Shortly after the death of Princess Celestia, Twilight longed to see someone familiar. She ruled alone nowadays, with Spike dead and gone. She quickly boarded a train to the Crystal Empire and headed off to see the two people she knew would always be around; Cadence and Flurryheart.

Shining Armor had died recently, as he was not immortal but only a prince. Twilight was beginning to question the system of immortality. Why were princesses only immortal, and not their husbands? Was that why Celestia and Luna never married or had children? Was immortality a curse instead of a blessing, or just a required part of life as a princess?

The loss of her brother hit her hard. He had been there for day one, her first and only friend for quite awhile... and now he was just gone, he wasn't there to visit anymore. It left Cadence distraught but she put up a strong front, appearing as if life was normal and this was just the way the world worked... if this is the way the world works, Twilight thought, the world is unfair.

She arrived at the Crystal Empire and looked around the kingdom as she made her way to the castle. All the faces were unfamiliar, an entirely new generation of ponies. It had been a few hundred years since Twilight and her friends saved the crystal ponies. She can barely remember the tune they sang as they studied the crystal empire, trying to find ways to use their culture and history to restore their former glory. We can save the crystal ponies... something something... Twilight mummered to herself, indulging in her memories, trying to remember anything from the past. It was sad to think that the ponies that faced King Sombra were basically gone now, except for a select few... the only thing that remained of them was their children, and their memories their children held.

Twilight arrived at the castle and was greeted by Flurryheart. Flurry never really liked having people do things for her, she resented the royal guard for that very reason. She preferred to be a hands-on pony, independent and strong. She took after her auntie.

"Auntie!" Flurryheart screamed, hugging Twilight as tight as possible. Flurryheart's heart was yet to be broken, as she had not been alive long enough to experience immortality. She had, though, been alive long enough to experience that alicorn growth spurt- She was half the size of Twilight, and Twilight was giant!

"Hey, Flurrster!" Twilight said, hugging Flurry tighter than usual.

They entered the castle together and Flurryheart was talking her heart out, oblivious to death that haunts the world, still having the light in her eyes shine throughout her and into her speech. Twilight didn't want to break her heart with the news just yet, so she kept her muzzle closed.

They entered the room where Cadence was, it looked as if she had been crying, but Twilight dare not ask why. She already knew, and bringing it up would only make their hearts hurt worse in unison.

"Cadence," Twilight said happily, as happy as she could muster.

"Twilight!" Cadence said, and they did their secret hoofshake.

"Sunshine sunshine, ladybugs awake!"

"Clap your hooves and do a little shake!"

This hoofshake reeked of innocence, and it made Twilight sad. Those were better days.

"Let's have some lunch, shall we?" Cadence inquired, smiling. Her brave front was strong, but nothing could hide her bloodshot eyes and bags underneath. On the outside, she looked happy, but on the inside she looked lost.

Twilight, Cadence, and Flurryheart sat down together and were enjoying some hayburgers. Twilight's without tomato, Flurryheart's without lettuce and extra tomato, Cadence's plain. As an alicorn, alive for thousands of years, you begin to be familiarized with each others orders, as well as your own.

"I have news, not good news," Twilight said as she finished her hayburger.

"What is it?" Cadence dropped her front and you could see how tired she was. How one more bad news would tip her over the edge. It was no use keeping this secret for much longer though, because they'd find out sooner or later. Better by Twilight than a stranger.

"Celestia has passed, she decided to end her treatment." Twilight said solemnly.

"Oh." Cadence said. She didn't say anything after that.

"Passed?? Like she passed her test? Good job, auntie Celestia! I didn't know she was still in school," Flurryheart said through bites of her burger.

"No, sweetheart... Auntie Twilight means to say she's dead." Cadence said, cutting to the point. Twilight was amazed at how blunt the Princess of Love can be when she's upset.

"Oh." Flurryheart and Cadence's words sounded identical in tone and voice, it was kind of cute. Like mother like daughter, but sad.

"So I can't see her again? Just like how I can't see Auntie Luna?"

"Yes, Flurry," Cadence said again.

"But I want to see her again!" Flurryheart cried out. Poor thing.

Flurryheart began to cry, and that was the breaking point. Cadence began to cry as well, and Twilight let out all her emotions. They rushed to the surface, all at once. Her friends were gone. Her brother was gone. Her mentors were gone. She was still here.

"But, but mommy, doesn't that mean someday I won't be able to see you again?" Flurryheart blubbered through her tears.

"That won't be for a long time, and by then you'll be a full grown mare, love."

Twilight knew that Cadence would eventually give up her throne to her daughter, thus giving up her immortality. Twilight hoped she would be long gone once that day came.

"But who will do my laundry! Who will make me hayburgers? Daddy's already gone, why do you have to go?"

Twilight hadn't yet thought about how the loss of Shining Armor had affected his daughter. Flurryheart was only a small alicorn, but she was so dependent on her parents still... Twilight couldn't yet see her ruling alone.

"Auntie Twilight will still be there, she has no successors in the throne." Cadence reassured her daughter. It stung for Twilight.

"But I want both of you to still be here!"

Twilight couldn't take much more. She excused herself from the table, gave Flurry a hug, and said her goodbyes.

"I'll see you later, Cadence."

"Love you, Twilight."

And just like that, she was gone.

Next Chapter: III: Immortality Estimated time remaining: 11 Minutes