//------------------------------// // Return from the depths // Story: To The End // by Zubric //------------------------------// Silence loomed about the room as Twilight rose to her hooves. She rubbed the base of her horn, before abruptly shaking her head and gasping. “Alive!” She shouted with joy, “Alive at long last!” Everyone ran up combining into one large group hug, Twilight was soon nuzzled from all around. A large  content smile worked its way onto her face. Without hesitation, Twilight ripped the diaper off her flank proceeding to beat it with her hoof, as if killing a stubborn rodent. “Never again.”  As she peered down at the now mangled garment, she took note of unconscious Velvet on the floor and the ever so slightly dented frying pan nearby.  “What did I miss?” Before anyone could respond, Spike rushed up lightly hugging Twilight’s leg. “I’m so happy you’re back,” He put his face in her fur and sniffled with tears of joy. Twilight nuzzled Spike back, hugging him close. “It’s okay Spike, i’’m here now shhh and I won’t ever leave again.” Shining, in the meantime had approached his knocked out mother, lightly tapping his hoof against her side. “Damn, she’s knocked out cold. You got one powerful swing Spike.” Cadence quickly gets some rope, and comes over. “We better tie her up, better safe than sorry.” He looked back over at Cadence with a slight head tilt. “Come now, there are five magically-capable beings in this room. Cadence, i’m pretty sure we can handle her is she wakes up.” Twilight looked up from her comforting of Spike as she heard the conversation. “I say tie her up anyway, she is a danger to everybody.” “No she is not.” Pinkie interjects. “Well I mean, mostly crazy, but not dangerous. Plus she makes lot of ponies happy and relaxed with the business.” Twilight cringed. “Well, that may be the case, but I won’t have the risk of being diapered in my sleep or some other nonsense with her in walking distance. She is off to the Asylum now.” Pinkie gulps a bit coming in front of Twilight pleading. “I promise I’ll keep her under control, just please, don’t send her to an Asylum.” The rest continued to stare idly watching the two argue. Twilight stomped her hoof letting out snort. “No!  I’m sorry Pinkie if you like her as your mother figure, but I won't stand her being anywhere near me.” She took a glance at her mother before looking back at her friend. “Shining, fetch me the nearest representative of a mental hospital.” “Twilight please, just reconsider,” Pinkie makes her puppy face at Twilight. Twilight however seemed unaffected, her face as hard as stone as she peer with anger at the unconscious mare. Cadance quickly came up to Twilight reaching out her hoof. “Maybe it best for you to…” Twilight hestily slap the hoof away glaring. “Don’t tell me to calm down! I have every right to be furious.  Being used, manipulated, given no choice at all until I was nothing but a drooling foal! She gone too far this time.” Pinkie took the momentary distraction as an opportunity and sheepishly open the front door. She put Velvet on her back before making a hasty exit. No one seemed to notice this as all their focus was on Twilight’s rage. Shining stood up and nodded at Twilight words. “It’s true, what she did was wrong. My father’s plan might be the best solution at this point. But at least talk with Luna first Twilight.” “Princess Luna! “ She scoffed. “She didn’t do squat when ‘that’ happened to me. As far as I can remember, she just stood there, not even a retort or yelling at Celestia, or anything! Hell she gave me a bath at one point.” “The fact remains that she is not your enemy here.” Shining added desperately trying to calm her down. “I’m sure she had the best intentions.” “Best intention are nothing in this case!” Twilight hastily started towards the door fury in her eyes. Applejack stopped Twilight in her tracks standing firmly in the doorway. “Hold on there, we just got ya back, we’re not leaving your side for a good while.”  The rest nod in agreement. “We stick together for this, you got that.” Twilight took a look at her friends before signing. ‘You’re right, I need to think this through first.” Spike jumped onto Twilight’s back, hugging her neck again. After a few minutes of this, the familiar embrace calmed Twilight  down enough to think straight.  “Spike, take a letter. Now.” Her voice rang with sternly yet not harshly. The dragon grinned giddily, hopped off and running to fetch the needed supplies. Even if he couldn't send it by fire anymore, he was still her assistant, and with skill not dulled by time he soon returned.  “Ready,” his claw twitched intently against the parchment. “Now, despite my fury, I must take this still as formally as possible.  The stability of Equestria is at stake after all.” “I could help with that,” Sunset commented quickly. “Dear Nightlight nobel of the house of..., no that’s too formal.” Twilight rubs her chin. “Maybe…” She second guessed her wording a few times before finally deciding on how to word it. Spike got to work writing as neatly as he could. “Dearest Father Night Light. I am, after around a year of imprisonment in my own body, I can finally speak to you as the daughter you remembered. I will not waste many details on how I managed to do so, to be summarized,  ‘Friendship and Tactics are Magic.’ However, the next part may entice you. I am interested in damaging Celestia… make her pay for what she has done to me, maybe even create a Republic. Shining has informed me of his visit he had with you and I agree with your decision.  I do however wish to discuss further action face to face, as this is a delicate matter that must not be rushed We shall meet at our old house, and plot day and night until a solution is reached. Signed, your daught Twilight Sparkle. Spike rolled it up and handed it back to Twilight. “Can we go out for icecream?” He asked hugging once more. Twilight chuckled, her anger melting into sour joy. “Yes Spike, we can do that. Infact let us all go out for treats I need to say thanks to all of you.” --------- The next day, Twilight along with her brother and friends, had arrived in Canterlot. Their goal was clear.  No doubt Celestia had already learned that her foal was no longer hers.  Although that fact had yet to be confirmed since her escort had yet to leave Canterlot since she arrived yesterday. Thier first destination was the castle, the guards at the front showed no resistance as they let the mass of ponies head inside. As they approach the throne room, Luna was by the doors to meet with them. She held her regal posture although her face told her true state of mind. “Twilight Sparkle, I see you have returned to yourself.” Twilight in return was at least polite enough to bow before speaking. “Yes I am, not that you showed any concern over my previous state in the past.” “You are mistaken Twilight, I have always kept an eye on you.” She replied. Her voice sounded shaky as if second guessing herself. Twilight blinked confused taking a breath. “As far as I remember you just let Celestia foal me for the whole time.” “Yes, but you forget We have ability to enter dreams. We have been the one protecting your soul from withering away.” Twilight hoof stab towards Luna dangerously looking like it would have been a punch. “Lies! you may have offered me restoration when I was under Velvet, but after that?” Twilight roared, “but where were you, when I was drooling, and talking like something I was not?” Princess Luna was taken aback by the statement. Her ears dropped to her sides  “We… did not understand at first.” Her hoof scuffles along the tiled floor. “With my sister always so close to you, any attempt to subvert her magic would have surely caused backlash.” “So you were scared?” Twilight asked still glaring yet somewhat understand in her tone of voice. Luna slammed her forehooves down onto the tiled floor, the impact enough to shatter it. “You know nothing of what you speak of!” Luna yelled, her booming voice getting the attention of a few guards nearby and no doubt Celestia from inside the throne room. Applejack quickly pulled Twilight back hastily. “I’m sure she didn’t mean it princess, she just a little worked up about Celestia is all.”   Twilight had only been shaken by the boom in Luna’s voice and action for a moment before regaining her composure.  She had to remain steadfast, she couldn’t back down, not now of all times.  “Princess Luna, I know the struggles that would have happened, had you done the right thing, instead of rolling your hooves idly: I was going to be saved, you were going to replace your sister, and everybody was going to live happily ever after.” Princess Luna grinded her teeth in rage.  “You know nothing of how deep those emotional scars have sank into my own being. How dare you call me a coward! I could have done nothing and let your soul rot away but I didn’t. “ “At least my friends tried and succeeded in saving me.” “If it wasn’t for us, there would have been nothing to save, how hard is that for you to understand? Are you ungrateful or just thick headed?” “You sure didn’t show yourself, then! Sunset spent a week to find the counterspell, you had a whole year to do something! I cannot believe that you had not enough time for, you know, bring me back from the lost.” Before Luna could retort any further, the throne room doors open with the shimmer of Celestia’s magic.  The sun princess stood there for several moments, eyes glancing between Luna and Twilight.  Her expressions kept shifting as she noted the other elements crowded around. “I assume you heard every word?” Twilight asked after a brief pause. “Yes, I did,” Princess Celestia said almost spitefully. “I’d never thought I would hear such words coming from you, Twilight Sparkle, my Personal Student.” “No,” Twilight retorted “You saw me as your little foal all along, and you stopped in front of any moral barrier for get me regressed. Not destroying my independence, not forcing adulthood on a colt, not my father’s refusal.  I’m not your student any longer, that ‘relationship’ was shattered long ago.” “We should go talk…” She abruptly cut off by Twilight again. “Oh no, none of that talk in private nonsense. I’m making my statement right here, right now. Mark my words, Celestia, for your time as a ruler will soon be over.” Celestia looked down at the ground, something clearly breaking her. Her once royal stature broke as the next words trickled out of her mouth. ‘I know.” “Is that really all you have to say Celestia, after everything that you did to me?” Twilight asked somehow wanting more then that. Celestia lifted her stature back to normal, her eyes showing a mix of emotions from regret to understanding. “There is nothing more that can be said Twilight Sparkle. I know there is no way to repair the damage that has been done and I accept that future that is to come with humility.” “Good to know you have come to your senses.” Twilight stood proud turning back to Luna. “I’m still sour at you,” She took another breath, “I’m sorry about calling you a coward I was just caught up in my own rage.” Luna breathed heavily before calming herself. “I accept the apologies, in a way you were right but there is still much you do not understand about me.” Luna put a hoof on Celestia’s shoulder glancing into her sisters defeated eyes. Without even a word spoken the two alicorns turned and walked away down the hall heads held high. The elements all stood in place for a time, a bit in shock at how easy things had gone over giving the circumstances. Even a few guards as arrived to inspect the commotion idly stood and observed the princesses leave. Rainbow watched the two alicorn trot down the hall. “So, is that it?” Pinkie nodded happily. “It would appear so. So who is up for a smoothy to celebrate?”  The group all let out a small chuckle, feeling great weights lifted off their shoulders. Without any delay, the ponies headed out together to enjoy the day. --------- Five months later A large crowd had formed around the opening of the castle. A gloryous platform had been assembled to conclude the assemblage of the New Equestria’s Republic. Luna and Celestia sat on the left side of the stage, adorned in their usual royal attire. They were not being shunned, nor hated upon, nearly there to do their duty in the new government. “We are here,” The speaker concluded, as she read the announcement to the excited audience under the balcony “For announce our first leadered appointed by the will of the best of our society, and not ruling by a decision of ponies long deceased.” The speaker pointed at the door of the balcony. “ Gonfaloniere Blueblood, come forward, and meet your people.” Blueblood exited from behind the door frame adorned in Equestrian colours, namely blue and pink. He wasn’t allowed to wear his houses symbols, but he still wore his little, triskelion-shaped, pendant regardless.  The crowd clapped, as he approached the podium accepting the hoof-shakes from both Luna and Celestia, as a sign of peaceful transition. Much to everyone's surprise, Blueblood, despite his snobbish attitude was a decent politician who could get stuff done. Celestia jaw had nearly dropped to the floor when she saw how well he was handling things. Once hoof shakes were done he stood up proud to make his speech. Everything would be different, after today, and there was no going back now. The two royal sisters turn to look back at the castle as the speech progressed. They still were allowed to live inside its walls, still having servants to tend to their needs. The only thing that had changed for them would be that they would more or less be figure heads, and while not directly controlling day to day goings on they were still seen as important.  No matter what flak Celestia would get, Luna would always be there for her. As for Twilight, She had taken up a teaching job in Ponyville. Her studying resumed and her knowledge of the magic of friendship grew ever stronger along the way, never forgetting that it was her friends that had pulled her out of the dark and into the light. Pinkie kept up the Forever Foals business despite the lack of Velvet being there. She loved doing her duty to make everypony happy. She of course kept her foolishness to a minimum around Twilight, afterall she didn’t want to make her uncomfortable.  Although she did manage to rope Rarity into a few sessions when she got really stressed. Eventually  everything went back to normal, or as normal as it could be. It’s just like the old phrase goes; The more things change, the more they stay the same. --The End--