Sacrifice

In the throne room of Canterlot Castle, the silence was deafening. Everyone inside had been ordered to leave. Advisers, nobles, even the guards were gone from the room. There were only two ponies currently present, and neither of them were talking.

Both of the occupants were standing at the far end of the room, next to a pair of large, ornate thrones. One was a tall, white alicorn. Her flowing mane and golden regalia gave an air of majesty, and she stood tall and proud next to her throne.

The other pony was considerably smaller, almost half the size, with a purple coat. She too, had the wings and horn of an alicorn, but she did not share the same emotion of the white pony. Her head hung low, and her expression looked crestfallen.

“Is this really what happens now?” the purple pony asked.

“Yes Twilight Sparkle.” replied the white alicorn softly, “You are the first pony to ascend from a mortal pony in over two thousand years, and I can think of nopony better to take on the role of Princess of the Twilight. You should be honoured.”

“But what about my friends?” Twilight asked, feeling a small lump welling up in her throat, “What am I supposed to tell them, Princess Celestia?”

“The truth.” Celestia replied as she wrapped a large wing over the newly-formed alicorn.

“You are not yet a true princess,” she explained, “Another spell has been prepared which will transfer some of my energy to you, but only when you are ready. After that, you will gain the power, wisdom, and immortality of an alicorn.”

“You mean I’ll outlive my friends?” Twilight whispered, the tears that had accumulated in the corners of her eyes flowing freely.

“I am afraid so, Twilight.” Celestia said, her voice as calm and quiet as always, “I will give you some time to come to a decision, but it must be made here, and now.”

Twilight remained silent. Instead of talking, she turned and walked down the room. Her new wings, which she didn't yet know how to use, were folded by her side. Eventually, Twilight stopped, and her gaze turned to one of the many stained glass windows that lit up the throne room.

It was the window depicting Twilight and her new-found friends using the Elements of Harmony to free Princess Luna from the evil clutches of Nightmare Moon. The sight brought back memories of her friends, who were currently waiting on the other side of the throne room doors for her to emerge, and fresh tears rolled down her cheeks.

****

"Applejack, what do I do?" Twilight whimpered as she dangled off the edge of the cliff. A loose grasp on the orange farmer's hooves was the only thing stopping her plummeting to her death. Applejack's face was strained, the weight of the unicorn putting painful pressure on her forelegs.

Suddenly, a look of realisation crossed her face, and when she spoke, she was oddly calm, "Let go."

"Are you crazy?!" Twilight shouted.

"No Ah ain't." Applejack countered, "Ah promise you'll be safe."

"That's not true!" Twilight said. There was no logic in Applejack's plan. How would falling off a cliff be safer than climbing back up?

"Now listen here, what Ah'm sayin' to you is the honest truth," Applejack said patiently, "Let go, and you'll be safe."

Twilight stared into Applejack's eyes. What this mare was saying didn't make any sense. But at the same time, she didn't see any alternatives. With a quick wish for everything to be ok, she clenched her eyes shut and let go.

She spent several seconds screaming at the top of her lungs, waiting for the ground to meet her, before her speed suddenly dropped, and she felt two pairs of hooves holding her weight. Opening her eyes, she let out a sigh of relief when she saw Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy on either side of her.

As the two pegasi slowly carried her to the ground, Twilight saw Applejack descending the cliff on her own, and felt a sense of admiration for her. She had placed blind trust in this pony, and in return, she had saved her life. No doubt, Applejack's honesty was something she could rely on.

****

Twilight covered her eyes and looked away, just waiting for the moment to hear Fluttershy scream in pain as the manticore attacked. When no such sound came, she dared to open her eyes, and was shocked by the scene. Fluttershy was nuzzling the manticore's paw, whispering words of comfort. It seemed clear that the creature was just as surprised as the ponies were.

Fluttershy only gave a friendly smile to the manticore, who looked at his paw before holding it out to Fluttershy. From where Twilight was standing, she could clearly see the large thorn that was embedded in the padding. She was hit with a sudden bout of realisation; the manticore wasn't angry, he was just in pain.

"Oh, you poor, poor little baby." she said softly as she examined the wound, "Now this might hurt for just a second."

She carefully bit down on the thorn and plucked it out of the manticore's paw. In an instant, the creature had picked her up and was roaring in her face again.

"Fluttershy!"

Twilight's worries quickly subsided again when the manticore began to lick Fluttershy's mane, softly purring as it did so. Fluttershy giggled as the manticore showed its appreciation, and the other ponies used the opportunity to trot through the gap in the cliffs unobstructed. When they were clear, Twilight stopped to let Fluttershy catch up, and saw the manticore flying deeper into the forest.

When Fluttershy had rejoined them, Twilight asked, "How did you know about the thorn?"

"I didn't." she simply replied, "Sometimes we all just need to be shown a little kindness."

As the carried on, Twilight pondered on what Fluttershy had said. She was right; it was never good to instantly resort to violence, and it had taken a simple act of kindness to prove that.

****

Twilight and the other ponies - even the confident Rainbow Dash - screamed in terror at the twisted shapes that had been carved into the trees. Fear was threatening to make them turn tail and run, forgetting their mission in the hopes of escaping this foul place.

But then, they heard the one thing they didn't expect to hear: laughter. Pinkie Pie was standing right next to one of the trees, copying the horrifying face it made and making silly noises before breaking into more fits of giggles.

"Pinkie, what are you doing?" Twilight exclaimed, "Run!"

"Oh girls, don't you see?" Pinkie said, before bouncing up and down to a tune only she could here.

"When I was a little filly and the sun was going down,
The darkness and the shadows, they would always make me frown.
I'd hide under my pillow, from what I thought I saw,
But Granny Pie said that wasn't the way to deal with fears at all.

"She said Pinkie, you gotta stand up tall,
Learn to face your fears,
You'll see that they can't hurt you,
Just laugh to make them disappear."

As she laughed at one particular tree, it began to warp itself, and the twisted faces carved into it were once again covered in bark. Once the warping had ceased, the tree looked like exactly that; a tree.

Pinkie then grabbed each of her friends and pushed them in front of a tree, laughing as she did so. Somehow, Twilight found her energy contagious, and started to chuckle. When she realised just how silly she had been by being scared of trees of all things, her chuckles became full-blown fits of laughter, and she heard the others doing the same.

All around them, the trees began to warp and return to normal. The fears the ponies once had subsided, but their laughter did not. They continued to filled the usually dark and ominous Everfree Forest with shrieks of happiness.

In that moment, lying on the floor while her sides ached, Twilight realised that Pinkie must have been especially fearless to laugh in the face of fear. Granted, it was an unusual concept of fearlessness, but she didn't think there was anything usual about Pinkie Pie.

****

"I simply cannot let such a crime against fabulosity go uncorrected." Rarity exclaimed. She trotted over to the sea serpent's body and pulled out one of his scales with her teeth. Raising it above her head, she brought it down on her own tail, severing it from her body. Twilight and the others were shocked that Rarity would do such a thing to herself. The serpent was equally mortified, and promptly fainted in front of them.

Tossing the scale away, Rarity used her magic to levitate her severed tail and carry it over to the serpent. Using her knowledge of sewing, she fused her tail with the remains of the serpent's missing mustache, making purple intricately knot itself with orange. Upon realising that his mustache was once again complete, the serpent's spirits soared, and he laughed with joy.

"My mustache! How wonderful."

"You look smashing." Rarity complimented.

Twilight slowly walked over to Rarity, examining the stump, "Oh Rarity, you're beautiful tail!"

"Oh, it's fine my dear." Rarity reassured, "Short tails are in this season. Besides, it'll grow back."

Twilight smiled at her optimism. If she were to be totally honest, she did think that Rarity's purple tail clashed horribly with the serpent's orange mustache. But Rarity had meant well, and her meaningful gift had calmed the sea creature. Coupled with her willingness to help Twilight when she had first arrived, and it was clear that her generosity knew no bounds.

****

"Oh, what are we going to do?" Twilight said to nopony in particular, pacing back and forth with obvious agitation, "Rainbow's over there with Nightmare Moon and she doesn't even know it."

She paused in her pacing to shout across the bridge again, "Rainbow, can you hear me?!"

"She can't hear ya, sugarcube," Applejack said, "The only thing we can do is hope that she listens to reason."

"But you saw those ponies," Rarity said, "They looked like the Wonderbolts. Who's to say they can't win her over?"

Nopony replied to Rarity's comment, and Applejack was right; the only thing they could do was hope. Then, as if their prayers had been answered, Rainbow Dash reappeared through the fog, striking a pose with the intact bridge behind her. Everyone breathed a sigh of relief as they crossed the bridge.

"See?" Rainbow bragged, "I'd never leave my friends hanging."

Twilight pondered on Rainbow's comment. She was right; she had been offered the chance to be given a path to her lifelong dream, and she turned it down so that she could keep her friends safe. In all honesty, Twilight had never met anyone as loyal, apart from the Princess herself.

****

“So exactly how important is this test?” Rainbow asked as they walked through the castle hallways, “I've never heard of a test happening in the Canterlot Castle throne room.”

A test. That was what Twilight had told them. The letter she’d received was only meant to have been read by her, and had subsequently destroyed itself when she had finished. The shock of what she had read, of what Celestia was offering her, had taken a while to wear off, but she managed to keep herself in control of her emotions as they traveled to Canterlot.

“Celestia wanted to personally oversee this test,” Twilight lied, keeping her voice level and trying to avoid eye contact with her friends - Applejack in particular - to avoid being caught out, “She said it could quite possibly be one of the most important of my studies.”

“Goodness. That does sound important.” Rarity said. As she spoke, the doors to the throne room came into view, and she pulled Twilight into a hug, “Well, good luck in there, darling.”

Each of Twilight’s friends gave a hug of their own and words of encouragement before she slowly went to open the door. Just before she pushed it open, Applejack said one final sentence.

“We’ll see y’all when you come back out, sugarcube.”

You might, Twilight thought, Or you might not.

****

As the thoughts and memories passed through her head, Twilight’s mind came to a conclusion, and she turned around to face Celestia. Trying to hold her head high as best she could, she approached the Princess of the Sun and voiced her decision.

Upon hearing her words and the reasons behind them, Celestia paused. Part of her had not expected this path Twilight had opted for, but another part was pleased with her, “Are you sure, my little pony? There will be no turning back once I perform the spell.”

“I am sure,” Twilight said, her voice filled with fresh determination, “It won’t be easy; there’ll be times where I won’t know what to do. But no doubt it’s worth the sacrifice.”

Celestia was silent a few more moments, before she closed her eyes and nodded, “Very well Twilight. For what it’s worth, you were one of my greatest students.”

“Thank you Princess.”

With that, Celestia’s horn glowed, and the throne room was filled with a blinding white light.

****

“What’s takin’ ‘em so long?” Applejack was pacing back and forth in front of the doors to the throne room. It had been almost two hours since Twilight had gone in, but Applejack and the rest of the ponies there hadn't moved from their positions. Even Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie, the two mares who couldn’t stand being in the same place for any extended length of time, patiently waited for their friend to emerge.

“It must be one heck of a test if Twilight’s been in there this long,” Spike said as he sat on a chair on the other side of the hall, his short legs swinging idly in the air, “When she was a filly, she would finish most exams inside of half an hour.”

“W-What if she failed?” Fluttershy stuttered fearfully, “Oh, I don’t want to imagine what would happen if she has to stay in Canterlot.”

“You have nothing to worry about, Fluttershy,” Rarity said, resting a hoof on the yellow pegasus’ shoulder, “I have the utmost confidence in Twilight, and you should too. She’s always studying, and I’m sure she’s prepared for anything the test might throw at her.”

With Rarity’s words, there was a sudden hum of magic, and the six friends saw a bright light seeping through the gap between the doors. In an instant, they were over by the door. This was the first sign of life they had seen from the throne room since Twilight had entered, so they all assumed something must have been happening.

After a few minutes, the light faded, and the ponies and dragon stepped back from the door, all of them wondering what had happened. After a pause which felt like hours, the throne room doors slowly opened, and their old friend Twilight the unicorn stood before them.

“Twilight!” All of her friends pulled her into a tight hug, and Applejack was the first to speak, “How was the test? Did ya pass?”

Twilight took in the sight of all her friends before replying calmly, “Yes Applejack. I passed.”

Everyone was surprised at Twilight’s strange lack of exhilaration, but those thoughts were quickly pushed to one side as Pinkie pulled her signature party cannon out from behind her. She pushed down on the button on the top, and let out a shriek of joy as confetti and ribbons filled the air around them.

“Woohoo!” She shot right up to Twilight’s face, literally pushing her nose against Twilight’s, “I knew you were going to pass Twi! Well, everypony did, but I was super-extra-duper sure! Not that anypony else wasn't. In fact, we were all super-duper-extralooper sure you were going to pass!”

While she paused to take a breath, Rarity stepped forward, “So, with this exam accomplished, what does Princess Celestia have for you to study now?”

“Nothing.” Twilight said, eliciting a gasp from everyone in the room, “She said that my studies have come to an end, and that I've learned everything she can teach me.”

“So what happens now?” Spike asked, “You’re still gonna need an assistant around the library, right?” There was a trace of worry in his voice.

“Of course I will.” Twilight replied, as if Spike had asked a silly question, “You didn't think I wasn't going to need you anymore, did you? You’re my best friend, and my Number One Assistant. I’m still going to need help studying in my own free time.”

Spike blinked, relief flowing through him, before he realised Twilight was expecting an answer, “Oh... yeah. Sure, of course I didn't.”

They carried on through the halls of the castle and towards the exit, and Rainbow decided to voice the curiosity all of them had been carrying, “Hey Twilight. What was that bright light we saw? Did Princess Celestia show you a new spell?”

There was a pause in Twilight’s step, and she looked over her shoulder. To her friends walking in front of her, it looked like she was simply staring at the doors leading to the throne room. But if anyone was standing behind her, they would see her glance down at her back, shifting her shoulders at the thought of what had once been there.

“Yeah.” she replied as she carried on walking, “It was an old spell the princess used to use. It wasn't anything important though.”

The eventually reached pair of large, white doors, and walked through into the streets of Canterlot. Twilight looked around at the crowds of ponies. They carried on with their lives like normal, unaware of the events that had occurred in the last few minutes, and how they would have changed everything.

Her daydream was cut short as Pinkie started hopping around them, as energetic as ever, “Oh my gosh, Twilight! It’s been four minutes and seven seconds since you passed your test, and I haven’t thrown you a party yet! Let’s see, I’m going to need balloons, streamers, games, cake, pres--”

She was cut off as Rainbow stuffed her hoof in her mouth, “Calm down Pinkie Pie. We can throw Twilight a party when we get back to Ponyville, right Twilight?”

“Sure.” Twilight said, “But first, how about we head over to Pony Joe’s. I don’t know about you girls, but I’m in the mood for some doughnuts.”

The other ponies and dragon laughed at her suggestion, and unanimously agreed as they set off down the streets of Canterlot. Twilight was content with being at the back of the group. As she walked, she began to wonder what would happen now. Princess Celestia and Luna would continue to rule over Equestria, and maintain peace and harmony throughout the kingdom. For everypony else, life would continue on as normal.

But for herself, she didn’t know what would happen. Would she begin to regret or reconsider her choice? Would Celestia find somepony else? Would she be angry with Twilight for what she had chosen?

Twilight didn’t know. And if she were to be honest with herself, she didn’t mind that she didn’t know. She had learned a long time ago to stop worrying over every detail, and just let the future handle itself. This was her life, and her future.

It was what she made of it that counted.

****

Princess Celestia watched as the seven friends trotted down the street together, into the crowds and buildings of Canterlot. She thought about her former student, and when she did, the conversation they had had repeated in her mind.

"Princess Celestia,” Twilight began, “You are right; I feel honoured beyond belief to be given such great power and responsibility. I can’t imagine what it would be like to live for centuries alongside you.

“And yet, despite that, I’m going to have to decline your offer.”

Celestia’s calm face remained unreadable as she looked at Twilight, but it was obvious she was surprised with her decision. She didn't reply however, and Twilight continued with what she was saying.

“Because of what you taught me.” Twilight answered, “If I hadn't learned about the magic of friendship, I would've accepted your offer without a second thought. But because you sent me to Ponyville, you introduced me to how wonderful friends can really be. And in turn, they taught me things that I could never forget, or repay them for.

"But most importantly, is that I wouldn't be here, standing before you now, if I hadn't met them. To turn away from them and take on new duties here would be a tremendous insult to them and their friendship. And that is something that I would never forgive myself for, not even after a thousand years."

“Are you sure, my little pony." Celestia asked, "There will be no turning back once I perform the spell.”

“I am sure,” Twilight said, her voice filled with fresh determination, “It won’t be easy; there’ll be times where I won’t know what to do. But no doubt it’s worth the sacrifice.”

Celestia was silent a few more moments, before she closed her eyes and nodded, “Very well Twilight. For what it’s worth, you were one of my greatest students.”

“Thank you Princess.”

"Are you alright Tia?" asked a voice from behind Celestia, and she turned to see Princess Luna approaching her.

"Yes Luna." Celestia replied, continuing to stare out the window, "Just looking back on past decisions."

"I heard what Twilight said." Luna stated, "It will be a long time before somepony else will be found worthy of ascension."

"I know, little sister," Celestia said, watching as Twilight Sparkle disappeared from view, "And yet, I've never been so proud of her."