Twilight slowly paced along the polished marble floor of Canterlot palace, more keenly aware of her hooffalls than usual, both from the power of her alicorn-enhanced hearing and the solid metal of her new regalia. It was almost deafening in the smallish, empty room. Though, on further reflection, it may have been only her nervous perception making it worse.
She was not ready. This wasn't what she ever expected. It was her coronation day... she wasn't expected to have a coronation day! Her brother had that, husband of an empress, ruler of an empire. She was a university student padding her CV and pulling all-nighters with coffee and junk food. Things like that just never happened to ponies like her.
It was a spectacular honor, to say the least. By work of her effort and her honorable nature she had been lifted up into the status of a princess. It would be a new honorarium, of course, little more than a new version of the ancient decree that created the likes of Prince Blueblood. There was not another principality for her to rule, not unless a portion of Equestria was cut off. But they were so concerned with unity that such a thing would be foolish.
She had to speak before the assembly, and be broadcast across the face of the Principality. She would formally announce her status. And the closer the moment came the more it ate at her belly. She wasn't ready, she was in no wise ready to do such a thing. But she had known it would come, ever since that day...
Long after the second Grand Galloping Gala, and quite long after the troubles and tribulations of coupling and romancing, there came the morning of utter chaos. A misspoken spell had altered fundamental properties in the town and left her marefriend, and her other friends, altered in their destiny. True love's kiss had convinced Pinkie to follow Twilight into town, softening her up for the next step, of taking back her fate.
From there they brought understanding of real destiny to their friends, from Fluttershy to Rainbow Dash, to Rarity and finally to Applejack. Love and compassion, fixing an airy mistake with consequences that reached further than could have been guessed. Upon that realization, Twilight had vanished.
She reappeared in a mysterious and ethereal pocket dimension with her mentor. “Princess Celestia..?
“Twilight... I always knew you could do this.”
“The spell was rather complicated, not to mention powerful in the presence of the Elements. I can't say that I was all that confident...”
“It was not only the spell. I knew you could turn friendship into actions, and learn to love along the way. You made something of your connections with the others, and brought about a completion of work that had been stalled for over a thousand years. But more than that, you justified my every trust in you. I suspected you had a real gift when you hatched Spike. I became more aware of your potential when Professor Sliver continued to note your amazing progress. And when you brought Luna back to me... that was when it all became clear. No other could be more worthy of this.”
“Your praise? Your friendship? A new fellowship grant to study romantic love and its interactions with friendship? I've considered making that my next dissertation after I truly finish my graduate work on friendship...” Twilight looked excited, eyes shining as she considered it.
“No... something even more. Something greater than that.” Celestia bowed her head and let loose a wave of magic.
“Greater? I can't... ah!” Some little fragment from within Twilight broke off and joined the swirling energy around her body. It was amazing. She had the sensation of falling, but slowly, as if in a bubble. She was, in fact in a bubble of magical energy, feeling almost dissipated. Yet when she hit the ground she was more than whole again.
“Twilight! I was so worried! I-” Pinkie had been approaching to wrap her marefriend in a loving embrace. The clear vision of her after the flash of her arrival not only stopped her, it sent her immediately to the ground in a reverential pose.
The disorientation of the event, its speed and magical force, had left her incapable of know what had happened. She was confused by the reverence until she moved muscles that she had never had before and found wings extending on her back. Wings... “Oh my...”
“Check it out! Now I've got a flying buddy!” Rainbow Dash grabbed her up in a buddy-buddy hug, never one to be awed by things regal.
“Why Twilight! You look just like a princess.” Rarity slowly strode around Twilight, eyeing her up critically. “No significant alterations to your form, though I will need to include back panels for your new wings. Thankfully, Fluttershy's presence has given me much practice with the making of styles with openings for wings.”
“This is... amazing! I don't even know how it happened...” Twilight flexed and flapped her new wings experimentally, finding herself somehow instinctively capable of using them.
“It was your great command of love and friendship, and all the noble things you did before.” All the ponies bowed down, Twilight included, as Princess Celestia appeared. “You have earned your new form, and your new position.”
“Position? I don't understand. I didn't apply for any TA positions and I'm not technically capable of taking over any teaching roles or chairs. I have so much more to do. Besides, there are no satellite facilities of the grand University here in Ponyville.”
“You misunderstand Twilight, this is something more important than anything academic.”
“More important than academia? That hardly seems possible. N-no offense to you, Princess, but I don't think I can picture anything more important than my studies.” She gave a quick glance to Pinkie and smiled. “And other... learning and bonding experiences.”
“Twilight... you have that new form for a reason. You are to become a new princess.” Celestia looked on with regal detachment as the scene turned into cheers, disbelief, hoof-pumping and, in unguarded instants, uncertain glances and a certain amount of mane-deflation.
Twilight looked up as the door of the chamber was opened, allowing entrance to her bother and sister-in-law. “BBBFF!” She dashed immediately into the welcoming and strong embrace of her formally-attired brother, burying her face in his neck.
“Hey there Twily...” Shining Armor spoke with a soft voice, trying to be as caring and comfortable as possible. “Cadence wanted to see how you were doing. She was really worried.”
“Yes, it was all me. Your brother has been absolutely unflappable.” Cadence gave a good-humored laugh and came in to hug Twilight. “I really was concerned, however. This is... certainly beyond anything else that you have done before. Your brother could tell you what comes after coronation, but you did not also get married. That changes things.”
“It's hard work... but easy when you have somepony you love there by your side. And this... I'll bet it's even harder on you. But you've gotta be strong. It's important.”
“Yes, chin up. You accepted this fate even before the moment your tiara was set on your head as the symbol of more than just your command of the Elements of Harmony.”Cadence quickly and covertly wiped a tear away from her eye and cleared her throat regally. “You know that I and your brother will be there, right behind you, supporting you during your speech to the Principality. We even made arrangements for it to be broadcast into the Imperium. It is such an important thing that as many folk as possible deserve to hear it.”
“I heard they even arranged live broadcasts into the Griffin Kingdom, the United Colonies and the Grand Veldt ex-pat communities. Oh... that... probably doesn't help...” Shining Armor gave a sheepish smile and tucked himself just slightly behind his wife.
Twilight giggled, with some release of tension. “Actually... it does a little. It's very important that so many hear it. It matters... it matters...”
“Twilight!” Pinkie ran up to the newly-minted alicorn and gave her a powerful hug. “I've missed you so much. Ponyville just isn't as much fun without you in there to say super sciencey things.”
Twilight clung tightly to Pinkie, her body posture making it look like she would never let go. “I've missed you Pinkie. And Ponyville, and the girls. But especially you. She pulled back a bit, eyes shining with unreleased tears. “We've been preparing for the coronation, discussing my responsibilities.”
“Will you be able to come back to Ponyville and run the library some more? Spike's starting to get lazy. I found another copy of 'Good Girl' in with the cook books.”
“Oh, so that's what he was doing with it. Suddenly it all makes sense.”Twilight shook her head to clear the tangent, his face falling. “I can visit... when there is time. But I can't live there or run the library. I'll barely have time for research and education. The honorarium imposes responsibilities to help manage ministries and deal with issues as they arise from the various departments.”
Pinkie deflated slightly, hanging limply in Twilight's embrace. “So... you won't be around for tea and cupcakes? I can't bring you hot chocolate on the balcony while you stargaze or put pillows under your head when you fall asleep reading?”
“No. I won't have much time for that. We could still try, if you were willing to move here to Canterlot. The palace is really very beautiful...”
“I can't leave Mr. and Mrs. Cake! I made a Pinkie Promise that I would keep helping them until Pound and Pumpkin can take care of themselves and they don't have to worry anymore. You know I'm the best employee they could ever get, for baking and foalsitting.”
“I know... I know... it was foolish of me to even ask. And selfish... I can't take you away from your life just for me. Even if it would help you I know that deep down it was all for my convenience.” Twilight sighed and hugged Pinkie tighter, her alicorn strength finally giving the earth pony a run for her money.
“I don't wanna lose you, Twilight. I love you.” Pinkie sobbed openly into Twilight's neck, trembling each time she gasped in a breath.
“I love you too, Pinkie. It took so much to admit it, all that effort and heartbreak and effort... only to lose you by inches. They say absence makes the heart grow fonder... but I know that in Princess Luna's time 'fond' meant foolish. And I think that's true. Absent hearts are foolish, and they would forget... or worse than forget. They might move on...”
“No!” Pinkie stared with horror into Twilight's eyes. “Y-you can't...”
“I didn't say I would... but I can't deny that one or both of us might wake up one morning, alone and heart-sick, and realize that there are beautiful mares right outside. I can't rule out anything because the future is a mystery. I don't want it to happen. I would never want it to happen. But what I want isn't always what happens...” Twilight looked down at her royal form and sighed. “I never wanted this. I wanted praise, guidance and grant money to keep myself in Ponyville to work on my dissertations.”
“So is this..?” Pinkie couldn't even bring herself to finish the thought. She just collapsed into a shuddering, bawling heap at Twilight's hooves.
Twilight wanted to be down there with her, but something in the back of her head held her back. She had to hold up a certain regality, and a certain degree of strength. For both of their sakes, someone needed to be strong.
“Princess Twilight Sparkle! The time is come! Thou hast come to thy moment of presentation! Come, let us present thee that all the Principality may know thy doom!” Luna stepped into the small room, also in her royal finery, and let the Royal Canterlot Voice project over the three already within.
“Even though I know what that meant a thousand years ago it doesn't really help that much.” Twilight laughed nervously and scratched the back of her neck. “I'm ready, your majesty.”
“Be thou not humble, Princess Sparkle. While we may speak so, thou art of our sphere. Peer of peers and of the alicorn aristocracy. Come thou, dour one. Stay thy fear and stir thine hooves. The machine is prepared. Let thy voice burst 'cross the known world that all may see thee as thou art.”
Twilight adjusted all of her finery and wiped at her eyes. “I'm ready. Let's go.”
The entire party set out from the room, Twilight at the head of the procession. Along the way they met up with the other five members of the Elements. Though all had put on reasonably brave faces there was no disguising the sadness. Pinkie's hair gave her away the most, hanging in long, limp strands and washed out in tone. Her smile was the falsest of all, a huge one that could not hope to reach her eyes. They marched along behind the parade with a steady tread, to the grand balcony where the microphone had been set up.
“Twilight Sparkle... it's not too late to change your mind.” Princess Celestia looked down on Twilight, moving from beside the microphone to the small procession.
“I know you mean the best for me. But I made my choice.” Pinkie gave a choked sound from the background, and Twilight winced. “There was so much discussion. And now it's time to make it official.”
Celestia nodded her head and motioned towards the microphone. “Then your time is now, Princess Sparkle. Tell all the lands.”
Twilight licked her suddenly dry lips and tried to tune out the soft sounds of Pinkie Pie sobbing behind her. She sighed lightly and approached the microphone. “Hello, all of the listeners across the known world. I can finally say a few words which have meant so much to me. I never wanted to be so silent, or to appear to lie by omission. However, because of the workings of the Official Secrets Act I had to maintain privacy until all the preliminaries had been discharged.
“It has been a long process, and a hard one. I required much consultation and help from some very esteemed ponies. These have included my longtime mentor Princess Celestia, her wise and witty sister Princess Luna and my sister-in-law Princess Cadence. Besides tackling the task of all the legal wrangling and other matters of which I was not aware, they helped to lift my spirit up when I was filled with nothing but sorrow and uncertainty. In no way do I mean to belittle their help, but it was the subtle influence of another that truly made this all possible, from the decision to the will to do it. This could never have happened without the dedication, care, honesty and adoration of the mare I love.
“This was no one's decision but my own. I was not pressured in any fashion to do this. In fact, because of their great concern for me and great belief in me and my abilities the esteemed Princesses attempted to dissuade me until I explained my reasoning. It was a long discussion and brought forward many hard concepts, the intersection of responsibility and free will. My choice was always clear but there was always the illusion that I was required to persist on the path.
“I am not naturally a princess any more than I am naturally an alicorn. It may be so that through my strength of heart and mind I earned the right to be so, but it was never a position I coveted nor expected. It was never a gift or glory to me, merely something that happened to other ponies. I never desired it, and it was never part of the plan of my life. It is said that sometimes life happens outside of our plans, but even those things that happen can be turned around.
“I was never in line for real responsibilities, not for those with dire import. I am not designed to be a figurehead. I am designed to be an egghead. I am made for academia and not one thing else. My lot in life is to pad a CV already stuffed with honors and papers, to work on study after study, with all-night sessions of study and writing, together with conference appearances and meetings. I am to move on from my circumstance, on my own terms at my own pace and only ever with the support of the mare that has been my rock and inspiration.
“Some might say it is running away from responsibility. But it was both a hard decision, as I was bound to disappoint somepony, and a way to make it clear that I was very, very aware of my responsibilities. Not all ponies strive for impossible heights or envision a future of regality. There are those like me who find their niches, and see the course that would make their life truly happy, and then stay on those tracks. In academia I am happy and content.
“Because of this, I made an important decision, and discussed the ramifications with Princess Celestia, Princess Luna and Princess Cadence. I was not running away. I was running towards. Running towards a life I had planned because an option existed. And moreover, running towards a life that drew me and offered a promise of things which drew me. I will find this life again, and embrace it with all my heart. I swear it.” Twilight turned around to look at the Element-bearers, especially at Pinkie, who was looking confused but hopeful. She turned back around to the microphone and stated, “By the witness of Princess Celestia of the Principality of Equestria, Princess Luna of the Principality of Equestria, Princess-Empress Mi Amore Cadenza of the Crystal Empire and Prince-Emperor Shining Armor of the Crystal Empire I, the crowned Princess Twilight Sparkle, ennobled by process of the Celestian Honorarium tradition, do declare, irrevocably and for all time my permanent and absolute abdication from the Equestrian Honor throne. I will wear the Harmonious Tiara only as needed by my position as a member of the Elements of Harmony. Thank you.”
The assembled crowd gave a mixed response, some cheering and some shouts of confusion. Twilight heard none of them. She approached Pinkie Pie, whose hair was cautiously partially-inflated. “T-twilight..? Does this mean..?”
Twilight silenced the earth pony with a huge, all-consuming kiss. While she did that the four named rulers lit their horns. Twilight's horn lit in response, her wings slowly being absorbed into her body, leaving nothing but a smooth, natural back. When the changes were done Twilight broke the kiss and nuzzled at Pinkie. “Let's go back to Ponyville. I have a one player module that I think you'll love.” Without further comment she activated a teleportation spell, both mares vanishing in a flash.