Eternity's Curse
Once again, it was time for Luna's moon to rise. And Once again, the princess of the night and the princess of the day performed their sacred duties, Celestia's nightmare having been momentarily forgotten amidst the duties of being a princess and ruler of a country. It was fine by Luna, though, because she was certain that Celestia would be able to hold out for a while longer, or at least until they could both take a day off and relax without the troubles of the mortal coil getting in the way.
Once again, Luna found herself dream-walking after her night court, which was pretty barren tonight. Something about a popular sporting event, from what Luna gathered from her guards.
Luna scoured the dream realm for the tell tale signs of a Nightmare in progress, performing her duty as the Protector of dreams. She eventually found what she was looking for, wrapped up in the lavender aura of Equestria's newest Princess, Twilight Sparkle.
Wondering what could be troubling the young Princess, Luna willed herself towards Twilight's dreamscape, them merged with it. Opening her eyes, Luna found herself at a graveyard in the pouring rain. Curious, she looked around, looking for Twilight.
She found Twilight a short walk away, wearing her Tiara of Magic and a torc with the rest of the elements set into them. Twilight herself was weeping openly over five graves, each with a tombstone with the cutie mark of those buried under the earth carved into it. Luna listened as Twilight began to speak.
The lavender alicorn turned and looked first at the grave with the apple cutie mark and said, "I'm sure you would be proud of your family, Applejack. The farm is doing better than ever, especially since Apple Cider, Applebloom's great-great granddaughter took over. She's got a lot of good sense in her head."
She then turned and looked at the next grave in the line, the one with the three balloons engraved on it and said, "Your family is doing great, too Pinkie. Your great-great granddaughter, Surprise, got your hair and personality, that's for sure. She's a pegasus, though, so it's easier for her to throw a party for someone in Cloudsdale. Still can't figure out how she managed to inherit your Pinkie Sense, though."
She let out a sad little chuckle, then turned to the next grave, an image of three Diamonds embedded in it. "Your business is doing phenomenal, Rarity. Your descendant, Elusive, is just as good as you are at making incredible clothing for ponies. He's even expanded into making suits for stallions and some more... risque clothing. He's done a lot of good with the bits he's earned, too, helping out whatever charity needs the money. He's even opened up an orphanage just outside of Ponyville."
Tears were flowing more freely down Twilight's face now, as she turned to Rainbow Dash's grave. "It's incredible, but your family is still in the Wonderbolts, something all of your descendants have gotten from you, I suppose. Funny thing is... your mane colors only show up in male members of your family... So your great great grandson, Rainbow Flash is the only one who can do a rainboom now... He even managed to catch Celestia's attention by performing a Double Rainboom. He's now the Captain of the Wonderbolts, just like you were before you retired to live with Soarin."
The last grave had the image of three butterflies carved into it. It was here where Twilight very nearly lost all of her self control. She regained most of her composure and began to speak, "Fluttershy.... Everypony was shocked to find out that you wanted to marry a gryphon. It was surprising, but we were all very happy for you. Your decendants all have pink somewhere in their fur, or feathers, and they all have some gryphon blood in them, making them hippogryphs. Right now, Weshra is taking care of the animals in and near Ponyville. I hear she even managed to help an Ursa Major find her lost cub, even though she inherited your personality. The other princesses and I were shocked to hear that she put herself in harms way like that, but then again, she is related to you, so I guess that it isn't all that surprising."
Twilight then stepped back and laid down in front of the graves and wept openly, her heart breaking because her friends were all long gone.
"I-I miss you all so much," Twilight sobbed into the air, "It hurts so much to know that you all aren't here anymore. Even Spike isn't here as often because he's the Dragon Ambassador to Equestria...."
Luna, who was very close to tears herself, walked up to Twilight and lay down in the grass next to the weeping alicorn. She draped a wing over Twilight's back and pressed her side close to Twilight's.
"Twilight," Luna said softly, getting her attention.
"Does it ever get easier?" Twilight asked, "Losing ponies you care about, I mean."
Luna thought for a moment before answering, "No. It never does. Celestia and I have lost so many over the years, that it seems like we barely have time to grieve before someone else we care about is taken from us."
"How do you deal with this pain?" Twilight asked miserably, "Does it ever go away?"
"I'm not sure if it will ever go away, Twilight," Luna said, "But time does dull the ache. As for dealing with it, I tend to remember all the good times I shared with those I have lost. I remember the smiles on their faces as we shared our lives together. And I remember the love I felt for them."
Twilight lay there, silent for a long while, before saying, "Thank you, Luna."
"Anytime you wish to talk about how you feel, Sister Twilight," Luna said, wrapping Twilight into a hug, "Celestia, Cadence, and I are always ready and willing to talk."
As Twilight nodded her head, the dreamscape began to fade. Luna bid Twilight farewell, and left the fledgeling princess. Before she got out of the dreamscape, another shadow fluttered away from Twilight and out into the dream realm, puzzling Luna once more.