True Love Never Dies

Despite not having yet reached full height, Twilight easily towered over the bassinet of the infant that was the Sun Incarnate. The infant that had once ruled an entire nation. The infant that had controlled the heavens. The infant that was once her beloved Celestia. A single tear rolled down Twilight's cheek. Why? Why her? Why now?

A small part of Twilight wasn't sure if she was dead, dreaming, or in Tartarus. Surely her precious Celestia wasn't gone. She couldn't be. Perhaps Twilight had died in the panic of the eruption. Maybe she was in a coma, dreaming. Yes. That thought, oddly, put her at ease--that was, until the heartbreaking truth of reality came crashing down. She was awake, Celestia was dead. Dead! And she laughed, a cold, humorless laugh.

Behold! The great Sun Goddess, Celestia Sol, in all her glory! Twilight thought bitterly. She knew she shouldn't have felt this bitterness towards the child. But there were so many conflicting emotions right now, she could barely make sense of them all.

She couldn't help but resent the baby, even if only a little. She had to blame someone. And even though she knew it was irrational and completely unjustified, she couldn't shake the feeling that this infant had somehow taken her beloved away.

However, at the same time, she felt a fierce protectiveness and fondness for the foal.

She loved her.

Twilight's eyes brimmed with tears and she sobbed. Cadence rushed to her side and put a hoof on her shoulder, her own eyes misty at the state of her adopted aunt.

Luna had passed on the opportunity to see the child, as it would be too hard on her after having just gotten her sister back after her thousand-year exile. She knew it might happen eventually, but it was just too soon.

At the sound of Twilight's sorrow, the infant awoke. And as she recovered from her slumber, Twilight gasped, for this child had not the innocent, twinkling eyes of a newborn-but the wise, mystical eyes of a mare who had lived many a lifetime. But then she blinked and gone were the eyes of a goddess.

"Twi..." The infant gurgled.

Could it be? No. Twilight wouldn't let herself get her hopes up. Not now.

"Twi...luh! Twiluh! Twiluh! Twiluh!" The foal beamed and pointed at Twilight.

Cadence gasped. Twilight fainted.

***

When Twilight came to, she took note of three things. The first thing was the was the wail of a child.

The second was the young mare trying to comfort the crying child. She was very young. Her pink hair was pulled back in a ponytail, not unlike how Cadence used to wear her hair when she was younger-except unkempt and sweaty. There were bags underneath her eyes, which were a beautiful shade of magenta, just like the baby's.

Just like Celestia's.

Her cutie mark was a sun with the outline of a cloud which blended in with her white coat blocking a part of the sun.

She was obviously the mother of the foal.

The last thing Twilight noticed was Luna. She was a wreck. Her mane was a mess, she was pacing, and Twilight could've sworn she saw her eye twitch.

Cadence was the first to notice that Twilight had woken up. "Twilight! You poor thing! Are you okay?"

Twilight rubbed her left temple with a purple hoof, "I'm-ugh-I'm fine." Physically, at least, Twilight mentally added. "What are we going to do? You know-about...?"

"Twilight Sparkle, it seems as though Majesty here has retained some of my sister's memories. Namely, memories of you." Luna stepped in, keeping a calm facade. "Thi-"

Twilight interrupted her, "Majesty?"

Luna sighed, "Yes, Majesty is this incarnation's name." She continued, "As I was saying, this means I will have to retract my earlier statement."

"Statement...What statement? Oh!" Twilight's eyes brightened, and she stood up straighter. "Do you mean-"

"Indeed, Twilight Sparkle, you will be allowed to take part in her childhood."

Twilight squee'd but was able to refrain from doing the 'yes' dance. "You mean it? Oh! We'll have so much fun! And then-then..." Twilight visibly deflated, "What about her parents?"

The young mare from earlier hesitantly stepped up to Twilight. "I uh...I believe that's where I come in." She smiled nervously, "I'm her mother. I was gonna put her up for adoption, but I guess I won't need to do that now..."

"B-but...why?" Twilight was at loss for words. "H-how are you giving her up so easily?"

The young mare cringed and stepped back, hiding behind her bangs, but Twilight didn't take the hint and looked at her expectantly.

Twilight didn't know how to respond, "I-I'm so sorry, I shouldn't have pushed!"

The mare gave a soft, reassuring smile through her tears, "It's fine, there was no way you could have known. I don't blame you."

***

Shining Armor burst in through the doors, and rushed over to Cadence. "I came as soon as I heard!" He nodded towards Majesty, "So, this is her?"

"Shining Armor? What are you doing here?"

He looked at Twilight quizzically, "What, you don't know? I'm here to meet my daughter."