Chapters Rarity was the first to die. I knew she would eventually; her mortality had only been prolonged. So had my grief, then, I suppose. Celestia and Luna were devastated, though not for the right reason. Yes, they were sad to see me in such an upset state, and yes they we unhappy to see a student perish... but one of the means of protection they had used to keep the other empires at bay was gone. Rarity's element, Generosity, had not died with her, no, Celestia's spell made sure of that, but it was left unrepresented. The ponies of the Angelic Empire came to Canterlot, offering condolences. They didn't help at all. I was left alone with her body, and I refused to leave it. Celestia, Luna, and even Shining Armor thought that I was just having a mental breakdown, like Celestia when her one true love had died (Luna told me that dearest princess Tia wouldn't leave the body of her beloved for a year). In reality, I had to focus. I was performing an alteration spell on Rares, making her young again. I found that even though she was dead, the spell was hard to pull off because her skin was tight and stiff, not warm and soft as a regular old mare's skin. Rarity was still beautiful in her age, though. Her coat was silver, and her mane was blueish-purple now.
Nonetheless, when the spell was done, her mane was violet, her coat was white, and her lashes were long and luxurious. I dressed her in her favorite pink and gold dress that she had worn to the Grand Galloping Galla, the one that she had ruined because of the statue falling down. I had fixed it and when it was on her body, it looked so natural and she looked as pretty and elegant as the night she wore it. Then I encased her body in stone. I put it in a perfect position, one that she used quite often. She was flinging her mane back and her eyes were half-closed, letting her lashes look full-volume in a profile view. Everypony was surprised when I came out of my room with the stone Rarity. Spike, a full-grown dragon, sobbed and refused to let me carry the statue with my magic and instead took it all the way to the palace garden, where there was a large courtyard. I told Spike to put the statue on the pedestal that had Rarity's name carved in blue sapphire on the gold plaque, and he nodded deftly. I put her Element of Harmony necklace on her statue and cast a protective spell on it so nopony would steal it.
***
Fluttershy was the next to die. I did the same thing for her, dressing her in her green gown and putting her in a laying down pose. She was nuzzling a stone Angel the bunny.
Rainbow Dash died after that (I was surprised she didn't go first, the dare-devil). I didn't dress her in a gown, rather put her in her flying pose. I put a laurel wreath on her head and braided her mane, though, because that's how it was when she won the Equestria Games.
Pinkie was next. I posed her so that she was aiming her party cannon, with her hair fluffed up and her eyes glittering. She was wearing her Galla gown.
Apple Jack was the last. I was heart broken, because every time one of our friends died, she was the most supportive. Now she was gone, and there was nopony for me to lean on, nopony for me to cry on, even though I was much taller than all of my friends. AJ's statue stood simply tall and proud, a stubborn glint in her eyes. Winona was positioned next to her, and I gave a sad smile, looking around. The circle was complete. All of the Elements were arranged in a circle, all had their necklaces on, and all were in their signature positions. I was in the middle, like always. But I wasn't surrounded by my friends. I was surrounded by cold, hard statues encasing my friend's dead bodies.
This is not what pushed me into insanity.
It was many years after AJ's death that I first noticed the golden tips of Tia's long flowing mane. It had gotten longer, and I wondered why.
"Tia?" I called down the hall. She was in Luna's quarters, getting ready for dawn.
"Yes, Twilight? What do you need?" She replied. Her white coat was sleek and shiny as always, and her eyes were still dull from sleep. I shifted around on my hooves, embarrassed to ask if a princess dyed her mane.
"Well, you see, I noticed some gold on the tips of your mane, and I just wanted to ask why it was there." I smiled at the princess, and she returned it. Her smile was somber, though.
"It's natural. Like when a regular mare gets grey hairs. I'm getting old." She laughed, and I joined in, for lack of a better activity.
"You mean to say that after thousands of years, you're just now getting old?!"
"Yes! It happens to everypony."
"I thought you were immortal? If you have gold hairs then that means that you're-" I stopped dead in my sentence, and my eyes widened.
"You're gonna die one day?" I asked, shocked.
"Of course I am. Like I said, everypony gets old and dies!"
Luna walked in, exhaustion made her hoof steps heavy and lethargic. Her eyes, though, were wide-awake.
"Sister, it is your turn." She bowed her head, and Tia sighed in relief. I scowled, and she laughed at my obvious distaste at the timing of it all. She whispered quickly in Luna's ear, and flew off from the balcony, the sun following.
"So, I hear you talked about being old, huh?" Luna asked, lying down on her bed. It was decorated with the sun and a pair of wings next to the sun. The background was black with little stars pricking the darkness. I had always found the quilt to be very peaceful, and I favored it more than Tia's.
"Yeah. But I didn't think that you would die eventually. I mean, you have always been here; who will rule when you die?" I asked. Luna regarded me with a 'really ?' look.
"You will, obviously. You will be just like Celestia and I; you'll raise the sun and the moon, take on a student, and you'll do long and boring paperwork all about the standing relations with the neighboring empires. It's really easy once you get an assistant. And of course you will have Cadence to rely on. She is always open to help others. You know how she is with that.
"There's also something I'd like to show you. Come with me," Luna rose from her bed and flew out the door and down the hall. She lead me down multiple flights of stairs and ended up in the crystal caverns where Cadence had been imprisoned on her wedding day. I winced as I stepped on one of the broken shards of amethyst. I yanked the piece out of my hoof with magic and continued following the princess of night.
"Ta da!" She said with an extravagant flap of her wings. She threw her mane back and laughed at my perplexed countenance.
She turned around and frowned. Using magic, she whipped a white sheet off of what I had thought was a hunk of rock. Instead, I saw a portal. Beyond that was an image of greenish-blue pulsing light, with flecks of gold and underlying tones of black.
"This is called to Realm of Magic. It's the eternal pool of energy where all ponies draw upon for their special powers. Pegasi use this energy to fly, even though the shouldn't be able to, what with the size of their wings. Earth ponies use it by channeling the raw power into the ground, making it fertile for growing things. Unicorns use it by harnessing the energy within and manipulating the world around them through levitation, transfiguration, and other such spells. Alicorns are the most connected to the Realm of Magic because they use all three of the traits associated with the pony species, and then add on to their power by being seemingly ageless." Luna paused and looked at me.
"So," I began. "In the case of Alicorns, I am assuming that channeling too much of the energy can burn up their physical bodies, causing them to turn gold and fade away to ashes. Am I right?" I asked. Luna nodded.
"Yes, almost. See, it's not just the channeling of energy that wears us out, but it's also the realm needing the energy back. We use so much of it, and we need to return it. That's why the pool of energy is eternal. Used energy is given back once it's no longer needed. Earth ponies don't just rely on their magic, they rely on sheer skill as well. Pinkie's family didn't have the skills necessary to keep a real farm going after an initial burst of magic. Pegasi only need a boost when taking off, and then when landing. After that, their bodies know automatically what to do to keep themselves in the air and not crashing."
I nodded. "So this is the place where I got my wings and my green hoof?" I asked.
"Yes."
With that, we left back up to the palace, both eager to get some sleep during the day (I had stayed up all night studying history and how to rule a kingdom).
"Good night, Luna." I said.
"Good night, Twilight Sparkle."
Going down to the caves under the palace became a regular thing for me. I'd slip through the portal and watch all of my memories play out before me. The time we had defeated Discord, the time Spike saved the Crystal Empire, or when Rarity gave up her tail for the river serpent. But there were, to other ponies eyes, mundane things that meant the world to me. I saw the time when AJ gave us all apple cider for helping her with Applebuck Season. I saw the race between her and Dashie. I saw Pinkie Pie throwing the party for Gilda the Griffon.
None of these memories made me cry. In fact, they all made me smile and laugh at the beauty of my life, and the beauty of the ponies I was surrounded by. Those silly mares that I knew and loved may have been gone physically, but they were still very much alive in my heart. We are all very luck to have known each other. Rainbow Dash was by far the most essential pony in our relationship. She was the pony that connected all of us... even before we knew that any of us even existed. And I think that without Pinkie Pie, I wouldn't know how to just laugh away my fears and my stress. She taught me the importance of a good comedic play, or even a pleasurable afternoon at a garden party. Rarity taught me the magic of detail. How one little thing can upset even the whole balance of the big picture. If it weren't fore Fluttershy's kindness, I don't think I could be patient enough to sit through an entire council meeting that mainly consisted of a sleeping phoenix in the corner, Luna rolling her eyes, and Celestia shouting.
"I don't think you know how I miss you," I said aloud one day after watching all of us at Pinkie's birthday party. My voice echoed, and it seemed to be magnified with each resound, even though there were no walls to this ethereal haven.
"Yes we do, silly! But you're just going to have to see that one day you'll see us agian! And then we can have a great house-warming party for you up here in the Afterlife!" Pinkie laughed. Her voice didn't echo, though, and I wondered why.
"Pinkie? Is that you?"
"Oh, we're all here, darling. Come find us!" Rarity said. I flinched. Her words had a cold tint to them. Applejack spoke up.
"Ah reckon this'l be a maghty good game a hide n' seek."
"Where are you guys! Come out, I want to talk to you!" I yelled. Rainbow Dash laughed cruelly.
"It's hide and seek, Princess . You're gonna need to try about twenty percent harder to find us."
"If you don't mind," even Fluttershy's sweet voice was tainted by cynicism and sarcastic flare. I looked around, but saw nowhere to hide, nowhere my dear friends could be hiding.
"I just want to talk," I called out. My friends snarled.
"Then why didn't you write?" Rainbow spat. For a moment, I thought I could see the shadow of a pegasus bent over with her wings in the air, ready to charge. But it went away as quickly as it had come. It was replaced by a bouncing, bubbly figure.
"Pinkie Pie, I am so glad to see you!" I walked forward, and the figure faded and reappeared next to me, this time in the form of Applejack.
"Yer gonna have ta try harder n' that to catch us." She said. Fluttershy danced into view.
"Or are you scared to? Hmm, Twilight Sparkle?" She reared up on her hind legs, and I flinched away from her.
"Hahaha, you have changed, dear princess. Or are is it just this so called Realm of Magic ?" She taunted. Now all five of the figures surrounded me, slowly becoming more solid.
"No, no! Go AWAY!" I shouted, using my Canterlot Royal voice. With that, the silhouettes of my friends had cracks were their moths would be, revealing spiky white teeth. They were smiling at me... but in a weird way, like I knew that they would be back, and they knew that I knew. What awful smiles.
I didn't dare tell anyone about my encounter with my friends in the Realm of Magic. In fact, come to think of it, it was probably just a terrible, terribly hallucination. Yes, that's it. I had convinced myself of this lie, saying that it was the heady scent of power that weighted me down in that safe haven that made me think I was seeing my friends. After a month, I had all but forgotten that memory and moved on to happier times, where I would be at peace.
Maybe it was Celestia's mane or the way Luna cringed whenever her older sister walked by, but I was slowly growing uneasy. As the Equestrian Historian Princess, I had then dedicated myself to learning about alicorns. Mostly about how they aged.
"Luna!" I called out one day. I was in thew Starswirl the Bearding wing of the palace library. I had found something rather remarkable, I'd already known it, but yet there was a hidden message that Starswirl himself had hidden deep in the text.
The midnight-blue princess wafted into the room, hovering slightly. Her mane drifted around her withers like starry blue smoke, and I found myself lost in its depths.
"Twilight," Luna said, coughing lightly. "You needed me?" I jumped.
"Oh! Yes, of course! You see, I found this scroll containing information on alicorns. It was written by-"
Luna raised a hoof. "You understand, Twilight, that anything written by Starswirl is nothing but a theory? He lived back in the olden days, when everypony spoke in the way I did before Nightmare Night. Alicorns hadn't even existed then. I don't even think we existed," she told me gently.
"I know. Just listen, though. Please?" Without waiting for a response, I shot forward in my findings, quoting directly from the text at times.
"Alicorns, the mots powerful of us pony-folk, are creatures who have been bestowed celestial or astrological powers of the world in which we inhabit. They have the power to raise the sun and the moon, to command the earth below our hooves to move, and raise the water in the oceans and lakes as pegasi do. 'I know all of this because I have seen it. I have found a heaven in which death is not necessary to access, and in which I was granted wings, though I fear that they are no use, as I am in my final stages of life.'" I paused for effect.
"Starswirl found the portal to the Realm of Magic, where he was turned into an alicorn by an unknown entity who looked like a massive expanse of stars... there were so many stars that it looked as if 'the night had been used as a cloak'. After he was given wings, Starswirl saw, in one of the windows, two young fillies with wings and horns playing together. One rose the sun, the other the moon. Stawswril then left the Realm, and died before he could return. In another scroll, it says that he faded away. It was his beard first, then his horn, then his wings, and then the rest of his body faded soon after, according to witnesses." I looked at Luna.
"Twilight, as you know, Tia was not born an Alicorn. I was. And yet she is the one who wields the most power. It is because of this that I have held my jealousy get the best of me. That was only once. Once . And now, I'm still jealous." She looked out the window, across the gardens, out towards the horizon.
"I envy her because, even though she was not born an alicorn, she has enough power on her own to move the sun. I can only lift the moon. I'm jealous because she gets to leave this world sooner than I do. She has come to accept the fact that she won't be here for much longer. I have noticed that her horn has gotten shorter."
"Her wisdom has always been greater than mine. She has always known more magic, always found a way around war. I fear, Twilight, that when she is gone... when she's gone, I won't be able to channel her ability to make peace and friends. I fear that my destructive impatience will destroy everything my dear sister has made.
"So yes, I know about how Starswirl died an alicorn. I know that my sister will die, too. I know that you will inherit the world as we know it... and I know that I, Luna, will die before my sister."
***
Luna wasn't wrong. She began fading to silver, too. Her mane was gone in a day, her tail was gone, too. Her horn was shrinking. She stayed tucked away in her room in the tower, desperate for peace and quiet. I knew she was being ravaged by terrible migraines... but that didn't stop me from going up to talk to her one last time.
"Luna, I only have one question for you," I said. She nodded weakly. Her eyes were closed, and her breath was ragged and shallow.
"You said that you were scared of ruling the kingdom after Celestia died. But then you said you knew you'd be gone first. That's a big contradiction..." I trailed off, and Luna smirked.
"Sometimes, Twilight, you don't know something until after you have contradicted that knowledge. Now, this is the last you'll see of me, weak and small. Please, tell me something before I go." I nodded weakly, fighting the tears that I hadn't known were welling up behind my eyes.
"When you became an alicorn, what did you feel?" She asked.
"Unending joy," I said without hesitation.
"Could you give that to me? Find a memory, a really good one. Just give me my joy so that I can be happy when I move on." I thought for a moment, and nodded again, consenting. Luna extended her neck towards me, and I touched my horn to her bare forehead and began my search.
It was as if I was in the Realm of Magic. All of her memories splayed out before me, and all of them were fading quickly. I sifted through them with my magic. After a few minutes of searching, I found one. A young black colt with pretty green eyes a long horn, and little wings flapped up next to Luna's flank. He grinned and hopped about her, cheering at his success at a spell. Luna leaned down to nuzzle the coat, saying: "I'm so proud, Sombra. You'll make a great prince, someday." I blinked. Sombra? An alicorn? I didn't care, though. A good memory was a good memory, no matter who was in it.
I returned back to the outer world and brought the memory to the surface of Luna's mind. She chuckled.
"Can you believe it?" She asked. "Sombra had such potential. But then he met Chrysalis, and he learned dark magic... he learned how to change his appearance and... I had to take away his wings and his horn. When his wings left, smokey red and black shadows helped him fly. His normal horn was replaced by that- that thing you saw long ago in the Crystal Empire.
"But he was so handsome as a colt. When he got older, I taught him more magic and flying. He was the best student I had. I was so proud. Pity he can't be here today. I'd always asked him if one day he would consider being my son. I hadn't adopted him, he didn't want me to. But when he was older, I asked. One day, he said yes, and the deal was done. The very next day, he went missing...." Luna sniffed.
"This was a good memory. Thank you, Twilight Sparkle." I nodded and left.
"And Twi?" She asked. I noticed her use of my nickname.
"Yes, Luna?"
"Please call me Lulu."
"Okay... Lulu."
And with that, she was gone. Drifting away in a wind that tore open the windows and came to get her silver soul, pure and clean. There was no tinge of Nightmare Moon. I smiled through my tears as I watched the wind carry Lulu's soul upwards, towards the rising moon.
I was sad. I couldn't express my feelings in any more detail. I was just blunt and heartbroken when telling Celestia of her sister's ascent to the Afterlife. Lucky her, she could be with all of the ponies she still loved. As for me, I had to live in my memories, Going into the Realm of Magic every night and hoping to see or hear my friends again. My last encounter with their spirits, though it was scary and cruel, had ignited a spark of hope within me. They never came.
It was Celestia who helped. Though I knew her quite well, I was much closer with the younger alicorn sister. I could relate to her... we shared the darkness in our being. Her's was broken by the moonlight, mine was broken by the shards of knowledge that I had only just begun to fully comprehend. Going into the Realm of Magic meant that I could see far into the past, as the historian. But I had other powers. I did have a star on my flank, and it only made sense that I could access the memories of the stars. This was not something that Luna could do, and she ruled the night. Luna was only able to see the moon's memory. That was only one. I could see thousands of lifetimes, perhaps millions. All I had to do was go into the cave and step through the portal.
"Twilight," Celestia said. She was in her bed, her horn aglow. Her perfect white coat had tired purple bags under the eyes, and I sighed. Celestia was dying, but she supported the moon and the sun. She had refused my help, for some reason.
"Yes, Celestia?" I replied, lifting my gaze to her pupils, which conveyed all of her weakness and all of her exhaustion to me in waves. I was tired just looking at her.
"I need you to do something for me."
"What do you need, Princess?"
"I need for you to go and get Discord for me." I hesitated. Even though I didn't doubt the work of Fluttershy, I was rather wary of the odd creature who had the nerve to call himself funny.
"You're certain?" I asked. The princess nodded, and I extended my wings and flapped once- twice, hoisting myself into the air and flying towards the Crystal Empire. Discord had taken up residence there after Fluttershy died. Her was bent on bothering my brother, and it worked very well. Every time I would come to visit, Shining Armor's wings would be ruffled and his horn was always glowing with magic that was undoubtedly aimed right at Discord's face. That was not the case this time.
I found Discord in his room, talking to a picture of Fluttershy. I smiled. He hadn't noticed me, and kept on talking, his whispers louder than fireworks. I saw a single chocolate tear slide down his cheek, and I coughed, announcing my presence.
"Twilight! How lovely to see you!" He gushed. I gave a curt nod.
"Celestia needs to see you, and I think that it's urgent. Please hurry." I turned to leave and flew out, manuvering with such skill and grace that Rainbow Dash would have beamed at.
Years of practice, Dashie. I thought. I heard a giggle that sounded faintly like...
I stopped flying and hit the ground with a sharp thud.
Dash! Are you there?! I asked frantically.
Of course I am. And you know, you aren't that good of a flier. I was better. And I always will be! How 'bout them apples? Rainbow Dash chuckled, and I winced.
Ah heard the sound a apples. Are there any Ah need ta pick? I heard AJ ask. Elation filled me, and I leapt into the air.
You guys are here! Oh my gosh, you don't know how much I need you... Luna died, and I just can't function with the knowledge that Celestia's gonna be gone soon, too... I drifted back to the ground. Nopony replied.
Hello? I asked. Nothing.
I shrugged and flew back. Discord had caught up with me, and we made the flight together, silent in the chilled night.
I didn't think twice about going into Celestia's room. I simply guessed that she wouldn't be doing anything other than waiting....
Oh well. She was taking a bubble-bath, but was also... enjoying herself in a rather productive manner. It wasn't that I was shocked by the fact that she was bathing, she never wore clothes anyway, it was just the wet squishing sound that didn't really sound like it came from the draining of water. I was disgusted. Thoroughly disgusted.
She blushed deeply and tried to bring an end to her pleasure, but failed. Instead, she just finished up and wrapped herself in a towel. She flapped over to where I was waiting, and I cleared my throat awkwardly. Discord giggled, and I nudged him with my elbow.
"Stop it! This is a princess!" I hissed. He stopped and I straightened up.
"Alright, I brought the jester. Do I need to leave or should I stay?" I asked. Tia nodded and waved a hoof.
"You can go, I only needed you to get him. Surely there's something to entertain you more than listening to me talk with Discord anyway, right?"
"You, princess. Of course." With that, I flew away and went to see a certain dragon I hadn't seen since... I didn't remeber the last time I'd seen Spike! Hurriedly, I flapped my wings and landed all too soon on the black marble porch of Spike's home.
"Spike?" I called out. There was a thud from inside the house, followed by a hollow "Oof!" and the door opened. But the creature who opened it was no dragon. Rather it was Spike's daughter. Her large bat wings were gracefully folded to her sides, and her large, spiraling white horn glowed with green fire. Her eyes were green, too. She looked just like Rarity. I could see it in her green mane- the sleek shine that made Rarity's mane the prettiest. And the young alicorn's eye's were shaped like Rarity's, too.
"Hello, Aurora. How are you?" I asked. The white mare shrugged.
"Been fine, I suppose. Dad's in the library. Follow me," Aurora unfurled her wings and flew up the stairs and into the loft of the giant five-story mansion.
"So what brings you here?" She asked me.
"I came to see your father. I haven't seen him in quite some time..." I trailed off, noting the intricate carvings made of gemstones of all colors. They were swirling patterns and made the shape of ponies. Six, total. There was a quartz pony with an amethyst mane, and an amethyst pony with a darker purple shade of the same stone for a mane. A pony with a fire-agate body and a yellow diamond mane.A pegasus was in the sapphire sky, wings outstretched, made of turquoise, and had a mane of garnet, fire agate, amethyst, and blue diamond. A smaller pegasus was on the ground. She was made of topaz with a gleaming pink mane made of pink sapphire. The last pony was all pink sapphire, and she was hopping among the emerald grass, balloons in her muzzle. And of course, there was Spike. He was amethyst, too, with jade spikes.
"Do you like them?" Aurora asked. I nodded deafly.
"They're... they're beautiful. I'm going to assume that you made them?"
"Yes. Dad said that the walls ought to be covered in carvings like these. I said that I only wanted them on the wall for the staircase. There's a carving of Discord and Fluttershy's wedding, and yours and Flash's. We even added the time when you all went out to lunch. I liked carving that scene." We were at the tope of the stairs, by then, and I thanked Aurora quietly before knocking on the door.
"Twilight!" Spike said. His voice was deep and he was very large. Wings sprouted from his back, and his teeth ere big and sharp.
"You look well, Spike." I said, bowing my head.
"Well, yes. I've been exercising. I've been trying to get Aurora to go with me, but she's refused, saying that she's an alicorn, she can eat and do- or not do in this case- whatever she wants and she'll be skinny as a twig. And while she's right, I want her to feel exhilarated by sweating and-"
"Spike that's disgusting. Even I don't like to sweat, and I've done it a lot in my day." I interrupted.
"Oh. Well, still, don't you think she should, I don't know, jog or something?" Spike asked.
"Well, she flies, that's good enough. I mean, she's a minor alicorn who is kind of like the ambassador to dragons. I think she might have more power than me, by the way." I giggled.
Spike waved his claws, as if to shrug off the accusation of his daughter's brilliance.
"Nah, you're fine for at least another six hundred years. She has the mentality of a teenager, and she's already, like, five-hundred."
"Alright, fine. Now, on to business. I came for two reasons. Number one, I missed you. Number two, I need your help."
It wasn't that I didn't like talking about death, it was just that, well, with it being to close to me at the moment of speaking, I was a bit antsy, to say the least. Spike could tell what I needed from him was urgent, and he willingly lead me down into the basement, which I had been previously informed by Aurora was strictly off-limits to anypony who had the nerve to come into Spike's home. We walked downstairs very quietly, though I suppose Spike was slithering. He couldn't fit in the small stairwell.
When we stopped, we were standing in from of a large-ish door of no particular grandeur. Spike thought otherwise and whipped the chamber door open with a flourish- or as much as a hunched over dragon could flourish. What was inside was absolutely stunning.
The night sky glimmered and its stars winked from what appeared to be very far above. The lights were very dim, and they were silver. They even came from a small silver disk which appeared to have no fastenings. All at once, the beautiful sky was in this cave, and it was the greatest thing I had ever come to see that was made by Spike. He even mapped all of the stars, and they were in perfect harmony with the ones that were outside. In fact... I looked closer and saw the faint ghost of a cloud, drifting quietly across the sky. The breeze blew faintly, and I smelled crushed pine and wild blackberries.
"Spike-"
"I did this all by myself... I guess dragons have magic, too, huh?" Spike laughed, a deep, rumbling noise that came from somewhere within his belly.
"Yes, I suppose so. So how did you do all this?" I asked, awestruck.
"I just found this cave and it was so big I could stand up in it.I though about you and what you'd see in this cave. I guess that thinking that made me think of stars, and then when I opened my eyes, I was bathed in blue light and all of it was getting darker and darker... finally it just spread out over the ceiling and then poof ! The night sky was there. It changes, too. Right now its midnight. In about six hours, the sun aught to be coming up over this field." Spike looked around.
"After the sky became what it is, I wanted to get a scenery to match. I covered this whole place in soil deep enough to support grass and covered said soil in said grass. The pine you smell is an added touch to make it seem like we're close to the Everfree Forest."
"Wow. That's... amazing," I breathed. Warmth spread, and the reason for my help was suddenly not quite so... morbid.
I turned to Spike, facing him instead of the vast night sky.
"Now, on to business. Spike, earlier this evening, Luna died. The princess died right in front of me. Celestia is fading, too. I don't think she'll be here much longer. When she goes, I will need your help in ruling the kingdom. I'll need you and Aurora more than ever. Of course, I'll have Cadence to lean on, but that'll be hard, seeing as how her shoulder is in the Crystal Empire. I just need an adviser, of sorts." Spike sighed.
"I thought this would happen..." He rumbled faintly. I sat down dejectedly.
"I didn't know you knew that alicorns died." I giggled. "I always thought you were more into bargaining with the dragons, rather than hanging out with the benevolent pony dictators of Equestria."
"No, I mean I thought you would come telling me you'd have to take over. Although, I just thought it would be a test for Celestia. I didn't think she'd be... you know... dying."
"Yeah. But it'll be harder, now, because of the others," I said faintly. I felt Spike startle.
"What do you mean?"
"I mean Rainbow and PInkie and AJ and the others. I can hear them sometimes. I can see their silhouettes in the Realm of Magic. And their smiles. They're not nice, anymore, Spike, but I think that they still love me, but they don't remember. If I talk to them more, if I just re-establish our friendship, then they'll come back, and they'll help me. We'd all rule together. Wouldn't that be nice?" I asked. I had looked back up to the sky and leaned against Spike's large shoulder. I extended a fluffy purple wing to his back, and he did the same, only with a significantly larger leathery bat wing.
"You can hear and see the others?" Spike asked.
"Yes. But only sometimes."
"Twilight, I-"
"No, no, it's a good thing. If I spend more time with them, I'll make progress. They'll be nicer."
"I think you need to talk to the princess about this. Please?" Spike put his wing back down, and a rush of cool air enveloped me. I only just realized the fire that ran in Spike's veins. Hotter than magma, almost. The feel of his shoulder against mine was excruciating.
"Spike, go into a pool or something! You're so hot, do you have a fever?"
He jumped and looked at me. "I don't have a fever. Twilight, what are you talking about? I'm the same temperature as I was just a few seconds ago!"
"No, I swear you... you heated up!" He shook his head.
"Fine. I have to go anyway." I got up, stretched, and flew out of the cavern.
As I flew, I could hear cruel laughter.
Apple Jack? I asked hopefully.
Giving your own brother the cold shoulder, huh? How sweet. That was Rainbow.
He was giving me the hot one! I said sharply, defending myself.
Whatever. Why are you leaving? He had more to say. This one was Fluttershy.
Because I- he was...
You don't have an answer? Ironic. Her voice contained a snarl, and I winced.
I just... where have you guys been? I asked.
Oh, around. Darling, where have you been? We would have come if you looked harder. Rarity laughed, and I stopped.
What?! I shouted within my mind. I was looking! Why do you make me seem like a bad friend? I was close to tears, so I put up a wall. Nopony could get past. I left Spike's house and flew into the night, where I let my tears pour out for the stars to see.
Celestia sat on her bed, dying. I was next to her, helping her raise the moon for the last time. I'd take over after tonight, whether Tia died or not. She was so weak, and the fact that she had, until now, been dealing with the weight of the moon and the sun combined on her own didn't help at all. She had refused my help and had only just let her pride fall, as she couldn't get the silver sphere into the sky without falling into a coma before dying.
"Twilight... I don't think I ever told you this..." Celestia coughed gently. My lower lip quivered.
"I really appreciate what you have done for me, all of these years. I do. I just want you to know, that you have become a sister to me. Just as Luna was. That said... please... forgive me." He head fell back and she closed her eyes. A small sigh left her.
"It is traditional," she said, gasping. "For the next of kin to choose a memory for her dying family member. Could you? I'd like to die with a beautiful image in my mind. Do what you did for Luna." I nodded and wiped away the tears forming in my eyes. With a flash, I was in Celestia's section in the Realm of Magic. I sifted through all the memories, all spread out in the air around me.
They all flashed, with light of their own. A large square floated to my left and I watched through Celestia's eyes as her little sister charged at her, tears streaming down her face.
"I'm so sorry! I missed you so much, big sister!"
"I missed you too," Celestia said, crying as well.
Such a brief memory, but one that I was particularly fond of. I had never forgotten that wonderful moment of Luna and Tia, sisters again by blood, and friends by promise. No, I hadn't forgotten, even after the hundreds of years that had passed.
"How cute." I whipped around to face a shadow. She was smiling, her teeth glinting as the only features visible on the mare.
"Pinkie?" I asked, astonished.
"Well, yes, who else? I was your best friend. I'd follow you to the ends of the earth. I guess you won't do the same, seeing as how I died, and you are still here... Oh well. I forgive you Twilight. You just have to make it up to me.
"You know I've always wanted to be a princess. You ought to let me rule, just for a day. Celestia is letting me. I mean, she'll let me do anything since I am killing her." Pinkie laughed maniacally. I stood rigid with fear.
"What do you mean?" I asked.
"I though that was obvious? I'm stealing her energy! And she's got quite a lot, too! In fact, once I'm done..."
I quacked. "No! The dead are benevolent spirits who can't leave the Afterlife! Pinkie, go back! I thought you were at peace. Please be at peace." I sat down and sobbed.
"Twilight, we're here because you're not at peace. We're here to torment you, silly! Don't you blame yourself for us dying?" With that, the shadow was gone.
How could she have known that?
The moment I brought the memory to the surface of Tia's mind, she died. Her body turned to white dust and drifted away, quiet, as if nothing was wrong. Like I wasn't left behind, a hollow shell.
That day would forever be remembered as the day Twilight Sparkle broke all the windows in Canterlot. I mean, after Tia's death, of course.
The scream I let out nearly broke my vocal cords, and I sobbed for a long while afterwards, broken and angry at the world. Luna wasn't there to comfort me, and neither was Flash Sentry. No, they were both dead. The last person I wanted to see, though, entered quietly.
"Violet," I muttered angrily as my head lifted, catching an eyeful of dark fur.
"Lovely to see you, too, princess." She said cheerfully.
"Why are you here?"
She shifted around, and my eyes widened. "You're here to... to comfort me?!" I asked, astonished.
"Well, I know what it's like to loose everypony..." Violet sniffed.
"I thought you'd, I dunno, like a shoulder to cry on."
"As a matter of fact, I would."
Taking over after Tia's death was heart-breaking. Violet helped considerably, though she often disappeared within the castle gardens. I was okay with that. Sometimes she got annoying, though her friendship was very appreciated. In the time after Tia's passing, I had set forth to build on Equestria's technological advances. My scientists had already made a radio, of sorts. Music was broadcast literally all the time. There were computers, too, like the ones in the human world. I, though, had tweaked the keyboard to fit hooves instead of fingers. The symbols on said keys were large and blocky to accommodate the hooves, though unicorns had specialized keyboards that had smaller symbols that they could just manipulate with magic.
Violet turned out to be quite a valuable asset. She cleaned up my room when I destroyed it in my grief, and she never questioned me when I talked to Dash or Rarity. She just said that if I could communicate with the dead, that was great, and to tell Rainbow that Violet said 'Hi'. I did that one day... it did not end well.
The Realm of Magic was empty as always, and I wandered about this vast infinity, hoping to find the others.
"Rarity?" I called out.
"Applejack?" All at once, five shadows came racing towards me, but stopped at the last moment, narrowly missing ramming into me. Two earth-ponies. Two Pegasi. A unicorn.
"Girls! I'm so glad to see you!"
"That makes one of us," Rainbowdash said cruelly. Fluttershy laughed, but stopped abruptly when nopony joined her glee.
"What? You don't want to see me?" I asked. "I thought we were friends." Applejack grunted, and Rarity spoke up.
"Oh, darling, how funny! You thought that just because we come when you ask, we're still friends! We're dead, Twilight. Death changes a pony," she flipped her mane, though all I saw was her silhouette move slightly.
"And besides, we are always here. You just happen to find us at a good time!" Fluttershy leapt into tha air and twirled gracefully. I shifted uncomfortably.
"Oh! Rainbow, Violet told me to tell you she said 'hi'."
"Doesn't she think you're insane?" Rainbow asked, feigning innocence.
"Don't you want me to deliver a message for you to her?"
"Fine! Tell her that I disowned her long ago, and that what she did to Scootaloo was-"
"Rainbowdash!" Pinkie shouted, her voice intensified by the natural echoing of the Realm.
"What? I'm telling the truth." Rainbowdash disappeared out of spite, and I scowled.
"Go away, Twilight. We want you to let us go. Just because you're loosing it doesn't mean we should miss out on the party in the Afterlife." Pinkie bared her white teeth, and for once, Everypony's eyes opened up. I fainted when I saw that all of them were pulsing with blood. I could see the bright red moving in currents beneath the glaze of the protective goo. The last thing I heard was awful, awful laughing.
I had already lived about a hundred years, give or take a few. Being a princess was amazing. I was beautiful, like Celestia and Luna. Tall, strong, long mane; I had it all. I was powerful, not to mention the fact that my friends had all been made semi-immortal. They hung around the castle, though they weren't nearly as tall as I.
The day after my coronation, I was taken back to Ponyville to pack my things, leaving the books there so that everypony could still read. Rainbow, Fluttershy, Pinkie, Applejack, and Rarity had all been moved to Canterlot so that they could be near me all the time. Celestia cast an anti-aging spell on them so that their Elements of Harmony wouldn't die with them. Things started dying down after the first month. The celebrations stopped and I began my royal duties as princess. I went to visit the Crystal Empire to speak with Cadance about how we could work together to make the Crystal Empire more accessible to the general population of Equestria (transportation became increasingly harder as the ride was very long).
After about a year, my friends found their places around the world. As litteral incarnations of Harmony, they decided to spread to the far corners of the Earth. Rainbow Dash went to the Changeling Empire, Fluttershy went to the Griffon Empire, and Applejack went to the Zebra Empire, Pinkie went to the Merpony Empire (I thought it was an old filly's tale!) and Rarity went to the Angelic Empire, far from where we were. We had effectively stationed ourselves in a perfect pentagram, with me being in the middle. Because this was our normal formation, there was always an invisible band of magic holding the six empires in peace. War never broke out, and nothing bad ever happened.
How could I have guessed that everything would go wrong?