//------------------------------// // 402. The Year of the Bleeding Sun: Peace by Knight of Cerebus // Story: The Sun and the Stars: A Twilestia Prompt Collab // by Fuzzyfurvert //------------------------------// by Knight of Cerebus *** Stage Five: Acceptance The dwindling days of The Year Of Bleeding Sun were renowned for their quiet. The crops grown with the mysterious magic tide that swept down from Widow’s Peak three weeks before the traditional Running of the Leaves period were tough and low in nutrients, but so plentiful were they that the citizens of Equestria were able to eat in peace. Where once a screaming mountain filled with dark magic and the voices of dead ponies had stood there was now a small, simple dome coloured like ivory. Diplomats began talks on how to rebuild the broken societies spread across the rejuvenating land, with Princess Luna at their helm. The ocean’s ever-shifting and abruptly violent tides drawn left and right by an erratic and madness-driven sun were tamed under the careful eyes of a hundred scholars working in unison. Ships soon sailed cautiously towards Equestrian shores, driven by desperation and hope. At last a country that had prior been at its very limits to survival was regaining its strength. In the chaos that was a return to order, nobody thought to look for the architect of the horrors Equestria had endured in that time, and so nobody noticed when-- The book abruptly slammed shut, jolting its reader out of the dark chapter of history that had gripped her for so long. A pair of alabaster hooves tucked the tome safely under the dark blue wing of the pony who had first spread its pages. Said pony found herself staring into the violet eyes of the simple white earth pony standing in front of her. “Principal Skies?” The earth pony chuckled at the pegasus’s confusion, a familiar smirk writ large across her face. “There are better places to read than in the middle of a hallway, you know. After the third near-collision I had to make sure none of my students ended up ramming the equine roadblock that had set herself up outside my door. Tell me, what book is it that has captured your interest so?” Ancient Wing grabbed the tome in her mouth, then transitioned it to one hoof and held it out to Principal Sunny Skies, her eyes showing an odd mix of pride and embarrassment. “Mrs. Dusty Shores suggested it for our history reading. I never knew we had three Princesses before. It’s so strange to think how troubled Equestria used to be! I think if we read more about how hard it used to be we’d be more grateful for what we have now.” Ancient’s eyes fell when she saw the look of sorrow that ghosted across Sunny’s normally-beaming face. “I’m sorry, did I say something wrong again?” Sunny waved a hoof. “No, dear, it’s just that it’s not a very happy story. I’ve studied Princess Twilight Sparkle extensively, and her story should never have ended with such an insult to her memory.” She gave a bitter grin. “Ironic that the thing she loved most in the world was what finally brought ruin on Equestria.” “I was wondering about that, actually. What happened to her afterward? Princess Celestia, I mean. I’ve read the book four times now and it never mentions what happened after Luna nursed her back to health. Just a bunch of guesses. Do you know if there’s another source that has the full story?” Sunny paused for a moment. “Nopony knows what became of Celestia after that, and I imagine she likes it better that way. If I were her, I would have wanted to put all memory of what she did and who she was behind me.” Sunny put a hoof to her chin, then shook her head. “But I can tell you what I imagine happened to her after that. I have a few theories of my own. Of course, a principal is hardly a tenured historian, so take it with a grain of salt.” “I’m listening.” Ancient stood straight and attentive, the curious look in her eyes capitalizing on the bittersweet reminder. Sunny smiled a gentle smile that would be an instant giveaway to those who had known her by a different name. “I think she left to wander all Equestria in another form, carrying the memories of her old life and trying to live by the example of those she had lost. I think she would have wanted to let their memories be cherished, not forced on others, and release what she felt in simple, loving gestures, never staying for too long in one place. I think she would have lived the way Twilight would have wanted her to, and made sure to live up to her memory, rather than being consumed by it. I think she would have liked it better that way, and I know that that is probably the best end to such an awful story that I can think of.” Ancient Wing shook her head and smiled. “And there’s not a shred of evidence to this theory, is there?” Sunny merely winked. “Like I said. She probably likes it better that nopony knows the real truth. Now if I’m not mistaken…” Sunny tapped a hoof to her chin, a fiendish smirk forming across her face. “You’re about five minutes late for class already. Tell them I stopped to have a chat. I’m sure they’ll understand.” Ancient’s eyes widened, and she pushed the book from her hooves to her schoolbag with lightning fast reflexes her gym teacher would be frustrated to learn she actually had. “Thankyougottagobye!” The indigo pegasus charged away from the office in a blur of feathers and dust. Celestia waved away the aftermath of her awkward student’s panic with a hoof, then walked back to her office. She turned to the portrait of Twilight Sparkle on the wall beside Luna, Cadance and Spike and gave the most bittersweet of smiles. “The best end I can imagine.” Her voice grew soft and fragile. “Thank you, dear. For everything.”