With Every Story

Chapters

A Gentle Hum
Natural Causes
The First
Celestia
With Every Story
Sunny Days

A Gentle Hum

Author's Note

Hello! This story is the climax of the "Royal-Tea" series and a sequel to "In Plain Sight." I highly recommend you check out the rest of the series first, as this story heavily relies on information contained therein.
This story takes place shortly after the two-part episode "The Ending of the End" from season 9 of Friendship is Magic. As always, I appreciate any and all feedback!

A Gentle Hum

A beam of sunlight peeks through your window, landing squarely on your face. Awakened from your peaceful slumber, you gently open your eyes to take in the scene around you. You've had many strange awakenings in Equestria, from Ponyville being under attack to your existence being in jeopardy. Thankfully, today is not one of those days.

You can't help but smile to yourself. Your room is quiet, though faint noises from the world outside your window are starting to become audible as the rest of Ponyville wakes up as well. It's a nice change of pace, really. You've had to spend countless mornings making sure that you woke up before your wonderful bedmate, lest you be complicit in the sun failing to rise on time. You look down at the mare in your arms. Still asleep, Celestia nestles her face further into your neck, her long horn brushing along the side of your cheek and resting underneath your pillow. There is a look of contentment on her face as you carefully brush a bit of her still-flowing mane out of your face. Her snow-white coat is a bit more unkempt and poofy than usual at the moment, and one of her wings, which had been wrapped around you the evening before, is now lazily resting on top of you, half-folded with numerous feathers out of place. She's a far cry from the image that the public generally associates her with, but there is still an air of grace and dignity surrounding her, even like this. All in all, between her and your shared bed (which you made sure is as comfortable as the one she had back in Canterlot, so it most certainly makes for a plush sleeping experience), you feel as though you are enveloped in a soft, adorable cloud. It doesn't help that Tia, being the ex-princess of the sun, runs fairly warm. You... really don't want to get out of bed.

And guess what? You don't have to. Just a few short weeks ago, you and the rest of Equestria helped Twilight and her friends defeat the trifecta of evil that is Tirek, Chrysalis, and Cozy Glow. And just a few short days ago, your best friend took the Equestrian throne from your fiancée. A lot of changes are happening, and with them, a lot of stress. But you have no fear at all. Looking down once more at your lovely marefriend, who is ironically coming out of everything with the least amount of stress she has had in hundreds of years, you think ahead to next week. After many postponements and hiccups (the fate of Equestria hanging in the balance on what seems like a monthly basis will do that to you), the two of you will finally be married. Though, to be honest, it's more or less a formality at this point. With Tia's retirement and freedom from the many burdens that come with being royalty, there are very few hoops left to jump through that might hinder your matrimony. Thankfully, because you're the first and only human in Equestria, there are no strange marriage laws concerning that aspect of things. Meanwhile, Tia moved in with you shortly after retiring, with Luna getting a small manor over in Silver Shoals that Tia frequently visits. The two of you have stayed together for long periods multiple times over the years you've been courting, so all in all, the wedding won't really change much between the two of you. Still, you're both excited to finally make it official.

Today, however, you both have the day off.

You feel the slightest of a stir and notice that Tia's eyes are open, looking right at you. A smile is spread across her face as she wordlessly tightens her grip on you, nuzzling back into a comfortable position. You let out a small chuckle and assist in pulling her in close. You love that smile of hers. Over the time you've known her, that smile has become more common. Granted, if you were to ask anypony on the street about it, they would agree that Celestia is somewhat known for her smile, but you're one of the lucky few who is privy to her REAL smile, the one she wears behind closed doors. She has been smiling a lot lately, and there is nothing that makes you happier. As a quiet happiness fills the room, you feel the both of you drifting back to sleep on this lazy day off you get to share.

When you awaken once more, you are greeted with the distinct smell of breakfast being cooked downstairs. You smile to yourself as you begin to stretch. Tia is nowhere to be seen, but then again, who else would be in your kitchen cooking breakfast this close to noon? After gathering yourself and getting dressed in casual wear you head downstairs to greet your lovely wife-to-be.

Sure enough, there she is, seemingly putting the finishing touches on breakfast. A variety of pancakes, toast, oatmeal, and various fruits are spread along the dining room table. She has always been a fan of cooking breakfast, and you're grateful every time she does. As you make your way closer to her, however, you can't help feeling a strange sense of uncertainty.

Typically, Tia is more than happy to prepare breakfast like this. On top of that, she isn't one to just fall into foul moods without reason. Yet, as she takes a seat at the table and finally notices your presence, you catch a dark, anxious expression very briefly before she returns to her typical cheery mood.

"Ah, good morning! I take it you slept well?"

"Yes, I certainly did. Um, breakfast looks delicious, Tia!"

"Hmhm, you know how I enjoy the smaller things that I can give others."

Now, when ponies discuss Celestia, her strength is often a point of contention. Being an alicorn several thousand years old, there is much debate over what made her so formidable as a ruler. Some say it's her raw magical talent. Others claim that it is her experience that easily trumps that of her foes. Others still claim that her strength comes from her ability to lead others, not with an iron hoof, but with the charisma that makes her subjects inherently trustful of her.

All of them are wrong. Sure, she's incredibly gifted. She knows more of the world than anycreature you've ever met, and her ability to capture the hearts of others is certainly a boon. But no. What makes Tia strong is her sheer force of will. No amount of pain, no amount of sadness, no amount of absolute hopelessness has ever stopped her from doing what she believes is right. After all, even in a future without you in it, she may indeed be much more stressed, but she is still successful. She is willing to do whatever it takes to get what she wants.

And right now, whatever it is she wants is making her lie to you.

You know Tia. You know her extremely well. Even if she had successfully hidden that brief, dark expression from you, you understand the depth to her words. It isn't in what she says. It's in how she says it. Right now, she is using her "princess" voice. She is acting like everything is completely fine, when she knows perfectly well that it isn't. Of course, as has already been established, she is extremely intelligent. You know she's faking her bright demeanor, but she knows you know.

You decide not to bring it up.

Helping yourself to the wonderful spread before you, you decide to continue with casual conversation.

"So, Tia, got any big plans for the day?"

"That depends. Do you?"

"Judging by the way you said that, it seems like I do now. What do you have in mind?"

"Hmhm. Nothing too major. But, knowing you, you're about to say something along the lines of, 'So long as I'm with you, I'm sure it will be a wonderful time.'"

You chuckle and scratch the back of your head.

"You know me well."

And know you well she does. What follows is a pleasant day that is both eventful and peaceful. You did plenty of things together, sure, but nothing too major. You took a trip to the spa, you had a pleasant lunch, you visited several sights across Equestria that Tia has apparently been wanting to show you (made easy by her incredible teleportation abilities), and she treated you to a delightful dinner thanks to a certain friend of hers over in Canterlot. While it isn't the first time you've shared a day together like this, it doesn't happen all that frequently. It's nice to know that you have the rest of your life to spend with her.

That being said, you do note that she took the lead pretty much all day. In fact, she's seemingly making an effort to pamper you today, even going so far as to engage in a few PDA's, as it were. The two of you get a lot of looks already, especially considering the general populous still isn't exactly used to "Princess Celestia" walking among them like a common civilian. Still, you can't say you hate it. If anything, it's a nice change of pace.

Now you find yourselves resting beneath a tree on top of a hill on the outskirts of Ponyville. The very same tree that you rested beneath a few Nightmare Nights ago, you might add. For a long while, you sit wordlessly together, Tia leaning against you while wrapping a large, warm wing around you. You lean into her slightly as well, resting your head atop hers. There, you simply listen to the sound of each others' breaths until the sun begins to slowly descend below the horizon. It seems that Twilight is getting better at that. Eventually, Tia breaks the silence.

"You know, I haven't had a choice but to watch the sunset every night for as long as I can remember. But I still can't get used to somepony else doing the actual 'setting' for me."

"Muscle memory kicking in?"

She laughs at that, a barely stifled snort escaping her in the process.

"Yes, actually! I keep on instinctively trying to cast the spell and then have to stop myself from intervening in Twilight's work!"

"Well, that cutie mark didn't come from nowhere."

She simply sighs and glances at her flank.

"No, I suppose it didn't. I got it before I became an alicorn, you know."

"You could move the sun before you were an alicorn?"

"Indeed I could, as could Luna move the moon. We were considered exceptional even before that fateful night when the rest of our lives were set in motion. Before us, Equestria relied on a team of highly skilled wizards to move the sun and the moon. It certainly shocked everyone to learn that two mares were capable of doing the job themselves. Teenagers at that!"

"Well, you know as well as I do that being an alicorn isn't what makes you special. That's all you!"

She doesn't respond to that. In fact, you very briefly catch another glimpse of that dark look from this morning. Her grip around you tightens ever so slightly.

"You know that I would do anything for you, yes?"

You sure weren't expecting this right now.

"I suppose so, yes. And I for you, as we've discussed before."

"...I guess I just want you to know that the feeling is mutual. I hope to see you have a long and fulfilling life."

"I appreciate it. I hope the same for you. That's why I'm so dead-set on not leaving you alone, sunbutt."

She smiles, though it isn't a smile of joy. Rather, there is a clear sense of melancholy plastered all over her face. You sit in silence for several long moments before she finally speaks once more.

"I love you. Truly."

"I love you too, Tia. Now and forever."

"...Now and forever."

The sun finally disappears, and the moon quickly takes its place in the sky. Without making a sound, you notice Tia's horn light up briefly before realizing that she has teleported the two of you to your bedroom. Already in bed. Undressed and everything. Huh. Didn't know she could do that. With your shared embrace never having been fully broken, you once more wrap your arms around her.

There is clearly something on her mind, but today just... didn't seem like a good time to bring it up. You look down at her, and although you aren't sure if she is already asleep or not, her eyes are certainly closed. You plant a gentle kiss on her forehead before sleep eventually takes you.

When you awaken in the morning, there is no warm embrace in bed. There is no smell of breakfast being prepared. There are no sounds coming from the house at all. Perhaps you shouldn't be worried, but... you can't help it. Looking around, your feet run cold. If Tia's odd behavior yesterday didn't give it away then, her absence certainly does now. Perhaps you're just being too stressed, or too clingy. Yet, you just can't shake this terrible feeling welling up in your gut. This sense of dread that you've become all too familiar with now. Something is terribly wrong.

And Tia is gone.

Natural Causes

You sigh to yourself as you lean against your kitchen counter, the scent of coffee slowly filling the space as you wait for your morning beverage to finish being prepared. It's almost ten now, and there is still no sign of Tia. Your nerves are still keeping you on edge, but you have enough common sense to know that if there was some sort of major issue, you would have heard about it by now. Though, you still can't help but glance out the window at the distant sight of Canterlot every now and then. You gently shake your head as you pour a fresh mug and take a sip. You probably just forgot about a meeting or something. She might be retired now, but that doesn't mean all of her responsibilities just magically disappeared.

A little while later and you're locking the front door. Dressed in your typical workday business casual, you're prepared to head to the Royal-Tea Shop and open before the lunch rush. You breathe in that clean Equestria air and start down the street. Thankfully you built your house within visible distance of the shop, so the walk isn't that long. There aren't a whole lot of ponies out today, either. It's quiet. Normally it would be peaceful, but right now it isn't doing much to help your nerves.

When you finally reach the shop, you go for your keys only to realize that the door is already unlocked. That's... odd. You definitely locked up before leaving last time, didn't you?

Opening the door, you realize the cause of the lack of lock. Seated at one of the stools along the counter is your almost-sister-in-law, Luna. Your first instinct is to happily greet her as you normally would, even in spite of her having let herself in, but the fact that she didn't react to you entering the completely silent room has tipped you off to the fact that something is probably wrong. Not only that, but the lights aren't even on. For her part, Luna is staring down at the counter into what seems to be a full teacup. Glancing behind the counter, you can see that she has definitely gotten into your things. You take pride in the tea that you serve, having learned from the servants at Canterlot Castle years ago. You're certain that your tea meets a certain standard of quality, and one aspect that greatly influences one's enjoyment of tea is temperature. Luna's favorite is a nice green tea, and green tea should be served hot. There is a distinct lack of steam rising from her cup. Despite having servants for many years, Luna is no slouch when it comes to making tea. She wouldn't mess it up. That tea has been sitting there with no one to drink it for a while.

She has been sitting there for a while.

"Luna? Is everything okay?"

For the first time, she acknowledges your presence by simply glancing in your direction. Her head does not swivel, nor does her body move. Just a quick glance at you, then it's right back to staring at the tea. You flick the lights on, and you see her very briefly adjust her eyes to the new lighting before continuing to stare.

"...Just didn't know where else to go."

Her voice is quiet and raspy, as though she has been crying. Looking closer, you can distinctly see a mistiness in her eyes.

"Um, well, you're always welcome here. What's going on, though?"

You take a seat at the stool next to her, causing her to finally turn to face you. Her eyes are drooped, and she looks as though she's barely holding herself together.

"How are you taking the news so well?"

"What news? Did I miss something?"

Luna squeezes her eyes shut, seemingly doing everything in her power to keep her composure. She opens and closes her mouth multiple times, apparently finding it difficult to speak.

"I-I'm sorry, I figured my sister would have told you of all ponies. Sh... she's been called back. Her time has come."

"Called back? What are you talking about?"

"To the First! The First is going to retrieve her magic from my sister."

Huh? The First? What's this about retrieving magic? You've never heard of anything like this before.

"I'm sorry, I don't think I follow. What does that mean?"

Luna's now tear-filled eyes lock with yours, agony and rage and sorrow all hitting you at once.

"It means the First is done with her! She is taking her alicorn magic back!"

"So... she won't be an alicorn anymore?"

"She won't be ALIVE anymore!"

"WHAT? Th-that's ridiculous! You guys have had your magic drained before and you were okay!"

"This isn't the same as Tirek or the Storm King or anything like that. This isn't like your... magic pool or whatever you call it. When we were made alicorns, the magic the First gave us became a part of our very beings. Our bodies rely on it. Being drained of our magic before was like a surface-level detriment. When the First is done, there won't be anything left! By the end of the process, she... she won't be with us any more."

At that, Luna breaks down completely, sobbing into her own arms. You want to comfort her, but there is a lot to process here. Basically, the First summoned Tia to take her magic, and this process will kill her? Why does she want that? Did Tia agree?

Really though, there's only one thing you should really be worried about.

"We have to go stop her, then!"

Luna's sobbing slows ever so slightly, before she gives you a surprisingly cold stare.

"Don't speak like that. I understand that you're hurting too, but you must keep some semblance of dignity in the face of loss."

"I... what? I'm not just going to sit by and let this happen! We have to stop whatever this process is before it's too late!"

When Luna responds, she is practically shouting.

"There is nothing to stop, you fool!" You weren't expecting such hostility. "Sister told me about this, how you view the First like some sort of challenge to overcome. You just don't get it."

"Enlighten me then, because from where I'm standing, it sounds like you're okay with the First murdering Celestia!"

"It is not murder! And there is nothing to be 'okay' with! Are you 'okay' with, say, your grandparents meeting their natural end? This is simply a part of life! The First is simply a part of life. The First IS magic! Her existence is for the betterment of Equestria's future. She isn't just some pony, she is a force. There is nothing to stop." Luna begins to break down again, her voice barely audible over her tears. "Tia's time has come. There is nothing to stop." She repeats herself before breaking down completely. You look at her, now filled with a renewed sense of dread. But with that dread is something else. Anger, perhaps? No.

Resolve.

You look down at Luna. You can only imagine what kind of facial expression you're making.

"So you won't help me?"

She doesn't look up, opting instead to continue crying into her teacup. You would love to comfort her, but it seems like time is of the essence here.

"Well, if you change your mind, I'm going to go grab Twilight before making my move. I'm not just going to sit by and let her die."

With your words hanging heavy in the air, you depart from the shop and cast your old teleportation circle spell, bringing you straight to Canterlot Castle.

It doesn't take much looking around to find Twilight. As the new ruler of Equestria, her schedule isn't all that different from Tia's before she retired. With how familiar you are with said schedule, you know that the throne room is the most likely place to find her. With haste, you make your way there, ignoring the guards and throwing the grand set of doors open.

"Twilight, we have an emergency!"

Unlike with Luna, your sudden entrance is actually acknowledged. What you weren't expecting, however, was the small group huddled together near the center of the room. Twilight is looking at you with an extremely downtrodden expression on her face, but alongside her are Pinkie Pie, Applejack, Rarity, Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, Spike, and Princess Cadance, each with varying levels of grief obvious on their face. As you approach, you continue speaking.

"Well, from the looks of things I was the last one to find out. What's the plan?"

Twilight's voice is quiet and shaky, not unlike Luna's earlier.

"...What do you mean?"

"The... the plan? To save Tia."

Twilight looks away from you, apparently unable to meet your gaze.

"Come on. Don't make this any harder than it already is."

That really isn't what you wanted to hear. You know you aren't exactly a hero, but you still feel yourself getting a bit defensive.

"What is with you all? Between you and Luna... what are you all afraid of?"

Cadance speaks up in place of Twilight.

"Enough! Listen, I understand that you are grieving. We all are, and we all deal with it in different ways, but you really need to consider your behavior towards others! You are not the only one hurting right now!"

"Why are you all speaking like she's already dead?!"

Twilight speaks up again, her voice a shout loud enough to make you jump.

"Because she is!"

You glare at her, your anger no doubt visible on your face. A heavy silence fills the room for a few moments before you find the words with which to break it.

"...Do you really believe that? Look, I don't know what all the First has done. Maybe I just can't understand the gravity of her 'being magic' or whatever." You slowly turn to face the rest of your friends, all of which seem equally afraid of making eye contact with you. "But I'm not afraid of her. At least, I'm certainly not afraid of her enough to abandon Tia."

Your words seem to strike a chord with a few individuals, as both Rainbow Dash and Applejack recoil at your words. The tension in the room is enough to make you nauseous before Cadance speaks up again.

"Please... please stop this. We don't want this either." Tears begin to roll down her cheeks, making it difficult for her to speak clearly. "But this is hardly different than nature just... taking its course."

More than just Cadance are crying now, as Fluttershy, Rarity, and even Pinkie quietly sob. Barely audible above the already quiet weeping, Spike asks a question to no one in particular.

"Is there anything we even could do?"

Twilight's response is slow and methodical.

"...No. According to the dream us princesses shared, Celestia is going to be brought to the Temple of the First. The First will apparently make a physical appearance for the first time in millennia to personally drain her magic. Then... that will be that."

You pipe up again, your anxiety and determination battling for dominance in the tone of your voice.

"Where is this 'Temple?'"

"Just north of Canterlot." She motions at the sky, visible through a nearby stained-glass window. "It's up there, obscured by the cloud that never moves. Supposedly it's so high up, most pegasi can't even reach it. Only those with alicorn magic can get inside."

"Then we just have to get up there and stop the First before she can finish draining Tia's magic! Simple!"

"...No."

It seems like she wants to say something, but can't bring herself to do so. It is Applejack who quietly breaks the silence next.

"Twi? Let's... let's say we did want to stop the First. What could we do?"

"Nothing. There is nothing we could do." She turns to look at you, finally making eye contact once more. Her eyes seem like they are screaming a thousand apologies that her words can't. "Even if we wanted to, the First isn't like the regular villains that threaten Equestria. She isn't a villain at all. We've always relied on the magic of friendship, but... it wouldn't do anything to her."

Now you're getting somewhere.

"Then why don't we just defeat her through other means?"

"She's revered as a goddess for a reason. Don't forget that our alicorn magic, which most of Equestria understands to be the most powerful magic in the world, is a fraction of a fraction of her power. We wouldn't stand a chance."

While her words are reaching your ears, you fail to find yourself believing them. Whether that's due to a blind determination to save the love of your life or an unwillingness to accept reality, it doesn't matter all that much to you.

"So you all agree with Luna, then? You're just going to sit back and let her die?!"

They all recoil at your outburst, their heads drooping low. If only they could find the words. An explanation, and excuse, an apology, anything. Anything would be better than admitting the shame that they feel. After about thirty seconds, you realize you aren't going to get an answer. With a huff, you turn around and start heading back towards the door. Finally, after being surrounded by all of this grief and helplessness, you feel tears beginning to form in the corners of your eyes.

"Fine, then. I'll go by myself."

With a deep breath, you force yourself back out of the throne room and towards the exit of the castle. You begin sorting through everything you've learned today in your mind. A temple in the sky. The First draining Tia's magic. Your friends refusing to help you. It's like a perfect storm has formed overnight, threatening to destroy this life you've finally learned to love.

You aren't going to let Tia die. You can't. How could everyone else abandon her like this? Is this just learned helplessness at its worst, or are they truly just going to accept this? Have they forgotten everything that Tia has done for them? You shake your head in anger.

They aren't wrong about everything. To say that this is going to be a tough battle is probably the biggest understatement of all time. You... you can't do this alone, can you? But you're out of friends. There is no one left to help you now, is there?

You need to make a phone call.

The First

You do your best to maintain a steady breathing rate as you soar through the sky. The massive unmoving cloud isn't far now, but you're so high in the air that it is becoming difficult to breathe. It doesn't help that your flying skills could really use some work. You don't exactly have much of a reason to use these ethereal wings under normal circumstances, after all. As the cloud draws ever closer, you begin to notice the faint outline of a structure tucked behind the cloudy exterior. That's most likely the temple you're looking for.

You grit your teeth as you land on the cloud. So long as you have your horn and wings out, you can walk on clouds no problem, but there are two issues. One, you aren't too great with heights in the first place. Two, it's freezing up here. Your clothing isn't doing you any favors, either. A pair of work pants, a dress shirt with your cell phone poking inconspicuously out of the pocket, and your standard tennis shoes (or at least, the closest that Rarity could get to replicating the types of tennis shoes you used to wear in your old world). All in all, not exactly fitting for a dramatic confrontation with a goddess, but time isn't really on your side at the moment.

The massive doors to this temple not only tower dozens of feet above you, but they're also made of thick marble. You feel your horn and wings flare up once more as you pull with all your might, only barely managing to get one of the doors to open just a crack. With a quick movement, you squeeze inside before the door slams shut once more, and you are greeted with a beautiful, divine horror.

The temple itself is fairly plain. The whole thing is made of marble, with the temple consisting of just one massive, spacious room, empty except for two rows of columns reaching up to the ceiling on either side of the door, evenly spaced until reaching the back wall. The walls are also bare with the exception of a circular stained glass window encompassing the center of the back wall, the sunlight from behind pouring into the room with radiance and filling the white marble hall with an orange glow.

Near the center of the chamber is Celestia, kneeling on the ground with her head down and her eyes closed. From her body, a plethora of colors drift into the air and towards the back wall, before which stands an almost indescribable figure. Standing at what must be at least fifteen feet tall is the unmistakable outline of an alicorn mare, a build not too dissimilar to Tia's. Although there is no discernible mane, the figure has its wings outstretched, a wingspan easily exceeding thirty feet long. Its horn stretches far beyond its head. However, the most notable part is the coloration. The figure is made up entirely of a glowing white, as though its entire body is a light source. The only discernible feature that is not this glowing white are two eyes where you would expect to find them, also white and lacking pupils, but still able to be picked out from the rest of the light. Frankly, looking at this figure is strange. The light is so powerful it should hurt to look at, but your eyes feel no strain. Yet, seeing the light coming off of the figure fills you with a familiar sense of dread, as though you've seen it a few times before.

There is no mistaking it. That's the First. Draining Tia's magic, just as expected.

"Hey! You have to stop this!"

The First does not respond, nor does her body move in any way. The only reaction you get is from Tia, who does not stand, but does turn to face you with a look of complete shock on her face. When she speaks, her voice is weak.

"W-what are you doing here, sunshine?"

"I'm here to save you, duh! There's no way I would just let this happen!"

"Please, leave at once! I am happy to see you, truly I am, but this has to happen! My time-" She briefly cuts herself off as she seemingly winces in pain. "My time has come, darling! You must accept that!"

"I'm not accepting a darn thing!"

You instinctively flare your wings out and watch as the horn on your head glows in tandem with your now outstretched arms. In a practiced motion, you produce the largest blast of magic that you can towards the First. The blast is massive, and thanks your adrenaline, quite possibly the greatest feat of magic you've ever achieved. And yet, all you can do is watch in horror as the attack impacts the First, who doesn't even react to it. She does not move, she does not speak, and she certainly doesn't stop whatever sort of magic-draining spell she is casting. After a moment, although the spell does not stop, you see her head suddenly snap towards you. While you can't say you weren't nervous already, her gaze fills you with an unimaginable amount of fear. The pressure from her gaze alone is nearly enough to bring you to your knees, but you simply grit your teeth and dare to stare back. Then, all at once, you feel a searing pain course through your body. You let out a scream of agony as you fall to the floor. Saving Ponyville from the Everfree Forest was quite possibly the worst pain you had ever felt, and yet this is on a whole other level. You feel your vision begin to fade before you shake your head and force yourself to remain conscious, but it seems that you are fighting a losing battle. It is as though your body is on fire from the inside, threatening to implode in on itself. Through closed eyes and gritted teeth, you hear Tia's voice once more.

"Stop! Stop it! This wasn't part of the agreement!"

Through the anguish, you manage to force out a single word.

"W-what?"

You realize that her words are not directed towards you, but towards the First. She continues speaking.

"When you visited me in my dream and demanded your magic back, I only agreed to do so willingly under the condition that no harm comes to my partner! Stop it, this instant!"

To your surprise, you feel the pain slowly begin to subside. While your body still feels as though it's coming apart, you at least regain enough strength to open your eyes and slowly bring yourself back to your feet. The First is once more looking directly at Celestia, her magic still in the process of being drained. You notice now that Tia appears extremely weak, and her body seems thinner than usual. She looks at you with an apologetic expression before the chamber is suddenly filled with the booming sound of a female voice, almost indescribable in its might and so powerful that it seems almost sourceless, yet you know exactly who this must be. However, the words themselves only serve to frustrate you further.

"With every story comes an end. With every birth, there is death. With every rise, there is fall. With every ruler, there is a replacement. Only the First is eternally the First."

Choosing to ignore her, you direct your attention back at Tia. Your feel your eyes fill with hot tears. She looks back towards you, equally teary-eyed, before speaking.

"I'm sorry. I knew if I told you, you would try to stop me. I just wanted to protect you."

"Tia... I can't believe you'd do this for me. You... you're... that's..."

"Please, I only want what is best for you. You like to say that you'd do anything to protect me, but the opposite is true too. Even if I die, I'm willing to do this, because I love you."

"That's..."

You stand. In one motion, you leap towards Celestia, getting between her and the First and casting the best magical shield spell you can muster.

"The STUPIDEST THING I'VE EVER HEARD!"

Tia's eyes widen, now less apologetic and more confused, but just as concerned.

"Yeah, I promised that I would protect you, but I'm not going to die to do that! What would be the point?!"

"Huh?"

"What is the point of building our future if we aren't there to see it together? Don't just give up your life like this! Keep fighting!"

Her expression, while still concerned, loses its traces of confusion and seems more angry. At the very least, it appears your shield spell is doing its job for the moment and preventing Tia from losing any more magic.

"Ever since I became an alicorn as a teenager, building a future that I won't see is exactly what I have spent my life doing! I have done nothing but try to build an Equestria that will continue to thrive when this day inevitably came! I never knew when my time would be up, so I had to assume that each day could be my last! I had to be the best princess I could be, specifically because I knew that I would some day be called back to the First!"

"And look what happened! You succeeded! Equestria is thriving, and you left it in capable hooves! You've already built the future you wanted! Now is your chance to enjoy it! Now is OUR chance to enjoy it!"

"That is a privilege that I do not deserve! It is due only to the First that I accomplished anything at all! I have no right to deny her of what is hers!"

"That's a bunch of crock! Sure, she made you alicorns, but after that? She didn't do ANYTHING! You did!"

"You're wrong! Without the First, I am nothing!"

Once more the booming voice begins to ring in your ears. It seems like the First is finally ready to have a proper conversation.

"She is correct. From the beginning, Celestia was born to be my puppet. Nothing more than a vessel through which my will could be imposed. A tool that I could use to shape the wonderful future I have foreseen. And the creatures of Equestria agree."

You watch in shock through your shield as magic of all colors seems to seep through the walls and into the First's horn. There is a brief moment of complete silence before a beam of magic like nothing you've ever seen slams against your shield. It takes your complete willpower to keep the shield up, and even then, cracks are quickly beginning to form. You aren't going to last much longer. Once more, you begin to hear her voice over the deafening sound of her attack bearing down on you.

"Finally, I shall be rid of the vermin that dares to plague my world. This vile creature, the only thing to ever catch me off guard. My vision of the future was perfect. The perfect world, set in motion by my own perfect actions. For millennia, all went exactly as I foresaw. All until this disgusting creature appeared. Even this small surprise made changes to my beautiful future. For the first time, my vision became clouded. Uncertainty is unacceptable. There was no way I could be rid of you without also being rid of Celestia, so I made the necessary sacrifice. Now, all will be as it should once more."

You grit your teeth and do your best to stand your ground. On the floor beneath you, you hear Tia begin to faintly speak.

"My... my sunshine. I-I'm sorry." She begins to cry, her now thin face accentuating how helpless she looks right now. "I'm so, so sorry. I... I feared her more than I trusted you. I'm sorry..." She begins to trail off in her sobs.

As you hold up your shield, there is little you can see besides the attack about to envelop you. As the magic hits your shield and veers off into every direction, it goes from a plethora of color back into the same, familiar glowing white color. You can't help but recall just recently, when you awoke from a strange dream filled with white light to a world where you didn't exist. You remember that, in that world, you did not appear in the stained glass windows of Canterlot Castle. And yet... neither did Shadowmere. Looking back at your other victories, you remember a flash of white light just before the massive ball of vines was launched from deep in the Everfree Forest, and you remember another similar flash of light right before the Time Tuner activated. All at once, everything seems to click.

"It was all your doing, wasn't it? Shadowmere's escape, the vine ball, my trip into the future, my erasure from existence... every single one of those was you!"

"I had to be creative in my methods of getting rid of you. I had to be certain that my future would come to pass, but engaging you directly might have put my reputation at risk."

From the very beginning, almost every single one of your struggles, all of the victories you scored over the magical or malevolent powers that be here in Equestria... all of them were because of the First. All of the things you did... all of the creatures you saved...

"You... you endangered all of Equestria! If I hadn't been there to stop Shadowmere or help hold back the Everfree Forest, you could have killed thousands of ponies!"

"A few lives mean little when compared to the grander picture. To achieve the future I see, those little ponies should be grateful to die at my hooves! None of them came to help you! They continue to exert magic in my name, even now! With every story comes an end, and YOUR story has gone on for far too long! May this magic my subjects are returning to me, MY magic, finally strike you down! For Equestria!"

The onslaught stops for just a moment as you see the First's massive form winding back. She is going to collect magic again, and you're fairly certain that you won't be able to block this one. You glance down at Celestia, who meets your gaze. In that brief, breathless moment, a single glance conveys more than a thousand words could as you nod to one another, ready to accept whatever is to come. You look back towards the First, magical shield still held out in front of you, and brace yourselves.

...

The chamber is silent as you watch the First's horn glow gently. This is supposed to be the part where she collects the colorful magic that ponies across Equestria are exerting and blasts you with it, right? Yet, compared to a few moments ago, the amount of magic coming into the chamber is kind of pitiful. Even the First seems taken aback by this. After another few seconds of silence, you hear the powerful voice once more.

"What is the meaning of this?"

She receives no response in the quiet chamber besides the heavy breathing of Celestia beneath you. After a few seconds, a new sound breaks the silence.

"Ha... haha! Ahahahaha!"

Your chuckles slowly devolve into a fit of boisterous laughter. Amidst your outburst, you finally drop the shield spell that you've been holding. This definitely catches the First's attention.

"What have you done?!"

"Sorry, but it seems that your 'creative methods' have backfired on you. You tried to send me to the future, remember? And yet, I don't exist in your vision of the future, do I?"

The First looks in shock as you pull out your cell phone from your shirt pocket, the faint green light on it indicating that the camera is on.

"Tell me, have you ever heard of a 'livestream?' A good friend of mine has a real talent for it. And today, you get to be the center of attention, just how you like it!"

"W-what?!"

Across Equestria, creatures of all kinds in nearly every major town or city watched in awe as massive magical screens appeared in the sky. On these screens, a cute, pudgy pegasus that you know as Pipp Petals introduced herself and her friends, apparently having made their way to the Canterlot Castle throne room. Although the residents of Equestria do not know this pegasus or her four friends, they are certainly familiar with Princess Twilight and the other bearers of the Elements of Harmony, as well as the also-present Princess Cadance and Luna. Throughout Equestria, everycreature watched in confusion as Pipp explained that her dear human friend had gone to face the First, all alone, in order to save Celestia's life. While most reacted at first to these claims with disbelief, the screen changed to reveal live footage of a grand temple obscured within a cloud, the shaky camera apparently in the pocket of this aforementioned human. The denizens of Equestria watched as this human did everything in their power to protect the obviously weakened and pained Celestia from such a glorious and almost unimaginable foe. Of course, not everycreature was convinced. Not only is the First loved and respected, but so is Celestia, and a conflict such as this is simply too impossible to be believed. As Pipp commentated on the fight, interest in the events unfolding only grew until there was nary a creature that didn't have their eyes glued to the nearest screen. As the First spoke of her vision of the future, many creatures actually cheered for her, but the general attitude towards the battle changed in an instant.

"You... you endangered all of Equestria! If I hadn't been there to stop Shadowmere or help hold back the Everfree Forest, you could have killed thousands of ponies!"

When those words were spoken, all of Equestria went silent. That is, until Pipp interjected with a cheery, almost jarringly confident voice.

"Did you catch all that, Pippsqueaks? It seems that the First doesn't really care about you at all! You heard it right from her mouth! Now, I don't know about you, but I would much rather put my faith in somecreature that has actually stood up for Equestria, and rose to the challenge every time. Like Celestia, or our human friend! Don't you agree?!"

The crowds cheered as Pipp, Zipp, Hitch, and Izzy continued to host the livestream, occasionally cutting from the footage of your fight to them looking out at the distant cloud from Canterlot.

It was a realization you came to when you were stuck in the future. No matter how lost you are or how alone you feel, you will always, somewhere, have friends willing to help you. Having a magic cell phone that can not only make calls across time, but also (with some magical tweaking with the help of Starlight Glimmer and Sunburst) create massive magical screens that you can livestream to certainly helps as well. You had a feeling that the First would try to crowdsource her magic, and you knew you would need help to stop it. Getting Izzy to use the Time Tuner, which was apparently left behind after you returned to this time period (paradox averted, you suppose?) was a risky endeavor, and it was an even greater gamble trying to livestream your fight in the hopes that the First would not only be too distracted to notice the livestream, but also reveal her true colors along the way. And yet, Equestria has taught you again and again that miracles can happen, especially if you've got friends to back you up.

Now, these friends have successfully helped you convince the creatures of Equestria to, at least temporarily, stop exerting their magic, and in doing so, stripped the First of her main source of strength.

With a furious cry loud enough to make you wince, you watch as the First tilts her head back a bit, her horn once again glowing a brilliant, almost blinding white. It seems that, even without the magic of other ponies, she still intends to finish you off.

"This changes nothing. This means nothing. YOU ARE NOTHING! Only the First is eternally the First!"

You hear Celestia gasp beneath you. You already dropped your shield, and you don't have time to create another. You briefly close your eyes before you feel yourself smirk. With a cockiness that you haven't felt in a very long time, you simply cross your arms and watch confidently as the First prepares to launch her assault.

Right as the magic is about to burst from her horn, the entire temple shakes as a loud crashing sound fills the chamber. All three of you turn towards the massive doors that you struggled to open, which are now in pieces across the floor. Sunlight pours in from the fresh hole in the wall, broken by the dark outline of four figures. You confidently chuckle once more.

"Took you guys long enough!"

Entering the chamber with haste are the familiar forms of Twilight Sparkle, Cadance, Luna, and Sunny Starscout, the latter of which excitedly greets you.

"Sorry we're late! It took a while to set up that livestream spell, but with Princess Twilight's help, it was a breeze! You aren't alone!"

Celestia

The first pony to run towards you is Twilight, the beleaguered princess clearly showing signs of strain from the flight here. Between her heavy breaths, she greets you with an anxious tone.

"I'm so sorry! We should have listened to you! Even if we can't stop the First, we owe it to both you and Celestia to at least try!"

Cadance rushes to her side, her attention mostly on the First.

"I'm going to be honest, I don't like our odds. But you're right. I'm not going to let anything happen to either of you!"

Sunny rushes to Twilight's other side, practically shaking with excitement. Her ethereal horn and wings, extremely similar to your own, are clearly visible at the moment.

"I got the princesses here, just like you asked! To be honest I'm still kind of reeling from getting to be here standing next to Princess Twilight, but I'll do my best to help, too!"

The final pony to approach is Luna, who is moving much slower than the other alicorns. She wears a downtrodden expression, her attention clearly fixated upon the still-prone Celestia.

"Sister... I cannot apologize enough. I-I knew what was to happen to you, and I did nothing! Even after being asked directly to help, I did nothing! I do not deserve any forgiveness, but I promise that I will not leave you to this fate! I need you!"

Tia's response is quiet, making obvious just how weak she currently is.

"Luna..."

You clear your throat, turning your attention towards the First again.

"I'm thankful that you're all here, but we do still need to address the goddess in the room."

The First simply looks down on you all. Her lack of facial features makes it difficult to tell exactly what she's feeling, but you can't imagine she's happy about any of this. Before she can say anything, however, Twilight gently raises a hoof in a non-aggressive manner.

"Erm... before anything else happens, I would just like to extend my hoof to you in friendship. I know that tensions are high right now, and I understand that you're worried about the future, but as the Princess of Friendship it would be remiss of me to not at least acknowledge what you are going through. As this 'all powerful' being that everycreature sees you as, I imagine you don't get many opportunities to really form the interpersonal relationships that make life worth living. If you'll have me, I would love to be that friend that can help you see a better way forward! A better way to create a future that is bright for everyone! Together!"

Twilight's words hang heavy in the air as everyone present waits with bated breath for the First's response. The First is silent for a moment, her body not moving an inch and her eyes not giving any hints as to what she is thinking. Then, all at once, a flash of white light appears from the First's horn, a bream of magic surging towards Twilight who just barely reacts in time to leap to the side. A significant portion of her fur is singed as she winces in pain, but she at least dodged the full force of the sudden attack. Then, all present begin to hear the grand voice of the First once more.

"It seems the influence of this... insurgent... runs much deeper than I thought. Regrettable. I will simply need to start from the beginning once more."

With those words comes another flash, with this attack being aimed squarely at Cadance, who ducks just before impact is made. The First's wings seem to flare up even more than they were before as she continues her assault, magic shooting out of her horn at breakneck speeds. You instinctively bring your magic shield back up and crouch in front of Celestia, doing everything in your power to keep her safe while your allies work on a coordinated offensive. At first, Luna and Cadance dodge the First's attacks with practiced ease, using magic of their own to parry any blasts of magic that they cannot dodge. On the opposite end of the spectrum is Sunny, who is having a difficult time getting her magic to work right or her body to move quickly enough to react to the First's assault. Thankfully for her, she is backed up by Twilight, and after a couple of minutes the pair find a good rhythm, with Sunny's raw magical ability proving to be helpful when it comes to launching magic back at the First, while Twilight protects her from any would-be injuries using a magical shield of her own. Then, while Sunny recovers and prepares another attack, Twilight quickly switches from a shield to any variety of offensive spells that she knows. Between the four alicorns, you see the First get hit with several attacks, and unlike yours when you first entered the temple, they actually seem to be doing some sort of damage to her.

Unfortunately, it appears that you are all fighting a losing battle. While the First no longer appears invincible, your alicorn friends are slowly getting worn down, and with Tia on the floor and you still recovering from the First's earlier attacks, you feel doubt begin to creep into your mind. You try to shrug off those thoughts before calling out to your allies.

"Everyone, to me! All at once!"

The five of you share a nod in understanding as Twilight and Sunny group up on the right side of you while Luna and Cadance take your left. You drop the shield, the five of you now forming a makeshift wall in front of Celestia, and all of your horns glow bright with magic. You stretch out your hands, prepared to launch the strongest magical attack you can muster. Then, without any need for a cue, the five of you let your magic loose. The five beams of magic combine just before impacting the First, who gets knocked backwards and slams into the wall behind her with a loud grunt.

The First finally drops any attempt she was making at appearing composed and lets out a roar, her unbridled rage shaking you to your core. Then, with one more flash of light, you hear your four alicorn friends cry out in pain as they are knocked backwards. You look up in shock as the First locks eyes with you. Even in spite of her lack of irises, her fury is plain as could be. Finally putting in the effort to move, you watch in horror as she reels back onto her hind legs and stomps down on you and Celestia. For a brief moment you feel an immense pain before your vision goes dark.

Opening your eyes, you try to make sense of your surroundings. Last you checked, you were about to be killed by the First. Now, you appear to be floating in an endless white void. This sensation feels... odd. Familiar, somehow.

...Ah, that's right! This is just like that dream you had before the First erased you from existence. Last time, you found this nothingness to be comforting, but that adventure taught you otherwise. Realizing that you are potentially in danger, you bring out your horn and wings and decide to keep your guard up. Now, what should you do? What CAN you do in an endless white void? How did you even get here?

Suddenly, the silence is broken by the sound of a quiet sob. Looking around, you notice that some distance away from you is a figure. They look lower down than you (if "lower" is even a thing in a void) and seem to be in a slumped position. You slowly fly towards the figure, trying to get a better view of who this might be.

As you draw near, you realize that this is a young mare, probably in her late teens. She has a snow white coat, completely free of any blemishes. Her mane and tail are both cut short, their gentle pink coloration complimenting her thin, albeit lanky figure. Her head is tucked underneath her forelegs, and as you land on what is apparently some sort of ground, you walk around to the front of her, noticing that her cutie mark is an extremely familiar depiction of the sun. While you don't understand what exactly is going on, this is, without a doubt, Celestia.

"Hey, are you okay?" The young-looking Celestia recoils at your words, shuffling back a few inches before stumbling over herself. She opens her magenta eyes, tears running freely down her cheeks. She sniffles and mumbles something to herself, not really responding to your question. "Do you know who I am?"

She shakes her head, apparently not recognizing you. You sigh before taking a seat in front of her, trying to appear as nonthreatening at possible. There the two of you sit for what feels like a very long time, neither of you quite knowing what to say as Celestia's tears continue to flow. Eventually, though, she breaks the silence.

"W-what are you?"

"Well, I'm a human. You probably don't know what that is. I'm... from very far away."

"You have a horn and wings."

"Yeah, I do. Just like you."

She awkwardly shuffles her wings before her expression turns sour.

"...I don't want 'em."

"Hm? You don't want to be an alicorn?"

"No! Just the other day, some lady shows up in my dream and tells me to go find some wizard so that I can train and bring peace to the land, and found some great country or something! I can't do that!"

"Now, slow down there. What's stopping you?"

"Who am I to do that? I can't do it alone!"

"Are you really alone?"

"Well, I guess I have my sister, but we... don't really get along."

"Even so, don't you think she's feeling something similar?"

"..."

"Look, I don't really know what you're going through, but I really think you're incredible, Celestia."

"How... how do you know my name?"

"Aren't you that super cool mare who can move the sun all on her own?"

You gesture towards her cutie mark, and you see a faint blush appear on her cheeks.

"Yeah, that's me, but-"

"But nothing. I'm sure you'll accomplish everything you set your mind to."

You watch as she begins to cry once more, harder than she was before.

"No! Y-you don't know that. You can't know that! Without this 'alicorn magic' or whatever, I'm not worth anything! Who cares that I can move the sun?! I don't deserve any of this!"

You do not respond, waiting until she opens her puffy, crying eyes again. You wait until you're certain that she is meeting your gaze before you give her a big, goofy grin.

"Why do you think you were chosen to do this in the first place?"

"Huh? B-because..."

"I'll tell you why. It's because you're brave. It's because you're smart. It's because you care about everypony around you. You don't need this magic to be special. You already are."

"That's..."

"You're not worthless. You deserve this power. You deserve to be loved. You deserve to exist."

Without saying another word, Celestia leaps towards you, wrapping her forelegs awkwardly around your comparably much larger form. You return the sudden hug, holding the sobbing mare tight in your arms. For some reason, you feel as though you're meant to be here, like this was supposed to happen. You're not sure why, but you feel a great sense of relief wash over you, and you smile to yourself as you feel the endless void around you begin to slip away.

With Every Story

Before you even open your eyes, you feel... different. It's as though a heat is coursing through you, and a pressure is weighing down on you. You feel, well, powerful, you suppose. With a deep inhale you open your eyes and assess the situation around you.

You don't remember standing up, but you are definitely back on your feet. Your horn and wings are still visible, but you've never seen them glow this bright. To your left and right, the four alicorns are struggling to get back on their hooves, but their attention is turned squarely on you. They all share the same shocked expression. Beneath you, Celestia still lies prone on the floor, though she still seems conscious. Her cheeks are stained with dry tears, but it's hard to read exactly what she's feeling based on her face. Her eyes are practically glazed over, as though she has just come to a realization. Most importantly, however, is what is right in front of you. The source of the pressure is clear, as the colossal form of the First is currently bearing down on you. And yet, you are perfectly fine.

For the first time, you can clearly see an emotion on the First's face: fear. Her massive front legs, which she had used to stomp down onto Celestia and yourself, are currently above you. It seems that, somehow, you caught them, one leg in each hand. Your outstretched arms are holding her at bay, but surely you aren't strong enough to hold her back, right? And yet, there you are. You don't really understand where this power is coming from, but right now, you don't really care either. With a cocky smirk, you let out a single confident chuckle. Let's see just how far you've come.

Not letting go of the First, you concentrate on a familiar spell and watch as about a half-dozen grape-covered vines sprout from the ground on either side of the First and promptly shoot towards her hind legs and torso, wrapping around her and squeezing tightly. You hear her let out a quick grunt before you tighten your grip on her hooves and attempt another spell you haven't used in a while. Beneath the glowing white of the First's hooves, your hands begin to turn a bright orange before flames burst out of them, shooting upwards around your foe's front legs and reaching up to the base of her neck high above you. She wails as you watch her finally recoil, and you let go of her hooves. She stumbles backwards just a bit, not having much freedom of movement thanks to your vines, but you aren't planning on giving her any respite. With a quick flash you shoot another magical beam from your hands, this time appearing much bigger and brighter than earlier. It impacts right at the center of the First's chest, and it seems that your attacks are finally starting to hurt her. Her commanding voice rings out throughout the chamber once more.

"How? What sort of magic is this? I am the First! Only the First is eternally the First!"

Her horn glows bright once more as she lets out another attack at you in desperation. You aren't quite sure where your sudden burst of confidence is coming from, but you don't even bother to create a shield to protect the mare below you. Instead, you simply smile and watch as the beam nearly hits you, predicting when exactly it will hit. In one fluid motion, you channel magic into your forearm and with a simple waving motion, you successfully redirect the attack to impact the floor behind you instead.

"W-what?!"

Not wanting to lose the momentum you have going here, you turn to look at Twilight, Cadance, Luna, and Sunny, who have now all regained their footing and are looking at you expectantly.

"Altogether, one last time?"

They all give you a nervous smile and nod, grouping up at your sides once more. For a few moments there is silence as the five of you gather magic in preparation for one final, combined attack.

This is it. It's all or nothing.

"No! I will not allow this!"

Now visibly distressed, the First mirrors your actions, channeling as much magic as she can into her horn. For your part, you prepare your arms for the spell to come. With your feet planted and your teeth grit, you take a deep breath using the special breathing technique that Twilight taught you when you first came to Equestria.

All at once the chamber is filled with light as six creatures release their most powerful spells at the same time. The First's blindingly bright white magic impacts the much more colorful combined magic of you and your alicorn comrades. The pressure is intense, and it takes all of your focus to not only keep the spell going, but to do it in such a way that it properly aligns with those of your allies. The clashing spells seem to be an even match, with the magic meeting at some point in the middle. There you struggle for what feels like hours (but is almost certainly minutes at the most). Eventually, though, fatigue begins to set in. As the First's magic slowly begins to overtake your own, you take a quick glance below you. Celestia is still sprawled out on the floor beneath you, carefully watching the fight unfold. She seems to be in shock. You don't blame her. She has had... a lot to process in the span of a day. Looking at her thin figure, you make sure to commit her pained expression to memory. She doesn't deserve this. That's why you're here, after all. You aren't going to let anything happen to her.

Emboldened by these thoughts, you double down on your magic with might you didn't believe possible. In an instant, the tides turn in your favor. In fact, it seems that there is little contest. All at once you watch as the colorful combined magic of yourself and the other alicorns obliterates that of the First, slamming against her with enough force to send her massive form flying backwards. The sounds of shattering glass and crumbling marble fills the chamber as the First is thrown through the stained glass window on the back wall, your magic seemingly doing great harm to her while also pushing her back. Still, with a being as powerful as her, you know you can't stop, and you try to focus on keeping up the attack for as long as possible. As the First flies backwards into the sky, you hear Luna begin to speak as best she can through gritted teeth.

"This... won't be enough! She's pure magic! No matter how long we keep this up, she'll survive! There's nothing in Equestria that can finish her off!"

While Luna's words are not lost on you, there is little that the five of you can do but continue your assault. By now she has to have been flung far into the orange, sunset sky. Your arms are in agony now, and it is taking everything you can to keep up the attack while you try to process everything that's going on. There's nothing in Equestria that can finish her off? That's probably true, and also probably why she is so adverse to your presence seeing as you aren't from Equestria. But what else can you do?

As you look past the newly formed hole in the wall (or, at least, what little you can see that isn't obscured by your magic), your eyes settle on the sun, which Twilight had apparently left half-set before coming to your aid. An idea begins to form in your head, but you're going to be making a gamble. Still... you trust that she'll be able to pull through.

"Tia!"

"H-huh?"

Still on the floor, Celestia looks up at you with shock and confusion.

"Please, we need your help!"

"I-I'm sorry! She already drained most of my alicorn magic! I... I am weak! There's nothing I can do!"

"That's not true! You said it yourself, even before you were an alicorn, you got that cutie mark all on your own! You're so much more than what the First has given you! You always have been! Please, we need you!"

She does not respond. Instead, she holds her mouth agape in shock for just a moment before she closes both it and her eyes. Then, through great pain, struggles to stand. She stumbles more than once on her way up, but with one final grunt, she's finally back on her hooves. Leaning on you for support. You watch her horn slowly begin to glow. The glow is faint, but there nonetheless.

"That was you in my dream all those years ago, wasn't it?" Although gradual at first, everycreature in Equestria watches in awe as the sun, already halfway below the horizon, slowly begins to rise back up into the sky. Tia holds her eyes shut tight, obviously in great pain as she casts the spell that she is most known for. The very spell that got the First's attention to begin with. "...Thank you, my sunshine. You've done more for me than you will ever know."

Far, far in the distance, you can see the outline of the edge of your attack, now carrying the First beyond the stratosphere. As if on cue, your vision is filled with sunlight as Celestia finally finishes moving the sun, which now rests directly in the First's path. All of you begin to yell as you use the last of whatever strength you still had in one final push.

In that moment, the sound of a distant yet unimaginably huge explosion rings out across the planet. The sky is filled with thousands upon thousands of colors as pure magic explodes out of the sun and across Equestria, covering the land in a beautiful, picturesque harmony of color. The five of you finally drop your spells. Your arms fall limply at your sides as you all try desperately to catch your breath. Sunny and Cadance are forced to sit down, while you turn your attention towards Celestia, still leaning against you.

Celestia, the love of your life, looks back at you. Her magenta eyes meet your own, a mixture of anxiety and relief and sadness and joy all visible in her expression. Through your strained breath, you give her a smile, which she happily returns. Your smile isn't meant to mean anything. You aren't trying to comfort her, or add some much-needed tension relief or anything like that. No, your smile is the smile of someone who just did the impossible. Against all odds, you faced off against a goddess and saved your wife-to-be from certain death. You've finally fulfilled your promise to protect her, and it seems that in her own way, she did the same for you. There is nothing left to stop you from chasing the future that you've always wanted. With that thought, that wonderful thought, you feel your consciousness begin to fade once more. You embrace Celestia in the tightest hug you can muster, which she wordlessly returns as you both fall to the floor.

You've done it.

You've won.

Sunny Days

You hum merrily to yourself as you deftly sweep the wooden floors of the Royal-Tea Shop. It has been several months since the death of the First. Although it isn't a particularly happy memory, you find yourself reminiscing about it somewhat frequently.

Apparently, after you passed out, the entire cloud holding up the temple lost whatever magic was supporting it, causing it to fall. Thankfully, due to Pipp's livestream, pretty much everycreature in Equestria was paying attention, and everyone inside was safely rescued. When you came to some hours later, you were in a hospital bed, though your injuries turned out to be minor. It was there that Sunny, Pipp, Zipp, Izzy, and Hitch greeted you, letting you know that they were going to use the Time Tuner again to return to their own time. Sunny in particular was extremely hesitant to leave, but you all understood that it would be in everyone's best interest if you messed with time as little as possible. To that end, measures were taken such that the time-traveling nature of your friends was kept secret. So, with some heartfelt hugs goodbye, your friends from Maretime Bay returned home.

After that, there were a lot of loose ends to tie up. Specifically, the princesses and your friends had a lot to discuss. There was a lot of apologizing, both to you and to Celestia, but neither of you held it against them. Luna and Tia had a great deal to talk about as well, though you decided to respect their privacy when it came to those talks. All you know is that there were a lot of tears, both sad and happy, coming from both of them.

Finally, there was the issue of the First. Seeing as she was more or less the subject of Equestria's de facto religion, there was a bit of tension on how exactly to deal with that. Thankfully, since most of Equestria saw her reveal her contradictory nature and subsequent death live on-air, there were few who were opposed to the official disbandment of the church. Many called into question the nature of magical exertion, but it was generally agreed upon that the practice can still continue. After all, it is a healthy exercise (and was necessary for you while you were trying to deepen your magical pool), and without the First to receive the magic, there is no real harm that can come from it. All in all, things resolved peacefully.

You let out a contented sigh. Currently, there are no patrons in the shop, and the only sounds to hear are the ticking of the antique clock mounted on the wall, the voices of distant Ponyville residents going about their business, and the soft sweeps of your broom. Some might find this job boring, but for you, it's perfect. You've always preferred the quiet, and the customers that a tea shop tends to attract are a mostly pleasant bunch. Plus, it pays well enough to cover the bills. It certainly helps that your ingredients are all grown in an orchard you started out back, full of grape-covered vines and trees sprouting multiple kinds of fruit. No apples, though. You'd rather support the Apple family than grow apples that taste objectively worse.

You glance out the window. A brilliant orange light is flooding into the shop. Sunset. It'll be time to close soon. Your ears perk up as you hear the front door open, a pleasant little bell signalling that someone has entered. You turn to greet them, and you smile as you lay eyes on the new arrival.

Standing in the doorway is Celestia. She has recovered remarkably well following the defeat of the First. For one thing, it seems that with that big magical explosion caused by the First's death, all of the magic that she had collected, through exertion or otherwise, was dispersed across Equestria. While she might not be quite as powerful as she was before, Tia did recover her alicorn magic, and you can tell by her build. Not only did she regain all the weight and color she had lost after being drained, but she's looking brighter than ever. Her wings seem a bit livelier, and her chest floof is... the floofiest it has ever been. She might even be putting on a few healthy pounds here and there. Her bright smile greets you, and the sunlight coming in behind her reflects off of the beautiful golden ring adorning her horn. Yup, your wife is looking as lovely as ever today.

"How was the store today, dear?"

She takes a few steps towards you before wrapping a hoof around you in a casual hug. You return the favor, gently scratching the back of her neck a bit.

"Ah, the usual. A few students from the School of Friendship came in around lunchtime to celebrate passing their history exam, so I guess it was a bit livelier than usual. How'd your visit with Queen Novo go?"

"It was lovely! You should really join me next time. Hippogriffia is wonderful this time of year!"

"Hey, any time you want me to join you on one of your adventures, just ask. I'll close the shop in a heartbeat."

"I know you will, which is why I ask sparingly. Otherwise, the shop would go under, my little human."

She playfully nudges your chest with a hoof before taking a seat at a nearby table, clearly expecting you to serve her some tea. You can't help but chuckle as a vivid memory comes to mind. You quickly make your way to the front door, locking it and making sure that the sign is set to "closed." Then, you make your way behind the counter and gather a freshly brewed pot of tea as well as a set of expensive teacups you got from Canterlot. Bringing them to the table, you hand Tia a cup, which she gratefully levitates towards herself before allowing you to fill it with tea, just the way she likes it. Then, you do the same for yourself and sit across from her. You both take a sip, relishing the taste while simply enjoying the company. Eventually, you decide to break the silence.

"You know, I think requesting to have tea with you was the best decision I ever made."

"Oh? Do tell."

"Come on, Tia. If I hadn't, we wouldn't have gotten so close."

"Well, I don't know about that. I thought I was being awfully persistent with those early meetings of ours."

"Maybe, but you were also being really formal. In case you forgot, I only requested tea so that I could figure out what was bothering you so much."

"Yes, you have always been nosy when it came to my affairs."

"Hey, I didn't mean it like-"

"Hmhm, I know, darling. Sorry, I can't help but tease you about that sometimes. You know that was one of the reasons why I fell in love with you." You feel your cheeks flush a little bit as you take another sip of tea, and she does the same. "You have gotten remarkably good at brewing tea. You wouldn't happen to be trying to impress me, would you?"

"That depends. Are you impressed?"

"Hmmmm. Maybe a little."

"Then maybe I am. A little."

The two of you share a laugh. This tea ceremony that the two of you love so much has become a nightly occurrence since you were wed. Right here, right now... this is where you're meant to be. The two of you, just happy to exist. Knowing that you're both incredible in your own special ways, and that you have earned this life. You may not be able to see the future, but there is no doubt that it will be filled with love and joy, forever. With these thoughts filling both of your heads, you drink your tea for two well into the night.

Some things never change.

Author's Note

Thank you so much for reading, and thank you for joining me on this wonderful journey! It has certainly been a fun experience, and I hope you enjoyed reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it! Don't worry, though, I'm not going anywhere. I'm also not done with these characters! I have plenty more story ideas for our favorite human, Celestia, the tea shop, etc. This is just the end of this overarching narrative we've had going on since "Royal-Tea for Two." Please look forward to more laid-back, one-shot type stories from me for a while. As always, I appreciate any and all feedback, and please remember to be kind to one another!