Sacrifice
Pinkie Pie was still bounding around in excitement from the wedding reception. "And, POOM, did you see that confetti? It was GREAT!"
"Yeah, it was great, Pinkie," Dash said.
"And- BAM- your Sonic Rainboom was massive! Amazing!"
"Yep, it was amazing, Pinkie, but ah think we're all ready fer bed," Applejack said tiredly.
The group bade goodnight to the princesses and went back into their room, except for Twilight Sparkle, who stayed by Celestia's side.
Luna smiled and returned all of their farewells, and nuzzled her sister. "I would stay, but the moon is about to set, and I really should try and finish all of my duties before bed."
"Of course, sister. Sleep well," Celestia responded. When Luna had flown off, she looked at Twilight, who was still standing beside her. "Aren't you going to bed as well?"
"I have a question, princess. It's just... I don't know if I'm allowed to ask."
Princess Celestia smiled down at her. "Go ahead, Twilight. You've intrigued me."
"Well, it's just... you and your sister are immortal, right?" Twilight asks.
"Mostly."
Twilight blinked. "Mostly? No, wait. Is Cadence immortal as well? Because her and my brother- well, my brother isn't."
As soon as Twilight had finished explaining her question, Celestia sighed.
"Twilight... you know how me and Luna control the sun and moon?"
"Yes?"
"All alicorns have some sort of power. Some control things, like animals, or tides. We don't traditionally live near each other because too many of us can cause a... rift. A struggle for power, or deciding who has the best abilities that ends in a fight. And alicorn fights aren't the tussles you may have with your friends- they go on for years, centuries, and regular ponies are so much less resilient than us that it can cost lives, without us even realizing it. Something that only feels like a small push to us can mean the deaths of the innocent."
Twilight had read of the alicorn wars before, but hearing it from somepony who may have lived through them was a delicious feeling, as awful as that was. A personal, first-hand account of things that books couldn't explain quite as well as a witness. "Yes?" she coaxed, wanting more of her teacher's history.
"There are few enough that we can live far apart, and have a semblance of harmony." The princess paused, seeming to gather her thoughts. "Of course, it wasn't always like this. We used to rule and live together. None of us are brother and sister- except for Luna and I- but this ruling brought us together like siblings, before the fighting. In fact, very few of us are related at all. That's why none of us are called 'Queen', but princess or prince. There would be no semblance of a line of rule, a second in command according to family. Not to mention, one ruler would be... has been disastrous." Twilight waited for Celestia to elaborate, but no explanation came.
Celestia continued. "Cadence is, of course, in command of love. She can make two ponies truly overlook their differences and get along, or remember how they used to feel."
"Yeah, I remember her making a fighting couple stop," Twilight interjected.
"Yes, so you got a small taste of her powers. Well, it's true that Cadence is immortal. Unless, of course, she falls in love herself."
"What?"
Celestia gazed out the window beside her. "You see, Twilight, her love makes her care about someone so deeply, she can't live without them. She's bound to them, and her powers, as well. When they die, part of her does, as well. I am bound to something that cannot die-" Celestia gestures out the window, where the sun has begun to rise, "-and therefore, I cannot either. And Cadence was bound to the feeling of love, until she found a pony to love." The princess turned back to Twilight. "That pony is your brother."
Twilight gaped at Celestia. "So- so my brother... means her death?"
"Eventually, yes."
Tears threatened to overtake Twilight as she began to realize the implications. About the guilt her brother must feel. Unless-
"Does he know?" she choked out.
"No. No one wanted to tell him, and he wouldn't have gone through with it if we had. But, Twilight," she continued, when she saw how distraught the unicorn was, "you have to understand. This marriage has made Cadence the happiest mare in the world. She finally gets to experience love, instead of make it happen and watch from afar. This is how she wants it to be. And I can assure you that Shining Armor will never, ever find out, and they will live a long life together."
"I guess... I guess that's better than nothing," Twilight says. She turns to go into her room.
Celestia's voice stops her. "Oh- and Twilight?"
"Yes?"
"I apologize for being so angry with you earlier. I thought Cadence's behavior was from what the wedding will mean eventually. I thought that I knew what she was going through, and that could make anyone change like that." The princess smiled sheepishly. "Not because she was a different person. You were right, and I should have listened to you more before just writing you off as jealous."
Twilight smiled in acceptance of the apology. "Goodnight, Princess Celestia," she said, before walking into her room.
"Goodnight, Twilight Sparkle," she replied softly, before heading back to her own quarters.
As she walked, her hooves clicked on the tiles that slowly turned into stone as she left the main portion of the castle and into the older parts. The castle had once been small, and not quite as regal as it was now, but the growth of Canterlot and downfall of the Everfree Castle had forced change. Celestia, however, preferred this crumbling section.
It reminded her of her own love, so long ago.
Cadence was lucky, really, that she was bonded with something that would always make her happy. Celestia and her sister weren't as lucky- they might take pleasure of the beauty of the sun and moon, but they couldn't be comforting, loving, or have any feeling at all.
When Celestia had fallen in love, when she thought she would never be able to live without a certain stallion, she had to learn how to. Because when he died, Celestia couldn't die with him. Because she had to live without him for so long.
She had one consolation, though- his sister had a beautiful foal, who Celestia watched grow into a stallion that looked a lot like Celestia's husband. He then had his own child, and it went on and on. The family forgot their connection to the Royal Sisters, but Celestia did not, and ensured that they were well taken care of, watching from afar. They were all variations of him- his eye color, coat color, smile- but none of him looked exactly like him. One, though, came close.
With her deep purple mane, lavender coat, and love of books, Twilight Sparkle was a lot like Celestia's passed husband. And when it turned out she had extraordinary magical powers, Celestia had the excuse to take Twilight under her wing as a student, almost like the daughter she herself had never had. One that, without knowing, had all of the best traits of her husband. The husband she had watched die, and the student that was aging before Celestia's eyes.
Cadence was lucky, really.
Also LikedSimilarAuthor
- paxtofettel · 2.9k words · 101 3 · 6.1k views
- chibiachika · 3.3k words · 39 4 · 2.6k views
- Proud Blank Flank · 3.2k words · 33 2 · 2.8k views
- Ghost Cobbraaa · 1.1k words · 53 7 · 2.5k views
- RogueShadowAngel · 1k words · 40 1 · 3k views
- Tayman · 9.2k words · 131 5 · 4.2k views
- ChaoticHarmony · 1.4k words · 60 4 · 2k views
Stats
Page generated in 0.208 seconds
Total duration
885 users online
189,295 hits today, 2,139,894 yesterday
FIMFiction
My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic Fanfiction
Designed and coded by knighty & Xaquseg - © 2011-2024
Follow & Support Us
Support us
SubStar
Chat!
Discord
Follow us
Twitter
MLP: Friendship is Magic® - © 2024 Hasbro Inc.®
Fimfiction is in no way affiliated with or endorsed by Hasbro Inc.®
Ah yes, the curse of the immortals
Oh, boy. Dare I dig deeper into the curse and risk being sad? Dare I shall, then.
Seriously, though, great work. Puts a spin on the whole wedding that makes it very insightful.
You.... Bad word. Way to completely catch me off guard. Thanks for that.
Very nice, few grammar mistakes; but great i love good written tie in stories.
487551
Aw, thanks.
488214
Thanks! I wrote it pretty late last night after watching the finale, so I'll go back and correct them later.
487575
Excellent! I NEED CHAPTER TWO!
488385
Thank you!
I'm pretty sure this is just going to be a one-shot. I'm not sure where I would take the story, other than maybe telling about Celestia, but I think I like to keep that a mystery
Although, the basic idea ties in with another story I'm working on, so we might get a little more history there.
Yay! And aww! but mostly YAY!!!!!!
who may have lived through them was a delicious feeling.
I wouldn't call that delicious. Sure it's history, but not pretty!
Strangely, Celestia's apology fits (concerning her reasons for not seeing through Chrysalis' lies). And seriously, she is a being who can't AFFORD to apologize: since she has to keep up the image of being someone who doesn't need to, a ruler whose decisions can always be trusted.
You make a good argument for Cadence.
And this makes me wonder how Luna feels about Pipsqueak.
Like flaming razorblades to the heart.
488534
Here, I rewrote that part:
Twilight had read of the alicorn wars before, but hearing it from somepony who may have lived through them was a delicious feeling, as awful as that was. A personal, first-hand account of things that books couldn't explain quite as well as a witness. "Yes?" she coaxed, wanting more of her teacher's history.
Better? I want it to be a sort of guilty pleasure.
488924
I'm glad, but... in a feel-bad sort of way.
Hugs?
489938
Yes. Hugs. No homo.
But really, lately I feel incredibly sorry for Celestia. First she can't fall in love or make friends, and now she's completely failed to defend her people, in front of them no less? She just can't catch a break.
I don't feel sorry for Cadence here, though. That's the best happy ending possible, she's guaranteed to die with him.
489989
Luckily, I am female.
Not to mention the fact that she lived for 1000 years without the only person who would live as long as her, and probably feels immense guilt over that.
Seriously, Celestia's life sucks.
The sad part of Cadence's relationship is Shining Armor.
Cadence, at least, knew what she was getting into with the marriage.
489938
Yes works better.
490161
I dunno, she's pretty much guaranteed to live a long, happy and fulfilling life with him. I'd give up immortality for a chance at that. Death is a sad thing, but for many like Celestia it would be an act of mercy. She has to live for a few billion more years, and all she has is her sister. That's half the reason why I ship Princest, actually. They're all they have. Morals be damned, I think they can make an exception. Immortality is more of a curse if you have to spend eternity alone. Cadence is indeed one of the lucky ones.
gag.
"Curse of the immortals." I won't say that this trope is beating a dead horse but this fandom alone has worn it down to the hooves.
The only time I saw a GOOD treatment of this, the protagonist-- an immortal about to marry a mortal--- pointed out that NOTHING in life was certain. He could, quite easily, die due to illness or accident long before she did. What then? If immortals had to avoid love for fear of death, then rationally everyone did, and with better reason. And which was better: to love her the rest of her life, and carry her memory on--- or to leave her and break her heart forever, denying themselves even the few sweet years they would have together? And what of the hereafter? we oft-derided Christians at least know something others do not: a faith that the pain of loss is only a temporary parting.
What wretched creatures agnostics must be, unable to imagine that love can go on beyond death, and that the pain of separation is only temporary....
490927 RealityCheck
Surprised to see somepony on this site with a handle as pretentious as my own!
If you're looking for a different play on immortality as a narrative, you should check out Baccano!, its pretty awesome.
Pretty clever spin on Cadance, IMO, though I can't imagine why Shining Armor trying to call it all off "if he knew" would make her stop loving him. Silly.
the most aww part for me was the end wierd
Like this little add-on of a story. Not a huge fan of post season finale fanfics but this was pretty good and adds some enjoyable fanon to my head.
Wish I had more to say.
523890
560400
Thank you!
All of my feels you don't even know. First of all, almost all of my feelings in this fandom are for Luna and Celestia. Hate to admit it but I hardly care about anyone else. xD
Just thinking about those two makes me cry.
I loved the twist with Twilight. I can't explain, but I really /really/ liked that. Forever in my headcanon.
As for the whole purpose: Cadance.
My face right now is just like '... whoa. :|'
I like. I don't think it's sad. I actually think the alternatives are sad (her never falling in love, or Shining dying without her), but this is a really good way to wrap her story up with a happy ending. I love it. <3
~Dash
1822537
I'm glad you liked it
Got sent here by Present Perfect. Really dug this one, though I wish it was a bit longer.
490927
Wreched creatures? That's a bit harsh to call people, let alone ones that haven't even been brought up.
490927 Please stop making Christians look bad.
Beautiful.
Cadence is lucky, really. She gets to die with her lover not suffer the pain of loss for all eternity.
Ouch.