Borrowed Wings

by Lady Brony

Rating: everyone
Tags: Alternate Universe, Original Character, Princess Celestia, Twilight Sparkle, Slice of Life, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic
Length: 1910

Princess Twilight changes a young filly's life by sacrificing a part of herself.

Princess Twilight meets a young filly in a wheelchair on the night of her crowning ceremony. The filly opened up to her and she mentioned was she's her most favourite princess. However she due to her disability she feels left out and wished she is like the other foals.

Twilight decides she wants to help the filly.

Loosely based on a comic by anonymous author I found. The link is at the end of the story because its a huge spoiler.

Published 2013-04-14 07:30:01 UTC
Last updated 2018-06-14 04:51:58 UTC

Borrowed Wings

he day I became a princess it was unreal. It almost felt like a dream when Spike called me 'Princess Sparkle'. I wanted to bite myself just to see, if I would wake up in my own bed. As regular Unicorn - not an Alicorn...

I'm still getting used to that word.

Sure he meant it as a joke, but it felt so bizarre, so out of this world ... I am royalty now. No longer a boring old unicorn living in Ponyville. I had to be responsible for an entire country. Millions of ponies to care for and protect them from any possible dangers, this was too much for one day... Or had I anyway? If I should be a Princess - who would be my subjects? Gosh - I didn't want to think of other ponies as anything other than friends. Where would my ... the ponies I had to be Princess for live?

I don’t mean to repeat myself but it was unreal and a bit scaring.

* * *

After the coronation ceremony finally was over, someone led me to a gathering in the castle gardens. Hosted by the one and only Pinkie Pie. Open for everyone, willing to attend, the Royal Parks surrounding Canterlot Castle were nearly bursting by guests. However, my friends - Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, Rarity and Pinkie Pie - seemed to have learned from the last years Gala and stuck together like glue.

I was getting some refreshments at the snack table, until I became aware of the sky growing dark, gaining a red tone. Night was slowly taking over. But besides the flaming, astonishing sunset, stars began to sparkle everywhere, dotting the horizon with twinkling golden lights. I couldn't look without a second not seeing a glittering star it was truly beautiful.

The Princesses out did themselves and I pondered, if it... if I was worth all this effort. All of a sudden I heard a quiet voice calling my name. Curious I looked around for a second before spotting a pale lilac Earth Pony filly with a cyan mane. About Apple Bloom’s age I guessed.

She smiled at me, and said her name was Faith. Further she exclaimed that I was the prettiest princess ever - letting me blush while I thanked her for the kind words. I smiled back at her. But then I noticed the wheelchair, she sat in. How did I miss that first? Maybe it was a long arduous day full of shaking hooves, smiling small talking. Maybe the crowd of guests, slowly blending in a colorful blur of coats and manes. Perhaps it was Faith's out-going nature which caught my attention at first. She said wants to just be like me and she looked up to me since I saved Equestria from Nightmare Moon three years ago. I told her I couldn't take all the credit because I had a little help from my friends.

However Faith seemed to ignore that and I still was her most favorite princess ever. Faith explained to me she didn’t have many friends. She always was very shy and thought most foals didn’t want anything to do with her because of her wheelchair.Somehow this touched me more, than the entire day that laid behind me. I felt some connection to this shy little filly, having troubles to find somepony to hold on. Maybe because of other reasons - but she remembered me of myself.Expect I was responsible for my... loneliness myself back then.

She had heard my story of finding friends in the end. And this had given her the strength to actually talk to other ponies. This way she learned, that many fillies didn't mind her wheelchair and she now has many close friends.Sometimes however, she does feel left out when her Pegasus friends play tag in the sky, or when the unicorns use their magic and she couldn't join in. But that's note as bad - as no Earth Pony could join to such play. Only when she couldn't play something her Earth Pony friends do, she feels a bit down.
Her faint smile and her face - sad, but hopeful and happy the same time - nearly broke my heart. I had to hold on myself to don't shed tears. After all - I couldn't cry like a filly at my own coronation party, could I?

Didn't Celestia told me, that being a Princess means to inspire others? Should she be right in the end? I chuckled at this thought. When I was her age all I ever desired was to read books or study. I never had friends other than my older brother before I moved to Ponyville. But I discovered how magic friendship really is and met the five ponies I feel more close to than anything. I might still love reading with passion but I don't let it cage me up and block me from being with my friends. Unlike me, Faith was trying to fit in.

She needed a push in the right direction, I not knowing of, gave her. Her disability was holding her back and it was truly heartbreaking. Of course she’s not the only pony in a wheelchair. But that didn’t matter to me this moment. After all I was the Element of Magic, the Princess of Friendship. What would this titles be worth. if I couldn't even help one little sad filly? Could there be a way? Did I read of something? I didn't know. But for once I was sure. I would do everything within my power.

I wouldn't stay a bystander.

***

Before Faith and her mother, introducing herself as Blossom left the party, I told them to come to the castle in a week from now. for a surprise, I said them. Then, right after the party I rushed straight to my room to begin my research. I was certain to find a spell, or a potion to help the poor filly. I read through countless books on healing. Alas, it seemed every search was in vain. I searched and searched, read and re-read any written piece of paper I could get my grip on. The fear to miss my only opportunity to help the sad young mare worried me beyond believe, every time I had to skip a text. No matter how hard I tried to focus my thoughts circled around Faith.

***

Six days had passed with no luck. I had produced a complete mess finding that spell which may possibly transform Faith’s life. My friends had left days earlier to return to Ponyville. Now my once perfectly neat room was clean-freak’s nightmare with books and scrap paper littering the room. I simply didn't mind to put them back in their proper place. The walls filled with chalk markings and notes. I tried literally everything. Spells, potions. Incantations. Later even curses and hexes, well knowing that they won't work at all. Short before I despaired on my fruitless search, short before I was ready to admit, that I had to let down Faith someone knocked at my door. Surprised I bid my welcome to whomever.

The visitor turned out to be Princess Celestia, former teacher now my mentor and a friend for sure. She asked what I was doing, to keep myself inside my room for most of the day. So I told her about the filly I met at the party who opened up to me and explained to what I was up to. The princess seemed to be impressed with my plan but she also wondered if this was in fact what I wanted. Quickly but determined I affirmed.

So the Princess led me down the castle hallway to a room that I’ve never been in before. She guided me into the chamber not speaking a word. Instead she hoofed me a worn out book, a bookmark sticking out. Later she told me to read and to decide if I really wanted to do this.

With that she left me alone.

The moment Celestia left my room I started to read the spell, only to realize it was the very solution I was searching for days! But.... there was a catch in performing the spell. A cloven hoof so big I couldn't wrap my head around, the first time I read. Then, slowly I realized, that nothing is granted without a price. Breathing heavily I stood there. The one thing I could do within hooves reach. Only held back by the one burning question. Was it worth it? Would I be ready to pay what it took? I didn't sleep this night. But as the sun rose above the horizon,

I had made my decision.

***

The next day Faith and her mother returned to the castle. I met both in the throne room. Nervous I stood in front of them. Yet I had the chance to change my mind. To step back from what I was about. I shivered by the fears, questions and implications running through my brain.No. I had promised to help. No matter what. I had made my decision and I would hold on it. The little smile Faith gave me, brightened my worried self, like a Pegasus clearing the clouds, letting the sun shine down on me. It was her untainted innocence what gave me the last shove.

Calm I asked if joining in her Pegasus friends was what she really wanted.She nodded. Her greatest wish on earth. This was all I needed to hear.
My horn begun to glow as magic accumulated around it. The field of cerise light, woven by me wrapped around her body, slowly lifting her out of her chair.
As her body floated I intensified the force, formed the spell - magic so complex and dangerous, that a little error would led to a disaster.With a final silent explosion of light, dazzling anypony around it was done. Weak as I felt, I used my last concentration to put Faith back in her chair.

Curious the filly looked out her body to if there were any changes. Then her face lit up when she saw them for the first time. Her wings. She stretched them out, flapping. Unsure first, but with growing vigor. Then - without warning - Faith lifted up, left her chair hoovering and fly the same minute. I stared at my wingless back. 'Transfer Spell' it was called. Dangerous, advanced and just for a high price. Which meant for me to be able to use it, I had to give up something of mine and the other pony get I had in trade for
something of theirs. I had chosen my wings to be that gift. Since Faith was an Earth Pony nothing was given to me.

I would still be a princess... just a unicorn princess now.

I knew it was to late now, I knew it couldn't get changed back. But for a moment, regrets formed in my brain. However - the moment got cut short as Faith flew up to me and gave me an unexpected hug. Tears of joy were in her hazel green eyes. The words she whispered to me I will never forget.

“Thank you”.

No. Nothing to regret. I had done the right thing. I would do it this way every time again.

Author's Note

Here's the comic that I based the story on.

http://i.imgur.com/Qar3t2t.jpg