Unexpected Ultimate Test
By
Kalreas
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The morning sun's rays of light broke through the window's glass, forcing itself onto the soft eyelids of the lavender, slumbering mare. The rays of light made the eyes behind the lids stress, waking the mare they belonged to. The light caused further troubles, as the mare had to turn her head away from the window.
Several minutes passed as the intensity of the light increased slowly, waking the mare further. Reaching up with her front hooves, she rubbed her eyes slowly and cautiously, as to not hurt them. Opening her eyes, she gained view of her bedroom, the room she spent every night after reading a book.
The pure peace that carefully took hold of the room was precious, no matter how many times she had seen it already. Silently breaking part of the blissful peace, she shuffled off of the bed, bringing her hooves to the relatively cold wooden floor.
She wanted to call out to Spike, to wake him from his still-deep slumber, but she decided to wait until she began breakfast, as he always did for her. Quietly, as to not disturb the adorable peace again, she stepped out of the room and down the stairs to the library floor.
Focusing her mind onto making a small breakfast for the both of them, making sure to make today special, she headed for the kitchen. She quickly made her favorite, a Dandelion sandwich, and made Spike his favorite pony food, as well as a gem or two as a treat.
Setting the table with her magic, as delicately as her slightly unstable mind would allow her. Once she finished arranging the dishes, she turned her attention to the stairs. By now, she was relatively awake enough to function properly, so she quietly headed up the stairs to her bedroom to get Spike awake.
Looking inside and seeing the baby dragon resting peacefully, despite the sun's rays landing softly on his scaled back. If anything, it was keeping him warmer, she rationalized in her head. Stepping over to the resting creature, she nuzzled her head against his.
"Spike," She spoke softly, as to not startle him to sleep. "it's time to wake up. I have gems in there waiting for you today." Speaking softly and slowly, she worked the baby drake to awaken, causing him to stretch and groan lazily. Taking a big sniff, he smelled the gems in the distance.
"Smells good." He said groggily yet happily. She gave a small giggle and headed back downstairs.
"Come on down when you're ready, sleepy-head."
Joining her moments later at the dinner table, Spike eagerly and happily ate his breakfast and his special treat from Princess Celestia. Supposedly, this gem was one of the tastiest to a dragon. She would have to ask for the name of it again.
She watched as Spike finished his meal, burping slightly. He proceeded to laugh it off a little, but then something started happening to him. At first, it was slight twitches, then it quickly progressed to a stomach ache. Only moments later, he looked up at Twilight.
"T-Twi-" He was interrupted by a letter from Princess Celestia forcing itself out from him. He fell unconscious, reasons unknown to the both of them, as Twilight frantically tried to wake him up. After running out of ideas, she opened the letter and read the contents, finding unexpectedly surprising information.
Dear Twilight Sparkle.
I'm terribly sorry about having to do this, but lately, my sister and I have decided on a course of action. I need to speak with you at once, I've already sent out a carriage to retrieve you and you alone. Once Spike gets this enchanted letter, as you can probably see, he will fall unconscious for a set amount of time.
I apologize for having to bring this matter up like this, at this hour, and so suddenly. For more information on the matter, you must come and speak to me and my sister personally. I have a test that you must pass, or the consequences will be dire.
- Princess Celestia
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Arriving at the Canterlot castle, Twilight and her test equipment marched towards the throne room with a purpose. To see what in Equestria the Princesses wanted her to do this time, as well as to figure out what exactly was wrong with Spike.
Entering the throne room, she saw Princess Celestia sitting in the multiple shades of light cast from the suns rays on the stained glass window. Silently walking closer, she saw her in deep thought, staring blankly yet sadly at her crown.
"Princess.. Celestia? I-I'm here."
"Good. My sister and I have been expecting you for a while now." She turned her head to face the confused Unicorn mare. "I'm sorry about Spike, but he will be fine.. on.. one condition. I'll wait to reveal that until you've heard me out completely." She set the crown atop her head slowly and carefully.
Turning and facing Twilight, her apprentice, her pupil, she began to walk over. "About the test... I know you haven't expected this to come from me, but.. I'm getting too old, too weak. It's a difficulty for me to raise and lower the sun every day.
"I know I'm not giving much of the information you want, but I need to tell you the vital information first. I'm dying, Twilight. Much faster than I had ever hoped, or expected. Me and my sister, Luna, have discussed this several times during the times we meet, and we've come to a frightening conclusion.
"In order for me to leave this world happily, I need to pass my crown to one that is at least as powerful and as wise as myself. You, Twilight, have been selected as my choice, but in order for me to do this, within the Royal Law, you need to defeat me in combat."
Twilight stepped back, shocked and confused beyond comprehension at what she thought she just heard. "Wait, WHAT?!"
"I know, and there's a second part. In order for Spike to awaken, my heartbeat needs to stop. The spell I put on the scroll that was sent to him using that magically sealed gem was a Blood Pact spell. A type of magic that has been forbidden across Equestria for ages.
"I cannot express how sorry I am for bringing this unto you so suddenly, but you must understand. There is no other way. In order for me to pass down my crown, and my duties, you need to beat me in fair combat. Also, if you ever want Spike to awaken, you need to stop my heartbeat. If it ever starts again, he will fall unconscious again." She hardened her expression and walked towards her throne, leaving Twilight behind her near the now-closed doors. Celestia reached her throne, but stopped just before the first step, and turned around.
Twilight simply stared, unable to say anything or move. She wasn't prepared for this.
Frowning, Celestia spoke her last words before the conclusion of the fight.
"This must be done! The battle is to the strong."
She charged her horn slowly, giving time for the unicorn apprentice to make up her mind. Fully charged, she let out the bolt with no hesitation, sending it flying at high speeds to the small mare. Twilight used a quick teleportation spell to get out of the way just in time to look behind her and see the impact nearly destroy the wall.
Turning back around, she saw Celestia galloping towards her at full speed, relentless in her plans of attack. Twilight wanted to run, she wanted to stop this from happening. She needed to stop this from happening. She closed her eyes and wished.
The impact of the side of Celestia's head slamming into the side her her entire body made her eyes open wide, her lungs force all of the air out. Within a second, she was flying across the great hall, landing and skipping from time to time on the cold stone floor.
Finally, she slid to a stop, and had to wait for her body to regain its strength in order for her to just open her eyes. She saw her teacher once again galloping towards her at full speed, no intention of stopping. Straining, she tried to get to her hooves so she could dodge.
Trying with all of her might and focus, she dodged to the side just in time to avoid getting run through with a horn. Focusing harder, she charged her own magic bolt quickly and decisively, launching it after only a second of her dodge, causing Celestia to fly to her side uncontrollably.
"CELESTIA!" Twilight shouted, on the verge of tears from facing the cold, hard fact of what she had just done. Fighting the tears back, she started to walk towards the destination of where Celestia had landed. The dust and small rubble cleared enough for her to see through, but-
A sudden, large impact of four hooves landing on her back forced her to the ground instantaneously, knocking the breath out of her. Forced onto her side and unable to move, she looked up to see what was holding her in place, and saw the face of Princess Celestia.
She was covered in small cuts and bruises from her impact on the side of the stone wall, making her visage horrifying. Breathing heavily, she pointed her horn towards the chest of her pupil and started to move her head downward. The tip of her long, sharp horn made contact.
Using a soft lightning spell, she made the mare underneath her violently shake. Stopping so she wasn't to kill just yet, she drove her horn past the soft flesh covering the ribcage of the small unicorn underneath her. Twilight let out a groan of pain, that being all she could do from the relentless force.
Gathering her breath and screaming once more, she shot a bolt of magic onto the chest of the Princess holding her down, making her fly through the air once more. Twilight was on the offense, teleporting to behind where Celestia was going to land.
Once there, she waited for the half-second to pass before Celestia snapped her wings open, slowing her a surprising amount before she inevitably slammed against the wall again. Moving in-front of the Princess, Twilight began to charge a specific type of spell, one that improved the front leg's muscle strength.
Celestia, predicting what she was about to do, tried to cover the side of her body with her wings once more. Standing on her back legs, Twilight pummeled down onto Celestia's side relentlessly and swiftly, each strike lasting only a fraction of a second before returning to her body and striking back once more.
Celestia charged what she could of a fire spell and sent it to the exposed belly of the lavender unicorn apprentice, making her lose her breath and focus on her magic. Celestia pounced forward, trapping the mare underneath her once again.
Disabling both of their magic, she painfully clashed her horn against the unicorns' own. Grinding her teeth, she brought her left hoof up and struck Twilight in the face swiftly, making her snap further into the reality of what was going on.
Her instincts had made her do what she had done already, she was unable to control what she did then, but now it was certain in her conscience. Blocking all things out and closing her eyes, she used the fraction of a second she had when their horns weren't touching to send out a massive shock-wave.
Celestia landed gracefully on the floor a good distance away from where she was holding the mare down. She looked towards the lavender unicorn curiously for only a second before realizing what was happening. Her eyes widened at the sight, but only for a moment, as everything stopped.
Twilight's eyes widened with determination and unparallelled power, glowing a bright, radiant white. Her very heartbeat resembled thunder, even to Celestia's ears. Thump thump. Even simple steps alone made Celestia cringe in fear.
Thump thump. Thump thump. Thump thump. Thump thump.
Four steps in total, four heartbeats, all working in sync to create a terrifying sort of music. Celestia didn't even see the glow of her horn before Twilight was directly in-front of Celestia's face, gazing at her for only a moment before using her enhanced magical powers to bring her opponent down.
It wasn't any physical transformation, but it affected all of the body, including the mind.
Twilight proceeded to speak only one word.
"Unchained."
Flying backwards from the impact, and choking uncontrollably, unable to register what was happening, Celestia was being held in the air. Magical bolts of arcane slowly circled her body, immobile from the grasp on her legs, wings, neck and horn. Fear radiated through her entire being, escaping through her eyes as she struggled to gain clear sight on someone, something to help her regain her focus. One shocking, burning and forceful impact on her side caused her to scream as much as she could in pain, eyes roaming wildly. Another bolt of magic hit her other side, and another on the opposite. She couldn't count how many impacts her body had taken within less than the minute she was trapped in the air, immobile and unable to do anything to counter-act what was happening to her.
She was being overwhelmed in power, slowly strangled and beaten to death by the untamed, uncontrollable and unchained magic of her apprentice- no. Her gift. Her pride. Her thoughts were cut off as she was dropped suddenly from the air, left to limply fall to the floor.
No later did she land when a hoof stomped onto the base of her wing. She looked up, fear shooting freshly through her once more as she looked desperately into the white, radiant eyes of the lavender Element of Magic bearer holding her down.
Twilight raised her left hoof and touched the chin of her mentor, and all time around them seemed to stop. White feathers were scattered in the air, loosely and slowly falling to the ground around them. Her wings were shredded and bruised, her horn was cut nearly half-way off, and her entire body was covered in cuts and bruises.
Celestia was covered in more blood than Twilight, and the exhaustion and dizziness caught up with her. Her eyes closed, and her head softly fell to the floor, just as she saw magic light starting to form on the tip of Twilight's horn for the last time.
'Twilight, my dear, dear apprentice. You've learned so much from me, and gained such unimaginable power. If not for me, where would you be right now? Would you have the friends you have now? Would Equestria still be a safe place to live?
Putting such thoughts and questions aside, I wish to thank you for aiding me this way. I would never have been able to pass down my place on the throne to my sister, she has a hard enough time with her moon. But you.. you are everything I've wanted to be.
I never would have told you in person, but I've always admired you, Twilight Sparkle. You were the best part of my life, despite my having lived for hundreds of years before you. I thank you for every moment you've been here for me, every letter you've sent to me, and every lesson you taught me.
A soft smile came to her lips, and her eyes began to swell and let loose tears of sadness, happiness, madness and every other emotion.
A single bright light, piercing through the eyelids of the Princess, was the last thing she saw.
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The first experimentation of using a single picture to create over a thousand words.
Let me know what you think.
A single bright light, piercing through the eyelids of the Princess, was the last thing she saw.
Twilight was knocked off of the top of Celestia's body by Princess Luna. Frantically, she checked to see if her sister was alive, and thanks to her early arrival, she just barely was. She was clinging to life, but she had blacked out from the expectancy to die, along with the blood loss and exhaustion.
Luna turned to the lavender Unicorn that caused this, staring with more anger in her eyes than Nightmare Moon ever wished to have. Charging a spell, she slammed her right hoof on the stone floor and released the massive magic bolt.
Twilight, noticing the size and power behind it, had no choice than to cast a shield spell to protect what she could. The shield shattered before it could gain full strength, and the magic bolt was still leaving a trail of dust and rubble behind it, as it was headed straight for her.
Casting a self-shield spell instead, she hunkered down and poured her magic all around her body and hardened the shell. The spell worked its way through every crevice of the shield, and soon enough, it broke under the pressure, sending the mare unprotected into the magic, making her fly backwards.
Pain shot through her and incredible speeds, being carried by the spell all the way to the back wall. The wall would have been completely destroyed, had the power behind the spell not been deadened greatly by the shield spells. Still, Twilight slammed her entire body against the wall with great force, stunning her, but not knocking her out.
She was unable to move for some time, but she still had a great desire to get back everything Celestia made her lose. Her mind was set, her instincts were pulsing throughout her being. Standing on all fours, she looked up to see Princess Luna protectively standing over her sister, ready for anything.
Using the Royal Canterlot Voice, she spoke to Twilight from across the great hall.
"WHAT HATH HAPPENED HERE?!" She spoke, finally able to get a decent look around the room. Before Luna could react, she was being held in place by magic, and Twilight Sparkle was directly in-front of her.
Speaking softly, her voice distorted from expansion of uncontrollable magic coursing through her, she spoke five simple words into the ear of the Princess of Night. "Let the stars fall down." Using her magic further, she made a bolt of lightning strike the neck of the Alicorn entrapped within her magic.
Charging her own magic after regaining focus, she sent her own bolt of lightning to the horn of the lavender Unicorn, knocking her unconscious instantaneously. Luna, having received only minor injuries, had to command the guards to get in here and treat their wounds.
She expected a battle, but a small one only. She knew of the Royal Law when passing down the crown and throne, but she expected to be there when it all started. She wanted to help stop what she feared would happen. In all expectations, she would have thought they would have at least chosen a battle area.
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The morning sun's rays of light broke through the window's glass, forcing itself onto the soft eyelids of the lavender, slumbering mare. The rays of light made the eyes behind the lids stress, waking the mare they belonged to. The light caused further troubles, as the mare had to turn her head away from the window.
Several minutes passed as the intensity of the light increased slowly, waking the mare further. Reaching up with her front hooves, she rubbed her eyes slowly and cautiously, as to not hurt them. Opening her eyes, she gained view of the bedchamber of Princess Celestia.
The startling sight made her awaken instantaneously, causing her to move from her position on the massive bed she was laying on. She looked around in the room, and noticed that nopony else was around. Confused and dazed, she tried to get down from the bed, only to have pain shoot through her legs.
Falling to the floor uncontrollably, she fell down a few steps from the elevated bed she was previously on, causing her to land violently on several injury spots across her body before she finally came to a stop and screamed out in pain.
The door opened suddenly and quickly with a loud booming sound, when guards and friends alike came rushing into the room. One of the guards said something to the other, but Twilight couldn't quite make out any words. She heard voices, some she thought she knew, but she couldn't hear the words.
Being levitated by magic, someone set her softly atop the bed once more. It was only moments later that she felt the warm embrace of another body touching hers. Was she getting a hug from someone? She heard a voice.. almost as if it was asking her if she was feeling alright.
She couldn't do anything but wait for her body to regain everything it once had. Sight, hearing and speaking, being the main things that she waited for. The room was silent, except for the content breathing of several ponies in the same room.
"Apple..jack?" She said slowly and cautiously, her voice painfully straining to work out the word correctly. She thought she heard a response from the mare in question, but she couldn't regain her focus well enough just yet. Her sudden awakening, her fall, her injuries, everything was still working her down.
At some point, all she could see was darkness. She didn't know for how long, and she wasn't even sure she was still alive, but it felt like a dream. She saw nothingness, yet everything. She didn't know how long she laid there asleep, dead, whatever she was, but she awoke to still find her friends and Princess Luna standing around her. She could see their faces, she could hear their voices. Tears came to her eyes as she looked at every single one of them.. but Spike.
Spike was still gone, wasn't he? "Where's Spike?" She had the words slip from her mouth faster than she could hope to keep them in, and sad surprise and realization struck all of their faces. They stepped back and to the side, letting view pass of a baby dragon sleeping peacefully into her sight.
She let out a sigh of relief. Spike was still there. "What's wrong with him? He's usually happy to see me after this long." She was speaking the truth, or what she believed to be the truth to her at that time. They all stepped into her view once more, and she looked at every one of them, one by one to see if any of them had the answer.
"Twilight Sparkle..." Princess Luna spoke softly and sadly. "Do you remember anything from yesterday?" Receiving a thoughtful shake of head, Luna sighed and spoke once more. "You must follow me to where my sister lay. We have much to discuss."
Promising her friends that they'll see her again soon, Princess Luna helped Twilight to her hooves and led her out of the room. Soon enough, after thoughtful and anticipating walking, they arrived where Princess Luna's bedchamber was. Princess Celestia was found patiently waiting for them to arrive.
"Twilight Sparkle." She heard Celestia speak her name, her voice strained and raspy, just as her own.
"Yes, Princess Celestia?" She silently croaked out as best she could.
"Come lay with me, please."
Situated silently in the warm and comforting embrace of her mentor, she looked up at her face softly and sorrowfully. They simply laid there in silence for a few moments, peace enveloping them and causing a type of sadness to fall through the room.
"Luna, if you will." Princess Celestia spoke softly, reaching out her hoof.
"Yes, my sister. Twilight, you should know now that when two Alicorn sisters touch, they can hear the thoughts of the other. So what I say to you, is what Celestia is telling me to say to you." She finished her explanation and cupped the hoof of her sister with both of her own.
"Dear Twilight Sparkle." Luna stated solemnly, tears beginning to form in both of the Princesses eyes. "I wish I could tell you this personally, but all of the injuries across my body are too great for me to bear for very much longer, and my voice does not want to cooperate with me.
"Please, whatever you do, know that I've always admired you, my dear little pony. You may not have known how deep and pure my love was for you.." Luna paused and looked into her sister's eyes. "But I've always thought of you as a second sister.
"Knowing you, your friends and having the Element of Magic.. I could not have wished for a better student. You've surpassed every obstacle I've given you, and you and your friends have done many things that I could have failed." Tears were freely falling down the cheeks of all the ponies in the room.
"When I am gone, look after my sister. We have both already made arrangements over the years with all of the royal ponies of Equestria, and they are now convinced that I am no longer of use. As I've told you, I'm growing too old, and my power has dwindled down greatly.
"You are the only pony that I trust to take past my rule, my crown and my throne. You will rule over Canterlot and Ponyville yourself, and with your knowledge and understanding, you will do a better job than I ever had hoped."
Silence.
"Princess Celestia.. I..." Twilight tearfully tried to get her voice to work, but no matter how hard she tried, it would disobey her. One of Luna's hooves touched the hoof of the lavender mare, and the Princess and the Unicorn were able to hear each others' thoughts.
They were able to exchange last words, or thoughts, as they all came to the realization. Twilight put her ear up to the still chest of Princess Celestia. Silence passed through everything, the only sound coming from their breathing and their silent disbelief. Their silent hope.
Twilight Sparkle removed her head from her chest and focused on her eyes. They were still, dull and.. lifeless. She didn't want this to happen this way. She didn't-
"Twilight!"
"...Spike?" She didn't want to believe that any of this was really happening. This was all going on way too fast for her to comprehend. If Spike is awake, then that means... Princess Celestia is dead. Killed, murdered.. by herself.
"Twilight!" Spike launched himself onto her neck with a hug, thankful to see her again. "What happ-" His words were cut off when he looked at Princess Celestia. "Whoa!" His eyes widened and his arms flew defensively in-front of him. "What happened?!"
Twilight only sat there for a moment before looking to the body of her Number One Assistant. She couldn't look him in the eye, she could only state the cold, hard truth. "I.. I killed her." She turned away, tears pouring from her face faster than she ever could believe.
She walked alone, in silence and in pain, through the hall. She gained sight of her friends, and did her best not to confront them yet. She didn't want to see them like this. She didn't want to be seen at all. She was responsible for the murder of the Princess of the Sun.
Her head was stooped low, her depression of the reality of everything that had happened hitting her as suddenly as a magic bolt. She saw the great hall of the throne room.. it was nearly destroyed. Had her magic truly been the cause of this? This level of destruction...
"Twilight!"
She heard the voice of Rainbow Dash calling out her name. She turned to look at her friends that were now closing in on her. She simply waited in agony for the inevitable shock of the truth to settle in. All of her friends happily surrounded her, happy to see that she was alive and well.
"What's goin' on in there?" Applejack asked. Everypony waited for the response.. except for the one that held such information. "You all will have to understand me with open minds here.. but... I'm.. I'm resp-.. I-I'm responsib-blh.." Her voice failed her because of the intensity of her tears.
"Responsible for what, dear?" Rarity tried to coerce Twilight into speaking, but it only grew more and more difficult. Her sadness, her desperation, everything was fighting against her in her mind right now. All she wanted to do was to crawl into a ball and disappear from the timeline, then none of this would have happened.
Princess Luna walked from behind them to into view, speaking what Twilight failed to say. "She believes that she is responsible.." Everypony was looking at her for the answer now. "for the cause of Princess Celestia's death."
Silence. None of them knew what to say. None of them knew how to respond. They just simply looked at one another before turning their gaze onto Twilight, laying in the floor, sobbing. "B-but that... That don't make any sense, how does that work?" Applejack questioned furiously.
Holding out her hoof, Princess Luna spoke softly. "If you will, touch my hoof, and, using my Alicorn magic, I'll show you my memories." Slowly and cautiously, Applejack touched her hoof with her own, and memories of Twilight's white, radiant eyes appeared. It then shifted to the visage of Celestia laying bloodied and beaten on the ground. Passing through other memories, she saw and heard Celestia's final words. Finally, when Applejack was done and left speechless, she urged that the others should also see everything. Using a great deal of power, Luna showed every one of the ponies the events of the recent past through her memories.
They learned of Spike's condition, they learned of Twilight's power, they learned of Celestia's wish, and most importantly, they learned of the choice that Twilight was forced into so suddenly. "Well.." Applejack started. "How in tarnation is a pony supposed ta make a choice like that?"
Luna spoke to all of the ponies in general, but mainly to Twilight. "She was in a position where she had no choice but to do as she was asked. She had to fight for her friends, fight for Spike, and fight for Celestia. She needed the help of Twilight more than any of you know.
"Twilight has the greatest magical capabilities of any Unicorn in existence. She has more power than Celestia has-.. had.. with the last few days. Mundane tasks were difficult to preform, her mind was unstable and thoughtless. Her time as an Alicorn was over."
Mournfully, she turned away from all of the ponies and returned to the body of her sister. She had things to say, things to remember for the funeral.
Reluctantly, Twilight sat up and faced all of her friends. She expected them to be as confused as she was, and she wasn't disappointed.
"Twilight.." Applejack started again. "how are ya plannin' on workin' this out?" Honestly, she had no answer for that question. She never expected this to happen, and it all happened way too suddenly and quickly. Things were confusing, questions left unanswered, and.. she didn't have a clue on what to do now, after all this.
"I don't.. I don't know."
"Well whatever happens," Rainbow dash starts proudly. "know that we're all gonna stick by your side and help you through whatever you want. After all, that's what a friend is supposed to do, right? And besides, I'm not gonna be bailing out on you any time soon just because a little problem got in the way."
She crossed her hooves and stayed floating in the air while everypony stared at her.
"What? Oh, fine, this is a big problem. Princess of the Sun is-" She was jerked from the air to the ground by Applejack, silencing her from talking any more and causing any more trouble with Twilight's state of mind.
"Thank you all, but I think I just need time to recover. Both physically and mentally, heh. Do you all mind helping me back to a bed?" Thanking them when they carried her all the way there and let her get comfortable on the bed, she laid there thinking about everything.
They all said their goodbyes, leaving Twilight with some room to think about everything and prepare things with Princess Luna.
"Twilight! Are you okay?" Spike jumped up to the bed beside her and affectionately hugged her, trying to comfort her. The warm, comforting embrace let Twilight melt into his hold. Finally, some peace and quiet in the rush of these past few days. She didn't need to answer, and she basically couldn't before sleep claimed her.
