//------------------------------// // 200. BICENTENNIAL SPECIAL! // Story: The Sun and the Stars: A Twilestia Prompt Collab // by Fuzzyfurvert //------------------------------// Twilestia 200th Prompt Special The Prompt to inspire us all: 200 Starting us off we have Jonesly being really meta and using only 200 words. “.... And that's when Shining Armor sat on the cake!” Twilight Sparkle snickered as she finished her story. Celestia was giggling madly when her nose suddenly reversed the direction of the air flowing through it. In short, she snorted. Twilight froze. “Did you... did you just snort?” she asked. Tia blushed so hard, it looked as if someone had spilled wine over her face. “Oh that is too adorable. That is going on the list.” Twilight's horn ignited and a scroll popped into existence before her. “What list?” Celestia asked. “I'm making a list of things that I love about you.” Twilight didn't even glance up as she continued scribbling on her scroll. “Just how long is that list?” curiosity drove Tia to ask. This makes two hundred, but I only started keeping the list last week.” Twilight looked up at her fiance.  “If I'd started sooner, I could have already had enough to start off filling a book instead of just this scroll.” Tia grinned, “Twilight, my list begins and ends with, 'You are you.' I love you Twilight.” Twilight leaned in, “I love you too Tia. Forever and always.” Next we have Honey Mead "Are you sure you can do it?"  Twilight asked for the tenth time. "Worry not, Sparkle. Two hundred seconds is foals play. I am far more concerned for your part." Twilight worried her lip. "I know, I know. There's not much that we can do about it." "You could allow me--" "No. No. This needs to be me." +++++++++ Something was off. It didn't have the sharp edge of panic or dull ache of worry which had accompanied the beginnings of the worst days in years past. It was a gentle itch at the back of her mind like she'd awoken in an unfamiliar bed. Then the first rays of sunlight struck her eyelids. Blinking, she stared in awe. The Sun, her Sun, breached the horizon, its warm rays washing over her as a cool morning breeze caressed her coat. Vivid golds and oranges painted the sky, pooling against the clouds that dotted the sky. Just as she was wondering what had happened to the darker shades, a burst of violet exploded across the sky, a six pointed star flaring behind the Sun until it fade into blue. Silence reigned, tears pooling in Celestia’s eyes until they could hold no more and began rolling down her muzzle. “Tia?” Golden magic surrounded the smaller alicorn, pulling her into a crushing embrace as Celestia cried into her mane. “No. No. No. Don’t cry! Please! I’m sorry! I—” Twilight’s apology stopped, blocked by a pair of lips covering hers. The kiss dragged on and on. Until, breathless, they both had to pull away. “Thank you, Twilight. Thank you so much. You have no idea…” Twilight placed a wing to her lips. “Happy birthday, Tia.” Next up is Knight of Lycaeus Seating on the balcony that she and her wife shared had long became a wonderful way to spend an evening as they both sat basking in the last rays of the setting sun and the first glow of the rising moon. Usually she was content to stay in the here and now especially with her wife's warmth next to her however tonight her mind began to drift, tomorrow was a very special day for her and her wife. The first day they met had began like all others, days teeming with the tedious work of running a nation by her lonesome and the formal ceremonies she had to preside over. It however ended like no other days had before or since. Her routine was interrupted by a wild surge of magic that enlarged a freshly hatched dragon and set a filly's magic to turn loose. A day seemingly ordinary in so many ways was turned extraordinary; two lives changed by the simple turn of chance. A warm summer's day that both remembered fondly and celebrated with every passing year. Little more than fourteen years later, Luna returned and she had sent Twilight to save and guide her home, only for her to lose Twilight in exchange. Her student chose to stay in her new home, a short distance away but it was still considerable. Almost a year later Twilight returned to her, first at the Grand Galloping Gala. But nothing could have prepare her for what came some months later. "Twilight" Celestia greeted, "Welcome back to Canterlot, it's wonderful to see you again." Twilight smiled, "Thank you Princess, it's good to see you too. It's always nice to return now and again." Celestia nuzzled her briefly, "Although today's visit was a bit of a surprise. I thought you were busy this weekend." "I am, er, was busy." Twilight paused, mentally preparing herself, "Princess, do you know what today is?" Celestia reviewed the day in her mind, "Nothing comes to mind, the only significance is that in four months it would be fifteen years since you became my student." Twilight nodded, "Exactly, on that day my life changed. You became my teacher and my guiding light throughout my life." she paused to take several deep breaths to calm herself,  "For fourteen years and eight months I've been your student. Yet for more than a year now I have desired for something more. Princess.... Celestia." using the Princess' name for the first time without the title, "I have fallen for you and I love you, I would like to be your marefriend. Will you agree to go on a date with me?" She smiled as the memory replayed, the following days were awkward and the transition difficult at times but they persevered through it. More than a year later, an ascension and a coronation ensured Twilight would be with her for the rest of their lives. "Good morning, Celestia." greeted Twilight as she walked in. "M-morning? Oh, good morning Twilight." Celestia yawned, "What time is it?" "Fifteen minutes before the sun is to rise." "I wasn't expecting you to come back until later today." Twilight smiled, " Please join me on the balcony, I have something special planned." Celestia obliged and joined her love on the balcony. Twilight sat watching the moon slowly begin its descent and when she felt Celestia's presence by her side, she wrapped her smaller wing as best she could around Celestia. "Two years ago," Twilight began, "I asked you to be my marefriend. In four months we celebrate seventeen years since we first met. These sixteen years and eight months by your side has been amazing, through the highs such as my own ascension and coronation but also the lows when eight days ago I nearly lost you due to Tirek's return. Being your love for these past two years has been amazing. It's now four months to that day and in four months I want that day to mean something else, I want it to mark another change. To be even more special. Celestia sat confused, the early hour wasn't helping her to figure out Twilight's intentions. Then it clicked. "Twilight, are you saying...." Twilight gave no answer but instead she stood up and slowly she flapped her wings, gradually ascending while her horn glowed. The sun mimicked her flight, slowly rising in time with Twilight's ascent. With the sun at its dawn zenith Twilight flared her wings in imitation to Celestia's performance at the Summer Sun Celebration. Twilight landed softly before her stunned marefriend, "Yes Celestia. I am. Sixteen almost seventeen years ago, you changed my life. Seeing you raise the sun inspired me to study magic, which in time brought me to you. I loved the time we've spent together and in four months, it will officially be seventeen years. On that day I wish for you to be not just my love but my wife." She bent down one foreleg and held a small box aloft in her magic which was brought forth and opened to reveal a simple gold band with an amethyst as its center. "Celestia, will you marry me?" She blinked her eyes when she felt the soft touch of her wife next to her. "Reminiscing?" Celestia nodded. Twilight hugged her close before kissing her, "I was too. I almost can't believe how long it has been. Tomorrow we celebrate 183 years of being married." "You know the other reason is why I think it's even more special." Celestia leaned in to give her own kiss, "Tomorrow marks 200 years of you in my life. I may have once been your guiding light as you often used to call me when you were much younger but you became my rock. You've given me stability and someone who would be there for me through everything and anything. I love you Twilight Sparkle, I loved you for all the years we've had together and I'm glad I could spend them with you." Celestia she as leaning in to give her wife a more tender kiss which Twilight returned in kind. "I love you as well Celestia, may we both have many years more together." Next off we have ArguingPizza “Oh, wow,” Twilight mumbled in awe, her mane spread across Celestia’s enormous bed. Her fur was soaked with sweat and matted all over, and the white sheets were torn to pieces around her. Pillow stuffing ripped out with teeth lay scattered all around, and the air was heavy with the smell of perspiration and...other things. Outside the window of their small, beachside cabin the sun was edging its way down to the horizon, the first streaks of twilight just barely visible. “What does that make for you? I’ve lost count,” Celestia asked with a giggle as she crawled her way up Twilight’s prone form. Celestia’s appearance was not nearly as ragged as Twilight’s, but it was far from pristine. “T-two hundred, I think. Somewhere close, at least,” Twilight said absently, her eyes wide and unseeing as she soaked in the feeling of exhausted bliss that overwhelmed her. “Something to be said for the endurance of alicorns, wouldn’t you agree?” Celestia teased, her hoof trailing along one of Twilight’s wings and sending shivers up the younger mare’s spine, as well as to other places. Twilight made a noise that Celestia took to be an affirmation, though it was really more of a delirious gurgle. Celestia smiled sweetly and pulled herself to be eyelevel with her new wife and cuddled against her. Twilight’s mouth twitched upwards, and her head flopped against Celestia’s. They rested like that for several minutes, each content to rest in the other’s company, before Twilight peaked through the strands of mane hanging over her face. With a shy smile and a heavy blush, she said, “What do you say we shoot for three? We still have to get you into the triple digits.” Celestia grinned devilishly, and Twilight was lost in a storm of white feathers. Next we have UhOh Despite the clear, blue sky and the picturesque mountain backdrop Canterlot Castle seemed uncharacteristically foreboding today—though Twilight Sparkle supposed that was only reasonable given her deep-seated nervousness about the outcome of today’s events.  The alicorn swallowed thickly, trying to force the nerves that were threatening to bubble over in her stomach back down where they belonged, and took a fortifying breath before screwing her face up in an expression of pure determination as she trotted through the castle gates.  ‘Okay, just like you practiced, Twilight.  You can do this.’  She thought encouragingly to herself. The castle grounds were decorated to the hilt; banners hung off of parapets and flower garlands, riotous in color, clung to every available surface.  To top it all off Twilight Sparkle was certain she’d heard more than one string quartet playing in the distance. Not for the first time the young mare felt her resolve ebb.  Indeed it was already approaching late afternoon and she’d wasted most of the day dithering on whether or not to proceed with the planned confession.  A glance at the flowers floating at her side steadied her resolve once more. It had taken months—six months two weeks and two days to be exact—of painstaking preparation, first with Daisy in the Ponyville market to get some hooves-on experience with flower care, then with Zecora gathering seeds in the Everfree Forest, with Applejack getting in touch with her newfound earth pony magic, and finally with Rainbow Dash learning the basics of pegasi weather manipulation.  Through dozens of failed attempts and false starts Twilight Sparkle had worked feverishly to cultivate a crop of flowers entirely nurtured by her newly acquired alicorn abilities.  With care, patience, and the liberal use of magic from all three pony tribes the youngest alicorn had successfully grown her own flowers—and more importantly they were ready just in time for Hearts and Hooves Day. Just in time for a confession that had been building up and burning the walls of her heart for a very long time. Rarity and Fluttershy had each approved whole-heartedly of Twilight’s plan; the fashion designer had even swooned at the drama of it all and had to be physically stopped before she’d whipped up a fantastic gown for the occasion.  Truth be told, knowing Rarity, it was more likely that she’d been stopped from whipping up multiple gowns and choreographing the confession to include at least three wardrobe changes.  Concessions had been made in the end and Twilight had found herself trapped in the Ponyville Spa for hours yesterday in order to be made presentable—an ordeal that even she had to admit it was a good idea; her coat had never looked so lustrous.   Applejack and Rainbow Dash had been less moved and more pragmatic.  In their opinion if all went well the flowers would just end up being eaten so what was the point? As for Pinkie Pie…well Pinkie had advocated an extremely-specific surprise party which all present had vetoed immediately. “Your majesty.” The voice successfully jarred Twilight from her quiet reflections.  The young princess blinked a few times before blushing as she realized that not only had she reached the main doors but she’d completely missed the door’s guard bowing to her.  For lack of anything better to say Twilight smiled awkwardly and said, “Happy Hearts and Hooves Day, Private Portcullis.” The earth pony stallion relaxed and regained his hooves.  After a moment of deliberation, and a quick glance to make sure there were no witnesses, he gave a shy smile as he fiddled with his spear.  “And to you, Princess Twilight.”  Portcullis toyed with his spear a moment longer as he tried to find something to rest his eyes on that wasn’t the tall, young mare before him. Twilight continued to smile awkwardly—a lot of her work as a princess seemed to consist of smiling awkwardly and she was getting quite good at it— resisting the urge to fidget as she waited for the guard to open the door.  The two stood in silence for several moments before the relatively-inexperienced private surged into panicked action as he realized the princess was waiting for him to open the door. Finally, the door was opening!  “Thank you, sir.”  Was all Twilight managed to get out before her haste to get inside was made overly evident. Portcullis saluted briskly as the princess passed before remembering he was actually supposed to bow.  Dropping into a hasty bow Portcullis nearly face-planted into the stone floor.  “My pleasure, princess.”  He mumbled, cordially addressing the floor as the door swung shut and the guard was once again alone at his post. The mare’s eager surge forward slowed almost as soon as it started and came to a complete halt only a few steps later. Twilight Sparkle stood in the vast entry hall before the great throne room of Canterlot Castle and for the first time in a very long time she felt completely out of place in her home.  The young alicorn’s deep, purple eyes took in the sight before her in disbelief; the hall—which was large enough to play two separate regulation-sized games of hoofball—was filled with ponies, young and old, mares and stallions alike, standing in one of the most vexingly unorganized queues she’d ever seen.  There were ponies carrying musical instruments, fragrant chocolates, and worst of all flowers.  Flowers.  There were flowers everywhere.  At least two-thirds of the amassed crowd of ponies were bearing everything from humble daisies, to uninspired sunflowers, and even exotic fire lilies. ‘Were these all for the princess?’ The scholarly princess gaped at the rather ostentatious display for several moments longer before she remembered the purpose of today’s visit.  Twilight glanced at the bouquet hovering at her side.  This morning she’d thought the flowers—with soft, tasty, magenta petals that boasted a fetching gold stripe, and indigo stamens—to be quite fetching but now they didn’t seem to be nearly good enough.   Twilight craned her long neck above the crowd, hoping to catch a glimpse of Celestia through the opened throne room doors.  The sun princess sat on her throne, scores of pony lengths away, composed and lovely as ever—well, Twilight assumed she was sitting on her throne, the young alicorn couldn’t be certain as the structure was blotted out by wreathes, bouquets and a myriad of other tributes. Involuntarily, the mare’s ears drooped and as she turned away from the spectacle her whole body seemed to flag, slumping into a defeated slouch. ‘Stupid, stupid, stupid.’  Twilight tracked her way out of the entrance hall berating herself all the while. Eyes firmly glued to the floor the young princess barely acknowledged the bow of the inner door’s guard as she walked through the open door.  As they shut behind her Twilight was distantly aware of the deliciously over-powering aroma of fresh flowers that followed her.  A loud rumble temporarily from distracted Twilight from her mental castigation. Private Portcullis rose from his bow and did his best not to let his curiosity show on his face.  It mattered little as Twilight could practically hear the unasked question.  The young mare chuckled lamely.  “Heh, it’s a bit hectic in there.  I think I’ll reschedule my visit for another day.” The guard nodded agreeably.  “Hearts and Hooves Day is always a hectic one for the castle.” Twilight frowned.  “Yes, of course.”  She said shortly, desperately wishing for a way to end the awkward, stilted question.  A glance at the flowers still floating beside her barrel provided a moment of inspiration.  “Private, you seem to be a bit hungry and it’d be a shame to let these flowers go to waste.  Would you like them?”  There was a moment of silence before Twilight hurried on, sensing the stallion’s weakening resolve.  “I know you can’t eat while on duty, of course, but you can save them for later.  I believe the shift change is coming up within the next couple of hours.” “Thank you, princess, that’s kind of you but I couldn’t take a gift meant for you.”  The stormy grey stallion seemed sincere enough in his resolve. Twilight cocked her head slightly and blinked in confusion before the guard’s reasoning became clear to her.  “Oh!  No, it’s nothing like that.  The flowers weren’t a gift for me they were…well, not for me.”  She finished lamely. “Still, I really couldn’t.  I’m sorry, Princess Twilight.” “Fair enough,” Twilight leaned the flowers carefully against one of the steps near the guard, “still, if you change your mind…” Private Portcullis watched as Equestria’s newest princess trotted away.  He was by no mean an expert on mares but he thought she seemed somewhat sad. ** Princess Celestia smiled gratefully, and sincerely, as the last of the dreadful day’s petitioners left the court.  With great haste and little respect for tradition the princess of the sun adjourned court for the day and watched with satisfaction as the palace cleaning staff swarmed the throne room and expertly began to divest her throne of its temporary décor.  The flowers her ponies had generously gifted her would be given to the castle staff and any leftovers would be sent to local hospitals to cheer up patients.  It was an arrangement almost as old as the holiday itself as Celestia never partook of the foods that she was gifted if she could help it—she feared doing so would only encourage more ponies to follow suit.  Of course, if she was being honest, even after a couple thousand years of refusing gifts she hadn’t noticed any of her ponies actually get discouraged from giving either… The lines had been so long this year that Celestia had been forced to allow each petitioner only a few seconds of her time to ensure that each pony queued up would be able to see her.  When she’d reached the 200th petitioner at only 11 AM the princess had made a concerted effort to stop counting in the hopes that the onerous day would end quicker—it hadn’t. Still, now that she was freed from her duty, at least temporarily, Celestia was free to take dinner with her sister and enjoy some peace before Luna had to hold court for the night.  As the princess crossed the entrance hall and made her way to the private dining hall in the Royal Family wing a thought struck her.  Following her gut Celestia changed course and headed for the main doors to assuage that nagging thought that had been troubling her for hours. All over the castle the day staff members were changing places with the night staff and the royal guards were no different.  As Celestia passed through the halls she was greeted by solar and lunar guards alike in the midst of the changing of the guard.  “Good evening, my little ponies.  Private Ridge, you’ve held position before these doors for the last few hours, correct?” “Yes, your majesty.”  The pegasus stallion barked his reply as if Celestia were a drill sergeant on the parade grounds. The volume of the response was still nothing when compared to the Royal Canterlot Voice Luna tended to lapse into from time to time and so did not even give Celestia pause.  “Did you happen to see my—Princess Twilight Sparkle today?” “Yes, your majesty.  She entered the castle through the main door approximately two hundred minutes ago and exited approximately one hundred and ninety-eight minutes ago.”  The pony paused and looked somewhat distressed.  “I apologize for being unable to give you a more exact time window, princess.  Perhaps Private Portcullis could be of assistance; he was stationed on the exterior and I believe he spoke with Princess Twilight on her way out.” Celestia took a moment to consider whether or not this was something she had any business in following up.  Unbidden the memory of earlier, of the glimpse she had caught of her former student and of her defeated posture as she turned away, returned with a vengeance and Celestia’s stomach sank.  She would find out what was troubling her friend.  “Thank you for the suggestion, you’ve been a great help, Private Ridge.”  Mind firmly made up, the sun’s guardian exited the castle and headed for the barracks hoping to catch the young private before he left the castle grounds for the night. Halfway there Celestia caught up with a group of exterior guards heading to the barracks to turn in their armor for the day.  The alicorn reached out with a tendril of magic and pinged each of the guard’s enchanted armor id plates subsequently until she came across the very pony she’d been targeting.  The grey earth pony stallion walked near the center of the group, his gait was somewhat uneven as he clutched a bouquet of flowers to his chest with an armored foreleg.  No doubt he was off to visit his special somepony the moment his shift ended.  “Private Portcullis, with me, if you please.” At her voice the ponies froze to a one.  To their credit the other guards bowed briefly  before their princess and continued on without a word, shooting the earth pony they left behind only the most surreptitious of glances. Portcullis gulped nervously but managed a hasty, “Yes, your majesty,” before setting off after the princess as quickly as three legs would allow.  Not for the first time he wished that the standard issue armor came with larger pockets as carrying multiple objects became fiendishly tricky. Celestia didn’t lead the guard far, in fact the two barely left the well-worn path—it was just enough distance to afford the pair some privacy and discourage interruption.  The guard was nervous, that much was obvious but the princess had no idea why that would be the case.  “Private, I’m told you have the opportunity to speak with Princess Twilight when she stopped in the castle today, did she happen to mention the purpose of her visit?” Unconsciously Portcullis’ grip on the flowers tightened.  “I’m sorry, princess, but she didn’t say.” Celestia reflexively tracked the guards nervous fidgeting and immediately caught the gesture.  The flowers the stallion clutched were a stunning deep pink with a thick gold stripe down each petal’s center.  Celestia realized after a moment of reflection that the color of the petals was the exact same shade as her former student’s magic.  A picture was beginning to take shape in the back of her mind.  There was suddenly a very good explanation for the brevity of Twilight’s trip—namely the young mare hadn’t come to Canterlot to visit her at all… The gentle smile Celestia always wore suddenly felt brittle.  “Those flowers are lovely, were they a gift from Princess Twilight?”  The princess asked with uncharacteristic impulsivity; perhaps it was none of her business but she had to know. “Ah.  Well,” there was a pause as though the guard was reluctant to answer the question, “yes, she did.”  Private Portcullis looked down at the flowers and frowned a little, while technically the truth it wasn’t the whole truth.  He really didn’t want to give up such lovely flowers—especially given who they’d come from—but the Royal Guard prized honor in all things.  Portcullis shook his head resolutely.  “Actually, that’s not the whole of it, your majesty.  Princess Twilight did give me these flowers but she did so because she thought I looked hungry, I don’t believe they were ever meant for me.” With exceeding care the stallion set the flowers down on the grass, stuck a newly-freed hoof into the small pouch over is chest plate, and pulled out a small piece of stiff parchment   “There was a card…”  He said softly as he proffered the parchment to the sun princess. Celestia, now thoroughly bemused, accepted the card and floated it before her eyes.  There was no message on the card’s face; in fact it only bore a single word in familiar, tidy script: ‘Celestia’. “I, uh, wasn’t really sure what to do…”  Portcullis explained, trailing off lamely.  The princess’s thunderstruck expression clearly meant there was more to the situation than he’d guessed and he was feeling hugely uncomfortable with having been caught up in it. “Yes, thank you, Private.  You’ve done well to bring this to me.”  Celestia murmured absent-mindedly as she floated the flowers up for closer examination.  The freshly-cut, green stems were bound together by an indigo ribbon with gold trimming—it was no doubt donated by Rarity and reminded the princess, no doubt by design, of the color of Twilight’s mane. Portcullis watched as the princess of the sun absconded with the bouquet, head in the clouds, seemingly entranced by the flowers.  That was…probably for the best. ** Princess Celestia had long missed dinner, dessert, and second dessert.  Instead of enjoying a moment of quiet with her sister the sun’s avatar sat in her study staring at an unassuming bunch of flowers trying to divine their meaning.  ‘Of all the times for Twilight Sparkle to be taken by the spirit of brevity.’  She thought grumpily but without any real rancor to speak of.  There were things the flowers could mean and things she found herself increasingly hoping they did mean but there wasn’t any guarantee of overlap. It would be nice to get a second opinion on the matter and potentially lay things to rest however Luna was more than likely up to her withers in admirers right now and her sister could get rather testy when interrupted while ponies were reveling in her presence.  Philomena was also out as a potential confidant since the phoenix had difficulty processing emotional attachment to things that weren’t sufficiently reflective. Well, there was nothing else to be done. Celestia leaned forward and delicately used her teeth to pull off several petals that were quickly swallowed.  Almost immediately the taste hit her and her cheeks heated dramatically, soon enough her entire face was thoroughly red. Magic.  The flowers tasted like the magical essence of the pony that had grown them and Princess Celestia could now say, without a doubt, that the pony in question was Twilight Sparkle.  The magic signature was one she was long familiar with but this?  This was far more intimate than any of their previous interactions. Wings aloft and flared—voluntarily spread open, that is, it was suddenly very hot in the study—Celestia eyed the flowers with a naked sort of hunger not exactly befitting a princess of Equestria. The mare fanned herself gently with her conveniently opened wings.  “Oh my.”  She said at last, voice filled with an unidentified emotion that could be considered a close sister to awe.  Some time very soon Celestia was going to have to write a very long and very eloquent letter to her fellow princess, well perhaps a brief and somewhat eloquent letter would do—better yet a direct and clearly-worded invitation. However for the moment the mare was bound and determined to enjoy the fruits of Twilight’s labor; after all, she had missed dinner… Next we have Misago. I just finished my tour of the fortifications and the troops for the day. The mares are scared, that much is clearly written in their faces, and in their voices, when they tell me what they can see from atop the great walls now surrounding Ponyville. No one can blame them. We are few, two hundred mares, standing against the unstoppable force of Her army. Only the most naive of us still believe that we can hold out, that they will give up at some point. My friends and I are trying to come up with something, anything, that will turn the inevitable defeat away from us. But at night, when we guard the walls, we can see the fires in the night, moving ever towards us like a storm front ### They are testing our defenses, much earlier than I anticipated. As our guards were still watching for their torches, we did not see them coming so quickly. I managed to hastily draw the defenders together to meet them on the field, to show them that we are not passively sitting behind our walls, but I wasn't prepared for this. They move like shadows, barely visible in the moonlight, before suddenly crashing into our midst, grabbing us, whispering promises. And before we have huddled together to coordinate our efforts, they are gone again. When we had realized that we had fought them off, there was new hope for a moment. It did not last long when we Daisy started asking for Roseluck. At first we thought she might have been knocked unconscious, so we searched the area for her. When the clouds began to cover the moon, though, we had to retreat back inside the walls. Applejack and Rainbow had to drag Daisy back inside. I tried to reassure her that, come morning, the sun will be there to help us find Roseluck. At least I hope it will be. ### Roseluck is still lost. Daisy sneaked out at night to get her back, but so far she has not returned, either. In the two days since my last report, we have decided to form and send scouting parties to look for the missing ponies, and any supplies that we can use. According to Fluttershy, onions and garlic might be able to ward them off us, but the vegetables we can grow within our defenses are limited. Pinkie Pie, meanwhile, has been baking nonstop to give us enough food. Her famous pastries contain enough sugar that no microorganism can survive in them, making them suitable for long-term storage. I have learned not to question her logic or her results. On their forays into the surrounding countryside, some scouts tell us of encounters with them. Sometimes glimpses out of the corners of their vision, or faint whispers in the distance. They seem strangely distant, almost wistful, when they speak of these events. I should keep an eye on any returning scouts to look for suspicious behaviour. Maybe see if what they claim is true. ### I joined one of the scouting parties yesterday out of concern. Over the last few weeks, more and more of our mares had been absent-minded after they returned, and some have only revealed after insistent queries that they indeed had had some form of contact with them. Their dreamy smiles and wistful sighs do little to improve the morale. I could not explain the feeling, but I knew from the start that this night, something was wrong. It was quiet, much too quiet outside of the walls. Normally, we can hear the distant laughter and sighs of... something. I took Applejack and Fluttershy with me. They know the land, and they know how to move in it, how to hide and how to pursue. We found little of value, some herbs, some wild berries that Applejack carries, and we are already on our way back, when we suddenly see the fire in front of us. I dragged Fluttershy down to the ground, covering her muzzle to keep her quiet. Slowly, we moved around the trees covering us from sight. The Queen was there. We managed to escape, unseen, with no new information. This is what I told the others at least. But there is one thing I did not dare to tell. I suspect Applejack is suspicious, but I could not even tell my friends. I am sure that She saw me. I was watching Her move among her minions lounging around the campfire, sighing and moaning. Every step from Her is measured, every movement like a graceful dance. I watched Her with baited breath, trying to find the slightest imperfection in Her form. And She turned to me. Just for a second, amethyst eyes found my own. I felt my heart beat like a drum, and retreated to cover as fast as I could. When I dared to risk another look, She had already moved on. ### Last night, we had another attack. We are exhausted, and I have to assign even the affected mares to patrols. They become week to the whispers, after a while. They lag behind their groups, looking around, as if waiting for something to happen. This time, one of the returning groups had not been fast enough. One moment, the group of mares was standing there, the next, Cheerilee is gone. Disappeared, with only the sound of wings and a flash of grey and gold to tell us where she went. As is always the case, we found no signs of struggle, as if she'd just decided to go along with them. I overheard some mares talking about Cheerilee's "luck", how she will be able to "enjoy" herself now. I have to keep an eye on that. We can't allow any sympathy for their cause in our midst. ### The attacks are getting more frequent. Last week, an entire patrol did not return, among them Rainbow Dash. We just stood there on the wall, waiting impotently, too stunned to say anything, when the time for their return came and passed. I could not speak. I wanted to scream at the unfairness, demand we go out in force to search the entire Everfree if necessary. And yet, deep in me, there was the icy dread that every attempt to find them would lead to even more disappearances. That night, I could not sleep. I thought about Rainbow, and what could be happening to her. Had they simply missed the opportunity to return and were hiding somewhere out there? Or were they already caught, bound and on their knees? When I finally drifted off, I saw Her. Amethyst eyes, staring at me, capturing me. I saw her close in on me, step by step, her tail swinging from side to side. Has She started to influence me? ### We lost Applejack yesterday. The mares with her on patrol, the sanest ones we still have, told me how they were ambushed while foraging for food. How a group of them came out of nowhere, prowling closer, whipping their manes around. Minuette, in shame, explained how she was transfixed, unable to flee, and how Applejack threw herself between her and the salivating herd, drawing their attention. Minuette swears that she can hear them crying Applejack's name every night now. I have sent Rarity to take care of her, for now. With those recent losses, we cannot risk one of us buried by guilt. I have not told my friends about the dreams, and how they are getting more frequent. Every night, I can see Her, prancing around, taunting me to get Her, and I wake with beating heart, feeling hot all over. I was stupid and arrogant, thinking that with my knowledge and rationality, I would be able to resist their call. Everypony here looks up to me, so I have to keep up my appearance for the sake of morale. My condition must stay a secret. ### Fluttershy did not show up for duty this morning. I led a group to her village home, hoping she was just sick, but we could see already that something had happened. The door was wide open, ripped out of the frame. Flower petals, apparently lilies, were lining the ground. I felt the cold shiver again, but we pressed on, still in the vain hope that everything turned out fine. We finally found her in the wardrobe. It was moving, and we could hear sucking noises from inside. I was the only one who dared to move closer, and when I pulled the door open, we saw it. There she was, poor little Fluttershy. She looked so innocent, with the white flower in her mane. Less so wrapped up in midnight-blue appendages. Before we could anything to save our friend, there was a flurry of azure feathers, and Fluttershy was gone. No one had seen anyone enter the village, especially not one of them. I have given orders to move the ponies from the outlying dwellings as close to the center as possible. No one is allowed to stay alone anymore. ### The dawn is hours away, and when I am asleep, I think I hear a voice in my dream, calling me, praising my beauty and intelligence, congratulating me for the long resistance. I have spent many nights searching to find some magic mark She left on me. Ever since that night we stumbled onto their camp, I see Her in my dreams, even when I am awake, Her image sneaks into my thoughts. I remember the way She moved, those eyes piercing into my soul, and my heart beats like I am in mortal danger. Fluttershy is no longer here, and my knowledge of medicine seems to be of no use to me. It gets harder and harder to keep up the will to hold out. Some nights, I even had fleeting thoughts of just running out, to go and find Her, and see Her. My instinct will not let me rest until I have Her exposed. ### Rarity is gone. She was still watching Minuette. I checked up on them just a few days ago, and both of them told me how much it helped them to share the nights and how good it felt to have some relaxation. Rarity has... had marvelous hooves, I enjoyed her talent many times before. But this morning, Sea Swirl brought notice that they were both absent. No one had seen them. We searched the village, and we found nothing. There are only thirty left of us, barely enough to guard the walls. The last patrol went out weeks ago, and they did not return. Since then, we have been staying together, holding on to each other's company. I can feel some getting desperate, my composure seems to be slipping. A while ago, Berry came to me, asking if I wanted her company for the night. I appreciate the others still worrying about my well-being, so I sent her to Lyra and Bon-Bon instead. I can't reveal my weakness. Our defense depends on it. ### Every night, I wake up and feel hot all over. I see Her, feel Her closing in on me. She haunts me day and night. There are twenty of us left. ### With shaking hooves, I ### Twilight looked up from her writing desk. Her ears twitched, trying to locate the sound that had just broken her concentration. On weak legs, she stood and moved out of the small drawing room, following her instinct, her brain already being to wary to bother anymore. The bedroom window was open, and the heavy curtains were softly flapping in the breeze. Twilight's tired gaze scanned the chamber she seemed to spend less and less time in as the days went by. In the distance, she could see the few lonely lights moving atop the wall, the last defenders they could muster. When her inspection reached the bed, though, her breath caught in her troat. She was there. The white coat seemed to shine in the moonlight, inviting Twilight with promises of softness and warmth. The flowing, multicolored mane and tail twirled and twisted around, as if playing with the air. Twilight, transfixed, stepped closer before she realized what she had done. Those soft, perfect ears swiveled, and then, in one single elegant motion so fluid that Twilight nearly felt like crying, She craned her neck, turning around to face Twilight. "Hello", She said. Her voice was honey, sweet and smooth, and Twilight felt light-headed. Warmth was flooding her, making her legs even weaker, and giving her strength at the same time. She wanted to light up her horn, show her power, and at the same time throw herself at the mercy of this creature, beg her for her care and protection. She felt a blush rise at these shameful thoughts. She could not voice them here, show her weakness to her enemy, so instead she threw as much spite as she could muster into her voice and spat "What are you doing here, evil creature?" The answering bell-like laugh that answered  made Twilight's cheeks glow even harder. "Evil creature? My, it is a bit soon for that kind of language." She rose from the bed, stretching herself like a cat, fluttering her wings. Twilight could only stare. "Let me introduce myself", She offered finally, after stepping down on the ground, leaving barely enough space between their muzzles to still be decent. "I am Celestia. Or as you probably know me, the Queen. A pleasure to make your acquaintance, Twilight Sparkle." She lifted her pristine hoof to just below muzzle height. If Twilight leaned down just the slightest bit, she could... Twilight shook her head with force, the burning in her cheeks was apparently there to stay. This ivory goddess had her defenseless. "W-what do you want?", she stuttered. "Are you here to assassinate me to break our resistance? Do you want to do to us what you did to my friends?" Her words got a bit of fire back by the end, even though Twilight knew it would not last. She looked at her, amusement clearly dancing in those wonderful eyes. "Do with you... Ah, I see. There might be some misunderstanding here. But indeed, I have come to offer to you what my companions have already given to your friends." Her head came closer, and Twilight could only stand stock still as Her breath tickled her skin. "I had my eye on you from the very beginning. Believe me, you will like what I have to give." That warmth, that accursed warmth. It ran through her veins like wildfire, making her nerves scream at her to dart forward, press her lips against Hers, to silence that smile with everything she had. She wanted to run her hooves through those white wings, feel them cradle her, and bury her muzzle in that mane. She wanted this creature to moan her name while she... She watched her, her eyes smoldering, and a perfect pink tongue darted out to wet these tantalizing lips... Celestia batted her lashes. Twilight pounced. The war was over. And last we have Knight of Cerebus and myself, Fuzzyfurvert! Twilight was pacing. She was currently one hundred and eighty-seven rotations into a lengthy, circular pace around a statue of herself. Namely, herself and Celestia. Namely, herself and Celestia kissing, and wearing rings on their horns. She had come to start circling the statue by virtue of doubts about the direction her marriage was traveling, and had opened her aimless orbiting with thoughts on how Tia had been rather blase about it as of late. Well, no, not blase.  It felt like Tia was waiting on something.  Was she expecting something special for their anniversary?  Was she waiting for Twilight to do or say something?  The unknown quality of their interactions had Twilight on edge, and when she was on edge, she paced. “What could it be?”  Twilight paused and leaned against the base of her own statue to rest her legs for a moment.  “Am I missing some sort of key tell?  We’ve been married for 12 years now.  I’d like to think I can read my own wife!” She groaned and rested her head back, her eyes traveling over the statue.  It captured their likenesses superbly.  She could still remember posing for it just a few short days after the wedding.  It was meant to be more chaste than it appeared, with the two of them embracing the other and looking into each other’s eyes.  The kiss had been her idea.  The sculptors were masters of their craft, and everypony that saw the statue could see the surprise in Celestia’s eyes as she was caught off guard by her young bride.  They could see the love that the couple shared. When the light hit it just right, and if a viewer was in just the right spot, they could see Twilight slipping her Princess some tongue. “Hmmm…” Twilight leaned back a little further and looked up into the marble copy of her lover’s eyes, “has the spark gone out of our relationship?” Twilight blinked as she recalled a giggle-filled night under the silk sheets of the royal bed and shook her head.  “Nope.” “Hmm. Maybe she’s distracted by something else right now?” Twilight started to pace again, only to pause for a moment, midway through rotation one hundred and eighty nine. Celestia had been planning four soirees with the nobility, a diplomatic meeting with the dragon emissary, a special visit to a sick little foal at the Magic Wish foundation, and her usual courts, time giving guest lectures at the school and documentation work. So, no change from the usual. Cuddles were still at a healthy 20% of each day. “No...okay, what about me?” Twilight was now on rotation one hundred and ninety one. “Have I...been neglecting her in any way? No...Maybe I’ve been too clingy? Well, I mean, she held me hostage in bed with a small mountain of kittens not two weeks ago...Wait…It is me. I’m different. Nothing between us has changed…” At midway through rotation one hundred and ninety four, she paused and looked up at the young, energetic unicorn throwing herself into a sloppy kiss while sculptors slaved away. “I’m getting…old...” The pacing resumed. “And if I’m changing because I’m getting old...let’s extrapolate this pattern. What if at some point I get so old I’m no longer in love with Tia? What if our marriage falls apart? Worse...what if I don’t...What if I’m no longer with her, years from now? I...I have to remind her. I have to be there for her, if only for a time. I know! I’ll go into the future! I can see what it’s like, then! Yes! I’ll travel…” She flung about for a number, at last arriving at the rotation number she had reached as a source. “200 years in the future! If I’m going to die a normal pony, it’ll probably be before then. If not, we’ll probably go strong for another hundred years at least, which will give Future Me time to solve any problems that might occur a hundred years after that! It’s perfect!” With a flash of purple, Twilight left the statue behind for the Starswirl The Bearded wing of the library, having added a moat to the sculpture’s surroundings in the time she had spent pondering her aging. She found the tome she needed right where it had been left under guard and glass and enough enchantments to make a pony’s mane stand on end.  Twilight nodded to the guards.  “Gentlecolts, the password is:   ‘yes-it-really-is-important-this-time-I’m-not-just-using-these-spells-to-get-advanced-copies-of-the-Daring-Do-series’.” The guards moved aside and Twilight stepped into the inscribed circle of power surrounding the glass case.  Her magic undid the seals and opened the case and the book, flipping it to a well dog-eared page.  Twilight smirked and charged her horn as she cast the spell several times over to reach her intended target time frame. “Now I just need to check the current local time,” Twilight glanced at the clock on the library wall, “and I’ll come back in just a few relative minutes and nothing should happen to the timeline!  I’m so smart!” She chuckled to herself and released the final spell trigger. The world proceeded to peel itself like a grape around her as time twisted and turned at the beck and call of Twilight’s will. The guards were just about to step back into place when there was a loud boom and a high wind suddenly right were the Princess had just left from.  When the chaos died down, their Princess stood before them once more, though now she sported a heavy, ivory colored cloak that was trimming in gold. Twilight stepped out of the circle of power and looked around for a moment.  “Huh.  Looks remarkably similar.”  She nodded to the guards as they straightened their armor.  “Gentlecolts.  I’d like you to start taking down a list of who leaves or arrives by time magic.  Record the time, their name and when they are going to or from.  It’ll come in handy later, trust me.” “Yes, your Highness.” “Now to find Tia…”  Twilight grinned to herself and winked conspiratorially to the guard ponies before trotting out of the library and into the castle proper. 200 Years Later The guards were just about to step back into place when there was a loud boom and a high wind suddenly right were the Princess had just left from.  When the chaos died down, their Princess stood before them once more, though now without her heavy, ivory colored cloak trimmed in gold. Twilight stepped out of the circle of power and looked around for a moment.  “Huh.  Looks remarkably similar.”  She nodded to the guards as they straightened their armor.  “Gentlecolts.” One of the guards nodded back to her and then held up a large ledger of ruled paper with her own signature on it many times over.  “Welcome back Princess, if you’d please sign here and note your time of arrival and the time you are arriving from please.” Twilight nodded absently and took a pen offered by the other guard.  “Wow...so, it worked?  I’m in the future?  When did this get instituted?” “About 200 years ago now.” Twilight whistled and signed the ledger with a flourish.  “Ok, so evidence already points to me not being dead in this time.  That’s good.  Unless...in 200 years I’ve become so powerful that I’ve ascended to lichdom!” She swallowed and passed the pen back to the guard.  “You guys aren’t ruled by a lich...right?” “No, your Highness.” “Oh.”  Twilight sighed in a mix of relief and disappointment. She decided to come at it from a different angle. “Is there a lich named Twilight Sparkle in history’s records?” “No, your majesty. You recently celebrated a healthy 233rd birthday, as an alicorn Princess. Lich magic was found to be possible 140 years ago, your highness. You have five phylacteries in storage as curiosities.” The guard’s companion jabbed him in the stomach. “Ow! What was that for?” This was met with a pointed glare, which the guard returned with a sigh. “Timestream, I know. But you know she would have found a way to check anyway.” Twilight blushed and ran a hoof through her hair.  “Heh...yeah, sorry.  I just wanted to be sure.  Um, you stallions wouldn’t happen to know where Celestia is, do you?” The first guard snapped the ledger closed and stepped aside.  “You should be able to locate her in or about the royal chambers, your Highness.  I understand today is her day off from her usual duties, and lunch was just served. She is in one of her “knowing smile” moods, so she’s probably expec--Ow! I’m just telling her what to expect, sheesh!” “Thanks!”  Twilight galloped off at a decent speed, heading for Celestia without a moment’s hesitation.   200 years prior “Hello, sirs” Twilight chimed to the guards standing in front of Celestia’s chambers. “Would you happen to know if Celestia is in? Oh--right, we are dating by this point, right? I don’t want to end up getting arrested for sexual assault of a Princess...again. That was a...complicated evening.” “Er…” The guards looked at one another. “Yes, your majesty. It is your twelfth anniversary today.” The second guard, who would go on to produce a very long line of ancestors in the guard, whispered to her. “She’s probably waiting for you to surprise her.” His companion gave him an irritated look, which he dutifully ignored. Twilight smiled. “Thank you, both.” She pushed open the double doors…   Two hundred years hence ...Revealing Celestia, though not Celestia as she had ever seen her before. A streak of gold ran through her mane, along with another of shimmering lavender. Her petral had changed to the shape of a star, and her front horseshoes, which currently rested on her desk, were engraved with a half moon and a heart, respectively. In addition, her coat was no longer quite so white, having taken on a shade of grey, and her generally friendly smile from before was replaced with a grin full of sardonic wit and a passion for life. “Princess?” “It has been a while since you have called me that, my shining star. A happy anniversary to you, too. Come, sit, tell me about where you have come from.” “Eh heh, thanks.” Twilight took the offered chair, facing the new Celestia. She realized she was staring, but rudeness was thrown aside in the face of natural curiosity. After all, her wife of all ponies would understand Twilight Sparkle needing to study. “I’d love to tell you about my time, but, uh, I’d like to hear a bit about yours, first.” Celestia’s look grew coy. “Peeping ahead, are we? Spoilers, my dear, spoilers.” She folded her hooves, studying Twilight back. “We’re happy, I can tell you that much. That’s why you’re here, I imagine. My lovely, worried little Twilight. Oh, I miss this so. Seeing you this…vulnerable. I suppose I can tell you that much, too. One day you’re going to find your footing and come into your own. Of course, you still have your worries…” “Eh...one of the guards assured me that I haven’t gone lich.  They weren’t kidding, right?”  Twilight rubbed the back of her head nervously.  “I mean, not that that has to be a bad thing! I didn’t mean to say you dating a lich would be bad! If you’re cool with being married to a lich and all...that’s cool with me.” Celestia chuckled at that.  For all the obvious small differences, that still remained the same warm music to Twilight’s ear.  The smile on Celestia’s lips was the same, too, except for a few new smile lines around the edges.  The past two centuries must have been happy ones for those to have developed. “Oh yes!  This is what I’ve missed!”  Celestia laughed again and her smile turned rueful.  “It really is too bad I can’t keep you like this.  I suspect both my past self and your future self wouldn’t be too happy about that.” “No, I don’t suspect that they...er, we...would.  I was just...bothered, I suppose, by the thought of our love fading with time.  Or that I was getting older without you and it was driving us apart.” Celestia stood and walked around her desk to sit before Twilight on the ground, bringing herself to eye level with the smaller alicorn.  “My shining star, your aging was never something that could drive us away from each other.  I’m not sure from how far back you are in our timeline (I assume it must be about two centuries by your constant blushing around me--you lost that about a hundred and eighty years ago), but know this, you will one day find a way to stay with me forever.  It is one of my fondest memories, right alongside the day you became an alicorn.  Most likely I was having similar fears myself, and that has always made me seem distracted or aloof.  I recall many sleepless nights where you slept peacefully beside me and I drove myself crazy with fears over losing you to the simple ravages of time. And a good number of times when you woke up to find me doing this and told me you knew it would all be okay, and you would never leave me. You would never tell me how you knew this. I suppose now I know.” Celestia leaned forward and nuzzled her wife sweetly. Twilight sighed, rising to meet Celestia’s height with a levitation spell. She then began to notice Celestia’s plating, and the spells enchanting the gem in the central chestpiece. Celestia blinked, and smiled again, disrupting Twilight’s scan with a poke from her wing. “Spoilers, dear.” Twilight blushed again, leaving Celestia to give a coo. Abruptly, her smile turned wicked and cheeky. “You really are so cute like this. Before you go back, are you sure you won’t let me play a little?” A wing tip caressed the region surrounding her cutie mark. Twilight began to blush. “Play a li--Since when did you get so...forward?” Celestia wrapped her wings around Twilight, a hungry look in her eye. “I was a very faithful student to a very wonderful teacher.” 200 years earlier “And you made yourself immortal? Even with the knowledge it would mean separating yourself from your friends and family, forever?” Celestia sipped her tea. “You can stop that, you know.” Twilight poured herself another cup, smiling away. “Stop what?” “You actually want to say “Are you willing to give up your life for me?”, but you don’t want to know the answer, so you’re getting answers from me in a roundabout way. The answer is “you are a part of my life, and I will fight to the end to keep it that way, but never lose sight of who I am trying to please you.” I won’t turn my back on my friends, but you are my oldest and greatest. I won’t give you my world, but I will do everything in my power to share it with you.” Celestia opened her mouth, then closed it. “You certainly did...grow, Twilight.” “We grew together. After all, I’ve heard that’s what happens when you fall in love. Mareistotle once famously said, “love is one soul in two bodies.” But we haven’t reached that stage yet. At least, I assume we haven’t. Twilight the younger popped away for a little while. I had to make sure it wasn’t a crucial little while. Also, she’ll have changed a bit. I prepared a list for when she comes back, but I’ll give you the teacher’s aid version. This has to go perfectly in order for our timelines to stay completely unchanged.” Celestia put her hoof on the elder Twilight’s, meeting her forceful stare with a calm, soothing and genuine one. “I don’t need a cheat sheet to loving you, Twilight. Whatever may come, trust that you and I will persevere.” Celestia chuckled, tapping a wing to Twilight’s nose.  “Maybe you haven’t changed so much after all.” Twilight grumbled and blushed, and Celestia chuckled. “Go on. The world won’t end because my wife got some wisdom on the progression of our relationship. Go spend your anniversary with my older counterpart.” “How did you know…?” “You wouldn’t come on just any old day. You would want the time jumps to be symmetrical.” “Which means you also know that I’m waiting for other me to get back. But in the mean time…” Celestia raised an eyebrow. “In the meantime?” “I want to study with you. I miss the days when you still had things to teach me. Let’s learn something new together.” Celestia smiled. “Let’s.” “How does this one look to you?” The other guard grunted his approval.  “Works for a ledger as good as anything else, I guess.” The guards were just about to step back into place when there was a loud boom and a high wind suddenly.  When the chaos died down, their Princess stood before them once more. Twilight took a few wobbly steps out of the circle of power and  smoothed back her disheveled mane before looking around for a moment. She nodded tiredly to the guards.  “Gentlecolts.” The first guard held up a blank ledger and offered Twilight a pen.  “Er...can you sign-in, your Highness?  You...sorta ordered us to start taking down arrivals and departures.” Twilight giggled.  “All the way back here on the timeline?  Heh, sure.”  Twilight took the pen and signed on the dotted line with quick strokes. “Done!” “And right on time, too.” Twilight and both guards looked up upon hearing the Princess’s voice again from across the room.  Twilight the elder strode forward from between the library’s shelves accompanied by Princess Celestia.  She stepped up the guards in front of Starswirl’s famous tome and signed the ledger directly under Twilight the younger’s signature. “Later on our students will ask about these signatures.  The differences in the writing and the odd order they come in.”  Twilight patted her younger self on the back.  “Just smile and chuckle to yourself when they start presenting their crackpot theories.” “Um...ok?”  Twilight the younger looked her older self up and down.  “What are you doing here?” “Making sure your absence didn’t threaten the timeline, obviously!”  The elder Twilight huffed for a moment and then sighed.  “Thank you, by the way, for giving Tia such a sweet anniversary gift.” Celestia cleared her throat with a small cough and smiled at both Twilights.  “I’ll be looking forward to it.” Twilight grinned sheepishly at her wife and older self.  “Well...um, you know...anything for Tia.” The elder grinned as her horn started to glow with charged temporal reassignment spells.  “Always.”