Undying

The throne room was almost empty aside from a figure sitting on the throne, obscured by shadows. Blueblood and the Knights led Spike, Rarity and Aegis before the one they called ‘Princess’ and forced them to bow.

“Your Highness, this is the dragon who claims to be your assistant before Canterlot was destroyed.”

“Where was he found?” She asked, her voice sounding familiar to Spike.

“They were captured in the Royal Gardens, trying to break into the Royal Library,” Blueblood said. “Speaking of which, we really should put the Naming Committee to work on some new names.”

“Put it on the agenda, right underneath restoring sanity to the Naming Committee. Now, please remove the dragon’s muzzle. If he is as loyal as he claims, then he will not be a threat.”

Blueblood removed Spike’s muzzle and stepped aside, giving Spike leave to speak.

“My thanks, your Highness,” he said.

The Princess seemed to be bored. “Dispense with the pleasantries, please. You are aware that every moment you spend talking is time you take away from restoring sanity and sunlight to Equestria?”

“Then I’ll make it simple for you, Princess,” Spike said, growing annoyed with her tone and responding in kind. “Five hundred years ago, I was given a letter by Princess Twilight Sparkle with instructions to keep it safe. And so I have kept it, waiting for the day it will be useful. If you’ll kindly remove these shackles, I will provide said letter as evidence of my claim.”

“Nopony would dare speak to their Princess in such harsh tones. However, you claim I gave you a letter, then we will see,” The princess stepped out of the shadows and into the moonlight, “if your claim is true.” Her lavender coat seemed lighter in the moonlight and her mane was tied back instead of left loose like it had been when Spike last saw her. She was roughly at Princess Celestia’s height and her horn had grown longer.

The Knights removed Spike’s shackles, and he reached into his bag, drawn swords reminding him not to try anything funny. He produced a letter marked with Princess Celestia’s Royal Seal. Princess Twilight opened the letter and read it, her expression softening somewhat when she finished.

“If this letter is a forgery, then it is the best I have seen. As last remaining Princess of the Canterlot Court, not that it matter since half the Canterlot Court is either a mindless Ghoul or one of my Black Knights, I find your claims to be true. Welcome back to Canterlot, Spike,” Princess Twilight said. “How do you like it?”

“It’s missing a soul. Otherwise, it’s just cold stone,” Spike said.

“You’ve become quite a philosopher since we last saw each other. Captain Blueblood, please release the others and take them to my study. I wish to speak with them in private,” Princess Twilight said, motioning for the Knights to put away their weapons.

The study was a decent sized room with two walls completely lined with books, a window, a desk with a lit candle, and what looked like a doctor’s bag. Aegis paced around the study, anxious and somewhat angry. “You could have told me that you were the assistant from your stories, Gramps.”

“Oh? And what would that change? Aside from that groove in the floor,” Spike said. “The past doesn’t matter. It’s our future that matters.”

“What else have you kept secret?” Aegis asked angrily.

Spike grinned. “Now this is definitely familiar. I remember Rainbow Dash saying the same thing to Princess Celestia when they found out that she kept Sombra’s horn,” He gave a cackling laugh that sounded far too familiar to Rarity. In fact, his next words sounded very unlike Spike. “You should see your face right now. It’s hilarious.”

“Don’t say that. Don’t even laugh like that!” Rarity said with a horrified look on her face. One which Spike understood.

“Did I scare you?” He asked.

“Who wouldn’t with that laugh…” Aegis added in an undertone, immediately being nudged in the ribs by Spike. “Ow.”

The door opened and Princess Twilight walked in. “I’m glad to see the three of you getting along nicely,” She said. Her tone was completely different from how she had acted in the throne room.

“Swimmingly,” Spike said. “I seem to have perfected my Discord impression.”

“And ate all the gravel in Equestria while you were at it…” Princess Twilight deadpanned.

“That’s truer than you think. But it was actually a small rock farm,” Spike replied.

“Well, I walked into that one… Now for why I wanted to speak with you. In that letter, I said that I had discovered the truth behind Discord’s attack on Canterlot. You remember King Sombra, don’t you?” Princess Twilight asked.

“I’ll never forget him…” Spike asked.

“Well, if you recall, Princess Celestia brought his horn back here for study. She also brought back some of the Crystals. Sombra somehow managed to reconstruct a body for himself using the crystals, but it couldn’t sustain him for long. Discord was the only one who saw what was really happening and made his move. We couldn’t see that he was trying to help until Sombra had forced Luna to bring eternal night. Then he sealed Celetia in the sun and Luna in the moon. As for myself, well…” She lifted her dress to reveal a blank patch where he Cutie mark should be. “He took my Cutie Mark, along with half of my power.”

“How monstrous,” Rarity said. Princess Twilight took an interest in Rarity for the first time.

“Amazing. Even Princess Celestia couldn’t reconstruct a being this closely. Whoever made you took great pains to make you look exactly like Rarity.”

“But I AM Rarity,” she said, growing quite worried at Princess Twilight’s comment.

“You are very much like my late friend, but no matter how much you look, sound, or act like her, Rarity is dead. She died five hundred years ago protecting Spike,” Princess Twilight said. “I’d say you’re a fake, but you’re not. You’re a clone of Rarity implanted with her memories and personality.”

“So, what do we do? We came here looking for a way to cure Aegis of his curse and bring back the sun,” Spike said.

Princess Twilight inspected Aegis, perhaps a little too eagerly. “Hmm…I haven’t seen anypony this lightly built since Rainbow Dash.”

“Have you heard of personal space?” Aegis asked, backing away.

“Why? Am I being too grabby?” Princess Twilight asked, flashing a cheeky grin.

“Yes. I’d almost think you’re enjoying this,” Aegis said.

Princess Twilight returned to a serious demeanour for a brief moment. “You try being celibate for five hundred years, then tell me that you can resist the urge to cop a feel.”

“You’re serious?” Aegis asked.

“Yes. Now, if I could ask you to take off your armour, please,” Princess Twilight said, her eyes lighting up once again. Aegis sighed, but stripped off his armour regardless. Princess Twilight scanned his form, eyes lingering over his right flank. “Interesting. Black ring and around a black Cutie Mark.”

“Yes. I believe everypony has established that…” Aegis deadpanned.

“Different colours and gender, but definitely Rainbow Dash. Good to know she’s been reincarnated…” Twilight replied in an equally deadpan tone. “Now hold still. I need a blood sample.”

“Ha ha, very funny,” Aegis said, laughing nervously.

Princess Twilight levitated a needle from one of her doctor’s bag. “It’s not a joke,” She said.

An hour later, Aegis had not yet forgiven Princess Twilight, and was quickly coming to the conclusion that he hated her, though even he admitted that his reasons were highly childish.

“Aha! I’ve found it! The secret to this so-called curse!” Princess Twilight said excitedly as she raced in and grabbed several books off the shelves, stuffed them into a saddlebag, grabbed her doctor’s bag and began herding the three out of the study and down to the lab, which she had personally requested while rebuilding Canterlot.

“I thought I was crazy, but no. There is a way to cure it after all because this curse,” She cast a spell to simulate the effects of sunlight on the blood sample she took from Aegis, “cannot withstand sunlight. Simplicity in itself, really.”

“Genius. Now how in Tartarus do we actually get the sunlight?” Spike asked.

Princess Twilight’s face fell. “I didn’t think of that.”

“Wonderful. We’re back at square one,” Aegis said. Then he thought of something. “This Sombra guy would know how to reverse everything he’s done, right?”

“One would assume so. He was trapped in a glacier for a thousand years and he still remembered Princess Celestia. Why shouldn’t he remember something that happened five hundred years ago?” Princess Twilight asked.

“I wonder if he remembers the ‘Wife Missile’ manoeuvre, courtesy of Shining Armor,” Spike said, immediately being nudged in the ribs by Princess Twilight.

“Well, what if we find him and make him reverse everything he’s done?” Aegis asked, prompting Spike to burst out laughing, though his laugh still sent shivers up Rarity’s spine.

“And how do you plan to do that?” He asked. “Sombra is a master at setting traps and using our fears against us, and he does not give in to threats.”

“When I gained this strange immortality, I said that the Sun would cure us all, didn’t I? Then our mission is clear: We bring back the Sun!” Aegis said with a determined look in his eye. “If I didn’t believe we could do it, I’d be rotting in some asylum with other ghoul ponies.”

Spike raised an eyebrow. “Loyalty is a wonderful thing, Aegis, but it won’t solve this problem. In order to bring back the sun, you’ll have to become a winged unicorn like Twilight,” He said.

“No, the answer is staring you in the face, Gramps. Princess Twilight is already a winged unicorn, so we just get her Cutie Mark back, and then she can raise the sun,” Aegis said.

“That would be a great plan, except for two things. King Sombra has reclaimed the Crystal Empire. This is bad enough, but we still have point number two, which is nopony can find it. I have sent scouting team after scouting team and nopony has seen the Crystal Empire in five hundred years,” Princess Twilight said.

“I think I know the way. I’m not sure how or why, but I know where it is,” Rarity chimed in.

Princess Twilight compiled a mental list of everything. Satisfied, she said, “What are we waiting for, then? We have a lead, a guide and a plan. I’ll take care of everything, so you three just go and get ready.”

“You’re letting us go after the mess we made getting into the Inner City?” Aegis asked.

“You didn’t do that much damage, it was easily repaired, and you just wanted to talk to me. Given the circumstances and the fact that my Knights would have sliced you into Pegasus cutlets, I’d say you’re justified this once. Oh, and I’m going with you,” She said.

“Hey, you can’t just drop that on a pony. How about asking?” Aegis protested, as if there wasn’t enough evidence that he was similar to Rainbow Dash.

“Ok, let me try it another way. As Royal Princess, I order you to accompany me to the Crystal Empire. Happy?” Princess Twilight asked, walking away to get supplies for their quest in order.

“No, I’m not!” Aegis called after Princess Twilight. “Can you believe that mare? She just butts in on our journey with no invitation, and she thinks that she can call the shots?”

Spike chuckled to himself. “I think you like her. Why else would it annoy you so much?”

Aegis blushed. “I do not like her. I hate her! That…that…gah!”

Rarity giggled. “You’ve gone bright pink. Aegis is in love.”

“Shut up! I am not in love!” Aegis said, though he was convincing no one.

“Whatever you say, Rainbow Dash,” Spike said. “She said the same thing when she had a crush on Twilight, too. Hell, she said it when she had a crush on Pinkie Pie.”

The next day, they were cleared and Princess Twilight did indeed accompany them on their journey, much to Aegis’ chagrin. The duty of protecting Canterlot in her absence was left to Captain Blueblood, who took to his new job with much enthusiasm.

“Now, isn’t this lovely?” Princess Twilight asked, though the real intent of her seemingly innocent question was to aggravate Aegis, since she knew how easily she could push his buttons.

“Oh yes, lovely. Why don’t we just bury her at the side of the road?” Aegis asked.

“Why don’t we bury you instead?” Spike snapped. “You obviously like Twilight, so just get over it.”

“Oh, you do, do you?” Twilight asked, batting her eyelids seductively.

“No. Absolutely not. With all due respect, Princess, I would sooner date a manticore,” Aegis said.

“Oh really? And call me ‘Twilight’,” Princess Twilight said.

Rarity tried hard not to laugh. “You two make such a cute couple. But you should kiss already. Oh, I bet that’s what’s got you all worked up, isn’t it?”

“There must be a little bit of Sweetie Belle in you, too. I guess that’s what was so different,” Spike said.

“I hate all of you…” Aegis said under his breath.

“So, Twilight, after what you went through, how can you still smile like that?” Spike asked.

“A secret Princess Celestia shared with me. Keep the memory of your friends alive,” Twilight said.

Rarity spotted an overturned wagon. “Can we use that? It’d be faster than walking.”

“What the hay did you put in that formula, Gramps?” Aegis asked.

“It shouldn’t have this kind of reaction. Unless… Wait, do you remember anything you’ve said about Twilight?” Spike asked.

“Yes, I do. And I still hate you all,” Aegis said. It clearly wasn’t the herbs doing this.

Twilight offered her own explanation. “She’s reverted to a child-like state because of the mental stress associated with finding out that she’s actually a clone of Rarity.”

“Do you happen to speak Equestrian?” Aegis asked dryly.

“She’s snapped,” Spike said.

“Well, how in Tartarus was I supposed to know that?” Aegis asked.

“Just help me tip it back on its wheels,” Spike said. Aegis responded by using telekinesis to flip it over, flicking dirt and mud at Twilight. That was a mistake.

“Excuse me, Mr Dare. I believe this is yours,” Twilight said as she smacked Aegis in the face with a mud pie.

“What was that for?” Aegis asked angrily.

“Next time, you’ll be more careful, won’t you?” she said.

“It was an accident. I didn’t plan on it, and I want this to be over as soon as possible so I can get on with whatever shreds of my life there is left. It probably won’t mean much to you, Princess, but I’ve lost my home, my friends, and I can’t ever get them back. Unlike you, it’s still pretty fresh in my mind. I haven’t had hundreds of years to get over it like you have,” Tears started welling up in Aegis’ eyes, “so you’ll forgive me for my outbursts of emotions.”

Twilight drew him close to her, as Princess Celestia had done for her once, enveloping him with her wings. “Then don’t think of how you won’t see your friends and family again. Think about how you’re going to forge a new path for yourself. The future is as endless as you want it to be,” She said soothingly

“Aren’t they such a cute couple?” Rarity said.

Spike turned to her and said, “You think so? Hate to break up a charming moment, but at least get on the wagon.”

Aegis, Twilight and Rarity got on the wagon, but as Spike was about to start pulling it, Twilight caused it to move on its own.

“All we’re missing is Applejack telling us how you shouldn’t use magic like that,” Spike said.

“Applejack can bite me,” Twilight said. “It’s only because I wasn’t concentrating on the spell that I got caught anyway.”

“Princess?” Aegis said. “I want to apologize for my earlier rudeness. Things just tend to pile up like that…”

Twilight smiled at him. “It’s no trouble. Would you like some advice?”

“Yes, please,” Aegis said.

“Don’t try to shoulder your burdens by yourself. You’re not as alone as you think,” Twilight said, before becoming aware that Rarity was nuzzling her tail. “Um, Rarity, could you stop that, please?”

“But it’s so soft,” Rarity pouted.

“True, but you’re not a foal. You’re a grown mare,” Twilight said.

“So, Twilight, how does it feel to be Celestia?” Spike asked jokingly.

“Stressful. What’s our next stop?” Twilight asked.

“We’ll find out when we get there,” Spike said.