I don’t own My Little Pony Friendship is Magic or any of the trademarked entities in this story; I don’t even have something witty to say about that fact.
Downtown
It was apparent that everypony was quite irked by the lack of sun. Ponies shuffled to and fro in annoyance. Comments flew over everypony’s head like paper airplanes, carrying messages of worry, disgust and boredom. Cold wind billowed through the crowds still waiting patiently for their so called ‘ruler’ to come out and bring forth the new day. But no such relief came, and it became more and more apparent it wouldn’t. The news had slipped, Celestia was missing. The scrap of gossip burned through the crowds like a bush fire; everypony knew within minutes. A slow panic began to settle in as more and more ponies showed signs of fear. Celestia was gone, likely taken by some malevolent force unseen to them, they couldn’t be more right. And they thought, each and every one of them, “If it could take the most powerful being in Equestria, what was to stop it from taking me?” Eyes flicked, heart beats quickened; the crowds grew restless. They wanted to flee, to run and hide, Celestia’s body guards would take care of it. Everypony knew, but no pony wanted to act. They were like a lake, hiding behind an old decrepit dam, waiting for the first signs of fatigued. Biding their time till a signal showed itself. And all it would take is one brash move.
Like a whisper, settling into the brain of a colt on the brink of panic. ~You fool don’t you see...Nightmare moon has returned now flee!~ the colt reeled in shock, Night mare moon! The idea sent a chain reaction forth through the colt’s body, his legs buckled from under him as he lurched forward in one last desperate attempt to run. But in his panic induced stupor his body slams into the mare standing directly in front of him. Without any delay or hesitation the mare screams a blood curdling cry from the depths of her fear ridden body. The high pitched scream rips across the field of ponies, replicating the horror and panic that produced it and stabbing it into every heart, and mind. Countless others take it from their own pure untamed emotions to let lose more screams into the night. In seconds the entire field is filled with cries of anguish, forcing adrenaline to pump out limitlessly. Earth ponies ran, Pegasi flew, and unicorns let loose raw magic, all in desperation to get away. Away, it did not matter where they were they ran, as long as they ran away.
The royal guards attempted to control and calm the panicking crowds but was having no effect. Guards were throwing themselves at ponies in last ditch attempt to stop the rapidly growing madness. But each and every one slipped past, the boundless energy making them faster and stronger than the fittest of the guards. Realizing they had no hope in stopping the crowds, they shifted all their efforts into funneling them somewhere where they won’t cause damage. Easier said than done of course. Ponies were bowling themselves into others that got in there way, children were separated from their parents, carts and carriages were broken into splinters. Discord resonated from the unfolding scene, and reached a clearing miles from the fields, where a statue rested.
Ugh, can’t a god of chaos get a little shut eye?
~
Twilight Sparkle was up in this garden, and was promptly getting out. Not that Twilight didn’t like the gardens; she had done some of her most memorable reading there. But she had seen it plenty of times and knew it would be exactly the same when she got back. If she came back. With light hoofs she quickly cantered towards the festival, the princess of the night followed closely behind. When Luna had said “listen to your heart” she had expected to be there the entire ‘extended’ night. She marveled at Twilights quick recovery and the confidence that had literally come out of thin air. Luna wondered when last she made such a hard decision so quickly. But now she just followed Twilight to make sure that what she was about to do wasn't something brash and stupid.
As they came through the bonsai forest Twilight took a hard right walking full tilt towards the fern garden. Where is she going now? The fern garden lead to the lower tiers of the palace and into the city center of Canterlot. Of course she could turn at anything going who knows where, the palace gardens were massive, and they led to numerous places. But Twilight walked like she knew where she was going, and intended to get there without delay. Luna knew that Twilight had done a lot of walking, and running in the last 12 hours and that she must be running low on everything. She hadn't eaten anything the whole night, nor had she drunk any liquids; the fact that she had come this far without using a energy spell forced Luna to question if marathons was her true talent instead. As they passed through the fern garden they began to descend through the tiers, each one holding a different genus of fern. In fact the Canterlot gardens contained every know species of plant, except for those that thrived in the ever-free forest (poison joke included). And as each tier required a different climate, they passed through freezing tundra to lush jungles in mere seconds. Of course Luna was slightly disappointed they couldn’t take the time to walk through each slowly, taking in all the sights and smells.
Twilight couldn’t really care less about how magnificent the gardens were, and she had noted before, the gardens weren’t going to change anytime soon. She wanted to talk with some pony, who she hoped would be where she thought she was. Nor did she care one bit how the ponies at the festival were holding up. She had a one track mind, and at this moment in time decided not to restart an age old argument questioning its ability to mean both positive and negative things. She already spoke with Luna, who she realized was as inexperienced in relationships as she was. 1000 years leaves a lot to be desired in social skills, and Luna definitely didn’t make a good impression. Not that Twilight didn’t appreciate her advice, or her support, or the fact that she saved her life. In fact Twilight closer to Luna tonight than she had since nightmare night, but not intimately close. She knew Luna didn't swing that way.
“Twilight, I mean not to be ungrateful, but where is it thou are taking me?” Luna spoke up after twenty minutes of following Twilight. Better late than never she thought.
“You’ll see Luna, you’ll see.” Luna huffed in slight annoyance. She had no idea where she was going and if she wasn’t following Twilight she’d have left to go find her sister. But she didn’t, she knew that the entire dilemma was a fairly fragile and she didn’t want to upset anypony. But she worried for her sister. Sure she had seen Celestia go through her relationships, some good some bad. But they were always temporary; they never lasted as long as she did. The one’s who stuck to her withered with age with the ever burning flames of time. And no matter how much she loved them Celestia never had children. It was something her parents made it truly clear to her; no parent should live longer than their children, no matter the situation. And true to their word they made it so that it there was no possibility of it happening. Because during the Chaos wars where they wrested control of Equestria from Discord they laid down their lives so every-pony else didn’t have to. And it may not have been to prove this point, but Celestia and Luna vowed to uphold the oath.
Her father hadn’t been born an Alicorn. He was born a unicorn who met her mother long ago, they fell in love and all was blissful. Her mother was a mage of great power and valor, and she delved deep into the mysteries of Alicorn magic. Her studies led her to a breakthrough that would forever keep her love alive, a spell of immortality. A magical ability inherent in every Alicorn that lived and one that could be casted with ease, even for foals. It was the simple act of extending the Alicorn’ soul onto another living thing. And her parents had taught both of them the spell before the knowledge was forever sealed. But it could only be done once. And at first Luna and Celestia had thought of it no more seriously than choosing a candy flavor. And it was when Celestia had professed her never-ending love for her first stallion-friend and promised they would live together forever that they truly learnt the meaning of ‘decision making’.
Luna’s mother took Celestia aside one solemn night after dinner and gave her an ultimatum. One Celestia would remember forevermore. “Celestia, my daughter and heir to the throne of Equestria, think carefully on the words I part with you for I will only tell you this once. As an Alicorn Celestia you will live forever, longer than the cosmos and longer than Equestria. And every decision and every choice you make will follow you as long as you live. A good choice you will relish for long as it lasts. But a bad decision you will feel for the rest of eternity and for one as important as this one, will haunt you forevermore.” The words dug deep into Celestia’s relatively young mind and rooted themselves. She then spent the next few days furiously debating whether this stallion was somepony she’d want to spend eternity with. At the end of a very emotional week of constant rethinking and hesitation she took back her vows with the stallion. Celestia was heartbroken but as time passed, she came to realize it was the right decision. And every relationship she entered she always did with caution, for she knew the possibility of the next one being the ‘one’ was not likely. And now Celestia had once again confessed her love and willingness to spend eternity for another pony. And her love was true, Luna did not doubt it. And it broke her heart to see that Twilight had eyes for another pony.
She could not blame Twilight, but she would never understand. She would never understand how hard it was for Celestia to realize her love, and Twilight being a mare didn’t help. During the years Twilight studied closely under Celestia, her mentor began to harbor feeling. Feelings that were more than the acquaintance that teachers have with their students. Of course at first Celestia had not recognized it, and just brushed off as signs of her old mental age. But as the years drew on, and only recently they became so strong that she felt that it would slip out if she came face to face with her. It was the reason she had gotten mad with Twilight during the ‘doll incident’, she just had so much pent up anxiety that it came out in anger. And tonight was supposed to be the most special night of her life. But now instead it was a disaster, her hesitation was a decision she was going to regret the rest of her life .One she thought she was not likely going to spend with Twilight.
They were now leaving the gardens, the last of the ferns smacking Luna in the face. Aaaah freedom at last! Never had she thought the gardens would prove a worse place to spend 1000 years in exile. And they were now entering downtown Canterlot, not far from the train station. Now even more than ever Luna questioned where they were going. She trusted Twilight, but dearly hoped she wouldn’t have to meet her parents. If Celestia’s stories where anything to go by, she would regret following her.
~
The wind had calmed down significantly, it was no longer howling at the mouth of the cave threatening to turn Sunshine and Fluttershy into ice blocks. But it was still cold, and the two Pegasus were huddling together to keep warm, no thoughts of how inappropriate it would look to an onlooker never passed their minds. And now that they were no longer fighting for their lives they had the time to fully explore the cave to which they had crashed into. It was huge; if they could describe it in one word it would be ‘huge’. At the entrance of the cave the walls ran in some sort of bottle neck, but the further you got in the more the floor slanted down to reveal true size of it. And at the bottom Sunshine was able to see a few tunnels light by lanterns in the cave that she thought led to other caves in the mountain, the entire mountain must be filled with these caves. Sunshine went down to inspect these tunnels, and as she got closer she noticed that there were markings painted on the right side of each one. They all said something in bright red paint. The furthest one the right said “section A quadrant B” and was pointing downwards. Then it hit her, they could use the tunnels to go down the mountain and out into the palace. And they didn't have to fly themselves down after waiting for who knows longer for the real sun to come out. Sunshine called up to Fluttershy who opted to stay where it was ‘safe’. “Hey Fluttershy! You gotta see this! The caves travel all over the mountain, they could lead us back to the palace!” She heard Fluttershy squeak something back and she sighed, Sunshine walked back up to where Fluttershy was and said. “What did you say, I couldn’t hear you down there.”
“I... um, I said are you sure that’s a good idea, I don’t mean to sound rude.”
“Fluttershy, there’s no way you could ever be rude. And I think it’s the best way of getting out of here, short of waiting another day, or two. Heck Fluttershy they might not even find us up here. We have to take our lives into our own hooves and get out of here.”
“But...It’s so dark...”
“Come on Fluttershy, I'm right here. I won’t let anything happen to you.”
“Okay, if you think it’s a good idea I'll come.” So Sunshine and Fluttershy set off into the depths of the cave. The tunnel was long winding and steep, good, that means were going down fast Sunshine thought some time during the journey. They passed through a few caves on their way down, and most of them twice the size of the first one they arrived in. Also know and Sector F plural Z alpha. But they were able to find the tunnels leading to sector A which Sunshine thought (with common sense) was the first sector. And by the looks of it the entire mountain was one massive sponge cake, filled to the brim with cave after cave. And it looked like what happened here was mining; ponies long ago must have dug into the mountain in search for material that would help them build Canterlot. Sunshine was amazed at the ingenuity of those who built Canterlot. They not only took material from the mountain but they built their city on the mountain.
As they got further down, the signs of a mining operation became more and more evident. There were pick axe’s lying all over the place, strange markings and circles covering the walls of the cave. And upon inspection Sunshine found they were filled with explosives. As they came into sector C they found tracks running through the tunnels, and then they found a cart. They were tired after 3 hours of walking and Sunshine had an idea. She hoped into a cart and motioned for Fluttershy to do the same. “Come on Fluttershy, it’ll get us down faster. And besides my hooves are aching from all the walking.”
“Are you sure? It...I don’t think it’s safe.” She eyed the cart suspiciously, looking for any cracks or blemishes she could use to deter Sunshine from this idea. But to no avail, the cart must be quite new if it didn’t have any dents or cracks.
“Yea, come on Fluttershy, well be there in no time. And besides I need to find Celestia and give her a piece of my mind.” Fluttershy eyed her. “I...I mean settle our differences.” Sunshine knew not to mess with the stare. “But come on, I promise we’ll be fine.” Fluttershy half sighed an okay, and climbed into the cart. Sunshine pulled at a lever in the cart and let off the breaks. They shuddered of to a start. The tunnels had begun to level of making it less steep, and Sunshine thought it meant they were getting closer to the ‘Canterlot level’ of the mountain. They were cruising along at a comfortable speed, and Sunshine was relishing in the wind blowing through her mane. It had been only three hours since they left the windy cave but Sunshine had begun to feel a little stir crazy, all pegasi did after a while. Each one had their own threshold, and Sunshine’s happened to be 3 hours. The wind was freeing up her mind, clearing it off all the gunk of the past night. It was truly soothing.
After a few deep breaths of air, Sunshine felt better, and less claustrophobic. It’s not that she was actually scared of enclosed spaces, but as a Pegasus it wasn’t natural for her. Fluttershy also looked noticeably more relaxed despite traveling in a mining cart through unknown caves. She smiled as Sunshine check up on her. And then frowned, “Sunshine, are you okay?” Not sure where the question was coming from Sunshine put on a confused expression.
“Yea, I’m fine, why do you ask?”
“You don’t seem fine Sunshine, please. Tell me what’s bothering you, I’m here to help.” Darn her ability to pick up on such subtle things. And despite Sunshine’s recent pep up, she still didn’t want to think about the situation.
“I just don’t get it” Sunshine began. “I thought I had something with Twilight, but it’s obvious she has something with the princess too.”
“But it doesn’t mean she doesn’t still love you.”
“I know, I know, but I can’t shake the thought that she also has feeling for princess Celestia.”
“Well, it’s just Twilight. You know she was and still is Celestia’s star student right? They spent a lot of time together. Some where Celestia must have developed feeling for Twilight, and Twilight for her. I’m afraid it’s just pony nature. But Sunshine, it doesn’t mean Twilight is going to abandon you. She’d never do that, I know her.”
“I believe you, it’s just, Twilight’s known Celestia longer than me. And for Luna’s sake she’s a princess Fluttershy! How do I compete with that?” Sunshine was flailing her arm’s widely to emphasize her exasperation.
“But Sunshine, true love cares not for titles or honors or where you’re positioned on society’s ladder. It transcends all barriers, even race.” Fluttershy explained softly as she pointed to Sunshine’s wings. “Whether or not Celestia is an Alicorn with the power to control every centimeter of Equestria will not change how much Twilight loves you Sunshine.”
“But Fluttershy, she’s...”
“Just like you.”
“Huh?”
“Sunshine, she’s just like you. She just wants Twilight to love her, love her like she loves you Sunshine.” The tracks were getting steeper and they began to speed up.
“But all knowing as she is, how could she not know this is something you don’t do.”
“But Sunshine, she didn’t know.” They were now travelling twice as fast as they were originally.
“What?!?”
“Sunshine! Just because you don’t like it doesn’t mean you are allowed to be rude!” Fluttershy shouted, fortunately Sunshine was quick to realize the situation.
“No! I didn’t hear what you said!” She shouted back hopeful that the yellow Pegasus would hear her.
“Oh! Ummm... I said she didn’t know!”
“Know what?!?” This was getting ridiculous and both ponies knew. “Listen; let’s resume this when we can hear each other!” Fluttershy just nodded and both mares turned to look where they were headed. Currently they were passing through a large cave, its ceiling covered in stalagmites pointing menacingly at them. As if they were poised to fall. Water was dripping all over them and Sunshine could feel a few drops land on her coat. The water was cold, just like everything else in the caves. But as quickly as they entered the spike infested cave they left it, rolling into yet another tunnel leading towards their end goal. Sector A.
As they rolled into the tunnel, the slope began to gradually level out. And by natural friction they began to slow down. And soon the billowing wind that had forced them to end their conversation earlier died down. Fluttershy was the first to speak, “Sunshine, I know you must be really upset. But you have to see this from Twilight’s perspective, you owe her that much.” And although the words did not hear on deaf ears, Sunshine did not reply. She was already doing so. She tried to imagine herself as Twilight and how she felt through everything. How she had found love with Sunshine, and how it had been her first true relationship. How being introduced to the Doo family had opened her eyes to the beauty of having your own family with ponies that love you. Sunshine chuckled as she remembered how Twilight took the first time being separated from Dinky. And how her friends were so supportive when they found out she was in a relationship. Sunshine felt how embarrassed Twilight must have been when she met her parents. But then she tried to put herself in Twilight’s position when Celestia had come out and confessed her feelings. She wasn’t there but she could only imagine by Celestia’s state of mind when they had first found her that the results were far from happy. Twilight had run off, she had wanted to get away and Sunshine there was only one reason for this. She was confused. Her mentor, some pony who had been very close to her the entirety of her young life. A pony that had been there always for Twilight, to comfort her, to encourage her and teach her. It was almost as if Celestia was a mother figure for Twilight. Celestia was somepony Twilight had always loved, and now that Sunshine had come into her life she didn’t know anymore.
Sunshine was mentally beating herself up. She was the reason Twilight was in this position, her fault that Twilight was forced to choose between somepony she loved her entire life or a pony she only knew for a week. She no longer wanted to go and face Twilight; she wanted Twilight to forget about her. To go with Celestia and be happy instead of choosing her, Sunshine didn’t want Twilight to choose her. She wasn’t worth it; she had done nothing for Twilight other than give her grief. Sunshine hung her head, “I’m not worth her love.” And Fluttershy picked up on it.
“Don’t say that Sunshine, you deserve her love as much as anypony does.”
“But I’ve done nothing but bring her grief! Do you think trying to hold on to me while pushing somepony more deserving away is easy! I’m the burden here!”
“Sunshine, you are no burden to anypony and especially not Twilight. Have you already forgotten the entire week before this?”
“What do those days matter? Celestia deserves her love more than I do; she’s nurtured Twilight into the mare she is. What have I done? Taken Twilight away from her!”
“But Sunshine, the only reason she nurtured Twilight to be who she is. Is because she wants Twilight to find some pony that will love her with all their heart and never abandon her. She loved Twilight so ponies like you could love her.”
“But now she wants Twilight to love her back.”
“But of course Sunshine, you know what its like.”
“I do?” But she had never taken an apprentice whom she carefully nurtured. She ended her train of thought there, she had. Dinky, she loved Dinky; she was nurturing Dinky to be somepony who could one day find love of her own. And Dinky loved her back, it was the most special feeling Sunshine had ever felt. In that instant she truly knew what Celestia felt, and why Twilight was so confused. “I do... Thank you Fluttershy, I owe you everything.”
“Sunshine, you owe me nothing. Celestia is who you owe, go thank her.” Sunshine smiled once again, it was a blissful feeling, and Fluttershy joined in.
“Anything for you Fluttershy.” She said as the cart finally shuddered to a halt, it was the end of the line. Sector A was painted in large letters across the far left side of the wall, a ladder hung in front of it leading up. They had finally found their way out. They both climbed out of the cart and slowly walked towards the ladder, taking in the last of the caves. She knew she never ever wanted to come back to these caves, but she would. Because they had not only saved her life, but her love.
Sunshine began climbing the ladder seeing the light pore in from the stallion-hole above her. She grunted as she shifted the heavy thing to the side and stuck her head out. They were in Canterlot, down town Canterlot. Sunshine recognized the museum.
~
Plum had sat with her throughout the night, and she was ever grateful of him. Countless times she had offered to promote him or other such gifts of status. But he had declined each time insisting that he needed nothing more than to see her feeling better. And she greatly respected him for it, but he was going to be rewarded anyway. The two had moved from her bed down into the night kitchen where Plum was franticly trying to rectify the ‘tragedy’ that had befallen his precious batch of pies. Celestia wondered if this was anything like how Pinkie Pie acted, then slapped herself for being so silly. She was in awe in the sheer size of the kitchen; it was perhaps just as big as her bedroom. But then again, when there were feasts they needed to have a massive kitchen.
As Celestia watched Plum run around like a mad pony, her mind began to wander. First she wondered why in all things sane did she enforce a rule that disallowed her from fast-forwarding to morning. Then she remembered, it was because of Luna how she had continuously forwarded the day so that her night would come out. Oh how things done without thought could easily become a double sword when you lest expected it. And Celestia’s face dropped when she realized that Twilight had become exactly that. But before she could go any further back into herself dug pit Plum arrived to dig her out. “Celestia?”
“Huh? What? Oh, yes Mr. Plum what is it?”
“Just plum Celestia. But anyways your student Celestia, have you met her parents?”
“Twilight’s parents, yes I do believe I have.” Celestia said as she raised her hoof to her face in thought.
“But have you ever really met them? Like gotten to know them well?” He continued down this line of questioning. What’s he getting at? Celestia thought.
“Well I know them well enough.”
“But Celestia, you’re in love with their daughter how can you not know the parents?”
“I see where you’re getting at this, but do you think Twilight would approve of me going behind her back to get her parents blessings?”
“Who said anything about blessings? I just think you should get to know the ponies that foaled your love.” Celestia thought about this, she had met them plenty of times. Each one being greatly ‘interesting’. She had always wondered where Twilight got her knack for making things ‘interesting’.Then she looked at Plum and smiled, he didn’t smile back. If he was forcing her to go visit them, he would be tagging along. Without any warning she stepped next to him and teleported. And with a flash they arrived in downtown Canterlot. Well, she did at least. She found him swimming with the fish, in the downtown square pond.
Authors notes:
There's more to come so stay tuned.