Honesty
Beneath the white pavillion, a three-piece string band played while Lyric Heartstrings called out the steps to a lively square dance. Revelers pranced to and fro in a constantly shifting formation. Macintosh and Fluttershy stumbled through the steps with more enthusiasm than grace. Crabapple stalked about the sidelines, glaring at everything and nothing.
At the center of it all, Apple Sprout and Honey Pie were in their own private world. The bride’s veil was gone, and they each wore a slim gold ring over a front hoof. The two of them never broke eye contact as they wove between and around the other couples.
Twilight Sparkle stood on the sidelines and watched three generations pass before her. These ponies were the closest thing she had to a family. Her parents were long gone and her brother had died childless. Twilight’s own years had been spent in study, research, and adventure, leaving no time for marriage or children. No, that wasn’t quite true, she hadn’t wanted any of that. Watching her dearest friends raise their families had been—still was—more than enough.
A memory sprang unbidden to her mind. Immortality means watching your friends and family die, generation after generation, came Princess Celestia’s voice.
It was a bitter thought. She tried to picture Apple Sprout growing old and withering away, like Rarity. Twilight’s prodigious imagination failed her. He looked so impossibly lively, wearing that expression of intense, impetuous infatuation particular to young lovers.
Another partnerless pony sidled up beside Twilight. “You look like you’re somewhere else,” said Rainbow Dash. “Whatcha thinking about?”
The song came to an end. Lyric fell silent as the band moved into an airy waltz. The dancers broke formation and moved closer to their partners.
“You know,” said Twilight. “Life. And age.”
“I hear you. I mean, look at Crabapple. I remember changing his diapers. Now his kid’s just about ready to have kids. How did we get so old?”
“The same way everypony else does,” said Twilight. “Except me, I suppose.”
“About that.” Rainbow lowered her voice. “Did you talk to Princess Celestia?”
“I did,” said Twilight. “It was… not what I expected.”
Rainbow’s eyes lit up. “Does that mean you can do it?”
“It’s more complicated than that. I think it might work if I tried, but I can’t. Immortality is a huge responsibility. It’s not something I can just go doling out.”
“But think about it! You, me, Pinkie, Fluttershy, and Rarity, together forever!”
“I want that. You know I do. This is bigger than we are, though. Princesses are an immensely powerful force in Equestrian society, and what’s more, we’re eternal. The effects of our rule are much, much more important than our individual lives. Princess Celestia can’t take chances by adding to our ranks unless she’s certain beyond the shadow of a doubt. If elevating ponies so freely were really a good idea, don’t you think Celestia would be doing it already?”
“I don’t know what the princess thinks. I know you told me you wanted to live with your friends forever.”
“You don’t realize the importance of what you’re asking,” said Twilight. “Turning you into an alicorn would be more significant than anything I’ve done in my life.”
“You’re trotting right it would,” said Rainbow Dash. “I know exactly what I’m asking for, here. It’s a big deal, I get that. I just don’t get why that’s bad. Come on, I’m not asking for anything that you don’t already have.”
“Is that what this is about? Are you just jealous?”
“Of course I’m jealous. I’m going to die. You’re not. I’d be crazy not to be jealous of that.”
“I can understand why you feel that way,” said Twilight. “That’s not a good reason to make you immortal, though. I’d be happy to talk about your feelings, but you need to start by accepting that death is a part of life.”
“It doesn’t have to be! I’m not okay with dying, not if there’s actually something we can do about it!”
“Can doesn’t mean should!” Twilight shook her head. “Immortality sounds a lot nicer than it actually is. It gets lonely, watching everypony you know die. Most ponies aren’t cut out to handle it. You know how hard Applejack’s death hit you. I couldn’t put you through that again and again.”
“Excuse me, girls,” said Fluttershy as she made her way over, “maybe now isn’t the best time for you to have this talk.” She glanced meaningfully at the surrounding ponies, many of whom were staring.
Rainbow Dash ignored her. “So how is it okay for you to be immortal? I mean, if that sort of thing would make all this bad stuff happen, then why do you get to do it?”
“You know exactly why!” said Twilight. “A rare few ponies have the skill to help guide Equestria and the fortitude to handle immortality. Celestia chose me to be one of them. If you’d just listen for one—”
“Right, so all your friends have to die so that you can feel special,” said Rainbow.
Fluttershy cleared her throat. “Maybe we should—”
“Hey!” said Twilight. “Don’t make this about me, Dash.”
“Yeah,” said Rainbow, “I guess I should leave that to you and the princess. You’ll have plenty of time to practice while the rest of us are rotting in the ground.”
“Oh, that is it!” said Twilight. “I’ve had just about enough of—”
“Girls.” Fluttershy fixed them with a look like an oncoming train. “Not here.”
“Fine.” Twilight nodded. “You’re right. I don’t have to stand here and take this, though.” She beat her wings and took to the air. The crowd began to mutter.
Fluttershy fixed her glare on Rainbow Dash. “There was no need to do that.”
“What?” said Rainbow. “She was the one who—”
“We’ll talk about this later,” said Fluttershy. “I’d like to celebrate my grandson’s wedding now, please.”
“You have to focus,” said Princess Celestia. “You won’t be able to call up your magic if you’re this distracted.”
“I’m trying,” hissed Twilight. She sat facing the last shard of red-gold sunlight where it streamed into her study. “It’s not easy, after what happened at the wedding today.”
“Oh? Is everything okay?”
Twilight sighed. “Rainbow Dash was being a jerk about my immortality. She’s hurt and scared and jealous and she’s lashing out. I can understand that, but it’s just… she’s really good at lashing out.”
“What did she say?”
“Can we talk about this later?” said Twilight. “I kind of wanted to finish the protoluminescent spell today.”
“Your magic depends on your connection to the Elements, Twilight. If you’re fighting against your feelings about your friends, you won’t make any progress.”
“Am I supposed to just ignore how I feel, then?” Twilight wasn’t sure if she could do that.
“That’s the last thing you should do. Remember, this isn’t unicorn magic. You can’t access it by shoving your emotions aside. These thoughts are a part of you, right now. You have to embrace them, good and bad. Ignoring them won’t make them go away, but acknowledging them is the first step to working through your problems.”
“I guess I can do that.”
“Yes. I’m asking you to get in touch with your true self, not your idealized self. Think about Rainbow Dash. Focus on your fear and your frustration. Don’t exaggerate it, but let it in to your mind.”
Twilight grimaced. “Okay. I’ve got it.”
“Hold on to that. Now, recall how much you care about each other. Remember all the sacrifices she made for you. Remember everything you accomplished together. Make sure you’ve got all of that in your mind.”
Twilight shut her eyes and concentrated. She had to struggle to keep both her friendship and her anger with Rainbow Dash in the forefront of her mind, not because the effort was mentally taxing, but because she didn’t want to think about how scared she was of turning her friendship into something else. She forced herself not to shy away from the painful thought. There was an ache deep inside her soul when she contemplated the possibility of driving away one of her oldest, dearest friends. Sitting there, deep in meditation, Twilight Sparkle resolved to repair the breach, no matter what it took.
“Now,” said Princess Celestia. “Focus on your magic.”
Twilight felt as though a dam had burst within her. There was the familiar sensation of power coursing through her thoughts, but it felt suddenly whole, like when she first transformed into her alicorn self. She was used to magic as a force to impose her will on the world, but this was different. Twilight felt in tune with reality, able to weave new patterns across the surface of a tapestry that had suddenly snapped into focus. She opened her mouth to shout her triumph, but all that came out was an unprincesslike squeal of joy.
“Excellent!” Celestia beamed. “I can feel the power flowing from you. This is the strongest you’ve ever been. Try the spell now.”
She reached her thoughts out to the sky. It was well and truly twilight now, when the world above was at its most malleable. Manipulating the sky had been beyond her abilities so far, but this time, the protoluminescent spell took shape. Twilight felt beads of sweat on her forehead, but she also felt a primal light building up in the back of her consciousness. It grew and grew until it burst free and popped into the sky. “Hah!”
“Very good.” Celestia didn’t turn to look at the sky; she didn’t need to. Twilight could see her star, though, her very first. With the barrier between day and night breached, the existing stars slid easily into their accustomed places. Twilight felt their familiar presence like a warm cloak.
In all her years of studying, Twilight had learned everything but the skill of guiding the skies. Now, they would share even this. She was grinning so hard her face hurt.
All this bowing and fawning was a problem, Twilight decided. In Ponyville, it was a mere annoyance, but here in Canterlot, ponies were serious about their royalty, to the point where Twilight could barely move about in public. Right now, she was just trying to drop by the spa to see Fluttershy’s youngest daughter, and she had already spent a quarter of an hour enduring the gushing of the doormare, the receptionist, and two especially forward customers.
“—we here at Soothing Rein would be happy to accommodate you however we can.” The receptionist was a unicorn by the name of Velvet Sheen, and he had been going on like that for some time. “If there’s anything we can do, don’t hesitate to—”
“Enough,” said Twilight, cutting short Velvet’s babbling with a raised hoof. “No. Thank you.” Twilight was trying to emulate Princess Celestia’s infinite patience, but she could tell she fell far short of the mark. “I’m here to see Golden Apple, if she’s not too busy.”
“I’ll fetch her at once,” said Velvet. “She’ll be up front in a moment, you have my—”
“I’ll just go find her. I remember the way.” Twilight brushed past the front desk, rolling her eyes once she was past. Velvet was the same as always.
It wasn’t far to Golden Apple’s office. The door was propped open, revealing pastel-colored walls decorated with a full-length mirror and several posters of ponies who Twilight assumed were Equestria’s trendiest models. Golden Apple’s voice came through the door. “If she can’t be there, then we’ll have to find somepony else to come in.” If Twilight hadn’t known, she would never guess her friend had been born on a farm. Golden Apple spoke with a Canterlot accent, with the flawless pronunciation that no native would have taken the time to perfect. “Oh, hello, Twilight.” She looked at a schedule spread across her polished mahogany desk, then back up at the eager young unicorn she had been speaking to. “I’ll have to cover the second half of her shift myself, it would seem. See if Gallantry can manage the first half.”
Twilight stood back as Golden Apple finished her conversation. Being ignored was strangely refreshing. She felt as though she were a regular person, rather than a pony-shaped mass of nobility.
Eventually the unicorn finished her business and scurried off. Only then did Golden Apple turn to embrace Twilight. She was a middle-aged pegasus with a vibrant green coat and an intricately braided mane the same brilliant gold as her predictably apple-shaped cutie mark. “Twilight! I haven’t seen much of you, lately. I suppose you’ve been rather busy.”
“As always,” said Twilight. “How have you been?”
“You wouldn’t believe it. I leave this place for three days to go to my nephew’s wedding, and the whole thing starts falling into chaos! It’s enough to drive a mare mad.” She shrugged. “Oh, well. It’s always something. In any case, I’m glad you’re here. Will you let me do something about your mane?”
“What?” said Twilight, reflexively looking into the mirror beside the desk. “Why? I’ve worn it this way since before you were born. It’s fine.”
“Precisely. It’s fine. That’s all well and good for somepony like Ma, but you’re a princess.”
“Right,” said Twilight. “Where can I get the conditioner to turn my mane into a nimbus of ethereal starstuff?”
“Hah! I’m afraid you know more about that sort of thing than I. But until you figure out that trick, you’d better let me fix things up. Let’s try little a less Auntie Applejack, a little more Princess Cadence.”
“What’s wrong with keeping it Twilight Sparkle?” she said, too quickly.
“It’s like you said. You’ve worn that style since before I was born. But you’re hardly the same Twilight Sparkle as you were then. Isn’t that so, Your Highness?”
“I…” Twilight’s legs buckled, and she sat down, hard. “I don’t…”
“Oh, dear.” Golden Apple crossed the room and shut the door, then sat on the floor beside her. “We’re not talking about your mane at all, are we?”
Twilight swallowed. “I miss the old Twilight Sparkle. I liked her. Princess Twilight seems like a nice pony, too, but I don’t want to lose who I was. I don’t want to lose the pony Applejack made me.”
“Is it really that bad?”
Twilight nodded. “Yeah. It is. Everywhere I go, I’m always the princess. Everypony acts like the ground I walk upon is holy, and it gets old. There aren’t many ponies left who will let me just be me.”
“But surely that doesn’t apply to your friends? You still have me, and Ma, and Auntie Dash, at the very least. We’re still here, just like always.”
Twilight decided not to say anything about Rainbow Dash. She didn’t need to burden Golden Apple with all of her problems. “It helps,” she said. “Still, it’s hard.”
“Hm. I know this isn’t quite the same, but I’m hardly the pony I was twenty years ago.” Golden Apple reached up and plucked a framed photograph from her desk. It showed a younger Fluttershy and Macintosh, no more than sixty years old, holding a tiny, beaming foal. “Becoming a parent was a big change. Probably as big as becoming a princess, I imagine. I’m quite different as a result, as you well know, and I don’t regret a single bit of it.”
“You’re saying I shouldn’t be afraid of change,” said Twilight.
“Essentially. You will always be Twilight Sparkle at heart, no matter the outward trappings.”
“Well, it’s good to hear I’m still myself in your eyes.” Twilight stood up. “Still, I don’t think I’ll be changing my mane anytime soon.”
“Rainbow Dash?” Fluttershy knocked on the door of her friend’s house, softly but insistently. “Are you home?”
As she waited for a response, Fluttershy glanced around at the porch and frowned. When Rainbow had first left Sweet Apple Acres, she made a point of keeping her cloud house scrupulously clean, a remnant of habits Applejack had drilled into her over the decades. Now, however, the fluffy white balcony was streaked with a buildup of brownish haze, visible even in the moonlight.
Fluttershy knocked again, louder this time. Again there was no response. She pushed open the door and went inside. “Rainbow Dash?”
The house was nearly unfurnished. Fluttershy walked through a full-sized living room that was empty save for a single couch covered in a thin layer of dust.
Rainbow Dash stuck her head through a doorway. “Hey. What’s up?”
“There you are,” said Fluttershy. “I’ve been trying to find you. I came to ask if you’re coming to Crabapple’s birthday party next week.”
“I thought he’d be angry with me, after what happened at the wedding.” Rainbow came fully into the living room, closing the door behind her before Fluttershy could see inside her bedroom.
“Oh, he’s furious. I haven’t seen him this mad since Apple Bloom missed Apple Sprout’s cuteceañera. He still wants you there, though. You’re family. Besides, this is your last chance to see Apple Sprout before his honeymoon. He’ll be away for a month, you know.”
“I guess,” said Rainbow. “Well, thanks, but… I dunno.”
“What’s going on? Nopony’s seen you since the wedding, and that was five days ago. What have you been doing all this time?”
Rainbow Dash leaned against the couch’s arm. “You know. Thinking about stuff, I guess.”
“Oh?”
Rainbow sighed. “I think Twilight’s alicorn thing is getting to me. I can’t stop thinking about dying. She could stop it from happening if she wants, but she just… isn’t.”
“Why is this different from how it was before? We were always going to die. It’s not Twilight’s fault.”
“It kind of is. I mean, for the longest time, I was okay with knowing I was gonna die. It was scary, yeah, but I thought it was just how things were and nothing could change that, so why worry, right?” Rainbow Dash started pacing across the room. “And now it turns out that dying is actually a choice! Except it’s Twilight’s choice, not mine, and she’s choosing wrong and there’s nothing I can do!”
“Death is a scary thing,” said Fluttershy. “I know you’re sad about Applejack. I am, too.”
“That’s not it. I mean, yeah, it still hurts. I don’t think that’s ever gonna stop. That’s not what’s different, though. Now I keep thinking about how it’s gonna happen to me. How it’ll to happen to you.” Rainbow swallowed. “Stars and feathers, Twilight can’t really let that happen, can she?”
“I don’t know,” said Fluttershy. “This sort of thing is too much for me. Maybe you’re right. It’s not worth having a big fight with Twilight over it, though. It’s Princess Celestia’s decision, and I don’t think she’ll change her mind.” She paused. “You’ll feel better about it if you get out some instead of brooding in here so much. Please come to the party. I’m worried about you.”
“Well, I guess—” The house shook with the mild tremble that came when a pony landed outside. “Huh,” said Rainbow Dash. “Wonder who it is.”
The two of them made their way to the balcony, where Twilight Sparkle stood gazing at the sky.
“Um, Twilight?” said Fluttershy. “What are you doing?”
Twilight looked their way. “Oh, hi! Sorry, I got distracted. Every time I think I’ve learned all there is to know about the sky…” She cleared her throat. “Sorry. I didn’t come here to talk about stars.”
Rainbow Dash stiffened. “Then why did you come?”
“I came to apologize. I was thinking about what happened at the wedding, and I can see how I was being insensitive. I don’t want this to come between us.”
A grin split Rainbow Dash’s face. She stepped forward and nuzzled Twilight. “Oh, Twilight. I should’ve known better. I don’t know why I was so worried.”
“Heh. I was worried, too. I guess we can both overreact, sometimes.”
“We sure can,” said Rainbow. “So when are we gonna do this alicorn thing?”
“Oh.” Twilight bit her lip. “I think you misunderstand. I didn’t change my mind about that. I just… I was too harsh before, and I wanted to try to be nicer about it.”
“The problem isn’t that you weren’t nice enough, Twilight.”
“Okay,” said Twilight. “Can we try to talk about it calmly, though? I really don’t want to fight.”
“I can do calm,” said Rainbow Dash.
“Maybe I’d better let you two sort this out in private,” said Fluttershy, spreading her wings. “I’ll see you at the party, Rainbow Dash.”
“Sure,” said Rainbow. “Fine.” Fluttershy gave her a brief smile before taking to the air.
Twilight pawed at the cloud. “So,” she said.
“Yeah,” said Rainbow. “I guess you’d better come in.”
Rainbow Dash led Twilight inside and pulled herself atop the couch, sending up a puff of dust. “Right. So. You were saying something about stars?”
“Yeah. I’m finally figuring out how alicorn magic works. I mean really figuring it out.” Twilight sat down beside her friend.
“You said that before,” said Rainbow Dash. “There was the time with the Star Scrolls, and then the time with the griffon university.”
“This is like that, but more. It’s like… like seeing the universe fit together in a new way. I’ve spent fifty years picking up pieces, and now I’m starting to put them together. So many things make more sense now, and the whole thing is just beautiful. Also, I found my special talent.”
“Isn’t magic your special talent?”
“I guess alicorn special talents are bigger. I have dominion over the heavens during dawn and dusk, now.”
“What, like controlling the stars?”
Twilight smiled shyly. “Pretty much.”
“Wow,” said Rainbow Dash. “That’s… wow. I guess you’re a princess for real, huh? That’s awesome. Whatever else happens, this is great.”
“That means a lot.” Twilight let out a breath. “To be honest, I was worried you were upset about what I am.”
“No way. I like it when good things happen to my friends. You’re a princess! That’s, like, the best possible thing. It sounds like it’s even cooler than I imagined, and that’s not easy. I couldn’t be happier for you. It’s just… if it’s that great, shouldn’t Fluttershy be able to have it, too?”
“I wish she could,” Twilight said carefully. “You know that. I don’t know if she’s cut out to go hundreds of years without her friends, though.”
“So don’t make her! It wouldn’t be lonely with the five of us together.”
“Gah!” Twilight massaged her temples. “I can’t just go around doing that to all my friends. How would that be fair? Besides, do you think Pinkie wants to be around when Shepherd dies? Then she’d have to bury the foster kids and Honey Pie and, and… it wouldn’t work.”
“So? You could make her family immortal too,” said Rainbow Dash.
“What are you even saying? Do you realize where that would lead?” Twilight’s voice was edging towards hysteria. “Do you want to make every pony in Equestria immortal?”
Rainbow Dash froze. “Oh my gosh,” she said. A grin spread across her face. “I didn’t even think of that. Oh my gosh. Twilight, you’re a genius! We totally could!”
“What? No! No, we couldn’t! That would totally destroy Equestrian society as we know it!”
“In a good way! You can get rid of death forever!” Rainbow climbed to her hooves. “You just… it’s like you don’t actually care that the rest of us die, since it won’t happen to you.”
Twilight paused long enough to count to ten before responding. “I did ask Celestia about transforming everypony, long ago, but she wouldn’t allow it. You have no idea what a world full of alicorns would be like. Nopony does. It could be a disaster, for all you know. Pony minds aren’t built to live forever and stay sane, and we’d have to feed and house a population that only increased, and who knows what other problems we’d run into? The princess has a point. And besides, she’s the princess.”
“No, Twilight, you are the princess! You don’t have to do what Celestia says if you don’t want to.”
“I have to live with her for the rest of eternity,” Twilight said with forced calm.
“Oh,” said Rainbow. “Oh, I get it. Impressing your teacher is more important to you than saving your friends’ lives.”
“What is your problem? I came here to try to get over our fight! I’m going out of my way to keep things civil, and all you can do is throw it in my face!”
“You’re killing your friends, Twilight! I’m sorry if I’m being rude, but I can’t smile along with this, no matter how nice about it you are. What happened to Applejack was the worst thing in the world. I won’t sit around while you let it happen to the rest of us, too.”
“That’s what this is really about, isn’t it? It’s all about Applejack. You’re broken up about her death, and now you’re blaming me, somehow.”
“What?” Rainbow Dash frowned at that. “Of course I don’t blame you. You didn’t think of it in time, no more than I did.” Her face darkened. “I blame Princess Celestia.”
“How can you even say that? Do you have any idea how much Celestia does for us? How much she did for Applejack?”
“Look, if Celestia wanted Applejack to be alive, she’d be alive. Applejack is dead. Say whatever you want about that.”
“That’s insane,” said Twilight. “By that logic, you could say she’s responsible for killing every pony who ever died.”
“Yeah,” said Rainbow. “Yeah, you could.”
Twilight stood up. “I can’t do this. It was one thing when you were insulting me, but I won’t listen to you talk about Princess Celestia like that. I’m leaving now. You’re scared and you’re lashing out. I can’t talk to you again until you get yourself under control, for both our sakes.”
“Scared? You’re the one who’s running away!” Rainbow Dash rose into the air above Twilight. “Watch who you call scared.”
“What, are you joking?” said Twilight. “Everything you’ve ever done, you did because of fear. When we were young, you were terrified somepony would think you weren’t awesome enough, so you did everything to prove how cool you were. Remember your meltdown at the Best Young Flyers tournament, when you thought you’d fail and ponies would see behind your mask? Then you spent decades clinging to Applejack like a drowning sailor because you were scared of what would happen if she looked away from you for one minute. And, and now you want to tear apart all of Equestria and destroy our friendship because you’re too scared to face your own death!”
Rainbow Dash landed with her muzzle inches away from Twilight’s. “Don’t you talk about me and Applejack,” she said in a voice taut like a steel cable. “You have no idea. No idea! You’ve never been in love, never helped raise kids, nothing! You’ve just been sitting in your empty tree and those shiny towers in Canterlot while the rest of us have been out there doing things! It’s like you started hibernating the same time Spike did. The difference is someday, he’s going to wake up. You, probably not.” She stepped back, out of Twilight’s face. “I don’t know why you’re the one who decides who lives and who dies. You’ve never even lived.”
“That’s enough!” Twilight stalked towards the exit. “Let me know when you’re ready to deal with this like an adult.”
Breathing heavily, Sunstone pulled open the farmhouse door and helped his mother inside. Two ponies looked up from their conversation as the two unicorns entered.
“Oh, good,” said Fluttershy. “You’re here. Let me help you to the sofa.” Despite her age, Fluttershy easily took Rarity’s weight from Sunstone.
As the two friends made their way across the room, Sunstone tried to remember where he had seen the other mare before. She was familiar enough that Sunstone was sure he’d be expected to know her name, but his mind refused to cooperate. She was a reddish earth pony, roughly his own age, with a short yellow-green mane and a thick, muscled body. Her flank marked her as part of the Apple clan, but Sunstone was sure he hadn’t seen her around the farm. She looked at him with a politely puzzled expression that matched his own.
“You must be thirsty from bringing Rarity all this way,” said Fluttershy. “Why don’t we get you some cider?”
Sunstone broke off his impromptu staring contest. “Thank you, Miss Fluttershy. That would be wonderful.”
Fluttershy nodded. “Honeycrisp, you remember Sunstone, right? Why don’t you take him out back and get some cider for the both of you?”
“Of course!” Honeycrisp visibly relaxed. “Sunstone. You were a couple or three years after me in school, right? Sweetie Belle’s class?”
“That’s right.” The memory clicked in his mind like two magnets snapping together. “You were the one who tried to tunnel your way out of the schoolyard in third grade.” He remembered Fluttershy’s child as a lanky blank-flanked filly, not this powerful mare, but it was unmistakably her.
“That was just the once,” said Honeycrisp. “This way.” She led him towards a rear door.
“I think you’ll find you have a lot in common,” said Fluttershy.
“You two have a good time!” called Rarity.
Sunstone found himself in the sprawling field behind the farmhouse. Honeycrisp started towards one of the numerous outbuildings, rolling her eyes as she went. “Sorry about that. I swear, she does this every time I come home.”
“I think I’m missing something,” said Sunstone. “Who does what every time?”
“My ma. Yesterday she was telling me all about Rarity’s son, Equestria’s best jeweler, and did you know he’s not married? Well, like that, except subtle. And now we just happen to find ourselves out on our lonesome.”
“I see,” said Sunstone. “My mom was probably in on it, too. It’s the sort of thing she does.”
“I bet. Moms, right?”
“Yes,” said Sunstone. “Moms.”
They walked in silence for a while.
“So where have you been?” Sunstone said at last. “I haven’t seen you in, what, thirty years?”
“Exploring, mostly. Just got back from six years mapping the wilds beyond Haydrian’s Wall. We got further than anypony before us ever did. I’m just stopping here for a few days on the way over to Baltimare to catch a ship. I know some folk who are putting together an expedition across the Arabian Sea.”
“Wow,” said Sunstone. “That, uh, that’s something.”
“Something, huh? Come on, what were you really gonna say?”
“That’s completely insane,” said Sunstone.
“Ain’t it just! But I wouldn’t give it up for anything. Nothing in civilization is half as exciting as being out there with just your wits and a few good ponies.”
“Exciting is nice when you’re young. By the time a pony is our age, though, you need something more tangible to hold onto.” The two of them reached their destination, a small, well-kept shed.
Honeycrisp raised an eyebrow. “You sound like Ma. You sure you ain’t married?” Honeycrisp led the way into the shed. The interior was clean but dim, and rows of casks stacked ceiling-high left little room to maneuver.
“I almost was, once,” Sunstone said as Honeycrisp fetched a pair of mugs and began filling them from a tap. “Didn’t work out. There are other things, though.”
“Like what?”
“For a long time it was my work. Mastering a trade and running a business takes a lot of time and energy. Meeting ponies wasn’t a priority, so it didn’t happen. I eventually slowed down and ran into somepony, and for a while we thought we’d be together forever, but, uh, obviously it didn’t happen. Then my mom got sick, and between taking care of her and keeping the shop open, there hasn’t been room for much else.”
Honeycrisp handed Sunstone a mug full to overflowing. “Ever wish it had gone different?”
Sunstone drained half the mug in one gulp. “Honestly? No. If I wanted a family that badly, I would’ve gone out and got one. I mean, if it works out someday, that’d be nice. If it doesn’t, well, the lack has never bothered me.”
“I hear you,” said Honeycrisp. “Some colt and a couple or three kids wouldn’t be bad, but it ain’t worth giving up everything else.” She paused as she saw Sunstone’s smirk. “What?”
“Oh, nothing. It’s just, when your mom was hoping we’d have something in common, I don’t think this is was she had in mind.”
“Hah! Sure ain’t.” She took a long, slow drink. “You know, you’re not half bad, for a townie. What say we meet up in Ponyville before I head out? I could use some company that ain’t named Apple.”
“I think I’d like that,” said Sunstone.
“Alright, I think I’m prepared. Is it ready?”
“Indeed. Proceed in thy own time.”
Twilight Sparkle nodded and began to focus. The two princesses hovered far, far over Canterlot, where the air was cold enough to leave ice in her mane. Twilight could feel Celestia’s presence above, guiding the sun to its resting place. As the sky dimmed to sapphire blue, Twilight sensed Celestia’s link to the heavens weakening and her own connection growing stronger.
“Okay,” said Twilight. “Here goes.” She let her wings continue to beat automatically while she stretched out her awareness, found the psychic location her mind insisted on thinking of as the place behind the sky, and pushed. An otherworldly tingle passed through her head.
Above, a glowing point of light streaked through the sky, throwing off shining sparkles behind it. Another appeared beside it, and another, and another. By the time the first had faded, the meteor shower had begun in earnest.
“Well done!” said Luna. “I can scarcely do better myself. Thy mastery of these abilities is most impressive.”
“Thanks,” said Twilight. “I guess it’s pretty neat.”
“Thou art not pleased?”
“No, no, this is wonderful,” said Twilight. “It’s magic on a whole new level. It makes me wish I’d learned to paint or something, just so I’d be prepared for this sort of artistry. This night is perfect, really.”
“And yet thou art distracted.”
“I guess,” said Twilight. “I’m running into some trouble with one of my friends. Well, she’s not exactly acting like a friend, lately. It’s hard to stop thinking about it.”
“Ah,” said Luna. “My sister spoke of thy troubles with Rainbow Dash. These friendships of thine have weathered storms time and again. I have no doubt that this one, too, shall pass.”
“Well, I can’t help wondering if I’m the one who’s wrong, here. She wants me to turn her into a princess. Part of me knows that I can’t, that I need to put the good of Equestria before the good of my friends, but… but how can anything be more important than friendship? That flies in the face of everything I’ve ever learned. I don’t know.”
“I see. Fly with me, Twilight Sparkle.” Luna dove, trading altitude for speed, with Twilight close behind. They were still well above the towers of Canterlot when Luna leveled off and made for the mountains behind the city. The peaks rose beneath them as the princesses flew on and on. Twilight heard nothing but the wind and the sound of her own wings. It was nearly an hour later that Luna alighted at the peak of the highest mountain. It was well and truly night, and Twilight felt control of the sky passing to Luna. From here, the lights of Canterlot could have been another cluster of stars. Those of Ponyville, even more distant, blurred together into a single fuzzy galaxy.
“Thou thinkst granting immortality to a common pony would be a great kindness,” said Princess Luna.
“For that one pony, yes, of course it would. Nopony wants to die.”
“Thou art wrong. Few have the fortitude to endure eternal life. Most ponies would suffer from such a fate.”
“But how do you know? Has anypony ever tried?”
“There is a story,” said Luna, “of the six ponies who discovered the Elements of Harmony. One of their number grew to understand friendship so thoroughly that she made their destinies into one, and so became the first alicorn. It was she who created our system of carefully choosing new alicorns, but that was not her first instinct. She was the first Element of Devotion, which you now call Loyalty, and she could not leave the one she loved most. The first princess taught the secret to her younger sister, the Element of Optimism, that they might live forever side by side.
“They were happy for a time, but it did not last. The older sister had discovered the path to immortality with her strength and wisdom. The younger sister was strong, but not strong enough, and so as her friends and family died, she grew lonely. She was wise, but not wise enough. Ponies paid little heed to her words, preferring her sister’s counsel, and she grew jealous. Dost thou recognize this story, Twilight Sparkle?”
Twilight nodded mutely.
“I scarce endured a hundred years before I went mad,” continued Luna. “I lacked a princess’s temperament, but I had an alicorn’s power. The battle was a near thing, as I remember it, although my sister disagrees. Perhaps she has the right of it. I was hardly lucid at the time.” She shrugged. “The details are unimportant. She banished me to a thousand years of solitude.
“A thousand years, Twilight Sparkle. I doubt whether thou canst truly understand what that means. When I learned what was to become of me, I begged my sister for death. It would have been a great mercy.”
“Are you sure?” said Twilight. “I mean, I don’t doubt that it was horrible, but you’re much better now. Would you really rather be dead?”
Luna gave her a look. “Hast thou lived a long life?”
“I guess so,” said Twilight. “I certainly feel old.”
“How old art thou? Eighty years?”
“Seventy-four.”
Luna’s voice was flat as a desert plain. Behind her, the stars burned cold and white. “All that thou hast done, every thought and every lesson and every joy, does not come to a twelfth part of the time I spent in exile. For every day thou spent laughing with thy friends, or watching their children grow, or learning from my sister, or mourning thy brother’s death, I spent a fortnight in a barren wasteland with no companion save my own madness. When I returned, I was a sad and broken thing. Were it not for thee, my mind would be shattered still. My life now is pleasant enough, and I have reason to hope it will remain so, but it was not worth it. Nothing could be worth that.”
It had been decades since Pumpkin Cake had built the patio outside Sugarcube Corner, but it was still a recent addition in Rarity’s mind. Regardless, it made for a wonderful place to meet a friend. It was a perfect day: Sunstone was off with that Apple girl, finally, and Rarity was meeting Twilight Sparkle for the first time in far too long. Once Tea Cake brought their lunch and the two friends had some privacy, Rarity spoke up. “I heard what happened between you and Rainbow Dash. I’d hoped the incident at the wedding would be the end of it, but this… well, it’s a terrible shame.”
Twilight’s eyes narrowed. “How did you find out about that? This is stressful enough without it becoming public knowledge.”
“Oh, don’t worry, darling. Rainbow told Fluttershy what happened, and she told me. Nopony knows but us girls. And Center Stage and Macintosh, of course. And Crabapple overheard some, but not very much, I don’t think.”
“That’s not entirely comforting.”
“Do relax, Twilight. It’s not as though the tabloids have their hooves on this,” said Rarity. “It was almost two weeks before I heard of it. If it took me that long, you can be certain news isn't spreading.” She sipped her tea. “Well? Go on, tell me everything.”
Twilight sighed. “It’s frustrating. I went over there to try to patch up our disagreement, but she just wouldn’t leave it alone. I mean, she was completely out of control. She’s Rainbow Dash, so she tried to hide how upset she was, but she’s Rainbow Dash, so it was pretty obvious. The things she said were just so crazy and so hurtful.”
“Mm. I hear you weren’t exactly blameless, yourself.”
“I didn’t say anything that isn’t completely true.”
“Really? Oh, dear,” said Rarity. “This is worse than I thought.”
“Okay, you lost me. Telling the truth is a bad thing, now?”
“Come now, Twilight. Cruel truths hurt far more than cruel lies. If you had simply insulted her, then you could take it back. On the other hoof, if you said something you earnestly believe, well, that can’t be undone. Now she knows what you think, and it may change your relationship permanently.”
“Maybe I was a little harsh with her,” said Twilight. “I tried to stay calm, I really did, but she just kept pushing and pushing until I couldn’t help but push back.” A magenta aura appeared around Twilight’s napkin and crushed it into a ball.
“That does sound like Rainbow Dash. It must be quite the disappointment. So, what are you going to do to set things right?”
“Nothing,” said Twilight. “I tried that, and Rainbow Dash made it clear that she’s not interested. I can’t force her to make peace. When she’s ready, I’ll be happy to talk to her. Until then, all I can do is keep my distance. She obviously needs her space, and I just can’t deal with her while she’s like this.” Twilight’s magic tore tiny shreds from her crumpled napkin, letting them fall to the table one by one.
“That’s a shame,” said Rarity, “but it’s understandable. I’ll try to talk to her. The rest of us aren’t long for this world, and this fight shouldn’t mar your last years with Rainbow Dash.”
Twilight stared at the sky. “Do you think I’m doing the right thing? Would it be wrong to turn all of you into alicorns?”
“That’s not my decision,” said Rarity. “Things like that are up to you and the other princesses.”
“Sure, but if you were a princess and I wasn’t, would you make me an alicorn?”
“Of course I would, Twilight, how can you even ask that?” Rarity paused as she realized what she had just said. “I mean, that’s not to say you’re doing anything wrong, exactly, it’s just that I’d do things differently if it were me, but of course it isn’t me and so—”
“It’s okay, Rarity. If I just wanted somepony to agree with me, I’d talk to the other princesses. Well, actually, I already did that. It did help, in a sad sort of way, but now I want to know what you think. Why would you do things that way?”
Rarity shrugged. “I suppose I don’t see the point of having a gift like that if you can’t share it.”
“It’s more complicated than—”
“I know that, darling. You don’t have to convince me. It really is your decision, and I imagine Celestia groomed you for your role in part because you’re able to make decisions like that. Yes, I’d like to be a princess. I’d like to live forever. I won’t, though, and that’s okay. I’ve had a good life. That’s enough.”
Sunstone came into view, cantering down the street and searching frantically in every direction. There was no sign of Honeycrisp, Rarity noted with disapproval.
Her son caught sight of her and rushed over. “Mom, there you are! I was with Honeycrisp when I heard, and I thought you’d want to know.”
“Know what?” said Rarity.
“It’s Fluttershy,” he said. “She’s in the hospital.”
“What?” said Twilight. “What happened?”
“I don’t know! It’s bad enough that they sent somepony to find Honeycrisp right away!”
The two mares shared a worried glance. “That’s not good,” said Twilight. “We should see what’s going on.”
Rarity nodded. “Thank you for finding us, Sunstone. Twilight, if you would?”
There was a flash of magic, and the two ponies disappeared.
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My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic Fanfiction
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Triple special ultra thanks to Baxil, my indispensable right hand, for his tireless and insightful work on this one. Double special thanks to Bad Horse for some vital analysis. Major thanks to Seattle, Snarkle, Caboc, Mestroyer and Vimbert for prereading and editing. Cover art by the kitstacular kits.
This is neither a original idea (People have already written twilight being and visiting her friend grave and this is BEFORE season 3.) or not even happening (The writer CONFIRMED twilight won't outlive her friend. don't get me wron it alright but it not exactly Ah worthy.
congrats on getting on EQ btw.
Wow.
I really don't know what twilight will do,but this is very interesting.
needs "alternate universe" tag because we all know now that Twilight isn't immortal in canon
Question 1. I think Twilight will continue to be wise as she should and continue to fight with Rainbow Dash until RD gets it or dies.
Question 2. What I said in question one. It is a terrible thing to live forever and a terrible thing to watch your friends die. Immortality turns into a curse, not a gift. The power she has as well, turns more into a curse and spends less time being a gift. Still... I am like most people, I believe. I try to see it from both sides. It makes me a little sad to think that she would end up having to choose between what is right and what she desires.
Question 3. Yes. I think Rainbow Dash is being very unreasonable. But she is also influenced by fear. So she is not wrong in the truest sense of the meaning. She wants to defeat that fear and accept her fate, but doing so is scary and it is so much easier to run away. Especially for a hot blooded fast paced mare such as her.
Overall I have no criticisms. I am liking the idea behind this story and have imagined such things before, roughly right after seeing the season finale. Plus there are pictures I've seen before of Twilight mourning the loss of her friends and putting them up as stars in the sky. Saw this story on EQD and figured it might be a good read. Certainly not disappointed.
2449295
You may want to consider reading stories before commenting on them. While it is true that there have been a good number of stories exploring the consequences of an immortal Twi, this is the very first I've seen that had the other 5 actually there in their old age discussing it. Every single other one has either been Twi remembering all the things they'd done together while visiting their graves, or the lot of them all realizing it shortly after her ascension. Even more importantly, I haven't read a single story that posited the question of whether or not /more/ of them should be immortal.
The only appropriate parts of your comment would have been to suggest the alt. universe tag and the grats on EQD.
>>>“There is a story,” said Luna, “of the six ponies who discovered the Elements of Harmony. One of their number grew to understand friendship so thoroughly that she made their destinies into one, and so became the first alicorn. >>>
Ok, this is clearly Alt Universe. You did watch "Return of Harmony" in which Celestia explained that she and Luna found the Elements to defeat Discord, did you not?
By the way, where is Discord? He should be floating about trolling ponies. I would enjoy seeing how his 'reformed' self deals with Dash if she begged him to make her immortal. God of chaos, you know; nearly limitless powers. He can literally make ANYTHING happen. And if he decided that it wasn't time to use his powers for good anymore... he could do some DREADFULLY wicked things to Dash if he wished to be creative.
And Luna only lasted a hundred years before going nuts? Good god, she's weaker-willed than humans! Some of us live to 120 and see up to 4 generations die, including their own children without going mad!
It is the young, the selfish, and the cowardly who can face neither death nor immortality, for they do not have the wisdom to deal with either.
>>>For every day thou spent laughing with thy friends, or watching their children grow, or learning from my sister, or mourning thy brother’s death, I spent a fortnight in a barren wasteland with no companion save my own madness. When I returned, I was a sad and broken thing. Were it not for thee, my mind would be shattered still. My life now is pleasant enough, and I have reason to hope it will remain so, but it was not worth it. Nothing could be worth that.”>>>
*bemused smirk* Luna, I should introduce you to the survivors of the Nazi concentration camps. After all they suffered, after watching thousands around them waste away and die or be murdered, after enduring torment I doubt your feeble little pony mind could comprehend, they could still say, "An hour of life is still life."
Luna, you are an utter coward. You truly are not worthy of immortality. As the Almighty Deux Ex Insert, I hereby strip it from you and bestow it upon... Derpy Hooves! She shall be the Princess of Easter Eggs, and appear hidden in backgrounds FOREVER!!
I am reminded of a very good book , titled the PostMortal. In it humanity found an injection against aging and it slowly changed society in many interesting ways, inevitably destroying it, because we're humans and can't have nice things.
I think Twilight's problem and the negatives Celestia explained are very much like that. Also I would point out that Rarity's answering 'that she would freely give the gift to everyone' explains why she would be a bad princess and in fact, all the other element bearers would also.
They are all extremists, slaved to their own element. Twilight is only the one who is balanced and thus able to handle being elevated.
Every immortal stifles a certain amount of creativity and drive to the universe permanently.
Rainbow Dash did the sonic rainboom. It was a huge achievement to be heralded. Now lets say there were an immortal pony from 800 years ago who regularly did rainbooms. It would no longer be special not just for her but for any pony thereafter. RD could have been the only pegasus to do a rainboom in X amount of years, but would not be the only pony. It would have cost her a lot of what she would eventually be. Rainbow Dash in a world with an alicorn who has done rainbooms for hundreds of years would NOT be the same pony.
The same thing happens with any aspect taken up as an immortal. A mortal Rarity inspires generations of ponies with her designs and as an example for other ponies to follow. An immortal Rarity who continues influencing fashion instead becomes a factor that reduces the number of fashion designers and puts a negative influence on the direction and availability of new and innovative designs.
That said it is a huge burden to add an immortal. It is a major act of selfishness.
Being a responsible immortal actually demands retreating from the active world in a way. IE you can't be a wonderbolt forever. It is NOT fair. You can't keep making new designs of fashion regularly or being the primary drive for music. You can occasionally put out a masterwork but to flood the market with the product of centuries of experience is to destroy the aspirations of mortal ponies.
So the question of whether the ponies should be turned into alicorns is definitely one that should be taken with the utmost caution. Of the 4 living candidates, Fluttershy is probably the one who could most handle it and would have the softest tread on the world. She could act as an inspiration without denying the destiny of other ponies in the world. Rarity is the poorest choice. I do not think she could resist having a heavy imprint on the world and she would take the position badly after a single extra century. Pinkie Pie is somewhere in the middle. I think she could be a passive positive influence on Equestria but it is debatable if she would want it or if she could handle it.
Rainbow Dash is the one here who REALLY wants it. Thing is she would mess things up permanently with her rainbooms. She would be the unattainable goal which would have a distinct negative effect on generations of pegasus dreams to be the very best. I do not see her living quietly throughout eternity. Man would it be hard to deny her though with her wanting it so very badly. I do think she could manage to live throughout time without going nuts though. In essence it would be fine for her but bad for equestria.
2449295 That doesn't mean he hasn't done a good job writing it.
A wise man once said "Nothing you will ever do will be original. The only thing you can do is take what you know and work with it."
To quote Eclipse Phase:
"Your mind is software. Program it.
Your body is a shell. Change it.
Death is a disease. Cure it.
Extinction is approaching. Fight it."
Celestia and Luna have apparently been sitting on a cure for the worst of diseases, and withheld it because of their own personal failings and ignorant views on how people work.
A person isn't designed to outlive their friends? Well, if they made everyone immortal, then they wouldn't have to outlive their friends! And if they were immortal, and with their immortal friends, they could figure out ways to cope with any problems. Strength from friends and family, unlike Celestia and Luna who are malicious and sociopathic idiots at this point.
All of Celestia and Luna's arguments can be tossed out the window in the face of basic arguments from science, logic, and the belief in the goodwill of ponykind.
It's a great shame that Applejack, and the countless generations before have died, but what Twilight obviously needs to do now is remove Celestia and Luna from power in some way, lethal or otherwise, forcibly ascend the remaining EoH, then have them start on everyone else. Exponentially dragging the planet up to their level until death is removed.
From there on, stop having kids(Instant solution for overpopulation and food) until they develop proper spaceflight so as to solve the population and food problem.
Don't be a death worshiping idiot. Kill that disease. No one worships smallpox, because we murdered it.
2449449 (Silvadel)
Nicely thought out. I hereby commemorate you with the title "overthinker"; to boldly think where no man-or pony-has ever gone before.
2449481 I say this, as for a lot of others. I don't want to live forever.
2449295
There's a reason why it's called a fan fic...
Anyway I'm really liking this story. I would imagine Twilight opts not to make RD a princess to avoid creating another Nightmare Moon. The challenge will be convincing RD that this would ultimately be for the best.
I'm guessing a chat with Cadence is coming up soon as well?
2449449
I am in absolute agreement. I would also add that two things
1. You would eventually get bored because time is meaningless. There is no sense of urgency to your actions anymore.
2. Rainbow would probably try to be an immortal Wonderbolt and no pony would ever be able to touch her and that would discourage any pegasus from trying, stifling any innovation.
As of now, when she dies, another flyer (Scoots, maybe) will see her as a goal and surpass her, thus moving progress forward. If things don't die there is no evolution.
2449551
There's a village at the bottom of a mountain. Every year, a dragon comes by and eats one of the villagers. There's nothing they can do to stop it, because they won't invent anti tank missiles for a few hundred years.
The dragon has been taking a villager every year for as long as anyone can remember. It's just another fact of life as far as they are concerned. They don't like it when it takes someone, but there's no use complaining about what can't be changed in their minds. So they accept that the dragon will come once a year. They try to justify it. It has to be there for a reason, after all.They arrange their schedules around it. Maybe even throw a little festival.(In honor of the dragon, or memory of the eaten. Who knows.)
And the dragon keeps eating.
So, in the distant future, when we have killed that dragon, whoever wants to go find its withered husk and stuff themselves down its rotting mouth to die are free to do so. Those of us without suicidal death worshiping thoughts(For what else could one call rejection of immortality?) will continue to live on. A universe to explore, lives to live, civilizations to meet. Things to build, science to do. We'll look back on the past and all be glad we're not you.
Okay, just to be upfront about it, I read about half and then skipped through the rest.
What I liked about the part I read was it wasn't just another 'Twilight is sad and depressed because her friends are dieing'. The last thing we need on this site is more angst just for the sake of it. Thank you for doing something different.
However, what I didn't care for, and the reason I didn't feel compelled to read the rest, is the central themes (death, immortality, etc) are approached too casually by the characters. Like I said previously, angst for the sake of it is bad and overused, but these are still some heavy concepts and the characters treat them like they're ordering fast food.
Same thing with the Twilight / Fluttershy scene. There's no emotion or depth to the conversation where Twilight basically tells Fluttershy 'Nope, no afterlife, you die and then rot in the ground!' I like the concept, but the characters and feelings definitely need fleshed out more in this story.
Honestly? If I was in Twilight's situation here I would just make Celestia or Luna talk to Rainbow Dash. They both understand the issue on a much deeper level and would be better at changing Dash's mind.
Good story. I can really see Dash acting that way. She's a fighter and wants things her way. She also doesn't really think things through very well. ( I love her anyway heh) Celestia might be right as far as most ponies not being able to handle immortality. Swift,who wrote Gulliver's Travels, wrote about more adventures than just the land of the giants and the little people. One place that Gulliver found had a race of immortal people and all of them were bat shit insane. Personally, having fewer years left than the ones I've already lived, wouldn't mind giving immortality a shot if for no other reason than to see what will happen next..
2449610
This story is hilarious. It seems to want to be some high concept piece about mortality, but instead it can be summed up in the below mini-conversations.
:luna: Oh my yes, I went completely insane after a mere hundred years.
Uh
:luna: So basically I was a mistake but its cool because nothing can touch me.
2449610 Those are on purpose. Dash made a simple request, which Celestia shut down immediately because she knew the consequences. And Twilight was cavalier about there being no afterlife because, even after 79 years, she's still a socially oblivious penguin.
Imagine dying. Now pick one.\
I'm willing to accept that there are situations, and only in extreme cases, that not being immortal would be the better choice. And by extreme I mean things like being trapped in a sun or something equally awful and unlikely to change.
Not so sure I'd apply that to what Luna went through, but then again leave me on the moon alone for a year or ten and come back asking if I'd want to stay for another nine-hundred and change or die and I'm not sure which I would pick.
Immortality is boring doesn't hold water. If you're really that bored design a spell to take immortality away. There you have something to do now, and you won't need to do something afterwards. And if we're going to assume that killing an alicorn is and always will be impossible, just devise some kind of mind blast spell and use it on yourself.
Death being a part of life is ridiculous. Death being a part of the natural order is meaningless.
Some ponies minds might not handle being immortal and could inevitably go insane (unless they're super special awesome like Celestia of course). Well good thing there are several other just as powerful immortals to deal with that instead of risking the fate of all life in a one on one duel. Or, rather, if only there was a way to cure alicorns who had been turned insane.
Overpopulation and food shortages don't seem to be such serious problems when magic is considered.
Anyway, Rainbow Dash is showing a lot of restraint. If one of my friends told me that I wasn't worthy of becoming immortal like they were and that they were really doing me a favor by condemning me to death while they went off and carried such a "terrible burden" I don't think I could be that civil.
RD certainly isn't going to be pleased when Twilight lets Fluttershy die for her terrible reasons. And she shouldn't be when her friend is telling them all to shut up and die because Celestia said so.
2449605
This story wouldn't exist were there a simple right answer to immortality. Feel free to have opinions, but stop acting like you're the only one who can be correct. Nobody will take you seriously.
Line=crossed. I'm so far onto Dash's side it isn't even funny.
2449919
So far I have yet to see any legitimate arguments against immortality beyond rationalizations(Though Windfox presented a couple of possible scenarios).
When someone can present an argument that's not based from unfortunate tradition(due to a lack of options otherwise) or some form of "Just because", I will listen. Until then, I maintain my position.
Also, reversed that -1. I try and make my arguments with words, not faceless numbers.
2449902
If magic can solve major problems like death, serious injury, food shortages and other such things, then it becomes a sort of deus ex machina. It's never a good thing if every little problem can be solved on a whim.
I like the idea of magic being an incredibly powerful force(more-so than we see in the show for certain), but for the sake of keeping things interesting, it has to be limited in some regards. Immortality spells are a no-no unless they have some sort of serious drawback or consequences of some sort.
2449919 while i do admit it has originality for that there are still flaws that don't make me truly enjoy, frankly i don't see why the elements would do that. and cadance the ruler of the CRYSTAL empire shouldn't it be the heart that merge, i mean for pete sake it on her flank. i can understand if magic merge with twilight (The image for the element of magic hasn't change even when celestia wielded against nightmare moon as seen episode 1 season1.) the rest eh... not buying it. though i do agree it need a alt universe tag.
2449363
No, McCarthy said she "won't outlive her friends", which can mean a variety of things. Although this story still does contradict that (insert joke about backround pony Applejack here), her claim hasn't made it into canon (and likely won't ever, unless they take the "elements of harmony become immortal/always were immortal" route), so this story still isn't quite AU. Death of the Author and all that.
2450006
Unfortunately for your argument, Windfox's post is a whole load of 'just because', whereas Silvadel put forth a very large post reasoning why species-wide immortality would be a bad thing.
Theirs alot to think about here. Would ponys go mad by being insane? Would it become overpopulated if they made the decision to make every pony immortal? Then if just dash was made immortal, I dont know if she could take seeing all her friends go. Even she could, would she be fit to be immortal and rule over equestria? Twilight is faced with such a conflicting matter. She has the power to allow her friend to continue living, any loving and true friend would immediately choose this option. A immortal ruler though has to look at it from another point along with the other. She could make her friend an alicorn and risk another nightmare moon situation or other bad outcome. The fall of equestrian society as mentioned could be a very real thing. Interested to see were it goes, friendship is the most important thing. Although what about that weighed against the possible outcomes that could happen to equestria as a whole.
edit- Reading some of the comments. I notice theirs sayings of "twilight wont outlive her friends, so she cant be immortal". Yup that is pretty much canon because a writer did confirm it. Although, if you think about it, what if none of them ever die? What if they all become princesses (I am not hoping for this outcome) and never die. That just off the top of my head but what im getting at is we dont know why she wont outlive her friends. We only know that she wont, whether that be do to them becoming immortal themselves or twilight not being immortal. Anyway, I'm enjoying the story and I'll be reading the rest when you release it. :)
Wow. All these people who refuse to believe that this the whole "everyone is immortal" thing wouldn't work out. People are flawed. People are terrible. In a world where the very fabric of organic existence has been based on a caste system, what would happen if all of that was ripped apart and everyone was equal? No one was set apart from the others, no one could lead the masses out of inherent superiority. Where everyone was their own person. It would be chaos. Bedlam. Anyone who thinks otherwise is incredibly naive and needs to ponder on what would happen if everyone on Earth was made immortal, under these same rules.
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Tell you what. In the hypothetical scenario where scientists discover the cure to death next week in such a way as to make it free to everyone, you are free to turn it down.
I, meanwhile, in such a scenario, would eagerly take it.
As is, it's impossible for one person to learn all we know, or even see all the places on just our one planet because we don't live long enough to do so. There's that much to do.
If I was immortal, I could put in the time to learn all we currently know, explore the planet, and help to further science in the future. Beyond that, I could then go to space without fear of dying of age. Hundreds of years to reach one planet(Out of trillions)? No problem on even a sleeper ship. Immortal after all.
If any of these things took a while? It's not like I would age. Something gets boring? Swap to something new. Maybe take up a several million year long project. Single person planetary construction project maybe? New species need home after all. The immortal folks can hang out in spaceships. Take a trip to the other end of the universe. Outside it even.
Immortality is being able to do everything, forever. Mortality is being given one or two options, then dying.
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Silvadel's argument is that it would be bad because it wouldn't make room for new people to shine, to which I say "So what?" I know that seems very selfish, but what's the more selfish idea here? That someone will have to remain obscure and overshadowed by you so that you can continue living or that someone should DIE to make room for your dreams? And couldn't we just solve this with, oh, I dunno, forced retirement instead of DEATH?
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If it's impossible for anyone to die, who really cares if society functions? Is a neatly functioning society more important than individuals being able to continue their existence? And if the lack of a functioning society would lead to the otherwise immortal beings dying, don't you think that they would adapt to form a society that does function out of self interest for their own survival as we already do now? Wouldn't it ultimately sort itself out in any case? Either immortality for everyone is viable and it should be done, or it will fail and people will die, which they would die anyways so why wouldn't it at least be worth a try?
Now none of this is in criticism of this story, I think it's being wonderfully handled, and I look forward to the next chapter.
A very fun read, its interesting to see the dynamics of time and age working to what is. I really look forward to the next update.
I completely understand Dash's perspective, but she isn't considering the huge picture. Not the big picture, the one a few steps up, and maybe the picture below it as well.
Twilight is in a very awkward position, where the right choice in the sense of the huge picture is also the more difficult choice in the relatively-small picture.
A deliciously thought-provoking work. Kudos.
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I do see Twilight's dilemma here, but I don't think you can simply say that Dash just isn't looking at the big picture here. If I was in Dash's position, even if I completely understood Twilight's position and saw the truth in her argument, I don't think I could ever resign myself to death when the alternative of living forever was right there. My mind hits a brick wall with that, my selflessness and concern for the greater wellbeing totally breaks down when I do the math on me living indefinitely vs. me dying soon. That's something I don't think people appreciate or even realize, that both parties, with contrary decisions, could both be right.
2450118 While I will admit that we will never truly know, that doesn't change the fact that it wouldn't work in this case. There needs to be a leader. Someone above the rest. The Princesses do just that, and they are above the rest because they have dominion over such things as the freaking Sun. Only gods do that kind of stuff. And for good reason. What happens when everyone is an alicorn? "I'm the Princess of That Blade of Grass Over There." Alicorns are not something to take lightly, and, through other forms of media, we can speculate how far we can artificially evolve ourselves before it all comes crashing down. There has to be something to seperate the average from the great, or else we have... something. Examples include: FEV from Fallout, everything that happened in Rapture from Bioshock, the Deus Ex series... the list goes on.
This is remarkably well written. You've portrayed each of the characters perfectly and thought up believable ones of your own. Bravo.
On an off note, could you have Discord make an appearance? I would like to know what you'd have him think on this whole matter, him being the only other immortal creature in this world. (At least I'm assuming he's immortal, considering he fought with Celestia and Luna since the beginning and contains more power than the two of them combined.)
Change to "Alternate Universe", please. It was stated that Twilight will not outlive her friends.
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And then a bunch of people die, some survive, and they reformulate society again. Either way you die, but at least one of the ways, you at least experimented to see if it would work.
"There has to be something to seperate the average from the great"
How about ability? Celestia and Luna can keep throwing the sun and the moon around to their hearts delight. I don't see why everyone else has to die for them to do that. So what if you're the "princess of that blade of grass over there"? You're not exactly getting in the way of anything are you? The big players will still be doing what they want/feel they need to do. And how much of what we're doing on a day to day basis is due to the thought that we better do it now since we have finite lives, really? I don't go to work every day because I'm motivated to get as much done before I die as I can. I'm motivated by bills. I like living and having fun and I have to work for those things. My human lifespan doesn't factor into the equation at all.
I can't imagine being immortal being that great. Sure you could try to learn everything, but eventually it would just become dull and nothing would catch your interest after a while. You would just become tired of learning. Sure living with your best friends and love ones forever would be great...until you got tired of each other. Sure you pool your time into creating fantastic music and art, but creativity isn't an endless pool. Eventually you will descend into complete mediocrity.
Eventually everything dies, even universes. So that means you eventually live until the end of the universe. And that will be what? Hundreds, thousands of billions of years? Can you imagine living that long? Will you die when the universe ends or live in the new universe that will replace it? Or maybe travel to a different, younger universe? Only to live on and on until that one ends too? And do it again and again and again. Immortality doesn't sound that fun.
Bitch slap the unicorn princess' and get with the cheating death already. This is not up for debate. Also you're forgetting someone, AREN'T YOU.
I see a lot of people siding with the 'Immortality for everyone!', but they may well be missing one of the major points.
The one Luna made was deep, insightful, and well thought out. More importantly... it's probably one of the most important reasons to keep the club exclusive and only with the most rigorous of tests allow entry. Luna doesn't want to be immortal. She was given it by Celestia, out of love, but it quickly turned sour. She almost destroyed all life because she couldn't handle it, and through a thousand years of isolation, it was only because of the EoH that she may be better, but who knows for how long. She can't die (though I think she still would prefer it), and she may well be a permanent threat to all life, but there's no option. Even if she wishes it, she can't bring an end to her existence.
Dash, and apparently Rarity, would seek to spread the gift, heedless of the problems it could pose, or if it's truly what people want, or could handle. She would repeat Celestia's mistake, and possibly create dozens of Lunas, dozens of Nightmare Moons. Of the current alicorns, there may well be a very high chance of that happening, both Cadence and Twilight are still living through their mortal timespan. Even they may not be able to handle eternity, as only those that face it, and experience it, could tell for sure.
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Hey here's an idea. That guy, y'know the one, mix and match limbs and probably fondly recalls the phrase 'Q, get off my ship!' when he's feeling bored of technicolor horse land? Let's have that guy do something about this problem. Or how about problems...
Like say forcing Ms. Listens To Cure Albums to have a nice long chat with a few alternate versions of herself and her dear sister on the matter of life and death. While those two demiurges are indisposed actual progress towards a better future, ANY future can be immediately had.
Fuck the police.
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:iloveyou:
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Ultimate minecraft experience
Death is not the natural order. Meekly submitting to it, to preserve the status quo... even less.
Where the heck is Discord?
i don´t like these kind of story´s very much mostly because the writers often forget or don´t know how ironic easy it really is to archive biological immortality (stop/reverse aging)
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