Well done...
Celestia was tired.
Perhaps for the first time in centuries, she felt truly tired. Fatigue was a feeling not alien to her, as she countless times in her life experienced being worn out and lacking vigor. But this time it was different. It was a deep, basic sensation, something that had been growing in her for a significant while, slowly sucking away her strength, her will to act, her ability to focus. Like a growing illness, an affliction of soul, one which Celestia could not entirely explain.
She found herself spending more and more time on the terrace of the Royal Castle of Canterlot, staring into the distance. Something was forcing her to do so, akin to an urge which one cannot understand and yet follows it. Standing on the balcony, overlooking the resplendent city with her motherly gaze, the mare resembled an alabaster statue.
What a sight was she witnessing!
Canterlot had grown so much over the centuries. Sprawling around, finally overtaking the valleys around the mountain it had begun on, housing not only ponies of Equestria, but zebras, griffons, batponies, diamond dogs, even denizens of lands distant and foreign. The city became like a shining jewel, as it gathered creatures bound together by tolerance, understanding and brotherhood. The principles of Honesty, Loyalty, Kindness, Laughter and Generosity allowed the creation of this grand metropolis, in which the true heart of this world was beating. One fueled by Friendship, the greatest magic of all.
And Celestia felt compelled to admire this great miracle, one she had witnessed unraveling before her eyes through the countless ages. She felt like a proud parent, witnessing the lives of ponies and other creatures filled with this incredible power that Friendship was.
Yet, as much as their existences were becoming more lively, more joyous and innocent, did Celestia feel that her prime was passing. Her mane, although it had gained even more colors of the aurora as she lived on, began slowly losing its exquisite radiance. Similarly, her eyes, always filled with wisdom and understanding, relinquished their reassuring gleam. Her coat, once shining and incandescent, became more like cold marble...
She slowly began withdrawing from public life, after centuries of leading, teaching, counseling. She gave away her position, finding a proper replacement for herself in her former protégé, Twilight Sparkle. She recalled fondly when this incredible, wondrous mare, her greatest of students, for the first time took the responsibility of bringing up the Sun. It marked a new era for Equestria. End of Celestia’s time and the beginning of something even greater. Something that would grow to envelop the entire world. The Era of Friendship.
Feeling the breeze caressing her muzzle, the alicorn exhaled. Once more she had locked herself in thoughts, it seemed, an occurrence that was happening to her more and more often nowadays. She found herself out of touch with reality, as her wariness was making her focus on her past, rather than the present, or possible future.
She brought a smirk on her muzzle, as her eyes wandered across the line of the horizon, incarnadined with the setting Sun.
“Hello Celestia,” a warm greeting broke the alicorn’s stupor. She blinked a few times, looking around, curious as to who would address her quite so cordially. She could not spot anypony else on the terrace at first. Only after lowering her eyes did she finally witness the owner of the voice.
It was a small, white filly, barely old enough to attend primary school. She was staring up at Celestia with a pair of beautiful, sapphire eyes, in which the alicorn could witness her own, tired reflection. The little pony’s mane was going down in countless, jonquil curls. Her expression was that of a faint, wonderful smile, like she was overjoyed to be witnessed by the former Princess of Equestria.
“Why, greetings,” Celestia replied, suddenly realizing how wary her voice sounded. It forwent its vibe, its deep, comforting tone. The mare realized that she was barely talking with others anymore. She nearly forgot what it was like, to simply hold a conversation. “Who might you be, little one?”
The filly did not respond at first, her expression still warm and friendly, as she stared unblinkingly at the alicorn.
Celestia was confused. How had a child like this entered her personal sanctuary, without her noticing it? Had she used her incredible, soft smile to convince the guards and the priests to be allowed to see her? Or had she sneaked her way in?
“Why are you not answering? Where are your parents? Did you come here on your own?” the alicorn inquired further, her curiosity mounting. It was dangerous for a small child to wander around on her own like this, after all.
In response to her worries, the filly laughed enchantingly and Celestia could swear she had never before heard anything as innocently sounding as this pony’s laughter. It was like a song of countless birds, backed by the delicate vibe of wind, in conjunction with the whisper of a pure, flowing stream.
“Celestia, you amaze me with your nurturing care...” the filly finally replied, her voice full of honest, arrant pride. “As to who I am, I think you can answer this question yourself...”
The alicorn felt perplexed at the child’s tone. She was speaking as if she had great wisdom and authority, but she mustn’t have been older than seven! At her words, though, the mare experienced something new. A feeling in her heart rose suddenly, as if its beating was trying to seek the explanation by itself. And the answer was, indeed, slowly surfacing.
“What is your name...?” Celestia asked once more and the filly looked at her with even more care locked in those brilliant, blue eyes.
“I had, have and shall have many names,” she began, her voice filled with understanding. “Some of those were imbued with dread, others – with beauty... Throngs were doing me justice, multitudes were wrong and misplaced. Giltinė, Hel, Thanatos, Yamaraja, Samael...” her tone was still utterly calm and peaceful as her tongue brought forth titles in strange, incredible languages. “I have been called a Reaper, a Clockmaster, a Ferryman...”
“How... should I call you?” Celestia inquired, her heart finally bringing up the, ultimately quite obvious, answer.
“I am but ‘Death’,” the child replied calmly, a little shrug accompanying the response.
“Death...” the alicorn repeated like an echo amongst the mountain peaks. The finality hidden behind this name reverbed in the air. It was like a sudden gust of wind, that took away all the dealings of everyday, making them insignificant and small in comparison with the conclusiveness of this most unique of words. “So, has my time finally come?” Celestia inquired faintly, her voice unsure, but not scared.
“Yes, Celestia,” the entity confirmed, giving her a lovely, wonderful grin.
The alicorn felt... she did not know what. A surge of emotions came upon her, like a tidal wave, enveloping her and pressing onto her mind, her heart, her soul. A strange mosaic. One glistening with surprise, illuminated by understanding, slightly reflecting fear and consternation and yet held together by tranquility.
“I... think I was aware that this moment was approaching...” Celestia finally responded to the incredible revelation, her tone serene, despite the flood of feelings inside of her.
“All beings can tell when I am close, Celestia. I do not want to come like a thief in the night, so I send… clues…” the filly replied, nodding mildly a few times.
“It is very kind of you, to gently let us know you are near,” the alicorn responded courtly and with genuine gratitude, and Death laughed silently once more with the strength of its innocent mirth.
“Thank you, Celestia. Only a few before you appreciated that,” she admitted, trotting a bit closer to the marble balustrade of the terrace. She supported herself on her hind legs, looking above it at the sprawling city below, as the setting Sun turned her sapphire eyes into brilliant violet. Celestia was amazed by how… insignificant Death’s posture was. It wasn’t an ominous entity, bringing with itself a feeling of hopelessness, like many were portraying her.
“When did you first feel I am approaching, might I learn?” Death suddenly asked with true curiosity, which surprised the mare a bit. Could a being like her be capable of wonderment?
Celestia answered after a moment of deep consideration. “I think... after Discord passed away. The first time that I fully realized that even those blessed with near-eternal lives meet their end,” Celestia admitted without reluctance, but with a dose of sadness. The knowledge that the Spirit of Chaos met his demise hit her especially hard. Despite his mischievous and ever-changing nature, Discord was a true and loyal friend, one who brought an endless amount of glee to countless ponies all around Equestria.
Celestia never had an opportunity to express her appreciation, but she was ever so grateful for his little pranks and whimsical chicanery.
“I remember him well, Celestia,” the filly disclosed joyously, hearing the alicorn’s response. “Just before he granted me his paw so I could lead him onward, he had conjured me a clown’s nose and honked it.”
The mare chuckled heartily at this picture. Only a being like Discord, when faced with Death, would have enough daring and humor alike to pull something like this off. And it seemed that the Spirit of Chaos made her laugh one more time in her long life after all. Celestia closed her eyes, thanking him in her mind, wherever he was now.
The filly continued.
“Every life, no matter how long, comes to a conclusion. And I recall all of them,” she rested her head on her forelegs, gazing into the distance, where the discus of the Sun was slowly preparing to touch the horizon and disappear. “But length has nothing to do with importance. Some existences last for a blink of an eye, or a brief, weak heartbeat. And yet they are equally valuable as those that span over eons,” the filly grinned, her eyes glistening with respect towards such a state of things.
“I would, verily, never expect you to put such an emphasis on life, when your role is to mark its end...” Celestia confessed. Death gave her a forlorn gaze and the mare felt instantly ashamed by what she had said. She would never foresee making such an entity... sad. “I apologize if I have offended you...”
“You have not offended me, Celestia. I know well that my nature might be perceived as an ultimate antithesis to life. But it is simply falsehood,” Death expressed herself with a note of sorrow. “I am there for everyone, you know?” She turned her blue eyes to the alicorn and Celestia felt an endless amount of weight behind this innocent, captivating stare. “For every being, on every plane of existence. I appear at their final moments... so that nobody would die all alone,” the filly explained, once more returning with her gaze to the crimson horizon.
“It is... noble of you,” Celestia admitted, but Death only sighed.
“I appreciate the compliment, but it is simply my task, nothing more. I do not perceive it as virtuous. Ultimately, virtues and vices are mortal constructs,” she giggled mysteriously, causing Celestia to wonder what was the point which she was approaching towards. “My duty is simple. I come to all. To face them. To talk. To tell them that it is time. And to tell them,” Death raised her head, her words with an incredible amount of gravity and delight, “ ‘Well done’.”
Silence enveloped the terrace for a moment, not a faint whisper of wind attempting to ruin the importance of those words. Breathing in a couple of times, Celestia did finally query.
“You tell that to all you meet?”
“Yes,” the filly admitted, her gaze piercing through the fabric of reality.
“What about those that brought evil with their lives?” Celestia inquired. “How can they be told that they have done well?”
Death smiled at this question. She appeared as if she had heard it many, many times before and was now wondering whether Celestia would be wise enough to fully understand the answer.
“Because they, ultimately, did. Every life has its significance. Those that mortals would deem cruel, vicious, amoral, they have their purpose to fulfill too,” she pointed out, with almost excitement in her voice. “They have shown what destruction can be wrought by unchecked ambition, what pain can one creature inflict upon another, what great lengths can a mortal spirit go to achieve its desires. Those are valuable lessons, Celestia, even if the price of those is pain and misery. You have no idea how many times I encountered those you would call ‘villains’ and found out what amazing beings they were. How keen on their goal, how intricate in their minds. How wonderful in their lives,” Death concluded with yet another of its chaste laughs.
“I...” Celestia could not find words at first, as such revelation was incredible for her. But her mind grasped it well. “I see what you mean... They have shown us the wide spectrum of choices each of us can make. Brought us together, so that we might oppose them. Made us reason, to try and understand them...”
As the alicorn was talking, Death’s joyful expression was becoming more and more beaming. It appeared as if, were she to possess wings, like pegasi of this world, she would have flown up into the sky in an aerial celebration.
“You are wonderful, Celestia. I am so glad to have met you.” The filly bounced up in delight, her curly mane hopping like thousands of little springs, causing the mare to snicker.
“Likewise. If we were all to know how joyous you can be, maybe we would fear you less,” the alicorn admitted, her eyes wandering towards the radiant Sun, dressed in scarlet and flame.
“The passing of life is a great challenge and brings anxiety to mortals. Why would I empower this disquiet by my actions?” Death asked hypothetically. Then she turned her bright eyes towards Celestia once again. “You wish to ask about something.”
The mare could not hide the fact that her mind became filled with inquiries. After all, even in her near endless life, she had never before met Death in person.
“I presume I should start with something general – does it hurt?”
“No. It is actually quite blissful, I believe,” the child avowed. She giggled, turning around and beckoning the mare to follow her inside, to Celestia’s personal chambers and her sanctuary.
But the alicorn did not move. She remained still, staring down at Canterlot, a place she nurtured and had looked after for centuries, just like she looked after the entire Equestria.
“Celestia?”
Death was glancing behind, intrigued that she was not being accompanied.
“I will miss it...” the mare admitted. A small tear made its way down her cheek and marked the balustrade with a petite dot. “I will miss them all. Those I knew and those I have never had a chance to meet. Will they carry on without me?”
The filly’s face became serious for the first time this evening. It seemed that she did not wish to appear gleeful when Celestia was crying out her last few tears. The entity trotted back to the edge of the terrace and gracefully hopped on the top of the marble rail. She looked down at the city, teeming with life, and nodded profoundly.
“I know what you feel, Celestia. It hurts to leave such a marvelous world behind. You have given it your heart and so does your heart desire to stay,” she tried her best at cheering her up. Death bringing comfort to a mortal. “But fret not. You have granted light to many lives. With your words, actions, with your sheer presence. You have taught all of them,” she waved her hoof, encircling the entirety of Canterlot, “what it means to care, to befriend, to love. They shall not forget those lessons, ever. And will they carry on? Yes, of course,” Death assured, exhaling faintly. “Never did a passing invoke the end of the world. And, trust me, yours shall not either. Your domain shall be preserved, remembering you with great fondness. Those you hold dear shall never forget you and your name shall be written down in the annals of history...”
Celestia acknowledged her words without even blinking. They were filling her with joy, yes, as the greatest of her worries became answered – Equestria would prevail and flourish. And yet, the alicorn could not banish the sorrow from her heart entirely.
“Could you not... wait a while longer? So that I could at least summon my faithful Twilight? I feel like... there is so much more I could tell her, so much more to discuss. To thank her... and tell her how proud I am of her...” Celestia pleaded with an anguished tone, but Death shook her head firmly, her face adamant.
“I cannot grant you that time. Nobody can. But I can tell you, Celestia – she knows. She knows you have loved her deeply, just like a mother cares for her beloved child,” the filly assured, smiling yet again. “Come, we have to go...” She jumped down from the balustrade and trotted inside.
Celestia once more stared at Canterlot. Its white walls were painted red with the setting Sun. She was wondering if they would look the same tomorrow. And the day after. Every evening she witnessed this incredible dance of colors and hues and every day did she find something new and enchanting about it.
She was looking at it for one last time.
Her gaze escaped towards the distant town of Ponyville. In the aura of sunset, the crystal Castle of Friendship was sending marvelous, rainbow-like reflections across the landscape. All of this created a most stunning picture of her beloved home. The land for which she had sacrificed her entire life, as its protector and Princess, this offering being most righteous. But now...
It was time to leave Equestria forever.
Celestia closed her eyes before turning around. She did not wish a little detail she might have overlooked making her gaze back once more. Her time was over and she accepted it. She had witnessed all she was to witness, said everything she was meant to say and experienced all she was destined to experience. Now was her turn to rest.
Death was patiently waiting for her inside, sitting calmly by the alicorn’s bed, with this faint, innocent smile adorning her muzzle.
“It looks comfortable...” the filly whispered, giggling, and Celestia could not help but grin at those words of praise.
“It is, yes... A fine place to rest,” she replied, flaring her horn for the final time, the golden aura slowly enveloping her resplendent regalia, which out of a sudden felt extremely heavy. She left her hoofshoes beside the bed, and placed her crown on a little nightstand, exactly how she did every night. After all, was this not but falling asleep for one more time?
Death moved aside, allowing Celestia to lie down and make herself comfortable. The mare covered herself with a crimson quilt, feeling its warm embrace envelop her. She had never taken enough time to appreciate how wonderful this bed truly was. It offered her the much needed leisure after long days filled with royal duties and tasks, always loyally waiting for her. The alicorn stretched slowly, allowing herself to once more feel the delicate fabric surrounding her.
“What happens now?” she asked with serenity, as she stared into the filly’s brilliant eyes.
Death replied loyally and simply. “You just take my hoof, nothing more.”
“Is that all?” Celestia responded, cocking her eyebrow. “Dying is quite easy, it seems...” she allowed herself a joke and the child’s grin widened as she tried to contain laughter.
“Are you ready?” Death asked, extending one of her forelegs, for her hoof to be taken when the alicorn was finally prepared to do so.
Celestia closed her eyes for a second. Her heart was still filled with worries, despite her efforts to expunge those completely, in the face of her own passing. She had been this world’s defender and caretaker for so long, she barely recalled doing anything else than being concerned about its well-being. Just like a dutiful parent that she, deep inside, felt she had been. For many, sometimes turbulent, centuries.
Death surely felt her uneasiness.
“Celestia... you are leaving this world a marvelous, unique place. Full of the gifts you granted it. All the joys you brought forth, all the bonds you aided in forging. Do not spend your last moments perturbed. Instead, think about all the miraculous moments of your life... You must have had a lot of those...” the filly laughed, causing the alicorn’s muzzle to reflect Death’s joy in an expression of satisfaction.
The filly was right, Celestia had to concur. She lived a wondrous life after all.
“May I ask... what awaits me?” she decided to present one more question and the child winked at her whimsically.
“Now then, you do not expect me to spoil the surprise that is but a few endmost heartbeats away, do you?”
Celestia smiled even wider. It was reassuring, having such a brilliant company during the final moments. The world seemed to have been misjudging Death fiercely.
The mare reached her hoof out, hesitating for just a brief second. Her mind became filled with wondrous images, memories she cultivated for so long. Her youth alongside her beloved sister. The myriad of moments she spent caring for ponies of all the races and ways of life. Meeting the little Twilight Sparkle. The reunion with Luna after Nightmare Moon’s defeat. Witnessing her greatest student making her proud again and again, until finally her ascension brought young Twilight amongst the ranks of alicorns. And many, many more of those memories, some hazy, some utterly unforgettable, down to the littlest of details.
Finally came the images of friends and loved ones she met in her lasting life, some of whom had already had the pleasure of meeting Death...
Celestia inhaled once more, taking one last, terminal breath as a tear of happiness made its way down her face. She was now ready. She finally took Death’s hoof.
It was a warm, soft touch. It made Celestia feel dizzy and light-headed at first. The many hues of her chamber began melding together into a cerulean, scarlet, topaz and amber blend, being finally replaced with a wonderful, inviting light, a color of which the alicorn could not describe. Space disappeared somewhere, taking with itself Reason and Logic. Time took its bow and stepped aside, leaving the scene politely and finally ceasing to flow. Reality said its final goodbye, making place for the approaching Eternity.
Amongst this unique, dreamlike metamorphosis, only the filly remained the same. Staring unblinkingly at the alicorn with her sapphire, tender eyes, her smile broad and amiable. Last thing Celestia recalled before her mind passed on through the fabric of mortality was Death’s faint, heart-warming whisper.
Well done...