Ends and Beginnings.
“I have made my decision.”
The elder Alicorns look on, waiting for the pink coated mare to tell them her answer.
“I will”
“Princess Celestia, I’ve finished this book.” A female voice interrupts Cadence before she can finish. The source of the voice trots out onto the balcony scants seconds later. “I have so many questions to ask you about…” Noticing the other two Alicorns she immediately addresses them. “Good evening Princess Luna.” Giving her a curt bow. “And it’s wonderful to see you Cadence!” Embracing her sister-in-law in a hug, “Is Shining with you? It’s been forever since I last saw him.”
Chuckling the youngest princess shakes her head no. “It’s nice to see you as well Twilight, but to answer your question, no, Shining Armor is still at home, taking care of business while I am away.”
Breaking the hug, the lavender mare turns towards her mentor, with a quizzical look on her face, but before she can speak the solar princess raises her hoof to silence her student and begins to speak.
“I’m glad you have finished the book and it is time to answer your questions.”
“Well, Princess, this copy only had 13 ‘books’, all documentation says that 16 books were recorded. Did your copy get damaged as well during the Nightmare Cult Rebellion?”
A smile graces her pristine white face, “No my faithful student, this copy is fully intact and undamaged. The other 3 books were written after this copy.” The four of them walking back into the large bedroom as they talk. “This copy is the original copy. All others were transcriptions of it or, as was more common, interpretations of the text” Seating themselves onto four cushions, the three Alicorns on one side, facing the smaller unicorn. “The original copy I have is comprised of both the words of scribes as well as the personal recordings of the three sisters.”
Twilight’s jaw drops looking between Luna and Celestia. “This…was the original copy? Those are your…your…journals?”
The other two Alicorns stay motionless, but Celestia nods her head. “To an extent yes. The three of us recorded what occurred so that all of our little ponies could learn from it. Now, the lessons recorded in there are the reason I summoned you and Cadence here.” The Alicorn of love shows no reaction to the comment, just placing a knowing look upon her face. “That reason is, the third sister.”
“The Twilight, princess? I never knew you had another sister. To lose her in such a horrid way. I don’t know if I could have taken it.”
“Yes, it was hard, but Luna and I endured. We had to with Discord beginning his sick, twisted games. Now, do you recall the last thing she said to us? Her last words as recorded in the book?”
Nodding her head, the studios mare responds, “She said she would return when she was most needed.” A sudden thought occurs to Twilight Sparkle, “Does this mean she is ready to return?”
“Very good. Yes, the Twilight can return.”
“How? Discord…he…shattered her.”
“It is true he shattered her, but the spirit persisted. It is the two pieces, body and spirit that must be rejoined.”
Twilight shoots to a standing position, “I understand. I’ll go get the girls and we’ll start looking for the two pieces. I promise you Princess, your sister shall be returned!”
“There is no need Twilight, Luna and I have already found the two pieces.” Confused, Twilight starts to speak, but Princess Celestia continues, “The body is to my left,” gesturing with her head at Princess Cadence. “She is the first Alicorn born since the Twilight ascended.”
“If she’s the body, then where’s…the…spirit” A thought crosses her mind. “The sixth Element of Harmony was the Twilight. I’m the Element of Magic. I’m the spirit of the Twilight…I need to join with Cadence to return her…I”M GOING TO BE MY BROTHER’S WIFE!?” She begins to hyperventilate, “I don’t want all of those fillys that taunted me as having a brother complex in the academy to have been right!...”
A white hoof held to her mouth silences the distraught mare; a large white wing wraps itself over her, comforting her from the sudden realization. “Calm yourself my little pony. You will not need to merge with Cadence.”
Still hyperventilating Twilight takes a few deep breaths before asking her question. “If I don’t, then how will your other sister return?”
“The spirit of my sister is the spark of magic itself. She is the sixth element and exists as a separate power within you. When you tap into the Element of Magic, you are tapping into her power.”
Looking more composed, the unicorn turns towards her mentor, “So I will just lose my connection to the Elements of Harmony and Cadence will gain it? That doesn’t sound so bad.”
The solar diarch’s voice turns grave, “That is correct, but there is more.”
Luna meet’s Celestia’s gaze and nods. “Sister, you must continue. I was not present for the signs as you were.”
“I know Luna.” Turning her head towards her student the princess of the sun continues, “Twilight, your family has always contained powerful unicorns, among them being Clover the Clever. You must know that even without the Spark of Magic you would have been as powerful, if not more so than your brother. That however has changed. Under the influence of the Spark, your magical power has eclipsed every other unicorn in history. This has complicated things. The Spark grants you control over the vast ocean of magical potential inside of you. If we remove it, your power could go out of control.”
Getting up, Celestia returns to her former position, sitting between the other two Alicorns.
“I had prepared for the first possibility. I have taught you very fine control over your magic and you have proven to have great restraint for somepony with such power.”
“Thank you princess, but I’m nothing special.”
Shaking her regal head the sun continues, “That is where you are wrong my student. But it gladdens my heart that you are so humble. The next problem that has only recently appeared, I had not anticipated. Your power has started to mingle with that of the Spark. Slowly they are merging. If we remove the Spark we will also remove a significant portion of your own magical power.”
Shocked, Twilight manages to squeak out a question. “How…how weak would I become?”
Celestia’s expression turns grave, “If we are lucky you will be as powerful as your friend Rarity. If we aren’t, you may be limited to very basic levitation. I’m so sorry Twilight.”
A quite voice speaks, “I’ll do it.”
“What was that Twilight?
“I said I’ll do it. If it’s a choice between returning your sister to you and staying a super-powered unicorn, I will choose family every time. I don’t care if it results in me never being able to use magic again. I’ll still have my friends and family.” Turning towards her sister-in-law, she continues, “That is Cadence, if you want to ascend and become the new Twilight.”
Many things cross through the mind of the young Alicorn. Thoughts of her husband growing old while she remains young. Thoughts of her foals dying from old age while she remained eternal. Thoughts of the hundreds of descendants she could spend time with and guide into fine mares and stallions. The eons of boundless love she could spread. Her thoughts are at war with each other. She thinks of the sacrifice that Twilight is so willing to make. A sacrifice that not many unicorns would be willing to make. She thought of the lessons learned by the Twilight. Of loss and love. Standing up, she beckons the others to stand.
“Princess Luna, Princess Celestia, and Twilight, will the three of you please join me on the balcony?”
The four mares walk onto the balcony, the light of the full moon bathing them in its radiance. Cadence walks in front of the other three, turns to face them and resumes speaking.
“I have made my choice. I have listened to my heart and to the lessons of the past. The Twilight did not have the choice I am granted now and if she had, I believe she would make the same choice. I choose to stay mortal and live out my days as the All-Seeing sees fit. I know the both of you had looked forward to being joined by a third eternal, but I can not suffer the pain of watching all those I love die while I remain. My aspect is love and I feel it stronger than any other. It would break my heart over and over. I’m sorry.”
Both elder princesses nod, having expected as much.
“But Cadence think of all the love you could…”
Twilight Sparkle’s words die on her lips as an intense white glow erupts from her eyes. Power continues to expand from her, levitating her off the balcony’s floor. Wings of pure magical energy erupt from her back, bathing all present in purple light. Her mouth agape, a voice echoes forth. It is not her voice, but the voice of the long silent Twilight.
“Cadence, you have made a wise choice. Long did I bemoan my fate to outlive all those I held dear. So much did I despair that I almost fell to Discord’s trickery. Had it not been for you two, my dear sisters, I’m afraid I may have fallen that day, willingly breaking myself such that the demon could consume my power. Sisters, do not mourn me for I will always be a part of you. Dawn and Dusk are eternal companions of the Sun and Moon. Like them I am two pieces of a whole. Each combined is known as twilight. Both are eternal. Know that when this mare lives her final minute, which will not be for some time, I like the other Elements of Harmony, will pass to a new host. I will always be with you.”
The light fades and the purple unicorn lands softly onto the marble floor. Her mane and tail disheveled, she looks up at the three stunned Alicorns. “Wha…what happened?” As she promptly passes out from the massive magical surge.