Late one night, Twilight has finished her latest spell. Nothing could go wrong testing it once to make sure it's stable, right?
Late one night, Twilight has finished her latest spell. Nothing could go wrong testing it once to make sure it's stable, right?
She finds out how having a second horn around could quite literally save her life.
Set sometime after Twi got her castle, but before Starlight came about as Twilight's student Only because I completely forgot about her until like the very end and it wasn't going to be easy to slip her in, so... Sorry Glimglam fans.
‘Alright. Just a few more tweaks and… done!’ Twilight thought, pulling her quill away from the parchment she’d been working on. The moon shone brightly through the window, betraying the late night.
Admiring her work, she internally preened at how clean and efficient the new spell was. Absentmindedly, the quill checked the current date, time, and wrote ‘Spell complete!’ before setting down next to a sealed inkpot. The mark was the third one this month.
“Now, what do I dare test it on…” Holding a hoof to her chin, she pondered for a few minutes.
“I know!” With a flourish of her horn, the matrix copied itself off of the parchment. Examining her spell as she crafted it, Twilight nodded, smiling softly. With a word, the spell’s matrix flared. “Chronos!” As the light died down, Twilight was gone.
Emerging from her spell, her limbs felt as if dunked in liquid nitrogen. ‘What the…’ Despite blinking, all around her was blackness and stars. The air in her lungs escaped, and despite her struggles, she couldn’t take in any more.
Realizing her predicament, she called the spell back up. ‘No. No!’ Her lips moved, but the spell would not fire. As the coldness seeped into her limbs, she curled up to try and preserve her warmth.
A small beam of light crossed her face, showing her rapidly freezing body, her eyes glossing over. Reacting to the light, her eyes twitched toward it.
Twilight lost consciousness almost immediately after.
Spike woke peacefully. Almost immediately after, he hopped to his feet and dashed out of his room, rounding to Twilight’s chambers in record time. Knocking frantically Spike asked, “Twilight? You in here?”
Nopony answered his knocking so he pushed the door open. Inside, he didn’t see Twilight. He checked over her desk and found a spell on a sheet of parchment. He didn’t recognize it, but left it alone.
‘She’s not here. First thing’s first. Check her schedule we created last week.’ Doing so, he found that she was supposed to help Applejack at Sweet Apple Acres.
Dashing out of the room, Spike couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off.
“Applejack! Applejack! Where are you?” Spike slumped against the sign just outside Sweet Apple Acres proper. Taking a minute, he got his breath back.
“Spike? That you?” Applejack’s voice carried from off in a distant orchard.
Taking a few more seconds, he stood back up and dashed toward her. “Applejack?”
Sliding to a stop, he smacked into a tree that Applejack was about to buck. “Spike! What’s going on?” The impact sent apples dropping from the tree dropping in the buckets.
Smiling softly, she helped him back to his feet. “What’s up, Spike?”
“Have you seen Twilight?” He seemed frantic. “She always wakes me up before she leaves. Her schedule said she’d be here.”
Quirking an eyebrow Applejack replied, “Now that’cha mention it, I haven’t seen her.”
“What? W-where could she be?” His pupils shrank and he seemed genuinely frightened now.
Sitting down next to him, she pulled him close. “Woah, fella. Calm down. Maybe she got held up in town by some kind of friendship problem?”
Shaking like a leaf, he stared at the apples in a nearby bucket. “Yeah, right. That’s all it is… I hope.”
Leaning down, she nuzzled his cheek. “Hey, c’mon. Let’s go find her.” Grabbing his tail, she hefted him on her back.
“A-alright.” Rearing back for a second, she took off galloping.
Trotting into Sugarcube corner, Applejack preempted Pinkie’s greeting. “Pinkie? Ya’ll seen Twilight? Spike can’t find ’er.”
“Nope! I haven’t seen her around all day!” Pinkie gasped. “Is, is she missing?”
“Ah hope not. Maybe somepony had a friendship emergency and she had to help. We’re just tryin’ to find her.”
“I can help!” She ducked down behind the counter and came back up with a detective’s hat and a magnifying glass. “Let’s go, Spike! We have a purple pony princess to find!”
Almost three seconds passed before Spike shook himself. “Thanks, Pinkie.”
Pinkie dashed out the front door, quickly followed by Applejack, Spike still on her back.
Celestia’s balcony door almost blew open as the word “Tia!” flew through immediately after.
Instinct causing her to roll from her bed, she looked up to see her sister sliding through the doorway. “Luna?” Seeing splinters and chunks of doorway crashing around her, Celestia sighed. “Did you really–”
“I just felt something disturbing pass through Ponyville! I don’t know what caused it, but it wasn’t good.”
“And you couldn’t tell me normally?” She brushed a wing across her room, now covered in fresh dust, glass, and wood splinters. “Now, I have to get my balcony repaired and a replacement set of doors…” Celestia groaned internally at the new paperwork this would produce.
“But Tia…” Luna seemed to shrink under her sister’s gaze.
Ears pinning back, Celestia continued, “Lu, I’m sure what you felt is bad, but you just blew in my balcony. Every guard in the castle will be storming my chambers shortly, fearing an attack on me. Can I go try to avert the crisis certainly about to begin?”
Luna’s wings flared and her eyes flashed with a resolved fire. “Tia… I’m sorry, but this is important. I was patrolling over the Everfree and something washed over Ponyville. It… didn’t feel good.” Luna continued to meet her sister’s eyes, determined to make Celestia see her point.
Relenting, Celestia seemed to smile. “Alright. I can see you mean business. I’ll write to Twilight to see if there was something that happened last night. Okay?”
Luna nodded. “Please. I fear something may have happened in Ponyville.”
“Now, let’s take care of this.”
Luna surveyed her sister’s room and she cringed, ears folding back. “Sorry, Tia…”
“You felt it was necessary. That’s all that matters, Lu.” Striding over to the door, Celestia pulled it open. Behind it was a seeming battalion of guards.
Smiling softly, Celestia fell into her diplomat persona. “Ah, sorry for the scare. Princess Luna had urgent news for me.”
Luna stepped up to her sister. “Aye. Sorry for causing such a disturbance, but it was something that needed my sister’s attention.”
“I’m afraid not, darling. I thought she mentioned something about helping you, Applejack?”
Applejack nodded. “She was supposed to, but she never showed up. It wasn’t too big a deal, and I figured she was running late for a good reason. I imagine she’d show up sooner or later.”
Rarity ‘hmm’d’ softly. “Have you checked dear Fluttershy’s place?”
Pinkie piped up. “Yeah. She’s not been there, and nobody else has seen her since yesterday.”
Applejack gulped softly before speaking up. “Spike? At this point, I’d say we should get the Princesses involved if she’s really vanished like this.”
Spike nodded and opened his mouth–
Only to be interrupted by Rarity. “Spikey? Do you need paper and a quill?”
He nodded again. A moment later and he had both.
Celestia,
We can’t find Twilight. She was supposed to meet Applejack this morning and nopony has seen her since last night. We’re worried something happened to her.
Spike, Rarity, Applejack, and Pinkie Pie
He rolled up the parchment. “Alright now that’s– hrrk!”
He burped up a scroll with Celestia’s seal. His own scroll forgotten, he unravelled the one he received and read it aloud. “Twilight,
Luna passed over Ponyville last night on her nightly patrols and had a ‘feeling’ of something bad coming from Ponyville approximately two hours before dawn. Has anything happened in town? Are you alright?
Concernedly, Celestia and Luna
P.S. She blew in my balcony. Again.”
Once he finished, Spike dropped the letter before tearing his own back open. He quickly scrawled a second note on the back.
Celestia and Luna,
Twilight is missing. Nopony has seen her since last night. These two things have to be related. Could one or both of you come here ASAP?
Spike, Rarity, Applejack, and Pinkie Pie
He immediately sealed it and sent it on its way.
“There, I sent it.” Celestia’s left wing wrapped around Luna’s body gently. “Alright?”
“Alright, Tia.” Her ears folded back as she leaned into her sister’s hug. “I’m still sorry for destroying your balcony and spooking the guards again.”
Now in a considerably better mood, she nuzzled Luna’s cheek. “I forgive you. It is definitely something to get Twilight’s attention about. I just hope she replies soon.”
Luna’s mouth opened as a green puff of smoke coalesced into a scroll at the tip of Celestia's horn.
Luna smiled softly. “That was fast.”
“See? Probably nothing to worry about.”
Celestia unrolled the scroll and read it once, twice, three times. Luna didn’t want to intrude on a letter from Twilight.
“Sister?”
All emotion had fled Celestia’s voice. “Twilight is missing. Has been since last night.”
Luna dipped into the Royal Canterlot Voice. “What!?”
Turning the letter over, Celestia spotted the letter Spike had written originally. “They were just about to send this to us.”
“Do we… what do we do, Tia?”
“I…”
Luna took the letter and read it, both sides. Not looking up from the letter, jabbed Celestia’s chest. “Go.”
“Lu…”
“Celestia. Go. I will hold down the castle!”
“Lu…”
Lifting Celestia in her magic, she hurtled Celestia out of the unrepaired balcony, arcing almost directly toward Ponyville. Stepping out to make sure Celestia kept going, she shouted “Go, Celestia! I will be fine here!”
Shocked into motion as she soared down the side of Mount Canterhorn, her wings slipped open and carried her into a glide. As her sister’s shout hit her, Celestia clenched her eyes shut, tears in the corners spilling down. She reached deep into her magic pool and teleported to Ponyville.
Barely a minute later, a boom sounded above town. Spike shot up and right out the door, looking skyward, seeing Celestia drop down from a glide to land outside the Crystal Castle.
“Princess Celestia!” He called out
“Spike? Spike!” Her horn lit and he was suddenly crushed against her chest inside the castle. “What happened?”
“I don’t know. Twilight didn’t wake me up this morning and we can’t find her. She vanished.” Spike’s tears soaked into Celestia’s chest, and he hiccuped softly.
“What was she working on yesterday?” Shushing him softly, she did her best to comfort him, even as she cried herself.
“Just her normal projects. She was nearly done with a new… spell…” Spike’s eyes widened as he remembered the spell scroll he saw earlier.
Celestia stood, a hoof holding Spike to her. “Where is it?”
“Her desk. Come on, I know the way.” Struggling free, he sprinted off toward Twilight’s room.
Minutes later, he stopped outside a door, panting. “Here’s… here’s her room. There’s a scroll on her desk that I didn’t recognize, other than it was definitely her work.”
“Alright. Spike, gather the rest of Twilight’s friends. I don’t know if we’ll need their help, but I will try to figure this out.”
He turned around, but before he started away, he ran back and grabbed her hoof. “Promise… promise you won’t cast it without supervision, alright? We don’t need to have to find you, too.”
Celestia nodded. “I promise. We will find her. I swear on my crown.”
Spike nodded and sprinted off again.
“Now, what have you created this time, Twilight?”
Making her way to the messy desk, she didn’t dare touch anything, merely looking over the scrolls, notes, and books seemingly scattered across it.
Taking note of everything’s order, Celestia scanned the rest of the office. Seeing Twilight’s calendar, she spotted something troubling. The mark for a complete spell was right around the time Luna mentioned her feeling.
“What have you done, Twilight…”
She found the scroll on the floor where Spike had left it. Years of tutoring Twilight left her at an advantage in decrypting Twilight's spells. It was flawless. A reusable time travel spell. Built in failsafes that should send the user back to their timelines, ways to prevent paradoxes, even accidentally. Only an alicorn could cast this spell from the scroll. Any other casters would require setting up a spell circle and ritually casting this, one individual spell at a time.
She was an alicorn. She had plenty of magical power. She could… 'I can cast this. I can save Twilight.'
Drawing from the power of the sun, she refilled her magical reserves.
“Princess?”
Looking up, she saw Spike with the rest of Twilight’s friends. “I’m glad you all came. It seems Twilight has cast some new spell she finished last night.”
Rainbow shot over to Twilight’s desk, trying to read over Celestia’s shoulder. “What does it do?”
Celestia’s magic encompassed the entire table as Dash’s wake threatened to disrupt Twilight’s setup. “It’s supposed to be a reusable time travelling spell.”
Pinkie tilted her head cutely. “Really?”
Celestia nodded. “Yes. She’s built a great spell here. It should return the caster to the same point they cast it if it fails, or if any other conditions are met.”
Applejack sat down next to Spike. “Like what?”
“The caster is injured, causes injury to others, or causes a self-referential paradox, to name a few.” She looked over the desk. “Spike? What spell is she basing this off of? I don’t think this is an entirely new spell.”
“I think she based it on the scroll she used to go back in time a number of years ago. The time we ended up in the library a week later?”
Celestia called that scroll up from her memory. ‘Star Swirl’s one-use time travel spell. Any caster can only go forward or back with it once.’ “Does she have a copy? I want to compare it to that.”
“I think she does. It’s probably on the desk here somewhere.”
Celestia slowly separated the items on Twilight’s desk until she found it. Setting the two side by side, she saw the difference almost immediately.
“How… how could she miss this?” Of all the failsafes that Twilight had built in… Celestia’s wings opened in an instant and tossed Dash toward the ceiling. “She forgot that?” Her mane and tail started to flow faster and faster, the individual colors blending together into an almost sunset-orange.
“Um. Princess? What did she forget?”
Shaken, Celestia calmed down, and her mane and tail returned to normal. “She forgot to account for Equus’ position in the solar neighborhood.”
Pinkie gasped like it was the worst thing. “Oh no!” Two seconds passed. “What does that mean?”
Rarity piped up. “She forgot to account for how the planet drifts and moves over time?”
“How did you…”
Swishing her hair playfully, Rarity replied cheerfully. “Sweetie Belle had a fascination with celestial phenomena a year ago. Stargazing and watching comets and meteors. Somepony had to teach her.”
Dash settled down on top of one of the nearby bookcases. “Um, doesn’t the sun revolve around Equus?”
Celestia nodded. “Yes. That doesn’t mean it isn’t physically moving in the solar neighborhood.”
“So that means…”
“When Twilight cast this spell, she went forward or back in time. Without moving physically along with the planet as it travelled in time.”
“So, all we have to do is go after her? Easy peasy. Fire it up, Princess! Let’s go get her back.”
“Unfortunately, it’s not that easy. If I cast the spell now, we don’t know when she went. We have one shot to get her back.” Celestia brought the calendar up. “Twilight wrote the date and time when she completed the spell.”
“Mhmm.”
“So, I have to cast the spell correctly, accounting for that, to see where she goes, and follow her with,” she lifts the bad spell, “this spell, and rescue her. Then come back here.”
“Why back here?”
Rarity chimed in, following the magic discussion easily. “Paradox, remember? We’ll have to come back to a time just after I leave.”
Applejack nodded. “Right.”
Celestia swept her gaze over all the other ponies in the room. “So, I only get one chance. No. We only get one chance. In addition, only an alicorn can cast this spell unaided. The sheer power required is too much for any regular unicorn to attempt. I will need to cast it four times.”
Dash seemed to deflate a little. “Oh. Yeah, that’s a whole lot more complicated than I thought.”
“Now, Miss Rarity, would you mind helping me rewrite a correct spell? Do you happen to have the–”
A calculation for planetary drift slowly slid up to float next to the spell. “Here you go. I knew what was coming.”
“Thank you, Miss Rarity. Now, I’m afraid I’ll have to ask you all to step out. I don’t want to disrupt this casting, please.”
Dash took off quietly and zipped out of the room, followed by the others. Spike lingered for a few seconds. “Please, save her.”
Taking a few minutes to copy the spell and adjust the copy to account for planetary drift was sloppy, without any extra failsafes, but Celestia believed it would work. On a hunch of what kept Twilight from returning, she created a third copy of the spell, that also removed the vocal requirement of the spell, instead triggering a return when the caster opened their wings.
‘Here I come, Twilight.’
Lighting her horn, she quickly cast the modified spell, letting her power course through the matrix. Nodding, she finalized the spell and a small vortex took her.
Invisibly sliding into existence a meter above the ground, she appeared seconds before Twilight cast her version.
Unwilling to interrupt the cast, she latched onto Twilight’s signature. Her magic copied the spell and analyzed it to set the same destination. She then cast the non vocal version of the spell, following Twilight through time.
Flashing back into existence, she instantly felt the air leave her lungs. Mere meters away, Twilight thrashed as she panicked. Lighting her horn, she pulled Twilight to herself. Wrapping her legs around Twilight, she tapped into the last of her power and triggered a return to where she originally landed.
Landing back in Twilight’s past-chambers mere seconds after they had departed, she gathered her wits.
‘First, stabilize. Make sure she starts breathing again.’ Instinctually tapping into her connection with the sun to recharge her reserves slowly, she set about seeing to Twilight.
Twilight was absolutely freezing. Checking herself over, Celestia had a layer of frozen water sweat melting off her coat. ‘Warm her up after.’
Laying down next to Twilight, she watched, looking for signs of life. The mare wasn’t breathing, but her heart still beat faintly.
Quickly, Celestia set about performing CPR. ‘I can’t lose you, Twilight. You just joined us!’
Twilight’s heartbeat picked up as Celestia pushed several lungfuls of air into Twilight. She set about keeping a steady stream of air in and out of Twilight’s lungs for several minutes, until Twilight picked it up on her own.
Sputtering softly, Twilight returned to consciousness several minutes later. She still felt frozen cold, but was wrapped in warmth. Blinking softly, she couldn’t quite see past the frozen tears over her eyes. Twilight groaned softly, “I’m… alive?” The warmth shifted slightly, before laying something over her eyes.
“Yes. You are.”
Twilight froze stock still at the voice. “Celestia?”
“Mhmm.”
She tried to shift slightly toward Celestia's voice, but a hoof against her side held her still. “How?”
“I did what you would’ve if it was your friend. I did some quick math.”
“The failsafe didn’t…” A large warm blanket slid over Twilight's body, doing wonders to soak away the cold, frigid feeling across her body.
“Shhh. I know.”
“I had to make two modified copies of that spell to get to you.” The cloth lifted away and Twilight saw Celestia cuddled up to her, doing her best to warm Twilight up.
“Two?”
“Mhmm.” Celestia nodded. “One to fix what was wrong, one to make sure I could cast it in the vacuum of space.”
Twilight’s horn lit, only for Celestia to knock a hoof against it softly, the purple glow fading away. “None of that. Rest. We’ll be returning to the present shortly, once you’re not in immediate danger.”
“We’re in the past?”
Celestia nodded softly, the corners of her vision clouding. “Kind of. I had to come back to when you cast the spell originally and follow you that way, to know exactly where you went. Anything else would’ve been a guess, and I wasn’t taking that chance.”
“I… I’m sorry, Celestia.” Twilight moved to continue, but the same hoof silenced her.
Tears in the corners of Celestia’s eyes finally fell, streaking down her face to drip on the floor. “No. Don’t be sorry. Luna is already sorry for destroying my balcony. I just want to know you’ll be alright, okay? I can’t lose you, not again.”
Twilight wisely stayed quiet, nestling into Celestia’s warmth more and closing her eyes. Celestia responded by curling around Twilight tighter.
Several minutes later, Twilight spoke up. “Celestia?”
Celestia lifted her head. “Yes?”
Twilight's eyes were still closed and her ears pinned back. “I… I’m sorry for all this. I was hoping to surprise you.”
“I told you already, don’t be sorry. I’m just glad I was able to save you.”
She lifted her head and gazed into Celestia's eyes. “Do… do you want to know why I created this spell?”
“Only if you want to tell me.”
Twilight was visibly uncomfortable, shifting slightly under Celestia's wing. “I was… I was hoping to go back to the past and ask your parents’ permission to court you, formally.”
“Oh?”
She opened her eyes and looked into Celestia's lilac orbs. “I… I love you, Celestia. When your sun comes up in the morning, all I can think of is how happy you make me.” She started to sit up. “I… even if you never wanted to date me, I would be fine being your fmff!”
Twilight was silenced again, but far more pleasantly. Celestia’s lips met hers softly. Several seconds later, Celestia pulled back. “I don’t care if they had said yes or no, Twilight. I will very happily accept your offer to court me.”
Twilight’s eyes widened as Celestia teared up again. “Just… please… take more care in your spellcraft. I’m not sure if I can rescue you next time.”
“I will, Celestia. I swear it.” Twilight whispered with the most sincerity she could muster. Reaching a hoof out, she drew Celestia’s head back down, and licked her tears away. “I’m sorry I worried you so much.”
Celestia, shocked at Twilight’s forwardness, buried her nose into Twilight’s cold neck. “L-love, please don’t do it again. You have been very dear to me for quite some time, and I couldn’t bear losing you now…”
After what seemed an hour passed, Twilight was back to normal. She no longer felt cold, nor did she shiver against Celestia.
“Twilight, are you ready to go back?”
Twilight stood and shook her limbs out, testing to make sure each felt fine. “I believe so.”
Celestia’s telekinesis reached out and pulled Twilight against her barrel, a hoof holding her in place. “Then let’s go.”
Celestia’s horn lit as Twilight pulled Celestia’s muzzle down to plant a soft kiss on her marefriend’s lips. With the sound of a soft breeze, both ponies vanished.
Just before dusk, Twilight and Celestia slid back into reality.
Spike opened the door just as Celestia pulled away from the kiss. “Did it– Twilight!”
He rushed over, jumping against her chest, pulling her into as much a crushing hug as he could.
Immediately a small stampede rushed the office as the rest of her friends filed in.
“Twilight! You’re alright!”
“Wee! Twilight’s back!”
Twilight smiled softly as she was rushed by her friends. Celestia released her and stepped off to the side.
“Are you alright, darling!”
Unable to get a word in, Twilight nodded.
“Um. Are you sure, Twilight?”
Twilight looked over to Celestia and blushed softly. “I am, and I will be.”
She stood and worked her way over to Celestia. She sat in front of Celestia, motioning for Celestia to lean down. She whispered, “Thank you. For saving me, and giving me your heart.” into Celestia’s ear before making her way to Celestia’s lips and kissing her softly.
“Uh. Did we–”
“Did she just… kiss the princess?”
Remembering her friends again, Twilight blushed furiously as she turned around. “I…”
Celestia tried to be diplomatic. “It has been a very taxing day, for all of us. Emotions might be running high…”
“I asked to court her after she saved me.” Twilight turned back to grin at Celestia. “She accepted.”
All sound drowned out as two mares squealed at the top of their lungs. Rarity’s fainting couch made it just in time to rescue herself and Fluttershy.
Dash sulked. “Darn it! Now I owe Rarity 50 bits.”
Twilight rounded on her, “You bet that I loved Celestia?”
“Naw, I bet that you’d be too scared to kiss your special somepony in front of us. Rares bet that you’d have no problem.”
“Oh.” Three seconds went by before it clicked. "Hey!"
Celestia nuzzled Twilight’s mane. “Now now, love. Don’t be mad at them. I wasn’t sure myself if you were interested until an hour ago.”
Twilight’s small blush was adorable.
Celestia’s horn tugged. “I’m afraid I must go set the sun.” She whispered to Twilight, “Do you think you’ll be fine tonight or do you want me to stay?”
Twilight nodded her head. “I’d like you to stay. I’m afraid…”
Celestia straightened up. “Spike? Take a letter.” The words provoked an automatic response, but they weren’t from the pony that usually said them.
“Luna,
All is well. I will be staying the night here and returning in the morning and all will be explained. Suffice to say, Twilight has learned her lesson on having supervision before casting new spells.
Your sister, Celestia”
Wrapping up the scroll, Spike sent the message off as Celestia stepped out. Spike settled against Twilight’s side and was drowsing in moments.
Dash asked what they were all thinking. “What happened, Twilight?”
Twilight’s expression fell and her ears pinned back. “I made a mistake.”
Pinkie piped up. “Well doy… but how did it happen in the first place?”
Shaking her head softly Twilight replied, “Space has no air. I had a vocal component in my spell as a trigger. Without air…”
Dash nodded. “No voice. I see the issue. If you can’t say it, you’re stuck.”
Twilight shook her head. “It won’t happen again.”
The moon rose into view from the window quickly and Celestia stepped back in. She softly stepped over and sat down next to Twilight, before wrapping a wing around her marefriend.
A few seconds later, Celestia yawned. “It’s been an exhausting day. I’m ready to turn in.” Twilight leaned into Celestia’s embrace.
Surprisingly Pinkie spoke up first. “Yeah, it’s getting late. Hopefully the Cakes aren’t mad that I took off like that.”
Celestia smirked. “If they are, send them to me. I’ll gladly make it up to them.”
“Alright. Since you’re safe, Twilight, I’ll catch you later.” Dash was up and off out an open window in a blur.
Applejack grabbed Pinkie and set her next to the other two on Rarity’s fainting couch. “Well, we’re all glad you’re safe, Twi. And congratulations you two.” She looked to Celestia. “You treat her right, y’hear? Ah don’t want to have to come threaten to kick your flank cause you hurt mah best friend.”
Celestia nodded, bowing. “If it’s within my power, I would never hurt her knowingly, Applejack.”
“Suppose that’s all Ah can ask. Have a good night, Twilight, Princess.” She slid under the couch and lifted it, carrying it and the three occupants out.
Hopping up to her bed, she reached out and pulled Spike over. He nestled into her embrace. Several seconds later, the bed creaked as a much larger occupant stepped up. Her regalia piled up on the floor, Celestia curled around the pair, wrapping a wing over them as a blanket.
Poking her head under her wing, she nuzzled Twilight. “Goodnight, Twilight. I love you.”
Twilight reached up and pecked Celestia’s neck. “Goodnight, Celestia. I love you, too.”
Both ponies slowly drifted off to sleep with Spike’s soft snores.
