//------------------------------// // Celestia's Lament // Story: The Definition Of Happiness // by Pwincess //------------------------------// She paced up and down the castle corridors, her slender and tall body exhausted. She was the picture of perfection and regality, the pony whom was a beacon to the mares, stallions and foals everywhere. She led them and made sure harmony danced throughout the land. She was Princess Celestia. She folded her glorious wings as she gave a short sigh. Her rosy cheeks were safely hidden amongst the curls of her translucent, rippling multi-coloured mane. Her white fur was a blanket of soft fresh snow. She truly was a majestic sight. What could a princess like her want more? She has her crown, her throne, her looks, her respect. Why were the streams of tears collapsing from her eyes to the golden embroidery of her carpets? Cloud Drifter let his wings fall and lift as he soared quickly towards Celestia. His Golden Horseshoe dropped in his rush, and he was forced to retreat for a moment to retrieve it before darting to the princess. "Your Highness? Are you alright?" He knew all to well that the constant, muffled noises were. It was the sound of a tearful sniffle, one that was caused by such a pony who refused to let others know she was slowly breaking down. "Y-Yes S-Sir C-CloudD-Drifter..." She whispered, her eye contact directly on the floor. She couldn't let him know... She just couldn't. "Then why are you crying?" "C-crying? The princess of the sun does Not cry." "Everypony cries, Princess. No disrespect, but I believe your being selfless." "T-that's g-good, isn't it?" "Yes, but not right now. Your majesty, you are not a machine built just to raise the Sun. You can cry, it helps." "I-if y-you I-insist..." And with that, she did. She cried and screamed, and found it did help. "Thank You, Cloud. Your presence calmed me down." "Think nothing of it. But what troubled you, Celestia- if I may call you so informally." "Do not worry. It's just... Lately I've been wishing I could be Somepony else... Without all the burdens and responsibilities. I want to know what true happiness is. The pain that I go through each and every day, Let it be no longer, Allow it all to drift away, Let it be no longer, Show me what happiness is, Show me if I can wield it, For long I've carried the burden of light, Now give me the darkness."