The Price of Wings

by Rainbow Factory Dash

Rating: teen
Tags: Slice of Life, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Sad, Princess Luna, Princess Cadance, Spike, Tragedy, Princess Celestia, Twilight Sparkle
Length: 3855

Twilight became a princess a few thousand years ago, and she will live forever. But her friends and family couldn't, and it's impossible to change that. Right?

After Twilight earned her wings, she came to the harsh reality that her friends and family would eventually die, and she'd live on without them. She'd have to go on without her best friends for the rest of her immortal life.
A few thousand years after their deaths, Twilight is still extremely depressed and mourning their deaths.
Twilight will never be able to spend a single second with them ever again.
But then, while exploring the Castle of the Two Sisters like she used to with her friends, she finds an old, magical amulet.
Thinking it was just another of the several lost ancient charms, she thought nothing of it, but kept it to figure out what it is.
Little did she know, she's in for the shock of her life.

Published 2014-10-10 03:10:02 UTC
Last updated 2014-12-28 19:17:30 UTC

Visiting Your Best Friends

Princess Twilight Sparkle made her way through her crystal palace in Ponyville. Dressed in formal attire - her crown, her coronation dress and her shoes that had small replicas of her cutie mark on each of them - she made her way to the Ponyville Graveyard. In the morning, the Summer Sun Celebration would be held in Ponyville. It has become a custom to have it in Ponyville almost every year, because this is where the elements truly came to life and freed Princess Luna of the evil inside that was Nightmare Moon.

As the purple princess made her way through the streets of Ponyville, she was given many quaint bows and "Hellos!" But she ignored all of them, as if she didn't see or hear anypony.

As Twilight neared the graveyard, her head bowed a little, and her steps slowed.

In the center of the cemetery she found the headstones she was looking for.

She bowed her head at them and gave a small smile as tears fell from her eyes freely. "Hello," she started. "I hope you can hear me, all five of you." she added, addressing each of the five headstones in front of her. "It's been, what? Three thousand years?"

The first in the row read "Here Lies AppleJack, representing the Element of Honesty. She never lied to anypony." The second said "Here Lies Pinkamena Diane Pie (Pinkie Pie), representing the Element of Laughter. She always did what she could to make her friends laugh and smile." The third said "Here Lies Rarity, representing the Element of Generosity. She always gave what she could to her friends and family." The fourth said "Here Lies Fluttershy, representing the Element of Kindness. She showed kindness and compassion towards anypony and anything." The last one in the row read "Here lies Rainbow Dash, representing the Element of Loyalty. She was always there for her loved ones."

Twilight bowed her head as fresh tears still flowed from her red eyes. Her throat was starting to get soar from all of her tears. "I-I know I haven't visited much... I've been busy... The Summer Sun Celebration is tomorrow morning, and I arranged for a ceremony to be held in your honor.

"I've arranged for a little something to be held in honor of each of you. Pinkie, there will be a big party after the sun is raised. Rarity, there is going to be a fashion show during the party. Fluttershy, since I've gotten a professional pet-sitter to watch over all of your pets and get new ones in your honor, him and I have arranged a pet show where your pets show off some of their talents before the sun is raised. Applejack, you'll be happy to hear that the Apple Family Farm is still in perfect condition, and the family business is running smoothly. The cider is still as amazing as ever, and there will be a big sellout for it during the Summer Sun Celebration. Although it isn't as good as when you made it, it's still great. And Rainbow Dash, at the beginning of the celebration, there is going to be a big race for all the young pegasi. Any filly or colt that wanted to has entered, and there are about fifty is my last check on preparations was accurate." Twilight finished, sitting down.

The purple mares tears had ceased as she was talking

"Oh yea! I almost forgot!" Twilight said. "I brought something for all of you." The alicorn smiled, but her smile wavered as tears threatened to leak out of her eyes again. "I brought a gift for all of you, as an anniversary gift to represent the day we met and the day we became best friends."

The purple unicorn materialized a bushel of red, shiny, freshly picked apples. Twilight levitated the bushel of delicious looking apples atop the cow ponies grave with a soft, loving smile. "These are for you, Applejack. They're the best, shiniest, ripest apples in the entire orchard. I hoof picked them myself for you."

She made a bundle of yellow balloons with blue strings and blue balloons with yellow strings materialize in the air in front of herself. The purple mare levitated a rock away from some nearby shrubbery and tied it the the balloon strings with her magic. Twilight took the bundle of a dozen balloons and put it on Pinkie Pie's grave. "And these are for you, Pinkie. I made them myself. They aren't as good as how you used to make them, but I know you'd... you'll love them anyways."

Twilight made a small chest appear on the ground beside her. It was white and studded with various sparkling gems, like diamonds, rubies, emeralds, amber, peridot, citrine, amythest, crystal quartz, spinel, and tourmaline. She levitated the beautiful white chest close to her muzzle, and wiped off the few pieced of dirt that had clung to it with a handkerchief. She spread the handkerchief on Rarity's grave so the chest could rest upon it so no dirt would get to it. Before she put it down, Twilight turned it around so the front of it faced Rarity's tombstone. The princess opened it, revealing the treasures inside. Inside the chest were many blue gems, such as aquamarine, topaz, tanzanite, zircon, sapphire, and opal. "All of these gems are from the royal treasury in Canterlot, Rarity. I know you've always wanted to see what's inside of that giant room filled with priceless gems, and you never got to. So I went in there myself and picked the gems to make the chest and the gems to go inside." The alicorn said. "I put in some sapphires shaped like rhombuses to represent your cutie mark," Twilight levitated one to show it to the headstone. After she put it back, she levitated an opal gem. "And this one, an opal, was put in to represent your cat." Twilight put the box down atop the handkerchief and moved on to the next grave.

Twilight made a rather big yellow box with light pink swirls appear next to her. She turned towards Fluttershy's grave and opened a small slit in the box that was hiding a screen. When it was fully open, she tilted the box so it was facing the grave directly. Inside the box were many butterflies, all of them pink. She released a couple so they could flutter around Fluttershy's grave. "All of these butterflies are trained," Twilight started. "They will do whatever you want them to do; I used a spell on them so they are trained to listen to your voice and obey you. You could make them fly around in beautiful patterns and put on some shows maybe if you'd like. At least they won't be fluttering around wildly."

Twilight turned to the last grave. "I know you're gonna just love this Rainbow Dash." The mare with amethyst eyes said, addressing her rainbow maned friend who was in the sky above. Twilight made a silver box about seven inches wide and nine inches long. She turned it towards Rainbow Dash's grave and opened it, revealing the gold pendants inside. "Do you know what these are? Oh of course you do, you only talked about wanting them everyday of your life!" Twilight said with a sad laugh. "Anyways, they're the very pendants worn by your absolute favorite Wonderbolts of all time. The one to the left is Soarin's, the one in the middle is Spitfire's, and the one to the right is Fleetfoot's." Twilight said, pointing to each pendant as she spoke with her hoof.

Twilight put the silver box on top of Rainbow Dash's grave. The alicorn smiled at the graves.

She felt a drop of water on the tip of her muzzle. Twilight looked up and saw the black and grey storm clouds forming above Ponyville. She frowned. Why would the pegasi make it rain on the night before the Summer Sun Celebration, she wondered. Oh wait... I know why... because I requested it...

Princess Twilight sighed and stared at the ground, her eyes beginning to sting as tears threatened to come. She looked up at the graves and remembered her first meetings with the five mares.

It began to rain. A sudden downpour, as she had requested.

Applejack introducing her to the Apple Family and stuffing her with food. Hearing Fluttershy practicing with her birds for the musical display she would be performing for the Summer Sun Celebration the next day. Rainbow Dash proving that she was a fast flyer and a great weather pony, along with completely destroying Twilight's mane. Rarity helping Twilight with her mane and giving her fashion tips, all the while winning Spike's heart. And Pinkie Pie's enormous 'Welcome To Ponyville' party in Twilight's honor at Twilight's house.

The school-smart unicorn thought that all the introductions had been nothing but nuisances in their own ways. From getting completely stuffed that it was hard to walk to getting her mane obliterated, everything that day was a bit of a disaster in Twilight's mind at the time.

But even after everything that day, those five mares that had ruined her day, became the most important ponies in her life.

And they always would be.

Twilight thought about all of this, and more fun memories with her friends. She smiled at the thought while tears streamed from her eyes, staining her cheeks and neck. At least no one would be able to see her. Not only because she was alone.

But because nopony can see you crying in the rain.

The Race

Princess Twilight Sparkle walked aimlessly around Ponyville, ignoring all the bows ponies sent in her direction. The rain had ceased and the first of the arrangements was about to begin. Twilight looked up at the clock tower and saw the time. "Oh, buck!" she whispered softly under her breath. She teleported herself to town square, where the Summer Sun Celebration was being held. Upon arriving, she trotted onto the stage where the princesses were supposed to stand. Twilight stood in the middle of Princess Celestia and Princess Luna. To Celestia's right stood Princess Cadence, Twilight's sister in-law. To Luna's left stood Princess Skyla, Cadence's daughter. Skyla waved to Twilight with a big smile, and Twilight waved back. Celestia looked at Twilight with a look that said are you ready? Twilight nodded, and the alabaster alicorn nodded in return. She cleared her throat, and started the ceremony.

"Fillies and gentle colts, the Summer Sun Celebration is about to begin!" Celestia paused as the crowd gave an excited uproar. When the cheering died down, Celestia continued. "But before we lower the sun and raise the moon, we have a few new events to attend. These events have been planned and will be composed by Princess Twilight Sparkle in honor of the original element bearers, the five mares who have passed away, and the ponies that released Princess Luna from the evil entity that was Nightmare Moon." She nodded elegantly at Twilight. The crowd bowed at her and she curtsied in response. " .I will announce what is going to happen before the event itself takes place. That being said, the first event will be a race between the fillies and colts of Ponyville!"

The crowd cheered. Princess Celestia walked off of the stage, followed by the other four princesses. Princess Skyla jumped up in the air and hovered above the crowd. "This way to the racing grounds everypony!" The youngest princess whizzed through the streets of Ponyville, the civilians galloping in her midst. After a few moments of galloping and flying, everypony attending the Summer Sun Celebration had arrived in the wide open field just outside the Everfree forest, on the edge of Ponyville's boundaries.

"Alright, everypony!" Princess Cadence said into the microphone connected to a podium in front of the 'START' and 'FINISH' line, in between the two bleachers. "Take your seats!" She gestured towards the tall rows of bleachers. Everypony filed into the seats quickly, eager to see the young pegasi from all over Equestia who had come to the Summer Sun Celebration compete in the race.

Cadence backed off the podium, smiling at her sister in law as she stepped onto the podium. Princess Twilight Sparkle smiled at the audience before her. "Hello, everypony!" The crowd waved and said "Hello" back, rather loudly. Twilight giggled. "Okay, I know this isn't a custom for the Summer Sun Celebration, but I'm hoping it will become one, along with the other events I've had arranged for today. These events are being held in honor of the original bearers of the Elements of Harmony, my best friends." Twilight sighed, but covered her muzzle with her hoof quickly so the audience wouldn't hear it. "This event, a race between the young flyers of Equestria that could make it to the Celebration, is being held in honor of Rainbow Dash." Everypony in the audience "oooooh-ed" (or however you spell that).

A couple of months after the defeat of Tirek, Rainbow Dash had finally been accepted into the Wonderbolts. After a few years, she became co-leader, alongside Soarin and Fleetfoot. Eventually, when Spitfire passed, Rainbow Dash took over as leader of the Wonderbolts. Everypony knew her as being a great leader of the Wonderbolts and, of course, for bearing the Element of Loyalty.

"Alright, so let the race begin!" Twilight said excitedly into the microphone, causing an uproar from the ponies in their seats. "Everypony that wishes to compete, come over here please so we can put you on the roster for the race. If you're already on the roster, then make your way to the 'START' line!"

Some pegasi fillies and colts made their way to the 'START' line. But most made their way to where the Princesses were. Each Princess - other than Twilight who was at the podium still, getting ready for further announcements - had papers, quills, and ink pots in front of them on a long wooden table, ready to sign up any fillies and colts that wanted to be apart of the race. All of the Princesses behind the table were sitting on plush cushions. Princess Celestia stood from her cushion. "Everypony that wishes to be apart of the race come over here so we can sign you up!" She announced loudly. "Make lines in front of Princess Luna, Princess Cadence, Princess Skyla and myself. Thank you!" Celestia sat down as pegasi fillies and colts rushed over to sign up for the race.

Fillies and colts who signed up for the race just at that moment were listed on the Princesses' papers. Princess Luna and Princess Skyla knew almost everyone there; Luna visits town on Nightmare Night and other times, and Sklya visits to play with the fillies and colts, and to see her aunt, Twilight. Some of the fillies the both of them knew were Shadow Stone, Glacier Freeze and Blue Lightning. There were others, of course, but these three young ponies were the ones they knew the most.

Princess Celestia rose as the last colt, Golden Streak, galloped away from where Princess Cadence was sitting. He opened and bent his wings a bit as he galloped toward the 'START' line. By the time made it to the line and joined the other fillies and colts, Princess Twilight Sparkle was back at the podium.

"Okay! The race is about to begin, everypony!" She announced. The sentence was met with cheering from the crowd around her. Twilight smiled. She had gotten used to ponies recognizing her and acknowledging her, just like Rarity had wanted. "You're a princess, Twilight! Embrace it!" The purple alicorn had never been comfortable with all of the attention, but she got used to it, although it took a while.

"Racers ready?" Twilight asked, addressing the fillies and colts on the 'START' line.

The young ponies turned to look at her, nodded, and shouted back. "YEA!"

"Alrighty then!" Twilight said with a small laugh. "On your marks..."

They spread their wings.

"...Get set..."

They bent their knees.

"...GO!"

They all took off from the 'START' line. They were surprisingly fast, for such young ponies. They ranged from about seven years old at the youngest and fifteen years old at the oldest. The crowd of ponies watched and cheered on their friends and family, urging them to fly faster and harder. The first five ponies to cross the finish line would be awarded with medals and bits, the amount of which depending on the place they finished in.

The course went around the perimeter of Ponyville for the first lap. Then, it wound through the streets of the famous town for two laps. After that, the young fliers darted up into the sky, winding through cloud shaped into hoops that they had to fly through, crafted by pegasi from the weather team when they weren't tending to the weather.

About half an hour after the race started, the fillies and colts were on the last lap of the race. Two of the racers were neck and neck, at the head of the pack, a good fifty yards or so in the lead. One of them was Blue Lightning, a thirteen year old filly who's dream is to one day become a Wonderbolt. The other was a fourteen year old colt named Golden Streak. Close behind them was a thirteen year old filly named Shadow Stone. Close to the back of the pack, was Glacier Freeze, a twelve year old filly who was nearly blind in her left eye.

As Blue Lightning and Golden Streak neared the 'FINISH' line, they grew tired, and their wings began to ache. Everypony else seemed to be experiencing the same, and they all slowed down, panting as they flew slowly toward the 'FINISH' line. Glacier Freeze saw her chance, and she beat her fragile ice blue wings faster, and she raced towards the 'FINISH' line. By the time Golden Streak and Blue Lightning noticed that they weren't tied for first place anymore, it was too late. Just as they started to speed up, Glacier Freeze had just crossed the 'FINISH' line.

Golden Streak and Blue Lightning groaned and hoof-bumped each other as a sign of good sportsmanship.

"Hey, we tried?" Golden Streak said with a grin.

Blue Lightning smiled in return. "Heh, yeah. We did good."

Twilight watched as Cadence beckoned Glacier Freeze, Golden Streak, Blue Lightning, and Shadow Stone over to the stand they had for the winners. As the three young ponies flew over, Skyla flew over to her aunt.

"Heeeeeeeeey Auntiiiiiiieeee!" Skyla said cheerfully to Twilight as she buzzed around her excitedly.

Twilight followed her exuberate niece with her eyes and occasional swiveled her head to catch up with her. "Hello, Skyla. Did you enjoy the race?"

Skyla beamed at Twilight. "YES!"

Twilight laughed and smiled at Skyla. "Well, I'm glad to hear that." Twilight glanced over and saw that Celestia and Luna were walking up to the winners of the race. "Looks like the prizes are about to be given out, let's go, okay?"

Easily excited over anything, Skyla smiled widely. "Okie!" She whizzed away and floated above her mother's head. The youngest princess reminded Twilight of Pinkie Pie. She often saw Pinkie in those bright blue eyes of her's. Skyla acted like Pinkie, talked like Pinkie, and had the same eyes as her; you'd think they were related if Skyla wasn't a princess. Twilight smiled softly at her niece; it was like smiling at the princess version Pinkie Pie. Twilight unfurled her wings and flew over to the other princesses, and landed next to Cadence.

Celestia turned to face the crowd. "The race is over, and we have our winners!" The crowd cheered, and Celestia smiled. "It's time to commend them and give them their prizes!" The alabaster princess turned to address the winners. "In third place, we have a filly named Shadow Stone!"

Shadow Stone smiled as the crowd cheered for her. "Thank you, princess." She said as Celestia slid a bronze metal over her neck.

Luna levitated a small brown pouch over to her, which she caught in her mouth. "Fifty bits for coming in third, congratulations!" Luna smiled at Shadow Stone.

Shadow Stone smiled back. "Thank you!"

Celestia turned to the next winners. "Tied for second place, we have a filly named Blue Lightning and a colt named Golden Streak!" The crowd cheered and the young ponies smiled.

Celestia, using her magic like she had with Shadow Stone, placed silver medals over their necks. "Thank you!" Golden Streak said. Blue Lightning held up a hoof, and he hoof bumped her. Luna levitated brown pouches, slightly bigger than the one given to Shadow Stone, to each of them.

"One hundred bits to each of you for getting second place, congratulations!" Luna said with a smile.

Simultaneously, Golden Streak and Blue Lightning said "Thank you!"

Celestia turned to the first place winner, Glacier Freeze. "Finally, in first place, we have a young filly named Glacier Freeze!" Celestia slid a golden metal over the small filly's neck.

Glacier Freeze flinched as the cold metal came in contact with her skin and the crowd cheered for her. "T-thank you, princess." She said timidly.

Luna levitated a pouch that was slightly bigger than the last to Glacier Freeze, who tried to catch it in her mouth but promptly dropped it, quickly scooping it up with a hoof. "One hundred fifty bits for the first place winner, congratulations!" Luna smiled down at the filly.

"Thank y-you, princess." she squeaked.

Twilight smiled. This filly was no doubtedly like Fluttershy, with her timid ways and squeaky replies. Although the colors were completely off, Twilight sensed a bit of her old friend in the filly.

Skyla turned to the crowd and flew up above the podium. "The race is over, everypony! It's time to go back to your festivities!"

Buzzing excitedly, the crowd dispersed to go continue their normal celebrations.

Cadence went over and nudged Twilight's wing with her own, jarring her from her thoughts. "Huh? Oh, hi Cadence."

Cadence grinned at her sister in law. "The race was a great idea, Twilight! And pretty successful; everyone was super excited to attend and compete!"

"Heh, thanks." Twilight said with a small smile.

"So, what's next?" Cadence asked.

Twilight thought for a moment. "Well, the other festivities I've planned are supposed to just before and after the sun is raised, so nothing really. Just the usual."

"Oh, ok." Cadence slid away towards the other princesses. "I hope their really good!"

Twilight smiled. "Me too!" She tilted her head to look up at the sky without the sun burning her eyes, and her eyes settled on a cloud. "I hope you saw that, Rainbow." She murmured to herself before walking over to join the other princesses.

Author's Note

Oh by the way guys, here's something I forgot to mention before; the race is the day of the Summer Sun Celebration, ya know, before the night when the sun is raised actually happens o3o merrr