Luna ate very little even though she stuck closely to her mother who was forcing herself to eat for appearance’s sake. Celestia had a solid plateful and kept her father company as he knocked back coffee after coffee and made bright conversation.
Finally they had all finished and made their way to one of the many meeting rooms in the palace where Clover was waiting for them.
“Your Majesties” he greeted, rising to his hooves and bowing respectfully as they entered.
“Clover, old friend” replied the King warmly, “How are you today? No ill effects I trust?”
Clover ignored the invitation to trade banter and replied simply, “I have the answers you require, Sire.”
“Ah good” smiled the King cheerily, “That crossword was simply impossible!”
The two stallions exchanged knowing looks that acknowledged something far more important than crossword puzzles, and then joined the others in sitting round the large table.
“Would you like to explain or shall I?” asked the King deferring to his Mage.
“You can, Sire. I will chip in if you start to go wrong if you like?”
The King smiled wryly, “Just like old times, heh?”
“Luna, Celestia” he began, his tone changing in a heartbeat, “Last night you came of age and gained your cutie marks. You have also uniquely in the whole of Equestrian history been granted by the spirits the option to choose a further gift; immortality. This will not be reversible, so your choice will be permanent. It will give you the opportunity to rule Equestria forever with all the accumulated knowledge you pick up along the way, but you will watch all your friends die and … and you will never be able to bear foals of your own. Such is the price.”
“How long do they have to make the decision, Clover?”
“Until tomorrow midnight, 33 hours from now, Sire.”
“Your mother, Clover and I will spend as much time as we can with you during these next 33 hours to talk through the implications with you. This will be the biggest decision of your life, and one that nopony has ever had to face before. But, be assured, whatever you choose, your mother and I love you with all our hearts.”
The two Princesses were stunned into silence while the adults all wore sombre looks on their faces. The King looked up to see an approving nod from Clover; he had got all the details clear and told his daughters honestly – all except for the bit about it leading to his and their mother’s early deaths.
Once the message had sunk in, the Princesses had giggled about all the fun immortality could bring them. The grown-ups knew this would be the way it played out and gave them their time as they gradually turned to the darker implications of the gift by themselves without any pressure or influence. Then the serious debate started. It involved all three grown-ups and all titles and formality were dropped between them to allow free exchange of ideas. All grown-ups took one side of any argument and them argued against it equally as effectively so as to provide information without bias as best they could, only the Queen was unable to prevent herself from tearing up at the thought of their eternal infertility.
When it was time to set the sun and raise the moon, the whole party transited out onto the Royal balcony where the King tasked Celestia with showing him how she could lower the sun by herself. She had done it many times before, but he wanted, no, he needed to see she could do it because he had no idea how long he and his wife had left. Next he tasked Luna with raising the moon, which she did with equal precision and expertise and watched as she decorated the night sky; then he stepped back and joined the other two waiting for him.
“How long do we have if they agree?” he asked, keeping his back to his daughters so they couldn’t hear.
“Your Majesties, are you both willing to know? Something once known can never be unknown and you will forever live with the knowledge of the time that the final shadow will fall over you.”
“I don’t know if I want to be told to the minute” replied the Queen reticently, “But will it be sooner rather than later?”
“Yes, your Majesty. The spirit world is unused to taking this kind of strain. Perhaps in time, when there are more souls to swell its power, such an act could even become routine, but for now they are being pushed and the word sooner applies more accurately than later.”
“Thank you, old friend” acknowledged the King, “I know what you’re telling me; it’s written in your eyes.”
Just then he unexpectedly reached forward and drew the Mage into a warm affectionate embrace.
“Thank you Clover. Your friendship, loyalty and honesty in addition to your wisdom would have made you any one of at least three of the Pillars, if only we hadn’t lost them” he declared, patting him gently on the back and then disengaging from him just as quickly to hold him and look him in the eyes.
“Sire, I … I …”
His protestations were stifled as the Queen reached forward and threw her forehooves around him, stifling sobs as her tears fell onto his fur.
Clover looked past her towards his King, his brave and charismatic leader, catching sight of a glistening tear shining silver in the moonlight as it gently rolled down his muzzle. He hadn’t needed to be told how short their time was in as many words, but now knew from Clover’s expression and evasive language that he would only live to see one more sunrise if his daughters accepted the responsibility of immortality.
“Papa! Momma!” cried Luna excitedly, waving her forehoof across the vast panorama of the night sky, “What do you think?”
“That’s beautiful” replied her mother, who had also secretly worked our Clover’s message for herself and knew how few more exquisitely painted night skies she may live to see.
“Yes” said her father, sensing her mother tearing up once again, “But I’m sure you copied it from one I saw a few weeks ago …”
Luna turned with mock indignation and gave him a playful punch to the chest before throwing her forehooves round him and giving him a tender kiss.
The King drew the group together once more; “Right now, do you Luna and Celestia want to talk any more about your choice? By this time tomorrow you must be sure in your hearts what is right for you.”
“What would you do Papa?” asked Celestia.
“I can help you with all the different aspects except one. You may not have foals of your own, but everypony in Equestria would look up to you for guidance and support just like a foal does to their mother and father, and unlike mortal parents you would have so much more experience to draw on. You could be the most respected parents in the history of Equestria ,but without having to change all those diapers!”
“Oh papa, can’t you be serious” chided Luna.
“Sometimes, a little humour can defuse a difficult situation” interjected Clover, “And your father is very good at it. Don’t think he isn’t taking it seriously, because he is. Trust me, this is new to all of us, but he just has the presence to take it all in and make bad jokes along the way; it endears him to other ponies while still getting is message across, even if sometimes that message may be difficult.”
“And don’t forget your mother too” said the King, “Who looked after you all those days and nights I’ve been off fighting battles, negotiating peace treaties, holding meetings, meetings and more meetings.”
“It’s true” agreed the Queen, “Our love for each other has held us together through many difficult times, but what we love more than each other is you. You have to make this call by yourselves; whichever decision you take, you will have a lifetime to regret if you are wrong, so you must be true to yourselves.”
Her words hung in the air before Celestia finally spoke, “Thank you Momma, Papa, Clover; I want to turn in and think by myself a little longer. How about you Lulu?”
“I want to play with the stars a bit longer, thank you Celly. Love you Sis, see you tomorrow.”
With that, the party broke up and while the Princesses followed their desires, their parents cast stay awake spells on each other and went back into discussions with their legal advisors.
It was now midnight.
This time tomorrow they had to be ready; all of them to face their different fates.