“A mother’s destiny is to see her children grow up

A teachers destiny is to watch their students achieve their goals

A sister’s destiny to see their little sibling become strong on their own

After these destinies are fulfilled...is the teacher, mother, and sister..still needed”

-StarSwirled the Bearded as copied by Clover the Clever upon his deathbed.

A majestic white Alicorn stood on the balcony of her castle in the city of Canterlot, watching a young purple alicorn fly away from her happily. This Alicorn was her faithful student and she had just finished talking to her former teacher about plans that she had for her five faithful friends. Plans that the white alicorn agreed to and told her to get on right away. Watching her fly off to her home in Ponyville, the princess let out a deep and thoughtful sigh as she ran a hoof through her ethereal mane, “Congratulations Celestia. Your student has graduated, done something that none of your other students could and now has moved on. Your sister is living her own life now and your niece is living on her own,” She moved away from the balcony and lowered her head, “Am I still needed?”

Oh sure, its an easy thing to answer, you are still needed to raise the sun...right?

Celestia, lowered her wings and shook her head at the little voice that tried to reassure her. After all, it was only after her and her sister proved that they could do the work of one what it took a whole team to do that they discovered their connections to the almost immortal bodies. It would be so easy for her to reteach a new team of unicorns to raise the sun, or simpler, just to grab Twilight and teach her the proper spell to raise the sun and just leave her in charge, “She wouldn’t even need me to guide her in the proper direction,” she thought to herself as she walked down the long marble hallway from the balcony, “She is already planning on giving advisor positions to her friends,” She turned her head to some empty rooms that Twilight had called ‘their offices’ a golden nameplate at the side of each door

“Fluttershy-royal ecological advisor
Rarity-royal negotator and ambassador
Rainbow Dash-Royal awesomeness director (Celestia chuckled at that one, knowing Twilight would come up with something better when she gave the positions)
Pinkie Pie- Royal morale ambassador, party planner, and baker
Applejack-Royal advisor

A warm smile came across her face, “The next step, would be just to tell them how to become an alicorn and they could be by her side always until the day she gives up her immortality,” she turned to her flank and looked at the sun that adorned it. To become an alicorn was to become the personification of your talent and abilities. Thats what happened to her and her sister when they took their love of the sun and moon to the next step, went on that long journey, and defeated Discord. Their immortality was only a side effect of being connected to near immortal bodies themselves, “All Twilight would have to tell them, that in order for them to be like her, is to tell Rainbow to break into that speed dimension that all speedsters draw their power from and out race the speedsters that lie within. Rarity would have to defeat the embodiment of greed, Applejack would cultivate the legendary golden apples, Pinkie Pie would have to make anger itself happy, and Fluttershy would have to turn hate itself into a spirit of kindness,” No small feat were any of these tasks...but ones she knew that the bearers could do easily. Then...where would that leave her.

“Am I still needed,” Celestia asked herself out loud as she walked down another hallway of her castle, looking outside the window to look at the midday sun.

Sure you are, Twilight may have grown up as a student but Luna and Cadence still need you.

A sigh escaped her lips as she again argued with her reason, “Cadence has her husband and her own kingdom now, and Luna...” a chuckle escaped the solar queen’s lips, “Has become her own mare now. No longer that little filly who asked for forgiveness that day.” Smiling she turned from the window and walked down another hall, only to stop when she reached a well-preserved room. It was the only room she demanded to be brought over from the old castle, the most special room in the world to her-Luna’s old room. As she walked in, she had a flashback to a day so long ago.

________________________________________

“I got a sister, I got a sister,” A little pink maned filly said as she hopped around a crib with a crescent moon on the front. Putting both hooves onto the side, she leaned in over the edge to look down at the little blue filly asleep within, “Hello Lulu, my name is Celestia and we’re going be the best sisters ever. Oh, and you know what, one day we’ll be the princesses of everything, but don't you worry. I won't be greedy, we’ll share everything. I’ll rule sometimes and you’ll rule sometimes. Ok?”

The little blue filly looked inquisitively at the strange white being in front of her, babbled a little, and then wrapped her hoof around the pink mane, “tia?”

“Yes, I’m tia...your big sister. I was born first, so I need to protect and watch over you, so don't you ever worry about a thing.”

________________________________________

Celestia stood in the now mostly empty room and rubbed her hoof where the crib used to be, “Cause I’m your big sister best friend forever.”

And how well did you keep your promise to protect her for those years?

“Beautifully,” Celestia said as she walked around the room, memories flooding her mind. Of their defeat of Discord against all odds and how the ponies of old honored their win with leadership. Of how they fought together against foe after foe, after foe. As she began to remember the things they did, she began to dance and move around the floor thrusting her horn like a little school filly before falling to the old bed, giggling. It was like she and her were invincible, unstoppable, and un, “No, not unbeatable. I couldn’t stop them from infecting her and taking her over,” small tears came to her face as she began to think of her first and greatest mistake.

________________________________________

“CELESTIA! WE ART TIRED OF WAITING,” Luna yelled as she barged into the throne room, past some of the guards and petitioners.

Celestia calmly dismissed the court and turned to her sister, a tired look in her eyes, “This conversation again,” she had this ‘talk’ with her beloved sister one too many times, “Luna, I keep telling you, the ponies are far too used to sleeping and not working during the day give-”

“AND HOW MUCH MORE TIME IS NEEDED DEAR SISTER?! HOW MUCH MORE? OUR SUBJECTS SLEEP THROUGH THE NIGHT, NOT A SINGLE ONE OF THEM WILL STAY UP TO LOVE OUR CONSTELLATIONS. NOT A SINGLE MARE OR STALLION WISHES TO GO OUT TO ENJOY THE BEAUTIFUL MOONLIGHT THAT WE BRING THEM,” Luna yelled, an unseen smoky mist rolling behind her.

“Luna, you still can do something for them. You protect their dreams and stop the fillies from their nightmares.”

“And how often doth we get appreciated for that? How often doth we hear from the mouths of the babes, ‘praise be to the princess of the night, she hath protected us from the nightmares.’ NEVER! The fillies and colts of this world all thank their mothers and fathers or a simple TEDDY BEAR for their protection from the horrors of the nightmare,” The dark blue princess of the night gritted her teeth in rage, holding everything in, “ But how often doth we hear of ‘Praise Celestia, who brings us the sun. Praise the sun for giving us the crops and life’? Every...US...DAMNED...TIME!”

“Luna, I told you, give them time and they will love to stargaze as much as I love to. Ponies everywhere will try and plot new courses to different lands because of your lovely stars and will care for each other by the moonlight-” Celestia was then interrupted by a slam of a hoof from Luna that broke the ground beneath her.

“THAT IS A LOAD OF BULL AND THOU KNOW IT DEAR SISTER.”

“Luna, language,” Celestia said, taken aback by her sister’s tone.

“We doth only speak the truth my ‘dearest sister’,” Luna said, a bit of venom in her voice, “ There will never be enough time. We hath tried to set up festivals and celebrations to bring them the same love and joy for the night that they have for your day, but even then we hear the words of them, ‘don't go out in the night, monsters exist and will eat you. Beware of the night, for the mare of the moon will come and eat you.’ They hath gone to calling me ‘Nightmare Moon’ under their breath sister,” a small smirk came to her as she began to think out loud, “Maybe they should fear me...maybe then they would appreciate the night. Or perhaps...no day at all.”

“LUNA,” Celestia yelled, rising from her throne, “YOU ARE ACTING LIKE A JEALOUS LITTLE FILLY WHO ISN'T GETTING HER WAY. NOW,” Turning her head away from her sister, pointing her hoof to the door, “ GO TO YOU ROOM, I HAVE ROYAL BUSINESS TO ATTEND TO AND WE CAN DISCUSS THIS LITTLE PROBLEM THEN!”

Luna raised a hoof in protest, but then slammed it to the ground in a huff turning away from her sister and walking away. As she did, a smoky hand rubbed Luna’s chin, “Maybe...we could help you make them appreciate their night, after all...why should they ignore you. Is yours the lesser light?”

________________________________________

Celestia rose from the bed, small tears rolling down her white cheeks, “She needed me then...but I ignored her. and then I had no choice but to,” she shudder at the memory of how she couldn't really use their full power to return her sister, because her greatest friend was no longer by her side, “I was needed...but I failed.”

As she got up, she remembered the previous inhabitant of that room, the one who returned her heart to her, and the youngest member of her family. She smiled as she remembered how she did fulfill the need that her sister desired and watched over her for a year. Though, her sister became shy and a recluse for a year, she did come out one faithful night. And who was it that helped Luna to reconnect with her subjects?

“Twilight,” Celestia said as she walked to the door of the the room, before turning her head and gave a soft smile. She remembered how happy Luna was that now they loved her night and that the ponies appreciated everything that she had given them. And now, she has formed bonds with the elements and the night court and now...

“She is her own filly...a great princess who no longer needs her shield,” she wiped a hoof along her cheek to wipe a tear away, “Am I still needed?”

This thought would be haunting her through most of the day as she walked through the door of the old bedroom. As she walked down the hall, the voice spoke again.

Well, of course...there’s your niece, she needs you. Right?

Celestia sighed, “There was a time when that was true,” as she spoke, she could hear the laughter of a young alicorn through the halls.

________________________________________

A young pink alicorn ran through the halls of the castle, a big smile on her face. She had just become an alicorn a few days ago thanks to her being able to wield emotions so well, that she could reverse the magic of an amulet meant to drain the love out of a pony. She cheerfully ran up the hall before running back to her ‘aunt’, “So I really can live here with you forever?”

“Yes, Cadence,” she smiled as she looked down at the little filly beneath her hooves, smiling.

“And, and I get to be a princess and rule something too,” young Cadence said as she looked up at Celestia with an energetic smile.

“One day,” Celestia said.

“Is there a way,” Cadence looked down, a frown on her face before looking back up with a bit of hope in her eyes, “You could bring back mom and dad?”

Celestia frowned at that question, “As much as I wish I could my little one, I can't. There are some things,” turning her head, she made a quick look up to the sky and sighed, “ that even I can't do.”

Cadence sniffled a little, tears rolling down her cheek, “I...I, thought so. They killed each other when Prisma’s stone took away all of their love and left them with nothing but hate. I just...I just...They raised me like their own for five years and now.”

Celestia pulled the crying pink alicorn into a hug with her wings, draping her hooves over her, “Shhhh, I know. Its hard to accept when one someone you love is gone from your life. But give it time and the pain will hurt less,” Celestia then looked down at the filly, “and maybe, if you like...I can be your parent from now on and help to fill your heart?”

“I want that,” Cadence said as she nuzzled her head into Celestia’s chest.

As it happened, Cadence’s heart was not the only hole that was filled as Celestia found another sister in the young filly. Through the years, she would watch as the young filly would grow slowly into a fun loving teenage mare. Though she was as kind as the day she brought her to the castle, she was still prone to the usual teenage antics. It was here that she decided to interviene, “Cadence, I think it is time you learned some responsibilty as a princess and care for somepony.”

“Really, what do you have in mind,” Cadence asked.

"Foalsitting," Celestia said, looking down at her young niece.

“Foalsitting? Really,” Cadence said, sarcastically.

“Yes, I think it would do you a world of good. As a matter of fact, I think a certain cadet has a little filly sister that needs looking after now that he is in training. What was his name? Oh yes, Shining Armor.”

Cadence blushed at the name of the young cadet she has had made a few passes at recently, not knowing her aunt had been watching, “Oh...really?”

“Yes, her name is Twilight Sparkle, I think she would be great for you to babysit.”

Years passed through in an instant in Celestia’s mind as she saw another memory of her walking in on Cadence and Shining, “And what are you two doing?”

Shining put his hoof behind his head in embarrassment as broke the kiss, “ Well, you see she was in heeeeaaaat and I was here to help her fix the air conditioning. It just so happens that her air conditioning spell was above her bed.”

Celestia leaned against the wall, not believing this story, “And why was she beneath you?”

“Because, uhhhhhh,” Cadence said as she fixed her mane and got up, “ I needed to uhhhhhhhh, direct him to position his coooontrol of magic to fix it.”

“Ok then,” Celestia chuckled a little, “Just make sure you use protection spells. I don't want to be a great aunt too early,” she said as she left a blushing Shining and Cadence behind.

Her mind then flashes to two years later, a month after the trashing of the gala and she sees Cadence before her and sister, tears in her eyes, “ Aunt Tia, Aunt Luna, look look! I got...I got,” She said, tears in her eyes as she showed her ring off to her aunts.

Luna let off a squeal of happiness as she hugged her niece in mid-air and nuzzled her while Celestia watched in content. This, for her, was one of her proudest moments...wich led to her least proud moment.

Celestia quickly skipped that memory and moved onto the next, where Cadence was standing before her two aunts once more, “I...I am?”

Luna turned to her sister and smiled, “Yes you are. When we had heard that the empire had reappeared, we did some deep investigation into the archives and discovered that the last queen escaped before the spell activated. Living out her last days in hiding, she moved to Cloudsdale where she shunned her immortality and lived amongst the mortals till she died after her first child was born. Years later the royal bloodline lead to you. We also have reason that yours is not the only royal bloodline that has been lost to the years that has also popped up.”

“There is another?” Cadence asked.

“Yes,” Celestia said, “But we need more evidence before either one of us can be sure.”

________________________________________

Celestia walked by Cadence’s old room and smiled softly, “And so, did my young niece walk out of my life to live on her own. A full grown mare with her own kingdom, her own family, and a life filled with new things to explore on her own without that old white alicorn near her,” She sighed to herself, “am I still needed.” This question burned into her mind as she neared some stairs that led to her room.

Of course you are, Twilight...

Celestia shook her head at the voice of reason and offered one last argument, “She grew up...she doesn't need me anymore,” at that, Celestia put her hoof to her heart and began to think of the final piece of her heart. One that she has had filled with many friends and allies over the time...but only one she loved as a daughter.

Turning her head slightly to look back down the stairs, she remembered a little filly that used to live in these halls and sighed.

________________________________________

Celestia walked through the darkly lit castle as she heard some soft sobs with one of the hallways. Slowly she turned to find the source coming from the room of a young filly, " Twilight, what is the matter?"

“I don't know, I just began to sleep and I started to think of mom, dad, and Shining and then I and then I,” She then began to cry again.

“My dearest student,” Celestia said as she sat with her little filly, “its alright to feel homesick on your first day,” she draped her wings over her little one and cuddled her close, “ but it’ll be alright. You’ll see.”

“But...but I,” Twilight began to cry, tears running down her viloet cheeks.

“Shhhhh,”

Come stop your crying,
It’ll be all right

Come take my hoof
And hold it tight

I will protect you
From all around you

I will be here...
Don't you cry.

Twilight’s sobs began to slow down as she looked up at her mentor, smiled, and snuggled into her white chest. A smile came to the sun princess as she leaned in and kissed her forehead, before falling asleep with the filly in her legs.

Through the years she watched the young filly grow into the mare she always knew that she would become. However, over time, the young student grew into something more for the white alicorn. The teacher slowly became a mother and the student a daughter. Every time she would read a story to the young filly, take care of her when she was sick, chase the nightmares away, and would protect her from the dangerous spells just seemed to cause the love between her and her daughter to grow. It was why she gave the most important duty to her, the duty of bringing home her special sister.

“Hmmmm, a letter? ‘Dear Celestia I have...’ Oh my is it that time already,” Celestia looked up to the sky, a smile on her face forming, “Luna, dear? I am going to be sending you a welcome home party.” a big smile came to her face as she began to write down her response.

It was here that her student did her proud, a daughter she could always love and a daughter she would always tru...

No, not always. There was that one moment, that one second you did not trust her, that one split second that you failed to trust someone you loved like a daughter, and that led to your second failure.

Now the years past by in a blur, showing her the one time she lost faith in her student, the one time she failed her niece, the last time she failed to predict the best outcome, and second time she failed someone close to her. She now could hear Twilight trying to hold back her tears as she asked Celestia the question.

“If I was wrong...would you have still trusted me! If you had actually found out that I was wrong in everything I had said about Cadence...would you still...”

Celestia had her back to her student, tears begining to well up in her eyes. She realized what the question was, what her student was really asking, “Oh, Twilight. My dearest, beloved student,” The white alicorn turned and pulled her student into a tight embrace, “If you were wrong...if the worst had happened and you made the greatest mistake of your life. I would NEVER stop loving you. You...dont know how hard it was to pick between you and Cadence at that moment. It was like choosing a favorite daughter or between you and Luna, I had to go to the one that was hurt the most. But be assured, if I found you gone without a trace, I would have moved heaven and hell to find you again,” Tearfully the princess looked down at her little filly, “The question is...after hurting you like that, and breaking your trust. Do you still...”

A hug from Twilight quickly interrupted her, “Always, I will always trust you Celestia.”

“I guess mistakes like this happen huh,” Celestia asked, holding her dear filly.

“Between mothers and daughters.”

________________________________________

“and now...that little filly, who I watched grow up from that first day she came to me. Is all grown up and is going to be a great leader alongside her friends,” tears flowed along Celestia’s face as she walked upstairs, “am I still needed?” It was a question that had been burning in her heart all day, ever since Twilight had told her she was going to give her friends royal advising positions so they could always work together, since the idea of bestowing alicorn hood on the bearers went into her mind, and it was a question she did not have an answer for.

“As a mother, I fulfilled my duty, my two daughters grew up. As a teacher I succeeded, Twilight has become a proud student and is ready to teach others. The student has become the teacher, and the teacher the student. As a sister, I had a second chance to fulfill my destiny and succeeded there as well,” she reached the top of the stairs, sighing greatly, “Is there any point to my being here anymore now tha-” She was interrupted by small moans and wimpering coming from Luna’s room, “LUNA,” racing quickly she ran into her sisters room to find the younger dark blue alicorn crying in the bed.

“Oh, Tia,” Luna said, wiping her tears, “I am so sorry you had to hear that. We can assure you nothing was wrong and you heard nothing.”

Celestia arched an eyebrow in disbelief, “Nothing? Then why are you crying,” she then walked slowly to her sisters side and sat down, holding her close.

“It was nothing sister. Just a stupid dream, nothing more,” the blue alicorn turned her head away from her sister, “Kind of silly for the protector of dreams to have nightmares.”

“Luna, we swore to talk about everything from now on, remember?”

Luna looked up at her sister and then began to cry into her chest, “Oh, TIA. I dreamt that Twilight decided she wanted her own country and then all of Equestria because she went mad with all of the power we granted her. When you and Cadence with the other bearers went to stop her...she...she killed you! And I couldn't do anything except watch, then she made me watch again and again and again,” now the lunar princess began to break down in tears as the solar queen rubbed her back gently.

“Oh Luna, you shouldn’t get worked up over a silly dream like that,” Celestia said, a smile on her face as she began to run her hooves along Luna’s back, “Something like that WON'T ever happen.”

Luna looked up, eyes red from the tears, “But what if it will, how can it not?”

“Because I won’t let it happen sister. I will never let anything endanger you, Twilight, or Cadence so long as I live. I’ll always be here to help correct Twilight on the path she should be taking and I will NEVER leave you alone, and if she won’t listen to me, then her sisters will back me up.”

“Promise?”

A warm smile came to Celestia as she realized the answer to her question, “Always.”

Holding her sister like this, reminded her that a mother’s duty is never finished, for she will alway love her child and will always be there to comfort and guide them to a safe place. A sister will never abandon her sibling, only find more ways to protect their families. A teacher never stops teaching, only giving new lessons to their students.

“Am I still needed?”

“Yes,” Luna wispered as she snuggled into her sister, over hearing that question, “Tia?”

“Yes, Luna,” Celestia asked, looking down at her sister.

“Will, you stay with me until the sunset? I don't want to go asleep alone,” Luna requested.

“Of course,” Celestia said, chuckling, “We haven't done that in years,” and then she snuggled up close to her dear sister, and comforted her for the rest of that night.

“Luna...do you want to talk to the elements?”

Author's Notes:

I had this idea in my head for a few days now, while I was writing for Story for a Sick Pony and while reading some Celestia and Twilight fics . I began to think of how Celestia must feel when she is watching her children and sister grow without needing her anymore. So, boom!

Also, am I the only other person beside the Twitter roleplay to think of positions for the mane 5 that Twilight most likely will give them? and yes, Rainbow's position is a direct shoutout to Fallout Equestria. Also, no I did not get another idea for an epic while I writing this...what makes you think that?