Always Great and Powerful
By Spectrum Shine
Love. Love is a funny thing. And Cadence had always told me beautiful things about love. When I was a filly, she said that every mare needed her knight in shining armor. Ironically, this was the name of my brother. And she had the great fortune to have him. But my 'knight in shining armor' that my books and Cadence talked so much about ended up coming in the form of an arrogant mare with a shining heart, when she wanted have one.
That mare was Trixie Lulamoon. I really did not expect to fall in love with her. No, never. But fate is always ironical and... She really won me over. Won me the way that no stallion could have won. And no stallion or mare will win me again in that way.
Cadence and Shining Armor liked the news. At the beginning, they and my friends really were... Not used to the fact that I was dating and living with a mare which I could call my marefriend.
But some time has passed. And my friends really got along with Trixie. Of course, Trixie sometimes put her ego on top of everything. But in the end, after all that I (tried) to teach her about friendship, Trixie finally stopped being so arrogant.
Many months have passed. We did a spell on the night of Hearth's Warming Eve and this spell gave Trixie the 'parts' necessary to bring us a gift after twelve months of waiting. Aurora Dawn. Our daughter.
Trixie and I could not be happier. And as Aurora grew, I could see the stubbornness she had inherited from Trixie. But Aurora also had my tastes, like a love for books. A great fortune for her was the fact that I have a huge library inside our castle.
And even more time passed. It's funny that when we are happy and having fun the time passes very quickly. And I sometimes blame myself for not having had time to spend time with Aurora, but I had to do royal duties. Trixie said this was a big weakness of mine, but I said this was nonsense. She said that I worried too much. Maybe she was right, maybe not.
But then came a crucial moment. Spike. He has always been with me. But I knew that he had grown up, become a great dragon, and he should move on. Even if he had not won his great love, Rarity (who was with Applejack for months now), he said goodbye and left. He said he wanted to explore the world. And I would not say no. That day my heart was broken, but... Nothing had prepared me for something even worse than a farewell.
And this was about me and Trixie.
There was something about our relationship. Something that bothered us... All the time. Beating on the head of both and... That worried us. It was the worst thing of all. Death. All ponies feel fear of death. But the princesses and I don’t have to worry about death. Trixie on the other hoof…
And both of us knew it. Princess Celestia warned me on a visit made to my castle. And that continued to haunt me for a few years.
As I watched Trixie and Aurora, who was now a young mare, grow old, I was there. Frozen in time. Immortality was like dying, actually. It was like to become trapped beneath the soil. But in fact, the soil had a different name. Time. I was caught in time. Fought in it.
That was the price of being immortal. Perhaps it was true that all magic comes with a price. I turned into a princess, and my price was to see everypony perish and for I to stay behind.
Who knew it would come so fast. That this moment would hit me like a Sonic Rainboom.
I was sitting there next to my bed, where Trixie was lying, tired and with a look that showed the age. And she had plenty. Almost seventy years. Yet she stayed, for me, a beautiful mare.
“Sparkle…” she called me, in a hoarse, feeble voice, different from before.
“Yes Trixie?” I reply in a soft voice, throwing her a sad smile.
“I will not pass from this night…” she said, and before I could stop her, she said a slight 'no', “And you know that,” she gave emphasis on 'you', giving me a tired look, but... Satisfied?
“Trixie… I… Love you. And you know that, no?” she nodded to me, “Please... please don’t say that… I… Can’t believe that, we…” I was prevented by her hoof, which was weakly raised and pressed against my lips, and she was with a sad smile. Then she took the hoof of my lips.
“Sparkle, my love, I know we spent a lot of time together…” she let a little laugh and then gave a small cough, “And what a time! Trixie… I mean, I and you had always going through difficult things. You remember when Grogar attacked? And not only your friends helped you. I helped too. Moreover, Grogar wanted our daughter. And I as a mother would not let this happen to my little princess… I also had the chance to show how great and powerful Trixie is,” she smiled, kidding. I laughed and shook my head, she was always proud, no? Then she continued, “And this is just… One more test to us. And I know you like tests, Sparkle.”
“But I was not prepared for this test…” I stared at the floor.
“Twilight, my love, look here… I know you can *cough* pass all the tests. Whether given to you by Princess Celestia or life itself. You are 'the mare tests'. And they all gave you them, you passed. I'm sure it's not that you will not pass…” Trixie said making me look straight into her eyes. I was pretty sure she saw the tears rising in my eyes.
“But… You’re not a test Trixie, and you’re… Dying.”
“I know Sparkle, I *cough* know… And that’s why you will have to pass. Because I, the Great and Powerful Trixie, is demanding you *cough* to pass…” she gave a big sigh, trying to breathe better, “I… The time is almost over… Sparkle… Do you promise to me that *cough* you will find a good mare or stallion to stay with?”
I widened my eyes, “I can’t do…”
“Sparkle…”
“Okay. I promise you Trixie,” I said in a tearful voice, holding my sobs.
“And *cough* you know what Sparkle?” she asked and I looked to her eyes, they were beginning to lost their colours, “Our love will always be great and powerful,” and then she closed her eyes.
“No…”
