Twilight stretched out on her bed, eyes drifting up to the high windows. The stars were fading from the sky as the sun began to rise. The purple alicorn rolled out of bed and smiled up at the painting above her fireplace.
“Good morning, Applejack, Fluttershy, Rarity, Rainbow, Pinkie… I hope you all slept well.” It was a ritual she once would have considered childish and silly, but after so many years, she couldn't imagine skipping it. Telekinetically running her brush through her mane, Princess Twilight remembered, for a moment, what it had been like to lead the original Knights of Harmony. She remembered the tears he had shed when they were hurt, and the pride she had felt as they each achieved their dreams:
Sweet Apple Acres was now known throughout Equestria, and had representatives selling cider and apple treats as far as Saddle Arabia and the Gilded Savannah, thanks to Applejack’s efforts and those of her son and daughters-- Fuji, Apple Sweets, and little Pink Lady.
The Carousel Boutique was now a household brand, and Rarity’s twins Glitz and Glamour were doing a marvelous job of running the business and modeling the fashions from their Canterlot base.
Rainbow Dash had not only become a Wonderbolt, but led them for many years, before passing the rank on to a pony named Stormfront. After retiring, she began to help her husband raise their child, a colt by the name of Thunderstrike, and the subsequent three foals, two fillies named Waterspout and Firebolt, and another colt named Jetstream.
Fluttershy had lived a quiet life in Ponyville, and raised a beautiful filly named Mayflower, who was doing marvelously with her own floral business.
Even Pinkie had settled down finally, continuing to work at Sugarcube Corner and help the Cake family with their business. Her eldest daughter, Magpie, had been something of a surprise, turning out to have the gravity and somber attitude of her aunts more than her mother‘s spontaneity. Buttercream, however, was up to her mother’s old tricks and more, and had caused all kinds of mayhem in Ponyville as a filly.
Twilight looked into the mirror, pensive. She knew every one of her Knights--Fuji, Glamour, Thunderstrike, Mayflower, and Magpie--would come at her call. She was so tempted to summon them now, and rely upon their strength, but they likely had their own worries today. Besides, Princess Celestia, Twilight’s beloved mentor and friend, had said this news was for her ears alone.
“I have a surprise for you, Twilight.” Celestia had been trying to smile, but after the years they had spent together, Twilight could see how tired and sad the elder alicorn had become. “Tomorrow morning, meet me in the Grand Hall. A new window has been placed among the others, and I’d like you to see it.
Twilight was afraid; this ‘surprise’ seemed to have some kind of weight to it that a simple stained-glass window shouldn’t bear. She wanted nothing more than to go back to bed and pull the covers over her head.
“Now, Twi,” Applejack’s sensible voice seemed to reach back over the years. “You know you cain’t hide from your problems. There’s things that need to be done, and you've got to do them.”
“But I’m scared,” Twilight whispered. “I don’t know what’s lying ahead of me anymore.”
“Twilight!” It was Pinkie speaking now. “You can’t let something like the unknown stop you! I mean, what good is a surprise if you know what it is? And what fun is life without surprises? I mean, I sure was surprised when Nightmare Moon showed up and kidnapped Celestia. I was also surprised when she turned out to be Princess Luna, too. A lot of surprising things happened that night, come to think of it. Fluttershy defeated a manticore, Rarity cut off her tail, you made friends, we turned out to be the magical vessels of Friendship itself… Surprises are awesome!”
“But what could possibly make this blasted window so important?!” Twilight stomped her fore hoof into her shoe. “Celestia’s been so exhausted lately, and Luna isn’t too active either. I--I don’t know what this means!”
“It’ll be alright,”Fluttershy murmured. “Celestia wouldn't tell you anything you weren't ready for. I’m sure you can handle whatever’s coming.”
“Yeah,” Rainbow Dash added, as vibrant as when she had first met Twilight, “you’re stronger than you think, Egghead. I mean, who else could have not only discovered the continuation of the Elements, but been able to lead them through all that‘s happened? You’re not the stereotypical kind of princess, you’re a Princess like Celestia and Luna, a fighter and a leader. You can handle this.”
“And even when you can’t,” Rarity chimed in, “we’ll be here to help. We’re your friends, Twilight, my dear, and we will never leave you.”
Twilight looked up at the painting, a larger copy of the photograph she had sent Celestia so long ago, and smiled as tears welled in her eyes. “Thanks, girls. I love you, and I miss you so much right now.”
Twilight finished dressing and set off towards the Hall.
***
Celestia stood at the door of the Hall, Luna beside her. Both looked ragged and worn, but they smiled nonetheless.
Twilight fought the urge to bow, still present even after all these years, as she approached. “Hello, Celestia. Good morning, Luna. You wished to speak with me?”
“Yes,” Celestia replied, her voice raspy and clipped. “A new window. Come see.” Wearily, she turned and led the two younger alicorns down the red-carpeted Hall. Luna moved to her sister's side, and the two supported one another as they walked. Twilight scrunched her face in concern. Something was clearly wrong.
Windows lined the ancient walls, depicting Equestria’s history, from the time the three pony tribes united, to the start of Luna and Celestia’s reign, to Twilight’s own ascension and the Second Shadow War. A new window did indeed rest in a formerly blank patch of stone.
Celestia gestured at the window with a wing. “Look, my student, and tell me what you see.”
Twilight turned to the window, apprehension building unpleasantly in her gut. The window held a depiction of Twilight herself, with the Sun and Moon on either side, and the fields of Equestria spread out below her. “What…?” The former unicorn turned to her teacher, uncomprehending. “It--it looks like the illustration in the Book of Harmony, when you were handling Luna‘s duties as well. I--I don‘t understand.”
Luna sighed and looked at Twilight with a regretful expression. “Twilight… It is time for Our reign to end. Soon you alone will rule Equestria.”
Twilight’s eyes flew open in shock. “No! I’m not--I can’t-- The two of you have always ruled Equestria!”
“Not always,” Luna continued. “The last time there was a power vacuum, Discord took over Our absent thrones. We should have told you, but some memories do not return until one is nearly gone.”
Twilight looked from one Princess to the other, not understanding. “W--what are you talking about?! ‘Power vacuum?’ ‘Memories?’ I’m even more lost now than I was before!”
Celestia wrapped Twilight gently in her wings. “Shh. It’s alright. It’s just time for Luna and I to go on, to… Fade out, as it were.”
Twilight looked up at Celestia, fear and confusion giving way to comprehension and horror. “You-- You’re leaving me too? This isn't fair!" She pulled free, leaping to her hooves and backing against the wall. Tears built up in her eyes. "All of them are gone, why do you have to go too?! Why?! Why are you leaving me alone like this?!”
Luna knelt beside the hysterical alicorn. “Twilight, this is not forever. We will return. The life cycle of an alicorn simply is this way, and We have already overstayed Our turn. But you are strong enough to handle this, Twilight. My sister has chosen well.”
Celestia began to glow, radiating a burning golden light. Twilight gasped, and looked to Luna, searching for confirmation of this maddening scene. Only, Luna was shining as well, bathed in a softer, silvery glow.
The dark blue alicorn smiled sadly at her longtime friend. “It is only for a little while,” she murmured.
“Goodbye, Twilight,” Celestia whispered, tears in her eyes as she wrapped Twilight in her wings one final time. “Look for us again. Remember all I've taught you, and rule as the Queen I know you can be.”
Then, in a flash of blinding light, the Sisters were gone, and Twilight was left sobbing bitterly beneath her window.
***
The trumpets blared, and Twilight sat regally in her chariot, her Knights following behind. Thunderstrike sneezed as Twilight’s newly-ethereal mane tickled his nose.
“Long live the Queen,” the crowd chorused, “long live Queen Twilight!” Fireworks burst in the dark air, spattering the stars with purple and white.
A tower of green flame erupted as Spike let out a cheer when she passed; he had Shining Armor and Cadence with him, seated on his immense purple head. Her family smiled down at her, pride and happiness in their eyes.
Twilight tried to wave and look happy herself, but she felt like her heart was breaking in two. They’ll be back, she told herself. Celestia and Luna will return. I know it. They have to. They have to.
***
The letter had come in the burst of emerald flame that always brightened Twilight’s day. The contents had been even more exciting.
Many years ago, Spike had said goodbye to his adoptive mother and began to travel the world in search of adventure. Now one of his discoveries had brought Twilight here, to the home of a pony named Starbeam, settled in the distant Dream Valley where Twilight’s own family was from.
Twilight had used a teleportation spell to get here, preferring to keep this quiet and not risk wasting guards on a possible wild-goose-chase. However, to avoid scaring the poor, frazzled parents, Twilight chose to ‘wink in’ into the air, a short distance from the rendezvous point, where the treetops might hide her better.
The young unicorn mare met the foreign queen on a forested hilltop, in the shadow of a crumbling castle, her pegasus husband at her side. They bowed as she flew down. “Thank you for coming, Your Majesty,” the unicorn said.
“Thank you for having me,” Twilight returned. “Now… I understand my son passed through here recently. He sent me a letter, but it was a bit vague. What can you tell me about your daughters?”
“Yes…” Starbeam visibly steeled herself. “When Helia was born, well… We were surprised, to say the least. An alicorn foal… The like had never been seen before, at least not for centuries upon centuries. And then Stella came. We were even more shocked the second time, if that’s possible. Everything was fine, until the other foals realized they were different. It’s a sad thing, really. Helia is such a brilliant, golden personality, so unafraid to speak her mind and stand up for what’s right. And little Stella… She’s so caring and sweet. I‘ve never seen a filly who loved everyone and everything so much. Living here has been hard on them, something that‘s been making itself known lately.”
The stallion, a pony named Sunspot, cut in. “What my wife is trying to say is that we just aren’t equipped to handle them. The magical outbursts--A week ago they nearly started a forest fire--combined with the teasing from the other foals… It’s too much, both for us and for them. They…” He sighed heavily and scrunched his eyes closed. His next words clearly pained him. “They should be among their own kind. There’s no real happy ending for them here in Dream Valley. They deserve a better life than we can make for them here.”
Twilight nodded sadly. “I understand. Your girls have a great destiny set before them. I will do all I can to see that they not only achieve it, but do so happily.”
After a few hours more of talking and detail work, the two ponies led the alicorn to a field. A batch of foals were standing in a circle, surrounding three others.
In the center, a golden-orange filly pointed angrily at a young earth-pony colt, wings flared and horn blazing in anger. “Leave my baby sister alone, frog-face! You’d better give her back her lunch or you’ll be sorry!”
“Oh, really, freakshow?” The colt tossed an apple in the air and caught it, before taking a bite out of it. “Make me,” he grunted through a full mouth.
“Please, sis,” the little, pale blue filly behind the gold one begged, tugging on her sister‘s tail with her magic, folding and unfolding her wings in an anxious fidget. “He’s not worth it. Don’t get into trouble because of me.”
But the golden filly was beyond hearing, and flew at the thieving bully in a rage. “Blasted little rat-faced jerk! I’ll make you cough that up and eat it again!”
The two went down in a cloud of dust, the crowd of children chanting “Fight! Fight!” at the top of their lungs.
Twilight had seen enough to be satisfied. She stepped in and pulled the two foals apart. “Go home,” she told the colt. “All of you, go home!” The children dispersed quickly, all except the two alicorn fillies.
“Who are you,” the elder demanded, “to think you can just walk in here, barking orders? We’re sick of getting picked on by bullies like you!”
Twilight lifted the apple with her magic. A bright violet flash flared from the fruit, making the surrounding ponies close their eyes. When they opened them, the apple was as whole and new as when it had been fresh-picked from the tree. “Who says I’m a bully?” Twilight gave the apple to the little silver filly. “I’m actually here to speak with the two of you.”
The younger filly took the apple with her own dark blue magic and smiled up at Twilight. “Thanks, miss! My name’s Stella, and this is my sister, Helia. What’s your name?”
Helia squawked indignantly at her sister. “Stella! What makes you think you can just go around telling strange ponies who you are?!”
“She’s nice,” Stella insisted, biting into her lunch. “She fixed my apple, see?” The little filly lifted the fruit for her sister to inspect. “And she sent that bully home. We can trust her. Besides, Momma and Daddy are right there.” She pointed with a small hoof to where the two parents rested beneath a willow tree.
Helia opened her mouth to argue, but couldn’t find fault with her sister’s logic. She plopped to the ground, glaring at Stella.
Twilight laughed and knelt before the sisters. “My name is Twilight Sparkle,” she said softly. “I’m here to help you.”
Helia’s eyes narrowed. “Twilight? Like the Twilight from the Legend of Midnight Castle? But she left Dream Valley centuries ago, along with all the other Heroes!”
“Well, yes, in a way.” Twilight was startled. “She was my mother. Do you know of her?”
Stella nodded franticly. “Her sister, Galaxy, was our ancestor! So I guess that makes you our aunt! …Sorta!”
Twilight smiled. “Well, since we’re family, why don’t we ask your parents if I can stay for a little while? And then maybe you can come visit me in my home sometime. I‘ll teach you all about being an alicorn, somewhere where no one will tease you for being different.”
Stella leapt to her hooves. “Wow, really? Let’s go tell Momma right now, Helia!”
***
Queen Twilight returned to Equestria, with Princess Stella and Princess Helia in tow. The three of them live in Canterlot now, and the Queen has taught them much. Neither remembers their past lives, or the thrones they once held, but they each have an affinity for the Night and Day, respectively, and love Twilight more than anything else in the world. They will be strong rulers one day, more than worthy of Queen Twilight’s shining example. Equestria will continue to prosper beneath their hooves and, with luck, this golden age will never end.
~Waterspout,
Royal Scribe,
Canterlot Castle
Author's Note
Wrote this ages ago, felt like I finally ought to put it up. It's the reason I started writing A Darkening Sky. Hopefully this will help me map stuff out on that one a bit better.