Flowers. Row after row of flowers lay stretched out as far as the eye could see for Celestia. Daffodils, tulips, posies, sunflowers and many more sprinkled over the ground like raindrops. In every color and every size, they filled the air with a warm, sweet aroma. The cloudless blue sky above arched over the meadow, creating a sight similar to what one might find on a postcard.
With the peacefulness of nature surrounding her, Celestia stopped at each bush, at each flower along a narrow cobblestone path to take in each flower’s scent. Each one relaxed her, and pushed her troubles further out of reach. She wondered if this meadow ever ended, if her path ever diverged away, and hoped that such would not be the case.
Over time, Celestia meandered past the flowers and even several hummingbirds, when she spotted a pony laying amidst a patch of lilies. From where she stood, she could see the pony watching her, following her every move. Curious, Celestia wandered over to her observer. Only when she’d gotten within several feet did she recognize the pony in front of her.
“Luna? Is that you?” She asked softly.
“It is,” replied her sister. “Come. Sit with me.”
Celestia stepped over and laid herself down at her sister’s side. Gazing over her surroundings once more, she released a sigh. “I am dreaming, aren’t I?”
“You are.” Luna answered. “It is the only way in which we may communicate. However,” and Luna paused, “it will also be our last, for I am no longer bound to this world.”
“I understand.” Celestia said, her head drooping to her sister’s shoulder. The troubles that the flowers had so easily drowned out, were coming back.
“I wanted to see you one more time. I wanted to tell you just how much I love you, and that I consider myself lucky to have one as wise as you for a sibling. I hardly think I ever said that to you.”
“You would say that even after what I have done? After what I did to our citizens . . . after what I did to you?”
“Tis nothing you haven’t forgiven me of doing before.” Luna answered, providing a warm smile that Celestia felt much too undeserving of. “Remember, I did those things too. And I suffered the same punishment, yet you welcomed me back with open arms.”
“How?” Celestia eventually asked, looking away from her sister’s smile. “How did you live with it? The more time that passes, the more I am able to remember. I do not know how I can forgive myself for committing such terrible acts.”
“If it is of any consolation to you, for a long time, I was the same.” Luna explained. “For many years after my transformation out of Nightmare Moon, I would see the faces of many that I’d hurt.”
Luna paused for a moment. Her body seemed to tremble at Celestia’s side. Then leaning back against Celestia, she continued, “But with the help of some friends, I learned I was no longer that pony. The monster inside me that was Nightmare Moon was in the past. You must learn to do the same. Daybreaker is not you who are. She does not define Princess Celestia. And until you can accept that, the memory of Daybreaker will continue to haunt you.”
Celestia closed her eyes. “How can I do this without you?”
“That one is easy.” And Celestia could feel her sister smiling. “You have a friend who loves you very much, and will never leave your side. She may help you where I cannot.”
Celestia faced her sister. “But you . . .”
“Will be watching over my big sister forever and for always.” Then pressing her forehead against Celestia’s, she said, “I will always be with you Celestia.”
The moment of peace between them was short. For out of the corner of her eye, Celestia soon spotted a petal from a yellow lily falling to ground. Upon touching the dirt, the petal evaporated, taking the small patch of dirt with it. One by one, petals from each of the flowers began to fall. And as each one hit, more of the ground disintegrated, opening up a black void beneath them.
“What is happening?”
“You are waking.” Luna answered, her face tinged with disappointment.
“No! Please Luna, let me stay a little longer!” Celestia stood up to hug her sister, but her hooves passed right on through.
“Do not fret dear sister.” Luna answered calmly. “I will always be with you.”
“Luna!” Celestia cried out once more, and then the meadow was gone. Luna was gone.
Celestia’s eyes opened up and it took her a few moments to gather herself. Sweat trickled down her face, and she found herself panting for breath. Across from her sat Twilight Sparkle, eyeing her worriedly. “Princess Celestia?” She asked, “Are you okay? You were mumbling in your sleep.”
“I-I was?”
“Something about Luna . . .” Twilight began, and then stopped herself, apparently thinking better of continuing. Her ears drooped and her eyes fell to the floor. “I suppose there’ll be plenty of sleepless nights for both of us to look forward to.”
Celestia merely gazed out of the window of the carriage she and her pupil were in. Several pegasi carried their small carriage high above Equestria. The houses and ponies below looked to be nothing more than ants on top an ant hill. Up front, Celestia could hear Cadence discussing something with one of her accompanying soldiers. The princess had wanted to see them off personally.
“How long did I sleep?” Celestia asked calmly.
“Two, maybe three hours.”
“What about you? Have you managed any sleep?” Celestia asked, adjusting herself to better face the lavender pony.
Twilight shook her head. “No. Every time I close my eyes now, all I see is Starlight Glimmer. Others too, but mainly her.”
Celestia reached out, and stroked a hoof along Twilight’s face. “Don’t worry.” She said, “Things will get better. You will just have to give them time.”
“Maybe.” Was Twilight’s only response.
Celestia withdrew her hoof and allowed the young princess to have some space. Honestly, she wasn’t sure how much better things would get. Her dream with Luna had calmed her, but she knew those loving words from her sister would soon fade off into memory, and the nightmares would begin.
Celestia stared out the carriage window once more. How many times had she heard Luna scream in her sleep? And how many times had she needed to awaken her sister, and save her from the uncontrollable nightmares that had plagued her? Those first few years after Luna’s reformation from Nightmare Moon had been tough. She’d spent so long trapped within her own body, she would have frequent mental breakdowns. Then Celestia had learned of the Tantabus and just how much of Luna’s pain had been self-inflicted.
Turning to Twilight, Celestia watched the young alicorn bury her face in her hooves. Could this be Twilight’s fate as well? The thought of her own student tearing herself apart like that broke Celestia’s heart. To much had been lost over the past several months for her to afford losing the only friend she had left. No matter what happened, she needed to be strong for Twilight.
Standing up, Celestia walked over to Twilight, and took a seat next to her. Not giving her fellow princess time to question, Celestia slid a hoof around Twilight and pulled her in for a hug.
“P-Princess?” Twilight managed out.
“Try to sleep.” Celestia said. “We still have quite a ways to go. I can’t promise there won’t be nightmares. In fact, I know they’ll be waiting. But when they come, I’ll be right here.”
Twilight gave a weak smile in return. She didn’t say anything, just lowered her head at her mentor’s side and closed her eyes.
A high-pitched squeaking and the familiar jerking of a rocky landing pulled Celestia’s eyes towards the window. They’d finally landed. She let out a long breath at the glimpse of land outside. Dark mudcracked clay stretched out over the land. Dead twigs that once stood as trees lay uprooted and caved-in. If one weed sprouted from the ground, it was a miracle. The wind kicked up dirt and gravel, pattering it against the carriage window like hail. Even the sun up in the sky appeared brown and dead.
Shuffling at her side distracted Celestia and with a quick glance, found Twilight stirring.
“Are we there?” She asked.
“It appears so.” Celestia answered. When next she glanced at the window, a shadowed figure obscured much of her view. The sudden appearance startled her, until the door to the carriage opened, and in stepped Princess Cadence.
The princess of love undid a scarf that she’d wrapped around her mouth to keep the dirt out. She tried for a smile, but failed. “I’m sorry. We wanted to fly past this, but the wind was only getting stronger. And the soldiers are starting to tire.”
Celestia shook her head. “Here will be fine.” Then leaning in, Celestia placed her horn against Cadence’s forehead. “And here, you’ll need some extra magic to raise and lower the sun and moon.”
Cadence’s eyes opened up wide at the realization. For a moment, Celestia thought she’d even object. The thought must have never crossed her mind. Celestia had been manually continuing her duty from within her cage for the past week, as she assumed Cadence had forgotten about it.
When Cadence finally nodded in acceptance, Celestia closed her eyes and pushed enough of her magic out through her horn and into the princess. She felt herself weaken, but only slightly. When she pulled away, she found Cadence’s face scrunched up, as if she’d eaten something sour.
“Are you alright?” Celestia ask.
“Yes. I think so.” Cadence answered. Eventually, she opened up her eyes, her horn still glowing. “What about you?”
Celestia simply nodded.
Silence passed over them for a moment. None knew what to say to the other. Even Celestia, who’d had many a lifetime with every form of interaction known to pony-kind, could think of nothing. However, when she saw the hurt and guilt in Cadence’s eyes, a soft smiled crossed over her face. Celestia placed a hoof on Cadence reassuringly. “I know you’ll take good care of Equestria.”
Cadence gulped and her voice cracked. “I’m sorry it has to be this way. I’m sorry I couldn’t do better for you.”
“Give the circumstances, I think you did your best.” Celestia comforted. “None of this fault lies with you.”
Cadence gave a brief nod and said, “Thank you.” Then, she turned to Twilight who’d avoided eye contact since she’d stepped into the carriage. “Twilight.” She said softly. “I’m going to miss you.”
Twilight shuddered at hearing her name. She took in a deep breath and looked up to Cadence. “I’m going to miss you too.” Then without warning, Twilight leapt into her former sitter’s hooves and hugged her.
Celestia sat and watched the two. Both Twilight and Cadence allowed themselves a brief cry. One which they both deserved and so needed. Sitting back, Celestia wished something could be done, wished the past could be changed, for neither one deserved the future that was coming. Celestia, she could handle her own, but Twilight and Cadence were both still young. They didn’t need this.
A sudden howl from the wind outside captured Celestia’s attention and she saw more dirt thrown against the carriage window. Closing her eyes, she let out a sigh. It was time. “We should probably be going Cadence. Your soldiers should get out of this weather.”
Cadence pulled herself away from the hug to see what Celestia was talking about. Tears stained her puffed up cheeks, and her nose had turned a bit red. “Oh. Yeah, I suppose you are right.”
“Don’t worry. We’ll be fine.” Celestia said, and motioned for Twilight to get up.
Opening the door to the carriage, the wind’s howling entered through the door with a chill, bringing in all sorts of dirt and twigs. It pushed back on Celestia, coating her mane a speckled brown.
Stepping out of the carriage, Celestia used what magic she had to create a small barrier, one to help protect them from the elements. It was far from perfect, but it would do.
Twilight followed her out, and then turned back to Cadence. “Would you . . . would you look after my friends for me? And tell them that I love them?”
“Twilight . . .” Cadence whispered. Her voice quivering and her eyes wet, she nodded her head. “Of course, I will.”
“Thanks.”
With that, Twilight stepped away from the carriage and next to Celestia. “Take care Twilight. Take care Celestia.” Princess Cadence said. “Take care of yourselves. I-I love you.” With that, Cadence used her magic to pull the door to the carriage closed. Another second passed, and the stallions up front galloped their way into the air.
Celestia and Twilight watched as Cadence’s carriage ascended into the sky, and then was gone.
All around them dust and dirt blew by. The wind whistled and howled, bending what little greenery existed in the barren desert. Instinctively, Celestia placed a wing around Twilight, and hugged her in close.
“So . . . I guess this is the end, isn’t it?” Twilight said.
“It’s as much an ending as anything else in life.” Celestia said. “But this isn’t our ending Twilight. This is our new beginning; our chance to start over.” Then looking down at the lavender alicorn, Celestia said, “We shouldn’t squander it.”
Twilight didn’t respond, but she didn’t need to. Celestia understood her companion well enough. So, into the storm they walked, side by side. Not a word passed between them, but not a word was needed. Together, the two wandered deep into the desert, away from the hearts of Equestria, and into the forgotten pages of history.
The End.