> The Curse of Being An Alicorn > by Bakmah Genesis > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- > Even Sad Stories Have Happy Endings > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- She did this before, hundreds, if not thousands, of times before. Each time ended the same. Pain, regret, mourning, another hole in her heart. Yet, she did not know why she kept going. Each time felt different, just a little. But now...the difference, the obviousness of it was nearly blinding. She was beautiful, smart, outgoing, to some extent, and had the drive to learn. She was a powerful leader and could probably get her enemies to follow her to war with another country, or just to turn a new page. She didn't let herself amount to much in her own eyes, but she was truly the most powerful unicorn. She was perfect. Celestia smiled at the warmth of the lavender mare before her. It was moments here, in the dying light of her setting sun, that age, immortality, the trials of life, none of it mattered. It was as if life itself was gone and it just left the two of them in sweet calm peace. Nothing mattered. "I like this." said Twilight softly, watching the sun set across the city of Canterlot, the houses and buildings painted in a beautiful spectrum of orange and purple. It was the one canvas that was painted by both sisters. Twilight. "So do I, love. I remember I would always find you looking out over the city at sunset." said Celestia, nuzzling the mare. Twilight giggled and nuzzled back. "Yeah, and then we would watch it until the sun disappeared. Then you would insist I head to bed." "Then I would find you passed out in the library the next morning." said the white goddess with a smirk. Twilight blushed and giggled before the two of them broke out in laughter. The moment made Celestia forget every mare, every stallion, to ever court her, to ever have their hoof or wing around her, to have kissed, if only for that one moment. It was a bliss that she sometimes wished she could live in every waking moment, but it just wouldn't be right. Their laughter soon died down and Celestia found herself thinking. It wasn't your normal thinking on small things. No. She thought about her past, her thousands of dates, wives, and husbands. She thought about what was soon to come, about the rings that were settled on each of their horns and what was about to happen in only a matter of days. She thought about the future, about how she will probably have to bury another wife. "But is it worth it?" She whispered to herself, a sad look falling over her features, her pastel mane seemed to wave less on its invisible wind, falling over her face more. This silent question, however, was heard by a certain fiancé. "Is what worth it?" Asked Twilight, looking up at her fiancé with confusion, then concern as she saw her expression. Celestia sighed and nuzzled the smaller mare, her wing tightening around her. "It's nothing, love. Just a little something I have on my mind. Besides, I already found the answer." said Celestia, smiling warmly at Twilight. It was worth the pain when she looked at it. This mare was finally every ounce of what she was looking for, not small bits of pieces as she had found in other mates, but every single ounce. If it meant another funeral, another, possibly more stronger, heart break, she would bare through it. "You know, I've wondered what made you different from all the other wives and husbands I have had over my lifetime." said Celestia, watching her sister's moon rise into view. "I wondered if it was just that you caught my eye more than the last, or that I just needed somepony to fill the void. But I soon realized it is none of these. "For thousands of years I've searched for somepony like you, Twilight. I've found ponies close, but they never really worked. They didn't...feel right, I guess." Celestia paused and turned towards the currently neutral mare who just listened. Celestia sighed and continued. "You have everything I could dream for. You're smart, smarter than Starswirl was, if I so boldly add. You have a drive to learn that has helped in many occasions and widened your insight in the world. You have powerful leadership skills that I have no doubt could convince the coldest of monsters to follow you. You are everything I wanted and more and I don't care if some point you will pass on will I live for eons, because I love you." Tears rolled down her eyes as she finished. She leaned forward and pressed her forehead against Twilight's, the lavender unicorn crying as well, albeit with a small smile. "I love you too, Tia." ~~~~~~~~~ "Luna!" There were times where hearing her name would cause Luna to snicker while she sprinted away from her sister. Today, however, she would have loved to paint in piece thus why she hadn't switched her sisters shampoo with poison joke....today at least. "In my study, Tia!" Called out the indigo princess as her brush worked across the canvas, painting it midnight blue as the sky. She wanted to get as much done without Discord popping out of nowhere. She was thankful he moved in with that shy Pegasus from Ponyville. "The wedding is in three days so there is no need to having jitters already, sister." said Luna as she heard her door open. She heard the solar goddess sigh before sitting down somewhere behind her. "It's just...she's the one..." said Celestia, trailing off. Luna chuckled. "That's normally why you propose to them, Tia. How, pray tell, is this a problem?" Asked the moon princess. "Because I don't know if I can loose her too." Luna froze. She carefully set the brush down and turned so she was facing her sister. "Tia, please don't tell me that you are planning on doing what I think you are." said Luna, staring at the white alicorn. Celestia squirmed under her stare. "What? Planning a coronation shortly after the wedding. No, I would ne-okay yes." admitted Celestia. "Tia, you know you aren't supposed to use that spell lightly. And don't try to say it will only be her, because you will have to do the same to the remaining elements." said Luna. "I know that, Luna! But wouldn't this solve things as well? I mean, we will still have the elements for centuries instead of looking for new ones every sixty years." "The race of alicorn is automatically crowned, Tia. We don't have enough power to share for six more. One, yes, six, not ever." "What else am I supposed to do?" Asked Celestia. Luna bit her lip and looked away. "You won't like the answer." "Tell me, Lulu." demanded the goddess. Luna took a deep breath. "We remove immortality from the alicorn race." Silence fell over the room. What Luna proposed was possible, but never really thought of. But...it would work. "That...might work. But will she approve?" Asked Celestia, biting her lip. "You know her better than I do, Tia. Ask yourself if she would approve. Though, I don't see why not. I would think that you are more in love than anypony could imagine if you are willing to give up something so important as our immortality since we can't get rid of it individually." said the lunar goddess. "We should at least inform Cadence. She needs to be informed that she will suddenly be aging and should seriously think about foals." suggested Celestia. Luna nodded, "And I will. I have no doubt she would mind. I think she would go on about how adorable it is." said Luna with a smirk. Celestia giggled. "Yes, that mare just swoons over anything romantic." "So, you less nervous?" Asked Luna. Celestia stared at her. "A tiny bit." Luna gave her a look. "Okay, a lot. It's a lot off your shoulders when you figured out an age old dating road block." admitted Celestia. "Well, on the bright side I can finally look more into this Rarity mare I've been interested. Immortality is just dreadful sometimes." said Luna with a small huff. "Well, since I'm marrying Twilight, I want you to ask out Rarity before the reception is over." said Celestia with a smirk. Luna stared at her. "You...fine. I will play this bet. I will win by the way." said the indigo goddess. "I'm hoping on that. Now, I need to talk to Caddy and prepare for my wedding. Oh, and Rarity is in Canterlot until after the wedding. I suggest you make use of that time." said Celestia with a wink as she stood and exited, leaving a blushing Luna to work on her plans. ~~~~~~~~~~ The throne room was once again reverted to a wedding alter for the second time in a few years. The after effects existed in the form in daily checks by the guards to make sure that none of the brides or mares of honor are actually changelings. A pink alicorn pranced around the hall, over watching the decorating as ribbons of white, yellow, pink, purple, and blue were hung both along the alter and the length of the hall. A lond red carpet went from the golden double doors all the way to the rose covered archway at the alter. Cadence hummed to herself as she lit her horn and grabbed a hold of a roll of ribbons, levitating them up above her head to criss cross across the ceiling. The rhythm to This Day Aria rang through her throat as she worked. "I think I chose right in letting you do this and not Pinkie." said Celestia as she entered the room. Cadence turned and beamed at the alicorn, trotting over to her as her magic kept working. "Thank you. She does decorate wonderfully but that is more fit for the reception, not the wedding itself, if I have to say so myself." said the pink alicorn wrapping her aunt in a hug. "Now, what has brought you down here?" She asked, going back to her decorating. "Well, me and Luna were just discussing some important matters when we figured a solution, but we need to run it by you first." said Celestia, watching as the ribbons affixed themselves to the marble ceiling. "Well, what is it?" Asked Cadence, keeping her eyes on her work. "We are going to remove Alicorns Immortality during the ceremony." The ribbons that were previously wrapped in a cyan aura floated slowly to the ground as Cadence's horn died out. Celestia watched the mare in concern as she stood frozen. "So, after the wedding, none of us will be immortal anymore?" Asked the princess, her tone neutral. "Um, yes. Me and Luna have dealt with too many lovers dying so we figured to remove our immortal factor." said Celestia cautiously. The mare was quiet for a few minutes before she finally responded. "I have to have foals!" Celestia resisted the urge to face hoof. Out of all the reactions and things to worry about in this situation, Cadence worries over the prospect of foals. It was almost surprising that she was the alicorn of love. "We all technically have to have foals. And I don't see what's wrong with them." Cadence swirled around and stared at her. "Nothing wrong with foals? Auntie! I would hardly get time with Shining because I would be too busy taking care of the foal! And then there is the topic of sex..." "You say one word of you and Shining Armour's sex life and I will seriously rethink my best mare." said Celestia with a stare. She sighed and sat on her haunches. "I'm surprised that's all you worry about. I'm more worried of the response to this. The public is not very found of change and this is a very huge change. As in way of life changing." "Because I know why you're doing it. The ponies will have to be blind not to see it. Yes, there will be ponies, and more than likely nobles since their grade of power of nearly matching your authority will decrease dramatically, but I doubt everypony backs what we do." said the pink alicorn with a small smile. "When was it that the much younger mare was teaching her elder?" Asked the white alicorn with a small chuckle. Cadence giggled and shrugged. "I don't know. Maybe it wa-" Cadence's eyes flashed pink briefly, causing the mare to look around. "Huh, a couple just got together." Celestia placed a hoof over her mouth in an attempt to hold back her laughter. She failed miserably as she fell into full hysterics. "What?" ~~~~~~~~~ Three days soon passed and it left Celestia feeling more nervous than any of her previous weddings. It was probably because this pony meant more to her than any of the others. Plus she was about to remove immortality from all Alicorns. "What if she really doesn't approve of this? You know, what if-" "What if she rips off her clothes and starts dancing the tango?" Asked Luna, staring at her sister. Celestia stammered and gave in with a sigh. "That nervous?" "Yes. This is a big deal. I haven't been married in a hundred years, let alone a mare in four, and we are about to make the biggest sacrifice in known history for the ones we love." said Celestia, rubbing her temples as Cadence worked on her mane. "Yes, well, we usually get through things like this. Besides, can we really be blamed for wanting to end thousands of years of heartbreak and pain?" Asked the pink alicorn. Celestia chuckled. "You would have to be crazy to blame us for wanting to be happy. Besides, it's not like we chose ugly, low class ponies. Though, I am interested on how you plan on breaking the whole 'I'm dating your crush' thing to Spike." said the white alicorn, smirking at her younger sister in the mirror. "Rarity and I will just have to sit him down and break it to him as gently as we could possibly put it." said Luna with a shrug. "Well, let's hope tonight goes well for both of us." said Celestia as Cadence finally finished tying her now pink mane. Celestia removed the enchantments on her mane for the simple sake of making it possible to style properly. Her natural bubble gum pink still worked perfectly with the flowing white dress Rarity had designed and made only a week earlier. "Are you sure you don't double as a mane stylist or any other type of fashion pony?" Asked Celestia, smirking at her niece. Cadence shrugged. "Most of the foals I foalsat were filly's. Twilight loved dress up despite not being too much of a girly girl now." "I'm sure she looks beautiful when she is doing it for real, now." said Celestia with a small smile. She sighed. "Well, I believe its time." ~~~~~~~~~~~ "Twilight, for the sake of that beautiful dress, please stop pacing." said Rarity. The white unicorn watched as the lavender paced back in forth in her room, creating a rut in the marble. Twilight was fully dressed and had her mane on a bun. "What if I mess up, Rarity? I mean, this is my wedding! If I mess up I would embarrass Tia and I would be the laughing stock of the Canterlot circles and.." "Twilight, take deep breathes." said Shining from his spot in the room. Twilight stopped pacing and took a deep breath, holding it in for a second before exhaling. Shining smiled and placed a hoof on her shoulder. "I'm sure you'll do fine." "But what if I mess up?" Asked Twilight. Shining chuckled. "Then you mess up. It's completely understandable. This is a big thing and ponies will understand that you are nervous and screwed up. This is the largest wedding in existence and this is the first time Celestia married in over a hundred years." "I just want this to be perfect." said Twilight, sighing. "And it will be, in its on way. You walk in nervous, and all that disappears when you see your bride at the alter. Then it's going with the flow all the way to when you say 'I do." said Shining. Twilight smiled up at him and nuzzled his shoulder. "Thanks BBBFF. I needed that." "That's what brothers are for. Now, I think you have a wedding to attend." ~~~~~~~~~ Celestia chewed on her lip as she waited on the alter. Thousands of times she stood in a similar spot, but none of those times compared to now. She felt more nervous had she had every reason to be. She took a deep breath in an attempt to calm and looked back at her sister who stood in her normal royal attire. "Still nervous?" Asked the indigo alicorn. Celestia gave her a flat look. "No. I'm nearly hyperventilating over here for no reason whatsoever." "Glad we agree." said Luna with a grin. "Lulu!" "What? You are. Just relax. This will all be fine and work out in the end. Besides, we are all here for you." said the lunar goddess, placing a hoof on the older sisters shoulder. Celestia sighed. "Alright." No sooner did the words leave her lips did the music start playing. The instant it did, Celestia tensed and her wings fluttered. Her heart rate steadily increased as she waited for her bride to step out into the aisle. And when she did, Celestia could feel her heart stop. Twilight Sparkle wore a beautiful white dress that worked more with her eyes while Celestia's worked for the mane. The lavender unicorn's mane was pulled back into a bun that left strands falling down over her face. It was an agonizing long walk for both of them and Twilight nearly bounded to her spot the moment Shining let go of her hoof to go take his seat. It took all of Celestia's strength not to plant a kiss on the mare right then and there. Sadly, she had to wait for the sake of tradition. And her mother made sure to pound in that they had to keep up tradition. "Fillies and Gentlecolts. Today we gather for an event that has not occurred within a hundred years. Today, we gather to watch the bonding of two souls, full and eternal, of Celes Solaris, and Twilight Sparkle." started Luna. "We will start with the vows. Twilight Sparkle, will you please result your vows?" Asked Luna to Twilight. The lavender mare took in a deep breath before speaking. "I, Twilight Sparkle, bearer of the Element of Magic, vow to hold and protect you in your time of need, in your time of hurt, until my time on this world. I vow that through every obstacle I will stand by your side." said the mare, her eyes starting to water. Luna smirked slightly and turned to her elder sister. "Celes Solaris, will you please recite your vows?" Asked Luna. Celestia took a deep breath and nodded. "I, Celes Solaris, Princess of Equestria and Bringer of the Sun, vow to hold to protect you in your time of need and time of hurt. I vow to stay by your side through all obstacles through the rest of our lives. For you, I sacrifice the immortality of the alicorn race." There was an audible gasp, except from the three alicorns, the Royal Guard Captain, and a small country town fashionista. Luna lit her horn a bright white, causing the ponies in the room to squint at the sudden brightness. The same light soon engulfed the three alicorns, slowly removing their immortality. The light was blinding, causing the throne room of ponies to look away until the light finally died down. The three princesses stood as they always have, but the air around them no longer felt ancient, suppressing thousands of years of knowledge. Celestia just smiled down at her soon to be wife who was staring up at her with teary eyes. "Now, the rings." Luna looked to see Spike still standing there shocked. "Ahem. The rings, please?" Asked the alicorn a second time in a more stern tone. Spike came back to the planet before realizing he was up. He ran up between the two mares and held up the pillow on which sat two golden rings. "These rings will symbolize the forever bond between mare and wife, until the end of their times on this world. They will unite these two in forever marriage." Twilight and Celestia grabbed one of the two rings in their respective magic, levitating them to the others horn and slipping it down to its base. "Now. Do you, Twilight Sparkle, take Celes Solaris as your newly wed, forever to hold?" Asked Luna. The now crying Twilight gulped back a joyful sob. "I-I do." "And do you, Celes Solaris, take Twilight Sparkle as your newly wed wife, forever to hold?" Celestia was fairing a little better than Twilight, though tears did streak down her face. "I do." "Then by the power of the sun and moon I pronounce you as mare and wife, you may kiss your bride." Time slowed as the gap between the two closed as they met for a passionate kiss as mare and wife, tears staining their coats. The kiss drowned out all other noise, leaving the two mares in their own private world as they enjoyed their new marriage. "I love you, Tia." whispered Twilight as they broke apart, her forehead leaning against the larger alicorn's. Celestia smiled and placed a peck on the unicorns lips. "I love you too, Twilight." ~~~~16 years later~~ Twilight enjoyed her sleep immensely. After years of staying up till dawn before even daring to sleep, the sudden change to sleep at the same time as her wife was a bit drastic. However, as time progressed, the lavender mare soon fell in love with the feeling of having a proper nights sleep. Though, there was only those two years where that nearly seemed impossible. Twilight was enjoying one of those moments, a pair of alabaster hooves missing their usual golden slippers were wrapped around her, pulling her into a loving embrace as they slept. However, all beautiful moments must end, wether or not you know you are having one. And this moment was ended by a particular pink alicorn who, despite her age, prepared to do the most child like thing she could think of. With a battle cry that would only cause giggles at her age, the small alicorn pounced on the slumbering mares before waking them up by crashing into them. Celestia yelped as she was thrown to a floor, a lavender mass of fur falling onto her. The white goddess groggily looked past her recovering wife to see a giggling filly on the edge of the bed. "Dawn Star, what did me and your mother say about waking us up like this?" Asked Celestia, pushing the lavender mare off of her with a grunt. The fifteen year old filly pouted and crossed her hooves. "But it's Hearth Warmings Eve and you two were taking SOOO long!" Cried out the filly. Celestia chuckled as she displayed mind of a foal while still being as mature as a filly her age and of her descent should. "That doesn't give you the right to try and bash my head open when your mother hasn't even lifted the sun yet." grumbled Twilight as she rolled onto her side, locking eyesight with the alabaster alicorn. "Well hey there, sexy." Celestia giggled and planted a kiss on the mares lips. "Hey to you, too." Celestia glanced over at the wall mount clock and sighed. "Might as well raise then sun anyways. Knowing Radiance she probably awoke her parents as well." said Celestia as she trotted over to the balcony. When she looked outside she saw that she was right. The moon had already moved mostly out of the way for her sun. With another sigh, the white alicorn lit her horn and started to guide the ball of blazing gas into the sky. "I think she is more excited over Hearths Warming Eve then I was when I was a filly." commented Twilight as she watched the pink filly bounce out the room. She shook her head with a chuckle and worked away at her mane. "I think we are lucky her teen years have been so calm so far." "Sadly the same can't be said about her earlier years." said Celestia as she finally got the sun going. She walked over and nuzzled her wife, grabbing her own brush to tackle her pink mane. "I remember when Radiance was just a little filly. Poor Rarity was pulling her hair out. Unfortunately Luna was a hoofful in her younger years." She smirked at her wife. "Or so I heard." "Yes, and I nearly lost my mane countless times trying to take that child. Though, from my understanding, her teen years have been filled with as much trouble as your friends." said the white alicorn. Twilight nodded. "I wasn't there myself but Rarity only worried about three things, fashion, her mane, and trying to get the cutest colt she could find. A bit ironic that she has been married to a mare for fourteen years. Though, I think it would have been smart of Luna not to get her pregnant only a few days after marriage." "She could barely wait for her own wedding. I think that mare was just dying to get foals. Then again, Rarity was more than excited herself." said Celestia. Twilight laughed. "That she was. And fifteen years later none of us regret it." said the mare, her mane finally presentable. The alicorn soon finished and the two slowly made their way down to the common area for the princesses. A midnight blue princess and a white unicorn waited for them, each sipping on a cup of coffee. Both looked bed ragged and possibly would have loved not to be woken early. Celestia and Twilight chuckled and took the offered coffee as it was floated towards them in two different shades of blue. Meanwhile, Dawn and Radiance ran around the tree in the center of the room, shaking every box that had their name on it to try and guess what was inside. "Both fifteen and they still act like foals." said Rarity as she watched a navy blue alicorn with a purple mane run around the tree. She was a shocking similarity to Nightmare Moon and was even accused of being the spawn of the Nightmare back when the filly was birthed by Rarity. Of course, the rumors died off after one mare went where she should not have travelled and was hospitalized by a white unicorn with a blazing purple mane. "I think it's our fault for still being foals at our age." said Twilight with a smirk. Rarity huffed. "I have no clue what you are talking about. I'm a lady and do not participate in foalish activities." "This coming from the mare who was bad mouthing colts over Call of Duty the other night?" Asked Luna with an amused grin. Rarity glared at her before grinning. "Okay, maybe we all are grown foals." "What's the point of growing up if you can't have fun. Two thousand years of being the biggest foal to wear a crown has done me fine." said Celestia, sipping her coffee. "Mom, can we open our presents now?" Asked Dawn, popping up from behind the tree. Twilight shook her head. "Not yet. You have to wait for your cousin Aurora. Cadence and Shining Armour should be bringing her done here soon." said the lavender mare. "More like right now." said a groggy eyed Shining Armour as a purple thirteen alicorn bounced into the room. Cadence came in behind him, humming to herself. "How is it you are both morning ponies?" He asked. "Because mares are always better than stallions, babe." said the pink alicorn as she took her seat next to Twilight, who went ahead and gave her an embrace. While Twilight and Cadence conversed, while Shining tried to wake himself by chugging his coffee, as Luna and Rarity went on arguing over some game, while the three alicorn heirs to be opened their Hearths Warming Eve presents, Celestia thought. She thought of how she met the mare of her dreams. She thought of when she used to think she was doomed to feel heartbreak wherever she went. She thought about how lucky she was. The scene faded away and was replace by a field of clouds stretching for miles in every direction. A golden halo hovered above her head, just behind her horn. As Purgatory faded back into reality, she felt a certain warmth nuzzle up against her. She looked down to see her wife leaning against her, silently asking a question. Celestia smiled and let the scene before them change again. The fourty year old pink alicorn huffed in frustration and put her hooves in her head. She went to work massaging her temples as she stared at the mountain of work before her. She had been doing this for twenty years, and yet it was still overly difficult. A dragon with grey scales stepped into the room. Red spines trailed down his back while his blood wine eyes fixated on the mare who was still unaware of his presence. He grinned to himself and crept up to her. Once he was only feet away, he lightly drew his claws up the mares sides, causing her to howl in laughter. The drake chuckled before wrapping his arms around her and taking the opportunity to steal away a kiss. "That was a dirty trick, Bakmah." said Dawn with a pout. The drake chuckle before pecking her cheek. "Our daughter has no problems with it. She just laughs her head off. But no, you have to be the kill joy by scolding me once I had my fun." said the drake with a fake pout. Dawn bopped his nose and stuck out her tongue before sighing and placing her head back in her hooves. Bakmah frowned. "Work or parents?" He asked, squatting down next to her. "Both." "Want to talk about it?" The mare hesitated for a moment, but only a moment. "I never understood how they did it. They battled against ponies who were against gay marriage, they ran a nation, they raised a hellborn daughter. I just don't understand how they did it and how I'm supposed to. She rubbed her growing belly. "We are expecting, again. I just don't know if I can handle it." "Dawn, look at me," said Bakmah, picking up her chin so she was staring into her eyes. "You and Radiance have been running Equestria perfectly ever since your parents died. You have easily taken care of a dragon/pony hybrid as well as battle ponies that are dead against it. One more will be just fine. There is absolutely nothing to worry about, alright?" Dawn nodded and leaned her head against his. "Now come on, Aurora is here for the weekend and me and Radiance need a partner in crime." said the drake with a toothy grin. Dawn grinned back as a single quote ran through her head. "We are all just big foals." ~~~~~~~~~~ "I think we did the right thing giving her away to Bakmah." said Twilight as their surroundings faded back. Celestia nodded. "That we did. Spike and Spines made a handsome young dragon and he has surely taken her heart just as swiftly." said Celestia. She turned to where two purple dragons could be seen conversing to each other, the female of the two resting her head on the slightly taller, more built male. Celestia smiled at her adoptive son and his mate. "The only dragon I know who is willing to bind his soul to his lover dying of cancer." said Twilight, smiling at the two drakes as well. Celestia sighed and flopped onto her back, Twilight soon following. "I think we had a good run. Fell in love, made love, got married..." "...had an alicorn willingly lose her immortality for me." Said Twilight with a smirk. Celestia chuckled. "And we had a beautiful daughter. We had a good life and it's peaceful here. I thought I would never get a chance to see it until the world imploded beneath my hooves." said the alicorn. "That's our great great great great great great great granddaughters problem." said Twilight. The two broke out in laughter, sharing their mirth. It soon died down and left the two to watch the clouds pass above them. "I love you, Tia." whispered Twilight. Celestia smiled and snuggled closer to the mare. "I love you too, Twilight." ~~~~~Fin~~~~~