//------------------------------// // Breaking It Down // Story: My Little Mages: The Ultimate Obstacle // by Foxhelm //------------------------------// Twilight paused her story to let what she told thus far sink in. Luster, however, seemed to have come to the wrong conclusion for as soon as Twilight stopped, “Exactly.” Luster declared, “You moved away, your friends didn't care, and that was that.” Twilight shook her head, “While that’s a reasonable conclusion to make, there’s much more to the story.” Back in the Castle of Friendship, in Twilight’s story, the five were about to speak, but each paused for a second. Applejack took a breath and looked at each of the other four before she took off her hat and stepped forward. She sighed, “The truth is, Ah’m scared.” the paladin confessed. “Ah know this isn’t like when my parents…” the paladin trailed off, “But the idea of you no longer being here…” The paladin trailed off as she wiped her eyes, “I know you’re scared, I thought what you needed was somebody to be strong…” “I thought by making you feel better, by making you believe the change was not as big as it could be, I wouldn't feel so terrible,” Fluttershy added as she shut her eyes as tears started to form. Rarity pulled out a handkerchief and blew it, “I am sorry, but you leaving and the thought that it…” she trailed off as she blew her nose again. “It’s rattled me to the core.” Pinkie’s eyes started to well up before she pulled everyone into a group hug, “I’m losing my BFFWAP!!!” the jester wailed before waterfalls shot from her tear ducts. “That means ‘Best Friend Forever Who’s A Princess…” she trailed off as she continued to cry. “I’m gonna miss you so much!!!” Spike held up his right talon, well three of the claws, and counted down before the dams burst and all six cried. “And I thought won the rock-paper-scissors with Flash.” the dragon muttered as the six pulled themselves in their hug tighter and wept. After a solid minute, the six stopped crying and started to dry their eyes, “I know it's weird, but knowing you're all are as upset as I am actually makes me less worried,” Twilight said as they all started to smile in understanding. Spike looked to the clock on the castle’s wall and his eyes widened in shock. He then turned to the six, “That’s great and all, but you should be more worried about missing the train to Chantalot!” the dragon pointed out in a panic. Outside of the castle, Starlight was walking towards the main entrance with a wrapped box. She stopped as she saw the doors opened as Twilight et al ran out. “Sorry, I'm so late. I actually thought I'd missed you—” she tried to say but was cut off as the seven all but ran over her. “There's no time!” Spike shouted back as they bolted to catch the train. Once they got to the station they saw the train to Chantalot they had to catch was already trekking along the track. Twilight gasped but then conjured a shield around herself and her six closest friends and then teleported to be on the train. “We made it!” she declared before she started to laugh weakly as the conductor arrived. Twilight gave another laugh as she handed him a small bag of bits before the seven took their seats. Once Twilight sat down, “Okay. We're on the train. Everything should be fine, right?” she asked. There was a beat of silence as Rarity looked to the collection of the star spider silk thread and saw the time, “I'd worked out exactly how much time I needed to weave my star spider sash, and now I'm behind!” she declared as she started to weave the silk in the sash. Applejack was looking out a window towards Chantalot and while was at ease, there was a bit of nervousness in it. ‘Please don’t screw up with the orders, Big Mac.’ she whispered. Fluttershy looked to the butterflies and hummingbirds and sighed as she recalled the doves and swans that flew ahead. She sighed, “I don't have the snacks the doves and swans will need to perform after their long flight.” she then got up and started to fly from the seats, “I'd better find the food car.” she said. As she left the star spiders spotted the hummingbirds and butterflies and vice versa. The spiders screeched as they looked ready to prepare the catch and eat the other animals while the hummingbirds tweeted in fright. Rarity, Applejack, and Fluttershy weren’t the only ones that had concerns. Rainbow opened the window of the train, “I need to meet the Wonderbolts!” she shouted and zoomed out of the train, making a sonic rainboom in her wake. After a few minutes, she arrived at the Wonderbolt training ground. She looked around only to see a janitor clearing up. “Where's the coronation team?” she asked. The janitor there put aside his broom, “Well, they waited, but when you didn't show, they thought you must've meant to meet outside of Chantalot.” he stated. Rainbow groaned and bolted to meet up with the Wonderbolts. Back on the train, Twilight turned to Pinkie, “The only thing I'm worried about is Gummy handling the fireworks display.” the jester confessed. She then shugged her shoulders, “But I'm sure it's fine.” she said before she gave a nervous laugh. Twilight clasps her hands together and started to pray. About two hours later as the sun started to set, the better part of the population of Mystica and its allies were gathering for the coronation in the yard under the balcony where the coronation would take place. Watching from within the castle, Celestia and Luna were looking ahead. Twilight then ran in with Rarity, the princess with her hair frazzled, while Rarity was disheveled, but still ever fabulous. “We had a few hiccups along the way.” Twilight declared informing the two. Celestia and Luna turned but smiled upon Twilight, “We really are both just so proud of you. If you need a moment, that's all right. It is your coronation.” Celestia said as she tried to comfort her former student. This was rapidly undermined as trumpets flared. Giving a weak but apologetic smile, “Although it would be nice to get started. Are you ready?” she asked “NO!” shouted Rarity as she grabbed Twilight’s coronation gown and started to undress Twilight out of her normal attire. “She can't possibly be crowned without wearing her coronation gown!” the enchantress protested. Celestia and Luna simply turned away and head to the balcony. After they arrived they waved as all in attendance cheered and applauded for a solid minute. Once they had quitted down, Celestia spoke, “Citizens of Mystica and beyond!” she announced starting her speech. “For over two thousand years, my sister and I have ruled this land,” “Albeit there was that one millennium when I was in the moon.” Luna chimed in an attempt to joke. Celesia rolled her eyes and continued, “but even we know that change eventually comes to us all. And though we know it can be unsettling, it's as natural as the rising and setting of the sun and the moon.” Celestia paused as she and Luna both stepped to the sides of the balcony. "Both of which my sister and I feel confident leaving in the hands of the princess who will come after us." Back inside in the hallway, Rarity had finished, more or less, getting Twilight into her coronation gown. It was a light almost pink like purple with a short white train. Twilight's hair was in a slight ponytail. All the while Twilight whimpered. Once Rarity was satisfied with her work, “You look amazing.” the enchantress said to her friend. Rarity then spotted the terrarium she bought with her, “Ooh! I almost forgot!” she shouted as she took the Star spider silk sash out of, unwittingly taking the two star-spiders with it, and placed it going from Twilight’s left shoulder to under Twilight’s right arm. In the center of the sash was a small medallion that depicted her aura mark. “And so without further ado,” came Celestia’s voice before Rarity pushed Twilight towards the opening towards to balcony. Twilight started to walk on her own as Celestia finished, “ I give you the new ruler of Mystica - Princess Twilight Sparkle!” Celestia declared as Twilight stepped on the balcony. However, in the process, the younger demigod stepped on and tripped over her dress’ train. She yelped as she fell, causing Celestia, Luna and the crowd to gasp. Twilight got back to her feet, “Sorry.” she said as sheepishly blushed. Celestia and Luna smiled as they used their magic to levitate and merge together tiaras together into a new one that looked like the one Twilight wears out of her story. While the two older demigods held the tiara aloft, Luna spotted on Twilight’s shoulder one of the star spiders, “Um, Twilight?” she asked as she tried to get Twilight’s attention. This was not to be as the hummingbirds and the butterflies that were to encircle Twilight for the actual crowning spotted and were spotted by the star spiders, leading the hummingbirds to chirp in fright and the star spiders to screech again. At the same time, on another balcony, Fluttershy placed a carrot in front of the doves and swans, “I know these aren't the snacks I promised, but it's all I could find,” the druid tried to reason with the birds. The swans only honked in irritation. At the same time, watching from one of the hills just outside of the city, sat Spitfire with the other Wonderbolts that were there for the coronation show. Spitfire looked around, “Well, Crash or no Crash, Twilight's about to get that crown.” Spitfire said as she noted the absence of Rainbow. She turned to face her fellow Wonderbolts, “Wonderbolts,” she said before she turned to face the capital, “roll out!” she ordered and they zoomed towards the coronation. Just as they left, Rainbow finally arrived… just barely too late. “No! Wait!” she shouted before she zoomed after them. Back at the balcony of the coronation, the doves arrived as did the swans to finish the actual crowning. However, things continued to go wrong as it took the swans too long to place the tiara on Twilight’s head as the Wonderbolts arrived to perform the stunt, but then things got worse as the fireworks that Pinkie entrusted Gummy to light went off causing such chaos that the swans dropped the tiara. Twilight cried with an “Aah!” as he dove after the tiara. Everyone gasped before Twilight hovered back to the balcony, the crown on her head, but the top pointed forward resting on her focus gem and the rending of her aura mark facing behind her. Applejack stood up from her seat and began to chant the coronational declaration of a new ruler, “Long Live Princess Twilight, Long Live Princess Twilight, Long Live Princess Twilight!” Everyone then started to join in the chant. However, back on the balcony, Luna shrugged her shoulders, “Hmm. Close enough.” the lunar demigod stated. Twilight could only whimper in response. Twilight once again stopped her story to allow Luster a chance to process what she heard before Twilight finished. After a few seconds of thought. She then spoke up. "I think I get it now. Your coronation was such a disaster that you and your friends never really recovered, and that's why you all drifted apart." The student concluded. Twilight stifled a giggle as Spike groaned. He then spoke his mind, "Well, you're half right." The dragon admitted. Luster stroke her chin as she tried to fathom what she missed, “So the coronation wasn't a disaster and your friendships just faded away over time?” she asked “Seriously?” Spike asked utter bemused by Luster’s answer. “Your teacher was ‘The Princess of Friendship’ before she became the ruling princess and we just told you about the coronation.” He then turned to Twilight with a bemused look that rivaled Applejack’s, “If this is your star pupil, then you clearly need to ask Celestia for some teaching pointers.” Twilight shook her head with a slight eye roll before the doors to the throne room opened to have Pinkie Pie, now looking to be in her forties. She was still dressed as she did two decades ago and as lively as ever, the only sign of her age was the slight wrinkles under her eyes. Next to her was a boy, no more than four with similar poofy pink hair and green eyes and dressed not too dissimilar to Pinkie, but his attire was yellow and his aura mark was a slice of cheese pie. He was playing with a rubber chicken. “Sorry, I'm late.” Pinkie said with a sigh, before she picked up her son and held him so that he was somewhat setting on her hip, “But it is so hard to find a sitter with a sense of humor for Li'l Cheese and I can’t keep pawning him off on Pound and Pumpkin or the other usual sitters.” she explained. Following Pinkie came Rarity, like Pinkie, she showed two decades of life with the wrinkles under her eyes but also had a noticeable gray streak in her hair. She was dressed in a large blue fashionista winter coat with white fur close to the top. “Sorry Darlings,” Rarity said, “but you would not believe how busy Yakyakistan is this time of year.” the enchantress declared. Following her were Applejack and Rainbow Dash. Both also showed the wear of years, but while Pinkie and Rarity showed the last two decades, the two athletes of the group seemed to be half a decade younger. However, Applejack had taken off her armor and wore a long yellow farm dress with a yellow handkerchief with apples around her neck. As for her physic, it was clear that she had come to term for at least three children. Rainbow was a slick as ever, and while still wearing the shorts of her youth, now donned an orange shirt under a black leather flight jacket. The two seemed to have been in an argument, “I am just saying that if you let me do some of those chores, we would have caught the earlier train.” Applejack laughed, “And have to go over them after I got back,” the paladin then laughed again, “Sugarcube, I’ve got four actual kids to clean up after, and they at least get the tacks Ah ask them to do right. Also, nothing stopped you from going on ahead,” Applejack then turned to the rest of the gathered group. “Ah told yah we’d wouldn’t be the last ones,” she then held out her right hand. Rainbow groaned as she reached into her pockets and pulled out a handful of bits before handing them to the paladin. Just as the transaction was completed, a portal opened and Fluttershy floated like a butterfly through. She seemed to between her four friends in age, although being the eldest, and seemed to have come to term for her own progeny, but not as many as Applejack. As the portal closed, “Discord’s getting things together for his, Big Mac’s, Trixie’s and Spike’s O&O panel for ChantaCon.” the druid explained, “Or he’d join us.” As the seven started to greet each other via embraces, Luster was left confused, “I just assumed that since you all aren't together all the time now—” she trailed off as she tried to understand what she saw. “That we aren't friends?” Twilight asked, concluding Luster’s thought. Twilight and her friends then had a short laugh. However, Twilight then continued, “That is not the point of my story. It's true, my coronation was a disaster.”