//------------------------------// // A Sweet Reunion // Story: Is Immortality Really Worth It? // by Nadake //------------------------------// “Horsefeathers!” Applejack swore, straining once more against the harness of her cart. The cart was Big Mac’s and it was barely within the straining muscles of the farmer mare to pull. It was piled high with gorgeous red apples, freshly bucked from the trees at Sweet Apple Acres. She rushed forward once more, face screwed up with the pain of the harness straps digging deeply into her shoulders. “Applejack Applejack APPLEJACK!” The farmer turned, and barely managed to avoid being bowled over as a pink ball of pure energy slammed into her. “Twilight’s come back, she’s coming back. Here, we’re having a ‘Welcome-back-from-your-super-duper-extra-long-trip-that-you-forgot-to-tell-us-about’ party tonight. At nine. Don’t be late!” At some point during the speech, Pinkie had managed to unharness Applejack, and only when she was let go and an invitation was shoved into her hoof did AJ realize that they had been bouncing while the exuberant pony had hugged her. The orange mare wobbled, juggling the invitation and attempting to avoid falling into the mud nearby. Rarity would kill her if she came home muddy. Again. Today. By the time she stabilized and looked back around, there was no trace of the party pony, though her cart had miraculously been moved to the stall she had been pulling it to. Chuckling and muttering “Pinkie Pie,” AJ tucked the invitation under her hat, and went over to make the farm, and herself, enough money for Granny Smith to finally get that new hip she’s needed for years. The dirt road to town seemed to have had its mud vanish in an instant as well. Meanwhile the pink mare with the flare was skipping about town as she made her way to the Boutique. Over the past month, ever since her wedding, Rarity’s little business had really taken off. Fancy Pants had finally gotten enough financial backing to help her business grow, and now she was making clothes for the fashionable across Equestria. She was doing so well, she even had an assistant, a young colt named Stitch who helped her in assembling some of the less intensive products. Currently though, Stitch was gone, removed forcefully so that the unicorn mare could “Find Inspiration”. Rarity was currently in her Inspiration Room in point of fact, the blue glow of her telekinetic grip on a length of green fabric, draping it over the back of a ponikin. “Whatcha doing Rarity?” The unicorn screamed, whirling and dropped the fabric. The green cloth fell on her, wrapping her legs and sending the white mare sprawling. “Pinkie! How many times have I asked you not to do that?” The whine came from beneath the tent, and several seconds later, Rarity’s head popped out from within, her expression a confused jumble of exasperation, amusement, and mild annoyance. Honestly, considering how often she does it, it shouldn’t surprise me anymore. Pinkie only giggled, tilting her head at the unicorn. “Hey that looks like fun.” And into the new tent she dove. Sighing and hanging her head, shaking it and smiling, Rarity retreated back within the cloth, to find herself nose to nose with Pinkie. “So you want to come to Twilight’s ‘Welcome-back-from-your-super-duper-extra-long-trip-that-you-forgot-to-tell-us-about’ party? Have and invitation. Oh. Since you and AJ make smoochy faces together, should you only get one. Oh, but if you have two, then they can make smoochy faces together too. OW!” The erratic thoughts were interrupted by a set of claws digging into her flank. “Opalescence! Behave yourself.” “Ow ow ow. That really hurt. I know what your upset about Opal!” Pinkie dug in the saddlebags draped from her sides, and produced a letter identical to the one that had found its way into Rarity’s hoof. “Here, you can come too. Hey Rarity? If you and AJ are together, does that mean Opal and Winnona are-OW! Sorry Opal, I forgot. Are you and Winnona making kissy faces together like Rarity and Applejack? I don’t know how you would though, you both have a lot of scary sharp teeth. Like, if Gummy had teeth, I wouldn’t ever want to kiss him, because he might try to kiss back like he always does, but if he had teeth then that would hurt a lot, not feel funny and giggly while he tries to hold on.” “Pinkie, Darling, why do you think Twilight is coming home today?” “She’s not silly. She’s coming home tonight, so I need to go and give out the rest of the invitations before then. Oh, and make the cake. And the streamers. And the punch. Hey, do you think Twilight will mind if I put hot sauce in the punch again?” “I think you had better not. Of course I’ll come, but I will need to finish this design first.” “Okie Dokie Lokie.” Pinkie pulled herself out of the cloth and bounced away, mane and tail bouncing even more than the pink body beneath them. “But, what if they…notice.” Twilight's voice was soft, quiet and afraid. Tears rimmed her eyes, and she shot a worried look at the alicorn beside her. “Twilight, beloved, you are still you. You just have a different body. They are your friends, and they will always love you, just as I do.” “But what if they… don’t?” Celestia cringed at the sadness, the dejection that consumed the little mare’s voice. It had been three days since the very abrupt, painful awakening of Twilight to her new body, finally letting the poor mare feel again in more than memory. Twilight turned her head, nuzzling the soft white fur covering lean, strong muscles. “I’m sorry Princess. I know you have so many things to be worried about, and I’m not helping at all.” “Don’t!” The sharp tone caught both teacher and student off guard. Taking a slow breath, Celestia continued. “Don’t you ever feel sorry for what happened. It wasn’t your fault, no matter what happened. If any pony is at fault, then it is me. I didn’t realize just how much you were, and are, until I saw you trapped in that prison. You have only done two things wrong Twilight.” The saddened look vanished, replaced by near panic. “I, but I, what?” “First of all, you insist on calling me Princess, when I do believe I told you several times that my name is Celestia.” A smile flitted across the wise face, and an answering grin broke the storm clouds that had been stirring on the lavender mare’s face. The next sentence wiped the grin away like oil in water though. “And second, you fell in love with the worst pony in Equestria.” Steel glinted in the purple eyes, and Twilight butted her head into Celestia’s chest, hard. “No. You aren’t. You are the most beautiful. Most wise. Most kind. Most… everything pony I have ever met. Or will meet.” A soft kiss punctuated each sentence, the lips of the young mare ghosting, warm and sweet across the tense white body. Tension simply melted away from Celestia’s body under the attention, flowing from of her like water through a sieve. From an overhanging balcony, Luna glared. She didn’t trust Twilight. There was something wrong with the mare ever since she had been pulled from the mirror. Luna wasn’t even sure that the mare had ever truly been trapped in the mirror. Yes, something had been locked in that mirror, and the mirror would show you the true nature of those within. Whatever it was, that thing was Twilight. A piece of Twilight. They had left the Old Palace in the Everfree forest three days ago, baring that thing with them. Now her sister sat there, cuddling it like a favored teddy bear. Tears welled in Luna’s eyes as she watched the scene below. The incipient sobs had plagued her since she and her sister had returned to Canterlot. Now, even the thought of her sister and Twilight was enough to make her eyes water in reaction. It didn’t make sense. She should be happy for her sister, happy that she had found love, no matter what was done to preserve it. Oh come now dear host. It matters little when you admit why such a sight pains you, as a dagger in your breast would. You see what you desire, held before you. Tantalizingly near, with the only barrier that keeps your hearts-desire is your Sisyphean fear. I could help you master your fear, once more dear child. Acshina, I abandoned you. You lied to me, betrayed my trust, and stole my mind. Why would I allow you access once more? Because you still lust, dearheart. Still you yearn for affection, for a sister who would recognize you, accept you. You hate that she still looks on you with disgust for falling so. Who wouldn’t be ashamed of their sister listening to some evil creature? Oh dear host. It is not me that she despises. It is you. You who sought to control her precious dear ponies. You who behaved in such an… inappropriate fashion. You who lusted and lusted. For attention, for power, for love. But most of all, she is ashamed of the fact that you, her sister lusted after her. Siwwy wittle Woona. Did you ever think that she would, or even could, love you in such a disgusting manner? The noble, beautiful, kind, wise Princess of Equestria, savior and leader to her ponies, be caught in flagrante delicto? Poor, dear, sweet, stupid Luna. Even now, after I was ‘banished’ she doesn’t trust you. A simple mare less than a hundredth your age, who has only known your sister for a bare score of years, is still closer to her than you can ever be. That won’t work. One blue eye closed, the warm tears burning a path through her fur. Not this time. I won’t let her down. Chilly laughter resounded in the echoing hallways of the Princess of Dreams’ mind. Oh sweetest, most innocent Luna. Do you not see my mark on the young one? Are you not certain that I am once more trying to capture your beloved, to steal her away from you. No. I know you Acshina, and I will not let your lies corrupt me. The specter of Acshina appeared before her, an amorphous ball suspended in the air, a single, reptilian green eye glaring from the depths. Oh, but dearest Luna. You know what I am. I only grant the power to my hosts. It was you who controlled Nightmare Moon, I was merely… fuel. Another cold laugh echoed, and for a moment, Luna was the scared little filly she had first met the monster as. Then the moment passed. She wasn't that filly any longer, she was a strong, confident, ancient ruler, with millennia behind her, and millennia more ahead of her. She turned once more, eyes clouded with tears. But now, below the sadness was an abiding fear. Something was very wrong. “Come on. You have to get hungry. Everypony gets hungry. How can you not want food?" "Because I don't need to eat." "I know, you've said that six times. And you've been looking at those eggs almost since they were cracked. You want them, admit it." "If there is no need to eat, then eating would be a waste of energy." "Twilight, come on." Nolux had degraded into simple whining, trying to get the headstrong unicorn to bow to biological necessities and eat. They both knew that she was hungry, she hadn't taken her eyes off the food since it had been made. "It can't really hurt to eat. Just a little bit? Please? One bite. Besides, I owe you for earlier, and this is how I'm making it up." "One bite." The grudging tone couldn't hide the avarice in her eyes, or the manner with which she descended on the food. Starving lions in the Arena had nothing on her. "Twilight, when was the last time you ate?" "Hmm?" The grunt passed the overstuffed mouth, and the unicorn swallowed."A month." "That is more than a little creepy you know?" The zebra was sitting on the dusty grass beside Twilight, head cocked to one side as her brow furrowed. In response though, Twilight merely arched an eyebrow, as if daring her companion to explain. "You don't act like you have any life in you. You move around and talk, but its like there's nothing there. You act like a foal that doesn't get a new toy." The arched eyebrow lowered, slamming down into a glare. The zebra bit the bottom of her lip, but she didn't back down from the gaze. "So what is your problem? You always act like you don't care about anything, but you still do. You react, just not as much as other ponies would. Like how your starting to get angry. And there you go, you just make it... stop. The anger just... goes away." "Don't worry about it. It doesn't concern you." The icy gaze once more locking on the zebra. This time though, Nolux met the frozen stare with her own, concern and anger burning in her sapphire eyes. "Your right, of course. I abandoned my home, my people, my life, all so that I could go with you and at least try and make a better future than the one that you arrogance is leading you too. It isn't my concern is it? Let me tell you Twilight Sparkle. It is my concern, because if you don't fess up right this second, then you really are just a scared little filly, one whose teacher just pitied, not a mare that can prove herself the equal to the divine itself. Start. Talking." A huff ended the echoing growl that emanated from the zebra, and hot air washed over a stunned Twilight. For a second, one single moment, her mask fell away. The pain of her love rejected, the sorrow of her own inadequacy, the fury at Celestia and Nolux, Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash, everypony for just leaving her alone, letting her bleed out from the gaping hole where her heart used to be. All were there, and for a moment, they were clear to all. But below that, there was fear. Fear that even now, even her new power, even her plan would be useless. The fear that she was still not even worth the notice of the beautiful, wise, kind Princess that had extended a friendly smile, and captured a filly's heart. The forced wall of apathy that had held her in control, had made her strong, shattered. It disintegrated, leaving that young mare shivering in reaction to the cold air of reality. Nolux stared in horror at the unicorn before her. The words she had used had been angry, frustrated, violent even, but she hadn't intended to hurt Twilight. Now though, her friend...was Twilight her friend? Now Twilight sat there, head hung, and the cold, impossible mare broke into a dozen pieces. For a moment, she stood as frozen as Twilight had pretended. Then she surged forward, and her strong legs wrapped tight around the unicorn. They sat there for a time, while Twilight finally let go, finally found a comforting shoulder on which to cry. A mare who didn't know her, a mare who wouldn't judge her was safe. That mare could see her cry, could hold her in her weakness. Just like another had done, so long ago.