Departure
By Alaborn
Standard disclaimer: This is a not for profit fan work. My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic is copyright Hasbro, Inc. I make no claim to any copyrighted material mentioned herein.
The grandest hall of the royal palace of the Crystal Empire was quiet. Even though hundreds of ponies entered the grand chamber and stepped upon its crystal floors, only the faintest of sounds could be heard. It was as if the very crystal of the Crystal Empire was paying its respects.
In turn, each pony walked past an open casket, bowing her head and paying respects to the pony resting there. Shining Armor, Prince Consort of the Crystal Empire, Captain of the Guard, and Defender of All, lay there, his body unmoving, his spirit already joining all in the Great Pasture. Time claims all ponies, it is said, but few are ready when that time is short.
As the ponies finished their silent prayers, they slowly retreated, moving to the back of the hall, finding a seat on one of the benches that filled the grand room. As they passed, their eyes were drawn to three of the mourners, seated at the very front of the hall. A unicorn filly of ten years saw nothing of the procession. Her head was bowed in sorrow, tears flowing from her closed eyes. On either side, two alicorns pressed close to her, their wings forming a blanket of pink and violet feathers. But their touch was scant comfort. The sorrow felt by all in the room was so great that not even the Crystal Heart could ease it.
In time, the room filled. Dignitaries from Equestria and beyond shared benches with the common ponies of the Crystal Empire. Crystal ponies, ponies, zebras, donkeys, griffons, and more bowed their heads. The diverse peoples of the world came together in a common cause, to honor a great pony whose life was tragically cut short.
Soon, visitors were forced to stand, taking positions along the walls of the grand hall. And outside the palace, thousands more filled the parade grounds, braving the cold, united in their desire to pay respects to Prince Shining Armor. Upon a magical field that shimmered under the northern sky, they witnessed the same scene as those inside the palace. Outside, just as inside, all was quiet.
When Celestia’s sun reached its apex, one pony stepped forward. Clad in pure white robes, he raised his head and spoke the invocation. The familiar words, the place of life and death as part of the greater harmony of existence, offered little to comfort those most affected by the loss.
From there, great ponies came to the front of the hall, sharing tales of the great deeds performed by the prince. They spoke of his defeat of King Sombra, and his continued battle against those who sought to continue the foul monarch’s plans. They spoke of his battles against the changelings, wherever they arose to threaten the lives and loves of innocent ponies. They even spoke of his time before becoming prince, of his efforts to strengthen the Royal Guard and better prepare them to defend all of Equestria.
It was not just the prince’s martial accomplishments that elicited praise. Others spoke of how the prince aided the returned crystal ponies. They recalled how the prince worked tirelessly to integrate the crystal ponies into modern Equestria, while fighting to preserve their culture and traditions. They recalled the grand cultural exchanges he promoted. And in the crowd outside the palace, where residents of all pony kinds watched the ceremony, one could see the success of the prince’s efforts.
But one accomplishment was left unspoken, for there was only one pony who could rightly speak of it.
Finally, each of the speakers finished. All eyes focused on the ponies at the front of the room. The young unicorn princess, too deep in mourning, did not want to leave the embrace of her mother. So her aunt stepped forward instead.
Princess Twilight Sparkle stood behind the podium, holding a stack of neatly organized index cards in her magical aura. Her speech, carefully written over the past week, waited for her.
She let the cards fall onto the podium. “I thought I knew what I wanted to say. But then I had another memory of my brother, and that led to another, and, well, I just have to share them all.” And so she spoke. She recalled her earliest memories of her brother, the way he protected her before he ever learned protecting others was his special talent. She talked about him seeing her off to Celestia’s School for Gifted Unicorns, and how she returned the favor, sneaking out of classes to see him depart for the Academy. Memory after memory flowed from the Princess of Friendship as her tears fell.
She finished, falling silent as she stared at the coffin. “Goodbye, Big Brother, Best Friend Forever. I never dreamed forever would be such a short time.”
Twilight Sparkle slowly returned to her seat, where she held her niece close. All eyes followed as Princess Mi Amore Cadenza came to the podium. She started by saying one word. “Love.”
“Love is who I am,” Cadance continued. “From the moment of my birth, love spoke to me, and I understood love. I stoked the flames of love. I rekindled love that was in danger of dying. I made love stronger. But I didn’t truly know love until I met my prince, my knight in shining armor. Together, we grew our love into something that defied description.
“You all know the story. When I was trapped, when all seemed hopeless, my love for Shining Armor sustained me. And when I was returned to him, his love met mine, and together, we drove back those who would take all love.
“Love again won the day as, together, we fought off the machinations of the accursed shadow king. And from then, I joined with the Crystal Heart. I became one with the focus of love, a concentration as powerful as the sun and moon. And even amidst all this love, one love stood out. I could feel one love above all the others. The love from my Shining Armor.
“No matter what he did, no matter what risks he bore, no matter what trials he endured, his love was always there, shining in the darkness. Even as he fought those who proclaimed the shadow king’s legacy, he never failed to love. Even when he took his last breath, he loved.
“Even holding all the love in Equestria, I feel the hole in my heart.” Cadance rested her head on the coffin. “Goodnight, sweet prince.”
As Princess Cadance left the podium, the ponies in the room sang. Those outside joined in. The haunting tune, though ancient, became known to everypony, and all joined in. Voices called out to the past and future, to the deceased and to those yet to be born. The voices seemed to resonate with the crystal walls of the palace. No, they resonated with every structure and with every pony in the Crystal Empire.
Above the hall, a large balcony was quiet. Capable of seating a hundred ponies, the room was closed, save for two ponies who watched the proceedings.
“’Tis beautiful,” Princess Luna said.
“It is,” Princess Celestia agreed. “But the somber occasion only reminds us of the grave matter on which we must speak.”
Princess Luna gazed on the three princesses below. “Can it not wait?”
“It has waited, dear sister. It has waited for more than a thousand years. It is time.”
Well-wishers passed by in a long line, offering kind words and sympathy to the three princesses. Still numb, all they could do was accept their sympathy.
But not even death could halt the demands of an empire. Aides and attendants descended on the princesses. Some came to take Princess Skyla to her chamber. Others discussed details of the various memorials and remembrances that would occur across the Crystal Empire.
Princess Celestia and Princess Luna waited for the retainers to complete their tasks before approaching. Princess Celestia draped a wing over her dear student; Princess Luna did the same with Cadance. “Come, Cadance, Twilight. We have much to discuss,” Celestia urged.
Princess Cadance hesitated. “I don’t want to leave Skyla alone on a night like this.”
“Your concern for your filly is admirable,” Luna said. “Know that I shall protect her as she dreams. And know that we would not make this request were it not of grave importance.”
“What is it?” Twilight Sparkle asked.
“All will soon be revealed,” Celestia said.
The two younger alicorns followed the royal sisters into one of the castle’s conference chambers. Most of the furniture had been removed, leaving only four cushions and a small table, holding a pitcher of water and four glasses. A roaring fire shielded the empty chamber from the chill of the northern night.
Once all were seated, Princess Celestia smiled warmly at her beloved student. “Twilight Sparkle, the question I am about to ask is one that few ponies would know the answer to, but I am certain you have come across the subject in your research. Would you speak of the creation myths from before the time of unification?”
Twilight Sparkle raised an eyebrow. The subject was not what she expected her mentor to raise. But she knew the answer, and she fell into the role of student answering teacher with practiced ease.
“The creator, sometimes called Equida, sometimes Faust, but most often nameless, is said to be responsible for the creation of Equestria. She formed the land and sea, the sky and clouds, the sun and moon, and the stars and heavens. From there, life was brought to the planet, plants and animals. And then, ponykind was created in her own image.
“It is said that earth ponies were given dominion over the land, pegasi dominion over the skies, and unicorns dominion over the heavens. Which dominion was of greatest importance, or prime in the eyes of the creator, varies by the teller. Unsurprisingly, each race thought its own dominion to be the most important. But all agreed with this split, which was natural, due to its ties to the magical strengths of each race.”
“Very good, my dear student,” Celestia replied. “But what of the other races?”
“Scholars of ancient Equestrian history believe these creation stories predate the meeting of ponies and other races. Thus, these other races fit imperfectly into the mythos. The most common place for the other races in these stories is tied to the land. Dragons are said to be born of, or magically linked to, volcanoes. Similarly, griffons are tied to the mountains, goats to the cliffs, donkeys to the hills, minotaurs to the canyons, diamond dogs to the caverns, buffalo to the plains, cows to the grasslands, and so forth. But because these myths place other races second to ponies, they have fallen rather out of favor.”
“I can see why,” Cadance said. “That would be a diplomatic disaster!”
Celestia chuckled. “It is not just the ancient ponies who maintained a self-centered view of the universe. You would make an excellent teacher, Twilight Sparkle. But giving a lecture is not why I asked you this question. Tell me, what race was missing from your lesson?”
“Missing?” Twilight Sparkle uttered, her mouth twisting into a thoughtful expression. She stared into space, moving her horn as if making checkmarks on an invisible list.
Finally, she sighed. “I’m sorry, Princess Celestia. I can’t think of any….” Her admission was interrupted by Celestia’s wing touching her own.
“Alicorns,” Cadance said.
Twilight Sparkle shook her head. “But the creator is an alicorn, and your mother, at least metaphorically.”
“Perhaps not,” Cadance said. “I’m sure you’ve at least read about art history, Twilight. The appearance of the creator as an alicorn first occurred with early Renaissance art.”
“In other words, it was not until your rule that the creator was tied to you?” Twilight Sparkle said.
“I think you’re beginning to see, my faithful student,” Celestia said.
“But why is that the case? Alicorns have always been known.”
“Have they, Twilight?” Luna asked.
“Of course! Well, I think so. I know historians debate the details, but that’s to be expected in the field,” Twilight mused.
“I disagree,” Cadance said.
Twilight Sparkle turned and started to speak, but Celestia spoke first. “Your number, Cadance?”
“Seventeen,” she replied. Upon seeing Twilight Sparkle’s confused expression, she continued. “I am the seventeenth officially recognized alicorn, not counting my aunts. The first was Red Tornado, who led our armies when Equestria was fighting for its place in the world. Then came Greenfield, who made the land prosper, and in turn helped Equestria prosper. Then Blue Diamond, master of diplomacy, and of the line that claims Prince Blueblood as a descendant. All three were born during the first diarchy.”
“I think you will find that claims to alicorn heritage among pre-unification ponies to be rather suspect,” Celestia said. “But as fascinating as this topic is, we still have the matter at hoof. How are you different, Twilight Sparkle?”
“Perhaps most obviously, I was not born an alicorn,” Twilight Sparkle said.
“You are the first,” Cadance noted.
“Well, that’s not surprising. It’s not every day somepony completes a lost spell of Starswirl the Bearded!”
“Do you think that is the only way a worthy pony could become an alicorn?” Luna challenged.
“Now, dear sister, I remember your plans from early in our reign. But that is neither here nor there,” Celestia said. “Twilight Sparkle, it was never intended for it to take so long for somepony to do what you did. And that is a secret that must now be revealed.”
Both Twilight Sparkle and Cadance looked at the elder alicorns, confused. “What do you mean?” Cadance asked.
“What it comes down to is who we are,” Celestia said.
“It is not a secret that has ever been spoken,” Luna said. “Nay, it is a truth that not even Clover the Clever could uncover.”
“We do not merely control the sun and moon,” Celestia said. “Nor is it a symbolic relationship.”
“I am the moon,” Luna said. “And Celestia is the sun.”
“What?” Twilight Sparkle exclaimed.
“What does that even mean?” Cadance asked.
“That is hard to say, dearest niece,” Celestia said. “But it ties back to the creator. We have never revealed how we came to be. It is time you know the truth.”
“The Creator loved her world, and nowhere was this love shown more than in her light. Light is life, both literally, as in the life-giving light of the sun, but also metaphorically, symbolizing intelligence, rational thought, sapience. She created the sun and the moon so that light would always shine upon her little ponies,” Celestia intoned.
“But in creating ponies, capable of thought and exercising free will, she recognized the risks of this freedom. Inherent in this freedom is the possibility of twisting the joy of her creation. Love could become hate, friendship enmity, and peace strife. We were the Creator’s failsafe, a symbol of her love for all her little ponies, but our appearance was not guaranteed. There were two paths set for us.
“As eternal winter threatened to destroy all life in Equestria, we felt the coldness, though for us, it was a feeling of separation, one not caused merely by the thick clouds over the planet’s surface. We could sense the two destinies that had been established at our creation. One was order, a comfortable system of gravity and motion, no longer requiring thought. We could simply fall into this pattern, and forget the growing coldness of the planet below. And that is where we were headed as the Creator’s experiment neared failure.”
“But then, one night, I felt a warmth return,” Luna said. “From the surface, in one isolated location, I sensed the magic of friendship. It told me to come back, to continue to shine. I reached out to my heavenly sister, and together, we basked in the warmth. As we did, it pulled us away from where we were headed, and instead sent us on our other path.”
“In the blink of an eye, we appeared on the surface, a symbol of unity for all ponies of Equestria,” Celestia explained. “Now, it was a blink to us, but twenty-two years to the mortal ponies. In that time, the pony leaders Pansy, Smart Cookie, and Clover led the creation of Equestria’s first great city, Freetown. We came to deliver our message of friendship and harmony, only to find these ponies already embracing this message.”
“There was much work to be done, of course,” Luna said. “Many ponies still feared their fellow ponies, with great cloud cities, mountain castles, and vast walled cities creating barriers both physical and spiritual. Spreading our message to them was hard, nay, nearly impossible. But the message of unity came to the land like the light from my moon and Celestia’s sun.”
“And like plants stretching their leaves to the sky, ponies looked to the sun and the moon, and they grew strong with the magic of friendship,” Celestia continued.
“It’s a beautiful story,” Cadance said.
“Agreed, but there’s something else to the story,” Twilight Sparkle said. “Why are you revealing this now?”
“It should have happened long ago. It is our command, the one order stronger than love for our little ponies,” Celestia said. “We must depart when Equestria is ready.”
“Ponies are meant to rule themselves. Such is the commandment of the Creator,” Luna stated.
“But many things went wrong.” Princess Celestia poured another cup of tea. “Where do I begin?”
“In the pool of knowledge we possessed when we were born into this world, we knew that one day, a pony would be born with the shared magic of all three pony types. And we knew that one day, a pony would discover how to transform herself, and gain this magic,” Celestia said. “When that happened, our little ponies would be ready to rule themselves.”
“One alicorn born, one made,” Luna added.
“With a few careful whispers, we ensured that ponies would think it was possible to become an alicorn. Starswirl the Bearded was the first to act,” Celestia said. “The unicorn was quite old, and had long fallen out of political favor, being too tied to the ways of the old unicorn kingdom. But his mind was still sharp. Starswirl was quick to understand the three forms of pony magic, and how they became stronger when combined. But he never understood the magic of friendship, and so he could never complete the spell.
“The spell then fell to Clover the Clever after her mentor’s passing. The mare had proven she understood the new Equestria, and she would make a fine leader. I gently prodded her towards finishing Starswirl’s spell, but she could not complete it either. She proclaimed it unsolvable. But after centuries of reflection, I believe she did master the spell, but chose not to invoke it.”
“She was right to do so,” Luna claimed. “Had she transformed before the birth of a new alicorn, it would have been perceived as unicorns taking over. It would have destroyed the harmony that was growing in the new Equestria.”
“Sister, we have discussed this many times before. We do not need to have this argument again.”
“But it is important that Twilight and Cadance understand,” Luna retorted. “It is equine nature to disagree.”
“And that is an issue we shall soon address,” Celestia said. “Now, whether by choice or not, Clover the Clever passed her life as a unicorn, and none who followed her possessed her magical talents. Forty-seven years later, Red Tornado was born, but the two pieces of the puzzle were still not present. Even the founding of my school for gifted unicorns failed to find the next Clover.”
“I believed instead that the future alicorn would be born of a great leader,” Luna said. “If our one reason for existence was to find a capable leader for our little ponies, then we were wasting our time looking at antisocial wizards. As we did not agree, we each pursued our own paths.”
“And there you see a sad flaw of the Creator’s plan. In being given pony form, we were given pony minds, with feelings and emotions we did not fully understand,” Celestia admitted. “The rift between us widened, large enough to allow Discord into our world. Our first fight against him brought us back together, but at great cost.”
“Discord’s magic took root in me, growing my self-doubt until one century, it consumed me,” Luna said. “But we do not need to discuss Nightmare Moon. It is a tale you already know.”
“I was left alone to rule Equestria. I could no longer achieve my primary goal of departure. We must depart together, and so I waited until the day that my sister returned. As the centuries passed, I watched alicorns be born, grow, and die. I saw brilliant unicorns and capable leaders pass through Canterlot. But I left Starswirl’s last spell hidden. I could not achieve my primary goal, so I devoted all my energy to my secondary goal, loving and protecting my little ponies.”
“There’s one thing I don’t understand,” Twilight Sparkle said. “I became an alicorn fourteen years ago. Why are you telling us now?”
“My sister alluded to it,” Luna said. “It was equine frailty.”
“In centuries of planning, I never thought the two future rulers would be connected closely. Mathematics says the odds of that were astronomical. And even if that were to happen, I did not think that it would matter. My goal was paramount. But every day, I saw the face of the pony who would be devastated were I to act immediately.”
“Shining Armor,” Cadance whispered.
Celestia nodded. “Shining Armor loved his troops, loved his country, but above all, loved two mares. I could not take both of them away from him. And so I fought my very being, and let life proceed as before.”
Luna draped a wing over her sister’s withers. “As with Clover, I believe you made the right choice.”
Celestia shook her head. “It is sad. I always imagined I would be having this conversation decades from now.”
“After a life long lived, full of love,” Luna continued. “Many descendants, foals and grandfoals.”
“But those who fight against harmony never rest. They never have, so long as we have watched over Equestria,” Celestia said.
Cadance bowed her head. Every time Shining Armor would lead his troops against those who threatened Equestria, she worried. She wished she could be there, to be ready to share her alicorn magic were he in need. But just as his destiny was to protect others, hers was to lead the Crystal Empire once it returned. It was the job she was literally born to do.
“You seem pensive, Cadance,” Luna said.
“It’s just... it’s so much to take in,” she said. “What you’re asking is for us to replace you. How can we ever feel ready for that?”
“Ask your crystal ponies,” Celestia said. “They will tell you that you are ready.”
“You have been quiet, Twilight Sparkle. Pray tell, what are you thinking?” Luna asked.
“I have been thinking how every lesson I learned from the time I was a filly has led up to this request,” Twilight Sparkle replied. “It was a very thorough plan.”
“Indeed, my faithful student. I have had more than fourteen centuries to make it,” Celestia said. “You learned the power of the magic of friendship before you recovered the Element of Magic. You learned the virtues of all kinds of ponies before you assumed their magic in your apotheosis. You held the power of sun and moon, and learned that not even their combined power can supersede the fundamental magic of harmony. And most importantly, you learned to be the ruler of some before being asked to be the ruler of all.”
“I don’t know if I’m ready for this,” Twilight Sparkle said.
“You are ready, Princess Twilight Sparkle. But I understand that you do not feel ready right now. You need to mourn. You need to speak with your friends. I do think they will find you ready.”
“Attend to any business you have. I will meet you in your dreams,” Luna said. “When you are ready, speak to me, and then journey to Canterlot.”
“Now, your filly needs you, Cadance,” Celestia said.
One month later, Cadance and Twilight Sparkle waited in an opulent sitting room, dimly lit by a single lamp. Luna’s moon hung low in the night sky. Twilight Sparkle paced nervously, constantly looking at the sky. Cadance rose and moved to her side. “I think somepony needs to relax. Sunshine, sunshine, ladybugs awake.”
Twilight Sparkle smiled, for the first time that morning, and touched her hooves to Cadance’s. “Clap your hooves and do a little shake!” she said, completing their old ritual. They both laughed.
“You realize that we won’t be won’t be able to do that anymore if we go through with this, right?” Twilight Sparkle said.
“Oh? And who do you think will tell us no?” Cadance said.
“Um, no one, but it wouldn’t be proper!”
“I think if there’s one thing Celestia and Luna want us to remember, it’s that this change in roles won’t change us as ponies,” Cadance said. “You can still visit your friends. I can still visit Skyla. Just... not that often.”
“I told the girls. They were surprised at first, but they supported me wholeheartedly. The hardest part was asking them to keep it secret. Poor Pinkie Pie. She has the biggest party planned, but she can’t tell anypony about it.”
“Everything’s ready in the Crystal Empire. I trust Watercress to be a good regent. Skyla is ready to learn from him, and when she comes of age, she will be ready to bond with the Crystal Heart.”
The door opened, revealing Celestia and Luna. “My dear Cadance. My dear Twilight. Are you ready?” Celestia asked.
The two younger alicorns nodded.
“And have you chosen your titles?” Luna asked.
“We have, and the heralds have been informed,” Twilight Sparkle said.
Celestia raised an eyebrow. “Oh? Keeping a secret from your princess?”
“It’s not a secret, it’s a surprise,” Cadance said.
“It’s just that we both appreciate the sun and moon so much,” Twilight Sparkle said. “I can’t forget your mentoring during my younger days, but nor can I forget my passion for the night sky.”
“And as the alicorn of love, I came to appreciate how love is shared, both during the day and during the night.”
“We trust you to take on our mantles,” Luna said. “Protect our little ponies. Guide their dreams. Encourage their friendships, their love, their hopes and wishes.”
“It is time. We do not want to keep our little ponies waiting,” Celestia said.
The throne room. The grandest hall in all of Canterlot Castle, its windows and skylights admitted the light of the sun or moon no matter what the time of day. It was very familiar to Twilight Sparkle, having attended court from her first days as Celestia’s personal student to meetings as her fellow princess and equal. It had changed little, with the only major change being the construction of a second throne for Princess Luna.
Thus, she immediately noticed the change. Where the thrones once held the cutie marks of Celestia and Luna, now there were gaps.
The large crowd of ponies in the throne room was not unusual, though their presence in the hours before dawn was. Twilight Sparkle recognized them, by appearance if not by name. The room was filled with the most important ponies in Canterlot. In the air hovered images of similar crowds, gathered in palaces, coliseums, and town squares, each image a city in Equestria she had once visited.
“You have really attracted everypony’s attention,” Cadance said.
“Our announcement hinted at something unlike anything that had happened before,” Celestia said. “And that is certainly true.”
“Let us go,” Luna said.
Dawn arrived, and Celestia and Luna felt the calling of their celestial forms, a reminder of the need to move night to day. But they set aside the call. It would not be their role.
Princess Celestia and Princess Luna stood at the front of the hall, facing the crowd. Facing them stood Princess Cadance and Princess Twilight Sparkle. All wore their formal regalia.
“Citizens of Equestria and beyond,” Celestia intoned. “Today is a new beginning for Equestria. Long before the dawn of civilization, my sister and I watched over ponykind, I as the sun….”
“And I as the moon,” Luna continued.
“We came to Equestria as your princesses in order to guard the precious seed that is harmony among ponies,” Celestia said. “And in the centuries that have passed, we have borne witness to its flowering.”
Princess Luna flared her wings. “We came to Equestria in this form to guide, to teach, to nurture. We came with many commandments, only one greater than the commandment to love our little ponies: that ponies should rule themselves.”
“Today, we stand with two ponies who have proven themselves in every test,” Celestia said. “Princess Mi Amore Cadenza, born to lead the Crystal Empire, has shown her love for ponies in all its forms. And Princess Twilight Sparkle, who alone among ponies created new magic from the raw material of friendship, has devoted her life to spreading the lessons of friendship to everypony.”
“Step forward,” Luna said.
Twilight Sparkle and Cadance did so, switching places with Celestia and Luna.
Celestia spoke once again. “We give you one last command. Guide and protect your little ponies.”
Their magic flared, and Celestia and Luna removed their regalia. They bowed deeply before the new rulers of Equestria.
Cadance motioned, and Celestia and Luna raised their heads. They placed their horns together. Cadance looked to Twilight Sparkle, nodded, and all four alicorns joined their horns.
In an instant, the connection to the heavens, that unique spark, flowed into Cadance and Twilight Sparkle. Together, they felt the heavens’ call. And as they did, Celestia and Luna levitated into the air. The elder alicorns’ expressions were serene as they started to glow. Celestia was consumed by the flames of the sun, and Luna shrouded in moonlight and dust. And then, they were gone.
The clarion call of trumpets bade all to listen. Once the horns ceased, the heralds spoke. “We now present Mi Amore Cadenza, Princess of Dawn, and Twilight Sparkle, Princess of Dusk. Long may they reign!”
Cadance and Twilight Sparkle touched horns, and together they called to the sun and moon, bringing about the new day. And they felt Celestia and Luna smiling upon them.
“They’re home,” Twilight Sparkle announced. “Everypony, Celestia and Luna have gone home.”
Author's Note
This story continues the alicorn headcanon previously developed in Cross Words and Red Tornado, but this story was conceived, and partially written, before either of those.
