//------------------------------// // Ch 1: Canterlot Castle // Story: All These Shining Lights // by InkyTalon //------------------------------// Twilight Sparkle trotted through the halls of Canterlot Castle, her purple hooves softly clopping against the marble floors. The purple alicorn always loved a visit to the castle, for it was this castle she loved the most. Sure, her own was beautiful and majestic, but this one held so many fond memories of her time living here with her former mentor, Princess Celestia, back when she was growing up and before she let friendship into her heart. And of course, this castle was involved with many of Twilight’s earliest adventures with her Ponyville friends. She was reminded of this as she slowed her trot to a walk, as she passed by the stained glass windows in the Main Hall. Each was a reminder of a step of her journey. From defeating Nightmare Moon to becoming a Princess, she accomplished it all with her friends by her side. The two newest stained glass windows showed her friends using the Rainbow Power to defeat Tirek, and the reformation of Starlight Glimmer. Twilight smiled, sitting on her haunches and admiring the windows as the morning sunlight passed through them and bathed her in colorful hues. She was glad her adventures were far from over even though she was royalty now. And she’d gained herself a student so early in her Princesshood, which she was sure made Celestia proud. Celestia… oh! Twilight was reminded why she was here in the first place. She wanted to visit Princess Celestia and let her know how her teachings with Starlight were going. She moved on from the Main Hall to the throne room and looked around, but the Princess wasn’t anywhere in sight. Huh… I guess I should have had Spike send a letter telling her I was coming… She scolded herself for her lack of planning. She was usually so good at that. “Princess Twilight,” came a sudden voice from behind her. “AH!” Twilight jumped with a shriek, her wings going rigid from shock, as she turned on her hooves to be face-to-face with the Princess of the Night. “O-o-oh, Princess Luna! You startled me. Nice to see you!” “Likewise,” Luna replied with a slight, weak smirk. “I did not mean to frighten you, but I suppose I have a knack for such things.” “In the best possible way, Luna.” Twilight assured softly with a friendly smile. Twilight then noted that Princess Luna looked very tired, seeing the dark circles under her eyes, almost black against her already dark-blue coat. “So… what are you doing up and about in the morning? Don’t you usually rest this time of day so you can do your work at night?” “Yes, usually…” Luna frowned, looking away. “I’ve been a bit occupied with my sister. She’s been feeling… unwell.” Her formal voice was laced with an unsettling sadness, which made Twilight uneasy. “Oh no… is she sick?” Twilight asked, worry taking over her features. “Yes, I believe so… but I do not know what is ailing her. We have been around for many, many moons, but we’ve never encountered anything like this. All I want to do is arrange her a doctor’s visit, but she wouldn’t let me yet. But it is good that you’re here; she actually said she wanted to see you, Twilight.” “Me?” Twilight appeared confused. She knew a lot about diseases, she’d read about them… but she was no doctor. What could Celestia need from her? “Well… can I see her?” “Of course. Follow me.” Luna turned, and started walking out of the throne room with Twilight following close behind. “She seems to have something else weighing heavy on her mind, and I think that is what she is reserving for you.” Twilight noticed that Luna’s hoofsteps were slow, almost dragging, and that she carried a weary sadness to her movements. Twilight couldn't help but sympathize with Luna. If Shining Armor was ever in bad health, she’d be sick with worry, too. Luna’s horn began to glow a sparkling light blue. “Since I am not sure what is wrong, I will be using a health bubble to prevent any bacteria or viruses from spreading…” A translucent dome of shimmering magic began to surround them in a barrier as they approached a room. That’s odd… Twilight thought, puzzling. I don’t remember Celestia’s quarters being in this wing of the castle. But Twilight shrugged it off when she noticed a symbol in the shape of a sun cutie mark on the door. I guess she wanted a change of scenery? Luna opened the door with her magic, and it creaked open. Twilight wasn’t prepared for what she saw. The white alicorn Princess lay on a bed that was… more than a bit small for her, it seemed, since her hooves stuck out a ways past the foot of the bed. The bedframe also had a sun cutie mark on it, identical to the one on the door… but now that Twilight looked at it, it looked different from Celestia’s cutie mark. Celestia’s normally beautiful, flowing mane was limp, motionless, and mangled, and devoid of color. It made Twilight angry to see such a majestic and powerful alicorn so weak. It wasn’t fair. “Princess Celestia!” Twilight shouted in despair, beginning to run to her, but she’d forgotten about the health bubble and she crashed against the dome. “Patience…” Luna reprimanded as she placed a calming hoof on Twilight’s shoulder, taking steps toward her fallen sister. “Please keep your voice down.” “Sorry…” Twilight apologized. When she was beside her former mentor, she stared at her sorrowfully for a moment, just… disbelieving. “Celestia?” Princess Celestia’s eyes cracked open slightly, turning her head towards the purple alicorn. “Twilight…” a very weak smile showed on her muzzle. Dots of sweat speckled her coat, especially on her face. “I’m glad you’re here…” Twilight furrowed her brows in sadness. The princess looked incredibly drained… of magic, maybe? Like when Tirek stole it? That would be awful, but Twilight would rather that be the case instead of a dangerous illness. “Princess… what happened to you?” “I.. I am ill… I fear I won’t be able to resume my duties. Luna had to raise the sun for me this morning…” Twilight shook her head. “No, Princess… I mean yes, please get your rest, but you’ll get better. In a day or two. You have to…” “...One would hope.” Celestia inhaled slow and hoarsely, gazing upon her former student. “I refused to see a doctor just yet, so I could see you.” “Why… why would you do that?” “Because… a doctor might have me isolated while he does his treatments. Who knows… who knows how long that would take? No… this can’t wait.” “What can’t wait, Celestia?” Twilight bit her lower lip, placing her hoof against the barrier of Luna’s health bubble. “In case… In case I do not make the journey back into health—” “You will, Celestia! Don’t say that!” Twilight protested in desperation, her eyes burning with the threat of tears. Princess Celestia was an alicorn, and besides that… she couldn’t leave her. “That’s impossible!” “Twilight!” Celestia scolded her with all the authority she could muster, but she winced, for raising her voice caused her pain. “Twilight, let me finish. The way I am feeling right now… I fear it may be very possible. I have unfinished business, and I will not pass peacefully without it being resolved. Even if I do make it… this has been put off long enough.” Twilight swallowed hard, tears now freely streaming down her face and staining her lavender fur dark. She was struggling to accept that horrible possibility… and she wasn’t sure she’d be able to yet. But she cared so much for her teacher and friend, and she genuinely wanted to hear anything she had to say. “A-Alright,” Twilight agreed hesitantly. “Please, tell me…” The elder alicorn began to stir in the bed, and she used her own magic to lift a pillow, and then a photograph from underneath. Her horn is functional, Twilight noted. Not magic-related. Celestia levitated the photograph closer to Twilight so she could examine the picture. When she did, her violet eyes grew wide with understanding. “Sunset!” The picture displayed a bright golden unicorn filly hugging the leg of the much taller Celestia, appearing to be giggling with glee. “This photograph captured one of my fondest memories of Sunset Shimmer, before she abandoned her studies and her life in Equestria.” Princess Celestia sat up in bed with some effort. “... I want to see her.” “O-Oh…” Twilight blinked, looking at Celestia and then down again at the photograph. “Are you sure?” “I am,” the Princess of the Sun affirmed with a nod. “I need you to contact her as soon as possible. She trusts you.” Twilight nodded dutifully. “I’ll allow Luna to call in a doctor now. That gives you a few days to bring Sunset home and get her settled. I will send a letter when I am permitted a hospital visit, or shortly after.” “Okay.. I won’t let you down.” Twilight leaned her forehead against the barrier of the health bubble, wishing she could hug her, make her believe that she’d be okay… “I know you won’t.” Celestia smiled, weak but genuine, relieved and full of confidence in her talented and accomplished pupil that she loved so much. She leaned her own forehead against the dome as well, getting as close to her as she possibly could. “Thank you.” she placed her hoof where Twilight’s was. The two alicorns stayed like that for a few moments, before Celestia eased away slowly to lay back once more. “Goodbye for now, Twilight.” “Goodbye…” Twilight whispered, stepping back and sharing a sad glance with Luna, who had been supervising. They both turned to leave Celestia to rest. When Luna shut the bedroom door behind them, something inside told Twilight to turn and inspect that symbol again. The cutie mark was Sunset Shimmer's… now she recognized it for sure. That must have been Sunset’s old room, from when she was Celestia’s prized student before Twilight had that privilege. Twilight was surprised she’d never taken the time to explore it during the time she stayed at the castle. The magic bubble around the two alicorns disintegrated once they’d gotten a safe distance away. “Well,” Luna began solemnly. “I must go and locate the finest doctor in Canterlot. But there is one more thing that I suppose my sister didn’t have the energy to tell you.” “Yes…?” “If she does not recover, I will assume her duties as well as my own, as she had when I was absent for a thousand years. I had always thought we’d retire together–” Luna stopped when her voice had started to crack. She regained her composure, her face expressionless. “It is probably not my place to tell you this, but I’ve no choice. Celestia had always spoken of you becoming our successor as Ruler of Equestria when you were ready. So if something happens to her… when the time is right… we would like you to rule alongside me before and after the moon sets on my time.” Twilight gasped. “Ruler of Equestria? Me?” “Yes. There is nopony Celestia would trust more in watching over the land she loves. But you needn’t worry about it yet… we don’t know what will happen, and I would allow you as much time as you need to prepare. And I would train you. Give it some thought.” Twilight nodded once, hesitantly. “...Okay.” There was no chance in Tartarus that she’d be able to prepare herself to rule anytime soon while Celestia was sick… she would have even more of a complete mental breakdown from the stress of it all. For her own good, she neatly filed away that idea in her mind, for her to return to and freak out over at a later date. The Princess of the Night pushed open a castle window. “Good luck to you, Twilight Sparkle.” She leapt through, flying off. “You too…” Twilight replied softly, but Luna was already gone. She herself was absolutely devastated that Princess Celestia had fallen so ill, but she couldn’t imagine just how hard it was for her sister… Twilight spread her wings, flying out the window as well, but directing herself south towards Ponyville… with some effort. Her flying was still imperfect, but much improved thanks to Rainbow Dash’s frequent lessons. She flapped clumsily until she managed to steady herself, and from there she soared through the air smoothly, casting her shadow onto the rooftops of Canterlot buildings as she passed over them. It’s such a beautiful day, Twilight thought as she observed the sunlit landscape of Equestria, from the majestic mountain peaks to the sparkling rivers. It was such a clear day that from this height, she could even make out the distant settlements on the horizon. It was a beautiful day, indeed it was, but it sure didn’t feel beautiful to Twilight. She only hoped that this task Celestia gave her wouldn’t be her last.