Twilight walked around the castle idly. She was worried, but tried to keep it off her mind. She needed to stretch her wings, anyway. Sitting for so long had cramped her up, and even if she was mentally shaken, she could at least be physically comfortable. She heard a door open, and looked to her left. Luna slowly walked to her, trying her best not to tear up.
“She wants to see you in private.” Luna said, trying to keep her composure.
Twilight nodded slowly, and entered the room. Celestia lay on her bed, thin, weak, and tired. Twilight took her seat once more at her bedside. Philomena sat next to Celestia, silent, her plumage full, recently reborn.
“Twilight, you should know, I’m getting weaker every day. My father went the same way, I know I don’t have long left. Luna will be taking the throne, but I trust you will help her.”
Twilight nodded, tearing up.
“I can feel it. It’s dying with me.”
“What is?”
“The sun. I feel it burning away at the little bits of life left in me. He’s too young to succeed me, he wouldn’t be able to keep the sun alive.”
“So the sun is going to fade?”
“The citizens will know soon. They’ll want a solution. I don’t envy you, or Luna.”
Celestia’s breathing was getting difficult, and it pained her to speak.
“I trust you more than anypony else. You stood by me, your entire life. I love you, Twilight.”
“I love you. Please, you can’t leave, not yet.”
“Bring Luna in.”
Twilight left the room, and gestured Luna back in.
“Luna...my sister. You are now in complete control...of Equestria.”
“Don’t talk like that, sister! We’re immortal! All princesses are! You’re just sick!”
“There’s no use denying it...sister. You need to be a strong leader, far stronger than I. You are...going to have a hard time ahead. The citizens of Equestria will look to you for leadership. I have faith in you...sister. Mother was right to have fought for you, you know.”
Luna had broken into tears at this point, at Celestia’s side. Celestia began to glow, bathed in a supernatural light. Her hooves erupted in flame, but didn’t burn anything she was touching. The flame didn’t hurt, Celestia relaxed, seeming to know what this meant. The sun was hungering for any last scrap of life, and was taking it out of her body, not just her life energy.
“Sol...” Celestia muttered.
She became completely engulfed in the flame, her horn fading. Her feathers burned to ash, her mane charred into nothing, replaced by vivid flames.
“I love you.” Celestia said.
“Sister! This can’t happen!” Luna said, furiously sorrowful.
“The coronation.” Celestia said, staring into Twilight’s eyes. Her gaze fixed on Twilight, a moment of clarity from the stupor she seemed to be in. Her eyes opened wide, the last part of her face not ablaze. Her gaze was piercing, almost supernaturally so.
“What?” Luna asked, shaking.
A bright light flashed, as the heat from the flames washed over everypony in the room.
She was gone. Not even the ash remained. The light had faded, the room had become unnaturally dark.
“Sister...what did she have to say to you?”
“She just said her goodbyes.”
“But, how could this happen? We’re immortal, aren’t we?”
“She said her father went the same way.”
“Father...yes, he did. But... he said I would live eternally. We would live eternally.”
“I...don’t have an answer. I’m...so sorry.”
“You loved her too, don’t apologize to me.”
The door opened. Spike, now a full grown dragon, much bigger than Twilight, entered, along with Rarity. He stuck his head in the door, unable to fit in all the way. He had grown up a much more peaceful dragon than the others, a generous spirit, with the help of his wife, Rarity.
“Is she...gone?”
Twilight nodded. Spike wrapped his arm around her, in a futile attempt to comfort her.
“I have to go... I don’t know if I’ll be back.” Twilight said.
“Twilight, where are you going?” Spike asked.
She didn’t respond. Twilight dashed out of the castle. Spike began to follow her, when he was grabbed by Rarity.
“Let her go. Just...let her do what she needs to.”
Spike resigned, and nodded slowly. The room had darkened further, and was now completely dark.
“I have not yet raised the moon. What is this darkness?” Luna asked.
Spike lit a torch on the wall with his breath, but even the torch didn’t seem to light things as much as it normally would.
“It’s probably just bad weather.” Rarity said.
“But we aren’t scheduled for any storms.” Luna said.
“Don’t worry about it. You have enough on your mind. I can’t even begin to imagine.” Rarity said.
Twilight opened the palace doors and headed into the blackness outside. Looking for signs of a storm, she was shocked to see there wasn’t a single cloud in the sky. But more surprising wasn’t the lack of clouds, but the lack of anything at all. A pair of royal guards approached Twilight.
“Princess, what is her highness’s condition?”
“She’s...gone.”
The guards hung their heads low, in a mournful sorrow.
“I see. My condolences.”
“She was your princess too.”
Twilight headed into the city, but it didn’t take long for her to be swarmed by citizens asking about the princess.
“How is Celestia?”
“Princess, how is she?”
“Why is it so dark?”
Twilight didn’t even bother to stop. She wasn’t in the mood for this. She just had a stop to make in Ponyville, then she would go find this chamber. But as she walked, she felt an odd presence behind her. Familiar, but as odd as could be, as always.
“Discord.”
“Twilight.”
“What do you want?”
“Listen...I know we never exactly got along, but I honestly, truthfully am sorry for your loss. Sunb...Celestia meant a lot to you, I know.”
“What would you know about this?”
“I don’t know how you feel, I’ve never cared about anyone but Fluttershy. But...even a creature of chaos knows enough about family to understand this.”
“I have to admit, I wasn’t expecting this from you.”
“And I wasn’t expecting you to be so collected. Even as an element bearer, I expected you to be a little less, orderly. Maybe show some emotion?”
“Her death was expected. As is the fate of everypony.”
“She was a princess. She wasn’t ever supposed to pass, was she?”
“If you had seen her the way I have, you’d have known.”
Twilight began to walk off, calm and collected, before Discord stopped her once more.
“That’s it? The common citizens are mourning, but her own family treats her like a statistic!”
Twilight stretched her wings, and flew off. Her horn lit her way well enough that she could see. Discord returned to the palace, deciding to let her go. Sunbutt never meant much to him, but he figured he should be there, for the sake of Luna. Twilight flew straight towards Ponyville, a long journey, but doable.
At the palace. citizens had begun to gather outside, full of questions and confusion.
“What’s going on?”
“Why is it dark?”
“Where’s Celestia?”
Luna didn’t respond. Her head hung low, unable to repress the tears and memories flooding her mind. Memories of her childhood, of those long years. As much as she never got to be around her sister, being banished, she loved her all the same.
“Princess! Where is Celestia? We have questions!” a particularly obnoxious stallion yelled at her.
“Sister...what do I do? You know I’m not as good talking to ponies.”
“I always knew you weren’t a real ruler! Where’s our princess?”
Luna didn’t look up.
“Celestia...”
Discord teleported back to the palace, to find himself swarmed by ponies.
“What did you do with Celestia?”
“Discord! Where is she?”
“Are you the one that made it dark?”
“Celestia should have never trusted either of you!”
“Alright everypony, get out. Leave her alone.”Spike said.
“But we need answers!”
“And I’m sure you’ll get them.” Rarity said.
“Why is she allowed in but not us? Some dressmaker is more important than us?”
“They’ve been keeping a dragon in the palace. He had to have done something!”
“Ponies, please. Calm down, you aren’t helping.” Rarity said.
Discord didn’t say anything. He had a look of disgust on his face at the crowd, but said nothing. As the crowd grew more rowdy, the guards began to keep them away from the princess, just in case, forming a wall of muscle and iron.
“Let me see the princess!”
“Where’s Princess Twilight?”
“What have you done?”
“Get out. Now.” Spike said, loud enough to be heard over the crowd, but not a yell.
Spike let out a roar, and his wings stretched out as far as they could indoors. Smoke poured from his mouth. The crowd quickly dispersed, filled with dragonfear. Only until Spike had warmed the room a bit did they realize how cold it was getting.
“That’s just going to cause more fear, you know.” Rarity said.
“I’m...I’m sorry. I just couldn’t contain myself.” Spike said.
“I know.” Rarity said.
“Disgusting.” Discord said.
“Hm?” Rarity asked.
“Ponies. As soon as something goes wrong they start vilifying anyone they can.” Discord said.
“You’ve lived in the palace for how long before figuring this out?” Rarity asked.
“Long enough, I suppose.” Discord said.
“I always thought the predictability of others was what you found amusing.” Rarity said.
“Amusing, and disgusting.” Discord said.
“Hm. I suppose you have a point.” Rarity said.
Spike slowly folded his wings back in, the smoke ceased pouring from his maw.
Twilight arrived at Ponyville, the town pitch black. Entering the old Golden Oaks Library, she was flooded with waves of nostalgia.
“If there’s any book about it, it’s here.” Twilight said, having already checked every library in Canterlot.
Twilight heard a loud knock on the door, with a specific pattern to it she had recognized. Rainbow Dash.
“Come in?” Twilight said, confused.
“I see you’ve gotten a hold of those wings, I couldn’t catch up to you!”
“And here I thought you were the fastest in Equestria.” Twilight said.
“Hah! Is that a challenge? This old pegasus can still kick your butt any day, egghead!”
Rainbow dash said, her voice still full of youth.
It had been quite a while since the two of them had last spoken. Twilight hardly recognized her. Her mane has lightened, the colors pale. Her wings were greying, a sure sign of age in a pegasus. But she had a certain youthful aura about her. Like she never really stopped being a young mare.
“It’s nice to finally catch up with you.” Rainbow said.
“Mhmm.” Twilight said, looking through the bookshelves.
“I saw you flying into town from a mile away. You were like a comet, with that light blazing through the skies.” Rainbow said.
Twilight hadn’t thought about how bright she would be now. It wouldn’t be long before everypony came here with questions.
“I suppose you’re here to ask about the darkness?” Twilight said.
“I actually just came here to see my friend again. But sure, how about it? Lay it on me.” Rainbow said.
“Celestia...she’s gone.” Twilight said, stopping her search.
“What? But she’s immortal! Right?” Rainbow said.
“I thought so.” Twilight said.
“Are you okay? How did she go?” Rainbow said.
“She just sort of burnt away.” Twilight said.
“Is there anything I can do to help?” Rainbow asked.
“There’s nothing here.” Twilight said.
“Huh?” Rainbow asked.
“This place is just as useless as the other library.” Twilight said.
“What are trying to find?” Rainbow asked.
“Answers.” Twilight said, heading out the door.
Rainbow stopped her.
“What do you expect to find? If even a princess like you doesn't know, I don’t think there’s an answer.” Rainbow said.
“It’s gotta be somewhere.” Twilight said.
“You know, not every answer is in a book. Maybe it’d be best just to let it go. She lived thousands of years, it was probably her time.” Rainbow said.
“But I have to know for sure.” Twilight said.
“Where are you going?” Rainbow asked.
“Wherever I have to.” Twilight said.
“I’m not letting you leave.” Rainbow said.
“Move.” Twilight said.
“I need to know where! I don’t want to see you leave again! I don’t want you to...to get hurt!” Rainbow said.
“I’ll be fine.” Twilight said.
“I haven’t seen you in years. Or Spike and Rarity. I finally get the chance to talk to you, and you hide secrets from me?” Rainbow said.
“Move.” Twilight said, her horn shining.
“Fine...I see being a princess means you have no time for your friends anymore. But I still love you Twilight. You’re like a sister to me. I’m not letting you go alone.” Rainbow said.
“And I’m not letting you come with me.” Twilight said.
“At least let me know where you’re going. It would help me know you’re safe.” Rainbow said.
“The Fracture.” Twilight said.
“What?” Rainbow asked.
“The coronation site of Luna and Celestia.” Twilight said.
“And where is that?” Rainbow said.
“I don’t know. But I’m going to find it.” Twilight said.
“How do you know it’s called the Fracture?” Rainbow said.
“I found a map within Celestia’s chambers. I guess it was her Father’s. It looks like a normal map, but then there’s weird spot. It’s the only spot in Equestria left to check. And my magic is blocked there, that has to mean something.” Twilight said.
“That’s way too dangerous for the Princess of magic to go alone.” Rainbow said.
Twilight bolted out of the door, toppling Rainbow. She took off like a comet once more into the sky, before Rainbow could even react. Twilight began flying north, to this fracture. She felt a gust of wind blow against her as Rainbow flew on her side.
“Told you I’m still faster.” Rainbow said.
“Not anymore.” Twilight said.
Rainbow felt her wings lock up, and she began to fall.
“I’m sorry.” Twilight said.
Twilight teleported Rainbow to the ground, but Rainbow’s wings were still locked up. They would stay that way for a day or so, according to Twilight’s calculations. Plenty of time to get away.