//------------------------------// // Tears and Victories // Story: Vengeance // by EquestrianKirin //------------------------------// The skies near Canterlot became cloudy, and blurred to the moaners, as the funeral took place. Many ponies from all over Equestria ventured out of their way in order to reach such a funeral. Among the crowd of ponies, the mane six all were up front alongside Celestia. Each pony there were sorrowful over the loss of their nightly ruler, but there also was a hint of confusion among the ponies: how can a god die?...well, they could only assume not all things are as they were thought to be. The many ponies, normally of many colors, were dressed in formal attire for such a sad event, the mane six included. While the colts wore black to brown tux, the mares wore similarly colored dresses as well. Almost every pony had their heads aimed towards the cold dirt, some of the mares already crying before...before the "guest of honor" arrived. As a large path was made, a group of six, grey colts walked towards the grave in front of the crowd. The object all of the colts were carrying was a large coffin, dark blue in coloration to symbolize whom was resting inside. The "guest", Luna, was laying on her back, eyes closed as if she was asleep. Her wings were folded in ever go gently, her front hooves close together as if the Alicorn was holding her heart inside her from escaping. Her once beautiful flowing midnight tail and mane, now loss of all its magic, reverted to short, light blue hair that layed out around Luna's head and legs. Celestia couldn't even bare to watch, as the coffin was, with the help of the unicorn magic, was gently placed down in front of the grave dug out for the deceased. The speaker turned to the crowd, as the old pony cleared his throat. "Our princess has done so much for us. Our dear Princess Luna had succumb many a struggle for as long as we can remember... May she -" before the speaker could continue, the princess of the sun raised her hoof to stop him, not looking towards the speaker. Her eyes were purely on Luna. Despite her sorrow, Celestia turned to the crowd of ponies, and cleared her throat to begin. "This pony was a brave, yet kind soul. She would never give into the face a doubt. This is a pony that will proudly take her own life for anypony else...Luna was banished, and yet still willing to help us anyway she could. She help make Equestria into the land it is today...*sniff* may she rest in peace..." Celestia broke into silent sobs, even the princess of the sun had a hard time taking in what's happening in front of her. Her faithful friend, Twilight Sparkle, walked over to the coffin, and placed her gift beside her in the coffin: a single blue violet, followed by a small sapphire, courtesy of Spike, whom was taking it just as hard as every other pony there. One of the ponies, an orange one named Applejack, had her cowboy hat over her chest in respect to their night goddess, as her friend, named Pinkie Pie, was balling in tears as the event took place. Celestia turned to them during this, tears down her own face, as she too took out something for Luna. The Alicorn, with her magic glow, lifted over Luna's crown, placing it gently and neatly on her head. Among every pony present at the funeral, Celestia was taking it the hardest of all of them. She and Luna had gone through so much together. The battles they faced, the laughs they shared, the sacrifices they made...She knew that one day, they would split apart...who knew it would be like this? With a sad nod of her head, Celestia turned away and sat down nearby as the colts covered Luna's body with a blanket, and closed the coffin up. The six colts proceeded then to place the blue coffin into the grave, making sure not to slip. The various ponies watched as the coffin was buried steadily and slowly into its grave...it was indeed a sad, sad day for the residents, and their living princess...then it was done. The funeral was finished. Time ticked by slowly and painfully, as more and more ponies went on home. It didn't take very long before Celestia and the mane six were the only ones left at the grave. Celestia had her head down to her hooves, tears still streaming down her face. Pinkie pie was still deeply baling over the grave, her normally big, puffy mane completely deflated and flat, as Applejack placed a hoof on her shoulder. Pinkie Pie looked to her like a sad kid, and hugged her in sorrow. Applejack then turned to the others. "I'm going to bring Pinkie home, if that's alright," Applejack said in a sad time. Twilight turned to her and gave a small smile. "It's okay Applejack..." With those words, Applejack began to head back alongside Pinkie Pie, whom was trying to wipe away her tears as they walked sadly away. Twilight then walked over to Celestia, a hoof placed on her wing, as Celestia turned to her with tear-filled eyes... "I don't know how it happened..." Celestia managed to say between choked tears. "It's not your fault, Celestia," Twilight assured, trying to cheer her up. But she knew all too well that cheering her up was close to impossible by then. "I coulda helped her...I was too late I...i...oh twilight!" The last part was brought out in a wail of sorrow, as she hugged her student, her cries nearly as loud as Luna's Canterlot voice. The ringing of her cries echoed throughout Canterlot castle, nearly every pony able to hear it within miles of the moarn...these same wails reached down to Ponyville as well, nearly all the ponies there looking to Canterlot castle with a sad expression on their faces... However, one particular pony had a devilish smile on his face, the cries being like pure music to his own ears, as if it was a symphony rather than mourning over the loss. "If only they knew...oh well," he thought, as he began walking behind the crystal rainbow castle. It's light gleamed in pure glory over a battle won. For many, it is a becon of pure friendship and love...but to the unicorn, it is his own treat. Licking his lips in anticipation, his red horn glowed a magenta of dark purple as a small magic beam was zapped at the base of the castle, a black spot zapped in place by his dark magic. The magenta on his own horn disappeared, but the magic placed on the castle was slowly starting to spread around, making the area in front of the unicorn close to pitch black in appearance, and was spreading quickly. The unicorn chuckled in his low, monotone voice as he literally walked through the dark magic with ease, as if there wasn't even a wall there to begin with, as the magic continued to spread around the castles base, climbing upward like a group of snakes coiling around a tree. ~~ It did take a while, but eventually the mane six did start heading back towards home, distraught from the experience at hoof. After all, the goddess of the moon is now dead, what's gonna happen now? The only ones who stayed with Celestia were Twilight and Spike, being the closest to her. Since Applejack and Pinkie Pie already left earlier, the ones together were Rarity, Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy, each one in deep remorse over the whole thing. Among them all, Fluttershy was the most heartbroken, being a kind-hearted pony, the thought of loosing someone alone was harsh on her, let along loosing one of the rulers of Equestria. Rainbow Dash, however, didn't want to show any tears. Being the strong hearted type, Rainbow wasn't one to completely collapse in front of death, not what the deceased would want. Although, it still hurt her quite a bit, despite her lacking much interaction with the moon goddess herself. Rarity, being around the middle when it came to the level of sadness, turned to Fluttershy. "There, there dear. It'll be okay," Rarity assured her friend. Fluttershy didn't say a word, not able to find anything to really say. Rainbow dash continued off ahead until she was able to get a eye view of the castle...the very sight of it stopped her in her tracks... It took a little bit longer before Rarity and Fluttershy noticed as well. They did see the rainbow castle...but the appearance of the castle was completely different. Just that morning, the castle was beaming with life, crystalline colors of the elements shining off its exterior in the sun of the world...but now, the castle looked more dead than alive. The entire castle now was completely black, and apparently looking drained. Each "branch" looked ready to collapse, and the base was almost completely surrounded by black crystals, jagged and menacing. The balcony was Alined with purple and green flames in symbolic respect to the invader that took hold. The light of the sun couldn't even penitrait the darkness that surrounded the new castle. They could also see the residents of Ponyville looking onward in confusion and fear, indicating that this change recently occurred, the ponies unsure what to do... "Rainbow, get Twilight please," Rarity said after a minute. Rainbow Dash didn't need to be told twice, as she quickly made a U-turn back to Canterlot castle. Whatever was happening here, it can't be good...