"A true princess in any world leads not by forcing others to bow before her. But by inspiring others to stand with her. We have seen that you are capable of just that. I hope you see it too, Princess Twilight."
Those words stuck with Twilight, as she made her way down the hallway towards what she hoped was Princess Celestia's room. Sleep was the last thing she needed right now. She had too many questions.
With the rollercoaster of the Fall Formal now behind her, Twilight finally had time to think about everything that had happened to her in the last three days. New friends, a new world, and an eye-opening experience were just a few of the things off the top of her head.
Twilight had full confidence in the girls to help Sunset Shimmer become a better person. She wished she could help. But with the portal closed for another 30 moons, there was nothing she could do. Nothing but hope.
And what kind of time system was Moons anyway? What idiot thought that was a good idea? Everypony knew that time relied more upon the sun than the moon. Yes, the moon handled several things for sure. But time wasn't one of them.
Even Princess Luna, when Twilight had asked her about it earlier, had said that it was a stupid idea.
Just another thing on the list of questions she had, Twilight sighed, as she rounded a corner. And nearly ran into a rather familiar-looking Pegasus stallion, who only rolled his eyes.
"I am starting to see a pattern here. Am I just that special to you?" Flash Sentry asked with a grin.
Twilight blushed with the heat of a million suns. "No. No. I'm just not paying attention I guess?"
Flash rolled his eyes. "If you say so. Shouldn't you be asleep?"
Twilight shook her head. "No. I'm a night owl anyway. Just ask Spike." She looked up and down the corridor. "Um. You don't happen to know where Princess Celestia's room is, do you?"
Flash pointed to a door several feet down. "Right in there. Princess Luna and Princess Cadance are already inside."
Twilight smiled. "Thanks," before rushing over to the door in question. Leaving Flash wondering if all alicorns were this crazy.
Twilight tried not to hyperventilate as she came to the door. Oh, this was going to get all kinds of awkward at this rate. She already knew that her crush on the human Flash Sentry was never going to work. There were just too many things in the way that would make it impossible. Did the same apply to the pony Flash though? That was something she needed to figure out, and soon.
Shaking her head, Twilight pushed the thought aside for the moment. She had other things to worry about. Knocking on the door, she waited.
"Come in," came Princess Celestia's voice from beyond. A part of Twilight was annoyed that she didn't sound very tired for the late hour. Pushing the door open, she entered the room beyond.
Celestia, Luna, and Cadance all sat around the same table, enjoying what looked like a late-night tea break, though Twilight caught a quick whiff of coffee coming from Luna's cup.
Cadance shot her a knowing look. "Can't sleep?"
Twilight sighed. "No. I have far too many questions."
Celestia nodded sagely, gesturing at an empty chair at the table. "I am not surprised, Twilight. After all that you went through, it is to be expected." Seeing the question in her fellow alicorn's eyes, her smile grew. "Spike told us the full story. I could not be more proud of you."
Twilight's heart soared. It was always nice to hear that from her mentor, as she sat down. "Why didn't you tell me about Sunset Shimmer sooner, princess?"
Celestia sighed sadly, as she poured Twilight a cup of Jasmine Tea. "At one time, I feared you would follow the same path as Sunset did, Twilight. My heart could not take the pain of losing you both. Once you moved to Ponyville, it did not seem important anymore." Her brows rose. "Did you think you were the only Personal Student I have ever had?"
Twilight shook her head. "No. It just seemed silly that I was the first one you ever took, Princess Celestia. Meeting Sunset just confirmed it. And I doubt I will be the last one either."
Luna nodded. "Indeed, Twilight Sparkle. You show much wisdom beyond your age." She shot her sister a smirk. "Methinks some of us could learn a thing or two from you."
Cadance and Twilight giggled, while Celestia just glared back at Luna. But that raised another question for Twilight. One she had been avoiding ever since becoming an alicorn, as she raised a wing and pointed at it. "Are we immortal? Ageless and timeless? I've been stuck on the idea ever since that night."
Cadance's smile dropped as she looked at her aunts with a pointed glare. "That's something I want to know too, Twilight. And I've never got a straight answer from either of you, I might add."
Celestia and Luna shared a look, but it was Luna who answered. "In truth. We do not know if the two of you are immortal or not. In fact, Tia and I do not know if we are immortal or not."
Twilight blinked, as she and Cadance shared a shocked look. "What? But you've lived for over a thousand years."
Celestia nodded. "Yes. But that does not mean we will live forever. Some have attributed our longevity to our control over the sun and moon. But in truth, even we do not know for sure. We may live forever, or we might die tomorrow. Life is a risk like that."
This was not what Twilight had expected to hear, and the same went for Cadance as well. "I have always planned to live my life to the fullest, with love and bringing love and joy to others. No matter how long that life may be. I am not sure what that means now though."
Celestia smiled at her niece. "Never stop doing that, Cadance. The world is a better place because of what you bring to it. A time may come when that role passes to another. But never stop regardless."
Luna and Twilight nodded encouragingly, which brought a smile to the young mare's face. "I plan to, auntie. No matter how long that may be." She chuckled. "Maybe I will even take a student so that they can help as well."
The others chuckled. Celestia though gave Twilight a knowing look. "I'm sure that's now all of your questions for tonight, is it Twilight?"
Twilight shook her head, the other pressing question coming to the fore. "No. How much did you know about the Human World before I went there?"
Celestia sighed, looking out a nearby window as she took a sip of her tea. "In truth? Very little. I knew of Canterlot High, and that Luna and I's counterparts were there and held high positions. But I did not expect that your Ponyville friends would have counterparts there as well."
Twilight's ears dropped, as she took a sip of her own tea. She had been afraid of that. It did not change much though. "So what happens to the portal now?"
Luna shrugged. "We are not sure. It is all but useless now for another 30 moons. It will most likely go to someplace safe, for it is too dangerous to leave lying around in the open."
Twilight and Cadance shared a look. Neither could argue with that, though Twilight wanted to study the magic of the mirror. Who knew what she might learn if she did. But now came what she really came here about. "There's. One more thing. It's something Principal Celestia told me."
Celestia smiled enigmatically, seeming to know something. "And what would that be, Twilight."
Twilight sighed as she looked out the window. "Ponies have been coming to me for guidance and advice since I became an alicorn. Even though I had no authority to do anything, they still came to me. They didn't care if I had no power."
She smiled. "At Canterlot High? I brought the school together. United them. They stood with me. Someone they didn't even know. I brought five best friends back together, and I made five best friends that will last forever. No matter how far apart we might be. They trusted me." Her smile grew. "A wise woman once told me that a true princess in any world does not lead by forcing others to bow before her, but by inspiring others to stand with her."
Luna nodded. "She sounds rather wise in her years."
Twilight chuckled. "She is." She sighed. "I do not know if I'll ever be the leader you are, Princess Celestia. Maybe in time, I will be. But that can wait. Now? I think it's time."
The others shared a confused look. "Time for what?" Cadance asked.
Twilight just grinned.
Canterlot was abuzz was excitement that it had rarely ever had before. The city was stuffed to the brim with ponies from all over Equestria and beyond. The Royal Mile was packed with ponies unable to get into the ceremony itself.
Inside the Ball Room of Canterlot Castle, the Element Bearers, Princess Celestia, Princess Luna, and Princess Cadance were dressed in their finest. Princess Celestia's joy was so palpable that even the worst stick in the mud couldn't ignore it. The crowd went silent as Celestia cleared her throat.
"We are gathered here today in celebration of a momentous occasion. My most faithful student, Twilight Sparkle, has done many extraordinary things since she's lived in Ponyville. She even helped reunite me with my sister, Princess Luna."
The two shared a loving smile before the elder continued. "But recently, Twilight Sparkle did something extraordinary. She created new magic. That alone is worthy of commemoration." Her smile, if it was possible, continued to grow. "But more than that. Twilight has demonstrated time and time again the compassion, charity, devotion, integrity, optimism, and leadership that inspires others to stand with her. Even in the face of the worst crises."
She sniffed, holding back her tears with an effort. "That is why I am pleased to present to you, for the very first time, Princess Twilight Sparkle!"
The crowd turned as the far doors opened, and in stepped Twilight Sparkle, followed closely by an honor guard bearing flags emblazoned with her cutie mark. Twilight herself wore a dress of pink with yellow ribbons around her neck and down her sides. Along the sides of the dress, holes allowed her wings to poke through.
As Twilight came to the foot of the dias, Twilight Velvet and Night Light couldn't help but shed tears of joy and pride for their daughter.
Spike soon came forward with a cushion, bearing Twilight's crown. A murmur ran through the crowd as they saw that it was the Element of Magic itself. Twilight bowed, as Princess Celestia lifted the crown off its resting place and settled it gently on Twilight's head. None doubted, as Twilight turned to the crowd and spread her wings, that it suited her perfectly.
A few moments later, Twilight, Celestia, and Luna stepped out onto the balcony, so that the crowds below could see their new princess. Twilight waved a hoof, as the crowd went wild in cheering her on.
She cleared her throat, her magic letting the crowd below she had something to say. "A little while ago, my teacher and mentor Princess Celestia sent me to live in Ponyville. She sent me to study friendship, which is something I didn't really care about."
Her smile softened. "But now, on a day like today, I can honestly say I wouldn't be standing here if it weren't for the friendships I've made with all of you. Each one of you taught me something about friendship."
She bowed, letting her tears fall now. But they were tears of joy. "And for that, I will always be thankful. Today, I consider myself the luckiest pony in Equestria. Thank you, friends. Thank you, everypony!"
The crowd went absolutely wild at this, and the cheering could be heard all the way in Ponyville itself. Twilight's smile only grew, as she sent a silent thanks to her friends at Canterlot High.
"And girls. Thank you. For everything. This isn't just about me. This is for all of us."
And as Twilight turned away and rejoined her pony friends, she knew that no matter how far away they were, or what barriers might exist their worlds, Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Rarity, Fluttershy, and Pinkie Pie, were cheering her on as much as their pony counterparts were.