Celestia stood out starkly in the pre-dawn darkness on the balcony. She was smiling down at Twilight, and the smaller alicorn couldn't help but apply such adjectives as 'shining' and 'radiant' to the larger pony. It was intensely, blindingly joyous, despite the gloom.

“I have something to give you, Twilight,” she began.

Twilight, not quite entirely awake, made an inquisitive noise.

“Oh yes.” Celestia nodded, the grave motion contrasting with her smile to match the twinkle in her eye.

Twilight perked up a bit, tilting her head to the side and fixing her mentor with the most attentive look she could muster.

Celestia's smile seemed to manage to grow, if only just a bit. “Close your eyes, Twilight.”

Twilight did, instantly.

“Now reach toward me with your magic.”

This Twilight also did. For a long moment, she stood there waiting, trusting. Then, she heard the faint chime of Celestia's magic and--!

Twilight staggered. Her hooves splayed out instinctively to buttress her against the weight, and the glow around her horn doubled, tripled, quadrupled in intensity. She trembled once, and then was still—rock-solid under the load, panting softly.

She could just make out a quiet shuffle over the hum of her own magic, and then she felt the gentle press of soft fur and downy feathers against her side, hot breath near her ear as Celestia murmured further instruction.

“Very good, Twilight. Oh, very good...” Celestia's voice was a little frayed around the edges, a little shaky, a little breathy, pitched low for just the two of them.

“Now Twilight, my magnificent Twilight... lift!”

Every muscle in Twilight's body began to tremble as she gathered her power to try to obey, when she was cut off by Celestia one last time. Her voice had dropped to a whisper.

“And I will be here after you are done, Twilight. No matter what.”

Twilight let out the breath she had been holding, and slowly refilled her lungs. Her corona grew brighter one last time. Her head rose in one slow, smooth arching of her neck, and when she faced the horizon, the first light of the dawn warmed her cheeks and her unfurled wings.

Twilight opened her eyes, blinking owlishly at the sunrise, her mouth hanging open wordlessly.

It was the most beautiful thing Celestia had ever seen.

Author's Note

Prompt 553: Giving somepony a gift that resembles your cutie mark has a special meaning.