It had been an almost five years since the six brave heroes had conquered the dreaded windigos, and since that time, they had only grown closer because of it. Six mares of the three different pony races – unicorns, pegasi and earth – were gathered in front of the fireplace in the Castle of the Unicorns, huddled close together, talking of their adventures and stories from the past year.
“And then I said, ‘Oatmeal?! Are you crazy?!’” The Chancellor yelled theatrically, flailing her chubby, vanilla colored forearms in the air. Since the three tribes had made peace with each other and had found such a prosperous land, there was always more than enough food for everypony to eat well. The five other mares in the room rolled on the floor, laughing hysterically. Even Platinum, the most reserved of the group, wiped a tear from her eye.
“Oh Puddinghead, you always tell the most wonderful stories!” The Crown Princess nudged the earth pony playfully. Puddinghead swung her right arm around the unicorn and squeezed her tightly.
“Aww, thanks Nummy! I always love to make you girls smile!” The Chancellor was smiling so widely that she didn’t notice Platinum’s eyes narrow at the nickname.
“I thought I told you to stop calling me that name.” She muttered, sighing heavily.
“What name?”
“That awful, embarrassing nickname!”
“What? ‘Nummy’?” Puddinghead cocked her head to the side.
“Yes!” Platinum through up her arms in frusteration. “Stop it!”
“Why? That’s your name!”
“No it’s not!” The unicorn leaned forward and poked the earth pony in the chest. “It’s not fitting for a mare of my stature. I deserve to be carried with respect and grace, and if word ever got out that I was called such an-“ She shuddered, “Uncouth nickname, I would be disgraced!” Platinum blinked twice at Puddinghead’s blank stare. The Chancellor pondered her words for a brief moment before nodding in confirmation.
“Whatever you say, Nummy!” The earth pony leader slapped the unicorn on the back as Platinum scowled. Clover leaned over to her princess.
“Just give up, your Highness. It’s a losing battle!” Platinum’s pale green unicorn advisor grinned as the princess rubbed her eyes in fatigue and nodded.
“Well, does anypony else have any awesome stories?!” A dark navy blue Pegasus with a lighter blue and red mane shot up into the air and struck a heroic looking pose before having her tail tugged on, pulling her back down to the ground.
“Oh sit down Hurricane!” Smart Cookie smirked at the Commander. “You’re letting all the heat escape.” The Pegasus rolled her eyes and snuggled back into the opening beside the orange earth pony and her first mate, the light lavender colored Pansy. The fire had long since stopped roaring and the flickering flames started dying down.
“Clover, the fire is going down… if you wouldn’t mind terribly, could you put another log on it, please.” Pansy smiled sweetly at Clover, whose horn began glowing a dark green. Her magic wrapped itself around three extra logs sitting on the other side of the room, and she gently placed them in the fireplace. The fire immediately engulfed the new logs and it grew exponentially once more. All six mares sighed contently as they were bathed in the intense warmth.
“I have a story to tell, if you don’t mind.” Pansy raised her hoof, drawing the gazes of her five friends.
“Really? That’s great Pansy. What is it?” Platinum exclaimed.
“Yeah, tell us!” Puddinghead urged, bouncing her chocolate brown curls up and down with her hooves.
“Well, okay. The other day, after I got off of service with the Commander, I was flying home along Mane Street, and-“ Pansy went to continue, but a blinding light suddenly filled the room. All six mares screeched in shock and fright as they covered their eyes from the intense light. After a few moments, they stopped screaming and the light in the room dimmed. Smart Cookie was the first mare to peek out from behind her hooves.
“W-Who are… you?” The orange earth pony asked, slowly rising to her hooves. Upon hearing their friend speak, the rest of the ponies in the room slowly looked out as well and rose.
“What are you?” Hurricane cocked her head to the side at the strange creature standing before them. All the other four could do was stare in awe.
“My Little Ponies, I am here to make you an offer than will change your life.” The voice was serene and calming. Before them stood what appeared to be a pony, but a pony unlike any of them had ever seen. Instead of being a normal height, the mare towered at least two body lengths above them. Her coat was as white as winter’s snow, and her hair was as red as the ripest apple. But the strangest thing about the mare was the fact that she not only had two long, feathery wings on her back, but also a regal unicorn horn protruding out of her forehead as well. All six leaders in the room stumbled backwards, holding on to one another.
“Please, My Little Ponies. Do not worry – I will not hurt you.” The mare said lovingly. She had a sweet, gentle look in her eyes. “I only wish to help you. Though I can understand completely should you choose to reject my offer.”
“You never answered our question.” Hurricane snapped at the mare, who just smiled at the Pegasus.
“And what was your question again, dear Commander Hurricane?”
“H-How do you k-know my name?!” Hurricane flapped her wings, taking to the air. She flew close to the mare’s face and glared at her, hard. It was a gaze that would make even the most prestigious ponies shrink down. Yet the mare stood, unflinching.
“I know everything about you six, My Little Ponies. You, and everypony else in your vast kingdom. Now, would you like to hear my offer?”
“Tell us your name.” Clover demanded, stepping in front of Platinum protectively. Smart Cookie did the same to Puddinghead and Pansy took to the air to join Hurricane.
“My name is not important. I have gone by so many names, and I am so old, that I can barely remember what ponies call me.” The mare’s smile masked an inner sadness. Clover felt a surge of sympathy in her heart, but she couldn’t say why.
“Then tell us what you are. I have never seen such a creature before.” Clover took a hesitant step forward, but it was Puddinghead who trotted all the way up to her and nearly crawled onto the mare’s back. The giant pony shot the Chancellor a look of surprise as the earth pony pulled on her wings, folding them and unfolding them over and over in confusion.
“I am what ponies in the past have referred to as an Alicorn.” The mare said plainly. Clover cocked her head.
“An alicorn? I’ve never heard of it before.” The green unicorn looked to the floor and closed her eyes, racking her brain for the name.
“That is unsurprising. There is only one alicorn in known existence,” The mare giggled slightly. “Me.” Upon Clover’s blank gaze, the mare frowned and shook her head. “But that doesn’t matter. I came here for a reason.”
“And what’s your reason?” Smart Cookie questioned, leaning forward and raising an eyebrow. The mare turned her gaze to her.
“That, Smart Cookie, is the question that I’ve been waiting to be asked this entire time.” She turned back to the rest of the group. Hurricane and Pansy had landed and huddled in with their friends.
“My Little Ponies, you six have conquered a terrible evil and overcome all odds to become friends and create a kingdom that will hopefully last forever. Yet even for all the good you have done for the world, you are still just mere mortals.” Sadness overtook the mare’s smile. “You will not live forever to continue to do the good that you have done in your lives thus far.”
“Well obviously we won’t,” Smart Cookie interjected, rolling her honey brown eyes. “That’s just the way of the world. Old ponies die to make room for new ponies. It’s the way it’s gotta be.”
“Indeed, Smart Cookie. But it is not the way it has to be for you six.”
“Huh?” The friends exchanged confused glances. After a moment, Clover spoke for the group.
“Beg pardon, but what the hay are you talking about?” The unicorn asked, ignoring the fact that she was in the presence of her superiors. The second she said it, Clover slapped a hoof over her mouth, inwardly mortified that she had used such an inappropriate word. The alicorn didn’t seem to notice however.
“Someday, you will pass. And when you pass, you have no way of knowing that your kingdom will be passed down to worthy successors. Would you be willing to take such a risk? Your whole kingdom is brand new – still in its infantile stages – and if even one incompetent mare or stallion were to take leadership, the whole foundation could crumble.” The alicorn paused in her speech for a moment and silence filled the room. The six mares shuffled awkwardly while waiting for her to continue.
“So what do you suggest?” Pansy surprisingly spoke up. She still stood behind Hurricane, and hid her face slightly when the rest of the ponies in the room snapped their heads to look at her.
“I suggest an offer that I have not offered anypony else in the history of the world, My Little Ponies. I offer you a chance to continue ruling your kingdom, and someday, rule so much more. I offer you a chance to continue doing good for this world,” The mare paused. “I offer you immortality.”
“Huh?” The mares said once again. The alicorn stifled a giggle in seeing all six heads cock to their right side and give her confused glances.
“I understand, of course, that this is a big decision, and I would not force you into it if you did not feel that you were ready for such a change. I must inform you, however, that the process would require all six of you. If even one of you decides against it, none of you may become what I am offering.”
“And how exactly do we know that you aren’t lying to us?” Smart Cookie narrowed her eyes at the white mare in front of them. If it was meant to unnerve the alicorn, it failed.
“Dear Smart Cookie, why would I ever lie to you? Surely such an honest mare would know a liar when she sees one, wouldn’t she? You know, deep down in your hearts, that I am telling the truth. I can grant you a gift that ponies can only dream of, and I only offer it to you six so you may continue to rule your kingdom and make it prosper and grow.”
Smart Cookie looked down briefly, a red blush across her face, before looking at her friends. “Honestly girls, I do believe her. I think that she’s telling the truth. I think that she can do it… I think she can make us immortal.”
“Cooks, are you crazy?!” Hurricane shouted, pointing an accusing hoof at the alicorn. “Why should we trust her? We’re putting our lives into the hoofs of some creature that we’ve never even heard of!”
“And I think that we would be making the right decision by doing so!” Smart Cookie yelled back defensively. Clover winced back hearing the earth pony speak in such an angry tone. It was unlike Cookie to blow her top.
“Are you really sure about this, Cookie? You’re the most honest of us all. If we should trust anypony in this, it’s you.” Clover stepped forward and put a reassuring hoof on her friend’s shoulder.
“I’m sure Clover. I know it in my heart to be true.” Cookie smiled at the green unicorn. Clover looked to the alicorn, who stared curiously at the group.
“Miss, do you mind if we have a few minutes to discuss this alone? It’s a big decision, as you said.”
“Of course, Clover the Clever. As you wish.” The alicorn bowed her head and turned, leaving the room and closing the door behind her. After making sure that she was gone, the group sat down on their haunches in a close circle.
“So… what do we do now?” Pansy asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
“Do we really think that she could give us immortality?” Hurricane growled. “I don’t like the idea of that creature hurting any of my friends!”
“None of us do, Hurricane. But think of what we could accomplish if we could live forever? I could continue the work of my mentor, Starswirl!” Clover’s face lit up with realization. “Yeah, I never thought about that… I could continue his work! Nopony would ever forget about the greatest unicorn to ever exist! I could go ahead and teach other unicorns his magic, further his legacy!”
“Now don’t let that idea cloud your judgement, Clover. Remember yourself. We have to think this through – it’s like that alicorn said. If one of us says no, that means that none of us get immortality.” Platinum reminded her friends. The rest of them nodded.
“I wonder why that is.” Puddinghead piped up for the first time in a while.
“It certainly is peculiar. But at any rate, I think we should. I trust her, and I believe that the benefits outweigh the consequences.” Clover decided. “She had no reason to want us dead. If we were to gain immortality, we could continue working towards the good of the kingdom forever. If we die, then we die together, knowing that we tried to do the right thing.” The group was quiet.
“I agree. If I was immortal, then I could host events all the time! Ponies would never be sad or bored!” Puddinghead shot her pudgy forearms in the air and waved them around happily.
“Well if you’re immortal, then I have to be to. I gotta keep you in line after all, Chancellor!” Smart Cookie grinned playfully. Puddinghead pulled her advisor in for a quick hug.
“Well if I was immortal, I would be beautiful forever! And I would never allow some other, common rabble to take the throne and sully the good name of the Unicorns!” Platinum pursed her lips at the thought.
“Are you girls seriously considering this?!” Hurricane yelled angrily. “Don’t you even want to sleep on the idea?!”
“If it’s any consolation, Commander, I kind of like the idea…” Pansy’s calming voice was a stark contrast to Hurricane’s . “If you were immortal, you could make sure that the army would never fall or become incompetent.” She pointed out. Hurricane grew silent.
“Yeah… yeah I could, couldn’t I? No more worrying about somepony else taking over for me, no more having to pick a replacement! If I’m around forever, then the army would always be…” Hurricane’s eyes were wide as she searched her mind for the right word. “Awesome!”
“So…” Clover said hopefully, “Are we in agreement then? Are the six of us going to go through with this? Are we going to become immortal?”
“I think we all know our answer to that.” Platinum assured her, resting a hoof on her advisor’s shoulder. “If I am to live forever, then I want nopony at my side more than I would want you girls.”
“This is going to be soooo awesome!” Puddinghead exclaimed, jumping up with joy. “Nonstop fun!”
“Should we go get that alicorn then? Tell her that we accept?”
“I have a feeling that she already knows that we accept. Isn’t that right, Miss?” Clover called out in the direction of the closed door. The six heard a slight chuckle as the double door swung open slowly. The alicorn bowed her head towards the group.
“I apologize, My Little Ponies. I did not mean to eavesdrop. But nonetheless, I am overjoyed that you have reached such a decision so quickly. I would have thought that you would need days, or even weeks to come to such a decision. If I may be so bold to ask, why have you decided so fast?”
“Miss, we all have our reasons. Since we see no reason why you would bring harm to us, we trust that you will uphold your promise and make us immortal, so that we may uphold our promise to our kingdom and safeguard it forever.” Clover stepped up to the alicorn and smiled widely. Her friends joined her, and the six stood in a half circle.
“I see.” The mare said plainly, feeling elated in seeing Clover so jovial. “Well, if there are no objections, should we start immediately?”
“If that is possible, then yes, it would be preferred.” Platinum affirmed. The alicorn looked to her, and then to all the rest of the ponies.
“Very well. I will ask that Smart Cookie, Commander Hurricane and Clover the Clever to step forward and stand in front of the fireplace here.” The alicorn motioned for the three mares to move. Cookie, Hurricane and Clover put on obviously fake smiles as they tried to mask their worry, and stepped into position. The alicorn looked at both groups of three. “I will tell you this once, and once only; this process will be absolutely painless. None here will suffer any injury, physical or emotional. It is 100% necessary that you remain completely calm and relaxed – it will not work if you are too high strung or worried. Do you understand?”
“We understand, let’s just get this party started! I can’t wait to see what life will be like as an immortal!” Puddinghead yelled. The alicorn nodded once, firmly.
“Alright. If you’re sure.” The mare turned back to the three standing by the fire and her horn began glowing slightly. “Step forward, Commander Hurricane.” Hurricane started for a moment, eyes wide with a usually-masked fear.
“W-What? Why me first?” The Pegasus asked, almost whimpering. The other mares fought the urge to turn away from the sight. Seeing their friend so frightened made them feel uncomfortable.
“You must trust in me completely for this to work, Hurricane. I will not let any harm befall you.” The alicorn gave her a reassuring smile. Hurricane nodded and swallowed hard. The Commander stepped forward to where the mare told her to.
“Commander Hurricane, you have led many ponies into battle and come out triumphant. You are loyal to those you love, and would never willingly turn your back on them. While your hot-headedness may cloud your judgement sometimes, you know that you can count on your friends to guide you towards the right path again. Sometimes you are too brash, and seek the more violent path in order to get what you want, but you always try to steer clear of that path, and can turn to your trusted second, Private Pansy, for guidance. For that, you have earned the right to ascend as an immortal.” The mare’s horn glowed brighter and a beam of light shot towards Hurricane, enveloping her in a bright red light. The five other friends shielded their eyes for a moment, but when they looked back, Hurricane was gone. In her place was a large glowing ball that emanated red light.
“W-Where’s Hurricane?!” Pansy shouted in a panic as she began to flap her wings to take to the air.
“Calm yourself, Pansy. Hurricane is right in front of you,” The alicorn motioned to the glowing ball, “You will all become immortals at once. This way, it is fairer. Do you understand?”
“Y-Yes…” Pansy mumbled quietly as her wings folded themselves against her back once more. The alicorn turned back to the two remaining mares by the fireplace.
“Smart Cookie, step forward.” The alicorn placed her hoof gently on Hurricane’s glowing orb and pushed it towards the wall to make more room. The ball floated with ease.
“You promise this won’t hurt?” Cookie asked as she tried not to shake with fright. The alicorn nodded once.
“Smart Cookie, you are one of the most honest mares in the land. When a pony comes to you with a question, you answer it in your most honest opinion, whether it is good or bad. You keep the good Chancellor in line, and make sure that no harm befouls her. You would lay down your life for her, and you love her like you would your own sister. You realized that feuding between tribes is wrong, and thus you guided Puddinghead towards the right path. For that, you have earned the right to ascend as an immortal.” Her horn glowed brighter yet again as it enveloped Cookie. Left in her place, was a glowing orange ball of equal size to Hurricane’s.
“I assume it’s my turn now?” Clover asked as she watched Cookie’s ball float serenely over to Hurricane’s. The alicorn nodded as Clover took her place.
“Clover the Clever, the most magical unicorn in the land. While your name shall be forever remembered in books as ‘The Apprentice’, you have done so much more than your mentor ever thought possible. Your vast knowledge over all things arcane has served and protected the royal family well for many years, and while your mistress may have not been the easiest of ponies to work for, you served her unwittingly and without question, no matter what. It was you and your immense magics that saved your friends, and for that, you have earned the right to ascend as an immortal.” The three remaining friends didn’t have to shield their eyes from the light, and instead watched as Clover became a mint green sphere that hovered over to the other two.
“What now?” Pansy asked the alicorn.
“Now, it is time for you three to join them. I will ask that you, Chancellor Puddinghead, step forward.”
“Yippee!” Puddinghead squealed as she hopped forward, her face threatening to break apart from how big her smile was.
“Chancellor Puddinghead, you are unlike any other pony that I have ever met in my travels. You are eccentric and creative, and your ability to bring smiles to those around you is second to none. All the ponies that you meet love and adore you, and even though you may get out of line sometimes in your pranks and jokes, you can always count on Smart Cookie to keep you level headed. It is the love that your subjects have for you that has earned you the right to ascend as an immortal.” Puddinghead became a chocolate brown ball. The alicorn used her hoof again to gently shove her ball to the opposite end of the room, far away from the other three balls.
“Might I go next, Miss?” Platinum asked, putting a hoof to her breast. “I am, after all, the Princess of the Unicorns.” Without waiting for an answer, Platinum took her place in front of the fire. The alicorn shrugged and cleared her throat.
“Princess Platinum, the esteemed, beautiful ruler of the unicorns. While your temper may get the better of you sometimes, you can trust in your advisor Clover to set you straight. You rule over your race with elegance and patience, and ponies everywhere know that they can count on you to keep them safe, even if you don’t like to get dirty. You are one of the most capable rulers that I have met in my travels, and for that, you have earned the right to ascend as an immortal.” Pansy shivered slightly watching her last remaining friend turn into a glowing white ball that floated towards Puddinghead’s. The alicorn turned to her.
“And now you, Private Pansy. Your time has come. Step forward, please.” Pansy nodded and gulped loudly as she took a shaky step forward.
“I-I’m scared. I… I don’t know about this anymore…” The Pegasus mumbled, hiding behind her hair. The alicorn put a comforting hoof on her shoulder.
“Believe in me, dearest Pansy. I will not allow you to come to any harm, just as I didn’t let any of your friends come to harm. Tell me, did you see any pain on their faces?” The alicorn asked. Pansy shook her head.
“N-No, I didn’t…”
“That is because there was no pain to be had. They are peaceful, now. And with you, they can all ascend to Godhood.”
“Just please… make it fast.” Pansy requested as she took her place. The alicorn nodded.
“Private Pansy, the last of the bunch. You know that, no matter what may happen, you are loved by not only your friends, but the pegasi race as well. While some may tremble in fear at the sight of Commander Hurricane, they see you and their hearts relax. Hurricane may inspire greatness in the army, but you inspire peace and serenity. You keep the Commander in check, and if she suggests violence and war, you suggest harmony and unity. For that, you have earned the right to ascend as an immortal.” The alicorn’s horn enveloped Pansy, leaving her a light purple orb.
The room was completely silent, save for the slowly dying crackles of the fireplace and the quiet, steady hum of the six glowing spheres of the heroes. The alicorn looked to each one of them individually and smiled, her heart beaming with pride. She bowed to each, silently thanking them for accepting such a gift. The alicorn knew that it was both a blessing and a curse in disguise.
“I have been alive for so long. I have seen so many ponies pass from old age. It will be nice to finally be relieved of that.” She mused to herself out loud. “I suppose that it’s time.” The alicorn’s horn glowed a bright white. She grunted in pain as it slowly became more and more radiant, and the glow filled the room.
“Agh!” She screeched in pain. Her body began sweating profusely from exhaustion, and she wanted nothing more than to give up and lay down on the floor for a rest, but she couldn’t. She had to keep going.
“Almost there!” She thought to herself as her mind screamed. Just a little more and… there!
The white glow coming from her horn was split in half and replaced with two different colors – the left side of her body was engulfed in a bright yellow light, while the right side was taken by a dark blue light. Almost instantly after she was enveloped, all the pain went away and her mind felt at ease. If any other pony was in the room with her, they would have screamed in horror at what they saw.
For the two different auras were ripping the alicorn in half.
Yet the mare felt no pain as her body was torn into two. She simply smiled as the yellow half of her hovered towards Puddinghead, Platinum and Pansy’s side, and the dark blue half hovered towards Smart Cookie, Clover and Hurricane’s side. Once the two halves of the alicorn reached their respective sides, a blinding rainbow light shot out of either half, and wrapped itself around the nearby orbs. The rainbow spun around and around, faster and faster, until all of a sudden…
It stopped.
The light in the room slowly died down, and the alicorn was no more. The six glowing orbs that represented the life forces of the six mares were no more. Instead, two majestic beings took their place.
There was a furious knocking at the locked door, demanding to know what was making all the ruckus inside. Female voices calling out to see if Platinum, Puddinghead and Hurricane were safe could be heard, their shouts laced with concern.
Yet nopony returned their calls. The mare at the left of the room lifted her head ever so slightly and her lavender colored eyes fluttered open. At the same time, the smaller mare to the right of the room looked first towards the door, and then to the left side of the room, where the taller, white alicorn now stood, looking at the smaller mare in confusion.
She then looked slowly down at herself. She had a pale rose pink mane and a snow white body, with two wings on her back and a long horn on her forehead. At that moment, the doors burst open and a small hoof-full of servants, including a couple guards, started running in, but they stopped dead in their tracks upon seeing the creature in front of them. The white alicorn looked towards the dark blue mare lying in the corner, and then towards the group of ponies still standing next to the door awe-struck. Her eyes wide in fear, the alicorn could only utter one thing:
“What am I?”
Author's Note
I apologize if the ending was crappy, I didn't really know a good way to end it. Hope you enjoyed it nonetheless!
