Pinkie Pie was still bounding around in excitement from the wedding reception. "And, POOM, did you see that confetti? It was GREAT!"
"Yeah, it was great, Pinkie," Dash said.
"And- BAM- your Sonic Rainboom was massive! Amazing!"
"Yep, it was amazing, Pinkie, but ah think we're all ready fer bed," Applejack said tiredly.
The group bade goodnight to the princesses and went back into their room, except for Twilight Sparkle, who stayed by Celestia's side.
Luna smiled and returned all of their farewells, and nuzzled her sister. "I would stay, but the moon is about to set, and I really should try and finish all of my duties before bed."
"Of course, sister. Sleep well," Celestia responded. When Luna had flown off, she looked at Twilight, who was still standing beside her. "Aren't you going to bed as well?"
"I have a question, princess. It's just... I don't know if I'm allowed to ask."
Princess Celestia smiled down at her. "Go ahead, Twilight. You've intrigued me."
"Well, it's just... you and your sister are immortal, right?" Twilight asks.
"Mostly."
Twilight blinked. "Mostly? No, wait. Is Cadence immortal as well? Because her and my brother- well, my brother isn't."
As soon as Twilight had finished explaining her question, Celestia sighed.
"Twilight... you know how me and Luna control the sun and moon?"
"Yes?"
"All alicorns have some sort of power. Some control things, like animals, or tides. We don't traditionally live near each other because too many of us can cause a... rift. A struggle for power, or deciding who has the best abilities that ends in a fight. And alicorn fights aren't the tussles you may have with your friends- they go on for years, centuries, and regular ponies are so much less resilient than us that it can cost lives, without us even realizing it. Something that only feels like a small push to us can mean the deaths of the innocent."
Twilight had read of the alicorn wars before, but hearing it from somepony who may have lived through them was a delicious feeling, as awful as that was. A personal, first-hand account of things that books couldn't explain quite as well as a witness. "Yes?" she coaxed, wanting more of her teacher's history.
"There are few enough that we can live far apart, and have a semblance of harmony." The princess paused, seeming to gather her thoughts. "Of course, it wasn't always like this. We used to rule and live together. None of us are brother and sister- except for Luna and I- but this ruling brought us together like siblings, before the fighting. In fact, very few of us are related at all. That's why none of us are called 'Queen', but princess or prince. There would be no semblance of a line of rule, a second in command according to family. Not to mention, one ruler would be... has been disastrous." Twilight waited for Celestia to elaborate, but no explanation came.
Celestia continued. "Cadence is, of course, in command of love. She can make two ponies truly overlook their differences and get along, or remember how they used to feel."
"Yeah, I remember her making a fighting couple stop," Twilight interjected.
"Yes, so you got a small taste of her powers. Well, it's true that Cadence is immortal. Unless, of course, she falls in love herself."
"What?"
Celestia gazed out the window beside her. "You see, Twilight, her love makes her care about someone so deeply, she can't live without them. She's bound to them, and her powers, as well. When they die, part of her does, as well. I am bound to something that cannot die-" Celestia gestures out the window, where the sun has begun to rise, "-and therefore, I cannot either. And Cadence was bound to the feeling of love, until she found a pony to love." The princess turned back to Twilight. "That pony is your brother."
Twilight gaped at Celestia. "So- so my brother... means her death?"
"Eventually, yes."
Tears threatened to overtake Twilight as she began to realize the implications. About the guilt her brother must feel. Unless-
"Does he know?" she choked out.
"No. No one wanted to tell him, and he wouldn't have gone through with it if we had. But, Twilight," she continued, when she saw how distraught the unicorn was, "you have to understand. This marriage has made Cadence the happiest mare in the world. She finally gets to experience love, instead of make it happen and watch from afar. This is how she wants it to be. And I can assure you that Shining Armor will never, ever find out, and they will live a long life together."
"I guess... I guess that's better than nothing," Twilight says. She turns to go into her room.
Celestia's voice stops her. "Oh- and Twilight?"
"Yes?"
"I apologize for being so angry with you earlier. I thought Cadence's behavior was from what the wedding will mean eventually. I thought that I knew what she was going through, and that could make anyone change like that." The princess smiled sheepishly. "Not because she was a different person. You were right, and I should have listened to you more before just writing you off as jealous."
Twilight smiled in acceptance of the apology. "Goodnight, Princess Celestia," she said, before walking into her room.
"Goodnight, Twilight Sparkle," she replied softly, before heading back to her own quarters.
As she walked, her hooves clicked on the tiles that slowly turned into stone as she left the main portion of the castle and into the older parts. The castle had once been small, and not quite as regal as it was now, but the growth of Canterlot and downfall of the Everfree Castle had forced change. Celestia, however, preferred this crumbling section.
It reminded her of her own love, so long ago.
Cadence was lucky, really, that she was bonded with something that would always make her happy. Celestia and her sister weren't as lucky- they might take pleasure of the beauty of the sun and moon, but they couldn't be comforting, loving, or have any feeling at all.
When Celestia had fallen in love, when she thought she would never be able to live without a certain stallion, she had to learn how to. Because when he died, Celestia couldn't die with him. Because she had to live without him for so long.
She had one consolation, though- his sister had a beautiful foal, who Celestia watched grow into a stallion that looked a lot like Celestia's husband. He then had his own child, and it went on and on. The family forgot their connection to the Royal Sisters, but Celestia did not, and ensured that they were well taken care of, watching from afar. They were all variations of him- his eye color, coat color, smile- but none of him looked exactly like him. One, though, came close.
With her deep purple mane, lavender coat, and love of books, Twilight Sparkle was a lot like Celestia's passed husband. And when it turned out she had extraordinary magical powers, Celestia had the excuse to take Twilight under her wing as a student, almost like the daughter she herself had never had. One that, without knowing, had all of the best traits of her husband. The husband she had watched die, and the student that was aging before Celestia's eyes.
Cadence was lucky, really.
