Ruling Equestria? Ponyville or Bust!
"What did you wish to talk about?" Luna asked. She sat across from her sister at a dining room table in Canterlot Castle.
"Retirement," Celestia answered simply.
Luna blinked with the faintest hint of uncertainty. "Retirement?" she repeated, borderline displeased.
Celestia nodded.
"As in your retirement?" Luna asked, while gesturing in her older sister's direction with a forelimb.
Celestia gulped and closed her eyes, bracing herself. "Our retirement."
The younger alicorn of the pair raised a curious eyebrow. "Go on..."
"Equestria is in a period of great prosperity thanks to Twilight Sparkle and her friends," Celestia began. "I think Twilight would make a wonderful successor, and her friends could help her. Just as we have ruled together, I would want for us to retire...together."
Luna sighed in discontent. "Celestia, I was banished to the moon for 1,000 years. I have not been ruling nearly as long as you have."
"I know," the older sister admitted with evident guilt. "But...you've told me how tired you are from your own responsibilities. If only I retired, and you stayed...would you really want to take on all of what I do during the day? Perhaps even give up dream visitations again?"
"No," Luna answered, clenching her jaw, "I wouldn't."
"See," Celestia smiled warmly in reply.
Luna sighed again.
"I'm sorry, Luna," the older sister apologized. "I want us to make this decision together, and I'm wishing to tell you my own thoughts on the matter. I know you might not feel the same way. Tell me...what is in your heart?"
"I could certainly use some rest, Celestia, but...the dreams! That is my power and no one else's. The same goes for the moon – and you with the sun. How could we possibly retire from that?"
"I was thinking of our retirement as being from our other responsibilities," Celestia explained. "I know the great task of the sun and moon. It is my hope we might find a way in due time with the aide of an artifact. Until then, that does not change. As for the dreams...well, I hope the same of them."
Luna blinked. "Then I would hardly call that a retirement, Sister."
"The dreams should be easier. We could even look into doing that part first...and then tell me, Luna – is that enough? Is that a responsibility you are ready to retire from?"
Luna looked away from Celestia and down at the table in thought.
"Discord might be able to help us..." Celestia reminded her. "He can move the sun and moon quite easily. I am sure he can help with dreams as well."
Luna recoiled, but she did not deny it.
So, the real question left to the younger alicorn was...did she want to retire? More specifically, did she want to retire at the same time as her older sister? It certainly had a logic to it. They had a shared reign before and after her Nightmare Moon banishment.
Theoretically, she could decline. She could tell Celestia, no, she wished to stay and help Twilight – or, perhaps more appropriately at first – have Twilight help her.
But then the sisters would be apart.
Was that really so terrible?
No, she supposed it wasn't...though she expected Celestia would be disappointed.
And so would she. She would miss her older sister. She really could use the rest. "Discord can help with the dreams then. We will maintain the sun and moon ourselves. Assuming Twilight accepts, I will retire with you," Luna finally decided.
Sometime later, the princesses summoned the group of friends led by Twilight Sparkle. The princesses were ready to explain their wish and intent.
Which they did with some unwanted chatter from a certain draconequis.
"Discord, I must ask you to leave or be silent," Celestia told him firmly.
Discord sighed, folded his arms, and leaned his back against a pillar, ready to take on what was certainly one of the most difficult things he found to do in this realm – staying still and shutting up.
He vaguely heard some protest from Twilight about not being ready to do what the ruling princesses did.
"Of course you are. I realize this a lot to take in," Celestia said, "but we have the utmost faith in all of you."
"Well, we are awesome," Rainbow Dash boasted, folding her forelimbs as she hovered and smiled. She gasped excitedly. "Would we get your powers?"
"Not...exactly," Celestia answered.
"Uh, what?" Rainbow prompted her.
"Raising the sun and moon are difficult tasks, respectively," Luna explained. "That is magic beyond the ability of most unicorns. You may recall that the Storm King was able to wield that magic through his staff but at the cost of petrifying my sister and I."
"We do remember," Twilight answered for the group.
"We will maintain our responsibility over the sun and moon though we would be happy to assist in seeing if we could share or transfer some of that magic in due time, perhaps even through that staff," Celestia explained.
"What about going into ponies' dreams?" Rainbow Dash wanted to know.
Discord started to open his mouth and raise his index eagle claw when a look from Celestia made him stop.
Luna gestured over to him. "Discord has agreed to help us in that regard."
"I call dibs on that one!" Rainbow Dash exclaimed.
"Rainbow, we haven't accepted!" Twilight hissed at her.
Rainbow shrugged. "Yeah, I know. But if we say yes...dibs!"
Her other friends rolled their eyes and half-smiled while making no further protest.
Rainbow leaned close in her hover as she whispered to Twilight. "And we really do need a better team name than 'Twilight Sparkle and her friends.' No offense."
Twilight giggled with a blush. "None taken, I'll file it away for us to work on later."
The pegasus happily nodded at that, satisfied.
"Alright, powers aside then," Applejack said, changing the subject and addressing the two ruling princesses, "what are those of us who aren't Twilight actually doing? I'm happy to help out Equestria, of course, but I got my farm and family to look after in Ponyville too."
"It actually wouldn't be that different than what you do now," Luna explained. "You attend to both responsibilities as the situation calls for it."
"Then...just how is it different?" asked an intrigued Rarity with lightly fluttering eyes.
The two older alicorns motioned to their thrones. "Twilight would move here to Canterlot, this castle in particular," Celestia began to explain. "There would be a lot of meetings as you can imagine. Ponies coming here. Her traveling to various places, sometimes in the company of you as her friends of course. She would also inherit my school for gifted unicorns."
Fluttershy blinked. "But Twilight already has her own school that she runs and that we help her with."
"And her own castle," Spike pointed out.
"With thrones for all seven of us at the map table," Rainbow Dash reminded them, holding out her forelimbs gesturing in the general direction of her right, as if an invisible model was next to her. "It's a perfect setup for us to help her out already!"
Discord managed to keep quiet but sneakily snapped in a small, actually visible model to drive home the point.
"I am aware," Celestia acknowledged gravely, "but Canterlot is the capital. The Royal Guard is here. This throne room will be where she sits and meets various people. All of you will help, but you will not be with her all the time either, just as it is now."
Two annoyed flapping wings were the only sound in the throne room for a moment before a quick poof made the model disappear.
"Princess Celestia, Princess Luna, I am flattered, truly, very flattered that you would think of me...think of us," Twilight said, "...but I have to agree with my friends here. Ponyville is my home. With them."
"You do not wish to rule?" Luna inquired.
Twilight sighed. "Not at the cost of leaving the life I've made for myself behind, no. I'm happy in Ponyville."
"Right," Rainbow Dash nodded. "Ponyville or bust!"
Her friends giggled.
Celestia and Luna looked at each other with uncertainty. They had not expected a refusal.
The taller and older sister raised an eyebrow. "And if you could rule from Ponyville...?"
Everyone honed in on Twilight. She laughed nervously as her ears slightly flattened. "Heh heh heh...I would think about it?" she hesitated to answer.
"Fair enough," Luna replied succinctly for the pair. "We will discuss the matter at length first. Then, should we find it viable, we will make this offer yet again. That will give you time to think, I hope."
Twilight modestly smiled and nodded. Her friends happily smiled as well, ready to help her with this thinking.
Soon after, they all left.
With a smug smile and stroking his beard, Discord floated near Celestia. "What do you think of that?"
Celestia rolled her eyes. "Oh, come off it," she muttered in annoyance and shoved his cheeky face out of hers with an annoyed, gold-plated hoof.
Ending A: Ponyville
"I am not sure," a nervously pacing Celestia admitted. "I mean..."
It was just her and Luna now.
"It is not unprecedented," Luna reminded her.
"That was different. Everfree did not have a city surrounding it! What about the ponies here? They might feel...well, insulted," Celestia said. "And Twilight should have a throne room like ours for more...individualized meetings of just her."
"My understanding is that Twilight Sparkle can easily teleport between Ponyville and Canterlot on a whim," Luna noted. "And if she built that school, I am sure she can conjure an appropriate room in her castle. Not to mention I know that she has had individual meetings, even as the Princess of Friendship."
"True," Celestia admitted. "What about my school?"
"What about it?" Luna asked indifferently. "You'll have to find someone else or do something so that the work load doesn't overwhelm her. Or close it," she suggested with a shrug.
Celestia looked at her in silent alarm.
"It is not the only magic school in all of Canterlot," Luna reminded her in a stern voice yet warm smile.
The tall alicorn exhaled in defeat. "I suppose that's true. Confound it all; it's as if we shouldn't be retiring."
Luna stared at her a moment before replying, "That, too, is an option."
Celestia's eyes darted over to where her sister stood.
"If we make the transition more gradual, giving them more of our responsibilities, slowly, it won't be as big of a shock to the entire system when we say that the ruling princess of Equestria will be ruling from her own castle in Ponyville instead of Canterlot," Luna explained. She spoke with slow, utmost, and respectful care.
"Do you think she would accept if we concede this part?" Celestia asked.
"Of course. Twilight Sparkle thinks the world of you, Sister. She would maintain that happiness that she has found while granting some happiness to you after all these years. She loves you so dearly," Luna said.
Celestia nodded and blushed. "What do you think we should do?"
"Let her rule from Ponyville in due time, not right away. I do not mind staying longer. If you wish to retire sooner than myself, I could stay here to advise her until we all felt it appropriate. I would be something of a mentor to her as well, as you once were," Luna offered.
"I suppose that makes sense," Celestia considered.
"Twilight herself has mentored another expert in magic who might be able to help with the school," Luna suddenly remembered. "Starlight Glimmer."
A moment to contemplate.
Then a nod from Celestia with a thoughtful exhale. "Very well, then. I will sort out the school on my own with that name noted. If Ponyville is a requirement for Twilight to accept, we will work to make it happen in due time," the older alicorn decided.
"So, what's on your mind, Twilight? If they let you stay in Ponyville, yes or no? We've got your back either way," Rainbow Dash said.
She, Twilight Sparkle, Spike, Applejack, Rarity, Pinkie Pie, and Fluttershy all sat together in their respective thrones at Twilight's castle.
"Mm-hmm," Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie added.
"Yup," Applejack concurred.
"Exactly as Rainbow Dash said," Rarity echoed.
"I'm with you all the way," Spike encouraged her.
"Thanks, everyone," Twilight answered them. "I think...I would need a lot of time to prepare, some kind of training program and a guide book."
Discord popped into the room all of a sudden, floating above the center of the table. "Celestia's been training you for years. Didn't you know?"
"Discord!" Twilight growled at his sudden and uninvited appearance. Then she blinked. "Wait, she has?"
"Yes, she has," he replied. He put his arms akimbo and placed his hands on the sides of his long, serpentine like form. "Isn't that just like her? Conveniently leaving out such pertinent information.
"Though you must admit, it does add a certain layer of drama to shock you and anyone else unawares. Still, yes. You took on me, Chrysalis, Tirek, blah blah blah, you get the idea. Summer Sun Celebration. Friendship Festival. Map table. I hope you get the idea by this point because I could keep going-"
"No, no, I get it," Twilight replied, stopping him.
"As for a guide book," Discord said...a familiar book suddenly poofed into existence, seemingly held up by the tip of his index eagle claw. He flicked it over to her, and Twilight caught it with her magic.
"This is our Friendship Journal," the alicorn noted quietly.
She looked up at him, and he smirked back at her. He was suddenly eating an apple he materialized. After a quick swallow of his bite, he told her, "Your powers of observation remain keen as ever, I see."
"So, what you're saying is, Twilight's already...ready?" Fluttershy asked. And then smiled pleasantly.
The draconequis winked. "Exactly," he noted in a concise answer.
"This is not the same as ruling Equestria!" Twilight protested. "I remember what Starlight said about what those two do during her map mission...and...and.."
"Maybe they're not exactly the same, but you did used to meet with the big wigs and stuff before we made the school. That's kinda how we were able to get the non-pony students," Rainbow Dash reminded her.
"That does seem to be the main difference if they're keeping the sun and moon for awhile longer," Applejack added.
"It's mostly an upgrade darling," Rarity said proudly stroking her purple mane.
"You all really think I can do it, don't you?" Twilight asked, quietly moved by their encouragement.
"With our help!" Pinkie Pie waved an eager forelimb to remind her.
"Right," Twilight replied. She blinked with a happy smile at remembering something. "Rainbow suggested we come up with a better name for our group, and I think now would be the perfect time for that."
"Oh! Oh! Let me guess. Team Awesome!" Pinkie Pie declared.
"Rainbow's not our leader though; Twilight is," Applejack pointed out.
"Yeah, let's save that one for if we have a project with me in charge," Rainbow said with a proud smile.
Discord smirked as he watched the scene unfold.
"But having 'team' or a similar word in the name is a good idea," Fluttershy put forward.
"Team Friendship then?" Pinkie Pie suggested quickly.
"Or perhaps The Friendship Council," Rarity said.
"I suppose 'Council' sounds better for ruling," Applejack remarked thoughtfully with a hoof to her chin.
"I like 'Team' better," Rainbow muttered.
"Well then, let's save 'The Friendship Council' as our group name for if we really do rule...in the meantime, we are 'Team Friendship,'" Twilight suggested.
"Sure," Rainbow agreed with a casual shrug. "And we can still refer to ourselves as a team when we have to meet after that, like 'Okay team, what should we do?'"
"Yeah, that makes sense," Applejack conceded.
"So just to be clear, dearest Twilight," Rarity noted. "You intend to accept if they agree to the term of staying in Ponyville?"
Twilight nodded. "Yes, Rarity. Yes. With us us a team, or a council, I do."
At a later point once more in the Canterlot Castle throne room....
"We have agreed that you can rule from Ponyville with the understanding that the transition will be much slower than our original intention. We must prepare Equestria, most notably Canterlot, for such a change," Luna announced. "Now then...we extend our offer you to once more, Twilight Sparkle. And your friends.
"Celestia and I wish to retire and prepare you as our successors. I may stay longer than her to mentor you during this process but will join her eventually."
"Thank you, Princess Luna, Princess Celestia," Twilight replied with a pleased smile and polite bow of her head. "Let me start by saying how honored I am to receive this offer again.
"My friends and I have discussed it...and yes. With your guidance and more time, we, The Friendship Council, accept this offer."
Celestia and Luna looked at each other with pleased and proud smiles. They nodded to each other.
Discord rested his hand on his cheek, quietly staring down at the whole scene, also pleased with himself for having done done enough to move things along and help out his friends.
Those friends happily cheered each other and smiled while embracing in a big hug. They were not yet ready to rule Equestria, but they were happy to have it as a shared goal. They would be ready one day—together.
Ending B: Bust
Celestia paced nervously back and forth in the throne room while Luna stood and watched her.
By this point, Discord had made himself scarce, so it was just the two of them.
"Ponyville...Ponyville..." Celestia muttered.
"As I recall, our old castle stood in the Everfree forest," Luna reminded her.
"And how many Equestrians live there now?" Celestia snapped in a haughty tone.
Luna smirked. "She's not asking you to wipe Canterlot off the map. If anything, Ponyville's expansion is growing closer over time. I do suspect some bias from you, dear sister."
Celestia paused. "And what of it? I've lived and ruled here for so long...from before..." she closed her eyes and sighed sadly, "...your return."
Luna nodded in quiet respect.
"Even you can admit there would be wide-sweeping ramifications to this idea," Celestia insisted and gently stomped a hoof to the floor.
"Of course," Luna agreed with a nod.
"Then why are you so calm?" Celestia asked, flaring her large, white wings.
Luna blinked. "Why are you so worked up?"
Celestia's wings drooped to the floor before she coiled them in properly. "Because...oh Luna, how I've longed to see the day when I could leave Equestria in such good hooves. Who else could we even ask?"
At that, Luna smirked. "I could stay," she offered with the faintest hint of both hesitance and hope.
Celestia blinked and looked her way. "But we talked about this..."
Luna nodded. "That we did – before we got her answer. I don't have to do it alone, like you did. You heard Rainbow Dash. I already have somepony ready to take on the dreams. I have faith that the others would be willing to help me in similar endeavors. Better yet, they could help me – or us – find successors."
"You think we should delay retirement?" Celestia asked.
"I think..." Luna said thoughtfully. "...that if Canterlot simply must remain the capital...that if the ruler of Equestria simply must live here...that yes. We should delay retirement."
Celestia's face twitched...thinking...considering. "This is what I get by waiting so long, isn't it? I'm too late."
Luna couldn't help laughing. "I understand waiting because you hoped to find sincerity in her, but you must admit...once she got her own castle, you probably should have at least mentioned this possibility as eventual, yes."
Celestia smiled a slightly embarrassed smile at that; pink flushed in her cheeks.
A moment of quiet lingered.
"Very well, Luna. I agree. Her wish is understandable, but it cannot be met. I hope she isn't too disappointed if it turns out she would have accepted otherwise."
"I hope so as well though I am quite skeptical it would be a problem. She stated, in no uncertain terms, that she is happy in Ponyville with so much else," Luna reminded her older sister.
Indeed, the Ponyville friends met at Twilight's castle in Ponyville. They all sat at their respective thrones.
Discord poofed himself in. "Well, well, well, what have we here? What will it be girls...and Spike?"
Twilight Sparkle sighed in exasperation. "Discord..."
He stared at all of them staring blankly at him. "Oh fine, I know when I'm not wanted. And I know of a much better party in another dimension." With that, he whisked himself away.
Everyone but Twilight stared at the alicorn and waited for her to begin.
"First order of business," Twilight announced. "We need a better name for our group than 'Twilight Sparkle and her friends'."
"Really?" Applejack asked, taken aback, borderline offended. "You want to talk about that first?"
Twilight nodded. "I do." She was quite certain of it.
"Well, alright then..." the orange earth pony conceded. She took her hat off and fanned herself with it.
"Rainbow Dash, it was your idea we should have one. Got any ideas on what they should be?" Twilight asked.
"Just 'Team Friendship'," Rainbow offered. "I'm saving 'Team Awesome' for myself...just in case." She winked.
"I like it," Fluttershy replied with a smile.
"Okay by me," Pinkie Pie added.
"Certainly well-suited for our group," Rarity chimed in.
"No complaints," Applejack noted.
"Fine by me too," Spike said, holding out a clipboard where he had jotted it down.
"Wow, that was easy," Twilight remarked. "I like it too. Very well. We are now 'Team Friendship'."
She magically conjured up a gavel, struck it to the table, and poofed the gavel away. Cheers and murmurs ran through the room in acceptance of the new name.
"Now, can we please get to the true crux of things?" Rarity requested.
Twilight blinked. "Very well. I think ruling Equestria is...not exactly what I want."
"Is there any reason for that, darling? We're talking about the cream of the crop here. You do not go higher on the social ladder than ruling princess of all of Equestria!" Rarity declared. She grew contemplative for a moment. "Unless we took over the whole world, but I don't think that would be...proper?"
Twilight smiled sincerely at her. "I'm glad to be a princess as it is...and to be honest, while I'm quite proud of it...the fact is that...none of you..."
"...ever became princesses too?" Applejack finished for her.
Twilight Sparkle sank in her seat. "Yeah."
"That's okay, Twilight," Rainbow assured her. "We all know we're still awesome as ourselves. We don't have to be princesses, or alicorns, or alicorn princesses, to help you out."
"We're still proud of you too all the same," Fluttershy said sweetly.
"And besides? It could happen some other day for us...somehow," Pinkie Pie said with a thoughtful shrug.
"Oh, wouldn't that be divine?" Rarity noted wistfully.
"It's something I would love to share with all of you," Twilight admitted. She blinked. "But...still...I don't want to be the only ruling princess. I know all of you would help me...no doubt...but I also know...that a lot of responsibility would still fall on only me."
"And me," Spike volunteered.
Twilight smiled warmly at him. "And Spike. But even you would only be able to do so much. And the rest of you...tell me, Rainbow Dash...if you had to give up being a Wonderbolt to rule Equestria with me – even from here in Ponyville, despite what the princesses said...would you?"
Rainbow blinked at her. She blushed and smiled, staring down at the table for a moment before she looked back up and met Twilight's eyes. "If I had to...if-if you felt like that's what it took...and I did too...you know, with the dream thing idea and stuff...yeah, Twilight...actually, I would."
A solemn moment hung over the group.
"Spoken like a true embodiment of loyalty, darling," Rarity complimented her, while fluffing her own purple mane. "I assume this question is the same for the rest of us."
Twilight nodded.
"Well, I, for one, would certainly try to make sure my shops could be managed without me...and that somehow I still had time for artistic expression...but other than that, most certainly Twilight. I would give up things I have now to help rule Equestria," Rarity noted. She fluttered her eyelashes and added dreamily, "I've always wanted to be a princess."
"I'm pretty sure you still wouldn't be a princess Rarity," Applejack told her friend.
Rarity sighed. "I know. But it would make me feel that much closer and might even be better in the company of friends."
"Well, that's all well and good, but to answer the question myself to Twilight here, mind you: No can do, sugarcube." Applejack turned her attention to the alicorn friend, to explain further, "It would take something mighty fierce for me to feel like I'd have to leave my place on the farm behind to help rule Equestria. Can't see it." She shuddered. "I dread to think how bad off Equestria would be for me to feel like that was something had to be done."
"My answer is a lot like Applejack's," Fluttershy admitted. "I would definitely prefer to stay at my cottage and take care of my sanctuary. I would have to feel kind of desperate to give up either of them."
"Pass! I like helping you out, Twi-Twi, but I also like spreading cheer to aaaaaall of Ponyville," Pinkie answered. "All of Equestria too, but I think we've got that all under control with the bigger parties. But I would be there in a heartbeat for Desperation Status!"
"Rainbow?" Twilight asked.
Rainbow looked at her and blinked. "Hmm?"
"Is that what you meant too? Like...it would have to be kind of an emergency..." Twilight almost whispered.
Rainbow's eyes darted around, looking at all of the others with a hesitant smile. "I don't know if I would go with 'emergency'. I mean, I already said I wanted to go into ponies' dreams, right?"
"But Rainbow Dash, being a Wonderbolt is your dream..." Twilight began.
Rainbow grinned. "That I've met! Look, Twilight, I've proven myself! To myself! I'm the best flier in Equestria and flying with the rest of the best fliers in Equestria.
"Sure, I'm hoping to be captain one day, but if you felt better having one of us close...another pony in the room instead of just you and Spike...and Rarity...I'm your mare. Yeah, I love being a Wonderbolt, but...I love you too. And-and Equestria! I know I can get a little antsy, but we could make it work."
"Awwww," Pinkie Pie said, holding a heartfelt hoof to her chest.
Rainbow Dash blushed and looked away, eyes darting back down to the table.
"That was really sweet of you, sugarcube," Applejack told her.
"Yeah, well, don't rub it in," an embarrassed Rainbow Dash replied back.
Rarity giggled. "It's nothing to be ashamed of, dear, but for your sake, I will indeed change the subject. Has this discussion enlightened your own decision, Twilight?" Rarity asked.
Twilight nodded. "Yeah, it has. I appreciate what you and Rainbow Dash are willing to do, all of you really, but...we all have a lot that keeps us busy as it is. I will tell the princesses we will be happy to help them rule, even look for somepony else, but as a group, no. We are all quite happy with our current status as it is in Team Friendship."
"Do put in a good word for me and Rainbow Dash then," Rarity suggested to her with a cute little wink.
Rainbow Dash chuckled. "Yeah."
Twilight smiled at her friends sighed in content. "Alright, Team Friendship, we know what to do next."
Sometime later in the Canterlot throne room once again...
"We have agreed that you cannot rule from Ponyville," Luna announced. "The ruling princess of Equestria must rule from here in Canterlot. Given this fact, Celestia and I have also agreed to delay our retirement until we find another successor, or successors. We hope you and your friends are not too disappointed."
Twilight smiled up at them. "We are not. That actually works out with our answer too. My friends and I have decided to give our group a name: Team Friendship."
The friends in question took a moment to give out little cheers for themselves.
"As Team Friendship, we would be happy to help the two of you with ruling Equestria while not actually taking that title ourselves. We would help from our base in Ponyville, just like we've been doing.
"If you need help finding successors, we are all up to that task as well. Rainbow Dash and Rarity have a little more time and availability than the rest of us, to help out either of you with anything. Myself as well, when it comes to the duties of being a princess."
"Very well, then, Twilight Sparkle," Celestia replied. "That all sounds...quite promising, all things considered. We graciously accept your offer to help us, both with the ruling and finding other successors."
Twilight exhaled in a relieved smile. Her friends cooed and murmured happy chatter among a big, happy group hug.
Ending C: The Scholar and The Absurd
This variation of our story requires a little rewind and was originally titled 'I am a Scholar'.
"Princess Celestia, Princess Luna, I am flattered, truly, very flattered that you would think of me...think of us," Twilight said, "...but I have my other responsibilities as it is. My school, my role as the Princess of Friendship, my castle, my studies."
"Studies?" Celestia repeated with a blink.
"Yes. I am a scholar. I know I'm not your student anymore, but that doesn't mean I've stopped learning. There are still more books to be read – and written too, for that matter," Twilight explained with a hopeful smile. "I have one in progress even now about dragon culture. Then I'm hoping to expand to other cultures too, such as an updated one about griffons. The book I have didn't even know they no longer have a king, so it is vastly outdated."
"Twilight, I'm sure we could come to some agreement," Celestia offered, "to allow you to have time for studying. Much of ruling does involve a great deal of reading and writing..."
Twilight held out a hoof. "Princess Celestia..." she conjured up several sheets of paper that she levitated with her magic. "I have already laid out my life plan, and ruling Equestria simply does not fit in it – with the exception of an emergency, of course – such as your unforeseen death or kidnapping again."
Luna failed at suppressing a giggle while Celestia held a hoof to her forehead.
Celestia exhaled. "And what of our retirement and asking you to take our place?"
Twilight blinked. "Well, obviously, I missed that one. I just assumed the two of you would be around forever. I mean come on, just a few months ago you told us you were joking about retirement."
"You did do that!" Pinkie Pie exclaimed, looking at all her friends for reassurance. "We were all there. We remember and saw that happen!"
"Not to mention that I thought of Luna as next in line, and I definitely never thought of her as retiring at the same time as you. After all, she uh....she lost 1,000 years of her reign to banishment on the moon. No offense, Princess Luna," Twilight added.
Luna blushed. "I suppose there is merit to such conjecture," she admitted.
"And even skipping Luna, there's Cadance over in the Crystal Empire..." Twilight went on.
"But that's just it," Celestia replied. "She already has her place there."
Twilight smiled. "And I already have my place in Ponyville. I may not rule a kingdom, but I certainly do a lot to spread and support the Magic of Friendship. That is the role I chose to have, if you recall."
"But you could do both," Celestia argued.
"Then why can't Cadance rule the Crystal Empire and Equestria?" Twilight argued back. "Or why can't somepony else like Sunburst rule the Crystal Empire?"
The two older alicorns had no answer, just looked at her in quiet shock.
"She is my senior, as is Luna, so far as being a princess is concerned," Twilight pointed out. "You can't say there's nopony else."
"Nopony better then," Celestia said.
Twilight blushed. "Flattery will get you nowhere Princess Celestia."
"What about your friends? Surely they could help you," Luna reminded the young alicorn.
"Of that, I have no doubt," Twilight answered. "They help me all the time, such as with the school now. But you did that thing where you say my name and then add 'your friends' in some way. I know you're trying to be brief, but it sounds like they are afterthoughts to you when you do it so often. And for something this important."
Embarrassed, the two older alicorns respectfully bowed their heads at the friends in question.
"We do apologize," Luna spoke for the pair.
"Forgiven," Fluttershy quietly said.
"We're hoping to come up with name later for our group to fix that," Rainbow Dash noted with casually folded forelimbs in her hover.
"My point is," Twilight told them, "you actually mean for one pony to sit on that throne and rule Equestria...not six and one dragon. Am I right?"
The two sisters borderline shamefully nodded at that. It was true.
"I remember, quite well, what Starlight told me about what each of you has to do for your part. Even with you taking on the sun and moon for now at least, I would not have the time to do much of what you do, sleep, eat, and attend to all of my other current responsibilities. Something would have to give, which you have indicated would be my place in Ponyville, which in turn would mean my school. Likely even my studies too."
Celestia gulped. "True."
"So you see Princess Celestia, I must respectfully decline," Twilight explained quietly.
The princesses stood in stunned silence.
Rarity cleared her throat. "While Twilight has expressed her obligations, I will note that despite lacking alicorn status, I would certainly not mind taking on such a role myself." She fluffed up her pretty purple mane, trying to pose regally.
They looked apprehensively at each other.
Luna cleared her throat in turn. "We will take that under review."
Rarity's eyes widened as she squealed with joy before running giddily over to her group of friends. "Did you all hear that? That was a 'maybe'!" she growled.
"We heard," Applejack replied with a roll of her eyes.
"Yeah, go Princess Rarity!" Spike cheered.
"And I would be happy to help Rarity with whatever time I could spare," Twilight replied.
"What about you?" Celestia gestured over to Rainbow Dash.
The hovering pegasus looked behind her to make sure no other pony had entered the room. "What about me?"
"Would you rule Equestria if the offer extended to primarily you with the help of your friends?" Celestia asked.
"Oh," Rainbow replied. "Uh....is that allowed with being a Wonderbolt?"
Celestia nodded.
"And I can still live in Ponyville?"
"That's...possible," Celestia hesitated to answer though Luna nodded confidently.
"Wait..." Spike said.
Twilight silenced him and shook her head. The fact that she wished to focus on being a scholar rather than a ruler still rang true.
"Oh, okay, then. Sure," Rainbow replied.
Applejack face-hoofed while the other friends collectively giggled.
"Do me! Ask me! Ask me!" Pinkie waved a forelimb.
With a slightly annoyed exhale, "And what of you Pinkie Pie?" Luna asked.
"Thanks, but no thanks," a smug Pinkie Pie said with folded forelimbs. "I think the joy and cheer I spread can be done better through my life in Ponyville."
"Applejack? Fluttershy?" Celestia asked.
"Got my farm so no thanks," Applejack replied.
"And I have my animal sanctuary, so I would ummm....would try to find somepony else first," Fluttershy noted. "Which it seems you have."
"And I'm a dragon," Spike volunteered. "So probably not qualified," he added, slumping in place.
"We won't deny that," Luna admitted.
"Too young as well," Celestia noted.
"Well, I know I'm supposed to be quiet and all but come on! I'm right here!" Discord emphatically raised his arms high, magically elongating them in an annoyed protest.
"You're not qualified either," Luna scolded him.
"Figures," he grumbled with folded arms but was at least satisfied to have attention. A light bulb appeared over his head. With a sly grin, he air-slithered his way to speak to Luna.
Twilight Sparkle magically held a scroll and quill while noting down everything happening. She smiled contentedly to watch what she knew to be an important moment in history, even if the princesses sought out somepony else.
Two years later...
Twilight Sparkle stood dressed in a light blue gown with purple trim, staring down at the Canterlot populace, and many visitors.
"It is with great honor that I present to you...Princess Rarity and Princess Rainbow Dash," she gestured.
The two princesses in question stepped forward. Rarity wore a gold crown over her head while Rainbow Dash wore silver. Each bore a similar necklace.
The fashionista of the pair had seen to designing their dresses, which bore a striking resemblance to their first gala dresses.
They happily waved and cheered at the crowd.
"Well, what do you think?" Discord quietly noted to Luna. "Celestia seems to be taking the news quite well."
The tall alicorn in question stood steady with a restrained, respectful gaze.
Luna chuckled. "As well as can be expected. She's not used to Twilight denying her for anything or allowing a princess who isn't an alicorn, let alone two of them."
"All in due time," Discord noted with confidence. "The girls know it in their hearts."
Luna nodded in full agreement. "As for me, I am pleased. Rainbow Dash has shown herself a capable student once I understood how to teach her, thanks to Twilight. I trust you will attend to matters as part of our agreement in allowing a vampire form?"
Discord nodded. "She is safe in my care and in turn, so are the ponies dreaming in this realm."
"Then for that, I am grateful. Celestia and I will stay in Canterlot for a time before deciding if we wish to go elsewhere," Luna replied.
"Like Silver Shoals?" he asked.
Luna scoffed. "I am sure we can do better than that."
Discord laughed with her.
Meanwhile, for the two new princesses...
"Can you believe this, darling?" Rarity whispered. "You a princess of the night and me a princess of the day?"
"I never would have guessed it," a fanged Rainbow Dash confessed. Her gaze wandered over to a standing Discord and Luna. She happily flashed her eyes red and bowed her head in thanks for the two in granting her such power as the new protector of dreams.
Author's Note
This story is inspired by a few others that are about Twilight declining ruling Equestria (and their comment sections), such as Twilight Finally Says No.
I am a huge Rainbow Dash fangirl, for any new readers, so the bias is both obvious and intentional. This is also my one and only one-shot so far. I tend to prefer both reading and writing longer stories though I won't promise what's ahead for any new stories since I don't really know.
In my heart of hearts, I actually do prefer Ending A most where Twilight does accept under the condition of staying in Ponyville, but since this story was definitely inspired by her flat out saying "No," type stories, I felt it proper to have at least a version of that happening.
As for Ending C, that was actually written as a separate, similarly inspired idea I later attached here, and it just got a life of its own with the whole Princess Rarity and Princess Rainbow Dash thing. The absurdity of it amused me too much to leave it out.
The vampire thing came from my jokingly thinking to myself how my stories "always" have a vampire Rainbow Dash even though I only have two published here. There are several unpublished brainstormed ideas. This story would be the first published one without it. Then I figured I would just toss it in for laughs to stick with the "always" thing for now after all. Haha!
The "Team Friendship" and "Team Awesome" group names will be familiar to anyone who's read The Master Mev.
Anyway, I hope you enjoyed the story and thanks for your time all the same.
