//------------------------------//
// A Royal Party 
// Story: Project Re-Do 
// by akajulester 
//------------------------------//

Twilight shifted uncomfortably in her chair as she sat on Celestia's left side.

I really wish all these ponies would just leave me alone! I'm getting tired of answering their questions all day long!

It was nearing evening now, and the party celebrating the return of the Sun, Princess Celestia, and Princess Luna was still in full swing. The ponies attending this celebration were obviously not blind, and were quick to notice Twilight's wings. Celestia had placed her on her left side (along with the new Element Bearers), which did not really help stop the whispering. Luna, whose place was at Celestia's right, had long abandoned her seat to mingle with the ponies, and was currently happily dancing with a group of foals.

Celestia turned to Twilight and smiled reassuringly at her. Twilight forced a smile back at the alicorn, hoping that Celestia would not notice the lack of empathy in it. Luckily, she did not (most likely still caught up in the joy of having her sister returned, and the remaining shock upon seeing Twilight's alicorn status), and merely placed another bite of cake in her mouth. If she was aware that her future plans for Twilight and Equestria had possibly been broken, she did an impressive job of covering it up. She certainly looked much more relaxed than she had in the ruined castle...







"T-Twilight?" Celestia murmured, looking quite shocked.

Twilight looked around at her friends and the princesses, each in a total stupor at the stunning revelation. However, Twilight felt neither shock, nor panic. She felt only one thing:

Fear.

Not to say that she was terrified, but there was some fear in her mind as she ran through all of the possible outcomes of this drastic change. In the serenity of the Celestial Plane, her mind had been an ease, and even accepting of it. However, now that she was back in the real world, the old panic began to surge back - the kind that used to occur back before she had first ascended - even though she had gone through extremes to douse it.

"W-what happened to me??" Twilight asked fearfully. In truth, she already knew what had happened, and even had a pretty good idea for why.

Luna (whom seemed to be the least shocked out of all of them) blinked, and smiled bemusedly. "T'would seemeth that thou has't becometh an alicorn, Honored Twilight. We bethink t'is most obvious, as thou currently has't wing protruding from thy back."

Twilight froze, and turned to Luna in confusion. "'Honored Twilight??'"

"We bethink it an appropriate name for thee, Honored Twilight, as thou hath played a significant role in our redemption." Luna tilted her head. "Is that no longer the way of things hither in our beloved Equestria?"

Celestia chuckled lightly. "I will make sure to get you better acquainted with the modern world once the nobles have calmed down, Luna."

Luna smirked. "Ah, t'would seemeth that the nobles still prefer to has't everything wend smoothly, and by their own ways. Pity; I desired that those gents might becometh wiser after an aeon."

Pinkie scratched her head in confusion. "Desired whaaaa? Can you speak Equuish??"

Luna started. "I am quite certain that I speaketh our tongue with the highest of enunciation and pronunciation, Honored Pinkie. I was well taught in all matters of knowledge as a small filly, and mine tutors would chastise me most annoyingly if't be true I spake without a trace of eloquence." She bowed her head. "However, I am quite apologetic if't be true I erred in speaking, and humbly asketh for thy forgiveness."

"I believe I understood most of what you said, Princess Luna," said Rarity hesitantly. "I must say, I do like the old style of speaking. It sounds more... polite, and quite graceful!"

"If we are done talking about Equuish," interrupted Twilight tersely, "I would enjoy some information on my current situation!"

Celestia nodded. "Indeed. The matters of Luna's transition into modern Equestria will have to wait a while." She turned to Twilight, and smiled reassuringly to her. "You may ask me and Luna any questions you have."

"Will I outlive my friends and family?"

Twilight already knew the answer. She did not care. She wanted to hear Celestia's answer, even though she already knew what she would say.

"You will not outlive your friends and family," said the Sun Tyrant Celestia without hesitation. "Only natural alicorns - that is, ponies born alicorns - live eternally." Luna frowned at her older sister, and began to speak up, but was cut off by Celestia. "What else do you wish to know, my faithful student?"

Twilight wanted to attack her right then and there. Her only restraint was thinking of what her friends would think, especially so soon after becoming friends. She really was not surprised that Celestia lied to her, and it had hurt far more when she first realized that the beloved Princess had lied to her. Luna's beginning to object to the lie, however, pleased Twilight immensely.

In the past (or future, depending on where you stood), Luna had been the only one to support the broken mare. Twilight had been alone after her friends... left, and her husband had died during a seige upon Canterlot by griffons. After her brother had finally beat back the griffons, and effectively winning the war, Shining Armor had succumbed to his wounds and died in bed. His death had traumatized Cadence, who became a shell of her old self. However, her mantle was Love, and she never even thought to look on anyone else as she had on Shining Armor. She too, soon died a month later, leaving the Crystal Empire to be once again ruled by one of their own kind.

Luna had literally been Twilight's only friend, and had attempted many times to snap her out of her mad depression. She had known nothing about Twilight's time travelling plans, but most certainly would have disapproved. Twilight considered telling her now, but quickly decided against it. If she ever did reveal her plans to anypony, it would only be somepony she completely and truly trusted (the only reason why she would not tell her friends was because it would ruin said plans).

"Will I have to rule a kingdom?" Twilight knew the answer to that as well, but did not care for it. Her reign as a Princess of Equestria had been extremely like Cadence's before she moved to the Crystal Empire, as there were no real places for her to rule, effectively making her more like a Duchess.

Celestia chuckled. "I don't think so, Twilight Sparkle. That is a matter for another day. However, should you ever want to, you are always free to ask." She then remained silent for a moment, inviting Twilight to ask further.

"I think that's all I want to know at the moment," said Twilight. "Other questions can wait."

Pinkie suddenly jumped to her side, startling Twilight. "Well, if we're all done talking, y'know what this calls for?!?!"

Luna cocked her head. "We admit that we dost not knoweth. Pray telleth, what doth thee speaketh of, Honored Pinkie?"

Pinkie took a sharp intake of air, causing the rest of her friends to cover their ears in fear.

"A PARTY!!!"







The party continued until sundown, at which Celestia invited Luna to raise her moon for the first time in a thousand years.

"Art thou quite sure, sister?" asked Luna, tears of joy shining in her eyes. Celestia nodded, and nudged her forward gently with a wing.

Blinking back tears, Luna took to the sky, and guided her moon into the sky. The ponies gathered below her let out "ahhs" of delight at the spectacle. Luna lowered herself to the ground, tears flowing freely down her face.

"Umm, P-princess Lun-na?" Fluttershy's timid voice reach out to Luna. "Are you alright?"

Luna rubbed away her tears. "We - I has't nev'r experienced such joy in far too long of a time, Honored Fluttershy."

As everypony celebrated, Twilight stood off to the side, watching the happiness occurring. She put on a smile for all to see, but it took all of her willpower to keep the hatred inside her from showing up. Luna may have begged forgiveness from her elder sister, and even granted forgiveness to Celestia for the cruel punishment, but Twilight would never forgive the Sun Tyrant.

She would never forget what she had done to her.