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Together Forever

by Snake Staff

Chapter 11: The End

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Cadence

Celestia has what she wants now. She has my husband, my kingdom, and even my as-yet hypothetical future foals right where she wants them. And I have to back up her story, or else suffer an unidentified penalty from the geas, followed by whatever her mind can cook up. As I’ve heard some of my guards put it: she has me by the (metaphorical) balls.

It wouldn’t do for anypony to wonder why their princess looks like she’s been grilled for some barbaric griffon meat dish gone horribly wrong. I suppose that’s why Celestia taps my horn with hers and feeds my body some healing magic. In minutes, I can feel my skin losing its burns and rejecting the metal from my ruined jewelry. My pink coat grows back in, along with my multicolored, flowing mane. My insides still feel sore as new tissue replaces the old, burnt stuff. Even for an alicorn, this is very fast healing. I wonder where Celestia learnt a spell like that? And why she never taught it to me. My guess, judging I’ve learned of my adoptive aunt in the last few hours, would be to give herself another unexpected advantage. Just in case.

When it’s done, I’m superficially returned to my normal self, albeit completely lacking in the regalia department. On the inside, I can feel that my natural magic is almost entirely depleted. I’d compare unfavorably to an above-average unicorn right now, and probably will for weeks. I’m certainly in no position to try and fight, and I’m betting Celestia knows as much.

When my healing is done, Celestia returns us to my chambers without another word.

“SHINY!” I cry when I see him still in our bed, soundly out. I can’t help it – it’s such a relief to see that he’s still with me, even after all this. I rush over and embrace my husband, planting a kiss on his cheeks and trying to ignore the white alicorn in the background.

Buck Celestia, I’m having a personal moment.

“Ugh… Cadence?” Shining’s voice is weak and whispy, but it’s never sounded better to my ears. One of his eyes cracks open just slightly. “What… happened? Where… where…” He trails off, clearly not recovered from his near-death earlier this evening.

“Shhhhh…” I whisper gently, planting another kiss on his forehead. “It’s alright. You’re alright. There was an… incident, but everpony’s alright. I’ll tell you more later.” I pull the covers up over him with my mouth, even though I’m aware that it doesn’t do any more than sentimental good, if even that. I stroke his mane. “We’ll make it through this, you and me. Together, as always.” I kiss him on the forehead. “You and me, my prince. Together forever.”

“Mmmmm…” he mumbles, his eyes fluttering closed again. “I like that.”

I smile.


In the interests of objectivity, I must note that whatever else she may be, Celestia’s insights on the ordinary pony appear to be right on the money, cynical as they are. She and I have only to trot out of my quarters (in fresh jewelry in my case, naturally) and start giving orders, and my guards scramble to obey. In spite of my… harsh treatment of them earlier this evening, I don’t sense any ill-will from them towards me. In fact, they seem more concerned for my health than anything else.

That’s sweet, really.

Not even the fact that I admit outright to an effectively extrajudicial execution of a noble seems to sway their confidence in me. I mean, sure, as princess I do technically have the right to pass judgment on just about anything, but you’d think with the Crystal Empire’s history the ponies would be a bit more wary of that sort of thing in their leaders. But I suppose that’s an immortal talking; to these ponies the events of Sombra’s reign are but a distant thing that happened centuries ago to somepony else in textbooks. All this generation has known is peace under our rule, and they haven’t the slightest suspicion of the purity and justice of my actions. They trust me, completely and utterly.

And I’m lying to their faces. To protect a would-be murderer.

I am a despicable pony.

I order a formal end to the hours-long lockdown. It shouldn’t have been too disruptive – at least, I hope not. The delegates can come out of their assorted quarters now, though most are probably asleep by this time. I’m sure I’ll have plenty of complaints to deal with, come the morning. Maybe there will even be an invitation to an honor duel for the “insult” of making them stay where I could find them during a regicide investigation. I don’t like to send champions to such things, but under current circumstances I suppose I might not have a choice.

Celestia sticks to me the whole time I see to the Crystal Empire’s demobilization. I suppose she wants to be sure that I don’t try anything more. Or perhaps she’s simply eager to reinforce the official story: that she helped me to track down the would-be murderess at my request and personally witnessed the execution. Either way, she has that benevolent smile back on her face and says little when not directly asked, apparently content to leave the talking to me. She looks as beautiful and serene as she ever did, but after tonight I don’t believe I’ll ever be able to look at her the same way again.


Celestia

The final day of the week-long World Forum of Peace and Cooperation is, at least in comparison to the events that preceded it, rather tame. There is some pleasant music, another carnival, more speeches, a farewell dinner, and finally a concluding nighttime spectacular put on by my very dear little sister.

I confess, Luna has outdone herself this time. Not content with merely arranging for a full moon ahead of schedule and a cloudless night, she saw fit to even temporarily rearrange the constellations for this one night. A meteor shower, coupled with fireworks and full-blown musical accompaniment makes this show a treat the likes of which I haven’t seen in many, many years. There’s a serene smile plastered on my face as I look on at her display from the elite box reserved for only the highest of royalty.

But my mind is elsewhere.

I feel a bit guilty for mostly tuning out my sister’s hard work. But I feel much, much worse for what’s happened. I love my niece. I love my nephew. I truly do. I know it may sound difficult to believe after what I’ve done, but that is the honest to gods truth of the matter. I’ve watched them grow from little ones to ancients under my care, and I remember well every step of the way. Attempting to be rid of Shining Armor… was no easy decision. I put it off for hundreds of years before trying, and even then I allowed my sentiment to make me sloppy in the execution.

And now I’ve broken a very dear relationship forever.

Cadence hates me. I know it. I can see it in the subtle glares she gives me when she thinks I’m not looking at her; hear it in the slightly forced sound of her politeness when we speak in each other’s presence. But, more than anything, I can see it in the way she goes out of her way to place herself between Shining Armor – barely able to walk, but still managed to attend today’s festivities – and myself whenever we are near to one another. I don’t know if she’s doing it unconsciously or if she actually believes that there is a chance that I will publicly attack her beloved, but either way the message is quite clear.

Whether or not you believe it, I know well what it feels like to be hated. It’s not something I teach in my nation’s schools, but more than one pony has died cursing my name on their lips. Rebel generals, scheming politicians, and the occasional unfortunate innocent have all died by my hoof over the millennia. By my latest count, including Lady Rose Quartz, the number stands at exactly seven thousand five hundred and twenty eight sapient creatures of all kinds, from dragons to gryphons to minotaurs to unicorns. All dead by my will or actions over the course of my twelve thousand eight hundred sixty seven years, three months, one week, and two days of life. All had family, friends, and supporters. And, if they did not hate me, it was because they knew not from whence their deaths came.

But hatred is so much harder to bear when it comes from within your own family. Believe me, I know that as well. Luna, dear sweet little sister of mine, came to hate and resent me so much that she embraced dark magic to give her the power to overthrow me. And I was blind, expecting her to be as dutiful as I was, right up until she got in my face and declared her intentions. Even then, foolish sentiment overwhelmed my reason and I fled rather than fight, only to be struck down. Had little sister not been overcome by the sheer thrill of victory, had she shown elementary caution in assuring that I was truly slain, the world would have come to an end that very night, freezing and starving under Nightmare Moon’s unfeeling gaze. It was the hardest thing I ever did, but for a goddess duty must come before all else, even family. I banished little Luna, uncertain of whether I would ever even see her again. While that worked out for the best, thanks to dear Twilight and her wonderful friends, a hair’s breadth is not a margin the fate of the world should ever hang by. If I hadn’t learned it before that night, then my banishment of Nightmare Moon taught me the importance of doing what must be done, no matter what my heart may have to say about it.

I am glad that no more bloodshed was required to end this. Cadence gave me an out, and I took it. With any luck, I will not need to return to finish the job. Shining Armor will remain unharmed and ignorant, and Cadence may hate me for all eternity. I will bear it. I merely hope that, in a thousand years, when she sees the good I will do, that she will at least comprehend my reasons even if she does not forgive me.

If Cadence’s attempt succeeds… it could be just the answer I’ve been searching for. I am one of the strongest beings alive, but even I cannot be everywhere at once. There are many nations beyond Equestria, and many leaders. Mortal governments rise and fall in such short spans of years, and they often find it advantageous to their petty, short-term aims to pursue bloody warfare against one another. The foolishness that comes from a short-sighted perspective seemingly inherent to mortal life.

I glance at Cadence, sitting beside me, and Shining Armor beyond her. I recall her threats from earlier. Perhaps the foolishness is shared by even some alicorns.

I feel a bit like some baby snatcher, forcing her to promise me any future foals the two conceive, but it is for the greater benefit of the world. Indeed, it is a chance to do even more good for all the living things of our planet than almost anything even I have done in a very long time. If. If they’re properly trained, brought up to think rightly…

Imagine it, if you will. An alicorn advisor in every government of every nation in the world. A demigod to serve the rulers, personally tutored in politics and magic by the greatest and oldest of their kind. A gift of goodwill from Sol Invictus herself. Who could resist the advantages that would bring? Yes, they will at first be feared and spurned and hated as outsiders. Only the most ruthless and pragmatic or simply desperate will make use of them. At first.

But we are alicorns. We are immortal. Whether it takes one generation or ten for the foals to be accepted does not matter. When they are, whether out of a genuine comradery or simple greedy pragmatism, they will come to rule those nations. Whether in name or not, it is inevitable that an alicorn will come to dominate all that is around it unless restrained by an older, more powerful being. Such is our nature, such is our power, and such is our responsibility.

When all the nations of the world come to embrace the leadership of these right-thinking alicorns… when what was lost so long ago comes again… there will be no further need of war. No further need for blood-feuds and petty conquests fueled by greed. No more inane politicking with short-lived beings thoroughly convinced of their own trifling importance. Merely practical management of the world and all its peoples by benevolent demigods. Perhaps then I shall finally be able to cease these repulsive backroom deals and knives in the darkness. Or maybe that is too optimistic a projection.

But when I have my alicorns… when the legacy of petty mortal rule is banished to the dusty tomes of history… then, I know, we shall have peace.

So hate me, if you would, Princess Mi Amore Cadenza. It will be my burden to bear. But give me what I want, and I will hold nothing against you.

After all, it is for the greater good.


Cadence

I watch my adoptive aunt – for almost all my life my mother figure, now my enemy – out of the corner of my eye. Celestia just sits there, staring up at Auntie Luna’s show. I don’t think my other auntie knows what I know. I’m certain little Twilight doesn’t. She still has that innocent gleam in her eyes, the sense of utter devotion to her teacher that she had when she was a little unicorn filly. I know her too well to imagine it would still be there if she knew how close her beloved BBBFF had come to death.

Poor dear. It would be hard to tell her, even if I weren’t unavoidably compelled not to. I hate to crush innocence.

Celestia still has her serene, benevolent, motherly smile stuck on her face. When I was young, that smile comforted me. When I became an adult and a true princess, it was model to follow. Now it just seems a hollow mockery to me.

How dare that witch think herself in the right?! After all she taught me about the importance of friendship, how dare she betray her friends like that? After all she taught me about the magic of love; she tries to have mine kill himself when she thinks him a danger!

Now her little smile just makes me angry. It’s a symbol of her treachery, her two-faced murderous treachery. Against her own family! When I have been nothing but loyal to her all these years. The Crystal Empire has wound itself tightly into Equestria, just as she asked of me when I first came here. I worked hard to demolish the prejudices of the generations and convince them of the virtues of our close friendship and alliance with our great neighbor. All I ever asked in return was to keep my husband rather than watch him rot away. And what thanks do I get for all that I did? A blade in my Shining’s back!

She’ll pay for this, I promise you. I don’t know how, or when, but Princess Celestia will live to regret the day she betrayed Princess Mi Amore Cadenza. I’m not strong enough now, and I can tell nopony of what has happened. But I’ll find a way. She won’t keep me as some sort of compliant vassal forever, and my babies are not for her to use.

So smile on, Celestia. Grow complacent in your victory here. It isn’t over between us, and you will yet suffer for what you’ve done.

So swear I, Princess Mi Amore Cadenza.

Author's Notes:

And that's a wrap, folks. I hope you've enjoyed the story, and I hope you'll be joining me for the sequel to come.

And, as a favor to me, would those of you who've favorited this story without giving it a thumbs up please fix that now. Thanks.

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