"Princess Celestia?" Tears poured down Twilight's face as she held the scrawny head of her beloved mentor. "Where did all the time you were supposed to have go to?" The words fell out of her quivering mouth, shaking with sobs.
"I don't know how this happened Princess. You were supposed to live forever!" A sob racked against her chest, her heart fluttered against her ribs like a trapped bird's wings.
"Can you help me stop this... this river of tears? I can't stop them, Princess." Princess Celestia heard her words as she drowsily closed her eyes, still listening, but her consciousness quickly fading. Twilight widened her eyes and cried even more, her tears dropping on the pale rainbow hair.
"I'm holding you close, Princess. I will keep you safe until you fly away. Raising the sun behind you." Twilight laughed weakly. "I don't know where my life is going to lead now. I've lost Rainbow, and that didn't work. Her life was supposed to save yours! Now I've lost two people? I don't know how to say goodbye! One lesson I never thought I would have to practice with you! Why did something so simple have to take you away from me?" More tears flowed from Twilight's eyes, soaking the Princess's face. Celestia's eyes opened partly, blurring her already dizzy vision.
"My dear student," she rasped. "You need to learn how to move on. After I'm gone, learn to laugh, instead of cry. You have other friends you need to support." She coughed. "You and I will meet again, my most faithful student. Don't say goodbye, Twilight Sparkle. We will meet in some place far away. Unknown," she said weakly. Her vision was blurring at the edges, her time running short. "I understand losing someone close o you is hard. I have lived for a long time, I have watched many of my loved ones disappear. Let my memory live on and give you strength." The sight of the violet unicorn was beginning to fade to black.
"But Princess... How do you say goodbye to someone you can't live without?" Her words faltered as the white alicorn in her arms let out a final breath, and didn't stir again. Twilight's violet eyes searched Celestia's face with fear, her breath increasing. Time slowed, and the room went silent. Princess Luna rushed over, and calmly said her goodbyes. Prince Blueblood was shaking Celestia's shoulders, while everything was slowly floating in the air. Blood rushed in Twilight's ears, and her vocal cords vibrated with silent screams. When time sped up, a bloodcurdling cry ripped from her throat, and guards were dragging her to the door. Twilight screamed until her throat burned.
At the funeral, one week later, Twilight Sparkle sat solemnly at her table. Many ponies stepped up and spoke for the Princess, including Luna, who had taken over the responsibility of raising the sun. Twilight was focusing solely on a vase, with a sun painted carefully on the side. When the celebrant stepped up to ask if anypony wished to speak any words, nopony answered. As the ponies were leaving, a weak voice cried out.
"I would like to speak." All heads swung to see Twilight, the pony who hadn't spoken since the death, climbing the stairs. The ponies returned to their seats. Twilight looked at the crowd, who loved the Princess as much as she had. She couldn't leave, lock herself up. She had to say her goodbyes and continue. She let the thoughts that were trapped in her mind pour out of her mouth, flipping herself inside out for everypony to see.
"Today is the day I finally say goodbye. After so many years, we have made so many memories. I never thought you would end. You never stopped believing in others, you were kind. You were smart, and loving. Your pretty face, your big eyes full of compassion. I held you in my arms that day, and now, there is nothing left to hold. You practically raised me, showing me love, compassion. It's time for you to rest now. I remember you complaining to me one day, saying how raising the sun is a job that has no day off. Well, Princess Celestia, you are resting now. There is nothing left to raise. Even though you've gone, you will remain with me. In memories. My mentor. My teacher. My friend. You have meant so much to me.
"Goodbye, Princess Celestia."