Prologue
Five Years Earlier
Princess Celestia stood in the city’s main square, sporting a black eye. The ponies that were milling about saw their Princess and slowly gathered around her. Princess Luna appeared next to her sister, tears streaming down her face. This surprised everypony. Luna had always come off as the more stoic of the two princesses. What could make Luna cry that only had Celestia looking sad? When most of Canterlot was gathered around the two Princesses, Celestia spoke to the crowd at large.
“Attention everypony, I have some good news. The battle against the Changelings and Zebras, The Great Pandemonium as it will be written in the history books, is over. We are victorious.” The crowd erupts with cheers. “But,” Celestia’s voice cuts though the noise like a knife. “Like in all war, ponies were killed. Five in particular. My own faithful student, Twilight Sparkle was slain, as was the owner of Sugar Cube Corner, Pinkie Pie.” At these two names, wails of despair go up from the crowd. “Three of the deaths, however, have driven my sister near mad with grief. Her three Moon Guards are no more. Gambit, Shining Silver, and Thunder Twist are lost to us.” Celestia herself has started crying at this point. “Gambit fought bravely but was overwhelmed by the number of enemies. Thunder Twist and Shining Silver both made it to Queen Chrysalis of the Changelings. From witnesses, I have it that the battle was intense. Shining Silver was struck down by a beam from the Queen’s horn. It took her in the stomach. Upon seeing this, Thunder Twist’s grief was so immense that he created a ring of fire, incinerating every Changeling and Zebra on the spot. Thunder Twist then grabbed his dying wife and flew back here as fast as he could, but he was too late. Shining Silver died as he was almost here. Upon hearing that my sister and I could not save her, he took her back to their home where he succumbed to his grief and took off his breathing mask. Princess Luna found them there not an hour ago. I wish to decree this day be known from now on as Saints’ Day. For that is what these five ponies were to everypony in Equestria, saints. I wish there was something more I could do. I am very sorry, everypony.” She flies away to the castle, her sister right behind.
Rarity had been listening with joy until the Princess mentioned the deaths of her friends Pinkie Pie and Twilight Sparkle. After that, grief showed on her every feature. Still nothing could compare to hearing about the deaths of her daughter and son-in-law. It was akin to a physical blow. The two foals next to her could not understand what was happening. They didn’t to right now. She would raise them. When the time was right, she would tell them about their parents. Now, however, she had to inform Fancy Pants of their daughter’s passing.
Fancy Pants’ line of work involved travelling, so the two of them set up a spell that could send letters back and forth. Somewhat like what Spike could do between Twilight and Princess Celestia.
Rarity stopped and shook her head. Even the thought of her friend made her want to cry. She arrived at her house, let the two foals in, and went over to her desk to grab parchment, ink and a quill. She found them and set to work.
Dear Fancy Pants,
I am so very sorry to have to inform you that our daughter was killed in the battle against the Changelings and Zebras. Her husband, Thunder Twist is also dead. They won the battle for Equestria, so we should be proud of them, but I want my daughter back. I’ll never see her again. Please, come home. You are needed here for now.
With love, your wife,
Rarity
She folded up the piece of paper and sent it to Fancy Pants via their spell. She went to the living room, where the foals were busy playing. She lay down on the couch and finally let the tears pour out. She was crying for twenty minutes before her horn activates, signaling the arrival of her husband’s letter.
Dear beloved wife,
I am heading back to Canterlot immediately. I will be there tomorrow. I love and miss you.
Yours forever,
Fancy Pants
Fancy Pants arrived the next day. He went up to his wife and gave her a huge hug as they cried over their lost daughter.
The funeral for all five was held in the Canterlot Garden the next day. Celestia spoke on behalf of Pinkie Pie and Twilight Sparkle.
“Pinkie Pie was one of the most fun ponies you could have ever met. She was always making ponies smile, no matter where she went.” She paused to wipe a tear from her eye. “Pinkie Pie, you will always hold a special place in our hearts.” She turned the paper over, shook her head and threw it away. “Twilight Sparkle. What can I say about that pony to do her justice? Twilight was the most talented Unicorn in Equestria. She was the best student anypony could ask for. But, more importantly, she was a wonderful friend. She was a born leader, but she didn’t lord over other ponies. She always made sure she fit in with everypony. She loved everypony. For all those traits, I loved her. She will be sorely missed.” Princess Celestia broke down and cried then, and nopony thought less of her for it. She walked off the podium to make room for her sister.
“Everypony,” Princess Luna began, “I am here to tell you about the three most important ponies in my life. Gambit, Shining Silver, and Thunder Twist. Gambit first. He was the unsung hero of my guard. Gambit lived every day like it was his last. He always laughed. I guess you could say he was another version of Pinkie Pie. He was a great friend. I miss him so much. Shining Silver was the glue that kept my guard together. She was the voice of reason that kept her husband and captain in check. She was a great mother, and I wish she was still here with us. Thunder Twist. Oh, what a stallion. He overcame much difficulty early in his life. When he came back to Canterlot five years ago, he was scared of everypony, and rightfully so. He hadn’t spoken to anypony other than his grandmother in seven years. He was the one who saved me from Discord. He was the hero in The Great Pandemonium. However, he told me the happiest day of his life was the day he married Shining Silver. He was a loving husband and father. He will be missed by all the ponies who knew him.” Princess Luna started crying then. “That is why I am commissioning a statue of him and Shining Silver to be built in the main square of the city. So that everypony may remember the love of two amazing ponies.”