If there was one thing about Canterlot that I liked the most, it was that it didn't change too much. Everything from the buildings to the overall atmosphere spoke of Equestrian culture. While some of the cities in the Equine Republic had human designs and influence, Canterlot was the one place that still stayed the same even after the nation stopped being called Equestria. Of course, the only true major difference was the advancement in design, technology, and the fact that humans lived in the city as well.
It wasn’t too strange to see Christmas themed decorations since most of Christmas was similar in design to Hearth's Warming Eve, only focused more on Jesus Christ. There were even Christian churches in Canterlot since the old religions of Equestria mostly faded out of existence. I myself wasn’t registered in any religious organization, but a part of me believed something was out there and after death. I thought it best to just not focus so much on that rather than what was in front of me.
I tried not to think about such things too often, but it was kinda hard not to when you entered a graveyard. Not just any graveyard too, but the Royal Graveyard. It wasn’t used anymore and few people ever went to it nowadays like me. Most of the graves were registered to the great heroes of Equestria, members of the Royal Family, and guards who sacrificed themselves for the greater good. A lot of ponies who rested in this graveyard were those I knew during the war. There was even a small memorial added for all five of the Elements of Harmony that Twilight put up right after AJ and Dash died.
Of course, none of my old friends were buried there. Rarity and Pinkie’s remains were never found and are most likely ashes by now. Fluttershy requested to be buried next to her husband after her death. Rainbow Dash and AJ weren’t allowed anything special due to their actions in the terrorist group they joined. Twilight said she had the bodies burned and ashes scattered, but the truth was she buried them both of them in the remains of Sweet Apple Acres without any gravestones.
There was even a memorial for the Crystal Ponies, including the family of Cadance, Shining Armor, and Flurry Heart. The one race that actually died out due to the actions of humanity, with many divided if the nuking the Crystal Empire was a good idea or not. Barely two hundred survived the nuke, but every one of them were sterile from the radiation. Many just ended their lives soon after the war with the few surviving just living their short lives until the last was dead. There was discussion on what to do with the Crystal Empire’s remains now that the radiation was soon to be gone, but most likely it would be left alone in honor of their memory.
I naturally laid two of the four bouquets I had brought with me to this location. I didn’t bother saying prayers. I really don’t think prayers work anymore. Prayers didn’t save my friends or my home.
At last, I made it to the tomb. I visited this every time I came back to Canterlot and it was always the first thing I did. The tomb was designed originally for Celestia and Luna soon after we arrived on Earth and learned their immortality was gone. The sisters wanted to be together in death so it was designed to honor them when they passed on. Twilight herself was part of the design process. When Celestia’s horrors were revealed, it was changed to fit only Luna and Twilight instead of Celestia. Everything from the symbols to her glass painting were replaced for Twilight. Nopony wanted to see Celestia given a proper resting place; her remains could be thrown into the sea for all they cared.
I pressed my palm against the heavy steel door as the magic sensed me and unlocked the heavy locks. Only those with permission were allowed to enter the tomb and pay their respects to the fallen princess, but I was the only one remaining who could do so. The torches lit up as I walked inside, past the flowers and wreaths that still were green and flourishing; again thanks to the magic this place held.
When I reached the main chamber, I saw a glass ceiling of the former symbol of Equestria. The only thing with Celestia’s image that was allowed to stay. Candles and statues of angel ponies surrounded me, all looking sad as if ready to cry. There were two chambers that lead in opposite directions and I headed to the left one first.
It was dark blue, nearly as dark as the night itself. Above, on the ceiling, twinkling lights that acted as stars shined on. The flowers decorating the area were of glowing silver that sparkled. The cutie mark of it’s holder were on banners and portraits. The windows designed to let only moonlight enter and reflect in the center where a glass casket on a blue and silver base rested. Inside was Princess Luna, her peaceful expression staring up at the stars she loved so much. Dressed in her black and blue battle armor like the warrior she was, in her folded hooves she held the blade that she slew many in the war with. A dark hilt with a moon like symbol for the palm. The silver blade that never stopped shining even hundreds of years later lay with its master, never to be used again.
Luna’s death at the Battle of Jerusalem was when many started to believe the war was no longer winnable. Luna, like Celestia, had been loved and worshiped as a goddess in the eyes of many. When they saw their goddess fall, the faith of so many shattered that day. I wasn’t there when Luna’s body was brought back to Canterlot, but from what Rainbow Dash told me it was like seeing Swiss cheese. All those bullets had torn up her body to the point where Celestia had to spend two weeks repairing it with magic and money to make it presentable for the funeral. That was the first time I saw Celestia cry so hard. I wondered if she blamed herself for her sister’s death or blamed humanity even further.
Laying my bouquet of flowers on the casket (Along with the many others that still lived), I couldn’t not help but wonder “What if” again. What if Luna had survived and Celestia died. Would she have continued the war or stopped after losing so much? Did Luna know of Celestia’s true reasoning for sending us to Earth or was she just in the dark? How would she have reacted if she knew? Would she stand by her sister or denounce her like Twilight did? I sadly didn’t know Luna too well, even before the war. I wished I had, but it was too late. I didn’t really say anything to Luna’s casket. I just stared at her face and wondered if she was at peace.
I personally didn’t know what happened after death. In the old days, ponies believed in a place called Elysium where good ponies went to after they died to live in paradise. It’s not too different to ‘heaven’ in some of the human religions. Some even believed we were destined to be reincarnated into different lives based on our actions. Twilight was the only one who never believed in an afterlife in our group. She thought after you died, you were nothing. A good number of ponies think that now since the so called “goddesses” are long dead. I don’t think that happens. Something must happen when you die, but whatever it is I guess only the dead knows.
I just hoped that everyone I knew who passed on were happy.
I turned away from Luna’s casket and made my way to the other hallway. This time, the room was colored lavender with gold trimmings. Twilight rested in here as evidence by the banners and windows with her cutie mark. Instead of stars above, there were decorated crystal lights carved as the Elements of Harmony that forever swirled around her like a bunch of halos. Her books, some of which she wrote herself, were in shelves that were lined on the walls. Only one book lay in her embrace inside her purple and golden glass casket. The book that she read warning about Nightmare Moon during the Summer Sun Celebration on its one thousandth year. She said it started her on the path and she wanted to have it with her when she reached the end.
Twilight was decorated in the very same dress she wore to the Grand Galloping Gala for the first time. An honor to Rarity who made it for her. Her crown was atop her head, still shining bright despite its owner long in eternal slumber. I stared at the one who had been my best friend, teacher, and mother all in one. Even now, she looked more rested than she ever had in her entire life. When she died in bed, it looked like she had finally found peace. A peace that costed me much heartbreak, but a peace I knew she longed for.
“Hey, Twilight,” I whispered, placing my flowers on the glass. “Merry Christmas. Or Happy Hearth’s Warming Eve too I guess.” I sighed and looked at my feet. “Discord doesn’t have long. Looks like even he’s going to bite the bullet soon. Guess you and the others will be having a pretty crazy time in heaven, huh?”
I didn’t say anything for a bit. Almost as if I was hoping Twilight would just speak something from that glass bed of hers.
“I miss you,” I whispered, closing my eyes. “I miss you every day. I sometimes wonder if I should take that potion, go human or pony, and just let my final hours tick until I die. But I guess you’d yell at me since that’s pretty much suicide.” I rubbed the back of my neck. “I... I just want you to know that I’m still going at it. Telling the truth about everything in the war. I’m making sure the same mistakes are never repeated, and we will never again see what happened all those years ago.”
Opening my eyes, I stared at her for a bit longer before I sighed again. “I know you told me to make a future for myself... but the problem is I don’t know if I can.”
I turned away upon saying this and made my way out. I don’t know why I said that, but it was getting hard to deny what I was feeling more and more lonely over the years. Was this really going to be my future? To keep doing the same thing? Teach, mourn, cry, and repeat over and over again?
I needed to get some air. I needed to see someone.
I needed to talk to Rebecca.
***
The gallery had changed almost everything it once had when I was here last. New paintings, sculptures, and such could be seen. The unique thing about them all was that they were a mix of both human and pony styles. Most pony styles tended to be simple, dramatic, and colorful. Human ones tended to be darker, complex, and radical. Combining them both was always a challenge, but when it was done right it was amazing to see.
The gallery wasn’t as full as it usually was because of the holidays, but my focus was elsewhere. I soon found myself in front of the painting that never stopped making me smile. In it I could see Rainbow Dash flying in the air, doing her usual stunts to show off and enlarge her ego. Fluttershy putting some daisies on a sandwich while her bunny, Angel, was right by her side eating a carrot. She always took him whenever she could, and she loved him more than any other pet of hers. Rarity and AJ were talking to each other and there were dozens of conversations I could think of them having. Those two were closer as friends then most ever realized despite their differences, and the respect they had for each other was bigger. Of course, Pinkie Pie stood out the most, looking directly at me and waving her hoof. Even after all these years, her legendary abilities were still known. Sometimes, I kid you not, I could even see that image of her winking at me as if to say “I’m okay”. And then there was Twilight. Not the Princess Twilight, but the original Twilight. The unicorn who was reading a book while I was nearby, still a baby dragon, setting up the picnic stuff.
This painting, which never ever came down, was never the most famous, or the most loved. But to me it was the most perfect. Because this was who we were. We weren’t heroes, villains, or rebels. We were just friends. Friends who cared and loved each other and just wanted to spent all those carefree days together.
I wondered if there was a world where the war didn’t happen. That we didn’t come to Earth. Would I and everyone else be happy?
“I knew I’d find you here,” I heard a familiar whisper that made my heart jump a little. My smile increased as I turned around to see a light brown long haired woman, dressed in a blue suit, smile at me with her clear blue eyes from behind her glasses. The artist herself had graced me with her presence. “Hello, Spike.”
“Hello, Rebecca.”