//------------------------------//
// Beginning of the End 
// Story: Counterclockwise 
// by AdrianJNovelle 
//------------------------------//

	The following day, Princess Cadence found herself in front of the Princess of Equestria, and, furthermore, being sainted as the new Princess of Equestria. Princess Luna gave her a brief but meaningful speech about her demise, and reasons for her resignation. She then politely lectured her on the responsibilities of running Equestria, for it was not as cut-and-dry as Princess Celestia made it look. Before her egress, Luna inquired if Cadence was confident about her success as the new Princess. Cadence gave her a bold affirmation. With that, although not usually one for affection, Luna gave her close friend a hug goodbye. She stepped down the stairs of the lobby of Canterlot Castle, and, of course, had to give six more hugs: one to each of the girls. She put her hesitation aside, for she knew that as soon as she exited Canterlot, she would not have to put up with so much tear-shedding affection anymore. 
"I'll miss you," Twilight said during their moment.
"Me too," was all Luna said in response.
Once all six hugs were completed, Luna finished her departure, as she ventured out in total silence into the great unknown. Everypony in Canterlot watched in silent amazement as she casually walked out of town. Their eyes remained on her until she disappeared. She shed not a tear, but simply kept straight ahead until she reached the Friendship Express station. Once she was aboard - and had a car all to herself - she burst into tears. She cried the whole trip, finally releasing all the pain and sorrow she felt in her broken heart. She lost her sister and her power as Princess. 
When the Friendship Express arrived at the last stop for the night, that's when Princess Luna stepped off and began her new life as a resigned Princess. She did not know where she was. But she soon found civilization after twenty or so minutes of traveling forward. Instincts brought her to a motel, where the receptionist recognized her and let her stay for free, as Princess. Luna wanted to explain her situation and insist on paying, but it was getting late, and she didn't want to conjure more tears. So she got her free room, and spent the night far from home. It did puzzle her how her presence here was not questioned. She figured any visit from the "Princess" automatically went unquestioned, for it was not the intention of anypony to intrude on the agenda of royalty. 
Royalty. Princess or not, Luna still was that: blood sister to the deceased Celestia. 
Tomorrow she would begin her new life alone.





Twilight had taken everything almost as badly as Luna. She was seen still in Canterlot the next day, the rest of her friends back in Ponyville, seated in front of Celestia's gardened tombstone. She sat right on the mushy dirt beneath her plot. She touched her hoof to the cold stone of the tombstone, across some of the most heartfelt words she ever read: Here lies Princess Celestia, a magical sister, friend, and the greatest Princess of Equestria, who shall never be forgotten for as long as these flowers bloom and this tomb remain.
A shadow came over the tombstone and hid away the message, catching Twilight's attention. She gasped and jerked her head behind her shoulders, only to find her sister-in-law standing silently behind her. Cadence could tell Twilight had been crying again, tears rapidly falling down her cheeks. She put her hoof to Twilight's shoulder.
"I'm having them watered every day," she said softly.
"What?" Twilight asked through her tears, sobbing.
"The flowers," Cadence clarified. "I'm having them watered every day. So they may always bloom, and Princess Celestia shall never be forgotten - not as long as I'm Princess of Equestria."
Twilight sniffled.
"Why aren't you back in Ponyville with your friends? Just saying goodbye to Princess Celestia one more time?"
Twilight turned her head back to the tombstone. "I don't know..." she paused. "But I probably should be heading back now, shouldn't I?"
"There's no rush," Cadence remarked. "You may stay in Canterlot as long as you like. This is a difficult thing to comprehend for all of us. I'm sure the others are feeling immense pain as well, but everypony mourns and grieves in her own way. And you have the freedom to pay your respects to Princess Celestia in any way you like."
Twilight sniffled again. She rose to her hooves. "I think I'm ready to go home now...the longer I stay here and mourn, the more I want to stay and cry." She turned around and hugged Princess Cadence. "Good luck with your new position," she mumbled. 
"Thank you, Twilight." She returned the gesture. "And feel free to return here whenever you like. It's not going anywhere. And, if you wanna talk, my door's always open. Your brother's door's also open, even though we both sleep in my room." 
They concluded the hug. "Give him a hug for me, will you?"
Cadence let on a grin. "Of course."
"Before I go...I was wondering why you were appointed Princess of Equestria...even though Shining Armor is a little older than you."
"Luna explained that to me before she left," the Princess affirmed. "Equestria is a matriarch constitutional monarchy. So since both Shining Armor and I are relatively the same age, and I'm the female, I technically outrank him. He is what Luna was to Celestia as he is to me, only a prince."
Twilight gave Cadence another hug, this one lasting considerably longer. Twilight was consumed with misery and woe over the loss of dear Princess Celestia. She began to feel alone, even though her sister-in-law was embraced in her arms, and her brother was now Prince of Equestria. That meant nothing. She and he were still going to hardly be seen, as they will spend the rest of their days here in Canterlot, and not in Ponyville where Twilight still intended to live. She refused to live anywhere which would put any more distance between her and her friends.
The hug finally concluded. "I'll be back soon," Twilight whispered. "I promise."
"I know you will. Shining Armor and I look forward to your visit."
With that, Twilight made her eventual egress out of Canterlot, to the Friendship Express station, where she patiently waited for the train to arrive and bring her back to Ponyville. She cried again when she was aboard. She could not help herself, for her life seemed to be coming apart at the seams. Princess Celestia - her own teacher and the former ruler of Equestria - is deceased, Luna not only resigned, but disappeared into the great unknown without a trace. What does she have not to cry about? Everything she knew was coming to an end. 
And it only worsened when she got back to Ponyville, and heard the big news about Rarity.
It was good news.
At least, from the eyes of the fashion diva herself, it was.
To others, it was not as pleasant.
"Where's Rarity?" Twilight asked after four of her friends (and Spike) greeted her at the station. She figured Princess Cadence let them know she was on her way via a letter through Spike.
"She's in Manehattan," Applejack answered. "Fer an impor'ant meetin'."
"A meeting? What meeting?"
"A business meeting," Pinkie Pie affirmed. "Hoity Toity saw all the dresses she made for Princess Cadence's wedding, and the funeral dresses she made for us for Princess Celestia's funeral, and he loved her designs so much that he invited her to a business conference."
"In Manehattan?" 
"Hoity Toity's crew live and work in Manehattan. Apparently only Hoity Toity himself lives in Canterlot."
"When will she be back?"
"That depends," Rainbow Dash began. "If Rarity's conference doesn't go well, she'll be back any day now. But if it does go well, she'll write us and we'll hear all about it in her letter when the time comes. We should hear from her by tomorrow night."
The letter came a little early. The following afternoon, to be specific. The mailmare came and brought the letter straight to Twilight, who promptly gathered the girls before they read it together.
Dear Friends,

The meeting was a smashing success! Unfortunately, they've asked that I temporarily remain here in Manehattan, and so I will not be returning to Ponyville right away. As I write this, Hoity Toity's associates are at work setting up a shop for me to sell my latest selection of clothing directly to the folks here in Manehattan. I'm afraid I'm putting hooves down on ground I don't want to be standing.

I will try to be home as soon as possible, and see if I can sell to Hoity Toity and his clientele from Ponyville. I promise that if I can't make it back, I will keep writing. Nothing can keep the six of us apart. Not money. Not Hoity Toity. Not even fashion.

Yours Truly,
Rarity

Everyone that moment shared the same expression of sadness and disappointment.