Cadence
By the time we finally manage to teleport back to our chambers, I’m utterly exhausted, my breathing is hard, I’m dirty, sweaty, and I can barely walk. But hot damn, I can’t remember ever feeling better than I do right at this moment. How did I ever go so long without this?
Beside me, I’m quite proud to say that Shining now looks just as tired as I do, if not more so. I’m resting my head against his neck – it feels just as nice as I’d hoped to be looking up at my stallion again – and he has his head atop mine. Our wings are intertwined as we support one another, to keep our shaky legs from collapsing underneath us. Slowly but surely, we make our way across the few feet in between ourselves and our desperately-needed bed.
It’s just as we’ve managed to flop limply onto the mattress that an earth pony stallion in the armor of the Crystal Guard opens our door. Probably continuing whatever search Shiny started earlier, my brain sluggishly informs me.
His expression rapidly turns to one of shock, and he rushes to our bedside. “Your highness!” He stares down at me, concern radiating from him. “Are you alright? And…” he glances at my husband, now lying there with his eyes shut, and his ears fold back. He can’t have failed to recognize his commander – there are far too many portraits of him in life about the castle for anypony to not know what Shining looked like – but his mind doesn’t seem to want to believe what his eyes are saying.
“S alright…” I manage, fighting off the urge to just switch off like a light. “Tha’s… Shining… Armor…” My breath is heavy, and speaking is difficult, but I manage.
The guard’s nostrils flare and his face begins to rapidly redden. I realize that we must still stink of all we just got through doing. I’d be embarrassed, if I could work up the energy. We’ll just have to deal with it in the morning.
“Please…” I plead, struggling to keep my suddenly lead eyelids open. If I close them now, that’ll be it. “Give us… alone time… need… rest… explain… morning…”
The now thoroughly nervous and embarrassed guard nods and, taking the excuse offered, bolts back out the door he came from, no doubt rushing off to inform his comrades that their quest is at an end. I bet it’ll make for more than a little raunchy teasing in the barracks, but I’m too contented and sleepy to give a damn.
A pulse of magic in my brain reminds me of one last unhappy obligation I have before bed. I muster up a scrap of magic to pull open a chest of drawers near our bed and remove a personal effect. The camera floats awkwardly into what I think is a good position before snapping a picture of us both. I snatch the print that comes out and return the camera to the top of the furniture. With one last effort, I cast the spell, the print disappears, and I collapse into peaceful slumber.
Celestia
I sit back against my room’s sofa and simply take a moment to enjoy my own hoofwork. The sun – my sun – slowly rising against the backdrop of the ocean is an impressive sight, and a calming one at that. I take a delicate sip from my cup of jasmine tea, taking time to savor the flavor in my mouth before swallowing. Aaaahhh… It’s quite relaxing. And, with how things are going, I need that right now.
My brow furrows as my mind returns to the source of my frustrations: these negotiations. I swear for all the gods to hear, it’s as if these mortal imbeciles are looking for an excuse to kill one another. To waste time, money, and irreplaceable lives shedding blood over some rocks in the middle of the ocean that will be mined out in a paltry few decades at most. Days in, and we haven’t even established the basics.
The Gryphus Empire demands that its geological estimates be used for determining any hypothetical splitting of the isles, while Prance has produced any alternate set, and both sides accuse the other of attempting to cheat them. Neither was willing to commission a third party to do an independent study, not trusting the other side to select an unbiased team. It got so bad that I actually had to request the aid of my own former student, a Princess of Equestria, to lead a joint delegation to do basic fact-finding. Pandering to these idiotic sentiments with Twilight’s valuable time is humiliating, but as ever my Princess of Friendship was willing to step in and lend a hoof to the cause of peace. Her self-sacrificing nature is befitting a proper alicorn. I couldn’t be more proud.
Still, with any luck at all this won’t be necessary within a few generations, and I can-
Hmmm, what’s this?
A small flash of light appears above my head, and a folded piece of paper materializes into being. I snatch it up with magic before gravity can, and bring it in front of my face. It lacks the usual seal identifying which pony is contacting me. Still, it can only be one of a few, so I unfold it.
It’s a photograph. Of my niece and… my eyes widen just a fraction. Is it? Could it finally be?
I take a long and careful look. Then I smile.
Yes…
I actually pump my hoof like a hoofball player. And I barely restrain from the temptation to jump in the air and whoop. Yes! Yes yes yes yes yes YES! Of course I’ll need to ask for more details on the creation process later, but for right now simply setting eyes on the first male of my species that I’ve seen since the loss of my father is more than enough.
I thought that the most important thing that I’d be doing today would be fighting for the fate of thousands of mortal lives. But I was wrong. I was oh so wrong. And I’ve never been so glad of it. This is but one conflict of many, all involved will be dead in a mere century, but what has just happened… it will change our world forever.
Oh Mi Amore Cadenza, I’m sorry that I ever doubted you. When this is over, one way or another, I must take the time to stop by the Crystal Empire and offer my niece and nephew my congratulations in the flesh. And after that… I had better be certain that my preparations for foals are complete. It has been a rather long time since I was last called upon to play the role of a mother.
I sit back and relax, sipping at my steaming hot tea again. This has suddenly become a much better morning.
Twilight Sparkle
I’m standing atop a boat in the middle of the ocean. It’s mid-morning, and my mentor’s sun is shining brightly overhead. With me on the boat are eight other sapient creatures: four gryphons, two unicorns, a pegasus, and an earth pony. Each set of four represents a hastily put-together delegation from the diplomatic parties negotiating under Princess Celestia’s oversight. My job is put together in very little time a geological survey of rocky Senadas isles, and their collective job is to stare over my shoulder while I do it.
Slightly annoying, yes, but I’m happy to serve the cause of friendship between nations. That’s my duty as princess, and, if I’m entirely honest has been an increasing focal point of my life since my friends and family passed. Don’t get me wrong, I still love to make new friends, but it’s much harder when you know for a fact that you’ll watch them die over the course of decades while you remain locked in eternal youth. Duty helps to fill the void, as Princess Celestia told me from millennia of bitter experience.
I’m lucky, really. I’ve had Princess Celestia, Princess Luna, Cadence, Shining Armor, Spike, and even Discord to keep me company in the long centuries. My mentor endured it alone for a thousand years, with her sister on the moon and nopony at all to comfort her. I can only imagine the strength it took to get through that. A lesser mare would have gone insane from the isolation and loneliness. I just hope I never have to meet that same challenge.
I’m in the middle of writing down a few initial observations when yet another scroll appears over my head. Seems I’m popular these days.
The seal is from the Crystal Empire. My heart rate jumps a bit. I left Cadence and Shining in a bad state. Has something happened? Should I have been there? Is somepony hurt? Oh gods… are they breaking up?! What if-
Calm down, Twilight. Deep breaths.
In, out. In, out. In, out. In, out.
Aaaahhh…
That’s better. Now, let’s open this thing and see what’s up.
I break the seal and take a look at the contents:
Dear Twily,
They say a picture is worth a thousand words. I hope that they’re right, because I don’t think I have the words to describe this properly. I was never as good at writing as you are. So I’ll let this photo do the talking.
I wanted to break the news face-to-face but I don’t know how long you’ll be away, and I’d rather you hear it from me than some rumor.
Come see us as soon as you can.
Always Your BBBFF,
Shining Armor
As the letter states, accompanying it is a photograph. I set it aside while reading, and only after assessing my brother’s the brief and somewhat vague message do I take a look. It’s a picture Cadence, posing by…
My jaw drops. Could it be?
My brother, whom I preserved in a crystal statue for centuries, is posing by his wife. In the flesh. Exactly as how I remember him in life.
No… he’s about a head taller than Cadence, and her mane and proportions tell me that this must have been taken recently… and my brother doesn’t have wings…
Then it clicks.
My happy squeal rings out for all the heavens to hear.
Shining Armor
I’m not usually one for ostentatious ornamentation. Never have been, and especially not since boot camp, and learning just how easily restrictive or heavy clothing can get a pony killed a dozen different ways in a fight. I’ve always preferred simpler, more practical decoration, like my armor (ok, yes, it is a bit flashy but that’s tradition) or a uniform jacket for especially fancy occasions.
So you can imagine the war that very quickly breaks out between the royal tailors and I. On one side, two mares and a stallion under pressure to whip up an outfit appropriate for an alicorn prince in a very short amount of time and determined to make it as over-the-top and theatrical as possible. And on the other, yours truly, not wanting my first public appearance as a living being in hundreds of years to be marred by looking like an overdressed, gaudy peacock of a stallion.
We can’t exactly keep what’s happened a secret. I mean, the news has already spread throughout the barracks before we even wake up in the morning, and of course some loose lips managed to get the story to a morning tabloid in time for printing. Gossipy ponies around the Crystal Empire, and I don’t doubt very soon if not already beyond, are on about what’s become of the princess’s husband. So, to head the rumors off before something stupid happens, we’re going to do a public announcement of my “ascension”, as Cadence calls it. I think I’m being given too much credit considering that all I did was receive a gift created by somepony else, but my wife just giggles and tells me that my centuries in unfeeling purgatory make me more than deserving. I don’t know, but she’s our public relations expert.
With the importance of first impressions in mind, I hope you see why I’m so ardent in my battle with the clothing crusaders. I mean, for gods’ sake, they want to put me in golden armor plating. Not the faux version the Royal Guard wear, actual gold. With a red and white cape, of all things! I’d feel ridiculous in that kind of overdone clown suit. The biggest disagreement between the three is whether I should wear a helmet or a crown. All I ask for is a simple navy and gold uniform jacket, tailored to my new measurements. But do they listen? Of course not. So we wind up arguing far more than actually measuring for more than an hour, and just to make matters worse, when my wife arrives, she promptly sides with them!
Thanks, honey.
It would almost seem like Celestia's is truly happy...And then you look back and note how dark what she says, aside from her thoughts on "Pah, those puny mortals and their short lives and their not being dictated by a tyrant"
So, does Celestia intend to create an alicorn mate for herself? We know about her desire to indoctrinate Cadence's kids, but the references to playing the role of mother are a new development. (unless she views said indoctrination in a momlestia light) Or is she simply thinking about breeding with one of Cadence's male children down the line?
Wow,I almost thought Celestia was going to redeem herself. Nope, congratulate Shining and Cadance and then proceed to steal their foals.
5019582
Celestia already views herself as a mother figure to her ponies, related or not, but I don't think she's actually personally cared for an infant in a very long time. So it could certainly be that she simply views the indoctrination as proper mothering.
Or it could also be that she does plan to breed with a male child of Cadence sometime down the line. As I've said, they bear no blood relation, so that would not be an obstacle to her.
She could also be interested in replicating the creation process, though whether or not that is even possible for her is as unknown as the rest of the steps involved.
Or it could be any combination of the three.
Listen to your wife Shining, you will look better in ceremonial armor than in just some common officer's rags. In fact, you could say it goes right along with your name.
5019629
Well, I suppose that unless you intend for Celestia to have had students between Twilight and modern times, she wouldn't have had to deal with kids (in anything other than public appearances) since Twilight was her student. (and it's always seemed like Celestia mommed the hell out of that one)
Celestia has some serious cognitive dissonance, what with bouncing back and forth between irreplaceable lives and how meaningless mortal things are.
This is not an insult to you, just note. Its an expression of my feelings.
You cannot show Celestia has emotion dotted around few paragraphs and expect her to be forgiven by your readers so easily. Retribution is necessary.
5020567
Do you consider an adult human's attitude towards a toddler cognitive dissonance? She values their lives and their happiness, but not their autonomy or (for the most part) their contribution. Would you allow a 1 year old to drive a sports car down the Autobahn, no matter how much loved them? That's how she feels about mortals ruling nations.
Understanding Celestia's actions and motivation is impossible without grasping her perception that's she's one of the only (if not the only) responsible adults in a world of children with access to tactical nuclear weaponry.
5020935
If those one year olds were as mature as as the adult mortals presented, then yes. Yes I would let them drive a car, if they were able to reach the pedals and all.
The Celestia you've presented has some serious mental issues. She values the life and 'happiness' of mortals while wanting to strip away everything that constitutes actual life and happiness. She is breathtakingly insane.
5021624
Ah, but you're forgetting that Celestia, as the oldest being in the world (barring maybe Discord) defines maturity as how similar one is to herself. Mortal definitions of it are inevitably limited by their own shortened perspectives on life, don't you know?
If she were debating you, Celestia would point to her multi-millennia track record as leader of a nation renowned for peace and prosperity, with very low crime rates and an almost nonexistent suicide rate, where everypony has a purpose, nature is controlled and ordered, and the magics of friendship and love run deep. The land where even her enemies admit they've never seen a place with more love to feed on. She would say that she merely wishes to extend those benefits to all the world.
Of course, it is also possible that you're right, and the many traumas she's endured over her long lifespan, coupled with the isolation of reigning alone for a thousand years, have in fact driven her insane. Or maybe she was always like this. Such ambiguity is inevitable in a first-person narrative.
5021722
Ambiguity always happens.
Though if I were debating with her.. honestly, it'd probably end when she brought up the "I'm older than you so I'm right" argument. Though I'd mention stagnation, sealed evil in a can, the difference between a long life and a life well lived, how she's keeping her people limited to being children and so on. Then I'd be incinerated. At which point the conversation would also end.
Theres a difference between being old and being wise, and a difference between experience gained and using it. I'm unconvinced that she's fundamentally better than the mortal races. Long lived and powerful, but fundamentally smarter and wiser? Eh.. considering that Chrysalis played her like a cheap slide whistle, it's debatable.
So, I'm going with 'Gone made with arrogance and cake'.
5021894
"Incinerated? Why, child, where would you ever get such a ridiculous idea from? You're not a threat to my ponies, merely an angry little one lashing out at your perceived oppressor. You need friendship and love, not punishment."
-Celestia's response
5020935
Now that would make some good material for LiveLeak
Seriously though
It's gonna be big news. Shining finally has a real body which anyone can relate to instead of just being a necromantic contraption? None of the ponies has even seen him how he was before he died, it's been 500 years and tops. Though riding the popular opinion shouldn't be too hard even with the conspiracy theories. If crystal ponies already know about a golem, ascension ain't shit compared to that.
It is a shock, but an easy one. For the new generations who haven't seen the death of the prince it's just an exciting and historical moment.
I think I see it now....Celestia think's that she's infallible because she thinks she is better than everyone.
With Luna and discord, It's because she never fell under any sort of evil influence
But then again, are you really immune to that kind of evil? The more you think you're infallible the more likely you are to fall. Hell, the fact that you fought your own evil counterpart should tell you you are not as infallible as you think.
With Cadence, Twilight, and (the newly added) Shining armor, It's because they've lived less longer than she has
But sometimes, even the less experienced people have the most insight to a situation because they are not as involved into it. therefore can see things that you would be biased to...and with that kind of lifespan, your biases would definitely grow over you like a callus.
Well in the long term, this can only end in bloody war between immortals (have fun waiting that out celestia!) or everyone (ESPECIALLY cadence and celestia) needs to get off their high horses (pun intended)
5021722
It doesn't change the fact that she's essentially forcing her niece to be a foal Factory and give up her children so that she can manipulate them into a army of alicorns to spread her influence all over the globe.
All as punishment just because Cadence was mad at her for trying to order the assassination of her husband. And how Celestia seems to treat her suffering almost in an almost sadistically casual way.
Her plan could work but does the ends justify the means?