-Memory-
Even after we have passed, sometimes all that there is to know us by is a memory. But as time goes by, even they can corrupt.
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A solitary white alicorn strode solemnly to the elegantly crafted stone pedestal, her eyes fixed on the great amethyst that lay embedded in its peak. Ancient runes floated serenely inside it, sitting just beneath the surface, sheltered from the reality of the world outside the facets of the crystal. It was one of many in the rows of similar memorials, but this one was unique to the solar diarch, as each of them was.
The Hall of Students was Celestia’s private place of mourning. Situated between the Canterlot Archives and the Princess’ own room, it was a physical representation of the connection the princess shared with her students – a love of magic and learning, and the memorials lining the corridor reminded her of the personal connection it gave her.
Touching her horn against the purple crystal, the runes ignited in a display of light and movement – casting shadows on the walls around its enclave. Gazing at the engraved image of a cutie mark at the base of the monument, Celestia whispered sadly,
“I miss you so much, Twilight…”
“I know, I miss you too…”
The ethereal reply echoed down the hall, causing the other monument crystals to activate and glow.
“Twilight, it has been a while since we last spoke.” The princess replied nonchalantly, staring at the projection of her former student.
“We’ve missed you,” replied the projection of Twilight, “All of us have missed you.”
“I’m so sorry, Equestria is becoming more difficult to manage, and I simply cannot find time for myself anymore…” stated the princess sadly.
“How is Luna these days?” asked another projection, adorned in a deep blue hat and robe.
“She has moved on from this ‘mausoleum’, and tells me that I remain fixated on the past by visiting you.”
“Ah.” The bearded wizard replied thoughtfully, “I think I will miss her visits. She used to be much livelier before she…”
“I know,” said Celestia mournfully, “but so much has happened since she returned. Although she will still cling to some habits of old, she has moved on.”
“I know the ‘habits’ of which you speak – the Royal Canterlot Voice can be heard clearly from down here. All the way from the throne room, I might add.”
“Well,” replied the alicorn, suppressing a laugh, “some things I cannot change, but I will pass on your ‘complements’ to her sometime this evening during the Changing of the Sky.”
“I think I miss the stars down here,” stated Twilight, gazing at the ceiling, “I think we’d all like to see the night sky once more…”
“You know as well as I why this cannot be, young one.”
“To live forever, something you hold closest must be sacrificed,” recited Twilight longingly, “For a soul fades more each day it sees the dawn of.”
Celestia let her head fall, closing her eyes in shame.
“You chose to endure a pain greater than death, to be with me, for as long as I endure. As I tore you souls from your dying bodies, I felt everything you did – the joy, the pain, the sadness and the regret, so you could all stay with me beyond the grasp of time.”
“We all made a choice – we chose to stay by your side so that you will never be lonely, and will always have somepony you trust to speak to. Through your darkest hour, we will be beside you if you call.”
The voices spoke together, as one – unified in thought and spirit, the melody of tones producing a song of speech.
“You chose to endure a life permanently bonded to this place, never to finally pass on from this world. The life you pledged to me long ago has passed, and it is only I who hold you captive here.”
“It is not our choice to make. We remain here for you – but if you will not remain for us, release us to the world beyond this.”
“Perhaps my sister is right, and I am too attached to the past…”
“There is much to be learnt from the past – you must never ignore it.”
“To forget the past, means you will make the same mistakes over and over again.”
A scene played out through Celestia’s mind – the thought of losing her sister to the Nightmare again. Millennia blur together, and the same scene repeats – joy, discontent, jealousy, rage, regret, vengeance, joy…
It was a past she wished she could forget
---
The solar princess awoke in her room – which was rather unexpected for her. Prior to being in the Hall, she had no recollection of how she came to be in her room.
Sitting bolt upright, a terrible thought passed through her mind.
How much of what just happened was real? If I am here, then I could have been dreaming. If I was, that means that I have no legacy of my students left – but if I wasn’t, I have committed a terrible crime against them.
Bolting from her room, Celestia ran towards the entrance to the Hall, silently hoping that something would be proved. Throwing the doors wide open, she found…
Nothing.
The corridor was as empty as if it had never had anything in it to begin with. Continuing down the passage to the rotunda at the mid-point of the Hall, a soft light was just visible beneath the heavy doors. Pushing them open with her magic, she again found an empty room, its circular walls echoing her hoofsteps.
Shafts of light hung in the air across the room, but did not enter via the windows. The great stained glass panels were pitch black, covered by a thick wall of black fog. This was unnatural – something felt very wrong.
Backing up slowly, Celestia’s eyes flicked in all directions, searching for something unseen. Suddenly, she ran into something, and her head whipped around to the appearance of a foreign object that had not been there moments before.
Turning fully, she saw a stone pedestal in front of her, delicately inscribed with cutie marks she knew all too well - those of her past students. Affixed to the peak was a smoky black crystal inscribed with crimson runes that appeared to have been drawn with blood…
It can’t be real. It can’t be real…
I would never force that pain upon my students…would I?
The longer she gazed at the dark stone, the more it seemed to draw her in. It almost seemed hungry, like it was waiting for something. Or somepony.
Somewhere behind her she could hear the sound of pages being turned.
There were no books when I arrived here, how can I be hearing them?
From within the depths of the rotunda, a sinister voice called out to her, an all too familiar voice.
“Did you miss us, Celestia?”
Everything aligned, and it finally occurred to the solar princess that was not a dream. It was real.
What she had done, to her students and friends, was very real.
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-End-