Fall of an Alicorn A story by yayayayayala Twilight Sparkle dropped her head, gritting her teeth and emitting a muffled scream as the dull ache from the bruise on her cheek blossomed into white-hot rage. For a moment, her mind was completely blank as the pain ripped through her, making her skin feel as though it was burning her face off. Then it died away as quickly as it had come. She opened her eyes, the tears on her face drying quickly in the heat. She felt the wrath behind her…it was weakened, but it was not dead yet. If she could summon up any more strength… Her weary gaze landed on the broken crown near her hooves. Her mind’s eyes replayed the awful sight of the shadowy claw lashing out, of the crown falling from her head as she dodged just in time, of the claw severing the hoof-crafted diadem in two as it would have done to her if she hadn't seen it coming. Twilight's eyes slid closed without her realizing; she knew she had no strength left. Exhausted, her hooves shifted, prepared to turn her body one final time, to face the seething, livid anger that fueled the sky’s heat. And then, suddenly, her eyes began to glow, and Twilight found herself transported to a time that seemed like years ago, and in fact was. She watched as her friends surrounded her. When they marveled at her new form. As she happily partook of the group hug to end all group hugs. She saw each of their faces in turn as they stood in formal dress in the cathedral for her coronation. Pinkie Pie dancing happily to a tune in her own head. Fluttershy shyly smiling. Rarity dabbing at her eyes and looking especially sentimental. Rainbow Dash with a broad grin; Applejack surreptitiously putting on her hat while Rarity wasn't looking. She saw her friends. She remembered all the good times, all the laughter they had shared, and the memories they made. She knew they were watching, from where they stood with her old mentor, in a place she knew she had come very close to. She knew they were waiting for her. And she knew that she could not let them down. She would not let them down. Then did Princess Twilight Sparkle of Equestria smile and spread her wings, rising into the air and boldly facing its wrath. And it glided up on the wings of its rage to meet her, shocked that she was not fallen. And it was not only its anger that made the sky ripple with waves of heat. It was afraid. It saw the look on young Twilight's face, and it was afraid. And Princess Twilight Sparkle did reach down deep inside her, did take of the love of her friends and the joy she felt upon remembering them…and her horn lit up with a fire the likes of which no one had ever seen. And as the glow from her eyes and the magic she was harnessing fell upon her enemy, it was sorely frightened, for it knew not how it could ever combat her. And the alicorn rose higher, and ever higher, a tiny figure against the grey sky – and even tinier in the face of her opposition. But she feared not, for she knew the power of friendship fully for the first time in her life. She knew the power of friendship fully. And she did not hesitate to use it. And the creature who had before felt that she was an insignificant nuisance, who had once had the upper hand, who had experienced the evil glee of believing it was going to win, trembled in fear and shrank back from her. There was a moment of silence, as it quaked and as Twilight's strength grew tenfold, her memories continuing to feed the glow of her horn. And the small pony knew that this would be the culmination of everything she had learned. She knew that when the magic she yet built ripped free from her, she would fall. But even now, as she faced her end, she was not afraid, for she knew where she would be when Equestria was safe and once again bright with color. She knew where she would go, and she smiled wider, lifting a hoof to her forehead in a salute to her friends…and a salutation. “Just a moment more,” she whispered to them. “One moment, and I will be there.” She closed her eyes then, and breathed the old, familiar words. “Cross my heart and hope to fly…” Her voice caught, broke. “…stick a cupcake in my eye.” And then did Princess Twilight Sparkle fly towards her enemy, her horn growing so bright that it pained the creature to look at it. It closed its eyes, roaring, and the heat from its mounting fear and awesome wrath tore through the air. But one brave mare was not deterred; nay, her smile grew as she spread her wings wider. And then she opened her eyes, and her friends flew beside her. She heard their voices clearly above the rushing of the wind. “Aww yeah!” “Whee!” “Oh, oh my…” “In the name of Equestria, what is that thing?! It’s hideous!” And the last turned to her, smiled, and with wetly gleaming eyes, said simply: “Ah’m proud of you, Twilight. We all are.” And Twilight Sparkle smiled back. And then did the searing brightness come, and the magic wrenched itself from the body of the young pony, tearing wild through the air towards the creature, which screamed a horrible scream as it hovered above the sea to which it had retreated. It knew that its end had come. For a single moment, the light took over everything, and nothing could be seen for its brilliance. And then did young Twilight fall, her body plunging towards the water below her. Equestria held its breath as the alicorn disappeared, the spray that marked her passage from air to sea drying in the last remnant of the heat of the vanquished one. And then did her faithful companions fly down and pull their friend up from the waters. They carried her into the air, until she lifted from their hooves and, laughing, flew alongside them, her wings outstretched, gliding heavenwards. All watched as the six ponies faded into the light from the newly risen sun. And all watched as one white unicorn, well on in her years, made her slow way to the shore, a blue unicorn who was equally aged coming behind her. The two stood together at the water’s edge, and then the white hid her face in his neck for a time. He wrapped his hooves around her, and they stayed that way for a while…until at length, they separated, and he tenderly, carefully, lifted their fallen child out of the water. The mother, sobbing, kissed her daughter’s forehead one last time…and then they solemnly went their way. Equestria never again needed such bravery as was demonstrated that day by Twilight Sparkle. And the likes of the creature defeated were never seen again. Such I have shown you, my student. Such have you seen. And I pray that you will remember young Sparkle…for some have already forgotten. Some do not remember even the basic fact that she was my sister’s protégé. How can they forget? I do not know, child. Some ponies are so caught up in their own little lives that they forget all else. They forget how far back the history of Equestria goes. How far back does it go, Princess? Mm…that is a tale for another time, little one. Now it is time for me to raise the sun – time for you to go to bed. …Princess? Yes? Will you remember me after I’m gone? …Yes, little one. I will always remember you. I love you, Princess. Goodnight. Goodnight. {END}
