The Stars Remain Eternal
“How are you, Dear Twilight?” The Princess of the stars asked her violet friend.
“I’m fine Luna. Today Applejack and I are going to bake some apple pie!” There was a glazed look in the eyes of the youngest alicorn. Luna fought back tears.
“That is lovely Dear Twilight, I look forward to tasting an Apple family pie.” She affectionately nuzzled Twilight and trotted off to yet another barren room of her palace and stared out into the never-ending night.
She had once yearned for an eternity of darkness, forcing her sister to banish her to the moon for a thousand years. “Oh Celestia.” She once again battled against tears, losing this time as a single drop escaped and fell to the ground. It turned to ice before it landed. It had been centuries since she last heard her sister’s voice, felt her warmth. “Oh sister, how I wish those thousand years had never happened.” She sat upon the stone floor and looked out into the universe. Scientist ponies had theorised that stars could die and their own sun was but a closer such body. It had been millennia since one of her astronomers had informed her of this. She’d kept it secret from her elder sister, not wishing to worry her, concealed it from Dear Twilight a pony who had already felt great loss.
She had watched as slowly Celestia’s mane lost its lustre and many colours, turning red and then a glowing white. Slowly her sister disappeared and with her the Twilight she had grown to love. Now all that remained was the blackness of space. The moon had lost the brilliance the sun gave it and with it Luna had lost all she held dear. However the stars remained eternal.
Time passed her by, “Twilight, wherever are you going?” Luna looked up, hopeful that her friend had returned to herself.
“Oh, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo had an argument with Applebloom and now they are lost in the Everfree.” She smiled brightly, “We are off to find them, aren’t we girls?” She looked to no one. “See you later Luna!” she cantered off across the rocky barren plain. Luna smiled her eyes sad.
“Time and the Stars exist evermore.” Her parents had said as they left their daughter for their eternal sleep. They had been words only for her, a warning of sadness with a little hope. She had lasted beyond the loss of her friends and family. Cadence and Shining, little Spike and many more, Twilight bearing up as companion to Luna and her sister.
The embodiment of Time itself, a friend and companion for eternity. The loss of Celestia had been the last she could take. Using a facet of her power she had retreated into a non-world of memories and dreams, living and playing in the past with long departed friends. Only Luna remained eternal and unchanged. Moments of lucidity on Twilight’s part were full of apologies and tears, fleeting moments of comfort and companionship until those purple eyes glazed once more.
She watched the tumbling galaxies and nebula, deep in the night sky. It was a beautiful sight, the colours and shapes wrapping and warping according to limitless forces but she would trade it all for another sunrise over the valleys of Equestria.
“Luna, things aren’t really as bright as I make them, are they?” Twilight had returned. Her eyes were once again alive but immeasurably sad.
“No Dear Twilight. How I wish they were but sadly we are still all that remain.” She lifted a wing and the lavender alicorn sat beside her, snuggled against the last warmth on the planet. “We have each other,” she nuzzled her friend.
“Until my mind sends me back.” Twilight replied bitterly, returning the hug “I am sorry for how I am.”
“No Dear Twilight, you cannot help it. This I know.”
“I can still be sorry you know.” A little of that familiar indignation was back, when Twilight was like this she could last in the present a little longer. A spark of happiness warmed Luna’s heart.
*
Time flowed by, Twilight and Luna spent it watching the skies, talking to each other and sharing company. “How about a tea party?” had been her suggestion at one point. So they sat on a conjured couch, partaking of sweet teas and dainty pastries both pretending it was millennia ago and a certain other alicorn was merely caught up in courtly business. They didn’t need to eat but these playtimes were enjoyable.
As the table and china faded into the firmament Twilight held a faraway look in her eyes. “Twilight? Are you alright?” Luna was worried, it looked like it was time once again to lose her friend.
“I’m remembering Luna. Something I read long ago when I was a unicorn in Ponyville.” She gazed into the star dappled blackness. “How black holes consumed all. Light, planetary bodies, even time itself. With a black hole, nothing is eternal.” She blinked. “Oh, hello Luna. Have you seen Rainbow Dash? I was supposed to be timing her flight speed today.”
Luna looked sadly at the glazed purple eyes. “I’m afraid I have not Twilight. Now if you’ll excuse me, I have some work to do.”
Luna walked across what was left of Equestria, the words of her clever friend circling her mind. “It would not be a loss.” She said to herself. “The books themselves even theorised it would cycle anew.” Her eyes scanned the heavens, seeking what she required. A strangeness lurked at the corner of her vision. Just what she was looking for. Her little of her power put the plan in motion.
“Luna. What’s going on?” Twilight cantered up. “I feel a little strange.”
“It is alright Dear Twilight, there is a time for all things, even the cessation of time itself.” She playfully nudged her friend. “Or at least one part of time.” The strangeness was close now, a patch of pure nothing in the sky.
“A Black Hole.” Twilight breathed in wonder. “I’ve always wanted to see one.” She gave Luna a sideways glance. “So you figured it out huh?”
“Things need to begin anew, Princesses in nowhere is not worth it anymore. No pony is counting on us and I think we should be reunited with our friends.” Luna looked at the vast blankness ahead of them. “We’ll go together.”
“Together.”
*
Black Holes consume everything. Even the anthropomorphic personifications of Space and Time themselves. There was a brightness and warmth greeting the two alicorns as their forms were returned to firmament, painless and welcome.
“Hello little sister, my faithful student.” Tones of beauty and warmth reached their ears.
“Celestia!”
“Sister!”
More voices and familiar faces filled their vision.
“Hiya Twilight. How yah been sugarcube?”
“Long time no see Twi’”
“Darling, it’s lovely to see you.”
“Oh Twilight! I missed you so!”
“Can we have a party now?”
“Your number one assistant reporting for duty!”
“I’ve missed you all so much!” The alicorn of time cried out, happy again.
*
The universe spread out, empty of much more than starlight. Star-stuff coalesced suddenly, into the form of a white alicorn, flowing red mane and tail moved by unseen currents, an inkwell and quill upon her flank. “Oh, I have a good idea.” She smiled, words existing somehow. A planetary body was gathered, a moon placed in its orbit. The sun was lit and the alicorn began to gather life and growth to her new project. “This is going to be good!” she smiled as Equestria experienced its first sunrise.
