Epilogue: The Night
Celestia took a deep breath, letting the cold air of the night fill her lungs. It chilled her, forcing her fur to stand on end. The air was thin and barren of the warmth her sun usually blessed it with. For now, under the shadow of Luna’s moon, the normal warmth she brought was replaced with peace and serenity.
The diarch was grateful for it, for she felt just the same.
The smile that twisted at he lips was a genuine one, a smile she did not think she would be able to hold within the same day as her fateful conversation. It was pleasant surprise, one that she hoped to receive more of.
There was not a doubt in her mind that she wouldn’t.
Her wings extended at her sides, letting the child air sweep over her newly exposed coat, earning a shivered gasp from the diarch. It was difficult to explain why the sensation made her smile. She would like to say it made her feel alive, complete somehow, but she knew there was a better reason than that.
“Celestia!”
The calling of her name warmed her frigid coat, thawing her cold breath. The alicorn turned with a smile to see another alicorn trotting towards her, moving across the grass until she reached the elder diarch’s side. The mare looking up to her smiled gleefully.
“Twilight,” Celestia spoke the pony’s name, love coating the words. She leant down to nuzzle the mare, an embrace that Twilight only too eagerly returned. They savored the heat of one another, a warmth the night air attempted to steal away.
“Well, I’m here now.” The alicorn spoke the plain words with a tone of excitement. “And Luna’s taken over the court for the night.”
“That she has, and so her moon is evidence of.” Celestia agreed as she looked up to the pale object in the sky. After a thousand years of mourning the sight, she was glad she could not gaze upon with warmth in her heart.
And the source of that warmth so close by.
“That means we can start now, right?” Celestia could only giggle at the eagerness in Twilight’s words, but she could not fault the mare. She, herself, only felt her joy grow.
“Yes, we can.” The diarch expanded her wings as she spoke, trotting forwards slowly with practiced grace. Her mighty feathered appendages beat only once before she was lifted off the ground. Twice more, and she was ascending to the night sky high above her. The cool air only chilled her faster the higher she climbed. But the smile over her lips never fell.
It took little effort for her to reach the clouds above her castle, sitting still under the pale light of her sister’s moon. Celestia let her crystal adorned hooves settle over the fluffy material, savoring the cushion they gave. No matter how long she lived, she would always prefer the embrace of a cloud to the padding of cotton.
With a hum of satisfaction, she settled herself over the material, enamored with the insulation the condensed and fluffed water offered her. Celestia soon found herself tucking her self into the cloud, childishly giggling as she did so.
“That was… too fast… Celestia,” the labored breaths of Twilight swiftly met the ears of the alabaster diarch. They twisted towards the voice and her head spun to follow. Twilight had only just touched down on the cloud, her wings hanging limply from her sides, head rising in falling with fatigue. “I’m still… still… new to this.”
“I understand,” Celestia spoke calmly, her mouth upturned in a smile. “But remember, I will never ask of you anything I feel you cannot handle. Besides,” the diarch begrudgingly turned, letting small pockets of chilled air seep into her own insulated heat. “Do you not enjoy the comfort a cloud can offer?” Twilight had no argument.
“Dash was quick to show off her home to me once I got my wings. And yes, I’ll admit that clouds are far more comfortable than anything else I’ve ever laid down on.” Something playfully sinister sparked in Celestia’s mind. Her smile darkened mischievously to match the though.
“Truly nothing?” The princess questioned, bringing about a quick shake of Twilight’s head. “Then please come here, I believe I know something far more comfortable than a cloud for you to lay on.”
Twilight’s brows perked as her ears fell, curiosity running rampant through her mind. She trotted lightly across the cloud, lifting her wings what little she could to keep them from dissipating the mass they stood on. It took little time for her to stand by Celestia’s side.
“I’m sorry, I don’t know what you- Agh!” The cry came quickly as Twilight felt herself being pulled off of her hooves.
It was a quick maneuver for the alabaster mare, one that Twilight didn’t give her credit for being able to do, at least not until she was the subject of the hold. Celestia had rolled over on the cloud, her hooves scooping up Twilight as she did so.
The young alicorn had only a moment to realize she was at the mercy of Celestia’s embrace, being held against the white coat of her former mentor. She froze as she realized the situation she was in.
Celestia, playful as she was wise, raised her muzzle until it tickled the fine hairs of Twilight’s ears. Then, she whispered to the mare.
“It is an old mare’s tale that the embrace of a spirit is the grandest gift the world can offer you.” Celestia voiced the short tale as she brushed a hoof through Twilight’s lengthy mane. “I wonder, do you find it… satisfying?”
Twilight smiled brightly under her rosy blush. She nuzzled herself deeper into the embrace, brining forth a red hue on Celestia’s white coat.
“I think I love it.”
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3383967 he published this before it was ready. AGAIN.
Wiz, seriously, this is like the fifth time I've told you I'll message you when I'm done editing the story. Oh well, 'guess it's too late now....*sigh*
Lovely way to end a story.
A fitting end to a touching tale, well done.
A couple of spelling errors.
This was super adorable and an interesting take on the origin of the princesses
They wont have forever but they Will have today and a good many tomorrows
Well, I must say that this was a very intriguing story. Nice little theory that Celestia and Luna were created from the Elements and that they were found by Star Swirl in the Everfree forest, and that's why they are immortal. I especially liked the statement that Celestia holds 3 elements and Luna 2 which is the only agreement as to whom is the older sibling as well as why there are two of them.
At first I was a bit confused towards Twilight's reaction to the truth of Celestia and Luna's nature, but the explanation made a lot of sense. They have to appear to be physical beings so that they can become a beacon of hope and something to strive for. Because if the princesses, though they may be immortal and live hundreds of years, are still physical beings and they can achieve pretty much the ideals of everypony, it means that anypony can also achieve them. But if they knew their true nature then there would be a disconnection with the princesses and the ponies, and that could lead to a few problems.
This and the last chapter also helped justify Twilight's reaction to the reason Celestia is immortal. Since she was in love with the princess, but is unable to express her feelings because she isn't immortal and their relationship, even if they were able to get together, wouldn't work because Twilight will still grow old. I liked the way this Twilestia ship was handled, it was simple, quite justified, and nicely platonic. Instead of the either sexual or student/teacher style of things, this was done with Twilight admiring Celestia as herself, not the Celestia the Princess or Celestia the Wise Mentor and Teacher, but Celestia the pony or spirit in this case.
The earlier chapters describing the way Celestia went about her normal day was a nice touch and good buildup for the oncoming talk with Twilight. The way she interacted with her subjects is exactly how I imagined it to be, coming from a immortal ruler. She was kind, gracious, and humble, yet still comfortable in her seat of power, even if it is something that is required of her. I also enjoyed the way she described her surroundings, they hinted at something about her being different as most ponies wouldn't be able to sense all those sensations with such detail. Not only that, but the way she described those sensations also helped with the foreshadowing of Celestia not being a pony.
All in all this was a well done story, a few grammar mistakes here and there, but not bad enough to ruin my immersion. Keep on writing!
Cutest couple...
err, does Twilight lack wings in that picture?
You know, there's so many stories out there that are mere fantasies, nothing more. Oftentimes I see storylines where I just have to say aloud, "That would never happen." I believe there is a fine line between realistic fiction and fantasy, and so few writers have the ability to tightrope-walk that line.
When I read the explanation on how Celestia and Luna came to be -- as well as what they truly are -- I found myself quite a few times mumbling, "Well that actually makes sense." I'm quite pleased you were able to present this in such a way that it makes sense with how the canon has gone and what little we know of Equestria, theoretic though it may be. What I do know is that the realism made this story much better, and I enjoyed it all the more because of the realistic grounding.
Thank you for writing this. It was a pleasure to read.
An excellent take on what I think is probably one of the most difficult ships to do. I applaud you for a job well done.
A very cute and intriguing story. Definitely pulled off the ship well, I think, and the concept was actually pretty interesting. Let down by a number of editing errors, though.
Regardless, this deserves its spot in my favourites list. Good show.
3419470
Absolutely, she does.
Meh. This chapter requires an individual headcanon ending.
3425936 they're only "errors" because Wiz released the story before I was done with it
3437593
Fair enough.
3448081
Actually, in the MLP:FiM book, "Twilight Sparkle and The Crystal Heart Spell", it is said she was a pegasus but gained her horn after proving herself. Just more of the destined and pre-determined stuff that makes up the entire universe of MLP.
3448101 to be fair, the book is only sorta canon.
3448081 that said, it's a perfectly valid interpretation to give her a horn and not wings.
This was an enjoyable story, very cute. Rather heartwarming, really.
Not bad at all.
3492873
Just let me inform you that these books are on a lower level than the comics in terms canonicity.However,you can consider this Cadence backstory canon if you feel like it.Just keep in mind that what whatever the books say are not things set in stone.
so cute!
and then the fridge logic hits you like a train, damn mortality
3926812
Eh, Apples and Oranges.
Oh god even more feels
3926812
Well then, you must have stopped liking it even right at reading the description:
Well, duh. This is not just a Twilestia shipfic.
It's an AWESOME Twilestia shipfic!
I finally got around to reading this. I wanted to read this for a while but never did. Now that I read it I can see that it was an amazing fic :3
This was very sweet!
I have only one problem, you said that when Luna became Nightmare moon that Celestia couldn't use the elements anymore because there was basically no more harmony between Celestia and Luna, but Celestia uses the elements on Nightmare moon to banish her to the moon, so if their was no more harmony between Celestia and Luna when Luna became Nightmare moon, then how could Celestia send Nightmare moon to the moon with the elements? I'm sure this might just be a tiny thing, and this story was outstanding. But it's just a question I need answered
P.S. I love how you made Celestia pretty much in love with Twilight, right after she said that she didn't need love.
9515574
I think that "harmony", much like emotions, is difficult to quantify. It's also something that exists outside of yourself. I think she pulled on the harmony in the world (whatever there was) in order to use the elements. I also think they faded over time, rather than immediately. I mean, otherwise they'd stop working as soon as the bearer fell below what you'd consider the "minimum" expression of their element.
It's not explained in this story, and no further examples are given, but the elements do seem to function on willpower as well - even when everything says they otherwise shouldn't*. And as imprecise as it may be, I'd expect they'd work - at least once, at a time of great need - on emotions similar (but not exactly matching) to what they originally were attuned to. Laughter, for instance, might work on "hope for the future" - much like loyalty might work (perhaps only once) on "vengeance for another". Though that might go either way, depending on what the author of a particular story wants as their point (for instance - they might patently not work, as a show of disagreement to the use the character envisioned).
And, as a plot bunny, I would also propose that they can - in the most extreme of circumstances - work on the lifeforce of their wielder alone, when the need is so great that it surpasses one's very life itself.
In the end it's never really explained - so I suppose you're free to make up your own lore. For my own, I assume they stopped working after Luna was banished because there was no potential for them to work once it was clear that she wouldn't be there to stand for her respective elements.
I hope I've given you some ideas to consider.
* and it makes sense, doesn't it? In times of great strife, one person might have the power to change everything - it only makes sense that they would recognise that
11043886
All of that made a lot of sense and every theory worked pretty good when I though about it, thank you
I love this story, this is the 200th story that I read on this site, I wanted the 200th story I finnished to be a story that I loved and will remember, this was it.
Kind sucks that Twilight isn't immortal since she wants to spend all eternity with Celestia and since Celestia is immortal which means she will live longer than Twilight in this story, but I think there's a possibility Discord could make Twilight immortal.
The author hasn't dropped in here for years, but nevertheless I reviewed this recently. I can easily see the conflict between Twi wanting to know everything and the much older Tia thinking perhaps that isn't the best approach. An interesting setup which sadly isn't explored that compellingly -- the rough writing doesn't help this, for example "the diarch" being used about a million times.