Dea Stellarum
An alternative take on Twilight's Ascension.

1
✶Be me, the personal student of Princess Celestia. ✶Be me, the most gifted arcanist known to Equestria. ✶Be me, Twilight Sparkle. 

 ✶It wasn't supposed to go this way. ✶I found myself flying back from the explosion my horn had expelled, expecting to strike the wall of the library roughly. ✶I did not hit the wall of the library, and instead I found myself suspended in gravity. ✶I dared not open my eyes. I had to have died, right? I'm dead. I'm dead! ✶However, I heard this strange noise... Like gathering of small bells tinkling all around me. ✶I dared to open one eye, and gasped at what awaited me. ✶Thousands, maybe even millions of stars all danced around me in every direction. Some were so close I'd have expected to be burned, but they felt like a warm fireplace at most. ✶Before I knew it, the bells' chiming turned to speech. ✶I understood them! How was this possible? I called out; "Hello?" ✶The stars hushed. ✶"Is it her?!" ✶"She certainly doesn't look like Luna!" ✶"Haven't you heard, dustbrain?! Luna's--" "W-Where am I? Why can I understand you?" ✶A star, no bigger than my hoof, floated towards me and glimmered beautifully. ✶It spoke. ✶"We're sorry, we're just so excited to meet you!" ✶I gaped at the little star, and it giggled. ✶"See, we've always been there, watching and waiting for you to finally say hello!" "What do you mean...?" ✶The star didn't respond, and only giggled more. ✶I was about to open my mouth to ask again, when the stars began to swirl and whorl around me! "Wahhh! What's going ON?!" ✶The stars began to chant in a language I didn't understand as they created an infinite stellar vortex around me.  ✶I cried out as my body began to glow with great arcane power... And I knew no more. 

 ✶I was falling the next time I awoke. ✶It wasn't a speedy descent. I felt no urgency, only peace. ✶Foreign words unlike any I'd ever uttered before rolled off my tongue. I had no comprehension of what I was saying, nor any control over my own body. ✶I opened my eyes, panic finally coming at the end of whatever words overcame my mind. ✶I was over Ponyville! Specifically the library, which was thankfully spotless after my spell gone awry. ✶I screamed as I began to rapidly descend to the earth below. I saw my friends gathered out front, speaking with-- Celestia! "HELP! HELP! AAAAAAAHHHH--!" ✶I flailed and twisted, before a warm golden aura wrapped around me. Oh thank the stars! ✶Celestia gently lowered me to the ground, concern lacing her normally gentle features. ✶"Twilight, what has happened?" ✶I could feel her and my friends' gazes on me as I reoriented myself to reality. "A spell! I tried to cast it the other night, and my friends all had their destinies switched!" ✶I blurted out everything to the Princess, explaining myself fully with no small amount of panic. I had enough sense to not mention my odd vision. ✶"It sounds like you've had quite the adventure, Twilight... Perhaps you should, ah, turn around." What do you mean? ✶I did as she asked, and my jaw dropped. Two lavender wings were spread to their full extent. And they were mine... ✶Oh stars, they were mine! "Wha- How- Who- HUH?!" ✶My mind raced as I examined myself further. My horn was an inch longer, my mane and tail were laced with glittering stars, and my coat had an unusual shine to it, like Celestia, Luna and Cadance's coats! "What..." ✶Celestia rested a wing on my withers and shhh'd comfortingly. ✶"Twilight, calm down... This is natural. In fact, I expected this." ✶I looked up at her expectantly, my eyes wide in shock. ✶"We should go inside. We are attracting quite a crowd, and I imagine you have questions." ✶I nodded dumbly, following my mentor and friends inside of the library. ✶I barely registered the large crowd of ponies staring at us with various degrees of shock and reverence... ✶Probably for the best.

2
✶So that was that, then. ✶I was an alicorn now. ✶A Princess. ✶To tell the truth, I had always daydreamed of becoming a Princess myself. ✶An equal. All of the knowledge of the Canterlot Royal Library at my disposal, ancient secrets revealed... ✶I didn't think it'd come true. ✶All of the fiction books I'd read had explored it. A young mare is taken in by the Princess and shown her true destiny. ✶In hindsight, maybe it made a lot of sense. ✶Celestia had explained that it was customary for me to ascend to my own throne. ✶Ponies would worship me, look to me for guidance. They always looked up to alicorns, and I couldn't outrun the responsibility thrust upon me. 

 ✶"The stars, as foretold, have chosen their bond... in you." ✶Myself, Celestia and my friends all sat together in the center of the Golden Oaks library, the windows shuttered and the door locked. I was shaken still, but needed to hear whatever my mentor had to say. ✶"The stars are perhaps the most unpredictable of any of the Aspects, and they choose as a collective rather than as a singular entity or embodiment." ✶"Luna and myself are granted the ability to commune with, and control, the moon and sun respectively. Not by magic, but by something deeper." ✶"The truth is that the stars had not chosen a bonded entity since our births over two-thousand years ago... Until I witnessed your act of magical capability in my school, Twilight" ✶Celestia had tried her best to explain, she really did. But I was still staring at her, dumbfounded, as my life turned itself upside down. ✶"The mark that adorns you is the Element of Magic, true. But it is also the mark of the stars themselves. You were meant to become their guardian and their bonded..." "So when I hatched Spike's egg... They chose me?" ✶"Yes. Your act, for better or for worse, impressed them." "Meaning?" ✶Celestia chuckled, ✶"The stars have been known by Luna to be quite mischievous in nature... I'm sure you will have many such instances in the future, when you are able to commune with them properly." ✶Applejack stepped forward. ✶"So Princess... Ah barely understand a word 'o what's been said, all due respect o'course. Ah reckon Twi's gonna have to go with ya, back t' Canterlot?" ✶"Yes, I'm afraid so. A coronation is in order, among other such things that would need to be conducted on the castle grounds." ✶"Aww..." Pinkie Pie's mane deflated slightly as the others expressed their sadness. ✶"Well I for one am astonished! Such mysterious things that concern our Princesses, Twilight! And now... well, I suppose it's only natural you join them, darling." Rarity smiled, though I could sense her sadness as well. ✶"Don't forget us at the top, okay Egghead?" Rainbow Dash sniffled. It was entirely unlike RD to be so distraught. She even stopped hovering. "Girls, it's not like I'm leaving forever... I can visit!" ✶"But you need to learn about how to talk to the stars... When would we be able to meet again?" Fluttershy spoke quietly, as always. "How about after the coronation? We can meet up before you come back to Ponyville!" ✶"...I will leave you to say your goodbyes, my little ponies. I will be outside when you are ready to depart, Twilight." "Thanks, Princess..." 

 ✶The chariot ride back to Canterlot in the dead of night should have been calm, but my mind was anything but. ✶I had to say goodbye to my friends. It didn't feel real. I just... I had only just gotten them. Then again, Celestia hardly ever warned me before such life-altering changes. ✶I was only 6 when she took me in to live at the castle, only 12 when she finally entrusted Spike to my care, and only 19 when she sent me away to Ponyville. ✶Now I was 21, and already being ascended to what was practically godhood to most ponies, even if they didn't say it like that. ✶My life had only just begun in mortal terms. ✶Now I had thousands of years to look forward to... ✶When the distant lights of the capitol city twinkled in my vision, I thought back to the stars. ✶They had said they'd always been watching and waiting for me...  ✶It tracked with what Celestia had said regarding my cutie mark and magical surge as a filly, but I still couldn't hardly wrap my head around why.  ✶Surely a gathering of billions upon trillions of stars would not all be individually impressed by one foal's arcane explosion, right? ✶How did they even decide who to pick? Did they have arguments? Did they fall in love? How did stars have the capacity to decide anything? ✶"Twilight." ✶Celestia's voice breached my thoughts, and I looked up at her, dazed. ✶"We've arrived. Perhaps you would like to take your things to the observation tower?" ✶Just like old times, I suppose. Except I had opted to leave Spike back in Ponyville, and would be dreadfully alone until the coronation. 

 ✶As I laid upon my old bed, my mind continued to swim with thoughts. Mostly panicked thoughts, but some were logical, to my credit. ✶Eventually, my mind drifted away into dreams. ✶Dreams full of stars. 

 ✶I had been terrified to talk to Luna, to be quite honest. The night sky was her creation, and I had simply stolen half of it away. ✶However, when I entered the dining hall of the castle, I was shocked to find Luna laughing and eating breakfast with Celestia.  ✶How could she be so happy? It was a mystery to me. "Um... Good morning Princesses." ✶"Good morning, Twilight Sparkle," Luna seemed pleased to see me, which was... confusing. ✶"Please, take a seat, Twilight," Celestia invited. "Okay..." ✶I sat across from the two sisters, and before I could blink, an earth pony maid trotted into the hall and placed chocolate chip waffles before me. Ah, my favorite breakfast item! ✶The taste of the waffles made me entirely forget the awkwardness of sitting among the Princesses as an equal for the very first time. ✶By time I had finished, so too had the sisters completed their meals. ✶"So, Twilight... Thou hast requisitioned the stars for thyself, at last." ✶The serious tone of her voice caught me off-guard, and I blanched a little. Had she been upset after all? ✶Suddenly, Luna smiled. ✶"Relax, Twilight Sparkle. I jest. I have always known somepony would eventually claim the stars. If I may be sentimental for a moment... I am glad it was you, a dear friend to me." ✶Luna reached across the table, putting her hooves over my own. ✶"You are now privy to the mysteries of the night, Twilight. You are no longer merely a friend to me, but kin. You and I will begin your training at nightfall." ✶Celestia rolled her eyes at the grave tone of Luna, and sighed. ✶"Yes, and until then, we must begin planning your coronation. I plan to hold it in three days' time." "So soon!" ✶Luna spoke up at that. ✶"It would be best to raise you to the throne as soon as possible, I'm afraid. Many nobles and other political figures will demand your instatement, and..." ✶Luna glanced at Celestia, who continued. ✶"It was hard enough to keep you safe from politicans as my charge, but it will be exponentially so now that you are an alicorn, Twilight..." ✶"There are ponies and other beings who would see a new alicorn as a threat... and as an opportunity. Whether bringing you harm or raising negative press, you will be a target." "I... see." ✶I was unsure, and I'd be lying if I said I wasn't nervous. "We... we can be hurt? We can... die?" ✶"Not in the same sense as others, no. We do not age, and most illnesses are expelled by our magic. We are protected by our Aspects so long as we maintain our connection..." Celestia explained to me. ✶"However, there are rare cases... Forbidden knowledge is such for a reason, but anypony desperate enough could find stray spells or toxins that- Well..." ✶Luna took over for Celestia, who seemed to have a hard time explaining. It was foreign to see Celestia at a loss for words, which caused my stomach to flip-flop. ✶"We are not the first bonded to the sun and moon, Twilight. Our souls are forever intertwined, destinies bound to them as much as the Elements of Harmony bind you and your friends together." ✶"There were ponies, perhaps other beings, before me that communed with the moon... We do not recall these 'past lives', but we have found pieces of history that describe there always being creatures bonded to Aspects." "So... there's an alicorn of everything?" ✶"Not exactly. Aspects only bind with a being when there is a great need, or a mighty feat that earned them the right... Or so it is said. I cannot say what earned my sister and myself the right to be bound to the sun and moon. That cause lies eons before our time." ✶"So to answer your question... Yes, we can die. But we are always reborn and destined to reclaim our power in time." "But I wasn't reborn... I'm just some pony who impressed the stars enough to earn my wings?"  ✶I was a bit saddened. I shouldn't have been... I knew I was being ungrateful. I thought there really was a reason for this, that I was chosen for something great! ✶Luna frowned, but answered. ✶"We know very little in that regard. The stars are like nature. They are unpredictable, self-contradictory and always have secrets to uncover. There could be an unseen threat or challenge to overcome that requires you be bonded to the stars, or perhaps you really did just 'impress the stars enough'. Even so, I could not commune effectively with the stars. Perhaps you will find better luck as their bonded." ✶"Twilight, do not discredit your efforts," Celestia smiled warmly at me. ✶"You are the most powerful magus in Equestria, brave and true. You are devoted, compassionate, charitable, integrous, optimistic and most of all you are a guiding light for your friends. I could ask for no finer pony in all of Equestria to become my equal." "Thanks Princess..." ✶Celestia chuckled, and shook her head. ✶"From now on, it's just 'Celestia'." ✶That felt very different... I wasn't sure if I could break out of that habit. ✶Celestia had always been on some pedestal I couldn't reach. ✶Now, I knew the truth. She was not all-knowing. Wise? Yes. Powerful? Yes. ✶Alicorns were not the gods ponies thought they were, and that... that scared me. ✶I swallowed, and nodded.  ✶It was going to be a long... well, eternity.

3
✶The coronation was upon me, at last. ✶I stood in front of the mirror and looked at myself. ✶My dress was gorgeous, a light pink that accented my mane highlights, adorned with some yellow, purple and even light orange decorations and patterns.  ✶It truly did resemble my very name. Twilight Andromeda Sparkle. ✶I sighed and brushed through my styled mane with a hoof, careful not to disturb any of the hard work Celestia’s hoofmaidens put in. ✶I unfolded a wing and looked at it. It was different from Celestia and Luna’s wings, which reflected the color of their coats.  ✶My feathers possessed a sort of gradient, from my coat’s lavender at the base to a dark indigo at the tips.  ✶Fine glitter had been sprinkled and brushed on, making the tips of my primaries look just like the night sky. In fact, the only part of me that wasn’t dusted with glitter was my mane, which was a sort of mix between Luna and Celestia’s manes.  ✶My hair was real, but seemed to drift on an invisible wind and glittered like the very stars I now represented. ✶Suddenly I heard a firm knock at the door of my dressing chambers. “Come in!”  ✶I called out, folding my wing back up and making sure I was straightened up for my first public appearance. ✶The door opened, and none other than Shining Armor Sparkle, my brother, walked in. ✶He gasped a bit upon seeing me, and a proud smile spread across his muzzle. ✶”Man, my sister, a Princess… I knew you were destined for greatness, Twily.” “Ha.. Yeah, I suppose.” ✶”What’s the matter?” Shining furrowed his brow, “not getting stage fright, are you?” “Of course I’m nervous, Shiny… It’s all so much, so fast! The past few days have been nothing short of overwhelming!” “I’m going from a relatively normal librarian to a ruler of Equestria! In three days, Shining! Three! And the only reason it wasn’t two was because Luna couldn’t find a griffonian caterer available until today! WHY ARE THE GRIFFONS EVEN HERE FOR THIS?!” ✶”Woah, woah, calm down sis. You’re going to be amazing. Listen to me.” ✶Shining chuckled and sat next to me. He put an encouraging hoof on my own and took a deep breath. ✶”I know it’s scary. Believe me, I’ve always been more scared than anypony. For you, for Cadey, for our country. Heck, it’s how I got my cutie mark.” “You never told me… When you drove off those bullies?” ✶”Yeah. I was scared spitless. But you know what scared me more? The thought of you getting hurt because those foals were going too far.” ✶”But look at us now, Twily. We’re still scared, but we face down manticores, evil kings from the shadows, and Changelings anyways.” ✶”You’re a part of something bigger, but you know what doesn’t change? Who you are. You’re Twilight, my LSBFF, Element of Magic, Liberator of Luna and Vanquisher of Chaos. Most importantly, you’re the smartest, kindest, bravest mare I know next to Cadance.” ✶”You can do anything. I know you can. I’ve seen you do the impossible… And I can think of no finer mare to serve Equestria as a ruler than you.” ✶I sniffled, brought to tears by my brother’s encouraging words, and nodded. “Thanks BBBFF… I’ll make you all proud.” ✶”Aw man, Twily. You already have.” 

 ✶”We are gathered here today in celebration of a momentous occasion!” ✶Celestia began her speech within the expansive ballroom. It once served as a wedding hall for my brother’s wedding, and now it would serve as the main hall of my coronation. ✶”My most faithful student, Twilight Andromeda Sparkle, has done many extraordinary things since arriving in Ponyville two years ago. She has vanquished Discord, liberated my sister, Princess Luna, and even soundly assisted in the defeat of the Changeling invaders from the South.” ✶”However, three days ago, she accomplished something extraordinary. Something so incredible that even the stars themselves sang her name for the first time since she was marked fifteen years ago.” ✶”Twilight created new magic, proving to the very heavens, and this country, that she is ready to be crowned Equestria’s newest Princess!” ✶”Fillies and gentlecolts! May I present for the very first time…” ✶”Princess Twilight Sparkle!” ✶That was my cue. I turned my muzzle up in a gentle smile and walked with my escort of hoofmaidens carrying my new royal crest on flags through the large double doors with the procession. ✶I saw so many familiar faces, many of which were overjoyed and misty-eyed. Family, friends, and even acquaintances and old classmates. ✶I also saw frowns, scowls and impassive faces from many unfamiliar faces as well. Nobles, courtiers and… reporters? Who let them in? ✶I waved as I walked down the carpeted aisle, a million thoughts passing me as my destiny neared. ✶Right ahead of me… Celestia, Luna, Cadance and my friends. ✶I took a breath, kneeled before Celestia, and took my oath. 

 ✶The afterparty was a blur. After my speech, the celebrations began in earnest, and boy did they go all out. ✶A Princess’s coronation was a once in a several lifetimes sort of shindig; Applejack brought her finest cider, Rainbow Dash busted out her most dangerous moves, Fluttershy arranged a bird choir with additions from the royal conservatory, Rarity had decorated to the max, and Pinkie Pie had brought it all together into the biggest celebration Canterlot had seen since Luna’s return. ✶In a moment of humble amazement, I had to stop and just experience it all. ✶The lights, the colors and the overwhelming joy everypony had expressed for me… They had done it all for me … ✶As the night winded down and ponies returned to their homes, visitors checked into hotels and travelers hopped aboard the final trains, I found myself in my new royal chambers. ✶I wasn’t sure how they cobbled together the Dusk wing of the castle in just a few days, but I wasn’t about to ask. ✶Even so, I sighed to myself as I watched the stars twinkling above in the sky. ✶Were they always so alive…? ✶There was a particular dragon who’d insisted on staying. In fact, he’d been very upset that I had decided to leave him behind at all. “Spike? Can you fetch me a quill and paper?” ✶”Uh, sure. Do you want me to…?” “Not this time. It’s… a little more personal, if you don’t mind.” ✶”Seriously? I’m just glad to have a break for once.” ✶I giggled. “You’ve earned it, Spike.” 

 ✶”Dear Princess Celestia,” ✶”I hope this letter finds you well. I know you don’t want me to call you ‘Princess’ anymore, but indulge me just this once, please.” ✶”I wanted to thank you for everything. For taking me on as your student, teaching me everything about magic, and most importantly, about friendship.” ✶”I used to think I never needed friends, but without them, I’d be a very different pony today. I suppose I would have always become the stars’ chosen even if I never went to Ponyville, but I wouldn’t be able to handle it like I’ve been handling it.” ✶”It’s important to have friends beside you during difficult times and times of change, because they can help you carry the burden. When we rely on each other, we can do anything.” ✶”This may be my last friendship report, but I will never stop learning.” ✶”Your Faithful Student, Twilight Sparkle.” ✶With the final word on the paper, I yawned and glanced to Spike. He had already fallen asleep, apparently. I hummed softly and shook my head with a smile. “Guess I’ll do it the old-fashioned way…” ✶With a quiet pop of my magic, the letter dissipated into thin air, on its way to its recipient. ✶I crawled into my silken bed and rested my head upon the finely decorated pillow. Rest soon came for me, leading into yet another dream. ✶A dream full of stars.