Passing On Together

Chapters

No Pony Lives Forever
Twilight is Suceeded
Farewells
If We Go, We Go Together

No Pony Lives Forever

Twilight Sparkle, ruler of Equestria for the past five years, faced the crowd that had gathered for the funeral of two great ponies, ones that she'd admired so very much and thought would never leave. She’d devoted her entire life to pleasing the elder of the two ponies, her mentor and friend Princess Celestia. Well… former Princess now. Twilight had always looked up to Celestia more than anypony. It seemed so inconceivable that she could be gone. It had never occurred to Twilight that either her or Luna could have passed on like this. Dying of old age the same any other pony could someday.

There had been a moment long ago when Twilight had feared losing her mentor. It was the day of her brother’s wedding, when Queen Chrysalis had invaded Canterlot and actually managed to overpower Celestia during a brief duel. She remembered rushing to Celestia's side after shouting out her name in concern after the princess fell to the floor. That had been one of the scariest moments of her life, to think she could have lost her. Fortunately, Celestia had not been fatally injured, merely a burned horn and some short-term deliriousness.

But now, Celestia was truly gone.

Gone. The thought of that was still almost impossible for Twilight to wrap her mind around. Ever since Twilight had been a filly, Celestia was there. She’d seen the princess raise the sun, that moment had inspired her to learn everything she could about magic. Then it was a dream come true when she hatched the dragon egg that contained Spike and Celestia took her as a personal protégée. Celestia had been everything Twilight wanted to be. Which was ironic, for now Twilight looked exactly like Celestia did. She’d grown to the exact same size, wore a similar gold necklace and shoes, and even had the flowing mane. It was as though she’d actually become her mentor. The only difference was she retained her lavender color and cutie mark.

Twilight took a breath and looked at the crowd, seeing her best friends amongst them. Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Rarity, Pinkie Pie, and Fluttershy sat in the front row of seats placed before the stage in Canterlot Cemetery. All the ponies in Equestria had gathered, but they could only fit so many in the cemetery. As such, some ponies were spending quiet days in front of cafes around Canterlot mourning silently for their beloved former rulers. There were many other ponies, but Twilight kept her eyes focused on her friends. The ones she’d had all those adventures with saving Equestria, the ones that had made her life meaningful, the ones that had shown her the greatest magic of all. The Magic of Friendship, they were her life, but she could be forced to watch them all leave.

“Hey? Twilight?”

She felt some creature touch her. Twilight looked over and saw Spike, her adoptive dragon brother, royal advisor, and always faithful number one assistant. He was not the little baby dragon he’d been for all those years. He was now nearly the same size as her even in her new “Celestial” form.

“It’s time to start your speech,” he reminded her gently.

“Oh right, sorry I was distracted.”

Spike gave her a weak but understanding smile. Twilight turned to address everypony.

“Today… we say goodbye to two wonderful… no… the most wonderful ponies Equestria has ever seen. Don’t you agree?” Twilight said quickly and with exasperation.

There were some nods of approval, but Twilight looked at her friends and noticed their worried expressions as they gazed up at her. She could guess what they were thinking. That she was on the verge of “Twilighting” again. Getting a nervous breakdown like she always did whenever something awful happened.

Keep it together Twilight. She thought. But this was possibly the most stress she’d ever felt before. It was like her entire world no longer had the sun in it. She’d always had Celestia to look up to and guide her. But now Celestia and Luna were both gone.

“Well…” Twilight said, managing to keep a calm tone despite the heavy feeling in her chest. “Celestia and Luna would encourage us to smile. They’ve done so much for all of us, and we must remember them. Even though they are gone, we shall make sure Equestria will never forget them no matter how much time will pass. The Festival of the Two Sisters will come every year during my reign. I promise that!”

“To the former Princesses!” Pinkie Pie raised her hooves.

The element of laughter brought smiles to everyone’s face with that. Soon Rarity and Starlight Glimmer began to levitate the pair of coffins in which Celestia and Luna’s bodies had been placed. They were lifted into the holes in the ground in front of a large monumental stone that had been prepared with statues of the two ponies on top. As the coffins neared their resting place, a flock of royal swans flew overhead guided by Fluttershy. They circled several times in a beautiful fashion. Once they were done, Rarity and Starlight placed the coffins in the ground, Applejack and Pinkie Pie then tearfully pushed dirt on top of them.

Twilight lifted her horn to the sky with teary eyes as she made an adjustment to it. Since her coronation as Equestria’s new ruler, she now had the power to control the sun and moon without the aid of the amulet she’d initially had to rely. But this also gave her something else as well, something that frightened her. But she had to focus on her task for the funeral right now. The sun remained in the sky, but it grew darker as the moon overlapped with it and a solar eclipse occurred. The sky darkened as though night came early. Rainbow Dash sighed, and with great effort, flapped her wings and shouted out as she performed a Sonic Rainboom. “Goodbye your majesties!”

Twilight allowed the eclipse to remain for half an hour. Her friends gathered around her as she sobbed, remembering all the times that she had shared with her beloved mentor. Those days when she’d been a filly reading books while Celestia watched fondly. All those times the Princess had said she was proud to have her as a student, that she’d believed in her, such as the time she’d defeated Nightmare Moon, all those lessons she’d taught Twilight at both the school of magic and by sending her to Ponyville.

“I would not be the Pony I am today without you, Celestia! Thank you!” Twilight said. “I will never forget you or Luna, and neither will Equestria!”

She felt a hoof on her and assumed it was probably Pinkie Pie. But when she finally had the courage to take the moon out from in front of the sun, she saw somepony else.

“You okay, little sis?” Shining Armor asked.

Most of the other ponies had left, but Twilight’s family had remained. Twilight Velvet and Night Light were both now looking elderly, their hair turning gray. Cadence was still the same size and possessed an ordinary mane. Flurry Heart was bigger, the size the Cutie Mark Crusaders had been when Twilight first met them. She had a heart shaped cutie mark surrounded by a fluffy cloud. They all looked at Twilight with concern.

Normally, Twilight would have cracked a joke about her current size right now and said, “Little sis? I’m bigger than you now!” But she had no heart for a joke right now.

“I don’t know. It just feels strange… Knowing that they’re both gone.”

Shining Armor nodded. “I thought they would last for eternity.”

Twilight Velvet approached her daughter. “I know how much you admired them, especially Celestia. She was probably more a mother to you than I was. I mean, I’m so rarely around.”

“Don’t say that Mom!” Twilight exclaimed. “Sure, Celestia was around more. But you raised me in a loving home and encouraged me, I wouldn’t be the pony I am today without you any more than her.”

“You look like you could have been her daughter now more than ours, given your appearance!” Night Light pointed out. “You never did tell us how that came to be! What caused you to grow into that anyway?”

Twilight could remember it clearly. That day when she’d learned the full extent of the transfer of power during her coronation.

Flashback 4 years ago

Twilight waited patiently as her royal chariot was pulled through the sky by two Pegasus royal guards. Spike sitting at her side, the baby dragon she’d hatched with her magic years ago wasn’t a baby anymore, and he was only going to get bigger in time. Within a few decades, or perhaps when she passed, he would be as large as a house.

She was bigger too. Twilight had thought she was fully grown when she'd moved to Ponyville long ago. But when she'd woken up this morning and raised the sun, she'd looked in her mirror to see a great difference. She used to be the smallest of the Alicorn Princesses, but now she was bigger, as tall as her sister in law Cadence. But more, her mane was flowing and sparkling faintly like that of her predecessors. Twilight needed to get some questions answered regarding this, and there were only two ponies that might know what was happening.

The carriage finally descended toward the Silver Shoals retirement home. It hit ground and Twilight climbed out, her guards and Spike following her. She heard a soft chuckle behind her and was surprised when Spike suddenly jumped on her back. He hadn’t done that in a long time, after he'd gotten his wings, she'd given him fewer ponyback rides.

She still chuckled. “Spike!”

“Hey you’re bigger now! Just thought I’d relive some of the good old days when I could do this!”

“Okay, but only till we get inside. Don’t get used to this. Maybe I’ll only be like this temporarily.”

The ride ended very quickly, but Spike didn’t complain. As soon as they were at the door to the retirement home, he jumped off. The place was filled with mostly elderly mares and stallions. A few younger ones were present, visiting their older relatives and enjoying each other’s company. Families consisting of grandparents, parents, and foals all laughing and smiling together. Despite her stress, Twilight smiled as she watched these moments. Several ponies noticed her presence. Their eyes widened at the sight of their princess, but they bowed respectfully, saying “Princess” or “Your Highness” as she passed them. Twilight waved and smiled at them in return as she made her way to the top floor where the ponies she sought lived. She came to the right number and knocked.

“Come in!” a familiar yet different regal voice said.

Twilight and Spike entered the room while the royal guards remained outside. Once they were in the room, Twilight and Spike's mouths fell open at an unexpected sight. Celestia and Luna, the two ponies who had ruled Equestria for the longest time and remained looking young while doing it were now looking… old.

Celestia and Luna were different. Luna looked a lot like she did when Twilight first saw her after she and her friends defeated her when she'd been Nightmare Moon. Her coat was the lighter shade of blue that Twilight had nearly forgotten about. Her mane no longer sparkled; it was a lighter blue as well but also had some streaks of grey. Celestia, meanwhile, had a form completely unfamiliar to Twilight. Her coat was the same white, but her multi-colored mane now only bore a pink, with even more gray than Luna’s. Wrinkles were also forming on both former princesses’ cheeks like they would on older mares. Twilight stood there with her mouth open.

“Prin-Celestia! Luna!” Twilight exclaimed. She’d almost said Princess, even though these two were no longer royalty.

“My Twilight… your mane,” Celestia said with a smile. “It’s beautiful.”

Twilight paused at the compliment then said, “Th-thank you. But do you know why it’s become like this? And why…why do both of you look like this? Luna you look like you did when I first met you… but older? Are you both alright? Are you ill?”

Luna shook her head. “We're fine, Twilight. We've merely lost the last remnants of the power we passed on to you. Soon we ourselves will be passing on.”

Twilight was silent for a moment. Not believing what she was hearing.

“Passing on? You mean-

“Yes, Twilight. Our time is coming,” Celestia said.

Twilight was silent for a moment. “But… but I thought you were both going to live forever!” Tears began to fill her eyes. “You two can’t die!”

“Nopony lives forever, Twilight. Though I suppose we could have... but we don't want to. We’ve lived long enough and had good lives... despite... our hardships.” Celestia got up from her sofa and walked toward her former student. She moved slower than Twilight remembered.

“We likely would have passed on the throne to somepony else a thousand years ago if not for my transformation into Nightmare Moon,” Luna said.

“So many of our friends, the subjects we grew close too during our early years ruling long ago have passed," Celestia said as she approached Twilight and put a hoof on her. "We had talked about finding a worthy successor back in those days when our first loved ones were growing old. But when I had to banish my sister to the moon, I could not bring myself to pass on alone. I wanted my sister back!” Celestia sniffled. “So, when I discovered that Nightmare Moon would return, I decided to wait… and then find a worthy successor once I had my Luna back.”

She looked at Twilight with a teary smile. “And I found that successor. You.”

“But… Celestia. Luna. You can't! Please, take your power back from me!” Twilight shrieked.

Celestia shook her head. “Twilight, please try to understand. I've ruled for over a thousand years. In that time, I've watched many ponies that I grew to care about pass on. Students I taught at my School of Magic, friends that I would spend time with. Servants who aided me. All ponies and other creatures I care about. I've been to more funerals than anypony. Life is a gift, but I've had my fill of it. Death is a natural part of life, and we must accept it. Immortality is a heavy burden, not a gift."

Twilight was at a loss for words. She couldn't imagine all the losses her mentor had kept buried deep. She looked down in silence.

Celestia took her chin and made her look up. “Don't despair, Twilight. We still have a few years left, and you are always welcome to visit us. But you came to ask about why your mane is like that and why you are suddenly bigger?”

Twilight nodded as she looked back at her purple mane which flowed behind her.

“It usually only did this when I was channeling a lot of friendship magic. But now its doing it on its own. I’ve only seen you, Luna, Sombra, and Mistmane with manes that move on their own.”

“Well… I believe it is because of all the magic you wield which has built up inside you. Since we passed our powers onto you at the Coronation, you now harness the power of the sun and moon. You also have the friendship magic you’ve spread across Equestria. When alicorns, or unicorns delve into a rare and powerful magic like our cosmic energy which controls the sun and moon, or Sombra’s darkness, and Mistmane’s own good heart we acquire these manes permanently through practicing powerful types of magic.”

“Will I continue growing?”

“Perhaps. Depends on how powerful you become. You could become as large as I am," Celestia said. “Or perhaps even more so.”

“But… does that mean I’m… going to be immortal?” Twilight asked, horror filling her.

“You could,” Luna said. “But it is up to you."

Twilight hesitated. Sure, living forever did sound nice. She wouldn't have to be afraid of growing old... but she knew that would come with a price.

“I would have to watch all my best friends go and never be able to follow them. Applejack, Rarity, Pinkie, Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy.”

"Yes," Celestia said. "If you choose to keep it."

Twilight shook her head. "No, I don't want it. I do want to live, but losing everypony I love is not a price I would pay to do so."

“We understand, Twilight. I had to watch many of my students whom I grew close too… ones that could have succeeded me before you… pass on. I miss them all dearly and hope to reunite with them in the next life,” Celestia said.

“So… what can I do?” Twilight asked.

“I believe I can think of a way,” Celestia said. “Search for a successor of your own. One who will be responsible for raising the sun and moon, and maintaining the friendship in Equestria. When the time comes, pass the power to them.”

End Flashback.

Twilight shook her head. “I don’t feel like talking about it. Excuse me, I need to take a walk.”

She trotted among the other graves. Wondering whether any she passed contained the friends that Celestia and Luna had made during their thousand year lives. As she did so, she saw a pair of young unicorn fillies playing carefreely. They were apparently bored by the quietness around Canterlot and snuck away to play ball, tossing one back and forth with their magic. Twilight smiled at this sight for a moment, so much fun. But that was such a simple trick to be able to levitate a ball like that. What she needed for a successor was someone with beyond simple talent with magic to be able to take over the duties of the sun and moon.

Celestia had said some worthy successors came during her lifetime. But Twilight had been a special case, she’d been able to hatch a dragon egg with raw magic power. That kind of potential wasn’t seen very often. The only other unicorn Twilight might have believed capable of such a feat (besides herself when she had been one) was Starlight, who had been able to fight her evenly despite her ascension to alicornhood. Hay, Starlight even managed to hold her own against Chrysalis when the former Changeling Queen had been empowered by Grogar's magic.

Twilight sighed. If only Starlight were a filly right now, she might have been able to groom her to be a worthy successor like Celestia had done for her. But Starlight was just about the same age as Twilight herself. That wasn’t going to work, Twilight couldn’t give her the power and immortality. She would be forcing Starlight to have the same burden. She needed a younger student to take her place, so that that student could do the same if they so choose.

But even if she found one with that much ability, would that pony turn out good? Celestia had been faced with a betrayal from Sunset Shimmer, her protégee before Twilight. And Twilight herself had also been betrayed by an even worse student, Cozy Glow. Would she be able to find a successor that had the power and compassion to be a good ruler? Twilight wanted to be able to pass on with her friends, but she still had a responsibility to her people. She couldn’t let somepony take her place unless she was absolutely certain that pony would be a good ruler. What if she had to wait for a hundred years? Two hundred? Or even a thousand before she found one? What if something happened to make her need to stay like Celestia had for Luna? What if Equestria still needed her?

Starlight might have been worthy, her villainous days were long behind her. She was doing a good job as stewardess of the Castle of Friendship as well as Headmare at the school along with her husband Sunburst. If only she were younger.

“Hey!” A voice called behind Twilight.

The princess looked over her shoulder to see Starlight herself coming. Twilight stopped and allowed her first ever pupil to catch up with her. “Here to try and pull me out of my depression like you did when the school got closed by Neighsay?” Twilight asked.

Starlight blushed and put a hoof on her stomach. “I might as well try. You look like you could use some happy news today.”

Twilight sighed. “I’d love some.”

Starlight motioned for her to come close. Reluctantly, Twilight put an ear out. Her mouth fell open when Starlight spoke.
“I’m pregnant.”

Twilight was silent for a moment. Then her lips grew into the largest smile that she’d made since hearing of Celestia and Luna’s passing.

“Starlight that’s… that’s wonderful! You and Sunburst are having a foal! Oh, I could only imagine what it’ll turnout like!”

Starlight gave a small chuckle as she patted her stomach. There was yet to be a foalbump going down to the ground, but the baby was there. “Well, hopefully it won’t turn out like I did after losing a single friend. Though I’m hoping it’ll be pretty good at magic at least. I mean, I’m pretty good at it. Sunburst is a genius on its theory, and we choose Trixie to be godmare. So, who knows? This could be Equestria’s next Starswirl the Bearded?”

Those words caused Twilight to smile brightly as an idea entered her head. “Well… let’s hope.”

Author's Note

People often assume that it is being an alicorn that is what makes Celestia and Luna immortal or at least longer lived. But the fact is its never been said how they lived so long in the show. Though there was a book called the Journal of the Two Sisters which stated they remained young by raising the sun and moon. This fic follows that idea. And Jim Miller revealed after the series finale that they gave those powers to Twilight when they fused the crowns, or that it was their intention for that.

Twilight is Suceeded

Many years dragged by for Twilight as she ruled Equestria to the best of her abilities. But to her relief, she had found a worthy successor. Coincidentally it was Starlight and Sunburst’s daughter, Luster Dawn. Now, tonight she would be able to leave Equestria in the hooves of somepony else and join her friends. All of them had begun discussing retirement, and they wanted to all go to Silver Shoals, the same place where Celestia and Luna had gone. It was perfect. Twilight would still be following in her mentor's hoofprints, and she’d be following her friends as well. Their time would soon be upon them, and she needed to get rid of her immortality if she was to join them.

She’d observed Luster’s progress ever since Starlight and Sunburst had enrolled her in Celestia’s School for Gifted Unicorns (Twilight kept it named after her mentor to honor her, even though she could have changed it to her name). As Starlight and Sunburst had hoped, Luster had been very gifted with magic, and was the first to succeed in a near impossible task that Twilight had set up for an “entrance exam”. She’d been able to move the sun using the amulet Twilight had first used when preparing to take over for Celestia and Luna.

That was no easy task as it required a great amount of magic power to perform, Twilight herself had struggled with it and required Sunburst's help to reset the amulet when the moon and sun appeared together. But somehow, Luster had managed to do it. Applying a great power that caused the sun to move back more than a full day to dawn. That was far greater than any of the other students Twilight gave the exam to. They’d barely managed to move the sun back a little. Now, Twilight realized that the impossible entrance exam she herself had gone through when hatching Spike's egg as a filly had never been a test to get into the school of magic. It was a test to show you had the powerful potential of an alicorn.

Luster’s deed had earned Twilight’s recognition. She’d taken the young filly on as a personal protégee just as Celestia had done for her. Luster had proven to be a lot like Twilight had been when she’d first started out her journey. Like Twilight, she’d believed friendship was a waste of time, only to embrace it happily after Twilight sent her to Ponyville and she began to make her own friends. She was also kind, intelligent, and always thought about others before herself.

Now Luster was an Alicorn just like Twilight. She’d been of great aid in a recent catastrophe where the REAL Grogar returned. If not for her, Twilight would not be alive now.

Twilight’s eyes widened as she got to her hooves. All of her friends were down on the ground after being hit by Grogar’s magic. The evil ram laughed.

“No! Girls!” she screamed desperately as tears filled her eyes. They couldn’t be-

“It seems all the magic of your friendship will be your undoing!”

Twilight narrowed her eyes and tried to call upon all the magic she could. But without her friends, the Princess of Friendship had nowhere near as much power as before. They had been able to fight Grogar evenly together but alone she stood no chance. Grogar sent a dark rainbow out like before, it sent Twilight’s beam back and hit her. She fell and was not able to rise again.

Twilight had thought Chrysalis, Tirek and Cozy Glow were strong when they’d had this monster's magic. But it had been divided among them. This was all in one vessel, and the bell he’d stolen back had absorbed the energy from her own friendship magic when she’d hit those other three villains and stripped them of his power. Now her greatest triumph was going to result in her ultimate defeat.

She could only watch helplessly as Grogar approached her, a yellow orb forming above his head as he grinned evilly.

“Get away from the Princess!” a familiar voice shouted.

Grogar’s attention was drawn to the side. Twilight weakly turned her head in that direction as well as her vision blurred. Luster stood there with the four best friends she’d made in Ponyville some time ago. Twilight then passed out. When she awoke, she saw to her relief that her friends were alive. Luster’s friends were still there, but she was not. Grogar was gone also.

“Princess Twilight!” Luster’s griffin friend Georgia exclaimed as she lay over her.

“Where’s Grogar?” Twilight questioned.

“We defeated him!” Georgia said. “Luster was putting everything she had into shielding you and the rest of us. Then she suddenly turned his own magic against him somehow! But now she’s… she’s gone!”

Twilight felt her horn suddenly radiate magic. She let out a gasp and wide smile of relief as she realized what it meant. Luster was it! With a spell she’d learned from the forbidden archives, she entered the area filled with flowing light. The place where she herself had received her alicorn wings from Celestia all those years ago.

Luster was looking around frightfully.

“Luster!” Twilight called out to her student.

Luster looked in her direction. “Princess!”

She galloped up to Twilight. “Where are we? Are we… dead? I thought I’d defeated Grogar.”

“You did,” Twilight assured her with a nuzzle. “You turned the magic of friendship against him. You’ve proven that you are ready.”

“Ready? Ready for what?” Luster asked.

Twilight smiled and sung the exact same song her mentor sang to her when she’d become an Alicorn. Then she cast the spell, and they returned to Equestria with Luster having a pair of wings.

Now. A few years after crowning Luster as the second Princess of Friendship, Twilight was ready to step down and finally let a new Princess take charge. All of her worries about outliving her friends would be put to rest, and she had somepony that she had absolutely no doubt would work for the best of Equestria.

Luster Dawn:

Luster waited nervously as Rarity adjusted her dress.

“Do you really think I’m ready to become the next ruler of Equestria?” she asked the older mare.

Rarity giggled. “When we were younger, Twilight doubted herself many times. She’d have the worst panic attacks and make long lists which we called her "Twilighting" phase. You are a lot like her, darling. That’s why I’m sure you are ready. You’ve come to understand friendship as much as she has. Believe in yourself, Luster.”

Luster sighed. She waited until Rarity was done. After the fashionista pony was satisfied the dress was perfect, she took one last look to be sure.

“This is going to be the last dress I will ever make,” Rarity said sadly. “I have to make sure it is perfect. At least I don’t have to worry about leaving spiders on you like I did with Twilight at her coronation. I do hope everything else goes smoothly for the others. It will be a good chance at redemption this time around.”

Luster chuckled. She’d heard about the coronation disaster. Everything had gone wrong with Twilight’s friends doing their tasks. She’d assumed it had been the reason that they’d apparently drifted apart. But she’d been wrong, Twilight and her friends were still close as ever. Now that she was taking over, they would be able to spend their final days together at Silver Shoals. All of them had done so much for Equestria over the years and they deserved to be reunited permanently after spending so much time apart. Luster would be taking Twilight’s place as Princess, and Twilight would be taking back her place in her friend’s everyday lives like it used to be.

She emerged from the changing room to meet her parents. Starlight and Sunburst both smiled as they looked at their daughter in the purple dress Rarity had made for her. Trixie was there with them as well.

“You look beautiful, Luster,” Starlight said as she nuzzled her daughter. “We’re both so proud of you.”

“Yeah, first you go to Celestia’s School and became so talented. Unlike me,” Sunburst said with a nervous grin as he adjusted his glasses fidgettingly. “Then you become Twilight’s protégee, and now you’re going to be the new Ruler of Equestria!”

“You’re one great and powerful pony. Taking after your Aunt Trixie!” Trixie said with a smirk as she poked Luster. “As well as Mommy, Daddy, and goody four hooves Twilight.”

Luster blushed. “Thanks Mom, Dad, Aunt Trixie. I’m glad you guys are all so proud.”

“Well, you best not keep Twilight waiting. We’ll see you down there,” Starlight said.

The family hugged and then Luster made her way up to the tower where Twilight would be addressing her subjects for the transfer of power. The Princess stood there magnificently. Spike, now a large dragon and not the baby or even teenager he’d once been long ago, stood by her side as he always did when not performing his duties as Friendship Ambassador.

Twilight smiled at Luster, then turned to address her subjects below. The crowd contained every race in Equestria, Ponies, Yaks, Kirin, Changelings, Hippogriffs, and Dragons.

“It has been my honor to govern this country in place of Celestia and Luna. But now it is my turn to hand over the throne to another successor. Luster Dawn has proven to me that she is capable-

“Now, hold on!” a loud voice echoed throughout Canterlot, startling every creature present.

Discord, the spirit of chaos, suddenly materialized out of thin air above them. Twilight jumped.

“You honestly expect me to let you simply walk out on your crown after all the tests I gave you to prepare you to take it?” he asked, grabbing her by the face. “Why in Equestria are you doing this? Oh wait, let me guess! It is because you’re afraid of outliving your friends since you’ve been made immortal!”

There were gasps from the crowd below at this revealation.

“Princess Twilight is immortal?”

“Can that really be true?”

“She has the same flowing mane as Celestia and Luna!”

“But they died!”

Discord looked from Twilight to the crowd below. “Why don’t you go ahead and tell them the truth?”

Twilight was silent for a moment, then gave him a big frown. Everything had been going perfectly so far. She walked over to the balcony and spoke once again.

“Yes. It is true. I am immortal like Celestia and Luna were. During my coronation they transferred their immortality to me so they could pass on.”

Many ponies began speaking at once, their voices overlapping so Twilight couldn’t make what they were saying.

“Quiet! One at a time!” she screamed in her royal voice before pointing to a random pony. “You! What are your thoughts on this!”

The stallion she’d pointed to hesitated.

“Well I… I am surprised that you are trying to pass on the crown to someone else even though you could rule forever.”

Many ponies nodded at this.

“You are our princess! How can you just choose to leave us like this!”

“Please stay, Princess Twilight! We love you! We need you to protect us!”

Twilight’s heart fell seeing all the saddened and angry ponies who were now upset by her decision.

“Believe me! I wish I could please you all! But if I stay immortal, it will mean losing all my best friends!”

This caused the ponies below to be silent for a moment. Down in the crowd, Twilight’s friends were looking up at her with tears.

“She’s actually willing to give up something like immortality and ruling to be with us?” Applejack said.

“Oh, what a friend!” Rarity exclaimed in her dramatic voice. “I don’t know if I could do that.”

“So loyal,” Rainbow Dash said.

A blue dragon wielding a scepter flew up to the balcony where Twilight stood with Luster, Discord and Spike. Like the purple and green dragon, Ember had grown up these past few decades. Though she had grown slower and Spike had become taller, she still maintained her more lean dragon figure. Still when she landed, she caused a thud.

“You know Twilight, even if you do outlive your friends, its not like you will lose all of them. You still have me, Spike, and others.”

Twilight sighed. “You’re right, Ember. I will always have friends as the Princess of Friendship. But many more of them will pass sooner or later. I’d be facing an unending cycle of loss. Just like Celestia did during her time ruling. That was the hardest part of her job, she only remained on the throne for a thousand years because she wanted Luna back.”

Discord chuckled. “You don’t need to necessarily lose any of them, your highness. I brought Sombra back from the dead! I’ve kept little Angel Bunny from aging all these years for Fluttershy. I could easily halt every creature’s aging process with a snap of my fingers! You can rule over a land of immortals!”

“Are you crazy!” Applejack yelled from down below. “Do you have any idea how much the population would grow if every creature was immortal! We’d never be able to feed that many ponies without seriously damaging the environment!”

Discord sighed. “You’re right! So much for that idea. Well, here’s another option. I could simply make the five of you immortal!”

He pointed to the Mane 5 whose eyes widened. “That way Twilight has all her best friends by her side. Together forever.”

The five of them were silent for a moment.

“Immortal Rainbow Dash does have an awesome ring to it!” the Pegasus said.

Applejack put a hoof on Rainbow Dash.

“That’s a generous offer and all,Discord. But I’m gonna have to refuse. Death is a natural occurrence and… should be accepted. We’ve already lost members of our family.”

Applejack looked down, clutching the scarf that had once belonged to Granny Smith who’d passed on shortly after Celestia and Luna. Her eyes began to water. Noticing this, Rainbow Dash put a foreleg around her friend to comfort her. When Granny Smith had passed away, Applejack had fallen deep into depression. The Apple Farm had nearly collapsed until Rainbow had been the one to pull Applejack out of it and get her back on her hooves.

Rarity sighed. “As much as I do relish the thought of remaining young and beautiful forever. I find the idea of watching everypony else I love die to be ugly beyond words.”

“Wouldn’t be a fun thing,” Pinkie Pie said.

Fluttershy nodded. “It would be cruel, not only for us, but of us as well to do that.”

Discord sighed. “Oh poo! Well, what does every pony think Twilight should do than?”

The ponies looked up at their ruler who shivered nervously.

“Well,” the same stallion who’d spoken first said. “We don’t want Princess Twilight to rule us if it would hurt her. But… if she is gone than who is going to be responsible for maintaining harmony in Equestria?”

“All of you will of course,” Twilight said proudly, now feeling a wave of relief.

“All of us?” the stallion asked.

Twilight nodded. “When I defeated Tirek, Chrysalis, and Cozy Glow I told them that there would always be darkness in Equestria. But there will always be light as well to oppose it. The Magic of Friendship is that light, and even if I and all my friends are gone, others will continue our mission after we are. But more… I believe that it is truly my time to pass the torch on. Truthfully, I don’t think that if I stayed behind after my friends died, I’d be able to wield the Magic of Friendship anymore. It would only grow weaker as I lost more and more friends. Even the thought of that weakens my magic. If not for Luster, I would have fallen against Grogar. There is no doubt in my mind she is fully capable of taking on my role as the Princess of Friendship now. I know that I’m leaving you all in capable hooves. But to be fair, I think it would be best to vote. All with faith in Luster raise your hooves.”

Twilight did so, quickly followed by her friends sitting at their table.

The rest of the ponies raised their hooves as well. Knowing that Twilight’s magic would weaken if she lost her friends, they knew they needed a new group of Protectors to defend them and carry the magic of friendship.

Twilight smiled. “Well, that settles it then.”

Twilight lifted her crown from her head and shot a beam of magic into it. Just like at her coronation years ago when Celestia and Luna transferred their power to her, it took a new form. Now it was a sun crown like Celestia’s though with Luster’s rising sun cutie mark at the top. Twilight then put it on Luster's head, Equestria now had a new ruler and Princess of Friendship.

“All hail Princess Luster Dawn!”

Author's Note

Well here's chapter two of my head canon. Any suggestions, error spottings or thoughts for improvement are appreciated. Tried to add a bit of conflict with people/creatures wanting Twilight to stay and having a good reason for her to NEED to pass on the reins. If anyone thinks it could use a little I will take your ideas into consideration. Hope you all enjoy.

Farewells

With the coronation over, everycreature had a chance to talk and enjoy each other’s company for a brief time. Twilight gathered with her best friends at a table down below just as she had years ago after getting her crown. Though now she had abandoned it along with her golden shoes.

“Well, at least the food was served properly this time since I was here to make sure,” Applejack said. “But still that was a bit of a bump in the road, wouldn’t you say, Twilight?”

“Yes. Well… there’s always going to be those. But I’m glad we’re all going to be spending the rest of our days together at Silver Shoals,” Twilight said.

“It's awesome that we’ll see each other every day from now on! Just like the good old days,” Rainbow Dash said. “Hate to leave the Wonder Bolts though.”

“Well, we all have to retire at some point,” Applejack said. “None of us are getting any younger.”

“Indeed. I’ve already gotten several gray hairs,” Rarity said. “What I get for being such a drama queen, I suppose.”

“Still, I’m surprised you never got a husband, Rarity. I mean, I had the biggest crush on you when I was little,” Spike said.

The white unicorn smiled as she leaned into Spike’s side. “I know. That was very sweet of you, Spike. But I suppose not getting a husband is what I get for being greedy at Shining Armor and Cadence’s wedding.”

Twilight lowered her head slightly at the mention of her late brother and sister in law. They’d both been lost years ago. Attacked by a Rhinoceros monster while trying to protect her niece Flurry Heart.

“Pushing the other bridesmaids out of the way. That wasn’t a very generous moment on my part. The one who catches the flowers is supposed to be the next to get married, but it never happened for me,” Rarity continued. “Though I did have a lot on my plate with all the fashion business traveling around Equestria. Probably wouldn’t have had time for a husband or a foal. Besides, my whininess probably would have annoyed him. I’m surprised you put up with me when I had you carry so many items at times.”

“Hey, I was a big strong dragon even then!” Spike said with a grin, causing everypony to laugh.

Rarity gave him a loving smile. “Oh, Spikey Wikey.”

As they sat and talked, three familiar mares approached their table. Twilight smiled at the grown up Cutie Mark Crusaders who were now teachers at her old School of Friendship.

“Howdy Twilight!” Applebloom said.

“Hello girls!” Twilight said as she got up and wrapped her wings around the three of them in a hug.

“We missed having you in Ponyville!” Sweetie Belle chimed.

“I missed you girls too!” Twilight said. “But I’m proud of the work you’ve done for the school all these years!”

“Now you’re going to Silver Shoals, just like Celestia and Luna to retire and…” Scootalloo started.

“Yes,” Twilight said. “To live out the rest of my days with my best friends.”

“You could have stayed immortal though. Ruled for a thousand years like Celestia.”

Twilight shook her head. “Celestia had it rough. She may not have shown it but she kept a lot of grief hidden away behind her smiles. So many friends passed over the course of her reign. I have no intention of sharing that pain.”

“Granny Smith said death is just another big journey,” Applebloom said sadly.

At the mention of Granny Smith, Applejack lost it. She sobbed loudly. Rainbow Dash was immediately by her side and began stroking her mane.

“Oops.” Applebloom said.

“There, there Applejack. Its okay,” Rainbow Dash said.

Applejack sighed. “I never used to cry like this in the good old days.”

“We all went through a lot over the years, darling,” Rarity said as she patted the earth ponies back. “All that magic and terrible experiences affected us all. I have trouble sleeping at times.”

“I know, nightmares of all those frightening experiences,” Fluttershy said.

Twilight sighed. “If only I could have spent more time with the dream realm side of my duties.”

“Hey, you’re only one princess. Celestia and Luna were two, that did make things easier for them,” Pinkie said. “Too bad Spike wasn’t an alicorn instead of a dragon.”

“Yeah, sadly I can’t do that.”

“Well, maybe I should tell Luster to search for two successors so they can divide up the magic,” Twilight said.

Applejack soon stopped crying as her friends surrounded her. They finished their meal, then Twilight decided it was time to say goodbye to Luster and the others. She got to her hooves and made her way to where her former student was with all her own friends as well as her parents.

“Well, we’re leaving then. Goodbye Luster,” Twilight said as she approached her student and gave her a nuzzle.

“I’ll be able to come and see you at Silver Shoals though right?”

“Of course. You are always welcome to come see us. Until the end,” Twilight said before turning to Starlight and Sunburst. “Your daughter is really special. I’m sure you're both proud.”

“Beyond words, Twilight,” Starlight said. “I learned a lot from you back when I was your pupil. But I’m glad I never became a princess. Who knows whether that would have caused me to become a tyrant again?”

“Oh come on, dear. Your cult leader days are long behind you,” Sunburst put a hoof around his wife. “You would have made a great princess if you’d ever gotten the chance.”

“Will you be retiring soon as well?” Twilight asked.

Starlight nodded. “I’ll probably put Ocellus in charge. She’ll watch over the castle, school, and map. Guess she’ll be head changeling of the school and stewardess of the castle.”

Twilight nodded. “I’m sure Ocellus will do a great job. You and Sunburst certainly did. I’m proud of you both.”

She was hugged by Luster, Starlight, and Sunburst. Then it was time to go. Twilight joined Spike and all her best friends from her Ponyville days. They would spend the rest of their lives together at Silver Shoals. It would be just like the good old days, but with no disturbances from dangers. Just relaxing, carefree fun.

Spike:

As Twilight left to say goodbye to Luster, Spike had someone he needed to say goodbye to as well. He met Dragon Lord Ember among her own kind, they were laughing as at the entertainment put on by the now grown up cake Twins as well as Pinkie Pies teenaged son Lil’ Cheese.

"Hey Ember!” Spike called out as he approached.

“Spike!” the lean blue Dragon Lord said as she flew up and hugged her first ever real friend. Ember had grown more accustomed to feelings and displays of affection over the years and now had no problem doing them.

They embraced each other for a moment than Spike said, “Twilight’s going to Silver Shoals. Just thought I’d come and say goodbye.”

Ember nodded. “Too bad she decided to give up that immortality. First pony friend I ever made. Ah well, life goes on right? We all have different lifespans. Speaking of which, what are you going to do once she’s gone?”

“What?” Spike asked.

“You realize even if she doesn’t outlive her friends, you’ll outlive all of them. We dragons live for a few thousand years. My dad’s getting pretty old though,"Ember said sadly. “Probably be gone in a century or two.”

This had not occurred to Spike, and the thought chilled him to the core. He would spend thousands of years without Twilight and all their friends? They were like his family! Fate had threaded them all together long ago, since the day of Spike’s birth. Rainbow Dash had performed her first ever Sonic Rainboom, and all the others had acquired their cutie marks as a result, and Twilight had been able to hatch him from the egg during her entrance exam at the School for Gifted Unicorns.

They’d all been together during the best years of Spike’s life. All his best friends, his first love. Now… they were all going to leave him someday soon. He lowered his head in sadness.

Ember put her claws over her mouth. “Oh! I’m sorry Spike. Me and my big mouth! Just like when I first tried making pony friends.”

She pulled him into another hug.

“You know its not going to be forever. Just a few thousand years before you see them again in the afterlife, if there is one that is.”

“That’s not exactly comforting, Ember.”

“Well… uh…” Ember paused. Hoping to find the right words to console her friend. “You’ll always have me! Why don’t you come to the dragon lands after…”

“That’s a great idea!” someone said.

Spike looked in the direction of the loud shout and saw a red dragon a little bigger than him.

“Hiya Spikey Wikey!” Garble said with a friendly smile.

Spike returned the smile half heartedly and accepted Garble’s high claw.

“Garble,” he greeted his former enemy turned friend.

“So you’re gonna come live with us after old pony princess passes?” Garble asked.

Spike gave a frown at Garble calling Twilight “old pony princess”.

“Hey, don’t insult my big sister!” he snapped.

“She’ll be your little sister before long!” Garble said with a chuckle. “Anyway, I’m totally down for having you live in the dragon lands.”

“Now hold on Garble, he didn’t say yes.” Ember corrected. “Just think about it Spike. We’ll be waiting there if you want to do it.”

“Right,” Spike said walking off.

He turned around and saw Pinkie Pie talking with the cake twins and Lil Cheese.

“You guys make sure to keep the party going strong in Ponyville, okay?” Pinkie said. “Just don’t do anything crazy like Cheese Sandwich did?”

“Don’t worry mommy!’ Lil Cheese said with a smile. “I’ll be sure to avoid anything that could result in a terrible tragic accident.”

“We’ll make sure he does. Don’t worry Auntie Pinkie!” Pumpkin Cake said. “You just enjoy your retirement with your best friends.”

Pinkie Pie hugged them while Spike watched, a smile returning to his face. Pinkie Pie than began walking back the way she’d come. A fun idea occurred to Spike, he flapped his wings. Saw Pinkie’s tail twitch as her magical sense came in. But too late! Spike seized her from above and flew back toward the table the rest of the girls were at.

“Wee!” Pinkie screamed for joy at the brief but very fun exciting ride.

Twilight returned from talking with Luster and the others.

“Everypony ready to go?”

They all nodded. The Mane 6 and Spike than began the walk to the train station which would take them to Silver Shoals.

Author's Note

I figured it was safe to assume something had happened to Cadence and Shining Armor since from the stained glass window in the last episode it looks as though Flurry Heart rules the Crystal Empire herself now. I had thought of making a scene with her saying good bye to Twilight, but maybe I'll add that in later. Along with something involving Discord. I also heard that Twilight and her friends were exposed to a lot of magic over the years. Some think this may have resulted in them becoming immortal themselves, but for my fic I will assume it causes them some greater stress as there was no real explanation on how it affects them. Even if they are immortal, they'd be forced to watch the rest of their loved ones die. So I'm not gonna make that my head cannon, still better they at least have each other.

I'm glad to have gotten at least a few likes and I hope this is providing a better alternative to Twilight outliving her friends. As always, leave your comments and thoughts. Don't forget to like if you favorite as well please!

If We Go, We Go Together

Retirement seemed to lift a weight off Twilight’s shoulders. For the first time in her very, very busy life, she no longer had any responsibilities. She didn’t have to raise the sun, moon, deal with friendship problems in Equestria, or even paperwork. Even as a filly, she’d always been hard at work, studying magic and other things. Now… she was so carefree. One thing that didn’t change, however, she was still a book worm. Whenever she wasn’t spending time talking, relaxing, and laughing with her friends, she’d be reading a book.

Now, she just had her friends and the time they all had left in this world. But Twilight was still worried.

After a year of being away from Canterlot, the former princess woke up one morning to light coming in from the sun as Luster rose it instead. Twilight yawned and got up before looking in her mirror, receiving a surprise. Her mane and body had returned to their original form while she had slept, no longer flowing and sparkling with magic. She’d shrunk down to the size she’d been before her transformation to back to the same size as her friends.

Twilight got to her hooves. One day life would leave her, but she would always be with her friends. They would all be together in the next world, and be able to reunite with all their other friends and family that had passed on as well. Some might take a long time to catch up with her like Spike, but that would happen one day.

She made her way down to the same breakfast table where she and her friends had their morning meal every day.

“Oh darling, your mane is back to normal!” Rarity exclaimed.

"And you're smaller!" Pinkie said.

‘Well, it had to happen at some point,” Twilight said as she sat down between the former fashion designer and party pony.

“Ah well. Its still lovely,” Rarity said as she ran a hoof through it. “You don’t have a single gray hair yet and I’ve a full head.”

It was true, the purple had all but vanished from Rarity’s mane now. The other girls had started to grow gray as well.

Twilight sighed as she saw this and gazed down at the table. Who knew how long it would take for her to catch up with her friends age wise? True, Celestia and Luna had grown gray rather quickly. But they’d been a thousand years old, so it might have happened quicker for them? Even now, Twilight might still be faced with being the last of her friends to pass after giving up her immortality.

“What’s wrong, Sugarcube?” Applejack asked.

Twilight lifted her head up. “It’s just, I gave up the crown so I would be able to pass on with all you. But what if it has some lasting affects that keeps me younger for a while? What if I still remain around for ten, twenty years after you all are gone?”

“Twilight, its okay for you to live a little longer than us!” Fluttershy said as she stroked the still immortal Angel bunny, the only pet she’d been allowed to bring with her to Silver Shoals.

“No!” Twilight screamed. “Ever since I learned I had immortality, I had nightmares! Nightmares where I was putting flowers by all your graves while generations of ponies went by! I don’t want that to happen, even if its for just a few years!”

“Darling please speak at a lower volume!” Rarity said with her hooves raised gently.

Twilight looked around, noticing with a blush that several of the old ponies here had looked over at her outburst. Others with hearing problems had failed to notice.

“I’m sorry,” Twilight said. “It’s just so terrible to think about. You girls made me who I am today. Without you, I never would have become a Princess at all.”

Fluttershy nodded as she looked at Angel. “My love for creatures is what makes me who I am. Angel has always been my favorite, I’ve wanted him to stay with me all my life. So Discord simply snapped his fingers every few years and he’d grow young again.”

There was a pop as Discord himself appeared, looking worn out.

“Yes, so simple for me. To be able to make that coarse old bunny young again with a mere snap of my fingers.”

He looked over his shoulder at the other elderly ponies, but they paid him no mind. Ever since his public offer to make everypony in Equestria immortal, many of them had been chasing after him asking for him to make them young again. Even though the ones here at Silver Shoals had given up months ago, there were still ones that gave him trouble.

The draconequs looked away from the other elders and back to his wife. “Anything for my love,” he said, picking Fluttershy up.

“I love you, you chaotic sweetheart.”

Discord sighed as he stroked the fading pink mane. “Well, I suppose I can’t force you to accept immortality if you don’t want it. I just hate the idea of losing you… all of you. My friends.” He looked around at the other five.

Twilight and the others nodded. Discord used to be the most annoying of their friends, but now he was one of their best. Now they were all used to the oddities that often came with him.

“We all love you, Discord. Even if your chaos can be a bit obnoxious,” Applejack said.

“Yeah, at least your little stunt at Luster’s Coronation only caused YOU trouble!” Rainbow Dash said with a laugh that was joined by the other girls.

There were loud footsteps followed by a grunt as Spike squeezed himself through the door which he barely fit through now.

“Morning Spike!” Twilight said with a smile.

The larger than ever dragon didn’t bother sitting down in a chair as all the ones at Silver Shoals weren't strong enough to hold his weight.

“Hey ya, old girls,” he said glummly.

Rarity sniggered. “I know I’m old darling, but do you have to rub it in!”

“Why the long face, Spike?” Applejack asked.

“I know what will make you cheer up! A cupcake!” Pinkie reached into a random spot to pull one out, only to find none. “Shoot! I don’t work at Sugarcube Corner anymore! I miss my cupcakes!” she grumbled.

“Spike? What’s wrong?” Twilight asked.

Spike looked down in sadness. “It’s just something Ember said at Luster’s Coronation a year ago. I’m gonna live for a long, long time.”

Twilight nodded. “Yes, dragons do live for thousands of years.”

Spike shook his head. “But that’s the thing! I don’t want to live for thousands of years!”

“Huh?” all of the ponies exclaimed.

Spike sighed as he looked at Twilight. “You didn’t want to either, Twi. Because it meant you’d outlive all your best friends. Well… except for me, I suppose.”

Twilight felt a tinge of guilt. She hadn’t thought of that.

“Oh, Spike I didn’t mean to make it look like you didn’t matter to me!”

“No… I understand. All of them are my best friends too." He sighed. "I’d be sad if I had to wait for thousands of years before seeing them again. I wish… I wish I could give away my immortality the same way you did.”

“It's not immortality Spike. That’s your natural life span,” Twilight corrected. “Mine was given by magic.”

Spike shook his head. “I don’t care. Celestia said herself, she watched generations of her friends go. I’ve already seen your parents, Granny Smith, Shining Armor, Cadence, and a lot of others go. I've always been the kind of dragon to live life to the fullest. But I don't want fullest to mean I have to watch ten, twenty or however many generations of friends go!”

Twilight walked up to her adoptive brother. It felt strange looking up at him like this. She’d always been bigger than him. But now that she was back to her ordinary pony form from before her “Celestial” transformation and he’d grown up so much, he was now the larger one. This forced her to put a hoof on his knee rather than his shoulder to comfort him.

“I know how you feel Spike. I’m still a little worried I might outlive my friends,” she confessed.

Discord sighed as a tear appeared in his eyes."Well, the three of us could outlive all the others. Oh, who am I kidding? I'm full immortal so I definitely will unless...ooh! I have it! There is a way we dont have to suffer through that!"

"How?" Twilight asked.

“I could bind all our lifeforces together. So that when the time comes for one of us, then all the rest will follow. I will pass on as well.”

He comically turned himself into a ghost.

Fluttershy looked at him with wide eyes. “But… Discord…”

“It’s alright, Fluttershy. You are not willing to live for thousands of years by my side. I’m not willing to live a life without you. You taught me friendship and love. All the magic and chaos could not replace the love I have for you, I learned that when Tirek betrayed me. This way, Spike, Twilight and I will have no fear of having to outlive any of you and carrying your loss for thousands of years.”

Twilight grinned. “It’s perfect! But Spike-”

“No Twilight! Don’t try and talk me out of it! We’ve all been connected since the day I was born. The six of you got your cutie marks on the day I hatched! It’s been our destiny to be together. I’m your number one assistant, brother, royal adviser, friend, always. I’m going to stick by your side no matter what. If you’re not going to live for thousands of years after our friends, neither am I! I'm with you until the end.”

Twilight had no retort. She sighed. Sad as it was, she understood how Spike felt. The former ruler of Equestria then looked at her friends.

“Everypony in agreement?”

They all nodded. Fluttershy did so, sadly. Even though she didn't want Discord to die, she would have felt the same way in his position.

Twilight smiled. “Well, I think this is how I would want things to end. I certainly don’t want to outlive all of you. I’m sure that Luster will be a good ruler.”

“Who would have thought when we first met Starlight, her daughter would be the next Princess?” Rainbow Dash asked.

Every pony laughed. Discord then put a hand over his heart and pulled out a thread of light which grew longer as he continued pulling. He wrapped it around each of the necks of the ponies, bunny, and dragon before snapping his fingers. The thread vanished in a shower of sparks and all of them glowed slightly.

“Now, when one of us passes to the next life. All the others will as well.” Discord said.

“Thank you, Discord. The elements of harmony may be gone, but it’s our friendship that keeps us together. I’m glad I made friends with you, because now I don’t have to be afraid of outliving all the others,” Twilight said. “You’ve allowed us a happy ending. We won’t have to wait to be reunited after any of us pass.”

“Oh Twilight. I’m glad to hear you say that.” The spirit of chaos said as he hugged the lavender Alicorn. “And I thank you as well for being my friend. All of you. I know I can be annoying but I hope I’ve been worth it.”

Rainbow Dash laughed as she too hugged the draconequs. “This was definitely worth it!”

They shared a group hug, Discord wrapping his snakelike body around them, and Spike having arms nearly long enough to reach across them all.
____________________________________________

Years went by at Silver Shoals. Twilight’s appearance aged, her mane turned grey. Like her friends, she grew wrinkles. But she was happy for it, because it meant that she would one day pass on with all of them. There was now a new Princess of Friendship to take care of Equestria, and Twilight had every faith Luster would be up to the task.

Finally, the time came for one of them, and all the others immediately followed.

Twilight looked upon a bright area, all her friends beside her. But they were younger, looking the same as they were during their adventures long ago. Rarity was as beautiful as Twilight remembered, no grey hairs. All the others were likewise their younger selves that had helped Twilight save Equestria countless times. At Fluttershy’s side walked her beloved Angel bunny. Spike was back in baby dragon form. Discord had not changed, but that didn’t matter.

Looking ahead, Twilight saw a large crowd of all their friends and family that had already passed waiting for them. Celestia and Luna in the center.

“We’ve been waiting for you, Twilight.” Celestia said with a bright smile.

Twilight smiled and walked forward with her seven best friends toward the afterlife where almost all their others were waiting for them. Twilight was embraced by Celestia and Luna, then Shining Armor, Cadence, and her parents. Applejack ran straight toward her parents whom she hadn’t seen since she was a filly, Granny Smith was there too, but she looked younger. Likewise, everypony else was surrounded by the spirits of other friends and family that had passed and waited for them to come.

____________________________________________________

Luster Dawn, second Princess of Friendship, now with a flowing mane and larger body like the former rulers of Equestria, presided over the funeral for her mentor and Twilight’s friends. All of the ponies graves had their cutie marks displayed on the stone. Spike’s grave had a dragon etched into it, and Discord’s showed a symbol of random objects like talking fruits and things that made no sense. Among the crowd attending the funeral were the elderly Cutie Mark Crusaders, Lil Cheese and the cake twins, Garble, and Dragon Lord Ember.

Luster took a deep breath and spoke to her subjects. “The journey of my mentor, Twilight Sparkle, as well as her closest friends have come to an end. But even though they are gone, we shall carry on their mission and tell their story for generations to come. Whenever you need to be reminded of the importance of friendship, look back at their story and remember them. They will live forever in the lessons of the magic of friendship.”

Sweetie Belle sniffled when she approached the grave of her sister along with Applebloom and Scootaloo who also looked at the graves of Applejack and Rainbow Dash.

“Thanks-

“For-

“Being-

“THE BEST BIG SISTERS EVER!”

Lil Cheese could only sob at his mothers grave as the Cake Twins rubbed his back.
Garble and Ember approached Spike’s grave.

“Those ponies really made you soft Spike!” Garble said as some tears appeared in his eyes. “I’ll miss you, you little runt.”

Ember put on the biggest smile she could for Spike's sake if he was watching. “Goodbye, my first real friend. I hope you're happy with your pony friends. I also hope to see you again someday. I’ll make sure the Dragon Lands are filled with friendship in your memory.”

Though there were tears in her eyes, Luster smiled silently at Twilight’s grave.

“There will always be friendship, Twilight. It is a magic that will never die.”

Up in the sky, Twilight and the others smiled down on Equestria, knowing that even though they were gone physically, the magic of their friendship was eternal and would continue to spread across the land.

Author's Note

Well, Jim Miller said we all get to make our own version of what happens after the epilogue. I choose Twilight, Spike and Discord passing on with their friends to avoid the painful years they could otherwise endure. May they all be together forever in the afterlife!
Even though their story has ended, may we all keep them close to our hearts. I've only been a fan of MLP for less than two years, but it has touched my heart greatly and helped me out of a dark place. May we all keep the story of Twilight Sparkle and her friends close! The magic of friendship will never die.

I'm just glad that this fic has gotten even this number of likes. I will probably put it on Fanfiction.net, Quotev, and Deviantart. We all need to spread the message that there can a happy ending if we so choose. I hope that is what I've given all of you who have read this story rather than the sadness of Twilight outliving her friends.

Good Night Every Pony! Hear from you soon! As always, leave your thoughts and please don't forget to give a thumbs up if you fave!