Price of Immortality

Price of immortality CH 3

Twilight Sparkle hadn’t been having the best week. It had started off well enough but things hadn’t been going to plan since she ate Rainbow.

The pegasus in question still hadn’t talked to her since their encounter three days ago and despite her earlier reassurances Twilight was worried that her prismatic friend was avoiding her.

Moreover the lavender mare was worried about herself. She had taken on this assignment without thinking it through and now that she had actually gone through with the first part it scared her. She was frightened not only that she had eaten somepony but that she had Liked it.

Stepping down the stairs she thought over her next choice. After making a meal of her friend she had written to the princess asking for more time. The missive she had received back was the shortest she could remember, stating simply yes.

In the library Spike was sorting the new books they had received onto their proper shelves. Smiling a little the unicorn levitated up the last of them to help her #1 assistant “Hello Spike any letters from the Princess today?”

The little dragon started for a moment “Oh hey Twilight, not that I know of… are you ok Twi you’ve seemed really out of it since Thursday?”

Before she could reply there was a gentile knock from the door “Who in Equestria could that be? Nopony usually comes here this early.”

As Spike shrugged his shoulders and began moving the empty boxes into the basement the lavender unicorn walked to the door and open it to greet their unexpected guest. Standing outside was a beautiful white unicorn mare with a mane of soft pink.

Said mare smiled and wrapped the purple pony in a quick hug saying “Hello Twilight it’s good to see you again so soon.”

“Uhm excuse me I don’t mean to be rude but do I know you?”

The mare giggled and batted her amethyst eyes at the librarian “Twilight I can’t believe you don’t recognize me, you are my most faithful student after all.”

Disguised Celestia slid passed the stunned unicorn and shut the door at the very moment Twilight’s brain finished rebooting “P-Princess is that you!”

“Of course it is Twilight, though I usually prefer to go by Dawn Sky when I look like this.”

Gazing over the other mare Twilight realized very little had actually changed, the Princess’s coat cutiemark and eyes were all still the same. still she had somehow shrunk down to the size of a normal pony, her wings were nowhere to be seen and her mane and tail were now solid pink and unmoving.

A quick flicker of her magic had all the shutters on the library snap closed as, with a flash of light, the princess transformed back to normal. Twilight decided it was time to get some answers “It’s really good to see you again princess but what are you doing here and how did you make yourself look like that?”

“Well Twilight it’s not only changelings that can alter their shape. I asked Luna to cover things for me because I needed to slip away without all the stuffy royal guards… as for why I’m here…”

Before she could answer there was a surprised gasp from the stairs and the scrabbling of claws on hardwood that soon came to a screeching halt as a certain purple dragon realized he had been about to tackle-hug one of the rulers of Equestria.

Suddenly feeling very bashful the little dragon blushed saying “Uh… hello Princess its… it’s really good to see you.”

Celestia’s musical laughter rang through the library as she walked forward and draped her neck over the drake’s shoulder “Oh Spike it’s good to see you as well. I’m sorry for showing up unannounced like this but I need to talk to Twilight about something.”

“Ok that’s fine… Hey twilight you don’t have anything more I need to do right, cause if not I had something to do with the Crusaders.”

Pressing a hoof to her chin the lavender mare couldn’t think of anything left in terms of chores “I don’t think so Spike. Still if you’re going to see the Crusaders be careful ok, I really don’t want to put half of Ponyville back together again today.”

The little drake nodded and skittered out the door leaving the two mares to get down to business. Sitting down the solar princess hung her head slightly “First off I want to apologize; I read your letter about Rainbow, and your own worries. The reason my response was so brief is that I wanted to talk about it face to face.”

“Ok Princess I did want to talk about it.”

Settling onto a cushion the solar diarch sighed and started the conversation “Twilight more than anything I feel terrible for rushing you like this. I should have taken longer to explain things to you and given you more time to get used to all the new information.”

The young purple pony’s ears drooped slightly “Princess I understood why you were in such a hurry just fine. Besides now that we have time to talk about things.”

“My thoughts exactly my faithful student. With that in mind I actually have something planned out for later but in the meantime I was hoping you could show me around Ponyville.”

Twilight nodded and stood though she still was confused about one thing “But Princess how are we going to get anywhere, are you going to change shape again?”

Behind her the alicorn had already done just that, resuming the unicorn body she had worn when she had arrived. Standing up to follow her protégé she smiled and tossed her pink mane “That was the plan yes… by the way be sure to call me Dawn Sky when I’m like this, wouldn’t want to make ponies suspicious right?”

With that the two giggling mare trotted out for what would hopefully be a wonderful day of fun.

First up on the list was a full guided tour of Ponyville. The princess knew much about the town, having been to one to grant land that resulted in its founding, but she had never been able to come here on her own and really get absorbed the local flavor and history.

It was a surprisingly pleasant time strolling through the streets and learning about the town hall or Sweet Apple Acres or Sugarcube Corner. It was made even better when they stopped inside for a pastry to tide them over till lunch.

Thankfully Pinkie Pie was out causing mayhem when they stopped by, Celestia wasn’t sure her disguise would work on the unpredictable pony and she wasn’t eager to find out either.

Still the éclair she was munching on was topnotch and seeing her student beside her with chocolate all over her muzzle from her own tasty treat made her laugh harder than she had in years.

Normally the hidden alicorn would have exercised better control of her emotions even if she was incognito at the time. However there didn’t appear to be anypony on the street so she supposed it wouldn’t make too much of a scene.

So it was somewhat of a surprise that when she finally managed to best the stitch in her side that she found a white hoof
extended to help her up instead of the expected lavender.

Taking the offered digit and lifting herself upright the princess found a blushing Twilight off to the side hurriedly trying to wipe the chocolate from her face and she realized that none other than the element of generosity herself had offered her assistance.

Something was off about this mare, the princess could tell, she was smiling a bit too wide and there as a worrying twinkle in her azure eyes.

Before she could comment about her thoughts however her protégé cut in “Oh hello Rarity thanks for helping my friend up. Dawn this is my friend Rarity, Rarity this is Dawn sky.

The aforementioned unicorn held out a dainty hoof “A pleasure to make your acquaintance darling. I must say however I find it odd that you would invite a friend over and not introduce us before now, especially one so beautiful if you don’t mind me saying dear.”

Twilight blushed and gave a nervous laugh “Oh well *ehe* sorry Rarity but it’s just Dawn hasn’t been to Ponyville.”

Rarity smiled softly saying “Oh I see well then dear exactly where did you meet such a lovely pony?”

“S-she was… a friend I had back in school!”

Now the unicorn’s smile stretched wider, she had the look of a cat eyeing an unsuspecting mouse and that got the princess worried “I see darling I wasn’t aware you had many friends back at school but no matter any friend of Twilights is a friend of mine.”

She then tuned to the other pearly white pony there “Speaking of which dear you simply must stop by my boutique, it would be my pleasure to make a dress for such a lovely friend.”

Thinking quickly Twilight tried to salvage the situation “Oh we would Rarity but we already have plans for later today so we won’t be able to stop by. You know we have to finish the tour of the town, and then get lunch…”

Smile never leaving her face the unicorn nodded and tuned to leave saying “I understand completely darling still if you ever find yourself here in town do stop by, I promise ill give you the Royal treatment.”

Then she turned and went on her way, humming to herself, and now Celestia was very worried.

*** *** ***
Sipping at a delightfully refreshing rose-water Twilight marveled at how well the day had gone so far. The two had been having a great time touring the rural town, seeing all the sights. Now they were seated at one of the fancier cafés enjoying a lovely lunch.

The disguised princess munched happily on a fresh salad and regarded the mare on the other side of the table.

Up till this point there hadn’t been any real problems, nopony recognized her… she hoped and the tour had been mostly without surprises. Hopefully with what she had planned later things would continue to go well.

Smiling and sipping from the cold juice beside her Celestia decided it was time to let her student in on her plans for the rest of the afternoon “Well Twilight the food here is absolutely wonderful, remind me to come here again the next time I’m in town.”

“Of course Pri… I mean Dawn. So what are we going to do now?”

Paying the check the fake unicorn grinned “I had heard through the grapevine that the spa here gave even the royal baths a run for their bits. So I decided we could spend the afternoon getting pampered, and talking about the reason I’m here.”

The unicorn smiled at the thought of spending a spa day with the princess “That sounds wonderful, it’s been a while since I’ve been to see Aloe and Lotus.”

Walking toward the Ponyville Spa Twilight smiled at her mentor next to her. It was a wonderful day outside and a slight breeze wafted through their manes as they strolled.

*** *** ***
The mares walked into the spa and were greeted by two bowing mares. As Aloe rushed to flip the closed sign over Lotus smiled saying “Good afternoon your highness you do us a great honor coming here.”

“Think nothing of it Miss Blossom I always make an effort to try a new spa.”

Twilight watched as the princess changed back to her regal self “This is going to be so much fun I can’t wait to get pampered.”

“Indeed my faithful student this promises to be a wonderful time.”

At this the blue mare before them blushed slightly “There might be a small problem with that actually.”

Before Twilight could as what the spa pony meant she was silenced by a worryingly familiar voice “Twilight darling I’ve been so looking forward to talk to you, Good afternoon your highness.”