After Princess Celestia had collapsed to the ground of the Restricted Wing, Twilight could hear the dark blue curtains behind her fly. She turned to face the sound of the disturbance. It was Celestia’s nocturnal sister, Luna.
“WHAT HAVE YOU DONE!?” the princess of the night cried out, rushing to her sister’s side, no regard for the beast floating in the center of the room.
“YOU KILLED HER! YOU KILLED MY SISTER! YOUR TEACHER. THE RULER OF YOUR LAND. WHY!?”
You didn’t even know, did you? Little Luna, always out of the loop.
“Don’t you dare taunt me, foal. Not now. Not when my only sister is dead.”
Shut your mouth, Princess. You do not know pain. I have lost everything. All by reading a single sentence. You have only lost a member of your family. You will wake up in your bed tomorrow and everything will still be a resemblance of what it once was. You will spend your life in a sort of coma, I imagine, the people around you constantly reminding you that it’s over. What I’ve done, that is. That something like that was bound to happen eventually. And eventually you’ll accept that. Hearing my words will make it harder, sure, because there’ll always be that whisper of doubt. But it will happen. Because for you, there can be a tomorrow. There is no tomorrow for me. Not after what I’ve done.
Celestia, still in the arms of her younger sister, sputtered and coughed, blood laced with traces of magical energy coming from her mouth, Her pristine white fur being stained by it.
“‘Tia!? Sister? SPEAK TO ME!” Luna cried, desperate for guidance.
Celestia chuckled, somehow, despite the mess that surrounded her. Despite the fact that her heart was crushed, weakened, perhaps beyond repair.
“They always did tell me I’d be... hard to kill...” The princess said slowly, evenly. There was no fear left in her voice. No emotion at all, really. “Alicorn magic...”
“Sister...” Luna whispered, her tears falling on her fellow alicorn’s body. Celestia could not even feel them. Her body was numb, paralyzed from shock.
“I’m not long for this world. Don’t think I don’t know that.”
“That’s not true, ‘Tia! We... We can heal you! They can make you better! You have the most magic of anyone, you can keep your heart going!”
The princess smiled.
“But I can’t. Look at Twilight. My former student. She is a danger. She will always be, now. She must be stopped. Permanently. You know neither of us have the magical power to do it ourselves.”
“‘Tia... Please don’t say that... Equestria needs you... I need you!” Luna cried, holding her dying sister close.
“I’m sorry it had to be this way, my dearest sister. Maybe... Maybe this is our punishment. For playing God. Tampering with things we should not. Making ponies... things they should not be.” Tears were now rolling down Celestia’s face, too. Not out of fear. She had accepted her fate. But her sister was scared. Scared of the spotlight. Scared of being the one in control. And she was truly sorry for that.
“Sister... Before we do this. My regalia. My crown. You must take them. Wear them. It’s the only thing that will protect you from being corrupted... Becoming that monster that you so despise again.”
“I could... I could never, dear sister.” Luna said, her voice shaking, cracking. Celestia shook her head weakly, insistent.
“You have to. It’s for Equestria. For the good of Ponykind.”
Luna searched herself, finally conceding, and lifted the chest piece worn by Celestia since she was 500 years old off of her, placing it over herself. After that came Celestia’s gold shoes, and finally, Luna levitated Celestia’s crown, removing her own to make way for it. It fit her perfectly.
Celestia smiled.
“It suits you, my dear sister. Wear it with pride. Think of me when you don it each morning. Remember my sacrifice, and know it was not in vain. As the sun sets, the moon must rise in turn.”
Luna could barely speak through her tears, flowing like a mighty river.
“I... I l-love you, dearest sister.”
“And I you, dearest sister. I always will.”
The two princesses hugged, for the last time. At last, they turned to face Twilight. She had not spoken the entire time the sisters had exchanged words. She had merely floated in silence.
“Any last words, Twilight Sparkle?” Princess Luna asked the pony that was nothing more than a glorified weapon.
There was a pause, and then a pleasant, beautiful voice filled the room.
Dear Princess Celestia.
A gasp escaped Celestia’s lips.
I love you, Princess Celestia. I’m so sorry. So sorry for all that I’ve done. All that I’ve put both of you through. I love you too, Luna. You, and Fluttershy, and Applejack, and Rainbow Dash, Rarity, Pinkie Pie, and especially Spike. Please tell him that. How much I love him. I feel nothing now but love. I am not a pony, but I feel love nonetheless. I love everyone in Ponyville. Everyone I’ve come to know. No matter what, there will always be love.
Your faithful student, now and always...
Celestia was crying now, as was Luna, as their horns began to glow with magic. Stone began to envelope Twilight Sparkle, and she slowly began to return to the ground, the magical Aura leaving her and darkening the room. As the stone reached her chest, her eyes returned to normal, and she looked at the two Princesses. A single tear dropped from her eye as the stone overtook the last of her, and, with her final breath, she spoke two words:
“Twilight Sparkle.”
And then, the unicorn was gone. In her place stood a stone statue, a single tear running down, breaking the otherwise flawless edge of the stone.
“And so, the student surpasses the teacher...” Celestia nearly whispered, finally collapsing next to the stone.
And the only living being left in the room was Luna. Luna and her beautiful night.