Wings
[The scene opens with a shot of Murdoch crossing over the viaduct with a long goods train while Bear comes in the opposite direction with a passenger train, with the two exchanging their greetings]
[Transition to the skating area of Napier Park as Dylan, Dolly, Hansel, and Fergus are shown going back and forth, up and down among the various slopes and obstacles while being watched by the Woodland kids]
[Transition to a palace on the outskirts of Toon City as a harpsichord tune plays in the background. Cut to the interior as it resembles many of the details found in the castle of Canterlot, panning down to Princess Celestia walking through the main foyer. She stops to look up at the glass mural symbolizing the Elements of Harmony, focusing in particular on Twilight in the center]
[Cut back to Celestia smiling at the mural before it cuts to Luna stopping several feet away and noticing her sister's position]
Luna: Hmm…
[Luna approaches Celestia and stops beside her, looking up at the mural]
Luna: I see someone's reminiscing, are we?
Celestia: Oh? Well, I couldn't help but oversee this particular mural…it's a singular picture that could tell a whole novel.
Luna: That's certainly one way to look at it…beg your pardon, sister, but I hope you don't mind me bringing this up.
Celestia: And what would that be, Luna?
Luna: I've been thinking…with Twilight in the center, she's certainly had quite the journey from her roots.
Celestia: Indeed, to think she started off as a simple unicorn who studied under me, to being revealed as the Element of Magic and becoming one with us, the Princess of Friendship.
Luna: Tis an interesting tenure for sure…although, one thing that's been picking at me…you do recall how she earned the title, correct?
Celestia: Why of course, upon fixing the spell by Starswirl the Great, in addition to all her accomplishments up to that point…I don't think I'd ever felt so proud in my entire life.
Luna: I can imagine…except that's the thing I wanted to address, not as a slight against you, I should clarify.
Celestia: Excuse me?
Luna: You…had alluded the possibility of this happening to her before…hadn't you?
Celestia: Well, I couldn't have predicted the results, things just came together in a perfect storm.
Luna: Yes, but had she actually expressed interest in becoming like us?
Celestia: She admires us, no? For as long as Twilight was my pupil, I always felt a connection with her, that I knew she was destined for greatness.
Luna: I suppose that's one way to look at it…
Celestia: You're not implying I meant any malice by giving her the wings, are you?
Luna: Not at all, I'm just wondering if you ever asked her about them.
Celestia: I…oh…wait a minute…oh dear, I don't believe I ever did…Luna…you don't suppose…I made an error in judgment?
Luna: Well, it all depends on what Twilight thinks, isn't it? Perhaps you could ask her about that.
[As Luna walks away, Celestia looks back at the mural, now with a lot on her mind]
Celestia: …I have been fair to Twilight Sparkle…haven't I?
[Cut back to the mural focusing on Twilight in particular…before we cut to a shot of the sky before panning down to Napier Park as Twilight and Spike are seen walking down the path, the latter carrying a basket in his paws while the former has her handbag slung over her right shoulder, a book noticeably peeking out through the top]
Twilight: [sighs] What a beautiful day for a picnic, wouldn't you agree, Spike?
Spike: You can say that again, Twilight. Feels like it's been a while doing it with just the two of us.
[Twilight and Spike pass by Balto, Steele, Pearl, Amethyst, and Garnet going by in the opposite direction while also passing by Courtney and Chloe having a discussion on the grass as they're surrounded by files and binders]
[We cut to the Princess of Friendship and the winged dragon finding a spot on top of a hill to set down their picnic. Spike puts down the basket while Twilight puts down her bag to take out her book, followed by the cloth to sit on, laying it out on the grass]
Twilight: Well, that should do the trick; temperate weather, barely any wind, and a good book for entertainment.
[Twilight's attention is diverted to the sound of noisy smacking as she looks over to see Spike having taken several jewels from the basket and stuffed them into his mouth. He looks up at her, confused]
Spike: [muffled] What? I'm hungry.
Twilight: [sighs] Spike, please don't talk with your mouth full.
Spike: [gulps] Sorry, Twi.
Twilight: Thank you.
[Twilight and Spike sit down to start the rest of their picnic]
[Cut to Celestia walking through the park in the opposite direction as she passes by the fountain where several people are talking indiscriminately with each other; Falco, Leon, Legoshi, Louis, Mulan, Pocahontas, Sally, and Bunnie. Princess Bubblegum and Marceline pass by in one direction while Kim and Shego pass opposite to them]
[Celestia is still pondering over what Luna had said to her]
Celestia: The way she worded it sounded like projection…I mean, was she wrong? AHEM, probably not the best idea to talk to yourself…in public, Tia…
[Celestia looks to her right and notices Twilight and Spike out of the corner of her eye. A look of uncertainty crosses her face, but the Princess of the Sun swallows her pride and walks past the camera]
[Cut to Twilight and Spike enjoying a platter of sandwiches between them when Twilight looks up and suddenly notices a guest has joined them]
Twilight: Oh, Princess Celestia!
Celestia: Hello, Twilight…hmmhmm, I see you've got a bit of a picnic arranged.
Spike: Oh yeah, we prepared it ourselves.
Twilight: You're more than welcome to join, of course. There's enough food to go around.
Celestia: I appreciate the offer, maybe I could humor this little get-together.
[Celestia kneels and sits between Twilight and Spike on the blanket. She looks over the menu; the sandwich platter, a bottle of what appears to be either Fanta or orange juice, a fruit salad, a bag of chips, carrot sticks, and a container with pieces of cake, in addition to a container containing jewels for Spike]
Celestia: …I have to commend on the menu selection.
Twilight: Thank you, princess. Really, I would say it's an honor to have you dine with us.
Celestia: Yes…
[Celestia trails off and looks down. Twilight notices this uncharacteristic pause and looks confused]
Twilight: Um, Princess Celestia?
Celestia: Twilight…I wanted to speak to you about something?
Twilight: Oh…what is it?
[Celestia looks over at Spike. Twilight looks over at Spike and seems to understand the message. She murmurs to the dragon as he's wrapped up another sandwich]
Twilight: Spike, over there, I think there's a spot to dig up for gems, it's kinda something to see.
Spike: Uh-huh.
Twilight: …Up close.
Spike: …Oh, oh! Never mind, I got it.
[Spike hovers over from the blanket and heads over the bush where Twilight was pointing at. He doesn't stray too far as per usual to catch a bit of the conversation. The purple alicorn then turns back to Celestia]
Twilight: You wanted to say something, Princess?
Celestia: Twilight, do you remember your coronation?
Twilight: Why…yes, I do. Why do you ask?
Celestia: Hmmm…then I'm sure you remember how you got your wings.
Twilight: Of course; fixing Starswirl's spell, giving back everyone their correct cutie marks, having proved my worth as the Element of Magic…it's hard to forget that day, I was never the same afterward…well, almost, I still looked the same, just that I gained a pair of wings.
Celestia: Yes…that's what I wanted to bring up…do you believe it was fair for me to transform you into an alicorn?
Twilight: Why wouldn't it be? You said I was worthy of the title, because you trusted me to be a leader.
Celestia: But…did becoming a princess ever cross your mind before that?
Twilight: …Well…I…it was unexpected, to say the least. Not that I mean to sound ungrateful or anything.
Celestia: Of course. I was just curious because…I was thinking, did you actually want to become a princess during your life?
[Twilight pauses. Truth be told, she hadn't really given it the statement much thought, but she tries to word it in a way that doesn't sound like projection]
Twilight: I mean…I did admire you from a really young age, how everyone looked up to you, as ruler of an entire kingdom, especially when you took me in as your pupil. But…if I'm being completely honest, becoming a princess wasn't on my list of priorities…don't get me wrong, the idea was flattering, but I never saw myself as someone who could rule. I mean, I was just a simple unicorn back then…I wasn't anything special.
Celestia: I wouldn't say that. From my perspective, you were an image of perfection, someone who knew what she wanted, yet was compassionate to those around her. Not to mention; resourceful to study the spells of old and even fix mistakes made in the past. To me, you represented the image of a true leader who would be ready for anything…
[Celestia blinks and realizes her tone]
Celestia: [clears throat] Of course, that's what I thought…but what do you think?
Twilight: Well…trust me when I say that I'm flattered. I truly am grateful for all you've done for me…but, to tell you the truth, when I became an alicorn, some part of me still clung to that realization that my life would never be the same after that point…no longer the unicorn who'd spend her time reading and studying in her treehouse, no longer just the Element of Magic, no longer just Princess Celestia's student…I was going to be a princess…
[Twilight's expression slowly drops as she continues]
Twilight: Of course, it gave me the realization that at some point, I would outlive my friends…and then…my treehouse was destroyed in the battle against Tirek, replaced by that crystal castle. It made me realize there was truly no going back…but maybe, I wasn't ready to move on…
[Twilight looks up at Celestia]
Twilight: Even now, part of me wonders how things would be if I had stayed a unicorn…I mean, no offense, Celestia, but compared to you, Luna, and even Cadence, I've always felt rather….inconsequential by comparison…
Celestia: How so?
Twilight: Well…just look at you all, your size, your majesty, even your titles; Princess of the Sun, Princess of the Moon, Princess of Love, and then look at me…
Celestia: Your title is just as important as the rest of us.
Twilight: Perhaps…although, the thing I'm wondering is…would you have disparaged me if I had chosen to stay as I was?
[There is silence between the two for a bit]
Twilight: AHEM, I apologize if I'm making this awkward between us…
Celestia: You've no need to apologize, it's a perfectly reasonable question.
Twilight: So…would you have thought differently of me if I had wanted to stay as I was?
Celestia: Well…it's a bit difficult to explain, but….[sighs]...my instinct at the time was that you'd have accepted any request that I gave you. Looking back on it…I feel like I was projecting too many expectations onto you. That's why you became so stressed at times, feeling the pressure of someone who expected so much out of you.
[Twilight sweatdrops in memory of the "Lesson Zero" incident among all else, but manages to save face]
Twilight: Really, I don't mean to sound ungrateful for all you've done for me all these years, but sometimes…I wish I could have had a choice in my destiny…
Celestia: Twilight…do you wish you could become a unicorn again?
Twilight: Huh?
Celestia: Do you ever wish you could go back to the way things used to be? Because if so, I could make that happen for you…
Twilight: Celestia, I…I don't know what to say, but…I don't wanna be hasty, and I don't want you to feel guilty over what happened…
Celestia: So long as you're happy, that's all that matters to me…
Twilight: …Honestly, I've gotten used to the wings. And I know you had the best intentions for me in mind, just that we could have done with more…communication between us.
Celestia: Hmm…very true.
Twilight: Trust me when I say I could never hate you for all that's happened to me, you've been looking out for me ever since that first day, and I owe a lot to you, Celestia…I wish for both of us to stay like this, content in the now…
[A warm smile spread across Celestia's face as a small recreation of "Celestia's Ballad" plays in the background]
Celestia: You really have grown so much…
[Celestia extends her arms around…Twilight returns the gesture as she leans in, embraced by the taller alicorn]
Celestia: I'm very proud of you, Twilight…
Twilight: And I'm proud to have been your student…
Celestia: …Remember when I told you about it being time for a new change to come?
Twilight: Yeah?
Celestia: Well…perhaps I'm the one who needs it…more of this; casual, peaceful, in-depth…after all, you're never too old to start learning new things, even if it's being social with your peers.
Twilight: Hmmhmmhmm, so are you gonna write me a letter this time around?
[Celestia's soft chuckle slowly morphs into genuine laughter]
Celestia: Hohoho, maybe I should consider it.
[Twilight joins in on the laughter…before Spike slyly pops between the two with a feather and paper]
Spike: Never too late to start now.
[Twilight and Celestia stare at each other…and then chuckle again]
[Transition to later in the evening as Twilight, and Celestia are flying over the island as a proper instrumental of the ballad plays over a new version of the song]
Celestia: You've come such a long, long way
And I've watched you from that very first day
To see how you might grow
To see what you might do
To see what you've been through
And all the ways you've made me proud of you…
Twilight: We've seen each other through hard times
Even when we weren't in our prime
Yet we're still going strong
Still the best of friends
Seeing each other to the end
Twilight and Celestia: Flying high…as the two of us asceeeeeeend
[The orchestra peaks as the following sequence shows Twilight and Celestia flying in sequence as they pass over the castle. Luna can be seen watching over the balcony. The Princess of the Moon gives a small smile and nods]
[Cut to the duo flying over Shining Armor and Princess Cadence walking in the garden as they smile up at them]
[Cut to Prince Blueblood sitting on another balcony with a cup of tea in his hand before a rush of wind from Twilight and Celestia catches him by surprise. The blonde stallion blinks and then rolls his eyes]
[The final shot is of Twilight and Celestia coming to a rest at the crest of a hill watching the setting sun]
[Cut to black]
Character Guide:
Princess Celestia, Twilight Sparkle, Princess Luna Spike, Shining Armor, Princess Cadence, Prince Blueblood, Starswirl the Bearded - My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic
Balto, Steele - Balto (1995)
Franklin, Bear, Beaver, Snail, Goose, Fox, Rabbit, Raccoon, Squirrel, Otter - Franklin
Chloe Bourgeois - Miraculous Ladybug
Courtney - Total Drama
Dylan, Dolly, Fergus, Hansel - 101 Dalmatian Street
Falco Lombardi, Leon Powalski - Star Fox
Kim Possible, Shego - Kim Possible
Legosi, Louis - Beastars
Mulan - Mulan (1998)
Pearl, Amethyst, Garnet - Steven Universe
Pocahontas - Pocahontas (1995)
Princess Bubblegum, Marceline - Adventure Time
Sally Acorn, Bunnie Rabbot - Sonic the Hedgehog
Murdoch, Bear - Thomas and Friends / The Railway Series