//------------------------------//
// - XXIV - 
// Story: Solem Perditum 
// by PropMaster 
//------------------------------//


- XXIV -





Celestia sat down in the grass, gazing out at the impossible replica of Ponyville. Light Stride sat down next to her, mouth still open in awe. After a few moments, he spoke. "It's so... still."

"A bit unnerving, isn't it?" Celestia said softly.

"Where is everypony?"

Celestia smiled. "If I have done my job properly, there should only be six souls within the town."

Light Stride frowned, tilting his head to look up at Celestia. "Only six?"

Celestia nodded. "Only six."

"Who?" Light Stride asked.

"I believe that you know, deep down, of who I speak."

Celestia stood up, stretching her wings, before walking towards the edge of town. Light Stride followed close to her side, his own light spell lighting the more immediate area. As they entered the town, Celestia noticed that many of the buildings were incomplete, hollow shells. Her knowledge of Ponyville was incomplete, after all. It existed as more of an ideal, she supposed. Light Stride appeared slightly unnerved by the oddity of the incomplete town, his home existing as only a shadow of itself here.

Celestia led him through the town, weaving between the buildings, making her way towards a particular location. Light Stride began to realize where they were heading, and chuckled quietly. Celestia glanced at him, her brow arching in an unasked question.

"I'm sorry, Celestia, but are we going to Sugarcube Corner?" he asked.

"Very perceptive, but I fail to see what's so funny," Celestia said, smiling.

"Well, um, it's been a long-standing joke within the guard about your love of sweets." Light Stride said, blushing slightly.

Celestia laughed. "You aren't wrong, but I assure you, my motive for going to Sugarcube Corner is beyond the need for cake."

Light Stride nodded. "Sorry."

"No need to apologize. I'd rather have my subjects laugh behind my back about my eccentricities, rather than be too afraid to speak of me at all." Celestia's smile faded slightly. "Underneath my regalia, Light Stride, I am still just a pony... and sometimes it is a lonely existence."

Light Stride had no answer to that. Celestia cast him a small smile, and continued towards the bakery.