Celestia sat on her bedroom's balcony overlooking what was left of city nation's capitol. There was a time not so long ago that she looked out on the city with a sense of satisfaction and pride knowing that of all the things the world had thrown at her little ponies, they still managed to pick themselves up, dust themselves off, and start rebuilding their lives. Even from an era long before hers when the three tribes lived separately that indomitable spirit led to them surviving an artificial ice age brought about by their bickering and Windigos in the still-frozen North, the reign of Discord in what was now Equestria, incursions of assorted monsters, and even a hostile invasion or two. Always before her citizens did everything they could to survive and aid their neighbors and even now with this latest horror that was no different save that they seemed more strained than they had in the past. Who could hold that against them, though? Whatever the cause of this plague of undeath only ponies and horses seemed to be susceptible to it.

While from where she sat she could see that limit for the blessing it was, to the local folk it was sometimes seen as some sort of divine punishment. Only equine-kind were affected, so surely they were being punished for something. As time wore on and both supplies and survivors became fewer this belief became increasingly shared. Celestia had already begun hearing rumors from the supply scouts that still went to Lower Canterlot had reported seeing odd shrines and what seemed to be an execution platform near the train station. It deeply unsettled her but she never let it show to the public. Cults and odd superstitions had a habit of springing up during the more difficult parts of history. Once conditions began improving they tended to gradually die off with few exceptions. One such exception was a teal Unicorn waiting outside of her door with several dozen pounds' worth of documentation and photographic "evidence" that she'd apparently been collecting for a fair portion of her life and had brought with her when they evacuated. According to Agent Sweetie Drops of S.M.I.L.E. whom had been renting a room in the Unicorn mare's home in Ponyville as a cover before the outbreak most of it was a bunch of baloney, but a few tidbits were worth looking over if only to find out where and when top secret information had leaked.

"As if we didn't have enough already to juggle, now we also have to deal with cults and conspiracy theorists!" Celestia griped. "I do love my little ponies, but sometimes I really wish we had set up some kind of council to handle things like this or for when we wanted to take a vacation. I honestly can't even remember the last time I took a vacation." Celestia huffed in annoyance. "I swear, once we've survived this and put it far behind us, I'm going to retire!" Her nearby aid raised an eyebrow in response. Raven Inkwell was a dutiful and very much so needed assistant even before the dead began to roam the streets. The collapse of civilization and diminishing of population didn't so much lighten the role of governing as much as change out some responsibilities for others.

"Those never really went away, your majesty. From those that believed that the moon was made of cheese which is why your sister didn't starve to death during her banishment and that the crater was the places she ate from, to that one insane group four years ago that we caught trying to break into your bathroom because they were convinced that ingesting royal urine would lead to immortality." Raven made a look of utter disgust and disappointment. "The only thing that has changed is how many of them still come to petition that this or that topic be confessed as a coverup and printed in a newspaper for all the world to see. I'm sure this latest one will be no different. Shall we go and meet her, then?" Celestia gave her sleeping sibling a glance and then turned away from the tarnished view of Canterlot city.

"I suppose so. Hopefully it'll be another funny conspiracy so that I have something to laugh about this week."

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Luna slowly opened her eyes and blinked, followed by a yawn. She looked around but found that her sister and miss Raven Inkwell had departed. Luna scratched an itchy leg and got up to her hoofs. She had just finished talking again to young Apple Bloom and had the pleasure of watching her weep with joy. The memory brought a smile to her own face. The little filly had feared that almost everypony she loved was dead, but after a few hours of traveling the Dreamscape Luna was able to confirm that while some of them were indeed deceased or at the very least were not asleep at the moment a large portion of both her friends and family were still alive. Those she had encountered also in turn were relieved or excited to learn that though she was sick that she was otherwise fine as well.

But more importantly, she had realized a greater value to her dream-walking abilities in this time. She learned that it could be used it to find ponies that were missing and an opportunity to rekindle hope to those that had lost it with the possibility of reuniting them.

Luna stretched and cracked her neck before heading for the bedroom's door. She wished to share these good tidings with her elder sister. Before she could leave, however, there came the sound of many flapping wings passing the balcony and Luna stepped outside to investigate. As she looked around she saw several unfamiliar Pegasai pulling several flying mail trucks marked with the symbol of Cloudsdale.

"Ho, strangers!" Luna yelled (but not with her voice amplification) "What brings you here from Cloudsdale?" Heads turned and they approached, giving her a bow.

"Good day, your majesty!" An older and graying stallion in a guard's uniform greeted with a sharp salute. "We're here to deliver some much-delayed mail to Canterlot, and to take any in turn that you might want sent back. I in particular would also like to request an audience either with you or Celestia if either of you have the time. My name is Butter Milk and I'm of the Tartarus guard." Luna's eyes widened and for a few seconds she began to panic at the possible reasons a member of the Tartarus guard would have come here. Seeing her reaction Butter Milk was quick to wave his legs in front of him and shake his head. "No no! It's not what you're probably thinking! None of the criminals or abominations have broken out! I'm just here to deliver some mail and a report on the state of things there. That's all!" At that Luna calmed.

"Ah, I see. Well, at the moment mine sister is busy and I've only just awoken. For now take your carts to the plaza down the street from the palace gates. I'll inform Celestia about this and we'll get back to you later." Butter Milk bowed again and spoke to the other Pegasi before they flew away. Luna watched them go and a second smile found its way to her face. Perhaps finally the pendulum of fate was beginning to swing back the other way again.

Author's Note

One can tell all the tragic stories they want, but if one has any realistic expectation of the characters wanting to carry on they need at least a little hope now and then.

On a unrelated subject I only just found out (7/12/2024 10:26 AM) that while I had been writing this back in the day, someone else had been writing another series of stories also based off of Rainbowbob's world. Neat.