The Crepuscularity of an Alicorn

by PsychicKid

Rating: everyone
Tags: Princess Celestia, Twilight Sparkle, Drama, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic
Length: 5618

Twilight anguishes over a seemingly ominous letter from Princess Celestia

Twilight is summoned to Canterlot Castle at the behest of a letter from Princess Celestia. Is it a test? A warning? Or something that could potentially alter the course of the next thousand years for the young Princess?

Published 2018-04-30 17:50:07 UTC
Last updated 2018-04-30 17:50:07 UTC

The Crepuscularity of an Alicorn

The rumbling and shaking of the train kept Twilight awake on the ride to Canterlot. Although, maybe it wasn't so much the sounds of locomotion but more so the internal churning of her own mind. She had taken this route seemingly a thousand times before, but this time it felt like it was taking an eternity. “It's not like her to summon me so suddenly like that...” she thought to herself. “Especially without my friends. Any other time it's been urgent, she's called for all six of us.” She considered all the potential possibilities, both mundane and disastrous. “It couldn't be someone like Chrysalis or Tirek, she would need all of us for that... Maybe it's a test! But no, the wording was too ominous...” Her thoughts trailed off as she glanced once again upon the unfurled scroll resting on the cushion next to her.

With a deep, calming breath, she paused to marvel at the parchment adorned with the Princesses’ royal seals. Never before had her mentor’s elegant, flowing script conjured such feelings of unease. Once again, she regarded the surprisingly short letter with a furrowed brow, a third rereading serving only to vex her further.

“Dear Princess Twilight Sparkle,

Please make haste to Canterlot Castle on the next sunrise. I have news of paramount importance for you, and only you. Your friends will learn in due time.

Yours truly,

Princess Celestia.”

Twilight stared at the perfect calligraphy before sighing, rolling the scroll back up carefully, and sticking it in her saddlebag on the seat next to her. Unbidden, her thoughts continued, an unrelenting storm that refused to calm. “Maybe it's a priceless artifact? Maybe the Canterlot archive researchers found something regarding the damaged Staff of Sacanas? Such a dangerous relic could have a long-term detrimental effect on the land, since its magic was temporarily absorbed. Or maybe they found a new neighcropolis in the Badlands! But why would they need me for something like that?” Tempestuous theories continued to meander through her mind, shifting from excitement, to worry, to curiosity, and back to concern. “No! I am the Princess of Friendship, and I will stand firm on whatever news or task or trial she gives me!”

After disembarking at her destination, Twilight made her way through the streets of Canterlot. Despite the overcast sky, the familiar streets, fountains, and friendly faces helped to calm her nerves. The air of sophistication, culture, and history almost belied the fact that the city was only recently under siege and its inhabitants in chains. Buildings grew older and more ornate as she approached Canterlot Castle. In addition to the Sisters’ sigils elaborately incorporated into buildings and walls, massive statues and murals flanked the central path leading to the maw of the castle’s entrance. As each step brought her closer to whatever news Celestia had, Twilight’s worries began to fester anew. Standing ever watchful, the castle guards stepped aside and bowed to grant the Princess access beyond the front gate. Their horns flared to life, enveloping the massive, ornate doors in a sparkling blue aura that slowly pulled them open for her.

“Everything seems calm enough...” she muttered to herself as she crossed the threshold. And indeed it was; guards stood at their post, and civic and domestic retainers alike scuttled about their various bureaucratic tasks. A handful of dignitaries stood off to the side, murmuring about nothing in particular with their idle banter and empty compliments. Two unicorns on the other side were dusting and wiping down windows; the glass was so clear and perfect it looked as if it didn't even exist, that a pony could just walk on through the frame. Indeed, it was just like any other day in the castle.

Twilight continued her trek deeper into the castle, entering the main hallway leading up to the throne room. From floor to ceiling, the stained glass windows filled the halls, portraying the many events that she and her friends had influenced. The defeat of Nightmare Moon. The sealing of Discord. The fall of the Storm King and his empire. These images, crafted with utmost precision, with the greatest of care, and the gentlest of preservation magics, would ensure that they would last far, far into the future, possibly even surpassing the castle itself. She took a moment, seemingly lost in their colors, gazing into a reflection of the past. In particular, the haunting visage of Nightmare Moon stood out to her, artistically immortalizing the six ponies who saved Equestria that fateful night. The six ponies, Twilight and her friends, with halos surrounding their heads, a depiction typically reserved for ponies in ancient tales or the two sisters, showing their revered and legendary status.

“It feels so strange for us to have those halos,” Twilight said to the window, lost in thought. She shook her head after a moment, pausing to take a deep breath, exhaling as she approached the majestic entryway leading to the seat of Equestria. Her horn glowed, bathing the doors in her magic, swinging them open and revealing a colossal, opulent chamber. Tall stained glass windows emblazoned with the sun, moon, and starry night sky adorned the side and rear walls, though the slightly cloudy weather prevented the windows from shining in their usual full radiance. A long, maroon carpet stretched from the entrance all the way to the other end, leading up a slope to an elevated dais. Flanking both sides of the ramp was a trio of fountains, each gently bubbling with water as it trickled down, pooling from one marble basin to the next and flowing into thin canals dug into the floor. At the culmination of the carpeted incline were two chairs of identical dark red cushion, each built with the same base shape, but decorated differently. The left throne was shaped out of dark silver, with a symbol of the crescent moon adorning the top, whereas the throne on the right was fashioned out of luminous gold, crowned with an illustrious carving of the sun. Seated atop the sun throne was one of the two Royal Sisters, Twilight's mentor, and Keeper of the Sun—Princess Celestia.

Twilight slowly made her way forward, approaching the thrones while staying straight in the center of the cushioned path under her. As she got closer, she could see Celestia's neutral expression turn to that of a smile, doing much to take part of the weight off of her chest.

“Twilight Sparkle,” Celestia finally spoke, standing from her throne. “It is so very good to see you again.”

“Oh, the pleasure is all mine, Princess!” Twilight replied, kneeling and lowering her head in respect and reverence. Hearing her teacher's warm, almost motherly voice further quelled her anxiety. The relaxed, soothing nature of her words almost belied how cryptic the letter was.

“Now, now, you need not be so formal Twilight. You must be wondering why I summoned you here today,” she said as she made her way down the dais. The plush carpet muffled her hoofsteps, giving her a silent grace that only accented her divine demeanor. For any other pony, it would have been an almost eerie sight to see a being of such power and prominence approaching without a sound, but for Twilight, she was a constant source of inspiration and guidance, regardless of the circumstance.

“I came as fast as I could.” Twilight spoke out, wondering to herself if maybe all of her worry was for naught. Celestia's calm, silent stride did not convey a sense of urgency or panic, so maybe this wasn't such a big deal. After all, it’s not like every audience with the Princess involves saving Equestria from ancient magic or playing politics with other races for the future of the land.

Celestia paused once she reached the floor. Clearing her throat, she locked eyes with the sentries at the entrance, dismissing them with cursory nod. Twilight turned as the two unicorn guards swiftly made their exit with a metallic clank of their armor, closing the doors behind them with a dull, echoing thud. Deathly silence pervaded the room once again, allowing Twilight and Celestia to speak undisturbed.

“What exactly is happening, Princess Celestia?” Twilight asked while turning back to face her. Her voice was calm, but steadily rising a bit the more she spoke. She adored her mentor and respected her dearly, so she did not want to fall short of the lofty expectations associated with a Princess. Celestia resumed her graceful approach as Twilight began to ramble, her mind turning back towards the letter, causing her earlier stress to resurface.

“What was it you wanted to discuss with me? Is it my magic? Am I performing proficiently as a Princess? There's not another threat to Equestria, is there? And you're going to need us to stop it, right? So why only call me and not my friends?” Twilight’s breathing grew more exasperated as she began to blurt out a constant stream of words. “Is the power of friendship weakening and I'm the only one who can fix it? But why just me? Surely my magic isn't enough on its own, unless this is another magic test—” She was suddenly cut off as Celestia placed her hoof in front of Twilight's muzzle, shushing her like a parent would a child, but with a warm smile and a giggle instead of a scolding scowl.

It was at that moment Twilight noticed something was amiss. The brilliance and shimmering colors of Celestia's mane and tail seemed off to her, as if they were no longer shining with the same radiance. Twilight blinked and shook her head quickly to make sure her eyes weren't playing tricks on her; the colors were not dim enough for the average pony to notice, but somepony much closer to her—like a family member—would notice such a subtle shift in her otherwise ethereal aura.

“Worry not, Twilight. I will answer your questions, but you are likely to have far more very soon. Come, let us sit.” Celestia turned and motioned towards the dual set of thrones, trotting back up the ramp, the tip of her tail dragging across the carpet as she slowly returned to her post and finally taking her seat as Twilight started to follow her. Not only was there something wrong with Celestia's mane and tail, but she was now implying that Twilight could sit next to her as an equal—on Luna’s throne. Yet even still, Celestia gave her a nod, extending her wing towards the empty throne. Twilight hesitated a moment, feeling uneasy about occupying such an important post. Luna may be the younger of the two sisters, but they represented a special duality that acted as the very foundation of their world. Twilight may be a Princess too, but she felt she was nowhere near the same level as the two Sisters. Despite her uneasiness, Twilight began her ascension up the ramp, her hoofsteps silent against the soft carpet, much like Celestia. She took her seat in the silver throne next to Celestia, fidgeting slightly and getting settled into place.

“Soooo...” Twilight said somewhat awkwardly, once again casting a cursory glance at her mentor’s mane. “Princess, I... Your mane and tail. They're not as... bright as they normally are! Tell me, what's going on? Is this why you summoned me?” she began to ask with growing concern as Celestia’s smile turns to a slightly more serious expression. Not a dire grimace, but one of someone who has something important to say, but isn't quite sure how to find the right words.

“Twilight, this is a difficult topic to approach, so I'll just get right into it. As you undoubtedly know, unicorns of ancient times held the responsibility of raising both the sun and moon. However, such forced and focused use of their magic eventually drained them utterly of their powers.”

Twilight bit her lower lip. She had indeed read of this before, in the journal of the two Sisters that she and Spike found in their old, ruined castle. Twilight was already mentally filling in the blanks, a sudden new fear popping into her mind, one of the Princess’s own power draining. It would certainly explain why they so easily fell to Discord's seeds of chaos, or Tempest Shadow's obsidian grenades. She began to sweat and squirm in her seat, her eyes darting around nervously, but finally settling back on the once-radiant alicorn.

Celestia resumed speaking, adjusting her posture, causing her mane and tail to waver unevenly, lacking their natural grace. “When Luna and I offered our assistance one day, something truly special happened beyond just earning our cutie marks and cementing our place as Equestria's guiding lights. We felt rejuvenated, invigorated. The magic that was restored when we formed a link to the sun and moon far surpassed the energy needed to manipulate them. It was a symbiotic relationship that left even Starswirl a tad befuddled.” Celestia's face cracked a small smile as she regaled her pupil with such old tales, reliving the nostalgia of her own mentor. After a moment of reflection, she let out a sigh, her head lowering as she spoke more solemnly. “Yet, despite this, for reasons we have yet to fully understand, our special link to the sun and moon... it...” She hesitated, pausing mid-sentence, making Twilight lean closer in concern. “It... no longer fills us with the same level of energy as it used to. While we still maintain direct control, we are concerned what this means for the far future.”

Twilight's eyes began to widen. A thousand questions suddenly shot through her head as she tried to get her thoughts straight. Paranoid images of the sun and moon going out of control danced through her mind’s eye. Eternal day, eternal night, half-and-half, nothing at all, and seemingly everything in between. “Wait a minute, wait-a-minute!” she suddenly blurted out, her paranoia finally culminating, jumping straight to the conclusion she halfway arrived at earlier when she mentioned the ancient unicorns losing their powers. “You're not saying that your magic is fading are you? Is somepony or something stealing it? Is something happening to the sun and moon? Surely we can find a solution if we go through the archives! I can get Starlight and Sunburst and Cadance and… and...” her voice trailed, succumbing to panic as she continued to build scenarios in her head, fearful for the land and all the ponies that dwell within. Celestia reached over, placing her hoof under Twilight's chin and forcing her to stop stammering and instead look at her straight on, giving a gentle, cordial smile.

“Let me finish, my dear student. There is no cause for alarm. I can assure you, we already have a plan in motion, and I intend to ensure that you are fully on board with everything,” Celestia said as she withdrew her hoof, giving Twilight the space she needed to recompose herself.

Twilight continued to sweat, her wings fully extended and flared outwards as she tried to calm herself down. “Okay, that's good at least...” Twilight sighed and took a few breaths, folding her wings and trying to keep her mind from wandering and sending itself into another panic. Aside from the trickle of water from the fountain and the gentle, muted twinkling of Celestia's mane and tail, the room was silent until Celestia spoke again.

“Now then, I noticed the beginning stages of this a few decades before the return of Nightmare Moon. I didn't think much of it, but after confiding with our best sorcerers and scholars in Canterlot, we set out to determine if there was any risk to myself or the land. Despite our best efforts, we found nothing. Not a single passage or chapter in any of the tens of thousands of books and scrolls we searched. Even after Luna returned to us, I had hoped that perhaps she was the missing spark I needed to fix this, but alas, I was wrong. Even after many moons, Luna as well did not quite feel the same as she did millenia ago.” Celestia concluded with a small sigh, her posture slouching with the tiniest of shifts. She wanted to give Twilight a chance to take in and process all of this new information, lest she inadvertently overwhelm her pupil.

“But... I don't understand...” the purple alicorn muttered. “You've lived for over a thousand years, the cornerstone of Equestria! That magic can't fade...” She suddenly let out a gasp as another worst case scenario popped into her head. Her face turned to that one of grief-stricken panic, the vibrant lavender hue starting to become pale. “You're not... dying are you?”

Celestia closed her eyes and let the question sink in. She had steeled herself for this moment, having ran it through her head a thousand times before this meeting. Yet, despite her precognitive preparations, she was not ready to hear it come from her precious student's lips. After what felt like an eternity, she finally broke the silence. “No. We are not dying. Although we come from an ancient tribe of alicorns, whom also age slower, they all have eventually passed on, whereas only Luna and I remain. Our special link to the life-giving magic of the sun and moon has permanently halted our aging process. In plain, we are immortal.”

Twilight opened her mouth to speak, but no sounds came out. Although never outright stated directly, either by scripture or in speech, Twilight knew that the two sisters were immortal. She knew from so many tomes and stories and legends that given their age and prowess with magic, she knew deep down they were immortal. “But why?” she finally asked. “If you're immortal then... I just don't understand. And I always understand!” She cried out as she threw her hooves to her head, grunting and moaning in frustration as she tried to make sense of everything, shaking slightly as she tried to make her way through the panic and confusion to an answer, or at least something to assuage her fear.

“Twilight, I can assure you I have a solution. It might not be an easy one to understand, but you will have time to contemplate it. It's not something we need to carry out today, tomorrow, or even next moon.” Celestia did her best to calm her, and for now it was seemingly working, as Twilight stopped fidgeting and looked back towards her. “Through our research and study, we were able to isolate the magic responsible for my eternal life. Furthermore, upon my sister’s return, we were able to confirm the same magic behavior within her as well. What we have learned from this is that even though we earned this power through the sun and moon, it seems it is now fully independent, and in a class all its own.”

Twilight’s gaze remained unbroken, eyes locked as she swallowed and nodded. She was utterly fascinated with learning more about such ancient and mysterious magic, having spent countless sleepless nights pouring over dusty old books and scrolls, studying ancient history and magic theory. Her eyes slowly began to widen as spells, new and old, flittered through her mind, already trying to assemble the puzzle before she even had the pieces. “So, what did you learn?” she finally asked, after a pause.

“This magic, this longevity, can be transferred,” was all her teacher replied with.

The younger Princess sat there, mouth agape. She couldn't believe what she was hearing! Transfers of magic are difficult enough—she knew this from experience when she had to safeguard the other three Princesses' magic from Tirek for a time—but to grant the gift of eternal life? “This... This could change everything! We could utterly change how magic is taught and learned! This could completely revolutionize modern magic theory! This... It... I...” Twilight sputtered out fragments of words, her mind tossing from excitement of learning about new magic theory and back to worry over her mentor.

“Twilight Sparkle.” Celestia said, her voice firm and resolute in a tone that always signaled to Twilight that her teacher had the utmost confidence in her. “You are a very gifted and special pony. With the help of your friends, you have helped spread love and joy all across Equestria and even beyond. You saved our land’s magic from the greedy maw of Tirek. You traveled through time itself to not only prevent the end of our world, but to save a lost and misguided pony, bringing her back to the light. You even saved my dear sister... And now here you stand, the Princess of Friendship. Soon to be my equal... Soon to surpass even me...” Celestia's voice faltered as she uttered that final sentence, but her expression perked back up in confidence as she looked her pupil over, seeing her eyes start to water from the praise. “We intend to entrust this gift to you one day, Twilight Sparkle.”

Twilight blinked, her eyes drying. Her expression didn't change, as all of her mental processing power was focused on the shock and awe of even being considered for such a thing. Internally, she felt like she had just read a thousand books in less than an hour. “By this gift... Do you mean... eternal life?”

“Indeed. Though Luna and I could choose to live forever, if our powers continue to weaken, we will be in no state to lead Equestria, or to guide the sun and moon through the sky. We would be reduced to mere empty relics, unable to defend our home or our subjects. I know this is a lot to take in, my child, as if I just thrust the entire weight of the world on you, but please, trust me when I say there is nopony else out there we would trust more than you,” Celestia said, as she looked over her prized pupil with pride, a smile on her face that for a moment distracted Twilight from her faded tail and mane.

“I...” was all she managed to squeak out. Her eyes began to water again, feeling awe, anxiety, and even a tiny bit of excitement as Celestia revealed all of this new information to her. She began to imagine all of the books, studying, and learning she could do with eternity at her disposal. She could take all the time in the world to research new theories and spells! However, such feelings of wonder and inspiration quickly gave way to a growing fear, her emotions shifting back and forth rapidly, as she now concerned herself with the weight and responsibility of being a true ruler of Equestria. While it was true she had accomplished much and more and that Celestia's praises were no lie, they were but a tiny blip behind her on the long, winding path that suddenly began to stretch out before her.

“But Princess, I...” Twilight said, “I mean no disrespect but... Are you sure? I mean, I'm not doubting your wisdom or judgment, but this is... This is literally eternity. I would live forever!”

“I know that this is a very difficult time scale to adjust one's mind to,” Celestia replied. “I've planned this for you for a very long time, Twilight. As soon as I realized what was happening to my powers, I deliberated for years on how to best proceed. I knew one day that Nightmare Moon would return, and I would be unable to stop her by myself, even with the Elements of Harmony. Once we were able to study and learn more of our longevity and determined that it could be transferred, I sought to train my successor. The redemption of Nightmare Moon proved to be the final test to show me that it was you... And yet so many times afterward, you aced test after test that I didn't even realize I was giving you...”

Twilight started to sniffle, tears finally starting to flow from her eyes. She couldn't help herself any longer, she lept from Luna's throne and suddenly embraced Celestia in a desperate hug. Her teacher let out a yelp of surprise at the sudden movement, but she held her student close, a tear falling from her face as Twilight cried against her chest. A sudden, horrifying thought finally wormed its way into the forefront of Twilight's mind, making her pupils shrink and contract in fear. She had only been with her friends in Ponyville for a handful of years, but to her it felt like she had known them forever, yet this new revelation from Celestia completely threw her perception of the time spent with them off balance, making everything seem like a tiny speck of dust trapped in the infinite vacuum of the universe.

The poor purple Princess let out choked gasps and squeaks before finally being able to utter a coherent word. “This...” Was what she managed to squeak out, between gasps and sobs. “My friends... If I take your spot... Then they'll… They’ll...” The sudden, sharp mental imagery of her outliving her friends and loved ones began to press down on her heart, as if being seared by the gravity of the sun itself. The bond between them was so strong that she couldn't even to begin to contemplate an eternal separation.

Celestia was prepared for this, and despite the heavy emotions and weighted aura from Twilight, she was able to answer. “Twilight, while it's true the flesh may pass, the spirit is eternal. Such a goodbye would be only temporary, for the elements they embody, the ideals they strive for, and the bonds you have with them will live on in your heart. I know not what your powers will do over time, Twilight. They may wane like mine, or they may shine radiantly for many millennia. Yet, when you feel your own time is ready, I have every confidence that you will train another little filly, just like I did so many years ago. Another pony will show their promise and potential, and you will take them under your wing. That way one day, when their time comes to ascend over you, you will never be apart from your friends again.” Celestia said as she continued to hold her student.

Twilight let out a sigh, leaning against Celestia, the idea of one day being apart from her friends continuing to tear at her heart. Although she knew that her friends and mentor would be there for her as long as possible, she couldn't pry her mind away from them leaving her. Her eyes glanced towards the walls, taking in the sight of the stylized stained glass landscape of the land, the sun, the moon, and the stars. The very notion of such things eventually becoming hers made her heart flutter with worry. They were timeless and eternal, much like the two Sisters who held dominion over them, but if all that Celestia spoke of were indeed true, then Twilight would truly be the sole governing force of Equestria.

“Princess...” She finally spoke, “I don't know if I will be enough... It's true I've learned so many things over the years, but to ruleall of Equestria! I'd have to learn more about the nobility, handle tax laws, do visitations for other cities, that is to say nothing about the sun and the moon! And I'd also have to protect Equestria from threats! Sure we'd be fine now but what about hundreds of years from now? What if Discord goes rogue without Fluttershy, or if Tirek escapes and we can't call upon Rainbow Power! I could barely keep us together when the Storm King invaded! I won't be enough! I am not enough! There's just too much... I don't know how you did it alone for so many years... I need my friends! I need you!”

It was at that moment when something clicked in Twilight's overstuffed mind. She let out a horrendous sobbing wail, her body shaking violently as she poured her anxiety out and laid it bare for Celestia to take in, unable to fully come to grips yet with the reality of outliving her friends for centuries or even millennia. She loved her friends dearly, more than anything, and it took every ounce of strength in Twilight's soul to keep herself from crumbling under the responsibility given to her by her beloved idol. Despite the darkness in her mind's eye, there was still a flickering light that beckoned her closer to it. She still knew that deep down her bonds with her friends were not ephemeral, that no matter how much time passed, or how many tears she shed, they would always be there to support her, either physically or through eternity itself. It was indeed timeless, much like the very things she was to inherit. Amid her chaotic convulsions, her thoughts drifted to other ponies she knew. She could draw upon the wisdom of Cadance, who had been a Princess longer, and although older than Twilight, she was still far closer in age to her than the Sisters, affording the two of them a sibling-like bond. Spike would be there too, for dragons lived naturally long lifespans, not unlike the alicorns of yore. She even had Starlight as her own personal pupil, somewhat even mirroring her relationship with Celestia, and she had helped countless other ponies over the years.

Maybe Celestia was right, maybe one day when the time was right, she could train and nurture a prospective heir to her eventual throne. The idea of training her successor, a new Princess of Equestria to take her spot so that she may entrust unto them the same gift of longevity did much to help her fears. Although a difficult task in its own right, such a wall was nothing compared to the pain of being apart from her friends, and if scaling such a wall was the key to reuniting with them centuries from now, she would scale it a thousand times over. Celestia held her student close, keeping her within her wings, as if to block out all of the worries that continued to assault Twilight.

Her thoughts turned towards the images in the hallway outside the throne room, remembering the halos adorning her and her friend's heads, showing their revered and legendary status. She reflected on the statues and paintings and symbols scattered through the city, honoring the two sisters, knowing that one day it is very likely that images of herself will likely join them. There were countless ponies in Equestria, many who had walked before her, and her guiding spirit of harmony will lead those who walk after.

Twilight nestled herself tighter against Celestia. Her body was warm—soft and gentle, like relaxing in a sun beam on a lazy, spring day. It soothed Twilight, making her feel like everything was going to be okay, that she could fully trust Celestia. Tears streamed down her face, utterly lost in her emotions, unable to keep a coherent thought for more than few seconds. All Twilight could do was whimper and weep, her body convulsing, wings clammed shut, as she curled up against Celestia. After several minutes of tearful clinging, Twilight finally pulled back, looking up at her.

“I... This is all so much to take in, Princess...” Twilight managed to say. “I don't know if I'm ready...”

“You need not be ready today, my faithful student. As I said, this is not something to be done today, tomorrow, or even years from now. Our waning is slow, and there is still time for you to reflect on this, and discuss with your friends. You are strong, Twilight Sparkle. You have proven time and time again to be a capable leader, and you will continue to do so.”

Twilight had difficulty finding the strength between gasps of air to speak properly, her face being red and puffy from crying. “But... What about you and Luna? What will happen if you give your immortality to me?” Twilight asked, hoping to keep her mind at bay from conjuring up more what-ifs and possibilities.

“Based on our research, we will simply resume normal aging, like our natural-born alicorn ancestors. In other words, my sister and I will begin to grow older. That means we will be able to advise and guide you until it is time to leave the land fully in your hooves,” Celestia said as she gently caressed Twilight with her white, downy wing.

Basking in the warmth of her mentor made her cares and worries finally and slowly whittle away as the minutes ticked by. Neither pony said anything for a time, simply relishing the other's presence. Eventually, the room slowly began to light up, as the clouds outside parted and the sun's rays began to pour in through the windows, brightening the room with a myriad of gentle colors. After she was fully calmed, Twilight gently wiggled out of Celestia's grasp, descending down the dais, and stretching her legs and body. Her wings extended out as the shifting clouds outside caused a sunbeam to directly hit her, forcing Celestia to pause. It was rare for the alicorn to feel humbled, not since Twilight's ascension, but in that brief window of time, with her student's wings fully spread and the sunlight bathing her purple coat in its warmth, she knew right then and there that she had made the right choice, and all of her fears for the future were cast aside. The harmonious cycle of teacher and student, ruler and protégé, would continue through the ages.

Finally, Twilight spoke. “I won't let you down, Princess Celestia.”

“I have all the faith in Equestria, Twilight.”