Twilight's Vow; Celestia got debt and she WILL repay it!
Celestia and Luna were finally enjoying their long awaited retirement and what better way to start it then at the beach, of Silver Shoals, outside their own luxury beach house, the place the sisters chose to retire and relax now that they are finally free from the responsibilities of being Princesses and live their immortal lives as regular ponies from here on out.
Celestia sighed contently as she sipped from her fruity drink. She lay upon the beach within her striped hammock. The sun was shining, the water glimmered a beautiful blue. A perfect day if there ever had been one.
“Ah, this is living,” said Celestia. She sported a sun hat and thick black sunglasses.
“Indeed, it is, sister,” agreed Luna, bathing in the midday sun.
“Paradise,” declared Celestia, gesturing with an outstretched hoof. She was content to lay out until the sun left the sky, thoroughly enjoying the peace and tranquility of her retirement.
She was suddenly disturbed from her relaxation by the distant rumbling of far off mountains.The wind abruptly picked up into a fierce gale that blew Celestia’s hat away into the water. Upon this storm, a voice full of despair and anger could be heard crying out a singular word.
“CELESTIAAAAAAAA!”
“Oh no,” whispered Celestia, her eyes wide. She bolted upright from her hammock. Luna looked to her sister, her face full of fear.
“Does that mean?”
“Yes,” answered Celestia grimly. “Come, Luna, we must leave quickly. I heard Abyssinia is lovely this time of year.” Celestia gathered her things. “She will soon be here.”
“Sister, Twilight is a dear friend,” pleaded Luna. “Perhaps, it would be prudent to appeal to her better nature and ask for forgiveness?”
“Twilight is a wonderful mare, Luna,” said Celestia with a paternal smile. “I love her with all my heart. She is kind-hearted, generous and wise beyond all measure, no doubt you feel the same.”
The roar of the wind picked up as the sun turned a bright scarlet red. The clap of thunder boomed ever louder, and with each passing moment, it sounded as if it grew closer to Silver Shoals.
“But let us give her a hundred or so years to cool off, now hurry and grab your things we don't have much time!"
Luna quickly sprung into action and collected her stuff as well. The two sisters moved as fast as they can to grab all that they can carry and more.
CELESTIAAAAAAA!!!!
Twilight's voice sounded almost demonic, it was so loud that it shook the very earth the sisters stood on and the storm caused by The new ruler rage only grew more and more worst the closer Twilight got to her destination.
Sensing this, Celestia quickly use her magic to up lift the entire beach house from its foundation and gesture Luna to get inside. "Take our stuff and get inside, hurry!"
Luna didn't waste a second as she grab everything in her magic and teleported inside the house. Celestia on the other hoof stayed outside struggling against the harsh, unforgiving, angry winds as she tries to concentrate on casting some spells upon the house.
First she created a bubble shield to protect the house from the storm. She then teleported herself inside the barrier, standing on the front porch. Now protected from the storm Celestia expertly and quickly cast a few more spells.
A flight and control spell to fly the house like a zeppelin, a cloaking spell was added to the shield making both itself and anything inside it invisible, and finally a spell used to hide away their magical signature so they couldn't be track.
Just when Celestia finished casting a giant wave of water violently struck the beach and collided with the shield causing the house to shake a little and almost made Celestia lose her footing.
When Celestia look out at the ocean it didn't look as peaceful and calm as it was just moments ago. The once calm waters were raging more violently than what any normal storm would cause, multiple huge cyclones of death could be seen, lightning struck in rapid succession, and probably the world most biggest hurricane was beginning to form, it was as if Armageddon was upon them.
"Merciful Faust, it looks like the end of the world out there!" Luna screamed. "If you're done with your spells, sister than hurry and get us out of here, Twilight will be here any second."
Celestia didn't need to be told twice. With a quick lighting of her horn the house flew high above the ocean, automatically weaving and dodging cyclones as it pass by. Luna even added extra protection to the shield to protect them from lightning strikes and make moving through the harsh winds much easier.
With all that done and house on autopilot as it flew to Abyssinia, The Sisters went inside and sat down on their couch together as they both let out a deep sigh as they tried to relax, now believing they were in the clear.
The two set in silence for awhile, the shield wasn't soundproof but it did minimize the sounds of the roaring storm by a good margin that no one would of guessed that the apocalypse was happening unless they look out the window.
The silence was broken when Luna began to speak.
"So it would seem Twilight learned of everything just now and is on a war path for our flanks, mainly yours!"
Celestia sighed. "And she was told much sooner than I expected.......she must really hate me right now!"
"No doubt about that! You did set her up to take responsibility for the huge amount of debt you owed to the other kingdoms as well as trick her into performing a marriage ritual in front of the Saddle Arabian Ambassadors six years ago just to give her a chance to cover half of it."
Celestia winced at her sisters words. For everything she said was the truth. Celestia may of been a wise, graceful ruler but she was absolutely terrible when dealing with money and haves archaic concepts related to market economics. Thanks to this she single hoofidly bankrupt her country and had to borrow GIANT sums of money from the other Kingdoms, owing bits to the Griffons, Yaks, Kirin, Dragons, Buffalo, Hipogriffs, Changelings (after they reformed), and finally the Crystal Empire. All adding to a total of six hundred billion bits in debt; plus interest.
Of course Celestia did try to pay back the money she owed when it first started. She would come up with ideas that she believed would surely help but she failed to fully understand the meaning of the old business saying To make money you have to spend money which in Celestia case it might as well say You spend money, you waste money, you borrow money, you owe money (Rinse and repeat)
Over time one by one kingdoms stop loaning her money until she paid them back in full; plus interest, and before she knew it, she had single hoofidly bankrupt the entire country. She got lucky when Cadance took the throne of the Crystal Empire and been constantly borrowing bits from her in order to keep Equestria a float but that also means more bits she owed.
Celestia knew she could never come up with a way to pay back the money she owed the other kingdoms. Luna tried to help but her plans were a bust to. Fortunately Celestia had a plan in the works, one that would guarantee that all the money she owed will be paid back 100% in full. All she had to do was make it somepony else's problem, it was full proof.
She needed somepony highly intelligent, capable of always solving problems no matter how crazy or impossible they are, will follow her without question, and have what it takes to be the next new ruler of Equestria so that all of her responsibilities will instantly fall on to them and since every "bit" borrowed was for the crown then the pony in charge is the one responsible for the debt.
It was a plan that will take years to happen but it allowed Celestia time to set everything up. She may be the worlds biggest idiot when it comes to money but she haves a super high IQ when it comes to manipulation. They don't call her Trollestia for nothing.
At first it seemed that Sunset Shimmer showed great promise but her ambition to become a princess as soon as possible made Celestia realize she was not the pony she was looking for. If she was to use someone like her, who questions everything and go behind her back to seek answers then Sunset would no doubt learn the truth about the debt and figure out Celestia's plan, plus she wouldn't make a great ruler with the way she is. Celestia may be trying to dump all her problems on somepony else but she still wants to make sure Equestria haves a good ruler and Sunset had proven in more ways than one that she is not pony for the task and let her go.
With Sunset gone, Celestia had to find somepony else for her back up plan she haves in place in case she didn't come up with any ideas to pay back the debt herself, that and she still needed to find the those who embodied the spirits of the Elements of Harmony. Luckily for her she was able to get both in one day. Twilight Sparkle, she was perfect. Not only was she the element of magic but she was also extremely smart and does whatever Celestia tells her without question, she just needed to learn about friendship so she can use the elements.
As the years went by Twilight had never once tried to do anything that will go against Celestia's wishes, she had no ambitions to become a princess, always did what her princess asks of her without question, and has always been a very good pony, one Celestia loved like a daughter. It almost made her feel bad, that she was just using Twilight to clean up her mess.
Years more had pass and Twilight still remained the faithful student she had always been, exceeding Celestia's expectations again and again. But just how unwavering was her student faith and loyalty to her truly was? The day Nightmare Moon return will test that. Celestia secretly gave Twilight the book that spoke about the royal pony sisters and Nightmare Moon and as expected Twilight immediately figured out that Nightmare Moon will return soon and also as expected she had sent her a letter warning her about something she already knew. Which is why Celestia had a letter ready to go and sent it to Twilight, now the real test begins.
Twilight would either send back another letter questioning her princess or she will do as she was told, and as she hope Twilight didn't question Celestia and immediately left for Ponyville.
It still amazes Celestia how Twilight never once questioned anything about that day at all. Like why was The Summer Sun Celebration being hosted in Ponyville when it always been done in Canterlot, or why did the ponies she was told to meet also happened to be the Elements of Harmony, or why did those same ponies were the ones who went with her to find the elements. Sure Pinkie Pie wasn't on the list but the pink mare was the first of the elements Twilight met but it wasn't by chance, none of it was. Celestia had met the five earlier before and told them her plans to defeat nightmare moon and even gave them the book on the elements of harmony to place it in the golden oaks library which Pinkie herself put away. Even the Celebration itself was a hoax and everypony in ponyville was in on the charade that Celestia herself set up just to have a reason to send Twilight to the small town.
It was by pure luck that Ponyville was built so close to the Everfree Forest, which only help made all this possible in the first place, and Celestia made sure that nopony told Twilight the truth. It was important that everything stayed a secret in order for her to learn about friendship and more. Of course, her friends didn't like the idea but agreed when asked by their Princess, they even Pinkie Promised not to tell. They don't know anything about Celestia's true intentions for her old student but now that Twilight learned about the debt she will tell her friends, who would no doubt tell Twilight everything about the day they first met; Pinkie Promise be damn.
Then there was the Saddle Arabian marriage ritual she tricks Twilight into performing. Celestia thought she give her a chance to pay off half the debt by arranging her to marry Prince Saladin. Saddle Arabia was the only kingdom she didn't borrow any money from thus she was in good terms with them. She learned that the prince was searching for a bride and offered Twilight as a "willing" candidate and with the promise that she will soon become an Alicorn Princess and later the next ruler of Equestria they jump at the chance to meet her but of course still Twilight had to perform the ritual. Which she did while believing she was just entertaining the Ambassadors. After the ritual Prince Saladin was thrilled and accepted Twilight to be his future bride and awaited the day when she's to be crowned so they would be married.
Everything was going perfectly, as long as Twilight never learns the truth everything would be fine, Celestia made sure to cover all her bases, telling everyone who needed to know that Twilight knows everything about the debt and the marriage and had willingly agreed to take care of all of it herself. The only one who wasn't truly convince was Cadance, but she believed her aunt words either way, that or she knew Celestia was lying but knew that only Twilight can fix the mess her aunt had made.
Either way she never told Twilight the truth and The Royal sisters were able to retire and get out of paying the debts they owed by having everycreature involved believed that Twilight chose to bear the burden of her own free will.
Celestia hated herself for what she had done to her student and knows that she now hated her for it, the storm outside was a perfect indication on how much she did. The retired sun princess could only hope that someday Twilight would forgive her.
CELESTIAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!
Twilight's voice could be heard loud and clear by the sister's, it was as if she was speaking through the storm itself and it only sent a deep chill of fear throughout Celestia's entire body as the new ruler spoke.
****
Not long after Celestia and Luna made their get-away. Twilight landed directly on the beach where the two had been, creating a huge crater on impact. She quickly hops out and landed on the sand. With burning eyes of righteous rage and fury she Look around for the one who lied to her, who used her, who left her to clean up the giant mess she left behind.
Twilight knew they had to be here, this was where she was led when she followed their magic signature, and she can still sense it in the air as it was at its strongest here. Yet the sisters were nowhere to be found.
Twilight's eyes soon fell on spot that look like a house had been there just moments ago. She remembered that they said they had their own beach house (Which made Twilight wonder how they could even afford one.) and she soon realized that she could no longer sense Celestia's or Luna's magic signature beyond this point, this is where their trail ends and it didn't take long for Twilight to figure out that the Sisters clearly knew she was coming and ran before she got here, they even took the time to take the entire beach house with them.
The realization that the sisters had fled and hidden themselves only made Twilight's anger grow even higher and as her anger grew the stronger the storm became.
"AAAAAGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!" Twilight screamed in frustration. Mad for allowing herself to be so blinded by her rage that she unintentionally gave the sisters a head start and now she doesn't know where they are or where they went but one thing she did know. They haven't gotten far enough to not hear her speak through the Storm itself.
"CELESTIAAAAAAA!!!!!" Twilight roared in a thunderous voice that put Luna's Canterlot voice to pure absolute shame. "WHERE ARE YOU!? COME BACK HERE AND FACE ME YOU MANIPULATIVE BITCH!!!!!"
Twilight looks around hoping to spot her deceiver but with no such luck. All she could do was talk.
"YOU LIED TO ME! YOU USED ME! You left me in charge of a kingdom that's SIX HUNDRED BILLION BITS IN DEBT and arrange me to be married without my knowledge or consent..........HOW COULD YOU DO THIS TO ME!!!!!!"
Twilight's words did not fall on deaf ears. For each one was like a stab in Celestia's heart. She hated herself for doing this to Twilight, taking advantage of her trust just so she could make her shoulder the burden of the mess that she left behind in hopes that Twilight would fix it just like she always does.
"Is this my so-called destiny? Cleaning up your messes! It would sure explain why you never even bother to help whenever a new threat happens you lazy piece of SHIT!!!"
Celestia was painfully shocked at what Twilight just said but knew she had no right to try and defend herself for its not going to make what she had done any better. Twilight haves every right to be angry and insult her as much as she wants. It's not like she was going to confront Twilight on the matter unless she is willing to commit suicide.
Twilight chuckles. "Remember The Ones Anniversary I threw for you? Remember how mad you were at me for not being honest with you about how much your acting SUCKS!!!
Celestia knew exactly where Twilight was going with this, and it only made her feel even worse than she already is.
"Funny how you said that you were upset because, in all the time we've known each other, you thought you've taught me about the importance of friendship, trust, and honesty! That the truth is always better than a well-meant lie........Wow! Not only are you the worst! Lead! Actress! In Equestria! You're also biggest HYPOCRITE!!! How could you look me in the eye with a straight face that day and say all that to me! When you have been lying to me for YEARS! There's an old saying for that Celestia, it's called PRACTICE WHAT YOU PREACH!"
Celestia buried her face in her forehooves. As both the truth of Twilight's words and the guilt she felt were eating away at her.
"Makes me wonder if your bad acting was also a lie, cause you sure as Tartarus deserve an Oscar for keeping up this act of yours for all these years. What else did you lie to me about, hmm! Was everything a lie!? Was our relationship a lie!? Did you actually love me or was I just a means to an end and nothing more? Just a tool that you can mold and shape to fit your needs and when the time comes you just leave me behind to carry your baggage. I bet you never once cared about me if you still planned on going through with this scheme." Twilight sniff as tears began to fall from her eyes as the painful truth finally came forth to her.
The sadness in Twilight's voice along with her words and that she is obviously crying caused Celestia fall from the couch to her knees on the floor as tears also began to fall from her eyes.
"No Twilight, that's not true! I do care about you a lot!" Celestia said somberly.
"Just not enough to tell you the truth!" Added Luna.
Celestia turned and glared at her sister. "Seriously, Luna!? Don't you think I feel bad enough without you adding more to the pile?"
Luna snorted. "Oh please! If you really feel as guilty as you claim you would have straight up told Twilight the truth, but instead you chose to keep using her and mold her into the perfect sucker who will do anything you say without question."
"And what about you, Nightmare Moon!?" Celestia argued. "You're just as much a part of the scheme to manipulate Twilight, as I am, since day one. You also had plans that also failed and build more debt and if you wanted you could of told Twilight everything yourself. Especially if you done it in the dream realm where I can't stop you. So why didn't you simply tell her the truth."
Luna let out a deep sigh. "I'm fully aware of my part in all this and take full responsibility for that, and you're right that I could have easily told Twilight the truth but I to saw what you were doing sister. If anypony can figure out how to solve this problem, it's her. If we had told her everything, its clear from the storm outside." Luna pointed at a window. "That she would not agree to help us and even if she did and had the three of us work together. We would no doubt ruin things as we always have and, in the end, Twilight would just be doing all the work on her own anyway. This was the better option, in order for Equestria to continue thriving."
Hearing Luna's words made Celestia feel a little better. After wiping away her tears she climbed back up on the sofa and hug her sister close with a wing. "Thank you for understanding, Luna! I still hate what we did to Twilight but if Equestria were to survive than she's the one who will save it."
"Indeed, she will, sister!" Luna said leaning into her sister's embrace.
The two ex-Princesses understood what they did was wrong, but they knew that Equestria will be fine under Twilight's rule and guidance. That knowledge alone brought a sincere smile to their faces for they knew everything was going to be alright.
"You're a Faust damn COWARD!"
Until they were instantly reminded of the raging purple alicorn screaming out at them and soon their happy moment was shattered by reality.
"And a horrible Pony! Not only have you been lying and using me but you didn't even bother to tell me that I was going to be a target for ASSASSINATION ATTEMPTS!.........WHAT THE BUCK, CELESTIA!"
Of course, Celestia didn't tell her for the same reason as everything else. If Twilight knew Ponies were trying to kill her it would no doubt freak Twilight out and she'll start Twilighting beyond repair. That's why she needed her to mature to the point that she wouldn't panic like that again.
"You know what fine! FIIIINNNNEEEEE! Run away and hide like the coward you are! Run away from the debt collectors who no doubt been knocking on your door for years on in! Run away and leave me to clean up your shit! Because that's exactly what you really been training me for and that's exactly what I been doing since day bucking one!" Twilight takes a moment to catch her breath. "If that's what you want me to do! Then Fine! I'll do it! I'll find a way clean up this giant pile of SHIT that you left behind! I'll make sure that the royal guards are properly trained to actually be worth a damn! I'll find a way to stop ponies from wanting to kill me! Hell! I'll even marry Saladin next month and just so you know, YOU NOR LUNA ARE INVITED TO THE WEDDING!"
They weren't planning on going anyway. Even if they chose to attend in disguise, it was too risky because Twilight would no doubt expect them and have a trap ready to capture them, also how could they attend a wedding that is clearly an arranged marriage set up with secrecy and deceit. All to take advantage of the Saddle Arabian Prince vast fortune. So, Twilight could at least be able to pay half the debt.
"And of course I will find a way to pay back every. last. Bit. To the other kingdoms in FULL as well as make sure Equestria is able to sustain itself financially so we would never have to borrow money like that again." Twilight takes a breath. "It will take many years to accomplish such a feat but I. Will. Do it. I will fix everything and make Equestria better than it ever been when you were ruling it and know this Celestia! The day will come when I pay off the last of the debt and when that day comes. I. WILL. HUNT. YOU. DOWN."
Celestia eyes widen in horror from hearing Twilight's declaration, and it filled her body with dread and fear.
"I will search for you, I will find you, and I will make you pay!"
Celestia never felt this much fear in her long life. She seen and dealt with many different horrors and threats but none of them compared to Twilight Sparkle's furious rage and hatred.
"So enjoy your retirement while you can Celestia! Get all the enjoyment you can in your new life as a civilian because you'll never know when I might show up and collect the debt that you. OWE ME! And you will pay me back Celestia, I guarantee that."
Celestia gulp while shaking in fear. Afraid of what Twilight has planned for her. Luna places a comforting hoof on her sister shoulder in a attempt to calm her.
"And don't think I forgotten about you LUNA!"
Now it was Luna's turn to feel fear.
"Everything I said includes you too! It's obvious you knew about the debts and Celestia's plan and chose not to tell me anything and you running away with her only confirms it. So, know that your name is also on MY SHIT LIST!" Twilight takes a moment to calm herself as best she could. "So goodbye and farewell, for now! Because the next time we see each other.......it won't be a happy reunion."
With that said Twilight spread her wings and quickly launch herself up in the sky and flew away from Silver Shoals. When she left the storm began to fade away until it disappeared completely, the ocean was calmed, the dark clouds vanished, letting a now bright yellow sunshine across the clear blue sky. All was as it should be.
The sister's flying beach house no longer had to try and dodge cyclones anymore. It just flew straight to its destination without any obstacles in its way. Making it a smooth ride to Abyssinia.
Though Twilight may have left the weight of her words still remain. As Celestia and Luna knew that they were doom. They fuck up and eventually they will have to pay the price for what they did. Especially Celestia as she is number one on Twilight's Shit list and she could only imagine what the new ruler of Equestria haves planned for her punishment but she sure as hell don't want to find out. So, she did the one thing she could do right now, run away from the consequences, and pray that Twilight never finds her or Luna.
"Twilight! I'm so sorry!"
****
Twilight flew across the sky at breakneck speed as she headed straight North to her next destination. She wasn't going back to her castle, oh no, she had other plans. Since she failed to catch Celestia and Luna there was only one thing left to do; get answers. And there is one Pink Alicorn and white Unicorn who can give them to her, after all she owes their kingdom over 75 billion Bits.
"There's no way those two didn't find it strange that Celestia was dumping all her mess on me! I would somewhat understand the other races but there's no way any of you didn't suspect that she was obviously trying to run away from her debts with her retirement, when she clearly never paid any of you back!" Twilight thought back to her coronation. She remembered every leader of the different kingdoms being their cheering for her as Equestria's new ruler and it made her even more angry. "I don't care what lies Celestia made up. Someone had to be suspicious, someone had to of thought she was lying. She could fool the servants, fool Saladin, but to fool those she owes a shit ton of money to.....BULLSHIT! I want to know why nobody tried to tell me this beforehoof, I want to know why you didn't tell me, my dear sister-in-law!"
Twilight clenches her teeth as her anger began boil over again. She flew even faster as she got close to her destination. Determined to get the answers she seeks.
"Cadance! You got a lot of explaining to do!"
