And centuries it did… and they did pass before her watchful eye.
Throughout the years, under the peaceful rule of Princess Celestia; Canterlot along with all of Equestria grew and grew. New cities were formed and old ones would crumble. Styles would change like the budding of the leaves. Technological and magical advances would arise, and many of the old ways were forgotten. The old speech and ways of living had radically morphed into newness. Even Cantilias was slowly consumed, by what is now known as the Everfree Forest. It was to Celestia, like all of the former pain being washed away in the seas of time. She was a witness to history being born, and daily changing before her eyes.
Still… her promise had never left her.
Almost a Millennia later, Princess Celestia entered the garden in the morning. She did so as always, every single day since that grand day of Canterlot’s dedication. She entered and waited patiently in the new day’s calm with no real expectation. Even though she faithfully kept her promise, like Luna; she had great doubt to overtake her heart many years ago. The thought of Luna’s child reappearing from nothingness had become to her like great old mare’s tales, tossed about without care. Her heart once again sank as she turned to leave, marking another day without hope.
However on this fateful day, as she turned the garden’s tranquility was filled with the sound of a rumble. She quickly jumped to attention and turned back towards the jeweled column. Suddenly, there was a flash of intense light above the place where the basin stood. Celestia’s heart pounded with cautious anticipation as her mind raced with all the thoughts of her past. She quickly trotted towards the basin.
Could this be the day?
Could there be an end?—She stammered in the hollow of her mind. As she drew near, she hesitated. “I… I… I can’t look.” She said out loud, as fear gripped hard upon her heart. If there was nothing in the basin, it would be the greatest hurt that she could ever endure. Much more than her father’s death, Starswirl’s dissolution, or Luna’s captivity… if that small place did not hold the object of her affection, it would be devastating. It would be worse than if all of the Archers of Equestria had thrust her heart through with many arrows. Her eyes dropped full with many tears as she thought about the possibility of nothingness.
“I can’t move…” she cried as her legs were seemingly affixed to the ground with great force. She could only stand motionless and close her eyes in fright. Suddenly, there came a sound as if it were from heaven that pierced her brain and touched her very soul.
“gerlbee… gardee… sugeg… ribblble…”
Her eyes shot open with awesome bewilderment. She was so startled that as if by angelic hands, Princess Celestia could feel herself being lifted into the air. She slowly breached the horizon of the bowl shaped basin and looked inside. Celestia screamed with excitement, as she realized what she saw.
SHE WAS THERE!
TWILIGHT WAS THERE!
“TWILIGHT SPARKLE!!!” Celestia yelled with wonder. The child turned their head in surprise and started laughing at such an outburst. Princess Celestia quickly reached out and grabbed the foal. She could do nothing but twirl with delight in the air, with Luna’s child clutched tight within her arms. Twilight cooed with glee, as she went faster and faster. Nothing about her had changed! She was exactly as she was over a thousand years ago! Everything… from the way she looked to what she was wearing, it was all the same. Celestia held her tightly as she once again descended to the garden’s floor.
Deeply realizing what had just happened, she cried out with the pangs of a Mother’s love; as she lifted her face to face. “I never stopped looking for you! I never stopped waiting!”—she wept sore with tears of joy. She lifted her head towards the sky and screamed—“Luna, I kept my promise!!! Luna, I found her!!!”
Then, a terrible thought pierced her brain, which caused her joy to convert into fear. Suddenly, the beaming smile dissipated from her face, as she clutched Twilight even tighter than before. Her mind was overwhelmed with the thoughts of her sister’s insane conversion to Nightmare Moon and the soon coming convergence of the heavens.
“I forgot! It’s seemed like forever and not much longer and she will be free… what’s a decade or two, compared to all the years I’ve waited?! Would she come for Twilight? To hurt her? To make her like herself?” This spoken thought resonated throughout her entire being.
“NO!!! I watched for this long and I won’t let her go!” she bellowed with authority, stomping the ground. She thought hard about what should be done, as she took Twilight inside the castle.
As she stood with her cradled in her arms in the throne chamber, logic began to have its way. “If I kept her here, there would be no escape… no time to hide her away.” She said as she stared deeply into Twilight’s eyes. She suddenly thought it best, to watch her from a distance. Put her in a safe environment away from the castle, but keep her close enough to monitor. Just then, her deep musing was interrupted by a familiar sound.
“How cute! A baby! Where did it come from?!” Celestia’s most trusted servant, June Majestic; stated with bewilderment.
“I… I found her in our inner garden.” The Princess said with a hint of nervousness in her voice.
“Shall I check the hospital or alert the Canterlot orphanage?” June asked.
“No… no it’s quite alright. I’ll take care of everything.” Celestia said, trying to rush her out of the room.
“Yes, Princess.” June said with a head nod.
“I will make preparations in the morning. In the meantime, please fetch me some milk—she’s hungry.” Celestia said as she could only gaze at the young one.
“Yes M’ lady.” June said with another nod.
“One more thing… close this chamber and tell the guards I wish to be alone. Tell no one of what you have seen, or what you are doing. I certainly do not need to risk any controversy or bad press to fall upon my rule… agreed?!” Celestia said with stern warning.
“Yes Princess… agreed. I will tell nothing of the young one.” June said.
“Good.” Celestia remarked without removing her eyes from Twilight.
As June was walking away, she paused and spoke—“Forgive me… but, I must say the young foal looks a lot like all the glass pictures of your sister. She’s far too pretty to find on a doorstep… don’t you think?!”
“Then… you know?!”—Celestia relented, with a slight stammer.
“Yes ma’am… I wouldn’t be your most trusted servant, if I didn’t know all the old stories about you and Luna.”—June said with a wink—“I’ve known for a long time what that old jeweled thing in the garden was for, and why it was so important to you. Songbirds… Ha! I’ve never seen a single one ever touch that old thing! It’s because you put some Celestia magic on it… didn’t ya?” June said.
Celestia could only grin, knowing that she knew everything.
“Don’t worry… I would never tell anyone a single word, not even my own flesh and blood. Upon my life—Twilight Sparkle will be safe.” June continued.
“Thank you.”—Celestia said, with a regal smile.
“You are more than welcome, Princess… For Equestria and Luna.” June said with a salute.
“Yes… for Equestria and my sister.” She said, with a shimmer of tears.
The next day, she was secretly placed with a foster family, bound-hard to the throne of Equestria. Nightlight was a cousin of King Stallionius that lived in Canterlot, which was not well known among the royals. His call to fame was his valor in battle for the Equestrian guard. His wife Twilight Velvet, was also of royal descent but somewhat rejected by them. She was most known throughout Equestria for her great published stories of adventure and love of learning. Celestia knew that she would be safe and protected with them. As well as, because of their lineage to her father Stallionius, she would fit in as she grew without arising suspicion from anyone… not even herself.
In the tender years that followed, the child grew and waxed strong with great magical power. She had already revealed to her foster parents her fledgling ability. And they in turn, informed Princess Celestia of her budding talents. So, with the help of June Majestic, she was privately set up by her foster parents prodding, to put her to the test. This was to make excuse for her apprenticeship with Aunt Celestia as her teacher and guide. And it would be done, with Twilight being none the wiser as to whom she actually was.
Celestia waited outside of the testing room of her semi-fake “School for Gifted Unicorns” with glee. “Starswirl—you were my teacher, and now… I teach your daughter. I’ll do great… because I learned from the best.” She whispered to herself smiling, as she waited for the news. Just then, the opalescent glow of a Sonic Rainboom flashed across the sky. She could then hear the noise of crashing and breaking inside of the classroom. “That’s my girl…” Celestia laughed as she rushed inside, seizing upon her opportunity to reclaim Luna’s child under her wing.
Day by day, Celestia focused almost all of her attention upon small Twilight. She had to greatly restrain herself, so many times as a teacher. This was because she only wanted to take her in her arms and hold her tightly. She wanted to tell her, she was her Aunt that loved her with all of her heart. The one that waited for her return for over a century… who cried rivers, for eons of time, just to see a glimmer of hope… But Celestia knew that she could not. She knew that to reveal who Twilight was before the time was ready, could be devastating to her destiny.
In this, she knew that she needed the right kind of help:
“Look at her playing… not a care in the world. How it always should have been.” Princess Celestia stated with a smile, as she watched Twilight playing with her adopted brother Shining Armor.
“It is so good to see you happy again, Aunt Celestia.” Princess Cadence said beaming, with a bubbly candor.
“Yes, I am happy again. Very happy. And I do not want anything to ruin this, Cadence. Everything must be revealed slowly and patiently. Too much… too soon would break her heart. It would also make her reject her destiny.” Celestia said with a somber tone.
“I certainly understand…” Cadence returned.
“Now… we have been over this a hundred times. You must NEVER tell anything about who she is, who her parents are, or what her purpose is… right!?” Celestia said with warning.
“Yes… Aunt Celestia.” Cadence said shaking her head up and down.
“Good Cadence… my sisters of the North have taught you well. To Twilight, I am only her Princess, teacher, and mentor and you are her foal sitter. There can be nothing more than that…” Celestia said with a sigh.
“I will be the best foal sitter you will ever see…” Cadence proudly said.
“I know you will… you must keep your own abilities hidden at all times. Use them only for protection. You must keep her safe… and unaware.” Celestia said as she turned towards Cadence.
“She will never know anything more than books, ladybugs and building blocks… and sandwiches.” Cadence said with a smile.
“Good… her magic ability with come naturally in due time. As she grows, she will reveal herself to be an Alicorn of tremendous power—like was her father. When the time is right, Nightmare Moon will return. Twilight will confront her with her power and the elements, just as I did. I will do my best to speak sense to her, and force her to listen. And, I believe that Twilight will be able to reform her mother, bringing her forth from the darkness, and free her from her spiritual prison.” Princess Celestia said with her eyes re-affixed upon Twilight’s playing.
“She is very special.” Cadence said.
“Yes Cadence, she is. Her destiny is to reclaim the throne of her father, and restore order and harmony to all of Equestria. She will become the Sixth element—the one prophesied by the great Alicorns of old.
As it is written:
“… and upon the sixth… Whomsoever shalt findeth it and weildeth it, their reign wilt be an everlasting one that no evil shalt befall. They shalt only bring peace and goodness and kinship that wilt never be broken.” Celestia retold with passion.
“That is a great burden for one mere filly…” Cadence stated with concern.
“Along with we, the Princesses of Equestria… there will be other friends to help her in this journey.”—Celestia turns with a wink—“I’m sure of it.”