Willing The Heavens

Luna paced in front of her sister.

"What do you think they're talking about in there?"

Celestia shrugged.

"I suppose they're discussing all of us?"

Luna looked around the clearing. It was her, Celestia, and three other young ponies. All of them had been asked to speak to the sorcerer the kingdoms had sent out. Luna shook her head in frustration.

"Do you think he's made a decision already? What if this was a complete waste of time?"

Celestia smiled.

"I'm sure that's not the case. I think you did especially well showing off your magic. Nopony was as impressive as you!"

"I'm no good at the basics. I just happen to have a couple random spells I'm good at."

""You were still impressive either way."

Luna smiled.

"Well, your concealment spell was pretty amazing. You turned yourself invisible in an instant! And not that shoddy invisibility that some other ponies try to pass off either. I couldn't tell where you were!"

Celestia blushed.

"It's not that great."

"Turning invisible? How useful. Isn't the point in ruling to be noticed?"

Luna rolled her eyes and turned around. A dark grey colt was standing behind her. He was younger than them but carried himself like he was older. Luna smirked up at him.

"Not like you were that impressive. What did you do again? Summon a rock?"

The colt snorted.

"I created a crystal! Can you create gemstones?"

Celestia rolled her eyes.

"How is your talent any better than mine?"

"Just wait until I get my wings! I'll be even better than you two!"

Luna snorted.

"You only just coming of age Sombra. You're still way behind the two of us."

The colt was about to snap back when the door to Gusty's cottage opened. The young ponies gathered together and sat down, waiting for the news.

Gusty emerged from the cottage, smiling at the group.

"Thank you all for entertaining our guest. You can all return to your homes."

A look passed through the small group. It hadn't gone well. Celestia looked up at Gusty, trying to read her expression. The old pony was stoic as she dismissed them. Luna looked worst of all as she attempted to keep her tears back.

"I thought...I thought we..."

Celestia put a hoof around her sister and pulled her close.

"It's okay."

"You two."

They turned around to see Gusty motioning them over.

"I need help getting supplies from my cellar."

Celestia sighed.

"Come on. Let's go help her."

Luna wiped her tears.

"Why can't she just do it herself?"

"You know she'd never make it back upstairs."

They followed Gusty inside. The old pony closed the door behind them.

"I'd like the two of you to meet Star Swirl the Bearded."

Celestia and Luna froze as the sorcerer rose from his seat.

"It's a pleasure to meet the two of you."

He was middle-aged by his looks, although his beard was a dark brown. His robe and hat were covered in stars and bells. All Celestia could think was that he looked like somepony out of a storybook.

"Hello."

Luna sniffled and nodded.

"Hello."

Star Swirl smiled.

"There's no need to be sad. This is a joyous day. Please, sit down."

They took a seat together and stared at the strange pony. He continued to smile as he started.

"Now I'm sure you two know why I came to the village?"

Celestia nodded.

"You're looking for somepony to rule Equestria."

"Spot on! I've been searching for two- No, three years nearly. I was in a small village not far from here and heard an interesting tale. THe ponies there told a legend of a village with ponies unlike any in the land, called alicorns."

Luna wiped the last of her tears away.

"Really?"

Star Swirl nodded.

"Yes! I knew I had to see it for myself, so here I am! Your teacher is a remarkable mage in her own right! The spells she's come up with are beyond anything I could have imagined myself. And to pass this sort of magic on to her whole village is generous."

Celestia looked at Gusty. The old pony didn't seem to be paying much attention, lost in her own thoughts. Star Swirl continued.

"You two show remarkable talent. And your demeanor could rival some of the Unicorn Kingdom's aristocracy. I've never met young ponies so...put together. On the outside anyways."

Celestia shifted in her seat.

"Thank you?"

"And Gusty tells me you have no ties?"

Luna frowned.

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"Well...your parents are no longer here, correct?"

Celestia sat up straight, her eyes ready to burn a hole in the wizard.

"I would ask you not to mention them please. That is a very personal matter to us, and we don't wish to discuss it with somepony we just met."

Star Swirl seemed surprised by the response. He slowly nodded.

"Of course. Forgive me. I meant no disrespect."

He cleared his throat.

"I find that you two are in a unique position. I've been discussing it with Gusty and, if you're up for it, I think I'd like to present you as my choice for the new rulers of Equestria!"

Celestia and Luna looked at each other in shock. Could this really be happening?

"There is a stipulation though."

Their eyes returned to Star Swirl. He looked to Gusty, causing the old pony to sigh.

"My dear girls...you know I wasn't born with these wings. What you don't know is that I gained them quite by accident through the spell I created."

Celestia nearly fell off her chair.

"You created the spell?!"

Gusty came forward, a book in her hooves.

"Years ago, the land was ruled over by a horrible creature named Grogar."

She set the book down in front of them.

"He ruled this land with an iron hoof. And when the suffering of those around me became too great, I took up a banner against him."

Luna sat forward.

"Did you win?"

Gusty nodded.

"Yes, but I've always feared he would return somehow. I knew I had to be ready when that time came. So...I found a way to stop aging."

Celestia actually fell out of her seat this time. She looked up at Gusty from the floor.

"But...that's not possible."

Gusty shook her head.

"It's very difficult, but not impossible. Don't you remember hearing stories of Grogar when you were little?"

"Well...sort of."

Star Swirl chimed in.

"Even we have heard of Grogar. But his reign was four centuries ago."

Luna's eyes bulged.

"You're four hundred years old?!"

Gusty nodded.

"I am. And I have spent a lifetime making sure that everypony is safe. It's been quiet for centuries, but recent stirrings in the ethereal plane have left me...troubled. So twenty years ago I began turning everypony into an alicorn, hoping to be ready for any trouble that might come."

Celestia got back into her seat.

"That's why you've been teaching us. You wanted us to be ready in case of Grogar."

Gusty nodded.

"I came to terms with the fact that I could no longer guard the realm on my own. There weren't enough ponies with the power to protect. With the arrival of the three kingdoms though, it brought many powerful ponies. Including Star Swirl. But three kingdoms have shown they can't survive separately."

Star Swirl nodded.

"I was sent to find the pony or ponies that could help unite the races. Not only are you a perfect blend of all three, you also have a kindness and compassion that this new nation needs desperately."

Luna looked at the stallion.

"Isn't Equestria at peace though?"

"So to speak. These first years of unity have been...difficult to say the least. That's why I've been searching for the solution. And now I've found it in you two."

Celestia shook her head.

"But we're nowhere nearly as strong or powerful as Gusty. Or most ponies for that matter."

Gusty opened the book.

"That is something I mean to fix."

She turned to a page filled with incantations.

"The reason behind my longevity and power stems from the ethereal plane. I've not given this knowledge to anypony in the village. It's not a magic that can be easily used. In fact...it's deadly if misused"

Luna glanced at Celestia. She was looking warily at Gusty.

"Is that the stipulation? We could possibly die?"

Star Swirl shook his head.

"I'm afraid that's not the issue. You see...the population at large doesn't know that there are multiple alicorns. And it has to stay that way."

Celestia narrowed her eyes.

"Why?"

Gusty put a hoof on Celestia's shoulder.

"Celestia, my spells give a pony immense power. If everypony knew they could obtain power like that, it would be chaos."

Star Swirl nodded.

"The kind of magic we're discussing is one that few could use without killing themselves."

Luna was shaking.

"What about us then?!"

Gusty shook her head.

"You'll be fine. The spells must be used in a very specific sequence to work properly. When we're done, you'll have more power than you'll know what to do with."

Celestia shook her head in return.

"What about the village? I think somepony will eventually notice there are other alicorns."

Gusty got quiet. She didn't meet Celestia's gaze. Celestia turned to Star Swirl.

"What aren't you telling us?"

Star Swirl glanced at Gusty. She nodded her consent and he looked back at Celestia.

"In order to make it appear that you two are the only alicorns, we'd have to erase the village. Everypony would forget they were ever an alicorn. And they would be turned back to the ponies they were before."

The room fell silent. Celestia and Luna looked between the two ponies in front of them. Celestia felt tears running down her cheeks. Luna was in no better state.

Gusty got between the sisters and folded her wings around them in a hug.

"These spells I created have brought prosperity to this village, but nopony can know it ever existed as it has. Not even it's own. This would be necessary for your safety."

Celestia pulled herself out of Gusty's wing, spinning around to face her.

"Our safety?! Making everypony forget brings safety?! How could you ask them to do such a thing?!"

Luna freed herself and took her place by her sister.

"It's not fair! If that's what has to be done, then we'd rather not be princesses at all!"

Gusty looked at the two for a few seconds before responding.

"I know this is a difficult decision. Believe me, I've had plenty of them in my long life. But we're talking about bringing Equestria together. You two could be the symbols of peace this country so desperately needs."

Celestia stood tall against the older pony.

"And what about what we need?"

"And what is it you need?"

Celestia went to answer, but found she had nothing. She looked at Luna, who shook her head. Her gaze drifted back to Gusty.

"We...we want everypony to be safe. Without them losing everything."

Star Swirl stood, walking around to stand next to Gusty.

"You both care deeply for the ponies around you. That's one of the many reasons why you're suited for this. I'm sure there will be situations where you can find solutions that satisfy everypony, but this isn't one of them. If we're to unify Equestria for good, it will have to come with this price."

Celestia looked at the two ponies for several seconds before turning to her sister.

"Luna?"

Luna was crying again.

"I...I don't know Tia..."

Star Swirl looked at each of them.

"I know this is a lot to ask of you, but believe me when I say that you two could be the answer to a lot of prayers. Your village won't remember that they were like this. They won't feel any loss or pain."

Celestia had begun to cry too, the tears rolling down her cheeks as she tried to think.

"But...we will..."

Gusty sighed.

"If you fell that strongly, perhaps we should reconsider."

Luna wiped her tears away.

"Would we really bring peace?"

Everypony turned to Luna. Star Swirl slowly nodded.

"I believe so. The kingdoms have an unsteady treaty as it is. I fear it won't take much to tip us back into another war. But if we had something to bring us together, perhaps we could put these petty grievances behind us."

Luna nodded.

"And you can promise nopony will be hurt?"

Celestia stared at her sister in shock.

"Luna! You don't mean-"

Luna turned to Celestia as more tears welled up in her eyes.

"If war comes, we could lose them all. At least this way...they can still live."

Celestia's shock was evident. She stared at Luna as she began processing the outcomes. If they tried to avoid this, it would end badly.

Celetia slowly nodded.

"Only if it's our decision together."

Luna pulled her into a hug.

"Together."

They took each other’s hooves as they turned to face Star Swirl and Gusty, ready to take the next step.