//------------------------------// // Has She Told You? // Story: Condemnation // by Peekaboo //------------------------------// "She has instilled in me the importance and responsibility of being a good ruler. We've had many talks about the integrity and kindness a good Princess must have to be worthy of her throne." Cadance replied, as though reciting it from memory. "That much is good, yes, but it is not what I mean. Has she spoken to you of the pains that come with the crown and alicornhood?" Luna's concern was more evident the longer Cadance paused. "I... I'm afraid I don't know what you mean." admitted the younger princess. "I was afraid of that. If she has not told you, then she certainly has not told dear Twilight either." Luna's lower lip shook as she held back a small sob. "Cadance, you and Twilight are indeed Alicorns. But you are not what would be called a 'natural' alicorn. By that I mean an alicorn born as an alicorn. A natural born alicorn is not created simply by the genetics of their parents, but by lifeblood of the universe. The magic that connects all living things runs heavily through their veins. This is what my sister and I are." "Twilight and yourself are... different. Not in a bad way, mind you, but for either of you to have truly achieved the form you have now, Celestia has had to offer you up to the Universe for judgement, alongside the offer of a purpose you may fulfill for it. It not only toys with the natural balance of our world, but with your lives as well. I was unaware of her meddling in this sort of magic until my return from the moon. Perhaps it was her loneliness for family that pressured her to seek it out, or perhaps a need to fill my place royally while I was away. But it was wrong of her to do this without your understanding and consent beforehand." Luna explained. "Do you mean to say that our becoming alicorns goes against nature?" Cadance squinted in disbelief. "Yes, and no. I'm sorry if my choice of words has offended you." Princess Luna chewed on her lower lip. "But you must understand, the nature of the Universe is fickle. Like I said, if it did not deem you worthy, you'd never have become who and what you are today." Luna tried to smile comfortingly. "My qualms do not lay with that fact, but in that my sister has brought you both into the life of an alicorn unprepared." "What exactly am I not prepared for?" Cadance's ears twitched. "If I may ask, how old are you right now, Cadance?" Luna asked. "I'm 23 years, why do you ask?" Cadance replied. "And how old is your Shining Armor?" Luna pressed on. "25 years... again, I- I must ask why." Cadance stiffened, discomfort clearly taking hold. "Little is known about how unnatural alicorns age. Natural alicorns like Celestia and I live a life that is often described as immortal. We live as long as our presence in the Universe is needed, though our appearance rarely changes. If your lifespan is exactly the same as ours, or has been at least lengthened by your ascendance, how long do you think you'll live?" Luna asked, staring intensely and blankly at the ground. "W-what do you mean to say?" Cadance stammered, the inkling of fear reaching into her voice. "Cadance... Being an Alicorn is not a gift, but a condemnation. There is a price to be paid for the power and lifespan we hold." Luna turned forlorn eyes upon Cadance. "It pains me to say that the chances are very strong that you will outlive your beloved. You will likely outlive him, your families, Twilight aside, and all of your friends. Were you aware that by becoming an alicorn, you'd be forfeiting the fact that you will grow old with the ones you love?" Luna stated sorrowfully. "Were you aware that all the while, you will be expected to stand with your head high, and rule over your allotted ponies with the same poise as before you lost a single soul to time?" Cadance sat wide-eyed and speechless. Confusion, a moment of anger, and fear flashed across her eyes. Luna knew that poor Cadance did not wish to hear this, least of all from someone other than her trusted Aunt Celestia. Cadance did not wish to believe what she'd just been told. Guilt panged at Luna's heart, and she feared she may have just driven her adopted niece away. "I understand if you choose not to believe me." Luna said, rising to her feet. "I will leave you be if you wish, I will not torment you with things that I cannot prove to be true. These are my fears for you and young Twilight, and it has not been fair of me to unload this upon you if you did not wish to hear it." Luna turned to walk away, shame bearing heavily down upon her. "Wait! Aunt Luna!" Cadance called out. "Even if what you said turns out to be true, the future cannot be so bleak! I am the Princess of love! I know for a fact that even those who suffered the loss of loved ones meet new ponies to care for. Their friendships and love for one another never really end! Can you deny me that truth?" Luna turned, lips pursed and wings tense. Cadance's pleading face pouted sadly toward her. "My dear Cadance, it is true, you will meet new ponies. You will befriend them, and love them, but in time they too shall pass. I have not told you these things to upset you, or to express ill will upon you or Twilight, but because from experience I know how it hurts." Luna made no attempt to hide her tears as they began to well up. "I tell you this, because my sister loved you both too much to tell you, and I love you too much to not." With a sob, Cadance stepped forward and embraced the lunar princess, catching her off-guard. "Please tell me that that cannot be all the future will hold. Tell me there will be happiness." Cadance pleaded. "Dear Luna, I have to tell you what I've told to no-one else yet. I am pregnant! Am I destined to suffer that loss too?!" Luna stared at Cadance in shock, before holding Cadance in a tight, sorrowful hug. The princesses wept together for a few moments. "I cannot know for certain." Luna eventually admitted. "As I said before, I cannot guarantee that these things I've told you are anything more than fears. But I implore you, assume that I am wrong, for the sake of the foal you carry. Don't ever stop loving others." Cadance sank to the ground and continued to weep. "My anger and sadness with this statue lay in the fact that it was not built to celebrate Twilight's new life, but Celestia's accomplishment in keeping someone she cared about by her side. It is truly a disgrace." Luna lifted Cadance's chin. "But please, do not interpret this as a reason to hate my sister. You have a happy relationship with her, and I did not wish to tarnish her reputation in your eyes. Remember that she cares truly for you both, though I fear that her intentions have been unintentionally misplaced." Luna pleaded. "It is wrong that she has made this decision for you and Twilight. Without either of you ever knowing what it is you'd be potentially giving up. Should my theories be right, Twilight too will outlive her friends, and family. But in the very least you will have each other in this journey, and Celestia would not have made that decision if you were not precious to her." Cadance blinked back tears and smiled sadly. "Thank you... And lease don't tell anypony I'm pregnant yet." Cadance sniffed. "I had wanted it to be a surprise to everyone." Luna smiled and crossed her heart. "Stick a cupcake in my eye." with a tear-filled smile, she helped Cadance to her feet. "But Luna?" Cadance paused, a moment of hesitation became present. "Hmm?" "I promise not to hold anything against her that you don't, but if I may ask..." Cadance paused again, calculating her words. "You said that your sister did something terrible to you... What exactly did Celestia do that pushed you to become Nightmare Moon?" The Lunar Princess froze, staring coldly up to the setting sun. Her magic flaring up, she grasped the moon, and raised it. From the library, she presumed, the sun too was grasped and lowered. "Twilight herself asked me that very same question not too long ago." Luna said icily. "I'll tell you exactly what I told her: I can tell you everything that I know from my perspective. And I will do so now if you wish me to. But if you truly wish to know what her motives were... then you must ask the sun. Because someday, I too would like to know."