Archmage - Chapter 39 “End of an Era - Part 2”

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“She looks so peaceful.” Celestia said quietly. Luna almost didn’t hear her as her sister slipped into the room. “She looks like she doesn’t have a care in the world.”

“Yeah.” Luna croaked. She was distraught. Truthfully, she had been the entire past week. Twilight’s decaying health was alarming, not only to her, but to Celestia and Cadance as well. They knew the words of the book of prophecy. They knew what was supposed to happen.

Twilight dying wasn’t part of it.

For everypony in Canterlot, Twilight’s death was a serious matter. She had died relatively young for an Archmage, though not quite as young as some. Just under two hundred years old, Twilight was the fourth-youngest Archmage to date. Luna was taking her passing extremely hard. Celestia even seemed miffed. Cadance was on her way from the crystal empire, with Shining Armor and the twins in tow. Banner, Twilight’s most recent student and replacement for the Archmage, was still asleep at this early hour. He would be waking soon, and preparing for what was likely the most momentous day of his life.

But it was also the most tragic day of Luna’s life.

“I don’t understand.” She managed to whisper, looking down at Twilight’s prone body. “She was supposed to become one of us. The book was very specific… We didn’t know how, we didn’t even know why… But it said she wasn’t supposed to die.” Luna dripped tears from her chin. “This wasn’t supposed to happen.”

“I don’t know what went wrong, Luna.” Celestia said quietly. Her voice was shaky. Even the stoic and composed solar princess couldn’t keep her calm over something so traumatizing. The scope of the prophecy tied into Twilight becoming a princess was so grand, if it didn’t come true it could impact the world in a way nopony dared even think about. And yet, here she was… Dead. Luna had been found on the observatory balcony, clutching Twilight’s cold body and crying helplessly. Celestia had barely managed to put her sister to sleep and carry Twilight to her resting place. Upon waking, Luna had immediately come to Twilight’s chamber, and hadn’t moved since.

It had been two days. Luna refused food and sleep. She wouldn’t even raise the moon, leaving that duty to a very stressed and depressed Celestia. All across Equestria, the days and nights were less magisterial than they had been in a long, long time. All because of Twilight’s death. Nopony would ever understand how profoundly the princesses were impacted by this. To Luna, she had lost a lover, the one and only pony she had ever truly opened herself to, and had appreciated doing so.

To Celestia, it was almost like losing a sister. A daughter.

“I remember…” Luna choked. “When she was first named Archmage. Do you?”

“How could I forget? Not telling her was the hardest thing I’ve had to do… Flying back from Ponyville was… It was so hard. She was so confused, and she was asking all the right questions…” Celestia shook her head, pressing against Luna’s side as they looked down on Twilight’s still form. “She was so young. Just twenty-seven years old, and about to be shouldered with the responsibilities of an entire race… Do you remember how much you doubted her?”

“I almost wanted to replace her. We had some other great candidates, like Bastion and Shining Armor… Either of them could have done it.” Luna’s lips spread in a hysterical smile, tears still coursing freely from her eyes. “Well, maybe not…” Luna let loose one nervous laugh, several tears streaming down her face as she sobbed. “She did so well, and we were so shocked… I don’t think we really expected her to accept. Oh, it was going to be such a hassle, having to go through another in her place… After speaking like that, everypony in Equestria knew about it. We would have had to send so many letters, and would have gotten so much backdraft.” Celestia’s lip trembled, and she wiped a hoof over her eyes. “We would have had so much backdraft from the gryphons…”

“She was so brave, though.” Luna reached a hoof out, tenderly running it through Twilight’s limp mane. “She walked right up to that platform… And her power. She was so… Assertive. I swear, she almost took it from us. I was honestly frightened. I thought she was going to lose control.”

“That’s our Twilight.” Celestia reached out to adjust Twilight’s pendant, which she still wore, even in death. Luna had tried earlier, but they no longer connected magnetically. The useless lump of metal was all she had left of Twilight. That, and her memories. “She could always keep her cool, even under the most incredible forces known to us. She withstood our power using only the most basic shields, just summoned at maximum strength. She would always take the easiest, most simple route to fix a problem. She was like water long before she discovered her element. Even when she went to the library… She slipped in the back way, going the one way that would keep her as safe as could be.”

“Even then.” Luna whimpered. “She very nearly died… Her and Rarity both.”

“But she didn’t. She came back to us, and she opened the greatest, most vast collection of knowledge anypony has ever seen, in almost a thousand years. She did so much for us.” Celestia mirrored Luna, reaching her hoof out, both of them stroking her mane tenderly. “She fixed the gardens, formed the new preservation society, opened the library, bartered peace with the gryphons… She even taught we princesses a few things… About life and love.”

“About many things.” Luna cupped her necklace again, tears still coursing from her eyes. “In many ways, we were her students every bit as much as she was ours.”

“Ironic, isn’t it?”

“If you want to call it that.” Luna wiped a hoof over her eyes, but that only coaxed more tears out. She surrendered to them, letting the floor break free yet again. She couldn’t stop crying. So rather than fight it, she surrendered to it. Both princesses did. Celestia pressed closer against her side, the two of them shedding a great deal of tears for their lost Twilight. Only the sound of a door opening stopped them.

“Oh. I’m sorry.” Banner’s meek voice sounded behind them. Luna didn’t look away from Twilight’s prone form, but Celestia did. She gestured the slender unicorn forwards. “I didn’t mean to interrupt… I can leave if you’d like.”

“It’s fine, Banner. Come, sit by us.” Celestia’s melancholy tone made Luna shed several more tears, but she had stopped sobbing. Banner came to sit on her left, with Celestia on her right. Together, the three of them silently looked down at her body. None of them spoke. There was no need for words. Her passing had effected Banner, perhaps not quite as much as Luna or Celestia, but still a fair amount. Twilight had been a paragon of wisdom and power to many different ponies. Her spells and knowledge were unparalleled. She was truly, truly passionate about what she did. In everything she accomplished, it showed. There wasn’t a single pony alive who could doubt it… Twilight was the best Archmage that had ever lived.

But now her time had passed. It was time for Banner to take her place. A guard entered the chambers, whispering softly. “It’s time.”

“Sister.” Celestia took Luna’s hoof in her own gently. “Let her go. We have to do this for her.”

“I know.” Luna choked. “I know we do…” Tears coursed from her eyes as she pulled her hoof away from Celestia’s. On shaky legs, Luna rose from the floor, giving Banner a tight-jawed nod. “Do it.”

“Haah…” Banner gingerly wrapped Twilight in his magic, slowly lifting her from her resting place. The various flowers and parting gifts remained, which Luna knew would go to next of family. In this case, they would go to her. She knew dealing with the letters of sympathy and bouquets of sad flowers would only worsen her mood. She couldn’t deal with the thought of them right then. She sniffed and turned away, following Banner as he left the chamber.

The castle was as quiet as a grave. Nopony, save for a few guards here and there, was to be found. Luna knew they would all be gathered in the gardens, where they would send Twilight’s body to the stars. Everypony in Canterlot would watch as she laid her lover to rest. Today was supposed to be a happy, momentous occasion. Ponies were supposed to laugh and smile and celebrate. Twilight’s life had been monumental, and her name would live on for millions of years in the stars, and in the echoes of her brilliant work.

There was supposed to be feasts and songs held in her honor. Ponies everywhere would look back on Twilight’s achievements with fond smiles. Some of them would have had stories to share about the brilliant Archmage. These ponies would have the rapt attention of everyone else around them, as they spun tales of Twilight’s magnificent accomplishments. In her honor, the spells Twilight left behind would be cast as frequently as allowed. A part of her lived in those spells. This was truly a momentous day. One that would be cherished and adored for ages, and for the ages that came after that.

And yet… Luna could not smile. She couldn’t even clean her eyes. Tears streamed freely down her face as she watched Banner carry the only pony she ever truly loved down the castle halls. Even Celestia was stoic and melancholy. Neither of them, it seemed, wanted to smile. Not then, likely not ever. So they didn’t. As Banner carefully carried Twilight out of the castle and onto the grounds, neither of them could force a smile onto their lips. If anything, Luna cried harder. The two of them were supposed to be happy today. As they crossed the threshold out onto the grounds, ponies began to cheer for Banner, the new Archmage. But just as soon as the cheers went up, they were hushed. Luna could barely walk with how badly she was sobbing, and Celestia’s tears stopped anypony from saying a single word.

Not a single sound broke the silence. Whatever pegasi had attended landed on the ground. Not a hoof impacted the pavement, not a single throat cleared. No newborn foals cried. The only sound anypony in the entire garden could hear were the soft hoof-falls of the solemn entourage, and Luna’s chest-wracking sobs. Today would not be a day of festivity and enjoyment. This was not going to be a national holiday, where schoolfillies cheered since they didn’t have to go to class, and government officials would cut loose. This was not a happy day.

This was a sad, dark day in Equestrian history. One that would live on forever in the history books as the saddest passing of an Archmage, and the most serious naming of another. Nopony anywhere would celebrate this day. All of them would mourn. Tears would be shed, and heads would be hung. Many of them wouldn’t know why. They would only know that both princesses, in their infinite wisdom and unparalleled experience in dealing with grief and loss, were unable to cope with the death of this one unicorn. The unicorn that, according to prophecy, was not supposed to die.

They made their way to the pedestal in the middle of the garden. All the while, Luna kept running through the last words in Twilight’s prophecy in her head. Over and again, chanting it like a mantra.

The Archmage will become the Princess of Magic, and will live forever beside the Sun and Moon.

A new princess was supposed to be born that day. Twilight was destined to become the newest member of Equestrian royalty. She was supposed to be immortal, just like Luna, Celestia, and Cadance. Luna had torn herself to pieces trying to glean the word’s true meaning ever since they had re-discovered the book, but had been completely unsuccessful. The only thing they could be certain of was that Twilight would become immortal. She would be blessed with a body and a life just like Celestia and Luna’s. Which one would assume meant Luna could spend the rest of forever with a pony she had loved for an entire century, and then some. She had been excited for this day. Her hopes and dreams had been all about an eternity of being with the one she loved the most. She had fretted and worried as Twilight’s health decayed, but her faith remained in the words. The words that professed Twilight would live forever.

But Twilight hadn’t lived. She was dead. Banner reached the pedestal at long last, slowly and carefully setting Twilight’s body on the cold, granite surface. Luna felt another sob grip her throat, forcing her to take a shaky, tear-stained breath. How long ago had it been that she had watched Twilight, this unsure and shocked young unicorn, laying the body of a pony she hadn’t even known on that same table? How long had it been since Twilight had shouldered a responsibility she didn’t even know was destined to be hers?

Almost a hundred and seventy years. Just shy of two centuries of time. For a hundred and seventy years, Luna had watched Twilight, every day she possibly could. Morning, noon, and night, she had spent her every waking moment with Twilight. Reading, studying, laughing, loving, and living… Luna had counted on a thousand more. And a thousand more after that. As long as she could possibly see into the future, Twilight was supposed to be by her side.

Banner spoke.

“Today we lay to rest the greatest Archmage ever to exist.” His solemn tone carried easily to everypony present. There wasn’t even a soft breeze to carry or distort his words. Luna watched with wide eyes, tears streaming down her cheeks. Celestia was crying openly. “Twilight Sparkle has held the position of Archmage for one hundred sixty-three years. Under her guidance, Equestria has seen an age of magical development and perseverance the likes of which we will never see again. Her courage, her sacrifice, and her power have impacted every single pony here today. And they will continue to shape the future of Equestria, even though she has passed.”

This was far from tradition. Banner was speaking freely, but nopony stopped him. His words were true, and a fitting homage to Twilight’s life. Luna tried to keep from collapsing as he continued on.

“Many of you here don’t even know it. You attend schools she helped found, and eat meals from crops she helped sow. You use products shipped to us from the gryphons, whom Twilight managed to keep a friendly trade relationship with when anypony else would have failed. You sleep through nights that Twilight helped forge, and play under the sunlight that otherwise would have been misplaced without her. Every tree and blade of grass in Canterlot stands today because of her. Every malicious pony with evil intent in their heart is thwarted by her shields, which she toiled over for hours upon hours on end.

“Everypony here owes something to Twilight Sparkle, the greatest Archmage of our time. Be it the books you read to your children or the meals that fill your bellies. Today was supposed to be a day of celebration and cheer. But today is a day of sadness, and remembrance. Remember Twilight Sparkle, not with a smile in your heart or a cheerful grin on your face. Remember Twilight Sparkle with heaviness on your shoulders and tears in your eyes.” Banner’s voice dropped so low, even Luna could barely hear him. But she knew the message was not lost on anypony there.

“Remember Twilight Sparkle, because we have lost the greatest thing to ever happen to us.”

Then it begun. Luna’s throat clenched shut as Banner’s horn began to glow. He chanted the traditional saying, his magic already wrapping around Twilight’s body. Almost as if by reflex, Luna lent him her magic. Both she and Celestia held their heads up, horns blazing with energy. Banner seized their power, guiding and shaping it to the spell he needed. Luna almost stopped herself. She almost didn’t let it happen. But she owed Twilight this much. No matter how badly it hurt her, she would give Twilight this. Her heart pounded in her chest as the magic hit Twilight full-on. She slowly lifted from the granite slab, her mane wafting about her face as if carried on a soft breeze. She looked so peaceful, so very calm. But Luna was distraught. She could hardly draw a breath. The spell began to take effect, slowly fading in from Twilight’s tail. The purple pinpricks of light began to rise, floating gracefully upwards. Luna knew that Twilight would soon be gone, reduced to nothing but faint pinpricks in the night sky. She would only ever be able to see her lover at night, during the times she remembered being with her with the most fondness.

“Please.” Luna pleaded. “Please, let it happen.”

The Archmage will become the Princess of Magic, and will live forever beside the Sun and Moon.

“Please, Twilight… Hear me… Come back to me…” She was a quarter of the way gone, and fading faster.

“Twilight, please… I’m begging you.” Celestia’s voice joined Luna, as they watched with tear-filled eyes. Her body turned over to face the heavens chest-first, fading more and more as Banner cast the spell.

“Twilight, come back to us.” Luna pleaded to nothing in particular. Her horn continued to pulse with energy, but she didn’t want it to. She wanted to stop, to take what she had left, to keep it forever. Her hoof raised to her breast, gripping the necklace she still wore firmly. “Please, my love…”

“Twilight…” Celestia was sobbing, both princesses completely surrendered to the grief in their hearts. It was up to her chest now. She was fading faster and faster. Luna watched as it crept up over her shoulders, moving on to her mane and her neck.

“No, please… By the heavens, please don’t let this happen. This wasn’t supposed to happen. Not like this. Not this way!”

“The prophecy can’t be wrong… This can’t be…”

The spell passed over her chin, slowly working its way up to her face, covering over her mane.

”The Archmage will become the Princess of Magic, and will live forever beside the Sun and Moon. She’s supposed to live beside us! This can’t be happening!”

“No, Twilight, please!”

She was gone. The last bit of light rose from the table, swaying side-to-side as it rose into the sky. Nothing remained on the granite slab. Both Luna and Celestia looked into the sky, halfway expecting her to come back down. They saw nothing but clouds.

Twilight was gone.

Luna screamed.