//------------------------------// // 12: How Equestria Was Made [No Tag] // Story: Party Every Day // by Esle Ynopemos //------------------------------// ((Prompt: The next step beyond alicorn.)) The fading light of sunset glittered off the golden regalia, set carefully aside on the ground. Celestia looked somehow smaller without them on. She still had her flowing mane, billowing with the colors of a spring morning, but without her crown binding it, locks of sparkling green and pink kept falling across her face. Her long, slender legs still put her head and shoulders above any normal pony, but without her gilded horseshoes, her hooves looked thin and delicate. She still stood with the posture of a creature whose rule over ponykind had gone unquestioned for a millennium, but without her barding, she looked somehow more humble. Her smile, though... Celestia's smile was unchanged. Her serene smile still glowed with the warmth of a summer morning. It was still the same smile that had always looked over Equestria and quietly conveyed a sense of pride and eternal hope. Celestia gave Twilight Sparkle her smile as she spoke to her softly. “The future I leave in your capable hooves, Twilight.” Twilight's chin trembled as she blinked in incomprehension. “B-but Prin—” A brief flicker of Celestia's eyes caused Twilight to correct the old habit. “But Celestia,” she said, “where are you going?” The faintest of laughter built in the diarch's throat. “It is not where I am going, my friend, but what I am doing. I am learning, dear Twilight. You have shown me the way.” “Shown you the way? P—Celestia, I don't understand.” Twilight's eyes shifted between her old mentor and the set of regalia on the ground. “What have I taught you?” Celestia raised her head, her eyes twinkling in the last light of sunset. “How to be more than I am,” she said. Twilight opened her mouth to speak once again, but Luna placed a gentle hoof on her back. “We will miss you, sister.” Celestia smirked. “Dear Luna, you are going to have to acclimate yourself to modern pronouns one of these days.” “You misunderstand me,” Luna said, shaking her head. “We will all miss you.” Celestia took a deep breath. “I will miss you all as well. But I shall see you again. I promise.” Luna, Celestia and Twilight shared in a long embrace. At length, the solar princess withdrew. “I must go now. You will take good care of Equestria, I know.” She took a few steps away and closed her eyes. As the last colors of twilight faded from the sky to be replaced by nighttime, a soft white glow surrounded her horn. Slowly it spread, engulfing her entirely. Steadily the light grew brighter, more intense. Celestia radiated light as though she were the sun herself, and for a brief moment, it was noon on the dais on which they stood, instead of night. As the coolness of the night returned and Twilight's eyes readjusted, there was no longer an alabaster alicorn. Only a collection of wispy sparks that twinkled and faded as a gentle breeze scattered them into the sky. Twilight sank to her haunches and leaned her head into Luna's shoulder, tears streaming from her eyes. * Celestia saw nothing, for she had no eyes, but she could tell there was light. She felt nothing, for she had no body, but she could tell there was warmth. She heard nothing, for she had no ears, but she could tell there was laughter. She did not know where she was, but it did not matter. She was everywhere and nowhere. She did not know how long it had been, but it did not matter, because time had no meaning to her. Celestia could feel herself losing something, like a piece of herself was slipping out of her grasp. Her memories. The untold centuries were eroding away, evaporating in the light. Reflexively, she fought against it, tried to shield her memories from the light. A voice came to her, and she recognized it as her own. Relax, her own memories told her, in a voice made of pictures and old conversations and emotions. This is what must happen, if we are to grow. Reluctance gripped her. After so long, her memories were all that she had. They were all that she was, and they were so very precious to her. But then she found a memory, and it was of Twilight Sparkle. She remembered her student's courage, her willingness to forge ahead in the faith that it would all work out. Celestia remembered why she was doing this, and she let go. Millenia disappeared. Old friends from long ago. Nights spent worrying over how to care for her little ponies. The night her sister fell to darkness. The night she returned to light. All of it faded into the light. Her age disappeared. Her name disappeared. The last memory she held onto was of Twilight's face as a filly, stars gleaming in her eyes as she had been accepted for training. And then that was gone, too. All there was left of the being that was no longer named Celestia was her smile. Her eternal, unwavering smile remained the very core of her being as she was given new life. She suddenly had a body once more, and could feel the warmth. She had eyes once again and could see the hazy, brilliant light. She had ears once more and could hear the wonderful voice of the world. * The doctor bore a wide grin. “I don't know if I've ever seen such a smile on a newborn before,” he remarked. He used a towel to dry the new foal off and wrapped it in a soft blanket. “Congratulations, Mr. and Mrs. Pie, it's a filly.” He placed the newborn in her mother's waiting arms. “What are you going to name her?” the doctor asked. “She's so pink,” the mother remarked, staring lovingly down at her child. “We'll call her Pinkamena.”