Evening sunlight pooled into the hallway, warping the stained glass. Two mares, one an enormous white alicorn, her tricolor mane and tail glittering and flowing with a breeze of their own, and the other a little purple unicorn foal, clip-clopped across the tile. For every step the alicorn took, the little unicorn took three. Princess Celestia measured her steps, keeping her pace slow and steady to allow the little one to keep up.

“You’ve been doing very well in your studies. Your teachers tell me you grew a flower on your second try.”

Twilight grinned. Her big violet eyes shone in the light of the dying sun. She nodded. “Yes! It was really hard at first, but I read ahead! I was the first in my class to do it, too!”

Princess Celestia smiled. The pure joy her little filly exuded was so contagious… but…

“Thank you! I promised you I’d learn as much as I could!”

Her smile dimmed somewhat. Guilt sank its nasty talons into her wicked heart. She went on, “Have you been making any friends? I’m sure there are plenty of other fillies and colts who love learning just as much as you.”

Twilight tipped her head and pulled her shoulders up. “Not really. I mean, I guess there’s Moon Dancer and… the other girls? But the other girls don’t really like school much.” Her tone downturned. She shrugged again. “That’s okay, though! I like magic much more than making friends. I’m way better at it!”

“Personal relationships? Who needs anypony? The most important thing in life is to be the best.”

Then, Twilight gasped and bounced on her hooves. “Oh! Shining Armor is still here and he’s my BBBFF! What about Spike? Does he count as my friend?”

Princess Celestia sighed, and her worried frown morphed back into a smile. “Oh, a young pony needs more than just her brother and baby dragon. But for now… I suppose so.”

Twilight laughed and then gasped again. “Oh! Oh! Spike hasn’t eaten since teatime this afternoon! It’s his dinner time! He’s still so young, he needs to eat every six hours!”

“How astute! Run ahead. I’m sure Spike is going to be very pleased to see you at the royal foal care right about now.” Princess Celestia dipped her head and watched the young unicorn rocket off into the hallway.

Her smile fell again.

Twilight Sparkle was a brilliant little filly. But she needed to learn friendship. The sunlight cast a blue glow over her. She edged a look at the stained-glass figure of her sister looming high over her. She winced and kept moving. Twilight was strong, but she needed to stay humble and make friends. Friendship, good friendship, bred humility, respect, love, empathy, real power. The sort of qualities she would expect–need–from her student one day.

Princess Celestia crossed into her throne room. Her eyes fell on the inert mirror. She flattened her ears and turned away. But what if she was putting too much pressure on her? What if she pressured her too hard, too fast, and pushed her away? Maybe distance was the key. Maybe she held them so close to herself, they had to fight to get away. She was just too big to notice it. Her shadow too large, her figure too domineering.

The Princess of the Sun collapsed.

Her flank pressed against the cold stone of Tartarus. Ancient age she’d battled for so long out of the duty of her people came roaring back. She could barely move from exhaustion and the ache in her bones. Her tricolor mane and tail were dull and lifeless, and her eyes misty. For the first time that she could remember the brilliant sun that reminded her of her duty, her purpose, her burden, no longer stared at her from her brilliant white flank. Her fur felt cold as the ancient darkness untouched by the sun blanketed them.

She should be afraid, perhaps. After all, Tartarus was a magical prison. Even without her immortality, the prison itself would keep her alive for however long they were there. The chilly iron cuff around her front hoof tied to a stake in the ground cemented her place there. She doubted she would be able to test the stake or chain any time soon.

Princess Celestia was not afraid.

She lived far too long and died far too many times.

She made too many mistakes.

She made too many monsters.

Princess Luna sat up beside her, head down and ears pinned. Her normally thoughtful and calculating sister stared blankly at the ground. She had already gotten to her hooves and tested the sturdiness of the chains once. She already tried to shoot at them, a reflex she was sure of as they willingly gave up their magic. Princess Luna had even called Cerberus, but the dog did not come. Whether he was ignoring her or was not there was unknown to them. Now, she was silent.

Princess Cadance lay on Princess Luna’s other side, staring up at the ceiling. Or maybe she was staring at something in the darkness. Maybe there was something there that Princess Celestia didn’t see. The Princess of Love could find beauty and fascination in the darkest and ugliest of places. Or was she remembering her time trapped in old crystal caverns beneath Canterlot?

The Princess of the Sun tried to close her eyes, but her buzzing thoughts forced them open again. Please be okay, my faithful student. Please don’t hurt my little filly. It was a selfish gesture to give her their magic and then just send her away rather than letting her take care of that monster. But simply put… Tirek was a monster, and Twilight was still her faithful student. If Princess Celestia asked, Princess Twilight would fight him.

Princess Celestia shut her eyes against the image of the centaur standing above her, his mighty red hand pinning her wings. She opened her eyes again as the image sharpened beneath her eyelids. She was too young. Princess Celestia was wrong. She wasn’t ready. She couldn’t face this nightmare on her own. She should have been there for her.

The alicorn’s ears perked as her chain dissolved. A rainbow acid ate away the end soundlessly until getting to the cuff. The rainbow acid burned that as well, leaving no trace behind. Energy, warm and pure like the rays of the summer sun burst through her. Her horn glowed in yellow light. Her sunshine cutie mark appeared on her flank again. Her hair and mane glimmered and flowed in its own breeze. Celestia stood up and looked at her sister and niece. The two looked down at the chains dissolving at their hooves and then at each other.

Princess Twilight… my faithful student… you’ve saved us all.

Princess Cadence and Princess Luna got their hooves at once, and the trio spread their wings and flew upward.

Author's Note

This was fun! I had trouble deciding what the second Twilight scene should be. First, it was going to be S1E2 when Celestia came down and greeted Luna for the first time. Then I switched it to when Twilight gets her wings. (That had a musical number in it though, and I didn't feel like adding a musical number) So, I just ended up here. I figured Luna would be the feistiest of them, given her past and present. The fact she's sitting up while the rest of them are lying down also lends this idea some credence.

Anyway, that's the last chapter! I had been seriously considering using an AU version, but I was like... nah. Cel's been through enough. Reason? Oh, no reason, just half the reason I wrote the darn thing! Haha "My Little Romance" got me thinking about it, but the spark to start writing came from "Ghost in the Sun". Just... follow PrinceWhateverer. lmao