500 years.
Maybe it's today. Maybe when I open my eyes, I'll see Luna, Twilight, daddy, Sun Dancer, Moon Gleam, Lily Stone, and everyone waiting for me. In paradise.
Nope. I'm still breathing.
Celestia woke up in her bed. She really didn't want to get out. It was soft and toasty, too comfortable to leave alone. But, Celestia sighed and sat up.
"Maybe tomorrow will be the day..."
She stood up and walked to the restroom. She looked into the mirror. A beautiful, young looking mare stared back. She had a lustrous white coat and a flowing mane like a river of color. There were no wrinkles nor blemishes. Celestia frowned and snorted. She hadn't changed a bit.
Celestia walked over to a small picture frame of a dark blue alicorn mare.
"Good morning, Luna," Celestia said, "I hope you and daddy are doing well? Say hello to Twilight and everyone else for me..."
The photograph stared back, almost tauntingly happy. Like all those years ago, she felt jealous of her sister Luna. Back then it was over their names, but that was so long ago in darker times. It almost seemed like a fairy tale.
The days were very repetitive. Nothing different happened when she looked at the days go by and her heart still felt empty. Celestia was in her throne, tending to her usual business. A human boy and a unicorn mare approached her.
"Princess?" the boy asked, "Are you okay?"
"Are you that blunt?" said the unicorn in a hushed voice, "Her sister passed away not even a year ago!"
"Oh... Right..."
Celestia look down at her two pupils. David the human and Starlight the unicorn. Polar opposites, but the best of friends. She thought back to the time when she only had ponies as personal students, but now she always had two. One human and another a pony. How could she not, though? Humans and ponies have been living in Canterlot for centuries. It was hard to think that there was a time when humans were almost nonexistent.
"I am just weary with age, young ones," she replied with a smile. Celestia looked to the empty throne next to her and the smile almost faltered.
"You look as young as ever, Princess," said David. Celestia looked sadly at him. She knew that this was a compliment, but she couldn't help but feel worse.
"Teacher's pet..." mumbled Starlight.
"Hey!" said David.
Celestia chuckled. She forgot what it was to be like so young. Almost a thousand and five hundred years old...
"Why don't you two run along," she said, "I'll give you two the rest of the day off from studies. Don't worry about your old teacher."
David and Starlight beamed at her.
"Race you to the doughnut shop!" said Starlight.
"Loser buys?" asked David.
"You mean you buy!" Starlight said. They raced out of the throne room at full speed, their whole lives ahead of them, laughing and playing, saturated in the bliss of childhood.
Celestia was left alone at her throne, left to wonder how many more students she would see come and go before she too left. She could remember almost every student she ever took on, human and pony alike. Their time spent with her almost seemed like a second compared to the time she had been alive.
But here she was again.
Alone.
**********
1000 years.
"You're getting married to a human?"
"Yeah, so what?"
Two royal guards were at the gates to the palace in Canterlot. They, obviously bored, were talking about their lives at home.
Even though humans and ponies lived side by side everyday, in regards to marriage between them, there was still some issues. Being two completely different species, a human and pony were not 'compatible' and pregnancy was out of the question. But if two individuals love each other, who can say otherwise? Sure love was blind, some argued, but how hard did you have to close your eyes, others would ask? Never the less, it had become acceptable in this society to marry a human or pony. Just some old prejudice, but it wasn't a big issue.
"Well," said one guard, "I know that human and pony marriage is legal, but..."
"But what, Stratus?" the other said.
"Nothing," said Stratus, "If you're happy, then I'm happy for you, Silver."
"Good," snorted Silver Star, "Hey, did you hear the Princess had another tantrum today?"
"Yeah," said Stratus, "What was it about this time?"
"Same thing as last time," said Silver, "She said that 'she wasn't aging' and broke all the mirrors in the whole palace. Bad luck I'd say, but maybe she's hoping the bad luck would kill her."
"Well, I don't get why she's complaining," said Stratus, "Not aging and living forever? That sounds like a miracle!"
"You dummy," said Silver Star, "Her daughters just passed away.... Don't you get it?"
"What?" asked Stratus.
"Okay, so she doesn't age, right?"
"Right..."
"So," said Silver, "Think about it. The Princess has been on the throne for almost over two thousand years! And along the way, she's probably hooked up with a stallion here and there right?"
"Right," said Stratus.
"And she's gotta have kids at some point. So with that in mind, if she has a family and never ages..."
"Then she has to watch her family age and die while she stays young and beautiful..." finished Stratus, eyes wide in horror at the thought.
"Exactly," said Silver, "My father and his father and his father and as far as I can remember have served in the royal guard. And through all of those generations, Princess Celestia has stayed young and almost perfect the whole time."
Stratus gave out a long whistle. Suddenly the idea of immortality seemed less preferable.
"Wow," he said, "I.... I feel sorry for the Princess... It almost seems like..."
"A curse," said Silver Star, "I think it's time we be thankful for the time we're given and for what we have now."
"Truer words have never been spoken, my friend," said Stratus.
*********
3486 years.
Please let it be today. I don't want to get up. I don't want to see any more pass away. I just want my paradise...
Celestia opened her eyes and a tear fell from them into her soft pillow. She turned her body and faced a handsome stallion. He awoke soon after she did.
"Good morning darling," Celestia said softly.
"Good morning," he replied. They shared a kiss like they did every morning.
"Mmm, morning breath," said the stallion. Celestia giggled.
"So you don't regret everything we've done?" she asked, "Our quiet nights together, our marriage, or even our foals?"
"How could I?" the stallion asked, "You're the best thing that's ever happened to me."
"Even though you're not the first, Stormcloud?" Celestia said, "Even though I've had countless others-"
Stormcloud silenced Celestia with another kiss. They broke apart.
"How many times do I have to tell you?" he said, "Now it's my turn to have the most beautiful mare in all of Equestria. I love you and that's all that matters."
"Thank you," Celestia said, emotion running rampant in her aged heart, "I wish I could die with you..."
She got up and trotted over to a crib. In it were three young foals. Two fillies and one colt, each bundled up in a thick blanket. Moon Shimmer, Braveheart, and Lunestra were all sleeping lazily in the crib, occasionally kicking their small legs.
Celestia watched in wonder every time she looked at them. How could someone so cursed like her give birth to three beautiful children? How could she, even after over three thousand years of suffering, find love and marry? It seemed impossible that there were others before them. But how many children had she bore before these three? Countless foals had come and gone, each leaving a painful scar on their mother's heart.
After giving a tearful kiss to each slumbering foal, Celestia continued to the restroom. She started her usual grooming and stared into the mirror as she brushed her long mane. Still young and beautiful. No blemishes... Wait... No way. Really? No. It couldn't be! A trick of the light maybe!
Celestia screamed.
Stormcloud came bursting into the restroom. Behind him, Celestia could hear her foals, all woken up suddenly and crying for their mother.
"What happened?!" yelled Stormcloud, "Are you hurt?! Did something-"
"No, no, darling, look!" Celestia put her face close to his and was looking cross eyed to her forehead, "Look! It's... It's... It's a GRAY hair!"
Stormcloud blinked a few times and followed Celestia's gaze upwards. True to her word, there was a single strand of silver hair dangling from her head. Celestia was ecstatic.
"Storm, I'm aging!" she cried, "I'm actually aging!"
She kissed him deeply again.
"I haven't felt this happy since our children..." said Celestia. Stormcloud smiled. He should try everything he could to make her happier.
"Honey," he said.
"Yes?" asked Celestia.
"I think I even see a wrinkle," Stormcloud said.
"Really? Where?!" Celestia said bounding back up to the mirror. She was just about to check her face but her attention was drawn away. Her foals were still crying in their crib. She and her husband trotted out of the restroom.
Celestia magicked her three foals out of the the crib and started rocking them slowly back and forth. She gave one of the fillies to Storm and she held the two remaining. The foals immediately silenced at the warm embrace of their parents.
"Look children!" whispered Celestia. She knew they couldn't understand her let alone her happiness about it but she talked anyway. "Look. Mommy's got a gray hair! She's aging!"
"And yet she's as beautiful as ever," said Stormcloud.
The family sat together in the large room and spent their time quietly, soaking up the joy. To any normal person, a whole lifetime with your loved ones would be a long and happy one. But Celestia knew that this wouldn't last long.
But she didn't want to think about that. Not now when she was so happy.
**********
4980 years.
"Is there anything you need your Majesty?"
Stella was one of the servants in Canterlot castle. She was one of the human work forces as well. She worked along side pony servants to tend to the old Princess' needs.
"No, no, dearie, I'm fine for tonight," said Celestia, "Actually, be so kind as to bring me a mirror."
"Right away your Highness," Stella said in a quick bow. She rushed away but almost immediately darted back with a large ornate golden mirror. Celestia looked at her reflection. Yes, she was finally getting somewhere. Her mane wasn't it's normal vivid flow of color, but sliver. She had some of the wrinkles and creases that came with her age. Time had finally caught up with her and she was feeling it.
"Do you know how good it feels to see yourself age?" Celestia asked, "To finally see your body slowly withering?"
Stella looked uncomfortably sideways and rubbed her neck.
"Uh... I'm afraid I don't understand your question, your Majesty," she replied.
Celestia sighed and chuckled. Oh the ignorance of youth. How it had escaped her so many years ago.
"I don't expect you to know what I mean," said Celestia. At that moment however, a young stallion unicorn and a filly pegasus came bursting into the throne room.
"Mom! Dasher keeps bothering me!" the unicorn yelled.
"I just wanna show big brother my picture!" said Dasher.
Celestia looked down at her two children. Well, they weren't really her's. They were adopted, but she loved them all the same.
"What is all the fuss about?" asked Celestia in a warm smile. She left her throne and walked down to her two children. Dasher came up and sat between her legs.
"Comet doesn't want to see my picture I drew!" she complained.
"I was playing with my friends, Dasher," said Comet, "You didn't have to come keep pestering me!"
Comet and Dasher stuck their tongues out at each other. Arguing aside, Celestia thought it was adorable.
"Now now, if it make you feel better, mommy will look at it," Celestia said holding her filly close to her.
Dasher jumped in glee and held the drawing in her mouth. Celestia magicked it from her and looked at it. But she grinned. Of course.
"Um, Stella, dear," she said.
"Yes, ma'am?" said Stella appearing at her side, standing straight as an arrow.
"My eyesight isn't as what it used to be," Celestia continued, "Where did I leave my glasses again?"
Stella ran off to some obscure room in the palace but returned a second later holding a pair of red reading glasses.
"Ah, thank you, Stella," Celestia said, "You are always there when I need you."
"Always and forever, your Highness!" said Stella saluting. Celestia slipped on her glasses and stared down at the drawing.
It seemed to be a five legged hippopotamus with a horn and a horrible burn on it's back. Next to it stood a stick figure standing on three legs and it's head was on fire.
"Uh, honey," she said to Dasher, "What is this wonderful drawing about?"
Dasher again hopped up and down in happiness.
"It's you, mommy!" she cried smiling, "It's you and Stella! I drew it all by myself!"
Celestia looked back down at the drawing then to herself. Was she really that fat? She then looked at Stella and her vivid red hair. She giggled. Comet also took a look at the drawing, then to his mother, and burst out laughing. Dasher pouted.
"I think it's wonderful, Dasher," Celestia finally said, "And I'm sure your brother thinks the same." She gave Comet a firm pat on the rump.
"Uh... Yeah... It's great," he stammered.
Celestia gazed down at the two young ponies before her. She had a sudden rush of memory. She had a sister, too. Her name was... was... Luna. Celestia chuckled. How could she even have forgotten even for a second? Did she and Luna ever argue like this? Did they always get along? Well, there was that issue with Nightmare Moon... Celestia was brought back to the world by the sound of a loud yawn. She looked down and saw Dasher rubbing her eyes.
"I think it's time for bed," said Celestia, "Stella? Could you?..."
"Right away, ma'am!" said Stella, "Alright you two, time for bed!"
Comet and Dasher gave a tight hug to Celestia.
"We love you, mom," Comet said.
"Yeah, forever!" added Dasher.
Stella bustled them off to their rooms and into bed. Celestia sat there, aging and still empty inside.
Forever.
Celestia snorted.
************
5283 years.
How much longer? Couldn't be that far away now...
Celestia was in her private chamber with one of her servants. She was sitting in front of a white marble casket. She was old and she looked it. Her mane was white as snow with streaks of gray, her joints hurt, and her face was etched with the years of life she had endured through.
"Won't be long... Any day now," she whispered, "I can feel it in my bones."
"I wish you'd go and lay down, your Highness," said the servant. He was a serious looking earth pony who worried about nothing but Princess' health.
"Now, now, Stamp," chuckled Celestia, "You need to know how to lighten up. If my life has taught me anything, it's that you need to live for the here and now!"
Celestia gave a wheezy cough and shuddered.
"Please," said Stamp, "You need your rest. You are not what you used to be. Your son will be worried."
"And that is what I'm counting on," replied Celestia, "My age... And my son is old enough to rule this place himself."
She continued to stare at the casket. Or caskets. Their were two caskets here now. One of white marble and another of dark granite. The white was etched with the word 'Daddy' and the granite with the name 'Luna'. Celestia looked at them almost longingly. Soon... But... What was that? That over there... In the corner right there...? Celestia nodded in understanding and sighed.
"Stamp?" she said.
"Yes?"
"Be a dear and go make me some tea. My throat hurts again," said Celestia.
"Anything, your Highness," Stamp said. He turned to leave but was stopped by Celestia.
"And tell my son I love him very much," she said, "And that I will be waiting for him."
Stamp nodded and walked out of the room. Celestia closed the door quietly. She turned around and looked again behind the caskets. There was a dark shadow swirling in the corner. An ominous, tall figure grew out of it. It was hooded and in it's skeletal hands it held a small hourglass.
"Hello, Death," Celestia said in a slight smile, "What took you so long?"
The hooded figure let out a dry, rattling laugh. He approached Celestia and sat down next to her. She hugged him like she was embracing a long lost friend.
"So," said Death, "You've been waiting for a very long time, eh?"
Celestia laughed and leaned against Death. She could feel the bones underneath the cloak.
"Six thousand two hundred and eighty three years, four months, two weeks, five days, and thirteen hours I've been waiting," said Celestia, "My friend, I have been counting every hour."
Death gave out another dry, raspy laugh. He held up the hourglass. There wasn't a lot of sand left at the top.
"You know, I gotta say I'm impressed," he said, "Most of the punished would have given up after what you went through. Normally, they would beg me for a ticket to hell rather than watch their family die and die again."
"I had motivation," Celestia said, "Set my priorities..."
"I mean, I was there every time," Death continued, "Every time your husband died or when your child passed away, I was there. I even remember your sister. Oh how wretched you looked!"
Celestia frowned.
"And when your student, Twilight, died?" continued Death, clearly enjoying himself, "Do you remember her? Dear old Twilight, your most precious student? Oh I could tell you wanted to give up right then and there!"
Celestia bit her lip.
"I even remember Daddy..." said Death, "Oh how he loved you. And I knew how much it hurt for you to watch me take him..."
Celestia started to cry. Quietly, but still crying.
"I even remember your finest moment," Death continued, "They day you and Luna snapped." Death laughed again. "Oh man! I can see it like it was yesterday. A line of souls miles and miles and miles and miles long, each waiting for judgement, each asking 'why?'." Death slapped his nonexistent knee.
Celestia was weeping like a child. After almost six thousand years of suffering, none of the scars had left her. Even in her final moments, she could remember everything. You know how they say when you're about to die, your life flashed before your eyes? Well it does. And Celestia saw EVERYTHING.
"But let me tell you something, Celestia," said Death, "Your suffering and waiting, it's all worth it. All of it."
Celestia looked up into Death's face.
"Everyone of them is waiting," he said, "They all ask 'When's mother going to get here?' or 'Where's our teacher? Shouldn't she be here by now?'. They are ALL there, waiting. Just as you have been waiting here in this world."
The final grains of sands fell from the hourglass' top. Celestia suddenly felt very sleepy and warm. A smile spread across her aged face.
"Good work, Celestia," said Death, "You deserve this."
*************
Once again, Celestia found herself laying on a soft surface. It was warm, fuzzy, and extremely comfortable. Celestia didn't feel old. She didn't feel achy in her joints and her eyes didn't hurt. She opened her eyes to see herself on a small hill. Like a long lost dream, she was surrounded by a lush green vast field. She turned her head and found herself sitting next to her daddy.
"You did it," he said quietly, "I knew you could do it..."
"I'm so happy," Celestia said, "I made it through, didn't I? I can finally be with you, daddy..."
"No, not me," William said. He pointed into the distance. Celestia looked and she could see a large crowd of people. "Them. They've been waiting, Celestia..."
Celestia continued to stare at the throng of individuals. As she watched open mouthed and amazed, the crowd rushed towards her. Soon it was close enough to her and she could hear what they were saying.
"Mother! It's really you!"
"My love, you're finally here..."
"Mom! Mom!"
"Princess Celestia! Teacher!"
"You're finally here!"
Silent tears were streaming from Celestia's eyes. She could see everyone of them. Every lover she had ever had, every child she bore, and every student she had loved. She even saw a certain purple unicorn mare... They were all there... All of them.
"Sister! Celly!"
Celestia looked and saw her beloved sister. Still speechless, she was enveloped in the the crowd that was her family. It was the biggest family you would have ever seen. Countless children, lovers, students, two sisters, and one daddy. Celestia just sat there, taking in every moment of being surrounded by her elephantine family.
"Welcome home, Celestia," said her daddy, "Finally and truly, welcome home."
It was then and only then that Celestia was truly happy. She was finally content and after lost last, her heart didn't feel empty any more.
A patient and strong heart always reaps the most succulent fruits.
~End~