Ponyville Jukebox

by wbwolf

Story 2: Immortality [Celestia]

Immortality
inspired by the song by Pearl Jam

Sun slipped below the horizon as the sky was splashed with pinks and purples. Despite what some ponies thought, Celestia didn't really move the sun up and down, but her connection to the sun was a constant presence in the back of her mind. She took a deep breath, as the twilight air over Canterlot cooled and was made pleasant. As the sun moved to the other side of planet, she felt the connection ebb, like the tides moving out from the beach.

Luna's moon, a mere sliver of its glory already hung in the clear Canterlot sky above the horizon. Celestia treasured the times when her sister would be up at nearly the same time as her, her own moon tugging on her consciousness, though flooded and overwhelmed by Celestia's sun. There was a relief when she no longer had to take up both the connection with both heavenly bodies.

Celestia performed the ritual that expected of her at the end of the day, the same as she had done for untold years. The end of the day was a little sad for her, because she knew that it was invariably the last one for some of her subjects; be it due to sickness, age or just luck of the draw, there would be no more sunrises for those ponies. Despite what some might say, she didn't shed any artificial tears for those that had passed. If a tear came to her eye, it was genuine.

This was especially true for those she came to know personally; the guards in her personal service, the students that she had mentored and trained over the centuries, and those she counted as friends. Sooner or later, all of them, save her sister, grew old and passed away. Yet, Celestia, like the sun, carried on and remained outwardly unchanged.

Celestia's melancholy thoughts brought her hooves to the personal chambers. "A bit for your thoughts, sister?" Luna was readying for her Night Court, but she still had time for her sister.

"Do I look that distracted?" Celestia asked with an attempt at humor. When Luna didn't respond, but waited patiently, Celestia dropped her regal persona completely, her mane stilling in that invisible wind. "It isn't much, Luna. Just reminded of all the lives I've seen come and go."

Luna flicked an ear and tilted her head, "Would you like that I stay with you for the night?"

The question snapped Celestia out of her mood, but it reminded her something important. "No," she replied quietly, "you have your own duties, as do I. I may mourn the losses and regret the mistakes I made," she looked at Luna significantly, "but I still must carry on."

"But you do not do it alone."

"No, I couldn't do it alone. It is because of those lives that I can. Now, you can't keep the Court waiting. I will see you in the morning." Celestia then turned and closed the door to her chamber.

As Luna continued down the hall to the chambers, she swore she heard the soft sound of sobbing from beyond that door.