Even though it’s been hours since Baku was sent back to the dream world, I’m still just staring blankly ahead, looking at nowhere in particular. I’ve tried to read some of the magazines they have in this waiting room, but haven’t been able to focus on anything. Even the water bottle I asked for a few hours ago is only a few sips less full, because nothing in my body even seems to be working today. I don’t think I’ve even eaten since breakfast, but don’t feel hungry. Hardly even thirsty, either.
My eyes drift up to the clock because of how few ponies are here, and I can see that it’s one in the morning already. I don’t even feel tired, even though I woke up at a pretty reasonable hour today. Maybe that’s another part of me shutting down while I’m trying to process everything that went on today. I bet I’m going to be hungry and thirsty and exhausted tomorrow.
A few minutes later, I hear some hoofsteps coming from down the hall. When they turn the corner, I see Princess Celestia, but she looks so different than every other time I’ve ever seen her, in pictures or otherwise. Her mane doesn't have quite the literal flow it usually does, just kind of limply hanging and swaying. Her face is heavy, and that’s to say nothing of the puffy red eyes and tear-stained coat. To put it simply, she looks like a mare. Not a Princess, not a ruler, not an alicorn, just a regular mare.
“She said she wants to speak with you,” she mutters, her voice weak and cracked no doubt from crying. “Just you, alone.”
“Are you sure?” I ask as I stand up and walk a little closer to her. “You can go back in if you want.”
“Perhaps it is good I take a break,” she sighs. “I need a few minutes to myself, to gather my thoughts.”
“Thanks for saving my life, by the way,” I tell her as I start walking towards Luna’s room. “Not only would we not have been able to stop Baku without it, but you know...personally, I’m not really ready to die just yet.”
“I am glad I was able to save at least one pony, today. When I look out on such beautiful city and see the awe-inspiring buildings stained red with my former citizens…” She just trails off, then closes her eyes. “In times like these, one’s mind cannot help itself but to wonder what she could have done differently.”
I don't even know what to say to a Princess going through all of this, so I just lick my lips a little bit to moisten them and continue walking towards the room Luna is in. Two unicorn Royal Guards are standing in front of the door, and the one on the right opens the door as I approach.
As soon as I walk into her hospital room, I’m hit with by far the most unpleasant scent that’s ever entered my nose. Most prevalent is just the smell of iron, which I can guess is coming from the deep red bandage wrapped around where her back right leg used to be. It’s probably a good thing I haven’t eaten since the morning, because I feel like anything in my stomach would probably be on the floor right now.
“Come here,” she groans softly, so much to where I have to almost guess what she’s saying. The smell only gets stronger as I walk closer, and it feels almost as if my body’s trying to find something to throw up just for the sake of doing so. Thankfully, though, whatever is still inside of me manages to keep itself down as I walk up next to her bed.
“Sweet fucking Celestia…” is all I can find the words to say.
“And I’m less optimistic,” she barely croaks out. “Thank you for being here, Aurora.”
“Are you…” I try to swallow, but there’s nothing but an enormous lump in my throat. “Are you going to survive?”
The only response I get from her is an extremely slight shake of her head.
“Do you know how much time you have?”
“I think I have seen my last sunrise.” She winces, then very forcefully puts a hoof on a bandage wrapped around her stomach. “Yet when I saw it, I thought nothing of it.”
“You’re a Princess,” I point out. “They’ll give you the best doctors, and every single treatment money can buy. You’ll make it.”
“I am mortal,” she states. “Long-lived, but mortal. Medicine is extremely powerful, but it cannot stop nature.”
I don’t know what to say, so I just gently place my hoof on her shoulder. With great effort, she moves the hoof from the wound to my own hoof. It’s strange, because even when she’s maybe hours from death, feeling her hoof on my own is comforting. It’s like I’m a little filly again, when she would encourage me to just go for whatever Dreamstriding thing she was teaching me that night. Funny how I’m still the one who feels the need to be comforted in this situation.
“What do I even do next?” I ask.
“You will figure it out. You are smart, you will find something. I told Celestia to give you complete and full access to any potentially useful information, no questions asked. She understands the gravity of this and will give you anything you need.”
“But what would you have done next, where would you have gone?”
I swear I can almost see a tiny smile grow on her face. “Same as you: investigated until I found something useful. Even Princesses do not have all the answers readily available all the time.”
“Where would you have started? What even should I be looking for?”
That’s definitely a smile on her face. “You are one of the brightest young mares I have ever met, Aurora. Be confident in yourself, and you shall make me proud.”
I start choking up, and I have to use my free hoof to wipe my eyes. “Thank you for everything you’ve done for me.”
“And I say the same for you.” A single tear forces its way out of her eye, and it looks almost like it’s causing her pain. “I have lived for over a thousand years, and yet I am still horrified of what comes next. Perhaps it is because of my long life, for I never lived thinking that it would one day end. Death was always something other ponies suffered from, not me. Ironic that it should come to me in order to protect everypony else from it, then.”
“I’m sure nopony will ever forget what you did for them,” I comfort her. “I know I’ll never forget your sacrifice.”
“For a thousand years, I worried I would die a villain in the eyes of my own ponies. To hear from one of them that my death was one of selfless sacrifice is truly comforting.” She squeezes my hoof a little harder. “As much as I have enjoyed our time, Aurora, I ask that you let Celestia and myself be alone for my final moments.”
“I understand,” I whisper back to her. “I don’t even know how to give final words to a dying pony, but...I’ll miss you, Luna.”
“And I you. You are a strong mare, Aurora Borealis. I cannot think of anypony I would rather pass the Dreamstriders to.”
Gently, I squeeze her hoof before taking it off her body and walking towards the door. Once I open it and walk out, I see Princess Celestia just pacing up and down the hallway nervously.
“She wants to see you again,” I tell her once she walks by me again. “Wants to make sure you have the final goodbye.”
She nods understandingly, then walks into the room and closes the door. I’m not even sure what to do now, so I walk up to the wall and just sit down with my back to it. What am I even supposed to do, where am I supposed to go from here? I, an eighteen year old mare, am now responsible for defeating a stallion whose demon ally just killed one of the oldest and most powerful ponies in history.
After what seems like an eternity, the door to Luna’s room slowly opens, and Princess Celestia walks out. Now she’s not even trying to hide her crying, because there are still some more tears rolling down her face.
“Are you alright?” I ask her. I try to get up, but all my exhaustion is just hitting me at once and makes me just fall back down to my sitting position.
“Today is truly a dark day for Equestria,” she mutters. “Unfortunately, there are things that must be accomplished. A city to rebuild, a populace to protect, royal duties to reallocate…”
Her face tightens, sending a river of water out from her eyes.
“But above all, I have a sister to mourn.”