Chapters Without friends no pony would choose to live,
though he had all other goods.
Ariscoltle, a famous philosopher from B.C (Before Celestia)
Child. My child. It has been a long time. Too long, in fact. Life is short, but is love short? No, my child, love will last forever. Even as a dead pony's heart rots away, there remains the uncorrupt love which she has shared with one whom she loved so dear.
But let me see into your hearts, for the last time. Hatred, anger...jealously, sorrow...why? Why must you be so afraid? So sad? Nightmare Moon...why the jealousy? Luna, the pain in your heart...the regret, must you really live this way? Celestia, my daughter, release your sorrow for me. I am fine, and I can see you, I am forever watching you as the sun in the day and a nebula in the night. Discord, you have always been a fiesty one. Perky, but you let the hatred in your heart weigh down your natural happiness and mischief. Candence...let go of the harsh memories that haunt your night...why let your fear overcome you and the way you live? Chrysallis..your anger....you don't need power, you don't need strength. My children, can you not see there is more to life than what you only see?
"No!" I sit up, sweating, my scream echoing around in my halls of stone. "Celestia.." I clasp my forehead with both hands, and I shut my eyes, trying my hardest to relax. "Luna...." Why can't this memories leave me? I grab a glass of water beside me, on a small end-table that Discord and Celestia, the elder and maturer two, had made me over a thousand years ago. It is made of wood, but awfully weak and unstable, but the good memories that linger with it...are hard to forget, let alone the bad ones.
Another nightmare. I fall back onto my pillow, but I can't seem to fall asleep. Make my life a little more extreme...I may be the Godess of the Poniverse, but somehow, I feel so empty-hearted...as if I am just an ordinary mother. Where my heart truly lies, not my Poniverse, my PowerPuff Universe, my fame, my Home for Imaginary Friends, my reputation...but instead, it lies where my family is....my children.
My heart feels like a heavy stone boulder, or a block of ice - which can't melt. It has been frozen this way since two thousand years ago. Since...since we fought and left each other...and went our own ways. I can't believe what I had let happen that time. I wish I can time travel back to the past...but...I'm not sure I trust my feet to walk away. I sigh, as I stare misty-eyed at a photo we had taken together when we were only young.
My glass heart shatters, and I feel a sense of warmth once more, as I stare at my children's faces. Changeling, Sun Alicorn, Moon Alicorn, Draconequus...they are all special in their own way. I dry my tears, and face my reflection in a tub of water I delibarately fill just to see my reflection. Tears rippling the surface, I watch as my reflection slowly fades away into nothing. If reflections can reflect the heart, it...it just did. Nothing. The way I feel...impossible for anyone else to endure.
I am not just an ordinary person. I am Lauren Faust. A Goddess of four different dimensions and Universes, yet a whole another person in the real world. I am never this depressed...only..the memories that push me to the limits have the advantage over me once more.
Suicide. I consider suicide, but I shake my head and let my dagger fall with a clang upon the stone ground. I remember what I used to tell Chrysallis in her emo phase...The conversation which I have remembered by heart flushes to me like waves at the seashore.
"Mum, this is it. Do not tell me what to do, Mother. I am a Changeling of my word, and I do not need anypony else standing there telling me to stop. This is the end. Remember that I love you...even though I feed on hate."
"Chrys, dear, this isn't the answer. Suicide is never the answer. Here, let me tell you a story of mine when I was your age."
I remember telling her my past experience with suicide and depression...I remember telling her how I tried to settle things when I was a filly in the Equestria world. When I think of it, I have already lived five different lives. Super Powers in Powerpuff Girls, Super Best Friends Forever; Friends and Family in Ponyville; and Imaginary Friends in Foster's Home For Imaginary Friends. And the real world.
I look back at the portals in my secret room behind the bookshelf. There are four. One of them is vibrating with the neon colours pink, green and blue, enough to give an ordinary person a headache. "The Powerpuff Girls," a piece of paper is stuck onto the bit of white wall on top of the portal. Another is a dull coloured, and it moves in a wavy motion. "Foster's Home For Imaginary Friends." Only I can see the colours of the dull portal. The delights of a slow wavy dull motion fills my mind with the sensation of peace and relaxation, while the neon-coloured portal excites my fun-loving side. I walk past, and the portal I love the most catches my eye. "Equestria..."
I cannot look away. The force that seems to be pulling me into the portal is almost too strong for me to resist. Once I lay eyes on it, I cannot turn back.
I take a second look at my husband, who is sleeping and has no idea what is going on in the middle of the night. I feel caught between two worlds. There is nothing I can do...nothing I can say. I can't make everything change, I can't even make it rain. I sigh, and I rip a piece of paper out of my notebook. With the pen I use for sketches, I scribble a quick note, and I drop it on the end-table. Taking a deep breath, I enter the portal, taking a look back at the real world I live in.
"I'm here..."
I watch as I am transformed into the alicorn known to many as the "Fausticorn." My hands and legs sprout into hooves, and my body straightens until I am almost a thin straight line. As a blink of an eye, I am now again the mother of my five beloved children. Careful to keep out of sight, I trot towards Canterlot, with an invisibility spell.
I feel the nightfall chill in the breeze as it sweeps in my ruffled mane. The voice of the singing reeds at the bank, the stars in the night sky...it is all heaven to me. I chuckle, as I glance up at the sky, the moon and the glittering stars. It seems Luna has finally conquered raising the moon and the stars. I start to wonder how my children were getting on without me to be there with them.
It isn't long before I reach the castle of Canterlot. I am surprised, as I bump unintentionally into a magenta magic bauble-like shield. It surrounds the castle, and two strong hefty stallions stand guarding the already shielded entrance. "Who are you?" one of them asks, gruffly.
My invisibility spell wards off, and they stare at me, open-eyed. "F-Faust..." one of them mutters. He shoots a look somewhere above him. In a matter of five seconds, an alicorn I do not recognize lands before me. Her navy-blue mane is starry and flowing. Her eyes are piercing and fierce, and her face is determined and serious. She gazes upon me, and she backs away, mixed emotions showing in her eyes and expression. "Tia! TIA!!!" she screams, ordering the guards to open the shield, and let her in.
That name...so familiar. That was the name Luna used to call Celestia. But...this isn't Luna. From what I remember, Luna is an ambitious yet helpless little filly who dreams of things bigger than the creation of Equestria. This alicorn is fierce, rather snooty, and mischeivous, despite her cruel torment.
I am let into the castle, but I am still bewildered by the magic spell protecting the outsides of the Royal Castle. Maybe some special ceremony is going on. Yet, I am still grateful that the whole of Equestria isn't destructed yet, due to my little Celestia's natural clumsiness.
Before my eyes, I see her. My daughter.
"Celestia...." I mutter. Suddenly, my eyes open wide. "It's - it's you!" Tears stream down my cheeks as I bow down to the Princess of the Sun. "Celestia, I missed you!" I look around, in wonder. "Where's the others?"
"Arise, Mother," Celestia says, the words escaping her almost frozen mouth with the tone of sourness. "They have left me here, all except one. But even she, has left the light and fallen to darkness, though it is not I who has brought her back. Luna, I call thee!"
The same alicorn appears, but she has the appearance of a filly scared out of her wits on NightMare Night. She steps beside Celestia, panting, and asking, "My sister, M-Mother...you..She's here!" This is quite unexpected, and Celestia raises a brow, in confusion. "You two have met?"
I shake my head, but I still cannot hide the over-whelming happiness that overcomes me when I see my beloved children for the first time in a long long year. But I can hardly speak, as mixed emotions overcome me. Sorrow from learning that my children are still not together, joy to see them again, and confusion, wonder and shock that they have grown so quickly. Where was I when they grew up together? Oh, that's right. Back in my home in the real world, or else, being made to visit the Powerpuff Girls yearly, whether I have time to, or not. Even though it has only been two years in the real world, more than 2000 years have passed in Equestria. Without knowing it, I speak my thoughts out, accidentally saying them aloud, "You've...you've matured."
"Of course, Mother," Celestia says, smiling. But her smile is conquered by a cold heartless face of a tyrant, the face that she never puts on unless she is depressed and/or sad. Luna consoles her, and turns to me, asking, "You - You finally visited us, Mother. You...you have no idea how much I...missed you."
This enforces a timid little smile upon my face, but there is a tint of sadness hidden amongst my joy. "Where is Discord? Chrysallis? Nightmare Moon?"
This is not a subject either sisters want to talk about. "The moon, Mother," Luna says, in a weak voice. "NightMare Moon resides where I was banished for a thousand years." This is news to me. THIS is how things are handled in Equestria? What happened to the love and tolerance? What happened to the sisterly and brotherly love that each sibling shared with each other? The pain I feel that instant sticks like a dagger in my heart. "Luna, how did you get banished? Did - did somepony as horrid as a hydra --"
"No, Mother..." Celestia says, interrupting me, her head dropping with sorrow and shame. "I did."
I cannot explain how I feel when she says that. This causes a tiny confusion, sorrow, pain, yet pride that Celestia has returned to the brave filly she used to be, and has the courage to say sorry. The adrenaline pulsing up and down my veins...the pain...the sorrow...I sigh, as I think of the earlier times. Revenge, anger, hatred...WHERE WAS I WHEN ALL OF THIS HAPPENED?! I press both of my hooves over my ears, and grit my teeth, trying my hardest not to lose it.
They're not even excited I'm here. Luna, who has always been the sweet darling, either turns her back to me, or tells me all that has happened to her recently. Why am I not myself today? Where is the honest fun-loving exciting creative Lauren Faust I used to be? I sigh, and wipe the tears out of my eye. I turn to Celestia, and ask, "Do you have ANY idea where Discord is?"
"Discord..." Celestia says. She seems to be holding back bitter tears. Yet they are bittersweet, as she mutters, "Turned to stone for his crimes..."
This is even worse than I expect. I feel torn apart between two different ponies. The real me, and the depressed pony me. I'm standing in the middle, my arms dislocated and eyes derped. "Don't lose it..don't lose it...don't lose it!!!" I shout to myself, in my head. Luna trots up to me, and puts her hooves around me, whispering, "I'm so sorry, Mother. Big sister, you owe Mother an apology too."
Celestia's kindly face darkens, as she hears the word "apology." She doesn't say anything, but remains silent.
Of all the feelings I have left, this is the most heart-warming of them all. Despite all the harsh news I am being continuously killed by, I have learnt something that makes my whole life as the Fausticorn worthwhile. My eldest and youngest daughters both still have one personality trait that belongs to them when they were fillies. Luna's natural sweetness, and Celestia's arrogance.
"It's fine..." I say, deep in thought. "Then at least tell me about Chrysallis. Please don't tell me she's --"
I am interrupted by Luna, who has a less clear vision of the whole matter at hand. She tells me straightforwardly, "We...Mother, we don't know. Big sister, have you seen Chrysallis recently?"
Her face, dropped and hanging low, Celestia shakes her head, and says, "Discord and NightMare Moon were defeated by the Mane Six, six ponies wielding the Elements of Harmony. But as for our young sister, Chrysallis. I...I don't know."
I am instantly worried like all mothers are when they learn their child is missing. But what intrigues me more, is the Mane Six. The Elements of Harmony. When did all this happen? What am I missing living in the human world? Who are the Mane Six? "Alright, kids. Tell me, who are these "six ponies"?"
This time, Celestia takes pride in explaining the story. "Mother, you musn't get mad. NightMare Moon rebelled, and now she gives a bad name to Luna, whose fault it is that made her this nasty. Discord...." She takes a brief pause as she remembers her fillyhood with her brother, her favourite sibling of the other five. She sighs, and continues, "He tried to turn the world into eternal chaos! We....we had no choice. Twilight Sparkle, my faithful student, together with her five friends, set off to defeat them with the Elements of Harmony..."
At this, I can't help but smirk. So SOMEPONY has managed to use the Elements of Harmony after all. But I turn back to Celestia, maintaining the seriousness of the situation, and asking, "Who are they? Kids, I know this may be too much for all in one night, but may I...perchance...meet them? I am....intrigued. You know, kids, saving the world and adventures has always been my type, but here, in Equestria? It's both amusing and terrifying in the same way."
Luna suddenly becomes her fierce self again, and she hisses, "No! They are busy, in Ponyville. Twilight Sparkle is studying, fair AppleJack is at work --"
Celestia silences her sister with a hoof gesture, and Luna shrinks back, obediently. "I'm sorry for the loss of Discord, Chrysallis and NightMare Moon, Mother. I hope the Elements of Friendship will make up for them. Servants, please be so kind to fetch our Mother a letter and a quill."
Two fragile mares nod, and they scramble off, at once. Nopony should mess around with the Fausticorn, the creator of Equestria. If Celestia, her daughter, can send somepony to the moon - then nopony pushes it pass her mother to do something even far more terrifying. They soon return, trembling, saying, "Yes, my Princess."
"My dear student, Twilight Sparkle,
I am sorry to announce that your studies have to be put aside for a matter of more superior importance. Luna and I were visited from somepony we used to know and love so well...somepony who was missing us as we missed her. It is almost certain that my deep secrets shall be given away, and I shall be nothing but a hollow stone wall. I --
(Luna) Twilight Sparkle, you are called for. Big sister Tia and I are expecting you as fast as you can possibly make it. Please, bring no more than six; thyself - yourself, fair AppleJack, Rainbow Dash, Rarity, Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie. We shall explain the whole matter once you arrive. Be sure to bring the Elements of Harmony, which we have so kindly dropped into your care.
Signed,
Celestia and Luna"
Chapter 2: A New Generation
My fiery side gets the best of me, as we wait 20 minutes for the mane six to arrive. "Kids, are they coming? This is getting boring," I say, and Princess Celestia stares out of the window in worry. Yet, I can sense that under her anxiety is a tint of happiness, happiness that I didn't become a dull boring alicorn doing nothing but sew and have tea parties all day. The fiery red-headed part of me when I was 20 years old, shouts, "WHERE ARE THEY?!"
Luna giggles, and calms me down, stroking my mane like she used to when she was a filly. "Wait, my mother," she says. "They're....busy." At this, I groan, and anxiously await their arrival, like a businessman awaiting his customer's approval of the product he is advertising. The 22-year old "Frankie" is getting the better of me again...
It isn't long after she says that, that six ponies of different diversity should burst into the castle room. "Princess Celestia! We came as fast as we can!" the lavender unicorn cries out. My eyes open wide. Twilight. Why does that pony look like my little Twilight, the pony I used to play with when I was younger?
Beside the young lavender unicorn, a rough-looking blue pegasus dashes up to me, and asks, "Wait...who are you? Are you Discord's wife? Huh? Come on! You wanna do this the hard way? We'll do this the hard way!" Her hooves are curled into what seems like pony-styled fists, and she throws short jabs and punches in front of her, to make her look much more threatening and dangerous. The lavender unicorn glares at her, and says, "Manners, Rainbow Dash. She could just be --"
Suddenly, she gasps, as she turns her head and looks at me. I can't get why she's looks at me that way. Half of me is actually waiting anxiously for the fight with the young pegasus. She looks like my own headcannon of the G1 pony Firefly, my favourite pony of all time. Half of me wants to play-fight with her, and the other half wants to cuddle her and brush her mane. Maybe it didn't turn out as bad as I think, after all.
"Kids, are these the mane six?" I ask, turning to Celestia and Luna. There is a sudden surge of happiness through my veins, and I can't help but beam at my new creations. There is an unexplained light in my eyes, somewhat as if I am flying past the stars on silver wings, yet in my humble alicorn form, I remain, staring at the new ponies and totally unaware of what is going on.
Twilight Sparkle's jaw drops, and she stares at Celestia, in shock. "Princess...the...the F-Fausticorn! The rumour...the myth is true! You...she's your mother like everypony told me?!" she asks, horrifed, pointing a hoof at me. She watches Celestia's eyes droop low, and her head nods slowly. Twilight feels torn apart, and holding back tears, she mutters, "You...you lied to me."
"That I did not, my faithful student," Celestia snaps, turning around coldly to the lavender unicorn. Her eyes are harsh and stern, and she has the look of a cruel dictator destined to rule the entire universe. It doesn't break my heart, but it pains me to see how sad everypony is. Why can't it all go back to what it was before? Love and tolerance...maybe all this is just for the sake of ruining everypony's life in the end.
Luna sighs, and shouts, "Enough! Mother, this is Twilight Sparkle, the element of magic." She points a hoof lovingly at what she considered to be her second "sister." Twilight shades her eyes with a hoof from Luna's sad yet flaring eyes, and she turns away, saying, "I...I don't believe this."
Celestia sighs, and her kindly face returns. "I do not question you about your mother, Twilight Sparkle," she mutters, in all her glory and might. She bows down to Twilight, and places her crown on the student's head. "You'll have to be Princess of the Sun, my faithful student...untill....untill I come back."
Twilight's eyes open wide, and she places a hoof on Princess Celestia's shoulder, and asks, "Princess...you're not leaving, are you?"
Princess Celestia smiles, but it is a sad smile. "I...I.." A tear rolls down her eye, and she shouts, "Mother, take me back to the human world with you! I've always wanted to see -- you've always promised since I was only a filly! For the love of Faust, I cannot take it here with Luna anymore than Twilight can with Spike." She shoots a rough look at Spike, who is now full-grown size, due to his greed. He grabs for Celestia's crown, and I glare at him, using my magic to silence him and paralyze him. Twilight Sparkle drags him out of the castle, heaving a sigh of relief. "That spell..." she mutters, trying to recall where Celestia had learnt it from, and the date when she used it to silence Derpy Hooves.
I shake my head, and say, rather strictly, "I'm afraid...Sorry, Cel', you have to be strong." I turn to Celestia, and stroke her flowing pastel mane, and placing the crown back on her head. "The ponies of Equestria need you. I'm proud of you, Cel', but I - I need you here." I leave her, and she holds back bitter tears. I turn back to Luna, and ask, "And, Luna? Who the hay are the rest of them?"
Luna blushes, and is sort of embarrassed at the slang I use, but she answers, anyway. "Girls, I am sure you all know..how to...introduce yourself. Mother, these are the ponies who taught me fun." She blushes once more, but she beams at the six ponies in front of her.
AppleJack bows down before me, but I bid her to stand up. She nods, tips her cow-pony hat in a most pleasant yet casual manner, but she dares not shake my hooves for a greeting. "Howdy, Miss Faust-i-corn," the earth pony introduces. Her accent somehow pleases my ears, but her voice is filled with shakiness, inhaling, and surprise. "Ah'm a-AppleJack, daughter of the daughter of the creator of Ponyville. Pleasure ta meet yer acquintance, Yer Majesty!"
I grin to myself, and but I'm sure she noticed the confusion in my stern eyes. AppleJack? The orange coat...blonde mane...it all reminds me much of the little AppleJack I drew pictures of when I was a kid. My headcannon of the eariler generation pony has the exact same design as the pony before me. Nevertheless, I keep my thinking to myself, as the next pony approaches.
"Rarity, Your Majesty," a white unicorn with a beautiful glossy purple mane tells me, curtseying before me. Her Atlantic accent also somewhat sounds awesome, and I am also amused at her fabulosity and manners. "Oh my stars! Darling! It's you - the Fausticorn! Oh, I've ever so dreamed about seeing your beautiful glamourous face before me --" Her eyes sparkle, as she continues to talk about her "dreams".
Rainbow Dash rolls her eyes, and slightly pushes Rarity's hind leg with a free hoof. She watches in glee, as Rarity screams, and falls face-flat on the floor. The pegasus receives a death glare from the unicorn, but the matter is over in the next few minutes.
I couldn't help but share a cheeky grin with Rainbow. She is so much like Firefly, that I couldn't ignore her mischeivousness and perky nature. The next pony bounces right up to me, and this one looks like Surprise - my little Surprise. But there is a wide grin on her face, and she squeals, between fits of giggling, "Ooh, hello Lauren Faust!"
This is startling to everypony, and they all turn to the pink earth pony. "How I knew her name?" she asks, reading their minds. "Silly fillies, it's easy! She's the one who created the Powerpuff Girls! And the one who created Mac and Bloo and Frankie and Wilt and Eduardo! And she appeared on the latest episode of My Little Brony!" This is unexpected, and she turns to me, ignoring the face-hoofs and groans from the ponies around her. "Oh, I'm Pinkie Pie by the way! Hmm...want a cupcake, Your Majester-Majestic-Majesty?"
I bite into the cupcake she offers me hastily, as to not offend her. I am surprised by the results. Who would've thought that earth ponies can bake so well without wings or horns?
A small puny pegasus mare makes her way in front of me, and she bows down, before shying away, her cheeks the colour of her mane. Her natural shyness and delicate beauty is rather appealing, and I'm sure I can see one of the guards drooling for her - and the other, for Rarity. "Oh my...my name is....Fluttershy..." she whispers, almost inaudible to anypony around her.
Yet my alicorn ears pick her words up perfectly, though I wish it wouldn't - for the sake of having fun. "Don't worry, Fluttershy," I console her, lowering my voice. "I'm your friend." As I say this, I go into deep thinking. "Hmm...I think I can guess what your elements are....."
I point a hoof not rudely at Fluttershy, who is the closest to me. "Element of Kindness," I say, and she nods slowly. This is going to be fun, I tell myself. I then make a hoof gesture at Rainbow Dash. "Element of Loyalty."
Rainbow Dash grins, and shouts, "Thhhaaaat's right, Your Majesty! Hey, what's with the pointing though?"
I continue on, and examine each pony, and each of their personalities. "Element of Laughter," I mutter, my voice loud enough to be heard all around the castle. Pinkie Pie giggles, and bounces up, once more, "That's me, Your Lauren Fausti-ness!"
"Let me see...." I say to myself. I do not hesitate, as I see the ponies blinking up to me in confusion. "Element of Honesty," I point at AppleJack.
"Element of Fabulousity," I say, another grin on my face. Rarity seems rather pleased by this compliment, but I hastily change it to "Element of Generosity."
"And lastly," I whisper, lowering my voice once more. "Element of...Magic."
Twilight Sparkle smiles, though she can't force her mind to get a grip of everything that's happening today. "It can't be real, I'm dreaming, I know I'm dreaming," I could hear her shout to herself. I place a hoof on her shaky shoulder, and say, "It's true, Twilight Sparkle. Don't worry, it's gonna be fine. I'm the...Fausticorn by the way."
She stares up to my kindly eyes, and asks, "Oh my, THE Fausticorn? The Fausticorn's just a legend! Everything is not real! And how did you know my name?!"
"The answer to that..." I reply, grinning once more. "Is Magic."
Twilight sighs, and whispers, shamefully, "I'm sorry, Goddess of the Poniverse. I...I just...I can't -- UGH!" She gives a frustrated scream, and shouts, "I CAN'T GET A HOLD OF WHATEVER'S HAPPENING TODAY!!!" After she says that, she pants for breath, and calms down.
"Feelin' better, sugarcube?" AppleJack asks, placing a hoof on the other shoulder. Twilight nodded and she turns to me, asking for forgiveness. "Please, your Highness. I'm just an ordinary student...I - I...I -- I--!"
I smile, and tell her, softly, "You're not ordinary, my little Twilight. You have a special ability that no other pony in Equestria possesses. You're going to do great things for Equestria one day..." I hastily added, "If you haven't already done great things!"
There is laughter everywhere, and when the ponies calm down, they all stare at me with big eyes, though not rudely. "Excuse me, Your Majesty," Twilight Sparkle asks, trying to overcome her OCD. "Would you like to go meet the ponies in Ponyville all over again?"
A/N: I was aware that I mentioned "Ponyville" in the previous chapters. I went back and did some updates, so look twice before you spam your comments about this in the comment box. And wow, 65 likes? I love you guys! Also, this Nightmare Moon and Luna debate is getting a little old, don't you think? I know what I'm doing - I'm the author :) No offense to you all, though :D And of course, I appreciate all comments, likes, favs and watchers ;D
