//------------------------------//
// ...You shouldn't! 
// Story: Broken Promise 
// by Nova Star Sparkle 
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*3*






A bump on her left shoulder made her look over at the yellow pegasus it belonged to. Fluttershy was the first of her friends to reach her and was now resting her hoof on Twilight's shoulder. The look she gave her alicorn friend as she did so was compassionate and understanding, one of her wings slightly outstretched and waiting.

Twilight was only too happy to oblige, spreading both of her sparkling wings to their full span and hugging her shy pegasus friend tightly with more tears forming in her eyes, something that Fluttershy returned caringly. Her wings were by far not enough to completely enclose the alicorn, the size difference was too vast for that. Nevertheless, she gave her best. The rest of her friends followed suit not long after, and Spike squeezed in between the mares towards Twilight's left front leg, hugging it with everything he had to offer as well.

"You did the right thing. I know it was a hard thing to do, but don't let it drag you down. It was the best choice and I'm sure both of them can understand. Well, Chrysalis more than Tirek, but even that stubborn centaur secretly knows it had to be done."

Twilight raised her gaze and looked deeply into Fluttershy´s caring orbs, her eyes slowly darting over the rest of the pile of cuddling ponies, the corners of her mouth curved upwards into a broad smile.

"Thanks, girls. That's exactly what I needed to hear right now. Thank you for understanding."

“You have nothing to thank for darling, that’s what great friends are for after all”, Rarity whispered.

Twilight proceeded to nuzzle her friends until finally, she twisted her head around and with a simple flick of her long horn, dispelled the unneeded runic circle, watching until the last glittering remnants of the runes had vanished. Folding her wings back to both her sides, she released her friends from their hug and they in reverse took a few steps back in complete astonishment.

It was the first time since her unexpected awakening that they could properly examine the alicorn before them, without some reality-warping magic hindering their sight. And as their worry for Twilight’s mental well-being had substituted, they acknowledged something that should have been fairly obvious for a long time. It was, after all, a detail very hard to miss when being such close friends for years and seeing one another daily.

The expression and astonishment Twilight could see in the eyes of the four surprised her for a moment. But when she looked further behind her friends and saw Luna, Discord and Celestia standing there with equally astonished looks, she knew that something about her didn't correspond to the norm. Her suspicions proved true when she felt a constant motion along the side of her face and there still remained the unusual feeling of a new, powerful and yet familiar force deep within her. Looking down her body and to her rear, she realized what her friends and fellow princesses had already discovered.

The entire range of changes she had previously felt in and around her body had retained and even more so. In fact, the only thing about her that still looked the same was the color of her fur, and not even that had been completely spared. Her coat color had turned at least one shade brighter and was now a light lavender. The fur on her throat, all the way down her chest to her underbelly, showed an almost entirely white tone. As she would later discover, the white accents of her fur even went to about the lower half of her face, and the fur above that turned to darker lavender upward, with the tips of her ears a deep shade of purple.

Her new, by far longer and slightly curved horn had a white color at its base, which turned to a darker purple as one looked further up Twilight's horn and then a bright pink at its tip. There were also a great number of runes running across her horn, apparently worked directly into the bone, which only added to the alicorn's already powerful aura. And as Twilight activated her magic to examine herself more, she was momentarily shocked. The simple raw power exceeding from her horn just by lighting it, was far greater than earlier that day. Her gaze drifted slowly over her surroundings as she tried to sort her founding’s.

Twilight stopped when she became aware that she could see magic flowing all around her and over every single pony or creature, as well as a round ball of concentrated magic in the chest of each individual – the magic core of a being. Something she wasn’t supposed to see so easily and without casting a spell. Well, yes, when she became an alicorn, the other princesses taught her several new spells that required alicorn magic to be cast. Including a spell that allowed her to see the magic, the effects it had, and the amount of it a being had. The advanced form of visualizing one’s own magic reserves, a thing she had internalized checking each time she blinked.

As she had mastered said spell she was also able to see the magic core, the storage of a beings unique magic. Not more than a small ball in the chest of a creature, but easily their greatest treasury. Once damaged one couldn’t use his magic partly or in full, depending on the damage it suffered. It was very unlikely to damage ones magic core, the thing just looked fragile, but was so sturdy most magic’s and users were unable to even locate it, less so affect. Still, it could happen. The magic core could also be repaired, at least by a certain degree as she had heard, but one needed a lot of alicorn magic to do so. If even cracking the magic core was hard, it was incredible harder to repair it.

Still, she should address Rainbow’s little problem, the constant crashing in the midst of her stunts over the years seemed to have left slight injuries to her core. But we’ll get to that in a moment. Twilight’s horn glowed and her warm magic briefly settled around the cyan pegasus. The mare involved gave the alicorn a quick and confused look, but didn’t ask what she had just done. It was something positive anyway.

But one thing bugged Twilight nonetheless, she had never heard of such a thing occurring as a passive ability. As it seemed, however, it was different so with her. On a second thought, it suddenly made also sense to the alicorn. I AM magic, so I probably am able to naturally see any magic, even that others can’t witness, with my regular eyes without having to use a spell.

With ease, she was now able to look Celestia in the eyes, she was even slightly taller than her and just like the two oldest princesses, she now possessed a long flowing mane, as well as a long lion's tail. A perk so far every alicorn had possessed. The tail had hair only at its end, which sparkled with stars just like her mane. The color scheme of her mane was similar to what she had noticed before when she woke up, but it hadn’t been as sparkly and with less powerful colors. Now the colors were so prominent that they seemed almost otherworldly, though with her new appearance that wasn't even that far-fetched.

As she squinted her eyes a bit and ran her gaze over her hair and tail once more, searching for something she knew she missed. A few seconds later her eyes widened almost to the max as she immediately peered up at the night sky. Yes, she had not been mistaken, both appendages showed a perfect replica of the starry sky above her and even twinkled to match each constellation. While she had always been a bit envious of Luna and her wonderful mane, she was now sporting such fantastic hair herself. Twilight couldn't help but trot on the spot for a few seconds in delight and on the brink of her awareness she believed she could hear Celestia giggling delightedly.

As interesting as her mane and tail were, it was the next new feature she discovered on her body changed that made her snout drop to the ground. She had never seen anything like this before on any of the other princesses or another being. Her whole body, but especially her hooves, entire legs and midsection, were covered with countless runes and lines of magic that pulsed slightly to a steady beat. A quick examination of herself with magic, revealed that the magical lines and inscriptions match her inner beat. The magic as it streamed so vigorously and intimidating over her body - powerful but yet so incredibly calm and familiar, just like it had been always a Part of her locked away until recently, was simply mind-blowing.

When she had ascended to an alicorn, she had been astounded at the new amount of inner mana her magic core could store and harness and how much stronger, easier and faster she could cast spells without tiring. A short examination of her visual mana well afterwards had proved her magic core to hold more than two thousand times it previous value as a unicorn. More so, her atomized coffee mug and the copies of "Constructive Criticism and the ways you shouldn't apply it - a reference guide by N. Otgood" and “You have created a being to unrealistic and strong, how to deal with it – by B. Uckit”, punching through Rainbow's cloud house with Mach 5 and jerking the poor pegamare out of her third nap of the day, had been a good indication of her new, improved magical abilities as an alicorn. Not to mention the occasion for hours of testing her powers and new level so as not to pulverize something every time she tried to participate in daily life.

But the power alone that she could feel flowing over her entire coat and stream into the surrounding area around easily dwarfed that experience by a factor of a hundred.

That, however, was only a microscopic spark of the accumulated power Twilight felt in her inner being. The young lavender alicorn princess felt as if she could contain the entire universe in her hooves and change it to her will without even coming to the edge of straining or exhaustion. Her thoughts whirled with a velocity and denseness that would leave any other being dumbstruck and bewildered, but to the alicorn mare, everything made clear and orderly sense - magic, harmony, peace, knowledge, stars, amity... hundreds of thousands of thoughts at once, yet it was all as clear and familiar to Twilight as her own hoof.

No, it was simply said one of the most wonderful feelings Twilight had ever felt. The young alicorn mare, would have liked to tear out an entire mountain or leap all the way to the stratosphere in a single bound. But rather held back from it, as it was not exactly helpful in the current situation, even if the possibility of such a thing did not sound so far-fetched anymore for her.

The further overall appearance of her legs and hooves hadn't changed much, except for a slightly lighter coat color as well. She also had now, the unique characteristics, each alicorn possessed of the three residual pony tribes they represented. The long, unshorn furlongs on the hooves, as was common for earth ponies. The slightly forward curved horn, as most unicorns possessed - only unicorns with very little talent for magic, had a straight horn. Finally, the characteristics of a pegasus, the fluffy/feathered ears and additional feathers just above the base of the tail - which in her case were both her usual lavender.

Gazing over her new appearance and pondering about the energy that flowed through her body by the second, Twilight recognized another surprising detail that had changed about her as her vision swept over her back. And she wondered how she had missed something like that and not notice it until now. It was also probably the main reason her friend’s and Luna plus Celestia were so astounded.

With her muzzle slightly agape and an amused smirk on her face, she spread her four new appendages out on her back and surveyed their texture and span for a moment. Fully spread out, each one of her six wings extended as far as her entire body height to either side. They also exhibited a wonderful gradient of color. The top primary feathers, were still the same color as her fur - a light, bright lavender. The next layer underneath, was once again the same shade of white as the fur on her belly. The further the feathers moved away from her middle, the darker they became. The gradient ranged from a light purple, to a darker purple, to an almost black hue, which ended in a red, orange to yellow gradient at the tips of her wings. As Twilight surveyed each of her wings for a few more seconds, enjoying the new color scheme and appearance, pondering the interesting change in her head. She noticed tiny energetic bolts of lightning traveling from the bases to the outermost feather tips of her wings.

While normally, the logical and scientific part of Twilight´s mind would tell her that electricity couldn´t flow over a pony's body without harm, on the one hoof, Pegasi were known for their high resistance to lightning, as they needed to be for their daily tasks with the weather. It always was a possibility for a cloud to faze a Pegasus, once they intended to move it. Fortunately, pain resistance to shock was also very high in a Pegasus.

On the other hoof, the alicorn mare had given up on questioning anything about her physiology and possibility minutes ago. There were apparently many things she did not yet know about herself as an alicorn - like the new, massive and beautiful wiggling things on her back. As apparently without her realizing it, she had grown four additional wings and her entire appearance had received a massive upgrade in just about any part. Given that, lightning bolts traveling across her wings without creating damage or pain, were a rather minor issue to think about.

"Eh Twilight-?", Applejack's voice brought Twilight back to reality and the alicorn turned her head to her close orange earth pony friend, who stood perplexed and still with her mouth open next to the rest of her friend’s, that looked not much less surprised. Luna and Celestia seemed to have caught on by now and were more interested than surprised as they looked over at the fellow alicorn.

"- I would have lots of questions for you at the moment, though I suspect from the look on your face that most of them you can't even answer yours elf so far. That's why I'll keep it simple and short.” With a flat look Applejack continued. “Can you make the sun and moon rise or what?" Applejack then tilted her head, looking briefly up at the sun and moon, still both present in the sky, awaiting the alicorn's answer.

"Ehhh-," was all Twilight managed before she turned her attention hopefully to her former mentor and longtime friend Celestia.

To her confusion, however, the tall white alicorn just shook her head and bowed it in something like embarrassment.

"I'm sorry Twilight. I honestly have no idea what or why any of this has happened to you in the last hour. I may know many things, alone due to my long life, but magic has never been my strong suit. As I'm sure you know, I was a pegasus before I ascended, so - if you need help getting your six wings under better control, I'm your pony to ask. Though that shouldn't be that hard as one might guess, controlling four more wings once you've internalized the basics of wing anatomy and what muscle is for what and creates what outcome, will be quiet easy." At this, Celestia had to grin and after a few seconds she began to heartily laugh also.

Twilight just shook her head, while Celestia continued. "Wow, it sounds a lot crazier actually saying it. Forgive my unusual behavior, but a being with six wings, was known to me until now only through legends. A Seraphicorn, if my memories don't deceive me. I was aware that there are stories about an alicorn supposedly transcending to a higher level of existence by awakening its deepest powers. Yet I never thought it possible to be true."

Celestia turned her head to the left as she said that last sentence nodding to her younger sister.

"I would ask Luna for more details if you desire additional answers about magic. Unlike me, she was a unicorn prior to her ascension and has become extremely well-read in the magic of the last thousand years to make up for what she lost and missed. I´m sure there’s much you both could learn from each other. You always were my top student with perfect grades in all subjects and your skills with magic are well beyond everything I ever witnessed from another pony."

Twilight, before she could get around to addressing Luna on the matter, was interrupted by the older dark-blue princess.

“For sure I would be honored to learn with you Twilight, about the mysteries we still have with magic. I always was a bit envious for your talent in magical arts and most of my research on this subject was boosted by the thirst to be anything near as capable as you were and still are. And even, if I can't tell you everything you want to know, since I have a good hunch that you're still a mighty step ahead of me in magic and probably always will be. Hm, you even might someday know everything that there is about magic. But so far, some things I do know, nonetheless you for sure don´t seem to know at the moment. Your particular new appearance should be one of those things."

Clearing her throat, Luna smirked over to Twilight and her friends.

"Yep. You could obviously use brute force and simply push the two celestial bodies to another part of the sky. After all, neither the sun nor the moon of Equestria are stationary objects - they're just incredibly heavy, which is why no one but an alicorn has the power or necessary amount of mana to move them in the first place.”

“However, I don't suppose you're planning on ditching us from that task just yet?", Luna joked with a twinkle in her eyes. "Or is it not enough for you that soon you will reign the mighty kingdom of Equestria under your iron hoof? In order so that every creature on Equus may tremble to the very core with fear at the mere mention of the name Equestria and it’s unbeatable, merciless empress", the dark blue alicorn mare continued to wiggle her eyebrows at her younger fellow seraphicorn.

Twilight took a surprised step back and held one of her hooves in front of her chest in mock defiance.

"Hey! I want it noted that I have no intention of subjugating Equestria and we all know that. How dare you accuse me of something like that? I feel genuinely insulted."

The dark blue alicorn and lavender seraphicorn gave each other a quick smirk and fell to high laughter just mere seconds later, their wings trembling as their bodies shook. About a minute later, both mare´s gathered their composure almost fully back, nevertheless both remained smiling wide above their muzzles.

“Although, if we’re being honest, none of us even needs violence or oppression to get what we want from our ponies. They trust us and our decisions too much not to carry them out with a clear conscience and pride. The honesty and loyalty of an alicorn to his subjects has to have its advantages after all.”

Both Celestia and Luna nodded while Twilight shook her head, already with the next topic in mind. "And no, you are more than welcome to keep dragging the sun and the moon over the horizon each day. For the time being it is more than enough work for me to carry out all your former tasks as regents. Although I wouldn't be surprised if suddenly the moon moves in the wrong direction, or strangely enough the sun rises a few minutes too early or late over the edge of the horizon. Such things can happen Luna, ya know."

Twilight cheekily stuck her tongue out at Luna, to which the dark mare just laughed and rolled her eyes.

"Hm, fair enough. In that case it's my own fault anyway, it was I that started the whole", Luna shrugged her shoulders. "BUT, I'd still like to return briefly to the legends my sister mentioned. Because as you might have suspected by now, they are very much true and you don’t want to miss hearing about them.

Luna pointed with her hoof towards Twilight's new characteristics and especially to the seraphicorn´s back at her six sparkling wings, that still gleamed on their own in the twilight of the day and gave of more of their strange unique magic.

"First of all, there is a special book on alicorn´s and seraphicorn´s that I found only a few months ago and have been studying ever since. So far, not even my own sister has had any knowledge of its existence as it was really hard to find in the first place - pretty much coincidence to be precise. The book itself, was written by an old unicorn scientist about two millennia’s ago, who himself claims he encountered a seraphim in his dreams out of purest, divine magic, that revealed to him all that he wrote down in his book."

Twilight and all her assembled friends pricked up their ears, thinking about it that sounded more than intriguing. A whole book about alicorn´s, the transcended form of one and their powers? Written by a unicorn scientist with dreams about a mystic creature consisting out of a godly magic, that had bestowed the knowledge upon him? If that wasn't worth paying attention to, they didn't know what was. Well, yes, there were some other books about alicorn´s and most of their powers, like a definition how they managed to raise the sun and moon each day. Or how an alicorn magic created shield remained indestructible and after casting, energy-independent. But nothing nearly as specific than that book sounded.

Luna’s voice brought them back to the situation. "The stallion described the creature as the most gorgeous, magnificent and equally fearsome as confidence-inspiring being he had ever laid eyes upon in his life. With a coat the color of purest lavender radiating light and colors he hadn´t thought possible, a long flowing mane and tail, mirroring the night sky he saw every single night and the most noticeable, expressionless but infinitely caring white eyes.”

“In the brief moment that he was in the shadow of one of the seraphicorn's huge wings, staring into its faceless eyes, his horn touched the seraphicorn's. In that brief moment, his horn touch the seraph's. In that momentary touch, a tremendous magical power beyond imaginable and knowledge so great his head almost exploded seemed to flow between him and the seraphim. The sheer size of which frightened him and made him fear that he would be swept away under its immense weight."

"Yet as he looked into the seraphicorn's eyes, time seemed to slow down and all but stand still. He felt that she radiated confidence, comfort and kindness, as if he were looking into the eyes of his own mother. And by the statement, that she seemed to be made entirely from godly magic and ponies were magical beings, that could very likely also be the case. In that moment he knew that the figure would not harm him and any fear and doubt, were replaced by an infinite feeling of peace and friendship."

"And then the contact was suddenly broken, it left him speechless and he could only watch as the creature moved away from him with several powerful beats of its six wings and faded into the horizon. When he woke up shortly after, he almost immediately sat down at his desk and wrote this book we have here. That is all I can tell you about your new appearance as a Seraphicorn however, I´m sorry. Albeit, we will certainly find out some more. The origin and history of the alicorn´s is still one of Equestria's greatest mysteries to this day and I have a hunch that you're just the first to discover their true nature - after all, the three of us have more than enough time as you know", the dark blue mare smirked.

As Luna spoke, she lit her horn and conjured up a large, brown leather bound book adorned with golden accents, levitating it over to Twilight. On the cover of the book, the image of a black seraphim with bright colorful wings and golden lines around the creature was depicted. Holding one of its massive wings protectively over a unicorn stallion about half its size. Several more lines straight emanating from the larger creature seemed to suggest the radiant presence Luna had just spoken of.

As Twilight took the book into her own magic from Luna´s, the dark blue alicorn mare continued to smirk into the direction of the younger seraphicorn.

"I suppose I don't have to bring up how surprisingly accurately that description fits a certain close pony of mine. Do I?"

Twilight just wordlessly held the book in her own magic, as she shook her head in a quick-witted manner. No, Luna clearly didn't need to mention on whom that description fit so extremely well. The facts were far too clear for that. Regardless of how she got into the stallion's dreams, a stallion that had lived so long ago, way longer than she walked on Equus and on top where she got all this intruding knowledge, she couldn't explain. But it was unmistakably herself in the old unicorns dreams.

"Luna?"

"Hmmm?

"The fact about my new appearance and how I seem to have entered the dreams of a pony from over two thousand years ago in order to reveal to him a knowledge of magic and other things that is currently unknown to me, aside. Maybe you can explain to me and my friends what had happened to me earlier? I can only vaguely remember it, but I know the magical explosion killed me with a hundred percent certainty. Say what you want but I definitely didn´t escape my demise. So, the question remains, why am I able to stand here with you all?"

Luna waited patiently as Twilight shrugged, not yet through with her voicing. "While I have no desire to complain about my surprise revival, it just plain doesn't make any sense. Neither of you three other alicorn´s possessed magic up until a few minutes ago and while Discord is very capable. His abilities trivial to the ones of an alicorn, even if he remains the second strongest being on Equus. I'm also going to take a strong guess that none of you cast a spell on me beforehand that would bring me back to life should I die!? – You might have a grand wisdom thanks to your long live, but even such a thing you wouldn´t have predicted. That I´m sure."

Both older Princesses had to laugh, however they didn't laugh at Twilight. But because the young princess was so absolutely right.

"Ha-ha, oh no, you're absolutely right, you certainly were killed by Tirek a hour ago, no doubt about that. And as unbelievable as it sounds, we can in fact explain it to you. Surprisingly that´s a thing we both know, but thought it to be another legend so far."

"You see, an alicorn is in fact a very, very mighty creature. Contrary to what many assume, it is not possible to create an alicorn with any kind of magic or by any other means we possess. At least that is what we assume to count for any being including an alicorn. If a Seraphicorn would be capable of it we don´t know. Alicorn´s are a being with extraordinary abilities and that says something if you know what we as alicorn´s can do."

"Essentially an seraphim is the next step of evolution of an alicorn, as aside from more wings on it´s back and a more unique appearance it looks like one. However, a Seraphicorn has powers we currently know nothing about and a specific section in the book also claims that one of the thoughts he got of his encounter with the Seraphicorn told him that she would create valid and reliable means by her own design to protect the world from harm in the long run. The only thing that comes to mind for me with this particular Information, is the suggestion of the creation of alicorn´s, the prime form of peace and protection we know to exist in our universe.”

Now Celestia raised her voice. "And it even would make sense for you to be the one creating all the other alicorn´s. Just think about it."

"I'm the princess of the Sun, and your Cutie Mark is a Star Twilight. You surely could tell me, what the Sun really is? A star, correct?!" Twilight nodded, but remained listening to Celestia "Now when can you see the most stars in the sky? At night. And Luna is the princess of what again? Even your coat and mane color is a dead giveaway."

"Exactly - You possess the kindness and compassion of me, the ancient knowledge of magical arts and sheer power of Luna, and the all-encompassing love of Cadence. Oh and of course all the peace, love and harmony you yourself are known for. You compose every single aspect of us other three in one being. So I'm pretty sure that I'm right."

Twilight was at a loss of words and so Luna took over until the young lavender seraphicorn had found her voice again.

Luna shuffled her hooves in slight discomfort on the ground before she continued, not sure if she should first wait for Twilight to be back to reality or not. The alicorn mare seemingly not entirely confident what she was about to say. But then she did nonetheless.

“Yet this whole fact from the book, stands in high contrast to the assumption of it not being possible to create an alicorn with magic or other powers as the implication clearly suggests otherwise. Which so far, was why we assumed that our origins would probably remain our greatest mystery for good. We had to resign ourselves, for better or for worse, to the fact that, simply put, with our ascension we were claiming our birthright and taking on the power we should always have possessed."

“I know that all sounds utterly crazy, but I got a valid point to prove to you Twilight that I´m telling the truth.”

The young lavender seraphicorn pricked her ears forward and her eyes sparkled with interest. What could Luna possible mean by that?

"Profetien vil gå i opfyldelse, som jeg siger, det vil ske ved mine kræfter og kun mine kræfter", Luna only stated, waiting silently for the other mare's answer with slightly raised eyebrows in Twilight's direction.

"Huh?" Twilight tilted her head, her gaze puzzled as she translated. “The prophecy will become true, as I say it will be by my powers and mine alone” – "What prophecy are you talking about Luna? Who or what is this prophecy from and what is it even about?"

"Well as you will have already guessed, it originates from the seraphicorn. The mysterious being in the stallion's dream spoke of a prediction. "I will return someday and reclaim what was rightfully mine" , the way she said it however didn't sound like a threat, but a statement to be ready at all times for the coming arrival of this creature. She also gave him the knowledge of the words I just told you and he had written them into his book. Even if he had absolutely no idea what they could mean.”

"So- what was this prophecy about?" Applejack was also curious, as the rest of the mares so far silently standing some meters behind the three alicorn´s and listening.

"I can't answer that directly as much as I'd like to, the second important information he has received from the being out of divine magic about these mysterious words, he has also written down in the book. But they are as much nonsense to me as the first. We won't know until we learn that the seraphicorn is here and can tell us what they mean. But it is quite possible that she will arrive on Equus at some point in time and claim some of her powers that have been left to us or the regency of Equestria itself perhaps. A right she also probably has without doubt, as it seems to me that this mare is responsible for the species of the alicorn´s in the first place. Without that one Seraphim, we might not even had a kingdom or rulers to lead. At least, it all sounds very plausible to me. But perhaps she just wants to live here in peace, it would be like her at least. What we got from the book is, that she is the avatar of peace and good, so the last is probably the most likely to happen. All just speculations as I can't answer that for the life of me."

It was Fluttershy who spoke next. “But if Twilight was able to translate those words into Equisch, shouldn’t that mean she can understand the others as well?”

Luna banged her horseshoe against her forehead and grunted in mental pain. “ Dammit, my mind just seems overwhelmed with everything happening today. Of course Fluttershy, that’s why I asked Twilight the initial words in the first place. Sister! Why didn’t you alert me to this?”

Luna spun around to Celestia and stared at her in annoyance. The white alicorn innocently shrugged her shoulders with a sly smile.

“I was testing to see if you noticed on your own. Which apparently you didn’t, good thing Fluttershy was paying attention. Congratulations by the way dear!” Celestia modestly nodded to the butter yellow pegasus, who blushed slightly in return.

“Hhhrrr, anyway I quote”, Luna stated while dramatically extending her wings and rolling her eyes to her elder sisters joking nature. “Kun ét væsen vil vide, hvad disse ord betyder, og modtage mine kræfter, min viden og alt andet. Indtil den dag vil jeg være et spejlbillede af mit tidligere jeg, indtil jeg endelig kan blive genfødt. En skygge, en samling af hendes kærligste og stærkeste minder, opbevaret her, indtil hun vendte tilbage. Opbevaret her for dig", Luna ended. “In the entire process, the seraphicorn never directly gazed at him, but seemed to focus on someone behind him, even if, from his memories, there was no other individual there. Possibly the focus was directed at the one for whom the words were initially intended, in other words, her future self. A better theory I do not have.”

“So Twilight? Can you translate that one as well?”

The lavender seraphicorn narrowed her eyes for a second and returned her attention back to Luna.

“Only one being will know what these words mean and receive my powers, knowledge and everything else. Until that day, I will be a reflection of my past self, until I can finally be reborn. A shadow, a collection of her fondest and strongest memories, kept here until she returned. Kept here for you.”

"Wow, you're right Luna. Those words really ARE meant for me. I quiet can't believe it myself, but there's no other reason why they shouldn't be, if none of you could translate them and I can", Twilight was grinned from ear to ear, her ears twitching with joy.

"Sooo...Twilight – ?", Rainbow Dash began, but did not finish her sentence. " – Whereas no, I'll ask that later, maybe it'll sort itself out."

Twilight would have loved to ask her cyan pegasus friend what the question was about, but decided against it. It was Dash’s own decision after all and she wouldn't push the pegasus to ask the question if she still intended to wait. Even if she was very curious. With an expectant look, the lavender princess turned back to Luna.

"Well, another point from the book, right after the prophecy is also intriguing and we have even been able to decipher them in the meantime, something the stallion failed to do so many years ago. Are you familiar with the constellations strong earth pony, swift pegasus, wise unicorn and immortal alicorn?"

"Of course," Twilight shot out like a gun. These four constellations were some of the most important and well-known in Equestria. Just about every single pony in the kingdom knew the story behind them, it was practically a legend. A legend that gave confidence to the Pony’s and promised that everything would be fine in the end.

"Then I suppose you are also aware that there is a dedicated star for the sun, moon and solicitude in the constellation of the alicorn? And more so, that constellations reflect the destinies and duties of each single pony and so the alicorn constellation is the one reflecting ours? Based on your nod, I assume that I am correct so far. Which brings us to the matter at hoof, that we knew Equestria wouldn't just be blessed with three alicorn´s in the end, but four. As there was one more bright star, we didn’t know who it belonged to for almost two thousand years. Now, after you had ascended to an alicorn we know it’s yours."

"Huh, sounds pretty solid so far. But there has to be more right?", came from Twilight briefly.

"Yes, there's more, the interesting part is just around the corner. Right in the center of the alicorn's chest is a cluster made up of six special stars, the middle one by far the brightest and largest, surrounded by five smaller but still very luminous stars. These six stars are special, because unlike all the other stars in the cluster, not counting the three reserved for Tia, Cadance and me, they are incredible bright and also stationary like ours. They didn’t move an inch from their Position, as we would have guessed. We thought only our four stars, for each alicorn one, would proceed to stay in perfect arc and the other five would move further away with time, but they never did. It was like the forth alicorn dedicated star had bound five smaller ones to his might and dragged them along the sky, calling them to circle him in a flawless arc.”

“That is why someday in the past, our pony’s began to assume names for the collection of stars and so the “peace cluster of bond” also called “the harmonic or friendship cluster” was born. As it was eventually revealed – your destiny, to be blunt. Yes, your friends will likely begin to age and die one day while you as an alicorn remain eternally young. But don´t fret, you already knew that would happen someday and we three will always be by your side to keep your spirit up, if you ever need help. We are in this together as alicorn´s – or alicorn´s and one seraphicorn now I should say – and that will also remain that way for eternity. So it is only logical that we also carry the “burden” together, although I wouldn’t call it something like that. Immortality isn’t a curse, the same as mortality. It is what one does with both that makes it count in the end. I hope that knowledge will make it at least a fair bit better for you”, Luna’s gaze was empathetic to the young seraphicorn, it was something very serious after all.

Princess Twilight’s answer surprised the older princess however. “Actually I’m quiet fine with what will eventually happen. Yes, it was hard at first and I’m not gonna lie about the fact I shed some tears. But you know what? All of my friend’s mentally supported me and strengthened my trust in the future. They made me realize I have at least another 180 years to have fun with all of them and find solutions to said problem. That’s by far enough time for me I would say. We both know what I already achieved in two decades and my friend’s got 18 more.”

“Huuh! You truly have the best friend’s someone could wish for, Twilight. It will remain my distinct honor to raise the sun for each of them any day to come”, Celestia interjected with a soft voice.

“Hrm”, Luna cleared her throat and brought the attention back to herself. “Anyway, it’s good to see yourself so happy and close to your friend’s despite it all. My next thing however, will make your future even brighter than it already is and was made by your mutual friends. You surely are knowledgeable to the legend of the alicorn zodiac. It is a constant, unwavering sign for hope, protection and empathy, even in the darkest of times. It also stands for the known fact, that each individual soul is as immortal as an alicorn and can’t truly be lost to the world. Once a being dies, the soul returns to the core of the planet, the source of all life on Equus and merges with its gigantic life-force. In due time it will be reborn and walk among the soil and gras once more. Especially if it has a clear purpose and a location to return to, the rate of rebirth is highly increased. You will meet your very first friends again sooner than you might think, maybe they look different, are not the same pony race you knew them too or don't remember their former life’s. But trust me when I tell you that you will recognize them when you encounter them and your bond will form as thigh as it currently is."

“But there is a burden we as alicorn´s have to bear. While most of our subjects are far too reluctant to approach or even try to befriend one of their princesses head-on. Afraid of either wronging something in their presence, upsetting them, or otherwise falling in disgrace. Yet your status as the seraphicorn/alicorn of friendship and harmony/peace will in itself make it a lot easier for you to be able to befriend ponies. Even hundreds of years from now, additionally to your new sparkling and incredible appearance you will still be able to do so, without trouble. Naturally, the same applies to each and every rebirth of your best friends and generally ensures that they are being drawn to you and approach you without fear. So your pact of friendship almost seals itself each time. As of thinking about it for a moment, maybe you won’t even have the same problems as we with approaching our pony’s.”

Twilight's smile, was a little dampened for a brief moment, but the thought of never really losing her friends and always having them around herself, seemed to give her the strength she needed. “Wow – I don´t know what to say, so I better say nothing and try to comprehend.

The air fell silent as every pony thought about what they just heard. After a minute or two, Celestia took over for her younger sister in speaking, while Twilight seemed still a bit lost in her mind.

“To be honest, I wouldn´t know what to say in your position either, so no worry. It is after all much to process. As much as we know a seraphim is the ultimate embodiment of a certain fundamental force in reality and has single supreme control in its hooves. And while light, non-corruptive darkness and love are all such powers, magic however is a universal force able to create all three of them. Therefore it would also fit perfectly for each of us alicorn´s to have the abilities we have.”

“Especially you Twilight, the power I sensed and still can feel exceeding from you is strange, but it still feels to me like my very nature.” Celestia shock her head in self disbelieve. “As crazy as it all seems, but I highly believe the legend in the book to be true. You were or rather are that very being of magic, the unicorn scientist saw in his dreams and got insight from. And likely also the one that created the race of alicorn´s in the first place. Your new signature of power is simply too familiar to my own, to be anything other than that.”

Luna stalled Twilight hence she could voice a counter to Celestia´s mind blowing statement.

"Many say, because of our powers we are gods and even if I would never ask another pony to address me as a divine being. Nevertheless, I can still confirm that every alicorn is some kind of demigod. Our range and level of powers are vast and almost limitless. It´s a known fact we do not need oxygen or food to survive, do not die of old age, are immune to any known disease, virus or bacteria and it is incredible and almost impossible to harm, if not kill us. Yet, as you have experienced for yourself, our bodies can die.”

“Yes…but I don’t see so far, what your referring to”, Twi interjected.

“Please wait just a tiny bit more, I will get to that”, Celestia smiled.

“And here’s the twist very few actually know about, the body of an alicorn is killable, but our soul or rarely referred to as spirit is free from influence on any mean. Even more so as the standard soul, that could in some cases be contained and bound to rituals in both situations. Luckily every soul of a being other than an alicorn is also incredible durable and actually hurting it permanently is almost impossible to archive. But draining some of the life Energy Equus has to use it through a bound soul is still possible.”

“The soul of an alicorn however is completely different and remains as said immune to influence, magic and other means. I also doesn’t return to the Planet core once we would be killed. Since, from this specific perspective, we are not a part of Equus' life energy. Our magic can interact with every aspect and entity of the Planet. Yet, alicorn´s are their own independent force of live, we are as said bound to the universe or more precise the celestial bodies we control. Lulus Moon, your Stars, or my Sun. Only Cadance still needs a celestial body, or perhaps her planet transcending bond to love is something that counts as well.”

Luna nodded to her sister’s statement, the older alicorn was fairly right and she almost couldn’t add something else to it – almost. Turning her entire body more to Twilight, she raised her brow and addressed the lavender princess. “You surely know the fundamental concept of how magic works in our world?” Obviously Luna knew Twilight’s answer, the young mare was after all the seraphicorn of magic and even before that the most skilled Unicorn ever born since Starswirl the Bearded. And even the old stallion, with his decades of work and research, she had almost surpassed in skill, ability and magic at 17 before she ascended to an alicorn, far surpassing anything known before.

Twilight’s smile was broad and she fluffed all of her wings in utter joy of being asked her favorite thing to converse about. “Of course!”

Clearing her throat she began.

“There is both active and inactive mana. The active one is freely leaking from the main and secondary leylines that span the entire planet. So it can later be absorbed into the body of all the inhabitants of the planet via hooves, horn, claws or other means and stored in their magic core. From there, it can be used for all the various tasks that will require magic. I’ll use a unicorn as an example for my further explanation, as they use magic the most frequently and are generally the most commonly used for explanations in schools and universities.”

“Depending on the spell, when a unicorn uses magic they use up a certain amount of mana, this used up mana is called inactive mana and is freely released into the environment while acting the magic. It will mostly be absorbed mainly through the flora and fauna, thus returning it back into the soil and back to the planet core. Equus will recycle the depleted mana back into active mana in its core and release it back through the leylines. The cycle exists since the very basic life evolved on our planet and the general total amount of active mana is based as far as it is known on the total magic potential of its inhabitants with a factor of about 3:1. For a living being with a capacity of 1,000 magic units there are about 3,000 magic units present in the core of the planet. Though this would be a rather small amount for a Unicorn, they possess about 2,500 on average while a Pegasus comes to 400-500 and an Earth Pony to just under 250. However, that doesn’t mean that a Unicorn is stronger than the other two subspecies, the conversion ratio is just different and each race is most effective in its own area.”

“As for how it stands for us alicorn´s I can’t say for definite, as you both confirmed that our energy is not universally connected to that of the planet.”

“Nevertheless, I have a solid guess, two even. The first is based on the idea that we receive our power or mana from our celestial bodies and the used mana returns to them for recycling. The second possibility itself, has arisen to me just about an hour ago and further confirmed through you both.”

“Since I awakened, I have felt a greater connectivity to my alicorn powers, the stars and the entire cosmos around us. My guess is therefore that our mana originates directly from the deepest corners of the universe itself and returns there when we utilize our powers. After all, an alicorn is vastly more empowered than even the strongest of ponies on this planet combined,” Twilight lightly stomped her now white glowing front hoof on the grass to solidify her point, extended one of her wings and lastly energized her horn in a glow of magic. Her hoof created a small fields of cracks onto the ground as it landed with a rumble that shook the nearby area. While the magic, that had begun to flow from her feathers of her outstretched wing, kicked up a short but strong breeze, that ruffled the manes of all nearby. Lastly the magic from her bright horn fixed both the cracks in the ground as well as the wind swept manes of her close friends in an instant. With a sly smile Twilight turned back to her companions.

“As it is, we therefore have an immensely greater amount of mana at our disposal than others and are also capable to wield much greater forces, as our magic cores can store enormous amounts of raw magic. We are also capable of using many spells that only we alicorn´s can perform. I used to check my mana pool many times a day, even to the point where it got to a habit of doing it every time I close my eyes for a second. And as you both surely know I was quite good at magic, so my pool as a unicorn was already more than only average in size and depth, even in young years. However, after I became an alicorn, my mana pool had expanded to sizes I could only dream of before and it has taken me a while to even find the edge of it. Now, after my last resent changes, I can’t even find the bottom, let alone the edge, of my mana Pool anymore. No matter how far I let my mind wander over my mana pool, there is still more coming.”

“By all means. Yet there has to be a point from which our mana springs, to which it accumulates and lastly were it is also recycled. Checking all the facts, we can narrow down the possible locations from which our mana might come. The vastness of the universe itself will not provide a solid source, for that it´s still way to random and chaotic. Would be a better origin for Discord´s Powers, than the ones of an alicorn. That all our powers might come from a single celestial body I do not believe either. Your Sun Celestia or Luna’s Moon are very powerful bodies no doubt, but the powers I can feel ever since my ascension to an alicorn make me strongly doubt this thesis. More so now that I´m a seraphicorn – a transcended alicorn – and therefore not to neglect the latest level I mentioned from an hour ago,” Twilight briefly rambled her thinking.

“No matter it´s size and power both your celestial objects or my stars contain, it´s still not nearly enough power to fuel such a large amount of mana for four alicorn´s. There must either be a gigantic Planet, celestial body or something similar. Or that´s all false guesses and it even comes all down to a sub dimension from which our magic originates. Whereas thinking about it for once, the second option would sound more logical in terms of security and overall reliability for our powers. A whole dimension filled with pure alicorn magic would protect itself by the nature of our powers against any damage one could throw at it. And probably also kill any other being except an alicorn if they enter the Dimension thanks to an almost unlimited concentration of alicorn magic…”, the lavender mare mumbled at the end almost inaudible.

Luna had to laugh, much to Twilight’s confusion. She really hadn’t expected such a well explanation, even from Twilight. But she always liked to be surprised by the young mare’s intelligence. Twilight didn’t realize so far how accurate her quick guesses and the ideas she had expressed were. She had found exactly the right solution, without much sidetracking.”

“Luna?”, Twilight tilted her head and raised her right eyebrow. Why was Luna laughing all of a sudden?

I’m really sorry dearest Twilight, but I simply couldn’t hold on to myself any longer. To you, your assumptions probably sound so empty and random, yet they hit the nail right on the head. And not just a little bit, but as precisely as you could possibly do. I can’ add nothing more, except the confirmation that it is indeed an entire sub-dimension of our reality. An entire dimension from which the mana of an alicorn emanates, to which it is returned and where it gets stored. Also your murmur at the end corresponds also to the truth. It would be extremely unwholesome for instance your friends to enter this alicorn dimension – the astral plane by the way, as it is called by us. They couldn’t survive a second in it and while I don’t know for sure if one can feel pain in the astral plain, it would still be a horrible finite fate for them All. I think we can agree to spare them that. The other things, as I said, have already been correctly guessed by you.”

Luna darted her head to her elder sister. ”Tia? Is there anything else you can think of that Twilight or I hadn’t mentioned yet?”

The addressed white alicorn just shook her head briefly.” As I mentioned, you two are much more familiar with magic than I am. My knowledge is based only on more than a millennium of books that I have read. While that is also a lot, I have never really been interested in more than the general concept of mana and magic. I’m the mare for everything to do with the physical and strength. You the one with the intellectual and emotional.”

Nodding in sympathy and also smiling a bit, Luna focused her attention back on the junior seraphicorn.

“Then I’d declare that checked off – unless you have any more questions dear?”

Twilight friendly negated the question with an equally quick movement of her head.

“Fabulous, let’s return to the previous matter we had a few minutes ago. You are well aware, that whatever may happen, the soul of an alicorn remains on Equus, floating around and shaping the planet for good. That fact is pretty neat as well as a soul is normally invisible to the eye and almost untraceable by most arts of magic. Some very capable sorceress or an alicorn with its improved and superior vison would be able to see a soul. But while Equus might by far not be the biggest of planets, it’s still considerable big and finding an ethereal outline of a pony on its surface would still be incredibly hard.

Our soul will continue doing so, as long as it takes for our bodies to be revived. It’s a hard, dangerous and weekly long but with enough preparation feasible and almost safe ritual for non-alicorn´s and a still minute long but thanks to our powers simple task for an alicorn and seraphicorn. Once we are brought back, our soul is instantly pulled to our old selves, no matter the distance or location. As though nothing had happened in the first place to us."

“Yet it likely will leave us weakened for at least a few hours, until we have back our full strength. Still the power we got immediately following our resuscitation is rather high and certainly allows us to successfully defend and prevent our attacker from being able to kill us a second time. Well and there is the cool fact a force field will surround the body of a resurrected alicorn and protect it’s body for at least half a minute from incoming damage. Giving us even more time to prepare for fight or defense. For the worst we just had to flee with teleportation, still better than being killed over and over”, Celestia added with a calm voice and a smirk.

"But-", Twilight was about to start, but was held back once again by one of Luna's hooves and her friendly voice.

"If you would wait just a minute longer, dear. As far as I can guess, there is one more thing my sister would like to tell you, and I'm quite sure it can clear up the question you just had. I have a good guess, what it is about.”

Celestia nodded to Twilight for being patient just a little bit more and to her sister for the little help. “For what I got from today is, it seems to me that an alicorn can revive itself when it unlocks its true destiny and at the same time ascends to become a seraphicorn – a true god.”

“A status known to be just a legend as it is so very powerful that it renders you a being that can no longer be killed or even wounded. As such an entity is free of the influence of the concept of existence and remains its own independent force in the universe that can interact normal with it but can’t be interacted as long as they don’t want to. A true deity, embodies one of the fundamental aspects of the multiversal reality, and thus becomes a self-perpetuating immortal and soul bound to the concepts of reality, time and it’s embodied aspect. For as long as his aspect exists, a true deity can’t die and for as long as he exists, something exists with that very aspect. A flawless and unbreakable cycle that sustains itself, as I said. And well, as light, non-corruptive darkness, love and in your case all kinds of magic, are four such aspects, I reckon my chances of being right rather high.”

“I can't tell you exactly how I know about that all, maybe I once read it in the book or maybe it's an internal feeling I know without having it ever learned. But I stand by it, it is now no longer possible to harm your body on any level, which creates a little problem with you being you. So, I sincerely beg you to let this theory stand for the time being, without testing. I don't wish to have to search for a way to bring the sole Empress of Equestria back from the dead for at least the next few years, but longer is always better y know. Moreover, after the events of today, I doubt that Equestria would be able to cope with your renewed demise anytime soon without suffering serious consequences. Our kingdom may be vigorous and managed to get through a lot, but I think it would be preferable to let it return to a ´normal´ state first, before we start experimenting elsewhere."

"Agreed?"

Celestia eagerly peered at her fellow peer and friend, burning to hear Twilight's statement.

"Love to, Tia", Twilight grinned wide over both ears. "Today has been busy and I think it will take me several weeks or more to truly understand and accept all that has happened in the last 24 hours. And all of Equestria itself probably years if not longer, except the ones that sadly never will accept it. There are and always will be the ones complaining about the aspect of logic, for the existence of a being that is truly immortal and unable to die, has powers that cannot be put in relation to anything because they are so powerful or whatever else you want to name”, the lavender seraphicorn shrugged with a deadpan look. Indicating she had it sown to hear that every day anew and actually didn’t care anymore what such ponies might think. She knew her abilities to the core and that meant she was also aware what was the truth and lie about an alicorn’s and seraphicorn´s powers.

Celestia and Luna giggled.

Twilight´s eyes narrowed. “Nevertheless, I would like to inform you, that the three of us will have quite a few conversations to share with each other and I'm sure Cadance would like to be there as well. So, Spike? If you would be so kind to inform Cadance as fast as possible as well, I would be more than grateful. And who knows, we might find some gems in all that rumble and dust kicked up in Canterlot after all”, Twilight cheekily winked at her faithful draconic assistance and son – at least according to their mutual view, not biologically.

The young dragon saluted and quickly got to work writing a letter to the fourth princess of Equestria and sole ruler of the Crystal Empire.

Her request in good claws, the young princess turned back to the two remaining alicorn´s and her close friends with her on the field. Twilight snorted through her muzzle and hung her head slightly as their eyes met. "All things considered, with what I found out myself and learned from both of you - but I don't feel like a goddess. Not at all. Just like a really strong pony with the thrill to do good with all I have."

"And there is nothing wrong with that. Those who don't consider themselves worthy or fit to lead and rule are the best leaders there are. Those who believe it is their right to lead are the worst kind of tyrants. Stay just as you are dearest, for as long as your solicitude and humility knows no end, you will do great things, I am sure. Nevertheless you will more than once have to deal with Ponies and other creatures that see you as such and will worship you no matter what you say. That’s the only curse we alicorn´s have and will have to accept and deal with", Luna yoked and Celestia had added the last two sentences to her younger sisters words.

Twilight got red like a tomato and a deep blush painted her cheeks. She composed herself rather fast and her horn glowed in its new characteristic pure white as she casted a spell onto herself – namely her throat. As she spoke her voice was amplified to the royal Canterlot voice and only at the beginning a bit shaky due to her mild embarrassment. Otherwise her voice was solid and strong as it was cast across the meadow.

N- nevertheless, that's also one of the reasons why I would like to postpone the coronation - at least until the castle is restored. In any case, we still have to accommodate all the other creatures, whom I hereby cordially invite to my coronation, if they didn't already know.” Twilight extended her hoof towards the assembled crowd behind the other princesses, that had silently watched and listened to what happened. Most of them now began to slightly bow or nodded their heads in the lavender seraphicorn ´s direction, that they had understood and were honored to be invited to probably one of the most sacred of events Equestria had. “While the castle´s atrium was vast before, I will arrange for it to be built just a tiny bit larger. Not more than 20% however, there shouldn´t be any problem with space in the next many years to hold festivals and announcements. Even if the population of Equestria will increase, as I´m very confident it will."

Twilight would have expected a lot, pretty much anything actually, but Celestia, Luna and even Discord bowing low before her in a show of deference befitting a grand ruler shocked her still greatly. The Draconequus had never bowed his head before any creature or pony, it was just something not meant for his status, he had said. And now he had his head lowered and his knee on the ground in front of her of all ponies. Yet Twilight quickly realized that all three meant it in the spirit of mutual esteem and not as anything else.

"As you wish Your Highness," retorted all three in union and Celestia added something else as she rose a second later and went to Twilight, stroking her cheek kindly with one of her big, white wings.

"Twilight, I can't tell you how overly proud I am of you, that despite the stressful situations today you still keep the reins so tight. It shows me that you are the perfect pony to take charge of Equestria from us both. There is no one I would trust with the wellbeing of Equestria more than you. Your devotion of preserving all life no matter who they are or if they wronged you once, all even at the expense of your own, shows that you have truly merited your Crown and the status of an alicorn – ehhh I should probably say seraphicorn now”, Celestia awkwardly giggled. Twilight just shrugged her shoulders. Alicorn or seraphicorn – technically she was still the same species. She just had four more wings on her back and probably a hundred times more power than earlier that day.

“Even if the second isn’t our doing. A mother will always put her children first", Celestia had spoken further while Twilight spun her thoughts.

Utterly caught off guard by being distracted in her thoughts, Twilight's voice was uneven as she looked up and spoke to Celestia. Never had she expected such a high and honest spoken praise coming from Celestia. Her heart was warmed and swelled with kind of every good feeling she ever felt.

"W-wow, thank you. You don't know how honored I am to hear that from you. You've always been the pony I've looked up to the most second only to my mother and whether that will ever completely change, I doubt it."

Retracting her wing Celestia continued to smile and was shortly joined by her younger sister. So far the dark blue alicorn said nothing and just watched the conversation between former mentor and student.

"You're more than welcome. I appreciate how much you've always looked up to me. It’s an overly great honor for me as well. But since the day you became an alicorn as well more than three years ago, we are at least equals. Even if I believe you will have an even greater legacy than my sister or me. As you might guess however I would rather have you as a mutual friend and companion than someone who looks up to me. In fact, you have been more of an inspiration to our ponies than I have ever been to them. That might sound unbelievable but it’s true. Lulu and I might be alicorn´s and great leaders, but your compassion, friendliness and harmony to others is the real deal to what our pony’s look up to. Ponies are creatures that deep down ultimately strive after peace and harmony after all. So that´s something you should not forget for yourself and your capabilities.”

“I might be capable of many things and in some I’m also very good as it is expected from a being more than a millennia old. But there are still many things left, I am able to improve. Like your blazing unhindered kindness and devotion to our subjects for example. That probably is a thing coming from your embodiment of friendship and Harmonic peace. I, for one, have distanced myself a little too far from our ponies in the last few centuries, and Luna has been on the moon for 1,000 years what’s partial a fault on my part. There will be difficulties in getting in touch with our subjects anew, but with your help it should be possible with ease.”

Twilight hit a new world record in Red and hadn’t she been an seraphicorn probably would have fainted because of too much blood in her head.

Celestia proceeded unhindered, an alicorn and Twilight for sure couldn’t die because of something so trivial than that.

“I understand that it will probably be a long time until we no longer have the student-teacher relationship we had in the past and you have become fully accustomed to no longer addressing your peers as princesses, as that is not a necessary. I like it more being addressed as Celestia or Tia, while not being on royal duty’s, especially by my dear friends. Either way, let's not stress and rush things, there is more than plenty time for each four of us."

Celestia draped one of her large white wings over Twilight's spine as she pulled the equally tall seraphicorn closer to her sides and gave her a friendly smile and cheek nuzzle. Which Twilight returned, nudging Celestia in the side of her cheek with her own muzzle. The white alicorn´s voice was gentle and quiet as she spoke anew.

"Just as you have respect and regard for Luna, Cadance, or myself, we have the same amount for you. Remember at all times, you ARE an alicorn/seraphicorn and that alone is a sacred and honorable accomplishment that you can be very prideful of. While it may be a heavy burden at times to have so great power and authority to make decisions, or to be required to solve so many problems on a daily basis, each of us is still a pony. Yes, a pony with unique and incredible powers/abilities, eternal live that can’t be erased and a body that defines the laws of the very universe itself, but still. Just. A. Pony.”

As Celestia fell silent and Twilight proceeded to stand there with red cheeks and unmoving, still processing things, Luna took over in speaking. "Each of us is a being that is highly valued and honored, not because of the powers and magic we possess, but because of what we have done for our ponies throughout our existence. Each of us has helped shape the world into what it is today and although you were still so young for an alicorn, you have done no less than any of us, maybe even some more as your new auras and your ascend to a seraphicorn are any indication. I can practically feel the raw harmony and peace permitting the air around you. And that includes your friends, of course. I would never dare to exclude them. They accompanied you throughout this journey and made you the pony that you are today. Accordingly, I'd say we're quit," Luna winked.

Silently spreading her second wing, Celestia gestured with her head to Twilight´s other five friends and Spike, standing a few meters behind Twilight, to come under her other wing as well. All six delightedly made their way immediately to Celestia although they were still a little uneasy, except Spike. He had lived almost his whole live in the Castle and was very familiar with the white alicorn and it wasn’t like Celestia had any ill intend in wishing for them to come near her. Settling under the alicorn's large wing, Celestia pulled them closer to her body as well, as the alicorn gave them a good hearted wing hug.

Celestia´s voice was full of compassion and very silent as she addressed the mares cuddled under her wing. She even caught herself twice restraining herself from giving any of Twilight's six friends a nose nudge with her own muzzle. It didn't seem appropriate in the current situation with so many others watching, but later in private, that could quickly change Celestia smirked.

"Thank you! Thank you, for all you have done for Twilight. Let me tell you that you are the best friends Twilight could ever have. I´m a little jealous. All of you have my equally full respect as well, in your situation I could not have stayed so calm when I saw Twilight lying on the ground so battered and broken. It proves to me how strong each of your characters is and how unbreakable your mutual friendship really is. Even in the face of a total disaster, like in this instance the presumed death of your friend and leader Twilight. You didn’t stop fighting for what you believe to be right.”

“It might have been a bit tardy, that each of you was prepared to avenge Twilight, whatever the consequences of your actions might have been. But in contrast to what I would normally say to pony’s, that yes it was foolish. I can understand that the one thing you could think of after Twilight's fall was raw unbothered revenge.”

Celestia cleared her throat. “To be honest, I wouldn't have done it any differently in your position, but being over a thousand years old…I have seen and experienced many things that permitted me to see the matter somewhat neutrally, even if my heart and soul was burning in incredible grieve for the loss. Somehow, deep down, I knew this wasn't the end."

"T- Thank you Princess," Applejack uttered stuttering as she tipped her hat and lowered into a bow to Celestia. Followed by each of the rest of the mares, including Spike giving a bow to Celestia. However, her cowboy hat was promptly grabbed in golden magic and placed back on Applejack's mane as Celestia used her front hoof to help the mares up.

"Nothing of that, please. No one of you has to bow to me either anymore, you already got that privilege years ago - you have earned it more than once in your lives. Besides, Twilight is a princess just like my niece, sister and I. As her dearest friends and something like her second family, you are just as much a part of the royal family as she is.”

Celestia´s gaze got thoughtful. "Come to think of it, how is it that you have never received an official title of honor for your deeds? We, or rather Twilight should do it as the new ruler. You've certainly earned it." With a wink and a light laugh to everyone, Celestia continued. "And it's not as if the nobles could do anything about it really, if one of their princesses decided to do so."

"Thank you Pri- Celestia!" all five mares replied almost simultaneously, while Celestia inclined her head slightly in the direction of the other mares in thanks and honor.

"Please, as I said before, you have nothing to thank me for. Rather, that should be my job today. What you all had to go through today was something I wouldn't wish on anyone, not even my enemies. I know in more than one case, what it is like to have to witness something like that. Unfortunately, I myself was not denied that in many occasions and it was nothing to take ever lightly - but enough of that. It´s the long gone past anyway and today should be a day about joy and fun, rather than somber and grief. That said, what do you think, Twilight? Does that also seem as a good idea in your mind?"

Celestia moved her head to the lavender seraphicorn and cocked it a fraction to the side inquiringly.

The latter smirked. "I think that can be arranged, as I had even toyed for some time with the idea of bestowing titles of nobility upon my friends and son Spike. I guess until now I was just too reserved, maybe slightly afraid of what the nobility would say if I gave such a thing to my closest friends. Surely they'd suspect I'm abusing my Position and power to give them an advantage," Twilight replied with a slight tint on her cheeks.

"Oh Twilight. You know as well as any of us that this is nonsense. Each of your friends deserves to receive a high honor for their deeds - like a title, for example. Most of the nobles know that, they are just too envious to acknowledge - and even if they did complain!", countered Celestia slyly. "Even then, there would be nothing they could do about it. We are their princesses, the pony’s above telling them what to do. As well as one doing many things for our kingdom every single day, often putting our own interests second just to see our subjects happy. I think it's only fitting and legitime, that we use our power to do something good for ourselves or others from time to time in controversy."

Twilight scratched her chin. "Hmmm, you're right, Celestia, but I'll still have to think about it, though."

Nodding with understanding, Celestia consented to Twilight. "Fine by me. It’s your independent decision. Take your time and first get used to running an entire kingdom for a while, but you shouldn’t take too long to make up your mind either." On which Twilight nodded knowingly.

Applejack, who had been generally very quiet until now, had shot Twilight several narrowed-eyed glances in the last quarter of an hour. Twilight had not failed to notice them, but had planned to wait to see if Applejack would speak up herself. Her friend's gaze had been directed mainly at her chest and sides, but as it seemed she didn´t seem to be interested in her six wings. Rather searching for something. If Applejack hadn´t spoken up, she would have later asked her in private. Instead, the organ-colored earth pony mare raised her voice of her own accord.

"I would like to ask you all one last question. I'm not the only one who saw that parts of Twi's body were kind of - uhh transparent until recently? And even now there's something different about her fur. It has such an unusual shimmer to it. I´m well aware that alicorn´s are pure creatures of magic and have some really powerful abilities and magics, but I've just never seen anything like this before."

Celestia was the first mare to speak up, even though Rarity had also started to say something in reply. Twilight in turn, pricked up her ears and looked down her body in surprise.

"No! I had asked myself the same thing. It's something I couldn't explain. Now that I've looked a little closer with the help of Magical Sight, I can explain it even less."

None of the gathered mares bothered to ask what Magical Sight was all about, Twilight had already explained it to them once about three years ago. Luna however, didn't seem to know this fact, as the dark blue alicorn almost inevitably began to explain.

"An alicorn, by itself, without magic, has the natural ability to see the magical lineages in a pony's body as they pass through it from the magic core if they wish too. As well as being able to track individual accumulations and processes of magic through the body, such as when a unicorn were to use magic to cast a spell or a pegasus wanting to move a cloud out of the way. Given that Twilight had mentioned the magic core earlier, I think you know what it is?" Luna paused for a few moments until all the mares nodded in confirmation.

"But no such thing exists within Twilight any longer and with my magic and a few more spells, I can confirm I am not mistaken." Luna turned to the young seraphicorn, who looked more than surprised towards her and her gaze drifted back and forth between Luna's and her own chest. A moment later, Twilight lifted one of her hooves up as well, looking over it thoughtfully as she turned it back and forth.

"I'm really surprised you haven't noticed it yourself, it´s your body after all. Although I reckon it probably just feels normal to you and that's why you haven't noticed it yet. Possibly you wouldn't have even found it out for a long time, as your body doesn't show anything unusual from your perspective."

Luna cleared her throat. Oh boy, this is going to sound so fucking retarded. "Dearest, your entire body is now your magic core. Every fiber and cell of your body even down to the very atomic level is empowered or has been completely replaced by your unique brand of alicorn magic. As I see it, every single function of your body is being guided and executed by this new magic, though how this can be possible even I have no idea. That is something you have to find out for yourself. Knowing you, however, you will quickly succeed. My guess is that what we saw on the injured or missing parts of Twi's body was directly her raw new full-body magic core. After all, at first glance it looks to me like it's a flawless magical replica of her physique.

In response, Rarity now spoke up almost immediately. "So, if we were to, just theoretically, remove all fur, skin and such, we would have a creature made entirely of alicorn magic with the appearance of Twilight?" By the horrified looks from her friends and Twilight staring open-mouthed at her, the off-white mare fairly quickly realized that her theory wasn't really being met with sympathy. Which was why she quickly jerked her hooves upwards and flailed them wildly in the air defensively. "No, no! Speaking purely theoretically, of course – we still shouldn't try it, even if it were possible."

Twilight acted relieved. "Eh yes, I do beg to differ. I'm kind of attached to my fur and skin thanks and that' not just physically," Twilight quipped even though her look said she didn't mean it as a joke.

Everypony fell into a prolonged laughter that was rekindled by the rest of their friends every time one of them tried to pause. Almost two minutes passed before they were able to get themselves under control and wipe the last tears of joy from their eyes using their hooves.

"While I don´t want to spoil the fun. What about those two over there?," Luna interjected once the laughter had died down and she too had herself under control once more, as she pointed with her hoof to the statue of Chrysalis and Tirek. "With young Cozy I reckon things are clear, Princess Twilight surely already has a plan to get her back on the right path, but with those two I'm at a loss for now."

Both other alicorn´s and the remaining mares, tossed their heads at Luna's voice to glance over at the statue a few feet away.

Twilight cleared her throat. "As I said to both of them, I will be trying again with them in a millennium, until then they will be given a nice place in the castle gardens. They should have kept their promise for once...my mood to deal with them at the moment isn’t exactly the best. Better for them to stay in their stone prison, rather than me approaching them now."

Twilight cast her gaze behind her back and offered Cozy one last brief and friendly smile. To which the young pegasus rose within the force field and bowed deeply before Twilight in thanks and reverence with a single tear at the edges of her eyes.

"Guards!”, Twilight´s voice was commanding and forceful, almost bordering to the royal Canterlot voice, so she would be heard across the entire meadow.

“Please see that Cozy is placed in a safe and comfortable place, you will guard her at any times until I say otherwise, but I do not allow to hear a word that she has been mistreated. She is after all just a young, misguided foal, that was scarred and forced into doing things she didn´t want. I am more than confident I can straighten that out in no time. Until then, she is under my personal royal protection and I want her to be protect as well as you protect us princesses. Now go, I will deal with the problem later."

Six of the nearby guards on standby saluted and began trotting toward the force field, which was disintegrating into thousands of sparkling magic sparks by Twilight as they neared. Twilight watched as Cozy raised herself to her four legs and followed the guards without a fight. Why should she even? Princess Twilight had probably just granted her the least of a punishment she would ever get from any being she could have wronged.

Turning her head back to her friends and flashing especially Rainbow Dash a brief smile, that was returned by the cyan pegamare she proceeded in talking. "Come on girls, I have a brilliant idea of what would be appropriate after such a stressful and crazy day."

As she stretched the two lowest of her large wings to their fullest, she dropped them over the backs of the smaller mares, dragging her top five towards her middle, against her fluffy Coat. After a moment she began to urge them forward, towards Canterlot. Having taken a few steps, she flicked her horn into action and hoisted Spike onto her back, just below her neck, where the young dragon clung to keep from slipping off the seraphicorn´s large back.

Spike was perplexed for a second, he hadn’t ridden a pony so tall in a long time and the overview he now had was many times better than the one from his own height. As his claws vigorous but cautious grab more into Twilight’s fur he soon snuggled his whole body deeper into Twilight´s coat.

“Dam Twilight, your mane is unbelievably soft, I could probably fall asleep in it right away," Spike marveled as he dug his face deeper into Twilight's sparkling, flowing mane.

Twilight chuckled. "He thanks. That´s probably a side effect of my new seraphicorn-alicorn powers and don´t worry you'll have plenty of opportunity to ´cuddle my awesome mane´ many times over in the future. Well at least until you're too big to fit on my back that is. Luckily that will still take many decades and by then I should probably have found a change Alternation spell that works. I don’t know how big your special breed of dragon tends to get, as there is no clear record about another purple and green scaled dragon like you. But my alicorn magic should provide a strong enough source of Power to change your size to a fitting one. Even if you end up getting as tall as Canterlot Mountain itself”, Twilight smirked as she cast a cursory glance over her shoulder and nuzzled Spike with her muzzle.

Spike grinned as he winded himself deeper again in Twilight’s heavenly soft mane and fur. A sigh escaping his mouth.

While the sun slowly sank beyond the horizon, where it originally belonged at this point of day, it framed the seven friends in a bright corona of brilliant sparkling lights and colors as they made their way down the grassy field. Celestia and Luna silently watched the departing mares.

Stepping up next to her older sister, Luna lovely placed one of her wings over her sister's hips, followed by Celestia doing the same to Luna.

"Do you think she'll get over the loss of her primary and first friends?", Celestia craned her head towards Luna, her gaze both questioning and somewhat insecure at the answer her younger sister might have for her. An answer that only could add to her own worries about Twilight and the brilliant seraphicorn´s being.

Luna smirked. "Certainly, she will. Twilight has always been an exceedingly strong mare with a superior mind, acting on speed and ideas probably matched by none. We have to give her credit knowing that, over the years she has gotten a pretty good handle on her fears, that only will get better with more years of ruling. That said, you yourself have felt the type of magic and more importantly sheer level of power that she is now carrying around with her as a matter of principle. It´s like your standing in front of the Power of an entire universe compressed into a single pony shaped point. It feels beatific in every imaginable way I could think of.”

"You think we'll get to the next plain someday, too?", Celestia curiously glanced at her sister sideways, deep into her sparkling eyes. Luna's muzzle curved into a mischievous grin.

"I'm even pretty confident that it will happen eventually. After all, it's the next step in an alicorn's evolution and we have all the time in the world - literally. Still, Twilight IS magic and that will always make her special. Especially in strength and skill when it comes to anything involving magic itself. Besides, she will surely develop abilities that we ourselves can only dream of. Magic is and always will be the most powerful attribute of an alicorn, most of our powers are relying on it. Above all, much speaks for my assumption. Twilight is just slightly older than 20, where we and Cadance are more than 1,400 and 680 years old, respectively. Yet her abilities with magic already far surpass ours."

Her older sister said nothing, but that voiced all it had to so that Luna knew what Tia was thinking.

Luna´s eyes got clouded as her mind wandered. “I honestly don't know what Twilight is capable of at this point, she transcended to a higher form not seen or heard of before, but it's certainly going to be something that Equestria and the rest of the world will remember for eternity. Owing to the fact that she will outlast eternity itself, what’s normal for an alicorn, but still. She´s the only one achieving the former thing. Something you, Cadance and I still have to, so we better get to work sooner or later”, Luna chuckled dryly.

Luna spoke hence her sister could voice anything. “And besides, I´m not 100% sure that Twilight´s very first friends aging is still a problem she or any of them has to deal with. It´s just a random hunch, but it´s quiet strong…”

Celestia gave a smirk and gently bobbed her head in silent agreement. What else should she say to that? It felt to surreal to be true, even if it was.

"You know, it's like the end of an era, wouldn't you say?"

"I do, but with Twilight as empress in charge of our beautiful kingdom Equestria, I don't see what could be possibly wrong with it. True, you and I have spent the last scant millennium turning the realm into a paradise for our ponies, and it is by far more fertile, glorious, and secure than it was so many years ago -"

"- but in contrast to the harmony, peace, and friendship that Twilight will bring to Equestria, even that is but a drop in the bucket," Luna finished the thought for her sister.

"Our deeds will be remembered forever, I'm sure about that, but now is the time for Twilight to be the leader we all know she has been for years. I am so proud to have such an honorable and caring pony as a friend. And you, too, can be equally proud of yourself for the opportunity to have been her teacher to guide her on her journey."

Celestia laid her head in Luna's neck and closed her eyes as she nuzzled into her sister's soft, flowing mane.

"You're right, I am indeed."

“Armonia e pace eterna attraverso l'amicizia, Twilight”, Luna voiced in a low tone as she gazed behind the mares almost over the crest in the meantime, while she conversed with her older sister. “May your rule be as fruitful as ours. I know it will be.”





*End of Chapter Three*