Being an alicorn is wonderful... except when it isn't. There are plenty of things that put a damper on limitless vistas of possibility afforded by such a long life: Court, mortal needs and expectations, the occasional decade of ennui.

And the dreams, of course. Agelessness comes with its own special kind of dreaming. Celestia finds that her own "Inner Court" is a bit too literal, and it--and she--are troubled at the prospect of a near-immortal Twilight Sparkle.

If only she could articulate exactly why that was.

art by spectralunicorn

Part of the Monophysite Quartet, which also includes Celestia Isn't Real, Have You Considered My Servant, Twilight?, and The Esoteric Rites of Darkness. All four stories have a common origin point in an old story idea I called "Monophysite" and touch on who or what Celestia really is in some way. They are otherwise unrelated.

Since the Mane Six reformed Starlight Glimmer, they've decided to celebrate by having a slumber party every Saturday night. During one particular slumber party, Rainbow Dash suggests playing Truth or Dare. Of course, the rules are simple:

1. If choosing Truth, you must tell the truth when some pony asks you a question.
2. If choosing Dare, you must perform the dare some pony dares you to do.
3. The game ends after everypony has gone three times.

It's going to be a long night.

Takes place at the end of season 5.
Now edited!
Credit and a bunch of thanks to MissPolycysticOvary for permission to use the awesome artwork!
Check out the sequels!
What Happens at the Lit Club...
Celestia and Luna Regret Playing Truth or Dare
Link to the previous unedited version is available here!

This story is a sequel to The Brightest and the Best

Professor Crystal Clear, Chairpony of the Board of Examiners at Princess Celestia’s School for Gifted Unicorns has always taken pride in running a fair set of admissions tests to accurately assess all candidates and select those most deserving of a place at the elite academy. Together with her colleagues, she has upheld the highest standards of academic excellence, and managed the school examinations with the utmost professionalism.

Then there came the day they met Twilight Sparkle.

Time after time, through chaos and through wars, Princess Celestia prevailed.

Of all the terrible forces she could have fallen to, Flim Flam Industry was the last one anypony had expected.

With thanks to gardrek for editing (3-6) and PinkieDP, Ice Star, and Odd_Sarge for prereading help.

While sitting in on parliament with fellow princesses Cadance and Twilight. Luna burst in with a news article that brings to light some rather sordid parts of Celestia's past while bringing her actions into a new light.

After looking into it, as well as some introspection. Celestia makes a choice that will change her life, and the lives around her forever. Will it lead to an end, or a new beginning?

Inspired by: Twilight Manages To Screw Up More Than Usual by, Fire Gazer the Alchemist

and a conversation in that fic with howard035.

Editor: Zurvan

I have this entire fic written, and 6 buffer chapters of this stories sequel. Until I catch up to the buffer chapter, I'll be posting two chapters a week ^_^.

Celestia and Luna are very competitive. So much so that when they find out that they're both in love with Twilight Sparkle, they decide there's only one way to handle this: becoming mortal. Will their disappearance weaken Twilight's availability for love, or will she choose a sister to spend her eternal life with?

Cover art by Xazteiin: http://xazteiin.deviantart.com/

The war was almost over. Nightmare Star had been driven from the cities of Equestria and forced back to her lair in Canterlot. The largest army the nation had ever seen was ready to strike her last fortress and put an end to her reign of terror. The Nightmare's final hour had come.

But when Twilight Sparkle began the assault on the city, things did not go according to plan. The Princess of Friendship was faced with an impossible choice – and the lives of her friends hung in the balance.

The Sparkles are a very old Canterlot family. Like any old family they have traditions. One of these traditions is that a Sparkle must do noble deeds to win their love-a tradition going as far back as Sir Prancealot. These are the noble deeds Lady Twilight Sparkle did to win the hoof and heart of Princess Celestia.

Now has a sequel! (https://www.fimfiction.net/story/362471/seasons-of-the-heart)

Celestia is not invincible. Strong, yes. Ageless, assuredly. Magical, undoubtedly. But not invincible.

The Princess of the Day has been attacked, and she did not escape unscathed.

While Luna fights against the mortal fear gripping her subjects in the wake of the assassination attempt, the enemy runs free. Twilight Sparkle must assemble a team to bring the pony to justice. Few ponies can be trusted, and fewer still can be expected to succeed.

But the kingdom has heroes: The Knights of Harmony. Ponies who have stood against evil and won, who fight to make Equestria a safer place. Each is an expert in their particular field, masters of their trades, but they have yet to work together.

An adventurer past her prime.

A tinkerer with too much time on his hooves.

A spy whose primary instinct is to lie.

A dishonored soldier with an axe to grind.

As they delve into the origins of the assassin, they find that Equestrian history still has secrets long buried. Can the knights come together as a team before she finds her next mark?

Princess Celestia had a good day. Luna had been going out more often and was becoming quite fond of nightclubs, her dear niece Cadance had formally announced her pregnancy—though, privately, Celestia felt she was too young to be a great aunt—and, of course, Twilight, her beloved former student, had taken on her first student and Celestia couldn't be prouder! Yes, it had been a good day.

Celestia Sol woke up much like she did every day the morning: sun waking her as it danced upon her eye lids. Wait, the sun? Celestia's eyes snapped open to reveal she was in Twilight's old room in the observatory. On the other side of the room was a smaller bed where a small dusky unicorn was drooling on her pillow.

Clearly, it must be Tuesday.

Preread and edited by Stahl, Kinsley, and Jumbled