//------------------------------//
// The Story 
// Story: In All Her Glory 
// by Jubilancy 
//------------------------------//

	The atmosphere of Equestria's royal capital swayed as the incredible storm surged through it.

Princess Celestia sat alone in the cold icy wind next to the headstone that rested above the pony below it. Another day, another funeral, but this wasn't just another funeral. Her eyes grazed the words that were engraved into the granite. A splash of wetness hit her face, but she wasn't sure if it was a tear or a lone raindrop that had dripped from her drenched mane. With a shuddering breath she closed her eyes, not flinching as the thunder rolled above her head. The other participants had left long ago, returning to their lives. Luna had tried to insist on staying, but her elder sister had sent her back to the castle. She wanted to be alone, right now. Alone with her beloved student.
Twilight had been getting on in her years, and finally the lavender Unicorn had lost her battle with the disease that had been ravaging her body for last six months. The disease held no name, for it was nearly untraceable. It struck fierce and mercilessly. At only 65, her student had died. And now she was here, buried beneath the newly upturned soil of Canterlot. Her friends had come and sobbed along with her, her loyal friends. Celestia was determined to keep writing to them, even though she didn't see a point. Her pupil was gone, and she had taken her mentor's happiness with her.

Celestia finally opened her eyes against the rain that was pouring down on her and stared at her hooves. She'd lost far too many subjects for life to be fair anymore. The Crystal Empire had lost their leader long ago, leaving a single Shining Armor in her wake. Just last week, Fancy Pants had passed, and not long after Fleur de Lis decided to go with him. Suicide by guards, Celestia guessed. Fleur hated getting her hooves dirty, it was only natural she'd get somepony else to do it for her. Her lavender eyes glistened as more tears appeared in her ducts. She shivered slightly, her coat and long mane clung to her lithe frame, making her look bony and unkempt. She read the headstone time and time again, yet the words never changed no matter how much she willed them to.

"Twilight Sparkle
Amazing Mother, Student and Friend
Gone, but Never Forgotten"

She didn't know how long she stayed there, but when she snapped back to reality the rain had slowed into a steady drizzle. Her mane was soaked by now, and the cool water reached her scalp, making her shiver. Sitting there, she felt utterly alone, filled with defeat. It was her fault her student was gone. That fucking spell, why had she conjured it up, why had she taught it to her student? What was its purpose? To make ponies miserable, to steal lives? Celestia had no idea why she taught it to her, nor did she know why Twilight had tried to use it in the first place. Had she been angry at somepony? With a shake of her head, she groaned and lay down, not caring when the mud stained her white chin. Still she gazed at the headstone.
She smiled slightly. She could hear Twilight now, and she could  only guess what she would say.
"Tia, you should stop your moping, none of this is your fault!" She'd say, but Celestia argued with her beloved student's spirit. 
"No, Twilight Sparkle. It is my fault. You, only at sixty-five years, still some old fire left in you, are gone while I, an old ruler of thousands of years, am still here." She closed her eyes and screamed out loud. "HOW IS THAT FAIR?!" she screamed at nothing. Her scream disturbed a stray crow who was nesting in the tree about five feet from the headstone. The bird gave an alarmed squawk before unfurling it's wings and taking flight. The once great Princess of the Sun was bawling now, tears poured from her eyes, pooling around her mud-engulfed hooves. "Why, Twilight, why did you leave me! How many more dear friends am I destined to lose before I too am snatched away into the sweet abyss of death?" She asked nopony in particular. She raised her head to the sky and gave a blood-curdling shriek to the clouds.
Lowering her head, she breathed in painfully. "How, how can I end this? How can I possibly end whatever other challenges are thrown my way? No longer can I take this.." She said, getting shakily to her hooves, she continued her rant. "This pain and suffering, no more can I withstand!" She closed her eyes, taking long breaths. "There is... one thing I can do."

With a wave of her horn, Celstia levitated the huge steel doors to the castle. The door groaned as it swayed open slowly. The disheveled Sun Goddess entered the hallway quietly, though her hoof-steps echoed thunderously throughout the empty corridor that lay before her. She didn't bother to close the door, the wind would slam it shut before long. Making her way down the hallway, she glanced at the portraits that lines the walls. Her past students, her family, her friends. Their smiling faces glistened in the dim light that was being shone out of the few weak candles that were stuck to the walls. 
Celestia stopped and retraced her steps as she passed a significant picture, one that had always made her smile. It was picture of her and Twilight, about a year before she'd moved to Ponyville. The young version of Twilight, embraced in her mentor's forelegs. Both Ali and Unicorn had true smiles plastered on their faces. Wrapped in bright purple aura was diploma, which was held together by a beautiful silk golden ribbon that was tied in a magnificent bow. Looking passed the two mares in the picture, she studied her reflection in the glass and giggled at how she looked. There was mud smudged on her left cheek and her chin. Her mane was drenched and it clung to her shoulders. She laughed again before she backed away from the picture, feeling fresh tears pour onto her cheeks. With a small sigh she continued her journey past the smiling pictures until she finally made her way into the kitchen
The bright lights that reflected on the white tile floor stung her eyes as she walked in, causing her to squint her purple gaze. She nodded to the chefs who were heading home for the day and waited until they were gone before turning to the cabinet. In this very cabinet, the small wooden one that lay before her, held her escape. Her heart quickened as she thought this. The handle of the cabinet was wrapped in a golden aurora as she levitated it open and she closed her eyes when she saw her target.

The royal chefs were very particular about how the food was sliced for every breakfast, lunch, and dinner that went through the castle. Their tool that excelled at doing this? The thin-bladed cleaver that lay tucked in the drawer. Celstia looked in awe at the long blade as she levitated it out of the cabinet. The bright lights struck it beautifully, and causing the Princess' reflection to appear in the polished metal.

Celestia began having second thoughts. Could she really leave her subjects to suffer her loss? And her sister, oh what would Luna do? She shook her head, clearing away her doubt. Luna was strong, she would pull through it and take care of Equestria. She knew how to raise the Sun.
With a quick fluid movement, she slid the blade across her throat and immediately she felt the warm gush of blood her her neck. The cleaver clattered to the floor, and she went down with it. Her life flashed before her eyes, she saw her childhood, all of her playmates with Luna. School, her crowning ceremony, her cutiemark, her friends, Twilight, Luna.
How could she have done this, how could she have been so selfish?! She tried to scream for Luna, for somepony to come and save her, but no voice would come from her mangled throat. 
What have I done! I cannot leave my subjects, I cannot leave my sister, my duties! I swore to protect my country with my life, yet I have backed down! I am cowardly! I am-
Her thoughts were cut short as she felt her senses failing, she gasped for breath trying to hang onto life for as long as she possibly could. She felt her blood pooling around her body and staining her fur.
Luna... forgive me sister. I am so, so sorry...