Chapter 1: Behind the Throne (WIP)
Prologue: An Alicorn's Burden
Prologue: An Alicorn’s Burden
> “Time may be all conquering, mortals may rise and fall like the changing of the seasons, but Friendship? Friendship is timeless and magical. Indeed, Friendship is....immortal.”
The newly crowned Princess Twilight Sparkle took to the balcony, gazing over the assembled subjects of the capital. Everypony was in patriotic cheer for the crowning of their newest and youngest sovereign.
Twilight waved regal hooves at them all, the gold of her shoes gleaming amongst the confetti in the sunlight-filled air.
Flanked by Princesses Celestia and Luna, the lavender Alicorn felt her chest swell with pride, as well as trepidation.
Celestia, Twilight’s mentor and guide for the vast majority of the mare’s life, leaned a hoof on her shoulder in a gesture of support. “They’re waiting. Say something, Princess.” She murmured to Twilight ever so quietly.
“Oh, Umm..” After a second of uncertainty, Twilight found her composure, and her newly found royal instincts took over. Clearing her throat, she spoke. Her words flowed flawlessly, and without hesitation.
“A little while ago, my teacher and mentor Princess Celestia sent me to live in Ponyville. She sent me to study friendship,” As she spoke, she turned to her friends gathered behind her in the doorway, gesturing them over, “which is something I didn’t really care much about. But now, on a day like today, I can honestly say I wouldn’t be standing here if it weren’t for the friendships I’ve made with all of you.” As they approached, all five had tears of joy and amazement in their eyes.
Twilight now faced each of them as she continued. “Each one of you taught me something about friendship, and for that, I will always be grateful.” With her right hoof to her chest, she bowed to them, then they all leaned over the balcony, peering at the still cheering masses.
“Today, I consider myself the luckiest pony in Equestria! Thank you, friends. Thank you, everypony!”
The crowds cheered jubilantly as the six friends left the balcony. Almost at once, Shining Armor, alongside his wife, Princess Cadence, greeted the Princess.
“Twilight! I’m so proud of you!” Shining shared a brief hug with his younger sister. Pulling away, Twilight noticed tear drops, streaming down from her older brother’s eyes.
“Are you crying?” The Alicorn inquired.
Still smiling, Shining Armor wiped his eyes covertly. “Of course not, it’s... it’s liquid pride. Totally different thing.” His smile turned to a grin. Both laughing, the two siblings embraced each other briefly, before Shining Armor and Cadence pulled away.
“Way to go, Princess!” Applejack said, congratulating her friend. Pinkie Pie floated in the air, defying gravity. “Best coronation day ever!” She declared.
“We love you, Twilight.” Fluttershy said as the friends went into a group hug.
Twilight’s heart filled with intense affection for her friends. “I love you too, girls!”
The emotion of the moment caused the girls to break out into song. Royal Guards marched, citizens cheered, and the whole of Canterlot shook with the happiness and joy of the Elements of Harmony. Likely the most inseparable group of friends in all the world’s history.
After the singing had ended, the young Princess decided to give her new wings a test of their capability. Airborne, with Celestia’s radiant sun at her back, Twilight mused to herself. “Yes! Everything’s going to be just fine!
Looking back, the day had been a most monumental one. In the past several months, Twilight had reached the pinnacle of her greatest dreams, and beyond. She had met ponies who were now her dearest friends in all the world, learned untold amounts of wisdom, and encountered and defeated the mightiest evil and chaotic beings Equestria had ever known.
There was no end to the young Alicorn’s joy and happiness that day as she flew, and flew, and flew. When she tired of the skies, Twilight returned to Canterlot palace, among her friends, her family. The six friends spent their time gathered in each others’ company, reminiscing about the adventures of the past, and the adventures they still had before them.
But, not everything was well in the land, or the world. There was one opposing force, unbeknownst even to Twilight, that still remained unconquered by the Elements of Harmony. Something that lurked in plain sight, yet nopony hardly ever payed heed to it.
No awareness of it crept into the young alicorn’s mind until it came time for her to learn it the hard way, from Celestia and Luna themselves.
One night, several days after Twilight’s coronation, the true implications of her evolution into an alicorn were brought into the light at last by her aunts. They sat her down, and spoke with her quietly, alone and away from everypony else.
Princess Celestia, as the eldest, was the one to speak of it first. She took a long sigh before she began. “Twilight, now that you are an alicorn, there is something you have to understand, something critical to your status as not only a royal, but as one of the most powerful ponies in all of Equestria.”
“Indeed, my sister does not mince words, what we have to say is absolutely paramount if you are to continue on being an alicorn.”
Twilight looked from one to the other’s faces in confusion. “What do you mean Celestia, Luna, what is this all about? Does it involve my friends in anyway?” She inquired worryingly.
Celestia gave her a forlorn look, which sent chills down the youngest alicorn’s back. “I’m afraid it does. You see Twilight...” The eldest’s ears flattened against her head. “We alicorns, unlike our subjects, are not subject to the rules of time. There is a reason Luna and I have existed for so long. We are immortals, and by extent Twilight, you are now immortal as well.”
Twilight considered this for a moment. “So I will not age, I see, but, but then my friends...” That was when the haunting realization finally dawned on her. Her eyes widened, and her entire body began convulsing, trying desperately to hold back tears.
Seeing the youngest Princess’ deteriorating emotional state, Luna spoke again. “I am sorry, Twilight. We had to tell you at some point, lest you realize it too late, and you be unprepared. Though it may not seem so right now, this is a mercy on your part.”
Twilight did not look at either of them as she put her hooves over her head, and buried her face under her mane. She was now sobbing uncontrollably. The sight of it all broke the Regal Sisters’ hearts, but they’d had no other choice. They could not allow a fellow Princess to live in a lie for years before she discovered the grim truth herself.
Celestia moved to comfort her. “Twilight...” She said, ever so softly. Before she could continue, Twilight broke out of her sob.
“NO!” She bellowed. Her eyes were red and puffy from the intense sobbing, and her mane was now ragged and tangled.
“No!” She declared again. Celestia and Luna looked to her in shock. “I don’t want this then!” She flexed her wings for emphasis. “Change me back!” Twilight demanded.
Luna looked as if her anger was building. Her sister, however, only looked at her loyal student with a profane sadness. Celestia herself knew what it was like to outlive friends, pets, loved ones. It was the one universal curse that all Immortals must bare, if they are to continue in there state.
“I’m sorry Twilight, but the spell it took to transform you will take decades at least, before it will be weak enough for anypony, even us, to break and undo. I’m so, so sorry.”
“Then why did you change me into this? An alicorn, if you knew this would happen and you couldn’t reverse it?” Twilight’s sorrow was quickly being replaced by denial and rage.
Princess Luna had heard enough. “TWILIGHT! If you would pause for a least a single moment, you would truly understand the generosity of the gift my sister has offered you! We know not of age or sickness. Think of all the knowledge you could gain in the infinite time we now grant you!”
This only infuriated Twilight more. “Generous? What is the point if I can’t share it with my friends? What of when they start to show age? What will I say to them, when they finally realize I do not age with them? In the end, it would be just me and Spike, alone. How could we live with ourselves knowing those closest to us will always turn to dust before our very eyes!”
“Twilight, you would still have us...” Celestia began, but the youngest just would not hear her out.
“No! NO! I’ll outlive my family, my friends...NO! If this is the cost of being a Princess...” She tore her royal clothing and jewelry off. She left only her crown, the Element of Magic, upon her head. “I don’t want it! Not any bit of it!”
Shaking with rage, she rushed past them to the open window, the breeze of the night greeting her and leaving goose bumps under Twilight’s fur. Luna tried to stop her, but Celestia held a hoof to her chest, shaking her head sadly. “What will you do then, Twilight?” Luna asked in outrage.
Twilight looked at the sisters with a mixed expression of sorrow, rage, and hurt. “I will go to my friends, and if I can’t find a way to make myself mortal again, I’LL MAKE THEM IMMORTAL WITH MY MAGIC, ALL OF THEM!” She said the last part in the royal voice, of which she had just discovered she possessed.
“Twilight, you will only hurt yourself! Please, try to understand.” Celestia said pleadingly. The student looked at her mentor grimly.
“I shall conquer death itself, if that’s what it takes to stay with my friends. Goodbye Princess Celestia, goodbye Luna. Please don’t try to follow me. I don’t want to have to fight you, but if that is what it takes to succeed, so be it.” Twilight declared, her voice just above a whisper.
“Twilight..” Celestia murmured, her voice shook as her tears fell to the marble floor.
Twilight unfurled her wings, her mane now billowing like the that of Celestia and Luna’s. With a single leap, she took off at top speed. Her mane and crown were the last they saw of the Princess, and then she was gone.
“TWILIGHT SPARKLE! STOP!” Luna’s voice boomed across the palace as Twilight sped off, intent on making it back to Ponyville before anypony could track her path.
Twilight tried her best to keep her mind from running wild as she flew through the sky. She has left her old life behind. There was no going back now, and she needed to have a clear mind for the days and weeks ahead.
I'm so sorry for this, but you two left me no other choice. If I have to break the rules of nature itself to save my friends, so be it. Many will think me selfish for this. But how would they not do the same, in my hooves? I don’t care what I just left behind, the price is too great, I will even bend reality to my will if it dares to stand in between me and my friends. Goodbye, Princess Celestia.
Chapter 2: Zecora's Wisdom (WIP)
Chapter 1: Morning Comes
Chapter 1: Morning Comes
Twilight had spent the rest of that fateful night in a comfortless, solemn sleep.
Her dreams were dominated by images of vacant thrones, demonic alicorns, and of all things... cemeteries.
To her surprise, nopony had attempted to chase after her. She had neither heard nor seen roving bands of searching guardsponies, or any sign of pursuit for that matter. The now runaway princess had elected to hide herself deep within the White Tail woods.
It was just too risky to return to Ponyville so soon.
The young alicorn stretched her wings stiffly as she awoke on the branch that had served as her makeshift bed throughout the night. Her mane was still a ragged mess, and her hooves rubbed away at irritated, almost bloodshot eyes.
She took a look around at her surroundings, confused at first. “Wha..?” Quickly realizing where she was, and with it, her predicament. With the sun shining at her back, she bowed her head in weariness.
Locked in thought, a part of her wanted to just up and fly back to Canterlot, to beg the Princesses for forgiveness.
They offered you the world Twilight. Infinite power, wisdom, transcendence, all could have been yours! Why deny yourself such a grand gift? How could you turn your back on your own dear mentor? Time is running out. Return to them, before your chance is lost!
Another, larger part of her violently shut the doubtful voice out.
I’ve made my choice! And now there’s no going back, there will never be any going back. My friends come first, nothing else matters! That’s final!
Finally putting her conflict-addled mind to rest, at least for the moment, Twilight set about her new task.
What to do next.
Ponyville was likely still too dangerous and risky to attempt to approach directly. She would have to wait awhile just in case her possible pursuers were searching the town for signs of her.
Twilight was not sure what the Princesses would do if they managed to apprehend her. The rogue alicorn was not necessarily eager to find out, and the possibilities left her with a feeling of dread in her stomach.
Then there was also of course, the matter of her friends themselves.
Goodness, what must be going through their minds right now? They must be worried sick... or maybe the Princesses told them I am a traitor, and they... NO! You can’t think like that. Luna would never be able to convince any of them that I’m capable of treason. How was trying to refuse immortality even an act of betrayal? Princess Celestia never told me this could happen, never mentioned it even in passing. If anything, they betrayed me!
But, no, Celestia wouldn’t do that... I, I... Why oh why did this all have to happen like this?
Her thoughts were getting out of control again. She tried to calm herself, breathing as Cadence had taught her so long ago.
Calm down Twilight! If you keep dwelling on it, you’ll go mad! Just figure out what your going to do. You can’t stay up in this tree branch forever, thinking yourself to death!
Wait, dwell...dwelling? Tree branch, trees, forest... That gives me an idea... Wait, Zecora! She might know how to help me deal with all of, well, this! I just pray she doesn’t take my predicament the wrong way, why would she? She’s a reasonable zebra. I’m sure she’ll understand.
Stretching her wings a second and final time, Twilight spread them and took flight. She flew as stealthily as she could towards the southeast. Towards the dark canopy of the Everfree Forest.
Meanwhile...
Canterlot
“Morning is here, Tia. I presume all of Twilight’s friends have finally been sent home, my sister?” Luna inquired.
Her sibling nodded slowly. “They were reluctant to leave, they still seem to hold on to the hope Twilight will return and sort all of this out.” Celestia sighed. “In all my years I had her under my tutelage, I had presumed her ready by now to accept the mantle of a princess. Is it possible my judgement may have been impaired by my affection for Twilight?”
The Sun Princess stared expectantly at her younger sister, tears threatening to break from her eyelids. Luna’s face remained stoic, but her eyes betrayed it, silently voicing the midnight alicorn’s deep concern. Luna laid a wing on her older sibling, trying to reassure her.
“Do not doubt your judgement even for a heartbeat my sister! Twilight is ready, she merely needs time to collect herself. Don’t you remember how Cadence reacted initially to her own Ascension? It was an almost identical scenario to this.”
Celestia gave Luna a ghost of a smile on her ancient, regal face. “I suppose you are right, Lulu. My faithful student just needs time. It’s just that dealing with the emotions of Ascension is always so painful, for you, me, for all those like us.”
Luna’s wing tightened around Princess Celestia’s shoulder. “Indeed, it is tough Tia. But it is necessary. T’is all for the greater good of Equestria. If we went back to the Old Ways, no good would come of it. We alicorns alone are worthy of bearing the power we do.”
At that, Luna’s face morphed from impassive stoicism, to one of fierce determination. “Twilight Sparkle is a Princess, and like it or not, she will accept her duties in the times to come. Her friends are indeed problematic in this process, but like all others of their kind, time will deal with them.”
Outside of Luna’s gaze, Celestia hid the frown that was now dominating her features. The Princess of the Night removed her wing from Tia’s shoulder and took a seat on one of the exquisite cushions in the corner.
“Again, time will heal the wounds Twilight’s friends’ inevitable passing shall bring, and they have taught her all she needs to know about friendship. It is time now for her to be taught instead the wisdom and principles befitting an ageless monarch such as ourselves, sister.”
Hastily putting a smile back on her face, a skill honed from centuries of diplomatic work, Celestia turned to regard her younger sister. “You are right, Luna. Forgive me for my doubts, but you know this isn’t easy.”
“Nothing is ever easy, dear Tia.”
Luna got up from the cushion and slowly made her way out of Celestia’s bed chambers. “Everything shall pull through, my sister. Twilight will snap back to her senses and return to us. Even if she tries to resist it, the royal blood that powers her alicorn abilities will inevitably lead her back here to the embrace of our waiting wings.”
Princess Celestia watched her go, disappearing around a corner.
Why must the price for all of our power be so high? I know we have to take our positions because fate demands it, but why at the cost of so much from our subjects? Sometimes I find myself questioning the decisions we made so long ago.
With a deep sigh, the monarch gathered herself, and prepared to journey to her throne room to begin the business of the day.
Not now, I need my mind clear for today’s agenda. Luna’s right. Twilight will see it our way, I know it in my heart. She wouldn't turn against us like that, against her own Princesses! Against her own mentor? It’s all impossible, insane. I mustn't dwell on this. Equestria demands her rulers to be sound of mind, body, and judgment. Well now.... Off to work then...
