It was night time in Equestria. Everyone in Ponyville had embraced it, and gone to sleep, dreaming of muffins, and time travel, and fleshy creatures with hands. All except for Twilight Sparkle, the new princess. She was not able to sleep. Twilight sighed, stretching her wings. She had finally gotten used to the darn things. She wasn’t able to fly steadily yet, but that was OK. She preferred walking anyways. She looked out the window to the moon. It was always so pretty. Twilight loved looking up at the sky- day or night. She had always preferred the day, but recently she had been looking up at the sky more. She yawned, stepping over Spike lightly, as to not wake him up. She smiled at him- her number one assistant. He had always been there for her. Twilight walked downstairs, turning her attention to a closed book on the floor. She trotted over to it, smiling, and laying down. The cover of the book was a collection of photos- one of Twilight and her friends. Another was one of her and Spike. The last photo was of her and Celestia- her idol and best friend. She opened the book.
The very first page was from the day of her birth. She was a very young filly in the arms of her parents. She had looked different when she was born- a lighter purple coat, a much shorter mane, and no wings. Her parents were so happy that day- Twilight was a blessing from Celestia to them. This was in a metaphorical sense of course, but Twilight liked to sometimes think it was true. The second photo on that page was of when Shining Armor first got to meet his baby sister. He wasn’t too old, but old enough to understand this was his sister. He looked so happy! In the photo, he even got to hold her. This was especially sweet, because Shining Armor wasn’t the gentlest of children. Then again, no colt was. But the way he held his baby sister- it was lovingly and gently. He knew how fragile she was then- and he already loved her too much for anything to happen to her. The very next photo was of her again, but older. It was her first birthday in this photo. In the direct middle of the picture were her and Shining Armor again. There was a third in the photo as well- Smartypants. Shining Armor had done chores for months to save up enough bits to buy it for his sister. Of course, their parents made up the difference, but it was something that meant a lot to Twilight. She never played rough with Smartypants, and would have nice conversations with her. Sometimes they would have tea parties, and Twilight was somehow able to even get Shining Armor to join in them as well. He didn’t seem to mind, and had fun as well! Twilight chuckled. She turned the page.
The next photo was when she was older, around 3. It was Twilight and her foalsitter Cadence. This was the first time Twilight was introduced to her. Twilight was never super social, and preferred reading to talking, which was why she was shy meeting new ponies. She had been exactly like this to Cadence. She remembered how she felt when Cadence first talked. Her voice was comforting. Somehow, it seemed like the love of Equestria was condensed into her voice box to produce her voice- but that was silly. Twilight’s mother apologized for her daughter being so shy, but was interrupted by Twilight walking closer to Cadence and saying happily- “Hi! I’m Twilight Sparkle!” This had shocked her mother- her daughter had never been this immediately open with anypony. The photo was exactly of Cadence and Twilight hugging. The purple alicorn smiled, turning through the pages. There were many photos of events in her life, but she wanted to get to a special one. She had found it- the day after she showed her true potential in magic and hatched Spike’s egg, as well as meeting Celestia for the first time. The picture was of her introducing Smartypants to Spike. He had seemed to like Smartypants almost as much as Twilight.
She continued to go through the pages. The next photo she looked at for a while was the first time she ever met personally with Celestia. Twilight had been awe at Celestia’s beauty and grace. She remembered bowing, to which Celestia giggled. She told Twilight there wasn’t a need for formalities there. Twilight had been confused. Why wouldn’t the princess want her to bow and such? But it was obvious now- Celestia immediately trusted Twilight, and made some kind of mental connection that she had not with other ponies. Twilight was told stories of Celestia’s life. The one that stood out the most, however, was the story of Celestia and Luna’s falling out. The Princess of the Sun said that Luna was jealous- and she understood why. But, it was dangerous. If there was eternal night, more predators would be out. Most only came out at night, anyways. It would also ruin a lot of culture in Equestria, and cause a food shortage. It was a tough decision to fight off Luna and banish her into the moon, and Celestia regretted having to do it every night since. Twilight remembered comforting the Princess, asking if there was ever a way for Luna to return back. Celestia said she hoped so.
It had happened of course, thanks to her friends. She looked at each of the photos of her and her friends slowly. There was of course many from Pinkie’s parties, ones from the Gala, from any time with her friends. She stopped at one- at her Princess coronation. Her friends had been so supportive. It meant a lot to her, but she did not understand at the time the burdens of a princess. Of course she knew part of it soon, but she did not understand it fully yet. She did in a few years’ time.
She hesitantly turned the page. She bit her bottom lip. The picture was of her mother and father, old and gray. The picture was of Twilight and Shining Armor looking through this exact book. They were laughing. Twilight sniffled. This was the last time she saw her parents alive. They had died that night, a few minutes apart. She had been called by the nurses taking care of them, saying that they had passed on. Twilight had rushed out immediately, catching the first train to Canterlot. The nurse was right. They had passed on. Celestia had come too- she was good friends with Twilight’s parents. However, she even knew their lives were coming to an end, and she was glad it was in a peaceful way. Twilight was handed the note.
“Twilight, we cannot express how much joy you have given us through our lives. You’re our little angel, and we love you.”
Twilight had to look away from the book. The note was in there. Tears hit the wooden floor. That night when she looked at the stars, two new constellations that resembled her parents cutie marks appeared. They were still watching over her, and cheering her on.
Twilight had to continue looking at the photos. The next photos spanned over about 30 years- her friends getting older- getting married and having their own foals. She smiled at them. One was of Dash and Gilda. Gilda had come back, and apologized to everyone. She had been alone for all those years, and asked Dash to take her back. Dash obliged- and a few months later they were married. They had even adopted a little filly by the name of Dinky Doo. Apparently, her mother had died due to a disease in her brain. Dinky had been an orphan since then, but still kept a happy demeanor. This was just 3 years after her parents deaths.
The next few photos were of Applebloom and her friends. They had all gotten their cutie marks on separate occasions. They all had similar ones- ones with nothing. It was obvious what they symbolized. Their special talents were inspiring young ponies that a cutie mark does not make a pony older. It was disappointing to them, but eventually they embraced it. When they finished school, they had opened a special school for bullied foals.
The next photo was from Dinky Doo’s first flight test. It was a happy day- until it was obvious she wasn’t strong enough to support herself. She crashed headfirst into a cement pole, holding up a Cloudsdale structure. Dash and Gilda rushed in, taking Dinky into the nearest hospital. She had been in a coma for over a year. The next picture was of the day Dinky did come out of the coma. Dash and Gilda were crying in the photo, hugging their daughter. This was the second happiest day of their lives. Twilight frowned, knowing what photo came next. It was Dinky’s funeral. After she had gotten out of the coma, Dinky was deaf and now had impaired sight. These were the least of her problems, however. She was diagnosed with severe brain hemorrhaging due to head trauma. She had developed brain tumors as well. It was obvious how much pain the little filly was in- and the only thing Dash and Gilda could do was let nature happen, and take Dinky off of life support. They never left her side those last few hours. They read Dinky her favorite books, told her stories of great people, and even told her she would see her real mom soon. Dinky smiled for the last time, before whispering, “I love you..” This was her last breath. Gilda and Dash both broke down, crying nonstop. Gilda stroked her lifeless daughters hair. She wasn’t in pain anymore. A second bubble-based constellation appeared that night- right next to the last one. For a while, everyone was afraid Gilda would kill herself. She did not, thankfully. Dash was her support, and her everything.
About 20 photos away from that was of two tombstones- for Gilda and Dash. It was after Dash had gotten rejected from the Wonderbolts for her marriage. This had been the final straw for her. She was already shunned from Cloudsdale for it- now her lifelong dream was crushed. Gilda could not take it anymore either- the discrimination against griffins in both Cloudsdale and Ponyville was obvious. They both made a suicide pact that night, and acquired a quick and quiet poison. They held each other as they slowly faded from life. The funeral was later that day. The Wonderbolts did not know how the rejection reason could have effected someone so badly. A new law was set into place soon after- The Dashcrimination law. It stated that nopony could be rejected on the basis of who they loved. A new star pattern appeared that day, close to Dinky’s. A snake resting on a curve- a rainbow, one might say.
This was the last painful death that happened to any of her friends, thankfully. They all got married and had children, and got older, watching their children grow older as well. Twilight never grew older, but she had finally confronted her feelings about somepony. The Princess was the object of her affections. She owed everything to Celestia. They had started dating soon after Twilight had confessed, and a very royal wedding had taken place many years after. They never adopted any kids- them and Luna were mother figures to all of Equestria. But Twilight watched as everyone she loved grew older, and eventually passed on- new constellations appearing in the sky. She had moved back to Ponyville to take care of her last living friend- Pinkie Pie. Pinkie Pie- the pony who brought joy to everypony. Spike had been watching her- as it was obvious Pinkie wasn’t going to last too much longer. Pinkie was the first pony Twilight had become real friends with. It saddened her to think this was the last of her friends to leave her too. The picture in the book was of Twilight and old Pinkie, making silly faces at the camera. Even at her old age, Pinkie still had her party mojo. It wasn’t enough to save her from death, however. Nothing could do that. The last thing Pinkie had said to Twilight, was, “Smile.” Before passing on. Some days, Twilight visited the cemetery to talk to the five tombstones, each of their cutie marks carved onto the tombstones.
Twilight was crying, but happy. They were in a much better place than Equestria. She still missed them though. She had reached the last page of the book, which sent her into more tears. It was a letter from Princess Celestia.
“Dear Twilight Sparkle,
In my whole life, I never emotionally connected to anypony like I had with you. Through your whole life, I watched your mind grow, as well as your potential. I knew for a long time you would be my successor. I’m glad I knew you, and got to love you. You have taught me the most important lesson of all-
Friendship is magic.”
Twilight closed the book, weeping. She had spoken at Celestia’s funeral- which shocked everypony, even her. Alicorns were not immortal. No one was immortal. What is immortal is the emotions you leave behind when you go to the great beyond, as well as the impacts.
Mortality catches up to everyone eventually, but the friendship and love you share with everyone stays forever.
Friendship really is magic.
