Diner was met without incident. Luna had joined the three shortly after its start and managed to strike up a conversation with Gabriel while Twilight spoke to Celestia. As per Celestias request Twilight did not speak of the days events during diner but waited til after.
Time past quickly as diner ended. Celesti advised Luna that the two had requested a private audience with her. Without hesitation Luna departed, knowing all to well that a private audience meant something was not meant to be shared willingly. The three made way into Celestias chambers to discuss what had went on earlier in the day.
Upon entering Celestias chambers the door quickly shut behind them. Twilight jumped hearing the door snap shut so quickly. Celestia turned looking back, her horn glowing brightly as a mist quickly filled the room attaching itself to the walls, windows and floors. Gabriel was quick to put up his gaurd, thinking Celestia was about to attack the two and stepped in front of Twilight gaurding her. Celestias eyes snapped open wide in surprise at the sudden action and quickly gave a loud laugh that was not like her normal quiet laughs while in public. She smiled and found a spot on an overly large pillow on one side of her room and took a seat still stiffling some giggles. Gabriel looked oddly at the princess watching her movement, her horns glow quickly diminished showing no signs of magic use.
"Hahaha, Oh my goodness, i havent laughed like that in ages. I find your heroic nature quite humoring Gabriel. It is a fantastic part of who humans once were." Celestia stated as her chuckling gave way to a more serious tone. "Come, sit with me. You have nothing to fear. My previous nature has since left me. I feel more passive as of late than aggressive, so you have nothing to fear from me."
Twilight and Gabriel hesitated a few moments before taking a seat near the princess. After a few seconds of getting comfortable the princess began.
"Im sure you both have questions, let me tell you my story first before you begin." Celestia stated as she unfolded her wing letting the book float out in front of her stil in the wrapping. A few soconds later the wrapping had been undone and folded neatly to the side by the princess' magic. She opened the book and began but was quickly interupted by Gabriel.
"Sorry to interupt Princess. but is that the book you wrote about the end of humanity?"
Twilights eyes went wide as her head snapped from Gabriel to the princess.
"Well, um... Yes it is, but how did you know of it?" Celestia asked
"Well..." Gabriel began but trailed off, his expression asking for help as he looked to Twilight.
"Please dont be angry princess, Mr. Smartz who gave us that book had a badly damaged copy of the same book. He shared what he could with us. Please dont punish him."
Celestias eyes went wide for a moment unaware that another copy, if even a single page existed. Her expression quickly changed from surprise to sadness as she set the book down with her magic.
"My children, I will never again punish Mr. Smartz. Im sure you must be aware that he was once a Unicorn, And im sure that he showed you the injury I inflicted upon his brow. During that time i was far more feral than i am now. My reign was strong, and my wrath quick and unforgiving. I did a lot of very bad things during my first mellenia as the new ruler over Equestria, and i regret each and everyone of them, However had i not done many of those bad deeds against other as punishment, Equestria would not be as it is today. So each of those ponys sacrifices were not in vain."
Celestia shed a tear as she spoke, her voice seemed weak and frail, her demeanor seemed like that of a child instead of a cold hearted ruler from which she described. Twilight could not stand to see her mentor so sad and took a spot next to her, gently nuzzling trying to comfort her. Celestia gave a weak smile at Twilights affection and slowly started her story again, this time her gaze piercing and aimed at Gabriel.
"You must know the begining of the story from what Mr. Smartz told you. What you didnt hear was the rest." Celestia began, her voice stronger this time, a hint of rage behind her breath. "For countless mellenia humans had ruled earth, causing irreprable damage and destruction. War ravaged the lands making them inhabitable and causing mass death on a global scale. Many of my kind were put to death for food and other materials to be used by humans. At the time i had lived a many of years in what was known as the Africa rain forest. I had been a feral horse at the time and accidently came across what you read in the book as a magic fountain. This fountain was the planets life force and even in small amounts could give everlasting life to any creature that stayed near it. I was one of the first few to find it. As time went on i became more self aware and became far more intelligent. Eventually humans found there way into the forest and took refuge at the fountain of magic. Only a few at first but then more came and soon they began experimenting with the magic. Before i knew it they were blocking anyone and anything from getting near the source. I made a desperate attempt to reach the source but was wounded badly. I managed to make it to the source but collapsed and fell into it. I didnt feel any pain but i could see my body being absorbed into the magic itself. From there on i was a mere specter watching from the ether as the humans fought constantly over the fountain. That is, until one day when the first of the last humans fought valiently to the source. He stood over the magic source on a man made platform and summoned all of the sources power. Upon doing so he inadvertantly absorbed me as well. Over the vast time that had past i had grown bitter and hostile against the humans. I wished for there deaths."
Celestia's voice became cold and angry causing Twilight to recoil from her slightly in fear. Gabriel was ensnared in the story wanting to hear more. Celestia's demeanor only adding to the thrill of the story.
"When the human absorbed the source and myself i managed to take over his body. When i did i thought of nothing more than killing every human on the planet, and thats what happened. It wasnt the human who killed all human life. But myself in a very stupor moment in my life. After i had released death unto the world my body began to take form again, however this time i had obtained wings and a horn. I was the first Alicorn. The magic spread all across the planet, taking human life and creating new species, giving magic to only the equine of the world. Im not sure but i may have been the source of giving only equines magic. At the time of the final casting i thought of myself and all of my kind taking over the entire planet, to protect and nuture it. to help it live long for countless eons to come. That resulted in unicorns and pegasi being brought into the world. I do regret that day oh so long ago, but as time went on, i grew less bitter and content with the way the world was being shaped under my rule. Then we arrive to this day and time. I knew you would accidently run across those spells in time my student, The book you used was placed there by my hooves on our last encounter in the library. You may have recalled that my wings were folded upon arriving. That is were the book was hidden."
Twlights eye widened at the thought of her mentor placing the book in her care without her knowledge. "But princess, what if another pony managed to get ahold of the book, what if they new what or what not to do? What if..."
Twilight was cut short as the princess raised her hoof silencing her. "My child. I knew you would find it and do what you did. That is also another reason I made it a little warmer that day."
Twilight gave a confused look then the realization hit her. Celestia had planned for this moment to happen. But why?
"Princess, You planned for todays events to unfold as they did didnt you?" Twilight accused her which brought a look of surprise to Celestia due to Twilights accusation.
"You are correct my child for i must tell you of something else." She stated as her horn began to glow. Celestia pointed her horn to the entrance to her chambers and opened the door. As it opened Luna, Applejack, Rarity, Rainbow Dash, Pinkie pie, and Fluttershy all walked in. Twilight looked from the entrance to Celestia in confusion. As everypony found a spot and sat down Celestia began once again.
"Twilight, Gabriel, The spell i cast earlier wasnt a blocking spell to keep what we say in this room. It was a telepathic spell that transfered what we said into telepathic thought into those just outside the door. Everypony here also knows whats going on." Celestia said as she breathed a heavy sigh. Luna's eyes went wide as she came over to her sister and laid down next to her. Her own wing draping over Celestia in comfort. A tear could be seen building in Luna's eye.
"Twilight, i brought you here tonight because you are the only pony besides one of the 3 from my past to create that portal. It wasnt by mere chance that you did it, and the results were not random, i merely wrote that in the book to prevent other ponys from doing the spell combinations. If they had been done the spells incorrectly the resulting cast would have ended in death of the caster."
At this everyone gasped in the room, How could Celestia do this to Twilight without her knowing.
"But you see Twilight. As the element of magic, you and only you could cast that spell. As did one of the three before."
"But princess, Only one of the three survived because they were caught, the other two vanished into a different realm and the realm of the gods." Twilight managed to get in before the princess cut her off.
"No Twilight, Mr Smartz was told to advise you of that. The other two casted the same spells but were killed because they didnt have the power to properly cast the spell. That is why and how they vanished. had the power but when the portal opened. a human from the past used an ancient technology called a gun and shot Mr Smartz which took his horn. At the time i managed to close the portal and heal , however due to the buildup of magic in his body from not being able to use magic, he also managed to find a source of everlasting life. He is a few thousand years old as well."
Everypony began talking to one another as Celestia finished. Her eyes began to droop slightly from fatigue. Luna nudged her sister gently trying to keep her awake.
"Everypony please listen, time grows short. Twilight, i need to ask of you something very special. Luna has graciously agreed to aid in this as well. You have a choice but it must be made quickly." Celestia began speaking faster as her head drooped, she could no longer hold her head up, Luna rose gently letting Celestia lay on her side, her wings open, but as limp appendages that had no life. She struggled to continue.
"Twilight, as the element of magic, you have the ability to absorb my magic. To absorb the sources magic. There are no other ponys capable of this power besides myself and Luna. Will you let me give you my power? If you do, you will become the next ruler of equestria under my sister Luna. If you do not accept my magic, Luna must take it and find another power within the next mellinia to rule." Celestia began to struggle to breathe as she began to fade. It was now visible that the Celestial Alicorn was dieing and she needed an aer to her throne. Twilight had been chosen. But would she take the thrown willingly?