Relinquishing

by Chris

Relinquishing

(4) Upon that day each year, which shall be established as the 90th day following the New Year, shall one score of the most powerful unicorns, of age not less than two and twenty, take upon themselves the direction of both sun and moon for a period of not less than four and twenty hours, and neither shall either alicorn aid nor disrupt their practice in any way during this time.

-Excerpt from the Magi Carta

Twilight and Celestia watched from one of Canterlot Castle’s many parapets as, below them in the bailey, twenty unicorns shuffled about, testing and preparing an elaborate arcane circle in the predawn darkness.

“It’s not fair,” grumbled Twilight.

Celestia nodded diplomatically. It was a nod she often found herself using during court, one which suggested agreement without actually committing her to more than acknowledgement.

Twilight knew that nod all too well.

“It’s not,” she said, emphatically. “The document says ‘either,’ not ‘any.’ The signers clearly meant you and Luna!”

Celestia nodded again. “The Unicornian leaders certainly were thinking of me and Luna when that document was drafted,” she said. “Of course, there were no other alicorns in Equestria back then.”

Twilight sighed. “I know. It’s just… I’m finally old enough to take part in the solunus circulum! And now, even though I’m perfectly qualified, I can’t.” Her ears drooped. “This is something that I’ve dreamed of doing ever since I was a little filly. It’s one of the most important historical traditions of ponykind!”

Celestia extended a wing over Twilight’s back, offering a gentle hug. After a moment, Twilight leaned into her. Neither spoke right away.

Eventually, Twilight gave a dry chuckle. “I guess you probably know what it’s like, not getting to control the sun, though. You have to watch this every year, after all.”

Celestia pursed her lips. “Twilight,” she said, “I’m sure you aren’t upset just because you don’t get to move the sun and moon around.”

Twilight tried to chuckle again, but the sound died in her throat. Instead, she simply shook her head.

“What is it, then?”

Twilight didn’t answer immediately. When she did, she looked up to the sky, her gaze wandering as if tracing the path of the still-absent sun. “I guess it’s not really about the sun and moon at all,” she murmured, as if talking to herself. “I mean, I already got to control them once. When I had your power.” She paused, and Celestia waited patiently for her to continue. “It wasn’t the same as what the circulum does, of course, but if all I cared about was getting to do some hooves-on astronomy… well, I’ve already done that.”

“But there’s something else?” Celestia prodded.

“It’s just… every great unicorn I’ve ever read about, in any of my textbooks—hay, in any of the fiction I read—it always tells you how many circulums they took part in. It’s how you know they were great! And I—”

“You want everypony to think that you’re great?”

Twilight’s cheeks flushed. “Oh, no, I didn’t mean that I…” She trailed off as she turned to look at Celestia; she was smiling a bit too pleasantly. “You’re mocking me,” Twilight said, more sourly than she had intended.

“A little,” Celestia agreed. “But only because I know that fame isn’t what’s bothering you. Tell me, why is this really important to you?”

Twilight looked back to the bailey. “I guess it’s that… it’s that this, right here, is something that all of my heroes have done. This exact spell, together with nineteen other unicorns, for this exact purpose. It’s been this way for thousands of years, like a string that goes all the way back to when ‘Unicornia’ was more than just a fairytale setting. A string that winds back to the times only you and Luna can remember, and that snakes forward even to today. A string tying every wizard and mage together, all the way back to Star Swirl the Bearded."

Her eyes returned to the sky, and after single hard sniff, she continued. “For as long as I can remember, taking part in the circulum is something I’ve fantasized about. I’ve daydreamed so many times about taking the same stance within the casting circle as all my heroes once did, of joining together with the other casters in the same way that they all joined their contemporaries. So many times, I’ve imagined myself as a part of the circulum, following in their hoofsteps.” Through her wing, Celestia could feel Twilight’s body tremble slightly. “Maybe it’s self-aggrandizing, but… but I really wanted to be a part of that. I wanted to pluck that string, to touch all of that history. I wanted to be a part of something that binds all of my idols and inspirations together.”

Celestia didn’t speak until she felt the tremble stop completely. “You know the reason why the Unicornians insisted that Luna and I relinquish the sun and moon once a year, don’t you?” she asked.

“Yes,” Twilight answered. “So that if anything happened to you two, there would still be wizards who knew the spells to keep the cycle of day and night, and who’d performed those spells before.”

Celestia nodded. “If something were to happen to me—well, something already did. And when Tirek came, it fell to you to take my and Luna's places.” She smiled. “Though thankfully, only for a brief while. But even today, with four alicorns in Equestria, it’s still all too easy to imagine some new foe capturing all of us, or finding some way to strike at our power. And if something were to afflict us, it’s important that there be unicorns ready and able to step up and ensure the cycle of day and night continues.”

Twilight nodded. “I know. It makes sense to exclude me, really. It would be silly to let me take part.”

“Yes, it would be.” Celestia paused. “That doesn’t make it feel any better, does it.”

“No.”

They lapsed into silence, then.

And together, they watched the sun rise.

Comments

[Wanderer D]

Poor Twilight.

[ThatRobotGuy]

Poor Twilight, it's a shame that she can't join in this event.

[FanOfMostEverything]

Loved this in the Writeoff, love it now. Twilight never dreamt of her ascension, but that doesn't mean she never dreamt. Those wings come with more baggage than just a title and a crown. Still, you made it work without tipping into maudlin bathos. Thank you for bringing this to Fimfiction.

[Raichu]

This is great. It was a really original type of story. Loved it!

[Bojack H]

screw it, shes gonna go do her OWN circular whatchamit with blackjack.....

i mwan it really isnt like she cant ask celestia for practice for the same reason

[TheLastBrunnenG]

Nice bonding moment, and one more step in Twilight accepting how she isn't just a normal unicorn anymore.

I’m finally old enough to take part in the solunus circulum! and now, even though I’m perfectly qualified, I can’t.

Should And be capitalized, following punctuation?

was more just a fairytale setting.

more than just

“That doesn’t make it feel any better, does it.”

Should this end with a question mark?

[Chris]

7556728
7556748
Sorry to make you sad, identical Fluttershys!

7556833
I'm really glad this doesn't feel maudlin. Thanks for the comment!

7556864

Thank you!

7556879

Well, I'm sure that Celestia would let her practice with the sun if she wanted to... but then, "getting to practice with the sun" was never the real problem, was it?

7556907

Ninja-edited! Though the period on that last one was intentional; although it's phrased like a question, Celestia isn't really asking Twilight, and I felt her inflection would be better indicated with the period. Thanks for the fixes, and I'm glad you enjoyed!

[resonance]

loved it till

Twilight nodded. “I know. It makes sense to exclude me, really. It would be silly to let me take part.”

the feel of the conversation kinda just ends.

to me, you have twilights motivation down pat, but when celestia responds it just... meh.

i cant imagine knowing a life long wish was out of reach because of responsibility.

still get an up vote tho.

[Georg]

(Reads. Enjoys. Notices something missing.) Ahem. Guess what I'm going to submit to Horizon's Never The Final Word compilation?

---

Ten minutes later in the light of the new dawn, a single unicorn left the small group still discussing the ritual down in the bailey and vanished into the castle. Far above, Princess Twilight Sparkle watched, still respectfully silent next to the temporarily unemployed Sun and Moon. It was a moment she had dreaded far more than the ritual itself, and there was no way to prevent it other than flying away into the bright sky and leaving the inevitable confrontation to Celestia and Luna, who undoubtedly had faced far more embarrassing moments.

As the tapping of new shoes on ancient granite flooring neared behind her, Twilight turned to greet the young unicorn headed her way. She was far too young for this to have been more than her first circulum, and the bright and cheerful smile filling every single bit of her face indicated just how happy she was to have participated, or as Twilight's sinking heart realized from the tiny golden sun clipped to the unicorn's cape, to have been selected to lead the ceremony this morning. She stopped a respectful distance away from the three alicorns and bowed with practiced grace before speaking.

"This is such an honor, Your Highnesses. Thank you." Her grin became even larger. "With particular thanks to you, Princess Sparkle."

A response was warranted, and although Twilight waited for either of the elder alicorns to make it, they both remained stalwartly silent, with Celestia even prodding Twilight with the tip of one wing and just the faintest sly smile. Finally, Twilight Sparkle took a deep breath and said the words she had been dreading.

"You're welcome, Trixie."

[Cross Lament]

The law is all about technicalities; she should take part in the next one.

[horizon]

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And guess what Horizon's adding to Never The Final Word right now?

Edit: Now live in the anthology.

[djthomp]

This is a really interesting idea. Aside from the story itself, which was good, I thoroughly approve of the disaster recovery planning at the core of this tradition. Great world building.

[psychomotorboat]

You always capture those small personal tragedies or hang ups so well.
And I agree with FanofMostEverything

7556833

It's definitely not maudlin.

[WanderingPony]

7557912

And it adds just that perfect bite to the end of the story that makes the sad go straight into a sensible chuckle, too.

[TheMadPlushie]

Story reading

[Titanium Dragon]

I reviewed this story as part of Read It Now Reviews #97.

My review can be found here.

[Loganberry]

I am, as ever, miles behind -- so here at last is your fave! I said elsewhere that I found this "quietly heartbreaking", and I still think that sums up my experience pretty well.

[Seraphem]

Hmmm, not really 'sad', Twilight understood the logic here, her regrets were mostly those of old ideas and dreams that she logically knows she doesn't need. It would be nice to take part, but she gets why and isn't being melodramatic or overreacting. Maybe a tad melancholic, but not really 'sad' to me. Still an interesting idea that makes a lot of sense, making sure things have a way to keep going if the Princesses fall. Granted doesn't explain the odd sky in Princess Twilight.....

Still an interesting little idea, and does well to show how mature Twilight really is.... barring her freak outs.

[PresentPerfect]

N'awh. :C

[Taranth]

Can I just take a moment to note my appreciation of the phrase "hooves-on astronomy"? Because I really like it.

[Sozmioi]

7556879

Yeah. And they can even let it be the same event. Nothing said you couldn't take on additional days to cover additional contingencies - just that you had to have 24 hours of no alicorns.

Of course, not so easy - maybe the other mages involved aren't so eager to just keep going since it apparently involves some sort of permanent draining (though in canon introduced since this story was published)

[fanreader999999]

Mellow.

[Ghost Mike]

An oddball ghost happened across your fic and read it. Have a review!