Twilight is killed and Celestia tries to recover from the loss
One year after her coronation, Princess Twilight Sparkle is dead, killed by her own subjects out of fear and jealously. After the funeral, Princess Celestia isolated herself from the world, mourning the loss of her brightest student and daughter figure.
But she cannot weep forever. She must take control of her duties once more. Haunted by the memories of the assassination, and its aftermath, Celestia slowly makes her way to Twilight's resting place to find some closure.
Celestia could remember the first book she had ever given Twilight Sparkle. It was on the day she had arrived at the castle for the first time, when their tour directed the pair towards the Royal Library. Celestia had known foals, and even adults, that were eager to learn and read, but never before had she seen a filly jump all around, cheering and dancing at the notion that all of the books were hers to read whenever she wanted. When Twilight couldn’t pick which book to take out first, Celestia just picked something at random and brought it down for her new apprentice: Star Swirl the Bearded’s Guide to the Arcane Arts.
Since then, Star Swirl had been Twilight’s favorite historical pony. The little unicorn Celestia had taken under her wing had read the book in three days. By the end of her first year in the castle, Twilight had read it over a hundred times. There had been many books after that, with more Advance studies, but Twilight never stopped reading that one book over and over. When Celestia asked her apprentice one day why she always had that book, Twilight replied, “It’s the first gift you’ve ever given me. I’m always going to treasure it forever!”
That was when Celestia knew her relationship with Twilight Sparkle would be special, and she was right. She had taken many apprentices throughout her one thousand years of solitary reign, and each was special in their own way. Yet Twilight was different from all of them, a fact that she proved time and time again. Twilight was destined to change Equestria, in ways that not even Celestia herself could have done. Every task Twilight had been given she had conquered: Nightmare Moon, Discord, Sombra, and more. And then Twilight had done the impossible, something even Star Swirl had tried, but failed.
She became an alicorn, a princess of Equestria. She had achieved her destiny and was ready to bring about the change the nation needed so desperately. For too long, they had been stuck in the old ways and, despite Celestia’s efforts, most ponies were content with things staying the same. However, this couldn’t last forever. The dragons were beginning to unite again, something that hadn't happened in nearly eight hundred years since the last dragon civil war. The griffins were becoming more technologically advanced, using science and machines to now be able to perform feats once thought only possible with magic. There were even whispers from sailors that journeyed far into the Western Sea, telling stories of new lands with their own civilizations. The world was changing, and if Equestria was to successfully adapt to the future it would need to change along with it.
Twilight was the only possible pony who could have helped Celestia set the foundation for this. Luna, despite her fast learning, was still adjusting to modern society and politics. Cadance, although young and strong, was too busy helping her new kingdom rebuild after being gone for a thousand years. No, Twilight was the only one capable of helping her usher in a new age. Her faithful student had experienced both the noble and common way of life, she had befriended other species outside of her own, and she had friends who had shaped her into a better pony with virtues and ideals.
Celestia, resting on her bed, stared at that first book she had given to Twilight, a book that had seen better days, yet held so many memories... memories that now brought nothing but pain. Celestia’s tears fell upon the book that served only to remind her what she had lost; what they had all lost.
If she had known Twilight’s fate after her ascension into alicornhood, what her own subjects would do upon learning of a fourth alicorn and a new leader, she would never have sent that spellbook to Twilight. Her now departed student would still be in Ponyville, happy and content with her new friends, instead of being in the memorial gardens in eternal sleep. Five mares, some of the bravest and most compassionate ponies she had ever known, would still have their best friend. A baby dragon would still have his mother. A family would not have had to mourn for the loss of its youngest. And Celestia's eye would not be teary-eyed and bloodshot.
In the midst of her sobbing, she heard the front doors of her bedchambers open. She knew who it was, the same pony that had visited her every night since the day of the funeral. Princess Luna closed the doors and sighed, looking upon the ruined pony that she called older sister. “Celestia, this has gone on long enough. You have sealed yourself from the world for four months now. Have you not mourned enough?”
“I will finish mourning when I finish, Luna,” whispered Celestia, turning away from her sister’s sympathetic gaze. “Leave me. I wish to be alone.”
“You have said that every day and night since the funeral,” said Luna, stepping forward. “I cannot take care of both courts by myself forever, Sister. You must return to your duties.”
“I raise the sun still. Is that not enough?” replied Celestia narrowing her eyes at her younger sister.
Luna calmly placed her hoof on Celestia’s shoulder, but the elder alicorn pushed it away. “Sister, our subjects worry for you. They ask me every day if you are well, wishing you the best. Many beg your forgiveness while others fear you have killed yourself in grief. Will you not at least make one small appearance, just to ease their concerns?”
“Why should I?!” demanded Celestia, standing up on her bed. With eyes wrathful as a storm from the seas, she glared at the city of Canterlot and hissed. “Why should I care for subjects whom I have given everything I've loved only to have it all rejected and spit on?! Why should I care anymore for their endless quarrels or their demands for happiness when they take my own?! It’s all their fault that she’s dead!”
“Sister! Enough!” demanded Luna, growling. “The ones who assassinated Twilight Sparkle lie in their graves as well as those who conspired with the plot! You saw to their executions yourself! Besides, not all of our subjects hated Twilight and her policies; there were many strong supporters! You cannot blame them all for her death!”
Celestia screamed as she pointed her horn towards one of her windows and unleashed a beam of energy, shattering it into pieces. The guards outside her chambers ran inside, weapons drawn for any danger but upon seeing no danger, and with Luna quickly calming them, they bowed and soon went back to their posts. When it was just the two of them again, Luna slowly walked toward her big sister and hugged her from behind. Celestia, silently crying, closed her eyes and muttered, “I should have done something. Anything to help her. But just like with you, I failed to protect her.”
“There was nothing you could have done," whispered Luna, holding back her own tears. “You cannot always change the hearts of ponies.”
“I just don’t understand it...” said Celestia, lowering her head. “She had such big plans for us all. Equestria would have benefited from her actions in the years to come. How could they do this to her when all she wanted was to give them a better future?”
“Her plans were radical. They would have changed everything,” stated Luna, as her sister stared at her through tangled locks of unwashed mane. “The nobles could not stand the idea of losing their power and sharing it with the commoners. Twilight wanted our nation to be more tolerant of the other races, something our more xenophobic subjects never could stand for. Even the idea of adapting to more technological forms of life instead of magic was outrageous to them. In the end, they feared change, Sister.”
“But why?! I supported them!” shouted Celestia. “I was there for Twilight all the way even others of high influence like Fancy Pants, the other Elements, and several of the most noble houses in Canterlot supported her! Even if they didn’t trust her, they could at least have trusted me!”
“You know the rumors they spread around," said Luna.
Celestia’s horn flashed, her magic sending gifts from friends and lovers many years ago across the floor and scattering them in a jumbled mess. “I was not being manipulated, nor was I in any danger of being overthrown! How could they even say such horrible things about Twilight!” She fell to her stomach and shook her head before burying it into her hooves. “This wasn’t supposed to happen. None of this...”
“Tia...” Luna knelt down and wrapped a wing around her sister. “You and I know that destiny is never set in stone. Choices we make in life, as well as the actions of others, change the future into paths we can never foresee.”
“But to kill Twilight...” muttered Celestia, wiping her tears. “I still should have done something. Prepared her better, given her better guards. Maybe I should have never let her become an alicorn or a princess to begin with.”
“You did all that you could, Tia,” assured Luna. “Nopony could have predicted this.”
“But I promised her, Luna... I promised her...”
***
They kept coming. Over and over again like an endless storm. Celestia had known that some of her subjects would not take Twilight’s new position so easily, but she had never expected this sheer scale of backlash. Ever since the coronation, the amount of negative responses had only increased overtime. Not just from the nobles, but from the commoners as well. Thankfully, there were still those who favored Twilight’s new title, but they were simply not as vocal, nor as annoying, as the opposition.
The only good thing was that the letters she kept receiving were good for kindling her fireplace. When she threw another pile of them into the flames, a knock on her door alerted her of a guest. “Come in.”
Turning around, she saw the seven month experienced Princess Twilight Sparkle slowly enter her chambers. Celestia was ready to greet her student, now equal, when she noticed the frown on Twilight’s face. Sighing, Celestia got up and wrapped her wing around her student, letting Twilight rest her head on her regalia-free chest. “Bad day?”
“Yes...” whispered Twilight.
“Do you want to talk about it?”
“... Can we just hug first? I could really use a friend.”
Celestia guided Twilight to her bed, where the two of them embraced each other in silence. It brought the experienced ruler back to their early years together, when she was simply a motherly figure comforting a little filly unicorn who had a bad dream or missed her family. Even if Twilight was no longer the young, naive pony that she took in years ago, she would never deny her student the warmth of a loving hug.
The two of them continued to hold one another until Twilight slowly moved her head from Celestia’s chest and shook her head. “I don’t think I can do this, Princess Celestia. All the looks I get, even when I’m acting nice to them. They just don’t trust me like they do with you. It’s even worse when you give me your court to rule. The things they say about me, both behind my back and in front of my face...”
“Twilight Sparkle,” said Celestia, nuzzling her cheek. “I am not as loved as you might think I am. Even I have political enemies who say things about me. Don’t let these foalish attempts to get under your coat bother you. It will pass in time.”
“I know, but...” Twilight sat up from the bed and made her way towards the balcony, looking down at the land she had protected for so long. Not too long ago, she was living here, learning about a prophecy of great disaster. Now she was ruling her home, and the rest of her country, equally with two others after all her accomplishments. “Sometimes I think I’m way in over my head. I know this is my destiny, and that you said I had the potential to be great. I want to be as great as you, to do my best for all of Equestria.” She rested her head on the railing and closed her eyes. “I just wish I knew what to do to get them to like me. I’m not trying to overthrow you like they say, and I wish they could see how good my ideas are for all of us. I trust you when you say I deserve this more than anypony, but sometimes I wonder if I can really do this? Can I really be a good princess?”
Celestia joined her student, side by side, and looked down at the city she loved, filled with ponies she would die for. “I know how you feel, Twilight. When Luna and I came into power, after our parents' passing and Discord’s imprisonment, we were looked upon with distrust as well. It took many years, and I went through some horrible times.” Twilight looked at her mentor, who gave her a smile. “But Luna and I were there for each other, and we had our friends there for us when we needed them. In the end, we won the hearts of our subjects and together we can do the same for you. There are many out there who know you are a savior of Equestria, and that you have the potential to do even greater things. You have me, your friends, and your family who will be behind you all the way. We will protect you, Twilight. I will protect you.”
With teary eyes, Twilight hugged her mentor. “Thank you...”
Celestia could only smile and nuzzle the top of her student’s head, careful of the tiara she wore. “What do you say the three of us princesses go to Ponyville and hang out with your friends? Just us and nopony else?”
“I would love that, Princess Celestia,” replied Twilight with a beaming grin.
The two princesses went back inside and soon began to talk about their plans for tomorrow, away from the world of politics.
***
Luna, wiping tears from her eyes, watched as her sister walked over to her dressing cabinet and levitated a frame off from the top. It showed the recently turned alicorn Twilight with everypony she ever loved by her side, posing for a photo during the coronation party. Everypony looked so happy and so full of life, an opposite of what they were all feeling now.
“I promised her, Luna. I said everything would be okay and that I would protect her,” said Celestia as her tears dripped onto the photo. “And I failed to keep her safe. I let those monsters kill her under this very roof!”
“So what will you do now? Waste away in this room forever?” demanded Luna. “You are still a princess, Celestia, and you have gone through loss before, just like I have. We must be strong and move on. If not for our sake, then for our subjects. I know this hurts—”
“YOU KNOW?!” shouted Celestia, using the Royal Canterlot Voice that caused the remaining windows to shatter. “You know nothing of what I am feeling, Luna! She was more than just an apprentice, more than just a friend, she was a daughter to me!” Levitating the crown off her head, Celestia threw it as hard as she could against the wall. Despite the force it was thrown with, it didn’t shatter, and bounced off without a scratch. “And as for my so called subjects and being a princess it can all go to Tartarus! Let somepony else raise the sun! Let somepony else guide a bunch of ignorant, paranoid masses into whatever forsaken future they want! This pathetic crown has done nothing but make me miserable with every loss I have suffered! How much more must I give to this position before I am left with nothing? I’m tired of having my duties ruin my life, Luna, and I just want—”
The sudden strike against her cheek echoed across the room. It took Celestia nearly a minute to figure out that her younger sister had slapped her across the face. Slowly turning towards Luna, she immediately stopped upon seeing the icy glare that sent shivers down her spine.
“How dare you,” muttered Luna. “How dare you say that I do not feel the same pain as you do. Twilight Sparkle was more than just a friend, but the first friend I had after a thousand years of isolation. When all other ponies feared me, she trusted me and helped me win back their respect. She helped me become a better pony by learning about the modern world, and never once gave up on me. She listened to my fears, my hopes, my dreams, Celestia. She may have been a daughter to you, but she was a sister to me!”
For the first time in her life, Celestia felt insignificant and small against her younger sister, who stomped her way forward. Celestia fell on her rump, slowly shuffling herself back until Luna towered over her before continuing to speak. “And how dare you name our role as the rulers of Equestria pathetic. The only one being pathetic is you, Sister.” She gritted her teeth. “Do you choose to forget the promise we made to mother and father as they slowly died in front of us? How we would rule with love and wisdom until the time came for our burden to end and join them? I know this is a burden, Celestia! Believe me, I know more than anypony how much we suffer to keep Equestria safe. Yet if you give up now then you will have shamed not only our family, but all those who loved and trusted us. You will shame Twilight Sparkle, who always had faith in you no matter what.” Luna levitated Celestia's crown back towards her. “Will you disrespect her by allowing yourself to be locked in this room, whining about how miserable your life is? Or will you take that crown once again and become the princess that all love and respect; the sister I love and respect?”
Celestia stared at the crown. She wanted nothing more than to toss it into the sun and run away from everything. However, she knew Luna was right as a tear fell upon the cloud that she held with weak hooves. If her parents, or even Twilight, were to look at her now, they would indeed be disgusted by her actions. Taking the crown with her own magic, Celestia put it on her head and sighed. “Luna, I’m so sorry.”
“Don’t ask for forgiveness, Tia,” whispered Luna, holding her hoof out and helping her sister up. “We are not invincible gods, but ponies who feel such sorrow in dark times. Such thoughts even plague me once in a while.”
“But what do I do, Luna?” asked Celestia, starting into her sister’s eyes. “What do I do now?”
Luna was quiet for a while before she replied, “Go to her, Tia. Go to Twilight Sparkle and say the goodbyes you should have said four months ago.”
“I...” Celestia hesitated to answer, but slowly nodded her head. “Yes... I will. I just... I just need some time to prepare myself.”
Making her way towards the door, Celestia stopped and quickly levitated Starswirl’s book to her side, hoping Luna didn’t question why she was taking it. Celestia left the room and closed the door, but as she journeyed down the halls, she swore she heard her younger sister crying.
If Celestia had been in a better mood, she would have found the reactions of the castle’s staff humorous. Many had wiped their eyes or slapped themselves to make sure if they were really seeing their former isolated princess walking among them. Nevertheless, bowed before her and made sure to stay out of their way. Nopony spoke to her, either out of respect or fear, but it didn’t matter to Celestia. She was in no mood to talk to them, and instead focused on making her way out of the castle. That was until she arrived at that place.
She stared at the purple double doors decorated with a bright lavender star and smaller white ones in the center. By their side were flowers and candles, offerings to the soul of a princess who not only once slept in these chambers, but also died inside them…
***
Fear can make one behave, or think strangely, even the most rigid of ponies could fall victim to such emotions. Princess Celestia, to her credit, rarely ever felt fear. Yet even she wasn’t a god. She had the same feelings as any normal pony on the street, and fear was no exception.
The moment she heard the words uttered from the terrified guard’s mouth, everything around her suddenly ceased to exist in her mind. Not the confused and terrified subjects in her court. Not the dozens of guards scrambling to their superiors for orders, all of which were to immediately lock down the palace. Not even her sister, tears streaming down her face, was in her thoughts when she blazed down the hall as fast as she could.
The only thing in her mind was the words the guard uttered:
“P-princess Twilight has b-been m-m-murdered!”
Celestia denied it in her heart. It was not possible. Inconceivable. Not in her castle. Not in a time of peace. Not her Twilight. She had to be asleep still. It was early in the morning and she had to have been up all night like always. It was a mistake. She wasn’t dead, just asleep.
She reached the hall that housed Twilight’s room and saw ponies crying in each other's hooves as guards tried to clear them away. Even then she still denied the idea that Twilight was dead. There had to be a mistake. This was not supposed to happen. Everypony was silent the moment they saw Celestia and made room for her as she entered her student’s chambers, hoping to find her alive and well.
The moment she saw the body she screamed. A single glance was all it took. Lying in a pool of blood, from fresh deep gashes all over her body, lay her beloved student whose eyes were now closed forever. Each step forward felt like the weight of the world; it was even a struggle to breathe. The guards stepped back and bowed their heads. Some had broken their usual stone-faced expressions and openly wept. And yet Celestia did not, she couldn’t. Not until she was sure of it.
After what seemed like ages, Celestia took her beloved unmoving Twilight and cradled her, staring into the empty expression that her student wore instead of her usual loving smile. Celestia stared for a long time until she unleashed her magic. The room lit up as if the sun itself had suddenly appeared. Those on the sidelines stepped back in surprise while protecting themselves from the blinding light. The unicorns were in awe of the amount of power being summoned for the holiest of healing magic that Celestia learned long ago. It required immense energy to perform, but none of that mattered. If it could save Twilight, then Celestia would let the spell take all her magic and leave her a husk.
When it was finished, Celestia cast the spell on Twilight, covering her with a golden aura that made her shine like a star from heaven. The exhaustion and other after effects of the spell soon hit Celestia like a surprise blow to the stomach. While catching her breath, she watched with pleading eyes as she waited for the spell to take effect. Her eyes widened and her mouth slowly fell open in horror as she watched the golden light faded within Twilight’s body. Celestia fell to her haunches with a loud gasp, her eyes tearing up as she saw not a single wound sealed up, blood spilling forth like nothing had changed. The spell she had cast was so powerful it could heal any wound, but one important factor was needed for it to work.
The one being healed had to be alive.
The hard, cold reality fell upon Celestia. The guard’s words, that she could deny no longer, were proven true before her very eyes. Princess Twilight Sparkle, the Element of Magic, savior of Equestria, and faithful student, was dead.
***
“Your Majesty?”
Celestia snapped out of her dreams and turned around, noticing a nervous Solar Guard approach her, his tail slowly slid between his legs. “I’m sorry, I-I didn’t mean to interrupt y-you. I-I was wondering if there was anything I c-could do?”
She stared at him in silence, which only caused him to sweat profusely. Like all guards he wore the enchanted armor that, to the normal eye, made him look like everypony else but Celestia was immune to it. His brown mane, his yellow coat, and even his face reminded her of somepony, but she didn’t know who. “Tell me your name.”
“I… I’m Gladius Stride, ma’am. I finished my basic training three months ago,” he answered with a shaky salute.
Celestia nodded and was ready to leave, but she couldn’t shake the feeling she knew him. Sighing, she asked, “I’m sorry, but have we met? You look very familiar to me.”
The guard froze and stuttered a bit, his eyes filled with terror. To her surprise, the young stallion threw himself to the floor in tears. “Please, Princess Celestia, don’t hate me! I beg of you! I’m not like him! I am loyal and would never do what my brother did!”
“Your brother…” muttered Celestia. Her eyes widened as she finally remembered who this guard reminded her of. “Your brother was…”
Gladius nodded, slowly sitting up. “Yes… he is… was Solar Lieutenant Gallant Heart, one of the assassins who killed Princess Twilight.”
For a long time, Celestia stared at the guard who bore similarities to one of those who had killed her beloved Twilight. His brother was one of them. Her left hoof shook despite her efforts to calm it down. Celestia turned her back to him and said, “I order you to leave this hall."
"... I..."
"Now!”
She heard him run away, his hoofsteps fading into the distance until they were no more. Alone, Celestia grunted in frustration as she grabbed the floating spell book and hugged it to calm the rage in her heart. However, even that wasn’t enough. She could easily remember all ten faces that took Twilight away from her while also taking away Equestria’s future, that guard's brother among them. While they had sweated with fear, and cowered before her, he was the only one who stood still with a calm expression. Like he had no regrets in what he had done. With a loud cry, Celestia smashed her hoof into the nearby wall, creating a giant hole.
“My, you certainly have lost your cool haven’t you?” Celestia turned her head and growled at who she saw levitating on a purple comfy chair with a soda pop in his claw. Discord waved his free hand, and said, “Oh, please ignore me. Continue with your little burst of rage. I dare say, it’s nice to see you show some emotions besides that happy little smile of yours you always put on.”
“I am not in the mood for your games, Discord,” spat Celestia as she continued her walk. “Leave me alone or else I won’t be responsible for what happens.”
Snapping his fingers, the sofa spawned a small propeller on its end and started flying forward, keeping up with the retreating princess. “My dear, Princess Celestia,” said Discord, stroking her mane a bit before a hateful glare with promises of pain stopped him. “I would like to obey your orders, but unfortunately, Fluttershy has asked me to check up on you out of concern.”
Celestia paused as her eyes lit up. She turned around towards Discord and asked, “How are they? The girls?”
The smile on Discord’s face vanished instantly. “About as well as one can expect when losing somepony you care about. Still, the girls have gotten better over the months, supporting each other like the close little band that they are.”
A sigh of relief escaped Celestia’s lips as she put aside her worst fears, only to realize that there was one individual Discord forgot to mention. “What… about Spike?”
Discord, in a rare moment of silence, hesitated before sighing in frustration. “Spike is still hurting, worse then any of them. He cries at night and sometimes goes on a little rampage, cursing worse than a sailor. If Twilight hadn’t put up those flameproof spells in the library the fireponies would have been working overtime. He’s rarely ever coming out anymore and barely letting anypony in to see him except the girls sometimes. Shame since I’ve grown to somewhat like the little guy. Everypony’s tried talking to him, even your sister, but he just tells everypony that he wants to be left alone.”
“Oh, Spike…” whispered Celestia, wiping a fresh tears from her eyes. “I’ve always known he saw Twilight as a mother… now that she’s gone…”
“You’re the only one who can talk to him, Celestia,” said Discord in a rare serious tone. “If anybody can get through to him, knows the pain he’s going through, it’s you. Everpony’s been just as worried about you, however, since you’ve locked yourself in your room. It’s gotten everypony in Equestria assuming so many crazy things.”
“What do you mean?” asked Celestia, eying her old foe.
“Haven’t you heard?” inquired Discord as places his claw over his mouth with a gasp only to soon smile and snap his fingers. He and his sofa soon disappeared and the spirit of chaos popped right next to Celestia, along with a sketch pad and pencil levitating nearby. “Let me show you what your subjects have been thinking about you lately. The word on the street as it were.”
The pencil started to draw so fast it almost made Celestia’s eyes roll out of their sockets. Soon it stopped, revealing what seemed to be a kindergartener’s drawing of herself running away in tears from the city of Canterlot.
“Most seem to think that, in your grief, you have fled Equestria to live in solitude forever. I think your little breakdown at the trial may have caused that.”
“The trial…” whispered Celestia.
“Yes, I heard what happened. Nasty business. Didn’t think you had it in you to send ten ponies to their deaths,” commented Discord, as a fresh sheet appeared and the pencil went to work again. When it finished, it showed an evil looking Celestia with black fur instead of white and wielding fire all around her as her subjects fled in panic. “Oh this is a rich one. Seems a few paranoid ponies think you’re planning to enact your ‘righteous vengeance’ on all of them with flames and death. Of course, no matter how angry you are, you would never do something like that. I'm more likely to join a priesthood than that ever happening.”
Celestia paused and stared at what her subjects were thinking about her. A part of her tried to deny what she heard, since this was Discord, but upon remembering what Luna had said earlier made her realize there was merit in these claims. Has my isolation from the world really unsettled so many?
“And now for the most ludicrous one yet,” claimed Discord, as the pencil went to work on another new sheet. Celestia stepped back upon seeing its completed work. It was her, in a coffin, while her subjects were weeping. “A few whisperers think you’ve killed yourself in despair and that your death is being hidden from the rest of the world.”
The writing utensils disappeared as Discord, now with a black veil on his head, covered his forehead with his lion paw and started to cry gumdrops. “Oh it’s true isn’t it?! Our dear Celestia has gone off to a better place by her own hooves! Oh what a tragedy it is for all of us!”
“Discord, I am still here and I will be sure to inform the public that I am alive and well,” said Celestia, rolling her eyes.
“Well, I don’t know about the second part,” commented Discord, throwing away the veil. “You’ve been locked up in your room for months. Understandable, considering we’ve lost Twilight Sparkle.”
“What do you mean we?” demanded Celestia. “You and Twilight didn’t particularly care for one another. At best you were on civil terms.”
Discord crossed his arms and stared. “Just because I wasn’t friends with her like I am with Fluttershy and some of the other Ponyville residents doesn't mean I didn’t respect her. To be fair it takes something to beat the Spirit of Chaos. Granted it was all luck sure, but still she won... barely...” he mumbled. “You could have least let me go to the funeral.”
Celestia looked at Discord and had to admit that it still surprised her to see this side of him. A thousand years ago he was a menace, using his powers to overthrow the government and for years treated Equestria like his personal playpen. Although he never killed his enemies like other darker forces that once plagued this world, he was still a corrupted and insane tyrant back in the day. Now he was different, mostly. He was still wild, chaotic, and was rarely ever serious, but he held back; mostly because he now had friends.
“Yes, I suppose I should have allowed you to come as well," admitted Celestia, lowering her head.
“It’s alright. I snuck in when you weren’t looking,” said Discord, ignoring Celestia’s glare. “Anyway, I would just go out in public and give them some heartfelt speech like you always do just so they know you’re alright. Might give those papers something to talk about other than the ‘trial of the century’ they keep bringing up all the time. You did make quite a scene that day, you know?”
Celestia bit her lip. She could remember it like it was yesterday...
***
The throne room in the Royal Palace was more than just the sitting place for the Princesses of Equestria. It was also the setting for the various special events in Equestria, like the Grand Galloping Gala or a Royal Wedding. And sometimes it was used to deliver judgement upon the wicked. No simple law breaker would be judged in the presence of the rulers, but only the most high profile of criminals; ones whose actions had affected the very fate of Equestria. The last time a criminal was judged in the throne room was a hundred and eighty years ago, when a noble’s son tried to poison his older brother so he could become the heir to his family’s wealth. The large room was filled to the brim with observers, guards of both the Solar and Lunar branches, and the press that had all come to see today’s events unfold.
All eyes were locked upon the figure that loomed over her throne like a vulture, waiting for its prey to shrivel up and die. Celestia's eyes, cold as ice and piercing as the sharp edge of a sword, never wavered from their focus on the doors across the room. Not at her sister, who showed concern for her elder sibling, nor Twilight’s friends and family who were crying or waiting in silence for the murderers to arrive.
At last the large double doors opened and all was quiet. Two rows of guards, armed with the heaviest of armor and weapons, dragged the criminals from their chains. Each of them looked like they had been through Tartarus and back; the bruises and cuts from their ruined coats made some have pity for the murderers. Those who were unicorns and pegasi no longer had the appendages of their body that made them famous, rather they had been torn and removed through methods most would call 'barbaric' in nature.
The most damaged were the five fallen ex-guards who walked with their heads held high, yet in their eyes one could see fear. Every guard from both divisions gave their former brothers-in-arms looks that could kill. Prince Shining Armor of the Crystal Empire, their former captain, looked like he was ready to draw his sword and cut them in half were it not for his wife sobbing in his hooves. There were whispered words of “oath breakers” and “traitors” as they passed, making them lower their heads in shame. All but one of them: former Solar Lieutenant Gallant Heart, who entered with perfect military posture.
Next to follow the guards were four ex-nobles who looked more miserable than the entire slums of Canterlot. Once they were popular politicians on the Council of Nobles, bright and rich with powerful friends. Now they were alone, ruined and forgotten by all whom they once associated with, be it friend or family. Their grand plan to halt the investigation, to get away with murder, foiled by a servant overhearing their secret meeting which lead to their arrest hours later. After tough negotiation, they eventually revealed of which royal guards did the deed and they too were locked up with their co-conspires.
Some of their family members began to weep for them, others turned their noses away and huffed, yet even they held sorrow in their eyes. Both sides had betrayed the country they had sworn to serve, even if they still proclaimed it was the right thing to do. Their 'patriotism', however, couldn’t protect them from the wrath of Celestia. The moment she saw both groups her magic flared out like the sun she guided every day. The room started to feel like it was on fire, the very air turned dry like a desert had suddenly appeared. With white eyes of fury, and a mane filled with flames of anger, the once gentle princess had become a goddess of vengeance.
Yet it was nothing compared to the fury and power she unleashed when the last one, struggling against his bonds and proclaiming mercy, entered the room. The ponies in the room trembled upon feeling such power. Film in the cameras that the photographers were shooting with started to melt. Some, like Rarity and Fluttershy, fainted momentarily while others slowly made pools of sweat beneath them. Only Luna was unaffected by the insane amount of power, but even she managed to break a sweat. It was like Judgment Day had arrived, and it was all aimed at the ringleader of the entire group. The one who said theirs was “A noble task to rescue Equestria from a scheming usurper.”
“A-Aunty...” muttered Blueblood as the former prince was forced to bow by the guards dragging him.
When the ten were lined up in a row, the power from Celestia slowly receded to the point where everypony could breathe again. The silence in the throne room was deafening until Celestia finally spoke. “We are here… to pass judgment on those who have committed the most horrible crime Equestria has seen in centuries. Countless times in the old days, and in times of war, the Royal Family has been targeted for assassination. Yet for the first time, it was a success.
"And who was it that caused this? Was it changelings? Griffins? A creature from Tartarus? No. It was none other than the same subjects that Princess Twilight Sparkle trusted and loved. The ones she worked hard for everyday to tend to their needs, and how do they reward her?!” Celestia’s eyes went as pure as white as she let out the Canterlot Voice. “By acting as the cowards they are and killing her in her sleep! Betraying their oaths to me, my family, and their nation, they have taken from us one of the greatest heroes of our time as well as Equestria’s newest princess only a year after her coronation!”
She turned to her former guards. “Those who once swore to serve me had turned their blade not against enemies of the state, but towards the very princess they swore to protect. The same princess who once paraded through these halls as a young filly, asking help from the ponies that she had regarded as her second family. She put her life in your hooves and you responded by ending it before it could reach its potential.”
All of the former guards winced and a few started shaking in fear with only Gallant Heart standing strong. Celestia then turned her gaze towards the whimpering nobles. “You are worms, all of you. For a long time I have seen how corrupt and sleazy the so called ‘nobility’ in Canterlot is. You are no different from snakes, each of you seeking power at the cost of anything. I tried to counter play it fairly, but you have forced my hoof. Princess Twilight Sparkle was a ‘threat’ to your power so you sought to eliminate her, hoping it would change things.” Celestia growled. “But it has done nothing but seal your fate. I will make sure every plan Twilight had for this nation is put into action, whether you or the rest of the nobility like it or not. This nation will no longer be living in ideals or beliefs from a thousand years ago nor will it stand to live under such corruption again. It will change into a nation all, ponies or otherwise, can benefit under.”
All the noble families sweated in terror as their princess’s watchful eyes stared upon each and every one of them. It was a clear message that any attempts to undermine her efforts to change Equestria would not come without a price. A few cursed their luck under their breaths, but wisely kept their mouths shuts from saying anything further.
Then finally Princess Celestia’s gaze came upon the one in the center of it all, the terrified and hornless Blueblood who looked in all directions for somepony to help him. None would look at him with pity, not even his family who had once pampered him in their image.
“Blueblood,” whispered Celestia yet the silence in the room made it clear enough for all to hear, “your ancestor, the first Sir Blueblood, was the most noble and virtuous knight I ever knew. I loved him and our three children until the day they all passed from this world.” She turned her eyes to the nervous looking Blueblood clan in the crowd. “Now the family has fallen into a disgrace beyond saving. Arrogant. Pompous. Rude. Greedy. Lazy. Selfish. These are just a few of the traits they all share. My second husband would roll in his grave if he knew the fate of his bloodline. And you, Blueblood, are the worst of them all!”
By his own bravery, or stupidly, Blueblood growled and shouted, “Shut up! I deserved to be an alicorn! I carry your blood in my veins, the noblest blood in all of Equestria! Becoming an alicorn was a privilege only somepony of my family was worthy of having! Not some low noble unicorn that was good for nothing except cleaning up your mistakes! Everypony knows that’s all she was good for!”
More than half of the ponies in the crowd expected Blueblood to be vaporized right then and there, but Celestia remained calm. She slowly rose from her seat and walked toward her nephew who had realized what he had just said and cowered into a ball.
And then the entire room was shocked again by what happened next.
Celestia started crying.
She didn’t wail or cry out in sorrow, but let the tears drip down her cheeks without a care. No photos were taken and nopony said anything. For the first time in her entire life, Princess Celestia had lost all control of her mask and cried in public.
“Maybe Twilight Sparkle was a ‘fixer’ of my mistakes, but she was more than that,” muttered Celestia, slowly facing the crowd of stunned ponies. “She was not a usurper in the making, nor a power hungry pony who would lose control and damn us all. What she was, and always had been, was a kind and smart pony who loved magic more than any mage I had ever met. She came to my home as a student, and became like a daughter to me.” She turned to Twilight’s friends and family. “She had become a master of magic, friendship, and love. Saving us from dangerous forces who sought to destroy us and our harmony.” She then turned to the glass window that showed Twilight becoming an alicorn while her friends held their Elements out, enrapturing her with the power of friendship that had transformed her. “And she had become an alicorn, the only pony not of my bloodline capable of doing so. She became a princess because she alone could help the ponies of Equestria more than I ever could. She wanted to lead us into a new golden age. Not because she wanted glory or power, but because, like my sister and I, she loved each and every one of you.”
Wiping the tears from her eyes, Celestia lowered her head and gritted her teeth. “And despite all this there were so many of you that hated her. You whispered behind her back, insulted her, and treated her like trash from the lowest of garbage pits. After risking her life multiple times to keep you all safe and happy, you abandoned her because you were afraid of her. No matter what I or my sister said, you betrayed her love and kindness with fear and hate. You knew nothing about Twilight Sparkle.”
Not a single pony in the audience, visitor, guard, or press, made a sound. It was like the entire throne room had turned into a graveyard. Celestia soon announced the ten criminals’ fate: death by burning them at the stake, the most painful kind of death she could give. Celestia declared the court adjourned and quickly left the room, leaving all others to silence.
***
“Hello?! Equestria to Celestia!”
Celestia shook her head and stepped back while smacking Discord’s hand away with the book. To her disgust it fell off of his arm and onto the floor. Discord grabbed it and twisted it back on before giving it a few flexes. “Geez, last time I give you a hand. You really need to work on that anger issue you have.”
“Sorry if I feel upset that my own subjects treated my student like a pariah,” grumbled Celestia.
“Not everypony hated the idea of Twilight being a princess, but you’ve really gotta stop thinking that all your ponies are some paragons of virtue and will accept everything like obedient pets,” said Discord. “Your ponies are so paranoid about anything different from the normal status quo. Anything they don’t like or don’t understand they treat like a threat. It happened with Twilight, it happened with Luna… and even me…”
Celestia’s eyes widened as she turned towards Discord whose face was as still as the stone prison he once occupied. “Discord… were you…”
“Let’s just say that if I had somepony like Fluttershy a long time ago… things might have been different…” answered Discord. He then yawned and scratched his back before a nightcap appeared on his head. “Well, my work here is done. I’m going to get home and get some sleep. We’re making waffles with candy corn in the morning. My favorite. Tootles.”
With a snap of his fingers, Discord was gone in a flash. Alone, Celestia stood there, still holding the book before making her way further down the hall, her mind plagued with the revelations that she had learned from her once terrible enemy.
Many visitors would often say the greatest thing about the castle in Canterlot was the garden. It was the largest one in all of Equestria, containing various flora from different countries. There were many sections to be explored such as the Garden of Heroes which held the statues of all of Equestria’s greatest historical figures. And yet there was one place in her gardens that she hated coming to. It was one that she had to expand every so often whenever she took an apprentice.
The Memorial Gardens.
It was the place where all her students were laid to rest for all eternity. Celestia stood at the hedge entrance, enchanted so that only those with her blessing could enter. And yet she couldn’t find the courage to take a single step forward. She had been her many times, so why was it so hard to enter the gardens now?
This is ridiculous, Celestia. You’ve seen Twilight’s body; you were there at the funeral… just… go…
Taking a deep breath, Celestia raised one front hoof… only to freeze up when she saw somepony coming out of the entrance. The other pony was equally shocked as well. For a long time, the two continued to stare at each other without speaking a word. Finally, Celestia uttered her name, “Velvet…”
***
It was beautiful, and Celestia was sure Twilight would have thought so too if she could see it. If this had been any other occasion, Celestia would have thought it was the most perfect arrangement of flowers she had ever seen. With all her other apprentices, Celestia let the best gardeners design each of their memorial gardens in a way that best reflected their personalities, and this one she spared no expense for.
Her eyes slowly turned to each of the six star shaped flowerbeds that surrounded the biggest one in the middle of the field. Each of them made with flowers suited to the color of Twilight’s six closest friends: green dendrobiums, blue geraniums, orange marigolds, white roses, pink lilies, and yellow sunflowers. All of them circling a large bed of violet lilacs, also formed into a large six pointed star. And there, in the center of the largest star, was Princess Twilight Sparkle.
She’s so beautiful, and she should be remembered as such, thought Celestia as she slowly made her way towards her fallen apprentice. She passed the small group of those closest to Twilight: her parents, brother and sister-in-law, Luna, Spike, and the other Elements and their families.
The state funeral where her subjects could see their princess one last time had concluded hours before, and Celestia had Twilight’s casket carried to her resting place for this private one. Even if she wanted nothing more than to break down and weep like the rest, Celestia knew she had to be strong for this event.
Upon reaching the glass casket, Celestia couldn’t help but be reminded of the old tale of Snow White and how much Twilight looked similar to the story. She was dressed in the same outfit that she wore on her coronation day but with a few new designs for the sorrowful occasion. Her body looked so completely scar free that it nearly frightened Celestia, having been haunted by Twilight’s fatal wounds for the past few days. Twilight’s peaceful expression made it look like she was only taking a nap on the red pillow, her forehooves crossed over her chest while holding a small bouquet of each flower in the gardens. Celestia lowered her gaze onto the casket itself. While mostly made out of glass, there were special markings on the casket’s lower half. The six symbols of the Elements of Harmony were there, each jeweled and shining like stars in the sky; the perfect bed for her student to rest in.
Remembering the speech she had planned, Celestia bit her lip and turned around to the audience. “My dearest friends. We have gathered here today to give our final farewells to Princess Twilight Sparkle, The Element of Magic. In life, Twilight was more than just a hero or a princess. She was a light in our lives that shone upon us all, making us feel more joy in life than we ever thought possible. All of us have been touched by this noble mare that sleeps behind me… and yet…” Celestia started to choke up as she remembered, as if they were playing right in front of her, the time she had spent with Twilight Sparkle. All the lessons, nuzzles on the cheeks, warm hugs and joyful laughs they shared all came down upon her in one blow. But then came the tears, blood, and misery that had all ended those happy memories only weeks ago.
She shook her head and, ignoring the concerned faces directed at her, pressed on with her speech. “W-we must not give into despair. We must never forget her deeds, her lessons, her memories. Nor her s-sweet smile…”
Celestia slowly turned her head towards Twilight’s smiling face once again. She wished that her faithful student-no, her faithful daughter-could look at her one more time with open eyes. “I will never forget her… nor should any of you. And while she has gone to her final rest before us all, we must remember that one day we will meet with her again. Until that day, we must move on and… and… strive and such…”
Celestia shook her head and wiped a few tears that she couldn’t hold back. She hated being this weak in front of her subjects. Keeping her eyes on the ground, she continued, “If anypony wants to say something, please come up now and speak.”
Quickly making her way to the back, Celestia took a few more deep breaths as she tried to control herself once more. One by one Twilight’s closest friends and family went up, but Celestia couldn’t hear them. All she could hear was Twilight’s voice, telling her about a lesson in friendship she learned, or giving an explanation to a problem she had been tasked to solve. She would have given anything to hear Twilight speak one more time; even her entire kingdom and all her powers for just one more day. I would even give up my life for her to live. Why is that I, who have lived hundreds of mortal lives, must still live while Twilight’s life ended so early?
“Sister.”
Celestia’s eyes snapped open as she returned to the funeral. A few of the ponies were getting a chuckle from something Pinkie Pie had said about Twilight trying to disprove her Pinkie Sense. Turning to her left, she saw her younger sister looking at her with worry. “Tia… are you well?”
“I… I just don’t know what to do, Luna,” whispered Celestia as she turned her eyes to Twilight once more. “How can I say goodbye to her like this? What should I say?”
“Whatever needs to be said, sister,” advised Luna, with a sigh. Pinkie Pie was sitting down and now Twilight’s parents, Twilight Velvet and Night Light, were moving up next. Velvet could barely stand as she continued to cry while Night Light was trying to support her, fighting his own tears at the same time.
“Twilight! Please, come back! My baby… my little baby filly… why…” said Velvet, crying into her hooves.
Celestia got off her haunches and made her way towards one of her closest friends. She placed her hoof on Velvet’s shoulder. “Velvet, I’m sor—"
Celestia never saw the hoof that smacked her across the face and forced her to the ground which made everypony gasp. Moaning, Celestia raised her head and looked up to face Velvet, tears streaming down her glaring eyes as she gritted her teeth in rage. “You… don’t touch me. Don’t ever touch me again, Celestia! You could have prevented this and you did nothing!”
“Velvet… I … “muttered Celestia, but Velvet leaned over her and flared her nostrils.
“Shut up! She’s dead, Celestia! My baby filly is dead! She trusted you! I trusted you! And you repay us like this?! Why couldn’t you protect her?!” screamed Velvet. “Why didn’t you do something to make them see my daughter wasn’t a threat! Why did she have to suffer after everything she’s done! I wish you never made her a princess in the first place!”
“I-I didn’t know this would happen! If I had known—"
“You should have known!” yelled Velvet. Even though it was summer, Celestia couldn’t help but feel as if she was in the frozen mountains of the north. Velvet, weeping, turned to her daughter and placed a hoof on the glass. “When everypony kept speaking such… horrible things about her, I begged her to step down. That being a princess wasn’t worth it, even if it was her destiny. I knew, deep in my heart, that something bad would happen.” Velvet growled and used her magic to force Celestia up to her hooves and shoved her near the casket, once more gazing upon Twilight’s body. “Now look at her! She said you would make sure nothing happened! Well, what is this, huh?! What is this?!”
“I… I…” Celestia couldn’t say anything. All she could do was focus her weeping eyes on Twilight’s body. “I’m… I’m sorry…”
“Sorry?!” shouted Velvet as she threw Celestia away and growled. “Sorry won’t bring my baby back! I hate you! I hate you and wish it was you! You should have died, Celestia! Not my Twilight! It’s your fault!”
“No…” whispered Celestia, horrified as she slowly backed away. “No… I … I did what was best for her… I…”
Velvet lowered her head and muttered, “You’re just as guilty for her death as those who did the deed themselves.”
Celestia tried to breathe, but she couldn’t. She tried to look away from Twilight’s body, but it wouldn’t fade from her mind. Every accusation from Velvet echoed in her mind as she tried to find some way to deny it. She loved Twilight. She never meant for any of this to happen. This wasn’t supposed to happen!
Celestia screamed. Everypony held their hooves to their ears as Celestia yelled so loud that the glass coffin even shook. A large blast of bright light blinded everypony before they saw their princess was no longer in the gardens.
On the other side of the castle, all could hear the sun princess scream and cry inside her room.
***
Celestia and Velvet continued to stare at each other in silence, neither taking their eyes off one another. The mountain could have exploded and it would not be enough to distract the two. Celestia carefully examined Velvet’s expression, finding shock equal to hers as well as fear. It was much different from the raging face she saw four months ago. Just as she was about to speak, Celestia stopped when Velvet raised her hoof and closed her eyes.
Taking a deep breath, she muttered, “I’m sorry…”
Celestia blinked twice before tilting her head. “W-what?”
“I’m sorry. For what I did to you at the funeral,” said Velvet, sighing. She looked at the grass with her misty eyes in shame. “I know it wasn’t your fault. You did what you thought was best. I just… I just needed to yell at somepony, anypony. I didn’t mean to hurt you… I just…” Sniffling, she looked at Celestia and shook her head. “I just wanted my daughter back!”
Stepping forward, Celestia wrapped her wings around Velvet as the two held each other. Their sobs were the only sounds that could be heard throughout the entire garden, not even the crickets were playing. The two heartbroken souls embraced each other for such a long time it felt like almost an eternity. Neither wanted to let go having found comfort in somepony who understood their pain. Celestia closed her eyes whispered in Velvet’s ear. “I’m sorry, Velvet. I did fail you and Twilight. I should have done something.”
Twilight Velvet shook her head and stepped away from Celestia. “You did all you could. Despite what I said back then, you did your best. I don’t hate you. I just… I just don’t know what to do anymore.”
“I don't either…” muttered Celestia as she looked toward the moon. “I don’t know how I can go back to being a princess, knowing that the very subjects I am serving are the cause of all this.” She summoned Starswirl’s book to her face and touched it gently with one hoof. “Twilight Velvet, did I make a mistake in making Twilight a princess?”
“No,” answered Velvet, shaking her head. “My daughter was meant to do great things. We all knew this the moment she took that entrance exam so many years ago. I wanted her to become great and she did. She became a hero and later a princess; all because of you and your teachings. No mother could be more proud of their child.”
“But if I didn’t make her a princess—"
“Stop, Celestia!” shouted Velvet, stomping her hoof. “You cannot blame yourself for this! Maybe this could have been prevented, but it doesn’t matter now… Twilight…,” Velvet started to choke up, “T-twilight is d-dead. Didn’t you say that we have to move on? Should you not take your own advice to heart?”
“I…” said Celestia, “I just… don’t know how I can just say it. How can I ask her to forgive me…”
Velvet walked over and placed her hoof on Celestia’s shoulder. “I know my daughter, Celestia. She would never blame you for this. She would want you to forgive yourself and your subjects. She would want you to raise the sun with a smile that could cheer a thousand faces. Rule with the kindness and love you have in that heart of yours. And press on for the sake of Equestria and harmony.”
Celestia just stood there, lost in her thoughts as she could envision Twilight repeating her mother's words. Celestia smirked, Only maybe she would use more advance vocabulary. Celestia shook her head and took a deep breath. “I’m ready…”
“Good,” said Velvet with a smile. She started making her way away from the Memorial Gardens and towards the direction of the exit. “I need to get home. I have a doctor’s appointment tomorrow.”
“Are you sick?” asked Celestia, turning around and flapping her wings with worry. “Should I call my personal doctor?”
To Celestia’s surprise, Velvet laughed and shook her head. “Don’t worry, Princess Celestia.” She then sat up and started rubbing her stomach. “I’ve been through this twice. I’d say I’m an experienced mare.”
It took Celestia only a split second to realize what Velvet meant which resulted in her placing her hoof over her mouth in a gasp. “Y-you… you’re…”
With a proud smile, Velvet looked at the miracle she had inside of her. “Three months so far. Maybe it is life’s way of saying it’s sorry for what happened to my daughter.”
“If there is anything I can do to help you…” asked Celestia, smiling for the first time in months.
Velvet frowned and stared at Celestia before walking over, her expression not changing. Celestia was surprised by this, but kept her cool. Standing before the princess, Velvet narrowed her eyes. “I want you to promise me one thing. Promise me, that should this baby show any sign of the same magical potential Twilight had, you will not take her from me.”
“Wh-what?” asked Celestia.
“I don’t care if she goes into the school, that’s fine. But you will not raise this baby to be your apprentice,” ordered Velvet. “The military helped raise my son at a young age and you did the same with my daughter. Just once, I want to raise a foal by myself. Allow me this at the very least.”
The determination in Velvet’s eyes reminded Celestia of the same eyes Twilight had when she faced the Changeling Queen at the royal wedding years ago. Seeing such passion made it clear that Velvet was not in the mood for negotiations with this demand. In fact, it was in its own way even scarier than her outburst at the funeral. Although a part of Celestia wanted to take care of the foal, to feel some sort of remembrance of Twilight, she didn’t have the deny Velvet this one wish.
“I promise, Velvet,” said Celestia, lowering her head. “Besides, I feel that I will not be able to take another apprentice for a long time.”
“Thank you for understanding,” said Velvet, bowing as low as she could go. The two hugged once more as Velvet made for the exit again, this time not turning back.
Celestia knew she could not turn back from her original destination now. She slowly turned to the entrance of the Memorial Gardens and felt every bone in her body shake. Taking a deep breath she stepped through the enchanted opening and proceeded straight forward. Along the way, she noticed the entrances to all her other apprentices graves with their cutie marks made from marble just outside the openings. She wondered what her students of the past would think of Twilight Sparkle? Would they have been amazed or jealous? How would they feel knowing that she was mourning this apprentice more than any of them?
Preoccupied with her thoughts, Celestia nearly missed Twilight’s cutie mark statue. She levitated the book closer to her and slowly marched forward. Her hooves felt like they were made of lead as she moved inch by inch to the center of the field. She could see the flowers, all bloomed and watered as their petals reflected in the moonlight.
And there in the center was Twilight Sparkle. Still in eternal rest. Still beautiful.
Even though Celestia had lived for nearly fifteen hundred years, and could never age, the trip seemed like ten of her lifetimes. Her sight never left the body of her student. It felt so wrong for Twilight to be dead and herself to be alive. She was the older princess, she was the one who had experienced all there was in life. Twilight had the ability to change Equestria, to shape it into a new form without her. And yet here Celestia was, still alive and kicking, while the one pony she loved like her own daughter lay dead before her.
Upon reaching the glass coffin, Celestia slowly placed the book on top of the glass lid as well as one of her hooves. It was funny. She had delivered speeches all her life in times of peace, war, tragedy, and joy. And now she couldn’t come up with the words to say goodbye to her beloved student.
Biting her lip, Celestia wiped away the tears in her eyes before taking a deep breath. “Hello, Twilight… I’m s-sorry it took this long to speak to you. I just…”
Unable to keep her balance, Celestia fell to the ground, silently sobbing as her tears watered the purple lilacs surrounding the coffin. “I’m sorry! I’m so sorry, Twilight! I failed you! If I could take your place I would do it in a heartbeat!”
She raised her head and pressed her forehead against the glass. “You were so important to me. More than you’ll ever know. When I lost my sister a thousand years ago I always held a hole that could never heal. I had banished my closest friend, my own flesh and blood, to an isolated prison that I would never wish for anypony. Even though I had friends, husbands, and children in time I never was able to heal that hole.” She smiled and gazed up into the stars that twinkled just like Twilight’s cutie mark. “But then I met an amazing filly with so much power. So much potential that I knew you would be special for not just me, but all of Equestria.”
Slowly getting up, Celestia continued, “But I never thought you would help fill that hole. You were so innocent, so kind, that I couldn’t help but love you like a daughter. You were devoted to me and believed in me. In return, I found myself being truly happy for the first time in so long. But then at last came the day of your trial with Nightmare Moon. When I was sealed away in the sun, forced to deal with the agonizing pain of endless fire, the only thing that kept me going was believing that you would save us all. And you did. Me, my sister, and all of Equestria you had saved with the help of your friends.”
The tears had now stopped, only the proud smile of a teacher and mother-figure remained. “I knew at last my earlier feelings for you were right and so I decided to prepare you for the next step: to become an alicorn. Even though there would be pain to come with it, I was confident you would grow into your role and rule with me as we brought change to Equestria. I wanted this more than anything in the world.” The smile now faded and was left with a scornful frown. “But… but I lost you. Not to any of my old enemies, but to my own little ponies. And I don’t know how I can just go on and continue to rule them since they did this to you.” Teeth gritting, Celestia shook with rage as she tried to calm herself, but she let out a scream. “Why?! Why you?! You were innocent, pure, and kind! There is no reason you should have to die! I just… I just…”
Celestia couldn’t help it anymore and she wept. She wept for Twilight, for all she had touched with her warm heart, for Equestria, and finally herself. All her life she had suffered loss after loss because of her status, but none of them hurt more than this. She wanted to open the glass coffin, but stopped herself in fear of ruining the enchantment. To just nuzzle Twilight once more, feeling the same spark, she would kill for it. “I love you so much, Twilight. More than you know.”
For a long time Celestia rested her head against glass. Opening her eyes, she stared at the peaceful expression and kissed the coffin, right above Twilight’s forehead. “I will never forget you, Twilight. For you were more than just student. You were special in every way I can think of and I will never know anypony else as amazing as you.”
Raising her head up, Celestia sighed. “Yet I have to accept the truth. You are gone… and I will not see you again until it’s my time to join you. But I will make sure you are remembered every day and see your vision of Equestria come true. I cannot yet fully forgive my subjects, but I will try because you would want me to. Maybe, someday, I will forgive them all… and maybe someday I can come here and truly say goodbye. But for now, please settle on this…”
With a sorrowful smile, Celestia said, “Farewell for now, my beloved student, you have made me proud.”
After one last kiss on the coffin, Celestia slowly left the area.
Celestia sighed and started to make her way back towards the castle, tired and overwhelmed. She had a big day tomorrow and she needed her rest. Making her way out of the garden’s entrance, she saw somepony walking around. It was a guard. At first she assumed he was simply doing the usual round but upon closer inspection she nearly gasped.
It was Gladius Stride again, nervously looking around for somepony, whom Celestia suspected was herself. Remembering how she treated him the last time they had met, Celestia felt ashamed for her actions. She knew that it was wrong to blame him for his brother’s actions against Twilight, especially when it was proven that the families knew nothing of the assassination.
Taking a deep breath, she walked forward until she was behind Gladius and coughed into her hoof. Gladius jumped and turned around with a shaky salute. “Y-your majesty! I-I was ordered to f-f-find you… and…I-I-I understand if you want me to leave. I… I…”
Celestia raised her hoof which silenced the nervous guard. “Gladius Stride, you may relax. I will not raise my voice, but rather… I must ask for your forgiveness.”
Gladius blinked before tilting his head. “M-my forgiveness?”
“Yes,” said Celestia, “My attitude towards you earlier was… unjust. I should not have judged you simply because your brother was one of the assassins. For this, I truly am sorry.”
To his shock, Celestia bowed to him and kept her gaze on his hooves in humbleness. She could tell from the movement in his hooves that this was the last thing Stride had expected and she didn’t blame him for his surprise. She rarely ever bowed to anypony, in fact the last time she did so was when Twilight became an alicorn.
Leaning down, Gladius looked her straight in the eye. “Please get up, Princess Celestia. You shouldn’t need to bow to me. I accept your apology, and I understand your previous behavior. Princess Twilight, may she rest in peace, was very close to you and we all know how much you loved her.” He sighed and stood straight up. “Besides… I am used to being yelled at from others.”
This got Celestia’s attention as she stood up as well and raised her eyebrow. “Have you been mistreated by others in the castle because of the actions of your brother?” Avoiding her questioning gaze, Gladius shifted a bit, which only made Celestia more suspicious. “Please answer me, Gladius. I wish to know if any of my little ponies are being mistreated. Especially those in my service here in my home.”
“… a few of the guards, including the higher command, have made it clear they don’t like me,” confessed Gladius, shaking his head with a sorrowful and hurt expression. “They call me the ‘Traitor’s brother’ when they think I’m not looking and always blame me for the smallest of problems. From a paper being lost or even a broken pipe in the waterworks, then yell at me and tell me to correct the mistake. I’m always getting fewer servings at mess and tripped in the halls. And anytime I try to accuse somepony of harassing me, I’m told to just shut up and get back to work.” He looked at her with some tears in his eyes. “It’s not fair. I know my brother did something horrible, but I don’t want to be punished for it!”
“Why didn’t you just come to me? I could have helped you,” declared Celestia, who was planning to ask a few guards some intimidating questions on their performance.
“Because I was afraid you would hate me because of what my brother did,” answered Gladius, who shut his eyes and looked at the ground in shame.
Celestia moved closer and blanketed the guard with her wing. Nuzzling him, she whispered, “I’m sorry. I know this hasn’t been easy on you and your family…”
“My family?!” snorted Gladius. “My family refuses to even acknowledge my brother existed! They burned all his pictures except for one I have back in my apartment! They refuse to say his name and never went to his funeral! I was the only one there when he was buried! How can they just forget everything he did for us?! He was doing what he thought was right, granted it was wrong, but still he was my brother!”
Celestia who looked at Gladius and, remembering the unwavering look on his face during the trial and execution, asked, “What were Gallant Heart’s final words?”
Sniffing, Gladius rubbed his eyes and said, “When you allowed them to talk to their loved ones one last time, I was the only one to visit him. He knew what he had done was dishonorable, but he fully believed Princess Twilight was a threat. He feared because of her power and the rumors of her unstable state of mind that she would cause more harm than good. He knew how much you loved her and trusted her, but if hurting you was the only way to keep you safe, then he was willing to do so. I tried to get him to admit his fault, but he stubbornly refused. I just couldn’t believe it, but he was still my brother... I still love him, even now.” He raised his head and looked at Princess Celestia. “Princess, I know he did wrong, but if you can ever find it in your heart to forgive him... please?”
In the dark night sky, under the full moon, Celestia held her breath as she saw the anticipating look on her subject’s face. It was like looking at a fragile, glass of hope that could break into pieces with less than a single touch. She knew what the right thing to do was… but she couldn’t do it. Closing her eyes, she slowly shook her head and could already feel the despair emanating from Gladius.
“I’m sorry, Gladius,” answered Celestia. “I cannot forgive him, nor any of the other ponies involved in the death of Twilight Sparkle.” She opened her eyes. “At least, I cannot right now. Maybe someday I will find it in my heart to forgive Gallant, Blueblood, and the rest, but it may take a long time before I am able to do so.”
Although it was not the response she was sure he wanted to hear, not all of the hope he held on his face seemed to fade away. Nodding, Gladius said, “I understand. I guess that is the best I can hope for…”
“There is something I can do for you, however,” said Celestia with a small smile. She promised to Twilight she would work on forgiving and trusting her subjects again, and the idea in her mind was a good start. “I would like you to join my personal guard. You will accompany me all day and protect me from any danger that should come before me.”
The look on his face was enough to make Celestia give out a small giggle. Gladius straightened himself and saluted. “Ma’am, I would be honored to be your personal guard, ma’am!”
“At ease, soldier,” said Celestia with a wide smile. “I need to learn to trust my subjects again, and this will help prove to others that I trust you and that they can trust you as well. It will work out for both of us.”
“Princess…” said Gladius, bowing. “Thank you.”
“It is alright. Now I feel I must get to bed. I have a lot to do tomorrow,” said Celestia, stretching her wings and lifting herself up in the air. “Take a good night’s rest, Gladius Stride. Tomorrow I must attend Day Court and announce my re-entry into politics while reassuring my subjects I am well. And later, we shall travel to Ponyville to visit some old friends.”
Gladius Stride saluted. “As you command, Princess Celestia. And may you have a good night’s rest.”
She bid her new protector goodnight and flew towards her balcony nearby, enjoying the feeling of flight that she had ignored for four months. She landed back in her room and sighed. It’s been quite an evening… and such nights will continue for years to come…
She walked over towards her dresser. Sitting atop it was a picture of Twilight, back when she was a filly, made her smile. But I know you’re looking down on me, Twilight. I’ll do my best to return to the ruler that I was. All I ask is that you are there by my side in spirit, my beloved student.
With a loud yawn, Princess Celestia lazily took off her regalia and tucked herself into her bed. A smile adorned her face as she felt sleep slowly overcome her and she began to have the first good dream in months…
***
“And this is your room,” said Princess Celestia as she opened the door, revealing the biggest room that the young filly unicorn had ever seen in her life. Twilight Sparkle rushed inside, levitating the Starswirl book her new teacher had let her keep from the library right behind her. She checked out every bit of the room from her bed to the fireplace. Such a sight made Celestia’s heart flutter. She’s so cute.
“This… this is really all mine?” asked Twilight with hopeful eyes.
“Yes, and if there is anything you need just call for me or one of the servants of the castle,” said Celestia. To her surprise, the young unicorn rushed towards her larger leg and hugged it.
“Oh thank you thank you thank you!” cried out Twilight. “I promise to be the best student you ever had! I’ll work hard to make you proud and never give up! I promise!”
Celestia smiled and nuzzled her newest student. She’s gonna be something else. I can feel it.
“Twilight? Do you want to read that book you have with me? It’s been sometime since I read it and I would very much like to read it with you.”
“Of course!” said Twilight, sitting down next to the fireplace. Princess Celestia sat down beside her.
They opened the book up and began to read it together. All throughout the night…
