“...her beauty and generosity were unmatched and she will be sorely missed...” the old mare at the podium spoke softly.
Sat all around were ponies sniffling into silk tissues and wiping tears away as though trained to mourn. A professional and classy service; it would have been exactly what she had wanted. With sombre faces the procession continued as the next of kin magically adorned the cutie mark and name onto the headstone. The crystal stone shimmered much like her cutie mark had in life, brilliant as always. And with a gentle swish of the horn the writing was complete. ‘Rarity’. The ponies milled around for a while afterwards. Some spoke in hushed tones comforting one another others less kindly spoke business. The Princess however sat quietly by the headstone. She waited there long after the crowds had moved on. Only when the sun was due to set did a voice break the sad silence.
“Twilight, are you not coming to celebrate her life with the rest of her friends?” Celestia calmly spoke, her soft voice soothing to the ears, “I will be setting the sun soon. You shouldn’t sit out here alone at night.”
Twilight kept her dead hung low. “Not this time.”
Celestia placed a hoof on twilight for but a moment before leaving the saddened mare to grieve. She leapt into the air with grace and with her departure the last light of day glittered away beyond the horizon and with the sunset jewel like stars twinkled into life adorning the soon to be night sky. This night would be the loneliest night in Equestria.
For Twilight the next few days were long and unfulfilling. She had stayed in the Castle of the two sisters for some time now. Each day she would rise and sit at the balcony and stare across Equestria. From here she could see Ponyville and the fields of sweet apple acres, her palace and the Everfree. Each time she looked out she was reminded that she was alone. Each night she would slither back into bed and although she slept from early night till early morn she did not dream. There was no hope, no love and therefore no fear. And without these there was no dreaming. The palace guard and royal court members would pass by and offer condolences and bring her food but she had no appetite and no desire to socialise. With time the ponies of the palace became concerned.
One evening before the sun was fully set and before the moon was to be risen the sisters came to Twilight. She sat as always by the balcony, her eyes barely registering the view anymore, her heart no longer in awe of the magic of day and night. The sisters looked to one another neither able to offer the first word of comfort.
“Twilight?” Celestia eventually spoke her tone faint.
Twilight didn’t move, her chin resting on the railings, her mane falling over her eyes only shifting in the occasional breeze.
“Twilight, everything is going to be okay...” Celestia began.
“Okay?” Snarled Twilight, “Okay?! I am alone! There are no more elements of harmony! No more friendships to be made! No more adventures to be had!”
Celestia stepped back, unaccustomed to the snarl .
Luna bolder than Celestia stepped forward and plainly said” Twilight, it is normal to grieve but you cannot simply sit here for the remainder of your days.”
The Princess was up on her hooves and spun round to face the sisters. Her eyes no longer had a twinkle of life. Her figure though slim was tall and elegant but dark and her mane was long and even when still seemed to flow like soft waters. She raised her wings as she shouted in anger “No? Can I not? What else is there for me to do?! I am without my friends! I am no Princess of Friendship!” She calmed for a moment, “Now leave me be.”
The sisters filled with love and concern each placed a hoof forward. “Twilight at least join us to eat,” Celestia pleaded.
Twilight glared at the Princess of the sun. “There is nothing for me in this world. Why should I eat, I will only hunger. I will hunger alone. I need them! Don’t you understand? I am nothing without them!”
“That is not true Twilight, you have many more friends, are we not also your friends?” Luna clearly stated.
“You are not them!” Bellowed Twilight, “And nothing can bring them back now...” Twilights voice dwindled as her mind began to whir slowly into life.
The princess’s faces looked concerned, they could see something in Twilight that they knew was not right. They could sense a darkness falling over her heart. But they could not reach her, not comfort her.
“I could bring them back.” Twilight muttered “I could go to them...”
“You will do no such thing Twilight,” Celestia firmly commanded, “such magic is forbidden and way beyond that of even the greatest of ponies.”
Twilight was no longer listening, a twitch formed at her eye, plans forming in her mind. She knew the spells and she had plenty magic and she could find more within herself. She felt, no she knew, that there was a way to get to them, to find her friends, whether to find the place that is beyond death or travel to a time with them or to raise them to be by her side. There had to be a way.
Something sparked inside her, a burning desire, a grief driven power.
“Twilight!” Celestia ordered, “Do not consider dark things!”
“I will have them back!” Twilight sneered her thoughts now over taken by the grief and the anger of loss.
Celestia and Luna each stood to attention, prepared for the worst. “Twilight if we must we will constrain you.” Luna offered no comfort.
“I WILL HAVE THEM BACK!” Twilight heaved, her magic flaring out from her horn without thought.
Wave after wave of dark hued lights streamed from her horn, the sisters unprepared for the magic were flung out into the corridor, the waves streamed through the castle, beyond the balcony, darkening the very world around Twilight. As thought even though there was still the light it could only be seen through darkened glass. Each pony that this magic touched was filled in an instant with sadness. Time itself seemed to slow as though life itself were not fully living. The two sisters struggled to their hooves and tried to push forward through this magic to Twilight, each of them saying words of comfort that fell on deaf ears. And with each step they took the lights turned dark like thick smoke that choked the very land. There was no reaching Twilight.
In her heart Twilight felt a pang of regret, all this power inside of her, all this hatred and loneliness that was ever flowing from within her was setting her free. She felt powerful and safe. She had a plan, she had a hope, but the fuel was grief and it burned with a thick smoke inside of her. Twilight had to send them away; nothing could be allowed to stand in her way. She felt the magic within her, she knew the incantations, the sisters had no way to stop her, and they could not shield themselves from this magic. She sent them away. To a place that was not here, to a place that Twilight could not be certain actually existed.
In a moment she felt she could absorb all knowledge. But in a daze the moment had past. Soon the smoke cleared from her mind and she felt a resolution in her heart. She would find her friends again.
Night had fallen on Equestria. And with twilight a new reign had begun.