Astelle's rage knows no bounds when it comes to Starswirl the Bearded. She felt betrayed by the one pony she had trusted for so long, and when sadness and bitterness fester for too long it turns into unbridled rage.

I know there are so many of you who are dying to know what happens in the PTS finale, and I wish I could tell you that production is further along than it is, but these things do take time. I don't want this last episode to be anything but the absolute best and that's just going to take some time. So, while we wait, I thought it might be nice to show you a little something that could have been in episode 10.

In the writing process of Princess Trixie Sparkle it's not uncommon to have a few song ideas that I cycle through before selecting the right ones for the episode. This song, however, was VERY close to being put into PTS episode 10. This is just a demo, however, so this would not have been the final take of my vocals as they are definitely lacking some of the umph these lyrics describe. In this song, the battle with Starswirl and the eventual banishment into the tapestry all take place. Celestia does sing in this verison for the final chorus while Astelle pleads for mercy.

I chose 'A New Era Begins' over this song for a number of reasons.
First, this song wraps up all of the major plot points too quickly. We don't get to feel the weight of Celestia's betrayal of her sister quite like we do in the episode. It rushes her motivations and makes both Celestia and Astelle seem less sympathetic and more prone to irrational behavior.
Secondly, the lyrics are just a tad too dark for my liking, especially the lines 'no hope escaping with your life' and 'no one who cares if you live or die'. While it IS Astelle's intention to destroy Starswirl, I don't think having a song where she blatantly talks about killing somepony would be appropriate. So I altered the lyrics in 'A New Era Begins' to reflect more of a 'want to get rid of you' sort of motivation rather than death. Similar to the motivations behind the mane 6 and King Sombra in the Crystal Empire episodes.
Third, the fast-paced nature of the lyrics in this song make it difficult to put a whole lot of emotion into the singing. Astelle's voice is a lower more sinister register of my own, and I remember struggling even in the demo just to keep up with the lyrics and attempt to put a little emotion into too.

In the end, although this song did make it farther along in the process than other scrapped concepts I'm glad I went with 'A New Era Begins' as that feels more appropriate for the episode. What do you think?

Song instrumental "Light 'em Up" (aka My Songs Know What You Did In the Dark) by Fallout Boy
Art by Marking
Performed and Lyrics by Magpiepony
Video Edited by TheLostNarrator

Lyrics:
Astelle: (scoffs) Misguided? You know nothing you old fool. Did you really expect to make me into your puppet and follow you without question? I suppose you didn’t count on me having a brain of my own and seeing you for what you TRULY ARE: a monster

I’m not longer that naive little/ apprentice
Looking up to for your/ guidance
All this time/ you had hid the truth
How dare you tell me that I am the one that is wrong!

All that you offered me was your /curse
And now I can’t decide which of these is /worse
Making me believe you cared for me/ or
Corrupting my family
All to serve your ego and your pride
Now it’s time for you to pay for your lies

(Chorus)
Nowhere to run run run
Nowhere to hide hide hide
No one who cares if you will live or die

Nowhere to run run run
Nowhere to hide hide hide
No hope of escaping with your life

Isn’t this what you wanted? What you worked for? What you crave?
To end it all.
Isn’t this why you trained me? Why you chose me? To prepare
To end it all.

So tell me did you see it happening this way
Was I destined to fight you on this day
Who cares what ponies you destroy just to get what you want
So long as everything will work out for you in the end

So tell me how you came by all this magic
Only to have it ending tragic
In the end,
Was it worth the pain
Your influence/ created the monster that you see
Now it’s time for you to pay for your lies

(Repeat Chorus)

Celestia: NO!
Astelle: (laughing) A fitting end for a stallion who wanted to die, forever trapped as an immortal tree! Exposing the very elements I seek to destroy!
Celestia: Now it’s time for you to pay for your crimes!
Astelle: What?
Celestia: Nowhere to run run run
Nowhere to hide hide hide
No one who cares if you will live or die
Astelle: No!
Celestia: Nowhere to run run run
Nowhere to hide hide hide
No hope of escaping with your life
Astelle: Wait please!
Celestia: Was it worth it to destroy him thereby sealing your own fate?
Astelle: Let me explain!
Celestia: May you never plague the ponies with your evil here again.
Astelle: Celestia!!

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