"Princess! Princess, you need to wake up!" A voice pierced the darkness as Twilight's eyes slowly opened. She was staring into the eyes of a solar guard. "Discord is attacking!"

"What? Huh?" Twilight glanced down at herself... She was Celestia. Right. She'd become her. The princess. Slowly she got to her hooves and galloped to the window. The kingdom was in chaos, cats chasing dogs, houses upside down, floods of chocolate milk. "Gather the elements of harmony. We must strike back at once!"

"The elements of harmony have been lost for years your highness, ever since you lost them during the rebellion. Not to mention all the bearers of the elements of harmony died during your last few years of reign!"

"W-what? They're dead? But... Gather the court magicians!"

"We can't, magic everywhere has been draining ever since you took over Twilight."

"But, but-"

"And now the sun is crashing into Equestria! We're all doomed! Doomed because you were a horrible princess! Doomed! Beep! Beep! Beep!"

Twilight shrieked as her eyes opened and she toppled out of bed, her alarm clock beeping angrily at her as she tried to unbind herself from her blankets. A hoof reached up to slam down on it as she looked around, and then down. She was still Twilight! She was Twilight Sparkle, STUDENT of Celestia. Not Celestia herself. It must have all been a dream! A horrible dream! The sound of claw steps drew her attention to the ground floor as Spike walked in from the main room, wearing a little white apron.

"Breakfast is rea-whoa!" The little dragon let out a startled cry as he found himself soaring through the air suddenly, pulled up against the unicorn's cheek, and spun around as she danced in a little circle.

"Good morning, Spike! It's a beautiful morning, isn't it? The sun is shining, birds are singing, what a great morning to be alive!" She couldn't contain her glee. A dream, all of it. How silly of her to get worked up like that. Celestia couldn't die!

"Wow, you're excited this morning. Whatever the princess had you summoned for last night must have been really good, huh?" He let out a yelp as he was suddenly dropped.

"The... The princess... She..." Her eyes were brought to the window of the room... Still shattered with a blanket covering the hole. It wasn't a dream. It had happened... all of it. Her teacher. Her friend. A mare who was more a mother to her than her own mother... was dying. The tears tried to build up behind her eyes, but she suppressed them. It wasn't the time for that. She had to make a decision that would affect all of Equestria with only a few days to make it. She slowly pulled Spike close and held him until she could feel the flood ebbing away..

"Err... N-not so good? I'm sorry Twilight, but I'm sure it's not as... bad as you think?" He gently patted her back, trying to comfort her nervously. He bet Celestia gave her a bad review on one of her letters, his care taker was always over reacting when the princess was involved.

------

Twilight nibbled sullenly at her bowl of chocolate ice cream, grumbling softly as she glanced at the dragon who was doing the dishes. How could she do this? She couldn't be the ruler of all of Equestria, she just had to have Spike make her up a bowl of ice cream because she felt sad! But if she didn't every pony would know and it could destroy her home, the entire kingdom. Everything could be destroyed. "AGHHHHH!" She shrieked as she leaned her head back and thrashed her hooves through her mane. This was to much pressure! This was like her finals but a hundred, no a thousand times worse! She couldn't do this. She groaned and just buried her face in her ice cream, almost welcoming the painful ice cold as it shot through her face. "Spike... I need... I need you to do something for me." She grumbled around the icey chocolaty mixture. "I need you to go get my friends."

"Huh? Why?" The little purple dragon asked as he climbed onto the counter to put the last of the dishes in the cupboard.

"Please just... Just do it... I can't explain everything twice. Just tell them this is very important. Possible the most important thing we've ever done before. And no I am not over reacting!" She sighed as the dragon ran out of the kitchen. Her friends would be here soon and then she could tell everything. Slowly she lifted her head from the bowl of ice cream and grabbed a towel from its hook, dragging it over to her and wiping her face clean.

With a bit of difficulty she got up from the table and walked through the library and back into her room, her head hanging in defeat. Her horn glowed as she climbed back into bed, a large photo album flying from her small chest to land in in front of her. Gingerly she opened it and was greeted with four smiling faces, her, her parents, and her big brother. The first four or five pages were just of her and her family, the last pages were of her new friends. But in the center...

Tears slowly started going down her face as she flipped to one of the first photos. It was her as a child, sitting on Celestia's back. She'd been so nervous on that day, the princess had a photo shoot and wished to unveil her amazing student to the world. And Twilight had cried like a filly the entire time until the alicorn had agreed to take the picture with her. There was even a picture of them making faces at the camera.

The next picture was her and the princess covered in mud, Celestia holding Twilight pinned under one of her wings. The student had been having so much trouble with a new spell and had gone into another one of her little panics. The princess had taken her on a small picnic and before she knew it the picnic had ended in a food fight between them and the guards. Then in a small fit her magic had overloaded and she had summoned a rain cloud and drowned out the entire picnic, soaking every pony, and sending most of them tumbling down a muddy hill. The princess hadn't even gotten angry, she had just tickled the little filly until the rain ended.

The next batch showed her hopping around a little baby dragon who looked so confused as it sucked on its ruby pacifier. It had been the day she had met Spike. The princess had introduced them, told her it was the dragon that Twilight had released from its egg... Told her they were going to be the best of friends. That no matter what happened... Spike would always be there... For... Her... The tears began to flow like a river as she buried her face in her pillow. Did the princess know then? Did she know that one day her student would be asked to replace her? That the little dragon she took care of could possibly be her only companion who would... Her pillows drowned out her sobs as she wept, trembling into the soft cushions.

------

Twilight was brought out of her mourning as she heard the library door slam open, followed by a blue blur bursting into her room. "What's wrong? Twilight? Spike said you were falling apart!" A cerulean colored pegasus, with the strangest rainbow colored mane and tail, gazed up at her with worry, quickly flying up to hover around the little purple unicorn. Rainbow Dash, one of, if not the, fastest fliers in Equestria. "What happened?"

"Are.... Are the others on their way?" Twilight asked as she tried to wipe her eyes on her hoof.

"Yeah, they are. Wow... What's got you crying so hard?" The cyan pegasus reached out a hoof to gently wipe a tear away. "It's okay, Rainbow's here. Is it a test? A quiz? Did you fail an exam?"

The student sniffled, smiling at her friend. "I wish it was something as small as that... But no... It is so much worse."

"Wow... Something you think is worse than failing a test? Eek!" Rainbow's wings actually locked up for a second, making her land on the floor roughly. "T-they... they aren't canceling the Daring Doo saga, are they?"

"What?" She was actually taken aback by the pegasus's guess, she could even hear her friends heart pounding with fear. "Err... No. Nothing like... Let's just wait for the o-others, okay? I... I can't say this a second time..." She said with a soft shiver. "I'd give my horn not to have to say it the first time..."

The pegasus stared at her friend with confusing, looking to the door. Now she really wanted to know, but until the others got here she knew she couldn't pressure it out of the unicorn. But she wanted to knowwww! And patience was soooo not her strong point. She tried doing some loop de loops and awesome spins while she waited, but her patience was quickly running out. Finally as she neared the boiling point, the door was pushed open as two ponies entered. The first was a pure ivory colored unicorn with a perfectly kept purple mane and tail, the second was a little yellow pegasus with a pink mane and tail. Both were wearing white robes and had towels on their heads. Rarity and Fluttershy.

"We heard from Spike something just terrible happened! We canceled our spa trip and came over immediately." Rarity said as she moved in front of her heart broken friend. "Please, tell us what happened?" She softly leaned in to nuzzle Twilight.

Fluttershy stood near the back of the room, meekly poking at the floor. "If... If that's alright with you..." she softly muttered.

"I'll tell you all, just as soon as every pony is here. Please! Stop pushing for it.. It's going to be hard enough as it is..." Twilight could feel the tears attempting to push out of her eyes, though she tried to hold them back.

"Dear... You're crying. Here..." Slowly Rarity brought out a hoofkerchief and dabbed at the crying unicorn's eyes. "Just tell us what's wrong, we can tell the others when they get here."

"N-no..." She choked a bit on the words, shaking her head. "It... It has to be me... I have to tell them... Just... Please be patient..."

"Of course dear. We won't say a word." The fashionesta reached out to hug her friend, smiling softly. "It's going to be alright Twilight. It's all going to be alright."

"No... No it won't..."

"... Very well, darling. We'll wait until the others get here. It can't be-" She was silenced as the door shot open and two ponies ran through the doorway, Spike bouncing around on the back of an orange earth pony wearing a cowpony hat, sporting an orange mane. Applejack, owner of the Apple family farm outside Ponyville. Besides her was a slightly pudgy pink earth pony, with a mane and tail that resembled strawberry cotton candy. Pinkie Pie, a live in tenant at sugar cube corner and Twilight's funniest friend, not that she felt like laughting right then.

"Twilight! What in tarnation has you all worked up? It isn't another late assignment, is it?" Applejack sputtered out as she came to a sudden halt, Spike flying off her back and across the hall with a shriek! Before he hit the wall though he was enveloped in a purple aura, and dropped gently on the floor.

Twilight sighed as she shook her head. "You're all here... Please, just sit down and... And I'll explain. I just..." Her voice cracked as she sat down, and waited for her friends to sit down around her. "I don't know how to say this aside from just... saying it... Celestia is dying. And she asked me to..." Twilight began the story, telling them all she heard from the sun princess. It felt like she talked for hours, her friends staring at rapt attention. Rainbow had actually sat down half way through, her mouth hanging open in shock as the story was brought to a close. "A-and... T-that's what I needed to t-talk with all of you about..."

"That... That's a doozy of an explanation." Applejack said as she tried to process all she just learned. "T-this is just a prank, right? Ain't no way the princess could just up and die like that."

"Y-yeah! It's gotta be a prank. Heh heh. Good one Twilight, never thought you'd come up with something so... So good." Rainbow said as she tried to laugh it off.

"It's not a prank!" The purple unicorn shrieked. "I would never joke about something like this! I... I don't know what I should do." Her voice got low. "I don't think I can... Take her place... Be her. I could never even try to live up to her." Her eyes got misty, but no tears fell. Her friends looked at each other for a few moments, before Rarity moved forward.

"Twilight, we can't make this decision for you. This is something beyond what any of us could ever hope to have to decide. But what we can do is this." She wrapped her hooves around the other unicorn. "We can stand by your side no matter the decision. No matter what you decide, we all know you can do it. You are the most talented pony any of us have ever met, and there is no pony in all of Equestria who could make a better C-" Her words choked for a moment there, having trouble saying what she had to. "Celestia. But no matter what you decide, we will be there for you, through it all. And we won't leave your side. Isn't that right?"

"Of course, sugarcube. Through hurricanes and parasprites we're with you until the end." Applejack moved forward, hugging Twilight as well.

"Yeah! No pony else comes nearly as close to being as awesome as me. I know you'll do a great job, no matter what you decide Twilight." Rainbow said as she flew in to join the group hug.

"You'd be the bestest Celestia ever, Twilight. Think of all the celebrations and holidays you could make!" Pinkie said as she giggled into the hug.

"Ummm... Yeah..." Fluttershy said nervously as she slowly moved into the hug. "You'd be good... I-if you wanted."

Twilight smiled as she felt her friends close, the warmth of their friendship lifting her heart up. "T-thank you. I needed to hear that... I... I know what I need to do. Spike! Take a letter." Silence responded back as she looked around the room. "Spike?" But aside from the six ponies, the room was empty. "Oh no." Her friends broke off from her, "I need to go find Spike, I'll be right back!" Her horn began to glow as she darted out of the library.

Silence reigned for a few moments before Rainbow coughed. "So. Who thinks she finally snapped?"

"Dashie!" Pinkie gasped in shock.

"Oh come on, I can't be the only one thinking it. All those books and studying, she probably read an old story or something and got the facts all jumbled, and then had a dream or something." Rainbow said as she flew around in the high roofed library.

"You don't really believe that, do you sugarcube?" Applejack asked with a sigh.

The cyan pegasus landed on a bookshelf. "Why not? It makes more sense than the thought of C-Celestia... Disappearing like that... And Twilight going up to take her place. I bet she'll j-just send the letter, and then the princess will make her get some sleep or something before she forgets all this nonsense." The speedster shook a little bit, looking away from the group.

"I... I wish I could believe that to darling..." Rarity said as she sat down, a little tear going down her face. "But... But I think Twilight was telling the truth. She would never imagine something like this happening to the princess. As much as we care about her, she's been so much more to Twilight than she ever has us. And... This decision can't be easy for her."

"You don't think she's actually going to do it, do you?" The multi-colored pegasus mumbled. "Become Celestia I mean? She's great and all, but this is a lot even for Twilight to tackle on her own."

"... She'll do it..." Fluttershy said softly, her gaze down, the others turning to her. "I-I mean... It's a request from the princess... T-Twilight would never do something against what the princess wanted... B-but that's just my thoughts, I could be wrong, sorry." She feebly kicked at the ground.

"Fluttershy, you're right." Rarity said firmly as she stamped a hoof down. "This is going to be the hardest thing Twilight has ever had to do. And we're going to have to stand by her, and be strong for her, every step of the way. Agreed?" It took a few moments, but slowly the others mumbled their agreements or nodded. Even Pinkie's hair refused to stay poofy under the circumstances, as it slowly drained of its fluff into thin strands of pink.

------

A small light spread from Twilight's horn, guiding her through Ponyville. She galloped after the guiding signal as it lead her towards the Apple family farm. The small tracker disappeared behind a tree as she heard a very familiar yelp and as she moved around behind the tree she saw her little dragon, Spike. "I've been looking for you." She said in her most soothing tone. A quick glance at the little ones eyes told her he had been crying, though he was wiping his eyes in order to hide it. "Why did you run off?"

"Didn't... Didn't want to hear the rest of the story..." He mumbled, sitting at the base of the tree and sniffling just a bit.

"Spike..." She laid down besides him, using her magic to pull him to her side, so he leaned on her instead of the tree. "Why were you crying?"

"... I wasn't crying." The little dragon mumbled as he nestled a bit against her, his little spikes tickling her side. "I... I don't want you to go!" Spike yelled as he suddenly hugged her. "I-I don't want you to become Celestia and leave me!" He shrieked, holding onto her tightly.

"Oh Spike..." She felt new tears forming in her eyes. "I'm sorry... But Spike. I promise no matter what happens, no matter what I do. I will never, ever, ever leave you." She wrapped a leg around him, pulling him into her own hug. "If I become Celestia I will always take care of you. And I will always need my number one assistant. I promise."

"P-pinkie promise?"

"I Pinkie promise, I will always be there for you. Even as Celestia." She nuzzled the little dragon, her eyes closing. "But... Spike..."

"W-what?"

"I... Think this is something I have to do. That I need to do, not just for me, but for all of Equestria. If I am the only one who can... Will you be okay with that?"

"... Promise you won't forget about me? Or send me away?"

"Oh Spike, I already did." She said with a soft chuckle. "How could I ever forget about my number one assistant?" She wiped a hoof under his eyes, trying to dry his tears. "Come along." Slowly she got up, using her magic to deposit the small dragon on her back. "I need to send Celestia a letter."

"O-Okay, Twilight..." The little dragon mumbled as they sped off back to the library.

------

To my dearest student,

Twilight Sparkle,

How I wish this choice never had to be made, but if there is one thing I have learned after my years as ruler of Equestria, it is that wishes rarely come true. I long to say I was over joyed at the decision you have made, but I know the pain and difficulty that this decision must have caused you. While I have done all I could to ensure you would not be alone during your reign, my heart still aches with sadness that you must take this burden. But I am forever grateful that you have accepted.

From there the small letter went into the details of what would happen next. The ritual would have to be performed in three days, the reason for her disappearance was simple. She would be heading far north on a train when an accident would occur. Officially, she wouldn't survive, disappearing into the icy cold, never to be seen again. Her family would be informed, a funeral service would take place... As far as the rest of Equestria would know... She'd be gone. Every pony except her friends, the princess of the night, and one little dragon.

Twilight crumbled the letter up as it burst into flame. She had only a few days to get ready, for the end of her life. She wiped the tears away as she smiled at her friends, who stood around her in the library. All doubts had been removed from their minds with that small piece of paper, the reality slowly sinking in. "I... I need to start getting ready..." She mumbled softly as she tried to process it. Only three days. Shining Armor wouldn't be home for at least another two weeks, she'd only have a chance to write him a letter. And she needed to see her parents. At least once before it was all over.

"Y-yeah..." Rainbow said as she watched her friend. "Want... Want us to help you pack?"

"No. I'm not going to pack. I mean... I'm not really going anywhere, right? I just... I just need to say good bye to every pony..." she shook. "Well... I guess... mom and dad. And I need to write Shining a note... I... I won't be able to say good bye to him..." The familiar moisture formed in her eyes.

Twilight's friends watched in silence, unsure of what to say. Slowly Rarity raised her voice. "Would... You like us to come with you? I know this must be hard, darling. But if we go together..." She went silent as the purple unicorn rapidly shook her head.

"I need to do this alone... If... If every pony comes, they'll know something is up... And... And the princess is right. It's best if they just think I'm gone." Slowly her hooves plodded at the ground. "I'm going to go to Canterlot. I'll miss all of you." She moved forward into the warm embrace of her friends yet again, before she picked up Spike onto her back, and walked out from the library. She'd rather have fought a dozen Discords than have to go through this.

------

Twilight paced nervously outside her parents home, occasionally moving a hoof towards the door bell but unable to bring herself to push it. What was she going to say? Hi mom? Hi dad? Going on a research trip, gee golly I hope I don't have an untimely demise and never see you again? Got any cookies? She stopped in front of the door, glancing up at the old antique door knocker. She hated that thing, it was made in the image of a gryphon's head, and there was no reason at all to have both a door knocker and a door bell. They couldn't even say one was for fillies and colts, since they were both pretty high up for adults to reach easily. Well, okay, if the young pony stood on its hind legs it could probably reach the door bell, but that didn't matter. It was a silly design and she should head home and write a strongly worded letter letting her parents know how to fix it. Yes. That would do. It would probably take all day so-

"Twilight, honey? What are you doing here?" A voice said from behind the studious unicorn, making her jump.

"GAH!" She turned around, two unicorns standing behind her. One was a blue stallion with dark blue hair, the other was a white mare with white and purple striped hair. Her parents

"Are you okay dear?" Twilight's mother gently put a hoof to her forehead. "You look a little flushed. "Why are you hovering outside our door?"

"Oh... Err... W-well, I ummm..." Think! Come on Twilight, you are one of the highest scoring students in the history of Canterlot. You have aced more tests than most ponies will ever see. You put together a telescope by hoof at the age of seven, performed your first third level incantation at the age of nine! You can do this! Make an excuse! "I... Tripped." By Luna's star speckled mane! "I mean, I'm going on a trip... And I wanted to see you. Before I went. Research trip! For the princess. Eh... heh heh..." She could feel her eyes misting up. And not just because her excuse was horrible.

"Oh... Well, I guess that's..." Her parents shared a confused look as her father's horn glowed and opened the door, "Nice?" Her mother offered, as they entered the modest home. Her parents were far from being the high and noble ponies her friend Rarity dreamed of, but they were still quite well off. The home had two stories with a hushed brown carpet and wallpaper with roses lining it. The walls had the occasional piece of art or bookshelf hiding them from view. They walked to the sitting room, a small room with a large gray chair her father always sat in, and the couch she and her mother sat in. For a moment after sitting she closed her eyes, thinking back to when she was younger and they would all sit like this, and they'd ask her about her lessons, or her friends(or lack there-of), or just having tea and discuss the goings on in the family. She tried to remember the last time she had done this, and a knife twisted in her her heart as she realized it may have been even before she left to Ponyville.

Sure, she still saw her parents... on occasion. But most of her trips were to see the princess, and she always put off visits to her parents as something she could do at any time. There was no rush after all... and now this would be the last time she'd ever sit and talk with them like this. It took her a few moments to suppress the tears and a few more to realize her parents were talking to her.

"Twily?" Her father asked as he looked at her across from his chair. "Are you okay? You seem troubled."

"Oh... It's... It's nothing. Just a little stress from this trip. It's... Very important. I don't want to mess it up." She said as she forced a fake smile.

"Oh honey. You don't need to worry so much." Her mother patted a hoof gently on her withers. "You're the smartest pony we've ever known, not to mention the student of the princess. I'm sure no matter what happens you'll ace it just like you have everything else." Those words only made her tense more though, as her mother sighed. "And even if you didn't dear, I'm sure the princess would understand. She wouldn't have chosen you after all, if you weren't special."

"... Thanks mom. I really needed to hear that." Twilight smiled and then moved forward, hugging her tightly. "I love you mom. I... I just want you to know. I love you. And dad. So much. No matter what happens."

"O-oh... I... I see." Her mom awkwardly patted her back, "I love you too dear. What's brought this on?"

"Nothing... I just... I want you both to know. In case anything happened. If I messed up or... or something. I want you to both know how much I love you." She slowly pulled from the hug and smiled to her mother. She then got up and moved to her father, hugging him next. He reacted about as awkwardly as her mother, both her parents sharing bewildered looks at their daughters strange behavior. "So uhhh... W-what's for dinner?"

------

Tears streaked down Twilight's face as she wrote the letter on the train's little passenger tables. She was alone in the car, as the princess's representative she had been given her own private car for the trip. Not like it really mattered though, around midnight there would be an 'accident' and it would fly off the cliff, leading to her 'disappearance'. The other cars would experience some turbulence, but aside from a delay, they would be fine. She only had another hour until it would be over... all of it.

Her friends had met her at the train, it had been a teary farewell. Sadly, her parents had been to busy to come. But they assured her they would see her when she came back, and it wasn't like she could tell them there would be no point. Her goodbyes had been difficult, but they were done. All except one last one.

"Dear big brother... No, sounds weird. Dear Shining Armor? No, sounds awkward." She chewed on the eraser for a moment until it popped into her mind! Of course! "Dear bbbff..." Her pencil blew across the paper as she wrote, telling him about how happy she was for his new life, how her studies were going, how much she cared about him and wished they could see each other more. How sure she was that Cadence and him would be happy together, she couldn't wait to one day see her nieces and nephews. And how growing up she always knew he'd be there for her. She wished she could do the same.

Before she knew it, there was a little tap on her withers. "Twilight, it's time." Celestia whispered into her ear. A moment later she felt the car lift into the air as the two ponies disappeared in a flash, though she still imagined she could hear it crashing into the ground below. The only thing remaining in it was a broken table, a few pencils, and scattered pages of a farewell letter.