A Mother Rememberedby Foals ErrandChaptersOnetwothreefourOneTwilight Sparkle nodded her head in response to the solar guard who had just bowed before her. Light Shield is his name. I’m certain he has been here since I was just a filly... to see him bow to me now instead of that stern smile... I fear I will never get used to it. She shivered. Never in her heart of hearts had she once believed that she would ascend to become a princess. If you had asked her where she would be as a mare, her answer would always have been the same. Twilight had fully believed that the Princess was and always had been training her to take Raven’s place as her personal assistant, and as a filly no idea had filled her with greater joy than the chance to be beside her most beloved Princess day-in and day-out, but that dream had changed. Being sent to Ponyville, making the five best friends a pony could ever ask for, reuniting Celestia with her lost but beloved little sister Luna. Though only just less than a mare, Twilight’s hopes for the future had slowly begun to change. First, the idea of being Celestia’s prized and personal student for the foreseeable future made Twilight happy studying the magic of friendship. It filled her with an excitement and purpose she hadn’t felt since before gaining her first degree. She had begun to notice though that things were not as they had once been. It wasn’t long after Luna declared Twilight to be her truest friend that Twilight began to notice Celestia was treating her differently. The average pony wouldn’t have been able to notice, but for Twilight, who had spent the majority of her life beside her, the differences were striking. Always before Twilight had seen her Princess stern but loving. She had a soft spot for her ‘faithful’ Twilight, though, Twilight was certain... or at least, she had been certain that the soft spot was one of a temporary standing, but instead of dissipating, the soft spot seemed to grow when they were together. Twilight noticed she received more attention than her other friends. Celestia’s eyes always seemed to gaze towards Twilight even if she was speaking to or with somepony else. It puzzled Twilight, but she shook it off along with all the trials she went through, but eventually she began to feel suspicious of Princess Celestia. She’d never speak her suspicions aloud, though, so upon finding herself in the Celestial Walkway, Twilight had felt to be truthful betrayed. Throughout her life Twilight had often seen examples of the Princess’s many games. In fact, as she understood it, the fortunes of Applejack’s very family was the result of a very carefully planned move on Celestia’s part, in a high stakes game which she had been playing since Luna’s banishment. Twilight shook her head as she continued her trek through the palace, subconsciously nodding to the guards and servants as they bowed to her. Twilight sighed. Just part of your new life, Twilight. Just roll with it... The idea that Celestia had been using her in one of her games was understood; that wasn’t really a surprise to her. After all, she was a pawn in Celestia’s match to get her sister back from the Nightmare, but the idea... the truth that Twilight was a pawn in her very own game? That truth had caused Twilight to feel betrayed, but then something happened. Twilight wasn’t certain why, but her cares had evaporated along with her betrayal the moment the beautiful creature called Celestia had begun to sing to her. Twilight had been struck not only by her voice but from the love radiating from Celestia, all of it being directed towards Twilight. It was at that moment Twilight had realized she was dead; the Elements had killed her once she had finished her spell. It had been odd, though. Should she had been unable to feel anything but pure bliss being where she was? Along with Celestia, then the feeling in her chest... the next thing she knew she was back in Equestria in front of her friends, though no longer was she a unicorn; she was now an alicorn. It had been several months since that night--just a few nights after she had returned from the human world for the second time--that she couldn’t take not knowing anymore. She had waited in line with the other ponies for her chance to speak to Celestia. Upon her chance to enter Celestia’s court she had requested a private audience. Celestia had consented without a moment’s hesitation, closing the day court and forwarding the rest of the cases to Luna. Twilight had followed Celestia up the stairs until they were in her personal chambers sitting next to one another, where Celestia had poured them both a cup of tea. Unable to take another moment, Twilight opened her mouth. “Why did you make me an alicorn?” Celestia had sipped her tea before smiling at Twilight. Twilight could already sense she was going to get the same answer she had told everypony else and Twilight was certain that was not a truthful answer. For the love of harmony, Twilight had wanted a truthful answer. “And don’t tell me it was because ‘it had always been my destiny.’ I want the truth, Celestia. The full truth.” Celestia had swallowed the tea in her mouth and set the cup down. For a moment she had stared into the cup, as if believing all the answers she needed were within. “I couldn’t lose you.” Twilight had turned to look at Celestia. At that moment, she truly looked at her. Her head had been bowed and her shoulders trembling. “That spell was never supposed to do that to you, Twilight. Something interfered. Maybe it was never meant to be used with the Elements... The reasonings don’t matter, but when I felt your soul leave this plain, I knew I had to act.” Twilight’s wings had bristled but she gave a curt nod. “You saved me because I was still necessary to you, didn’t you? Whatever games you had going at the time, I had been a piece that was needed for you to triumph! I’m sick of this, Princess. I’m sick of being nothing more than a pawn to you! You may consider this my resignation as your student.” Twilight had risen to her hooves, ready to leave the room and Celestia--possibly forever--when she had heard it. Soft... so soft. Twilight’s ears had plastered themselves to her skull at the sound of it... Celestia was crying. Twilight had seen Celestia cry a total of two times in her life. The first had been upon the reconciliation of herself and Luna, and the second Twilight had seen only in memories, but it had been when she had been forced to banish Nightmare Moon for one thousand years. But now here she was staring at the table, her chest heaving as tears fell freely from her eyes as she whispered the same phrase on repeat, seemingly unable to stop. “I couldn’t lose you... I couldn’t lose you... I couldn’t lose you...” Twilight had momentarily swallowed her anger and her betrayal. There had been more going on than Twilight being a pawn. She had found her hooves moving without her instructing them to, making her walk back to where Celestia sat. Slowly Twilight had allowed herself to sit beside her. “Why? It’s obvious to me that the reason you made me an alicorn is more than ‘it was my destiny.’ It’s more than my being an integral part of any of your games, even, isn’t it?” Celestia had dipped her head down a miniscule amount before returning it to its position. She had looked purely miserable; her ears were splayed back, and her mane had been dull and limp. Never had Twilight seen her in such a state. Frankly, it had broken her heart. “Then why? Why did you save my life? Why did you make me immortal?” Celestia had looked into Twilight’s eyes, and at that moment Twilight had seen it: the reasoning for Celestia saving her, not only that once from the sleep of death, but saving her from ever experiencing it. Twilight had let out a small gasp as Celestia had pressed her lips against Twilight’s, tears still falling down her cheeks and her whole body trembling. In that soft kiss everything made sense to Twilight. No words were needed, and as she pressed back against Celestia’s kiss Twilight reassured Celestia that her feelings were returned. The kiss had been gentle, a desperate final attempt by Celestia to keep Twilight with her, and it had succeeded. Twilight had begun to lick the tears stains from under Celestia’s eyes. For a brief moment, she had marveled at the salty taste, just like anypony else, though that was not important. What had been important--and what always would be--was comforting her love. Slowly, the tip of Twilight’s tongue had affectionately washed away any sign that Celestia had been crying. Twilight smiled, remembering that night. Six months... It has been six months since we declared our love for one another. Twilight had reached her destination and she pushed the door open, grinning to see Celestia at her writing desk in concentration as the quill held within her magic danced across the parchment she was writing upon. Twilight closed the door as quietly as she could and readied Celestia’s tea set. A few moments later she nudged her with a pulse of magic and giggled as Celestia looked up, a small pair of reading glasses resting on her muzzle. Twilight was one of the only ponies to know this, but “Perfect Princess Celestia” was a tad farsighted. Twilight softly kissed her muzzle before taking her lips in a deep kiss. She nibbled Celestia’s bottom lip, which elicited a moan from her and opening her mouth to allow Twilight’s tongue to enter. Sometimes when they kissed, the two alicorns battled; other times, one took over almost completely. This time, though, their tongues danced with one another. However, too soon though for either of their liking, the lack of oxygen caused them to part, a small line of spittle momentarily connecting them to one another. Twilight licked her lips while looking Celestia up and down; she was without her regalia and only wearing her glasses. “New glasses?” Twilight curled next to her lover who rolled her eyes. “Yes, according to my optometrist my vision is getting worse. Oh well, nothing else to do about it.” Twilight laughed as Celestia’s wing wrapped around her. “Come now, Tia. What’s so wrong about wearing glasses? The way I read, it won’t be long till I need them as well.” The very idea of Twilight wearing glasses caused Celestia to shiver. “I wouldn’t mind that at all, my dear.” She leaned down and gave Twilight’s ear a small nip. “Not at all.” Twilight rolled her eyes. “You know what I think, Tia?” “What’s that, Twily?” “I think you have a fetish for librarians!” Celestia grinned while laying on her belly, levitating a spare pair of glasses onto Twilight’s muzzle. “Oh no, what will I do now? I have been found out! The scandal of it all!” She giggled as Twilight stuck her tongue out before laying down on her own back and wiggling side-to-side, her wings outstretched. Celestia snorted as she watched her tiny love get comfortable and scratch her back at the same time. She twisted her body until she was laying on her side, staring down at Twilight. “So, Twily, you’ve figured out my... What did you call it? My ‘fetish for librarians’? Then it is my turn to figure out what your... ahem... ‘fetish’ is.” She maneuvered herself to be just above Twilight. She shivered. “Who said I have a fetish, Tia?” Twilight wiggled a bit, hoping to distract her mare. This attempt failed as Celestia stuck her tongue out and slowly licked her horn from the base to the tip. “Everypony has a fetish, my dear Twily. You should talk to Luna about some of the dreams she has glimpsed.” Twilight shivered at not only the sensation of Celestia’s tongue on her horn, but also at the lewd portraits her imagination was pulling to the front of her mind. There weren’t many times when she felt pity for her dear friend, but at that time, she could feel nothing but. “Alright, maybe I do have a fetish, but you’re going to have to guess it!” Twilight swallowed back the moan that threatened to escape her as Celestia gave her horn another lick. Tia, you are driving me insane! “Hmmm... I have to guess, do I? What do I get if I guess correctly?” Celestia moved from Twilight’s horn and nibbled her ear, which caused it to flick. “Um... I, uh... I’ll stay with you tonight?” Twilight offered weakly. Celestia suckled the tip of Twilight’s ear. “I thought you already planned to, Twily?” Buck, she’s right. Now, let’s see... “I’ll give you a nice long massage, Tia. With my species transformation spell I can turn into a human. And trust me; with fingers I’ll be able to get rid of aches you never even realized you had.” Celestia allowed herself to shiver, she wanted that massage! Alright, Celestia, you’ve known Twilight since she was a little filly. You can figure this out... She cocked her head, eyes closed in thought as Twilight rubbed her muzzle with a hoof. It didn’t take long for Celestia to open her eyes and grin at the small mare under her. “Large mares.” Twilight’s tiny meep was all the conformation Celestia needed. Mentally she pumped her hoof in the air. The prize of feeling Twilight’s human fingers on her skin would be hers! Twilight smiled. “Fair is fair, Tia. Just slide off and I’ll…” Twilight shivered and stopped speaking. “What was that?” Celestia had already stood up and was at the window, her eyes narrowed towards the Everfree Forest. “I don’t know, but I felt it too. It’s coming from the Everfree Forest.” She turned to Twilight with a small frown, disappointed that their fun was interrupted. “Can I get a rain check on that massage?” Twilight nodded as they both walked out onto Celestia’s balcony. She frowned as she looked over at the Everfree, then breathed in. “There... did you see it, Tia?” Celestia nodded. There was no doubt there was a strange silvery blue pulse which seemed to be originating from the middle of the forest. She glanced towards where some of her unicorn guards were patrolling, but to her puzzlement they did not seem to be noticing the magical aura which seemed to be pulsing on the same frequency as her heart. “I see it, but it appears that we are the only ones able to. It almost feels as if we are being drawn to it.” Twilight nodded, chewing her bottom lip. “Discord, you think?” Celestia shook her head. “If it was Discord he would be using far more chaotic methods to get our attention. No... this is something else, though it doesn’t seem to be harming anything that light is in sync with, like my own heart.” She looked down to see Twilight staring up at her with large eyes. “What is it, Twilight?” “You aren’t alone... I-I think whatever this is, Tia, it’s calling for us specifically.” Celestia considered this for a moment, then opened her large white wings to their full length. “Well then, it wouldn’t be polite to keep whatever it is calling us waiting, would it, Twilight?” Twilight hesitated a moment before looking up to see Celestia smiling down at her. With a firm nod, she also spread her wings and experimentally flapped them once. She still was not the best flyer, though no longer left large holes when she landed. “You’re right, it wouldn’t be polite at all.” Celestia leaped into the air without another word, her wings catching her before gravity could possibly take effect. With a few hard flaps she angled herself downward and towards the Everfree Forest. Behind her, she could hear the much more frantic flapping of Twilight’s wings. Truly, Twilight, we need to schedule some time so that I will be able to teach you to fly properly. “Are you able to keep up with me, Twily? Should I slow down?” Celestia worried, as for a few moments all she heard was hard flapping. “No! No, I’m fine... Really, Tia, flying like this is a good workout, don’t you think? Just what the doctor ordered after I pigged out at the Hay Burger two days ago!” Celestia was forced to bite her lip to keep back the snort of laughter which threatened to escape. Normally, alone with her Twilight she would not feel the need to bother, but as they were flying--and rather quickly--well, she did not a repeat of the last time. Previously, Luna had caused her to burst out laughing while they had been in flight, which had been painful! She pulled her wings back, allowing her body to gracefully dive until her belly was skimming the trees of the Everfree. Her eyes glanced this way and that as she searched for that peculiar light pulse. “Twilight, do you see it?” “Yes! It’s right over there!” Twilight pointed a hoof just as the silvery blue light condensed into a constant beam which penetrated through the dense canopy. Both ponies glanced at each other then dived as one towards what was the origin of this light. After a few seconds of almost total darkness they pulled out of the dive and allowed their hooves to touch down. First Celestia, then Twilight. Twilight blinked in the bright light as she realized exactly where it was that they had landed. “It’s… it’s the Tree of Harmony. I don’t understand, why is it glowing like that, Tia?” Twilight looked up to see a sight she never thought she would witness. Celestia was staring at the tree with her mouth slightly open and eyes wide. A small whimper escaped Twilight as she shivered. The tree began to shake and pulse at a faster and faster rate, creating an almost strobe-like effect until Celestia and Twilight were forced to look away from the light as it increased in intensity until it simply stopped. twoTwilight kept her eyes squeezed tightly for several more seconds before slowly opening a single eye and glancing around. Things seemed to be back to normal. The tree was still glowing, but in a far more sedate manner. Twilight released the breath she had not even realised she was holding and opened her other eye to see Celestia staring at the trunk of the tree. Twilight opened her mouth to ask what she was looking at, only to quickly close it again. Curled up at the trunk were two tiny pony foals. Twilight hesitantly took a step forward to take a better look at them. The larger foal seemed to be protectively curled around the smaller one. It had a pure white coat and a soft pink mane, while the smaller foal had a dark blue coat with black blotches on the flank with a light blue mane and a touch of curls at the ends, and both foals had small stubby horns poking through the fringe covering their foreheads. Twilight couldn’t help the smile pulling at her lips, for they were just so cute and fluffy she wanted to nuzzle both of them. What sweet little unicorn foals... But where did they come from? “Tia, aren’t they… Tia?” Twilight turned to see her trembling. “Tia, what is it? They’re just two unicorn foals.” Celestia slowly shook her head and took a nervous step forward. “Their backs.” Twilight frowned. “What do you mean ‘their backs’?” Celestia took a deep shaky breath. “Twilight, look at their backs.” Her ears splayed back as the request came out far more forceful than she had intended. “Please, Twily?” Twilight crept another step closer to the sleeping foals and carefully inspected them. What is it Tia is seeing that I’m not? They have their soft foal coats, their normal stubby horns, their fluffy wings… Twilight’s eyes grew by at least two sizes; the foals had wings! “B-but that’s not possible, is it? I mean, you and Luna are the only born alicorns right? I mean, Cadance and I... we ascended.” Celestia simply stared at the two foals. Her lips formed a thin line as her horn glowed with golden energy, slowly lifting the two alicorn foals on her back. “This is not the place nor the time to discuss them. Let’s get these two back to the palace and away from the Everfree Forest.” Twilight nodded with a shiver; the faster they were able to leave that accursed place, the better in her opinion. With that decided she fell in step behind Celestia, who had her wings positioned to block any light from waking the two on her back. The tender steps she took brought a smile to Twilight’s lips as she recalled being in the same position as the foals. Having worked herself far too hard and falling asleep into her book, Celestia would simply lift her onto her own back and carry her back to her bed before tucking her in, no matter who happened to be there or who saw. Celestia never bowed to etiquette when it came to that. Celestia stopped suddenly at the top of the stairs with her ears flayed back. “Twi-twilight?” Twilight snapped back into the present at the sound of Celestia’s voice. Her eyes widened as she took in the sight around her. Where the Palace of the Royal Pony Sisters should have been was covered in tall trees. A sweet smell filled the air, unlike anything Twilight had ever even imagined. She shook her head and looked around, patches of sunlight streamed in through the canopy of the forest and Twilight felt her ear flick as she heard something. She closed her eyes and listened, and a few moments of silence went by before she heard it again; it was a bird call. Twilight swallowed hard before returning her gaze to Celestia. “Tia, what is going on here?” Celestia simply shook her head as if she didn’t feel she was able to speak. To see the Everfree Forest like this once more... Something clearly must have occurred, but as for what exactly happened, she wasn’t at all certain. She carefully shifted her weight before remembering the foals on her back. Guiltily, she looked towards Twilight. Twilight took a moment to glance at Celestia’s back; the foals were still fast asleep. Well, that is helpful at least, though I doubt they’d be able to tell us much about what is going on... If they know anything about it at all, even. “You stay here, Tia. I’m going to take a look and see if I can figure out what is going on.” Celestia gave a firm nod, though her eyes reflected the fear she was feeling. Fear for Twilight, for her sister, fear even for Equestria. Twilight took care to take a few steps backwards before allowing her wings to spread. Flapping a few times to get her momentum up, she jumped straight up, catching a small breeze with a few more large flaps until she was above the canopy. Spotting a large enough cloud, she let herself land on it and took in her surroundings. It was awe inspiring. Miles... For miles she could see beautiful fields, rolling hills, and trickling streams, but it made no sense, none at all! Ponyville should be right there, and the train station should be over there... The tracks were there, though there aren’t even marks in the grass to show that they were ever there in the first place! Twilight felt her legs give way as she collapsed onto her belly. Gone? A-are we in the future? Has time eroded everything? That makes little sense! Frustrated, Twilight forced herself to stand and turned to look at Canterlot, or at least she would have, had Canterlot been there. Twilight’s hoof went to her mouth. “G-gone…” Canterlot was gone completely; it was as if it had never even existed. Twilight gulped back the tears that were threatening to fall and took several deep breaths in the familiar method Cadance had taught her. In and out, Sparkle. In and out... Once she felt less likely to burst into tears she took a closer look at what she was seeing. She cocked her head as the sun caught Mount Canterhorn just right. “It’s sparkling, as if it’s covered in… gems!” Twilight’s wings extended in surprise. We aren’t in the far future, we’re in the past! Way in the past, possibly even before the Windigos… Twilight laid back down on the cloud, turning onto her back to stare up at the blue sky. “Alright, think... Obviously the Tree of Harmony brought me and Tia to the distant past for a reason. What could it be, though? Th-there was that awful blinding light, and then the foals were there. That’s it, they must be connected!” Twilight frowned while rubbing her temples with her hooves. “But that makes no sense since those foals are alicorns! The only born alicorns in history are…” Twilight stopped suddenly as she brought the foals’ features to the front of her mind. “The largest one is white with a light pink mane, and the smaller one a dark blue with black blotches on her flank and light blue mane. It… it is. There’s no other explanation; those foals on Tia’s back are Tia and Luna. Could they have just been born? No, not born. Not the way I was, at least. The Tree of Harmony created them.” Twilight chuckled. “Well, Tia and I had been discussing adoption once we got married... I just never thought we’d be adopting her younger self.” Twilight climbed to her hooves and dived off the cloud, allowing her wings to catch her as she glided back down to where Celestia was still waiting. She was stock still, other than her horn being covered in a golden glow, ready to take out any beast which ventured too close. “Tia?” Twilight quietly said to get her love’s attention, but also to hopefully not be hit with the spell she had on standby. Celestia turned her head a bare amount with only her left eye focusing on Twilight before she sagged in relief, her horn ceasing to glow. “Oh, Twily, you had me so worried! I feared something had happened to thee!” Twilight couldn’t help it as her lips curled into a smile. “I’m fine, Tia, though you must have been very worried; you’re starting to sound a bit like Luna.” Twilight’s eyes unconsciously drifted to the dark blue foal upon Celestia’s back, whom she now suspected… no, that she now knew was Luna as a baby. Celestia blushed a touch. “Alright, yes. I was very worried about you, Twilight. Everything here just seems so off. Did you discover anything?” Twilight swallowed hard and nodded. “Yes, Tia, I did. Well... that is, I’m almost certain of it. Oh Harmony, Tia, we are in the past!” Celestia stared at Twilight “T-the past? That’s not…” The shock caused her mane to cease flowing and fall limply against her neck. Twilight took a step forward. “Tia. Tia, it’s alright; there’s no sign of any danger. In fact, I-I think that we may be even before the windigos came here.” Celestia nodded weakly. Her eyes visibly glazed over after a few moments of shallow breathing. Celestia glanced back at the sleeping foals on her back and watched as their fluffy feathers ruffled softly in the gentle breeze. She gave a small shiver before repositioning her wings to better block the cool wind from bothering them. She cocked her head and frowned. There was something about the foals on her back... “Do you have any idea how we got here, Twilight?” Twilight glanced down into the chasm they had emerged from not that long ago. Celestia followed her gaze and nodded. “I think… I know that there can be some other possibility, but why? For what reason did the Tree of Harmony need to send us back to this time? I just…” Her eyes caught sight of the older foal’s pink mane being blown in the breeze in a very familiar manner. She felt a chill over her entire body as her legs trembled. “No… It…” Twilight took a step towards Celestia. “Yes, Tia. I’m certain those foals are you and Luna.” Twilight was barely able to catch the foals in her levitation field as Celestia’s eyes rolled back and she lost consciousness. “Celestia! Tia... Tia!” threeCelestia groaned as her eyelids twitched. Something soft and fluffy was on her forehead under her horn, she shivered it was cold. Her eyes opened to see Twilight looking down at her, relief filling her eyes. “Oh thank Harmony, I was so worried when you passed out like that!” Celestia smiled a touch taking the small cloud from Twilight’s grip “Interesting use of a rain cloud Twily.” She released it and watched as it floated lazily back up into the sky through a hole that had obviously been created in the canopy for just that reason. She closed her eyes trying to relax when they snapped back open. “The foals!?” “Are fine. Since I had to open the canopy to bring that rain cloud down to you I used the broken branches to create a soft bed for them to lay on.” Twilight indicated to Celestia’s right with her muzzle. Celestia slowly clamored to her hooves and looked down at where the two foals were fitfully sleeping upon a bed of soft moss and pine needles. She cocked her head at them, carefully taking in the sight of what she now recognized was her little sister and herself. After a few moments she turned and smiled at Twilight “I was a pretty cute foal, wasn’t I Twily?” Twilight grinned, relieved that Celestia seemed to be feeling better “The very cutest Tia. Now though we need to figure out what we are going to do.” She sat on her haunches a few feet away from the foals so that their discussion would not disturb them. I wonder how much longer they are going to sleep. from what I remember when the Cake twins were born they slept quite a lot. But these two weren’t exactly born so would the same rules that were applied to newborns even apply here? Celestia sat next to Twilight though she kept glancing over as if to check on the foals Twilight couldn’t help smile Celestia always had been very maternal after all. “I guess we need to figure out why we are here in the first place.” Twilight nodded chewing her lip “Tia? D-do you remember your parents?” Celestia closed her eyes her mane once again flowing around her “Not much I have to admit.” She said after a few moments of thought. “You have to remember Twily Luna and I are... well to put it simply if we were artifacts we would be considered ancient. I would estimate we are between four and five thousand years old. From what I can remember though Luna and I were raised by two very loving mares. Though I fear they perished to Discord because I do not recall being with them after he was defeated.” Twilight’s left ear flicked “Pe-perished? B-but do you know for certain I mean did you see their bodies?” Celestia frowned trying to think back to her first few decades of life. It wasn’t the easiest thing to do, akin to a normal pony trying to recall their infancy After a few moments her tail flicked back and forth “No no Luna and I never saw our mothers die nor their bodies, I… I think I can recall a bright light. I’m sorry Twily it was just so long ago!” Celestia turned to look at Twilight whose mane was beginning to stick out and winced This isn’t good… “Perished? No... no I. we... that that can’t be it! Don’t you see Celestia, we are the mares who raised you and Luna! If they perished to Discord... then, that means we will perish! We can’t perish! Think of what would happen to the future, present, whatever! Things would be destroyed! We’d forever be in a time loop, coming back just to die! Nononononono, there has to be something we can do! But, if we are supposed to perish, what happens if we don’t perish? Will it destroy everything? Will we unmake everything? Will everything in yours and Luna’s life even happen? Oh my harmony, will I be stuck in Magical Kindergarten forever? No! I can’t go back, I can’t!” slap! Twilight blinked holding her hoof to her right cheek which was turning red from where in had been struck. Celestia sighed evenly. “Better?” Twilight nodded, blinking back tears. It had hurt, but she was feeling calmer now. After a few moments she glanced over at the foals. Celestia’s wings were starting to twitch, a sign that she was starting to wake up. “Twilight, right now there is nothing we can do to prevent what may, or may not happen in the future. Until the tree of harmony decides to send us home, or you invent a spell to travel forwards in time.” Celestia shrugged “This is our home.” Twilight sighed her mane falling back into it’s normal orderly style “I… yes, you’re right Tia. We need to think about right now not however long from now.” Twilight glanced around the clearing “First of all, I think we need to find a safe spot to build some type of home. It needs to be able to house the foals and us, maybe a cabin of some type?” Twilight got up and paced as she thought out loud. “I don’t want to venture too far from the tree of Harmony, in case it summons us again, so the best choice is to stay here in the Everfree. But that’s a problem as well, because that’s a large drop for small foals if they were exploring. We need to be farther away.” Twilight began walking away from the Tree of Harmony towards which she knew was the edge of the Everfree. Celestia cleared her throat. “Oh Twilight?” Twilight stopped in her tracks. “Huh wha?” “I do believe you are forgetting something.” Twilight blinked a few times before she face hoofed “Right the foals. We can’t really do much until they wake up can we?” Celestia shook her head with a smile, and laid down next to the foals, lifting her left wing invitingly toward Twilight. The younger mare smiled before cantering over and snuggling to Celestia’s side, letting out a happy sigh as Celestia gave her a little squeeze with her wing and they watched the foals. fourLittle Celestia’s left, back leg twitched a few times before a sigh escaped her muzzle and her big magenta eyes opened for the first time. Twilight watched as she peered around, biting her tongue to try and keep back the instinct she was feeling to lick the tiny foal. After a few moments of watching the tiny white pony squirm, she couldn’t take it and wiggled out from under Tia’s wing. She watched little Celestia wiggle and roll onto her back with a sigh. Twilight smiled and began to bath the new pony. Several minutes later, Celestia was giggling as Twilight’s rough tongue cleaned her foal of what tasted like a sweet sap. Once Twilight finished, Celestia’s fur was standing up and she grabbed hold of Twilight’s muzzle with her fore hooves cocking her head and peering into Twilight’s eyes. Twilight smiled at her. “Hello there I’m...I’m” She turned to Tia who had a peaceful smile upon her muzzle and gave a miniscule nod. “I’m your Mommy. I’m your mommy, and you are my Celestia.” Celestia cocked her head to the other side and opened her muzzle “Mommy?” Twilight smiled “Yes, that’s right, Celestia. I’m Mommy and this.” She indicates the grown Celestia “Is your Mama.” Celestia smiled down at her younger self, now her own foal. “Hello, Celestia.” Celestia tilted her head back to take in the sight of her very big Mama. “Ma ma? Cewes ta!” Twilight laughed “That’s right! What a smart filly you are!” Celestia got to her hoofs, swaying a bit, and then grinned as she took a step, her little wings fluffed out. She glanced back at them with confusion and looked back up at Twilight. “Mommy?” “Those are your wings, Celestia.. Mama has them, and so do I. And look, Luna does too!” Twilight pointed at the still asleep, dark, blue foal “Woona?” “Your baby sister! Her name is Luna.” Celestia turned and sat on her haunches, looking at the smaller being she had awoken beside. Mommy called it a Woona. She batted at it with a hoof. “Wahhh.” Twilight cantered quickly to the foal and lifted her up with a burst of pink magic “Shh, it’s alright Luna. Celestia didn’t mean to hurt you. Shh, it’s alright my baby.” After a few moments of rocking, Luna’s crying was reduced to small sniffles as she opened tear filled eyes. Twilight smiled. “That’s right. Oh, what a pretty little foal.” She began to tick the salty tear stains under Luna’s eyes then moved on to bathing her entire little body, ridding her of the sweet tasting sap. Luna blinked up at her curiously “Does that feel good Luna? Mommy knows how yucky the icky sap must have felt.” Luna giggled at her mommy’s sweet voice and batted at her muzzle clumsily. Twilight grinned and set her down on the soft bed. Luna plopped down on her belly, in no hurry to go anywhere. Her eyes were taking in everything as Celestia toddled around under the watchful eye of Tia. “Dat?” “Trees.” “Dat?” The ground.” “Dat?” “Thats another tree, my little Celestia.” The toddler considered this answer for a few moments before she pointed at the same tree again. “Dat tree.” Tia nodded. “Yes, Celestia, that is a tree.” Celestia beamed as she let out a little whinny, her tail wagging back and forth. The pink hair caught Celestia’s attention as she glimpsed it from the corner of her eye. She turned her head and opened her mouth before lunging forward. Her teeth caught thin air as the pink object drifted out of her sight. Celestia whined and lunged again. Tia quickly covered her muzzle with her hoof as she watched Celestia chase her own tail like a puppy might. Celestia snorted, her ears falling back as her tiny wings spread. She made a final pounce and grabbed ahold of the pink thing in her mouth, biting down hard. Quickly her expression changed from accomplishment to surprise, and then pain. Her eyes widened, and she quickly opened her mouth “Wahhh! MooooMieeeee!” Twilight looked over in shock as little Celestia fell onto her haunches, crying her little heart out. The loud noise startled Luna, who began to sob, her little wings flaring “Wahhhh!” Her horn glowed and the bed that Twilight had created was thrust away from under her. Twilight watched it tumble into the chasm. Twilight looked between the fillies “Tia, you comfort Luna while I check Celestia’s tail.” Tia nodded and lifted Luna into her magical embrace, rocking her slowly. Luna looked up into her Mama’s magenta eyes and hiccuped. “Wah.” Tia smiled and patted her back “You’re alright, Luna, I promise. You just got startled.” After a few moments, Luna laid her head on Tia’s shoulder, her hoof going into her mouth. Rhythmically, she began to suckle her hoof as Mama rubbed her back. Tia smiled as Luna let out a soft burble of contentedness. “That’s right, Luna, Mama is here. I have you.” Twilight slowly scanned Celestia’s tail, drying her tears with a wing tip “That’s it, get all the tears out, Celestia. Were almost done.” She checked the results of her scan and smiled “No damage, my dear, but let's try not chasing our tail again, alright?” Celestia hiccuped and glanced behind her at the pink thing she now realized was attached to her “Ta-il?” “That’s right. What you bit down on is your tail. See?” Twilight purposefully wagged her tail to the left, and then to the right to show Celestia. “This is my tail. It doesn’t like to be bitten.” Celestia frowned at her tail “No bite.” She nodded up at her Mother with a beaming smile. “Yes my Celestia, no bite. Now Mommy needs your help. Will you help mommy?” Celestia’s eyes widened, as the idea of helping her mommy do anything filled her with excitement. “Help! Cewestia help Mommy!” Twilight laughed joyfully, lifting Celestia up onto her back “We need to find a good place for all of us to live, so while Mama stays here with Luna, you and I are going on an adventure!” Celestia cocked her head to the side. “Mommy?” “Yes my little Celestia?” “What ventuwe?” Twilight glanced back to see Celestia’s head cocked to the right, her eyes wide and curious. “What is an adventure?” “Yes Mommy! Tell?” Twilight considered as she spread her wings “An adventure is where a pony, or in this case, two ponies, go on a journey to discover or find something. Our adventure is to find a good place to live!” Celestia considered what her mommy had said. Mommy spoke with large words. It hurt her brain, but in a good way. She began bouncing on Mommy’s back, excited “Okay Mommy! Mommy what is we looking for?” Twilight flapped her wings a few times making sure that she was able to get enough lift even with Celestia on her back “Hmmm well right now we need someplace safe for you and your baby sister to sleep.” “Baby?” Twilight stopped in her steps her wings folding back against her body That’s right! You are being a bit of a foal yourself,Twilight. Celestia was just born she needs you to teach her. Twilight looked up. They were about to get rain. Stupid Everfree and it’s uncontrollable weather. I need to find someplace to keep Celestia and Luna dry. Think, think, think! A single raindrop hit the end of her muzzle. “Tia!” Tia looked over, a bit puzzled until she felt a few rain drops land on her back. “I’ll watch them you find us a shelter from the rain as quick as you can Twily.” Twilight grabbed hold of Celestia and lowered her to the ground with a smile as Celestia looked up, trying to figure out where the wet stuff was coming from. “Mommy what is that? It cold!” Celestia wrinkled her brow and backed up under Twilight’s barrel, who smiled. “That is called rain, Celestia. It is water which falls from the sky and helps all the plants and animals grow and thrive.” Twilight poked her tongue out, catching a few drops on her tongue before glancing down to see Celestia mimicking her. “Now, I want you to stay here with your Mama and Luna, okay? I need to find some place for us to sleep tonight.” Celestia nodded and scampered over to where Tia was standing, wings held out to shield Luna, and now Celestia, from the rain, which was growing harder as the moments passed. Twilight confident that they would be fine for a few minutes, took to the air, hoping to spot a cave from the air. Staying below the canopy of trees, she flew closer to the edge of mount Canterhorn. Unable to find a natural occurring cave, she landed and searched for a suitable spot to create one. After a few moments of searching she nodded, powering up her magic, closing her eyes tightly, and blasting into the side of the mountain. After a minute or so, she opened her eyes to see that she had blasted open a cave about twenty feet deep. Just big enough for her, Tia and the foals. A smile found itself on her muzzle before she yanked down a bunch of leaves, drying them with a quick burst of magic, and making a soft bed. Satisfied, she teleported back to where she had left Tia and their new foals. “I found some place for us to sleep tonight.” Twilight smiled, lifting Celestia onto her back, the little foal giggling as she clung to Twilight’s back. “Do you have Luna, Tia?” “I do. She’s already a bit tired.” Tia smiled, cradling Luna in her magic. The small foal yawned while stretching her forelegs. Twilight smiled, leading Tia to the cave and crawling inside, laying Celestia down on the leaf bed. She rolled around on her back, giggling. Luna flopped down on her belly and gazed around before wiggling over to Celestia. “Alright, little fillies, lets try and get some sleep, hmm?” Twilight smiled, laying down beside her foals. She considered something for a moment, and then smiled. “How about a nice lullaby?” “Lul by? What lul by Mommy?” Celestia looked up cocking her head. “A lullaby is a song that is sung to make you sleepy. Would you like that?” Twilight kissed Celestia’s small nose causing her to smile and nod. “Alright… lets see.” “Sweet dreams, the sun is setting now. And soon enough, the night is here. It’s time for you to close your sleepy eyes. Nothing to worry, or to fear. Sweet dreams, the moon is rising now We’ll keep you safe as you could be We’ll stay with you and guard your sleep… Sweet dreams of Harmony.” Twilight wrapped a wing around both of her girls while Tia smiled. “Sweet dreams, It’s time to go to rest. Tomorrow is another day. Your mommies made a bed of sunset clouds, to keep the nightmares far away. Sweet dreams, there’s much ahead of you, on the road to your destiny, but smile and play while you’re still young. Sweet dreams of Harmony.” Tia laid beside Twilight watching the foals snuggling together. She was starting to remember... “And when you close your eyes and sleep, your dreams are diving deep. They take you to the crystal tree, that branches out across the world, connecting everypony’s heart, to bring everypony Harmony.” “Sweet dreams, dream of the sun and moon, playing together in the sky. May you have golden days, and silver nights. May storm clouds always pass you by. Sweet dreams, we will watch over you, and we will be a family. The greatest mares this land has seen… Our foals of Harmony.” Tia finished the song as the girl’s eyes slid shut. She smiled at Twilight as they both looked out and watched as the rain fell. Author's Note Lullaby written by my dear friend River. Where would I be without you?
OneTwilight Sparkle nodded her head in response to the solar guard who had just bowed before her. Light Shield is his name. I’m certain he has been here since I was just a filly... to see him bow to me now instead of that stern smile... I fear I will never get used to it. She shivered. Never in her heart of hearts had she once believed that she would ascend to become a princess. If you had asked her where she would be as a mare, her answer would always have been the same. Twilight had fully believed that the Princess was and always had been training her to take Raven’s place as her personal assistant, and as a filly no idea had filled her with greater joy than the chance to be beside her most beloved Princess day-in and day-out, but that dream had changed. Being sent to Ponyville, making the five best friends a pony could ever ask for, reuniting Celestia with her lost but beloved little sister Luna. Though only just less than a mare, Twilight’s hopes for the future had slowly begun to change. First, the idea of being Celestia’s prized and personal student for the foreseeable future made Twilight happy studying the magic of friendship. It filled her with an excitement and purpose she hadn’t felt since before gaining her first degree. She had begun to notice though that things were not as they had once been. It wasn’t long after Luna declared Twilight to be her truest friend that Twilight began to notice Celestia was treating her differently. The average pony wouldn’t have been able to notice, but for Twilight, who had spent the majority of her life beside her, the differences were striking. Always before Twilight had seen her Princess stern but loving. She had a soft spot for her ‘faithful’ Twilight, though, Twilight was certain... or at least, she had been certain that the soft spot was one of a temporary standing, but instead of dissipating, the soft spot seemed to grow when they were together. Twilight noticed she received more attention than her other friends. Celestia’s eyes always seemed to gaze towards Twilight even if she was speaking to or with somepony else. It puzzled Twilight, but she shook it off along with all the trials she went through, but eventually she began to feel suspicious of Princess Celestia. She’d never speak her suspicions aloud, though, so upon finding herself in the Celestial Walkway, Twilight had felt to be truthful betrayed. Throughout her life Twilight had often seen examples of the Princess’s many games. In fact, as she understood it, the fortunes of Applejack’s very family was the result of a very carefully planned move on Celestia’s part, in a high stakes game which she had been playing since Luna’s banishment. Twilight shook her head as she continued her trek through the palace, subconsciously nodding to the guards and servants as they bowed to her. Twilight sighed. Just part of your new life, Twilight. Just roll with it... The idea that Celestia had been using her in one of her games was understood; that wasn’t really a surprise to her. After all, she was a pawn in Celestia’s match to get her sister back from the Nightmare, but the idea... the truth that Twilight was a pawn in her very own game? That truth had caused Twilight to feel betrayed, but then something happened. Twilight wasn’t certain why, but her cares had evaporated along with her betrayal the moment the beautiful creature called Celestia had begun to sing to her. Twilight had been struck not only by her voice but from the love radiating from Celestia, all of it being directed towards Twilight. It was at that moment Twilight had realized she was dead; the Elements had killed her once she had finished her spell. It had been odd, though. Should she had been unable to feel anything but pure bliss being where she was? Along with Celestia, then the feeling in her chest... the next thing she knew she was back in Equestria in front of her friends, though no longer was she a unicorn; she was now an alicorn. It had been several months since that night--just a few nights after she had returned from the human world for the second time--that she couldn’t take not knowing anymore. She had waited in line with the other ponies for her chance to speak to Celestia. Upon her chance to enter Celestia’s court she had requested a private audience. Celestia had consented without a moment’s hesitation, closing the day court and forwarding the rest of the cases to Luna. Twilight had followed Celestia up the stairs until they were in her personal chambers sitting next to one another, where Celestia had poured them both a cup of tea. Unable to take another moment, Twilight opened her mouth. “Why did you make me an alicorn?” Celestia had sipped her tea before smiling at Twilight. Twilight could already sense she was going to get the same answer she had told everypony else and Twilight was certain that was not a truthful answer. For the love of harmony, Twilight had wanted a truthful answer. “And don’t tell me it was because ‘it had always been my destiny.’ I want the truth, Celestia. The full truth.” Celestia had swallowed the tea in her mouth and set the cup down. For a moment she had stared into the cup, as if believing all the answers she needed were within. “I couldn’t lose you.” Twilight had turned to look at Celestia. At that moment, she truly looked at her. Her head had been bowed and her shoulders trembling. “That spell was never supposed to do that to you, Twilight. Something interfered. Maybe it was never meant to be used with the Elements... The reasonings don’t matter, but when I felt your soul leave this plain, I knew I had to act.” Twilight’s wings had bristled but she gave a curt nod. “You saved me because I was still necessary to you, didn’t you? Whatever games you had going at the time, I had been a piece that was needed for you to triumph! I’m sick of this, Princess. I’m sick of being nothing more than a pawn to you! You may consider this my resignation as your student.” Twilight had risen to her hooves, ready to leave the room and Celestia--possibly forever--when she had heard it. Soft... so soft. Twilight’s ears had plastered themselves to her skull at the sound of it... Celestia was crying. Twilight had seen Celestia cry a total of two times in her life. The first had been upon the reconciliation of herself and Luna, and the second Twilight had seen only in memories, but it had been when she had been forced to banish Nightmare Moon for one thousand years. But now here she was staring at the table, her chest heaving as tears fell freely from her eyes as she whispered the same phrase on repeat, seemingly unable to stop. “I couldn’t lose you... I couldn’t lose you... I couldn’t lose you...” Twilight had momentarily swallowed her anger and her betrayal. There had been more going on than Twilight being a pawn. She had found her hooves moving without her instructing them to, making her walk back to where Celestia sat. Slowly Twilight had allowed herself to sit beside her. “Why? It’s obvious to me that the reason you made me an alicorn is more than ‘it was my destiny.’ It’s more than my being an integral part of any of your games, even, isn’t it?” Celestia had dipped her head down a miniscule amount before returning it to its position. She had looked purely miserable; her ears were splayed back, and her mane had been dull and limp. Never had Twilight seen her in such a state. Frankly, it had broken her heart. “Then why? Why did you save my life? Why did you make me immortal?” Celestia had looked into Twilight’s eyes, and at that moment Twilight had seen it: the reasoning for Celestia saving her, not only that once from the sleep of death, but saving her from ever experiencing it. Twilight had let out a small gasp as Celestia had pressed her lips against Twilight’s, tears still falling down her cheeks and her whole body trembling. In that soft kiss everything made sense to Twilight. No words were needed, and as she pressed back against Celestia’s kiss Twilight reassured Celestia that her feelings were returned. The kiss had been gentle, a desperate final attempt by Celestia to keep Twilight with her, and it had succeeded. Twilight had begun to lick the tears stains from under Celestia’s eyes. For a brief moment, she had marveled at the salty taste, just like anypony else, though that was not important. What had been important--and what always would be--was comforting her love. Slowly, the tip of Twilight’s tongue had affectionately washed away any sign that Celestia had been crying. Twilight smiled, remembering that night. Six months... It has been six months since we declared our love for one another. Twilight had reached her destination and she pushed the door open, grinning to see Celestia at her writing desk in concentration as the quill held within her magic danced across the parchment she was writing upon. Twilight closed the door as quietly as she could and readied Celestia’s tea set. A few moments later she nudged her with a pulse of magic and giggled as Celestia looked up, a small pair of reading glasses resting on her muzzle. Twilight was one of the only ponies to know this, but “Perfect Princess Celestia” was a tad farsighted. Twilight softly kissed her muzzle before taking her lips in a deep kiss. She nibbled Celestia’s bottom lip, which elicited a moan from her and opening her mouth to allow Twilight’s tongue to enter. Sometimes when they kissed, the two alicorns battled; other times, one took over almost completely. This time, though, their tongues danced with one another. However, too soon though for either of their liking, the lack of oxygen caused them to part, a small line of spittle momentarily connecting them to one another. Twilight licked her lips while looking Celestia up and down; she was without her regalia and only wearing her glasses. “New glasses?” Twilight curled next to her lover who rolled her eyes. “Yes, according to my optometrist my vision is getting worse. Oh well, nothing else to do about it.” Twilight laughed as Celestia’s wing wrapped around her. “Come now, Tia. What’s so wrong about wearing glasses? The way I read, it won’t be long till I need them as well.” The very idea of Twilight wearing glasses caused Celestia to shiver. “I wouldn’t mind that at all, my dear.” She leaned down and gave Twilight’s ear a small nip. “Not at all.” Twilight rolled her eyes. “You know what I think, Tia?” “What’s that, Twily?” “I think you have a fetish for librarians!” Celestia grinned while laying on her belly, levitating a spare pair of glasses onto Twilight’s muzzle. “Oh no, what will I do now? I have been found out! The scandal of it all!” She giggled as Twilight stuck her tongue out before laying down on her own back and wiggling side-to-side, her wings outstretched. Celestia snorted as she watched her tiny love get comfortable and scratch her back at the same time. She twisted her body until she was laying on her side, staring down at Twilight. “So, Twily, you’ve figured out my... What did you call it? My ‘fetish for librarians’? Then it is my turn to figure out what your... ahem... ‘fetish’ is.” She maneuvered herself to be just above Twilight. She shivered. “Who said I have a fetish, Tia?” Twilight wiggled a bit, hoping to distract her mare. This attempt failed as Celestia stuck her tongue out and slowly licked her horn from the base to the tip. “Everypony has a fetish, my dear Twily. You should talk to Luna about some of the dreams she has glimpsed.” Twilight shivered at not only the sensation of Celestia’s tongue on her horn, but also at the lewd portraits her imagination was pulling to the front of her mind. There weren’t many times when she felt pity for her dear friend, but at that time, she could feel nothing but. “Alright, maybe I do have a fetish, but you’re going to have to guess it!” Twilight swallowed back the moan that threatened to escape her as Celestia gave her horn another lick. Tia, you are driving me insane! “Hmmm... I have to guess, do I? What do I get if I guess correctly?” Celestia moved from Twilight’s horn and nibbled her ear, which caused it to flick. “Um... I, uh... I’ll stay with you tonight?” Twilight offered weakly. Celestia suckled the tip of Twilight’s ear. “I thought you already planned to, Twily?” Buck, she’s right. Now, let’s see... “I’ll give you a nice long massage, Tia. With my species transformation spell I can turn into a human. And trust me; with fingers I’ll be able to get rid of aches you never even realized you had.” Celestia allowed herself to shiver, she wanted that massage! Alright, Celestia, you’ve known Twilight since she was a little filly. You can figure this out... She cocked her head, eyes closed in thought as Twilight rubbed her muzzle with a hoof. It didn’t take long for Celestia to open her eyes and grin at the small mare under her. “Large mares.” Twilight’s tiny meep was all the conformation Celestia needed. Mentally she pumped her hoof in the air. The prize of feeling Twilight’s human fingers on her skin would be hers! Twilight smiled. “Fair is fair, Tia. Just slide off and I’ll…” Twilight shivered and stopped speaking. “What was that?” Celestia had already stood up and was at the window, her eyes narrowed towards the Everfree Forest. “I don’t know, but I felt it too. It’s coming from the Everfree Forest.” She turned to Twilight with a small frown, disappointed that their fun was interrupted. “Can I get a rain check on that massage?” Twilight nodded as they both walked out onto Celestia’s balcony. She frowned as she looked over at the Everfree, then breathed in. “There... did you see it, Tia?” Celestia nodded. There was no doubt there was a strange silvery blue pulse which seemed to be originating from the middle of the forest. She glanced towards where some of her unicorn guards were patrolling, but to her puzzlement they did not seem to be noticing the magical aura which seemed to be pulsing on the same frequency as her heart. “I see it, but it appears that we are the only ones able to. It almost feels as if we are being drawn to it.” Twilight nodded, chewing her bottom lip. “Discord, you think?” Celestia shook her head. “If it was Discord he would be using far more chaotic methods to get our attention. No... this is something else, though it doesn’t seem to be harming anything that light is in sync with, like my own heart.” She looked down to see Twilight staring up at her with large eyes. “What is it, Twilight?” “You aren’t alone... I-I think whatever this is, Tia, it’s calling for us specifically.” Celestia considered this for a moment, then opened her large white wings to their full length. “Well then, it wouldn’t be polite to keep whatever it is calling us waiting, would it, Twilight?” Twilight hesitated a moment before looking up to see Celestia smiling down at her. With a firm nod, she also spread her wings and experimentally flapped them once. She still was not the best flyer, though no longer left large holes when she landed. “You’re right, it wouldn’t be polite at all.” Celestia leaped into the air without another word, her wings catching her before gravity could possibly take effect. With a few hard flaps she angled herself downward and towards the Everfree Forest. Behind her, she could hear the much more frantic flapping of Twilight’s wings. Truly, Twilight, we need to schedule some time so that I will be able to teach you to fly properly. “Are you able to keep up with me, Twily? Should I slow down?” Celestia worried, as for a few moments all she heard was hard flapping. “No! No, I’m fine... Really, Tia, flying like this is a good workout, don’t you think? Just what the doctor ordered after I pigged out at the Hay Burger two days ago!” Celestia was forced to bite her lip to keep back the snort of laughter which threatened to escape. Normally, alone with her Twilight she would not feel the need to bother, but as they were flying--and rather quickly--well, she did not a repeat of the last time. Previously, Luna had caused her to burst out laughing while they had been in flight, which had been painful! She pulled her wings back, allowing her body to gracefully dive until her belly was skimming the trees of the Everfree. Her eyes glanced this way and that as she searched for that peculiar light pulse. “Twilight, do you see it?” “Yes! It’s right over there!” Twilight pointed a hoof just as the silvery blue light condensed into a constant beam which penetrated through the dense canopy. Both ponies glanced at each other then dived as one towards what was the origin of this light. After a few seconds of almost total darkness they pulled out of the dive and allowed their hooves to touch down. First Celestia, then Twilight. Twilight blinked in the bright light as she realized exactly where it was that they had landed. “It’s… it’s the Tree of Harmony. I don’t understand, why is it glowing like that, Tia?” Twilight looked up to see a sight she never thought she would witness. Celestia was staring at the tree with her mouth slightly open and eyes wide. A small whimper escaped Twilight as she shivered. The tree began to shake and pulse at a faster and faster rate, creating an almost strobe-like effect until Celestia and Twilight were forced to look away from the light as it increased in intensity until it simply stopped.
twoTwilight kept her eyes squeezed tightly for several more seconds before slowly opening a single eye and glancing around. Things seemed to be back to normal. The tree was still glowing, but in a far more sedate manner. Twilight released the breath she had not even realised she was holding and opened her other eye to see Celestia staring at the trunk of the tree. Twilight opened her mouth to ask what she was looking at, only to quickly close it again. Curled up at the trunk were two tiny pony foals. Twilight hesitantly took a step forward to take a better look at them. The larger foal seemed to be protectively curled around the smaller one. It had a pure white coat and a soft pink mane, while the smaller foal had a dark blue coat with black blotches on the flank with a light blue mane and a touch of curls at the ends, and both foals had small stubby horns poking through the fringe covering their foreheads. Twilight couldn’t help the smile pulling at her lips, for they were just so cute and fluffy she wanted to nuzzle both of them. What sweet little unicorn foals... But where did they come from? “Tia, aren’t they… Tia?” Twilight turned to see her trembling. “Tia, what is it? They’re just two unicorn foals.” Celestia slowly shook her head and took a nervous step forward. “Their backs.” Twilight frowned. “What do you mean ‘their backs’?” Celestia took a deep shaky breath. “Twilight, look at their backs.” Her ears splayed back as the request came out far more forceful than she had intended. “Please, Twily?” Twilight crept another step closer to the sleeping foals and carefully inspected them. What is it Tia is seeing that I’m not? They have their soft foal coats, their normal stubby horns, their fluffy wings… Twilight’s eyes grew by at least two sizes; the foals had wings! “B-but that’s not possible, is it? I mean, you and Luna are the only born alicorns right? I mean, Cadance and I... we ascended.” Celestia simply stared at the two foals. Her lips formed a thin line as her horn glowed with golden energy, slowly lifting the two alicorn foals on her back. “This is not the place nor the time to discuss them. Let’s get these two back to the palace and away from the Everfree Forest.” Twilight nodded with a shiver; the faster they were able to leave that accursed place, the better in her opinion. With that decided she fell in step behind Celestia, who had her wings positioned to block any light from waking the two on her back. The tender steps she took brought a smile to Twilight’s lips as she recalled being in the same position as the foals. Having worked herself far too hard and falling asleep into her book, Celestia would simply lift her onto her own back and carry her back to her bed before tucking her in, no matter who happened to be there or who saw. Celestia never bowed to etiquette when it came to that. Celestia stopped suddenly at the top of the stairs with her ears flayed back. “Twi-twilight?” Twilight snapped back into the present at the sound of Celestia’s voice. Her eyes widened as she took in the sight around her. Where the Palace of the Royal Pony Sisters should have been was covered in tall trees. A sweet smell filled the air, unlike anything Twilight had ever even imagined. She shook her head and looked around, patches of sunlight streamed in through the canopy of the forest and Twilight felt her ear flick as she heard something. She closed her eyes and listened, and a few moments of silence went by before she heard it again; it was a bird call. Twilight swallowed hard before returning her gaze to Celestia. “Tia, what is going on here?” Celestia simply shook her head as if she didn’t feel she was able to speak. To see the Everfree Forest like this once more... Something clearly must have occurred, but as for what exactly happened, she wasn’t at all certain. She carefully shifted her weight before remembering the foals on her back. Guiltily, she looked towards Twilight. Twilight took a moment to glance at Celestia’s back; the foals were still fast asleep. Well, that is helpful at least, though I doubt they’d be able to tell us much about what is going on... If they know anything about it at all, even. “You stay here, Tia. I’m going to take a look and see if I can figure out what is going on.” Celestia gave a firm nod, though her eyes reflected the fear she was feeling. Fear for Twilight, for her sister, fear even for Equestria. Twilight took care to take a few steps backwards before allowing her wings to spread. Flapping a few times to get her momentum up, she jumped straight up, catching a small breeze with a few more large flaps until she was above the canopy. Spotting a large enough cloud, she let herself land on it and took in her surroundings. It was awe inspiring. Miles... For miles she could see beautiful fields, rolling hills, and trickling streams, but it made no sense, none at all! Ponyville should be right there, and the train station should be over there... The tracks were there, though there aren’t even marks in the grass to show that they were ever there in the first place! Twilight felt her legs give way as she collapsed onto her belly. Gone? A-are we in the future? Has time eroded everything? That makes little sense! Frustrated, Twilight forced herself to stand and turned to look at Canterlot, or at least she would have, had Canterlot been there. Twilight’s hoof went to her mouth. “G-gone…” Canterlot was gone completely; it was as if it had never even existed. Twilight gulped back the tears that were threatening to fall and took several deep breaths in the familiar method Cadance had taught her. In and out, Sparkle. In and out... Once she felt less likely to burst into tears she took a closer look at what she was seeing. She cocked her head as the sun caught Mount Canterhorn just right. “It’s sparkling, as if it’s covered in… gems!” Twilight’s wings extended in surprise. We aren’t in the far future, we’re in the past! Way in the past, possibly even before the Windigos… Twilight laid back down on the cloud, turning onto her back to stare up at the blue sky. “Alright, think... Obviously the Tree of Harmony brought me and Tia to the distant past for a reason. What could it be, though? Th-there was that awful blinding light, and then the foals were there. That’s it, they must be connected!” Twilight frowned while rubbing her temples with her hooves. “But that makes no sense since those foals are alicorns! The only born alicorns in history are…” Twilight stopped suddenly as she brought the foals’ features to the front of her mind. “The largest one is white with a light pink mane, and the smaller one a dark blue with black blotches on her flank and light blue mane. It… it is. There’s no other explanation; those foals on Tia’s back are Tia and Luna. Could they have just been born? No, not born. Not the way I was, at least. The Tree of Harmony created them.” Twilight chuckled. “Well, Tia and I had been discussing adoption once we got married... I just never thought we’d be adopting her younger self.” Twilight climbed to her hooves and dived off the cloud, allowing her wings to catch her as she glided back down to where Celestia was still waiting. She was stock still, other than her horn being covered in a golden glow, ready to take out any beast which ventured too close. “Tia?” Twilight quietly said to get her love’s attention, but also to hopefully not be hit with the spell she had on standby. Celestia turned her head a bare amount with only her left eye focusing on Twilight before she sagged in relief, her horn ceasing to glow. “Oh, Twily, you had me so worried! I feared something had happened to thee!” Twilight couldn’t help it as her lips curled into a smile. “I’m fine, Tia, though you must have been very worried; you’re starting to sound a bit like Luna.” Twilight’s eyes unconsciously drifted to the dark blue foal upon Celestia’s back, whom she now suspected… no, that she now knew was Luna as a baby. Celestia blushed a touch. “Alright, yes. I was very worried about you, Twilight. Everything here just seems so off. Did you discover anything?” Twilight swallowed hard and nodded. “Yes, Tia, I did. Well... that is, I’m almost certain of it. Oh Harmony, Tia, we are in the past!” Celestia stared at Twilight “T-the past? That’s not…” The shock caused her mane to cease flowing and fall limply against her neck. Twilight took a step forward. “Tia. Tia, it’s alright; there’s no sign of any danger. In fact, I-I think that we may be even before the windigos came here.” Celestia nodded weakly. Her eyes visibly glazed over after a few moments of shallow breathing. Celestia glanced back at the sleeping foals on her back and watched as their fluffy feathers ruffled softly in the gentle breeze. She gave a small shiver before repositioning her wings to better block the cool wind from bothering them. She cocked her head and frowned. There was something about the foals on her back... “Do you have any idea how we got here, Twilight?” Twilight glanced down into the chasm they had emerged from not that long ago. Celestia followed her gaze and nodded. “I think… I know that there can be some other possibility, but why? For what reason did the Tree of Harmony need to send us back to this time? I just…” Her eyes caught sight of the older foal’s pink mane being blown in the breeze in a very familiar manner. She felt a chill over her entire body as her legs trembled. “No… It…” Twilight took a step towards Celestia. “Yes, Tia. I’m certain those foals are you and Luna.” Twilight was barely able to catch the foals in her levitation field as Celestia’s eyes rolled back and she lost consciousness. “Celestia! Tia... Tia!”
threeCelestia groaned as her eyelids twitched. Something soft and fluffy was on her forehead under her horn, she shivered it was cold. Her eyes opened to see Twilight looking down at her, relief filling her eyes. “Oh thank Harmony, I was so worried when you passed out like that!” Celestia smiled a touch taking the small cloud from Twilight’s grip “Interesting use of a rain cloud Twily.” She released it and watched as it floated lazily back up into the sky through a hole that had obviously been created in the canopy for just that reason. She closed her eyes trying to relax when they snapped back open. “The foals!?” “Are fine. Since I had to open the canopy to bring that rain cloud down to you I used the broken branches to create a soft bed for them to lay on.” Twilight indicated to Celestia’s right with her muzzle. Celestia slowly clamored to her hooves and looked down at where the two foals were fitfully sleeping upon a bed of soft moss and pine needles. She cocked her head at them, carefully taking in the sight of what she now recognized was her little sister and herself. After a few moments she turned and smiled at Twilight “I was a pretty cute foal, wasn’t I Twily?” Twilight grinned, relieved that Celestia seemed to be feeling better “The very cutest Tia. Now though we need to figure out what we are going to do.” She sat on her haunches a few feet away from the foals so that their discussion would not disturb them. I wonder how much longer they are going to sleep. from what I remember when the Cake twins were born they slept quite a lot. But these two weren’t exactly born so would the same rules that were applied to newborns even apply here? Celestia sat next to Twilight though she kept glancing over as if to check on the foals Twilight couldn’t help smile Celestia always had been very maternal after all. “I guess we need to figure out why we are here in the first place.” Twilight nodded chewing her lip “Tia? D-do you remember your parents?” Celestia closed her eyes her mane once again flowing around her “Not much I have to admit.” She said after a few moments of thought. “You have to remember Twily Luna and I are... well to put it simply if we were artifacts we would be considered ancient. I would estimate we are between four and five thousand years old. From what I can remember though Luna and I were raised by two very loving mares. Though I fear they perished to Discord because I do not recall being with them after he was defeated.” Twilight’s left ear flicked “Pe-perished? B-but do you know for certain I mean did you see their bodies?” Celestia frowned trying to think back to her first few decades of life. It wasn’t the easiest thing to do, akin to a normal pony trying to recall their infancy After a few moments her tail flicked back and forth “No no Luna and I never saw our mothers die nor their bodies, I… I think I can recall a bright light. I’m sorry Twily it was just so long ago!” Celestia turned to look at Twilight whose mane was beginning to stick out and winced This isn’t good… “Perished? No... no I. we... that that can’t be it! Don’t you see Celestia, we are the mares who raised you and Luna! If they perished to Discord... then, that means we will perish! We can’t perish! Think of what would happen to the future, present, whatever! Things would be destroyed! We’d forever be in a time loop, coming back just to die! Nononononono, there has to be something we can do! But, if we are supposed to perish, what happens if we don’t perish? Will it destroy everything? Will we unmake everything? Will everything in yours and Luna’s life even happen? Oh my harmony, will I be stuck in Magical Kindergarten forever? No! I can’t go back, I can’t!” slap! Twilight blinked holding her hoof to her right cheek which was turning red from where in had been struck. Celestia sighed evenly. “Better?” Twilight nodded, blinking back tears. It had hurt, but she was feeling calmer now. After a few moments she glanced over at the foals. Celestia’s wings were starting to twitch, a sign that she was starting to wake up. “Twilight, right now there is nothing we can do to prevent what may, or may not happen in the future. Until the tree of harmony decides to send us home, or you invent a spell to travel forwards in time.” Celestia shrugged “This is our home.” Twilight sighed her mane falling back into it’s normal orderly style “I… yes, you’re right Tia. We need to think about right now not however long from now.” Twilight glanced around the clearing “First of all, I think we need to find a safe spot to build some type of home. It needs to be able to house the foals and us, maybe a cabin of some type?” Twilight got up and paced as she thought out loud. “I don’t want to venture too far from the tree of Harmony, in case it summons us again, so the best choice is to stay here in the Everfree. But that’s a problem as well, because that’s a large drop for small foals if they were exploring. We need to be farther away.” Twilight began walking away from the Tree of Harmony towards which she knew was the edge of the Everfree. Celestia cleared her throat. “Oh Twilight?” Twilight stopped in her tracks. “Huh wha?” “I do believe you are forgetting something.” Twilight blinked a few times before she face hoofed “Right the foals. We can’t really do much until they wake up can we?” Celestia shook her head with a smile, and laid down next to the foals, lifting her left wing invitingly toward Twilight. The younger mare smiled before cantering over and snuggling to Celestia’s side, letting out a happy sigh as Celestia gave her a little squeeze with her wing and they watched the foals.
fourLittle Celestia’s left, back leg twitched a few times before a sigh escaped her muzzle and her big magenta eyes opened for the first time. Twilight watched as she peered around, biting her tongue to try and keep back the instinct she was feeling to lick the tiny foal. After a few moments of watching the tiny white pony squirm, she couldn’t take it and wiggled out from under Tia’s wing. She watched little Celestia wiggle and roll onto her back with a sigh. Twilight smiled and began to bath the new pony. Several minutes later, Celestia was giggling as Twilight’s rough tongue cleaned her foal of what tasted like a sweet sap. Once Twilight finished, Celestia’s fur was standing up and she grabbed hold of Twilight’s muzzle with her fore hooves cocking her head and peering into Twilight’s eyes. Twilight smiled at her. “Hello there I’m...I’m” She turned to Tia who had a peaceful smile upon her muzzle and gave a miniscule nod. “I’m your Mommy. I’m your mommy, and you are my Celestia.” Celestia cocked her head to the other side and opened her muzzle “Mommy?” Twilight smiled “Yes, that’s right, Celestia. I’m Mommy and this.” She indicates the grown Celestia “Is your Mama.” Celestia smiled down at her younger self, now her own foal. “Hello, Celestia.” Celestia tilted her head back to take in the sight of her very big Mama. “Ma ma? Cewes ta!” Twilight laughed “That’s right! What a smart filly you are!” Celestia got to her hoofs, swaying a bit, and then grinned as she took a step, her little wings fluffed out. She glanced back at them with confusion and looked back up at Twilight. “Mommy?” “Those are your wings, Celestia.. Mama has them, and so do I. And look, Luna does too!” Twilight pointed at the still asleep, dark, blue foal “Woona?” “Your baby sister! Her name is Luna.” Celestia turned and sat on her haunches, looking at the smaller being she had awoken beside. Mommy called it a Woona. She batted at it with a hoof. “Wahhh.” Twilight cantered quickly to the foal and lifted her up with a burst of pink magic “Shh, it’s alright Luna. Celestia didn’t mean to hurt you. Shh, it’s alright my baby.” After a few moments of rocking, Luna’s crying was reduced to small sniffles as she opened tear filled eyes. Twilight smiled. “That’s right. Oh, what a pretty little foal.” She began to tick the salty tear stains under Luna’s eyes then moved on to bathing her entire little body, ridding her of the sweet tasting sap. Luna blinked up at her curiously “Does that feel good Luna? Mommy knows how yucky the icky sap must have felt.” Luna giggled at her mommy’s sweet voice and batted at her muzzle clumsily. Twilight grinned and set her down on the soft bed. Luna plopped down on her belly, in no hurry to go anywhere. Her eyes were taking in everything as Celestia toddled around under the watchful eye of Tia. “Dat?” “Trees.” “Dat?” The ground.” “Dat?” “Thats another tree, my little Celestia.” The toddler considered this answer for a few moments before she pointed at the same tree again. “Dat tree.” Tia nodded. “Yes, Celestia, that is a tree.” Celestia beamed as she let out a little whinny, her tail wagging back and forth. The pink hair caught Celestia’s attention as she glimpsed it from the corner of her eye. She turned her head and opened her mouth before lunging forward. Her teeth caught thin air as the pink object drifted out of her sight. Celestia whined and lunged again. Tia quickly covered her muzzle with her hoof as she watched Celestia chase her own tail like a puppy might. Celestia snorted, her ears falling back as her tiny wings spread. She made a final pounce and grabbed ahold of the pink thing in her mouth, biting down hard. Quickly her expression changed from accomplishment to surprise, and then pain. Her eyes widened, and she quickly opened her mouth “Wahhh! MooooMieeeee!” Twilight looked over in shock as little Celestia fell onto her haunches, crying her little heart out. The loud noise startled Luna, who began to sob, her little wings flaring “Wahhhh!” Her horn glowed and the bed that Twilight had created was thrust away from under her. Twilight watched it tumble into the chasm. Twilight looked between the fillies “Tia, you comfort Luna while I check Celestia’s tail.” Tia nodded and lifted Luna into her magical embrace, rocking her slowly. Luna looked up into her Mama’s magenta eyes and hiccuped. “Wah.” Tia smiled and patted her back “You’re alright, Luna, I promise. You just got startled.” After a few moments, Luna laid her head on Tia’s shoulder, her hoof going into her mouth. Rhythmically, she began to suckle her hoof as Mama rubbed her back. Tia smiled as Luna let out a soft burble of contentedness. “That’s right, Luna, Mama is here. I have you.” Twilight slowly scanned Celestia’s tail, drying her tears with a wing tip “That’s it, get all the tears out, Celestia. Were almost done.” She checked the results of her scan and smiled “No damage, my dear, but let's try not chasing our tail again, alright?” Celestia hiccuped and glanced behind her at the pink thing she now realized was attached to her “Ta-il?” “That’s right. What you bit down on is your tail. See?” Twilight purposefully wagged her tail to the left, and then to the right to show Celestia. “This is my tail. It doesn’t like to be bitten.” Celestia frowned at her tail “No bite.” She nodded up at her Mother with a beaming smile. “Yes my Celestia, no bite. Now Mommy needs your help. Will you help mommy?” Celestia’s eyes widened, as the idea of helping her mommy do anything filled her with excitement. “Help! Cewestia help Mommy!” Twilight laughed joyfully, lifting Celestia up onto her back “We need to find a good place for all of us to live, so while Mama stays here with Luna, you and I are going on an adventure!” Celestia cocked her head to the side. “Mommy?” “Yes my little Celestia?” “What ventuwe?” Twilight glanced back to see Celestia’s head cocked to the right, her eyes wide and curious. “What is an adventure?” “Yes Mommy! Tell?” Twilight considered as she spread her wings “An adventure is where a pony, or in this case, two ponies, go on a journey to discover or find something. Our adventure is to find a good place to live!” Celestia considered what her mommy had said. Mommy spoke with large words. It hurt her brain, but in a good way. She began bouncing on Mommy’s back, excited “Okay Mommy! Mommy what is we looking for?” Twilight flapped her wings a few times making sure that she was able to get enough lift even with Celestia on her back “Hmmm well right now we need someplace safe for you and your baby sister to sleep.” “Baby?” Twilight stopped in her steps her wings folding back against her body That’s right! You are being a bit of a foal yourself,Twilight. Celestia was just born she needs you to teach her. Twilight looked up. They were about to get rain. Stupid Everfree and it’s uncontrollable weather. I need to find someplace to keep Celestia and Luna dry. Think, think, think! A single raindrop hit the end of her muzzle. “Tia!” Tia looked over, a bit puzzled until she felt a few rain drops land on her back. “I’ll watch them you find us a shelter from the rain as quick as you can Twily.” Twilight grabbed hold of Celestia and lowered her to the ground with a smile as Celestia looked up, trying to figure out where the wet stuff was coming from. “Mommy what is that? It cold!” Celestia wrinkled her brow and backed up under Twilight’s barrel, who smiled. “That is called rain, Celestia. It is water which falls from the sky and helps all the plants and animals grow and thrive.” Twilight poked her tongue out, catching a few drops on her tongue before glancing down to see Celestia mimicking her. “Now, I want you to stay here with your Mama and Luna, okay? I need to find some place for us to sleep tonight.” Celestia nodded and scampered over to where Tia was standing, wings held out to shield Luna, and now Celestia, from the rain, which was growing harder as the moments passed. Twilight confident that they would be fine for a few minutes, took to the air, hoping to spot a cave from the air. Staying below the canopy of trees, she flew closer to the edge of mount Canterhorn. Unable to find a natural occurring cave, she landed and searched for a suitable spot to create one. After a few moments of searching she nodded, powering up her magic, closing her eyes tightly, and blasting into the side of the mountain. After a minute or so, she opened her eyes to see that she had blasted open a cave about twenty feet deep. Just big enough for her, Tia and the foals. A smile found itself on her muzzle before she yanked down a bunch of leaves, drying them with a quick burst of magic, and making a soft bed. Satisfied, she teleported back to where she had left Tia and their new foals. “I found some place for us to sleep tonight.” Twilight smiled, lifting Celestia onto her back, the little foal giggling as she clung to Twilight’s back. “Do you have Luna, Tia?” “I do. She’s already a bit tired.” Tia smiled, cradling Luna in her magic. The small foal yawned while stretching her forelegs. Twilight smiled, leading Tia to the cave and crawling inside, laying Celestia down on the leaf bed. She rolled around on her back, giggling. Luna flopped down on her belly and gazed around before wiggling over to Celestia. “Alright, little fillies, lets try and get some sleep, hmm?” Twilight smiled, laying down beside her foals. She considered something for a moment, and then smiled. “How about a nice lullaby?” “Lul by? What lul by Mommy?” Celestia looked up cocking her head. “A lullaby is a song that is sung to make you sleepy. Would you like that?” Twilight kissed Celestia’s small nose causing her to smile and nod. “Alright… lets see.” “Sweet dreams, the sun is setting now. And soon enough, the night is here. It’s time for you to close your sleepy eyes. Nothing to worry, or to fear. Sweet dreams, the moon is rising now We’ll keep you safe as you could be We’ll stay with you and guard your sleep… Sweet dreams of Harmony.” Twilight wrapped a wing around both of her girls while Tia smiled. “Sweet dreams, It’s time to go to rest. Tomorrow is another day. Your mommies made a bed of sunset clouds, to keep the nightmares far away. Sweet dreams, there’s much ahead of you, on the road to your destiny, but smile and play while you’re still young. Sweet dreams of Harmony.” Tia laid beside Twilight watching the foals snuggling together. She was starting to remember... “And when you close your eyes and sleep, your dreams are diving deep. They take you to the crystal tree, that branches out across the world, connecting everypony’s heart, to bring everypony Harmony.” “Sweet dreams, dream of the sun and moon, playing together in the sky. May you have golden days, and silver nights. May storm clouds always pass you by. Sweet dreams, we will watch over you, and we will be a family. The greatest mares this land has seen… Our foals of Harmony.” Tia finished the song as the girl’s eyes slid shut. She smiled at Twilight as they both looked out and watched as the rain fell. Author's Note Lullaby written by my dear friend River. Where would I be without you?
