//------------------------------//
// Apparently Dishonesty is the Best Policy 
// Story: The Immortal's Burden 
// by DuskPhoenix 
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"No." Celestia stated.

"Why not? It would surely succeed!" Luna protested.

Celestia rubbed her temples. "Luna, we are not lying to our subjects on this level. Besides, it would only delay our problem to a later date, not solve it."

"I'm fine with that." Twilight interjected, her voice muffled from being curled into a ball and under a rug.

"We can't just say you're suddenly not immortal anymore!" Celestia pointed out in exasperation. "Nopony will believe it unless they have some sort of proof."

"Well I mean we could cut Twilight in half again and say she's dead for real this time." Spike suggested. Upon seeing the blank looks he was receiving from two princesses and a rug, he shrugged. "It would stop ponies thinking Twilight's immortal."

"I think that would create a few minor issues." Celestia said dryly. Spike looked thoughtful, then nodded deeply.

"Sister, this may be the only way to grant dear Twilight peace." Luna pleaded. "Our subjects do not know that there is no such spell to remove immortality! It was by the completion of a spell that she ascended in the first place, after all. We could simply claim to have made modifications to that spell."

"Luna that's not how spells work and you know it." Celestia said tiredly.

Luna huffed. "Well, does anypony know what the actual intended effects of Starswirl's spell was?"

Celestia raised an eyebrow. "I suppose not."

"And does anypony know what the magic of alicorns can and can not achieve?"

"... I suppose not."

Luna smiled. "Then it should work perfectly!"

Celestia looked between Luna smiling grandly, the rug breathing heavily, and Spike slowly nabbing the smaller jewels off of her garments.

"You know what? Fine." Celestia sighed. "I'll tell our staff to inform the public that we will be making an important address this evening. It's not like we can make this situation any worse."







"Citizens of Canterlot, and indeed, citizens of our nation! Hear us now!" Luna boomed out, her Royal Canterlot Voice echoing down from the balcony she stood on and silencing the ocean of ponies below. "We have brought thee here to clear up some... Intense concerns that hath been shown!"

Celestia stepped up as well. "My little ponies," she called, "Princess Twilight has been moved by your gifts, and has devised a spell of unprecedented effect." Celestia gestured grandly as Twilight walked up in between her and Luna. "She has discovered how to give up her immortality!"

The gasps that rang from the crowd were silenced by a wave of Celestia's hoof. Twilight leaned out over the railings to stare wearily down at the throng. 

"Yeah. I was so, so moved." She deadpanned. "So deeply moved by your mortal concern that I, uh, decided to walk among you again. Yeah."

The ponies erupted into cheering and applause. "We love you too Princess Twilight!" Many voices called.

"Whatever let's do this." Twilight grumbled, standing between Celestia and Luna. The two older alicorns pointed their horns at Twilight, who was slowly surrounded by a growing orb of yellow and blue light. The sphere lifted up with Twilight inside, flashing with radiant purple stars before exploding into streams of magic dust that fell over the crowd as they dissipated. The crowd looked up to the balcony in anticipation.

Twilight pulled her front legs up on the railing and dragged herself into view.

"There! Okay?! I can die again!" Twilight roared out to the crowd. Immediately, cheers of joy and cries of excitement rang out all around, except for from a small group of robed ponies who wept and held eachother. The crowd dispersed, leaving Twilight, Celestia, and Luna alone. Twilight breathed heavily, her nostrils flaring as she tried to calm herself down. After a few minutes, she finally gave out a long breath of relief.

Luna and Celestia both looked on in confusion as Twilight suddenly giggled. Her giggles grew in volume, until she was on her stomach and crying with laughter. Celestia stared at Luna as Luna began to crack up too, joining Twilight in her hearty laugh. Celestia stood in stoic silence as the other two alicorns slowly regained their composure, wiping away tears of mirth.

"You've both lost your minds." Celestia sighed.

"The trick worked! Now I can finally get some peace and quiet with everyone thinking I'm not immortal anymore!" Twilight exclaimed, letting out a deep and content sigh.

There was a clattering sound at the doorway, and all three princesses whirled around to see a young reporter standing halfway in the door with a wide eyed and slack jawed expression. He hastily picked his recorder up from the floor, bolting as fast as his hooves could carry him. Twilight was up and racing after him in a blur, her cry of rage and desperation echoing down the hall. 

Celestia and Luna looked blankly on for a long while.

"I'm just going to sleep." Celestia muttered.