- XXIX -
The group of ponies arrived at Fluttershy’s house at the edge of the forest without incident. The walk had been a placid one, with Pinkie Pie chatting animatedly the entire time. Light Stride chuckled, and whispered to Celestia, “Even if she is just an illusion, she sure seems like the real Pinkie Pie.”
Celestia smiled. “Of course. I know her personality very well. Twilight Sparkle has written to me about her at length.”
Light Stride glanced up at Celestia. “I’m surprised you didn’t go to get Princess Twilight Sparkle first.”
“Some things are best saved for last, I think,” Celestia replied, and approached the little cottage.
The rest of the group waited at the small bridge over the stream in front of the house, talking amongst themselves. Celestia knocked gently on the door, careful to not sound too imposing. She called softly, “Miss Fluttershy? Are you here?”
Celestia heard a squeaking noise from inside, and then silence. Celestia sighed, smiling, and opened the door. The house was dark and empty, and totally still... except for a trembling pile of blankets huddled on top of a nearby couch. Celestia approached the shaking blanket pile. “Fluttershy?”
“H-hello?” a soft voice replied.
“Fluttershy, it’s Princess Celestia. I’d like to talk with you, please,” Celestia asked.
“Mommy?”
Celestia took a step back as the blankets were flung aside, revealing a tiny canary-yellow filly. Her little wings quivered, and her lanky legs shook unsteadily, and she beamed up at Celestia from behind pink bangs. Celestia smiled back uncertainly. “Fluttershy, is that you?”
“Mommy!” the filly cried, leaping off the couch to run to Celestia’s leg and clinging to it with a soft hug. “I was worried you weren’t coming back, and I got scared!”
“I... um...” Celestia stammered, her ears flattening back. “Oh dear.”
The younger Fluttershy looked up at Celestia with wide blue eyes full of concern. “Mommy? Is everything okay?”
“Yes, Fluttershy, everything is fine. I’m just confused,” Celestia responded, looking down at the filly as a smile spread across her face.
She was just so cute.
Celestia knelt down to Fluttershy’s level, smiling at her gently. “Fluttershy, do you know who I am?”
Fluttershy giggled, beaming at her. “Yes!”
“I’m Princess Celestia.”
“My Mommy!”
Celestia frowned slightly. This was going to be hard. “Do you remember who you are? The Element of Kindness.”
Fluttershy nodded slowly, looking shy. “Yes.”
“Do you remember Pinkie Pie, and Rarity, and all the rest of your friends?” Celestia asked.
“Yes,” Fluttershy softly replied.
“That’s good. But, my little pony, I must be honest with you.” Celestia steeled herself for whatever was about to happen. “I’m... not your mother.”
Fluttershy stared at Celestia, confusion evident on her face. “Y-you’re... not?”
“No. I am your friend, Fluttershy... but I have not had a foal. I never have.”
Fluttershy’s legs shook, and she sat down heavily, hiding her face behind her mane. A small sniffle sounded from behind her long pink bangs. “Oh...”
“I need your help, though, Fluttershy,” Celestia said gently.
Fluttershy didn’t respond, shaking slightly, before she squeaked something so quietly that it was unintelligible. Celestia leaned closer to her. “Speak up, my little pony.”
“Wh-...why can’t you be my mommy?" she implored tearfully.
Celestia swallowed hard, and reached out with one wing, pulling the crying filly close to her. She bent down, comforting Fluttershy. “I am sorry, but I can not be your mother. I wish...”
Celestia paused for a moment, fighting for control of her emotions, but she felt tears come anyway. “...I wish I could be.”
Fluttershy leaned into Celestia, crying quietly, and Celestia comforted her, and took comfort from the filly’s presence. Fluttershy spoke again, after a few minutes. “C-can... can we pretend, then?”
Celestia giggled softly, a sound halfway between a laugh and a sob. “Okay.”
Fluttershy smiled up at Celestia, her little face streaked with tears. “That sounds... nice.”
“I think so too,” Celestia whispered.
A few quiet minutes later, Celestia stood up, and Fluttershy tucked herself in at Celestia’s side, and together they left the cottage.
Well. I can say I never actually expected that.
I'm guessing that in you headcanon, you have it so that Celestia can't have children?
Then what the hell could Twilight herself represent? That will be something to see.
~Skeeter The Lurker
Oh, God, no, that's one of the saddest headcanons about her.
That she loves foals, and wants a family of her own, but never can. That's not just rubbing salt in the wound that is immortality blues, that's burying nails in the poor broad and cauterizing the wounds with a blow torch. The feels, I can't
2863475 2863544
I can't quite say that she physically CAN'T have children, but rather that she has chosen not to, placing her focus on ruling. Also, perhaps, she's never been approached by a worthy suitor? Or, maybe, she has sworn off relationships in order to keep her self impartial and clear-minded? Hard to say.
Obviously at some point down the line somepony related to Celestia had kids, because Blueblood is her "Nephew"(?) and Cadance is her "Niece".
Still, though, this chapter was the hardest to write, out of all the things I've written that have happened to Celestia. I SWEAR, I like Celestia, but characters are boring when everything goes right for them and their strength is never tested. This one, though... the weaponized cuteness of Fluttershy combined with the ever-matronly and mothering Celestia was nearly fatal.
2863544
err... I'm one of those who always figured alicorns don't have babies. (That's partly because it would raise the specter of an "alicorn race", which is something I don't want to see.) I never saw this as being a really sad thing, though? I never imagined Celestia pining for the ability to have her own biological children. I reckon she's got enough to look after already.
2863475
Twilight is going to be the key, I guess... Celestia knows her better than any of the others, so in that sense she should be an accurate representation. She's not going to forget something important (like Pinkie's eyes). But you know, the evil spell is going to twist things.
One possibility: Fake Twilight realizes she is fake (whether Celestia explains this to her or not) and proceeds to flip out. Existential nihilism crisis!
Well, that was unexpected. And here I thought Twilight was going to be the one crying "mommy".
2863475 Get out of here, you aren't worthy of the amazingness that is PropMaster.
2864769
Oh, be quiet and enjoy the fic.
~Skeeter The Lurker
2864148
In that case, Shining Armor and Cadance will never have a family together.
Like I said, tis a sad headcanon. I personally think she's been around, but just hasn't found the right guy yet. Your people having the comparative lifespan of mice will do that. It doesn't help that she's effectively thrown what might have passed as a personal life out the window a long time ago.
2865008 no u
2864175
I dunno about that... They seem to all be representing Celestia's own fears and insecurities.
Yes, the 'fake' will be HIGHLY accurate in terms of personality, but something will be off about it.
Then again, the fake realizing she's fake isn't that bad of an idea. But it may just be me, but I don't think that will happen.
2865086
Not arguing on this excellent fic. Find me in another, yeah?
~Skeeter The Lurker
2865079
Keep in mind that I never accepted alicorn Cadance either. She only has wings due to the nonsensical demands of Hasbro's toy marketing department. And since I'm not on Hasbro's payroll, she doesn't have wings in my stories. (I mean, in theory -- because I haven't actually written anything about her, anyhow.)
I'm a firm believer in the alicorn holy trinity: Celestia, Luna and Nyx!
2865246
>Nyx
we're not talking anymore
2865086>>2865121
Come now, friends. No need to argue! The comment section is large enough for the both of you, and I won't have duels at high wordcount going on. Love and tolerate, right?
2865762
Hehe, I know. Just a little joke of sorts between us. I actually do find her/him to be entertaining.
I truly DO live by the Love'n'Tolerate code.
~Skeeter The Lurker
2865762 We are loving and tolerating.2865773 LET'S ARGUE ON KAIDAN'S BLOG!
2865790
Maybe when I get done my other tasks.
Ah, FimFic... Why must you eat up so much of my time?
Oh yeah. Good fics and interesting people.
~Skeeter The Lurker
2865805 Go to Kaidy's new blog and look at my latest comment.
2865773 2865790
I have no idea what's going on.
2865820
Do what I do:
Go with it. Life is much easier when you do that.
~Skeeter The Lurker
2865820 Good. 2865832
Obviously she has effective birthcontrol options. Because even alicorns, or perhaps especially alicorns, have...needs.
Wow, these comments are interesting.
Aaand now for the big one.
Is Twilight going to be dead? Or will she hate Celestia?
2864148 Do you still hold those concerns about an Alicorn race, almost three years later, given what has recently happened in the show?
I hope I phrased that in a spoiler free way.