//------------------------------// // Chapter 5: Time Spent Together // Story: Together Again and Forever // by Wahtiff //------------------------------// “ARGH, it’s HOPELESS!” After a fine breakfast, Twilight having pancakes and Celestia having the taste for some eggs and hay-bacon, the two of them now found themselves in the geneology section of the archives, in the far back of the royal library. Celestia had immediately rushed to a chair, and had cast a shield spell around herself in preparation for what was coming. Sure enough, Twilight, as always when she craved a certain bit of information in particular, had immediately managed to litter the floor with books and documents- family trees, coats of arms, anything involving families in Canterlot, Ponyville, the Crystal Empire, and even Cloudsdale. Twilight wanted to be sure, since it was possible for two pegasii to bear an Earth pony or unicorn, filly or colt, with JUST the right birth defect or stray bit of genetic material. However, after an hour, Twilight’s search still had yet to bear any fruit. In fact, there wasn’t even a tree, or the seeds to plant it with. Celestia sighed bitterly, knowing that she had the answers Twilight was looking for, yet she was still forced to keep it to herself for the time-being. Even so, she took pride in watching her student think with logic and going off of any theories she came up with. True, the librarians were in for a treat when they saw the mess, but it was to be expected from anypony with a thirst for knowledge. In fact, Celestia was reminded of the game she had once played with Twilight in the past, where she asked Twilight a question that she had the answer to, and Twilight would do all she could to find an answer before, as was the lesson meant to be learned, she finally realized that the answer was so simple, it was right under her nose. Briefly, Celestia wondered if Twilight would make the same connection at that moment. Apparently not, because after two hours, Twilight slumped against the pile of book with a dejected expression, “Nothing. Absolutely nothing.” Celestia saw her cue, and moved to sit next to Twilight. With her magic, she decided to make things easier for the librarians by returning the books to the shelves. When the tower she leaned against was removed from her back, Twilight scooted until her back was against the wall. Celestia laid a comforting hoof on her shoulder.            “Don’t worry, Twilight,” Celestia reassured her, “I know you. I’m sure you’ll find SOMETHING.”            “For once, I don’t think so.” Twilight sighed, “All of these documents are enchanted, and are updated magically with every added member to a family. The only place I’ve even found my name listed was with House Armor and House Sparkle, but even then my name has one description after it: ‘adopted daughter’.”            Twilight sank even lower, almost laying flat on the floor, her wings drooping and hanging limp, “It’s like I just appeared out of nowhere, like I didn’t even exist beforehand.”            Twilight’s eyes closed, and Celestia saw a wet sheen of tears that never seemed to end for either of them, “It’s like I’m a SPAWN.”            Both of them, Celestia in particular, shuddered at that thought. It hurt the princess deeply to hear Twilight even suggest something so defeatist like that. It was really, truly heartbreaking.            “Twilight,” Celestia decided to make yet another connection with her own foalhood, as that had seemed to calm Twilight down the most, “have you ever heard the stories?”            “Which ones?” Twilight opened her eyes, looking up at her.            “About the ones that talk about me and Luna just…appearing?” Celestia shuddered again.            Twilight shook her head, “That’s not true, is it. I mean, you had a mother and father yourself, didn’t you?”            Celestia nodded, “Oh yes, I did, but after awhile, other ponies began to forget about my parents. They worshipped me as a goddess of the sun, yet the sun had been around since long before my parents’ reign. In reality, I’m just a normal pony, an immortal alicorn princess, yes, but still just a normal pony with flesh and blood.”            Twilight looked confused, “You don’t consider yourself a goddess?”            Celestia shook her head, laughing, “No, and neither does Luna. We simply know the spells that allow us to raise and lower the sun and moon over Equestria and neighboring lands, spells that we ourselves learned from our parents. Because of my ability to time things almost perfectly with my internal clock, like a sunrise or a sunset, my mother taught me the sun spell. Our father taught Luna the bigger responsibility for painting our night sky, as well as the moon spell, because of her artistic personality. We never considered ourselves deities, just ponies with responsibilities related to our natural-born talents.”            Celestia sighed, “And I have always told myself, should I ever have a foal of my own, I would make sure that others treated him or her with an air of normalcy rather than reverence like that. We are royalty, we are immortal, but we alicorns prefer not to be placed on a pedestal and WORSHIPPED.”            Twilight listened, her full attention on Celestia. Like her beautiful singing, Twilight had discovered yet another thing she had not known about the princess. It also served to explain to Twilight why, or a part of the reason why, Celestia preferred familiarity with her. The princess just wanted to be normal or be treated normally by those closest to her, not as royalty or an object of worship. Once again, Twilight felt guilty. In trying to respect her former mentor, calling her a goddess had only served to add to her frustrations.            “I’m sorry, Celestia.”            Celestia looked at her, surprised, “For what?”            “For not realizing, before.” Twilight met her gaze, “After all, I always thought you were a goddess. I mean, you were powerful, and you were beautiful, and I looked up to you in that way. I guess I only frustrated you.”            Celestia chuckled, “No, you didn’t, and you have nothing to apologize for. However, if it consoles you, then I’ll forgive you for it if you wish. Besides, if what you just said about me is true,” She looked at Twilight, “then you are as much of a goddess as I am.”            Twilight smiled, blushing. She normally did not like compliments, as humble as she was, but she decided to accept it as a part of Celestia’s lesson earlier: they were equals now. If Celestia was one, then Twilight was another- and apparently, vice versa. Even so, she still did not really consider herself beautiful and powerful, not like her former mentor.            Celestia looked away, “Anyway, going by what I have said, Luna and I did not just appear out of nowhere. If we are flesh and blood, like all other ponies, then we must’ve been born like all other ponies- with a mother and a father. So, if I, of all mares, have parents,” Celestia smiled, “then you ALSO have parents.”            That seemed to lift Twilight’s spirits a bit, but she still looked sad, “If that’s true, then how come I haven’t found ANY evidence of my original family? I mean, shouldn’t there at least have been a birth certificate. Even if a doctor wasn’t present, and the birth was at home, doesn’t the law require that the foal be registered with a certificate?”            Celestia nodded, “That’s true, but hundreds of ponies can be born every day, and it’s not like a birth certificate has to be carried around at all times in the foal’s saddlebag. It might be relatively easy for a poorer family to go ‘off the grid’, so to speak.”            Or someone of nobility to hide the certificate away without anyone knowing it.            Twilight considered this, and then with a sigh, she got to her feet, “Hundreds, huh? How are they organized?”            “By either clan, house, or common name, depending on the tribe.” Celestia explained.            Twilight groaned, “Well, it’s definitely not common name, because there’s only one family with either the name ‘Twilight’ or ‘Sparkle’, and that was my adoptive mother’s family and first name. Other than that, there’s nothing, and I can’t look by house for the same reason. And clan? I don’t even know where to BEGIN looking.”            Right under your nose, Celestia thought, but of course Twilight couldn’t hear the princess’s inner voice.            Celestia stood up with her, “We can keep searching if you like. It’s a slower day than normal, today, so we still have roughly three hours before I have to be in the throne room.” Twilight shook her head, but a grateful smile adorned her face at Celestia’s offer. It was one thing she had always respected about the white alicorn, and one of the many reasons that Twilight had once viewed her as a second mother of sorts. She was always willing to put aside her royal duties, for as long as she could, in order to help Twilight. At least, if I don’t find anything, I still have her. On that note, thinking about what she learned from Celestia just then, Twilight decided that their day wouldn’t be dreary thanks to her turmoils. Instead, Twilight decided to become closer to the princess as a friend, just like Celestia wanted. “How about we do something else?” She suggested, cheerfully, “You know, like take a walk or something.” “Are you sure?” Celestia asked, raising an eyebrow at the sudden shift in her former student’s tone. “Uh-huh. I decided not to worry about it, anymore, at least for the time being.” “You’re giving up your search?” Celestia sounded shocked and…relieved? Twilight ignored it, “I might tackle it again, later, but after yesterday, I don’t want to shed anymore tears for awhile. Besides,” She smiled widely, “I’d rather spend the day with a good friend instead.” Celestia was taken aback, touched by Twilight’s words. Sure, it felt relieving to hear that Twilight was putting aside the issue at hand (one that she herself was still stressed over), but to hear Twilight actually call her a friend was really heartwarming for her. “O-Of course, Twilight,” Celestia stammered, “So, what would you like to do first?” “What would YOU like to do?” Twilight asked, still smiling. Celestia thought for a moment, quickly realizing that aside from work, there was not much else she did around the castle aside from the occasional walk through the gardens. What to do? Should we read a book? Take a walk? No, she’ll think I’m trying to appeal to her interests. Think, Tia, think… CLACK! At that moment, they heard the distant sound of two objects striking one another. Celestia’s eyes widened, recognizing the sound and grinning as she suddenly remembered that there was indeed something she used to love doing… “Come along.” She told Twilight, and the two of them raced out of the library, Celestia following the sounds until they came out of the hallway and onto the second floor that overlooked the central courtyard. Below them, several of the Royal Guard had gathered and two of them, both unicorns, were currently in the middle of an intense round of clashing their horns together with dull clacking sounds- like rocks striking one another. Off to the side, was Twilight’s brother, Shining Armor. Celestia wasn’t surprised. Even though he was now mainly the prince and co-ruler of the Crystal Empire, alongside Cadance, he still remained Captain of the Royal Guard in Equestria when he visited. Soldiers like Flash Sentry had even told her that they could think of nopony more deserving of the role that they’d be willing to follow. Currently, he was sitting as the referee for a horn-foiling match. Celestia was familiar with horn-foiling, and though Luna mastered the sport, she was still second-best. Basically, the sport involved a shield spell being cast on the opponents’ horns, and then they would duel with one another. The point went to whoever managed to land a blow on their opponent with their horn, and the other rules stated that only spells involving teleportation and invisibility were allowed. In the case of alicorns like Celestia, Luna, Twilight and Cadence, they agreed that they would only use flight to dodge and never to attack. Celestia had enjoyed the sport so much, and was familiar enough with it that she had seen no harm in telling Twilight all she knew about it when the lavender unicorn had been younger. Of course, due to Twilight’s young age at the time and the fact that she had lived in Ponyville for the past few years, the lavender unicorn-turned-alicorn had never had the opportunity to experience a duel first-hand. Celestia met Twilight’s gaze, and saw the excitement in her eyes, until now, that is. “Princess Celestia,” Twilight, remembering the details and traditions of the sport, boldy stepped back and leveled her horn at Celestia, “I hereby challenge you to a duel, to see which one of us is the better fighter.” Celestia grinned, nostalgic in her eyes, and followed Twilight’s gesture, “I accept, Twilight Sparkle.” The round had just ended by the time they had made their way down to the courtyard, and all of the guard ponies looked at the two princesses, bowing in respect. Shiny, on the other hand, simply looked surprised to see them, though he shared a smile with Twilight.            “Is there something we can do for you two?”            “We’d like to have a round or two,” Celestia said, “if you are willing to be the referee.”            “Against who? Each other?” Shiny gaped at Twilight, “I understand Celestia, but Twilight, do you even know the first thing about horn-foiling?”            “I’ve only studied and heard a bit here and there aside from listening to Celestia talk about it,” Twilight’s grin widened, “but I think I can learn fast.”            Shiny still looked unsure, “Do you at least know the proper shield spell?”            Twilight’s horn glowed for a moment, before she suddenly lashed out at her brother. Shining, lucky to have his spell still active, barely managed to block her.            “That answers my question.” He chuckled. Behind him, the other guards were whispering excitedly to one another at the thought of witnessing a duel between two members of royalty, “Alright, you may take your places, then.”            Celestia positioned herself on one side of the courtyard, while Twilight went to the other. Facing one another, they could both see the fighting spirit in each other’s eyes- a fighting spirit that Twilight, for once, actually enjoyed since she knew that her shield spell would prevent actual harm. Once they were in position, Shining spoke,            “You both know the rules: only teleportation and invisibility for spells. Whoever lands two hits out of three is the winner. Understood?”            Both alicorns nodded, keeping their eyes on each other, readying themselves as Shining raised a hoof, then brought it down.            “BEGIN!”            Twilight had never felt anything like what was going through her head, the rush of adrenaline in her system, as when she and Celestia charged with their horns leveled at one another. She had studied, and now she was experiencing the sport first-hand.            In short, that battle of the ages was one of the best moments in both alicorns’ lives! …….            “I still can’t believe the look on Shiny’s face when I won!” Twilight laughed, nearly falling out of her seat. They were both currently seated in the center of the royal garden, their lunch spread out on the table in front of them, yet both of them were still too winded and excited over the match that they had had earlier to pay it much attention.            “I honestly thought that I could keep dodging by flying,” Celestia chuckled, “but that only gave you a chance to strike at my underside when I came down.”            “I’m not as fast as Rainbow Dash in flight, but I’m still a fast runner on the ground.” Twilight grinned mischievously.            “You say that,” Celestia laughed, “but I saw you teleport at least five times.”            It was that moment of vulnerability that she had in the air that allowed Twilight to come up with a game-plan, after they had managed to block each other blow-for-blow in a head-on collision without losing ground. In the end, Twilight took both winning points with her strategy, and was rewarded with cheers from the guards and a look of complete bewilderment from Shining Armor. She grinned. Not only had she won her first-ever horn-foiling round, but she had also won against the second-best horn-foiler in Equestria.            Celestia sighed bitterly, “Luna’s never going to let me live that down.”            “Who knows,” Twilight smirked, “I might challenge her next.”            Celestia looked almost appalled, “Twilight, she will DESTROY you!”            “Who knows,” Twilight shrugged, “I MIGHT win!”            Celestia looked at her in awe, and shook her head, “Where on Equestria do you get that sort of enthusiasm?”            “I dunno,” Twilight thought for a moment, “I might’ve gotten it from Pinkie, or maybe even Cadance and Shiny. Or,” She was silent, “I might’ve been born with it.”            After a moment of awkward yet mystifying silence, Twilight laughed, “I’m sure I’ll figure it out.”            Celestia sighed, “I have no doubts that you’ll succeed.”            She meant that, truly, in more ways than one.            Celestia glanced up at the sky, and her heart sank. While she and Twilight had been working, and then having fun with one another, the sun had at that point reached the top of the sky, signaling that it was about noon.            “I’m sorry, Twilight,” She sighed, “I fear that my royal duties call.”            “Oh,” Twilight looked disappointed, but then hopeful, “Do you have any free time afterwards?”            “I might, yes.”            “Then I’ll just wait!” She said cheerfully, “Let’s do something fun when you’re finished.”            Celestia just smiled, her former student having made the transition to ‘friend’ faster than she had imagined. Twilight had obviously been trying hard, “Very well, then. I will see you afterwards.”            With that, lunch was cleared away, and the two princesses parted ways. Even though Celestia was still having trouble with that secret in her heart, she had to admit that she had had fun despite the stress of the issue. For the first time, their parting of ways was actually happy as both continued to think of the excitement of their match, but after awhile, thinking of how close she had gotten with Twilight that day made Celestia feel guilt, the guilt of keeping anything a secret at all from her former student.