Alicorns are mystical and magnificent creatures, that much is clear. Yet what else are they? A mare who finds a mysterious book is left with many questions about alicorns. She turns to the only source from which she believes to get her answers.
This Story will be the First of my Series!
The comments have spoilers! (Also my fault xD) There is no shipping in this Story involved, even if apparently some see TwiLuna
Also holy...was my gramatic bad in the first chapters...damn
Here is an Image I intended to use as the Cover as well, but I thought the other does fit better. It´s still one of the most awesome Images ever created. Truly a Legend at work ^^
Equestria: A prosperous and beautiful kingdom. Ruled by four strong, wise and reliable rulers. Also the by far strongest, greatest, oldest and most knowledgeable kingdom on Equus. Nothing remains undocumented or under lock and key. Or is that not the case? --- A mysterious book called "The Alicorn Book" that a mare receives one day in a new shipment for her library leaves her with many questions. Where did it come from? Why has she never heard of it before? - It obviously has to do with something she now has to deal with as well. And was it really true what it said? --- On a quest to seek answers, she get's an intense and broad insight on alicorns and their powers, she never thought possible. Will she prevail or does her mind shatter under all the unbelievable things she getˋs to know?
- Hope you enjoy. I don´t know when I will make new chapters. But i enventually will! I got a looooot of Ideas, donˋt worry. I will do my best to get this finished asap :) - Criticism, suggestions or improvements are also welcome, so my Story gets better for future readers. [ -> pls, remember it's fiction and this Story was never meant to be fully scientific correct at all. Some Things are just like they are :D ] - English is not my native language. Therefore please pardon any mistakes in writing, I did my best :) - If however you like to point out obvious mistakes I made in speach, then dm me. The less mistakes the better the story
Written, translated, edited and Post corrected by me: Nova Star Sparkle
* Chapter 1*
It was a bright and sunny summer day in Equestria, well past midday, but still pleasantly warm.
A significant larger than average pony hurried out of his castle in Ponyville and quickly made the way towards Canterlot Mountain. A book in her arcane magic grip. The two large, golden double doors slammed shut surprisingly very quiet for such massive doors, behind the pony.
Even though it was not visible to the naked eye, the protective spells on the entire construct were activated afterwards. And thus effectively prevented the intrusion of strangers, although this was already thanks to the guards in the castle an almost impossible undertaking.
But the mare wasn’t worried about that in any regard at the moment, it only counted for her to get to Canterlot as quickly as possible.
As she flew along, she tried to enjoy the sun’s rays on her massive, currently mostly lavender wings and the wind blowing through her dark navy blue mane that waved around her slightly upwards curved horn.
However, as hard as she tried, the large mare failed rather miserably.
The sun’s rays were also further reflected in the golden crown, peytral and hoof guards she wore.
In truth, the crown was only gold alloyed and consisted entirely of alicornite underneath. The rest of her acceisour was the same gold alloyed design, but made from Shade instead. An also very expensive and sturdy metal like material, yet in both still far lesser than alicornite was.
Alicornite in itself was the strongest element found on Equus. Nothing could come even close to it's durability. It most closely resembled a metal, though it lacked the typical properties of metal detector detection.
But all this was standard procedure in Equestria anyway, as only materials with the highest prestige value were used for the regents’ accessoire.
The crown for discription resembled a winged headdress. Whereby it went from the back to the ears upwards per side into 4 elongated pieces - best discribed as “blades” - each. The ends were quite pointed, but otherwise had nothing to do with a real blade.
Furthermore, the crown went over the side of the head to her horn. Where it formed a tight protective ring at the base of the unknown mare's horn. Attached to this ring in front of the horn was a flat purple sapphire about the size of a golf ball. A gemstone of breathtaking purity with several hundred carats.
Normally this would be an unthinkable purity, but Equestria was known for some rare and extremely pure crystals.
Now if the crown was to be put on or taken off, it had to be pulled along the entire length of the horn.
A bit more complicated than simply putting it on like any other headdress, but all the more securely sitting on the head.
The peytral on the other hand was highly ornamented, with a Jewel shaped like the Cutie Mark of the Mare, in the middle of it. With a carved design around it. As well as the Guards that had a purple star etched into it.
Her piercing and determined magenta eyes directed at the target in the distance held an intelligence that most others could only dream of, even though the pony was deep in thought.
Her Intelligence was probably the reason why the mare was so deep in thought anyway.
On her way to Canterlot, just outside Ponyville, she passed a massive and impressive building made only of clouds.
But to the bewilderment of the pony living there, she did not pay much more attention than a short wave with her hoof.
Completely surprised by this so short greeting, from her otherwise so open and helpful friend. The cyan pony with the rainbow-colored mane rose to follow the fastly bypassing Pony.
Now less deep in thought, but still determined to arrive as quickly as possible, the mare noticed her friend Rainbow dash.
”Great, somehow I knew Dash would follow me. After all, my behaviour just now was a bit strange. Unfortunately, I don’t have time to talk to her right now...”, Twilight pondered.
Exactly for this reason she flew a lot faster in order to lose her friend, although she didn’t really feel comfortable doing so.
Well, she would just apologize later and explain her motive to Dash and the rest of the girls.
However, anyone who is familiar with Dash knows that this pony is not so easy to get rid of.
First of all, you just don’t get the title “fastest Pegasus pony in Equestria” for nothing and secondly, you dealed with a mare that could be in the dictionary next to stubborn and ambitious as a synonym.
Due to this it wasn’t a surprise when Twilight heard her name shortly after.
“Twilight?”
“Twilight!”
“TWILIGHT!!!”
“Twilight hold on, what’s going on? Is there some all-important threat we have to fight again?” yelled Dash. “Man that would be so cool. It’s been almost two weeks since the last one.”
Rolling her eyes and continuing to fly faster and faster, Twilight turned her head back to look her friend in the eyes.
“No there is no threat. I just need to get to Canterlot Castle as soon as possible because I have to ask Luna or Celestia something very urgent” - Now frowning, Twilight continued: “And we should really talk about the fact that it’s not really cool to be involved in dangerous situations all the time."
"We can’t assume that we’ll always be as lucky as we have been so far, that none of us has been seriously wounded.”
By now both ponies were at the same height, so Twilight could look ahead again to watch for obstacles.
Whereby that would probably be less the case at an altitude of almost 7km.
As expected, Twilight’s reconnaissance did not have much success as Dash simply replied shortly afterwards, “Phhh please, what could ever happen to us? We’re an incredible team overall , nothing and no one will get us down.
Now shrugging - "And so what! You are an Alicorn and by far the best in all areas of Magic, even before you became one, as Archmage of Equestria. In a pinch, just throw a mountain at the bad guy and be done with it.”
Preferring to use both front hooves and wings to cover her eyes with, but not doing so, as it wouldn’t be beneficial for flying as one might suggest.
Twilight set a frown on her face to tell her friend that she would not throw a mountain at anybody. Think of the damage the impact would cause.
Netherless she decided against it, in the end. As Dash wouldn’t regognice her criticism in this area anyways. And mearly answered Dash, with a wide smile on her muzzle.
“You’re right we are an incredible team and yes, I am an Alicorn. I’ve figured that out by now too.” Thinking briefly, Twilight replied Dash further. “Moreover, this very same fact is also the reason why I need to get to the castle in Canterlot as soon as possible. So if you’ll excuse me? I’ll explain everything later when I get back.”
With these words, Twilight directed her gaze forward, tensed her muscles, and flapped her wings vigorously on more time.
Since she had constantly increased her speed the whole time while talking with Dash, she now broke the sound barrier at mach five, entering Hypersonic Speed and created a huge ring of light in her fur and mane color. It spread forth from her previous position.
Thanks to that powerful boost, she now flew towards Canterlot at around 3 times her previous speed, even faster than Rainbow could with her own Sonic Rainboom that "only" brought up her speed to twice its value which was still 7.600 MPH or around Mach 10. The alicorn mare swiftly leaving behind a streak of dark blue with a magenta, purple and yellow colored streak in her wake. If she wasn’t so focused on the thought of getting to Canterlot asap, she would have been surprised by her own abilities.
Now slightly more surprised than before, but much more reassured, Rainbowdash looked after her alicorn friend, shook her head slightly, and headed back to her house.
You could trust Twilight blindly. If the mare said there would be no crisis, then there would be none.
Still, she would set the others straight so they could prepare for the explanation later.
Boy, what a day. Technically she had her day free and wanted nothing more than lie down and take a good long nap on a comfortable cloud near her house. But now she would have to fly forever to tell the remaining four, since Rarity and Applejack were in Manehatten and Appleloosa...Hell of a hassle.
Thanks to her increased speed, it didn’t take another minute for Twilight to reach the outermost boundary of Canterlot.
With one last strong flap of her wings, she catapulted herself towards the main road, then spread her wings as straight as possible from her body and let herself glide. Her glide also increasingly took away her insane speed converting it back into pegasus magic and storing it away inside her being and her magic reserves.
When she was just above the ground, she flapped her wings a few times again and managed to make a landing that would leave even a jury breathless.
Ha, it paid off to have 2 pegasus friends who knew a lot about flying and were willing to share their knowledge with her after all.
Now, Twilight was a bit calmer as she could see her destination, the first wall in Canterlot around the noble quarter in about half a mile. The district stretched around Celestia and Luna’s castle, which was another quarter mile up the road.
Confident with newfound strength Twilight made her way towards the main road and castle at a moderate trot.
As she walked down the street, many of the ponies in the stores noticed her and waved. Some even bowed and respectfully mentioned her princess title or held the foals back when they tried to rush at her with loud cheers.
Twilight wouldn’t have minded in either way. She was always happy to make conversation with other ponies. This was most likely due to the fact that she had been the Alicorn of Friendship for about 3 months, and since then she enjoyed talking to others about everyday things in life even more.
Plus, if it made the foals happy when they could bounce around her full of joy. While they enthusiastically told each other what was the coolest thing she had accomplished with her friends. Then it brought a smile to her face over and over again.
With the bowing of other ponies near her and the mentioning of her title, she had come to terms more or less well in the meantime after almost three and a half years.
Twilight obviously had tried several times to dissuade others from doing so. Especially in the beginning, as it was very embarrassing for her shortly after her ascent.
But most of the ponies were not convinced and assured her that she definitely deserved it.
And as long as she did not become as arrogant as some of the nobles in Canterlot. Neither did she think there would be any problems with having her ponies bow to her in Honor if they had the likening to do so.
Ha, as if that could ever happen to me. If everything in this book I found about Alicorns is true, then I don’t have to worry about developing any envy, hatred, pride, or other such feelings.
Nevertheless to all that previous stuff - thanks to her considerably improved senses as an alicorn, she did not miss the young unicorn foal with the dark grey coat and the light yellow mane, racing towards her full of joy with a big grin on his face.
The pink mare with the yellow mane running behind the foal was also a unicorn. As well as most likely the mother.
At least she kept calling the foal’s name desperately and prompting him to stop and come back.
In accordance with the calls, the little one was called Star Hunter, a really beautiful name in Twilight’s opinion.
Just in front of her, the young colt stopped and grinned at Twilight with wide eyes and wagging tail.
"Woah! Your beautiful!"
"Well, thanks", Twilight responded with her kindest voice she could master and couldn’t help but smile as well, even if it wasn’t quite as big as the foal’s.
It probably wouldn’t have been possible anyway, because the foal was grinning as if he was about to burst with joy.
Twilight obviously hoped not, she had just started reading some of her new books in the castle about resurrection spells last week.
And despite her quick learning of new knowledge, she wasn’t sure if she should test the spell on a pony quite yet.
She would rather practice with something easier and less drastic first, just to be sure - even though as it seemed, there was nothing Alicorn magic couldn’t do with ease.
Hell, the day after she became an Alicorn and decided to make herself a cup of coffee, she had sub-atomized her cup in the most literal sense of the word when she lifted it. Not a single clue remained afterwards - R.I.P. second most favorite coffee cup, you served well in your short live.
However, Spike was able to help her make breakfast and it was rather interesting to see how earth ponies got through everyday life.
Whereby also there were some things broken, because the rise from a unicorn to an alicorn apparently also included a decent physical boost. In both sheer physical strength and endurance - by quiet some hundreds of percents.
Twilight herself could remember all too well, with a big smile on the muzzle, the next following week of her alicorn ascension. In which she had collected, read and documented without interruption non stop all possible information about her new appearance.
Afterwards, she unfortunately had to somehow get out of her house without moving the whole planet. - Hey if you’re going to atomize your cup when you lift it you better be careful. You never know.
However, back to the present. The foal had to be about 6 years old and was still grinning happily at Twilight.
Twilight also smiled back this time and waited the brief amount of time until the little one’s mother had arrived to.
Unsurprisingly, the mare was very nervous when she stood in front of the lavender coated alicorn, also trembling slightly out of fear and bowing deeply, shortly afterwards.
All this probably because she didn’t know if she would get into trouble or not.
However Twilight was not that kind of a pony. Alicorns were known for their general peaceful nature and extremely high tolerance, which according to some ponies was rummored to be infinite.
Well, the tolerance wasn’t that high, Twilight pondered. But as long as you didn’t try to make fools of us alicorns when we tried to be reasonable, it was as good as impossible to annoy one of us. Besides, greed, prejudice, or unreasonable anger were alien to all four Alicorn princesses. There simply wasn’t any reason to develop such emotions.
And on top of that, she was the alicorn of friendship. Therefore, it wouldn’t be good to be influenced by such trifles. Just like the other princesses, she wanted to create peace and order, not suffering and hatred. For that was what the status of an alicorn primary stood for.
Especially since Equestria was a generally very peaceful country, where most of the citizens had a regular job. The few without were furthermore supported by the state aid system, which made real poverty a case among millions.
Offenses such as exploitation, discrimination and oppression were also subject to horrendous penalties, which, however, due to the just-mentioned conditions occurred very rarely.....But she had already strayed again with her thoughts from the topic, Twilight realized slightly frowning.
Therefore, she shook her head briefly to concentrate and nodded encouragingly to the unicorn Mare, still bowing in front of her.
However, this didn’t seem to have the desired effect. For now her counterpart was trembling all the more and bowed even deeper in reverence, whispering quiet apologies to herself. Whilst her neckfur stand on edge, slightly from anticipation.
Inwardly rolling her eyes to not to cause the mare any more worries. Twilight set up her best smile, stretched out a gildet front hoof to help the mare up, and addressed her.
“Please, there is no need to bow or apologize. You have done nothing wrong. However, I would like to know your name, if you would be so kind.”
Afterwards this statement the pink mare looked up to the regal, lavender alicorn in front of her, visibly relieved. Twilight’s hoof, however, she did not dare to take. Probably still a bit too insecure in the presence of one of the royal princess.
With a slightly shaky voice at the beginning, she answered to Twilight.
“Pr- princess Tw- Twilight, please excuse m- my son, he simply wouldn’t listen to m- me when he caught sight of you. I will try harder to teach him manners in the future so this won’t happen again. I also thank you for not punishing me for my failure,” and lowered her head again slightly in deference.
However, shortly after, she raised it again with wide eyes.
“Oh no! Your majesty, I’m so sorry. You had asked for my name - my name is Ocean Song,” the mare added hastily.
Smirking amiably, as that seemed to have the most effect. Twilight addressed Ocean Song in a calm, comforting but netherless royal tone.
“As I stated before, you have done nothing wrong - Also nothing to apologize for any more than you have anything to fear.”
“Furthermore your son has done nothing wrong either - because as far as I know, joy is not punishable in Equestria - OH and please, Twilight is perfectly adequate, I’m still pretty new to this entire princess stuff.”
Shaking her head vigorously, the mare replied almost hysterically.
“Oh no no no, I can’t do that princess. That would be beneath your status. I’d rather stick with my previous adression if that’s all right - Unless of course your highness insists.”
Cursing inwardly, Twilight thought about how she could solve this situation without causing the mare in front of her anymore distress.
She finally decided on the simplest solution - A sincere smile and just going with it .
“Alright if you feel more comfortable that way, then that’s perfectly fine from my point of view.”
Furthermore, she spoke with a slight tilt of her head towards the foal, “If you don’t mind, I would like to have a conversation with your son.”
Ocean Song seemed very delighted by this statement, by which she escaped from the centre of the conversation.
“Of course you may speak to my son”, she spoke, nudging Star Hunter, who had been watching Twilight with fascination the whole time, forward with her left front hoof. “Star Hunter! The high princess wants to speak with you.”
Twilight meanwhile bent down considerably to be at least close to the eye level with the colt - given their mayor height difference. As she asked for his name out of basic courtesy, although she already knew she had heard it several times in the last few minutes.
“Well young one, how come I can help you? And primarily, what´s your name?” Putting her hoof on her Chest. “I’m Twilight Amicitia Aurora Sparkle!”
Grinning even more - surprising that this was still possible at all - and moreover now jumping on the spot, the young stallion answered with much less hesitation than his mother had three minutes earlier.
“My name is Star Hunter and I am so happy to meet you. Oh wow thats a very long name. You are my favourite princess. May I touch your wings? I heard they are mega soft. Why are they multi-coloured and shimmer? I’ve never seen anything like that in my life. What’s that cool mane you have? It looks like it has stars in it. Why are you so sparkly and ...uhhh wavy-pulsy-thingy overall anyway? Why are you so graceful? Where are you going right now? Do you have to go to an important princess meeting? Oh, no, you’ve got another disaster to avert! Don’t you? Where are your friends? Aren’t you fighting together? Though you are mega strong. I bet you could beat any bad guy with your eyes closed.”
Ok wow that were a lot of questions. And in only 9s, Twilight was impressed. However, it would be rude not to answer the questions, especially since the little one seemed so happy to see her.
Now no longer wide grinning, but still with a friendly expression on her face. Twilight looked up briefly and scratched her chin to think of the answers to the questions.
“Well hello Star Hunter, it’s nice to meet you too.” Chuckling to herself Twilight gave her reply to the young one further. “Your farily right and thats not even the legically full Version of it. But normally im only addressed as Twilight Sparkle or simply Twilight. I hope you are well, and thank you for the nice compliment. I’m very flattered to be your favourite princess.”
Before Twilight could say more, however, she was interrupted by Star Hunter.
“But of course you are my favourite princess. You’re powerful, intelligent, warm-hearted, graceful, and kind...Not that the other princesses aren’t as well, but you’re just the coolest of them all,” the young stallion replied hastily, blushing heavily.
Twilight couldn’t help blushing a little either. So much for that. I wonder if he knows what he just implied. Eh I guess not. It doesn’t matter, I don’t have to confront him with that now.
Focusing on Star Hunter again, Twilight continued her round of replies. “Yes, if you’re careful, you may touch my wings as an exception, but please don’t think you can do that to just anyone. This is really an one time thing. It would be very rude if you did that to others without asking permission! Especially since you’re not the first one to ask me that very thing.” - “And to the reason why they are multi-coloured and iridescent...That’ s an effect that occurs for every alicorn, and extends in 3 phases throughout the day.
Right now my feathers tend to be bright, but should it be approaching evening and night-time thereupon. Also the colours of my wings change to darker and better matching colours to the night.”
Fascinated, Star Hunter approached her with twinkling eyes, while responding to Twilight at the same time. Meanwhile, Twilight had bent her knees a bit so he could reach up to her wings easily. “Of course princess! I can absolutely understand, and I wouldn’t do it unasked to others. My parents were very diligent about it - almost too diligent...” he added quietly at the very end. Although he spoke so softly, Twilight could clearly understand him as if he had spoken at a normal volume.
“Oh man they’re even softer than what I’ve imagined. Could I possibly have one of your feathers as a souvenir if it’s not too much trouble?”, the little colt Star Hunter asked with glittering, pleading eyes to Twilight.
Twilight had to give him a slightly compassionate look.
“I’m sorry kid, but that’s not possible even if I wanted to”. As she pulled on some of her feathers with the help of magic to make the point. “Besides, your comrades would surely be jealous and might all want a feather. And moreover, I don’t have an infinite number of them,” Twilight responded while stifling a laugh.
Somewhat dejected, Star Hunter’s reply followed: “Too bad. Well, I almost thought so. Thanks anyway, princess.”
Not wanting to dwell on the subject, Twilight asked him if she should answer the rest of his questions as well. Whereupon Star Hunter looked up again happily and nodded vigorously.
“Alright then, your next question was “What a “cool” mane I have and if that’s stars in it” - “The first is again an effect of an alicorn. We all get an ethereal mane about 2 years after our transformation that adapts to our task.” Taking a slightly firmer stance and lifting her nose a bit in amusement, Twilight continued with a grin. “I don’t know if you knew, but I am also the alicorn of the stars. This also gave me the Titel of “Astra Princess”. And I’m responsible for how the night sky, minus the moon, looks every night. That’s why inside my mane and tail are stars, meteors, and images of galaxies.”
Literally hopping like a bunny and prociding to jump around Twilight, Star Hunter acknowledged his pure surprise. “What! For real? Man this is mega cool, this makes me like the night even more than before.”
Smiling at this statement, Twilight continued. But not before she had to admit to herself, laughing in her mind, that the “sparkly” pun was somehow appropriate. Even if Twilight didn’t assume that the kid had said it with intensity. Let alone had he even noticed it. But back to the fact,” Twilight reflected, forcing herself back to reality.
Well Alicorns are slightly fluorescent, as you obviously have noticed. In my own case as you can see, my lavender coat glows faintly, and as I mentioned earlier the whole mane is luminescent, as well as the tail. The wavy-pulsy-thingy you asked about is actually a constant breeze of special magical energies that emites from our body out of the inner Magic Core.
Furthermore you might have also noticed that my hair, in addition to the fact it’s luminescent, leaves trails of light as it moves. That’s also normal for an Alicorn”
Shortly clearing her throat to sort out thoughts Twilight continued. “Going down further, my cutie mark very slowly pulses with inner power in perfect sync to my heart beat. And almost the last fact, but at this time a little hard to see outside. If you look at my eyes, you will realize they are more radiant and do shine faintly."
Chuckling." Well and to end my talking. Lastly, Alicorn wings have a less strong but existing ethereal effect like the mane - I hope you could follow along with me?" Twilight smiled to little Star Hunter, as she questioningly tilted her head to the left side.
Eagerly nodding he assured he did, but otherwise stayed quiet.
“Before I answer your next question, I’d still be interested to know how you know what graceful means. You are still quite young, after all. But netherless good educated.”
Without hesitation Twilight got her answer. “My father used to mention it a lot when he talked about the princesses. He says it means something like unimaginable pretty.”
“Star Hunter!!! You can’t just go around saying things like that!” his mother hastily admonished him. Still somewhat intimidated.
“It’s all right. This is definitely not the first time I’ve heard that one,” Twilight smirked. “And your father is right about the description of the word - To answer your question, it probably has to do with the many auras that emanate from us Alicorn’s - Now before you start to ask me what auras are, though. The library here in Canterlot has at least a dozen books that will explain what they are. I’m sure your parents would be willing to borrow one of those for you.”
Okay, thanks princess!”
Nooding her head. “You’re welcome!” - “To get back to your question of where I’m going right now. I’m on my way to the castle, and also starting to have to hurry, even if I would have liked to talk to you a little longer. You really are a very polite colt. I am sure that you will become a handsome stallion one day. With that enthusiasm, you can go far.”
While Twilight was ruffling his mane, she put on a more serious face. “Still, I’ll quickly answer the rest of your questions before I have to go.”
Thinking briefly, Twilight collected her thoughts and then continued. “No I don’t have to go to an important princess meeting, just a normal conversation among friends. There’s also no disaster to avert, which is why I’m here alone today. My friends have stayed in Ponyville until I return. Otherwise, we would fight together if it comes to a crisis once again. Thank´s again for the compliment. But I am not that strong. I’m just doing what’s necessary.” Phew, that was a lot of questions but fortunately I was able to answer them all.
Visibly satisfied with the answers, Star Hunter bowed deep before Twilight and addressed her one last time.
“Thank you Princess Twilight, it was a real honour to have met you in person. Also thanks for answering my questions so willingly. As well as for the compliment. My biggest dream is to become the captain of the royal guard to serve you and the other princesses.”
Also nodding slightly once more, Twilight bid farewell, “The pleasure was all mine. You and your mother have a wonderful day.”
As she walked away, she nodded to Ocean Song and gave her a quick compliment as well. “You should be really proud of your son, he is a truly polite young man.”
Bowing yet again, Ocean Song thanked her, " Thanks princess, I’m really grateful to hear that. Have a splendid day as well.”
With a last friendly glance, Twilight set off in the direction of the noble district. Again slightly lost in her own thoughts. Star Hunter has real potential, I must definitely remember checking after him in a few years. Maybe he can really reach his goal. I would be happy for him in any case.
Not even a minute later, she reached the 10 feet high outer wall of the noble district. There were no guards positioned at the outher gate, but it was still somewhat impressive to look at.
While Twilight trotted through the gate, her thoughts wandered about what made this area different from the rest of the city. In the noble district were the most distinguished stores and restaurants. - whereby this was probably more something for Rarity than for her - Even as a princess, Twilight still preferred the more secluded and simple as well as not so crowded stores. But the absolute best was still Donut Jo. She would not be shaken by that.
And after she became a princess, she even got her donuts there for free. By his own admission, Donut Joe would never dare let a princess pay anything for his goods. Even though both parties knew that Twilight secretly threw quite a few bits into the donation jar every time before she left the store.
Just as in the castle, there were several guards patrolling the noble district around the clock. Nevertheless, no one was barred from going in and out here. It was only the luxurious part of Canterlot, nothing more.
Twilight’s parents’ house was also located in the southwest of the noble district. Whereby one had to say rather gigantic mansion. After all, the house of Sparkle was one of the oldest and most respected families in Canterlot and not exactly known for poverty - but untold wealth was something else again.
Moreover, since she was coronated as a princess. Her parents’ house was protected by an extra layer of always 2 guards at the entrance gate of her family’s house - So the protocol provided.
Twilight still could not help rolling her eyes at this thought. In her opinion this was completely unnecessary; her parents Night Light and Twilight Velvet were as ex-veteran and head of the research unit for magic well above average in the position to defend themselves. But some rules even a princess could not simply bypass, even if all four of them stood over the Equestrian law.
Another big difference from the rest of Canterlot were the Nobles. The thought alone made her mood a little dull. As most of the nobles were nodding at Twilight in a polite way, but furthermore were not paying any more attention to her - And even all that only because Twilight was a princess.
As Twilight had already learned at a young age from all the galas, festivals and other events - to which she was invited with her family. Most nobles only cared about something. If it brought them an advantage. Only a few of them were really friendly without expecting anything in return, like...
“Princess Twilight!”
Quite taken by surprise because she had been so deep in thought and had acted on autopilot, as she walked the streets, Twilight winced slightly at the exclamation of her name and title, and turned her head jerkily to the place of the exclamation. The stallion she saw there made her smile grow a lot bigger again. Oh wow, the coincidence strikes today, but once again properly. That’s exactly who I was thinking of.
Pleased, Twilight turned to face the stallion and greeted him with a wave of her hoof as well as spoke to address him.
“Fancy Pants! What a pleasure to see you here, I thought you were in Manehatten on important business?!”
Stopping close in front of Twilight, Fancy Pants bowed shortly in regard. “The pleasure is all mine Highness. And up until yesterday, so I was. But the meetings went easier and better than expected. That’s why I’m already back.”
“It’s always good to hear when important talks go better than expected. I know what I’m talking about”, voiced Twilight with a slight frown of her brows.
“I can only imagine, Princess. I was afraid I would have to stay longer but then everything went smoothly,” Fancy Pants replied with a laugh beneath a held hoof.
Cringing inwardly Twilight pondered to herself. He does it on purpose. Doesn't he?
“Please Fancy, you’ve known me since I was five. And my parents are representatives of house Sparkle in the elite Council of Canterlot. Just as you are too - Twilight is quite fine.”
“As you wish your highness,” Fancy Pants teased with a smirk.
“You’re awful,” Twilight exclaimed with an attempted offended look, whilst she thumped him on his right shoulder carefully.
The look, however, had no effect on the stallion.
“Speaking of which, I was just on my way to the elite Council for a last-minute meeting. So I’m afraid I have to leave now.”
“That’s no problem, I’m honestly in quite a hurry myself”
“Well then, have a pleasant rest of your day Twilight Sparkle”
“You too Fancy Pants”
The two said their goodbyes with a quick wave of the front hoofs. And thereupon set off in opposite directions to their respective destinations.
Now running slightly faster to at least make up some of the lost time. Twilight stayed out of her own thoughts this time to avoid any further distractions.
However, it did not come to another encounter as before and so she reached the massive forecourt of the castle after about another 30 seconds.
Here, at galas or important events, the carriages with the arriving ponies drove up and were parked. Currently, however, the place was completely empty, except for a couple of young ponies, the two of them clearly flirting and the guards at the front gate of the castle.
As she approached the guards, Twilight raised her wings while the two guards at the gate saluted and greeted her.
“Princess!”
“Princess!”
This all was a gesture Celestia had taught her, and also explained Twilight that on the one hand it was a friendly greeting. But on the other hand, it also made the point of who the guards were interacting with. Because by law, the soldiers protect Equestria and were not allowed to forbid a princess anything. Which in this case was irrelevant anyway. Nearly every single guard knew Twilight personally, as she had lived in the castle for several years as Celestia’s student. And therefore she could have walked freely in and out of the castle at all times anyway.
Heck, the southern part of the castle with the tower where she had lived all those years was even renamed in her honour when she was crowned princess. And now bore the name “Magic District”, or almost as often used "Hall of Friendship". The other 3 districts were the “Solar District” in the north; “Lunar District in the west” and the “Emotion District in the east. A wing dedicated to each princess of Equestria. And furthermore in matching colours and decor adapted to the respective princess.
Hers was mostly in lavender/navy blue. With ritch ornaments, chandeliers, and various kinds of decoration dedicading the walls and ceiling. A matching carpet to her body color, magically lit flames in the same manner. Tons of stained windows and paintings dedicated to her friends and Twilight. As well as some subtle other things - At first Twilight had been insanely flustered about it, thinking that she didn’t deserve such an honour. But after a long talk with Luna and Cadance, she was convinced. Besides, the district was much too impressive to say no.
The three others were sunny yellow/white; dark blue/black and pink/purple. With also paintings and stained glass windows of each alicorn’s most glorious achievements.
Just before she arrived at the gate, one of the unicorn guards activated his horn to open the front gate so Twilight could simply walk through. Then the gate was closed again behind her. Being a princess certainly had some useful advantages, Twilight smirked to herself.
Behind the big gate was the public part of the castle gardens, freely accessible to all ponies from 7 am to 8 pm every day. For instance, to relax, enjoy the sun on their coats, have a picnic and maybe if they were very lucky to see one of the princesses.
And as luck would have it for the Ponys today, Twilight was a princess walking by. Therefore, it wasn't surprising that many of the ponies in the park looked from their current activity and waved happily to her. After all, the princesses were in general very well-liked and respected. And, of course, friendliness paid off in both directions.
However that was not the reason why Twilight and the other 3 did what they did. After all, they were all determined to do the best for their ponies.
Directly behind the public part of the castle park was yet another wall with an equally impressive gate, this time guarded by a Pegasus and Unicorn guard on each side. Behind this wall lay the actual castle of Canterlot with its impressive private castle garden, the headquarters for the high-ranking officers of the royal guard and the captain of said guard.
This section was not open to the public and one needed a request, a staff badge or an invitation from the princesses to be allowed to pass. Since otherwise no passage was to be expected. Well, or you were a princess yourself and the gate was opened for you to pass through without complications. As said the title had its advantages.
Even though Twilight had lived in the castle for many years and had also helped Celestia and the castle’s security officers design and construct the defence mechanisms. She was still slightly impressed how effective the runes, wards and spells were.
One could not simply fly over or teleport into the inner ring of the castle. This task would require being “registered” in the network of defences - to call it that. Also as one might have guessed, all the Alicorn’s, Twilight’s friends and closest confidants of the royal house, as well as the captain of the guard were registered.
Though this made the procedure immensely laborious every time a post changed, it made it absolutely impenetrable. After all, there were close to 900 runes, wards and spells protecting the castle. And one had to be implemented into each one individually.
Canterlot Castle was, simply put, a stronghold of security. Which, as the most important building in all of the Kingdom Equestria, was not really a bad thing, if one thought about.
Compared to the outer castle garden, the inner garden was much smaller, but all the more beautiful. Spanned despite that but still a green strip from approximately 115 feet between the outer wall of the castle and the inner defence wall one time around the castle.
After trotting for a short moment, Twilight crossed the drawbridge over the moat of the castle. Where she repeated the previous gesture with the earth pony guards positioned there. Sword Swinger and Gold Chainmail, two of Celestia's highest ranked Guard members. There’s no turning back now, Twilight thought slightly nervous. As she walked deeper into the castle. On her way to Celestia’s personal chambers.
Celestia's personal chamber were, as already mentioned, in the northern part of the castle and since the main entrance was in the southwest, with direct access to the throne room - If you followed the corridors. One had to walk through the southern, east and partly the western part of the castle to get to Celestia´s quarters.
As already in front of the gates of the castle, several guards were positioned on both sides of the corridors inside. To be exact at every second corner. If you really managed to get inside the castle uninvited, this was the end of the line. But as expected, none of the guards even made an effort to stop Twilight on her path. The only thing they did was salute and greet.
Friendly as Twilight was, she also greeted them with a slight nod and even called most of them by their names. Whereby she focused more on the huge, colourful and impressive windows, her hooves silently clicking on the carpeted floor.
Every time I pass by here I can't believe how much the six of us have achieved in only 5 years. Plus, each of our successful achievements has been eternaly incorporated into a stained glass window for all to see. That is simply unbelievable. I never thought I would be able to say that myself - after never really putting much effort into connecting with others. But those five girls are just absolutely irreplaceable, I wouldn't know what to do without them. Reflected Twilight with a warm feeling around her heart. Her body perhaps shining a little bit brighter for a second.
Just before the large, brown, gold-ornamented double doors to the western district of the castle, Twilight stopped abruptly in front of the last two windows. And contemplated the moments engraved there for all times.
The first one showed Twilight herself, in a glorious light shing through the window from outside. Creating a truly impressive display of colors. There she was, for the first time with crown, wings spread and the element of magic above her horn - The stained glass window in the honour of her coronation as Equestria's Crown Princess. Most likely the happiest and also the tensest day of her entire life. Still, a moment she wouldn't trade for anything in the world...Except maybe her friends.
The second was a more painful memory, as it showed the moment shortly after she had received her very own crystalline castle and the regency of Ponyville, as well as the proclamation regarding the Council of Friendship shortly after that.
Just fond memories, really. However, that had also been the day Lord Tirek had levelled her old library to the ground, in a violent display of fire, smoke, ripped books and wood. The material loss had been minimal in retrospect, since she had received a fully equipped castle with a total of 5 libraries of various sizes. In addition to the fact that Celestia had spared no effort a short time later to have as much of the old inventory as possible, mostly specific books, redelivered to Twilight's new castle - for which Twilight was still very grateful.
That favour was probably the best birthday present that anybody could have given to her. BUT it could not bring back the memories and beautiful moments of the Golden Oak library. And that still hurt after several months deep into the heart.
Well yes, Twilight's five friends, along with Spike, had helped her decorate the castle a few days later and had created a truly stunning chandelier from the old roots of the library's remains. Along with a total of hundreds of glowing jewels suspended from each individual root. Each containing a particular, important moment or fond memory. Still, Twilight couldn't completely get around the feeling of getting a little bleaker again.
But what was done was done and could not be undone, she encouraged herself. Besides, she had not come here for that particular reason.
And so, after another short round of reminiscing, Twilight set off back on the path through the double doors, her steps still mostly muffled by the lavender carpet.
Like the last time, the guards opened the door for her.
The short trip through a section of the Emotion District, as well as the Solar District to just before the doors of Celestia's chambers were also nice, but Twilight didn't stop again to take a closer look at the windows. Especially since she had done so hundreds of times before.
Momentarily standing motionless to collect herself, shortly closing her violet eyes and taking several deep breaths. Twilight raised her right front hoof to knock on Celestia's door.
The jumper moves in a sort of 'L' formation. It's only able to move to a square that is two squares horizontal and one square vertical, or two squares vertical and one square horizontal from the square it is currently said on." Celestia afterwards set the chess piece down and smiled at her opponent across the board. "Are there any more questions?"
"NO, THANK YOU." The Pale Horse heaved a sigh like the dying breath of a thousand orphans, preferring to move his pawn rather than attempt the knight. "YOU'D THINK I'D KNOW HOW TO PLAY THIS GAME BY NOW. IT'S NOT LIKE IT'S CHANGED AT ALL."
"And you'd think I'd learn how to deal with magical disasters by now," Celestia countered, shifting her remaining tower into a slightly better position. "Still, it's like there's always something going wrong somewhere. Sometimes I really wish I would be able to not care about any of it. But that really wouldn't be right.
A sudden knock, in a pattern all too familiar to Celestia, caused her to deviate from her current statement.
" Speaking of which," Celestia sighed resignedly, rising from her seat. "It seems we'll have to put our little game on hold for the time being."
"I CAN WAIT," the personification of death assured her. Celestia gave him a motherly smile and slipped through the door into her bedroom.
"Come in Twilight. The door is open."
While Celestia settled down onto one of the big, soft pillows in her bedroom she prepared another pillow and tea - The pot for this she always had on her nightstand for quick access. And after a short, golden spell to fill the pot with water and a few seconds of heating with a suitable spell. She hung 3 tea bags into the pot and put it aside on a nearby table for the time being - Twilight meanwhile had opened the door with her lavender magic and stepped into Celestia's bedroom. Where she promptly bowed politely after closing the door.
"Princess Celestia!"
Smirking slightly to herself, Celestia rose from her pillow anew and, to Twilight's total bewilderment and panic, also bowed in the same manner.
"Princess Twilight!"
"P- Princess Celestia what are you doing?"
Smirking "What do you think I'm doing? I'm greeting a princess of equestria as befits her dignity." By now they had both arisen and were looking each other straight in the eyes. Whereby Twilight looked rather confused and Celestia amused.
"B-but you're a princess of equestria yourself, remember?!", retorted Twilight with wide pupils and energetic raised wings.
Giggling softly into her hoof, Celestia continued, "And that, my dear Twilight, is a lesson you have yet to learn. We are both princesses. We don't have to be so formal with each other. You should realize that as a princess of this kingdom, you don't have to plead to be summoned, you can seek out your fellows and speak freely everytime you want - although I would prefer it to be at least somewhat normal times."
"B- but you and Luna are the regents of Equestria - the dual high princesses. Moreover, YOU are my role model. Of course, I must treat you with respect."
"Respect is always a good thing. But that's a lesson you didn't have to learn anyway. But honestly, are you sure you really want to keep addressing your equals like that?"
"Especially since the title as Regent, is nothing more than a title that obligates us to take care of the land. And to make sure that our ponies are doing well. Someday you will be regent of equestria yourself. And I don't think you'd be comfortable with the idea of Luna and me suddenly bowing for that reason alone. Wouldn't you? And if I remember correctly, you don't bow to Cadance. But rather, you have a good friendship with her. How do you explain that?"
At this statement, Twilight spread her wings wide open, twitching them frantically, "equal? Whatever do you mean by that? I am nowhere near as capable as you both. And certainly not worthy of being put on the same level as you and Luna. A- And Cadance is my former foal sitter. We've known each other forever and are very close. But YOU? Are YOU!"
Celestia easily waved off Twilight’s worries, with her front hoof and continued. "I beg you Twilight. Don't make yourself into something worse than you actually are. When you were recently coronated as Crown Princess, we had already made you aware of that. In fact, you are not inferior to us in anything and even surpass us sometimes. Well except not in experience, perhaps. But that my dear will come in time - And before you contradict me now, listen to me first. Would you?"
Celestia held Twilight in check with one of her gilded front hooves on the younger alicorns muzzle. As the latter had already opened her mouth to retort something.
"You are one of the smartest minds in the kingdom - Most likely the smartest, in fact. You are known for your impeccable intellect, sophisticated scientific methods, breath-taking ingenuity in design, philosophical understanding, leadership qualities, your ability to and consistency ...one would think this would be an immense burden on a single pair of shoulders."
"But you are an alicorn, your already impressive abilities have been further augmented not only physically, but mentally." Celestia then almost didn't manage to continue talking, as Twilight was so red-faced that she could even rival Big Mac.
Spreading one of her Wings and pulling Twilight a little bit closer she proceeded.
"Yet I can understand why you have such an inhibition. Luna and I are thousands of years old. That's several times older than magic makes it even possible for a regular pony to live. These results in an impressive effect on you, as well as others, which makes us seem like beings with endless knowledge and supernatural abilities."
"Yet we are no different than you or Cadance - alicorn remains alicorn - no matter which one we are talking about."
"That's also why I dearly hope that one day you will be able to look me in the eyes. And see in it not a government figure, but a counterpart and friend. Because that's what I really want our relationship to be."
Now less crimson than a minute before, but with glistening tears in her eyes. Twilight looked up at Celestia and opened her muzzle several times without a sound. Visibly searching for words. "Prin- Celestia! Are you serious about what you were saying just now?
Pulling Twilight even closer with her wing and giving her a good, strong hug with it she proceeded.
"Of course, I'll gladly help you if the need arises. But you have long possessed all the necessary skills of a true leader and do not need me to secure your approval. We have as much confidence in you as you have in me. Furthermore, you have helped to save Equestria so many times and have personally worked so many wonders. I can think of no test of trust that you have not already passed and exceeded spectacularly. You are far beyond proving yourself in that regard." Celestia smiled back with a motherly smirk.
Twilight was a bit shaky in voice when she replied and used her left wing to clear the still small tears of joy from her eyes. "Thank you Celestia. I have a feeling, somehow, that was just needed."
"And even though it will probably be quite a few decades before you ascend the throne of Canterlot - all depending on the fact, when the time arises in which you do want to rule the country and feel confident in doing so. Both the Crown of my sister and I are rightfully yours by law. No pony could change that, even if they wanted. That's not how the equestrian laws were written thousands of years ago. For you hold the titel of crown princess of Equestria, our successor and next in line as the heir for the high throne of our beloved kingdom."
"As there can only be one at the time and the laws are clear what that Position entitels, there is no debat about who will inherit our Crown after we step down from the Canterlot throne. Still we have a great amount of time for that, so you can have all the time in the World you want to. Neither of us will force you to assend the throne if you don't feel ready. Even if I'm still as confident as I could be, you would be ready for it by now."
Celestia paused for several seconds, sorted her thoughts and then continued with a wide smile on her muzzle in Twilight's direction.
"At that Time I'm looking forward to a more extended vacation. And as said before, I have every bit off confidence in your abilities and those of your friends to support you." Celestia induced a short pause and smirked mischievous even more - "And of course for the Chance to rag you with the title of Queen of Equestria that is." Celestia finally added.
Taken aback Twilight snapped open her eyes in bewilderment and jumped up from her pillow. Wings flared wide.
"Queen of Equestria? Why queen? You and Luna hold the title of Princess of Equestria, as regents of the kingdom, don't you?" The confusion was more than evident on Twilight's face.
Clearing her throat, Celestia explained the situation to the younger Alicorn.
"According to Equestrian law, if only one princess sits on the throne in Canterlot and rules the kingdom, then she must hold one of these two titles - as the Kingdom is then a Monarchy on paper. You can choose between" Queen" and "Empress" - If, as in Luna's and my case, more than one princess rules Equestria then the title "Princess" falls to us by default, as the Kingdom is documented like a Diarchie."
Seeing Twilight's question, but continuing to talk as the question would be answered that way.
"Yes, even if we rule Equestria, all four together in equality. Thus creating a Tetrarchie, by our own decisions. The legal form by law still remains unchanged. And honestly I don't see any disadvantages in it. The laws were decided thousands of years ago, when Equestria was founded, by the representatives of the pony tribes, you should be familiar with. And still remained mostly unchanged through the entire time. And as I'm sure you also know. That whereupon the founding we were chosen by them to be the regents of the kingdom ever since."
Grinning sheepishly, with slightly back layed ears, Twilight returned her answer. "Eh...Yes I would prefer Queen Way more in that case." Continuing to move her hoof in circles while frowning. "That sounds less...imperious?
Twilight firmed her body. "Still. I had come here because I needed your advice, about a book I found today." - While Twilight retrieved the book from her pocket dimension, Celestia settled back on her pillow and pulled the other one right next to hers. Close enough that when Twilight would sit down on it, there furs could touch.
"Well then, I am curious to know what kind of book it is." Friendly grinning. "But first, why don't you sit with me? And tell me if there's any news from Ponyville. We haven't seen each other for a few weeks. And I'm honestly very interested in knowing, how things come along."
Twilight followed the offer, during which she wiggled her head this way and that in thoughts, swishing her tail behind her in rhythm. With slight anticipation she finally layed down next to Celestia.
She was visibly still a bit nervous, as she felt her lavender fur lay against Celestia's pure white. And her incredible good senses, she now possessed as an alicorn didn't make it any easier, in ignoring the subtle touching - and don't get me started on the wings. Pegasus wings were already highly sensitive, but the ones of an Alicorn were another level entirely.
Noticing the tension in Twilight’s body, Celestia put one of her wings over Twilight's back and pulled her closer. To which Twilight replied with a startled squeal, while flushing a little bit red yet again.
"Epp! Hey, what are you doing?"
With a sly grin, Celestia replied "Huh? I just want you to be comfortable. Isn't that the case? Feel free to slip away should you not like it."
Instantly dispersing the thought. "No, no. I was just surprised. You're very nice and warm, it's actually really comfy." Replied Twilight as she blushed even more. Even Celestia couldn't quite get around it either.
Clearing her throat, Celestia started the conversation. "Well then. Would you like some tea first? I've got your favourite kind of chamomile brewing. It may be a little strong and bitter, as it was ready brewed some minutes ago. But I don't think that shouldn´t be too much of a problem."
Eagerly nooding. "Oh yes I'd love some. A nice warm chamomile tea would be just the thing right, for our conversation", came the grinning reply by the other mare.
Reaching for a filled cup with her brilliant-raspberry magic, Twilight made herself a bit more comfortable. Afterwards she wanted to start telling Celestia what had happened in the last 4 weeks.
"Ewww, this tea is definitely quite bitter," Twilight complained after her first sip, whilest she wrinkled her snout and jerked back, putting down her ears in strong disgust.
Not wanting to let Twilight feel bad about her favourite flavour of tee, Celestia reached for the Sugar with her golden magic. "Here, try it with a little sugar. Maybe then it´s drinkable." Whereupon 4 pieces of sugar fell into Twilight's teacup with a slight plop.
"Thanks a lot!"
Taking a sip from her cup and not making a displeased face this time, Twilight now could begin telling. "There's actually not much new to tell you. The last few weeks have generally been very quiet. Except for maybe a few conversations with the Ponyville Council and Mayor Mare about some construction projects that needed to be approved. As well as the final accounting of the expenses of Ponyville." Turning to Celestia." I guess you are all too well familiar with that?"
"Oh, yes, more than too well," Celestia laughed so harshly and energetically that her entire body vibrated. "Whereas, in my experience, the amount of work involved is not that much greater when comparing the size of Ponyville to Canterlot. If I remember correctly, the currently acting council takes over a large part of the work, for you as well. And all you have to do, just like us, is giving your consent. Am I right?" Celestia inclined her head afterwards.
Also laughing and taking another sip from her cup, Twilight continued. "Yes you´re right. Most of the work is already taken off my hoofs - Quite convenient I might add.
Thinking briefly Twilight continued. "Also, for Rarity's sake, I was supposed to ask if the property to the left of her boutique is for sale. She would like to expand it."
"Did it work out?"
"Unfortunately, no. The property is currently occupied by a protected species until the end of the fall. And Fluttershy would certainly not be overly pleased if the little ones were left without a habitat overnight. However, I have already asked her to talk to the animals. To tell them that from next year on they will live on another beautiful place - I think with Fluttershy as a supervisor, the new home will be breathtakingly beautiful," Twilight finally added with a cheeky grin.
Nodding her head sympathetically, Celestia added her own thoughts. "I don't doubt that at all. Your friend Fluttershy is the best when it comes to animals. I'm really surprised she hasn't put in a petition to build a sanctuary for all the animals near Ponyville. - Or just ask you," Celestia implied with a wink.
Laughing to herself, Twilight had to wait several seconds before she was able to respond to Celestia. "Yes you're right, I´m kind of surprised myself. I might ask Fluttershy about it later when I get back to Ponyville. I'm sure she's just still a bit too shy to ask, even if I´m one of her closest friends - as well as the prime Authority." Twilight quietly added at the End whilst she raised her left front hoove to indicate she wasn't finished. "But that has improved a lot in the last years; I remember that in the beginning it was almost impossible for her to talk to other ponies than her parents. She has made good progress", Twilight smiled fondly.
Acknowledging the fact, Celestia bowed her head. "Yes that is truly delightful - So is there anything more to tell?" While they both took several sips from their respectful cups.
Thinking briefly and scratching her chin with her hoof, Twilight shook her head. "Hm no, not that I can think of anything else right off the second. So, I'd like to talk about this book now. I'm really starting to get a little impatient." With slightly laid back ears and an apologetic look, Twilight gazed up at Celestia.
With a dismissive hoof gesture to indicate she had no problem with that, Celestia continued. "Absolutely no issue at all. After all, that's why you came to me in the first place. So...let me see it then, maybe I can help you along."
Grabbing the book Twilight had put aside earlier, again in characteristic magic. She showed it to Celestia. "This one! I found it today in the last shipment of books I got recently. Do you know it and have any knowledge of it?" Celestia was asked by Twilight, with an expectant expression.
For a very brief moment, Twilight could see a shadow pass over Celestia's eyes. However, it had disappeared so quickly that she wasn't sure if she had really seen it. So she dismissed the thought.
Nodding. "Oh yes, this book looks familiar. I think I have seen it before somewhere. Still, I can't remember exactly what was written in its pages. So it might be better if you read me the indicated part."
Slightly confused, Twilight replied with a pointing gesture at the book. "Well, from the title, you can tell that it's about Alicorn's. After all, it's titled "The Alicorn Book." on the cover. However, I've read some things in there that confuse me and I'd like to have your opinion - whether it's really true or not. After all, you've been an Alicorn much longer than I have."
Shifting her sitting position again slightly, Celestia replied with a maternal smile to Twilight. "Then please read to me what exactly confuses you that this book says about an Alicorn," Celestia kindly prompted Twilight.
"Okay, so it does state here...," Twilight began as she opened the book to the second page. Celestia looked curiously over Twilight's shoulder to read along as well.
Preface: “An Alicorn, a mystical creature with a legendary status as well as a pure and divine soul. Free of malice, greed and ill thoughts. Gifted with the feathers of pegasi, the power of an earth pony and the magic of a unicorn, all in far greater Control. The graceful, perfect fusion of body, mind and spirit. Blessed with powers beyond the comprehension of mortals. Everlasting, supreme entity of order. Righteous, protective, and loyal to anyone who is willing to shelter or protect others in need - Or simply be guided by their actions. But merciless to all who are filled with pure hatred and darkness, like creatures who want to see the universe suffer. They see through the chaos, know the way which shall be chosen. The trace of their hooves is guidance for all the living. Leader, who shall be followed. The cutie mark of the Alicorn´s always represents their unique ability which was born with them - Every Alicorn has a unique spell that only they possess since their birth → those abilities can't be learned nor inherited.”
The paragraph ended with that and Twilight closed the book once again. Whereby she still seemed quite puzzled. "I just don't know what quite a bit of it is supposed to mean. And what the heck are these unique spells, please? I've never heard of anything like that."
Clearing her throat and curving her muzzle up to a decent smile, Celestia began to explain. "Well. Everything in this book is about right. It pretty much briefly describes the main aspects of what an Alicorn is and what it stands for. Almost precisely the same way it ought to be in the public books in the libraries. Although slightly modified, which was unfortunately required for certain reasons. But more about that later. I assume it strongly you are very interested in what these special spells are all about?", Celestia smirked in Twilight´s direction.
While Twilight's wings unfolded slightly in excitement, unnoticed by her, making a damn cute picture in Celestia's eyes. She grinned expectantly at her former mentor. "Burning! Is it really true that there are spells that no one else can learn but us?" You could practically see and hear the feathers in Twilight's wings twitching and rustling with excitement.
"Yes, Almost 100% correct.", Celestia agreed. "There are actually only 4 spells that just 1 alicorn each can ever learn and the talent is truly unique. You see each of us owns exactly one of them, and has named it personally. Cadance, for example, can cast the self-proclaimed "Love Crush". According to the observation, the solidified form of love. - I assume you are aware that love, friendship and harmony are as solid forces as wind and water?"
Nooding. "Oh, Yes. This is even usually covered in class, in the upper grades of school. And there are endless books about it, too," Twilight grinned, eyes shining.
Celestia had to chuckle once again at the younger Alicorn's inquisitiveness. "Exactly. So like I said Cadance can cast a spell that uses pure love to attack. Then there's also Luna with Luna Strike, a beam of pure lunar energy, and myself with Solar Strike. A spell where I use pure solar energy to attack. - Well and insofar as I know, you haven't named your spell yet. But from what I've seen in your fights, I'd say your attacks are passively enhanced by the powers of friendship. And for sure your special attack should be the solid form of friendship." Celestia reasoned flatly.
Before Twilight could give her answer however, her wings sprouted to full span due to tension and anticipation. Much to the alicorn's distress. "Damm it, I sometimes hate these things. Why don't they do what I want them to do?" Twilight pondered while forcing her Wings back to her Sides with her Hoof. Celestia could only lightly chuckle and even Twilight didn´t seem to be really annoyed. Just irritated.
"You will get used to it. Not even after such long time I am totally resistant against such sudden hiccups"
"Eh, nevertheless. But that knowledge is absolutely incredible. Well almost even unrealistic. Though I've since learned that you should never preclude anything from the start. Equestria is full of surprises after all." Laughing, Twilight then added." I would say I call my spell "Friendship Strike" - I think that's a fitting name."
Also laughing, Celestia replied. "Truly a fitting name, for a spell so devoted to friendship."
Technically, they both wanted to chat some more, but Twilight interrupted Celestia frantic.
"Wait, I just noticed something." She flipped the book back open to the same page than before and hastily skimmed the text. Definitely looking for something specific. Having found it she tapped it with her Front hoof. "Here, in this line. *Everlasting, supreme entity of order.* - Everlasting? Is this supposed to mean each alicorn is immortal?". Twilight exclaimed with a slight tremor in her voice and an uncertain look at Celestia. Her pupils only small dots by now. Seemingly not very thrilled to know the answer, she would get from her.
Smiling sincerely and thinker her own thoughts in her head Celestia responded. "Yes my dear Twilight. That is exactly what is implied. We Alicorns are perfectly immortal in terms of existing. No alteration in space or time is able to do anything to us. Nor is it possible to travel through time to prevent our existence. The universe does not allow this to happen because..."
A sudden hectic leaping up, followed by an outcry from Twilight. Whereby she slapped Celestia with her left wing in the face interrupting the white princess.
Nothing furthermore happened to Celestia except that she didn't really expect it and was startled by the action. As the lower part of a Pegasi or alicorn´s wing was relatively softer than one would imagine, except for several thin bones.
NO! NO! NO, I'm really sorry but I can't do this. If being an alicorn means that I will outlive all my friends. Then I don't want my crown or any of it."
Enclosing her golden crown in her raspberry magic she took it off her head and held it out to Celestia energetically. "Take it and everything else back, please. Give it to a pony that truly deserves it."
Taking the crown into her golden magic, Celestia looked at Twilight's regalia briefly. Before promptly placing it back onto Twilight's head, smiling comforting. "This crown already belongs to the pony that deserves it more than anyone else. There is no one to whom it should belong rather. And even if I wanted to, I couldn't change any of this."
"WHAT DO YOU WANT TO SAY WITH THAT PLEASE?" roared Twilight in Celestia's direction with the full force of the royal Canterlot voice. As more and more tears ran down her cheeks." Celestia's mane was completely blown out of shape by the sheer force. While everything behind her that was not firmly anchored was swept away. Fortunately, thanks to the massive amount of protective spells, nothing was broken at all. WOW! If there weren't so many protection spells on this room, it would most likely be uninhabitable.
Also rising to get Twilight back under control, Celestia spread her right wing to assist Twilight. Twilight, however, shied away from her and energized her horn, in a truly impressive display of spells, runic shapes and circles. Completely panicked and possibly with the intention of keeping Celestia away, with everything she could think off, from her if necessary.
With a slight frown Celestia stayed where she was, alicorn magic was not to be trifled with and she wouldn't wish anyone to be hit by it unintentionally. Even if an alicorn really hadn´t to care about such plain things. The structure of her room, internal and external structure of Canterlot castle and rest of Canterlot would surely be grateful, if Twilight didn't attack her.
Folding the wing back to her side so as not to make the situation worse and get a free flight out of the castle. She started talking slowly and caringly to Twilight.
"I meant to say that it is not possible for me to have any influence on your alicorn existence. Nor to have ever had one. So listen to me, please. There's a bunch of things I should have explained to you, at a sooner time."
"How! What? I don't understand." Twilight´s brain probably had just crashed and all of a sudden, Twilight was completely silent. She just stared at Celestia completely motionless. Her previous grief completely forgotten. Even though tears were still running down her cheeks and her horn was still lit.
"Let me explain. It's like this..."
*Knock Knock*
The sudden sound startled Twilight, who would have hit Celestia right in the chest, thanks to her still-lit horn. If the indicated mare didn't have greatly improved alicorn reaction times, had heard the approaching hoofsteps, and in wise foresight was already ready to cast spells.
Therefore, she was able to intercept Twilight's unwanted attack, compress it into an incredibly dense ball of energy, and teleport it into her sun as additional energy. All this in a fraction of a second.
Hmm, never say no to a free 2 years of luminosity.
The Voice from the other side of the door was heavily concerned. "Sister? Is everything alright? Can I come in? - The whole castle just trembled. And I sounded like it was dear Twilight who was the one screaming."
Still a bit shaken from Twilight's outburst just seconds before. It was almost impossible for Celestia to answer her Sister Luna. But in a somewhat brittle and very quiet voice, she nevertheless invited Luna in.
"C-come in, the door is not locked!"
Dark blue, almost black magic seized the door not a second later, whereupon it opened inwards and Luna cautiously and curiously poked her head through. When she caught sight of the ongoing situation in the room, she energetically opened the door completely with an audible exclamation and the door slamming against the doorframe. The door, due to the sheer force decently cracked and broke from its hingers at the highest point. Absent-minded, Luna fixed, with a slight blush, the door and stepped into Celestia's quarters.
"What the hell is going on here? Twilight...? Why are you in tears? With a sinister look, noticeable deeper voice and slightly pulled back lips, Luna growled at her older sibling afterwards. "SISTER?! WHAT did you DO to dear Twilight?"
Due to the rather expected outburst by her younger sister. Since the aforementioned had an overly excellent friendship with Twilight. Celestia was able to answer fairly calmly. However, she hung her head sadly.
"Twilight had asked me about a certain book and I couldn't lie to her....anymore. And well, as you can see she didn't really like the answer I had for her."
Before Luna could say anything in response, all three Alicorns were reminded of their most important and sacred task of the day by an all too familiar pull. Knowing what to do at this point, even if the moment was more than inappropriate for it, Luna turned to the other two Mares currently in the room.
"As much as I'd like to know what's going on here. And as painful as it is to see Twilight and you in distress. We three know what we have to be doing now."
Stricking a pleading look, to increase the effectiveness. "And for the love and safety of our ponies we should do our job. After that, we can settle this misunderstanding once and for all."
Both nodding, Twilight and Celestia followed Luna to the balcony outside Celestia's private quarters. Reaching the monstrous glass double door first, Luna opened said doors with her magic and held it open for the others, whereupon she stepped through as well. Still, she couldn't help but give another pitying/encouraging look to Twilight. After she saw how she hung her head and ears while walking. Even though she tried to put on a happy expression, she failed both miserably.
Once on the massive balcony, with it's unbiased view across Canterlot and the surrounding area, the two older Alicorn's activated their horns to set the sun to rest and the moon to the sky, in an magnificent display of grace, power and motion.
The afternoon light, that the sun gave so late in the day to Equestria, slowly faded from view until it wasn't anymore than a thin band of pleasent red, orange and yellow at the Horizon. At this Moment Luna begann to accend the moon into the sky. The very much cooler and smother colors of blue and white began to overshadow the still strong light of Celestia's sun. Until the moon was at around half its hight. Whereupon Celestia once again activated her horn and fully set the sun below the horizon. Thus creating a slowly, but static discrease of light, that slowly fully faded into the light of Luna's moon.
With this accomplished, they waited for the stars to appear, but nothing like that happened. Turning around in confusion, they spotted Twilight standing stock-still, no apparent physical movement left in her body. Not even a breath motion was to be seen anymore. Looking at each other slightly uncertain faces, Celestia and Luna waited.
Twilight’s even further than pegasus, enhanced alicorn senses, allowed her to gaze across their entire kingdom with it's beautiful landscape, tall mountains, deep valleys and vast oceans. She could even see the borders of Equestria and the surrounding empires. Like the smokey dragon lands; partly clouded Griffonstone; a very tall and suspicious mountain in an distant ocean; the cold, snowy but netherless welcoming Crystal Empire and so much more. Her Vision was only broken by the natural curvature of Equus.
Ten motionless minutes had passed in which no one said anything or dared to move until Twilight awoke from her freeze and made a quiet, frustrated comment.
"Buck!"
Knowing what had just happened, both sisters looked into each other's eyes worried. Neither with no Real idea how to proceed further from this point. Celestia then gestured to Luna, to please take over the situation, motioning to Twilight with her head.
Knowing for sure that she would have to be calm and choose her words carefully in order to talk to Twilight, Luna sat down on her hindquarters and began to speak in a slow, gentle voice.
"Twilight? Twilight. Please, I really sympathize with how you may be feeling right now. But you need to put the stars in the sky."
Visibly peeved, Twilight's aggressive answer came directly after Luna had stopped talking. Meanwhile Twilight had spread her wings, probably in motion of pouncing Luna, or as better option, simply fleeing the situation. So far, she just stood there angry. "NO! No, you possible couldn´t. You've never been in a situation like I am right now. And really why should I set the stars?! I'm in absolutely no mood to do anything remotely right now." Twilight finished with a hard ramming of her right hoof into the ground, heavy sparks of earth pony magic flying free from it.
Luckily for the ponies on the ground below the balcony, the same wasn't just a normal concrete construction. It was reinforced with Tritanium like many of the truly important things in Equestria. Tritanium itself was only second in hardness and stability to Alicornite. But lacked the indestructibility of the former. It was also a lot more cheeper and recurrent in quantity. Still it had its price, and was only used when needed.
Inwardly slightly rolling her eyes but for now not adding anything further to Twilight's statement, since it had by far nothing to do with the current problem. Luna proceeded to talk to Twilight in low voice. "Please! It's your sole duty this evening and our little ponies will worry and panic if the stars don't appear in the sky soon."
Visibly weighing her answers in the head and letting go of her fight stance, Twilight looked up at the sky and about 30 seconds later her answer followed. Still somewhat unpleased, but at least not truly angry anymore. "For all I care, but only because I don't want to plague our little ponies with fear. Because as sad as I'm at the moment, I wouldn't whish them any harm."
Also enlightening her horn, the light and spell shaking considerably due to emotions, Twilight placed the stars up in the sky. However, there were extremely few of them and even those were so dark that they were almost not visible at all in the firmament. To make it all worse, there was not a single decent constellation or comparable order in the stars to be seen. Merely a loose jumble.
After the job was done, Twilight collapsed on her front hooves and started crying and babbling uncontrollably. Rivers of tears again running down her cheeks. She mumbled so quietly in fact, that Luna and Celestia had even difficulty understanding what she was saying. "...no sense...; ...no way out of this...; ...have to try...; ...no I can't possibly do that to the girls...".
Visibly unsettled, Luna turned to her sister. Looking her older sister square into the glistening eyes, one or two tears in her eyes as well.
"Sister, whatever you revealed truly must have been incredibly tormenting. I've never seen Twilight so scared and desperate. It pains me to my very core, seeing my dear friend in such a hearth broken state."
Wrinkling her nose, shacking of the whole body, red eyes and a more than panicked approach in her voice, Celestia mouthed silently. "I know. But I have no idea how to resolve the situation! I don't believe that Twilight is currently willing to listen to me in any way. WHAT! SHOULD! I? DO?"
Putting on a pitying look, as Luna couldn't truly hate her sister, nevertheless how much she thought that Celestia probably had bucked up. She placed her hoof over Celestia's hips and tried to assure her.
"Then let me help you. Maybe I can help."
Turning to Twilight, Luna stepped closer to the lavender mare, bent down to Twilight‘s face, and began to speak softly to her. In hope of encouraging her in any way possible. Meanwhile she used her wing to urge Twilight to rise.
"Twilight, dear! Would you please stand up and come inside with us? Here´s not the place to discuss this whole mess."
Reluctantly, Twilight rose from the cold, smooth stone floor of the balcony and let Luna lead her back inside. The latter had placed one of her wings over Twilight's hips to calm her further. After they all were inside the room and Celestia had closed the doors, she invited Twilight to lie down on one of the large white pillows.
"Here, why don't you lie down? I'll bring you a cup of tea. I'm confident that will calm you for sure."
While Twilight dropped onto the pillow with an audible plop, not carring how un-princess like she behaved right now, Luna reached with her magic for a fresh cup and the tea kettle. However, when she poured the tea slowly into the cup and then smelled it to find out what kind it was. She wrinkled her nose at the smell in disgust. Whereupon she gave Celestia a more than disapproving and angry look. Her eyes almost succeeding in killing Celestia.
"SISTER!! Is this another one of your overly funny and honorable moments? Or what is the meaning of this? EXPLAIN AT INSTANCE!"
Visibly caught, Celestia took a step backwards from Luna and then hastly tried to explain herself. "I- I've actually wanted to tell Twilight all this for a while now. But the moment never seemed right for me. That's why I came up with the whole tea idea. I wanted to point it out to Twilight later as a good joke. In order to have an acceptable start to our conversation."
With an inexpressive scowl, Luna couldn't look her sister in the eyes after Celestia said that.
"Congratulations...I hope you realize how well your idea worked out so far - honestly, how do you plan to get out of this one?" Luna's expression said all that there was to say.
About to defend herself, Celestia jumped at the voice of Twilight as she was interrupted by her. In her Panic she had completely forgotten her younger college was also with them. Twilight was still looking at Luna in confusion with strongly broken emotions in her eyes.
"Luna? W-what do you mean by that? Where's the problem? - I don't understand?! Celestia has assured me that she let it brew a little too long and therefore it´s a little bitter. Nothing bad, that a few pieces of sugar couldn't solve we guessed."
Slitly scowling internally, about the good faith and trust of Twilight in Celestia. Luna almost screamed at her sister, with an even furior temperament.
"REALLY NOW SISTER?!"
"Luna? What's wrong with the tea? Tell me!" Still confused, Twilight stopped her foot energyly on the floor and reached with her magic for the cup Luna had held out to her until just now. Luna instantly tried to pull the cup away, but unfortunately for all present, she wasn't fast enough and Twilight's Magic let no room for arguments as the cup was snatched from her grip.
The cup now gripped in purple magic, Twilight brought it to her snout and nostrils to smell the tea and figure out. Why the hell everyone did make such a big fuss. As she had brought it there and took the first sniff, she noticed an odd but strangely familiar odor.
"Wait a minute! There is something familiar about that smell." Twilight took a moment to think about the familiar taste; she thought back to her years as a seasoned scientist. She remembered being constantly on the lookout for new materials to work with, conducting fierce experiments with every chemical she could find.
Celestia and Luna held their breaths, both knew with the known interlect the young purple alicorn had, it would only buy them some second until the mare had her answer.
"Hmm…that kind of smells like almond and metal.“
„Wait a minute, that's C13H16ClNO (ketamine), cyanide and even Parathion.“
„Why the HELL is there NEUROTOXIN AND DRUGS IN MY TEA?"
„CELESTIA? DID YOU HAVE THE INTENSION TO KILL ME? JUST TO NOT HAVE TO EXPLAIN TO ME THAT ALICORNS ARE IMMORTAL?", the pure venom in Twilight's voice was literally piercing.“
She had also spread her lavender wings, activated her magic, and snorted as she jumped up and took up a fighting stance.
"Twilight please. Listen to me you're getting something completely wrong. Also I couldn't, that wouldn't work on us."
Celestia carefully tried to calm Twilight down, so she could explain the situation to her. However, it seemed that Twilight was currently far too furious to listen to her old mentor and supossed friend - although Celestia couldn't blame her in any way right now. After all she herself pretty much bucked it up in the worst way possible. Twilight was in the believe, that she had to see her dearest friends start to get old, wither and die of high age. Whilst she stayed young for eternity. A truly cruel faith for the princess of friendship. Celestia tried to gather her thoughts, dropped onto her rump and began massaging her temples.
Meanwhile Twilight had gotten even furior. "WHAT AM I SUPPOSED TO GET WRONG ABOUT AN ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT?" WHAT!!!?
The antipathy and betrayal could be heard deep in Twilight's voice, her cheeks puffed out and flooded with rivers of tears. "YOU TRIED TO KILL ME, I TRUSTED YOU! YOU WERE THE PONY I LOOKED UP THE MOST, MY PARADIGMA. THE ONE I ALWAYS WANTED TO BE WHEN I WAS LITTLE!!!"
Twilight's eyes began to lose their colour as they became whiter and whiter. Her Horn flaring with untold powers, inscribing massive, highly potent runes into the environment. As a tornado of energies, sparks, and dangerous-looking spell fragments swirled around her horn, spiraling farther and farther away from the long accessory with every passing moment.
Tendrils of magic started to erode the protective spells surrounding the room with a crackle of furious Alicorn magic. And Celestia secretly wasn't sure how long the spells would last under the rage of Twilight. She could already feel, some of the spells were starting to weaken and others were almost nearly destroyed.
Lightning bolts danced across the whole surface of Twilight’s wings and from the outermost feathers of Twilight’s wings, hundreds of tiny, colorful sparks of some unknown energie discharged. The sky in front of Celestia's window already darkening considerably and a every second heavier getting wind rattled against the glass panes.
Lastly the ground in Twilight’s immediate vicinity began being ripped apart, merciless, thanks to furious rage combined with earth pony magic, by an ominous glow of almost deep black waves of magic, that, with each successive burst of Twilight's magic, ate further and further through the ground.
The whole display of power probably eluding Twilight, in her currently not very delighted state, and the shocked state of Celestia and Luna. As none of them seemed to notice the more than odd locking phenomena of power. As Unicorn, or alicorn magic in all aspects, was the only kind of magic, that normally could excide an visible effect of various lights and shapes into the real world. And even that only, if the magic was off high level. Never before was it herd that earthpony- or pegasus magic, had an visible inpact on the world.
Luna as well as Celestia nervously took a step back from Twilight and looked at each other, deeply frightened.
"Tell me sister. Do you also have a master plan for: "The Alicorn of Magic feels betrayed by the pony she looked up to the most on every imaginary level, has also unknowingly started to take control of all the magical power available to us alicorns, and due to her young age is not yet 100% as capable of using her maximum powers as an experienced alicorn!?"
Luna's gaze wandered anxiously between her sister and the enraged alicorn of Magic as she voiced this. For currently there was only cold rage and the terrible, terrible retribution of a mare once known far and wide as the most powerful unicorn to ever grace the land of Equestria.
But now she was more than that.
Twilight was far more than the Princess of Friendship now, she was more than Celestia's former pupil, she was more than any unicorn, even any normal alicorn.
Her sister had her sun, Luna herself had the moon, Cadance had the power of love, but Twilight....
Twilight was literally magic. Known as personification and wielding protector of all kinds of magic. And that - was more than terrifying in it's own regard.
Meanwhile, while Luna had been lost in her thoughts, several white cracks had formed around Twilight, through it fragments of space-time could be seen. Her eyes had also changed. The calm, intelligent amethyst was gone, replaced by the scorching, unforgiving white glow of the unleashed element of Magic. Whisps of white magic also waving from the corners of her eyes in a steady flow.
Being pressed down more and more under the sheer force emanating from Twilight. Celestia still tried to calm the alicorn she had been betrayed. Deepest guilt in her eyes, but now mixed with considerable fright and a respect, not seen prior. Respect for a manifestation of power like she had never seen before, in her long live.
Yes, she had known for a long time, that the astral plane, the wellspring of all alicorn magics, was infinite - well almost, but who cared about the difference between infinite and infinite minus one anyway? But even when creating her sun, by fusing billions of hydrogen nuclei, to helium-4 nuclei, and thus creating a endless cycle of reactions - passively fueled by her own magic to uphold the bright, golden ball of fire. The power of said sun was triffled by the concentration of power that was starting to accemble around their youngest fellow alicorn.
Starting one last attemp to calm Twilight, Celestia, under heavy struggles, even if an alicorn was way physical stronger than any normal pony, addressed the Mare in front of her and extended a hoof in hopeful forgiveness. "Twilight, please hold on. It's not what you may think. Will you please listen to my sister and me? I'm genuinely sorry. I shouldn't have let it come to this point. Please, don't let my failure be your weeping occasion."
For a brief moment, it appeared as if Twilight was regaining control. However, the moment lasted only very briefly and she rose up on her hind hooves to deliver the final blow.
"ENOUGH!"
Quickly reaching for Celestia with dark magic, Luna pulled her sister to her and clutched the mare in her arms through streams of tears.
"Sister! It was nice knowing you!" Luna and Celestia, didn't even try to interfere and mealy held each other's embrace while Twilight's hooves hit the ground with a furious beat.
"RAWWWWR!!!"
Following the beat, more and more white cracks formed, from the point of impact, finally fully ripping reality apart and the entire universe disappeared forever into an endless void of white.
---
THE END!
---
"HEY! What the hell is this shit?," I got yelled at from the far distance, but it still freaked me out like it came right behind me. As it might have been far away, but wasn't silent in any regard.
Pausing my Heavy metal/rock music and turning to the source of the voice I address the mare standing behind me.
"Hey Twilight! How can I help you?"
The lavender coloured Alicorn in royal regalia, with her unshorn fetlocks, lighter colored fluff at breast and belly and her six pointed star cutiemark, surrounded by five smaller stars, on her well defined butt, in front of me was with her just over 6 feet by far not yet fully grown. But seriously. A 6 feet tall horse with a currently 17 inch long and very sharp horn, that didn't even had the prime task to impale someone - even if it would have been perfectly suited for doing so. Giant iridescent wings, shifting in color throughout the day. Constaltions of several galaxies and other universal bodies reflecting in tail and mane of said mare. As well as a constant aura of godly powers, the pure, constant energie output from that easily enough to uphold industry on the whole planet earth, just by standing there and doing nothing more. And lastly a more than determined look on her face, giving you death chills or the highest feelings of protection, depending on her current mood, conditional of course to your actions. Just sends a shiver down your spine. No matter how cute Twilight was.
"Hey, what was that about cute just now? - and as I'm in actually a good mood, I will overlook the comment about my rump", the Mare behind me frowned, with said look. Accidentally almost killing me, as my heart refuses to beat for a few seconds in shock.
Ah dammit, she can read my mind. Since when can alicorn´s do that?
"I didn’t read your mind you moron. But you're writing here", I got my answer from Twilight with an expressionless face and a face-hoof towards me.
"Yeah well true." I admitted with a laugh, while scratching the back of my head. "And could you quit your look, please? One of us both actually needs his heart to stay alive."
Putting on an less serious look Twilight continued to me.
"You call that a good ending to the story? I can't help but laugh at that. That was pathetic."
*scratching my head once again*
"Uhhhh- You think? Yeah okay, maybe I should have picked some other music to write to after all. It seems to have a high influence on me and my overall writing style."
*Oh shit, now I seemed to have made it even worse for myself. As I got a very pissed off and expressionless look from Twilight. With her front hoof sticking out in my direction to indicate how stupid my statement just was.*
"Nah, for real now or what? I may have been a little out of control at the time. But I don't destroy reality just because something doesn't please me. Do you know how damn hard it is to undo that and how long it takes?" Twilight obviously awaited an answer from me.
*scratching my chin and pushing my luck even a bit further - simply hoping to survive it I reply to her.*
"Hard? I'd guess a special spell and the thing stands - duration? 60 seconds if you don't stress."
*KABOOM! And there I go flying through my apartment wall, with an truly impressive variot of colors and sparks...or maybe it's just my imagination as I had just got burst through a 1 feet thick, steel enhanced wall in less than a tenth of a second...Well at least Twilight was nice enough to cast a protection spell on me, so I only bruised and maybe dislocated my shoulder...Still hurts as hell - OUCH!
"Ow! Geez was that really necessary?"
Staring unphased throw the hole in my outer appartement wall I got a serious frown from Twilight. "Definitely, for that statement I should have actually left the protection off right away."
*expressionless look on my part, but not very confident as I'm actually the one that tried to mess with an alicorn deity. So I should be lucky that I ONLY got hurt so hard.*
"Well…thanks!...At least admit that I'm right."
*Still slightly annoyed, but now at least smiling mischievously again I got my affirmation from Twi.*
"Yes, yes. You're right.", she assured me with a dismissive hoof. "But if you asked me, I was actually in the middle of something, when I noticed you writing your, pardon my language" crap" here. So I have to go again."
*Simply walking through the wall, as it even wasn't there in the first place. Yes, willy-nilly phasing through it and pressing her gold gildet hoof firmly into my chest with each word.
"And YOU make sure this story has a proper ending from now on. Got it?!"
"Yes your majesty!", came in salute from me" - am I still invited to your castle for tea this afternoon?" I nevertheless asked hopefully afterwards. Please, don't let my bad comment two minutes ago not be the reason I can't have tee with the other girls. That would be devastating.
*Sticking out her tongue and raising her right front hoof, in a manner that let her look even more regal - if that's even possible, Twilight grinned imperiously, but in a friendly manner.*
"You may be permitted to linger in your majesty's presence."
*Lifting my eyebrow I bowed jokingly dismissive.*
"Thank you your high majesty, it is my distinct honour".
Turning around Twilight was on her way to leave afterwards. But just before she went back through a self-created portal to Equestria, however, she turned to me once more. A mischievous grin on her face.
"And you should think of a better computer password by the way, I found some very interesting folders there..."
*Visible embarrassment was seen on my face. Oh shit did she find my collection of embarrassing pictures, I had taken and got send through the years, from parties? Oh no! Or even worse she found out I had a secret crush on her? - Ah shit, if she didn't know yet, she surely does now.*
Trying not to let on, I smiled back at her and pretended everything was okay.
"F-! My password was already 16 digits!"
"It still only took me 9 seconds.", Twilight laughingly remarked to me.
"Woho, Ok! Now let's be honest Twilight, sometimes your brilliance scares me quiet a bit, that you just throw around every day so seemingly easy. Honestly, you could take over the world before lunch if you felt like it.
*Short glance at the clock. 10:40! Yep, that could still work!*
Chuckling with a held out hoof the lavender Mare assured me. "Thank you for your confidence, but I don't feel like it at the moment - I'm going to get a coffee now, see you later."
"How generous of you, your royal highness...", I deadpanned.
Twilight just shrugged and then grinned wide across her entire snout. “I´m a nearly omnipotent immortal goddess. If I can´t change it, I embrace it and don´t lie around the point not to be who I am.
“Always in touch with the soil…”, I whispered in a monotone voice even if I knew well that the alicorn could hear me without problems no matter how silent I would try to speak.
“Says the guy that just insulted an alicorn goddess…”, Twilight smirked back to me and extended her wings at the same time from her sides to flap them and bring the point home more.
I remained totally calm. “I know for a fact you won´t hurt of kill me. Alicorns are incredibly peaceful, if not the most kind creatures to exist”, I shot back with a broad and cheeky grin to the lavender alicorn princess. Rather confident I had to upper hand here. Unfortunately for me I seemed to have miscalculated, for Twilight remained grinning without breaking her smile. A second later she showed me, that she still had the upper hand – sorry hoof.
“We are! Yet that doesn´t mean I could just rewrite your destiny and make your life hell.” Now I was facing a mischievously grinning alicorn and since I was never the overconfident type, I still attempted my best by smiling mischievously at Twilight.
„Ha ha, a good one”, I said with a fake laugh. Twilight´s expression didn´t change and my confident bleeded away rather fast. “ – you´re joking right?”, I asked a little uncertainly.
Twilight leaned her head to the side. “Am I?”
Ok, now I was more than terrified.
Luckily for me a second time some seconds later Twilight winked at me as her horn began to show in her characteristic light of her magic. The last I saw of the alicorn princess was her ever kind and comforting smile.
*Pop, and with that the portal, through which Twilight had stepped, disappeared out of sight.*
Laughing with relief, I added to myself in thought. " Lucky me. Honestly, if you're going to write a fanfic about OP Alicorns, make sure they like it too or it's going to hurt. So where was I..."
---
"RAWWWWR!!!"
Following the impact, several more white cracks formed through reality, the edges of said cracks had frightening dark purple edges to them. The dark purple corners falling away continuely and fading into particles of nothingness. Inside these tears absolute nothingness could be seen, like there wasn't anything there and probably it also wasn't. Fortunately, however, existence withstood the rage of the enraged alicorn of magic so far.
Still breathing heavily with aftereffects of rage, Twilight stood with her white eyes amidst the cracks. Some tears still visible on her face and also dripping to the ground. However, it looked like she had recovered from her initial shock and was now trying to regain control. Even if she still trembled with a sensation of rage, that by the second became more and more a feeling of fright. All of that a seemingly impressive feat for someone so young and overwhelmed with such tremendous power.
Seizing her opportunity, Celestia released her sister and rose to face Twilight. The power from Twilight emmiting still great, but not as much as it had been before. So she managed to stand almost without trouble. Celestia, as well as Twilight, also still had tears in her eyes and was trembling violently.
"Tw- Twilight! Please s- slow down and just l- listen to me. You are completely on the wrong track, but that’s not your fault - in any regard. This is solely my failure to explain the situation to you fairly. So please stop being grieved. There is no need for that at all."
Though srill enraged, Twilight still twitched her ears and remained exactly where she was. Here and there once slightly unconsciously, spreading one of her wings, or shifting weight for balance, to effectively fight the slight nausea. The effect triggered by the high concentration of magic in her own system. That all an innate skill of every pegasus pony and deeply rooted back to pegasus magic, or that of an alicorn in her case. They combined all the aspects of pony kind and obviously had wings too. Even if these were considerably lager.
"U-and how s-should I know that you're not a-lying to me the next time we´re talking?
Putting one of her hoofs to her chest, the shoe previously fallen of in the heat of the Situation, Celestia spoke. "Please Twilight. You just have to trust me this one more time. I'll even make you a pinkie promise that I won't keep anything from you anymore. Ever again! I shouldn't even have started in the first place. But I always assured myself there were reasons to do so until now. Fortunately, I finally have the affirmation they're obsolete."
"W-really?"
Performing the all-too-familiar gesture, Celestia gave Twilight her promise.
"Yes! Cross My Heart, and Hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my Eye!"
While visibly not one hundred percent convinced, yet willing to listen, the colour of Twilight's eyes slowly changed from white back to her normal eye colour. Meanwhile, she sat down on her haunches in place, and afterwards swhised with her hoof through one of the cracks, looking absently at its rippling behavior and feeling a slight cold, whenever she touched the infinitely bright white.
Now that Twilight was no longer actively yanking on the concept of reality, the cracks began to close slowly with little, cracking motions of lightning. Like someone had wieved a endlessly thin needle and string through the borders of nothingness and simply pulled the reality back together. First the smallest ones, furthest away from the hooves of Twilight closed. Then every second nearer to the positon of the lavender mare.
In all that time, Twilight remained completely untouched by the holes and cracks in the time-space continuum. The warps simply ending directly in front, or under her, not even trying to interact with the alicorn, not an inch away from them.
The one where Twilight was stirring with her hoof even remained until the said alicorn had pulled her foreleg out of its center.
Celestia, meanwhile, waited patiently at a reasonable distance for Twilight to be ready to listen to her. Swishing her hoof slowly through one of the cracks as well. Interestingly complementing about the strange sensation in her mind.
A nod from Twilight about 2 minutes later indicated to Celestia that the younger alicorn was now ready to listen to what she wanted to say prior, so she prepared herself to continue.
Celestia was just about to start to clarify the situation, when Twilight suddenly hectically jumped up from her spot 4 meters away from Celestia and ran straight towards her, sobbing loudly with bloodshot eyes. Her wings were wildly stretched and trembling, the iridescent color in them sparkling with uncontrolled behavior. While she snuffled her nose several times.
Absolutely overwhelmed with the situation, Celestia just spread her front hooves and waited until Twilight ran into her; the impact was so powerful that Celestia was almost knocked over backwards. But luckily she managed to stabilize herself by unfurling her wings about halfway in automation and involuntary using her thousands of years worth of innate Pegasus agility.
As Twilight sobbed the same excuse over and over again, Celestia lovingly put her two white wings around Twilight in a warm cocoon and gently patted her on the back. She pressed her wings stronger together to additionally help Twilight calm down faster. The warmth of both cuddling mares helping each other in return.
"I'm sorry; I didn't mean to do that. It- Me- l- just couldn't be c- controlled."
Visibly wracked with guilt, Celestia almost couldn't answer Twilight herself. However, after a few attempts, she managed to do so with shaking voice.
I- I'm really sorry Twilight. That was absolutely not very tactful of me. I should have known how you would react to this news, as close as you are to your friends - Besides, I should have known better to choose my words."
"For all that my promise is worth. If ever again I withhold something so elementary from you, I give you my word that I will abdicate and leave the Regent's Crown to you. Maybe even forever, if I cannot forgive myself for what I did then.
"N-no, I would never be able to ask that of you." Twilight quickly replied to Celestia as she looked up at her former mentor, with still slightly red eyes, using her own lavender wings to cling to her desperately.
Celestia was smiling motherly and booped Twilight in the snout with her hoof. "And yet I would do it for you without any doubt and clear conscience!", interrupted Celestia the younger alicorn, before Twilight could say anything else.
Both then embraced each other again, swelling in the other's warmth.
However, not ten seconds later, there was a knock at the door to Celestia's chambers.
"Your Highnesses?"
"Is everything all right? We heard screams and everything was shaking until just now."
Currently being the only one able to answer. Luna raised herself and turned towards the door, to reassure the two guards on the other side.
"It's all good. I just had to tell my sister that the raspberry pie for breakfast tomorrow is unfortunately no longer available at the castle. You may go back to your posts. And please inform the other guards and servants in the castle that all was taken care of."
Probably slightly bowing the Guards assured Luna they understood the command. "As you wish your Highness, good night!"
Even though Celestia wasn't really in the mood to talk right now, she still had to ask her sister.
"Sister is it true about the cake?" Slightly setting up a frown. "And wow really - That was all it took to ensure them everything is fine? "
Giggling quietly into her own hoof, Luna gave her answer to Celestia. "No, don't worry your raspberry pie for tomorrow is safe."
Carefully running her front hoof over her forehead so as not to bother Twilight, Celestia exhaled in relief. "Whew, lucky me. I was worried I'd have to miss the most important meal of the day tomorrow."
Luna's subsequent expressionless expression would have theoretically said it all nethertheless she voiced her thoughts.
"Sister, sometimes I wonder why you have such more than well-formed hips. Your an alicorn, our race litteraly can't put on or loose any weight at all. Yet still you managed to do just said. Then I remember moments like this and everything becomes clear."
Completely scandalized, Celestia reprimanded Luna. "Luna, please, that is absolutely not true. I'm in perfect shape!" In response, she put on a pouty face.
"Whatever you say...", gave Luna well knowing that she was going to hit a wall with this discussion anyway.
Then she smiled mischievously. "The rhubarb pie still ran out this morning, though."
After a few more minutes, Twilight had calmed down enough that, while still sniffling slightly, and having some glistening tears in the corner of her eyes, she could nevertheless form complete sentences yet again.
"W-what the hell was that? I've never felt so much energy in my entire life. T-that was absolutely overwhelming. Like trying to charge a 9V battery with a fusion reactor."
Giggling softly, Luna stepped up to speak. She had been standing patiently next to the other two alicorns and waited for the moment that both had finished their mutual assistance.
"That, my dear Twilight, was the true power that we alicorns possess. In your case, as the alicorn of magic - all the magical power the astral plane has to offer." Waving off with a hoof Luna continued. "But don't be shy, you are still extremely young for an alicorn. It wouldn't have been possible for you to be able to control all that magic without having slight hiccups in the first place anyway. So there is nothing to worry."
Luna inserted a short and dramatic pause after finishing the sentence. Whereby she was probably more sorting out her own thoughts.
"And even if it didn't feel like it. You had more control over that power than anyone else could claim. However, don't worry, you'll learn over the years how to master your role flawlessly and then something like this won't be able to happen to you so easily again."
Extending her Wing to Twilight and giving her an encouraging smile Luna continued. "Besides, with your intellect, I wouldn't be surprised if you found ways and means to revolutionize magic for all living beings now and in the future to come."
Visibly touched, Twilight once again flushed as red as a tomato and fanned her wings, to cool herself down. Whereaby she hastily replied to Luna. Her eyes sparkling like stars, with a sudden curiosity.
"Luna please. I'm just a normal pony who happens to have a slightly excessive passion for knowledge and books. Nothing more nothing less. What makes you think I could be able to revolutionize magic? Let alone that I am so overly cunning, like you seem to think I am?"
Having expected something like that. Luna moved in front of Twilight and looked deep into her dark purple eyes with a more than friendly grin. The eyes of the lavender mare burning with a depth, clarity and sharpness, not seen in many cases.
"Try to stay, like you already are. Your humbleness is truly impressive, and honestly, more should follow your ways. But back to the question. Simply for the reason that I have already experienced with my very own eyes what you are capable of." Somewhat more quietly, Luna also added. "And I saw your exam results for admission to my sister's school. I was more than aware that we alicorns possess stunning intellect. But I must say, I can do nothing but express you my full respect." Luna polite bowed her head to Twilight.
More than confused, Twilight first looked several times aimless left and right until she turned away from Luna and looked into Celestia's magenta eyes with newfound curiosity. Seemingly awaiting an answer.
"How? What? When? Now what is Luna talking about? What does she know that I don't?"
Briefly reconsidering her answer, with a slight frown of the brow, Celestia returned Twilight's just-asked question.
"Do you remember the day before your entrance exam to my school for gifted unicorns? I had asked if you were okay with an IQ test."
Eagerly nodding and grinning above both ears, Twilight answered Celestia almost immediately.
"Oh yes, you were overjoyed when the result came back and mentioned to me. "The result was by far overscale and in match with your expectations - which was actually already clear," Twilight added, slightly embarrassed. "I hadn't given it any thought at the time, though."
Tilting her head to the side in an uncommonly cute fashion, Twilight continued.
"Still, I'm curious all the same. There must have been something behind all of it. You wouldn’t have asked, if there wasn't a clear reason."
Somewhat taken by the sight Celestia found before her, she raised her own voice.
"Yes, sure, your absolutely right about your guess and I'll gladly tell you. As now you're definitely old and mature enough to understand the situation as well - well you were mature enough for it with an age of like 10 to be honest, but I wanted to wait just a few years more. It might have had influenced you for sure in some way. So I was obliged to hide the information as far as now."
Celestia gave Twilight a friendly and motherly but somewhat slightly guilty smile that demonstrated, that she only had the best of intentions. Even if she didn't feel one hundred percent well in doing so.
Clearing her throat, Celestia continued.
"As you probably didn´t expected, the results that came back could not be clearly identified because the index wasn´t high enough scaled. For that critical reason unfortunately, only a rough estimate could be given at the time. But even that was enough to prove me right."
Completely taken off guard, Twilight shouted in a voice close to the royal Canterlot voice. At the same time, she fluffed up her wings, the gust of wind generated knocking over the teapot on the nearby table.
Normally the teapot would have gone broken in hundreds of microscopic pieces, as it was on its way to the cold, hard, unforgiving polished marble ground. However, Twilight had the presence of mind to catch the teapot before it had time to spill any tea, get even close to the ground or tilt in the slightest way to be exact. Whereupon Twilight put the pot back in its old place, slightly embarrassed. Her cheeks heating a slight red.
"WHAT! But the scale goes up to 250! No way!"
"And the Institute's calculated result was 340-380. Extremely surreal for a pony. However, less so for an alicorn - even if it is still quite high. Our intelligence is extremely broad and has always gone beyond 250 for every four examples of our species We could argue how precise such a high stacked IQ is, but the sole point is we are far from dumb."
Celestia then lowered her head in Twilight's direction, brimming with great pride and slightly respectful.
"When I saw your result, I almost couldn't contain my enthusiasm. Because I knew, unlike the head of the administrative center, what the result meant for all of us - namely that in a few years another pony would be our equal. And my excitement was furthermore boosted, especially since it was you. As that made the whole thing even better, in as good as every regard."
Now slightly blushing, Celestia continued.
"Around one year before you became my student, I had already recognized something about you that I generally enjoyed from the start. No matter what would have been your future. I would have been proud, that my sun, as well as my sister's moon, in a certain way, were allowed to have the honor, to shine daily and at nighttime for a pony like you, and fill you with life, satisfaction and well-being."
Twilight fanned her wings in heated embarrassment, to cool herself off from Celestiaˋs praise. Voicing her thoughts however she did not and listened further to the older mare.
"As your parents were invited as high elite to all important events and attended them in most cases, I had seen you quite often among all the other nobles - And I must say. For a 6-year-old foal you were by far the most polite and friendly of all the attendees. Also, at that point, you had shown much better manners toward the servants and guards than I could say for most of the others present. And the guards voiced to me several times, they would be honored to stand to your attention if you needed them or got into any kind of danger or verbal fight.” Celestia smiled widely. "I have never told you this, as I am sure you were told it yourself many times when you were my student. But quite a few of the guards and servants came to me after the feasts to inquire if I could not repay you in some way for the kindness shown to them. "
Twilight probably hit a new record in red and it was said a few years later, that the color of her cheeks right now, was considered the new upper limit for red.
"That's why I had pulled your parents aside after one of the occasions, in a quiet moment, to make them a special offer largely to your favor - Well, I believe you can guess which one that was?" Celestia wanted to know, with an interested look to Twilight and turned to her as well. Extending a massive, white wing in the mares direction, to indicate that her response was more than welcomed.
Twilight scratched her chin with her hoof for a moment, deep in thoughts, thinking. Not three seconds later, she had a metaphorical light bulb brightening, which made her beaming wide above both ears.
"Ha! I think I know the answer. I'm assuming it had something to do with the school for gifted unicorns?! And you invited my parents to enroll me in your school. At least they told me later the princess, meaning you, had praised me for my extremely good magic skills and respect".
Proudly nodding and again beaming with pride, Celestia continued.
"How right you are, very well done. Yes, I had encouraged your parents to send a request about this matter directly to me, to cut through the usual bureaucratic red tape. To get you immediately a place in the school for the next year. I also praised them for what a wonderful daughter they had and that I believed she would do incredible things with her magic. As well as that I couldn't await the summer vacations to be over."
Deeply tomato-red, and once again fanning her wings to cool herself off, Twilight tried to believe Celestia's words just like that, but as expected, the youngest alicorn simply couldn't because of her well-known academic mind.
"I'm honored by the direct admission, really. But what´s more important, is the simple, but true fact that that´s impossible. No pony is capable of such a high IQ. The academics must have made a mistake," Twilight exclaimed enthusiastically, her wingtips twitching violently as some sparks of magic rippled through her prime feathers. The air around them glistened with potent pegasus magic that usually would have been invisible.
Shaking her head slightly in amusement, Celestia gave her answer to Twilight.
Twilight is, and always will be, simply Twilight. I hope she remains like that; modesty is not a bad aspect after all.
"Yes. In theory, you're right. But you forget that an Alicorn is not, in quotes, a normal pony. We have an elementary different set of rules, as I'm sure you've already noticed."
"He he, well you're right." Twilight admitted, slightly embarrassed, as she scratched the back of her head with a hoof.
Lifting her leg to indicate that she still had something to say, Celestia continued.
"Besides, I have an example to prove to you that the test is telling the truth."
"Oh? And what example would that be, Celestia?"
Twilight's eyes, meanwhile, literally had deformed into stars at the thought of a complicated task for her to solve. As well as that she also leaned forward expectantly, pricking up her ears to better understand the question. This time there was a subtle white glow emanating from her front hooves to the floor. Again, pegasus magic, which intuitively helped her to keep balanced, but all this had been only visible if one had looked precisely at the right time. So, like the last time with Twilight's prime feathers, it escaped the three alicorns so far.
Laughing again in amusement, Celestia held a hoof in front of her muzzle, to not come off as rude, and looked for a convenient question on short notice. Having found what she had seeked, she shook herself once short and as prior started to speak.
"Hrrhm, oh yes! Can you tell me what the arithmetic mean of the standard deviation for the median of 31.61 and the two quartiles of 7 and 9 are? Considering the boxplot of Y= [(91/1348 * X) * 3] - 47 of course." [That´s no actual question]
Briefly considering the solution path, and putting her thoughts as well as calculations into imaginary tables, formulas and equations in her mind’s eye Twilight happily gave her answer back to Celestia.
"Hmm. If I'm not mistaken, then the solution should be 2,378.75."
Also smiling, Celestia needed some more seconds until she joyfully could confirmed the result. "Absolutely right! Flawlessly done, I didn´t even expect you to have an answer that fast."
Twilight's look afterwards was very pleased but unsurprisingly uncomprehending otherwise.
"Ehhhh- I don't understand though, why this is supposed to prove to me that I, as an alicorn, have immense cognitive abilities beyond others. Even if that was a challenging task in itself – well for others." Added Twilight once again blushing tomatoe-red.
Almost overflowing with laughter, Celestia had to catch herself for a while. And Luna, who had been sitting quietly next to her the whole time, couldn't deny herself the joy either.
"Oh, that´s quite easy. This “simple” task, as you yourself described it, is known as the 'One Thousand Year Task.' This means that according to the current level of experience, a pony, that would be able to solve this task will not be born for around another 1,000 years or so. And on this specific task the 20 best minds of Equestria have been puzzling for more than 15 years by now. And you, Twilight, solved it in less than 10 seconds. If all that doesn't mean I am right, then my name is no longer Celestia Solaris Everfree the First."
The explanation was finished with an added massive laugh. And even Luna had to admit to her sister in thoughts, that she had outdone herself.
"You just had to do this sister, didn't you? - But Twilight dearest! If only you could see yourself right now. I've never seen a pony look as dopey as you currently do. Here! Please! Take! Look for yourself in the mirror."
Luna managed to express under now almost exisiven laughter, while she let herself fall backwards over her back. Her wings fully stretched far from her, trembling with excitement and the spasms of laughter that went through the body of the deep dark blue alicorn.
Grasping the mirror, Luna had created out of the dark colored magic, in her own brilliant raspberry magic, Twilight looked at her reflection in the small hoof mirror - And it was true, she had never seen a pony look as silly as she currently did.
"Har Har. Waaaaay funny."
Still, Twilight couldn't help but join in with the laughter of Luna and Celestia herself. Her own wings trembling soon afterwards with the same enjoyment as her two fellows. Once again, several whirring aspects of varying colors, the prime ones a pleasent white and blue, danced across the outermost prime and flight feathers of Twilight's massive wings.
Whereas no one of the three seemed to notice the occasion either this time, even if Twilight's ears twitched briefly in surprise from an odd feeling, for a fraction of a second. The mare, however, immediately dismissed the thought and continued laughing with the other mares.
Shortly after, all 3 princesses were lying on the floor next to each other, laughing their souls out. (Of course only metaphorically, don't worry!).
It took several minutes for all three to regain their composure to continue. Because every time one of them thought she had laughed enough, the laughter of the other two infected her again. So still giggling lightly, Celestia continued with her statement interrupted by given circumstances.
"Well then, I think that proves that point. But in all seriousness. Normally, the entrance test to the school for gifted unicorns is not the task of hatching a dragon egg either. Actually, the invited young unicorns should only write their own name, age and those of their parents with chalk on a blackboard. To test how persistent, they are in matters of prolonged control."
"But you had already shown more raw magic before your entrance test than my most gifted students after years of training. I have not come across a unicorn in the last 1000 years that had anywhere near as much magic as you had at the time. That is why I did instruct my examiners not to show any reaction. Unless you manage to hatch the egg, no matter what miracles you might perform with your magic."
"And I think you understand that I simply had to obtain a second additional result to ensure that you would one day become the fourth alicorn?"
Not missing any second, Twilight gave an understanding nod toward Celestia and therefore agreed with her.
"Sure, I don't think I would have done it any differently myself. In such an important situation, it's better to do one test too many than too few. Usually that's also no problem as everything goes well in tests, unless you experiment too wantonly with highly explosive substances and don't get the mixture right - And blow up your old lab in retrospect."
"What was that? I thought there was an unstable connection in the star constellations?!" replied Celestia with a veeeeeery curious look in Twilight's direction. She never truly believed Twilight made a mistake that day, as the Mare always had an understanding and controll of her own magic, that not many could claim - maybe even none. But she never tried to get the honest answer out of Twilight, as she suggested Twilight would have had a reason to not tell the full truth. Why should Twilight hide anything from her? She trusted her old mentor like Noone else...the same way she should have had trusted her student. Damm there was the guilt again, even now I'm not fully above the hill.
"Eh nothing! Twilight quickly deflected from the topic with a nervous look back and forth, and then turned to Luna.
"Luna? You two said you'd be willing to tell me more about an alicorn. Right?"
Slightly changing her sitting position to a more comfortable one, as Luna knew there was plenty to tell and enlighten in the next hours. She turned her attention fully to the younger alicorn, as she began to speak.
"This true my dear Twilight. There are quite some things you didn't know about alicorns until now. Since quite a few things had to remain in the dark for good reasons - But more about that later, before you ask. Fortunately, that is about to change as you are an alicorn now as well. It is only logical that we help you understand what our closest secrets are, what it means to be a true alicorn princess. And how to become a righteous and loved leader. Even though you've already got that last part down pretty well," Luna winked at Twilight.
"But first, come over here and join us." Luna prompted her lavender-coated fellow. Tapping one of her gold-framed hooves on one of the large white cushions near her, embroidered with a gold border and a sun in the center."
With a crimson stitch on the cheeks and swishing her tail while fluffing her feathers, as Twilight obviously was very nervous. Understandable, as she didn't really knew what she would learn in the next time. Twilight trotted over to Luna and Celestia and dropped onto the indicated pillow with an audible plop. Whereupon she slid back and forth a bit to get comfortable. Meanwhile, Luna grabbed a cup in her dark blue magic from the table and poured herself some tea. The task successfully completed, she turned back to Twilight to make sure she was ready to listen.
Assured that Twilight was ready, Luna also slid back and forth on her pillow and before she began to speak, took a big sip from her cup as she watched the slight rise of steam afterwards.
"Now Twilight the first interesting thing you should know about yourself as an alicorn is- "
However, an unexpected, soft exclamation from Twilight interrupted Luna. Looking up from her cup, Luna noticed that Twilight had stood up again and was now nervously looking back and forth between the other two princesses with a slightly uncertain look on her face. Her ears laid back and her right hoof pawing at the ground.
Having a slight premonition, but not wanting to let on anything. With a friendly smile, Luna encouraged the younger Alicorn to tell her what was bothering her.
"Yes Twilight? What's the issue? Go ahead, don't be shy, we're among like-minded friends here after all. Not in a political debate."
Visibly relaxing and also smiling broadly, Luna got her answer from Twilight.
"Ehhhm, well, I'm really quite embarrassed to ask this. But could I possibly have some more of that special tea? It was surprisingly delicious - considering what it contains." Afterwards, Twilight fell silent again and looked back and forth between the two of them, again a little more nervously. Visibly expecting both of them to laugh indignantly right away at such a curious idea.
As already mentioned, Luna had somehow expected it, so she answered in a calm and friendly voice.
"But of course, you can. I was already waiting for you to ask. I have to admit that I didn't think cyanide would taste so good with tea - well, I guess with immortality comes some interesting tastes." Laughed Luna fully now. "And as bitter as it sounds, no matter how justice and good natured you rule. There will always be other creatures or unlikely but not impossible - ponies, who are not pleased with you. And try to get you out of the way by more drastic means."
"You'll have to deal with that, at one point in time too, I sadly have to tell you. Therefor I hope not anytime soon, but be prepared for your food to taste surprisingly interesting when invited to meet other creatures," Luna finished, looking over at her sister who was also giggling noticeably.
Putting on an almost blank expression, Twilight posed her question to the other two mares. "So, you both want me to tell, that it will happen that other races will try to poison me and get me out of the way? Just because they don't like my opinion? - What the Hell? I tought, Equestria was a peacefull kingdom! As well as the other kingdoms, as we had good bounds with them, for partly even hundreds of years. Did I miss anything or what?"
This time it was Celestia who took the floor. More amused than serious.
"Oh, come on Twilight. It's not that bad. No, you definitely didn´t miss anything. Equestria and most of the other lands are as peaceful as we. Yes, even the dragonlands are friendlier than they were two hundred fifty years ago - well for dragon standarts at least. And the most important thing of all, it's worth the stress every time you get the completely stunned looks when you thank them for their hospitality after dinner and shorty afterwards are still able to stand up and walk without a hitch - Trust me when I tell you, you'll love it too." Celestia had to scratch her chin briefly. "The best part was that one time with the diamond dogs, but I can tell you about that later if you're still interested then."
Simply shaking her head and not wanting to dwell on it, as it couldn't be helped anyway, as it seemed, Twilight directed her eyes back at Luna.
While the other two were talking, Luna had gotten a new cup from the table with her magic and with a short heat spell brought the tea back to a good temperature. She filled the cup with freshly heated tea afterwards and held it close to Twilight. The newly heated tea giving of his charactesitic almond scent, and if one looked closely could now have seen a slight discoloration in the stronger light, the room was bathed in now, after the princesses had returned from there daily duty.
The light, was from several almost colorless crystals, which were distributed throughout the room suspended from the walls. These crystals were one of the most widespread techniques used to illuminate rooms after the sun had set. That these crystals, in Celestia's quarters, were infused with her own magic and additionally acted as catalysts for several of the protective spells was nevertheless special.
Nodding her thanks, Twilight took the cup in her own brilliant raspberry colored magic aura and once again sat down on the cushion, and as her first action after that, took 2 big sips from this cup. As she did so, her ears twitched slightly in delight at the pleasant taste.
"You're right - even if it most likely sounds quite morbid from the point of view of others, but I think this might become my new favorite kind of tea." Twilight had to laugh and Luna, as well as her sister Celestia, joined in as well.
Clearing her throat, a short time later, Luna took charge again. "Well then, as I said before I wanted to start explaining what is so special about us Alicorns. I guess we're all ready for me to continue now?" Luna looked around the room to get her answers from the other two alicorns.
After getting approval, she continued. "So where was I? Oh yes, the point stopped before was that one of the first interesting things that set us alicorns apart from others is our exceedingly well-developed minds. One of the topics we had already touched on earlier."
"And by that, I mean not only our more than above average intelligence, but much more that our whole minds are almost certainly even more immortal and powerful than our bodies. Because we are in all respects extremely well-armed against attacks on our mentality. And can endure strains that others could only dream of. Moreover, such a stable and strong mind is also necessary, because otherwise we would not be able to bear the thought of an endless life."
"As, unfortunately, a mortal mind couldn't be prepared for such a burden and will most likely drive everyone to pure madness at some point. But no worry, I can assure you, we will not suffer such a sad fate."
Luna started to encourage Twilight again, extending one of her dark blue hooves, using it to lift Twilight's chin further up. So that they could both look each other straight in the eyes. As Twilight had become a bit pensive and less cheerful during Luna's explanation, and had hung her head and ears slightly.
Not quite finished with her explanation, Luna continued. Hoping that after she was done, she would be able to assure Twilight 100% that immortality was actually more enjoyable than it might have sounded at first glance. A thought, Luna couldn't deny she would most likely have as well, in Twilight’s position.
„Nevertheless, I can perfectly understand your concern and maybe fright of Immortality. As it's a matter of fact, everypony around you ages, while you remain the picture of youth and beauty. Furthermore Immortality is often seen as a curse more than a blessing. And one could say our souls are bound with time. But I can assure you that you will realize in 50, 60 maybe some hundreds of years, that you are perfectly fine with living eternal. That's nothing extraordinary, just a thing of being an alicorn.” Tilting her head furthermore to Twilight to give her an encouraging smile Luna went on. “Thanks to this perk you will make decisions with a foresight of many generations of Pony’s. You just don´t look at now, but into the distant future to ensure the best choices for everypony. And that is what will make you a leader everyone can be proud, and some envious, off. Because our intelligence combined with the foresight of an alicorn is one of our strongest abilities.”
As it seemed, Luna's speech had managed to fully calm Twilight down once again. Because the mare had put up her ears delightedly and the slightly sad approach in her face had also disappeared.
Seeing this, Luna slightly changed her sitting position to look Twilight one again directly in the bright eyes, and confronted Twilight with a question.
“Tell me Twilight. What do you know about Alicorns yourself so far? - Regardless of what I just said.”
Twilight tapped her chin with a front hoof and considered her answers for a few seconds.
Once Twilight had her answer and knew what she intended to say the young lavender mare spoke to her two older companions.
“We are an embodiment of all three pony tribes. The Strength of Earth ponies, the flight abilities of pegasi and the magic of unicorns. But have far greater control and strength at our display. And are able to fulfill with these powers tasks, that others see as devine and unachievable. Alicorns are also known to live incredibly long, some even saying forever - Well, and from what I have learned recently, that is indeed true.
Clearing her throat to sort out her thoughts, Twilight continued.
“And because of all that some consider alicorns as goddesses. Oh yes, and surprisingly all four of us are female for some untold reason. But that pretty much is everything else, that I know so far about me as an alicorn.”
Twilight summarized smiling fondly. Luna and Celestia did as well. Luna was the next pony to speak.
“As I earlier said I knew you were smart, I first recognized it when I encountered you and your friends. Your knowledge and leading abilities truly had surprised me. Still so young, but able to make decisions like a seasoned leader.” Smiling Luna added. “I have no doubt why your friends are so fond of executing your ideas - often even without second thoughts. "True" friends, like the ones you have in Ponyville, provide you and one another with endless, unbreakable loyalty. Ponys overall may be very cooperative and friendly towards each other - most of the time anyway. But the depth of your bond, with your friends is an gift not granted to many. As far as I know it's unheard for more than 15.000 years by now.”
Luna afterwards raised her Front hoof to indicate a serious matter.
“And all that at your youthful age - But honestly in retrospect, it was expected of a pony that reveals itself later to be an alicorn. Especially if this alicorn happens to be the alicorn of friendship. A pony basically capable of befriending anyone and anything in a matter of minutes, without having trouble to weave said bonds - almost like they come naturally to that mare. I should honestly congratulate her at some time, if I happen to meet her", Luna winked and managed to get Twilight reddening in various shades. Giggling she continued. "We´re experts at leading and educating others.” Luna finished with a big smile and a light reverent nudge of her head. And Celestia followed suit as well.
Touched by this, Twilight returned the gesture with equal respect. All three alicorns afterwards were still for some seconds, until Twilight took the word.
Thanks’ Luna!”
“Nothing to thank dearest!“
"Nethertheless, I have one more thing to ask. Do you yourself think that we are goddesses?", Luna addressed Twilight curiously. A question she thought was fitting as she really wanted to know what Twilight’s answer would be. The Mare always was a modest pony, who sometimes even put others to much before herself. As there always were people that took the whole hand, if you offered them a finger.
Shrugging Twilight replied. "Would it matter? I will proceed to do what I think is right for all ponies no matter what they say about me. And no matter how hard I would try to convince others, that I´m not...Some would always see you, Cadance, Celestia as well as me as goddesses. So, I will simply accept it. It might sound sometimes tough to be a god, a symbol of perfection and living up to what is expected of said, but If they say I´m a deity, that´s what I am.“
Just nooding, Luna acknowledged Twilight’s answer. „And that's exactly what I expected to hear from you. I can only say, I have the same feelings. We do what we think is right, no matter if ponies see us as more than a pony, praise and worship us or are just there.“
Luna then turned to her sister with a mischievous grin.
"Tia? Are you going to enlighten Twilight in the next thing? Or are you still to fancy for that?"
Ignoring the teasing but sticking her tongue out cheekily at Luna, Celestia turned to Twilight. I'll get you back for this, sister. Best always look behind you from now on.
"Apart from the fact that Luna seems to have just suffered brain damage, I'll be happy to explain the next special thing about ourselves."
While Celestia paused for a moment, ignoring her sister sticking out her tongue as well she had put her right hoof over her heart, because Twilight was more than good at the expression of being adorably exited with pointed ears and softly rustling wings. And Celestia preferred to reassure herself once too often that she had not suffered a heart attack as a result. Technically it was impossible for an alicorn and their hearts were just an fancy organ completely without actual survival use, but by looking at Twilight - Well Celestia wasn't so sure anymore. Once she was confident that her heart was still beating and she woudln´t die in the next minute Celestia could continue.
"We alicorns, as we have both explained, belong to the Immortal Beings - That's also pretty much all you know so far about our immortality. But that means much more than not being able to die. In short summary: Every remarkable species needs their own Immortal to be able to live. If the Immortal dies, then the species is damned to extinction in a few generations."
Before Celestia could continue, Twilight intervened rather energetically and flustered. "Wait! Wait. So, you're telling me that the four of us are vital for the survival of the pony tribes from becoming extinct in a few generations? That's quite a burden, though, and one heck of a danger, too, I might add."
Chuckling softly with a hoof held out, Celestia calmed Twilight down once more. "Take it easy. Yes, it's true. My point is that without the four of us, as the immortals of the pony tribes, there would be no chance of survival at all in the long run for all ponies. The same is true for all the other major races in the universe. If one of the immortals were to die, it would be the certain end for all of the same species."
"But I can assure you, so far none of us immortals have been killed. As we are so incredibly important to the continuation of our species, hurting or even killing us is no easy task." Celestia paused for a moment and then continued, chuckling softly. "And well, an alicorn takes it to a whole other level anyway."
Now Luna took the lead. "And it is for this very same reason that once every one hundred years all the immortals of the cosmos gather in the "Council of Immortals". A secret and protected place where we consult or make alliances between each other on how to effectively secure and prevent anything so terrible from happening to any of us. And by doing so, we can also preclude any of the species from facing the horror of extinction."
Wrinkling the corners of her mouth in a less than pleased expression, Luna continued. "And as I'm sure you can imagine, the realization that there were only a few generations to live. Would cause any species, no matter how highly civilized, to fall into pure anarchy. In a hopeless attempt to somehow still avert fate."
Neither Celestia nor Twilight wanted to picture that thought longer than a second in their minds. So they tried to dismiss it as fast as possible and Celestia changed the subject to a more pleasant one.
"That is why it is of the highest priority that we all attend this meeting and ensure that such a scenario never becomes a reality. And now that you are an alicorn yourself, you are most welcome to attend the next gathering in just under 29 years. If you wish, you can also write and conduct the speech in which we briefly describe if there were any problems since the last time. I think I can speak for all of us when I say it would be a great honor."
Luna nodded eagerly in response, rustling her wings slightly in delight as she got a little more comfortable.
Lightly embarrassed and moved, Twilight once again ran a little crimson and fanned her wings. But was still able to speak her thoughts.
"Thank you Celestia. As well as you Luna, too. You both don't know how much this means to me, that you have such great trust in myself. It would be a huge honor for me, too, if I could write and hold the speech for you at the next Council meeting." Pausing briefly. "But don't you think the other members might be outraged if someone as young and inexperienced as me. Make such an elementally important speech at an assembly like this?", Twilight wanted to know, slightly anxious and with her ears partially laid back.
Casting the thought aside with a sideways movement of her hoof, Celestia encouraged Twilight anew.
"Phh, trust me these are utterly empty fears. More likely the opposite will be the case. They will praise you for your courage in braving to speak in front of so many of them. Despite the fact that you are much younger and in terms of life experience, as you said yourself, you still have a lot more to learn. The Council of Immortals partly consists of beings who have lived for unthinkable periods of time from the point of view of mortals. We all have far too great responsibilities for us to be corrupted by such marginal things as mutual hatred or imprudent action. We respect each other, for whoever attends the council has earned his place there as well."
"Moreover, the Alicorn has a special status among the Immortals in the Council, which should make things a lot easier for you - since we are different from other Immortals in some aspects. We also have close ties and alliances with just about every single member - Only with the Shadow Dragon Immortal, Xara, we have yet to form an alliance." Grimacing, Celestia continued. "How shall I put it - she is a little bit more than difficult and suspicious towards others. So far, none of us have managed to get more out of her than was necessary to avoid jeopardizing the safety of us all."
Looking deeply into Twilight's eyes, Celestia continued after a quick sip from her teacup. "But you are the alicorn of friendship, I'm sure it won't take you more than 5 minutes to make Xara a friend and convince her that she could trust you with her own eggs. That's also why I'm so happy for the next meeting, because I'm really interested to learn more about the Shadow Dragons. They have some more than interesting characteristics at times." Celestia finished, giving Twilight an appreciative nod.
After a brief reddening of the cheeks, Twilight gave her answer back to the two older alicorns.
"I think the pleasure will be all mine then. I'm already looking forward to writing the speech. Eeeee that's going to be so awesome.", Twilight squealed towards the end.
The other two princesses laughed and a short time later, after a short pout, Twilight joined in the laughter.
"Oh Twilight, please never change. That's the way I like you best,", Luna laughed hard. It took her several tries, as her whole body twitched with spasms of laughter.
Also having trouble speaking, Twilight gave her answer back to the older princess.
"I will try. But no promises on my part."
The three mares then laughed and joked with each other for several more minutes until they all slowly regained their composure. After each was able to sit without breaking out in renewed prompt laughter. Twilight floated the teapot to her once more and poured herself some more tea, having almost nothing left in the cup. She then looked at the other two with a slightly wry and questioning look, asking if the others also wanted some more tea.
Celestia kindly denied, but Luna held her cup closer to Twilight, so that the young mare could refill her cup.
After all present were supplied, Twilight put the pot back to its old place. But not before she shook the jug slightly back and forth, realizing that it was almost out of tee. Quickly she filled it up again with a simple water spell.
Luna and Celestia meanwhile took a few sips from their respective cups. Afterwards they waited until Twilight had also drunk something and put her cup back on the floor next to her.
Clearing her throat to sort out her thoughts, Luna began to talk anew.
"I guess we can now continue with our round of explanation?
At an approving nod from the other two mares in the room, Luna continued unrelatedly.
"As my sister had mentioned, we alicorns have a special status in the Council. This is not solely because we have exceptionally strong abilities. But largely because we possess two very unique and powerful aspects."
"You see, an alicorn is, with the exception of the draconequus Discord, the only being that can be called ´True Immortal´ - and yes, I'm well aware that you're dying to know what the heck that means," Luna hastly added, seeing Twilight's wings twitching wildly with tension and also having trouble keeping herself in check.
Okay...I knew Twilight was very interested in new knowledge. Normally at this level of expectant excitement, I would really worry about her health, if she wasn't an alicorn. But a simple anti-sound spell should be enough, once I start explaining to her. Just to be on the safe side. Don't want the whole army rushing here, to try breaking down the door. Even if they wouldn't even manage to dent it in the slightest.
At this thought, Luna activated her horn in characteristic magic and cast a sound-absorbing spell on the entire room that prevented outsiders from hearing what was going on inside. The spell on the walls brighely shimmering, until it faded out of view not two seconds later.
That little problem out of the way, Luna happily turned her attention back to the overly enthusiastic ball of fluff that was somehow Princess Twilight Sparkle. She had to smirk, once she saw the full view in front of her.
"Please Twilight. Don't get high on joy, we don't want a repeat of before, do we?"
Looking somewhat caught and embarrassed, Twilight hastily apologized, albeit somewhat loudly. Though she had very much heard the amusement in Luna's voice.
"SORRY!"
Laughing to herself, Celestia replied more quickly than Luna.
"There's nothing you have to apologize for. I can very well understand your enthusiasm, Twilight. I'm pretty sure I'd be just as impatient in your situation. So it's better if we start at once with going deeper into the theme. Agree?"
As Twilight nodded, having caught herself almost fully. Celestia looked back to her sister, indicating her with also a nodding gesture that she could resume.
Also nodding that she understood, Luna continued.
"So, back to the question, what is a ´True Immortal´? It's actually really quite simple, the only real difference of an Immortal to a True Immortal, is the fact that we are no longer bound by the concept of life and death. And yes, that means we transcend the boundaries that normally limit any living being, whether mortal; immortal; spiritual; conceptual or otherwise. No matter what would happen to reality, we would be unaffected by it on all levels and could continue to live as we did before. Also we possess a kind of Cosmic Awareness, bound to our Cosmic Powers. What that is, could be better learned from a book. I will give it to you latter this day, if thats okay with you."
Luna had to pause for a moment as Twilight's look was more than irritated. She had furrowed her brow in bewilderment, because as it seemed, she still had medium difficulties to believe just off the top of her head that there could be a being. That was able to bypass laws that were otherwise unavoidable, just like that. Disregarding Discord for once, since as the spirit of chaos he already made no sense to others anyway.
Somehow comprehending it as well, as that was already a more than curious thought, Luna nodded to her Alicorn friend with a good-natured smile.
"Believe me Twilight. If you knew how much Celestia and I had doubted that statement for the first time. Then you would know that I'm not telling you nonsense. So, I suggest you let me tell you what I know and then you can ask questions at the end if you have still any. Okay?"
Nodding in agreement, Twilight gave her silent answer.
"Alright, where was I again? Ah yes, I was explaining to you that we are unaffected by our surroundings physically and mentally. I wasn't joking about either of it. Our existence is just simply of too immense importance for us alicorns to get along with just normal forces."
Starting to make a scene, to indulge a mysterious atmosphere, just out of fun. Luna let her voice drop a few notes and explained further. "Besides, the Alicorn species is much older than you might think. Consequently, we are preserved and protected by the power of the oldest magic there is, the magic of the Divine: Or in simpler words - > pure Alicorn magic - and you have experienced, even with your short power hiccup, how potent our magical powers are."
"We will get deeper into the thematic, in just a couple of minutes. But after I told you why we're so different from the other immortals. And why we have such a special status among them, that you believe what I explained to you a minute ago."Finished Luna, looking again deep into the clear, sharp eyes of the lavender colored alicorn opposite her.
True, Twilight didn't say anything or move for the first few minutes after Luna stopped talking. Nevertheless, it was evident in her eyes that she was thinking at a breakneck pace, probably impossible for most to realize and to complex to understand. As she sorted and processed the individual information.
After she had sorted out her thoughts as far as possible, Twilight shock her head and raised her voice again.
"Okay, if I've understood correctly, you've just told me that we have highly unique abilities. Which make us independent of space and time, so we can pretty much do whatever we want. As well as protect us from critical dangers that could hinder our existence."
Twilight then briefly looked Luna in the eye to make sure that everything she had put together was correct.
Luna nodded briefly, because so far Twilight had interpreted everything correctly. And I don't assume that our dear Twilight has misunderstood anything.
"The powers we possess are in their nature derived from our own alicorn magic and further strengthen us. I assume possibly other allies as well. Which in reverse means, that we have more power to strengthen us. And thus, our forces continue to grow. Which means we possess more power in our position." Twilight then rolled her hoof in a circle to indicate that she could go on and on with the thought.
Twilight worked her hoof around in circles for several more seconds, lost deep in thought, before returning to reality with her mind.
"What I don't quite understand, however, is the point about age. Weren't you two the first two alicorns that existed? And well, since Equestria was founded more than 15,500 years ago and you were the only regents so far. That must mean that our species must be at least 15,500 years old.
Nodding her head, Celestia now joined in the conversation of the other two alicorn mare's. As she raised her voice, she also created a holographic, three dimensional time-line and landscape to underline her talking and explaining.
"Perfect Twilight. I couldn't have said it better myself. Our powers protect and strengthen us and others, as you had already figured out. Which means that we have more power to protect and strengthen us - a simple but very effective eternal cycle - yet an ability that ensures that we don't necessarily have to obey the normal laws. And are able to live out our own ways. And to put a number on it, Equestria was founded 15,612 years ago. But we were already 143 and 147 years old when we accepted our role as princesses. But that's just our physical age, not our true-"
"And I even have it on very good authority that in the distant future that will help us in some way. As well as that we alicorns will be able to realize the task of guiding and protecting everything and everyone we want to," Luna interjected into her sister's conversation with Twilight. She then gave Celestia an apologetic look for interrupting her like that and laid her ears back.
"Ehhh sorry!"
Somewhat surprised, Twilight now turned to Luna, "Why are you so sure, Luna?"
Turning her head fully toward the younger alicorn, Luna replied.
"As I'm sure my sister was about to tell you before I interrupted her. Was the fact that while we were the first alicorns and have the highest age of just under 15,800 years. This is by far not the realistic age of the alicorns. As that lays by far much higher. Actually none of us know or could know the exact number."
Lifting her hoof to slow down Twilight, who had already opened her muzzle to say something in reply, Luna continued to tell the story unrelatedly.
"Before you ask what I mean by this, I and my sister would be very happy to tell you. You should have noticed that I talked about two very special aspects before. And we've only dealt with one of them so far, so let's get straight to the point."
While Luna was also creating a little hologram, she also used her magic to conjure up one of the special books from the restricted area of the Canterlot library. And then promptly placed it between the three Alicorns on another of the pillows.
The book was relatively thin for a reading, maybe fity pages. So one could argue, if it even counted as a 'book'. It nonetheless possessed an impressive level of detais based on the cover alone. The cover of said book was made out of some sort of...well, ribbed fabric textile and was held in a dark blue to white transition from left to right. It also had several gracefully curved golden embellishments along the edge and spine. But on first glance, they looked like random symbols, not anything related to the book content. In the center of said cover was a black silhouette of a majestic alicorn in a rearing pose with an illuminated horn. Around which circled several lines of magical energies.
Seeing the curiosity in Twilight's eyes, both other princesses smiled. They obviously had expected something like that, as the book kind of was impressive to look at. Even if someone didn't have any clue what could be written in it.
"Don't be so hasty dearest. We'll get to the book later. Let me first explain fully before you can jump into reading it unhindered," Luna held the youngest of the three alicorns in check with words."
Blushing considerably, with twitching wingtips and still looking longingly in the direction of the book, not half a meter away from her, Twilight sat down again neatly. Folded the lavender wings to her sides and sat the front hooves beside each other, as she waited for the explanation promised to her.
Acknowledging the decorum briefly, Luna began to talk. "Now then, the second distinctive feature of an alicorn is its further title as a primordial being. And just as the title implies, we are even older than the universe itself. We really have no limits to our jurisdiction and are often called elder goddesses, or for the really formal guys primordial elder goddesses".
Twilight made a brief attempt to interrupt the older alicorn opposite her. But decided against it and silently closed her muzzle again.
"Hmmmm. It's probably for the best if I demonstrate it on yourself as an example," Luna suggested. "Up until now, you've probably assumed that Celestia was responsible for you gaining your status as an alicorn, am I right?" Luna enquiried with a slight tilt of her head towards Twilight.
Fluffing her wings slightly, Twilight returned her answer to the blue princess. "Eh well yes, until a few hours ago at least. But since we've been talking about all this, I've had slight doubts about whether that's the right theory or not. Especially as Celestia had mentioned something like that before - prior to my 'little' outburst. And well, now that you ask me exactly that, I assume that this is not the case entirely. Isn't that right, Celestia?" Twilight replied, turning to the oldest alicorn.
Nodding slightly in agreement, Celestia answered the question posed to her in the affirmative, whereupon the young, lavender-colored alicorn turned back to her former interlocutor. Ready to listen further to her telling.
"Exactly! As my sister has already confirmed to you. Neither she nor any of the rest of us were involved in your ascension. That honor belongs solely to you and no one else. For even if you were unaware of it until now, an alicorn cannot be created. For it is simply not possible to create a being stronger than yourself, as alicorn magic is already the extreme of power. Either a pony has always been an alicorn or it can never be an alicorn.
Sitting up and spreading her wings to the extreme, until they trembled with tension, Luna continued. Grinning gleefully.
"And as you can plainly see, we exist, therefore confirming the first case undoubtedly."
Also smiling, Twilight and Celestia followed Luna's demonstration and spread their wings as well. The room darkening noticeably, as alicorn wings weren't exactly considered small. Each wing coming to a full length of a little more than the hight of the pony they belonged to. And even, despite the fact that Twilight was far from full-grown. Even she already had a wingspan of almost 12.5 feet. The wings also were covered with almost twice as many feathers as the counterpart of a Pegasus. By which light was almost entirely prevented from penetrating the feathering. Only the natural glow of the individual appendages, brithening the surroundings within the embrace of the three alicorns by some degree. Creating a pleasingly beautiful swirling of modest colors.
Whereupon the gesture completed, all three alicorns, after briefly trying to resist the sensation, but failing miserably, bursted out laughing once again and pulled each other closer with their respective wings. The laughter was so loud that if the silence spell had not been over the room. For sure all the guards of the castle would have run to Celestia's chambers in panic. If the room probably hadn't collapsed beforehand, thanks to concrete rambling laughter, of three more than happy primordial goddesses.
All the princesses, after around one and a half minute of exesive joy, lingered in their wing embrace for several more minutes, saying nothing, but simply enjoying the warmth of the other mares without a care. Giggling here and there once in a while.
But as beautiful as the moment was, the three were far from finished with their round of talks. Therefore, they dismissed each other shortly thereafter, even if they longingly thought about the embrace and folded their wings neatly back against their own sides to continue talking. But not before each poured herself another large cup of hot tea.
"Okay, all kidding aside. As previously stated, no one but yourself was responsible with you becoming an alicorn. It was, if you want to put it that way, your destiny, but just as undeniable as that after one comes two," Luna smiled in friendly manner. "Still, you should know that even though an alicorn's mind is already considerably more advanced and developed since birth than other ponies. It's body is not necessarily yet and it takes years for your physical form to adapt to your mental one. Why this is so, not one of us three can explain, but we know that it is a fact.
Nevertheless, as I can only imagine, you are certainly asking yourself how it is possible for a pony to become an Alicorn. And even more how you did it without knowing it. That to explain however, I leave to my sister."
"Celestia!"
Clearing her throat and taking another quick sip of tea, Celestia began.
"The method by which a pony becomes an alicorn is unknown to anyone but an alicorn at the moment. Partly for the reason that it wouldn't do anyone any good if they knew the true answer. Indeed, there is no explicit spell that could be learned or which is already known for this purpose to achieve. If ponys knew, they could get the thought of trying to find a way to access alicornhood. Even gamble for the knowledge to know, as there obviously has to be a secret, as four Mares had done it before them. But there is and will be no way. They solely would trow away many years of their life, maybe even all of it. If they truly belive there has to be a way.
Nevertheless Luna and I, at that time, decided to name the phenomenon as a spell. As we didn´t know, what else it possibly could describe it better than that. It was magic, used so far unknown formulas to accomplish and overall looked cool", Celestia jokingly added. "Out of that came the divine ascension spell, and before you complain how utterly unimaginative that sounds. We were 13 and 17 when we became Alicorns, there was nothing there but juvenile nonsense, in the head of us both."
"That's also why there's the 14-kilometer-deep Ponyan-Trench in the South Luna Ocean," Luna interjected with a giggle. "Man, that was a spectacle, we definitely need to do that again sometime Tia!"
Rolling her eyes and simply ignoring her sister, Celestia continued. Nope, not doing that again. One time is enough, the few ponys that witnessed that day thought the sky was burning. I'm still somewhat sorry for the fright they must have had for about two minutes. Luckily we were able to assure them, that 'no the doomsday isn't today'.
"The divine ascension spell is a spell that an alicorn intuitively casts on themselves when they are ready to transform and ascend to their true form. There's no secret to this spell, no repeatability, nor any trace that it existed even in the first place. It...well...just happens."
"To accomplish this, we burn up all of our internal magical resources that we had at our disposal for the time being. And lapse into a kind of comatose state due to the short-term over-exertion of our magic afterwards. Well, and theoretically, we also die in the short term due to the aftershock. But that's a marginal point that can be neglected," Celestia waved off with her hoof. Luna just rolled her eyes and even Twilight abdicated the point straight forward. "However, this is necessary so that our spirit can safely enter the Astral Plane for the first time. Each subsequent time afterwards, this will no longer be necessary, so no need to worry," Celestia assured her former student and newest fellow with a friendly nod.
"After the stable connection, upon ascension and receiving wings; horn or both, is made in the Astral Plane. The critical part starts. Our body is overwhelmed by the incoming divine magic all at once. And in the first few hours, that could become problematic to the environment if nothing is done - as you've just recently experienced firsthand what kind of effects we can have on our environment."
"That's also the most important reason, why I came to Ponyville when I sensed the moment was there for you to become an alicorn. Because the only two ways to prevent a newly ascended alicorn from unintentionally causing any space warps, rifts or the like with their magic. Is if another alicorn supports the younger one and either absorbs the outgoing magic itself or, in the even simpler, and also much easier case, channels it back into the Astral Plane."
From this point on, Luna took the floor once again.
"I would have actually also liked to come to congratulate and support you, however I was prevented. As there was a fierce dispute among the nobles and most literal the scraps flew. But nothing a princess of Equestria couldn't settle with ease," Luna said, slightly scowling but still with a mischievous twinkle in her eyes. "I hope you'll forgive me for this, I really would have loved to have been there."
Shrugging her shoulders, Twilight nodded happily to the dark blue princess.
"No problem, I was way too overwhelmed that day anyway to let something so trivial bother me. After all, we had seen and greeted each other the next day. That was sufficient enough for my opinion. Well and you didn't really miss anything you hadn't already known anyway."
"Still, I would have liked to have been present Twilight - But what's past is past."
Both Mares shortly made a pause in talking, until Luna spoke up anew.
"But - I'm pretty sure, even though it was all very informative so far, you finally would want to know what's in the book. Don't you?", Luna teased with a cheeky smile towards Twilight.
Twilight blushed slightly and scratched the back of her head with her front hoof.
"He, he. Is it really that noticeable?"
"Yes," came the laughing reply from the other two princesses.
Gripping the book in golden magic and handing it to the youngest member, Celestia nodded to Twilight.
"Here you go. Knock yourself out."
"Thank you!" replied Twilight delightedly, practically ripping the book out of Celestia's into her own magic and placing it on a stand of magic in front of her, as she examined the cover curiously.
~ Primordial Being: The Alicorn ~
The Mothers of The Universe
Author: L. N. Everfree and C. S. Everfree
"L. N. Everfree and C. S. Everfree? I didn't even knew you had written a book."
Shaking her head, Luna answered the lavender alicorn.
"You couldn't have known about it either, remember? This is one of the books that can be found in the restricted area. But yes, most of the books that can be found there have been written by Celestia, Cadance, and me. You will surely write some more and add them to our knowledge and collection. As in those books is everything, we have found out so far about ourselves as Alicorns or the universe in some cases."
"Some of the things in this book also may probably be very unusual to you by now. And you may wonder how we know such things. But I can assure you, when you are fully grown and reach your full strength, you will be able to remember fragments and hopefully even more for your own over time. I am confident, together we will be able to piece together our entire prehistoric history. And maybe. But only maybe we will publish the books one day."
"Sadly so far we can't. We still know too little about ourselves to share it with other ponies," Celestia interposed herself between the conversation of her sister and Twilight. "BUT as always, that doesn't exclude your friends. They as well have as much of a right to know what one of their closest friends and leader is like. What she can do, where she comes from, and what we alicorn's strive for."
Nodding, Twilight gave her silent answer at first, but then spoke nonetheless.
"Yes, this would have been one of my first moves. To enlighten my friends about all what I have learned today and will surely learn in the future. After all, lying is the fastest way to lose a friend - Because Friendship isn't always easy, but there's no doubt, it's worth fighting for." Clearing her throat as well, Twilight continued. "So? There's unknown information about us and our origins in this book that no one but the three of you knew about until recently? And I'll be able to remember someday when I'm fully grown, too?"
Eagerly nodding and nudging, Luna encouraged her friend Twilight to finally start reading.
Fluffing her Wings in slight annoyance, Twilight looked to Luna. "Yeah, yeah! All right, I'm reading, I´m reading," Twilight laughed in response, opening the book to the first page.
Inside the book, on the first page, was an Index of Contents, from which Twilight could identify that on the first 3 pages, after the Index, of the book were detailed, correct anatomical diagrams of an alicorn. And there was text only on the first 12 pages of the book. The rest were drawings, calculations and other scientific diagrams. That cleared basic facts about their species."
Since Twilight already knew, like actually every pony that didn't fall on its head, what the anatomy of a pony looked like. And as she had further informed herself extensively after her ascent. About her 2 new limbs and everything else that had changed. She turned to the 10th page of the book to start the interesting part of reading.
Quest in Universe:
The species of the alicorns is the oldest primordial life form that exists at all. They were known as the 'Prime Source' of the universe, and also a 'Prime Being', as it is said they were responsible for the big bang - however, the Alicorns were not really further involved in the emergence after they triggered it. The arrangement of the galaxies with their solar systems, planets, moons, etc. (only with exception of their own galaxy) is based on the random principle of the expansion of the universe and not the doing of them.
Furthermore Storys visualize alicorns as the ultimate incarnation of good and purity. As far as the knowledge is updated that neither could be claimed to be true nor false. BUT it has to be noted that the alicorns managed to uphold peace, order and purity throughout their entire existence at every single place they were mentioned. Even places that were documented to be visited millenias ago, still remain in a state free of every imaginable dark influence and often heal and protect entities living and traveling there.
Comming back to the question how they could be responsible for the big bang: Previously to the Big Bang, the entire mass of the universe was compressed to an infinitesimally small and dense point, everything in perfect harmony with each other. Moreover, the Alicorns consisted only of their mental aspects, because a physical body also they could not have at this 'time' yet. (Whereby this is actually wrongly expressed, because time, space and everything else did not exist yet either) - This sadly means how long they have already lived before the big bang, none of them can know, because time-space did not exist.
At some point they had the desire to be more than only thoughts and had decided together the plan to set free all their energy which was available to them. That action was later known, to have released the big bang. They were aware that they could not control the expansion and therefore there would be no more perfect harmony. And besides by the acute emergence of a space-time-continuum, they would find themselves their respective minds at one blow in indeterminate time and space distances to each other. As the big bang also made it possible for time and space to exist in an independent way to each other, creating an separation not even an alicorn could see the outcome. As they never before had the change to consider the consept of time and objects in different times. By known knowledge and own observations, an alicorn is able to think four-dimensional since they accessed their physical body for the first time. And consider and anticipate objects, persons or other types of matter in various times to one another and themself. Giving them by now, the ability to be almost capable to forsee every action that one would exceed. Even considering future and past, enabling them to shape actions in time and therefore making them the only known entity capable of traveling, and safely altering time in it's basic components.
The ability isn't one hundred percent flawless, as that would require them to be truly omnipotent. But the chances of unpredictable consequences is so low, one can call the skill flawless in all regards.
However, they also knew that after the explosion they could collect matter around their mentality with which they could create a body [As it was afterwards confirmed, the alicorns had designed the basic body structure and appearance in arrangement of their fellows, as their minds were already absolute immortal and the created body would adapt to it. (The physical alicorn body developed the abilities over time himself, to grant them the potential they should possess.)]
→ Short Version: In each given moment, their physical body improves (evolves) to perfectly match the mentality of an alicorn and the potential it grants them. That also happens to be a unique ability of alicorns, as nothing else is known to be able to evolve that fast. It only might take them some das to months, to develope a new skill, but it also could be years, decades or centurys. That all also further improves the cognitive abilities, as well as the intelligence of the alicorns, over time. The final endpoint of their increase in abilities and power isn't known - if it even exists in the first place.
In the end however they all fasted the final plan - whichever of them would be the very first to possess their individual body, seen from the beginning of the Big Bang - should create their very own section in the universe, where all alicorns could then gather to carry out their mission to restore the desired balance. Of peace, harmony and balance throughout the entire universe.
--> [Thanks to the unmistakable signature of their alicorn kind it was afterwards an easy task for the other mentalities to locate the place instinctive. In addition, the signature identifies Equus and the galaxy in which he is located as belonging to the alicorns. Therefore, the planet has remained untouched by evil or vile species for the past nearly fourteen millennia. Virtually no one would be foolish enough to attack the loved home of gods. Alicorns are very peaceful and just, but they are also the protectors of all living beings on their planet and the guardians of balace in the cosmos. They do not kill, but would be willing to make the decision and command if there is absolutely no other option.]
→ Further research also revealed that between the Big Bang and the manifestation of the alicorn spirits into a physical body, for them no time at all passend. It's like the big bang happend and they were born immediately afterwards. Even if Twilight, for example, was born 12.8 billion years after the big bang.
Unfortunately, as mentioned alicorns are 'only' almost Omniscient. Therefore they could not foresee that they would not be able to attain their desired body directly and upon materializing into a physical body. As well as that they would temporarily suffer a temporary loss of their memories of everything before. [This effect is known to last until several hours after they have attained their full powers and with an age of at least 25].
→ Furthermore, to the present day they lost most of their Omnipotent/Omnikinetic Prime Source/Being Abilities. But nonetheless can be addressed as the by far most powerful being in the cosmos. Furthermore, as already described above, alicorns are not omniscient, otherwise they would have known what happens after the big bang. Nevertheless, one must pay them the due respect that they are unbelievably clever, cunning and knowledge-rich and therefore always were able to solve or answer every problem/question put to them.
As luck (or faith) would have it, the first two ever known alicorn sisters to appear in physical form - later known as Celestia Solaris Everfree and Luna Noctis Everfree were thrown into the same time and space together. [Yes, as crazy as it sounds, the alicorns are all related, not on a biological basis as far as they know, but on an emotional level to each other they are closer than to anyone else. They consider each other as the closest family and will defend the statement as the same.].
Luna and Celestia created afterwards, as agreed with their kind comrades, in one of the coincidentally formed galaxies (which was satisfactory from the basic structure) the most important objects like suns; moons; Equus and further, in order to be able to build an own world - this selected galaxy is adapted since then again and again at the will and desires of all alicorns together. (Times a meteorite belt here, a moon or planet there, etc.).
→ At last, there's no superior alicorn on Eques/Equis, they all rule equally together. With the Difference that the Title 'Ruler of Equestria', indicates who's most responsible for the well-being of the Kingdom and does technically have the highest significance. In reality however, the chances are almost 1 to infinity, that they would use their significance to overrule their fellows. They will rotate the title now and then between all four. [Furthermore, Ponies are highly social, so most of the Cities pretty much run on their own.]
After Twilight had finished reading the text, she flipped somewhat mindlessly through various diagrams and calculations as she roughly skimmed them. As in reality, she was more sorting out her own thoughts than really paying much attention to what was printed.
All right. That was quite a lot of information at once. And moreover, what for such! An alicorn? A prehistoric being? Prime source of the universe? Lost most of its powers until today, but is still nearly omnipotent?! How bucking strong would be be, vise versa were we, if we had all the power we had 12.8 billion years before? Older than the universe itself? Luna and Celestia created a whole galaxy? And according to the text, Cadance is also actively working to create order. I should ask one of the three, or better all at the same time, how they do it. It sounds too interesting not to want to get involved. Twilight’s joy was mostly located in her head, but it started to seep in the wake world as the corners of her muzzle ever so slightly curved upwards.
Shaking her head slightly back and forth to either classify or dispel the last scraps of thoughts, Twilight turned back to her two alicorn fellows.
"As you can imagine, the book has raised quite a few questions for me. However, I need to think about what exactly I want to ask first. Can I come back to it later?"
Twilight laid her ears back slightly, because even though she could be quite relaxed in the presence of the other princesses by now. However, she still got a little nervous. But that too would surely disappear with time. She had enough time for that after all. Twilight remarked to herself mockingly in thoughts.
At Twilight's question, both older alicorns nodded immediately.
"Of course, dearest, you can always come to us and ask what you want to know. We will help you as best as we can according to our own knowledge. But please remember that even we don't know everything. There are still things, we all have to figure out."
"And don't be scared if it's late in the evening. We're always willing to help you out. Even though my sister is probably more made for the night sessions. After all, she's there as well as on duty and has nothing better to do." Celestia winked at her sister. Who stuck her tongue out cheekily in response.
Looking at the clock herself, Twilight noted that yes, it was already getting late today. Still she was somewhat lost.
Strange, I never felt fatigue or ill since I became an alicorn. I've always seen that as just a side effect of my magic being much more potent as a result of ascension. It was also incredibly practical not to have to take a break while studying and experimenting. Hmmm. After all, I never saw Luna and Celestia sleep themselves. Therefore, I simply assumed that they either regenerate faster than they tire because of their connection to the celestial bodies. Or an alicorn just gets along incredibly long without the need to sleep - Probably the later, as if I'm able to drink highly letal substances like a good tasty apple juice, I probably shouldn't worry about the fact I don't tire out. Who would complain about that anyway? Still I'd better ask them about it later once more - after all I've never been awake myself for more than 2 1/2 weeks at a stretch.
"Thank you, Luna! Thank you, Celestia! I think I'll seek out your knowledge more than once, after all, you have much more life experience than I do." Now grinning cheekily, she continued. "And oh boy, will I arrive at times you didn't think possible. After all, it's already half past eleven and I suppose you have still some things you want to explain to me?"
"Right! So let us best proceed without delay."
Celestia actually wanted to start speaking anew. But was interrupted once again by Twilight. The Mare seemed to have gotten an question, that couldn't wait until later.
"Sorry! But now I do have two questions."
"Oh? Go ahead!"
"I would like to come back to the point about our age and the council of Immortals.
Both addressed Alicorns nodded and waited patiently to hear what Twilight wanted to know.
"Well, aren't some of the immortals in the Council millions, if not billions, of years old? How can it be that they all have such a high respect for us alicorns, when they already have much more life experience? Yes, I can understand the respect aspect for the most part. After all, we were responsible for the expansion of the universe. But still, in contrast to some of them, we should seem like newborns?"
Twilight now had a puzzled look on her face and seemed to have real trouble understanding why the situation was the way it was.
Nodding understandingly, Luna took the lead in speaking.
"Partly, I had already expected this question. After all, it's a very good thought. And your right. Of the 148 different types of beings. With a total of 194 members present at best, Raheal, the immortal of the Xenta. A smaller race of Gargoyles in a galaxy really far away from Equestria - unreachable for mortals and even most of the immortals, but not for an being that has cosmic powers like we do. It took some weeks, to set up a stable link between the place of the council and the homeworld of Xenta. Let alone putting up the protective bars to keep unauthorized creatures out. For the sole reason that we do not know how a mortal would react to the conference site if he came into contact with it. Not surprisingly, as it is not a forest and meadow place like you find almost everywhere. You better be safe and sound, when dealing with that - Is estimated to be 4.2 billion years old. By far the oldest of all."
Luna paused for clear thoughts.
"However, physical age is not all that matters. We may be 'only' 15,800 years old. Yet we possess an intellect that surpasses that of others. And are able to make foresights; decisions or complex calculations that most others would not be able to do in the first place, in a matter of seconds. That alone has earned us the respect of many. Most have chosen the alicorns as the leaders of the Council and followed us because they believe we make the most appropriate decisions. If it ever comes down to it. But that's only been the case twice so far."
“Nevertheless, we assume that even if we were not cognitively active, we influenced the course of events. After all, the universe must have been stabilized before Luna and me," Celestia added to her sister's statement.
"Yeah, seems plausible", Twilight nodded. "But still, I would like to squeeze in a question 1.5 - Where and what exactly is this so called 'Council of Immortals'? Seems pretty special, besides the fact it's a place for gattering of dozens of individual, very important and vital for their species to survive, immortals. And lastly my second thing I wanted to ask is. When I had my outburst, I was no longer quite in control of my own powers, but I was still able to clearly perceive everything around me. Therefore I had noticed, that cracks and holes were forming around me - you know, white ones behind which nothing could be seen. Could it be, that those were cracks in reality?" Twilight finished, while her ears straightened forward expectantly and her wings once again fanned out slightly with excitement. Small multicoloured bursts of magic once again exceding from her wings.
Nodding, Celestia affirmed this statement.
"Yes, they were cracks in space-time. Not small ones, I might add. My congratulations for that, although of course it would be better if you could leave reality intact. An alicorn might easily survive that, but there are others who are attached to reality - figuratively speaking. I don't think reality could have withstood much more in your immediate vicinity. Your 'attack' was very powerful already. But I wouldn't worry, even a harder damage could have been repaired relatively easy."
Briefly scratching her chin with her hoof, Celestia explained further.
"The size of the crack doesn't really matter, either. It's just as easy to repair as a small tear, it just takes a bit longer. Because a tear in space-time contains nothing except absolute emptiness. And where there's nothing, it can't get any worse, am I right?" Celestia finished this time, laughing, and Twilight and Luna also fell into a light giggle.
"But back to the topic at hoof. While we're at it, I can explain why the cracks appeared in the first place and how we can close them again. That's generally very relevant knowledge for an alicorn. And really, you'd be genuinely surprised how many times we've repaired minor fractures or the like so far. It does not necessarily take violent amounts of energies or the like to create rifts in the space-time continuum. At random times it just happens, the universe sometimes has 'bugs', if you can call it that."
Twilight's only response was to nod her head briefly and to perk up her ears even more, leaning forward more towards the white princess. Celestia was sure that if the lavender alicorn continued like this, she would fall over relatively quickly and poke her snout into the pillow. But she would wait and see. What wouldn't one do for a little bit of fun.
"The cracks that have appeared around you in reality are relatively easy to explain. As the alicorn of magic, you have supreme control over magic as you are aware by yourself. If you want the magical powers to work differently or take an alternate path than they intended to. Then it is possible for you with child's playful ease to achieve the results as well—."
"But now imagine that if it is possible for you with ease to change the flow and function of magical forces. What would happen, if in an instant, you were flooded with amounts of magic previously unknown to you!?"
Celestia now looked deeply into Twilight's eyes, prompting her to give her answer as to what she suspected.
"Well, I'm going to assume I directed the flow of magic in my direction. Because after all, every second that had passed, I felt stronger and stronger, flooded with magic. And that somehow then had the effect of making space-time unstable. But why?" Twilight concluded, while lightly massaging her temples with her front hoof, hoping to think better.
Celestia and Luna both could have told Twilight with ease. After all, they already knew the answer, or they wouldn't have asked the question in the first place. Still, the two alicorns waited for Twilight to figure it out herself. The mare was exceedingly intelligent, even for an alicorn, and both were sure that even without their help, the solution was only seconds away.
A short, loud exclamation not 15 seconds later confirmed their assumption. And Twilight happily leaned forward to tell the two princesses what she had discovered.
Expectedly as pondered before, the action of the young, lavender alicorn had consequences for herself. After all, she would have fallen over long ago before, if there hadn't be her innate pegasus magic keeping her on her haunches. Unfortunately even that type of magic couldn't outpass physic laws. That was solely unique to alicorn magic, but Twilight didn't know that by now. On top of that, she was still some years to young to achieve these kind of abilities. Therefore, she hit with a quiet Ummph and under hard laughing of the two other princesses, frontally with the muzzle into the cushions spread out on the floor. She also had tried to stabilize herself with spreading her wings in order to generate a powerful recoil. However, she hadn't been fast enough and so the two huge appendages were thrashing uncontrollably through the air, creating a sight that only made the two witnesses of the mishap laugh harder.
"Oh Twilight. Please, you need to do that more often, that was divine." Laughed Luna and her sister Celestia couldn't do more than simply nod.
Her wings back under control, Twilight pushed herself back into an upright sitting position with same and subsequently began to straighten the feathers. There weren't many that were out of line, but being the famously perfect mare she was, she couldn't let that pass.
Twilight, however, took longer than she normally would have to straighten her wings. For she too found the misfortune immensely gratifying and could only too well imagine the sight that must have been.
"Hrhmm, aside from what just happened. I think I have the answer to why space-time became unstable. The cracks started from me, according to my memory. The strength of them diminished the further away they were away. However, the longer I pulled on the construct of reality, the bigger, stronger and broader the cracks and holes spread from me. That concludes for myself that - as, an alicorn is a being with characteristics of combined unicorn, earth pony and pegasus parts. I am therefore certain that it was not my active magical abilities alone that led to this result. But a union of all three aspects.
"And as I found out only recently, there are four not three different basic forms of pony magic. Unicorn magic, earth pony magic, pegasus magic and the by far strongest, alicorn magic. Because this one stands as a link between all three others and not only has the properties and abilities of all three, but much more." Twilight paused briefly to collect herself for a moment."
"Considering the facts that I can easily influence the flow of magic, we alicorns were and certainly still are connected to the universe on the deepest level according to this book here. And Celestia further explained that the strength of the destruction makes no difference in the repair process, it just will take longer. That all leaves me to conclude that the restoration, is the opposite of my previous action.
Meaning, adding our Alicorn magic into the universe, where I had previously pulled the magic out. Is that right? Or am I right?", asked Twilight mischievously to the other two.
Giving Twilight her moment, Celestia waited a few seconds before she agreed.
"Yes, you are absolutely right, our magic can regenerate the universe. And thus prevents the entropy of the cosmos from progressing further. This includes actions like renewing burned-out stars or preventing all energy from being pulled into infinitely dense black holes or lastly dissipating into heat. A task that has no end and funny enough, isn't exactly as much of a trouble than one would think it is. Most of the work our magic does passively already for us by itself. And I'm very grateful for that, otherwise I don't think we would be able to do anything other than solely this."
"Because the more we evolve, the larger our magical reservoir, the astral plane, becomes. As a result, we have more energy available to counteract entropy."
Surprised, Twilight looked into Celestia's eyes.
"You mean we keep the universe running by counteracting the second law of thermodynamics. But that would require unimaginably large amounts of energy and universal reach to do so. Does the astral plain really contain that much magic and span to achieve that effect?"
Celestia nodded again, confirming the question.
"Yes, the astral plane contains all the magic of the alicorns that is not stored directly in our bodies. When we use up the magic, or rather the mana - the pure form of power of all magical activities, the dimension replenishes the deficit, while the used mana flows back and is recycled there. After that, it is available to us again in full. Also, the astral plane expands throughout by a slightly exponential factor. I think the concept of mana, using it, getting it recycled, using it again and all that isn't new to you? After all every equus magic, except the one of alicorn's, runs by the same concept."
"And since it is a subdimension that exists completely independent of any reality. I cannot tell you exactly whether the astral plane is not even larger than the universe we inhabit. It may or may not be. Probably we will never know," Celestia replied, shrugging her shoulders.
Now Luna rejoined the conversation.
"So, in summary, we can say that we are the pillars of our reality of sorts, and with our magic we ensure that the universe does not collapse in on itself. By making all matter fizzle out into radiation or heat.", Luna once again summarized for all present to understand.
Her Summary completed, Luna turned back to Twilight.
" Well then. Do you have any more questions so far?"
Shaking her head, Twilight answered the question she had just been given.
"At the moment, no. Later, maybe."
"Feel free to ask anytime!"
"Tia, would you like to, or should I continue?"
"You're welcome to continue. I'll interfere when I have something to add."
With a nod, Luna accepted her sister's answer. But before she continued, she got herself and the other two a new cup of tea. Her seventh so far. Furthermore, she activated her horn and casted a special spell, that was directly tied to the kitchen and night stuff of Canterlot castle. Ordering 3 big midnight meals for her two comrades and of course Luna herself.
Afterwards she informed the two alicorns, about her doing and the three waited patiently for the maids to knock at the door. Chatting about daily things and putting the alicorn power explaining conversation aside for the moment.
After about 5 minutes of waiting there was a sudden knock at the door, signaling that the arranged food for the three mares had just arrived. The cooks even at midnight in peak form and always ready to cook additional food for the princesses, if they requested something. Furthermore, some dishes were already largely prepared and only needed a final touch.
Luna was about to invite the guard at the door into the room and had also raised herself from her pillow, but Twilight suddenly stretched out one of her wings and held Luna friendly back.
"Wait! Let me handle this. Talking about it is one thing, but you get the best experience by trying.”
Raising, Twilight trotted to the door of the room, while Luna let herself plop back onto the pillow. Pulling her wings into position once more, Twilight used her magic to unlock the door from any protective/security spells that were on it. Even though most of them were damaged, as known, and didn´t function anymore anyway. A fact that she would take care of later.
After she had opened the door about two third, the lavender mare, spotted a pegasus stallion in front of the door, which wore a dark blue armor with a crescent in blue outline among the chest. The armor had golden accents along the chest and flank. On the latter hung a short, reinforced iron sword inside a holder, the sword made of the same metal as the armor and just as elaborately decorated. Nevertheless, thereby lost not a bit of lethality - but that only so on the sidelines. The stallion would never dare to draw his sword against one of the four alicorn regents of the land -- nor should he, that would be kind of the stupist idea one could do. Not because the princesses punished one for doing so, but one would lose his job immediately on top of everyone else knowing the next day. Finding a new job afterwards was not very easy either, when every pony thought, that for no reason, one had turned against the beloved and respected regents. The Stallion would rather take his own life or go into eternal exile, then attacking the mare in front of him.
From the armor, Twilight discerned that the guard was one of Luna's, also one of the higher. Understandable, after all, the night shift was on duty right at the moment. And he didn't wear the common, a little less glamorous, but also enchanted armor, which ensured that each guard had the same appearance. A safety precaution that dated back to times thousands of years ago, when crimes were more common - if you could call an average of five in a month often. Due to the much-improved conditions in Equestria, however, there was now only about one notable crime every 1 - 1.5 months. This whole undertaking was intended to protect the guards and especially their families from random attacks by malcontents. Such a thing didn't occur anymore, as the job of a royal guard was regarded as extremely honorable service, to both Equestria and their princesses. But it had been somehow always so and everyone had become accustomed to it - therefore it made also little to no sense to change that.
Yes, it was a little hard to tell who was who among the guards, but as long as you could recognize the lieutenant, commanders and captain - It didn't really matter who you were assigned to the shift with. Talking was not really allowed on duty anyway, and you could memorize the individual voices, shifts and positions of your workmates, if you really were interested.
"Your Highness, the dinner is ready," the stallion called out, bowing deeply in courtesy. Behind him was a cart loaded with a total of six plates and three large pitchers of drink. Twilight remembered him; she had seen the young guard before. His name was Swift Shield and he had just finished his training as a palace guard about two months ago. Very well, in fact, Twilight remembered. That was also the reason why he already was a higher ranked guard - namely lieutenant. Such competent ponies, the youngest princess wanted to have in her guard one day. As at the moment, every guard stationed in her castle and the surrounding area Ponyville. Was either a solar or lunar guard, distinct from the other two alicorns.
Nodding in a very friendly manner, Twilight accepted the food cart. Swift Shield wanted to intervene verbally, because normally it was the task of the servants, or guards if none of the first was available at the time, to dish up the food. But one look into Princess Twilight's sharp eyes, with her deep caring and friendly gaze, silenced him.
He just modestly nodded and pushed the cart further in Twilight's direction. She once again gave a nod, pushed the food into Celestia's room with the help of raspberry-colored magic, and lastly closed the door behind her.
Celestia laughed softly, and Twilight gave her a questioning look.
“Twilight! Truly, you could easily talk the food out of the mouth of any stallion and possibly even mare. I think that even if you wouldn't be a princess, no one could deny you anything - due to your amiability, as good as everypony lies at your hooves", she added jokingly at the end.
Obviously, Twilight blushed like a tomato as she already did several times today, even if not as much as the first times. She was used to experience such moments today and it would certainly not become less in the future.
“Oh shush, I´m just polite, nothing more nothing less. If they want to do something for me out of their own will, then they are free to do so. If not, then I also don’t have any problem with that.”
Wanting to address another topic, Twilight steered back to the situation at hoof. “So? Who wants some dinner?”, she grinned as she served the food to both Celestia and Luna, with her magic. The meal a rich variety of several vegetables, and also a small steak – Yes, ponies could technically eat meat as their body was mostly able to process the unusual delicacie. Nethertheless, it was very rare for them to actually eat it. Except the princesses, most ponies preferred a more 'normal' meal. But Luna had found quiet a like for having meat once in a while. Probably because, very few off her nocturnal guards hadn´t eaten meat yet, or had a liking for it. Therefore, the other three tried to eat a steak once in the past, and had to consent to Luna. That yes, a steak was very, very good. So, it now was considered customary for the royal alicorn's to have their dish pimped with meat as a nightly feast - whenever they made one. Furthermore, it was not a crime to offer meat in your restaurant. Even several in Canterlot, Manehatten and one in Ponyville offered the unusual specialty.
The other two mares could only laugh as well, whereupon each of them took two of the plates and one of the filled jugs for themselves. Afterwards all three goddesses sat down to eat their meal together leisurely.
About 20 minutes later all three mares had finished their meal. And after they had put the plates back on the cart and pushed it in front of the door, so that one of the servants could take it with them. The three remained silent for another five minutes. Until Luna took the floor once more.
“Hrrhm, all right then. Before we continue with our explanations aka. descriptions, I would like to express an idea that I had during the meal. I am sure you both will like it very much. Exceptionally well indeed, in Twilight's case, at least that's what I'm assuming.
While Luna was grinning and looking over at the other two fellow alicorns, trying to read their emotions. Celestia and Twilight exchanged a brief look. To assure each other that no, neither of them knew what Luna could possibly be referring to.
It was Twilight who spoke up this time, while both mares pricked up their ears.
"Well then Luna, what's that idea? I don't want to insinuate anything, as you know, but you seem quite confident already."
Laughing into her own hoof, the dark blue princess began explaining her flash of inspiration.
"You're welcome. Well, it occurred to me during the meal and the situation how Twilight dealt with the guard who brought us the food. That maybe, it's time Twilight announces a contest for her own delegation of guards. I am even 200% sure that within a few hours more ponies will come forward, to pledge their lives and faith to one of their princesses, than would be needed. Even if most ponies don't know that the title of princess doesn't protect us, but protects them from us - oh and please, don't take this as a threat to our ponies. It is rather meant to prevent that too many ponies are too close to us, which could get them into danger by attackers of us.
Equestria does have more than enough royal guards, both in the solar and nocturnal guard, to provide enough support for each of the three of us - even four, if Cadance wouldn't have her own crystal guards already. Still, I believe it would be best if there was also a distinct Twilight Guard...ehh, or what you want to call it yourself, that is entirely up to you. Obviously, you would benefit from it the most, after all they would be yours fully to command. Your delegation of royal guards would only obey to your command and no one’s else, not even my sister, Cadance or myself. The guards, seconded to you right now, protection your castle and the surrounding governing area, as well only listen to your command because we told them so. Normally they wouldn´t, as they are entirely faithful to us - well okay in a dire, live threatening situation, they would surely listen to the commands of another princess, but so far - no!"
Luna had already began to turn back to Twilight, to hear the mares answer dedicated to her idea. But then added something more, nonetheless.
"Oh, I almost forgot. We never gave you your royal sigil, after you proved yourself ready to take Ponyville under your own, independent wing about 4 months ago. You still got only the General equestrian one, we gave you the week belatedly to your coronation. Terribly sorry for that. Luckily the documents remain legal either Way, but knowing you, you will probably renew every single one of them." Luna joked, as she conjured a small object with her magic.
"Here! That´s the way more important version of the Emblem you already got. You can destroy or keep the old one. Doesn't matter, it's now useless anyway - and probably shouldn't fall into false hooves, even if it is bound to your magic alone." Luna afterwards flicked the coin sized emblem, with her magic in Twilight's direction, where the young, lavender alicorn skillfully catched it in her own. The object was a small alicornite emblem with her six-pointed star surrounded by five smaller ones, etched on both sides. Twilight turned the emblem over and over in her magic a couple of times, searching if there was something more special about it. But didn't find anything, that would solve the mystery of how exactly that thing would make documents, she signed more secured. Because of that she looked back to Luna with a kind of incomprehensible look.
Face-hoofing herself, for forgetting something so obvious, Luna declared. "Sorry! It's made for hindering others in faking documents in your Name. That was evident I assume. When I gave you this little thing, only documents - well to be honest, every paper that´s related even closely - will be valid, if they have been marked with your sigil. The process for that quite simple. The sigil has been infused with your magic signature, since you took it in your magic, the spell obviously known to you - as it triggers, once some pony else than the creator uses his magic on the object. And as you already know it´s impossible to fake the innate, unique magic signature of someone.”
Twilight giggled, but immediately recovered. "Sorry! Hmm, yes sounds more than efficient. Could definitely be very helpful. At least, I have to admit that I was slightly afraid that someone might issue documents in my name. Well, fortunately I haven´t to deal with the problem no longer, am I'm right?”
Luna just blinked once, indicating that she had nothing more to add to the subject. Whereupon she quickly sorted through her thoughts. Around twenty seconds later, she had finished the task.
“Okay then, back to context. You may have noticed one peculiarity since you became an alicorn. Namely the fact, that you haven't been hungry at all since that moment or felt the need to rest. This I can also explain quite simply. As our entire metabolism alone is about 10x faster than that of normal ponies. Everything we eat we would consume and burn in record time - but as you might suggest, that has its justifications."
"The reason why is, that an alicorn has an extreme, never satisfied need for energy. Our alicorn abilities require a lot more energy secondly, than would be needed for the live of a common Pony. It absolutely wouldn´t be possible for us to live the same way as a pegasus would, for example. We would had to suffer massive food and drink withdrawal symptoms in no time, plaguing us within hours.”
“But, if you believe that was the worst that will happen, only then comes the worst crux - sleeping. No matter how much we would have suffered from the previous symptoms. They would be nothing compared to the sleep deprivation we would have to endure after about half a day. Beyond that point, I would give any normal pony about 1 more hour until the body could no longer take the deprivation and surrendered. If the Pony itself, psychically didn't have surrendered long ago. Thanks to our superior alicorn body and mind, we would last longer than that. But I nevertheless guess even for us, we would only have 4 to 10 days at the maximum left, until we had the desire to end our lives. Annoyingly, an alicorn can't starve, which would eventually drive us to sheer madness and therefore bring the downfall of all of Equestria in the long run. Not a nice thought in any respect. And thankfully also something we do not need to worry about”, Luna's voice was firm and calm when she said that.
"As luckily, our magic is able to supply us reliable passively and compensate the energy imbalance repeatedly without any issues. The amount of energy, an advanced unicorn had to cope, to achieve said effect, would be massive and possibly even unattainable with high-magic (Ritual-magic) artifacts. For an alicorn, as expected, this is not a particularly large amount, since our internal magic store alone is much, much larger than that of a unicorn - no matter how successful it may be, could get. There would be a way around the effect, without this ability, however it would take the entire castle kitchen 24/7 around the clock to keep the four of us from the feeling of starving. And that alone would be a financial ruin." Luna summarized laughingly, with a slightly absent look and her wingtips slightly rustling. Probably coloring the pictures in her mind.
"I can only imagine that the cooks and servants would be more than apprehensive, if they had to provide us with oodles of food and we still rampaged through Equestria with ravenous hunger. As we devour everything that is edible. Truly an experience I am glad is not about to occur."
The other two alicorns nodded in agreement as well, with the thought in the back of their minds, cringing slightly, as they pulled their wings closer to their body in tension. Nope, not a thing someone would wish to witness.
That's why all three mares needed a good minute to process the thought. Should something like this ever happen to them, they would certainly feel so ashamed that they desired the ground to open up and swallow them.
Something that with the powers an alicorn possessed, wasn´t actually an such far graped idea if one thought about it. But anyway.
"However, that's just by the Way, you probably already further researched said topic and found a similar answer to the question. It's after all quiet common knowledge, gone through in biology in middle and upper classes. Therefore, I think, we should get back to something much more interesting for now. Something I’m sure, dear Twilight, will have pleasure to know. You see. There's something else very exciting you should know about the elements of harmony, Twilight."
"Oh, and what would that be, Luna?", Twilight wondered curiously with high excitement in her voice. Her ears pricked to the max and the corners of her muzzle bordering close to the physical impossible.
Luna acknowledged the young mares enthusiasm, as she began to speak. "You and your friends are in truth not only the representatives of the elements, but each of you also embodies them - in essence and all. For good start, I would like to begin telling you what the elements, or specific essences of harmony, are in truth. But don´t worry, I will come back to it later on another topic. When it will fit much better and you can understand more easily what it is all about. Agreed?"
Twilight just nodded, but otherwise remained silent and listened.
"I'd best start by saying that the elements of harmony used to be known by different names than you might be familiar with. In the very long past, the first names were sorcery, bravery, healing, hope, strength and beauty. But as you might already suggest, after thousands of years, these names slowly faded into obscurity and were replaced by the names we know today: magic, allegiance, kindness, laughter, honesty and generosity."
"Furthermore, sorcery or now rather magic is the binding part among the elemental essences. Without this component, the other five can only wield a fraction of a percent of their true power. They either way, remain very strong, but nowhere near as much as they should be."
Pausing for a moment to reflect, Luna went on, as she stretched one of her wings in Twilight's direction, pointing to the lavender mare.
"So, like you clearly can see, you also play a not insignificant role among your friends, when it comes to the elements of harmony, apart from the fact you are their unanimous voted leader. For only the strongest-willed and most capable ponies have been able to command the elements in the last millennia’s - in particular, the element of magic. I propose I will tell you the rest of the story and afterwards we can both answer your questions." Luna indicated to her sister and herself. "Because it is best, if you let me finish what I wanted to say first. Maybe then some of your questions will become clear by themselves, as your combination skills by far exceed expectations."
Nodding yet again, Twilight perked up her ears and tightened her body in joyful, curious anticipation.
"As stated before, you all not only represent the elements, you are them literally in every sense. The gems, from the moment you were born are just that. Beautiful pieces of jewelry - nothing more than symbols of what friendship stands for. The gems are from this moment on not anymore, the actual wielders of said power. You may wonder, what's so special about that. For you, it's probably as if this process is normal for every generation of element bearer. But you are wrong to assume that. What you and your friends are currently doing, is something that has never happened before. As even Celestia and I were only representatives of the elements - But you! You all six, embody the purest form of the aspects within yourselves. Well...and as an alicorn, you in addition have the privilege of possessing the six basic aspects of harmony in by far magnified quantity for a pony - nevertheless, your friends embody them even more strongly.”
"Before we used the elements about one millennium ago, there had been dozens of generations of ponies who wielded the elements. And even when we took control over a thousand years ago, it was only for a short time - a couple of hours at most. As technically, even at that time, there were six ponies who embodied the essences better than we did. Only thanks to our appearance as alicorns and already mentioned fact that an alicorn has above average values of magic, loyalty to others, empathy for everyone, joy in just being, honesty in doing daily business and generosity in helping others. It was possible for us to borrow the elements from the current representatives for a limited period of time. Whether it would still be possible for us to borrow the elements or rather the essences from you from now on, I can't answer you unfortunately. But considering, what you six together have accomplished with them so far, we could not keep up anyway. There I must confess, we are beginners."
Luna turned her head to her sister Celestia and signaled the snow-white alicorn, if she could take over. Her sister gladly accepted without further ado.
"Normally, over the millennia, the essences have always chosen new representatives, and with each passing of the old bearers, they passed on to new ones. Furthermore, prospective for self-protection, the elements have always ensured that all representatives physically age and pass away at the same rate. Increasing the life expectancy of the other bears if necessary. Only, when each of the six ponies had progressed past the actual life mark a pony could get, did the carriers die. And as an Earth pony can live up to 300 years, even the pegasus or unicorn representees were able to live way longer than 100 and around 230 years.
"Truly, we don´t know why it is like it is. The essences never quiet worked along known laws, only that the representatives were always present in equal numbers of two each. But we highly suspect that this all was a passive safety mechanism, fetched by the essences themself, they seemed to be passively cognitive, but didn´t happened to have a really mind on its own. We both believe, that was to prevent the purifying powers of the elements from being weakened or contaminated by grief, despair, or the like. Additionally, the essences are pure, flawless sources of Power, known to negate any negative effects in the bearers after acquisition and heal wounds that would prevent the bearers from performing their task", now Celestia was grinning slightly in Twilight's direction. "One could say, whoever wielded the elements was the closest one could come to being a superhero. Well - and in most cases, that was indeed the case, as the wielders have performed magnificent acts throughout the millennia’s. They helped to shape the World and Equestria into what it is now."
"Probably we three, you excluded as I’m speaking about hundreds and thousands of years ago. Of a time, you weren’t born yet - but I think you already knew that, didn´t you? - Would have been able to achieve a similar effect. Nethertheless, letting it be achieved by other pony’s than alicorns, was clearly a significant better and also wiser way to go in the long run. After all, it wouldn't really have lifted the spirit of the ponies if the only major achievements to protect and advance our world had come from us alicorns. For so, it was assured that everyone can make a contribution. No matter whether this may be large or small."
Celestia focused on Twilight once again, as she was interested to see if the youngest princess could follow so far - an endeavor that was theoretically obsolete, since as was stated, an alicorn was not exactly known for low comprehension and intellect.
"I'm assuming you noticed for yourself, that even without exposure to any healing magic, wounds, disadvantages and general injuries of you and your friends, regenerated faster than they normally would - truly powerful artifacts in every sense of the word, but understandable given their divine origins."
Twilight was about to comment and had already opened her muzzle to speak, but was stopped with a friendly hoof gesture from Luna.
"Please listen to my sister fully some more, there is not much left before you can ask what you desire to know".
So, Twilight just fluffed her wings and remained silent for the time being. Nodding her thanks to her sister briefly, Celestia began to speak anew.
"But of course, that all previously told by me changed about twenty years ago. Because you gathered control over the essence of magic then. And since you are an alicorn and we are physically fully grown at the age of 25, we no longer age in that area either anymore. You all but started to change the course of action. Only our magic and abilities continue to mature, like you might have imagined - and that forever, mostly in overall strength and quantity. What you also might have already figured out on your own, is the fact that your friends, who are bound to you through the elements and generally your strong friendship to each other, will not age any more. Therefore, you don't have to worry about losing your friends through time. Or your immortality driving a wedge between your friends and you, as you previously might have feared. Before I even forget, above all considering your abilities, I also believe not through any other means", Celestia winked mockingly to Twilight.
"But enough of the talk on my part. Do you have any more questions for us, or have we been able to clarify them all?" Celestia questioned curiously with a tilt of her head sideways to Twilight this time. And Luna was also eager to hear the young, lavender alicorn's reply.
With an expressionless face, Twilight returned the two mares' questioning looks with a brief straightening of her wings by firming her shoulders. Whereupon afterwards she exhaled slowly two or three times.
"Questions not really, speaking of which. Not that I can think about any at the moment. But seriously? I take it you're telling me that by some paradox that I'm an alicorn and therefore can't die, moreover being the element of magic. My friends will stop aging physically as soon as I do? Since I embody the link between the rest of the elemental essences, without that they can only exert a fraction of their strength? Yeah...But hey! Why not? Not everything has to be so complicated all the time. Dash's dream as the eternally fastest Wonderbolt isn't in the equation any more, I reckon."
Luna and Celestia both couldn't help but start chuckling. For yes, the statement, when spoken loudly, did sound rather implausible and overly simplistic - well, for a non-alicorn at least.
Luna was the first to recover her voice.
"Yes, precisely that", she chuckled once more. "And oh boy yes, I can perfectly relate to you. Even with my age, Rainbow Dash is the most ambitious pegasus pony I've ever had the pleasure to come across. So, I would highly recommend you keep one of the windows of the throne room tilted when you tell your finding to the girls. Because otherwise, I can't guarantee anything, and even your home insurance will not want to pay for everything that gets broken. Nevertheless, I must confess, Flipper Live would be quite a spectacle. Because, for what I have heard and seen so far of your cyan friend. Leads me to believe she'll have done close to 200 laps around your castle by the time she's finished being freak out."
Afterwards, Luna couldn't help but smile all over again at the thought of a rainbow-colored ring around Twilight's friendship castle, releasing its joy amidst loud shouts. That, would certainly give one hell of a headline in Equestria Daily the next day. But she would wait and see, there wasn't virtually much she could do about it anyway.
Originally, Luna was about to continue, but was interrupted by a question from Twilight.
"Wait a minute! Now I got a question I have to ask the both of you. We discussed a good hour ago that we alicorns have an extremely strong will. That for starter, allows us to withstand the thought of an immortal/eternal life in the first place. Wouldn't that mean, that my friends would have to suffer from the thought of eternal live at some point? If so. Please, there must be a way to make that not happen. I will NOT DARE to sleep, eat and drink until I have found a way to release my friends from this torturing thought - eh, okay that was ill voiced, no pun intended, but I think you get the point"
Twilight concluded with a slight edge, but either way ultimate confidence for her previously mentioned path of action, in her voice. Her wings about halfway cocooned protectively around her body and her deep purple eyes shrunken noticeably to only small dots. Her feathers once again gave off hundreds of multicolored sparks of magic. Some white lightning also flowing, as it had once before, over the entire wings from the approach to the tips. This time Twilight definitely noticed the unusual tingling of an unknown force, but her concern for her friends far outweighed it. So, she forcefully pushed the thought to the back of her extensive mind, even if she was thrilled to seek the answer - it was probably just some magic-emotion thing that alicorns got from time to time. Surely Luna and Celestia had something like that weekly, if not daily.
Luna Notice Twilight's odd behaviour as well, but so far didn't give it a real thought. Twilight clearly cares very deeply for her five best friends and would be willing to do whatever it took to shelter them from any harm. Luckily, the answer was most likely the simplest one she could give.
But before Luna could comment, Celestia spoke up and simply waved off the idea with a hoof gesture, as she readied herself to give Twilight the desired response, with a motherly, relaxing smile.
"Oh, don't worry Twilight. The elements themselves would, purely theoretically as the elements are still kind of a mystery - nevertheless that’s the best explanation we got - already ensure that no one would have to suffer from psychological torment. But since we alicorns ourselves function as protectors of everything that is important and close to us. You don't have to worry about that in any way."
"Your bond, loyalty and care for your friends will protect them from such a terrible fate. As well as many other. And I believe you without any doubt you would break every limitation we still got to ensure upmost protection for your friends."
Celestia made an around four second pause, before she talked further. "Please, take this as a joke, but I honestly wouldn't dare to stand between you and your friends, or attack them. Your friendship-care enforced fury would be terrible."
Twilight was utterly speechless and simply rolled her eyes. Celestia, you just had to say that, didn't you?
Luna took over the leadership of the speech without further ado. As it didn't seem like one of the other two was to speek up anytime soon.
"And if I may guess. You have probably unknowingly protected them more times than you might think. Possibly by noting certain words that, in retrospect, caused decisions to be made slightly differently than normal. Or by unnoticed, but effective protective spells aka. buffs that prevented injuries your friends would have otherwise suffered - I don't honestly know for sure, but I'd bet some money on the theory."
Thinking briefly, Twilight lifted her hoof towards Luna and pointed at the deep-blue alicorn with a grin.
"Good to know! Good to know! At least that saves me the horrendous therapy costs for starters!"
Laughing, Luna returned Twilight's statement.
"Though I doubt therapy could take care of that. But the general point stands. That Credit I must give you."
"But enough of that. I'd say we move on. Shall we?"
Celestia indicated with a motion of her head that she would fetch herself another cup of tea and offered a second one to her and Twiligt. Something both other mares genuially accepted and took the cups swiftly into their grips.
Setting her cup beside herself Luna looked around the room and raised her eyebrows.
As neither Twilight or Celestia further spoke up, Luna was assured that she could carry on.
"So, as the alicorn of magic, you have a special gift that none of the rest of us possess. Before you ask, we know all of this from fragments we are still able to remember from all this time before. Some of these aspects are still in the back of our minds, that we talked with the spirit of the alicorn of magic - namely you, about this."
"Therefore, I'm sorry if I can't answer everything you might want to know for you. As there are things, none of us can remember so far. Most likely you will be able to remember these parts it in the future, but what, when and how much I can't predict. That is beyond my reach to say."
Curiously, Twilight perked up her ears and listened. Pulling her wings neatly to her sides in the process.
"You can forge pure magic. And I don't mean magical items or magical trinkets, but real magic. You know, that kind that pours out of the secondary leylines at every second to be absorbed by the ponies. Pretty need I have to confess.
However, the most important part of this gift is probably the ability to safely extract the magic core of ponies from their bodies in order to strengthen or repair it if necessary." Leaning her head to the side, Luna proceeded. "I'm not certain, but do you know what the magic core is? It´s a topic not very often mentioned in books and even less in classes. A problem I've been meaning to tackle for months. After all ponies should know about the core, it's pretty much vital for their lives."
"By the way, if you want, you are free to take on this task on your own, after all, as the caretaker of magic, you will most likely soon know much more about the core than we do. The knowledge is innate to you, but you're still too young to remember everything - well at least a large part. After all, I don't think any of the three of us have recovered everything we once knew. But we're getting there, slowly and steady. And the things we already know are by far more far-reaching than any other resident of Equestria could clame. So, I wouldn't say it's that big of a disadvantage."
Twilight scratched her chin and fanned her wings about one fourth of the way, she was pretty excited. "Umm, yes I had heard of it. It´s obviously a mystery, so far, I only found it in a book once, that's by far less information than I'm used to. But nevertheless, I thought the magic core was metaphorical. Does it really exist? So far, no one has managed to find even a hint of a trace of it in a ponies' body. It's like there is nothing at all, but you wouldn't mention it if it wasn't the truth." The young, lavender alicorn didn't know further here, so she hoped for an answer of either Luna or Celestia. And obviously she got her answer pretty fast.
Nodding, Luna proceeded.
"Oh, yes. It exists with 100% certainty. After all, I can still remember it like it was yesterday. Seeing my own core get extracted from my chest and feeling your unique magic get shared with the other alicorns and me, for sure imprints into your mind. But before you might ask, you did it so that each of us had an equal share of magic to release the big bang. Unfortunately, I can't tell you much more than that. Not even what the core appeared to look like. I no longer retain that information, not even as fragments." Luna confessed with an embarrassed lowering of her head in front of Twilight. Her ears laid fully back against her skull.
Twilight wanted to comfort Luna and tell her that it wasn't all that bad and she couldn't be blamed, of course. She had also already stretched out her left front hoof to place it kindly on Luna's right shoulder. However, she was interrupted by Celestia.
"Sister! You may not remember what it looks like, but I do as clear as it could be - well and after all, Twilight will probably show us what our core looks like in a few minutes anyway."
Visibly shocked Twilight voiced her thoughts. "B-but I have no idea how to do that. I didn't even know the core was real until two minutes ago," Twilight excitedly spread her wings meanwhile. This time the gust of wind luckily not knocking over things like last time.
Soothing the nervous, lavender ball of fluff, resembling an alicorn Twilight, ahead of her with a front hoof, Celestia carried on.
"All in due time. First, let me tell you what the magic core looks like from what I know, and what else I remember about it - probably learned from you at one time in the past."
Calming visibly down, Twilight relaxed her posture back onto the white pillow and eagerly awaited Celestia's response.
"I don´t know what kind of book you have read, but nethertheless the chances should be high that you already know the first fact. Every pony has such a core, there's no exception. Well, if other creatures got also one, I can't say for sure. But I think so, at least they have to have some kind of magic storage, as every being on Equus has a unique magic. Like the dragon breath of your friend and faithful assistant Spike, or the changing abilities of changelings - but you already knew that, so let me state facts you didn't know. You can imagine the core as a kind of glowing ball of magic about Volleyball size. The core itself is located square in the chest and stores all the magic that is absorbed from the surroundings - mostly from the leylines or magical boosts trough spells. It can be removed if one knows how. However, there must be a very advanced knowledge and a powerful, active source of magic. As matter of factly it is not easy to extract and furthermore inevitably lethal within a few minutes if extracted improperly - oh, but don't worry, you are probably the only being who is able to extract such a core at all flawlessly at first try. Even if you don´t know how, I´m confident you got an innate knowledge for the process. After all, the expertise and progress originally descended from you as well. So, you should have no trouble removing a pony's magic core without complications."
Celestia made a short pause and let the knowledge sink in. Twilight didn't look fully convinced, that she could manage to extract a magic core from a pony without killing them. Nevertheless, it was true that she was by far the most skilled and powerful, when it came to magic and she trusted her old mentor and dear friend so far either way. Therefore, she also briefly looked down at her front hooves once or twice, slightly squinting her eyes. Likely in thoughts and considering if she wanted to ask Celestia and Luna some questions. But decided after a short while against it and looked once more delighted to the two mares. Her wings still slightly opened.
Celestia proceeded. "Furthermore, the core will wear out with the years and increasing age, forfeiting in capacity by some fractions of a percent with the decades. It can also be damaged, if one overworks their magic to the extreme. It may show then only slight cracks. If the damage is severe, a spider web of many small cracks over the entire surface. Or in the very worst case, almost a completely break in half. Whether the core can be completely destroyed or broken in half, however, I don't know, sorry."
"In the case that the core is damaged, may it be lightly or severe, it usually heals itself over time completely. Given some days to months. However, it can also be so severely damaged that it can't regenerate on its own. That's also where I think you'll come in. I'm sure if you offered your help for really bad cases, our ponies would be more than grateful. And knowing you, you've already toyed with the idea. Am I right?" Celestia smiled knowingly in Twilight's direction and the latter laughed back, delighted.
"You are so right. Should I figure out how the extracting and healing works. Then I will also offer my help for everypony that needs it, obviously for free." Shrugging, Twilight continued. "Well, nevertheless, I believe though, most ponies won't be dissuaded to give me something for my doing - considering how rarely a pony will let me pay my bills in restaurants", the young princess giggled.
"I would never dare to charge someone for something, that probably will be a piece of cake for me. As I´m assuming, for once, the healing process won't be much different than treating an overexertion from a pony's internal magic lines. Therefore, I probably will re-donate the leftover money for charity or something closely related in my government Arena, back to our ponies. After all, we princesses aren't exactly known for poverty, even for Equestria in its prosperous state."
Nodding, Celestia finished her speech. She had thought, Twilight would respond that way. Her sister and she, did something similar once a year at Canterlot's largest fundraiser - also Equestria's largest, to boot. Every bit accumulated in a year through donations to the regents of the kingdom was carefully documented and divided equally among the projects.
"I can only remember one more thing, and I'm surprised my sister can't recall it. For that memory is by far one of the clearest for me. Most likely due to the fact that the information was associated with a surprisingly lively procedure. As, the alicorn of magic - sorry that I'm constantly talking about you in third person, every time I refer to one of your titles. But, it's so strange to tell you something, about which you had by far the most knowledge. So please, pardon me - Where was I? Ah yes, she gave me an EXPRESS warning that sacred/pure magic was needed for the regeneration process - alicorn magic that is. "Unpure" magic would have a high chance of not working at all and even more damaging the core in retrospect. But that's all I know for myself. And it doesn't look like Luna has thought of anything else, either."
Luna shook her head vehemently, denying her older sister's side question. "Unfortunately, no. If my sister doesn´t know anything more, than that´s all we got." Thinking for two seconds, then smiling mischievously and spreading her, since it was almost midnight, deepest dark blue wings that were even black at the tips, and gave away one of her ideas.
"So, I suggest we cover the room with the strongest of our protection spells and just get to work. I'm sure there won't be more than collateral damage in the worst case. Alicorn´s are pretty durable as you already know and experienced . If we can survive an almost crash of our known space-time, we won´t be violated by something so trivial as a magical process, with protentional backslash, we don´t know much about", Luna joked.
This time it was Celestia who had the most terrified/worried look, while Twilight generally seemed quite composed. After all, she had noticed the glint in Luna's eyes.
Laughing at the generally unusual situation, Luna reassured her older sister. Heh, doesn't happen too often that my sister seems so out of it. "Sorry, sorry. It wasn't meant that way in the first place, we all three know that it will go smoothly.
Dismissing the thought outright, Celestia just shrugged as Twilight snickered quietly to herself in the background. But composed herself a few seconds later.
"Aaaanyway, are you sure about all of this Luna? As I mentioned, I still don't know how it would be possible for me to get a pony's magic core out of them. It could get live threatening dangerous." Twilight raised one of her eyebrows and looked back at Luna.
"Pffff, maybe for a mortal. We are alicorns, immortals blessed with powers non could possibly fully comprehend. I had more than one fight in which no mortal would have even stand a chance - well if it wasn´t for us, by the way. I'd trust you with my life every time - well that's mutual I guess, so that's not a problem for me. Accordingly, if you are as willing as I am, then we can start immediately. Hmm, although, if you don't want to, then I won't have a problem with that either. I will not - nor could I force you to do something you absolutely don't want to do."
In response, both princesses gazed deeply into each other's eyes, trying to guess the other mares emotions and thoughts.
"No! If you're willing to have it tested on you, then so am I", Twilight quoted back to Luna. A determined look in her eyes.
Rising from her pillow and indicating Luna with her hoof to come with her to the center of the room, Twilight pre-activated her horn in a flurry of several highly potent alicorn-magic symbols as she stood about broader as a precaution. Better to be too careful than to suffer the consequences.
Celestia in the meantime had already taken over the part with the protection spells. Presently, about a dozen alicorn-magic filled spells lay overhead, pulsing with divine magic. The spells probably enforced enough, to even intercept an Equus-destroying meteorite at full speed. Hopefully they would also be capable of shielding the potential backslash of a magic core removing spell. You never knew, even if alicorn magic generated spells were indestructible, there was the component ´alicorn of magic´. Plus, Celestia had seen what Twilight could do unfocused. She didn't want to know what kind of recoil a focused spell could generate from the young, lavender coated alicorn.
Nodding, she gestured to her two alicorn colleagues that she was ready as well. Looking into Luna's eyes one last time, and having completed her short vital scan of Luna, Twilight made sure that the dark blue alicorn was indeed confident. Luna confirmed once again by nodding that yes, she was totally serious.
Fully wrapping her horn in a blinding corona of raspberry-colored magic, Twilight embarked on the first idea that popped into her head, to get the magic core out of Luna's chest. By simply pulling with her magic where she thought the core was - namely the middle of the dark blue mares chest.
Her eyes and mouth widened in more than just surprise when she felt a roundish object in the chest of Luna with her magic.
Very carefully and deliberately pulling on the object, Twilight tried to move it towards her.
At first, it felt as if the until now unknown object didn't want to move, but after about two seconds she felt it start to inch forward.
Slowly but surely, Luna's chest began to glow brighter and brighter, and soon the bulge of a beachball-sized sphere could be seen flashing from inside her chest. The light was nearly as bright as the sun itself, but that was probably because the core of an alicorn contained much more magic than that of a normal pony.
Twilight was about to pull the core further out of the dark blue alicorn's chest, but in doing so saw that the colors in Luna's mane and coat were beginning to dim slightly, and her mane was also beginning to wave more slowly in the endless, invisible ethereal auras, each alicorn had around them.
Mildly shocked Twilight stopped her actions and voice her insecurities. "Oh no! Luna, your magic. It seems will lose it, if I remove the core from you. Nope, I can't do it in that case, and I also won´t." Her ears fully laid back. "AND before you start to try to change my mind, I´m not going to do it." Twilight started to push the magic core back into Luna's chest. But was energetically stopped by the same.
"NO! Please keep going. Even though my mane may be moving slower and my fur is losing some of its color, so far, I feel in perfect condition. It doesn't seem like I’m going to lose all of it, just a part. And besides, I don't think we'd have fragments of this knowledge, left, if it wasn't relevant."
Nodding slightly uncertainly, but trusting Luna, Twilight carried on.
"All right. But you tell me if you feel worse or weaker, though. Okay? I really don't want to hurt you", she inquired nethertheless.
"I'll tell you right away if I feel bad. Don't worry. Still, I don't think anything like that will happen at all. At least it looks to me like there is a reduction in the total amount of energy available, rather than a complete loss of it - even if it's only temporarily."
At Luna's assurance, Twilight proceeded to pull on the core with her magic. Whereby, to her startlement, she was a bit energetic with it and pulled the core right out two-thirds of the way.
"Easy, easy with the young horses. You were so reserved just now, why the sudden change of mind", laughed Luna, and Celestia needed one of her hooves to hold it in front of her muzzle, to not come off as rude.
Sticking her tongue out at Luna, in mocking joy, the lavender alicorn carried on.
Twilight took her time; she better was way too careful than getting complications. So, in the next minute, Twilight had completely pulled Luna's magic core out of the mare's chest, whereupon her colors darkened even more and her mane now blew noticeably slower in the ethereal wind. However, there were no further complications as far as could be foreseen.
"Phew, finally done. Man, that was one of a nerve-wracking experience, I got to tell you. But fortunately, everything seems to have gone well. It even was quiet easy to accomplish actually - well except for my fuss. Might have been a little bit to dramatic in the hindsight." Twilight now had to smirk to no one in particular.
"Oh wow! This is by far one of the most beautiful sights I've ever had," Twilight finished as she metaphorically ran her hoof over her forehead. Her eyes widened as she did so, gazing at the shimmering, pulsating magic core in her aura. The glow of the core was reflected in her eyes, making them shine even more than they already did.
The core was magnificent beautiful, nearly otherworldly. On top surprisingly mostly complete pure white, only innumerable small, dark blue lines could be seen wandering over the entire surface in a seemingly random pattern. The entire sphere pulsated with a strong, slowly constant rhythm. Most likely matching Luna's own heartbeat.
“Truly an overwhelming sight," Luna confirmed. "So powerful, yet so calm. Would you mind handing the core over to me for once? I would love to hold him in my own hooves, as I mentioned."
Reluctantly, Twilight pulled Luna's magic core a little further away from the indicated mare. Not so sure if Luna's idea was so necessarily wise. "Do you think that's a good idea? We don't know what will happen if one of us touches such a concentrated amount of magic. Well yes, I pulled the core from your chest, but that's the place it's originally supposed to be", Twilight interjected. Visibly concerned for Luna's health.
"We're Alicorns, we can take a lot. And besides, you just pulled that thing out of my breast, and nothing happens so far. So it can't be that harmful for pony’s - eh, at least for alicorns, that´s for sure," Luna deftly countered.
Having nothing to contradict said statement, Twilight slowly levitated the magic core into the spread hooves of Luna, who had meanwhile already sat down at her haunches.
When the orb touched the hooves of the dark blue alicorn and Twilight nullified the aura, it briefly flashed a little brighter. However, nothing else happened. Luna's fur, mane and everything else state exactly like it was before. There wasn't even a backslash or anything remotely - it just lay in the alicorns hooves, pulsing. Therefore, there was a short comment from Twilight, in an almost disappointed tone. "Huh...I actually did expect a little bit more than that. But can't complain about nothing bad happening either." So, she turned her eyes back from the core to Luna's, and awaited her response.
"It's pleasantly warm, it certainly feels a bit strange, but nothing I could directly deny." Tilting her head towards the other two, Luna raised her eyebrows. "Would either of you like to hold the core as well? Seems to be safe."
Celestia answered in the affirmative but Twilight shook her head briefly and turned away amiably.
While Luna handed the core to her sister, Twilight trotted off to the side slowly and looked around the room in search, for a secluded place to sort the process in her head. Alicorns were born with an indelible mind and never forgot anything they learned. As the knowledge stayed clear and sharp as on the first day they accessed the insight. Nevertheless, it was still best if she sorted her thoughts properly. As next time she had the desire to be less nervous and secure in her own doing.
"Wow! You're right Luna, the magic core is indeed really warm, unusual but not unpleasant."
A few minutes passed with the two older princesses quietly discussing how incredibly majestic Luna's magic core was. Until the two were interrupted by a kind exclamation from Twilight. Upon turning to the source of noise the two saw Twilight standing about 2 meters away with her ears slightly laid back and a sheepish smile on the muzzle.
"Excuse me. Would you mind if I did a test on the magic core? I'd like to test how it reacts to contact from anything other than an alicorn. As it seems, it doesn't have any effect on us - but don´t worry, I will be careful, even if I believe that thing is way more durable than it looks like."
Mindfully gesturing, Luna took the core back from her sister's hooves and handed it to Twilight, who gratefully accepted it.
Settling herself onto her hips with the core grasp in her magic, the young alicorn created an apple and a cup out of magic. Whereupon she sat the cup aside for the time being and first levitated the apple near the magic core.
With widened eyes and their muzzles slightly agape, all three alicorns watched as the apple began to disintegrate into nothingness about a foot away from the core. Cringing and obviously expecting the same with the cup, but still wanting to try it, Twilight lifted it off the ground and near the core as well. The result was precisely the same.
"FANTASTIC! From the looks of it, the magic core of us alicorns is so filled with raw mana, that any matter near it is almost instantly destroyed. Better not let that thing drop."
"Well, I guess that clears up the fact of whether it's possible for other ponies to hold or even steal our core from us - if we ever took it out of our chest; were not paying attention and would be completely distracted; as well as someone would really want and make it. The idea although impossible, but putting that matter aside once, purely theoretically seen - if anyone would be planning to do that at all, they obviously should dismiss the idea.", gave Twilight in an unexpressive manner. Now pointing with her left wing at the core and the empty space beside it, were the apple and cup had previously been, Twilight caried on. "THAT! Doesn´t actually looks like fun. Still, I have yet to run the test with 3 of my friends cores, who knows if the effect is occurring with alicorns solely, or possibly just gets diminished. I hope and strongly believe that this is not the matter. In any case, it would be much easier to treat a pony in distress later. Otherwise, regeneration or healing spells will be necessary, would be no problem, but I would definitely prefer it otherwise."
Twilight's thought was afterwards continued.
"At least we know now, though, that it is possible for you to safely extract a pony's magic core from its body, and certainly re-insert them as well. Though no one should get too close to an alicorn's magic core - except an alicorn. If the one doing it doesn't want to have unpleasant experiences, on a more than extreme scale", Luna finished with a mild wrinkle of her brow.
The other two just nodded in agreement, but said nothing further. The pictures were more than evident enough in their minds.
With her tests done and the new knowledge at hoof, Twilight grinned to herself as she spun Luna's magic ball of energy back and forth in her own. Searching for a beginning and end to the visibly endless tangle of blue lines. Such power in so little space, some would surely sell their lives for nothing more than getting their hooves, claws, whatever on one of them. Obviously, I´m no such mare, why should I even? It isn´t like I have an at least as strong core in my own possession. Well...and stealing that thing is off the course anyway for others.
Luna let her youngest alicorn colleague examine her magic core for a few more minutes, until she gestured to her lavender friend to please put the magic core back into her chest.
Twilight was only too happy to comply as she moved the core near Luna and slowly pushed it back into the mares chest. Whereupon the dark blue alicorn regained her characteristic color and flowing mane.
"Thank you, Twilight. Even though it was quite an impressive experience. Still, I feel better when all the magic is back where it belongs."
She thereupon turned to her sister, as said had begun to speak.
"I would say that we could extract the other two remaining cores to examine them, but I think it would be better to do that at another time. What do you think?"
Celestia's gaze was questioning to the other two mares, she seemed to have no problem with either option, but also wanted to issue what Luna and Twilight thought of it.
Both Twilight and Luna just gave silent nods at Celestia's idea, and in response Luna turned her attention back to the youngest member. She should decide whether to proceed or not.
The young lavender mare jerked up her head, apparently not expecting to be addressed at once.
She instantly caught herself however and so Twilight responded to the question in the affirmative as she looked expectantly to Luna, assuming that she would continue the speech.
„So yeah, you might know what the term 'alicorn of something' indicates, or am I wrong?"
Twilight shook her head at first, as she scratched her chin briefly with her hoof and looked up, her mind wandering. Luna waited patiently, maybe Twilight would remember something after all. The mare was as well highly intelligent and by far the most well-read pony in all of Equestria.
Luna was right, not five seconds later Twilight piped up.
"Mmm, I had heard that 2-3 times in school, as the whole thing was mentioned as a theory in advanced thaumic lessons about some skills said alicorns possess, using you two and Cadance as an example. Until now however, I didn't pay much attention to it as there was no scientific evidence for it. My teacher Prof. Neigh warned us that unfortunately this is still a purely theoretical process. Even though studies have already been conducted. But now that you're asking me about this very thing, I'm going to assume that it wasn't a theory, but reality?", concluded Twilight with a somewhat questioning and also requesting look for explanation towards the two elders.
"Correct! Both Celestia and I, several years ago, provided Professor Whyn Cann, whom I'm sure your familiar with. Us and all the information we had ourselves. However, it was not possible for him to formulate scientific proofs. Because - well, it simply couldn't and still can't be proven, that we have this ability from a scientific point of view - but nethertheless it is a simple, but true fact. Despite this, the theories were published, and, as you said, are treated in advanced thaumic lessons. The professor trusts us completely and even if he cannot prove it scientifically, nevertheless he has documented the theories accurately according to our experience and knowledge and presented them to us for verification. We are still grateful to him for this, because after all he is an ambitious but faithful scientist. Who doesn't simply summarize and publish something without evidence. "
"Either way, we would initially be interested in what you know so far. And then we can add what else we know."
Celestia supplemented further to Luna's statement.
"About these theories I had read something only recently in one of my new books, that I received last week, with one of my regular deliveries. I assume that you had arranged for these special books to be shipped to me? In addition to the standard books, I would have gotten."
Luna just gave a nod, but didn't say anything otherwise, so Twilight proceeded without missing a beat.
"Mmmm, as I suggested and you just confirmed to me, in general this seems to be an extremely rare topic. There is literally very little to none knowledge that could be drawn upon. Except that one chapter, there really wasn't much in the book that was informative or helpful. However, I assume there is more about it in the private section of the library of Canterlot that you talked about before", Twilight questioned with a tilted head and pricked up ears.
Snickering, Luna acknowledged the statement.
"As I was saying, we'll hand you the parchment scroll with the spell later, so you can internalize it and cast the spell. But for now, let's continue in context."
"OK! So, if I'm not mistaken about everything I've read, we are the strongest with the additional best capabilities in this particular area, as well as have also the ultimate control over the aspect - there is and can't be someone more capable than we. Like you two over light and shadow, Cadance regarding love/emotions and I regarding magic and well also friendship as it´s magic in the end", Twilight juckled. Nevertheless, she added more spiritless right after that statement. "However as great as that may be, unlike you two, who can guide the moon and sun, true celestial bodies, it is of course naught. I must genuinely confess unfortunately, that I´m a little bit envious. Oh, how I would love to have a celestial body of my own, that I could control and have access to its powers."
Twilight admitted, her ears now almost perked back and her gaze lowered slightly in shame.
Celestia could only chuckle softly at this Statement. [Oh Twilight, how can someone stay so humble like you - if you only knew. You still underestimate yourself by far, probably because your still fairly young for an alicorn, but that isn't yours or anyone’s else fault. From a purely technical ability point of view, no alicorn lacks leadership power, that's more a matter of one's own confidence. But we'll get that sorted out for sure, or my name isn't Celestia any longer./i] The eldest alicorn composed herself and motherly gazed to their youngest fellow. Time for a bit of 'wise mother curious daughter talk', Celestia joked in her mind.
"Says the mare, who can direct and shape all kinds of magic just like she wishes. Moreover, every evening puts millions of stars, each of them its own sun, in the sky. Furthermore, possesses a mutual, indestructible bond with her friends, which by far increase and strengthen her abilities. And ultimately has already taken over the day/night cycle of Equestria for us once for 2 days - and in doing so, for never getting a briefing on the task, didn't do a bad job."
Paying her respects, with a slight tilt of her head, to cheer Twilight up a bit, Celestia went on facing the young alicorn mare.
"Honest truth, I for myself didn't manage to raise the sun above the horizon in my first 3 attempts. You are truly gifted in magic - but every one of us already knew that. We both may be the alicorns of the sun and moon. But you definitely have more than enough worth to mention in your possession as well."
Twilight blushed so red at that statement, even a tomato would have been envy about the color scheme and it would most likely have been unhealthy for any other pony.
"Yes, I did. But you had provided me with some of your magic for that purpose. That's the only reason I was able to move the celestial bodies at all," the younger alicorn quickly interjected, trying to deflect the statement as usual. But Luna had none of it, she cared deeply for the young lavender alicorn mare, but sometimes you required a bit of harder talk. And if one was friendly in enlightening, none got hurt either.
"And there, my dear Twilight, you are sadly completely mistaken," Luna countered mischievously.
"WHAT?", was all Twilight could respond. She was simply at a loss for words. As she hadn't expected Luna's voicing.
"The ability to move the sun or the moon across the sky is not a task tied only to our powers. Any pony that could muster enough raw magic would technically be able to move the sun or moon across the sky. However, of course, only if we allow it, after all, the heavenly bodies still remain bound to us. For we retain supreme control in any case. Why technically you might wonder - the amount needed to move the moon and the sun is so high that no one except an alicorn can provide it. A magic strengthening on very high scale of an alicorn might be able to let a unicorn move the bodies - but alone? Not a chance."
Twilight had found her voice again. "Wait... wait, so that means I could theoretically influence and direct the course of the sun and moon at any time, as long as you give the go-ahead and don't prevent the action?" inquired Twilight, heavenly incredulous.
"Exactly. For that, all you need is a high enough amount of magic and the knowledge of knowing how the long-distance telekinesis spell works. The first, you have by far, no doubt. The second, for example like last time when you did it, was more of an instinctive process caused by our magic, rather than your 'own skill'. But I would more than love to teach you the spell. So, you can take over for me and my sister for a bit, and we can have some time off. Doing things we like - after all it was more than a few years ago, that we could be doing this. Hey Twilight! Have you ever been to ´Sassy Mare´? I heard it's one of the best places to have fun in Canterlot," Luna more than cheekily interjected. Both Twilight and Celestia went at least two shades darker after that, silently cursing the third mare that was in the room with them.
At this point, Celestia took the lead in speaking, after a last sinister look to her younger sister.
"Aaaanyway - your abilities that you acquire from your status as the alicorn of magic had helped you by far in performing your duties so extraordinary well. I had every confidence that you would succeed in lowering the moon and setting the sun. But I really didn't think that you would be successful on the first try - apart from the wobble, it was perfect. My respect for that, honestly!"
"In retrospect, though, if you look at it that way, it really shouldn't have been a surprise that you mastered the task so easily. After all, magic listens to your word and your literally are the mare of magical arts. Every single magic-related task is far easier for you than for anyone else."
Celestia thereupon paused for a moment.
"According to what we had tested so infinitely long ago at your request, even before the universe was created - how could it be otherwise, after all, you were the most academically interested of us even then", Celestia giggled briefly. "Your consumption of magical energies should also be about 40% less than that of any other alicorn. What´s so special about that? Well, an alicorn has a very specific ability in regard of magic. We alone already require only ⅕ of what any other unicorn consumes when casting the same spell. Even though there are some unicorns who have perfected the art of casting spells, making them almost twice as efficient. We still remain far more efficient, topped to our incredible high amount of stored magic."
"So, summa-summarum, it can be concluded that despite the fact that you are considerably younger than us. You already have more potent magical abilities than we will likely ever have. But as I said, that was to be expected from the alicorn of magic. No living being can hold a candle to you when it comes to magic - not even another alicorn, although we are almost omnipotent with our magic."
Luna briefly recapped for all to better understand. As expected, shortly afterwards, the two sisters got a loud exclamation from dear Twilight.
"WHAT!?!, but I'm only 21 and a half! No way my magic could be any more powerful than yours! You're more than fifteen and a half thousand years old, surely you're just bluffing to please me?", Twilight attempted to deny the fact rather incredulously, as expected. Didn't sound 100% sure herself though, which she tried to hide.
There you go. Slowly this is starting to come along dearest. Just a little more confidence and you've got it, Celestia reflected, whereupon she reassured the youngest Alicorn once more.
"No, no! We are far past that point to never deny or falsify anything in front of you anymore - even though we never should have in the first place. Apologies again for that."
"What we say, we mean. And honestly, I'm sure you know that, and are merely unwilling to admit to yourself what your true abilities are."
Responded both Celestia and Luna equally.
Twilight just blushed and admitted silently, that yes, the two of them were more than right.
For the next minute, no one said anything until Twilight perked her ears forward and looked interestedly this time at Luna.
"Please wait a moment, I got a question for the both of you. Do you really have that much faith in me, that I alone can set the sun or the moon in the sky and across it? What if there are complications and I'm hindered? Or even worse, just imagine for example, I move the sun in the wrong direction?", Twilight once again looked a bit uncertain and disturbed. Because even if she trusted her own abilities almost exclusively by now - after all, both Celestia and Luna had had extremely good arguments. As both were successful in assuring her, that she could rely on herself. Still, the moon or even the sun? Not exactly small and unimportant bodies, which could become extremely fast quite uncomfortable if something went critical wrong. Here she wasn't so sure herself yet. The one-time Tirek had attacked, there was no other way and she had to make it work. But now? Now she had a choice and when she thought about it, she would rather back out for now and first learn properly from diagrams; books; whatever, how to control the two celestial bodies. Before she ventured into real practice.
However, she had done the math without Celestia, who was really getting less and less patient about Twilight not trusting herself; her abilities and skills. The young alicorn mare was more than capable, she just had to believe it herself - Celestia damn it.
"Twilight."
"But--"
"Twilight!"
"But--"
"TWILIGHT!!!", startled, Twilight jerked her ears completely to her skull, wings and fur fluffed up in shock at that. An innate protective spell firing from her enlightened horn and surrounding her body in the blink of an eye. She definitely hadn't expected Celestia to jump up from her white pillow to shout her name in regal Canterlot voice coupled with an energetic thud of her left front hoof.
"Y-yes?", was all she said in response. The snow-white alicorn had always been so calm, composed and collected towards her. It was rare that Celestia raised her voice. It took a lot to get the experienced mare, with the knowledge of countless court sessions, to do so.
Much calmer now that she had Twilight's attention, Celestia could continue. If cautiously bringing up the subject didn't help, then I guess the blunt truth would have to do. Luna as well looked to her older sister and came to the same conclusion. While it was honestly noble that Twilight was so modest and happy to put herself aside for the well-being of others, she was just as much an alicorn as her three older comrades. And she had to realize that she had a special status among the ponies, gryphons, dragons, any other species of Equus or even the rest of the universe. And could, how should she say it...demand things. Yeah, that about summed it up, Luna couldn't think of anything better right now either.
"I'm sorry, but I just couldn't help it. Please don't take this as an accusation, but you've asked us many times today if we trust you; if things are possible for you or if it's possible in general. And as mentioned so many times before. 'Yes, we do; yes, you can and yes, it is possible'. Let me say it once more. YOU ARE the alicorn of magic, HIGHEST ENTITY in the field of mystical forces. Anything that has to do with magic, in whatever remote sense, is a cinch for you. Even if I cannot prove it to you with hundred percent certainty. I am nevertheless convinced that even now, not yet fully matured, it is impossible for you to make any mistake when performing magic. Alicorn magic is the purest form of divine power, which is why it reacts uninfluenced and infallibly when used - the desired effect is always precisely achieved. With your full powers, I am fully assured that there truly can't be no more unexpected effects or results with your magic, no matter the conditions."
Celestia was completely back to her normal self - calm and collected, as was expected of a millennium old regent. And after she was so far through with her explanation, she started grinning very wide across her muzzle. "And even if something goes seriously wrong, we'll survive it no matter what, and at least our ponies will have had one last, beautiful summer day."
Yes, both Luna's and Twilight's looks said it all. Celestia hadn't really said that now, had she? - oh yes, she had! However, realizing within a split second that the eldest of the alicorns had definitely meant it as a joke, the facial features of both of them relaxed vastly. As they started laughing at the same time, Celestia also joined in.
"OK, all kidding aside, nothing the like will happen Twilight, you have enough control over your own magic to prevent or not trigger something like this. And in the worst case, you still have Luna or me as backup. But you won't need our help," Celestia finished her little mood-speech to Twilight. The latter let her lavender wings rustle in amusement. It had definitely helped her to boost her own confidence. Besides, they were both right - even though Luna hadn't said anything, she could see the affection in her dark-furred friend's eyes all too well. She just had to think of herself sometimes, it sounded stupid but it was a simple fact. Otherwise, eventually no one would ever listen to her.
Twilight thankfully tilted her head in the direction of the two older alicorns. "Thank you both, the unsweetened truth was necessary willy-nilly. I will definitely take this to heart and reconsider. In any case, though, you guys have helped me out a lot."
Luna and Celestia similarly copied Twilight's thanks. Whereupon the three fell silent for a short time. It was Luna who spoke up the next. Twilight listened expectantly as before, and even Celestia pricked up her ears. She, too, had learned many things today that she had not yet known like this.
"I'd like to get back to our physical aging, though, if that's okay with you?!"
Renewed with a nod, Twilight would gladly love to learn more about the aging of an alicorn. After all, it was a secret about which practically nothing was known. The only thing that was known was the fact that alicorns clearly lived way longer and aged slower - or not at all, than a pony normally did. After all, the current rulers of the land had been in power for more than fifteen millennia and had guided and protected many generations of ponies. Something Twilight hoped to be able to say about herself in the distant future. Though she was confident about that.
“Where do we start?”, was all Luna got verbally from the lavender mare with a grinning expression.
"All right. As I'm sure you've already discovered, you've didn't just change on the inside in like abilities and the like. You also changed as well a lot on the outside, in contrast to your former unicorn self. Well, how could you not have noticed such changes. Your size has increased drastically; your physique is much stronger and more defined, your muscles can provide immense strength and stability as well as endure; your mane is considerably longer, waves and looks mystic with sparks of galaxies in it. Your reinforced spine bears enormous, powerful wings that signify more than just a status symbol. Your horn is much longer and sharper as well. At last, as I mentioned before, we change physically until the age of 25 by which we have reached our physical peak - I could go on listing much longer, but I would only be telling you things you already know."
"However, what you still don't know, or at least don't have an answer for. Is the fact that for an alicorn, prior to said age, are two very important moments in his life. The first, your ascension to alicorn-hood, you have gone through already. The second important moment will follow exactly 4 years after you have become an alicorn. For as strong as we are, our bodies are not ready to adapt to all of our abilities immediately after birth."
"That's the reason why it took 17 years before you could use your own magic to grant yourself wings and it takes only 4 more for the seconds stage. As that, was the key point in becoming a full developed Alicorn. After now, everything will be much easier and faster for you. Because as I said, 4 years later there follows the second, much more significant boost of our abilities. In this one, our powers will increase to our maximum for the time being, and you will receive all the abilities undiscovered by you until then - If you want, I can also show and hand you some books about that specific topic, sometime later", Luna ended with her work done, as she turned to her sister challengingly.
A look, Celestia knew all too well by now. So, she cleared her throat briefly and turned to the energetic, young alicorn next to her with a friendly smile. Once again, the young mare rustled her wings in anticipation, as she had not expected Luna to stop talking all of a sudden.
But she visibly relaxed when she saw, that Celestia and Luna were only sharing the explanation once again. Heh, should have expected that.
"Now that my sister has explained the basics to you, I have a small question for you - a very simple and straightforward estimate. Please, just answer what you think is right, without pondering much. In contrast to your former unicorn-self, exactly how much higher, do you believe is your currently stored magic - your raw mana, in your magic core? But please, keep in mind that we perform daily activities that require significantly more magic than would be the case for any other pony."
Scratching her chin briefly with her hoof as her eyes wandered in deep thoughts, Twilight happily gave her response a few seconds later.
"Hmm, since I nuked my cup the next day, after my ascent - while making a simple, strong coffee. I would be betting on a 3-digit result for sure, in the 100-200 range currently. And maybe 500-600 times later. After I'm fully grown as an alicorn."
But before either of the older two could interject, Twilight held them back with a hoof gesture, spreading her wings and using them to hint as well.
"However, there is a point that made me stumble considering it once. And now, after thinking about it all over again, I've noticed one thing. For, even though virtually nothing is known about an alicorn's true strengths and power levels either from books, documents, or other sources. So, I'm a mare who can't help investigating and paying attention to even the minor things."
"If you’re wondering what I’m referring to, I will gladly tell you on instant - so, if you would listen. I figured out that considering the mass of the Sun, that's 1.487 × 10^30 kg; the fact that an alicorn needs only 1/5 of the magic to work any spell; an average needed amount of 0.32 magic units for objects heavier than the planet Equus itself, all that due to the inertia of the mass. One would need unimaginable amounts of Magic to move the sun. BUT, the sun is located in space, a place known for zero gravity - well at least none that would be big enough to be of any importance here", Twilight hastily added to her statement. "So you would actually need just a tiny tiny fraction of said power to move an object there, in space. And on top of all that the sun isn't a solid object, so one would only need to overpower the attraction of the core and would therefore be able to move the indicated one. And well, lastly the fact that you have been moving the sun over the horizon every day for more than 15,500 years. You, as an alicorn, must have had at least 130,000 times the power of a unicorn with decades of experience to be able to move an object as heavy as the sun. Even all that time before, Celestia must have had this level of power. Otherwise, she would never have been able to achieve moving our sun in the first place."
"But here´s the twist. That all is in stark contrast, to my earlier guess that the amount of mana available to an alicorn increases by a factor of merely 5-6 hundred times. It would simply and plainly not be possible for you to get the sun even close to a state of moving, with only that level of mana. No matter how hard you tried it."
"Therefore, my assumption has to have a flaw, as you having only such a small increase of magic. Even though it´s several hundred times more magic than advanced unicorns possess. And the fact that my guess was already much more than one would normally think possible."
"So, if we assume that Celestia has at least 130.000 times the magic at her display and every alicorn has an around equal increase and amount of magic. We still would have a critical problem. Namely the fact that, even if magic has no tangible volume in a pony's magic core - at least that´s what covered in school so far. That these quantities can´t be stored at all, even considering our probably massive bigger alicorn-core. With such a high concentration of magic, one far exceeds the 'critical mass' of magic per cubic millimeter. Whereupon the magic core would essentially have to collapse in on itself, due to its energy content, which would result in the direct, unavoidable death of the pony. Whether an alicorn could survive that, I don't know, but it would be a generally very agonizing experience, if I may say so myself. After all, according to my calculations, such a high concentration, on such a small volume equals to about three times the energy that prevails in the core of Equus."
Patting herself on the chest with her gilded hoof, Twilight proceeded, while giggling.
"Although, I’m currently not feeling like I’m about to implode myself. So, I'm betting that as an alicorn, we must have a much different functioning magic core. Which will allow us to complete the task properly.
Twilight fell silent and Luna thought the young mare was finished with her summation, but not five seconds later, the young lavender alicorn raised her voice anew. " Oh, and Celestia. You mentioned to me yourself a few weeks after my ascension that I should be ready for the full development of my powers when the time comes. For that boost would far surpass anything I've experienced before in terms of magical overload," Twilight quickly added at the end. Ere she forgot.
Afterwards, Twilight amusedly raised her muzzle in the air with a cheeky grin and a glint in her eye, affirmed by her own statement afterwards. The mocking joy perfectly visible in her expressions.
Luna and Celestia were both more than amazed. Neither of them quite expected that Twilight would be able to draw such concrete and logical conclusions from so little available information. However, it seemed that they had once again underestimated the young, lavender-coated alicorn. Bravo to Twilight.
"My sincere respect young Twilight. I believe I can speak for the both of us when I say that neither of us expected you to come this close to solving it. And yes, you are entirely correct. With an increase, only by a factor of several hundred times, it would be far from possible for an alicorn to move the sun. Just as little as the moon, even if the latter has a much smaller mass." Was confirmed this time from Luna, to the realization of Twilight. Whereupon Twilight seemed even more proud of herself. But she couldn't be faulted for that yet, either. Her Statement was pretty impressive after all.
"Still, even your high guess is far lower than the real factor. For the true answer is 500,000. Yes, I know, quiet crazy, am I right?", chuckled the deep blue alicorn mare.
Luna made a dramatic pause and was curious about Twilight's reaction. For sure, the latter would immediately loudly announce that such a thing wouldn´t be possible and the two must be mistaken.
But Luna was wrong for the second time in less than three minutes.
For suddenly, Twilight began to giggle softly after a few seconds, and within 5 seconds fell into a guffawing, almost crazy laughter, dropping onto her left side and with the fore hoof held to her breast. The sight at the same time cute and odd. Because the lavender mares wings trembled considerably from laughter, especially the tips. Still, very unusual, as no one would expect such a reaction. In addition to the by now characteristic, but still mysterious sparks of magic exceeding from the lavender alicorns wings. Which somehow still no one seemed to notice, even though they flowed from Twilight's wings brightly and in great numbers.
Dumbfounded, wordless and utterly confused, Luna dropped hard onto her rear end and looked pleadingly with wide opened snout to her sister Celestia. Hopefully, that she would know what the hell was going on.
However, Celestia seemed to have just as little idea why the youngest alicorn was lying on the ground laughing and no longer capable of making any reasonable sound.
Therefore, Luna rose, trotted over to Celestia and sat down next to her. Following which they both waited patiently for the trembling bundle of lavender feathers, fur and waving mane to stop making indefinable noises. It would have been easier to just sit there and wait patiently if the sight wasn't as crazy and unpredictable - and well hearth crushing adorable as it was. Who would have thought that being told how powerful one really was would lead to an uncontrollable fit of laughter.
Several minutes went by until Twilight had stopped laughing and was now lying sideways with her eyes closed. Her flanks continued to flinch at irregular intervals, with aftermaths of laughter.
Celestia and Luna looked skeptically at each other, trying to exchange glances between them as to which of them should ask Twilight the obvious question.
In the end, both decided to just wait and see.
Another two minutes passed, until the two older alicorns got their hoped-for answer.
"I- I'm really sorry. But I just couldn't help it. That was just too much for the moment. 500,000? Really? As said, I was expecting maybe 150. Possibly 200, but 500? No, that was beyond my wildest imaginations."
Sitting up in order to have a better visual position to the other two fellow alicorns. Twilight shook herself in a fashion like a dog and pushed some feathers back into position with her muzzle, her mane slightly disheveled, but still fluttering in an ethereal wind that kept the attachment in an almost self-grooming state, now in front of the left side of her face - much to the annoyance of the lavender mare.
Energetically removing said mane from her face with her leading left hoof, she commenced her declaration - as well as her distress.
"Arrr, stupid thing! At times more annoying and disruptive than cool and practical - But regardless, I really wasn't expecting this type of answer." Chuckling Twilight proceeded. "Neither did you probably expect my reaction. Am I right?" Twilight tilted her head and looked at the two of them.
Celestia shook her head, Luna stayed quiet for the time being.
"Nope, we really didn't. To be honest, we rather expected you wouldn't buy it from us. But clearly, we were faulted about that. Still, I can partially understand your reaction, after all mine wasn't much different, even if I didn't have a laughing fit", Celestia confessed. "It´s kind of funny and illogical, as we're talking about factors so high that they can't be put in any real relation to any other pony in strength, abilities or otherwise.
"This is slightly exaggerated of course as the true strength of an alicorn is quite immeasurable by normal terms, and can only really be done against another alicorn, if someone should really need a comparison. But let's put that off until later, shall we?", Luna further added to her sister's statement. Whereupon Twilight thoughtfully nodded in understanding. No, I definitive wasn't caught a little bit by Luna, but who am I to be blamed for my incredible interest in new wisdom?
"As stated, in the near future, we can very much try and test that out in your interests. But currently, we should refer to you processing all the stuff first. So, I suggest we take another little break. So, you can sort out your thoughts. Don't be too shy to ask questions if you feel the need to do so. As I said, we'll be happy to help."
Acknowledging, Twilight meandered more comfortably onto her pillow and began to process the information she had received over the past one and a half hour. It would certainly take time, whether you had an incredible intellect or were as dumb as 10 meters of dirt road. Such life changing information just took their time to sink in. She didn't want to imagine how it would be when she did tell all this to her friends. Hopefully they didn't all faint from their chairs immediately. She wouldn't have any problem to catch all of them, at the same time, after all, this was a task that even a moderately trained unicorn could master. Still, shock-induced fainting was not particularly helpful for physical health.
"So - some more tea?", kindly came from Celestia as the mare had the friendly intention of providing the youngest alicorn something soothing and warm, ripping Twilight out of her thoughts and back to reality in the process.
Thankfully, Twilight raised her cup in characteristic magic and brought it near the steaming teapot Celestia held in her bright magic, accepting the offer at once.
All three mares still sat peacefully together on a cushion each and silently sipped their respective special teas. After all, one did not always have to converse, sometimes it was enough just to sit together with like-minded friends and spend some time.
The three alicorns also now enjoyed various cookies and other sweets, thanks to Celestia's request to the castle's kitchen. Due to the highly efficient cooks, magic and servants all around the clock, it had also taken less than 5 minutes before there was a knock at the door for the second time today. It had been Celestia who had answered the door this time, so that Twilight and her sister Luna could continue to drink tea in their respective comfort.
The mid-aged biscuit-brown earth pony with a black mane and a pair of glasses on her nose, that brought them the treats had been Cookie Crumble. Head chef in the night shift for the past 21 years. Meanwhile, her twin sister Caramel Crumble, two days older and also an earth pony, was in charge of the day shift.To which Celestia forbid herself to had any hoof in it, with the fact that they both had the exact same position, just in different shifts.
The shifts changed every four weeks however, to allow the two mares to live as normal a life as possible. After all, it was hard to go to a bar or club when the opening hours were always in one's working hours.
Both mares also definitely matched in name, appearance and voice as the mares looked incredible alike. Just like as they were well…identical twins.
It was therefore generally difficult to distinguish who was who and one had to remember which of the two mares was present on the respective shift.
Nor did Celestia herself want to believe at first that the two sisters were really named like that. Although appearance matching names were not rare in Equestria - nevertheless the thought was quite funny every time she saw one of them. Even after more than two decades, she couldn´t hinder herself to present a wide smile on her face as she had accepted the cookies.
Accompanying the mare had been both one of Luna's batpony guards, in that case the mare Moondust as well as the unicorn stallion Rave Starglow, one of her own. The two guards anyway on their way to relieve their comrades Koron K. Dawn and Comet Breeze outside the doors of Celestia's chambers from duty - both Pegasus ponies.
*Back to present.*
While Luna was almost unnoticeably snacking on her favorite moon cookies - unsurprisingly her favorites. Twilight showed much more excitement in nibbling on the edge of her twenty-fifth sweet.
Even though she was still sorting out her thoughts, Twilight's ears twitched ever so slightly and the grin on her muzzle definitely showed that she appreciated the taste.
The junior alicorn had been Celestia's student for several years as a unicorn. Yet not even she was familiar with all of the more than 420 types of cookies, that had been created and baked in Canterlot's kitchen over the long period of time that the castle had existed. Celestia, of course, had asked for cookies that Twilight, to her knowledge, had not yet encountered. As a little surprise, so to speak, which, as could be seen by Twilight´s excitement, was a great success.
After another seven minutes, Twilight turned from her half-bitten sun-cinnamon star and nodded to Celestia, raising the older alicorns attention. Celestia in turn cocked her ears and put her own half-eaten moon cookie down on the small plate next to her before addressing the lavender alicorn.
"Yes Twilight? Something up?"
Twilight herself gave a curt nod.
"I would be all set to proceed and like to know more about me as an alicorn. So according to this – would you or Luna like to begin?", Twilight was still as energetic on knowledge as ever and had no problem also showing it. And having by now become more and more accustomed to the idea that she was considered a peer to the other three, she began to get at least a little bit 'sassy' in her approaches. Testing the boundaries so to speak and her eyes sparkled as she said it with a mischievous glint.
There you go, that's starting to turn into something.
Celestia decided to start the conversation after that brief reflection in her mind.
"Hmm, where best to start. After all, there's still a lot worth to explain. Let me think for a moment please dear.”
Patiently Twilight waited for Celestia to sort her thoughts.
“Ah yes! The best place to start is with a passive ability that every alicorn inevitably possesses, no matter how old it might be. We have therefore conveniently taken the liberty of calling the phenomenon or ability ´alicorn presence´."
"Obviously you are now wondering with certainty what that could be, don´t you?”
Twilight´s gaze and nod said it.
“And I am even absolutely certain that you already know the answer. Care to guess?", encouraged Celestia her younger fellow.
Twilight only peered up for a moment as she thoughtfully narrowed her eyes a bit before enthusiastically revealing her hunch.
"alicorn presence, alicorn presence, what could that imply…”
"Hmmm, I'm just going to assume the simplest and say that it has something to do with all those auras that we generate around us uninfluenced. You know, the ones that are just there without us having to do anything explicitly for it.”
“Being so gifted in magic as I am I almost instantly noticed them the first time I met you Celestia. It was also one of the main reasons I was so entranced with you since the very first time I saw you raise the Sun. The aura – or better said auras, I felt were overwhelming and I just needed to know more about them. Luckily that’s a subject of knowledge that is widely spread throughout the books found in library’s”, Twilight had a bright smile on her snout as she continued unhindered.
“I won’t deny to have spent many hours in researching and documenting my own new auras after ascending to an alicorn. And there was one thing I noticed in all of them.”
“As far as my knowledge goes, it is also not possible to suppress or change them drastically. Maybe we could strengthen them and the effect they have, but that again is only a guess. Exactly I don't know either."
Twilight then shortly sipped another bit of her tea and ate the rest of her leftover sweat.
While she carried on with her conversation, she magic-snatched a couple of the many cookies from the white and gold-rimmed plate in between the three of them. Placing them on her own plate in the same design beside her front hooves.
"What I do know, however, is the fact that it relates to the magic we consistently lose from our magic core. Though this energy might only be a fraction of a percent of our total magical power level - given the high amount of raw mana we as alicorn’s possess in our core, it is an incredible amount. At least in relation to every other creature that exists on Equus. Also probably any other being, if what you said about the other immortals is in fact true.”
“It is”, confirmed Celestia.
“I thought so.”
“However, I can't fully explain myself where and for what all this dissipated mana is used. As I said, for sure much of it is used to maintain the already mentioned effect of stabilizing the universe that we alicorns intuitively generate."
Now scratching the fur on her chin again with her front hoof in thoughts, Twilight continued almost immediately.
"But surely not all of it is used for that...some of it must be used for something else. After all, ever since I ascended to an alicorn, I've had a feeling that a small part of my magic is...how shall I put it – not mine, but still mine. It´s a completely different feeling as the mana that flows back into the universe, so it has to be.”
"Is that even understandable?", Twilight shrugged her shoulders, the feathers of her lavender wings ruffling. The mare showing that she really didn't know how to articulate it better. Twilight’s eyes roamed slowly over both Luna and Celestia.
"Well, I hope you know what I mean and can elaborate more and better as to what it's all about. Nevertheless, as I mentioned earlier, I assume that the remaining energy or mana, depending on what you want to call it, is passively used by us to generate these auras and effects around us. I researched my auras as you now know rather detailed and these do need in fact some form of energy to function. So where else should it come from?”
“And from what I have found out so far about alicorns –“, Twilight paused and then shook her head in irritation. “ – no talking in the third person sounds ridiculous. What I found out about myself, is that said mana is more than just having neat fur, cool flowing hair or a feeling of security around us. I think it´s the auras the mana is used on and the later has more to do with our appearance and actions than the mana that comes from us," Twilight finished with a broad grin.
Celestia retook over after Twilight seemed to be done with her speculations.
"Like the last few times, I'm surprised at how many conclusions you've been able to draw from what little you've been given. You might want to consider becoming a detective, alongside your activities as a princess," Celestia joked, but immediately continued without waiting for Twilight's response.
"Your conclusions, however, as you had already guessed, were not the whole picture. Therefore, I would be more than delighted to share the rest with you."
Celestia neatly folded her front hooves over each other and took an orange-banana Sun cookie from her plate, slowly consuming it.
"As you had already correctly surmised, most of our mana is intuitively used to sustain the universe at its roots. Yet we've already discussed that more than enough so no further explanation necessary there. Said guess was right, just like your next prediction. The one, that all the remaining energy that is left of is converted into auras. Let’s call them for simplicity, 'alicorn auras’, ok?”
“Does fit rather good”, Luna interjected.
Celestia gave Luna a short acknowledging glance from the corner of her eye.
“A rather fitting name yes and also commonly used among our subjects not for no reason as I think is obvious.”
Celestia cleared her throat and then drank some of her tea to better speak what she had in mind.
“Anyway, the entire ´lost mana theory´ has much in common with our extremely fast regeneration and evolution - inherent to every alicorn.”
“To be more precise, with three individual but interlinked reasons. Firstly and second the facts that both the amount of mana we can store in our magic core grows with every second, as well as our abilities continue evolving. In what ways that will be, not even we can foresee. But with enough time, we will eventually know anyway. And lastly, also the astral dimension is gaining more and more mana every second to fill each of our magic cores. That means more free power for every one of us four.”
“All three by themselves already a very good explanation for the mentioned ´theory of lost mana´. Yet as said they depend on each other and thus reinforce each other as well. The result is that each effect is exactly one third.”
“But what does that all add up to? And more important even, where am I going?”, Celestia smirked as she saw the slightly lost gaze of Twilight.
“Let me summarize please.”
Twilight nodded and pricked her ears to hear every single word Celestia would say.
“Ok. One has to know first, that our entire evolution happens at a much higher level and speed than would be considered normal for any other species. We don’t need millions of years to develop new abilities. Sometimes all it takes are only a few years to centuries.”
“Really? An alicorn is actually able to develop completely new abilities in sometimes only a few decades or only years just like that on their own? That’s freaking mind-blowing incredible”, Twilight’s voice sounded more than astonished. Her muzzle stood wide open and her eyes had increased massive in size. Now they we’re almost nothing but pupil.
The older dark-blue alicorn nodded. “Yes, whereas it's not only the development of new ones but also the further development and improvement of already existing abilities. They help us alicorn’s and ameliorate the situation for us to get stronger and stronger with each passing day against the forces of evil”, Luna confirmed as a supplement for her older sister.
“As Luna said!”
Twilight interjected hence Celestia could proceed any further. The young alicorn’s voice was enthusiastic and also almost used the full blow of her royal Canterlot voice.
“Just to think of the possibilities it opens up for exploration. After all, there hasn’t been a lot of research into an alicorn’s physiology yet. Which does make sense, though, considering what you’ve told me so far about our species. Or what I’ve found out myself. For our pony’s, that in itself may be quite a game changer, that much is clear.”
“However, I hardly assume that the two of you would have a problem with me conducting research of my own for private purpose. After all, I am an alicorn myself and should know as much about myself as possible at best. Besides…it will be hard for you to stop me from investigating and testing myself. For several good reasons”, Twilight grinned.
“The most obvious being that an alicorn is so resistant to everything that it will be impossible for my experiments to harm me. Hence, it does not pull, if you want to try to talk me out of it in such a way. "
“Also, I’m much too eager to drop the whole subject anyway. And thirdly. An alicorn-magic shield is impossible to break, and my magic too damn powerful for you to breach my guard,” Twilight quipped. Her wings spread gently from her body in glee and her eyes flashing mischievously.
Celestia and Luna merely chuckled. Well Twilight was right, no need to argue with.
“However, if you could make yourselves available for some of my tests, that would further improve the results indeed. Greater number of separate test subjects equals greater number of outcomes,” Twilight summed in simplified voice.
Both older alicorn’s to Twilight’s left and right nodded delightedly to the teenage alicorn in their midst. Then Luna began.
“As you said before, it will be impossible for us to stop you anyway so let’s not even try.”
“Which, by the way, we had no intention of doing anyhow,” Celestia interjected as her younger sister rounded off.
“With pleasure, in fact, we shall agree to attend and participate in your tests as well. For all of us, it could provide a great breakthrough in the study of our own unique biology. The only condition, however, is that no one but us learns of the results. As we said – our ponies just aren’t ready for it yet. Someday in the future, perhaps, but not today.
Twilight nodded in agreement. “I have no problem with that. Just let me say that I’m not going to keep the experience we’re going to gain a secret from my friends and Spike. I can’t and I won’t.”
Both princesses nodded once more and Celestia turned to Twilight.
“May I continue?”
“Certainly!” Twilight neatly tucked her wings back to her sides and slid her front hooves back under her body. She had been leaning on them while she spoke, but now she lay back down and scooted her body back into the soft velvet cushion beneath her.
Celestia raised her voice. “Still, I have to correct you. I wouldn't really call the power we consistently give to our environment 'lost'. Not because of the fact that energy cannot truly be destroyed, only transformed into other states. But..." Pausing abruptly at her statement, as Celestia had obviously noticed something about it herself the white alicorn´s eyes unfocused in thought and then returned back to reality.
"Whereas - now that I think about it...maybe it would even be feasible for an alicorn to actually destroy energy. It is, after all, a law of physics and they are not binding for our species as you know.”
Celestia cleared her throat.
“Aaaanyway! That short digression aside - it is only an automatic conversion of raw mana into useful effects, like for example our auras. The power is certainly not lost in empowering auras I would say. Don’t you agree?” Celestia cooked her head to her younger fellow and Twilight’s head nodded in agreement to the white alicorn.
A second later Luna intervened and hinted with her hoof to Twilight, pointing at the young alicorn's flowing galaxy of a mane with it.
"As a matter of fact, we get acquainted with these very effects on a daily basis. One of them, even much closer than one might think. You were also right there."
The mane, in turn, seemed to sense that it had just been mentioned, even though it couldn´t be considered sentient. Several small, twinkling shooting stars chased through and across Twilight ́s mane and the entire hair seemed to glow in an even greater display than it usually did. Much to the amusement of all three alicorns equally.
A small round of giggling ensued, quickly drowned out by cookie munching as Twilight and Luna were the first to compose themselves. Celestia soon joined into the small sweet break.
After her sweet eaten Twilight seemed a bit surprised. She raised her eyebrows slightly as the lavender mare tilted her head about half to the side. "My mane?"
Then it hit her like a ton of bricks. "Ohhh I see. So I was indeed correct that my mane and the changes it performed in the last few months, is one of the visible effects of this energy transmutation. Neat!"
She proceed with her hunch.
"That the flowing is caused by the magic streaming from me is something I had already suspected. After all, it is just the most logical explanation we can come up with. Magic is everywhere in our entire world, so it's all too easy to name it as a valid source for pretty much anything."
"It´s also basic knowledge, that if the amount of outflowing mana is high enough, there will be visible effects in rituals that would have no visible effects under other conditions. And there is no denying that the amount an alicorn gives off isn´t small."
"It also explains for me what has happened to my mane and tail a few months after my ascension into a freshly backed alicorn. After all, can't hardly say that it’s real hair anymore. More of a mixture of what both of your manes represent. Whereby less of both than yours - rather a 50/50 mix with some extra unique quirks."
Twilight circled her hoof, searching for the right words to proceed. She quickly found them and started to elaborate.
"On the one hoof my mane is a single flowing, almost goo like mass of a vortex of galaxies and beautiful stars, like the one you have Luna. You let me analyze it a few years ago and I must say I was quite surprised to find out that it really does consume all incoming light like a vacuum - however that works. So far I couldn’t find out how it works, but now I have certainly enough time thanks to my own mane", grinned Twilight.
The young alicorn then raised her hoof and pointed the frog off it towards Luna.
“But there is one more matter that has become clear to me. Luna, as you probably recall, I was quite dejected when you forbade me to do any more experiments on your mane. Until a few months ago I never understood why. You always said that it was just too dangerous for me to delve deeper into the secrets behind your mane, figuratively as well as literally.”
“Well, after I obtained my own flowing mane, naturally nothing stopped me from exploring it to all its details. Thanks to that I did, I know now what you meant by “danger”. Not only do both of our manes absorb any light that falls into them, they are truly a literal vacuum and connection to our firmament. This can have dire consequences if one is not careful as should be obvious.”
Luna silently acknowledged and confirmed Twilight’s reasoning with a slow blink of her eyes.
“Yet there is one more fact to Luna’s and in extension my mane. If you do it right, you can cut off a part of it with one's hoof when waggling around in the mane. Although the separated parts always will go back to the main part of our manes, as if it were magically magnetic”, Twilight elaborated as she demonstrated it also with a movement through her own mane – cutting off a part of it and letting it remerge.
“It´s also funny to watch it flow everywhere and nowhere and bend to obstructions without ever following a clear pattern – at least one we would know of. The only pity is that I still need a brush every now and then. If I remember correctly, you haven't touched a mane comb since your etheric mane developed."
Luna nickered, confirming what Twilight had said last. To that Twilight moved her head to Celestia and surveyed also her mane for a second or two.
"The other is that my mane reacts partially the same way as Celestia's and I have say fortunately so. Your mane Celestia, is also quiet fascinating. In the worst case, we only have to hold the brush in our manes in the morning to straighten the individual strands of hair anew. Your mane, according to your explanation, is practically made up of floating, multicolored strands that shine with light. Yet still function more like a real mane compared to Luna's mane."
Another wide grin crossed Twilight's muzzle for a brief moment.
"Maybe I did fetch even the best deal out of us three. A bit of the capabilities Luna’s mane has in terms of beautifulness with its galaxies. A bit of the shining strands of radiance you got Celestia. And third a bit of distinctions on my own as it’s unique in its own way. Who knew ethereal manes needed so very little maintenance. I only need to run the comb through it a few times, usually just to brush out the curls that sometimes form when it curls up under me while I sleep. Brushing through the literally non-existent tangles is also ridiculously easy - like my whole mane is soaked in hair conditioner. All it takes is a gentle tug to separate the strands and I´m done."
"Well there are simply some basic advantages to being an alicorn - one of them being ridiculously easy mane, coat and feather care. You know they all behave pretty much identically to our manes too, and require minimal if any care to keep them in pristine condition."
Luna had said that and then took another bite of one of her favorite cookies.
Twilight was still smirking, and as she repositioned her wings more comfortably, she bit into another of her cookies. It was one of the sweets that were new to her. A maracuja cinnamon star glazed with some lavender icing and dotted with tiny sprinkles of white shredded coconut.
The cookie itself looked suspiciously similar to the main star of her own cutie mark, not just because it was literally glazed in the same color than her own coat. Yet Twilight pretended not to notice that Celestia or Luna certainly had a hoof in its creation just for her as a kind gesture. She appreciated it.
Having consumed and swallowed the cookie, Twilight licked her lips for any excess sugar and proceeded. "That the sparkling effect is also related to it, though, I had not guessed. I had to assume until now for it to be fully related to my alignment and connection to our starry sky. Not actual magic exceeding from my body and enhancing it."
Both other princesses just stayed silent for now, their eyes focused onto Twilight’s. Both waited to see if Twilight had anything else to add, which they were right about not a second later.
"Hmmm, no! Makes quite a bit of sense actually, if you think about it the right way. I had already wondered where these effects with my 'sparkle’ appearance in the ‘twilight' might come from. They were not entirely created through my connection to the heavens. I never could describe how I knew that, but I just did."
All three had to grin briefly at this very well intended pun and the next few seconds were spent in laughter.
Once all three had regained their composure after a few seconds and the giggling had died down, Luna nodded and turned her head a little further towards Twilight.
"It's actually both true what you just said. Almost exclusively everything about your 'sparkle appearance' comes from your alignment, but a tiny bit also comes from the magic given off by our bodies."
Twilight's left ear twitched as the young mare formed a new thought following Luna´s speech.
"One second please before we continue with what we just talked about. I would still like to say one thing to you before we get back to matter."
Both older alicorns nodded and had a friendly smile on their muzzles, eager to hear what Twilight had to say to them.
However, as Twilight's expression towards them began to darken somewhat and her younger peer sat facing them with an emotionless face, a slight cold shiver ran down both of their spines. For her age, Twilight was already surprisingly good at using her emotionally based alicorn abilities. Projected on the same species, the effect was massively weakened, but even an alicorn remained not completely unaffected.
Suddenly both sisters were not so sure if they wanted to hear Twilight's thought, but there was no time left to think about. Twilight, meanwhile, had begun to speak.
"I just need to get this off my mind. I assumed - though as with many things, that you two would enlighten me in due time without me needing to specially ask. At least of what it means to be an alicorn and what we are truly capable off. So it´s only normal that I´m a bit disappointed from you both.”
Twilight sighted. “While the whole affair has taken longer than I expected or hopped. I won’t hold on to the past for something so trivial in hindsight. Only one thing counts for me here and that is that you tell me everything in the end.” – “Or in the next few hours”, Twilight giggled. Her mirth increasing vastly now that she had spoken her mind.
“So…as I´m assuming we have still a lot to talk about – which of you would like to continue? Surely there will be more things we uncover while we talk, that you should have better told me before or not twist in the past. However my trust into both of you is very strong as you know and I´m sure you only had the best intentions for me. I won´t judge the things you didn´t tell me in the past. But please don´t do that ever again in the future. My patience is not going to be forthcoming and I won´t be lied further too.”
Both alicorn’s lowered their heads in shame before Twilight. What else should they do? There was really nothing they could say to defend their past actions to Twilight. The young alicorn mare was right, they should have told her sooner about the abilities of their shared kind. It at least would have spared them the trouble and grief created by Twilight being terrified to the core for the sake of her dear friends. An emotion only to comprehensible for someone so young being faced with the sudden idea of enteral life and immortality. Topped with the fact the same pony had a deep affection, bond and companionship with these friends.
While nearly crashing the entire concept of reality into nothing didn’t accept an alicorn at all – not having to experience it in the first place was still always better. Both made a silent oath to not further lie to Twilight with their bowed heads to her.
The cold shiver passed and the air seemed to grow warmer again. Slowly the two older alicorn’s raised their heads and Luna volunteered then with a hoof gesture, as well as verbally.
"Me!"
"As my sister has already begun our skills are improving rapidly, and that's exactly the crux of the matter. The mana that is streaming back to us by the second from the astral dimension to fill our magic core, is at any time slightly higher than what our core could store at that very moment.”
“Everything over one hundred percent therefore has to leave our body as we can’t absorb all of it. Said excess mana noticeably changes our general appearance - as you are aware, just about in every aspect."
"But that's far from all. The effect we have on others and how we strengthen or weaken them are also greatly affected by the excess mana."
Luna finished by nodding her head up to Twilight.
"You are surely asking yourself, why would we alicorns - guardians and protectors of all that is known, weaken others. Well, the answer is really quite simple. There are entities and places that know nothing but hatred, humiliation, death and everything else you could associate with it. We have a strong weakening and hindering effect on these very entities. For quite honestly, no creature needs something like that, do they?"
Twilight only shook her head in mock amusement, silently agreeing with the older alicorn mare. Her thought´s wandering anew at the same time.
No, creatures and places like that really didn't deserve to exist at all. That stood in contrast to everything in which she believed. A philosophy that was also widely shared by the inhabitants of Equestria.
Why was fighting even necessary at all? What real advantage did one gain from it? After all, one wasted strength; energy; time and other valuable resources only to harm others. In most cases one even harmed oneself in some way. Violence didn’t end violence; it merely extend it. Some other nations would say it was to get more land from others for themselves and show who was the stronger force out of two.
Mentally, Twilight had to laugh as she let that go through her mind. The last was a concept that probably would not cross the minds of any of her ponies. Even without four alicorns gifted with many divine powers as highest leaders, Equestria remained the undisputed, unmoving supreme force since its creation on Equus. Which was, after all, more than 15,000 years of independent growth. Other nations rose, grew larger, had varying lengths of boom time, but inevitably they always eventually declined. Mostly it was because of personal indifferences within their own realms. Less often because of wars among each other and even less likely because tragic events or catastrophes happened.
Equestria, it’s military and princesses largely stayed out of the first two reasons. The pony kingdom was a nation that put peace above all else, and refused any request for help in waging war outright. That was different for the last event however. Equestria had offered its help several times, saving some countries from certain doom in the last millennia’s.
Not fighting was something that many other species simply didn’t want to understand.
Some of them even addressed the royal alicorns in a rather disrespectful and uncivil manner. They expected answers why they were not interested in fighting for their land and stayed passive. For them it was a necessity to fight for land, honor and might and they demanded the alicorn’s to do the same.
Twilight pondered. She never liked to remind others that she and the others were near-omnipotent immortal goddesses – that wasn’t truly in her nature. But it made things much easier, since a deity didn’t have to justify his actions to mortals…or at least that was the widespread belief. Secondly, the accusation was in itself generally quite idiotic. A single alicorn easily could have won a battle against an entire nation single-hoofed if they wanted. It would take them not even the morning of a single day. Something the other kingdoms on Equus and their inhabitants knew only too well.
Even with said knowledge a few had still believed over the course of several thousand years that they could attack Equestria. To claim what they saw as an unfit country to fight.
A rather stupid thought, if one was allowed to say so given known facts. To come up with such ideas - one was really not allowed to use one's brain.
Equestria, a country led by immortal and eternal beings with such mighty powers not even their own subjects knew all about it.
A country that, as of today, had more than 10 times the military strength of all other countries combined. Yet had not been at war for more than two and a half thousand years.
A kingdom that possessed such wealth that every inhabitant could easily be supported with enough to prevent a miserable life without even noticing that bits were being consumed from the royal treasury.
A peaceful, passive country that could cover the roofs and streets of its capital with gold if it just felt like doing so.
Of course, such a kingdom could be quickly attacked without any problems and claimed for oneself... as said a rather idiotic thought.
In summary, the disadvantages of a fight always far outweighed the advantages. In the end, even if you won. You still lost in a way. The same number of resources used for structural building, communication and trade with others would bring everyone much more benefit. Of that, Twilight was more than sure.
Coming out of her thoughts, Twilight shock her head to clear her mind. The lavender alicorn-mare than perked her ears to listen further to what Luna would say.
The referred dark-blue mare had patiently waited for her younger peer to spin her ideas. Resting on the fluffy pillow beneath her body and snacking some more cookies, while drinking one more cup of 'special alicorn tea'.
Now she cleared her throat. "But I'll explain it best using a total of four examples. The first a general fact that affects all the remaining three equally."
Twilight gave her silent acknowledgment with a blink of her eyes.
"By essence, each alicorn generates an effect of power or strength but also serenity and tranquility, that every being in our vicinity can feel without any exception. Precisely for said reason, the effect has been named 'alicorn presence’. Incidentally a naming choice made by our subjects and not by us. Nevertheless, it's a very fitting description, which is why we adopted it exactly the same way.”
“On top of that, we generate several passive auras that cannot be changed in intensity - we talked about that. The most notable of these are beauty, cosmic energies, divinity and magic. Each of them one of the four main auras we alicorn’s surround ourself with and therefore also the strongest we project."
“That said let us dive deeper into the matter what other auras beside the natural main four we project into our surroundings. I´m rather sure you do still recall, that we talked about three specific instances. All of them are unique but have one thing in common. It all depends on the general attitude of individuals towards us alicorns into which of the three a being is finally categorized.”
“We distinguish exactly three groups as you should already suspect. The allies; opponents and neutrals, with the latter group being by far the largest.”
Luna chuckled as she recognized the interested gaze of Twilight, yet the young mare seemed to be also a tad bit lost. Understandable so. It was a rather extensive and confusing concept to understand hearing it for the first time after all. She extend one of her wings for further more precise gestures.
“I know this is pretty confusing right off the bat, but let me explain please.” Twilight listened.
“We alicorns generate various auras that emanate from our bodies. Most of them affecting all and enhancing our appearance. The divine effect surrounding us, flowing and sparkling of our manes and excess magic strengthening the universe just to name a few. Yet some of them are special. They depend on to the general attitude towards us alicorns – represented and categorized in three groups. Is that understandable so far?”
As Twilight smiled and nodded her head, Luna took it as the definition of a yes and moved on.
“But I'll start with something that matters for every group, no matter which of them. We tested and documented our findings throughout and all auras have a vast range and aren’t blocked or influenced by any obstacles. The effectiveness of each aura also does not decrease at all with increasing distance in the first few kilometers. As far as we could document in total the auras extend at least over a distance of hundreds of kilometers – probably even more. Unsurprisingly the effects decrease slightly at the end to name the last important detail.”
“I have to say, so far even that is a rather impressive display of power”, interjected Twilight. Wings fluffed and muzzle curved into a cheeky grin.
“It is and that in itself brings us to the first individual group of beings – the ally. They are the one that benefit the most from an alicorn´s powers.”
That seemed to interest Twilight a lot, as the young alicorn even leaned forward on her pillow to listen better. Her gaze literally piercing Luna as she followed her words. The sight was the image of adorableness and sparked a short amused chuckle from Celestia. Luna didn’t stop in speaking.
“The positives effects of these include greater hope and confidence in oneself and others; general better strength and magical strength as well as health; protection and faster healing. Healing in itself is special as it affects as well psychical-, mental- as soul-health. Mending every imperfection there might be in the body, no matter how small. That also grants it the rank as by far most powerful aura for ally´s.”
“Further auras are peace for body and soul. Then we have speed or agility, depending on the one you ask. Next is time - the aging of allies is basically slowed by up to 40% and the closer one is with an alicorn the greater the effect will be. I´m sure the closest to each of us will benefit by it even greater than the just mentioned percentage. My sister and we however never were able to confirm such as both of us never had offspring’s or anything alike. Yet time will tell and you ahead will someday reveal whether we were right in our guess or not.”
Twilight thought about it for a second and then nodded as she understood what Luna meant.
“Then we got Twilight”, Luna rolled her eyes after saying that and a goofy grin crossed her snout. “No, not the one you’re just thinking about and it was also not an intended pun.”
Both other alicorn mares smiled to the other and giggled slightly as Luna proceeded to roll her eyes and then groaned.
“Uhhhhrrrggg…15 millennia and my sister still laughs about name puns – Equestria is doomed.” Luna however never ceased to smile wholly so it was obvious she was just joking.
“Nevertheless, it grants everyone about 10% of magical boost in the twilight time – both morning and evening. Lastly of the ones worth mentioning is greater willpower. It´s basically an effect that grants everyone that is affected by it a more brave set of mind, yet not an imprudent one. It’s also not to be confused with confidence. They sound alike but work different purposes.”
Now it was Princess Twilight´s time to show again what a smart horse she really was. Her mind in overdrive thinking, she pushed herself up with her front hooves and began her flow of speech unhindered.
“Let me guess. Our allies include all ponies and inhabitants of Equestria on a reciprocal basis? But probably also, all immortals who attend the council and maybe a few outside these bonds. We have after all to consider the notorious effects of the quantum entanglements and feedback loops of spell- and foremost auric magic. Effects firstly discovered by Professor Whineright in his second serendipity about level five to six classified magic 432 Years, seven months and nine days in the past.”
Twilight paused for but a short moment.
“That brings me to only one logical fact. Considering the quantum entanglements in comparison to our native projected field of undiluted thaumic magical forces. Well then I suggest, the various effects are stronger when one is closer in a bonding mutual friendship to an alicorn? So, our ponies benefit the most from all of it I would say. And for my six friends I could achieve an even far greater effect. Simply supercalifragilisticexpialidocious isn´t it?”
Twilight's eyes and smile practically sparkled - not just due to her matching last name but litteraly. It even went so far that, thanks to native alicorn magic, her emotions began to discharge in little white flashes across her fur.
Luna's and Celestia's muzzles stood agape. Neither of them had expected that Twilight would be able to conclude such an academic conclusion from the provided pieces of information. The point that their subjects would get the greatest benefit from their rulers yes but not all the young lavender mare just said.
What Twilight had just guessed and explained was perfectly true. Neither of the older alicorns could have said it any better.
Twilight was still grinning widely above her entire snout as she faced the other two alicorns. The discharges of emotional magic still zipping across her entire fur. Yet soon seemingly realized that she had the two mares quite perplexed. Which, given that both looked at her wordlessly and in great surprise was not hard to tell.
Thereupon, almost immediately she flushed so bright red not even her lavender fur could hide it. Twilight’s ears also tipped back in something comparable to embarrassment or shame.
"Sorry," Twilight gave out softly, but was immediately cut off by Celestia before she could say anything more as an apology.
"Never apologize for being the smartest one in the room. NEVER! Do you hear me?"
Twilight nodded in relief, her gestures brighten and relaxing in an instant. Her ears perked up and she flicked them in a sudden itch.
Her gaze and full attention was then returned back to the two other princesses with her in the comfortable quarters of Celestia. Twilight´s magic began grabbing another of the tasty cookies in the periphery of her attention. She floated it up to her muzzle and began to slowly consume it. Waiting for either the white or blue alicorn to resume talking.
Luna opened her snout. She shortly pondered it she should say something further to Twilight’s guesses and assumptions but what was their? She couldn’t think of anything more on top of her mind.
Letting the matter fade she began. “Almost the same is for the evil side. As we had mentioned, that includes really hostile individuals, who have nothing else in mind than death, destruction and ill will. The more hostile they are the stronger the negative effects on them will be. Just like the effects for our allies were.”
Twilight nodded, for the lavender alicorn that made perfect sense. Opposite ends of the spectrum, contrary effects....
“The most noticeable of them are increased fear/fright – not just in front of us alicorn´s but in general. They are simply too afraid to take risks and chances. It makes things far easier and lowers the change of them doing something horrific by far. We can’t confirm it with valid facts but I’m sure that spared of us many terrible events in the past. With now four alicorn’s enforcing such effects that will render even more in the future never to happen.”
“We can only hope so. But obviously I will do my best to help, involuntary and actively”, Twilight’s voice was firm and there was no reason to believe she meant it any other way.
Luna acknowledged silently and carried on. “Then there is weakness/sickness and uncertainty – self-explanatory I believe. Damage and nausea, both weakening effects projected onto every part of their bodies. It lets them suffer higher, more frequent and stronger illnesses and generally lowers their will to act physically.”
“Lastly there is violence – the strongest negative aura we alicorn’s project onto our hate driven enemies. Which means the affected are highly more likely to turn against each other. Depending on the creature we talk about that can have drastic means for the encounter between the two parties. Sometimes even going so far as erasing the problem permanently from existence. Fortunately, innocents are hardly affected and even if they are, there is no permanent damage done.”
Luna paused for a moment to gather her thoughts. She then seemed to have a wisp of inspiration as she lightened her horn and a 3-dimensional projection of their home solar system popped into view between the three alicorn´s. It then proceeded to scale out and showed more and more of the surrounding cosmos, until Equus was far from sight. At least visibly, as a small red dot in the middle of the entire projection showed where their home world lay. It was also conveniently labeled with the name of their shared home beside the dot.
"That should help clarify the third category better for us," Luna retorted. “It’s all we know so far about what else is out there in our solar system. I could scale it further to show more of our galaxy, but that won’t be necessary for the time. Still you will find a spell sphere containing all collected knowledge of us about of our universe back in your quarters. You can see it as the first apologetic gift from me for the things we didn’t clarify before.”
“Oh wow, thanks!”, Twilight replied in great surprise. "That’s certainly going to be quite an enlightening experience later on. 15 millennia of gathered knowledge from two beings that were there to see it all – sounds like a lot.” The barely contained enthusiasm was audible in the young alicorn mare’s voice.”
“Three beings to be honest”, interjected Celestia. Hence Twilight’s gaze could turn into full incomprehensibility she added. “What that means we will come back to later. You will remember and know what I meant then.”
Twilight was fine with it. Celestia’s eyes showed certainty to her and she still trusted her old mentor and fellow alicorn to not lie. Both mares knew none of them could forget they had the conversation and the younger of both certainly wouldn’t let it slip.
Luna looked left and right. First to her sister if she would say more and once she was certain that wouldn’t be the case to Twilight.
“Can I continue?” Twilight nodded, stretching her wings and positioning herself more comfortably. “The third, last and by far largest group are the neutrals, who are neither trusted allies nor hateful hostiles. As you likely can already guess, mostly inhabitants and animals on other planets over the entire universe - whether known to us or not. The amazing auric effects of an alicorn aren´t regulated or restricted by whether we have ever been at a destination or not.”
Suddenly Luna hiccupped causing her entire body to quiver. She quickly lifted her front hoof to her muzzle so as not to appear impolite. She tried to speak again shortly after, but was cut off again. After the fourth failed attempt, she abandoned trying with a frustrated grunt and flattened her ears back in a huff. Her expression was annoyed and her teeth slightly bared, indicating that the moon princess was not particularly amused for the moment.
“Well this is really unfortunate and just at the wrong time. Here’s a sip sister, I’m sure it’ll go away in a minute.”
Celestia floated Luna’s teacup, which she had refilled with freshly steaming tea, to her younger sister. Her gaze was compassionate and friendly as she did so. With a thankful look, Luna accepted the offered cup in her magic and began to empty it in quick gulps. She then poured herself a second round and gestured with her head to Celestia beside her to allow her to continue.
The snow-white alicorn gladly filled in for Luna and Celestia turned her gaze to Twilight’s. The teenage alicorn had been waiting quietly, and was still giving Luna a friendly and encouraging look. A hiccup in itself was nothing bad or dangerous, it was nevertheless both annoying and distracting. Luna’s ears slowly straightened back up as she met eyes with the lavender alicorn. Yet with the next hiccup, they lowered halfway down once more, and the dark-blue princess flicked one of her ears in further annoyance.
“That aside let us proceed. The neutrals get neither the positive nor negative effects we mentioned earlier. These creatures feel only the normal, previously talked about presence of standard auras of us alicorns. The effects of great powers, beauty and all that.”
“As you know, the trust of others in an alicorn is strengthened by said effect quite considerably. Well, and in addition, thanks to said, alicorns are also massively respected by anyone we meet. Whereas we would have already achieved that through our deeds anyway. So, it's merely a nice bonus that technically wouldn't be necessary. Even our enemies aren’t fully shielded against it. Even if they would have the intention to kill us there is still respect for our capabilities in all of them.”
“At last, there is one more thing my sister missed to talk about that is true for all three groups of beings. It's as good as impossible to even look at us alicorns if you have fallen into our disfavor. The aura that we automatically create as a result and that sweeps over the indicated is simply far too overwhelming. Some very strong minded might be able to resist for a second but ultimately they too will have to avert their gazes. However for said to happen is extremely rare. I myself had it only four times so far, and every single time, it was more than justified.”
“The damage, each time created though, was minimal. So I do suggest you forget about it for the time being. We wouldn´t be able to control the ability yet anyway - it´s a natural alicorn effect our bodies create.”
With that, the two alicorn´s concluded their extremely detailed explanation to their lavender feathered equal. Now there was nothing except total silence in the room. The silence only broken up by the frequent silent hicks of Luna.
Luna herself was still trying to get her hiccups under control and seemed to make rather good progress. Celestia now watched her sister and ate a sun-peppermint cookie slowly. Twilight for her part sat almost unmoving on her cushion opposite the two older princesses.
Now, though, the young mare rustled extensively with her wings and didn’t speak. Her eyes, unfocused, were staring straight ahead. A more than clear sign to all that Twilight was not yet completely back to reality with her mentality. Still deep in thought processing all that she had heard. While she had already broken down one of the three particular groups exactly to its function, she still had two more to go through in her mind. Even for her intellect, sorting that much incredible mind-blowing information and what if meant would take some time.
It was not a problem, however. Luna and Celestia would patiently wait for Twilight to speak up herself. They after all had all the time in the world to have this conversation. Besides Luna’s hiccup rendered the dark mare incapable of speaking for the time being anyway. Also, the more Twilight dealt with the topic herself without asking Luna or her sister for advice – the easier it would be for the young alicorn to understand everything she had learned in the end.
Regarding the amount of information Twilight had to work through, a relatively short time lapsed until the eyes of the young alicorn mare began to brighten. Shortly after, she shook her head to scatter the last of her thoughts into the wind so she may concentrate.
Once it looked like Twilight was prepared for more new knowledge, Luna set her teacup aside. "Let us proceed where we left off”, she began. “There are several more auras, but these are not quite as important as the others. If you are really interested, and I know you are, you will find your thirst for knowledge satisfied in the delineated area that I've already hinted at many times."
The moon princess paused: “Ohh that reminds me of something.”
Luna’s horn shown for a second and her chest began to glow in the likewise same shade. She began creating a small ball of white-blue shining light about three inches in front of her hooves, then both the shine of her horn and chest vanished.
The glowing sphere proceeded to hover and shine for a good two more seconds until it began to warp. In the matter of the next few moments it changed it’s form and became a rather large golden key. The key however had two wings at it’s sides, that were together about as wide as half of it. It also seemed to be at least particularly see-through if one focused onto it. Fading in and out of existence in a constant rhythm. There was also a tiny amount of white energy flowing from the tip to the back of it constantly. It was almost invisible to see and could likely only be noticed if the looker was gifted in the arts of magic – or was an alicorn.
The key suspended in the air spun around itself as Luna levitated it nearer to Twilight.
“Maybe you have seen some object like this already in your magic studies”, Luna began. “If not let me tell you it’s a soul-key. A key that binds to the soul of the one it is gifted too and also the most advanced charm a non-alicorn could create. Obviously it still needs a very gifted and experienced caster with years of knowledge and incredible amount of mana to pull off. The effort however is always worth it. Such a key is used wisely a very powerful and special gift.”
“And what exactly does it do?”, Twilight had leaned her head to the side, her violet eyes scanning the key two inches in front her snout from every angle she could. Her ears were laid partly back in interest and Luna had to giggle as she saw how sweet Twilight looked because of that.
“A very interesting question and one I’m happy to answer”, the taller princess smiled. “A soul-key binds as mentioned directly to ones soul. You can see it therefore as a key that you always have with you; can’t loose or could be stolen from you. By any means imaginable, for several good reasons that I won’t go into. Simply put, souls are very special and you’ve already learned the rest through your advanced magic studies.”
“It’s purpose is simple – it’s a key, it unlocks. In your case that would be the gates to the restricted area of books and knowledge where you can find many of the answers you will seek after today. Without the key your access to said realms of knowledge will remain closed and inaccessible.”
“So that’s the only way to get inside?”, Twilight seemed incredibly curious but also a tad lost as was audible from her voice. “Aren’t we alicorn’s like crazy powerful? Can’t our god-like powers simply break or overwhelm the protections and grant us access either way? I have seen that my powers can strain the concept of reality enough to break it earlier this afternoon. Not that I would try to break in. It’s clear your trust in me is great enough to grant me the key even without me specifically asking. But still.”
Now it was Celestia’s time to giggle.
“That’s precisely the same that I wondered as Luna told me she had created a new powerful line of defense. First of all - jep Luna was the one with the idea and also yes it is. The protection and clothing enchantments used were fulled and created with alicorn-magic. As we talked, not even another alicorn’s magic, stronger than the caster or not can break and uncover such. This soul key is really the only thing that can grant one access to anywhere it leads.”
“Non-alicorn keys are almost the same as the initial idea of them was created with the use of an alicorn’s abilities. We four however are the only ones that could still break and uncover them if we want.”
Twilight smiled, satisfied with the answer given by Celestia and turned back to Luna. The dark-blue and lavender alicorn blinked to each other silently and the older of both began.
“You already were gifted such a key earlier in your life – well two in fact. Yet both were without you knowing what they were. I will hold it short and outright tell you. The first was the key my sister gave you as you had become her next faithful student. The same key that unlocked your private rooms also imprinted onto your soul and granted you pretty much permission to walk around anywhere in our castle freely. The areas you were not allowed to access without our permission and had to be accompanied where the ones the key wasn’t infused with. A soul key can’t be modified once it was gifted to another person – at least by non-alicorn magic. That would be mingling with the soul and is an art luckily to draining for normal ponies and other natives, as well as also highly forbidden.”
“We also put an unbreakable enchantment onto the most sacred part of what makes a pony a pony the day we began creating Equus. It’s an enchantment that renders non Equestrians incapable of learning or understanding how the concept of the live-death cycle of Equus works in basic. I am well aware that sounds weird and confusing - as it also is. Yet if they don’t know how it works they can’t begin to form ways of influencing it.” Celestia had said that and both other alicorn’s had followed her words letter for letter. Even if Luna already knew, it was one spell she was incredible proud off and liked to be reminded.
Twilight shortly put a hoof to her chin, then lowered it back to the pillow. “I think I understand. If your not aware there is a way that would function. Like for example needing a key to unlock a door’s lock when all you know of is push and pull. Then you won’t ever be able to accomplish the goal you had or even think about it being possible for you too.”
“Interesting way of thinking, but your right. As you have heard me, our magic could have infused the first key Celestia gifted to you. We could have modified it and slowly unlocked the areas on by one as you grew even more powerful and needed access to continue your studies. Yet we had good reason not to and it was not lacking trust. Believe me Princess Twilight. I never heard once that you weren’t trustworthy.”
“Thanks!”, voiced Twilight almost inaudible her cheeks reddening, gaze cast down in embarrassment for the praise, shortly interrupting Luna.
“As unlucky as it is, modifying a bound key to the soul of someone other than yourself inflicts agonizing pain. Alicorn-magic might be pure and casting it works without flaw, but the soul is a very special and complex construct. Inscribing or removing something directly from it is much easier than trying to change said afterwards. We sadly found that out the hard way and it almost instantly killed the poor soul outright due to shock. Without alicorn-magic he sure would have died that day. We swore ourself than to never try so again and rather create a new key to complement the old.”
“That brings us to the second soul-key you were gifted so far. It was I that gave it to you, the day we crowned you the newest Equestrian princess. The key was infused into your new crown and activated as we lowered it onto your head. It was the bright glint your crown exceeded as you faced the crowd. Maybe you have felt a strange feeling of warm luck as you did so. That wasn’t just your initial feelings for being gifted such a high position, but also partly the spells matrix setting into place.”
Luna made a pause long enough to sip from her teacup and eat another of the tasty moon-cookies.
“As you surely can guess the second soul-key unlocked every remaining part of so far forbidden areas in our castle and some in Canterlot in general. Well apart from the restricted library this conversation is about obviously. But that’s why we talk about it now.”
Luna pushed the key again nearer to Twilight and the younger alicorn looked at it with mixed feelings. Ears laid back to her skull. On the one hoof it was tempting to get access to restricted sources of knowledge. Especially one highly guarded and extensive with special subjects not found anywhere else. But there was also the thoughts in her head that stunned and – well terrified her a little. How did it feel? Did it hurt? If Twilight thought about it with a second thought, it probably wouldn’t. She hadn’t known about the existence of soul-keys until minutes ago and there had be no pain as she received her first two.
Her hesitation seemed to have been obvious to her surrounding as Luna smiled an even greater smile. “It’s completely save Twilight. I promise. I would never forgive myself if it wasn’t. Just reach out and grab it with your magic, the rest the key will do for you.”
Twilight slowly lightened her horn and extended her magical grasp to the key. As her magic brushed against it she felt an intense hot feeling, surprising the mare and letting her magic jerk away. A second later she tried again, reached out her magic and grasped the key firmly in it. The feeling wasn’t as warm this time – rather comfortable in fact. She smiled as the soul-key began to flash faster and faster and then lit up a last time in a bright magenta glow. Once the light faded the key was gone and Twilight’s chest glowed for one single instance.
“Wasn’t as bad as you’ve thought?”, Celestia jokingly snickered. Twilight and Luna also gave the same little giggle.
“It really wasn’t”, Twilight voiced with a quirk in her voice. Still a bit high on endorphins.
“Can’t blame you. I was even more nervous than you as Luna gave me my own key. I won’t elaborate but I made quiet the fuss back then.” Celestia’s cheeks had colored itself with a deep blush that was perfectly shown as the tall alicorn’s coat was otherwise pure white. Luna just smirked to herself barely holding back another giggle.
That – my dear sister, was the understatement of the millennium. 26 degrees in December at half past seven in the morning speak for themselves.
Celestia carried on after a few seconds of wordless silence. Her cheeks now not as red as before but still colored.
“There is one more mayor matter I would like to add to the subject of soul-keys. Once applied they can only be removed by the wielder whose soul they were bound too. In contrast to inscribing, removing a key isn’t hard. Basically everyone could manage that and it also inflicts no pain on oneself.”
“There is a process in existence that could strip the privilege from the soul of another, but again that requires alicorn-magic and won’t work on an alicorn. Also it’s again highly unpleasant for the one it is cast upon as it is done without constant. Otherwise the art wouldn’t have to be done in the first place by others. Soul-keys just weren’t designed to be removed by others. They are a sacred craft of magical art and stand for the ultimate trust between two individuals.”
“Yet that aside, soul-keys are an incredible powerful safety measure. With them it is possible to create a protected place only and only the ones you entrusted with said key can enter. I suggest to create your own and protect your castle in Ponyville with it. Your already countless applied wards are pretty impressive for themselves and it speaks volume of your skills with magic. However a soul-key would up that another time considerably. Would you like to know how it is done?”
Twilight nodded enthusiastically.
“Then my sister will surely explain it to you. She was the one that designed the magical work initially and was anyway always the better of us two for magic related subjects. Might come from being a unicorn before ascension and not a pegasus like I was”, Celestia pondered.
Pricking up her ears Twilight turned to Luna and faced her with a broad grin all over her muzzle. It made the other alicorn also return the same facial expression in delight for the eagerness of her equal.
Luna swished her tongue around inside her mouth for a moment, then began. “The process is very ease. For an alicorn even more so and I know your gifted in magic rather well. Once a soul key is created, the creator – that’s you, receives a master soul-key. It’s about a third bigger than the other soul-keys. Said key is retained by you as long as the enchantment exists. If you destroy your key or enchantment both will fade away together. Only with the master key you can modify your enchantment and grant or revoke all privileges you want.”
“Now if you wish to give a soul-key to some creature else there is a second spell. Even less harder to cast than the first. It copies your key and creates a near identical duplicate of it, just without the ability to access, modify or duplicate. The second can be done infinitely for a single master-key - at least we never hit a limit.”
Luna closed her muzzle and fell silent. After a second Twilight’s gaze became uncomprehending. Was that all?
Luna began to laugh kindly. “Your eyes say it all young one and yes that really is all I can say. There isn’t anything more to the creation and use of soul-keys. No further charade, secret or whishing of ones horn.”
Twilight just shrugged her shoulders. Why make matters harder than they needed to be?
“I can however show you how to visualize your keys in your magic eye, see their abilities and what they allow and restrict. Please, if you would close your eyes and concentrate on your inner middle. I know for a fact you know what to do as you surely have checked yourself quite a few times.” Luna explained while she did so with her eyes, visually showing what Twilight had to do. The lavender mare shortly glanced to Celestia, but the snow-white alicorn had already followed the lead of her younger sister. So Twilight joined the two, closed both her eyes firmly and concentrated as hard as possible onto herself.
Soon she felt the familiar feeling of her mind relaxe, her thoughts slowing to infinity and her body and every other outside sensation slowly fade away from her. For a moment it felt for Twilight like she was falling through dark nothingness but that soon was overcome by a stability as her mind focused onto her inner being. She had reached for her inner middle a few times in the past already but the feeling still felt weird to her.
Checking her internal mana-well was almost the same but one hadn’t to truly reach for ones middle to be able to localize and read the current amount of ones stored magic. So that was what she normally did when concentrating onto herself. It even came like second nature and thought to the young alicorn. She was skilled enough to check for her power-level each time she closed her eyes longer than a blink without having to think about.
Compressing her thoughts she focused to visualize her innermost middle. In her inner mind she now saw an endless white surface with a light-blue sky above. Standing on the white surface and a couple of hoof-lengths before her was a junior lavender alicorn smiling a relaxed and careless smile. The mare was partly translucent and didn’t move. It was just a construct, showing her current status of mirth and appearance and nothing truly sentient
Beside said alicorn mare was a slowly but strong pulsation beach-ball sized ball of light the same color as her magic – her soul. Well not really, but it was the shape her mind came up with. Nopony actually knew which form the soul of a living being had. The tremendous force and unflawed state Twilight could detect from it however, showed her she was healthy and at her peak. Maybe even a tad more than usual. What was fairly new about her soul too where the two large gorgeous lavender wings left and right stretching from the orb that pictured her soul. Her now also a tad bigger horn extending out the top of the orb was also a sight Twilight marveled on for a second. So much has changed already in my barely 20 years of life.
Why and since when these graced her soul ought to be obvious. It had taken Twilight less than an hour after her ascension to find out. Of course, she had been checking her mana pool right after her transformation into an alicorn. At least immediately after she had processed the fact of having switched races. The by far less common and mysterious on top of that. That she was now also a princess of Equestria and a member of the royal house of Canterlot.
At a second look she saw something new she never had witnessed before from her soul. Circling around the sphere and connecting to it where five considerable smaller but still brightly pulsating orbs in various colors. Very familiar colors in fact…
Twilight was unaware of what it meant for her, but she knew it had something to do with her and her friends. Also there was the tiny thought both older alicorn’s knew something important about it she so far didn’t . But at the same time also that she wouldn’t get her answer just yet if she asked any of the two mares. Twilight would have to wait for a later time when the matter came to hoof. Why and from where all that knowledge came was a thing she couldn’t get to. Yet she was confident to not be wrong.
Twilight blinked and once the lavender alicorn reopened her eyes she squinted. For some reason the five lines connecting the smaller orbs to her bigger alicorn-soul one seemed now just a microscopic bit stronger. For better comparison she blinked a second time…and then a third; fourth, fifth…a lot of times to be absolutely sure she was right with her theory. Each time the lines seemed stronger and Twilight tried to ponder what that meant. But no matter how hard she wracked her brain about it she just couldn’t find a valid reason. So for the moment, Twilight arranged herself with it and looked further around.
Far she didn´t come, for soon from somewhere she couldn’t discern she heard Luna’s voice calling for her to further concentrate onto her soul. So she did just that after collecting and filing all the thoughts carefully in her mind. Then sorting them into the almost uncountable labyrinthian caverns of neurological filing cabinets that made up her cunning mind.
Her mind began to move towards the ball of light and her vision was shortly overwhelmed by pure white. Than that faded away and she was faced with thousands if not million of smaller light orbs all around herself. Each of them either a memory, learned spell, attribute or other part that made up her soul and Twilight who she was.
Twilight took just a short look around; she was familiar with the sight she saw. Nothing really new as she had been here a few times already. Twilight stretched out both her wings wide from her body and concentrated further as she began the search with her magic reaching out. Two of said orbs soon began to move to her spiritual form and with a satisfied smile she reopened her eyes. The spheres slowed down and stopped three inches in front her snout. Than began to warp and soon resembled a to her very well known key shape.
That had to be the soul-keys inscribed onto her soul Luna mentioned. There was little doubt for her they weren’t.
Twilight extended her magic to the first of the keys, gazing into its inner matrix. The amount of different locations she could see listed before herself told Twilight one clear thing. That was the soul-key granting her access in the sisters castle. Not only because the spells-matrix was at least 20 layered and showed a complexity and intricacy only alicorn-magic could reach.
She swiftly skimmed over each of the locations accessible to her in the blink of an eye. Not one location within the castle was out of her reach. Celestia and Luna had kept their word, she was free to roam as she wished. Satisfied, she withdrew her magic and turned to the second key.
This one was simpler in design and had only a single massive inscription. Still, it was much stronger weaved and showed how much care and sorcery had been used to protect the knowledge behind. Twilight lingered inside the keys matrix for a few more seconds, observing the structure of the spell before retreating from there as well.
Once back in the space that pictured the inside of her soul and still surrounded by the incredible numerous of orbs Twilight darted her eyes around. Then her magic reached out and she began happily humming a tune while rearranging all orbs into a more resourceful and efficient order system by her design. After a couple of moments she was satisfied with her work and let her gaze slowly wander over the far reaching and stacked beside and on top of each other lines of memory-orbs. Each row a single year of her life. Each line further sorted by month, value, alphabet and emotions. An order system probably only she would find suitable to work with, but an efficient nevertheless. She couldn’t even see the ends of said lines and that told something. Considering her alicorn sight gave her incredible sharp eyes able to see for miles unflawed.
Twilight then concentrated again and darted away from the inside of her soul as she began her ‘ascent’. Out of the glistening ball and it’s colorful encore that represented her powerful soul. Past the figurative alicorn projection of her emotions and magic and through the same blindness and falling effect as on entering.
A second later, Twilight opened her eyes and blinked a few times to clear her vision. She then smiled at the other two princesses, who also awakened from within their inner selves slowly.
After they too had blinked to regain their vision Celestia began the approach of speaking. “So, did you managed to find the soul-keys? As you know we can’t actually follow you inside your mind and soul. Ok that’s only half right if I’m honest. As the mistress of dreams my sister can aid even us fellow alicorn’s in our dreams and minds. Yet only if we allow her to do. Each of us has even several natural warding mechanism against unwanted spying. Alicorn’ and mistress of dreams or not – my younger sister won’t and can’t I influence the minds of her fellows. Not that I think she would actually try…I trust my sister as well as Cadance and you Twilight.”
After a short nod and a slightly longer grin was Twilight quick to respond. “ Oh yes! Without problem. I was able to locate, examine and gaze as deep as one could into the two soul-keys you gifted me. I also saw what you meant.”
She turned to Luna next. “Luna! Once you got some more time we should meet in private and talk further about the matter of soul-keys. The art of it is truly stunning and I would like to learn far more about it. Great things could come from it once I have some more insight.” Twilight paused for a second her brow furrowing in thought. Furry hoof raised to her muzzle and scratching it. The lavender alicorn-mare than after a second seemed to decide she should simply say what she just remembered.
“Also I found a tiny flaw in the way how you designed the two keys you granted me. It’s noting serve but if we fix it we can improve the efficiency by a factor off…”, Twilight scratched her chin thinking a second time in a minute “…at least 14.7936%.” She then held up one of her fluffy front-hooves to stall any comment. Not yet finished with her talking. “If we also use ‘the three-hexagonal chanty shaped runic matrixinizing art craft of idunno™' designed by the research laboratory of unnecessary complicated naming in the year 645 D.A. (Dual age). Well then we might even up that by another 6.113 – 9.569%.”
Luna just shook her head in amusement - lost for words. “Still I’m impressed by the speed of your observation and suggestions how one can improve something that was deemed perfect for the last 1,500 years. But sure. If you got time I can come to your castle residence in Ponyville next Thursday and have a chat. Does 11 am sound workable?”
“Sure, I got nothing to do after 10:15, once I have closed my friendship court for our shared subjects that day”, Twilight responded the lunar princess.
“Than it is settled.”
It followed another pause were the tea kettle was passed between the three alicorn’s and some more cookies were requested from the castle’s kitchen.
“Sorry for going so far off topic by the way. But I felt it was important and should not be delayed any further.”
“Nah, I find no fault in our off topic subject. It was something quite useful after all.” Twilight waved off Luna’s worry with one of her front hooves.
"That’s nice to hear””, Luna instantly relaxed her posture and took on a wide smile that crossed her entire muzzle. “Back to matter at hoof?”, she asked than and Twilight nodded.
“Good!”
Luna was about to resume talking, when a triple knock on the door to Celestia's chambers interrupted her. Luna darted her head toward the door, her ears perked up and eyes questioning for a second. Then she remembered who it had to be.
"Hmm, it seems like our conversation is cut short again. Must be the cookies we had requested. A surprising yet delicious interruption - wouldn't you two agree?"
The other two mares giggled and shared a knowing smirk as Luna rose to meet the pony at the door.
Barely a single minute had passed until Twilight's gaze brightened and the young alicorn began to shift her focus back to Luna and Celestia. It was quite impressive she had worked it all through in her mind so fast. Given how much individual information there was for Twilight to consider, categorize and cross-reference. But neither Celestia or Luna would complain about the fact.
As Twilight faced the two elder alicorn's she smiled from ear to ear and nodded her head to them. "Yes! I think I've got it all figured the right way out. May I continue?” Twilight had now cocked her head questionly to one side, awaiting an answer from one or both of her peers.
Slowly both Luna and Celestia nodded in union, encouraging Twilight to please continue.
“Good! After all, the whole affair does make a lot of sense from my point of view. All those who deserve it and contribute to spread peace will be strengthened in their intentions, while all those opposed to us and who know only hatred will be massively obstructed in their efforts. As for the majority of those who are passive anyway, well they can just carry on as usual." Twilight broke into another wide grin as she continued to toss the thought back and forth in her head. "I must say an exceedingly sophisticated and well-coordinated system of powers that we have here. I'm not entirely sure that we didn't have something to do with it, if most likely without knowing but maybe one day we'll find out the right answer.”
Twilight scratched her chin in thought while she proceeded. “If the alicorn’s had a hoof in creating the mentioned network, our original spiritual selves form before the big bang knew and I´m rather confident we will one day retain said lost memories. But that´s impossible so far if I remember correctly? You´ve said our minds may be very strong and immortal but even they can´t contain and process that much of information?” Twilight held her head high, confident once more that she hadn't made a mess of things.
It was Luna to confirm Twilight, "As you have already correctly guessed, dearest. Even we are still far from regaining our former level of knowledge and understanding. We may already have a greater collective knowledge of reality and its function than the ponies will possibly ever acquire, but in contrast to what we once used to be, even that is paltry."
Twilight seemed to be satisfied and so both older alicorns merely nodded their heads in respect to the remaining part of their younger colleague's explanation as they themselves re-thought it. What Twilight mentioned corresponded to the truth, though all three already knew that, so it wasn't worth repeating it verbally. That was why Celestia after some seconds of silence spoke up again turning her muzzle to Twilight with her usual calm smile.
"Best we continue. There is something else of interest I would like to say regarding our general magical strength. At least if you would like to know –”, Celestia subsequently paused in amusement as Twilightˋs eyes began to sparkle even brighter than the stars that permanently streaked her flowing mane, living up to her surname. She had to admit, Twilight's mane was as impressive to look at as her sister's, and the constellations both alicorn mares carried in their hairy appendages gave them an aura truly worthy of an alicorn's legendary status. Only Twilight's surpassed her younger sister Luna's by an inch, as the young alicorn was, in fact, the mistress of the stars. Her mane permanently reflected the entire starry sky directly above her, changing with her every step and shift that transpired upon. Celestia was convinced that Twilight would discover even more abilities if she took a closer look at her mane. Maybe Twilight herself already knew about qualities that were unknown to Luna, Cadance and her so far. Yet it didn’t help to rack one's brains over it now and so she concentrated on what she had to say and raised her voice again. Picking up where she had left off.
“ – which I know you are certainly interested in as well," the snow-white princess smirked knowingly.
Twilight confirmed Celestia´s statement with a soft chuckle. "You just know me too well, Pri- Celestia." Twilight quickly hid her little slip behind her front hoof and then smiled again sheepishly at Celestia, her cheeks reddening. Celestia herself just winked motherly at Twilight and continued unhindered.
"Well then, first of all I would like to deeply apologize sincerely once again for the latest miscalculation we had made. The three of us never expected Tirek to level your library to the ground right at the beginning of your duel. Or anytime in your battle to be honest...”, Celestia voiced with a noticeable displease in her voice. “You can believe me with total certainty, that was not what was expected or planned by any of us. If we had known what the result of your powerful collision would be, we would not have allowed it to happen the way it did."
Twilight, however, to Celestia's utter bewilderment, may had a slightly downcast look on her face at the memory of the day that had turned her life upside down. She was, nevertheless, much more cheerful than Celestia would have imagined - not that she would complain about Twilight being cheerful, after all, she had always been very dear to her heart and Celestia wished the young alicorn to be always as upbeat as possible. Yet she herself had to watch her first house being destroyed by a catastrophe together with her sister several millennia ago. It had taken about two years for her to get over the loss entirely and even three weeks for it even feel to some extend less painful. That's why she looked over at Twilight, rather irritated. Twilight in turn, giggled softly with mirth and was only too happy to enlighten her and Luna.
"Don't get me wrong, of course the destruction of my old home, the golden Oak library, had hit me hard at first and I'm still mourning to some extent. But the worst is long behind me, the castle I received in return is just too vast, fantastic, luxurious beyond belief and in general," Twilight rolled her hoof in mid-air in search of words, " yes, just overwhelming. While I wouldn't necessarily say I don't mind that my library is no longer standing, it was as you said yourself for the most part 'only' a material loss. One that I have been given compensation for in every way.”
Twilight bowed her head a small distance in gratitude. “Thanks again for that, the royal upfitter you sent to assist me had some very good ideas indeed. Also the many books I got from you guys out of the Canterlot library and your old castle were given a special place in my libraries too. Of course, also don’t let me forget the lavish donations from our ponies towards me to stock my castle with beautiful furnishings. As well as from the crystal empire and the kingdoms Equestria has a peaceful alliance with."
Twilight stopped long enough to sip from her teacup and enjoy her next biscuit. "What really matters is that no one else was hurt in the attack. Because THAT would never have been excusable and honestly, Tirek was - pardon my choice of words - one huge ass, not to mention his physical size. My sympathy for him now being locked up in Tartarus forever is currently kind of very limited. There is no place in our peaceful kingdom - nor anywhere else on Equus - for someone with such a selfish goal regardless of any casualties.” Twilight´s gaze hardened, “Indeed, I would do it all over again without second thought."
Then her gaze grew softer as she added, "I will certainly try to talk to him in a couple of years, for everyone deserves a second chance – even him. Also as the alicorn of friendship, usually my success in befriending even the baddest guys is fairly guaranteed. Most times all the baddies need is a good friend to talk too and just listen. Nevertheless, I already doubt that by then Tirek will have changed, he´s something like a special case, that´s for sure.”
Twilight shrugged. “But you never know, maybe I'm completely wrong and he will finally accept my hoof of friendship when he realizes his actions were totally wrong", Twilight then sighed and took another biscuit within her magic grasp without further words. While she ate her cookie, her raspberry magic also reached out automatically and poured her a fresh cup of steaming tea.
"Truly a noble gesture. Especially considering he was so determined to trick you even after you accepted his proposed deal to exchange all the alicorn magic of Equestria for your best friends. Little did he realize that an alicorn has incredibly fast and accurate reflexes, allowing you to create a force field around both you and your friends before he even got to make his attack. The following slap in the face we felt even on the other side of Equestria in Tartarus and that was NO understatement," Luna quipped. But she was then briefly interrupted by a remark from Twilight.
"Yes, in all honesty I'm a very friendly soul, but those who think they can betray me like that and have shown no remorse before... Well, they need to get their comeuppance," Twilight said in deadpan voice, rolling her eyes in mock amusement.
Luna let it stand as a fact. "You're right, everyone deserves a second chance, no matter how bad they may be at first glance. That's what has always made Equestria the peaceful and serene country it is. After all, we alicorns have always been very skilled at weighing up situations like these.”
Luna’s gaze became more serious then. “However, I must warn you, even if you already stated it. I can say from my own experience that we don't always succeed, regrettably. Some just don't want to see that what they are doing is the wrong thing. They are simply far too set in their own minds and won’t care what others will say or think of their decisions. Nevertheless, it still doesn't hurt to at least try, for if we didn't, we would have lost before we even started," Luna supplemented Twilight's statement. The latter nodded wordlessly in agreement, as did her older sister Celestia.
Celestia retook the lead in speaking from her sister and picked up where the three had left off from Twilight's explanation for her laughter. "As I said, if we had known Tirek’s plan, we wouldn’t have carried out our plan as we did. For when you had fought Tirek, you know we had given you a large part - from your point of view at that time even all of our magic, over to you temporarily. As you have surely already figured out yourself, that was of course not the full truth. After all, you have experienced yourself first-hoof earlier today, that you possess considerably more magical strength than you were aware of at the time of your duel. The magic you already possessed even without our intervention would have been more than enough to take on several Tirek's at the same time.” Now Celestia’s face was crossed by a faint smile. “You could, to put it mildly, have one-hitted him out of the horseshoes if you had wanted to any time.”
Celestia’s ears slowly flattened against her skull as the pure-white alicorn took a deep breath for what came next. She was clearly uncomfortable telling Twilight her next confession as she sighed one last time. “But since we had trusted you with so much of our magic, your attacks were far more inefficient, if not partly useless, than they would have been without our help."
Celestia briefly stopped to take the last sip of tea from her cup, her magic filling it afterwards with new contents of their shared special tea. While Celestia set her cup back beside herself she watched Twilight's ears twitch in irritation and a bewildered look cross her face. Celestia felt rather sorry for her younger peer. Clearly, the young alicorn had not expected to hear something like that today – or matter of factly never. Before Twilight had a chance to say anything back to Celestia, however, the latter continued with her front hoof raised to stall any remark. "I know, I know! That sounds illogical as hell, Twilight, for hearing it without any further explanation it is. Why should we three offer you our magic to help, when it would make your entire battle with Tirek a lot more difficult than it would have been for you otherwise?"
Celestia briefly turned her head to Luna and regarded her sister with a questioning look. Yet the other mare shook her head and urged with her snout for Celestia to proceed herself. Turning back Celestia did exactly that.
"The answer, however, is quite simple, actually. Your emotional outburst earlier today, showed you just how immensely powerful you already are as the alicorn of magic. Also how vast an amount of energy you can actually already control when you put your mind to it. But still, you remain very young for an alicorn and therefore far more inexperienced with the potency of your true, full powers than we would be. The native knowledge how to control the full extend of your true domains you have as an alicorn will come with tapping into it more than once. So please, Twilight, don’t worry a bit about not having had it perfectly under control and the magic going astray. For the first try – well, it was remarkable and honestly more than either my sister or I had expected.”
“Mastering your own potential of magic is something you have already mastered years ago while you were my student. It was, after all, the main task I set myself while teaching you for I knew that one day you would become one of us. Us helping you control your developing powers was crucial for the future, not just for your´s or mine, but for all of Equestria. That even applies to your alicorn powers, ok well almost –”, Celestia giggled, “ – all except for your special abilities you have in your domains, for none of the three of us can help you with that one.”
Celestia’s smile for Twilight was motherly again and the younger mare gave it back quite the same. “But apart from that, you were in full control of your own abilities as Tirek showed his head and began his rampage and hunt for our ponies throughout Equestria. Yet then we came along and each lent you a part of our own special abilities, connecting you for a short amount of time with our own domains. Which in hindsight with what I said a minute ago, meant that even if you didn't consciously realize it, you were overwhelmed and our magic limited and hindered yours. Quite considerably in fact."
"But why would you do such a thing?," Twilight was still utterly lost to the sense such a deed made. “That doesn’t exactly sound like helping, rather like a nasty joke,” now there was a lightly displeased tone in Twilight’s voice and she Had narrowed her eyes. The lavender alicorn wanted answers, sooner than later. Why would they pretend to assist me with something that I could have easily accomplish under my own power, only to make it more difficult for her?
Celestia soothingly raised her hoof, seeing that Twilight was starting to get a little anxious again, but she couldn't be blamed either. For the second time today, she discovered that she had been deceived to some extent in her life by her mentor as well as the other princesses. Oh, if only that were all there was to it....
"No worries, I'll get to that one now.”
“Then please do!,” Twilight’s tone had changed to her normal friendly one again and didn’t carry the mild displeasure with it anymore now that Celestia so willingly agreed to clear the situation.
“You have to understand one thing, Twilight. If we hadn't restricted you from utilizing the full potential of your powers by lending you our magic, then you would have rendered Tirek unconscious as mentioned earlier with a single charge. We couldn't let that happen for the plan we had laid out and before you blame Luna or me, you are wrong. The basic idea was not ours and we even initially rejected it. You are very dear to all of us, and speaking only for myself for now, but deceiving you gave me pretty bad feelings of guilt every time I had to. You are like my very own daughter to me and your welfare is as precious to me as that of my little sister and the rest of my relatives. In fact, I would say I consider you close family and would do everything to protect you."
Celestia was cut off as her sister spread one of her wings, touching Twilight's own wing carefully at its base. Luna then began rubbing her prime feathers down in slow circles across the structure of her fellow alicorn´s wing, intending to ease Twilight´s mind and making her feel comfortable. The young alicorn´s body jerked shortly at the touch, not having expected such caring affection from the night-blue princess. But then Twilight relaxed her muscles and melted into the affection with a sigh. It was plainly obvious she really enjoyed the caress of the older princess now.
"The same holds true for me, my dear Twilight. I too see you as one I would be more than proud to share my very blood with." Luna's smile was genuine and warm and as the dark blue and lavender princess's eyes met, a single happy tear slowly began to shape itself on Twilight's right eye. Without batting an eyelid Luna brought up her second wing and wiped it away with the tip of it. Luna then gently stroked further along Twilight's cheek, face plastered with a relaxed, comforting expression as she brought her wings back to her side.
"Thank you! Both of you," was all Twilight could squeeze out between happy shallow breaths, before settling on just putting on her own most friendly little smile.
"There's really nothing you need to be thanking me for, dearest. It's nothing but the truth and naught else. Always know that whatever we do or have done happens for your own good. Errors can happen, but harming you would be the only one I couldn't forgive myself for." Luna lowered her gaze and head down in front of Twilight before looking back up after a second. Twilight's gaze lingered speechlessly on the older princess for a few more seconds, the young alicorn lost for words. Twilight then settled on just saying nothing as Luna already knew what she would have said and then slowly moved her head back to Celestia. As nice as the words of the two elder alicorn´s had been, Celestia had been interrupted in her explanation and Twilight was still eager to hear it all.
Celestia saw Twilight’s interested gaze, cleared her throat and proceeded. "I was just about to point out that before gathering our energies to unleash the entire power of the universe, you made us vow. A soul-vow, that we would not underestimate you and that it was necessary to do so in order to properly prepare us all for how truly potent your magic would unfold once again. We after all were aware that supreme control over all forms of magic was yours and that it was indeed your inherit natural talent. We had to promise to push your powers, but not to go too far, yes to even dampen them in case of emergency. At least for as long as it was necessary, till the first time you would seize full control over the magic of this reality again. After that, you have told us, it would become simpler and your consciousness would intuitively know how to cope with such power and responsibility without further jeopardizing the concept of existence in any way. I´m honest, we ourselves understood but half of all you told us then, but you were the alicorn of magic not we. You knew best how to control the art of sorcery and what needed to be done to have it in check."
Luna fluidly explained further to Twilight. "That oath made and kept in mind, we stuck to it and made sure we pushed your powers and magic as far as we could, but kept them from increasing to a dangerous level. So to come back to the matter, the idea of sharing our magic and sole battle with Tirek came from someone other than you might have guessed. Namely, from your old, long-time foal sitter."
"Cadance?" Twilight raised her eyebrows. Technically she should have expected it, for there was but one other alicorn beside Luna, Celestia and herself living in Equestria. Still it was a strange concept to grasp for her.
Luna nodded. "That's right, her! It was she who eventually reminded us of the soul-oath we had taken and convinced us that it would be the perfect chance for you to get a first feel for leading and guiding our little ponies in a crisis situation. Maybe also to finally unleash your full potential and take hold of magic as you said and were destined too.” Luna cast her eyes down in shame, her ears lowing halfway in discomfort. “I admit it was more than unfair to cause you such worry, considering that you must have been quite stressed. For you, the fate of Equestria was literally hanging in the balance and you were so convinced that you alone stood between the victory and defeat of everything you knew and held dear.”
Both Celestia’s and Luna’s eyes showed a spark of hope for Twilight to please believe their words. It was Celestia that continued then. “You have to understand, though. We simply had to know unadulterated how you would fare in such a dire situation. It was the only way for us to be able to support you as best we could afterwards."
Celestia’s gaze became very serious. “For years we’ve tried to discover the limitations of your magic and skills. While you were still a unicorn, it was relatively easy and almost flawless to foresee everything. However, ever since you ascended to an alicorn, even we could not predict what miracle you would perform next. Each alicorn is one of a kind, and as much as we may try to understand each other’s essence, the part of us that contains our natural talents is and will remain secret to the rest. Only you can truly understand how magic operates at the deepest possible level. That doesn’t mean that Luna, Cadance or I are lousy at it, but you are still the best of the four of us at it.”
"You may still not want to acknowledge it, but your magic is fearsomely powerful, even for an alicorn. Most of our powers are based on or enhanced by mana, which would allow you to be even more effective against your kind if you wanted to be. While magic is all around us in every creature and plant and allows our world to be as formidable as it is, you are the only one who can truly control all magic when you put your mind to it. But that doesn't preclude you from blocking everything from accessing its magic either." Luna then shook her head in defensiveness. "Not that I expect you would actually do it and turn against us or our subjects, but in theory that's the truth."
Twilight felt like retorting something to Luna and she had already opened her mouth to speak her mind, but then decided against it. As the alicorn of magic, she truly possessed the ability to command all magic, something she had discovered for herself today, and so she just nodded in agreement.
Cheerfully Celestia continued. "Anyway! You can be more than proud of the work you achieved in approximately two days, I might add. I don't recall any pony, whether a gifted, experienced farmer; a long-serving, skilled commander; or any pony on the road, that would have had anywhere near the success you have had. It is true that an alicorn makes an exceedingly well-developed, natural-born leader, but still. Your orders to the guards were clear, with little second thought, and the tasks you set up and gave to your friends were also specific and precise. Ponyville was evacuated far faster than Luna and I had bet."
"Hey, wait a minute! Luna, you never handed me my 1,000 bits for winning the bet. You didn't really think I'd forget about that. Did you?" Celestia had suddenly turned away from Twilight and glared now challengingly at her younger sister.
Luna's expression seemed momentarily annoyed before she spoke back to her sister. "Curse you! I was really hoping that you had either forgotten or dismissed it as irrelevant. But it should have been clear to me, after all, an alicorn never forgets. Still, I'm always a mare of my word..." Luna's horn flashed for half a second and a dull sound on wood accompanied by several metallic clangs was heard echoing from one of the adjoining rooms of Celestia's quarters.
Visibly pleased with herself, Celestia smirked lovely at her sister. At which she received another tongue-lashing from her sister before turning back to the youngest mare in the room. Twilight herself wisely abstained from the dispute. She didn't intend to have anything to do with it, nor did she wish to express her opinion aloud. Even though she mused to herself whether she ought to worry that Luna and Celestia were betting on how she would approach a problem.
"Now that that's settled, let's move on to the context," Celestia resumed after she had copied her sister.
"We've basically covered the issue with Tirek so far. As I said, we had decided that it was best, if a little unfair, that way. You still handled the situation like a well-rehearsed professional and can’t deny having gained further, valuable leadership knowledge and strengthened confidence of our ponies in you as their leader. With the exception of Tirek, no one has been harmed in the aftermath, but he alone is to blame for that. On top of that, I know you well enough to know that you are not truly mad at us. You know it was in good intentions. Even though I wouldn't blame you, it's your right," Celestia ultimately added at which Twilight herself spoke up. A smile on her muzzle.
"You know me indeed well, Celestia. The approach may have been questionable to some extent, more so morally, but not one of the three of you would truly mean me any harm. And like you said, the experience I've gained from it is and will be helpful to me. That I can’t deny."
Twilight’s eyes swept over the forms of both Celestia und Luna. "So if neither of you has anything further to add, I would now like to return to your book. It has not escaped my notice that after several pages of diagrams, drawings and calculations, another major entry has been written in it by you. And I don't assume that's just in there for fun." Twilight's ears were meanwhile perked to their utmost, her wings and the outermost ranks of feathers, spread considerably from her back in excitement. Even the corners of her mouth reached almost to her eyes - though only almost.
Enjoying the pleasing sight to her left briefly, Luna motioned for her pal to please carry on.
"Well then, go ahead. Stick your snout back in our book. Though we know what we had written back then, I wouldn't be averse to it if you'd be so kind as to read it to us anyway."
Twilight, of course, was amiable enough to read the entry further back in the book aloud to the two of them. Not to mention her being the alicorn of friendship and that her name literally contained "amicitia" as a synonym for friendship.
The lavender alicorn was about to lower her eyes on the book, but Luna's voice stopped her. "I'm really sorry Twilight, but before you start reading out loud to us, may I tell you a little tale?" Luna had leaned her head to the side questioningly, she would love to tell her story, but only if it didn't bother Twilight.
Twilight had no objections and expectantly flipped the book closed in front of her.
"Well then, you might already be familiar with it, it is after all the most famous goodnight story for foals and it naturally includes alicorn's. One very particular one, in fact, for that matter." At that Luna winked at Twilight and the younger mare smiled back in straightforward understanding.
"It is said that the stars in the sky are more than just brilliant points. They are said to be the sparkling segments in the magical mane of the Star Goddess. She is also said to let her hair drop from the sky over Equestria every night, like a warm blanket, keeping her ponies safe. Wishing that every being may feel her love, peace and affection and be welcomed by her friend the Goddess of Dreams. May the second one guide them all into the realm of slumber."
Twilight's eyes had grown dreamy in memory as Luna had spoken. She could still remember all the nights her mother had read her those very same bedtime tale as a young foal. Each time, Twilight had wished for the story to be real and that she perhaps could even meet one of these two goddesses. A completely crazy thought for the young unicorn foal at the time. Never imagining how much could have changed in just 15 years...
Snapping out of it, Twilight came back to her senses. "Yes, That's really a very lovely tale and I'm sure there's more than a little truth to it - I somehow have such a feeling," now Twi was winking and grinning over at Luna and Luna continued to smile as well.
"I thought you'd like it, but I don't want to further keep you from reading, only add to your well-being."
Twilight bowed her head in thanks to Luna and moved back to opening the book to her hooves with the force of her magic. Before she began to read the entry aloud to the two older alicorn's, however, she skimmed it quickly three times herself silently in her mind.
A few seconds later and having skimmed the text in her mind enough, Twilight went into reading the entry aloud to Luna and Celestia likewise. Both the night-blue and snow-white alicorn moved their heads nearer to Twilight as to also gaze sideways into the book laying at the tips of Twilight´s hooves.
The Legend of the Primoridal Alicorn´s
„As far as is known from the written tale of the alicorns, there were 4 of them who were vitally important for the emerge of the universe. For each of them had fundamental tasks, without which everything would otherwise have changed or would not have come into being at all. The alicorn of light-live with her light-based powers; the alicorn of night-live, with her darkness-based powers [Important Note: not to be mistaken with corrupted darkness; referring here to nocturnal life and it's energies – alicorns are generally pure and immune to corruption]; the alicorn of feelings with emotionally based powers; and the alicorn of peace, commonly referred as harmony, with harmonic based powers. --- The last of the four is also the alicorn which was the originating prime soul of the 6 basic key-aspects of harmony: known as sorcery, bravery, healing, hope, strength and beauty [Update Note: These are the old names for the aspects. They were renamed hundreds of years afterwards their creation and are since called magic, allegiance, kindness, laughter, honesty and generosity.] The last alicorn-mare was also known for her incredible wisdom, loyalty and calmness. Nothing could faze her, as she knew that harmony would prevail in the very end. --- As mentioned before in an earlier article, the alicorns initiated the big bang with freely unleashing all their power at once. For that, however, an equal distribution of all ever existing alicorn-magic and some preceding safety/precautionary measures were necessary. Otherwise, the start for a balanced, safe universe would have been massively hampered already from the start. --- For that sole reason. When the ´time´ [Note by Luna: time didn´t exist by then Tia, you fluffy cake obsessed – sometimes pain in the arse but still dearly loved by your ´younger´ sister; fellow deity. Stop referring to it as such!] of the big bang came, the alicorn of peace/harmony used part of her power to extract the main aspects of harmony from herself and form pure, divine and incorruptible essences from them. Known to all ponies and creatures as the elements of harmony ever since. The elements of harmony are the greatest and most powerful purification artifacts ever created. Originating from the soul of an alicorn to pure and mighty to be affected by corruption and alternation – be it space, time, mind, soul, power or reality. Afterwards she dispersed most of her left harmonic mana to her fellows, giving them equal amounts for the upcoming task. --- Until now, the six aspects of her are assumed to still be present in normal proportions for an alicorn - namely, the general base level that each alicorn possesses, regardless of its task. The essences were also specially enchanted by the mare to ensure that they would travel the shortest route to the first alicorn to appear in the timeline and grant them their near-infinite powers. Her intended purpose was for her to ensure that the galaxy she was going to create with her fellows was equipped with the basic aspects necessary for a truly fruitful and peaceful world. Even though she might not be the first alicorn to be known to exist anywhere in the universe, she had considered it. After thousands of years of peaceful existence passed within the kingdom of Equestria, her plan and endeavor can be considered a complete success by everyone. --- She was also well aware that the essences would most likely eventually manifest into physical embodiments – ponies - when the time was appropriate and her appearance in the timeline was getting closer and closer. It is not known by any facts to us alicorn’s, whether she will withdraw the aspects altogether once she finally ascends, for she never revealed all of her plans to even us - her trusted fellows. However, due to her specific harmonic nature we rather assume that the essences will remain in their specific pony form and may only form a strong bond with their ´true master´ once she joins our royal ranks. We don't recall much of her, but the harmony alicorn was by remaining knowledge of us three very powerful and had knowledge far beyond even our universal understanding. Yet she would however never consider to brute force her freely given aspects back to herself as that simply clashes with her natural peaceful nature. She is harmony and peace in it´s truest forms. Tranquility in it's living form and forcing beings into actions they don´t freely intend from their will was her only personally non-forgivable crime.
Epilogue: //Any further knowledge could not be gathered so far by us. If new findings become available, they will be published in an updated version of this book by us - the alicorn’s.//
Once Twilight had read the entry and epilogue and thus everything of interest from Celestia, Luna and Cadance’s book, she shut it without a word for the time being while staring intensive at the cover. Luna in particular noticed immediately that something was weighing heavily emotionally on the young mare's mind. Not only because she again could feel a slight increase in Twilight's alicorn-magic aura around the lavender mare, as had been the case when Twilight had forced her full grip on magic. Though it was nowhere near as dire or unsettling as before, and there would be no repeat of what had happened previously, it was still clearly tangible in the air. Luna could feel how the increased sensation of magical concentration brushed along her horn and tickled it along it’s fine primal channeling fibers around it’s conical shape. She suspected the same was true for her sister Celestia also. A short glance to the white mare and seeing her knowing look confirmed Luna’s suspicion.
By all means however, Luna didn't get to ask Twilight about what was wrong, for the other alicorn mare looked up from the cover of the book at that very moment. And with that to Luna's muzzle just opening for her question and Celestia's friendly eyes. In the young alicorn mare's eyes a mixture of glee, high interest to learn new knowledge but also a spark of... sorrow?!
An emotion the other two wouldn't have expected to see in Twilight´s face after such knowledge was unfolded before her. The first two emotions fitted, for Twilight was always a very cunning and eager mare when it came to new information but why the sudden spark of sorrow in Twilight´s eyes? That just didn't fit at all to the youngest of alicorn’s. A very upbeat and friendly mare...oh! And that was when it finally dawned on Luna.
C'mon Twilight, really? We were on such good track, you're far too intelligent to fail to notice such a trivial detail. Although that may be exactly why you're failing to notice it. I too can remember all too well that in the early years of being an alicorn we had a hard time paying attention to the tiniest of things. No matter how crazy it may sound that one would even be able to overlook such tribal things in the first place, Luna pondered.
Sighing inwardly to avoid any unintended reactions, Luna darted to her sister and indicated with a nudge with her muzzle that she intended to take care of the minor problem. After all, they had managed almost entirely to convince Twilight of herself and her massive capabilities. They wouldn't stop at 90% now. All or nothing, was the only acceptable motto here. Celestia blinked to her sister in wordless understanding and made herself more comfortable on her pillow to simply listen for the time being.
"Hey Twilight!," Luna spoke in an affable manner, first of all to get back the young alicorn's full attention. Twilight perked up her ears in surprise, having let them droop somewhat in the interim.
"Yes?" was the somewhat somber reply. Twilight was visibly struggling to keep her issue and emotions in check. Her princess mask rather good for her young age, at least to common ponies. But nowhere inscrutable for someone with thousands of years of experience. Though, just as Luna suspected, an issue without a 'realistic' cause.
Luna had to gather herself for a moment so that only her intended kindness for Twilight was audible in her voice and not her own disappointment in herself. She would do her best to refrain from blaming Twilight for being mistaken. After all, she had no way of really knowing. Being an alicorn wasn’t something you learned on a single day. Truly understanding it could take the entire life expectancy of a pony, maybe even longer. Luna was sure not even she was already aware of everything. Same for Celestia.
"Oh, come on, Twilight. There's no need to be downhearted at all," Luna said and encouragingly stuck out her hoof with its underside towards Twilight to get the younger mare to talk. "But let's start at the very beginning. Why don't you tell me first exactly what the supposed problem is. That way we can all work on it together and have it solved in no time."
Twilight blushed a little at first her face turning pink, somehow ashamed of what she was about to say. Luna also felt there was no reason for that either. She herself could remember many situations in her life in which she had been ashamed for no reason of what she had thought and wanted to say.
"Well...," Twilight began carefully, still keeping her voice quieter than normal. "'This entire entry in the book is quite interesting. Very intriguing and mind-blowing in fact. Still, it saddens me a little. Or rather, it scares me, about what I've just read and learned." Twilight shuffled her hooves around on the pillow she was lying on. “For as I see it, then, only three of the four most important alicorns are already back among Equus. While the fourth, the 'alicorn of peace/harmony' as it was referred to in the book. The last that is missing, seems to have played an immensely vital role, and apparently still does. Isn't that right?" Twilight faced Luna directly, suspecting that she was her current charge for answers. Twilight still remembered that Celestia had revealed to her shortly after her alicorn-ascension that for things that focused heavily on magic, she was to turn to Luna. Both sisters were well versed in the magical arts, especially after thousands of years, but Luna had been foaled a unicorn and naturally was more familiar with it.
Luna nodded. "Yes, you are right. Let’s summertime again. The alicorn of harmony you referred to has created the elements from the six fundamental aspects of harmony shortly before the big bang. In the past known to us as sorcery, bravery, healing, hope, strength and beauty, as you have just read. Although they are now known as magic, allegiance, kindness, laughter, honesty and generosity after thousands of years of existence among our ponies. She did it by willingly extracting the appropriate parts of herself out of her soul and temporarily stored them in special magically created gems that were also unleashed with the big bang. She also had the wise foresight to divert a large part of her entire mana to all the other alicorns in order to create an equilibrium in terms of available power. I do have a very good guess as to what you mean by your so-called fear Twilight. Would nevertheless still like to hear it from you personally first so that we don't start off with any grievances here."
Luna tapped her hoof down onto the pillow, thinking and then spoke some more.
Luna then held up her hoof to stall Twilight for another second. "Nevertheless, I can assure you in advance that you are worrying far too much – and also for no reason. However I still understand that, as I said, it will be very difficult for you for some time to accept all that as it is and that's only natural. Our existence as an alicorn is and always will be a glaring topic to accept and you are just damn young for an alicorn considering your current skills and knowledge. You have a very high IQ, which means that it is still very easy for you to overlook solutions that should actually be so simple and logical. You are occasionally going into far too much detail than would be necessary. It was no different for my sister, Cadence and me when we were your age. Still, that will come with age, you will certainly get a lot better at paying attention to even the smallest things around you," Luna gently beckoned to Twilight. She then continued without giving Twilight time for an answer of her own. Twilight for her part had been aware that Luna was still not finished with speaking and dutifully remained silent. Even if the lavender alicorn almost burst from being finally able to voice her thoughts. Her wings twitching impatiently at her sides and sparking some of its strange magic along her primary’s.
"I guess in about 50 years or so, you'll be able to look back and just shake your head that you ‘worried’ like you do now." Luna sought to be extremely kind and compassionate with her voice, yet determined and direct on the subject.
Getting her wings silent from twitching at her sides and still red-faced somewhat, Twilight finally had the chance to pass her mind. "Like I said, I'm still rather embarrassed. Still I will say what I think. I'm just very worried about what it might mean for my friends and me if at some point said harmonic mare shows up here in Equestria. As you have already confirmed, the element essences originate from her very being – her soul. And as you remember we had talked before about my friends and I representing the essences in their basic aspects very much as a physical embodiment. Each of us is deeply linked to the very foundation of our individual aspects.” Twilight’s voice rose an octave higher as she was taken more and more by her thoughts. “Heck it almost is entirely impossible for AJ to lie or Pinkie not giggle, for example. Only if it truly is necessary."
Twilight wheeled her hoof around in the air in search of finding the right words. "Well, wouldn't that imply, secretly, that the links between the essences and us would eventually be severed completely?” Twilight held up her hoof to add more. “Further, that the alicorn of harmony will take them back into her soul when she herself is ready to show herself - or ascend, as the case may be? That I myself don't have to worry about what will happen to me when the connection to the elements is cut off is clear, I guess. In the meantime you have strengthened my confidence in my existence as an alicorn and the fact that nothing can harm me so quickly rather good. But what does that mean for the rest of my friends if they are the physical embodiment of the elemental essences? None of them is immortal or even close as invulnerable as us alicorn’s." Twilight still held her hoof raised to indicate that she was not finished yet. Her gaze somewhat unsure but determined to Luna and Celestia.
"Still, before answering that question. I'd more than love to meet the alicorn of harmony, no matter how it all turns out in the end. She must have foreseen it all and from the sound of her being, even had a solution for the part with the elemental essences. Though I can't imagine what solution she might have envisaged - because there doesn't seem to be one."
Twilight arched her back slightly to uncramp her recently stiffened muscles as she regarded both older alicorns with another friendly grin. But her expression seemed partly feigned and failed to escape either of the mares. It was clear to both that Twilight was profoundly in her thoughts as she spoke nonetheless, going over scenarios and possible courses of events faster than any mortal would manage.
"I just have to thank her for that great sacrifice she made for all of us and Equestria. It was utterly noble and honorable of her and I can't get around meeting such a thoughtful, calm and wise being like her in person one day. Even though she probably knew in advance that she would regain her powers in the long run anyway. I seriously doubt I would have had anywhere near the courage to do such a deed." Twilight fell silent after she had made her statement and her question, awaiting an answer from either Luna or Celestia. Her expression slowly changed from her posed friendly and thus in fact rather downcast expression, to a solemn. She seemed to slowly push her discomfort aside and come to terms with the idea, allowing her usual curiosity to re-emerge for meeting another highly skilled being like herself.
Twilight's latest utterance provided Luna with exactly the idea she required, and the night-blue alicorn smiled most delightedly to herself. Her joy also being slightly evident in her external facial features. The dark blue mare rustling her wings softly, not noticing it herself.
"I beg you Twilight. Stop pretending to be something inferior to what you truly are. You alone have accomplished many things in the last few years that no one would have thought imaginable. Besides becoming an alicorn I mean. Also then we mustn't forget your friends, with whom you've accomplished many more improbable-sounding things in additional." Luna then cleared her throat, winking at Twilight at the same time. "Let me make this quick and untethered. Twilight, as a matter of fact, I'm VERY sure you would have done the same thing."
"But, mmmmph" Twilight attempted to raise an objection but was abruptly silenced by Luna's magic shoving a pink-blue glazed star shaped cookie into her maw. At least trying to seem offended, Twilight began delightfully chew on the sweet while aligning her ears in the direction of the slanderous dark-blue princess.
"Besides, I wouldn't necessarily consider it a 'sacrifice', that would sound a bit too dramatic and devastating. It's not as if these actions have actually weakened her in any way or completely stripped the essences from her. The alicorn of harmony itself will always possess the ordinary amount - for an alicorn, of essences within her. Nothing has and will change in that regard. Furthermore, I can allay your fears and tell that no harm will come to your friends either. As the last part of the entry in the book has already indicated, the alicorn of harmony would never forcibly reclaim a part freely given by her. Not even if that part is a fragment of her very essence. It simply is not within the way of her peaceful and harmonious nature to dare to do such a thing. I mean, after all, that's what her title entails, isn't it?"
Luna prompted a five second dramatic break in which she wiggled her eyebrows to the two other goddesses before continuing. "Still, for the last one, we can and will be extremely happy to arrange things. Right away, even, if you feel like in the mood. There is, probably surprising for you, a way to get in touch with her face to face."
Now it was Twilight's turn to be taken aback.
"What really? It's actually possible to get in touch with an alicorn that doesn't even exist as a physical incarnation among us yet? That's AMAZING!" shouted Twilight with a huge grin and her wings flaring wide as she jumped to her hooves from her cushion. In doing so, she unintentionally triggered a 'slight' (at least considered for her standard) magical surge from her magic, momentarily electrifying and tingling the fur of all three of them, causing it to stand on end in several places. The sheer force unfortunately also crumbled the last of the at least partly intact protection spells around Celestia’s chambers. However, these spells had hardly been of any use before and new ones would have had to replace them anyway. So it wasn't a significant loss.
"Oops! Sorry." Twilight lowered her ears down in embarrassment as the magic from her horn died down and she sunk back to her pillow. A small flick with Twilight’s horn grasped her wild ambient alicorn-mana floating aimlessly around and dutifully guided it back to the tip of her horn.
"Happens!" teased Luna while using some of her own magic to smooth the protruding tufts of her fur back to her flanks. As she shifted her gaze back to Twilight from her chest, her eyes also roamed over her older sister's fur. With a small sly smile, she realized that Celestia had been hit even harder than she had by Twilight’s outburst of magic. The snow-white alicorn had at least a quarter of her entire fur standing on end and her chest fluff was fluffed up nicely to snuggle into. However Celestia would surely deal with it herself in a moment, even if it was quite befitting her older sister according to Luna's liking.
"As I can plainly see, I assume your interest is more than peaked for a meeting? Luna grinned with a mischievous smirk.
Twilight nodded to her, still slightly sheepish about her magic having briefly eluded her grasp yet again, before neatly folding her hooves back under her chest. "Good! Best not let us wait a moment longer than necessary, then. Now close your eyes, please dearest. We will escort you to the location in which you will be able to converse with our mysterious alicorn. Oh and good work with collecting your wild mana back into your core so fast. A very quick and wise thought."
Visibly puzzled and blushing yet again a bit more red from the praise, but confident of them both, Twilight arose from her soft, pure white and sun-embroidered velvet cushion. She firmly squeezed her eyes shut until all she could see in front of her was pitch black. But even with her eyes completely closed, she was not blind per se and her awareness was not noticeably impaired. Thanks to her noticeably enhanced alicorn senses, she retained a clear perception of the entire room and the events around her.
Therefore it was not hard at all for Twilight to identify which of the two elders it was that laid her wing on her back to guide her safely to that secret location. The place where, for the first time ever, she would meet an alicorn, until recently completely unknown to her and seemingly incredibly powerful, kind of all-knowing and collected in all its forms.
She had often been reading and napping under Celestia's wing back when she was still the wise alicorn's apprentice. She knew perfectly how the feathers of Celestia´s wing felt and instantly noticed the specific way it rested on top of her own wings. Especially those winter nights when it had been very cold outside and even the fire of the flaming fireplace in Celestia's chambers could not equal the comforting and reassuring warmth of a caring wing wrapped around her. A wing that was part of a pony that had as much guiding care in store for her as her biological mother, and Twilight also saw Celestia as a second mother. Even if she adored Velvet Sparkle so much more - understandable, given that she was the same mare who had given birth to her in hours of agony and would always be her one true mother. A unicorn mare who loved Twilight like no one else in the world and her well-being was the highest good to her. Just as the young lavender alicorn herself felt for her true mother.
The snow-white alicorn, nevertheless, had always offered her unending support, affection and understanding and no matter how often she had thought to deceive her former mentor... Her usual hyperactive brain had always just made up these situations and in reality she had never failed Celestia. On the contrary, she had usually even surpassed her old mentors high expectations brilliantly. For the most part, however, she had soon fallen asleep under Celestia's wing on these nights, knowing that she was in the safest place in the whole world.
It was this very wing that now guided her through the room, even though Twilight could detect Luna's wing not far away on the other side of her flank. Always ready to nudge her if she should drift off track. Something that was quite virtually impossible for Twilight to happen as apart from Celestia’s wing keeping her straight her ears and nose alone gave her better orientation as the common pony had with all it’s sight and senses combined.
After several steps, Twilight's pace slowed for one moment, puzzled her ears flicked, before she caught herself and resumed her former pace. It had not escaped her attention that the pair weren’t leading her in the direction of the main door of Celestia's chambers or the balcony doors. On the contrary, they were heading in the exact opposite direction. After a moment's thought, and with a detailed mental map of the entire castle before her imaginary eye, it dawned on Twilight. They were leading her directly to Celestia's bathroom. But why? Surely there wouldn't be a hidden, secret entrance that nobody but the two of them knew about until now - Right? Honestly, tonight anything seemed possible. Hell, she wouldn't be at all surprised if there was a secret room under the shower in Celestia's bathroom. Alternatively, maybe a vault that contained the most powerful and dangerous artefacts in all of Equestria. Though Twilight well remembered that this highly secure room resided buried deep within Canterhorn and was protected with hundreds of the most powerful spells ever created – obviously fulled by alicorn magic and nothing less than that. There surely wouldn’t be another one beneath Celestia’s bath, why have two? So no protective vault containing extremely mighty or dangerous items beneath Tia´s shower. But there still could be a portal anchor or ritual hidden somewhere to another realm like the plane I was in when I became an alicorn. Magic is the prime power in Equestria and not even I know so far anything that deals with mana. Even if it is basically my entire life and I have studied it for years now, Twilight pondered.
Celestia had, of course, shown her that very room a few years before and also led her around in it. While inside the vault, the eldest alicorn thoroughly had described each and every artefact to her young student that took in the information like a sponge. Twilight still had the almost 170 pages of notes on the individual objects neatly tucked away in her private castle library she took. Yet not without protection. Twilight would never lose, destroy or carelessly allow such important and, to some pony’s highly dangerous and tempting documents to linger around. She was no dummy, thanks for asking!
Meanwhile, while Twilight had been lost in her own mind, the three princesses had reached the bathroom. Not two seconds later Twilight felt Celestia's wing pressing a little more firmly against her back and onto both her wings while Luna's pressed kindly and lightly against the fluff of her chest. Whereto in response to the signals, Twilight paused in her current location and patiently waited with her eyes still firmly closed.
"You are welcome to open your eyes again now," Luna prompted the younger alicorn from her right. Twilight recognized that by both the direction from which the voice came and by Luna's magical presence, which she perceived quite clearly even with her eyes still shut beside her flank. It was virtually impossible not to notice the sheer magical power of an alicorn even from a hundred meters away. All despite whether she was the alicorn of magic or extraordinarily adept at magic anyway. Additionally, their auras were all unique and carried sparks of what they were deeply embodying with their essence. Making mixing them up as unlikely as overseeing them.
As Twilight opened her deep purple eyes as instructed by Luna, her gaze wandered slowly over her immediate surroundings.
As she had already assumed, the three alicorns were now in Celestia's bathroom. As was to be expected, the bathroom was very luxuriously furnished, which was understandable since it belonged to an Equestrian princess. It even reminded Twilight a lot of her own bathroom in her castle in Ponyville. Apart from the differing and much brighter color scheme here, inspired by Celestia's coat and mane just like hers, it resembled her own perfectly in almost every single detail.
The walls were made from pure, smooth, honed white marble and all along them were an almost uncountable number of golden flourishes. A good number of them echoed Celestia's cutie mark, but most of them followed a curved pattern throughout the bathroom. The floor itself was made from tiles of mahogany, carefully polished and worked to sheer perfection and glamour.
More precisely to their location, they stood in front of the much larger of the two mirrors inside the bathroom. She was in the middle, Luna by her left and Celestia on her right. The mirror was a full-body mirror, large enough for all three mares to stand side by side and still leave room for at least one more pony. The somewhat smaller mirror hung on the wall to Twilight's immediate left above a double washbasin. These were also made of pure white marble and each had a gold jeweled faucet with two diamond-topped nobs for cold and hot water beside it.
Directly behind her lay the grand double door through which she had trotted not a minute before. And finally, on the right side of the bathroom was the aforementioned rain shower. Big enough for at least four ponies or one or two alicorns, depending on how closely they were standing together. Oh yes, and not to forget was the gigantic bathtub next to it. Almost three times the size of the rain shower. Embedded into the floor with some stairs to descend and just like all the other equipment in the bathroom made of marble, gold and decorated with precious jewels. The inlet and outlet formed a small waterfall, the cascade being set high enough for a full-grown alicorn to sit on the step below and allow the water to pelt down on it’s coat. Twilight had made use of that feature more than once since getting her castle and could only recommend it to others. It was just so incredibly relaxing and released any lingering tension and worry from the muscles, thoughts and coat.
At first thought, Twilight couldn't make much sense of the situation. She was definitely missing something, she could feel it. But just what - time to let her mind wander and show what her brain and smarts were truly capable of. In clear voice, Twilight enumerated aloud the things she was seeing. Maybe it would help her find the missing piece faster.
"All right. So we're all standing in Celestia's bathroom, in front of this enormous mirror where we can all see each other. However, that doesn't help much in general though," Twilight began. "There are no other ponies here apart from the three of us, and with the aid of a quick scan of your entire bathroom, Celestia, I was able to rule out the possibility of any stairs or secret rooms hiding under your shower. The mirrors also came up negative when I tested for an invisible portal or teleportation anchor. So that can't be it either."
"A truly splendid idea Twilight, but as you have already noticed yourself, that is not the reason for which we have led you here to my bathroom." Twilight nodded in understanding and was about to ponder further, skillfully ignoring the two grinning princesses at her sides.
But then it suddenly dawned on her and even though it seemed so so impossible, she couldn't think of any other ideas. Luna had said she would be introducing me to the alicorn of harmony, which is why we are standing here in the bathroom in the first place. And the only ones here are the three of us. It can't be Luna and Celestia, they've already been mentioned as the first two of the four key alicorns. Cadance is almost certainly the third, plus she's not here. We don’t have any hidden rooms or magical anchors inside Tia’s bath either, ruling out the possibility of traveling to any other location. Yet that leaves only one remaining possibility. But really? Could I seriously be that blind?
Saying nothing, Twilight once again broke a record for blushing. Then she flopped down on her rear quarters with a groan and tried in vain to hide her embarrassingly crimson face from the two older alicorns with her wings and front hooves.
The other two mares in the bath subsequently started to laugh good-naturedly. How could they not? Twilight tried to hide her embarrassment fruitlessly like a little filly that had just been caught stealing sweets from the cookie-jar. It was simply adorable. After a few seconds, their laughter also infected Twilight.
Rounds of laughter later, they gathered themselves again.
"Okay, that's a little more than embarrassing. No backtalk!", Twilight admonished them both. Mostly Luna though, as she was about to make a cheeky comment as far as Twilight was aware.
Quickly shutting her muzzle tightly and averting her eyes from Twilight's, Luna fell silent. Though she was still smirking. Several seconds later, the older princess turned back to the mirror.
Luna then bowed her body while extending her right wing towards Twilight´s reflection with still a mocking smile on her lips. "Princess Twilight Amicitia Aurora Sparkle, may I formally introduce you to Lady Harmony? The one that created the elemental essences from her soul. Sacrificed most of her mana to strengthen ours prior to the big bang and knew that eventually the elements would become self-aware and their separate entities somewhere in the future. Even if she had no way of having said knowledge in the first place. Also the fourth prime alicorn goddess of Equus/Equestria and mistress of both peace and harmony - as well as your humble self."
Twilight just rolled her eyes about the last part of Luna´s obvious mocking and stuck out her tongue to the night-princesses’ reflection. Then like she had done many times today shook her head wild in denial. "There is no way – absolutely NO way, that I am supposed to be this serene alicorn we just talked about. The way she is pictured in your book are all things I clearly am not.”
Twilight magically crafted fingers suspended in the air in front of her as she enumerated each item in turn. „Level headed; composed; aware of things she shouldn´t be; harmonic and peaceful beyond any mortal comprehension or some other things I could name you."
"You seriously think we are joking?," Luna´s eyes lingered on Twilight´s in the reflection of their shared reflection, her voice underlined with disbelief. The other mare’s eyes burning with sudden vigor and a fire Twilight hadn’t seen today so far. “I highly pardon such thoughts dear, for we would never dare to voice such a nasty joke. Especially talking about you, that´s far beneath the close relationship we all share. And to the part of being harmonic and peaceful beyond mortal comprehension…well it´s rather neat then that alicorn´s aren´t mortal beings in any way to begin with. Wouldn´t you agree sister?" Luna´s head jerked some degrees to the side to face Celestia´s reflection in the mirror for the third mare hadn´t said anything so far in their conversation.
Celestia just giggled and then raised her own voice to add more to her sisters statement. "Twilight, I fully agree with my sister and even more. Just addressing the one fact of you not being capable of knowing things you shouldn´t unlike the alicorn of harmony. Your quite wrong, for each of us does indeed remember many things we had no right to be aware of. Your native ability as an alicorn to command all magic at your will without ever having learned it; or the sole ability to extract, forge, heal and strengthen magic-cores just some of them. Also given your age of mere twenty and not even grown to be a fully matured alicorn there is still a long way for you to undergo. Also, as pointed out, you have to consider that we have not yet regained the majority of our abilities, knowledge and capabilities as pre-universal entities. I would even say my sister, Cadance, you and me are still far from the first percent of our true knowledge. For why should we not have known of everything that there is in the universe, when all that there was was us? You can hardly argue with that logic."
"Besides, you can't deny that a friendship with you comes so incredibly easy that it can almost be taken for granted. Every pony that dealt with you ended up more in tune with themselves and others than before they got to know you. Some even bonded back with long lost friends and family members they deemed unworthy or broke apart years ago," Luna interposed. "To me, that sounds very much like the alicorn of harmony and peace on top of your embodiment of friendship. And then I would also like to point out that there is probably no living being that doesn't enjoy knowing you in some way.
"How on earth was it possible for me to miss that? I manage to draw elusive conclusions from almost zero information, but fail at something so obvious right before my snout. Ouch!" Twilight sighed as she hung her head and ears in shame.
Nodding amiably, Luna began again." Heads up Twilight. As my sister pointed out, at your young age as an alicorn, you're still relatively inexperienced - at least in actual life experience - and just overthink certain things. Therefore, like here, you simply skimmed over the fact that was right in front of your snout. You have absolutely nothing to be ashamed of, we've all been through it hundreds of times in our long lives. Nowadays it´s unlikely to happen to my sister and me but even we, with 15 millennia’s alive could still oversee simple things that we technically shouldn´t.”
Luna extended her wing and rested it onto the tips of Twilight’s furlongs. A warm and comforting smile on her lips for Twilight.
“Never worry! There will be many more instances where you might oversee things that should be clearly obvious or shouldn´t evaluate your notice in the first place but still do. We could call it our little ´knowledge curse of the alicorn´s´, that our perception is sometimes simply to fine to see the small things in life. But please, don´t rack your brain about it. After some years you will grow into it and become better and better in not letting it happen.” Luna’s hoof pulled away and she rested it back beside her other. “I'd say give it another decade and the chances will be one in millions that the same thing can happen to you again as it just did."
Luna´s head now tilted to her left side as her ears flicked. “So, after all we have said and you newly learned – what do you say?"
Celestia and Luna gave Twilight a friendly prompting look over their reflections of the mirror. Both silently awaiting the lavender alicorn's response with their breaths held.
Twilight coughed and lifted her eyes upwards for a moment to think. "Well, I really can't say much about what it truly means to be the alicorn of harmony and peace so far. How should I? I didn't even knew five minutes ago that I also embody all the harmony and peace of Equestria? But as you know me, expect my very detailed report and analysis on it in a few years.”
Luna giggled, “Well, as long as it doesn’t splash into my cereal one morning, I think I’ll be fine.”
“I’ll give it my best shot, but I can’t promise anything,” Twilight quipped back with a mischievous grin on her muzzle. Luna’s idea was sounding tempting.
“But I still confide in you enough that you are telling me the truth, even if it sounds still too crazy to really believe. Cause the book, after all, had almost no further information about any special abilities, perks or the like beyond what my role entails." Now Twilight sighed deeply, her head sinking down a little as she exhaled and her ears flopping down the sides of her skull. "Except that all my worries, especially those concerning my friends, were once again completely unfounded," jested Twilight as she picked herself up straight again. "But regardless of what may come my way in the future and what ups and downs I may have to traverse. I am nevertheless very happy to take on the task, I have a hunch that the title of harmony alicorn has a lot more to offer than just being ´a title´,” Twilight quoted with her hooves in the air. “Leaving aside the fact that, from an aesthetic point of view, I've always owned it anyway.” Twilight nodded her head to both other mare´s. “Plus, I have you three and I'm sure you'll be just as supportive helping me come to terms with every occurring problem when I need help as I will be for you."
Both older alicorn's approved without words and merely a blink Twilight's trust in them, it needed no words for that.
“Before we continue I have one more question for you dear Twilight,” Luna addressed the younger mare then. Twilight for her part rotated her ears back to Luna and waited.
“Let´s just speak purely theoretical about the worries confounding your friends for one second. The elemental essences were or better are still parts of your soul. Absorbing and rebinding them with your soul is probably your most basic right. They are part of your deepest self after all and their entire power is solely your´s. In fact no other creature, not even an alicorn, could absorb bits of their powers for you took great care to forge them in such a way only your very DNA is compatible with them. They reject ever attempt of others and don’t do so lightly either.”
“You might not know it, but the ravine that surrounds our old castle in the Everfree Forest is not a natural formation. Merely the cave in which stands your Tree of Harmony pre-existed before we found the elements. We built the castle on top only years later before you ask. You told us we were free to utilize the elements in your absence at any time we would need them. We were skeptical, however you assured us that we would not be able to do any damage to them whatever we tried. Nevertheless, we wanted to preserve them even better and took it upon ourselves to bind them to our essences for an indefinite period of time. We wanted to prevent them from falling to creatures they were not meant for. Inevitably, after your ascension, they would be tethered back to you anyway, so we didn’t see any harm done in it.”
Luna rolled her eyes. “I don’t think I need to mention what transpired when we sought to bind them to us, I suppose that’s self-explanatory.”
Celestia uttered an amused snort as she remembered back to that day. Now that had been quite the event. Good thing no other pony had been around at the time. The unintended flight from the center of the Everfree Forest to the Dragonlands was something she still felt physically even after all this time. Well, at least as much as an alicorn with its invulnerable body was able to feel.
Twilight´s eyes went wide hearing that, for she obviously hadn´t thought of something like that to even be remotely possible. Yet then again she was and had always been an alicorn – a very powerful one and particularly more so in magic, she really shouldn't be surprised.
The mirth persisted for a few more seconds before Luna reverted to her serious demeanor. “But that aside, now I have a question for you. Would you ever consider doing that? Taking the elements back into your being would mean you get all that back what you gave, completing your essence as alicorn of harmony fully and for all eternity to come. It would grant you significantly more power over all other five key aspects of harmony and set you far above any other of us three alicorns in said. It however would also mean that the physical aspects of what the elements have become would also forever fade into oblivion. The cognitive self-aware potential that are your friends. Considering also that fact, what is your answer to that?"
Twilight didn't waste a second giving her answer. Her voice was so full of energy in what she thought was the right thing that it nearly cracked to sound like a squeak. "I would never do it. Never even consider searching for a way to absorb the elements back into my soul while still have my friends around with their full cognitive self. Even if there would be only a minimal chance of one to a billion for it going wrong in any way, it still is too much of a risk to be worth it. As my previous self as the alicorn of harmony I gave the aspects freely with the knowledge that they would become their separate entities in the future and that's how it will stay. No arguments! Friends like these five are worth much more than any power the universe can offer me."
"That's exactly what I thought you would say, Twilight,” Luna smiled knowingly. The dark-blue alicorn hadn´t expected anything other as an answer from Twilight for she may perhaps not remember much from how Twilight had been as the alicorn-essence of harmony so many years ago. But she still did remember that Twilight too had been an incredible alicorn essence and had never done things imprudent. Or with at least ten re-calculations of what her actions would unfold in any imaginable time and space ever becoming reality. Finally, Twilight also already did a lot of philanthropy on her own without knowing it in Equestria. Her gracious actions and willingness to keep her doors always open to her subjects for help, just like any of them, were further indications that she was a natural worthy fit for the role as alicorn of peace.
While Twilight had been talking Luna had used her magic to fetch the plate of cookies from the next room, now levitating it beside her flanks in a steady mild glow of her magic. She took four more cookies for herself and also offered the plate to Twilight and Celestia. Both alicorn mare´s however friendly declined the sweets for the time being. As Luna levitated the plate back to Celestia’s quarters and lowered it back in the middle between their pillows Twilight simultaneously fired up her horn in a bright light. In a puff of magic their three cups and the steaming tea cattle materialized in front of Twilight. She skillfully pureed herself and Luna some fresh tea after which she passed the cup on to her fellow companion. Celestia's cup, clinking softly against hers, was also refilled once the last sip from it had been taken by the white mare.
Watching for a few seconds how the steam lazily rose from her tea Luna raised her eyes back up to look into the mirror, smirking. “Having checked that off, let’s get back to the topic at hoof. Well, it's not quite true that there isn't more information to share. To be honest, the book has already been revised and updated many times in the past to compensate for the new knowledge we gained.” Luna tapped her furlong against her chin. “Fourteen times if I'm not mistaken. The last time being shortly after Cadance became an alicorn, almost 300 years ago, as I'm sure you know for rather obvious reasons. To date, as said I have another fact that is worth sharing and contributing to our book. You're welcome to do that yourself in the next copy anytime you like. It is, after all, ‘the book of all the alicorns’ that holds our commonly known past, heritage and abilities. As you are also an alicorn, it is only fair and natural for you to add your contribution."
“It’s your inherited birthright too,” Celestia kindly added.
"Don't worry, I already thought of that and I already know exactly what I will add," Twilight countered with a mischievous grin to Celestia. "But now I'm intrigued what you could possibly tell me." Twilight's ears were perked up with intense anticipation to Luna. The moon princess, however, nosed the attention from herself to Celestia.
Celestia let out a soft laugh at Twilight's eagerness. The teenage alicorn reminding her of herself in so very many ways. She had been no different when she was the same age. While also a little like her sister Luna, the latter had been more concerned with practical knowledge in physical and magical uses, such as combat and defense, unlike her. Luna and she supplemented each other and formed a formidable team, even if Twilight and Cadance were not taken into account. With the two other alicorn mares their teamwork was improved enormously and was the reason Equestria was as gorgeous, safe and wealthy as it stood.
Her sister had always been the more 'tactless' one and she the more ´solicitous´ of the two. Not implying that Luna lacked any kindness or affection for her subjects, or that she herself lacked assertiveness, but it could be seen that way: They were the opposites of a single coin. Just as the sun was known first for giving an almost endless warmth, the moon was known for appearing cold. Opposites; simple words that broke down such complex things as two celestial objects, the sun and the moon, into something straightforward to understand. Both were far far more than that single thing however and so also their guardians.
Luna was known as the ´warrior princess´, always putting the safety of her beloved subjects first and not shying away from unapologetically putting injustice in its place with her own hooves. She herself, on the other side, was known as the 'bureaucracy princess'. First and foremost concerned with all that had to be done juridical in Equestria to effect exactly the same. It was why most of their aid-seeking ponies would gather outside Canterlot castle during the day and come to her solar court rather than Luna´s lunar court. Not because they didn’t trust Luna in being able to help them with their problems or out of fear. Luna could be as warm and almost as kind as her sister if she wanted too. Celestia simply had always found the greater pleasure of them both in the 'tedious' work of handling paperwork. And was… well, a little less hot-tempered than Luna. Alicorn’s did strive for safety and peace and were extremely good at spreading it, yes. But they still remained independent emotional beings with a hearth.
Twilight however... well Celestia knew the young mare more than half her life now and felt she could be right in the middle of Luna and her. Twilight loved books, charts and bureaucracy as much as she did, maybe even more but was also actively committed to improving Equestria with her actions as Luna was. Twilight - not the young mare, but the time between sunrise and sunset lay exactly between day and night, inevitably linked the two. It just made sense for someone named after the phenomena of something so truly beautiful to have qualities of both night and day in equilibrium.
"First of all, let me tell you that I envy you a little bit. Not in the bad or evil sense, but probably as affected by it as you yourself have looked up to me all these years. As someone whose skills you yourself were eager to match. I guess we can check that off as successful now, Queen of Magic" Celestia chuckled but continued unabated. She just raised her voice a little louder to tune over Twilight´s own soft laughs.
"I ´envy´ you simply for the reason that you are not only extremely good at friendship or harmony, whichever you would like to call it. Rather, you truly embody them in every sense of the word. Much more so than the rest of your friends - even though they already display five of the six aspects in their purest and highest form. Your devotion and care for others, however, far surpasses anything even an alicorn might normally display. You truly are the queen of all peaceful and harmonic bonds."
Grinning mischievously, Twilight likewise turned to Celestia via the mirror.
“Still not acknowledging the title of Queen of anything.”
Her next sentence was amplified to every word. “Not! – A! – Chance!, Tia!”
Celestia said nothing and Twilight continued.
"So far, that sounds quite promising, but not really all that special, considering that we are all alicorns and what we can do.” Twilight shrugged her shoulders. “Well, apart from the fact that it's a damn important position and task that requires a lot of responsibility not to be neglected. Still, most of it, however, is probably prompted by me impersonating one of the elemental essences and is therefore just a natural aspect of who I am as the alicorn of harmony. Yet there is more that you know and could tell me I suspect?"
Twilight's ears were once again pricked up expectantly and her head tilted in question.
"You are absolutely right about that,” Celestia chuckled again to the cute way of the younger alicorn’s inclined head. “For the interesting part comes now. As the alicorn of harmony, you acquired at least one more extremely powerful ability. Your body emits an additional aura on top of all the others you are already wielding as an alicorn. One that no one else of us possesses but you. And let me tell you, the effects, when eventually fully developed, are definitely something to behold."
Luna once again intervened in the conversation between the two alicorn mare´s causing Celestia to fall silent.
"So far, you probably haven't discovered the aura. As no one except someone with far more abnormally heightened senses - like us alicorns, could even notice that aura currently. The effects on ponies are still far too small to have any noticeable effect. One would have to be extremely precise and meticulous to be able to detect the effects at this stage. Again, that will probably change in the next few years, as you still grow into most of your abilities. It was no different for us. It shouldn't actually take much longer for you to unleash and expose all of your full powers thinking about it. While the exact point in time you will have to determine for yourself I can still give you a hint.”
“It has, from the moment of our ascension so far occurred after about three to four years. Now if you calculate, it should be rather obvious what I meant… Neither way, presently you most likely still think the effects are intuitive emotions, to others, for example."
Twilight's pupils had almost doubled in size by now. They also sparkled quite a bit more than they normally did from the attunement with her stars.
"To get to the point after we've talked around it for so long. There is indeed a clear reason why the fourth alicorn is explicitly described in the book as both the alicorn of harmony and peace at the same time. For one thing, the aura allows you to make friends with everyone and everything with no real problems - whereby it seems that this effect is rather an additional extension of the perk 'alicorn of friendship' than of anything else. Conversely, you are also already known to many of our subjects as the Princess of Hearts, which you may be aware of. It may not be a legal - or officially recognized title in Equestria, but it's still quite a nice gesture from all our ponies I guess." Luna smiled.
"And before you ask. No, it's completely independent of Cadance and her duties. She is and always will be the alicorn and princess of love and sentiments. It's just that many have spoken of your kindness and helpfulness as nearly unrealistic and at times even divine. Fitting I believe. Which is why most of our ponies have taken you to the core of their hearts. A lot of them say that there is something about you that makes it simply impossible for them not to like you. Even more than the other three of us combined like a few stated – which is rather impressive to hear. I guess you can be rather proud of that."
"Again, I can verify all that, since it is roughly possible to guess to what extent your effect will increase. Though not fully still to a remarkable extend. For even we cannot tell you what unique abilities we, just like you, are capable of developing. You have to find it out yourself. But what is nonetheless certain is the fact that even totally wild animals and plants that wouldn't usually listen to anybody - let's take the Everfree Forest as the best example - act highly cooperative and placidly in your immediate vicinity."
"Wait, wait!," cut off Twilight Luna's flurry of words. "'Everfree's animals and plants'? Your joking! That's the most dangerous spot in all of Equestria, simply for the fact that pretty much everything in that forest is very hostile. There's no way they'll let me alter their behavior. The Everfree is the only place in Equestria that can’t be controlled."
Luna agreed, at least partly. Twilight was correct in one regard. The Everfree Forest was still a greater danger to anyone who entered it. Albeit even that had improved considerably in the last few centuries. It had been almost a decade since the last casualty, and the only injuries were minor to moderate, caused by careless hikers who strayed too far from the main paths into the thicket of the forest. Mostly tripping and hurting themselves in the process and not even being attacked by wild creatures in the first place.”
Yet provided one stayed on the paths and did not try to hurt or nick the young of any forest dwellers, the Everfree Forest was quite safe. However, all that was of course only as long as ponies didn't act completely like blithering idiots and explicitly challenge the flora and fauna of the forest to attack. It still was an uncontained and wild growing forest at it’s hearth.
"Technically, yes, you're right. The forest is a place that is often warned about, and you should definitely still think twice about entering it. However, do you really think an alicorn like us, with the powers we hold wouldn’t be able to erase even the Everfree if we intended too?
Twilight seemed slightly unsure. She hadn’t see it that way so far. Luna was right.
“So I guess the Everfree is a too critical part in the local weather and ecological system in Equestria then?” Twilight had a hint of questioning in her voice. She was sure to be right but still better be safe than sorry.
“It sure is. The pegasi, unicorns and earth ponies would eventually manage to stabilize even the lack of the Everfree. But the actual benefit of up keeping the Everfree and it’s eco system and merely containing it at it’s borders is the far easier solution,” Twilight got confirmed.
“Sure an alicorn could affect all that with a single flick of it’s horn more safely and easy than all of them combined. But we are here to guide them the right path. Not to save them from any minor threat and hardship they face. Our ponies would never have learned to care for themselves if we had done that.”
“Well… there is no way to argue to that, so… let’s check that off and move back to what you’ve just intended to say?” – “Sorry for interrupting,” Twilight hastily added.
“None taken and with pleasure.”
“I'm sure you'll have noticed that together with your friends you've never had any very serious problems from the first time you ever visit the Everfree. With, let’s say, for instance, timberwulfs, manticores, cockatrice or any of the forest's plants apart from minor deals from the latest. That's because you were accompanying them."
Luna´s gaze became thoughtful and her next words were spoken with great care. "Now I don't want to imply that your friends would have had serious problems otherwise and that they would have been in huge danger to enter the Everfree Forest without you. But still, all the local animals have stayed away because in a way they have been intuitively influenced in the good sense by you and know that if they were to attack and hurt your friends, they would fall into your disgrace. Whether you actively or unconsciously showed that if it ever came to it, they know."
Luna's ears tipped back a little in embarrassment. "However, that's the best I’m able to explain it to you, sorry. You'll have to look into it yourself and do some research for more information. That might work best if you were to actively test your skills and document the results and… argh, what am I talking about? You out of all of us probably know best how to experiment successfully, pardon me. We can only bargain with theories here, seeing as we've never had the chance to investigate this very thing personally."
By now Twilight's ears were not quite so perked up either, and as Celestia noticed it she regarded the younger alicorn curiously with a questioning look. Twilight’s behavior was again rather unusual to what either of them had expected. Technically there was still no reason for Twilight being anything other than upbeat. But as far as Celestia was aware and remembered, the alicorn-essence of harmony had said her corporal self would be torn left and right with her emotions for the first years of it’s ascend. Another thing the mare shouldn’t have been aware of, but it made sense. Being as calm, composed and peaceful as she once had been was probably something that had to be developed and re-learned and wasn’t a gift received from the very first day. So to help as best as she could Celestia’s eyes showed now the usual motherly care she always had for Twilight and her muzzle was adorned with a gentle smile.
Seeing Celestia gazing at her made Twilight speak up. "'Most intriguing but also more than confusing. It sounds like a form of mind control at first glance to me," Twilight said, mildly thrilled and somewhat unsure now. She had never been much of a fan of mind control, or anything comparable. Who even thought of mind-control in the good sense? In fact, she would even call it a high aversion to repulsion making her feel sick inside to the core at the thought of even attempt of using something so abject.
It was also clearly evident in her physical reaction as she unconsciously folded her ears completely down and the fur on her neck began to stand on end while her wings began to gently fan out from her body. Her tail also stirred back and forth restlessly behind, brushing against Luna's and Celestia's rear legs.
Rapidly shaking her hoof vigorously aside now that she knew the source of Twilight’s worry, Celestia reflected her younger, lavender fellow's anxiety.
"No! No! I can assure you with confidence and a clear conscience that it is certainly not. We even are entirely unable to project mind-controlling effects as these are considered the darker forces of magic –“
“But aren’t I all forms of magic as the alicorn of it?,” Twilight began but Luna interjected. “Don’t think any further Twilight!”
“Yes, you are the master of magic and can channel and guide it like no one else. But while the divine, lighter, common, darker and corruptive magic’s are all well within your range of control you personally remain still an alicorn. Your abilities allow you to channel only the alicorn-level divine, down to common categorized forces of magic like any alicorn for your spell crafts.”
“Anything below is magic completely denied to us, though that’s just fine with me. Evil, corrupted, or generally foul magic is just… sickening,” said Luna, as she shook her body and ruffled her feathers to get rid of her shivers. “Only you alone may restrain and disperse it nonetheless being the alicorn of magic. I personally don’t know how that may feel, but already I truly don’t envy you having that portion of your charge. I know foul magic can’t physically affect us but it surely won’t be the nicest of feeling one could sense.
“While I fully agree with my younger sister, I wasn’t finished. Far from it even with the amount of important bits yet to come.”
“Then let’s not waste any more time dear sister. I for my part won’t stand any further in your way.”
“- but just as every alicorn has a high influence on, let's call it ordinary animals and plants. In the same way, thanks to your peaceful, harmonious aura, you also have an equivalent effect on hostile plants and animals with at least signs of genuine intelligence." Finished, Celestia scratched her chin briefly and continued with her thoughts afterwards.
"Hm, on second thought, you might even be able to do Equestria a huge favor with your passive ability. With your help, the Everfree Forest could actually become a much safer place, even if still not completely harmless. It still remains the Everfree Forest after all. By speaking to the inhabitants of the forest as well as the ponies who want to enter it and convincing them that mutual respect will benefit both sides massively in the future it could work."
Twilight considered it for a moment. "Yes, I suppose I will tackle that at a later time. Could genuinely be a seriously sound idea in the long run."
Following the statement, all three mares wordlessly remained standing in front of the large full body mirror for a short while, mired in their own thoughts. Then Twilight indicated with a sideways movement of her head backwards whether they ought to go back to their cushions. Those were, in the end, much more comfortable to talk on than Celestia's bathroom, even if the latter was gorgeously and impressively furnished. Luna and Celestia wordlessly complied with the friendly request of one lavender pone, whereupon the three alicorns trotted at a leisurely pace back to the main room of Celestia's bedroom.
Once everyone had settled back on their respective pillows, again Celestia began to converse. At least she intended to, yet Twilight beat her to it with a question.
"But isn't all that a bit too many titles for a singular pony? I mean, I alone am supposed to represent magic, stars, friendship, harmony and peace in one pony? While I'm not overlooking the fact that I'm in fact an alicorn, it all seems like pie in the sky to me..."
Her ears perked in surprise as she heard both Celestia's and Luna's good-natured chuckles. "Oh Twilight, as humble as ever. I can very well see what you mean. I guess we need to ramble on a bit more, so let me explain." Luna began by taking another indulgent sip from her teacup.
"You have to view it like that dear Twilight. Given the immense amount of powers, abilities and authority that is held by the species of alicorns. We, as those very beings in consideration of logical reasoning, common sense and sanity. Just by the virtue of our nature as a being that is truly essential, eternal and impossible to get rid of, have no right to be permitted to exist at all in the slightest. You can twist, bend and turn around that key factor any way you like, but you will always end up with exactly the same answer: From a realistic or scientific point of view, an alicorn simply can't exist in this universe, or in any universe for that matter. Our physique, functionality and abilities are too...uhh... well extraordinary to permit that to happen. Yet we do still walk the soil of Equestria without issue. As much as it sounds like some bad joke from a foal, it's still the truth. You get what I mean by that?" Twilight in response nodded.
"Good!", Luna felt satisfied. "Apart from the four of us, no one will ever fully understand why we are and why it is possible for an alicorn to exist as it does. I mean look at it. Transcending any logic towards being overpowered, truly immortal, and pure from the very core of our souls, all striving for true peace. A mortal mind simply fails to grasp exactly these deepest thoughts behind it and will always wonder as to why. Not even our fellow immortals in the Council of Immortals can comprehend those inmost concepts - and believe me when I say that we have tried long and hard enough to achieve it. Unfortunately, as sad as it is, it is vital to actually be an alicorn to fully comprehend why an alicorn is an alicorn."
"However, let's get back to what you had just brought up." Luna was chuckling into her hoof seeing as she was already mentally tuning in to her now ensuing pun. Twilight first raised her eyebrow appraisingly, however quickly came to understand the other princess' delight as she began to talk, emphasizing certain words explicitly. Delight that soon had her grinning as well.
“A FRIENDSHIP is something truly MAGICAL that shines brighter than the most luminous STAR. Moreover, the state of such a powerful bond is one that describes a HARMONIC interaction with another that facilitates the highest state of PEACEFUL coexistence to begin with. It only seems logical to me, thus, that a single alicorn should collectively possess these five titles - which is what you're doing."
Twilight still chuckled silently then rested her hoof against her chin, deep in thought, hoping to find something, anything, with which she could counter Luna. But sooner or later the lavender alicorn had to admit surrender and bowed her head in defeat. "I just can't find anything to object to. The facts you have placed are far too logical for that."
"Don't be embarrassed Twilight," Luna soothed Twilight with a flourish. "I would have been truly surprised if even you had found anything. You can't alter what you're simple at the core, and therefore you also can't disprove it."
Twilight shrugged affirmatively and turned to something she knew she could influence and disprove. Namely that her cinnamon star biscuits were much better than Celestia's walnut sun biscuits and Luna's chocolate moons.
Blaze was nervous - very nervous. To the extent even that he found it difficult to set one hoof in front of the next without stumbling. His legs were trembling under him like weed in a crazy tornado and where barely willing to support his weight at all.
As it had turned out two weeks ago, his aunt seemed to be an old high school friend of Velvet Sparkle - High Princess Twilight's biological mother.
That in itself wasn't scary or made him nervous. It was kind of cool knowing his aunt had gone to school with one of the most important mare’s in known Equestrian history. Yet what his aunt had shared with him shortly afterwards certainly had.
As it was unfortunately, the majority of his family members were almost all unable to attend Heart's Warming Eve this year. Therefore he couldn't spend it with all of them like every other year. At first, that had made him rather sad, as he was very fond of all his relatives, but that sadness had swiftly turned to surprise and then quickly fear. As a gesture of consolation, his aunt had organized a private invitation to that very same daughter of Velvet Sparkle. The newly minted young alicorn princess Twilight Sparkle as a Heart's Warming Eve gift just for him.
He was very grateful for this extraordinary gift from his dearest - well, and only - aunt. However, he was much more nervous at the stunning opportunity to meet a full-fledged alicorn princess on Heart's Warming Eve.
The letter he had received from his aunt had been a thick, high-quality parchment rolled up into a small scroll. To hold the scroll tightly together and keep it from unrolling, there was a crimson red ribbon of soft silk tied around its center. On it a wax seal with the crest of Equestria and Princess Twilight's personal cutie mark. A small lavender ribbon had protruded from the side of the parchment scroll, only further hammering home the fact of who royal alicorn the scroll was from right into his mind.
The golden, calligraphically meticulous, formulaic-royal and gracile way in which every single word in the letter was crafted only emphasized the care, high regard and magical prowess of the young alicorn princess. The parchment also smelled faintly of lavender and roses - two scents he knew the young princess was very fond of from tales.
Even if he had been using a magnifying glass to examine the parchment, he probably wouldn't have spotted a single flaw in the individual characters Princess Twilight had written for him. Every curve was written in sheer perfection and the spacing was accurate to the millimeter – maybe even more so.
The invitation itself had been brief, friendly but sufficiently detailed enough to inform him of everything he needed to know.
"Heart's Warming Eve! - 3:30 p.m. - Her new crystal castle in Ponyville - no need to wear anything special or bring any specific, come as you would to any other occasion - ring at the front entrance and wait for the door to open".
That basically had been all that the princess had written in her private invitation for him. Naturally, she had written in a bit more detail to him, though cutted down that was all the vital information he had received.
Breaking loose from his thoughts back to the letter he had read at least fifty times to not miss any critical detail he blinked his eyes to diffuse any leftover stray thought from his mind. Blaze then glanced around to his back and the small, green wrapped gift box decorated with a gold ribbon and red bow that he was balancing right between his shoulder blades.
Princess Twilight's letter had stated that he didn't have to bring anything special, but he would never dare show up to Heart´s Warming Eve without a gift. Whether he was meeting a royal alicorn princess, his family or just an ordinary friend, such a thing was simply part of the occasion.
Yet he obviously couldn´t just give Princess Twilight anything random as a Heart´s Warming present. She was a royal alicorn princess, highly regarded mare in general and one of the six harmony elemental bearers after all. While the alicorn mare was even far more than that, that were the three most vital key facts of Princess Twilight´s honored being for Blaze at the moment.
Blaze threw the wrapped box another glance backwards while keeping his pace to his destination. His little gift consisted of a beautiful long gold pendant featuring a small night-blue star shaped jewel about the size of an orange sparkling in the center. In his opinion, the perfect gift for someone as special as Princess Twilight Sparkle. It also kind of resembled the center star of the alicorn’s cutie mark which made it that much more fitting for his princess.
He didn't have a lot of bits at his disposal. Blaze's job certainly wasn't the crappiest and he really enjoyed it, but it was by no means the best paid one in Equestria. Nevertheless, he got by without too many problems and was able to maintain a higher standard of living without having to consider every single bit thrice.
Yet purchasing a necklace like that was a novelty even for his wallet and the jewelry had consequently cost him almost all of his currently available money. Particularly as he had had the actual gold chain visibly lengthened and made thicker by the blacksmith so that it would fit around the alicorn's neck and not look too tight or small on her body. After all, an alicorn was always a lot taller than the average pony. Even if Princess Twilight was still an adolescent teenage alicorn mare she was nevertheless said to be rather tall and would only grew more the closer she got to become a full grown alicorn.
He didn't know much about mature alicorns – or alicorns in general – but he strongly suspected that his revered Princess Twilight would one day become at least as tall as Princess Luna or Princess Cadance presently were. Perhaps the juvenile lavender alicorn would even grow as massive as Princess Celestia – the eldest of the four royal alicorns of Equestria. Who knew?
So when he had seen that necklace in Ponyville's jewelry store, he had simply realized that he couldn't find anything finer for Princess Twilight and that it was worth every bit for the royal alicorn. However, he still ended up with enough for a nice little bouquet of flowers to go with his present, even if his wallet was now completely drained down to the last bit. His mouth however was now all the fuller and prevented him from speaking at all. As an earth pony, he had no alternative but to carry the bouquet in his muzzle. However, he felt no remorse for that first fact. After all, his hard-earned bits went to a very worthy royal purpose. Princess Twilight was a most honorable mare with gentle and caring morals for truly all her subjects and even more so her close allies. From the richest mare or stallion down to the poorest of Equestria’s citizens and even the ones that normal society would like to never see, like criminals. Rare but still existant in the Equestrian kingdom.
Blaze felt that was something to be properly honored and what said 'thank you' better than a nice bouquet of flowers? He couldn't think of anything more appropriate.
The bouquet itself had even better flowers than his bits would have actually have sufficed. The moment he mentioned who the lovely flowers were for, Rose and Daisy had insisted on embellishing the bouquet with a few more roses, dahlias and gladioli for him. At no extra cost, of course.
Blaze didn't want to accept at first, but Lily in particular - the third of the earth pony owners of the little flower store in Ponyville - was adamant that he agreed.
She also drummed it into him that she certainly knew better than he did which flowers worked particularly well together as part of a bouquet. Especially as this arrangement of flowers was also intended for Princess Twilight and she therefore had high expectations on herself in crafting the absolute perfect bouquet for the lavender alicorn.
In the end, Blaze had simply accepted without saying a word, expressed his thanks, paid for the flowers and set off for Twilight's castle with his improved and more lavishly decorated bouquet.
Slowly, Blaze now trotted down the slightly narrower dirt road from the center of Ponyville. The road had recently split off from the main street of the small town and inevitably led directly to another wide road and the gigantic crystal castle of a particular lavender alicorn.
Princess Twilight's castle was legally speaking standing about 200 meters beyond the borders of Ponyville. Nevertheless, in order to grant the young princess total authority and sovereignty over Ponyville, it made no difference.
At least that was the opinion of the mayor and the general sentiment of Ponyville's residents. Princess Twilight Sparkle was very well-liked and respected by all her subjects and everyone had great faith in the young alicorn's abilities. Thus, none of the Ponyville ponies even bothered to worry about whether Princess Twilight Sparkle's castle was actually geographically within the village boundaries or not.
Lifting his gaze ahead Blaze followed further down the road. There was only one other small path a little further up Blaze's way, running from the left side into the road he was currently trotting along. It stretched from the junction some distance ahead all the way to the entrance of the Everfree Forest, where it went off into the shadowy, sinister enchanted forest.
Blaze had never been in the Everfree Forest himself, but had also absolutely no intention of doing so in the future. The stories told about the magical forest and the animal and plant dangers that were said to lurk within were enough to give him an accurate impression of the forest. He didn't need to experience it for himself if he could avoid it.
Blaze therefore gave no further thought to the Everfree Forest or earth track, for he was still very busy trying to get his hooves under full control of his body. He would be more than mortified if his legs were still trembling by the time he reached Princess Twilight's crystal castle. Before that happened, he rather hoped that the earth would burst open around him and swallow him up without leaving a trace.
His attention was however diverted rather quickly from the proper coordination of his individual legs just a few seconds and a few hoof steps ahead. By now he had almost reached the junction where the other, slightly thinner road merged sideways into his own. From this very road, however, Blaze now saw two beautiful mares about his age approaching him at a slow trot. Both mare’s chatting while they walked down the road and giggling to the jokes and antics of the other.
But they were certainly not just two ordinary mares, like there were many in Ponyville. The population in the small town on the edge of the Everfree Forest was five to one in favor of the mares after all. The mares in question were Rarity Belle and Fluttershy (Shy?), two very famous mares. Not just in Ponyville, but throughout Equestria and far beyond the borders of the pony kingdom to distant realms and other nations.
The slender off-white unicorn mare was the harmony element of generosity as well as a very prominent fashion designer and trendsetter enjoying massive success throughout Equestria. The butter-yellow pegasus mare who walked, friendly but slightly crouched, next to her unicorn friend was the harmony element of kindness. And also the Headmare of Ponyville’s personal animal care center for wounded or weak creatures of all shapes and sizes.
The two mares were still deep in conversation, but the moment they noticed his approaching hooves, they gazed up. A wide and friendly grin crossed the muzzles of both mares as they continued to walk up to him. Rarity's though was much wider than Fluttershy's. Yet that wasn't because Fluttershy was less friendly than Rarity. The Pegasus mare was just as her name already hinted at, relatively shy and easily frightened, so Blaze didn't expect anything else anyway.
Fluttershy had already made good progress and had begun to open up to other ponies. But it would be a long time - probably years - before she was anywhere near as confident as any of the rest of her friends. Apart from Princess Twilight, obviously, for Blaze was aware that the alicorn mare had already been a natural born leader since she was a little unicorn filly. Although Twilight didn't want to admit it to herself and always held back from telling others exactly what to do. Yet in many cases it would probably have led to better solutions, as far as Blaze was concerned.
At least that was what the gossip on the streets usually claimed. He had never met Princess Twilight Sparkle in person and was therefore unable to form his own personal impressions of the regal alicorn mare. Still, Blaze had no doubts and was sure that Princess Twilight had been a worthy leader even before acceding to the ranks of an alicorn.
Yet that all would soon change... Blaze recalled, slightly anxious. He was only just some more minutes away from meeting the young princess. Nevertheless, he managed to suppress his insecurity and not show it outwardly to anypony else.
That's why he still succeeded in throwing back an equally polite smile to the two mares without his inner insecurity becoming evident to them.
Blaze’s mind, however, was already preoccupied with wondering why he so seemingly coincidentally ran into two of the six prestigious harmony element bearers precisely here. Shouldn't they already be preparing to celebrate Heart's Warming Eve with their respective families, relatives and friends by this hour?
He got his answer almost immediately, however, as Blaze arrived at the junction at the same time as Rarity and Fluttershy. Friendly and courteous as he was, he paused and stepped to the edge of the road to let the two mares pass him.
Both his parents had taught him already as a young earth pony colt how to be an acceptable gentlecolt and that a filly or mare was ALWAYS to be treated with utter respect. No matter at all who she was and where she came from.
His family may have been just a simple little farming family that owned a piece of land where they grew trees for timber production. However, values such as honor and hospitality played an extremely important role in their everyday lives.
To his utter bewilderment, however, the two mares also stopped at almost the same instant as he did and now regarded Blaze with a slightly puzzled and questioning look. They had probably both been expecting him to set off for the Everfree Forest. For whatever reason he had to take a bunch of flowers with him to do so.
Rarity was quick to realize, however, that neither Fluttershy nor she would get an answer from Blaze at all. At least as long as the stallion still had his mouth full of his flowers.
“Let me take that for you my dear.”
Pale blue magic carefully enveloped his bouquet of flowers and grateful for the thoughtful gesture of the beautiful unicorn mare, he opened his muzzle.
Looking for a moment after his flowers his eyes shifted back to Rarity.
“Thank you Lady Rarity. How very generous of you.”
Blaze gave her a small acknowledging bow with his head and then turned further around to face Fluttershy.
“Lady Shy! What a pleasure to meet you here too.” He lifted his right front hoof up this time also and placed it right over his heart while greeting the butter-yellow pegasus with a gentle tilt of his head as well. Yet not too low, for he reserved fully tilting his head or bowing his entire body solely for the royal alicorns of Equestria. While the Elemental bearers were held in high regard by him too, the alicorn princesses where still far further up said list and right at the very top. For him a being like an alicorn princess deserved no less than his highest devotion.
Rarity offered him another friendly smile and nod of her head as she gently lifted his flowers alongside her body and kept them in her magic for him. It seemed she was already quite accustomed to the higher title she had gained – as well as the rest of her friends – when Twilight Sparkle was officially crowned Equestria's fourth princess.
Simply being friends with an alicorn princess of Equestria already brought several useful advantages and the title of a lady alongside. It wasn't just the increased respect and recognition of the general public. Generally speaking, it was just never a good idea to take verbal or – heaven forbid – physical actions against a good friend or ally of one of your regents.
But Fluttershy on the other hoof was quite reserved upon hearing the lady in front of her name – as was to be expected from someone literally named shy with part of their name – ducked a little further to the ground and closer to Rarity's flank as her eyes shrank. Her ears also partially laid back against her head and stayed there. Nevertheless, she still gave him a small greeting in return while smiling sheepishly up to Blaze.
"H- Hello!"
Blaze offered Fluttershy one more friendly and reassuring look before turning his attention back to Rarity. The unicorn mare would surely be able to answer the question that had been buzzing around in his head ever since he had spotted the two mares on the path much more freely and with higher confidence.
"May I ask where you two are headed, honored lady?" He nudged his head too his words again just out of simple ingrained habit.
Rarity giggled, matching her charming character and sophisticated elegant appearance with her sweet voice. At least according to Blaze's opinion.
"Sure you might handsome gentlestallion. We were both about to venture to Twilight's beautiful new crystal castle and meet up with the rest of our friends there at her place. We've all been invited by Twilight to a lovely and cozy Heart's Warming Eve dinner tonight. Followed by an after-party and sleepover at her castle."
Oh dear! It wasn't just Princess Twilight Sparkle, but the rest of the Elements of Harmony as well? How was he supposed to survive the evening?
Blaze had no time to slide deeper into his dread of the imminent meeting of all harmony element bearers and the young alicorn princess in the same place. Rarity's next questions snapped him right out of his beginning-to-manifest thoughts and kept him in the waking world and far away from his worries. At least actively. Subconsciously he was now unable to shrug off some mild uneasiness.
"So where are you off to yourself my dear? To your special somepony? Is she living in the Everfree Forest? Thought no one else lived there apart from Zecora. The place is pretty dangerous after all and not exactly the greatest place to live in." Rarity hoisted the flowers in her magic a little higher to demonstrate her questions.
Blaze shook his head.
"No, I was invited to dinner by Her honored Royal Majesty, Princess Twilight as well. I didn't know she was expecting any other important visitors, though."
"Ahhh, so these flowers are meant for Twilight then?" Rarity bobbed her head in understanding and her eyes began to wander over his bouquet. Surely the fashion gifted mare was now scrutinizing the composition of his botanical gift with her trained and skilled eyes.
Blaze nodded his head as a still confirmation and waited for Rarity to say something.
Finally, after a few seconds of awkward silence and Rarity's eyes slowly roaming over his flowers, the unicorn mare returned her friendly gaze and smile back to him.
"Truly an exquisite bouquet of flowers my dear. The composition and combination of individual flowers indicate that a true professional was at work on this. The flower vendors of our little village, I may presume?"
Blaze only managed to nod to this question as well, albeit now a little more embarrassed than before as his face tinted a light red. Rarity's praise for his bouquet really meant a lot to him.
"How very sweet of you," Rarity continued with a twinkle in her eyes. "I'm sure Twilight will be very delighted. I myself am planning to give Twilight this particular dress for Heart's Warming Eve, that I finished for her last week. Although she may already have a few nice ones for important occasions or balls, one more can never hurt. Don´t you think?"
Rarity proceeded before either Blaze or Fluttershy could respond her. "But let's all get moving first before we freeze up here and are late for Twilight's Heart's Warming Eve invite. I'm sure the others are already there and we're the last ones. Rainbow Dash certainly as far as I know her. Cause I don't think she could resist Applejack's delicious cider any longer than necessary."
Rarity sighed as she shook her head slowly, but there was a deep warmth and caring in her voice as she continued. "That mare will be her own downfall someday if she keeps pouring so much cider down her throat. One of these days she'll crash land in a way that even the best doctors in Equestria can't heal.
Rarity's hoof traveled up to her chin as her mind wandered. "Hmm, though that might not even be necessary. I admit, even I don't know enough about an alicorn's powers and what they can really do with their magic to make any firm promises or conclusions. But I do for a fact know that Twilight is an incredibly knowledgeable and tremendously powerful mare when it comes to magic. I believe what our mutual friend can do as an alicorn with her magic when it really counts is something no pony in Equestria has EVER seen."
Blaze refrained from commenting, unsure of what he should have answered in the first place. Rarity by far knew Princess Twilight much better than he did. If she felt that confident about the young alicorn's magical abilities, then it was almost certainly true.
Once Blaze got in line next to the two beautiful mares and together they began to make their way further towards Princess Twilight's crystal tree castle, the stallion turned his head to the side curiously. His gaze traveled from Rarity's muzzle and his flowers, which she still carried for him so they could converse, down to the dress the unicorn mare held in her magic on the other side of her body just beside Fluttershy. Now slightly higher and closer to him so he could better see it once the unicorn mare had realized he was highly interested in the garment she had crafted for Twilight.
The dress in question was stunningly graceful and carefully crafted, just screaming "made for a royal alicorn" with every string and fiber of its composition.
Blaze though had expected nothing but the highest quality, for it was not without reason that Lady Rarity was considered one of the best – if not the best – fashion designer and dressmaker in all of Equestria.
The pure red velvet had many small embroideries and embellishments worked into it. Most of them were small golden roses that stretched all the way down the long dress in a neat pattern. At the bottom, the neckline and around the cutouts where the alicorn's two massive wings would protrude from the dress, a thick, fluffy white hem had been worked into the dress.
Rarity had also worked countless tiny emeralds and diamonds into the thick white hem in an interlocking pattern. It made the pure red velvet dress look even more impressive and regal than it already appeared.
The entire dress was quite long and would almost reach down to the ground behind Princess Twilight once the royal mare finally wore it. But Blaze knew that the dress was a unique custom-made dress designed by Rarity, and thus had the perfect measurements and cut for Princess Twilight's stature as an impressive alicorn. At least until the alicorn mare had another growth spurt.
All of a sudden, Blaze was insecure as to whether his gold necklace and flowers were really enough of a gift to someone like Princess Twilight. His steps began to slow and he gradually began to fall back slightly behind the two mare´s.
Neither Rarity nor Fluttershy missed out on that for more than a couple of seconds and the buttery yellow pegasus pretty soon darted her head backwards towards him. Sensitive and friendly she looked at him and Blaze almost melted at Fluttershy's adorable smile.
How could anyone ever blame this mare for anything? How could someone ever look so innocent? Before Fluttershy spoke, her gaze skimmed over Blaze and invariably noticed his uncertain look and the hesitation in his stature. Both things she wasn't too unfamiliar with herself.
"Sir, is there something? C-can I help somehow?"
Oh my goodness! Even Fluttershy's empathetic voice was sweeter and more endearing than he'd been told.
Blaze found himself having to restrain from rushing straight forward and hugging the pegasus mare tightly, vowing to never let her go and protect her from all dangers she could ever encounter. Not only would that be rather rude – seeing as they barely knew each other – but it would only make Fluttershy all the more nervous and probably also uncomfortable.
"Uhhh nothing –" Blaze began, " – it's nothing Lady Fluttershy," he continued with a more determined voice as he got back on the same level as the two mares and they continued on their way with their previous speed. Whether Blaze was just trying to convince himself at the moment or also Fluttershy and Rarity, he had no idea.
With his eyes slightly cast down he proceeded. "I simply hope that these flowers are sufficient and appropriate for Her Royal Highness, Princess Twilight".
Rarity was puzzled and it showed across her face as she cast a glance at his flowers and then back at him. "Why wouldn't they be? What mare isn't very happy to receive a beautiful bouquet of flowers?"
Blaze lifted his gaze back up to look Rarity into her friendly eyes and to come not across as rude or disinterested. He was certainly interested in what Rarity thought and spoke.
Rarity now brought his bouquet a little closer to her snout again and smelled the soothing scent of the individual flowers. "Especially truly beautiful and fragrant ones like these. I, for one, would certainly be very pleased and charmed to receive them."
Blaze tried to talk his way out. His voice stuttering like Fluttershy´s when the pegasus mare was highly uncomfortable or frightened. "Y- Yes, yes – but Her Highness, Princess Twilight is an alicorn and of highest royal status. Not just an ordinary mare off the street."
Rarity smirked as she gave Fluttershy a knowing look from her eyes. A certain look that was given back from Fluttershy as well, even if the butter pegasus said nothing. She then turned back to him, giving him a gentle sideway bump with her hips at which he jelped and jerked away lightly as Blaze hadn't anticipated such an intimate contact. Especially not from the most beautiful mare he ever personally talked too so far. Well he hadn´t really talked to any mare in general really as he was very introverted so did it even count? Either way Rarity was a very gorgeous mare and it still made him blush quite heavily.
Rarity ignored his blush if she saw it. Something Blaze highly appreciated for his own nervousness.
"I'm pretty convinced that you'll soon realize our friend Twilight is not at all like you might think. She may be a princess of Equestria. Highly regarded from a very young age and sometimes greatly worshipped by her subjects and from a noble house that is not without influence in Equestria no less. But she actually is –" Rarity paused while she began to giggle. "Well, you're about to find out for yourself first hoof. We're here!"
Blaze looked up, startled.
Rarity was right, they were just a few meters away from the golden staircase that led to the large and equally gilded double entrance door to Princess Twilight's castle. A huge pink heart was emblazoned in the middle of the door, the reason for which Blaze was unaware. Yet he suspected that it perhaps had something to do with the rumored extreme friendliness and harmony of their resident princess of Ponyville.
But regardless of what Rarity had just said and as much as he would like her to believe. Blaze still had quite a few doubts as to what the off-white unicorn had said about Princess Twilight. The young alicorn mare was still one of the four eternal princesses of Equestria. And once you thought about the high stature the Diarchs Princess Luna and Princess Celestia had among their subjects...or Princess Cadance in the Crystal Kingdom... Blaze became more nervous and uncertain with each passing second as he got closer to the moment of meeting Princess Twilight in person for the very first time.
Ideally, he would have liked to run away and hide in the deepest corner of his home. Preferably under his bed and with at least five blankets around him. But the shame that such an action would bring him was enough to stop him. As did the rebuke from his aunt, parents and siblings if he actually did.
Besides, he may have been extremely nervous and insecure, but he certainly wouldn't let this probably once-in-a-lifetime possibility pass him by. The one-time chance to meet one of the four royal princesses of Equestria in person and spend an entire unforgettable evening with her in her castle. Along with all her other friends and harmony element bearers no less. A true, full-blooded alicorn and also the princess he loved and admired the most of all four.
Probably because she was the only alicorn that was still more or less his age. Blaze really didn't even know quite what he could possibly chat about with Princess Twilight, so what would he say to a millennia-old alicorn? And finally because, as rumored, she was said to be incredibly friendly, courteous and cheerful.
Blaze couldn't really imagine that. Such a regal alicorn as Princess Twilight was? Cheerful and carefree? That simply couldn't be the case in his mind. Yet something in his subconscious simply wished for it to be that way. It certainly would make things far easier for him, but it would remain just that. A simple wish nothing more.
Blaze was stripped of the decision of if he should flee before he could think and worry any further. For while he had been pondering and weighing his options, Fluttershy had trotted up the stairs of Twilight's castle. There, she had immediately made her way to the massive front door and pressed the small bell embedded to the left of it.
Rarity had also trotted forward with her right front hoof already resting on the first step of the golden staircase. She had then turned back to Blaze and regarded him carefully before nodding her head sideways up the stairs indicating with a flick of her eyes that he was to follow behind her.
Without really any other choice still left, Blaze did just that. Quickly following Rarity up the seven-step staircase with his legs barely stumbling at all. As he positioned himself to the right of Rarity, who herself was standing to the right of Fluttershy, he took another quick glance behind.
Last chance to escape...
A bunch of flowers being held in front of his snout made him flinch while he instinctively grabbed them in his muzzle without even thinking about it.
"Here you go! While I was happy to carry them for you, you'll still have to give them to her personally." Rarity's voice had a noticeable undertone of amusement as she flashed him a wink.
Struggling to smile past the bouquet, Blaze gave his best attempt at a thankful smile and nodded his head gratefully to Rarity. He then turned his gaze forward and waited.
His front hoof nervously began to scuff on the crystal of the castle as a few seconds later there was still no sound from within the castle. What was taking the princess's servants this long? Shouldn't they have opened the door for them long ago?
After another ten seconds, a soft muffled pop of magic sounded from inside the castle. A moment later, both sides of the large front door lit up in a raspberry-colored glow of magic. Gradually, the door opened on either side, revealing the interior of the castle's entrance hall beyond.
Blaze's flight reflex almost kicked in, but he was suddenly unable to move from the spot. Even his sense of anxiety and fear were abruptly entirely forgotten in an instant. There suddenly was a far more unique matter presenting itself before him.
Blaze’s snout had just dropped open not just in amazement as the grand crystal castle doors had finally fully opened and revealed who had opened the door to let them in.
He knew that alicorns represented the pinnacle of pony perfection and were therefore incredible naturally beautiful and majestic. Blessed with an eternally youthful physical body in their mid-twenties. Surrounded with a natural constant aura of intense authority, power, magic and respect.
Yet the young alicorn mare he beheld before his eyes was by no chance as gorgeous as most ponies said the royal princessess of Equestria were. No, absolutely not for it was a clear lie!
Princess Twilight was beyond divinely beautiful with a graceful bearing and simply perfect toned and shaped body. Something which fit perfectly in his opinion. He – as well as many other ponies in Equestria too – believed in the fact of alicorn´s being a kind of benevolent immortal goddess with a heart made from solid gold.
Princess Twilight also had an equally as mighty and divine aura of powerful magic radiating from every part of her body. By far the most potent aura of magic he had ever experienced in his entire life and the alicorn mare didn´t even USE her horn anymore to cast any spell from it.
He had always laughed good-naturedly and teased his friends for their crush for Princess Twilight as they told him what their impressions had been when first seeing the young princess. But as he had just realized, none of his friends had been exaggerating in the slightest.
Nor about the sheer physical size of the alicorn mare, who, according to his friends, was even somewhat taller than he was. He didn't want to believe it at first, for as a stallion and earth pony he was quite stocky and towered over all his friends and most members of his family by at least a head. But Princess Twilight in front of him was at least a head and a half taller than even he was. And that's not even factoring in the long, sharp horn that grew slightly curved from the middle of her forehead.
No mortal creature could ever come close to being as gorgeous as the lavender alicorn mare before him.
Well, Princess Twilight was indeed in no way a mere mortal creature, Blaze suddenly realized with a laugh inside his mind. He had no doubt, that Princess Twilight was a deity. He at least regarded her as a goddess and would show her the worship and respect she deserved.
But beyond the alicorn's natural beauty, overwhelming charisma and godly powers, there was another thing that was utterly unlike anything else. There was something that had also left Blaze speechless and completely paralyzed his body as his mind tried to make sense of it.
Twilight wore none of her royal accessories like her crown, peytral and golden horseshoes, as he had been expecting. In fact, Twilight wore nothing but a simple light blue dress with white bushy trim and a pair of reindeer antlers atop her head. The antlers rested directly behind her long and slightly curved horn. A small red light at each end of the antlers flashed almost mockingly on and off in the same slow rhythm.
The general outfit Princess Twilight was wearing really suited her and emphasized her charming form very well. The antlers she was wearing also made her look rather cute. But it was nowhere near what Blaze would have expected to encounter when he met a full-blooded alicorn princess for the very first time in his life. He had expected a regally attired alicorn with a jewel-studded crown and other luxurious accessories all over her body to greet him. But even that idea surprised him. Blaze would have thought a servant of Princess Twilight to open the door for them not the literal alicorn mare herself.
Speaking of which – where actually were the alicorn's employees? So far he hadn´t seen a single one…
Princess Twilight gave him one of her warm, friendly and charming smiles from within her castle entrance.
His thoughts forgotten before they could form any more meaning Blaze's heart almost melted instantly and he still couldn't move an inch.
His heart was still heavenly fluttering in his chest but his body and mind were now suddenly at utter peace with the world as he looked into her cute face and bright mirthful eyes.
But then Blaze suddenly remembered that as an ordinary subject he shouldn´t look the princess directly into her eyes. Especially not without having the alicorn´s explicit permission.
Swiftly he lowered his gaze at the crystal stairs.
A second later, though, Blaze also fell into a deep, reverent bow as his body recovered from the initial shock and he recalled the fact that one bowed before an alicorn. A simple gesture to show utter respect, reverence and subjection for a royal pony like Princess Twilight was.
He therefore almost didn't catch Twilight greeting her two friends and inviting them into her castle so that they could join the rest of her friends already waiting. The little additional talk Rarity, Fluttershy and Twilight had between them regarding him eluded him completely however. But his ears twitched when he heard the lovely and melodic voice of Princess Twilight. At the same time, his chin was also surrounded and uplifted by her warm alicorn magic.
"Please don't be frightened of me and face me directly. I swear I won't harm you."
Slow and at first recalcitrant Blaze let the alicorn's magic guide his head upwards. His body instinctively trusting Twilight's amiable, gentle voice that carried up to his ears. There was no malice or hidden annoyance to be perceived in it.
Finally, after what felt like hours, his head was fully raised and Blaze held his breath tensely. For a moment, Blaze kept his eyes firmly closed, then the stallion opened them carefully and slowly. There was no way around it anyway, so why delay it any longer?
What awaited him were not the scowling or disparaging eyes of a furious alicorn piercing him. Owing to the fact that he had not shown good manners to her royal majesty and had had the temerity to look her straight in the eye upon their first encounter.
Waiting to greet him were two kindly glowing, dark purple eyes of an equally harmonious young alicorn deity. Litteraly as the alicorn´s eyes glowed slightly with Princess Twilight´s arcane magical might behind.
Her head was held high with pride and confidence, her body firm and powerful, but unlike some nobles in Canterlot, she did not look down on him dismissively but very friendly and kind.
Yes, she had to look down on him from atop, but that was actually due to the fact that she was physically taller than him. There was simply no other option.
"Nah? Was that really so tough to do, my dear?" Twilight's voice was even more friendly and empathetic than before and she giggled with a truly endearing smile. It just suited the alicorn mare so perfectly, of that Blaze had no doubt.
Now that Blaze was facing Twilight, he recognized the numerous, hair-thin lines of magic that stretched across the alicorn's entire form. But especially from the center of Twilight's chest as they pulsated with the alicorn's inner force. As fluffy as the princess's lavender fur was – particularly in her chest area – it was virtually impossible to see them with the naked eye. However, if you took a closer look and stood fairly close to the alicorn, you could see them more clearly. Although they were still almost invisible, they were nevertheless discernible.
He knew what they were for. One of his unicorn friends had enlightened him on the subject upon asking. They were protection wards – passive ones at that – as he quickly realized with a second glance.
Every existing protection enchantment could be divided into two broad categories. The active and passive wards, whereby the first group was much simpler in its gradation.
Most active defensive wards were modifications of force fields that could be used against any threat, large or small. While they were much more effective than most passive forms of protection, they required a permanent, consistent, biological and much stronger impulse of magic. Plus, they still remained much weaker than a proper force field in any case.
As a result, more than the simplest and most basic active defensive wards were limited to gifted unicorns. No earth pony or pegasus could use or cast them either. It took an active pulse of magic to create one of them each time. Even the fewest artifacts could hold them, as the biological factor was lacking almost universally.
Blaze hadn't understood even a tenth of what his unicorn friend had tried to explain to him that day regarding active protection spells. Especially not that seemingly so very specialized biological factor that was always essential. Yet he also wasn't a unicorn and so more than theoretical magic wasn't relevant to him anyway.
There was indeed earth pony magic in Equestria, as well as pegasi and the most evident and widely known unicorn magic. But only unicorn and alicorn magic were types of magic that actually manifested visibly and could be observed directly with the eyes.
Just like pegasi magic, which gave Equestria's winged equine´s the ability to walk on clouds and control the weather, so was earth pony magic. He had the ability to make plants grow much faster, efficiently, with higher yields and healthier using his native magic. There were some other bonus effects, such as the far above-average sturdiness of an earth pony and its even faster regenerative ability than a pegasus. However, it still did not make earth pony magic visible to the naked eye. Special unicorn spells or artifacts were needed for that.
He had, however, been far more interested in the second and far more complex type of warding magic.
Passive wards were much more varied and almost exclusively much easier to understand and use. There were even two large subcategories into which passive defensive magic could be divided.
His friend had been trying to make it as easy as possible for him. Blaze wasn't stupid, but practical magic was simply much harder to understand if you didn't have a magical horn on your forehead to actually utilize it.
Firstly, there were the 'normal' passive types of spells, of which there were thousands of variations that usually only differed marginally. They granted protection against basic things that often simply arose naturally. For example, tooth decay, which could be caused by plaque build-up on the teeth or better eyesight and compensation for poor eyesight as well as the natural process of ageing through small changes. Or the enhancement and preservation of all other senses such as: Taste, smell, hearing, touch, perception of temperature, movement and balance. While there were so many more that they were almost uncountable, Blaze's buddy and he had agreed that for now that would suffice as an explanation.
The second sub-category of warding enchantments included the 'special' ones, as his friend had jokingly dubbed them. They were much more complex and harder to perform than the simple ones, though still significantly more superficial than active protection. Nevertheless, passive wards were by no means flimsy. Their general passivity gave them the useful advantage over active spells in that once they had been cast, they no longer had to be actively cared for as long as they were not damaged or destroyed.
Highly gifted unicorns utilized these special passive warding charms to shield themselves from danger or to give powerful added effects. The stronger the caster, the more effective the resulting protection. Unfortunately, it only worked on oneself and couldn't even be applied to any other pony. Although Blaze wasn't sure whether Princess Twilight might not be able to follow other rules. She WAS after all an alicorn and her magical strength alone therefore far more powerful than that of any other pony.
It was also widely claimed that even before her ascension, the young princess was the second most gifted unicorn to ever have lived, second only to Starswirl. She might even have surpassed the old sorcerer eventually in raw power, magical knowledge and inherently known amount of spells. But now that Princess Twilight had become an alicorn, Blaze had no doubts that she was vastly more powerful than the most gifted unicorn wizard in Equestria's history could ever have been. Her wisdom and knowledge of spells she could cast without having to think about them probably equally greater than Starswirl´s had been at his prime as Twilight was in fact the alicorn and guardian of all magic. The most potent and knowledgably magic caster there was.
Precisely how very powerful Princess Twilight was, Blaze had no idea, for the true potency of an alicorn was one of the well-kept secrets of the alicorn race, and no living being on Equus other than them knew much about it. He could understand why, for it gave the alicorn's a somewhat mystical and enigmatic aura that alone was enough to earn them massive amount of esteem. Among other nations and kingdoms too - whether allied, neutral or hostile. Although, as far as he knew, the latter had not been the subject for the last six hundred years. Equestria wasn´t called the land of harmony for nothing.
These special defensive wards varied from simpler things, such as the prevention of all sorts of internal illnesses, infections or discomforts, to the successful fending off of pretty much all external threats to both physical and mental health.
Upon Blaze's question as to what such external dangers to physical and mental health were, his unicorn friend shared with him that it could really be anything Blaze could imagine. But dropping or knocked over objects, all types of falls and blows, weaponry and assaults to one’s magic and mind were among the first to be mentioned. How well you were ultimately protected against such attacks depended on your personal magical potential and stamina. It depended on how well trained you were in your own sorcery.
Suddenly, Twilight's soft, charming and slightly coaxing voice tore Blaze from his buzzing thoughts and his contemplation of magical protective layers running across Princess Twilight's coat. Even though the alicorn's voice hadn't been particularly loud, it still contained an undeniable level of authority that immediately pulled him back to reality.
"I can see that you are highly mesmerized of me as an alicorn and my magical wards. But we haven't even personally introduced ourselves yet. So let's start with that first before we move on to other topics."
Blaze blushed. Had Princess Twilight been aware of his eyes slowly traveling over her entire body? Studying her, trying to comprehend every little detail of her gorgeous and graceful godly alicorn form? According to her comment, most certainly.
Should Twilight have noticed his eyes roaming over her body, the alicorn princess didn't let it slip and left it uncommented.
"I am – as you probably already knew – Princess Twilight Amicitia Aurora Sparkle, the First of Equestria. The fourth and youngest alicorn princess of our magnificent, lovely pony empire. But you can call me Twilight if you like. All my friends do."
Now Twilight cocked her head to one side: "What was your name again? My mom hasn't told me very much about you. I guess she wants me to take it upon myself to get to know who you are. For whatever reason... I'm nowhere near the timid, disinterested unicorn I used to be and she is well aware of that. Hrrhmm! Well, assuming I still was a unicorn in the first place," Twilight chuckled sheepishly. To demonstrate her point, the young princess briefly spread her mighty alicorn wings out from her back.
At first startled by her question and the impressive reality of how truly immense the alicorn's wings already were at her growing age, Blaze flinched all over. However, he quickly regained his voice. With a slight bow, this time not dropping his muzzle all the way to the ground, he answered his princess's question to him.
“B- Blazing Ivory, your royal Highness, High Princess Twilight. But most of my friends just call me Blaze.”
“Well hello then Blaze”, Twilight giggled with an evenly as cute sound as the alicorn mare herself.
Blaze lifted his gaze up again and his eyes met Twilight´s slightly sassy and friendly sparkling ones.
Twilight truly possessed magnificent beautiful eyes that were easy to get lost in if you weren't attentive.
That's when Twilight's expression abruptly switched as her gaze continued to wander over Blaze and lingered on the young stallion's front hoof. Her eyes became wide and her muzzle curled into a surprised "O".
Daaaaawww!
That cute little ear twitch as Princess Twilight suddenly recognized the flowers that he wanted to give her was just too adorable. Blaze was meanwhile carrying the flowers again in his right forehoof to regain his ability to speak.
“Are these for me?” Twilight tilted her head a little further to the side to examine the sprawling bouquet of flowers in Blaze's hoof with a curious look.
Blaze simply nodded. He was far to embarred to say anything currently back to the alicorn Princess. He would have liked to say anything, and yet his voice failed him every time he tried to form words. His mind was fixated on one single thing alone and nothing else.
Will she like them? What if she doesn't? Ohhh I really hope Princess Twilight does approve of my flowers. Blaze subconsciously began to pace the ground with his hooves as his nervousness before the alicorn intensified with each shallow fast breath he took.
Blaze desperately wanted an honest answer from Princess Twilight, but then again he didn't want one from the alicorn. Far too frightened it would be a no. But then again he wanted one – Or maybe not. Argh, an eternal diabolical loop!
"Oh how gracious from you. I'm more than just delighted. They're certainly the most beautiful I have gotten in a long time," Twilight's voice chimed in with noticeable joy and appreciation to the stallion´s ears. "And what a selection of different flowers and colors. They must have cost a fortune – but that's not something you should ever ask for in a gift, sorry."
Twilight's voice was overjoyed and a wide, rewarding smile for him graced her lips as her alicorn magic reached out to receive the floral bouquet that Blaze now held up to her with massive relief.
“Not nearly as beautiful as you my honored princess…”, Blaze mumbled in a low voice as his gaze relocated back to his hooves from Twilight´s cute, smiling face.
Blaze couldn't even begin to express how very relieved he was that the alicorn princess loved the flowers he had chosen to bring. Blaze had quite certainly never felt so liberated as he did at that very moment. While his breathing began to calm down his knees also ceased to tremble as much.
After a few seconds, the stallion was finally sure that they would continue to carry his weight and that he was not about to smash muzzle-first into the floor of the alicorn´s crystal castle in front of Twilight. Doing so would be beyond embarrassing. To him, Princess Twilight's consent was simply like the blessing of a deity. Well, it wasn't exactly wrong –
“Pardon, what have you just said?” Twilight inquired with nothing but pure innocence in her upbeat voice as Blaze´s thoughts refocused back. A wide mischievous grin evolving on her muzzle as she smelled the gifted flowers. The sweet, appealing scent of the various flowers lingered in her nostrils and caressed the alicorn's snout as Twilight sniffed the bouquet again and again waiting for the stallions answer to her just asked question.
"I beg your pardon, Your Royal Majesty. I haven't said anything important," Blaze stuttered embarrassed and taken aback while his cheeks turned bright red. His head bowed just a little lower to show his reverence and deep worship for the alicorn deity he was speaking to.
Twilight smirked knowingly as she gave him a short sideway glance but said nothing.
He´s already very jumpy, there is no need to make him feel any less insecure if I begin to tease him now about what he said. It probably will never get easier with my subjects and the feeling of devotion and submission most of them think they have to show us alicorn´s. But I will continue to work hard on minimizing their unwarranted fears of disappointing or angering us. After all, they're more than wrong to believe such a thing from us. Still, what can I do if Blaze sees me as a goddess like so many before him? Not much unfortunately I guess. But at least I can't stop trying to make them less nervous and frightened speaking to me. Maybe at some point in the future they will have more confidence speaking to us alicorn´s.
Twilight broke away from her inner thoughts and cleared her throat to divert Blaze's mind from the topic at hoof and hopefully allay his fears for her. She then gave him the very best and most encouraging smile she was capable of.
“You can still drop the “princess” you know. I stated that it's perfectly fine for me to just call me Twilight. No further need for you to address me as royalty or anything else. Today I just want to have a nice little Heart´s Warming Eve get together without any of my status interfering.”
Twilight lifted her hoof and with each thing she mentioned lightly punched the air to emphasize her statement.
"Not an element bearer of harmony! Not a Princess! No regent of Equestria! Nor an alicorn to whom you wish to bow down and pay me the respect you deem necessary! Neither the embodiment of all my domains over which I – as an alicorn – have mastery! Just a simple mare!" – "Well, as simple a mare as I can be given that I'm in fact an alicorn. I couldn't change that even if I actually wanted to," Twilight heartily chuckled behind her held hoof to maintain dignity.
Much to Twilight's frustration, her statement and rather obviously joking and amused laughter didn't have the effect the lavender alicorn would have preferred. It was clear to see that the earth pony stallion in front of her was still shaking all over. Now more than ever, and Blaze´s condition was getting worse by the second. Even without her supernatural senses as an alicorn, it wouldn't have been hard for Twilight to recognize that Blaze was about to run away, screeching in panic any second now.
Blaze shook his head hard in denial as he took a small shaky step back. Than another slightly bigger one from the tall lavender alicorn mare.
He just couldn't.
Blaze was still highly anxious when it came to Princess Twilight. He just had to worship her and pay reverence to the alicorn princess. Blaze was about to open his mouth to make a remark, though he didn't get particularly far.
Suddenly, Princess Twilight had stepped forward faster than Blaze could have mustered any kind of reaction. One moment the young lavender alicorn was still standing in the doorway of her crystal castle only to be right in front of him a blink of an eye later. If it weren't for the facts that there was no sound or any visibility of a magical influence at work, Blaze would have claimed Twilight Sparkle simply teleported forward about two meters. But the total lack of such phenomes left the stallion in more than just doubt. Apparently an alicorn was incredibly agile and could move faster than the pony's eye could possibly grasp.
Her long, powerful front legs had tightly hugged around his neck while his brain still tried to process the first bit. Blaze tried to instantly snap away in fright, but Twilight just pulled him more towards her and now also extended her grand alicorn wings to warp around his entire body. With her incredible alicorn strength she held the stallion tightly in the embrace as she hugged him. Blaze couldn't break away even as he tried a second time. Alicorn strength far out beat his earth pony one. He was utterly helplessly caught in the grip of the tall lavender mare and completely at Twilight´s mercy. Yet that was actually far less dire than it might have sounded.
The moment the alicorn´s hooves had latched around his neck and her warm fuzzy body touched his chest Blaze´s stomach exploded in millions of butterflies.
The soothing perfect warmth of her alicorn body, her plush fur that his face was pressed into, and Twilight's tight but not discomforting wing embrace around his back were heavenly. There was no other way then for Blaze's worries slowly beginning to melt out of his body.
The reassuring lavender and rose scent of Princess Twilight's coat also helped to calm Blaze's mind as his nostrils inhaled it with relish. Apparently, not only was the alicorn mare all lavender, but her favorite shampoo was also a mixture of lavender and roses. What a funny coincidence that was.
Twilight never relented from tightly embracing the stallion with all her huge alicorn body could offer as she began to whisper gently and empathetically once more. "As I said, please don't have any worries towards me Blaze. Today I don't want to be your princess, ruler or any other figure. Just a new friend that you will have a nice dinner and evening with.”
Blaze was not aware of how long the princess had held him in her magnificent embrace, but the amount of time mattered very little to him anyway. The moment Twilight began to pull her wings from his back and her hooves loosened his neck, he knew the moment had been far too short for his liking.
He looked up at the alicorn with pleading eyes deeply engulfed in Princess Twilight's gorgeous eyes. Meanwhile, the lavender mare lifted herself up and her wings neatly folded back on her back.
What Blaze received as a silent response left him in no doubt. LATER, but not right now. For Blaze, that was perfectly fine. He no longer had any doubts about encountering Princess Twilight now that the alicorn's comforting cuddle had taken away all his anxieties.
Turning, Twilight stepped back into the entrance of her castle.
Blaze thankfully smiled and then bowed his head about halfway again before Princess Twilight.
“I have to say, there certainly is no doubt for me now why your royal highness is known as the alicorn and princess of friendship. I don't think there is any way of feeling not safe, accepted and well in your immediate vicinity. Thanks for helping me get over my anxiety and the comforting hug. You're…ehhh…really soft”, Blaze added far quieter at the end.
Twilight gave him one more of her cheeky grins. “Thanks, that's by far not the first time I have heard that. Yet it's well appreciated that you think ´I´m really soft´.” Twilight made quoting marks in the air with her front hooves.
Blaze's eyes grew wide with momentary shock, but Twilight's upheld hoof stopped him from speaking.
Twilight winked at him as her hoof came back down to the floor of her castle with an audible clack against the crystal as the alicorn saw that Blaze would let her speak.
“Just so you know. It's unfruitful to try and mumble something so I won't hear it. All my alicorn senses are far too precise for that. Yet please don't worry any bit about me hearing your comment about my 'great and incredible fluffiness'. As I said, it's far from the first and last time somepony told me so and I always enjoyed it.”
Blaze intended to open his mouth but one friendly gaze from the alicorn mare kept him quite.
“Also I would do a rather lousy job as the alicorn and princess of friendship if I wouldn't be good in friendship. Or helping others feeling safe, accepted and mending interpony bonds, wouldn't I ?”
Then the alicorn mare began to laugh in her cute manner. “And what kind of miserable performance on my part would it be if, as alicorn and co-regent of Equestria, I were unable to give my dear ponies a feeling of security and shelter everywhere I go?”
Blaze said nothing at all, for it was completely unnecessary.
"Now do you want to come in?" Twilight inquired as she spun her body around with a wide grin on her muzzle while gesturing with her hoof for Blaze to follow her into her castle. "Apart from Fluttershy and Rarity – the two of my friends you already meet – our mutual friend Applejack is also already waiting and thrilled to finally meet our special guest. I've told Applejack and the others that a seventh pony will be joining us tonight, but I haven't told any of the girls who.”
“Of course, Rarity and Fluttershy now already happen to be aware of you, but I've asked them not to spill any secrets. So the others should be completely clueless until you step inside."
Blaze was about to wonder why Twilight had only mentioned that three of her five friends were already waiting for his arrival inside of her castle. Simultaneously he started to advance his hooves to follow Twilight inside her castle. If he remembered correctly, Rarity had explicitly mentioned that all element bearers would gather within the castle for Heart's Warming tonight. Then shouldn't they all be there already? But suddenly the alicorn mare quickly spun around and held the base of her hoof out to him, causing him to stop about three feet behind Twilight. Blaze was now standing directly on the doorstep of the alicorn's crystal castle.
Blaze raised his eyebrow in puzzlement. However, he didn't even have to ask why Twilight had turned around and indicated for him to stop. The princess answered his rather obvious question before he had even posed it.
"Oh! I almost forgot about that, sorry!" Twilight's voice seemed slightly embarrassed and she gave him a sheepish grin. "Would you be a dear and wait for just a few more seconds? 27.4 to be precise if our plan has worked."
Blaze waited, his eyes still questioning. That statement was fairly specific. Extremely precise in terms of timing, to be honest. But the alicorn princess before him was renowned for her precision and accuracy. Blaze would have been really surprised if Twilight had said it differently or less precisely than she did.
Counting down inwardly, Blaze prepared himself for what they were both waiting for.
3...2...1...Now!
Boom!!!
The stallion's ears instantly snapped to full attention as they wildly rotated around to locate the source of the sudden loud noise. Twilight herself, unlike him, didn't flinch or show any indication of being startled. But contrary to him, the lavender alicorn also knew what was going to happen.
Blaze's eyes located the source of the explosion at the same moment as his ears did a fraction of a second later. Completely dumbfounded by what he saw, his muzzle fell open. Wide-eyed, the earth pony stallion looked up to the sky and what he beheld up there.
The loud explosion was the result of a marvelous and impressive but also unique phenomenon that Equestria had witnessed several times in its recent past. He himself had been personally present the last time, but that didn't make it any less special. He - like probably half of Equestria that day - wouldn't have missed the coronation ceremony of the newest alicorn to one of their revered princesses personally.
In the sky, Blaze observed the legendary Ultra Sonic Rainboom, a feat that had only ever been successfully performed by a single incredibly fast pegasus in the entire history of Equestria. Her name was Rainbow Dash and, as usual, the pegasus mare more than lived up to her name.
By the time the very loud explosion had gone off the whole sky became lit up in a seven colored rainbow half a second later. The rainbow explosion likewise was accompanied by a high-pitched long drawn loud squeal that filled his ears. There was no mistaking who had given this very pleased exclamation. The voice and pitch were far too unique and well-known in Equestria for that.
While the colors were still being reflected in Blaze's eyes, causing them to sparkle with more than just his own joy, he heard Twilight's soft voice anew.
Yet that time, Blaze did not completely turn his gaze back to the alicorn princess. Barely enough to make out the alicorn at the edge of his field of vision. He simply couldn't take his eyes off the beautiful and so rare Ultra Sonic Rainboom. For that, it was simply too stunning and colorful as it lit up the entire sky.
As breathtakingly gorgeous and divine as the young lavender alicorn was, Twilight had achieved everlasting life and immortality through her status as an alicorn. He knew he would have the chance to behold her stunning sleek form for the rest of his life. The chance to explore every little aspect of her body with his two eyes. But Blaze wouldn't get to see this extraordinary Rainboom very often, for then it obviously wouldn't be special any longer.
“Nice to know I can rely on Rainbow Dash and Pinkie to make my thought out plan work.” Twilight´s lips began to curl up into a cheeky smile as she stepped beside Blaze and regarded the multicolored sky with him. “Then again they are in fact the harmonic elements of loyalty and laughter so it shouldn't surprise me all that much.”
Twilight´s eyes trailed up to a specific point in the multicolored sky and as Blaze recognized what the alicorn did from the corners of his vision followed with his own eyes after her´s.
Up out there in the pre-evening sky was a grand red wooden sleigh sporting silver skids and golden ornaments all along its length. Pulling it was a single cyan pegasus with a rainbow-colored mane. It was none other than Rainbow Dash, the harmony element of loyalty and swiftest pegasus, herself.
As the sleigh made its rapid, breakneck turns across the sky of Ponyville, it created a wide, sparkling rainbow trail wherever it headed.
If Blaze hadn't known what a truly excellent flyer Rainbow Dash was, he would have feared for the pegasus' life. Also that she could crash into the ground along with the sled at several times the speed of sound if she wasn't paying attention to where she was flying.
“If you would stick out your hoof right about…Now!” Twilight’s voice was suddenly far louder than previous and had a very commanding tone. If not just for his still high respect for the princess Blaze would have extended his hoof anyway as the alicorn’s command made him follow without thinking about it.
The moment his hoof had reached out a tiny red wrapped present with a green bow plopped right onto the sole of his outstretched hoof. With a rather puzzled expression the stallion looked up to Twilight´s face.
“Just a tiny silly idea my friends and I got for Heartwarming Eve as a gift to my ponies in Ponyville. Don't know how Pinkie knew she had to give you one too but she's Pinkie Pie. I have long since stopped questioning her abilities.”
Again, Blaze said nothing, for he also knew exactly what Twilight was referring to. Pinkie Pie's randomness was well known to just about every pony in Equestria.
At this point, Twilight turned back around and began to trot inside her castle with a light bounce in her step. However, she gave him one last friendly and encouraging look before turning completely on her axis. Blaze also thought he detected a wink. He wasn't completely sure about that, though.
Amazed, Blaze quickly trailed after Twilight into her castle as he took another gander over the beautiful alicorn's graceful and slender figure. Oh, what a wonderful gift for Heartswarming Eve he had been given today! And the evening hadn't even really begun yet.
* End of Interlude I *
Characters in "The Alicorn Book" / Alicornite ref. + unref.
Alicorn (master) of Friendship (Embodiment of said)
Alicorn (master) of Piece/Harmony (Embodiment of said)
Alicorn (master) of Stars (also known as Astra Princess)
Alicorn (master) of Night (shared with Luna)
Crown princess of Equestria
Regency over Ponyville (Princess of Ponyville)
(Future) Ruler of Equestria; Headmare of the School of Friendship and Magic; etc.
Archmage of Equestria (formerly)
Leader of the Mane Six
Ruler of the Castle of Friendship
(Future) founder of the School of Friendship
(Future) founder of the Counsel of Friendship
- Cadance [Mi Amore Cadenza] (F.)
primordial alicorn goddess
Basic occurrence: energetic, lovely, friendly
Sister in Law of Twilight
Niece of Luna and Celestia
Alicorn (master) of Love, Emotions, etc
Ruler of the Crystal Empire
- Luna Noctura Everfree (F.)
primordial alicorn goddess
Basic occurrence: gracious, protective, sincere
Sister of Celestia
Aunt in Law of Twilight
Aunt of Cadance
Alicorn (master) of Night, Nightlife, Moon, etc.
- Celestia Solaris Everfree (F.)
(physical) oldest primordial alicorn goddess
Basic occurrence: motherly, kind, forgiving
Sister of Luna
Aunt in Law of Twilight
Aunt of Cadance
Alicorn (master) of Day, Daylife, Sun, etc.
Main characters - Main Five +
Fluttershy (F.)
Butter-yellow Pegasus with bright rose mane and tail
Basic occurrence: friendly, shy, caring
Embodiment of Kindness
Member at the later established Counsel of Friendship
Head of animal shelter management in Ponyville
Teacher at the School of Friendship (future)
Rainbow Dash (F.)
Cyan pegasus with chromatic mane and tail
Basic occurrence: bolt, loyal, competitive
Loyalty/Allegiance Embodiment
Won the Young Flyer Contest
Ponyville Weather Pony
Recruit of Wonderbolts
Fastest Pegasus Flier in Equestria
Only Foal that performed the Legendary Rainboom
Teacher at the School of Friendship
Member at the later established Counsel of Friendship
(Future) captain of Wonderbolts (Position also known as “Royal Airforce Captain”)
Applejack (F.)
Orange earth pony with blonde mane and tail
Basic occurrence: honest, caring, reliable
Honest Embodiment
Own Farm and Fields
Teacher at the School of Friendship
Member at the later established Counsel of Friendship
Pinkie Pie [Pinkamena Diane Pie] (F.)
Bright pink earth pony with even brighter pink mane and tail (however possible - well Pinkie being Pinkie I guess)
Basic occurrence: funny, random, hyper
Laughter/Mirth Embodiment
Excellent Baker
Pinkie Sense [Sixth Sense]
Friendship Ambassador to Yakyakistan
Teacher at the School of Friendship
Member at the later established Counsel of Friendship
Rarity Bell (F.)
Off-white very stylish unicorn with purple mane and tail
Basic occurrence: classy, helpful, selfless
Master seamstress
Generosity/Charity Embodiment
Program Mentor to Charity
H. O. O. F. Summer Mentor
Pony Tones soprano singer
Teacher at the School of Friendship
Member at the later established Counsel of Friendship
Own Boutique chain for different Type of Creatures
Spike (M.) - Hey there has to be at least one person acknowledging him
Purple scaled young drake with bright green spines along his head, back and tail with a tailfin the same color
Basic occurrence: helpful, good-hearted, loyal
Twilight´s personal Assistant (Nr. 1 of cource duh!)
Friendship Adviser of Twilight (Just honorary titel, but dont tell him)
(Future) First Ambassador to Dragons, later to all Creatures of Equestria and beyond
Celestial Dragon (What that is will be explained in the story itself)
Rest of Characters
Mother Twilight met in Canterlot → Ocean Song (F.) - Unicorn with pink coat and yellow mane
Her Son → Star Hunter (M.) - Unicorn with dark grey coat and light yellow mane
Guards directly at Canterlot Castle´s entrance gate → Sword Swinger and Gold Chainmail (both M.) - earth pony guards and two of Celestia´s highest guards on watch duty around the castle
Guard Twilight accepts the food from →Swift Shield (M.) - Pegasus with bright yellow fur and dark brown mane
One of Twilight´s former teachers → Prof. Neigh (M.) - undefined
Chef at night → Cookie Crumble (F.) - biscuit-brown earth pony with a black mane and a pair of glasses on her nose
Chef at day → Caramel Crumble (F.) - twin sister of Cookie Crumble, looks like her sibling but with a white mane instead
Current thestral night guard → Moondust (F.) - undefined
Previous thestral night guard → Koron K. Dawn (M.) - undefined
Current Celestia guard→ Rave Starglow (M.) - undefined
Alicornite ref. / unref. + special Materials only Equus has
Alicornite: Normally Alicornite is a very rare metal-like Element found underground in Equestria and the surrounding Lands. [However, a metal detector does not recognize the material]. Most Creatures don't even care about it because of the hardness even in its raw and unrefined state. Also in its unrefined state it's extremely heavy and in this matter exactly the Opposite of the refined state. In unrefined state it's the second hardest material after "Tritanium'' [That's a magic enforced alloy of 95% Titanium, 3% Infinity and 2% Shade [the last two are Metals only found in Equestria] - > more common than Alicornite but still expensive.]
If Alicornite is refined, by heating it with Extreme Forces to around 1,21M Degree and completely separating out the carbon sulphides, sulphur and other impurities it becomes indestructible once it has cooled down and can´t then be changed ever again. Making it the Superior Element in Equestria. (no matter what you do or how hot you heat refined alicornite, it remains just like it is now.) //And that's actually pretty fitting because the name already refers to the Superior Pony Tribe, "The Alicorns''!// As earlier mentioned, Alicornite is normally found underground in Mines and Caves, but also in the Body, or more specific Cells of an Alicorn. [100% correct it is refined Alicornite in the cells] - > It's almost certain that this is even the reason why the element was called that Way. [The Concentration of Alicornite in the Alicorn´s Cells is 4,637852%, and only 0,0056% their Weight]. //In Twilight's Case 1.17g of her Weight. [Feel free to find out her weight when she is fully grown now xD]
Alicornite is light, but for a normal Pony-sized Armor you need at least 1KG of refined-state of it. So Alicorns aren't the Best Quell of Resource… // - > If you're wondering what's the Weight difference between Unrefined and refined state it's 12000:1, yes it IS obviously VERY heavy.
- Alicornite refined:
1 cm3 = 0,7 gr. 1 "3 = 11,47 gr.
- Alicornite unrefined:
1 cm3 = 8,4kg. 1 "3 = 137,65 kg.
Alicornite is self-protective; it can't be mined if your emotions are based on greed and / or abuse. It can only be mined for commercial use. [For example to craft Wedding Rings, pendants or for "Warlords" Usage]. Who that is cleared up in later chapters.
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Tritanium: Since the basic materials alone are very expensive, Tritanium is not a material that everyone can afford. However, due to its hardness and prestigious status, it is used in mansions, the princesses' castles, and other similar luxury houses for stabilization. It is also used in the Canterlot Research Lab, as it is unaffected by most chemicals and spells. (It also looks good due to its purple-blue sheen).
. It´s still one of the most awesome Images ever created. Truly a Legend at work ^^
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