//------------------------------// // New Beginnings // Story: The Tale of Princess Celestia and Jake // by Sky Hawk //------------------------------// The last thing Jake remembered was the feeling cold as he said goodbye to Tia, before he was swallowed by darkness. As if someone lit a candle, there was a faint light. It grew in intensity as it came closer. Then Jake found that he was surrounded by it. He felt warm and safe and familiar voices were heard. “We are so proud of you. You gave friendship, love, and in the end your life to another. You have earned a place here if you wish.” “Who is there? Where am I?” Jake looked around and still could see no one. From out of nowhere, Jake’s parents and grandparents appear. They look well, as they surround and embrace him. “Mom…Dad…Grandma and Grandpa? It is a tearful scene as for the first time in years he is reunited with his family. Jake had never told Celestia, but without her he would have been very lonely. He never had any close friends except her. “I’ve missed all of you so much.” Jake returned his family’s embrace not wanting to let go. Tears of joy streamed down his face. “You were never alone son. We were always with you,” his mother says. “Watching over you, even when we couldn’t be there,” added his father. “You can rest now if you like. There is no pain or suffering here. You will want for nothing and we can be together forever,” his grandfather chimed in. “But you have also been given a choice,” Jake’s grandmother added. She waved her hand and an image appeared of Celestia and Luna trying to change fate by bringing Jake back to life. “I don’t understand. I’m dead; there is nothing they can do,” Jake said as he felt Celestia’s pain and determination even there. “You’re wrong son. They can indeed bring you back to life, but it will not be the life you once had. They will make you like them. You will not return to Earth and the life you knew before. Even now those two are using all of their power to do something that has never been done before in all of creation. You must choose, an immortal rest here or a life with Celestia,” his grandmother spoke, looking from the image back to Jake. “But Grandma, she is immortal. Even in her world I will grow old and die.” Jake looked to the image and the light has faded away. Where his old body had once been was a raven colored alicorn with a silvery mane and tail, with a white star on its forehead below its horn. Jake stared dumbfounded at the image. “You weren’t kidding. She really did make me like her but I still don’t understand.” “You must choose my child. If you stay then that body will be an empty shell and will never live. If you choose to return you will have a new life with Celestia.” As she spoke she put a comforting hand of Jake’s shoulder and looked at the image. Celestia was over Jake’s body pleading for him to come back between sobs. Luna had tears in her eyes as well. “Will I ever see any of you again?” “As we said before, we will always be with you. My son, I know what is in your heart. We are fine, but she is suffering. I know you feel it. She needs you,” his father said. Jake smiled as he held them. “I love you all so much.” . . . The anguish can be heard in the princess’s voice throughout the castle. The sisters and Jake’s new body were in Celestia’s chambers once more. Luna came to her sister’s side and put her head next to hers. “We tried our best but some things are beyond even us. I am so sorry Tia for your loss. He will be given a royal funeral for his sacrifice.” Luna’s words have fallen on deaf ears. Her sister is consumed with grief as she held her love in her hooves. Then there is the faintest heartbeat. It grows in intensity as his eyes start to twitch. Celestia tears stop as she peered in his face. “Jake?” As if to answer her, his blue eyes opened and he looked into her eyes. “I choose you Tia.” Instantly grief is replaced with overwhelming joy. Luna is still stunned at the fact Jake is alive. “JAKE! I knew I could save you! I’ve never wanted anything more in my entire life!” A new wave of tears streaked down Celestia’s face. Jake held Celestia tightly. Luna got over her shock enough to ask, “You’re not surprise by your new form?” “Well a little, but I saw what you two were doing when I was on the other side. I was given the choice to come back or stay. I chose to come back. I still have things to do,” Jake said as Celestia let go and leaned back to look him in the face. “What do you have to do?”, the sisters asked together. Jake leaned forward and kissed Celestia gently. “Why, to look after you of course, you’re a mess without me.” He had a smirk on his face. Then he reached up and whipped the tears from Celestia’s face. “Remember what I said before, angels shouldn’t cry.” “Oh Jake, I love you!” Celestia knocked him to the floor in an embrace. “I love you to Tia, forever and always.” Unable to sit by, Luna jumped onto the pile on the floor embracing them both. “Don’t forget me!” “Never, Luna,” Jake says. “Heck, what am I saying? You guys will be tired of me in a week. Then you’ll just ship me off to some distant world.” Everyone laughed. Then one by one they untangle themselves and helped Jake to his feet. At first there was no problem. Jake’s first attempt at walking was a bit shaky. The sisters each took a side of Jake to steady him. In a few minutes he was walking fine around the room. “Well this is easier than I thought it would be,” Jake said as he picked up his pace. “You’re a fast learner. Now we just have to teach you to use your wings and magic,” stated Celestia. “We can handle that here but..” she trails off. “What is it?” Luna asked, giving her sister a curious look. “His name, where he is from, how do we explain your sudden appearance to the kingdom? You are the only male alicorn in the whole world to my knowledge,” Celestia continued. Hearing this, Jake came to a sudden stop. “I never thought about that but, ah, AH CHOO,” *KABOOM*! Where once there had been a wall now was a gaping hole. “What just happened? I only sneezed and Oh My God!” The princesses were just as shocked as Jake. “Looks like magic training will have to happen sooner than we thought. You don’t seem to have control of it yet,” Luna said still staring at the hole. The door was thrown open and a pair of guards were at the ready, “Princess Celestia, we heard a loud explosion. Are you alright?” They saw Jake and the hole in the wall and took a more defensive stance. “Who are you?” “It is alright. This is Prince Distant Star. He is visiting me. We are fine, it was just an accident.” Luna and Jake both give Celestia a funny look before catching on what she is trying to do. “Oh yes, he is my sister’s friend. We will need to clean up this mess though.” “Yes your highness at once,” the guards bow and leave the room. “We are going to have to do something about that. You are not used to your powers yet, and we can’t have you blowing holes in the castle.” Celestia walked to her dresser were a small chest sits. She opened it and produced a ring which she places on Jake’s horn. “This is suppressor. It will prevent that from happening again.” “Thank you. But I have some questions. Why an alicorn? Why not keep me as a human? I would have been less dangerous.” The sisters look toward each other and back to Jake. Celestia started off, “we have very little knowledge on humans. So we don’t know how your body is made up. If we had tried to make a human body and got it wrong, then you would not have lived. I was not willing to take that chance.” “But when you visited me on Earth you looked just like a human.” “That was an illusion. That is why the animals and the baby were not fooled. They saw me for who I really was. As to why you are an alicorn…I never meant for you to be one. I wasn’t thinking clearly, I just wanted to save you.” Luna shook her head, “Its true Jake, we were not sure what would happen. We knew that you needed a new body, but when the spell was cast we could not be sure of the results. If you like we could try and change you to another pony.” “No, I mean, no thank you. You just said you didn’t know what would happen. For all any of us knows if you try again I might be turned into a house plant.” “I’m sorry. I never meant for any of this to happen. I just wanted to see you. I-“ “That is enough, I will not hear it. You saved me after I tried to save you. You have nothing to apologize for. This has been the most unusual day of my life. So I guess I’m Prince Distant Star now, cleaver.” Celestia didn’t seem to be comforted by Jake’s words. He walked over and put a wing around her. She looked to him, with mixed feelings of guilt and joy. He kissed her on the cheek. “We will make this work. I didn’t come back to life for nothing, all things happen for a reason. Although I do have one more question.” “What’s that?” “As far as ponies go, how do I look?” Jake looked from one sister to another waiting for an answer. Luna smiles sheepishly and blushes. Celestia says with a grin, “I wouldn’t worry about that if I were you, but as ponies go you look great.” Epilogue Ten years have gone by since that day. Celestia is seated next to a little filly in bed. She is white with blue eyes and a pink mane. “And that is how your father and I met.” “So Daddy is an alien, zombie pony? If he is, what does that make me?” the filly asked with worry in her voice and wide eyes. “Day Lily, he is not a zombie nor is he an alien. He is every bit a pony as are you.” “How long did it take him to learn magic? Who taught him? Did he know how to use his wings right away? Did he ever go back to visit Earth? How did he get his cutie mark?” “It took some time for your Father to learn how to safely control his magic. It took less time for him to figure out how to fly. The rest will have to wait for another time.” “How come no one calls Dad, Jake? They call him Distant Star instead. Does any pony else know where Dad came from?” “Only a very few know where your father really came from. Everyone else thinks he is from a faraway land and that his name is Distant Star. This is a secret that you cannot tell anypony else. Do you understand? If ponies knew the truth they might treat him differently and he doesn’t want that.” Lily jumped up and puts her front hooves on her hips and said, “I won’t tell another pony. I will protect Daddy!” Celestia smiled at her daughter. It reminded her of Jake, at their first meeting so many years ago. How he had pledged to be her friend because he was the guardian of harmony. How he had changed her life forever. “Alright time for bed. Your Daddy will be in to see you when he gets home.” She tucked in her daughter and kissed her goodnight. She closed the door and went to bed knowing her husband would be home soon. She would wake to find him nuzzling her and fresh flowers would be on the table. A beautiful kingdom, wonderful subjects, and a loving family; what more could a princess ask for. She smiled at the thought as she drifted off to sleep. -The End-