Not on MY Watch...
Not On My Watch!!!
Stupid desk job, she thought. I have got to get more exercise, before I swell up like a balloon, Twilight thought to herself, running hard enough to be panting. She took wing on the last hill on the road toward Canterlot, Spike flying alongside next to her.
Twilight zipped through the Canterlot gate, folded her wings and started to gallop. Fluttershy said, “Oh, good. We're all here,” alongside Twilight as the Six, who had been patiently waiting just outside the drawbridge gate, took off alongside Twilight.
Twilight looked around, then asked the group, “So…everypony got an urgent summons to the castle with no explanation?”
Pinkie answered first. “Yup! I just love a good mysterious summons,” she said, wearing her mane across the bottom of her face like a mask. She then dropped it, and edged closer to Rainbow Dash. “What's it about?” Next to be asked was Fluttershy. “Do you think it's a surprise party?” Then she thought about it a little more. “Hey! Why are we running?”
“Because something could be terribly wrong! Somepony turned bad? Another evil creature back for revenge?!” Twilight answered, concerned.
Applejack took it up next. “Don't you think you're bein' a little paranoid?”
“Why else would the Princesses send scrolls in such a hurry?” Twilight answered her.
“Good point. They know better than to make us worry,” added Rarity.
Pinkie, as per usual, drifted off subject. “Plus, I like it when you run so fast, the walls get all blurry! Wheeee!”
Were her eyes spinning? thought Twilight.
Rainbow Dash knew an opportunity when she saw it. “Race ya!” she said to the Ponk. She could take Pinkie easily enough, and add to her bragging scores easy as pie. Which she hated, but that was the colloquialism. She took off.
Unfortunately for The Pink One, she got caught in the wash, somersaulted, then started rolling heads over heels behind the others.
Shortly thereafter, the Throne Room doors burst open, and The Mane Six (the nickname had stuck), Twilight in the lead, slammed to a stop just inside them. Rarity took the moment to pant with exaggeration, going for the drama, while Fluttershy fanned herself with her left forehoof. Rainbow Dash, her victory assured, had braked alongside the others.
But there was one missing. Pinkie Pie arrived shortly after, still rolling. Before she could stop, (it had been fun, rolling like that), she barreled straight into Spike before the impact dissipated the rolling, leaving her sitting, wide eyed.
In the old days, Spike being knocked into the air like a bowling pin would more than likely have ended up on the floor in either one of two ways; lying flat on his back, or lying flat on his belly.
That was in the old days. Today, Spike yelped, flared his wings, recovered, and landed safely behind the bewildered Ponk.
The Two Sisters of the Diarch of Equestria were standing upon the dais of the Thrones expectantly. Princess Celestia spoke first…
”Girls. Thank you so much for coming,” she said calmly.
Well. Isn’t THAT a bit anticlimactic, Twilight thought. “What's wrong?! What can we do?!” she asked them, concerned enough to start shedding from the stress building up.
Princess Luna decided to field that one. “That's just it. Nothing's wrong! Everything's perfect!” she said cheerfully. Far too cheerfully for Twilight’s tastes, given the scroll Twilight had received by way of Spike.
The Honest one, (sometimes BRUTALLY Honest one), jumped in. “Did y'all call us down here just to tell us that?” Applejack asked, voicing the exasperation everypony was feeling.
"With all due respect, majesties, you might want to save your urgent summons for matters that are a bit more... well, urgent!” the fashionista added, starting to get a little put out. Rarity had work waiting; and Magic or no, those dresses would not take charge and sew themselves.
Princess Celestia and Princess Luna started chortling quietly, which didn’t mollify Twilight’s exasperation one bit.
Princess Luna went on. “Well, there is more to it. Equestria is currently enjoying its longest period of harmony in recent years.”
Princess Celestia took up the narrative again. “And it's all thanks to you, Twilight. And your friends, of course,” she said kindly.
Spike knew a compliment when he heard one. “Who, us?” he said, smiling.
Rarity did, too. “Oh, pshaw,” she giggled.
Rainbow Dash…didn’t. “It's about time you noticed!” she declared.
Well; two out of three. Not too bad. “Thank you!” Twilight added with heartfelt sincerity. At least they were finally noticing the hardship, the danger, sand in body creases, half drowning in a waterfall, almost fully drowning in the sea, the emotional roller coaster…
Back to Princess Luna. “Because of your efforts, there's been less and less for us to do.”
Twilight almost snorted in derision. Yeah…raise a Sun or Moon, lower it later. I get it; that is pretty awesome, but, like, what else? Shorting tickets to the Gala? Parasprites? Not kicking Queen Chrysalis’ malnourished, emaciated, and skinny rump right in the dock? Sending Discord out to screw up catching Tirek? GETTING CAPTURED?
“So, after much consideration, my sister and I have decided it is time for us... to retire!” Celestia added with finality.
Everypony NOT a Diarch gasped.
A lanky form apparated in the Throne Room with a poof. Discord, in a news reporter’s battered hat and with pad and pencil, looked at the Princesses. “Breaking news! The Royal Princesses retiring! I have so many questions! Who'll take over? Who will run Equestria? Will it be someone tall, dark, and handsome? Or will it be the Lord of Chaos?”
Magically, several copies of Discord’s claw appeared…all pointing at him.
There was a pause, before the Princesses smiled gently, and Celestia pointed a hoof at Twilight.
“Oh, fine. Go with the obvious choice,” Discord griped, before he floated off to just behind the girls.
Twilight gasped. And there it is…Okay…Let’s make it happen, Cap'n…she thought.
And here we go...
“Can you do it right now?” Twilight asked, far more calmly than she was feeling. Poker night definitely helped.
“You mean…right this minute?” Celestia asked, mildly confused.
“Sure! It’ll give me a chance to take a few moments and get a feel for it; you know,” she added sincerely. “I gotta learn to roll with things without all freaking out, right? Might as well start with that today.”
She carefully; oh, so carefully, kept her face relatively happy and expectant. Not yet, she thought. Get the pieces on the board positioned…
Then…overwhelm…
“Oh! Well, if you think you’ve got it…” Celestia said, nonplussed.
“Better to at least try it now, and work any bugs out of it; than at a big ceremony with everypony watching,” Twilight said earnestly, smiling.
“All right then…Princess Twilight Sparkle; from this moment on, and with acquiescence of Princess Luna…”
“Which I do acquiesce to; let the record show and declare, in front of these witnesses,” Luna added succinctly.
“…and myself, Princess Celestia, do hereby confer to you, The Princess of Friendship, the office of Ruler of Equestria and Counsel to Lands Beyond, with all rights and duties therein.”
Celestia leaned forward. Honestly, she didn’t think it would be that easy to get Twilight to accept the Crown so readily…
And, in a dark and hardly used corner of the back of her mind; a cluster of brain cells, two or three at the most, started clamoring for attention. They were Royal Canterlot Voiced into stunned silence by the rest, extremely upset at the interruption.
“Do you accept this charge that is laid unto you?” Celestia intoned seriously, with enough gravitas to pull both Sun and Moon out of position.
Twilight put on a grim and determined face.
“I do.”
Then, we declare you the new Ruler of Equestria, for the record and in front of these witnesses. And may the Fausticorn have mercy on your soul.”
“Hip-hip-HUZZAH!!” Luna cheered loudly. By the second and third repetitions, everypony was doing it. Twilight walked forward and up onto the dais, waving first one, then the other, of her front hooves in the Royal manner. “Luckily, I had plenty of time to learn how to do this in the Crystal Empire!” she declared, eyes swimming. Luna pulled a bundle of lavender from a wall sconce, and then floated it into Twilight’s waiting foreleg. Celestia, with her Magic, locked into Twilight’s Crown in her Castle, and teleported it onto the top of her head.
“Way ta go, Twi! ‘Scuse me, Princess Twilight!” Applejack cheered, stomping hooves and letting loose with a romping cow whistle. The others were equally enthusiastic, except for Pinkie, who was suddenly into full Party Planner mode, riffling through a file folder she produced from somewhere, writing down blocks of text on the papers inside as fast as her mane could keep up with the pencil.
“Speech! SPEECH!!” Rarity cried out, applauding with her front hooves.
Twilight raised a front leg. The room silenced immediately.
“Thank you, everypony! I know this was sudden and out of character for me…and truthfully, most of you were waiting for a Twilighting Twily-nanas eruption from me…weren’t you?”
There were a few shifting legs and quiet mumblings.
She chuckled. “Well. To continue telling you all the truth; I would have normally done that. See? I even brought my paper rebreathing bag!” she declared, holding it up where everypony could see it.
“There’s just one tiny thing. I thought that this would happen…and I made a plan,” she said, very seriously.
The room went dead silent. The only thing making any sort of sound were the brain cells in Celestia’s head, which were frankly screaming her head off inside her head now. Pinkie’s head came up in mid pencil-scratch, looked at Celestia questioningly, and cocked her head sideways.
“For my first Official Act as Princess of Equestria and Counselor to Lands Beyond…”
Luna suddenly took a tiny step back, wondering if she could be Sent Into Moon twice…and how crowded it would be, sharing it with Celestia…
Twilight turned slightly; her eyes boring into the former Diarch Sisters.
“Give me that Sun and Moon amulet. Now,” she said softly.
The imagined soft murmur of a distant thunderstorm; bearing down like a tornado on the wide open, single hill meadow with absolutely no trees, homes, or convenient lightning rod arrestors anywhere within the 1,000 by 1,000 yard space The Sisters were occupying, as the winds swirled around the bottom of the disturbance, forming a cone-shape with the clouds…
Celestia was somewhat accustomed to being in situations like this before. She kept to her hooves, standing stock still as her Magic lifted a cylindrical object from in her mane with her aura, which she hooved over to Twilight, her face stone. But Twilight caught the slight tremble in her hoof the others would have missed.
“There it is,” Twilight said perfunctorily, as she took it, hid it in her own mane.
“Where was I? Oh, yes…for my First Official Act as Princess of Equestria and Lands Beyond…”
“Twilight; I can’t believe you’d…” Celestia said distastefully.
“shsssh,” Twilight whispered, laying a gentle pinkish glow of field against Celestia’s white lips, after taking a moment to gently close Luna’s mouth, which was hanging open in frank shock. “Your Princess is talking. No interruptions, please. Thank You.”
“Again…for my first Official Act as Princess of Equestria and Lands Beyond…
She stopped for a moment, eyes darting from pony to pony. No pony dared interrupt again.
“I declare that Princess Celestia, and Princess Luna…”
Rainbow Dash stared at her with a face of pure rebellion. The others were still too shocked at the moment…
“…shall continue here in Canterlot, and Canterlot Castle, with their duties as before. The only change is that I shall be the Power behind these Thrones,” she said with a slight turn, a hoof sweeping across them behind her, “…with my supporting them and giving my expertise just as before, with the help of My Friends.”
Her eyes held frank tears. “The three of Us will work together and support one another. When they need time away to rest and renew themselves, I will fill in temporarily for them during their absence. For Equestria still needs her Mother of Ponies, Celestia Sun Raiser, as well as the Sister of Ponies, Luna Moon Raiser, as they always have. Two such lights, One by Day, and One by Night, as constant as Sun and Moon, the Balance maintained. We have spoken.”
The faces of rebellion, disappointment, and shame were almost all now faces of amazement…except for two.
The dark blue Alicorn was snickering to herself.
“So…it is to be indentured servitude then, is it not?” Luna said merrily, starting to chuckle loudly.
“Of course. Have I not Made It So??” Twilight said imperiously, nose held high. After she dashed the rivulets from her eyes with a hoof.
Spike, thoroughly and completely stunned by Twilight's pronouncement, hadn’t moved an inch yet.
Twilight went on. “I may have once or twice complained to my Dad that I was bored when I was very young. You want to know what he did?” Twilight sighed. “Try reading the side panel of a pack of gum for an hour. I did it twice, maybe three times. After that; I learned to go find something constructive to do. But if you want some inspiration, I know Applejack always has a pack of cinnamon flavor on her.”
Celestia was still glaring at the purple Alicorn. “Twilight...”
Twilight looked at her. “Princess Twilight, if you please,” she said, the imperiousness back.
“Princess Twilight,” Celestia rumbled dangerously.
“Cely…give it up,” Luna said, throwing a foreleg across Celestia’s withers. Or wither; Celestia was still far too tall to make it easy, even if Luna raised up on her rears to do it. She wiped her own eyes as she chuckled happily.
“She outmaneuvered and outplayed you. Easily. And boxed you up neatly, taped it shut, and posted you under First Class Priority. Let me know how the weather is in Zebabwe.”
“You are fully aware of what this means, aren’t you?” Celestia said warningly.
“Are you?” Luna shot back.
Celestia hesitated.
“Have you even thought, even considered everything in your rush to retire from your Royal position and duties?” Luna said.
The hesitation began to stretch out.
“Have you even fully taken into account our action?”
The hesitation deepened.
“Look, Sister…no, that’s not right. Celestia. My Dearest. I know how you hurt, and still hurt, over my Banishment. How the guilt eats at you…”
“I ordered you to not involve yourself in my dreams.”
“And I have done as bidden. I have left you in your nightmares. Even as you thrashed and cried out, sobbing, in your self-imposed terror of loss. Even as my heart physically ached to even just stand with you in your dread. Even as my tears fell and froze to stone. Even to not sit on your bed, wrap legs and wings of love around your shaking form, and whisper to your ear that I was there, with you, and save you from your greatest fear. That I would leave you alone, again.”
The great white head lowered, and other tears splashed, to grow cold on stone.
“Celestia. Please. Send this tantibus of yours away. Dispel it. Let it trouble you no more,” Luna said quietly, as a wing wrapped around her, dark blue against the white.
“I wanted just us. All those years, to look up, and tear my wounds open again. To Raise and Lower Moon, seeing your imprinting on it. Something that I had done…”
“Do you really want those years to stand in our way today, and tomorrow, and the days that follow? You have to learn to forgive yourself,” Luna said, as her head turned, to look at Twilight and her friends.
“As I had to learn to do,” she said, as she smiled at them.
“But we have no time together! So many things…”
“But you do have time together. You just don’t use it properly,” Twilight said, joining them. “You said it right here; that there is less and less for you two to do. Condense your schedules. Make my time; the twilight of the day, and the early dawn of the next, the time for both of you.”
Celestia looked at her. “You know…if there’s a pony named Luster Dawn, he just might take offense at your usurping his personal time,” Celestia pointed out with a wan smile.
“Or hers,” Twilight said, with a knowing look. “Eh. She’ll just have to get over it. I’m the Princess now.”
“Do you have a slight feeling of unease every time she says ‘Princess’ like that, Cely?” Luna offered candidly.
“You have no idea.”
“What? We’re gonna do this together! A Triarchy!” Twilight exclaimed.
“Triumvirate,” Celestia corrected.
“Troika!” Luna cried gleefully.
“No, not that one. If I have to send Starlight Glimmer here with my proxy, you’ll never get her back out again,” Twilight added, a hoof on the bridge of her nose.
“But you’re Princess now,” Celestia said halfheartedly, with a mocking smile for Twilight.
“And I fully mean to maintain my ‘Secret Identity’,” she said, even using her forelegs to add the air quotes, “…as the mild, meek Princess Headmare of The School of Friendship. The ‘Big Picture’ mare.”
“And speaking of which,” she said, turning back to the front…
“DISCORD!!” she yelled, in the Royal Canterlot Voice.
“Did somepony whisper my name?” he said, floating forward while cleaning his ears out with the Twilicane.
“Give me that,” Twilight said testily, snatching it out of his paw with her aura.
“OHO!! You finally talked yourself into it, didn’t you? How Grand!! Imagine the fun we’ll have now...”
Another poof. The ermine cape reappeared on Twilight. She didn’t even flinch.
“Go to the cave atop Mt. Everhoof. Get Grogar’s Bell. Bring it to me. Now.”
“Now just a minute, smallest princess! I’m the Lord of Chaos! You just can’t order me around like you would your Friendship Lackeys!” Discord exclaimed.
“I’m not smallest Princess. Flurry Heart is. I’m the one who will sicc Starlight Glimmer on you.”
He waved it away. “Been there. Survived that.”
“So, it’s to be the Big Guns, then?” Twilight continued on firmly, eyes narrowed. “Then; I’m not going to officiate when you and Fluttershy get married. You’ll have to get Mayor Mare or somepony less close friend, important, or official to do it instead. And that will make Fluttershy very unhappy. Do you want an Unhappy Fluttershy? Because that’s how you get an Unhappy Fluttershy.”
He hesitated, thinking rapidly…
“Unhappy. Fluttershy. So. Get Me. Grogar’s Bell. Now.” Twilight said plainly, pausing to add emphasis to each of the words. She finished with a hoof raised and pointing in the general direction of Everhoof, as she continued staring him down…
He continued to dwadle, bewildered…until he saw Fluttershy’s face. With a gulp, he then disapparated.
Without Discord as the focus of attention; Fluttershy shrank a bit from the incredulous stares of the others.
“Ummm…I kinda reeally like him. A lot. And even that way. Y’know?” she said diffidently.
“Fluttershy. Sometimes, I wonder about your taste in friends. And frankly, I’m astonished by your taste in lovers.” Twilight said, shaking her head.
“Celestia…I think we made a monster,” Luna said, creeping some apprehension into her voice.
“Nothing ‘think’ about it.” Celestia added, after a bare pause. “I’ve seen more than my share of those. Let’s just try and keep this one on our side,” she finished, watching Twilight carefully.
Later on that day, Luna went to the desk in her room. The apartment was huge for just one pony; Celestia had taken her space, designed for a leader of a nation-state like Equestria, and settled into it after Two Sisters had tumbled into ruin that night. Luna had been given the apartment down the hall, which was smaller, in the hope she would live there after Return. The larger apartment was for Celestia, to use as living space, meeting rooms, informal diplomatic working meals; even a tryst or two. Or several.
But that first night, as Luna’s Banishment wrung guilt, fear and regret in an almost perpetual torrent from her heart, Celestia had had the foresight, and wild hope, that Luna would Return. And she would be as lost as the one day Luna had run away in anger, only to find that she couldn’t remember the way back.
On that day, Celestia had found her in tears. She had given her comfort, and led her back to Two Sisters.
The first night of Return, Celestia had stayed all night with her, in this strange palace in Canterlot, as her pain bled out in tears and wracking sobs. The next day; Celestia went to Luna’s assigned rooms, and brought furniture and objects of familiarity to the strange place the blue youngling feared to leave. Then, she carved spaces out for the younger Sister to live in out of hers; private as needed, but close to the comforting presence behind the door across the main room.
Celestia had the rooms that would have been Luna’s re-made for herself. She managed not to laugh when they presented the Princess-y overwrought ostentation; the plush, thick white carpet, the white, curved and carved, gold-bedecked furnishings trimmed in gilt, the mammoth bed with sheer curtains hanging from a central ring that mimicked her mane and tail colors. There was no way for them to know she had outgrown such foppish finery and opulence long ago, as they only created what they thought she needed and deserved.
Within two years of Return, Celestia had decided that they would occupy her space together, and had it altered accordingly. if it ended up pinching ambassadors, heads-of-state, and dignitaries by having two Alicorns in it during meetings or evening cocktails; well, they could sit on a chair from the pantry.
And no rutting. Period.
Celestia was always amused by the velvet-flanked stallions flirting and cavorting for a hunk of solar-warmed rump. Despite rumors of a periwinkle mane and an irresistible urge to bump fuzzy giblets with any comely pony in proximity, Celestia had no such proclivities. At least for the last six-hundred years or so.
One of the pieces of furnishings Luna had was her desk from Two Sisters. Nowhere near as immense as the polished plane of wood Celestia worked behind, it was definitely far larger than average. Luna ran a hoof along the ebony surface.
She found the key block with her hoof, pulled it outward, then pushed the end downward. The drawer opened silently.
Inside were two objects. The first was her journal. She was not the inveterate note-taker Celestia was, but she would always make sure the high points she found of interest were properly chronicled.
Underneath…was a book. A Magic book. To be exact, her Magic book.
The Book of Dreams was hers. It was the greatest compilation of Moon and Night Magic in Equestria, certainly. More than likely, the entire world. It held the secrets many a Unicorn had investigated, before Truth evaded them shyly, laughing with delight. She had been the one to discover and plumb the secrets therein now. To become the Princess of Kind Dreams. To be the Somnium Bellator. To put on the mantle of the Dream Warrior…
She had been the first to shiver from the sepulchral touch of Dark Magiks so long ago. To physically confront in ponyson those using them. And the one to eventually, if necessary, sanction the Necromancers and their horrors with a finality they could not escape.
Celestia was powerless against them in Night…
Day? Many burned in Solar Fire. Fly ash and smoke wisps.
But in the Night…was Luna’s time to hunt. Shadow Magic against Shadow Magik. And as they contested against the Alicorn feared as Darkness Incarnate; athletic, predatory, deadly, and strangely beautiful, they fell to The Light of Night, her sword, and gave up their heads.
When Celestia and Luna broke Sombra, The Light of Night was lost, along with the Empire. Luna had taken Sombra’s Obsidian Scythe from him for her own. And when she held it…it changed. The Nightmare’s Rune Scythe was what brought him down.
Celestia distrusted that thing. Had it hidden, as they forged a new blade for Luna.
It was never used. The Nightmare took her before it was ready.
Then came Abeyance.
And then...Return.
And when the Crystal Empire reappeared; Luna went to search, and claim what was hers once more.
Now…The Light of Night was mounted above her fireplace mantle. Edges polished and fully restored, she felt unable to wield it any longer. It was from the Time Before. Before her subjugation by jealousy and greed. The Nightmare’s scythe had been broken in battle, and released its enchantments. The pieces were stored in the Armory, but never displayed. The mid-length katana they had created a millennia before now filled the Light’s purpose. Necromancer’s Bane, with the new black blade treatments that allows it to absorb light, except the thinnest sliver of naked, sharpened steel. Steel famished for the blood of those that do evil in this world, so they could meet their just reward in the shadowlands.
It waited, patient as Time itself, in the vertical display stand that had been made for it. Made to Luna's exacting specifications of the same ebony wood that comprised her desk. The Pegasus-rigged harness and the sheath were on the lintel hook on the fireplace just above the blade. Ready to nestle on her back between her wings, if called upon.
She caressed the book’s cover, like an old friend well met, then turned her attention to the journal.
Luna had given up quill and ink the moment she learned of ballpoint pens. She lifted a very beautiful dark blue one with polished silver fittings out with her aura, opened the Journal, and began to write…
Well; it is done. Twilight outfoxed Celestia, and set us both back upon the Thrones. I managed the appropriate emotions where necessary. Not that I wasn’t a bit apprehensive myself. One never knows what the die will reveal, once set into motion…
Twilight Sparkle is now Princess of Equestria and Counsel to Lands Beyond. We are still Diarch; but We Serve together, with her as Sovereign, in secret. A Triarchy. Though to watch Twilight try to massage the stress from the bridge of her nose when I said ‘Troika’ was HILARIOUS!!
And she is right; Starlight would push for everything she could with Twilight’s proxy were we to call it that. She has an amazing, iniquitous sense of humor at times, and would definitely want to see Us in discomfiture and confusion over it. Not that I would fall for that. She can’t hide her fear of leadership from me. We continue to work on it in the dreamscape.
Princess Twilight WANTS her School, not a Throne! She built it with her own hooves, and she deserves it, really. What she does there; what she is CREATING there? It is much greater than being seated on a dusty chair, listening to the Secretariat of State droning on and on, or judging flower competitions. We can do that. In point of fact, I want another chance to do that. There is no other way for me to discover that I have, er, the ‘Gift’ of it now, without it being in my hooves.
Besides…I want to go to concerts and plays on Bridleway, not just the Canterlot theater district; and take a few shots at herding the Grand Galloping Gala myself. The new and amazing museums in various places, and embarrass the curators when I show them what their relic was REALLY used for! Far and away better than refraining from running the President mare of the Silver Shoals Homeowner’s Association through her blackened and withered heart with The Bane over lawn height.
Starlight Glimmer will still be her Vice-Headmare. Sunburst will be Curriculum Director. Trixie; Guidance Councilor. And nature will take its course from there. I have a feeling about those three. And as I discovered; the ‘herd marriage’ of the Old Days is still intact, Canterlot being the last bastion for it as couples became the norm, following in the hoofprints of Earthers and Pegasi. Won’t they be surprised! I have a modicum of pity for Sunburst. The ‘take no prisoners’ dynamic of Starlight Glimmer, and the overwhelming arrogant confidence of Trixie Lulamoon. Mayhap I should have a referee’s shirt and whistle created and at hoof to assist when the inevitable clashes come.
Come to think it over; perhaps I should refrain from being quite so breezily cheery about it…
I am not sorry to have used one of Starswirl’s time spells to ‘read ahead’ in time. Nor am I sorry to interrupt what was coming. Twilight has found her leadership footing, with gentle nudges and whispers in unremembered dreamscapes. The Tree will stand unharmed; and should it desire to be more, Two Sisters will welcome it with open heart. That squib of a misaligned mating ‘king’ Sombra can continue in his nonexistence for the remainder of Time. Cozy Glow can annoy Tirek for Eternity in Tartarus. Starlight no longer will bear that hideous scar that Queen Chrysalis gives her from the Battle in the Crystal Mountains of the Yaket Range. All has been changed.
Twilight may yet bring together the entire world. She can still unite all of us. And she can still bring The Pillars, The Elements, and The Students into the Unity of Friendship Magic if it ever becomes needed. ALL OF THAT still slumbers, waiting for the moment when the Friendship Princess finds and Invokes it.
Discord, being Discord, MIGHT cause some problems, as he senses the changes here and there moving into the Future. But seeing his face after Twilight smacked his nose over Fluttershy? I think that was enough to get him to behave. Huzzah to Twilight to use it with such delicate authority.
The New Age Rises! We shall meet it, All of Us…TOGETHER!!
Given Unto My Horn, The Sixth Day of the Fourth Month of the Year 1111, the Ninth year Post-Abeyance.
In both Friendship and Service Always,
(signed), Princess Luna Invicta
She started to put it away, considered for a moment, and then opened it again.
Oh…
PS: Find that lanky cheese-grater pismire ‘queen’ bug, and make sure she ends up right alongside the others in Tartarus. I would offer Cadance ten minutes alone with her, but I am afeared that ‘Love’ thing of hers would prevent the Empress from properly adding to the holes. Too bad, that. We could have retired the Nation’s debt on the ticket sales alone.
PPS: Nudge Twilight into giving that maroon camelopard giraffe with the Day-Glo red mane and tail the job as her Personal Protection Officer. Tempest Fizzy Berry-twisty something Shadow.
And have her pick ONE NAME!!
(signed), Luna
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Excellent story! Especially loved how everyone just went like, "Oh Crap." when Twily said:
10568965
I wanted to give some space before the reveal where nopony knew quite where the blade would fall...
Then slap 'em in the head with, "Really? TWILIGHT?? The mare barely even understands 'dictator', outside of a definition!!"
Thanks for your time!
Crystalheart
A marvelous case of "Just as planned"
10569561
We have had example after example of our little Twily almost hyperventilating herself to the verge of passing out when she hasn't a plan.
One, in fact, in "Beginning of the End 1", where she speculates on training for the position.
Just one, little, push from the blue one in a dream...
Crystalheart
I'm sorry, but something about this story reads the wrong way. I was reading it as Twilight, but not with her voice. She just spoke 'wrong' to me, like it was someone else doing the talking. Twilight, alas, even with all of her character development could never tell Celestia she was wrong to her face, certainly not in this way. Recall that she was paranoid about telling Celestia she couldn't act, this is a fair bit bigger than that. If I didn't know better, I'd say it was a changeling who'd been given some script, possibly by Luna.
Also, I'm pretty sure there are risks about looking ahead in time, good intentions or no and if I've learned anything from watching television, it's you don't screw with time. It will come back to bite you. Tirek and co may have been stopped, but chances are time will fix itself somehow. Probably send the real Grogar or something, I dunno.
I'm sorry, but I can't enjoy this story. Probably won't be changing anyone's minds about this story, but I had to share my thoughts.
10570487
That's okay...lots of people don't get things...
Like how Celestia the Beneficent used her School of Magic to winnow out particular students that could be manipulated into taking over the ruling of Equestria and free her from the Throne...
That's one way to interpret this show...
Crystalheart
I'm honestly with 10570487 on this one. This...doesn't really sound like Twilight. She's too flippant and snarky. This bit in particular stuck out to me:
I read this and I don't hear Twilight Sparkle. To be quite frank, this sounds more like–and please no that I mean no offense to anyone who may read this–a brony.
Celestia fat
much cake
so fatness
very obesity
10570629
Remember: Alternate Universe...
You can have a Twilight lose her mind at a trivia contest, yell at Pinkie on Basalt Beach, snap at the others while trying to put the Element of Loyalty on Spike?
And not while Celestia tries to chain her to the Throne? Possibly FOREVER?
Would you like to clean my house?
Crystalheart
10570786
It's only really bad for the first 180-220 years, then they'll have starved enough of it off to at least stop the 'alternate breathing' adaptations...
I wish someone, somewhere would do a Moon comic, with Day Breaker and Nightmare Moon on it, drawing the line on the ground; "This is MY side! YOU stay on YOURS!"
With Starlight Glimmer back in Equestria dusting herself off, licking one of her hooves, and putting out the little tendril of smoke from the tip of her horn.
Twilight looks on, astounded...and a little fearful.
Crystalheart
Absolutely hilarious!
The written really added a texture and weight to the beginning. Lovely!