Discord leaned over the bed, front paws on either side of the creature in front of him. His son, he remembered. That didn't mean he had to like it. It didn't like him.
Slolwy, he lifted one paw, inching it towards the peaceful cub-kit-foal-thing. As soon as he was within touching range, the dragonequus's head shot up, teeth bared and growling. Discord pulled his hands back, stumbling as he pressed up against the wall.
Inching away, the new father tried to look unthreatening. Still, he could hear the growling long after the cub-kit-foal was hidden from sight.
Discord slumped to the floor with a sigh. This was not going the way he planned.
Tigerjay was holding Sunrise under one wing as they stood in the doorway. Luna was sprawled on the bed in front of them, parts of her coat shaved off where tubes and needle pricks showed.
Her skin was discoloured all the way up to her knees and parts of her wings. There was a good chance that not only would she be grounded, she wouldn't be able to walk, either. And she still wouldn't wake up. And even more disturbing, her sparkling mane had gone dull and dark, still billowing gently, but not in a way that looked alive.
"What can we do?" Sunrise whispered, breaking the deathly silence. "Is there anything that might help?"
"This is beyond us." The nurse replied, her soft gaze filled with hidden tears. "If the frostbite has gotten deeper than we thought, then she'll be leaving us sooner rather than later. She's barely alive as it is."
No, Luna thought, only hearing sections of words. I'm alive. Can't you see? Make me better... please... I don't want to die... I can't leave Crimsonleaf alone...
"He's not alone." Luna's eyes opened. She was standing, across the room from Sunrise, Tigerjay and the nurse, and could clearly see her mane and tail solidifying on the body between them. The Queen turned, expecting to see another pony, some kind of friendly face for the last breath.
It wasn't a pony. It was a dragon, bent over in order to fit in the large room, scales reflecting in the colours of night and peace. "He's not alone." She repeated. "He has his friends."
"I can't leave him! I can't leave Ponyville! I can't leave my son!"
"Your son is in good hooves, Luna. The ponies here will care for him long after this point. His father, despite the mutual hatred the two seem to share, won't leave him alone either. Everyone's safe, Luna. Nopony is alone."
"How is this going to turn out?" She asked, trying to block out the cries of the yougn dragonness as she shook her Queen's limp shoulders, ran her claws through blue curls of mane... "What's going to happen to Discord, and the Dome, and nothing? Isn't there something I can do?"
"You already have done something." The dragon whispered. "You gave birth to the Seventh Element. You've done so much, Luna. Now it's time to let someone else do their part."
And she rested a paw on Luna's shoulder. Reality twisted and folded, turning into colour and light, images flying by as the two silently teleported. And when they stopped, Luna was alone.
"There's nothing you can do." Tigerjay whispered, holding Sunrise off of the body of the Queen. "She's gone to a better place now."
The procession led through the main streets. Everypony was dressed in black, standing at the sides of the road as a set of ten ponies, Earth, Unicorn and Pegasus alike, walked through the center. They were dressed in complete armour; the Pegasus in gold, the Unicorns in silver, and the Earth ponies in bronze. Behind the coffin bearers, another group walked, head up and coats cleaned. Tigerjay, Sunrise, Squishy, Chibi, Applesauce, Scootaloo, Crimsonleaf - dressed in golden Regalia, and Discord, who, despite his magic returning, was behaving. None spoke, simply following the coffin bearers, trying not to look at the ponies on the sides. Sunrise wasn't looking up from her feet, despite gentle nudges from Tigerjay.
As the coffin entered the central crossroads, a trio of Pegasi shot down from the roof, glowing batons in their mouths. As they sped up, the batons began emitting dust, floating in the air and sparkling like stars. Dropping the batons down to the ground, the Pegasi split apart, making individual loops before combing at a three-way spin. There were a few moments when the air itself was still, and everything was silent, before the trio broke the sound barrier and an echoing crash emitted from the sky. Streaks of silver, blue and black orbited away from the breaking point, hiding the trails of the Pegasus as they landed, their heads bowed in respect.
Rainbow Dash had requested that these same fliers would put on a show at her funeral. They were much younger than, faster, stronger... but the Wonderbolts were more than willing. But unlike Dash's show, there was no cheering as the sound barrier was broken. There was just noise.
Sunrise helped the Pegasus lower the coffin, her tiny wings straining to try for flight. This wasn't the queen any more. This was just another gravesite.
Crimsonleaf was looking down at the shimmering Regalia around his neck, seemingly lost in thought. He had a good reason for thinking. His mane hadn't changed. He wasn't King.
And Tigerjay didn't have the heart to tell him why.
The clouds shuddered before letting white flakes float down to the ground, just enough sunlight getting through to set the snow sparkling. And in this harsh, beautiful world, there was silence.