Princess Twilight Sparkle sat on her throne, listening to the latest line of dignitaries run down what they believed would be required for the next year. Spike stood by her, taking notes as he always did. It was times like this that made Twilight wonder if Celestia and Luna had chosen her as their successor because they knew this kind of thing was what she was good at, and to some degree enjoyed. It was for the most part just a usual discussion: how funds would be distributed, what would take priority, and so on.
“...And of course there’s also retirement homes,” the dignitary listed off, looking up to Twilight’s throne.
Perhaps it was simply how many times she’d done this discussion over the years causing her mind to drift a little bit, but something about the conversation prompting Twilight to pause and stare for a few moments.
Seeing the ruler of Equestria staring at her oddly, the dignitary began to sweat and give a nervous smile. “U-Uh, P-Princess, is everything alright?”
Twilight snapped out of her thoughts and gave a reassuring smile. “Oh, sorry, I got distracted. Continue.”
“Well, I know you’re immortal, so aging isn’t a problem for you, but it is for the rest of us…” the dignitary replied, giving a nervous chuckle at her attempted joke.
The Princess of Friendship forced herself to avoid another reflexive pause and nodded. “Yes, you’re quite right. While some like my friend Applejack’s grandmother worked for a very long time, that is not the case with everyone.”
“Oh yes, Granny Smith Apple, she ran that farm for what, a couple hundred years?” the dignitary replied, trying to replace awkwardness with small talk so that they could actually get somewhere. “Earth Ponies skilled with life magic can live quite a long time.”
‘But not forever,’ Twilight found herself mentally adding as an unbidden, subconscious thought. Something about that thought made her heart drop in her chest, and she couldn’t put her hoof on why. It was just at the edge of her realization, and that began to get a scientific brain like Twilight’s frustrated and racing for an answer.
Twilight quickly stopped herself upon realizing she was about to dive straight down a rabbit hole during a time she really shouldn’t. Instead, she took a deep breath and repeated Cadence’s calming breathing technique to get her head back on straight. “Sorry, I’ve just been rather busy and stressed recently. Please continue.”
“You okay, Twilight?” Spike asked as they left the throne room with business for the day now done. Despite Luna’s retirement from active ruling, both Twilight and Spike were glad patrolling the dream world was not one of the duties the Alicorn of Friendship had been left with. Twilight was by all accounts a great ruler, which was why Celestia and Luna had left the throne to her, but she was still just one mare after all. Celestia had learned that didn’t work so well during her thousand-year solo reign.
“I’m fine,” Twilight replied as she walked over to a table in the royal library to relax. “It’s not so much something’s wrong as what that mare said got my gears turning on something and I don’t really know what.” She then gave a smile to her faithful assistant. “Mind getting us both some tea ready so we can relax while I try to figure it out?”
Spike smiled. “Sure, Twilight. Just one second.” The purple dragon took a deep breath and let loose a large burst of green flames that materialized into a pile of letters on the table. “Got all the letters from the gang for the day. You can look over them while I’m gone.”
The Alicorn smiled and shared a hug. “Thank you, Spike.”
Spike had once only been able to spit out sent letters the moment they were sent, but years of experience meant learning new things. Like putting letters ‘on hold’ until he could deliver them in a more appropriate setting. It was a good skill for an ambassador who’d probably not want to start spitting out letters in the middle of a meeting.
As her assistant left to make tea, Twilight began looking through the letters. In the intervening years, her friends all had reached their dreams. Rarity was now one of the most famous fashionistas in Equestria and the world beyond with branches all over the world, Rainbow Dash lead the Wonderbolts after Spitfire’s retirement, Fluttershy had her animal sanctuary running like clockwork. Applejack and Pinkie Pie had never had life long dreams, per say, but Sweet Apple Acres and Sugarcube Corner were both performing better than ever. Starlight Glimmer was doing a good job running the School of Friendship and finally helping spread true equality and understanding between creatures. And of course, Luster Dawn had her own circle of friends now. They’d all grown so much over the years.
Twilight smiled as she looked at a picture of Rarity her friend had included. Then faded as she saw the gray hairs beginning to streak through her mane. They stood out like a sore thumb on the vibrant purple, though of course Rarity had made them work. However, as she looked at them, the realization finally came like a tidal wave. The talk of retirement homes, old age.
Twilight looked in a nearby ornamental mirror. She’d gotten larger, but there was no sign of graying hairs or wrinkles. Twilight was aging, but not in the conventional sense a mortal did. Alicorns didn’t grow old and frail, they were like dragons: they merely got bigger and stronger with age. So her and Spike would never grow old and pass away...but her friends? They were mortal. They were getting old. Applejack and Pinkie Pie would likely live for hundreds of years, but they would still grow old just like Granny Smith was. The Apple Family matriarch had finally been forced to retire and leave the farm to Applejack, Big Mac, and the next generation, showing even Earth Pony longevity had its limitations.
Fluttershy’s aging had slowed considerably thanks to her frequent time in Chaosville, but unless she miraculously turned into a Draconequus from continued exposure (which she highly doubted she’d get a clear answer out of Discord on even if she asked for confirmation), it likely wouldn’t stop entirely. Even then, that was just one of five.
Twilight’s mind conjured images of herself standing with Spike in front of six gravestones and she began to have tears well up in her eyes. They worsened when more stones filled the graveyard. Was that the future? Was she really going to outlive her friends? She didn’t know what she’d do without them.
What could she do? Help her friends ascend like her? That might work for Rarity, maybe even Rainbow Dash, but Applejack? Applejack...had never wanted anything fancy. And that wasn’t something she could force on them just for herself. Freeze time? No, Starswirl had warned her never to tamper with that. She wracked her brain, searching for any kind of solution.
As she sat there, hoofsteps drew her attention and someone sat down across from her at the desk. Looking over, she saw an orange Earth Pony with brown hair, green eyes, and a robust build. A close inspection showed his Cutie Mark was a thunder cloud.
Twilight cleared her throat. “Oh...hello there.”
The stallion’s expression remained a frown, but Twilight didn’t get the feeling he was angry. “Hello, your highness.”
The two sat there for a few seconds, the stranger seeming to look her over for a moment. The clock ticking in the background.
The stranger finally spoke. “What are you thinking?” His voice wasn’t as harsh as one would expect from his expression. There was an empathetic air to it.
Twilight blinked, taken a bit off guard. Then again, she wasn’t exactly hiding her emotions all that well at the moment, so it was hardly a surprise that someone could tell there’s something on her mind. “It’s...complicated…”
The stranger nodded. “I’m patient.”
The Princess of Friendship paused, thinking about it. The stranger did seem rather welcoming, and what would be the harm to get a third party look into it? “I'm afraid that my friends would leave me some day.”
The stallion raised an eyebrow thoughtfully. “Why would they do so?”
Twilight tried to put it into words that didn’t sound...strange. Or selfish. She finally just settled on the simplest words that came to mind. “Everyone leaves... eventually.”
The stallion seemed to get the idea of what she was saying at least. “That's true, but does that change the way we love them?” The Stallion paused, giving it thought. “You are either afraid of solitude, or the absence of your friends.”
The Princess of Friendship cocked her head for a moment. It was an odd phrasing. “Isn't that the same thing?”
The stallion pointed out the window at the sky. “Same as the night and day are just moments in the day. They are both different and powerful.”
Twilight paused for a few moments, thinking about it. Solitude and her friends being absent were different in a sense: one was isolation from others, one was a void. She took a deep breath and finally spoke. “I guess I'm afraid of the moment they are not there with me.”
The stranger gave a small sigh. “You are going way ahead.”
The Alicorn blinked, cocking her head. “What do you mean?”
The stranger raised a hoof thoughtfully. “They are not really gone yet. But you already consider them lost, and yes, every time we lose something, or someone is hard, but the suffering doesn't last forever.” The stallion looked over. “Once you accept the loss, you can deal with the suffering, and once you comprehend the loss, suffering will stop.”
Twilight took a deep breath. There was definitely wisdom and truth in what he was saying, but it felt so...pragmatic. She finally asked, trying not to show the worry and sorrow, “But why?
The strange quickly picked up on the subtext. ‘Why do they have to be lost to begin with?’ “Don't ever ask ‘Why’ to a loss because you are either denying the reality or the loss.”
Twilight sighed, knowing that was correct. Loss just...happened. Sometimes there was a villain to blame, but it was often just senseless fate. “And then what?”
The stallion spoke simply. “Then... you forget them.”
Twilight’s eyes widened and she gave an unnerved look. “What?”
The stallion’s eyes widened for a moment and he quickly put up a hoof as he realized the faux pas. “Ok, that sounded bad. Let me explain... Forgetting something doesn't mean ignoring it, or pretending it didn't happen, it means accepting that it's over and in the past.”
Twilight gave a moment’s thought. She decidedly wouldn’t have phrased it that way, but accepting a loss and moving on was part of grieving she supposed. “I will miss them”
The stranger paused, perhaps trying to word things more carefully this time. “You might not be able to share with them the things you enjoy today. Like seeing each other, having picnics, talking about books they read. That is normal, but you will always be able to love them.”
The Princess listened closely. “What do you mean?”
The stallion’s expression didn’t change, but Twilight did feel like there was a bit of understanding behind it. “You and your friends are connected, by love.”
Twilight thought about it. She really didn’t need to be told that, though affirmation from an outside source helped. She’d learned that quite some time ago, it was how they could still use the Elements after the physical housing had been destroyed. Still, there was a nagging thought. “But when they are gone...”
The stranger shook his head. “It will change nothing. At least not unless you want to change it.”
Twilight tried not to give a sigh of annoyance, she was at least appreciating the conversation. She just wished he’d not speak so vaguely. “I don't understand.”
The stallion held up a hoof. “Let me demonstrate it. Close your eyes and breathe deeply.” He closed his eyes and took deep breaths.
Twilight thought for a moment closing her eyes around someone mysterious she’d just met could be foolish, but she was a goddess, in a castle surrounded by guards, and she’d hear him get up from his chair should he try anything. So she closed her eyes and began to take deep breaths.
After letting her clear her mind, the stranger continued. “Concentrate on someone you love deeply.”
It was hard to pick one, but Twilight started with Applejack.
“Picture him or her in your mind.”
Twilight pictured Applejack in her mind. The orange coat, yellow mane, and, of course, the cowboy hat. Having known all her friends for years, it was near effortless to think about any of them down to the smallest detail.
“Love that person, imagine you hugging that person, and giving your love to him or her.”
Twilight had so many memories of hugging her friends, it didn’t take her more than a few seconds to imagine it. All the sensations, all the emotions. The...warmth one felt any time you interacted and shared a moment with someone who mattered most to you.
“Are you enjoying this moment?”
Twilight gave a smile. “Yes.”
The stallion took a deep breath. “Now, prepare to say goodbye.”
Twilight had to avoid her eyes snapping open or ruining wherever this was leading to. “What?”
“Every reunion has its time, and this one has to come to an end. But don't worry, this person is close to you, and you can love him or her any time you want. But you have to let it go, or you won't be able to do what you need to do. Now, say goodbye…”
Twilight took a few moments to compose herself, but thought of the way the stallion had described it and tried to imagine it that way. Not as a final goodbye, but as seeing someone leave and knowing they could come back. So she did. In her mind’s eye, she said goodbye, seeing Applejack depart. The two waved to one another. It was...vivid. This whole thing reminded her of the breathing exercises that Cadence had taught her, but more intense. Like it was almost real.
The stallion watched her slowly open her eyes. “How do you feel?”
Twilight had some tears in her eyes. “That was...vivid. Like I was there with her.”
The stranger gave a nod. “It doesn't make a difference, but was that someone dead or alive?”
The Princess gave a somewhat uncertain look. “She wasn’t actually dead.... it was…”
The stallion nodded. “Do you think she was aware you were loving her?”
Twilight shook her head. Pinkie Pie? Maybe, Applejack? Certainly not. “No…”
The stallion raised a hoof. “Did you receive love from that person?”
That one gave Twilight a measure of pause. It’d...felt like she had. It’d been very real, vivid. She’d heard of it vaguely, exercises to envision things for various reasons, but this was her first experience with it. “I... don't... think so?”
The stallion nodded. “But you feel good anyway?”
Twilight thought back. She’d felt the warmth, the familiarity. The love. It felt very very real. Probably because the memories powering it was real. “Yes”
The stranger looked her in the eye. “That's because the only way to feel love, is by creating love and… excuse the redundancy… ‘loving the ones you love.’”
The Princess of Friendship gave it thought. She wondered if Cadence could help her better make sense of this, being the Princess of Love and all. Then again, Twilight was the Princess of Friendship, and she still didn’t know everything. Still...it made sense. Discord hadn’t felt love, not once, before loving Fluttershy. He couldn’t, how could he? Because the moment he actually felt it for the first time, even his chaos paled in comparison. “I... see…”
Her guest gave her a look over. “Do you feel better?”
Twilight put a hoof to her chest, thinking on it. The heaviness was at least...lighter. “I think I do.”
“Thank yo-” Twilight looked up from her hoof and found the stallion gone. She looked all around, but saw no one. Surprisingly, not the first time someone just mysteriously disappeared.
She looked around for a few moments, seeing if she could find a sight of her mysterious visitor, but she was alone. Somewhat rude, but…
Twilight thought over the discussion. The thought exercise wasn’t anything supernatural, at least she didn’t think so, but it was what the stranger had promised: a way to see those she loved no matter how far away they were. To remember the better times and nice memories. It was a way to remember even those who had departed, and that had basically been what she’d needed.
She looked at the letters and let herself think on it. Yes, her friends would depart one day, but it’d still be a long time. And when they were gone, she’d still have her memories of them, so perhaps she needed to make as many good memories as she possibly could in the meantime. She wondered if this was something Celestia and Luna had to learn a long time ago. Maybe she should just ask them at some point. The stranger had been a help, but talking to someone with more experience than her could be very useful.
She began looking through the letters again, and realized just how full of memories they truly were. Pictures of Fluttershy feeding little animals, with Discord photo bombing about five of the photos with his antics, the last of which showed Fluttershy catching on and laughing. Applejack running the farm, and teaching her new nieces and nephews the ropes just like her grandmother had taught her. Pinkie Pie showing off the latest recipe she’d come up with at Sugarcube Corner, as well as working with her husband to prepare a massive party for the anniversary of Ponyville’s founding, and teaching their child to do the same.
Rarity showing off a series of new dresses for her latest clothing line, as well as being a mentor fashionista for a next generation. Rainbow Dash both doing tricks of her own as well as demonstrating Spitfire had left her some pointers for being a drill sergeant when needed (Rainbow Dash had always been loud). Starlight Glimmer giving a list of all the new students this year at the School of Friendship, fortunately being less impulsive than she’d once been.
And Luster Dawn’s latest series of wacky misadventures with her own circle of friends she’d formed. They weren’t all that different than Twilight and her friends’ experiences back when their time together started. Running around, having fun, getting to know each other, occasionally saving the world...Alright, so Luster hadn’t saved the world yet, but Twilight had no doubt she would eventually. Gallus and his friends had continued to do so whenever Twilight and her friends weren’t available. It was only a matter of time.
As Twilight set the latter down, she realized something else. Not exactly what the stranger had said, but him helping her calm down certainly helped her think on it. All her friends were going to leave a legacy behind, and she had the privilege of seeing that legacy continue. And she had little doubt those legacies would carry on for a very long time. After all, the things done by people hundreds or thousands of years ago still resonated to this day. She’d seen this all around her this entire life: the Pillars’ legacy had shaped entire kingdoms, the heroes’ whose artifacts they provided for that scavenger hunt were taught in history classes, and even people like Granny Smith who’d never saved the world had founded a town that went on to be home to a great many people who had.
“Twilight?”
Twilight jolted up as she noticed her assistant walk up with tea. “Oh, hello, Spike.”
“You okay? You’re crying?” Spike asked with a bit of trepidation and concern.
Twilight touched a hoof to her face, seeing the tear balanced on it. She gave a small smile. “Oh, I’m fine. These are actually happy tears.”
Spike blinked as he set the tea down on the table. He raised an eyebrow as he went over next to Twilight and gently put a hand on her shoulder. “What exactly did I miss?”
Twilight’s head pivoted, looking for any sign of her mysterious visitor, but finding none. “Not much, just had some words with a passerby. He helped me figure out quite a bit about what was bothering me.”
Spike looked around as well, likewise seeing no one around them. “Did this guy have a name?”
The Princess blinked, it occurred to her that no, the stallion had never once given his name. “He didn’t give me his name, but he was quite intelligent and taught me something…”
Twilight paused, giving it thought. Dragons were also virtually immortal when it came to aging. Spike would be with her forever...but that meant all the things that applied to her applied to him no different. Maybe he could use the stranger’s meditation exercise. “Spike, have you ever thought about how long we’ll live?”
Spike raised an eyebrow...then frowned. “Yeah, sometimes…”
“Then maybe this will help you too…”
The stallion watched them from a distance, expression not changing much but giving a content nod. He turned and walked away.
“Why am I a Powerless Mage?
Well... Mostly because I am a mage, not a wizard, sorcerer, spell caster, magic user, witch or warlock, all of them USE magic, but a mage MAKES magic.
It's a mage’s right and obligation to create magic that shapes reality to its will, and we have the benefit of using REAL magic. The one that is not supernatural.
Mages have gifts to create magic and shape reality, and they use their power to exercise their will into reality.
My gift is "Knowing", but knowing is only half of the battle, without power knowledge is useless. Wisdom is obtained when we apply knowledge to actions, so, in an ironic turn of events I know how to make magic, but I'm incapable of doing it, but mages aren't known for being complacent, we usually find a way to bend the rules.
If power will not be on my side, I will go to those power chose, and let them know how to use that bit of magic that can be created. I must admit, it's a risky move, and the chosen ones might not be able to use the magic, but a warrior must always try to find the best outcome.
By letting others have a bit of magic, I'm shaping the reality I want. I'm making magic without power.”
To Be Continued
