Chapter 26 Passing On Together
Retirement seemed to lift a weight off Twilight’s shoulders. For the first time since the day of her crowning, she no longer had any responsibilities. She didn’t have to raise the sun, moon, deal with friendship problems in Equestria, or even paperwork. Even as a filly, she’d always been hard at work, studying magic and other things. Now she was so carefree. One thing that didn’t change, however, she was still a bookworm or as Rainbow Dash put it, an egghead. Whenever she wasn’t spending time with her friends, she’d be reading a book.
Now, she just had her friends and the time they all had left in this world. But Twilight was still a bit worried.
After a year away from Canterlot, the former princess woke up one morning to a light coming in through her window. Twilight yawned and got up before looking at her mirror, gasping in surprise at what she saw. Her mane and body went back to their original form while she slept. Her mane no longer flowed and sparkled with magic. She also shrank down to the size she was before her transformation. Once again, she was the same size as her friends.
One day, she knew her time would come, but she would always be with them. They would all be together in the next world and reunite with all their other loved ones that had passed on as well. Shining Armor, Cadance, Cheese Sandwich, Granny Smith and more. Some that would live on, like Spike, might take a long time to catch up with her, but that would happen later.
She made her way down to the same breakfast table where she and her friends had their morning meal daily.
“Oh darling, your mane is back to normal!” Rarity exclaimed.
"And you're smaller!" Pinkie stated happily.
‘Well, it had to happen at some point,” Twilight said as she sat down between the former fashion designer and party pony.
“Ah well. It’s still lovely,” Rarity said as she ran a hoof through it. “You don’t have a single gray hair yet, and I’ve a full head!”
It was true, the purple had all but vanished from Rarity’s mane now. The other girls were starting to grow gray hair as well.
Twilight looked at Rarity’s mane, her expression turning sad, and she gazed down at the table. The fear that laid dormant within her for many years started to swell up. She’d given up her immortality, but who knew how long it would take for her to catch up with her friends age-wise? True, Celestia and Luna grew old rather quickly. But they’d been a thousand years old, so it might have happened quicker for them? Even now, Twilight might still be faced with being the last of her friends to pass after giving up her immortality. The thought of it twisted her insides as she recalled the nightmares she’d had. Being alone, standing by her friends' graves while generations of other ponies passed by.
“What’s wrong, Sugarcube?” Applejack asked noticing Twilight’s expression.
The alicorn lifted her head. “It’s just... I gave up the crown so I would be able to pass on with all of you. But what if it has some lasting effects that keep me younger for a while? What if I still remain around for ten or twenty years after you are all gone?”
“Twilight, it’s okay for you to live a little longer than us,” Fluttershy said as she stroked the still immortal Angel Bunny, the only pet she’d been allowed to bring with her to Silver Shoals.
“No!” Twilight screamed. “Ever since I learned I had immortality, I’ve had nightmares! Nightmares where I was putting flowers by all your graves while generations of ponies went by! I don’t want that to happen, even if it’s for just a few years!”
“Darling, please speak at a lower volume,” Rarity said with her hooves raised gently.
Twilight looked around, noticing with a blush that several of the old ponies here glanced over at her outburst. Others with hearing problems failed to notice.
“I’m sorry,” Twilight said. “It’s just so terrible to think about. You girls made me who I am today. Without you, I never would have become a princess at all. I would rather share one lifetime with all of you than face a thousand years alone. I could never find friends to take your places. They would all be part of a different generation… it wouldn’t be the same.”
Fluttershy nodded as she looked at Angel. “My love for creatures is what makes me who I am. Angel has always been my favorite. I’ve wanted him to stay with me all my life. So, Discord simply snapped his fingers every few years and he’d grow young again.”
There was a pop as Discord himself appeared, looking worn out with eye bags like most of the others.
“Yes… so simple for me!” he said before taking several deep breaths. “To… to be able to make that old bunny young again with a mere snap of my fingers.”
He looked over his shoulder at the other elderly ponies, but they paid him no mind. Ever since his public offer to make everypony in Equestria immortal, many began been chasing after him asking for him to make them young again. Even though those at Silver Shoals gave up months ago after he kept running away, there were still ponies that gave him trouble.
The draconequus looked away from the elders and back to his wife, giving her a smile. “Anything for my love,” he said, picking Fluttershy up.
“I love you, you chaotic sweetheart,” she said.
Discord sighed as he stroked the fading pink mane. “I suppose I can’t force you to accept immortality if you don’t want it. I just hate the idea of losing you… all of you. My friends.” He looked around at the other five. “I know I’ve made a LOT of mistakes ever since Fluttershy redeemed me.”
“That’s all in the past now, Discord. I know you meant well with the Grogar impersonation, even if it wasn’t the most brilliant plan. In the end it did help me gain confidence in myself though,” Twilight said.
“We all love you, Discord. Even if your chaos can be a bit obnoxious,” Applejack said.
“Yeah, at least your little stunt at Luster’s coronation only caused YOU trouble!” Rainbow Dash said with a laugh that was joined by the other mares.
There were loud footsteps followed by a grunt as Spike squeezed himself through the door, which he barely fit through now, having grown bigger.
“Morning, Spike!” Twilight said putting on a smile.
The larger than ever dragon didn’t bother sitting down in a chair as all those at Silver Shoals weren't strong enough to hold his weight.
“Hey ya, old girls,” he said glumly.
Rarity sniggered. “I know I’m old, darling, but do you have to rub it in?”
“Why the long face, Spike?” Applejack asked.
“I know what will cheer you up! A cupcake!” Pinkie reached into a random spot to pull one out, only to find none. “Shoot! I don’t work at Sugarcube Corner anymore! I miss my cupcakes!” she grumbled.
“Spike? What’s wrong?” Twilight asked in concern.
Spike looked down in sadness she had. “It’s just something Ember said at Luster’s coronation a year ago. I’m gonna live for a long, long time…”
Twilight nodded. “Yes, dragons do live for thousands of years.”
Spike shook his head. “But that’s the thing! I don’t want that!”
“Huh?” all of the ponies exclaimed.
Spike sighed as he looked at Twilight. “You didn’t want to either, Twi. Because it meant you’d outlive all your best friends. Well… except for me, I suppose.”
Twilight felt a tinge of guilt. She hadn’t thought of that.
“Oh, Spike, I didn’t mean to make it look like you didn’t matter to me!”
“No… I understand. They are all my best friends too." Spike sighed looking at the others as well. "I’d be sad if I had to wait for thousands of years before seeing them all again. I wish… I wish I could give away my immortality the same way you did, Twilight.”
“It's not immortality, Spike. That’s your natural life span,” Twilight corrected. “Mine was given by magic.”
Spike shook his head. “I don’t care. Celestia said it herself, she watched generations of her friends go. I’d be facing the exact same thing! I’ve already seen your parents, Granny Smith, Shining Armor, Cadance, and many others go! I've always been the kind of dragon to live life to the fullest. But I don't want fullest to mean watching ten, twenty, or however many generations of friends go!”
Twilight walked up to her adoptive brother. It felt strange looking up at him like this. She’d always been bigger than him. But now that she was back to her ordinary pony form from before her “Celestial” transformation and he’d grown up so much, he was now the larger one. This forced her to put a hoof on his knee rather than on his shoulder to comfort him.
“I know how you feel, Spike. I’m still a little worried I might outlive my friends,” she confessed.
Discord sighed as a tear appeared in his eyes. "The three of us could outlive the others. Oh, who am I kidding? I'm full immortal, so I definitely will! Unless...” He suddenly snapped his fingers, smiling. “I have it! There is a way I don't have to suffer through that! I could bind my lifeforce to yours, Fluttershy! When you pass, I will as well.”
He comically turned himself into a ghost.
But Fluttershy didn't laugh at that. She looked at him with wide eyes instead. “B-but… Discord…”
“It’s alright, Fluttershy. You are not willing to live for thousands of years by my side, and I’m not willing to live a life without you. You taught me friendship and love. All the magic and chaos could not replace that. I learned that lesson when Tirek betrayed me. I… I love you, and…” He went silent, and with tears filling his eyes, embraced her warmly, pulling her close. “I refuse to live without you!”
Fluttershy was silent for a moment, but feeling her coat getting wet with Discord's tears, nodded, accepting her husband’s decision.
Rainbow couldn't help but snicker at the scene. “Getting a bit sappy and weepy in your old age, huh, buddy?”
Discord blushed but then shot back a devilish smirk. “Did somepony just ask to be snapped into oblivion?”
But Dash just smiled back. “Promises, promises…”
“Could you do the same to me?” Spike asked Discord. “Could you bind my lifeforce to Twilight?”
Discord gazed at him. “I suppose I could. This way, you, Twilight, and I will have no fear of having to outlive any of you and carrying your loss for thousands of years. Well, what do you say, Twilight?”
Twilight hesitated. “I guess it would prevent me from outliving the rest of you. But Spike-”
“No, Twilight! Don’t try and talk me out of it! We’ve all been connected since the day I was born! The six of you got your cutie marks on the day I hatched! It’s been our destiny to be together! I’m your number one assistant, brother, royal adviser, and friend, always!” Spike said. “I’m going to stick by your side no matter what! If you’re not going to live for thousands of years after our friends, neither am I! I'm with you until the end!”
Twilight had no retort. She thought of her nightmares of being alone, and the only one out of her friends remaining was Spike. Without her, he would be in the same boat. She sighed. Sad as it was, she understood how he felt. The former ruler of Equestria looked at her friends.
“Okay, Discord. You can bind Spike's lifeforce to me and mine to all the others. When one of them passes, we will too.”
Applejack frowned. “So, if just one of the others passes, we lose you two as well? I don’t think I can take that!”
“Yes, thrice the grief!” Rarity exclaimed.
“Four, if it's Fluttershy and Discord!” Rainbow Dash pointed out. “Screw that, if I’m losing three of you at the same time, I might as well have my lifeforce bound too!”
“What?” Fluttershy asked.
“I’ve lived a pretty awesome life!” Rainbow Dash said. “If I’m gonna die, it will be as an Element of Loyalty! No matter what comes, we face it together! That includes going down the jaws of death.”
Applejack sighed. “I think I’m in the same boat, to be honest. I lost my parents back when I was a filly. Some part of me has wanted to see them again for a long time.”
Though Applejack tried not to show she was crying on the inside, a little managed to leak out.
“I’ve led a beautiful life, I have no complaints,” Rarity said. “I’d hate to be left behind and suffer an ugly end.”
Twilight looked around at her friends. “I guess it's almost all of us together then.”
They all nodded and looked at the only pony who hadn’t agreed yet. Fluttershy nodded as well, after a brief hesitation. “I’m not afraid to die as long as I have all of you by my side.”
Discord wiped away a tear from his eyes. “This is so... so beautiful. Like a group of star-crossed lovers.”
He put a hand over his heart and pulled out a thread of light, which grew longer as he continued pulling. He wrapped it around each of their necks before snapping his fingers. The thread vanished into a shower of sparks and all of them glowed slightly.
“Now, when one of us passes to the next life, all the others will as well,” Discord declared.
“Thank you, Discord. The Elements of Harmony may be gone, but it’s our friendship that keeps us together. I’m glad I made friends with you because now I don’t have to be afraid of outliving all of you,” Twilight said. “You’ve allowed us a happy ending. We won’t have to wait to be reunited after any of us passes.”
“Oh, Twilight. I’m glad to hear you say that.” The Spirit of Chaos said as he hugged the lavender alicorn. “And I thank you as well for being my friend. All of you. I know I can be annoying, but I hope I’ve been worth it.”
Rainbow Dash laughed as she too hugged the draconequs. “This was definitely worth it!”
They shared a group hug, Discord wrapping his snakelike body around them, and Spike having arms nearly long enough to reach across them all.
…
Years went by at Silver Shoals. Twilight aged and her mane turned grey. Like her friends, she grew wrinkles, but she was happy about it. It meant that she would one day pass on with all of them. There was now a new Princess of Friendship to take care of Equestria, and Twilight had every faith Luster would be up to the task.
Finally, the time came for one of them, and all the others immediately followed.
Twilight looked upon a bright area, all her friends beside her. But they were younger, looking the same as they did during their adventures long ago. Rarity was as beautiful as Twilight remembered, no grey hairs. All the others transformed into their younger selves that had helped Twilight save Equestria countless times. At Fluttershy’s side walked her beloved Angel Bunny. Spike was back in his baby dragon form. Discord had not changed, but that didn’t matter.
Looking ahead, Twilight saw a large crowd of all their friends and family that had already passed, with Celestia and Luna in the center.
“We’ve been expecting you, Twilight,” Celestia said with a bright smile.
Twilight smiled and walked forward with her seven best friends toward the afterlife where almost all their others were waiting for them. Twilight was embraced by Celestia and Luna, then Shining Armor, Cadance, and her parents. Applejack ran straight toward her parents whom she hadn’t seen since she was a filly, Granny Smith was there as well, but she looked younger. Likewise, everypony else was surrounded by the spirits of other friends and family that passed on and waited for them to come.
…
Luster Dawn, second Princess of Friendship, now with a flowing mane and larger body like the former rulers of Equestria, presided over the funeral for her mentor and Twilight’s friends. All of the ponies' graves had their cutie marks displayed on the stone. Spike’s grave had a dragon etched into it, and Discord’s showed a draconeqeuss. Among the crowd attending the funeral was Luster’s husband Gallop, their alicorn children Sunrunner and Moonfry, as well as their other three friends; River, Yelena, and Georgia. Also present was Luster’s student, Evening Tide, the elderly Cutie Mark Crusaders, Lil Cheese, the cake twins, Garble, and Dragon Lord Ember.
Luster took a deep breath and spoke to her subjects. “The journey of my mentor, Twilight Sparkle, as well as her closest friends has come to an end. But even though they are gone, we shall carry on their mission and tell their story for generations to come. Whenever you need to be reminded of the importance of friendship, look back at their story and remember them. They will live forever in the lessons of the Magic of Friendship.”
Sweetie Belle sniffled when she approached the grave of her sister along with Applebloom and Scootaloo who also gazed at the graves of Applejack and Rainbow Dash. They knew of their sisters' plan, but it still didn’t prevent them from feeling the grief even though they’d been prepared for this joint funeral.
“Thanks-”
“For-”
“Being-”
“THE BEST BIG SISTERS EVER!”
Lil Cheese could only sob at his mother's grave as the cake twins rubbed his back.
Garble and Ember approached Spike’s grave.
“Those ponies really made you soft, Spike!” Garble said as some tears appeared in his eyes. “I’ll miss you, you little runt.”
Ember put on the biggest smile she could for Spike's sake if he was watching. “Goodbye, my first real friend. I hope you're happy with your pony friends. I also hope to see you again someday. I’ll make sure the Dragon Lands are filled with friendship in your memory.”
Though there were tears in her eyes, Luster smiled silently at Twilight’s grave as her children, husband and friends stood by her. Then a pony approached her. She looked and saw her student Evening Tide. Evening was a blue pony with the cutie mark of a moon being splashed by a wave of water.
“Are you going to be okay, Princess Luster?”
“Yes, I’ll be fine, Evening,” Luster said. “Because I know that she is happy.”
She looked back at the grave. “There will always be friendship, Twilight. It is a magic that will never die.”
Up in the sky, Twilight and the others smiled down on Equestria, knowing that even though they were gone physically, the magic of their friendship was eternal and would continue to spread across the land.
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10666196
Shes not forcing Luster, Luster can pass it on as well.
10666224
Hmm yeah I guess
Again that's the theory about how alicorn powers works one of my friends told me that if a powerful alicorn transfer their powers to another alicorn they will lose their immortality but they still live a little longer then regular ponies because she still an alicorn but they will die when time is up again that's just a theory from what I heard kind of sad but yeah
There's one question I've want to ask. I know that you made that good and bad ending on chapter 23 which is a great idea for those who want redemption or not but why didn't you add the Ending B to show what happen to Cozy Glow after the Changelings locks her away?
Still people was still not happy about what he did and it's still a bug ouch
10666224
Where’s Flurry?
10666309
Yes but they clearly forgave him as he was shown in the last problem on good terms with them. It was a stupid but that's one I blame the writers for more rather than Discord himself. One of my few blames on them. Its important to forgive though.
10666319
Yeah you're right because holding a grudge is not always the answer it would just leave a lot of heartaches and I'm kind of glad they did forgive him that one I'm pretty happy for that
10666318
Oh forgot to put her in. But in this story it's not being an alicorn, but the power of the sun and moon so Flurry will eventually die of old age.
10666301
While she wouldnt be heard from again so I didnt see any need for something beyond her getting dragged off to tartarus.
Ok wow that was a really emotional rollercoaster ride of a story so Twilight and the others living now in Silver Shore but it looks like after she transfer her magic it looks like she's back to her original Self the first time we met her or at least when she had wings I mean but she noticed her friends are getting really old and she still looks younger then then I mean despite her given up her immortality she still has a little bit longer lifespan then regular ponies do but the only thing she didn't count on is Spike because unfortunately he had to live thousands of years and he doesn't want to see other friends die in front of him while he still lives on so Discord has this idea of if they have like this Lifeforce together that they go down together which that's pretty dramatic but I guess friends to the end right after years past Twilight and the others die together and luster dawn and her friends hold a memorial for them for what they did and how much they Inspire them and was that ends the story I have to say this was a pretty good story good emotion heartbreak and everything and sort of funny moments and despite the mix reaction that you're been giving you did a good job writing keep up the good work
And to Twilight and the others
10666224
Just as Twilight was able to.
10666475
Yeah I guess you're right
10666346
That's... kind of lazy. No offense but I would see it as a possible theory. When since Discord had bounded his life to The Mane 6 and Spike till death, the Chaos Magic he once wielded is free and cleansed of Discord's silly nature, allowing anyone to become the next Lord of Chaos whose nature is towards the Disharmony Side. Cozy Glow once did absorb Discord's Magic only for a short time, the chaos magic might have left a mark inside her soul to allow it to be transfer to her, giving Cozy not only Chaos Magic, but the title of the new Lord of Chaos and a thirst for revenge on all of Equestria for killing her only allies of the entire planet. Its just a theory but it could be the start of a sequel for the Dark Ending you typed.
10666495
If I were to show Cozy Glow alive in prison after they all died it would kind of kill the point of leaving two optional endings and one would become more dominant. I had considered a scene where the trio were at Luster's coronation but disregarded the idea for the same reason as before. I think its fine saying that Cozy was simply taken to prison where she would likely the spend the rest of her life. Then whatever happens after is left to an imagination of my reader. Oh if you're upset by the fact she'll never heard from again, I mean in this story. It's totally up to the reader's imagination if she can somehow break out or something. Leaves it more open, which was my goal there. If someone wants to have her comeback for one final revenge that's possible.
So Discord just doomed Equestria by upsetting the balance between order and chaos now that he truly ceased to exist. And trust me, Eris and Cosmos are NOT good replacements.
10666853
Oh there will still be chaos in some form. I didnt explain it here but the power would likely eventually travel to someone else and I could see a new lord of chaos causing trouble for the next generation of heroes. You can never get rid of it completely. Same with harmony which lives on through the efforts of all the creatures.
10666349
Yeah, and someone downvoted a lot of my stories today but I know they didnt bother looking at them so I'm not gonna let it get to me. Ah well it's done. Just have to live with it.
The only real problem I have with the story is that there is not enough slice of life moments it felt like major event after major event
10667817
Yeah, I kind of focused more on the adventure I guess.
10667817
Yeah I guess that's a good point because it's kind of like you want to get to know these characters before we get to the big climax how much they change throughout their lives I mean that's how we saw Twilight and her friends how they went through since season 1 through 9 and how they grow as a character
Doctor: It’s never forgotten citizens of Tamriel. Oh time will pass. The ponies and other races of Nirn will move on, the stories will fade, but one day, Twilight and friends stories will be told again by the nords in centuries when Ulfric frees Skyrim, and everyone will remember them.
10670770
Dont know, they did try and kill the Mane 6 in the final battle when they merged their attacks. Chrysalis and Tirek also wanted love or magic rather than lives, so maybe they didnt go so far as to kill. Cant be sure.
10670903
Who said those were deadly spells? They might have been just injur them but not kill.
Are you planning to write more stories for the Successor Verse?
10670942
Well someone requested a story of Discord and Fluttershy's wedding so that could be. Not too many though. also pretty sure they intended to kill.
Well looking back at your story I guess you're right Twilight isn't around during the My Little Pony new generation she's not immortal I mean she might of live longer but she's definitely not around but she is with her friends and family but it is also kind of sad that they're not around 😢
11299811
Thanks. Yeah at least it's that way in my head canon. Hope you enjoy the rest of it.
11327844
Oh ok thanks for letting me know!
11334397
Ohhh ok. Thanks for clarifying!
This story...made me cry. It was so sweet. And I used to be scared of dying, but this helped me a lot, actually. I used to want to be immortal (or live longer at least) with maybe some futuristic technology...but now I feel like I don't really want to.
Thank you so much for kind of half-curing my fear of death!
This whole story was so beautiful. Everything about it was perfect, and everypony was so in-character. The ponies seemed to pop out of the pages (er, screen) and come to life! You are an amazing author and I'm definitely following you.
This is, without a doubt, the best story I've read on this site. It's way too underrated. I was kind of sad when it ended but it ended so perfectly that I was actually really satisfied. Every little problem was solved (I think).
Thank you so much for making such a sweet story. It is so beautiful. (Yes I know I'm repeating myself...)
I know I will read this over and over again in the future.
Here's to the Magic of Friendship!
11334815
Glad you like it so much. I used to be that way myself when I was a kid, but then I saw movies like Tuck Everlasting and the story of the Three Brothers and Death from Harry Potter, and I never feared it again, at least not to the extent I want to be immortal. Life can be good, but it can also be painful. Living a life of loss would not be my cup of tea. I've lost my biological mother already and that's left a great mark on me that I don't think will ever go away. Thank you for your kind words. A lot of people like the idea of being immortal and have made a lot propaganda in favor of it like no one over 30 mourns their loved ones for a long time. While it maybe true, its not guaranteed. I lost my cat nearly a year ago and didn't mourn her long, but what if I had to watch my children go of old age? That's different. I'd probably feel like I should be dead by then when they're getting old.
11334846
Yes, that is so true. Haven't lost anyone...yet...but I sometimes think about what it will be like. What's the point of living forever if everyone/pony you love dies? If I were immortal each time I made a new friend I would feel sad, because I'd know they would pass away and I would not. I would rather not be immortal, thank you so much for making me realize that.