Twilight Sparkle opened her eyes after another restless night. She looked back at her wings and silently cursed them. Getting used to them was not as easy as Princess Celestia and Rainbow Dash had said and it was costing her sleep. Even after a month she could not figure out a comfortable way to sleep in her bed. She groaned as she stood up and called for Spike as she walked into the bathroom.
“Spike! Make breakfast please, and coffee, black,” She yelled, startling awake the baby dragon.
“Good morning to you too,” He groaned as he got up to go downstairs. Twilight- no Princess Twilight Sparkle, she needed to keep reminding herself that, started to wash her face. She needed to make herself at least somewhat presentable for the countless ponies that would no doubt want to meet her. She looked into the mirror and stared at herself. She was a complete mess; she had bags under her eyes, her mane was all messed up, all in all she looked like she hadn’t slept well in days. In actuality she hadn’t slept well in a month but Rarity ‘insisted’ that Twilight accompanied her and Fluttershy on their weekly spa days. More like pushed me inside, Twilight thought wryly.
Twilight took a brush and started to comb her mane. She winced every now and again when she would come across a knot. She finished quickly and after brushing her teeth she made her way downstairs. She was just about to enter the kitchen when… the door slammed open in her face. Twilight gave a yelp of pain as it hit her muzzle and she fell on her flank. Spike appeared from behind the door.
“Twilight! Letter from Princess Celestia just came in, looks important…. What happened to you?”
Twilight just grumbled as she grabbed the letter from the young drake’s claws in her magic. She paused slightly as she looked at the seal. It was not the seal of Princess Celestia as she usually saw on these scrolls. It was instead of the Royal Pony Sisters. Twilight wasn’t sure if this was bad news or not but she knew there was only one-way to find out. She broke the seal and unrolled the scroll.
Dear Princess Twilight Sparkle,
It is time for you, to make a very important decision Twilight. It will not only affect you, but it will also affect all of your friends and family. I am sorry to put such pressures on you at this time but it is important that you come to Canterlot immediately. We shall be waiting for you, and we shall explain the decision you need to make. I dare not say anything more due to this being extremely secret. I expect you to follow the same measures. We shall be waiting,
Sincerely,
Princess Celestia
Twilight wasn’t sure how to take the letter. On one hoof she was being told by Princess Celestia to go Canterlot. On the other hoof however, she had many plans she had to do with her friends. She was a princess though, so she decided to head to Canterlot post haste.
“Spike, make that breakfast to go, we need to head to Canterlot,” She explained to him. With a quick salute he went back in the kitchen to finish the breakfast and put it in portable containers. Spike put the containers into Twilight’s saddlebags just as she levitated them onto her back. With one final look at the library she closed the door and locked the door with her magic. She levitated Spike onto her back and smirked as the young dragon put on a bike helmet.
“You set”? Asked Twilight.
“You bet I am!” an excited Spike replied.
“Then let’s go!” With that Twilight gave a flap of her wings and they were airborne.
The flight to Canterlot was a pleasant one. There weren’t that many clouds in the sky and there was a nice gentle breeze. Twilight was even doing better then normal, only almost crashing into three trees. As soon as they were in open skies however, she opened her saddlebags and levitated out Spike’s and hers breakfast: a gem for Spike and a nice Belgian waffle for her. She also levitated her thermos of coffee out and took turns eating the waffle and drinking the coffee.
“So what did the Princess call you to Canterlot for Twilight?” Spike asked in between bites.
“It was something about a choice, what choice or anything else I don’t know.”
“Wait, so you have no clue what’s going on?”
“Nope.”
“Ok….” Spike said.
With a final gulp of her coffee Twilight came in for a landing at Canterlot Castle. She had to squint slightly as the sun shined on the white marble walls at just the right angle to hit her eyes. She let Spike off her back and they both trotted up the stairs to the main entrance. As they passed through the portcullis a sight they didn’t expect greeted them: Twilight’s brother, Shining Armor.
“Shining? What are you doing here?” Twilight asked her brother.
“Twily! The Princess told me to take you directly to her, she has me on security, apparently whatever this is, is apparently a huge deal secret wise,” He explained as he guided them through the halls.
“So does this mean Cadence is here too?”
“Possibly, she wasn’t home when I woke up, she left a note saying she had important work to do.”
“Hmm… alright, so let me guess, we’re going to the Princess’ study,” Twilight said knowingly. Shining Armor just nodded.
They continued to chit chat as they walked to Celestia’s study, with every foot closer she got, Twilight got more nervous on why she was called here. It was the first time she actually had time to think about it. Her mind raced between ideas of what it could be: all the way from having her status taken away to being sent back to magic kindergarten for one thing or another. Luckily she didn’t have long to think as they trotted up to the door leading to Celestia’s study. Shining Armor opened the door with his magic and wished her good luck as she walked in.
The room was dark, only a few candles being lit, and on the contrary to what ponies might think, the Sun Princess’ study was void of windows. Twilight’s eyes slowly adjusted to the dark room, the figures of three other ponies were soon apparent. What was even more apparent was the fact that these ponies had horns, wings, and crowns.
“Princesses?” Twilight asked trying to make out the figures. It was obvious to her who they were but she still wanted to confirm their identities. The three figures stepped into the light revealing, as many would guess, the princesses.
“Good Twilight, you’re here,” Princess Celestia said with a smile.
“Twilight!” Cadence trotted up to her and gave her a hug, which Twilight gladly returned.
“Princess Celestia, why did you call me here, what is this decision I have to make?” The princess sighed and motioned for her to come to a large podium in the center of the room. Twilight noticed it when she walked in the room but paid it no mind. Now as she looked at it however, she saw that there was a small bottle on top of it. The bottle itself was nothing special, what was inside it however was. The liquid inside was rainbow colored.
“Is that…?”
“Rainbows? No it just has the same color property,” Princess Celestia said finishing her sentence, “Twilight? Do you know how Alicorns become immortal?”
“Um… I thought once they get the horn and wings they kinda were already,” Twilight answered. Princess Luna chuckled at this as she chimed in.
“That is the common misconception Twilight Sparkle. In truth if we did not come up with this potion we would be as mortal as any other pony.”
“This potion makes ponies immortal?” Twilight asked gaping at it. She received three nods in response, “Well then why didn’t you give it to every pony in Equestria?”
“Because Twilight,” This time was Cadence who chimed in, “ This is the product of one hundred moons of work.”
“This potion is incredibly hard to make, but it is also incredibly important to us as princesses. You must choose whether or not you would like to drink the potion,” Celestia spoke up.
“Choose? Why wouldn’t I just drink it? This sounds too perfect to be true,” Twilight said excitedly.
“Some people are not ready for it Twilight. Cadence didn’t choose to dink the potion. She is still mortal. Luna and I had to, due to our duties.”
“Cadence? You didn’t take the potion? Why?” Twilight asked turning to face Cadence.
“Because, I fell in love with Shining. I knew that he wasn’t immortal like I would have been. He eventually would die and I would be all by myself. I didn’t want that,” Cadence told her with a smile. Thinking about it brought a small tear to her eye.
“That’s so sweet Cadence,” Twilight said smiling, “but that doesn’t make this decision any easier… Princesses what do you think I should do?”
“As I’ve said Twilight, we didn’t have a choice in this matter. Our duties require that we live forever. As for you, while friendship will always be needed, it isn’t as powerful without friends,” Celestia explained.
“You’re right… maybe I should talk to my friends about it. It’s kind of their decision as much as it is mine.”
“We figured you would make that decision. That’s why we took the liberty of inviting your friends and family here,” Cadence said with a smile.
“…So that’s why I need your guys’ opinion on this,” Twilight finished explaining to her friends. Shining Armor had escorted her again, this time to a room near the throne room. The princesses had invited all of her friends; they even invited her parents.
They all stared at her wide-eyed, they all knew Alicorns could be immortal, but they, like Twilight, thought it came with the wings and horn combination. None of them were expecting this. None of them knew exactly what to say; they were given some hefty information, and now their friend and family member was asking them for their opinion on weather or not she should do it. Even Pinkie seemed unsure of what to do. It took a few moments but Applejack was the one to speak up first.
“Well sugarcube… we all want what would make you happy, but if you want ma opinion of what ah would do… Well ah wouldn’t do it.”
“Why not Applejack? You could make a lot of money being able to live so forever,” Twilight asked her. She thought she knew the answer but she still wanted to ask.
“Twi, I won’t sugarcoat this. Ah’ve seen too much death of ma loved ones; you know that. Ah have a younger sister. Ah could never imagine her…. Well you know. Same goes for Big Mac, and all of you girls. “
“I have to agree with Applejack on that one darling,” Rarity chimed in, “ I have Sweetie Belle to think about. While it would be nice to be able to design dresses forever; there is something very morbid about immortality.”
“I guess I haven’t thought about that,” Twilight said looking down. She then looked to her parents, “Mom, dad, what do you think.”
“Sweetie, we just want what would make you happy, just like your friends,” Her mom said. Her dad then added to her comment.
“Dear, we don’t care whether or not you’re immortal. We want you to live as long of a life as you can. Its all parents’ dreams to have their kids outlive them. I’m not saying if you’re not immortal you wont, but I mean… it’ll help.”
Twilight didn’t say anything to that. She just let it process through her mind as she looked over to Pinkie Pie.
“Twilight oooh oooh pick me pick me!” Pinkie exclaimed. Twilight even in her bleak mood couldn’t help but giggle at Pinkie’s attitude.
“Yes Pinkie?”
“Well if I was immortal, I would go everywhere and meet more ponies and throw them all parties AND THERE WOULD BE NOTHING ANYONE COULD DO TO STOP ME FROM TAKING OVER ALL OF EQUESTRIA! MWUHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA,” Pinkie finished her maniacal laugh and looked at everypony and giggled slightly, “ I mean being immortal could be fun.”
Everypony just stared at Pinkie for a few moments. Twilight broke the silence.
“Well um… thank you for that… incite full opinion Pinkie, umm Fluttershy what do you think?”
“Well Twilight,” Said the yellow pegasus, trying her hardest to forget how scary Pinkie just was, “ I don’t think I would take the potion.”
“Why not Fluttershy, wouldn’t you want to have a lot animal friends like you do now,” Twilight asked her.
“Well Twilight it’s just that it’s kind of the same reason Applejack and Rarity wouldn’t drink the potion either. I understand I’ll most likely outlive most of them but still.”
“Well I think it would be awesome! Think of all the cool stunts you could pull off knowing you wouldn’t get hurt doing them,” Rainbow exclaimed.
Twilight had a lot of different opinions she needed to sort through in her head. It didn’t help that everypony in the room started to converse about their opinions. All the talking broke her concentration and the situation was stressing her out to no end. In the end she just screamed and galloped out of the room.
After fleeing the room Twilight almost slammed into Shining Armor. He could immediately tell something was wrong.
“Twily! What’s wrong?”
“It’s this stupid potion! I don’t know what to do. Everyone has such good points for both sides of the argument,” Twilight said with a groan. Shining thought it over for a minute before speaking.
“Well Twilight, think about it logically. You are the Princess of Friendship right? Well a princess with that title can’t live without friends, so there you go,” Shining explained. Twilight mulled this over in her head. It seemed beyond simple, too simple for the smart mind of Twilight, which tended to over analyze things. However within a few moments she burst out into a huge smile.
“THAT’S IT! Oh thank you Shining, I know exactly what to do!” She said galloping off towards Princess Celestia’s study.
What seemed like forever later, Twilight trotted back into the chamber where her friends were. Behind her was a cart with a kettle and six cups. She was informed by Shining Armor that their parents had to leave due to their jobs.
“Sorry girls about earlier,” She apologized.
“Oh don’t worry about it Darling, we completely understand, this is… well it is pretty dark stuff,” Rarity said, levitating a cup full of tea to herself, sipping it. The rest of the girls did the same, albeit without magic. After all of them had taken a sip did Twilight finally sit down and sip hers.
“So Twi, don’t keep us in the dark,” Applejack said, “Did you drink the fancy potion or not.”
“Oh well, yes I did, but I don’t think it needs to be a sad occasion, seeing how it wont matter,” Twilight said with a smile. The smile to Rarity seemed slightly too large for Twilight’s usual self.
“And why won’t it matter? Twilight, what aren’t you telling us?” In the most proud way she could, and with the biggest smile she could muster, Twilight explained.
“Oh, because all of you are immortal now. I spiked your tea. This way we can be friends forever!”