some bad story before you got into the box?" She asked knowingly.

"Story? No- I- You see," Celestia began, "there was a drain spell etched into the box and- Wait, how are we okay? That spell was powerful enough to kill us!"

"Oh, goddess, I'm sorry," the yellow mare rubbed her temples with her hooves, "I swear, one of these days Newton will get himself killed, I wonder, how'd he ever find a scholar like you?"

"Scholar?" Celestia was shocked. She dabbled a bit in magic, but a scholar? She could barely teleport as it was!

"Yeah, it's kinda obvious, what with that... Spell... Book?" The yellow unicorn gasped and smiled, "oh! It's you two! Your old Gramps Binding's Apprentices! I should have introduced myself sooner, I'm Lana. Newton's wife," the two fillies looked at her in confusion.

It was Luna who spoke first this time. "Apprentices? No, you have the wrong- Tia here works- at his bookstore."

"Worked," Celestia said quietly.

Lana laughed. "Oh, really? He was a bit strange... I wonder why he didn't tell you, wait, worked? As in doesn't anymore?" There was a lull in the conversation as Luna and Lana both looked at Celestia questioningly. Celestia looked at Luna sadly. She thought about lying, but decided against it.

"Green Binding- he was k-" she choked on the word kill. She took a deep breath. "That colt who was following us, he killed him. He broke into the bookstore and-" She stopped trying to talk, unable to hold back the sobs wracking her body.

Lana gazed affectionately at the younger unicorn. "I'm sorry. I wish I could have done something."

Celestia looked up at the mare. Something about her seemed... Motherly? Caring? Celestia couldn't tell what it was, but she knew she loved this mare. From the moment she had begun to speak, Celestia had felt like she was loved. Like she had a mother, that she hadn't spent most of her life alone. Like she was more than an unloved orphan, whose parents hadn't left her on the doorstop of a run down orphanage.

Luna gazed at her adoptive sister. She wanted to cry over the loss of Green Binding, but she felt oddly... detached. Raw. Not a single tear fell down her cheeks. I've just cried myself out already, she told herself, but she didn't feel sad. Why? Maybe... Maybe what? A thought had come to her, and it had scared her, but just as quickly, it was forgotten. Luna shivered. When had the room become so cold? She realized that she was laying on her back. The others' faces stared down at her. What had happened? Without another thought, she blacked out.

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Celestia was shouting, but she wasn't entirely sure what words actually came out. She said something about Lana being "irresponsible" and she was pretty sure she said something else about how to properly write a drain spell without killing a filly. Very Calm, nice things like that.

"Celestia! Be quiet and let me talk!" As Lana said these words, her heart ached. She hated conflict, and shouting at a distressed filly didn't strike her as extremely nice. Alas, she knew she had to. "Listen, that drain spell wasn't drawing energy from you, it drew the magic from me. See these magic batteries here?" She gestured at a set of four silvery candles, "these are sympathy-bound to the candles in the box. They're powered from my house. I don't know what's wrong with your friend-"

"Sister," interrupted Celestia.

"Your sist-? Oh, I see." Lana gazed into the distance, as if remembering days from years ago. She shook her head, "I'm sorry, but I don't know what happened to her. We've set up every possible fail-safe on the box. Nothing from the spell could have harmed her..."

Celestia knew she was telling the truth. She knew it, but she didn't want to believe her. She needed somepony to blame other than herself.

With a flash, Newton appeared next to Lana. He had confetti in his mane and was staggering drunkenly. "Hello sweet stuff," he grabbed Lana's flank, eliciting an angry glare. "Why the doom and gloom? And where's Luna?"

"Honey," sighed Lana, "It's Gramps... He was murdered today." Celestia was shocked at how forward she was. She watched Newton's drunken grin turn into the epitome of emotional pain. Celestia opened the door to the room where Luna slept. The least she could do for their hosts was give them some privacy...

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Luna floats in a strange void. She doesn't know why it's strange, it just... Is. Something in her brain itches, but she can't tell why. She looks everywhere at once, yet sees nothing. Her mind hurts... She realizes with a shock that she has no physical body. She wants to be back... where? She has no home... She wants to be with Tia. Find Big Sis. Luna feels a tug where her chest should be. She follows the feeling and finds herself floating over her sistet. Celestia is laying with her upper half on a bed, forelegs wrapped aroind a dark blue unicorn. Luna realizes that she's looking at herself. Celestia is crying.

"This is all my fault, I- I'm so sorry…" She sys more, but Luna can't hear her whispers from her position, maybe if she moves closer…

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Celestia continued to hold onto Lunas comatose form for the better part of an hour. She whispered apologies into the younger filly's ears until finally she woke.

Luna gasped as she opened her eyes. "Tia… It's never your fault. Stop blaming yourself," Celdstia opened her mouth to say something, but the filly put a hoof to her lips, "shhhhhh... You need to sleep too, it's past bedtime." When they had returned to the bookstore it had been to say goodnight to Green Binding, it had now been nearly three hours. They both needed to sleep. "How about I sing a song?" She removed her hoof from Celestia's mouth.

Celestia smiled a sad smile. "As long as it's one that you wrote, they were always the best." Luna nodded.

Hush now, quiet now, it's time to lay your sleepy head,

hush now, quiet now, it's time to go to bed,

drifting, off to sleep, an exciting day behind you,

drifting, off to sleep, with luck good dreams will find you.

Luna paused."Oh Lulu, that was beau-" Celestia began.

Tia, shush your face, can't you see I'm singing now,

What part, of hush now, don't you understand?

Celestia giggled.

Sifting, through the sand, leaving homes behind you,

Running, through the lands, hoping they don't find you,

"Lulu?" Celestia scrunched up her face, "what are you-"

Crying, broken heart, always look behind you,

You are, a big part, the Master always finds you.

Celestia was scared now. "Luna! Snap out of it!"

"What? It's just a song," Luna looked at her sister questioningly.

"But that last part, what are you talking about?"

"What? Mourning a lost loved one? Mr. Binding, remember?" Luna looked worried now.

"Mourning? No, that part about 'The Master,' what was that?"

"Tia, I have no idea what you're talking about, maybe you need sleep more than I thought..."

Celestia almost argued, but decided to let it go. Maybe she had imagined it, but she could have sworn she had heard differently than Luna said. The two young unicorns drifted off slowly, and the soft embrace of sleep finally took them.

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Newton and Lana were arguing in the living room. Lana sat on a couch while Newton paced back and forth.

"They really have no idea!" Remarked Lana.

"Should we tell them? Green didn't want us to, but…" Newton sighed, "he can't really tell them himself anymore."

"I don't know. I didn't even know Luna was a part of it. I thought it was just Celestia, I mean, they aren't really related."

"They're not?" Newton facehoofed, "of course not. That explains why their magic signatures were so conflicting."

"I don't think that's why. I think they're Number One and Two."

"No, they couldn't be... Discord's own, they would be given good homes, nopony would dare…" Newton stammered.

"I don't think he knows, I think Harmony hid them. She put them in the streets so he couldn't find them."

"Well how does that explain how the Society found them? If Harmony wanted them hidden, she would have made it permanent."

"I don't know! Okay? I don't know everything. Maybe she's been weakened, or she could be conceiving another," Lana retorted.

"You think the fourth is already coming? The third was only a year ago!"

"Who could know? Maybe they caught the scent while Number Three was being conceived." The two shuddered at the thought. If the Society had known for a whole year…

Chapter Five: The First Lesson
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Nopony Lives Forever, Twilight

Chapter Five: The First Lesson

Celestia yawned as she opened her eyes. She closed them again. Painfully bright rays of sunshine burned through the window, making her wonder how late she'd slept. The bed was so comfortable, like something she'd never felt before. She realized with sadness she probably hadn't. The only other time she'd slept in a real bed was in one of the orphanages. That bed had been as stiff as the dirty floor it sat on. Celestia yawned again. She tried to pull herself together to wake up completely, but couldn't muster the energy. Perhaps she should go back to sleep.

She reached out to snuggle Luna, but touched nothing but sheets. She shot up, suddenly filled with energy. Where was Luna? Why wasn't she here? If she'd gone off on her own, surely she would have told Celestia first! Celestia hopped out of the bed, face-planting. She looked down to see the sheets practically tied around her legs. She cursed them, wondering how she could have loved them before. She untied them using her magic, and then slammed her way out the door.

"Luna! Where is she!?" She screamed at Lana, breathing heavily.

"Calm down, Missy, she's in the kitchen. Why don't you join her?" Lana pointed her towards the kitchen's door. Celestia blushed, and walked through the door.

She was met by the rich sounds of laughter, along with a generous helping of pancake batter to the face.

"Tia! I'm making pancakes!" Luna giggled, stirring a large bowl of batter. The walls, floor, and even ceiling of the kitchen were dripping with batter, more than there was in Luna's bowl. Celestia tried to hold back her laughter as she scolded the blue filly.

"Now, Lulu, look at the mess you've made!"

"That wasn't me, silly, that was Newton!" For the first time, Celestia noticed the bright blue magician standing sheepishly on the other side of the central counter. He had enough batter in his mane alone to feed an entire orphanage of hungry ponies. Celestia couldn't hold back her laughter any longer. She fell to the ground, rocking back and forth, bumping into chair legs, and not giving a care in the world. Luna was shocked. Her sister was never this fun before!

Celestia stood up, wiping tears of mirth from her eyes. "Oh, Lulu... What am I going to do with you?"

"What do you mean?" Luna cocked her head.

"You shouldn't consort with people like him," Celestia replied, pointing a hoof at Newton's batter-filled hair, "or else you'll grow up to be just like him." At this she started laughing again. Luna stopped stirring the pancake mix.

"Hmm... Maybe you're right. I guess Newton will have to clean this up all on his own..." She leered at the older unicorn as he stopped smiling.

"Wait, what?" Newton stared as the two fillies hopped out the door, shutting it behind them. Newton chuckled. "Ahh, just like their mother." He smiled, picking up a rag.

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Celestia threw herself onto the bed, letting out a breath. She was pooped beyond reason. Luna continued to play outside, but Celestia had gone inside to take a break. She looked over at the desk near the door. Sitting upon it was the book that Green Binding had given her. To her surprise, as she trotted closer to it, one of the 6 stones began to glow, getting brighter and brighter. Mesmerized, Celestia put a hoof onto the book's cover. As she did, the red glow dissipated.

Celestia opened the book, surprised to find that of the pages of swirly characters, the first hoofful had become ordinary letters. She read the title on the first page. The first lesson: Friendship Celestia flipped through the legible pages. Each page had a small header titled simply Friendship, in a deep red ink. Beneath that were titles. Spells, such as Invisibility, Cloudwalking, and even Short-Distance Teleportation. But also other pages. Some had recipes for potions, while others contained explanations of complex magic theories. Breathless, Celestia returned to the first page, and began to read.

If you are reading this, it means you have learned the first of the seven lessons that govern this book. Friendship. The other six,,,