Four Years Later
The sounds of your boots on the metal walkway are unmistakable in and of themselves, but the additional sound of worried trotting that echoes just behind them leaves little doubt in the minds of the ponies working in the berths as to who just arrived. The newer workers set down their tools in preparation to bow, but their older coworkers just shake their heads, instead waving to you. You smile and wave back, knowing most of them by name at this point.
“My Prince... I beg of you to reconsider! You know how the Council feels about you going on these excursions unescorted!”
You stop and turn to the nervous pegasus guard as he trots in place behind you.
“Pyre... didn’t you tell me yesterday that your wife was pregnant?”
He stops trotting and looks at you with curiosity. “Well... yes. Yes, she is. It’ll be our third. But I don’t see...”
You place a hand on his shoulder. “Go home and spend some time with her. Take her out to a nice dinner or something. You know the drill: if the Council gives you any flak, we’ll handle it, just like we always have. Have I ever steered you wrong before?”
He glances to the side. “W-Well, on several occasions—”
“You know what? Don’t answer that. And get going, already, that’s an order!”
The tired pegasus sighs and salutes. “Yes, My Prince, as you command.”
You can’t help but smile as you watch him turn tail and head home. Dedicated to a fault... you couldn’t ask for a better personal guard. Though you sometimes wish he’d relax a little more.
You continue on your journey down the walkway until your destination looms in front of you. A wave of your hand signals one of the techs to approach and he does so, albeit nervously.
“How’s she looking?” you ask.
He salutes. “The standard maintenance schedule’s been completed, Your Highness. She’s ready for departure!”
“Good to hear. Do you happen to know if the modifications I asked for were made?”
The pony flips through a few sheets on his clipboard. “Yes, Your Highness, they were finished yesterday.”
You resist the urge to fist pump at the news. Or at least you’ll save it until you’re at the helm. As your wife says, a certain amount of decorum is required when one is in public, and you try to keep to that principle to avoid any lectures.
With a wave and statement of thanks to the tech, you make your way up the gantry, through the portside storage area, and into the living quarters. You run your fingers across the paneling as you pass by the bedroom entrances and through the shared kitchen and dining area to ultimately climb the stairs to the open deck and stand at the pilot’s console.
And with the flip of a switch, and the turn of the key, the engines of the Dawn Star III roar to life.
The truth is, as a Prince of Equestria, you could’ve asked for anything you wanted. Hell, you could’ve had your own Concordia. But you’ve only ever owned three airships, all based on the original blueprints developed by the Apple and Orange Shipyard in response to an old roommate’s requests. And despite the opulent suite you now share in the castle, this is what truly feels like home.
The fate of the first ship is well known... it’s almost the stuff of legends by now, and apparently a movie is in the works. Somehow, you doubt it’ll capture the feeling of really being there.
The second ship you crashed in a race with a good friend of yours; a pony who knows airships like the back of his hoof. The two of you have a bit of a rivalry going and try to take to the skies as often as you can, testing the professional maintenance crews of the ERA’s modifications against his own. He usually wins, given that he’s a genius when it comes to this stuff, but to you it’s more about the thrill of flight, and the opportunity to catch up with one another, than it is about the competition.
Which brings you to this third version. Each one has been a slight iteration of the last, using the latest technology, but keeping the general design the same. And while the later versions can certainly outperform the original in speed and maneuverability, it’ll always hold a special place in your heart.
The vertical turbines spin up, and before you know it you’re rising into the air, high into the late afternoon sky above Canterlot. Cloud cover is sparse and the temperature is pleasant; winter having officially ended several weeks ago. After reaching your desired altitude, you lower your goggles, point the ship’s bow toward your destination, and begin tearing through the sky.
Wouldn’t want to be late for your date, after all.
~~~~~~~~~
You sail over a somewhat small mountain range to the south of the Kingdom and set the ship to hover in place. After unfolding a beach chair on deck and kicking back, you crack open a copy of the latest Daring Do novel. There’s nothing really left to do but wait. You never were one for reading fiction, but there’s something about these stories...
An hour passes, the sun moving lower in the sky, and you close the book, a bookmark safely placed where you left off. A quick scan of the skies reveals an unexpected visitor approaching, her wings effortlessly gliding through the nearby thermals to carry her to you. Four hooves touch down on deck and you sit up to greet her, a smile on your face.
“So, the prodigal princess-in-training returns. How was it? Was it everything that you imagined it’d be?”
Twilight nods enthusiastically. “Oh, yes, it was all that and more! You were right, Anon, even though you described your journey to me in detail, it was nothing like being there... some things really do have to be experienced for oneself to be understood.”
“Well, I’m glad you made it back safely. How’d you find me out here, anyway? And where are the others?”
She grins. “Oh, that? Empyrean Blaze told me where you were.”
You facepalm. Goddamn it, Pyre...
“And as for the others, they’re with their families. It’s been several months, and I’m sure they’ve been missed.”
“Yeah, I’m sure you’re right about that. But why are you out here talking to me? What about your own folks?”
“Oh, I stopped by to talk to Mom and Dad while I was in Canterlot. But you guys...” she blushes a bit. “You’re kind of like my family, too. Speaking of which, where’s...?”
“Not here yet, I’m afraid,” you reply. “But you’re welcome to wait with me if you’d like. She should be here any minute now.”
Her ears fold back. “Oh. Unfortunately, I have a lot of things to take care of at the Library now that I’m back, but I allotted twenty minutes in my schedule for this visit, and—”
“Twilight...”
She blinks. “What?”
“What would Cel say if she heard you talking like that?”
The purple alicorn adopts a regal pose, raises a hoof, and does her best Sunbutt impression.
“Twilight Sparkle, while your skill at organizing is admirable, you needn’t live your life by lists all the time. The ability to be flexible and adapt to changing circumstances is one of the key aspects of being a princess.”
Your jaw drops and you suppress a chuckle. “WOW! That was dead-on!”
She giggles. “I know, right? I had a lot of practice doing impressions when we were telling campfire stories. I can do Luna too, if you’d like.”
“Maybe another time,” you say, leaning back in your chair again, eyes scanning the sky. “But tell me, ‘cause my curiosity is killing me at this point... am I going to need to be looking over my shoulder for a hyperactive pink alicorn anytime soon? Please say no, because I honestly don’t think I can handle it.”
She shakes her head, chuckling a bit.
“No, Anon. You’re safe for now. None of the others have ascended. It’s... it’s not something to be taken lightly. They need to talk with their families, and Teacher, and ultimately make the decision for themselves. I don’t know what each of them will choose, though I’ll be fine with whatever they decide. But the very act of challenging and overcoming the Trials together... oh, Anon... it’s strengthened our friendship to a level I never knew was possible...”
She blinks away a few tears, her smile never faltering. “They’re my sisters now, Anon. I can’t even begin to describe how much that means to me.”
The look in her eyes brings a smile to your face, and at once you find it striking just how different Twilight seems to be now. It’s true that a trip through the Trials of Equus will cause you to come back a different person... or pony... than when you left, but she truly seems happier. And healthier, too. Her mane and coat seem to shine in the sun; her simple, joyful smile a mirror of its radiance.
“I’m happy for you, Twilight. I really am. And I guess you must be relieved to finally have your full magic back after everything that’s happened. I can’t imagine the feeling, but it must be something else.”
Strangely, her ears fold back and she steps away from you, her eyes cast downward.
“Actually, I... that’s... that’s one of the reasons I’m here. I haven’t restored my magic. I... I don’t think I ever really intended to from the start.”
You sit up, confusion on your face.
“...What? But why?”
She shakes her head and sniffles a bit. “Anon... I didn’t realize until much later... and until after I really went back and thought about all that happened... what I did to you that day when we abducted you using that spell scroll...”
You sigh. “Twilight... I told you before; it’s water under the bridge. You don’t have to—”
“It’s not!” she yells back, tears starting to form. “You... you said you wanted to kill me in that moment, and I completely understand why! What I took from you then... what I took from Celestia...” She falls back on her haunches and looks away again. “I came to realize what I’d done to you both and I knew I couldn’t live with myself if I didn’t fix it. That you both forgave me afterwards is still something that to this day causes me to both laugh with joy and cry because I didn’t deserve it. You both loved me and treasured my friendship that much, and I...”
Her horn glows with an unsteady aura. Over the years, she’s regained the use of a bit of her magic, but when you last saw her she could do no more than simple telekinesis to lift very small objects. She removes the simple brooch holding a portion of her mane in place, and separates the single small gem in its center.
“This was never meant for me, Anon. I know that now, and my time on Equus, struggling through the Trials together with the girls only reinforced that knowledge in my heart.”
You stand and the stone levitates before you.
“All I could think about as we fought through hardship after hardship... was what the two of you must’ve gone through together during those three days and nights on the island. How you must’ve struggled and supported one another...”
You reach out, capturing the stone from the air. There’s a familiar rush of magic that nearly forces you to your knees.
“I give this to you willingly. It’s yours to do with as you please. Even now, I don’t think it’s enough... but it’s all I know to do.”
You spend a moment to regain your composure, cradling the precious stone to your chest.
“But what about you, Twilight? Have you really thought this through?”
Now she smiles again, blinking the tears away.
“Celestia was right, Anon. I need to live with the consequences of my actions, and that’s what I intend to keep doing. A few hundred years... I’m sure they’ll pass in the blink of an eye.” For the first time in a while, she looks at you directly. “And I’m not afraid. Because I’ve learned that as I walk into Eternity, I won’t be alone, even if none of the others decide to join me. I have a wonderful Teacher, and in her husband a wonderful friend.”
She steps back, spreading her wings.
“Wait, Twilight! Didn’t you want to see Cel?” you ask as she moves away.
“It’s okay... I’m sure I’ll see her later after I take care of things in Ponyville. And I’m not as naive as I used to be, Anon, I know if I stick around I’ll just be interrupting your date!” She gives you a sly wink. “But if you don’t mind, can you at least tell her that I returned safely?”
You nod. “I will. Thank you, Twilight... I don’t really know what to say.”
She closes her eyes. “You don’t need to say anything. All that you’ve done for me is thanks enough.”
Twilight takes a few quick steps as if she’s about to fly, but abruptly stops before making her leap. She turns back to you one last time, looking more radiant than you can ever remember seeing her.
“I don’t know if I ever told you this, but that day at the wedding, when I saw the two of you together for the first time? I felt so many conflicting emotions in that moment, but deep down, even though I couldn’t understand why... I was happy. When I thought about it more after everything was over, I realized it was because I loved you both, and to see you bring such joy to one another filled me with joy as well. And it still does. Take it from somepony who’s known her all her life... but she’s been a different pony ever since she found you. Somehow, she shines even brighter than the sun.”
And with that, she leaps from the ship’s deck and takes to the sky, and in a few minutes she’s nothing more than a speck on the horizon.
You sit back down in your chair, holding the Orb of Ascension you’ve just been given.
Four years ago, you weren’t sure if you were ready to take this step or not, but you’re older now. And are you wiser? Well, that’s debatable, but you’ve had more time to see more of what life in this world has to offer... and you’ve had more time to see even further into the precious heart of the one you love.
She truly is everything to you. Her gentle laugh, her sunshine-like smile, her little quirks and odd habits, and all the little things only you can see... they’ve only grown on you more and more over time.
With a happy sigh, you lean back on your chair and look to the skies once more.
~~~~~~~~~
It isn’t that much later that you hear the telltale sound of her teleporting in. She looks absolutely exhausted at first, but the tiredness in her expression quickly falls away when your eyes meet. Without hesitation, she trots over to you and you share a kiss.
“I’m sorry for being late, my love. I feared that stupid meeting would never end!”
You reach a hand into her shimmering mane, scratching that special place behind her ears which always turns her to mush.
“And yet somehow you survived,” you say. “I guess it’ll take more than a few boring meetings to stop Celestia of the Sun, huh?”
“Very funny,” she teases. “Are you ready to start our date? I’ve got the perfect place picked out just a little ways away.”
“Of course. I’m always willing to go wherever my trusty navigator points me.”
She smiles. “As you wish, Captain.”
The two of you part and you walk back over to the pilot’s console. Celestia guides you to a bald mountain peak in the nearby range and directs you to land there, which you do so with ease. Together, the two of you step down the gantry to find a vast open field of reeds spread before you. Being located at the top of a mountain, it almost looks as if it extends even to the sky itself.
“Wow... you were right, this is perfect!”
She giggles. “Isn’t it, though? I can’t wait!”
With giddy steps, she paces into the field, stretching her limbs as she goes. Having long since abandoned her royal regalia, she stands bare before you, pure white coat and great multicolored mane and tail capturing the waning afternoon sunlight as dusk approaches.
She saunters back to you, having finished her stretches, and again finds your lips with her own.
“Well? Are you ready, my precious human?”
You smile back.
“Always.”
And with that, she curls up on the ground, presenting her back to you. You linger where you are, enjoying the excited, expectant look in her eyes, before you move forward and straddle that back, just as you have many times before. She rises to her hooves and takes a moment to adjust to your weight before turning the both of you toward the vast open field.
Slowly, you take some of those beautiful strands of mane in your hands. Without another word, she’s off, galloping through the fields, and the two of you become one.
At some point as you ride together, one of your hands moves to pull the Orb from your pocket. As her hooves touch the earth and flee from it again in a perfect cadence, you swallow it and lean back as you feel the strange sensation of an ancient magic begin to overtake you.
A step. Her hooves touch the ground as she continues to run... a single step out of many that you’ve shared together.
But this one’s different. Every step she’s taken before this moment held within it the purpose of remembering you. Over the years of knowing her, and loving her, you’ve come to recognize the tinge of the ever-present, hidden sorrow that one day she would persist and you would fade.
You’ve seen it in her smile, and you’ve felt it in her gait, even now.
But with this step, you gallop into Eternity together, and that sorrow will fade. Her smile will become true and her heart unburdened.
Already, you can tell she senses the change in you. Already, you feel the smile begin to form as it travels across her body, and your heart soars.
Instead of looking to the breathtaking horizon, your gaze turns only to her, and the shimmering mane which cascades all around you.
Because when you recognize something beautiful happening right before your very eyes, you don’t dare let it leave your sight.
The End