Rise of Dark Equestria: Return of Sombra

Rise of Dark Equestria: Return of Sombra

“Between Love and Loss is the place where Hate lives. It waits for a single Mare who doesn't know herself…”

By Dragon Feather and AlicornMistress

Chapter 2: The Fall of Harmony

Part One: The lost Generosity

The Elements all stood in the foyer of Rarity's house none of them wanted to look in on that scene in the studio ever again. It hadn't taken long for Twilight and the others to get to the manor nor did it take the guards long to have the whole estate on lock down. After learning the details of what had taken place. The undertaker was in there now with his assistants and three guards collecting Rarity and Spike's bodies to take them to the funeral home. None of the girls could really speak as they were all in shock over the situation until Applejack mentioned Rarity’s note. Rainbow Dash just narrowed her eyes at the long piece of paper having a bad feeling about it. Before for the cyan mare could say anything Twilight had urged Applejack to read the note to them.

Applejack held up Rarity's note and read it out loud for the others to hear. As she read those sad and pain filled words for the second time her voice cracked and tears spilled from her eyes. Everypony stayed quiet while Applejack read the heart breaking words again and when she was done everypony was in tears save for Rainbow Dash. The cyan mare could no longer contain her rage and just punched a wall in fury. Pinkie Pie broke down and began crying uncontrollably as her mane and tail deflated going completely straight after losing much of their bright coloration. Fluttershy held on to the sobbing pink mare as she tried to calm her.

“This is what I was telling you about Applejack! Rarity of all of us has lost the most and now she's dead and so is Spike. The only thing left behind are the feelings of hate and regret felt by the both of them. What is left for us now? Somepony tell me, what is left for us now?” Rainbow Dash asked before she turned to face away from the others and gritted her teeth in frustration and grief.

While she had her differences with Rarity on many things Rarity was her friend and Rainbow wasn't blind to the white mare's pain. No, Dash had been aware of it for decades but could never bring herself to comfort or try to comfort Rarity because her of promise. She wished she had at least tried once to reach out to her, to really offer a shoulder to cry on but she hadn't and now it was far too late.

There was a long silence after the cyan mare's angry words, nopony dared speak for a fear of what Rainbow Dash would say in reply. Twilight was the first to speak to Dash. What transpired seconds after Twilight opened her mouth nopony saw coming.

Twilight stepped up to Rainbow Dash getting into her face, her lavender wings spread as her violet eyes flashed with anger. Twilight's face was stern and full of authority before she slapped the rainbow maned mare hard across the face. Rainbow Dash just looked at Twilight in disbelief and fury as her cheek turned dark red from the hard blow. The other girls all drew in quick breaths as they wait for the inevitable fight to come like a sudden massive thunderstorm on a clear and sunny day.

“How could you say something so cold about your own friends? This is hard on all of us. We all loved Rarity and I raised Spike from an egg. He was more like my son rather than a little brother. This hurts me more than any of you yet...” Twilight never got to finish her thought as Rainbow Dash pushed the young alicorn out of her face.

“Do you really think I give a damn about you raising Spike!? Oh yeah, some mother you were your Royal Highness! In case you were wondering a real mother protects her child from shit like this! That's right, Spike would still be alive and so would Rarity if you had the foresight to see that all of us were suffering in the wake of your Princessdom!” Rainbow Dash shouted back at Twilight as she pointed an accusing hoof.

“What are you say Rainbow Dash? That... this is all my fault?” Twilight questioned unsure of what to think now or why Rainbow Dash was so angry.

“Yes this your fault! Newsflash Princess Egghead, of your five closest friends Rarity had lost everything she cared about because she was the Element of Generosity. Oh she tried to forget about everything that she lost being immortal in a way just to make you happy. Lying to herself for the sake of your happiness was fine until Sweetie Belle, Apple Bloom, and Scootaloo died. She and I broke that day. We have been secretly hating you and Celestia since the day we put our little sisters in the ground 95 years ago. Because of you and your precious Princess Celestia, your best friends have lost everything dear to them and now Rarity and Spike are dead.” Rainbow Dash told Twilight as she point toward the back of the Belle Manor.

“You can't be serious Rainbow Dash? I had... There was... nothing to be done about the tragedy that took the Cutie Mark Crusaders from us. There was nothing any of us could do, you know that better than me. You held Scootaloo as she...”

“DONT! DON'T YOU DARE SAY MY LITTLE SISTER'S NAME, YOU IMMORTAL BITCH!” Rainbow Dash yelled as tears streamed down her cheeks. Later she would have to go to Scootaloo's grave and apologize for getting emotional but Twilight needed to know how the cyan mare felt.

“Tell me Twilight what else must we give you before you’re satisfied? What else must be sacrificed until you two are both satiated? How much more innocent blood must be spilled before you see what you have done to us?” Rainbow Dash yelled before getting ready to lunge at Twilight.

“Rainbow Dash! That's enough!” Fluttershy yelled, “just go and don't come back until the funeral. This is hard enough without you saying all of that. Please, for the sake of us all, just go.”

Rainbow Dash just looked at the tear stained face of Fluttershy as she held on to Pinkie still trying to calm the broken mare. 'This wasn't supposed to happen, why had it ended like this? Things used to be so much happier. What had happened to me and my friends in the last 135 years? Why is there so much sadness and hate filling my heart now? Why did it have to be so... so unawesome? If I could take it all back, if I could be the only one to suffer, I would. I would do that, for Rarity and Spike, just so I wouldn't have to make the one mare I love cry like this.' Rainbow Dash thought as she stared at her broken friend's tear drenched face.

For a brief instant the cyan mare opened her mouth to speak to Fluttershy. There was a long pause then Dash thought she better not speak again, she had already said way more than she should have already. Fluttershy was right she should go until summoned for the funeral. If she said anymore she risked breaking the all ready thin bond to her element. The cyan mare sighed with frustration before she turned her back to the group and grunted in anger. Tears rolled down her cheeks as she flew away from the house, leaving as Fluttershy had asked.

“What... what was all of that about? What's wrong with her?” Twilight asked the others who all just looked away from the Princess of Friendship. Twilight was shocked when all of her friends couldn't look her in the eyes. “What's going on here girls? Don't tell me you all feel the same way as Rainbow Dash? You all can't possibly blame me for this tragedy?”

“The truth is Twi that what Rarity said in her note is the truth. All of us have been sufferin' fer the last hundred or so years, some of us more than others. Ah just learned bout the other girls' problems earlier today. It was a few days ago that Rares told me of how she was full of hate fer ya and Celestia. Ah can't stand here and say she was wrong fer it neither. She loved Spike and we all knew Spike loved her but because of what we have become she couldn't give him what she felt he deserved.” Applejack told Twilight as more tears spilled down her cheeks.

“You can't mean that Applejack? How can you blame me or Celestia for this... or any of it?” Twilight said in shock as she looked from Applejack to Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie.

“Twilight now is not the time be discussing this. The pains of these tragic events are much too fresh for this conversation to do anypony any good. We all need time to process Rarity's and Spike's decisions before we talk about why they did it and the things we have all suffered.” Fluttershy told Twilight as she stroked Pinkie's mane to keep the hysterical mare quiet and calm.

“Fluttershy... what are you saying? You can't mean that all of you feel the same way about this? You all don't blame me for this?” Twilight asked as tears welled up in her eyes.

It was heartbreaking to think that all of her friends thought she was the cause of the tragic events that had taken place. As the crowned Princess of Friendship it was her responsibility to see and fix problems involving friendship. To not know Rarity felt the way she did was something Twilight just couldn't let go of.

“I'm the Princess of Friendship so you can't expect me to take this lightly. It was my responsibility and duty to see that my friends were and are happy. For Rarity to do this and me not to know she was unhappy, that any of you were unhappy it’s... it’s...”

“TWILIGHT JUST STOP IT!” the butter yellow mare yelled causing everyone in the house to freeze as her loud voice filled the nearly silent manor.

Twilight was shocked by Fluttershy's outburst but stayed quiet as the mare looked at her sternly, almost giving her the Stare. “This isn't just about your feelings or you duty as the Princess of Friendship. What both Applejack and Rainbow Dash said is true but it's also just the pain of what's happened talking as well. All of us have suffered a great deal do to the fact we are the Elements of Harmony. You didn't see it because in part we hid it from you and the other part was you didn't want to see it. You were happy that we had stopped aging since you would normally have out lived us all to begin with. Alicorns have Time while other ponies have Legacy to mark their place in history. Celestia told you that after you become an alicorn, remember?” Fluttershy asked Twilight.

“Yes I remember that but what does that have to do with this?” the lavender alicorn asked her mane becoming frazzled from the growing worries and hurt in her heart.

“That is the one LESSON you have yet to learn and taken to heart. Ponies like Rarity, Applejack, Pinkie Pie, Rainbow Dash, and myself are not meant for an eternal life like you and the other Princesses. We are only meant to be here a short time, to have families. To make memories with the ones we love to leave our mark on this world before we pass on to the next life. When we gained the powers of Rainbow Harmony the five of us lost our Legacy. Whether you knew that or not that is not why we are upset. Princess Celestia should have known this was going to happen to us. She has lived for thousands of years and has had time to study the Elements of Harmony long before we were fused with their powers. Why she never told you this or even looked into it I can't say but that fact is why Rainbow Dash is upset. That fact is one of the reasons we all have growing hate and blame for you and Princess Celestia for the suffering we have endured.” Fluttershy explained with tears running down her cheeks the whole time.

“Girls... I never... I thought by all of us having more time, we all could... I'm so sorry... I...” The lavender mare never finished her statement. There was a bright magenta glow from her horn and she vanished from sight in the wake of a teleportation spell.

There was a cold long silence in the room between the three mares as the guards and movers moved about the manor. It would take some time to clean up and move all of the things in the Belle Manor to storage until Rarity's estate could be put in order so her final wishes could be taken care of.

“Fluttershy why did ya just say all of that ta her? Ya'll know how obsessive Twi can be bout things like this, so why?” Applejack questioned the Element of Kindness as the orange mare stared at her in disbelief.

“I'm sorry Applejack but she had to know the truth or at least part of it otherwise she would never be able to move on. We were not meant to live this long and she knew that but refused to let go of that fact. She was given time to make sure future generations knew the truth about the Magic of Friendship. She will be the one to carry our story into the future long after we pass into memory.” The butter yellow mare said in a soft almost sage like tone.

“Fluttershy Ah know that but that was cruel even fer you. Twi may not recover from this. What will ya'll do if she flies off the deep end and goes on some crazy magical hunt ta get Rarity and Spike back from the dead?” Applejack asked worried about what Twilight would do.

“I'm sorry Applejack but sometimes the kindest thing you can do is tell somepony the cruelest of truths.” Fluttershy said flatly as she continued to comfort Pinkie. “If she does try to bring Rarity and Spike back we will stop her. Rarity’s final wish was to be with Sweetie Belle and the rest of her family. I won't let anypony take that away from her, not now. Spike is with Rarity, he made his choice, I don't like it but I will honor that choice as his friend. I won't let Twilight take away their peace just too ease her own pain or the guilt she feels about this.”

“Fluttershy!?” was all AJ could say in response to the yellow mare's words.

“I know it sounds cruel of me but Celestia was right about one thing, Twilight must learn to deal with loss. We all have had to deal with a lot of loss over the last 135 years. You more than any of us so you should understand that pain far better than Twilight does right now. This has to happen, she has to feel this pain, Applejack. It's the only way Twilight will learn to deal with loss properly. Because she never had to deal with possibility of ever losing us Twilight has forgotten the simple truth that the Princesses as alicorns will see so many ponies come and go. They are the guardians of history, protecting the ponies of this world so they may enjoy happiness for the short time that they are here. We are also to blame for what happened here as well. Rarity and Spike's blood is on our hooves too. We could have prevented this but we said nothing for far too long. Because of that we all lost the right to truly be upset with Twilight about it.” Fluttershy told Applejack before helping Pinkie Pie back to her hooves.

“Steel Heart could you please have a carriage brought to the front so I can take Pinkie Pie to my cottage to rest? Today has been a long troubling day and the poor dear needs some time to rest and process all this.” Fluttershy ask the unicorn stallion, who had been standing nearby direction the crews in the manor and listening for a call from the Elements or his Highness, Princess Twilight.

“Yes Miss Fluttershy at once. I'll have a private carriage take you two back to your cottage.” Steel Heart replied before saluting and rushing off to get the task done.

Moments later an unmarked brown and white carriage with dark drapes in the windows pulled up in front of the manor. Steel Heart helped Fluttershy put Pinkie Pie in the carriage before he helped Fluttershy in. After the doors were closed the carriage sped away to Fluttershy's home. Applejack stood there for a minute as she watched the carriage speed off being pulled by two guard ponies. She was still pondering Fluttershy's words.

“For what's it’s worth Miss Applejack, that shy mare’s words are wise. She is partly right about what she said.” Steel Heart told AJ with a somber look on his face.

“How can ya say that Steel Heart? She said we all have Rarity and Spike's blood on our hooves. How is any of this or that right in any form?” Applejack demanded the stallion to tell her.

“You do have their blood on your hooves, because you all knew about the growing sadness in each others' hearts. You said yourself that you had been ignoring it all this time trying to keep happy for Princess Twilight's sake. In that respect Miss Fluttershy is right, you could have prevent this. You all could have said something as soon as you had realized you had lost the power of Legacy like Miss Fluttershy said.” Steel Heart pointed out.

“I don't know much about ancient magicks or the powers of the alicorns, nor do I want to any time soon. It's all too damn complicated if you ask me. What I do know is this Miss Applejack, I'm here for a short time so how I use that time is what makes it worthwhile. You might want think about what you have done with your time now and what you plan to do with the time you have ahead of you.” Steel Heart told Applejack before excusing himself back to his duties.

Applejack stood there in the wake of Steel Heart's words and for the first time in her long life she was uncertain of what she should do beyond just living. For so long had her life been simple, it had just been filled with a routine: wake up, do farm work, sell apples, eat a meal with the family, go to bed and repeat the next morning. Then came Twilight Sparkle, the other girls to a lesser extant, the Elements of Harmony and the Princesses into her life. Everything was fine still if not exciting every now and then but life still had a routine to it. Life was still simple and clean cut. After Twilight become a Princess, they got the new powers of Rainbow Harmony, and Ponyville had become Twilight's Kingdom things started to change drastically. Before Applejack knew her life no longer had a simple clear cut routine to it that involved the Apple Family, Sweet Apple Acres, or her doing what she loved, apple bucking on the farm. When had it all changed? When had it all started to become such a problem?

'When had I fallen out of sync with my element? Why had I started lying to myself about my own pain? Was it all just to keep Twilight happy or something else?' Applejack was now questioning her own memories and feelings of the past but finding no answers to satisfy the pain in her heart.

As the orange farm mare stood there trying to sort out her feelings on Fluttershy and Steel Heart's words, Rainbow Dash's anger, Twilight's guilt, and Spike and Rarity's deaths. She knew one thing to be true. The sadness she felt now was only the start of a greater cycle of pain and loss that was crashing down on Ponyville, no on all of Equestria. Had Rarity really done the only thing she could to ease her pain or had she just become a key to something far darker than anypony was ready to face?

************

Several days had passed, in that time the news of the Fashion Mogul Rarity Belle and the dragon known the world round as Sir Spike the Great untimely deaths had sweep throughout all of Equus. There was a great uproar and shock about the loss of one of the Elements of Harmony through all of Equestria. In all of Equestria and several parts of Equus a great many creatures mourned the loses of a truly creative and generous mare and a dragon of noble honor and deed.

So over come by the death of Spike were the Connamaraians, who lived to the south of Equestria, they sent all nine of its Dragon Khalessi to help prepare Spike's body for burial as well as to give him a proper Dragon Funeral. Equestria welcomed this gesture of good will and condolences with open arms. Twilight was far too broken up about Spike's death to protest and Princess Celestia couldn't turn down the help especially while all of Equestria mourned the lost of two of its own.

It wasn't long before a day in the early autumn was picked for the funeral. It had been decided by Fluttershy that both Rarity and Spike would be buried next to each on the same day. In life they had not been about to be together so in death they would never be parted. Fluttershy with the help of Applejack and Berry Pommel had made all the preparations for Rarity's burial. The Nine Khalessi and the servants they had brought coordinated with Fluttershy to ensure both Spike and Rarity were united in the end.

The large church was decorated in a mix of wedding and and funeral fare. In truth it was both a wedding and a funeral. Rarity had expressed her desire to be with Spike as his wife and Spike had sacrificed himself to be with the mare he loved. It was only fitting that, that love be acknowledged by all who knew them. Before anypony was let into the church the Nine Dragon Khalessi, the Elements of Harmony, all of the Princesses, and compliment of guards from both Equestria and Connamaraia as witness for a closed marriage ceremony. Dragon Khalessi Sunburst conducted the ceremony at Fluttershy's request. The white dragon mare was more than honored to fulfill the request since she thought it was only fitting that they be married before going to eternal rest together.

After the marriage ceremony was concluded and the rings that had been especially made for the occasion had slipped on a clawed finger and horn respectively, the church was open to all of the mourners. Moments later the church was filled with ponies, dragons, and dragon ponies alike all dressed in black expressing the heart felt sadness. After everyone was settled the services began and the church was filled with cries of loss, the words for the dearly departed and songs of faith.

The sky had a deathly sad look to it, it was a mash up of black and gray as rain clouds dotted it heavily, it was if Equus itself was weeping for the loss of two of her children to fate. After the heart felt church service there were two solid lines of black clad ponies and dragons moving slowly moving forward toward the cemetery, sadness and tears of many flowed as the precession moved onward.

Twin coffins, one carved from crystal decorated in the finest dragon stones found in Connamaraia housed Spike clad in white and blue armor befitting a knight bearing the crest of Equestria and Connamaraia alike. The other a glass and crystal coffin decorated in similar fashion housed Rarity dressed in a fine white and blue dress with a white veil over her smiling face, making her look like an angelic sleeping bride.

Four of the Nine Dragon Khalessi of Connamaraia acted as pallbearers for Spike's large crystal coffin. Each alicorn mare wore the full Khalessi armor only in black and with white trim. Each in her full dragon soul form showing of their dragon traits in respect to Spike's greatness as a dragon. As they walked through the streets of Ponyville each chanted the song of safe passage to the lands of the dead. The precession behind them full of dragons, dragon ponies and crystal ponies all clad in black wailed in sorrow.

Right next to the Khalessi were Rainbow Dash, Applejack, Black Staff, and Steel Heart, these four had been selected by Fluttershy to bear Rarity to her final resting place. Behind them walked Fluttershy helping Pinkie Pie along as she cried her eyes out, next was Shining Armor and Cadence on either side of Twilight whose face was plastered with guilt and sorrow, they were followed by Luna and Celestia both with sullen looks on their veil covered faces, behind them a detachment of six guards then the whole of Ponyville.

It wasn't long before both coffins had been delivered to there final place of rest. As per Rarity's final wishes she was being placed right next to Sweetie Belle. To honor Spike's wish to never leave Rarity again he was being buried right next to her with the sides of their coffins touching. It didn't take long for the coffins to be lowered into the ground as prayers to Faust, Savaris, and Alimaria were offered up as flowers were thrown on to the coffins.

“Everything returns to the dust from wince it came. Nothing can escape death as it completes the cycle and begins it anew. Today we commit a Son of Equestria and a Brother of Connamaraia to the earth to rest peacefully until his time to wake anew in this world comes again. Spike the Great was a true dragon of the finest scales. I only knew him a short time but in that time I never met a more committed soul to the ideals of Connamaraia and Equestria at the same time. Loyal, Intelligent, Kind, Courageous, Fierce and most of all Loving was Spike, The Drake of Burning Magic. Thought his body may lay cold in the earth beneath our hooves and talons, his flame and memory will burn on forever in the hearts and minds of all the lives he touched.” Dragon Khalessi Sunburst said as she stood in front of Spike's grave.

She was flanked by her other eight fellow Khalessi in a triangular formation. Each bore a look of sorrow and honor for the dead as they all chanted the final pray softly in the ancient tongue. The white dragon mare with mane and tail of red, orange, and yellow waving like a flame raised hoof to head in salute. The rest of the Khalessi followed suit in this gesture as did every guard standing in the cemetery. Over head the Wonderbolts as well as the Connamaraian Dragon Aces flew in the miss man formation. Both groups had one of their members pill off as the formation continued across the sky.

“Forever in our hearts and never forgotten. May your journey with the one you love to the Grand Spiral be one of peace and joy, young dragon.” All of the Khalessi said in unison before the dropped the hooves and moving back to make way for Celestia, Luna, Cadence, and Twilight.

Celestia took the forefront with Princess Luna at her side, both Cadence and Twilight stay just a bit behind the elder alicorns with their heads slightly bowed. Celestia looked over the faces of her people, she could see the fear and uncertainty in their eyes. The loss of Rarity had been a devastating blow to the country moral.

So many were worried about the country’s defense again the darkness and evils like Lord Tirek. What if Discord went rouge again? What if an evil like King Sombra attacked? These were just a few of the worries that plague her people about Rarity's passing. Now was the time to for her to put those fears to rest as well as honor Rarity for her long years of service to the crown and the people of Equestria.

“Today my little ponies we weep as a whole nation as we return one of our own to the womb of Mother Equus to rest eternally. Rarity was sister to many of us, mother to others, daughter to many more but all of us called her friend. Many of you knew her personally, some of you only knew her in passing but all of us were touched deep by her generosity. Rarity gave of herself without question, never did she have the thought of a returned reward for it, nor did she give of herself in the hopes getting anything more than a smile from anypony she helped. She was the true embodiment of the Element of Generosity, an example to us all of how to be selfless. Though she is gone her memory will live on in the hearts of each and every pony in Equestria.” Celestia told all gathered in the cemetery with her head held high and her voice dripping with the honey of a ruler coming to her people's aid. She stood silent for several minutes to let her words sink in before continuing with even more passion.

“Even in this time of sadness and tragedy there is still hope. Even with this sad loss of our loved one there is still light that shall keep away the darkness.” Celestia said with brightness in her eyes. This caused a great murmuring among the Equestrians. The Sun Goddess let this go on for a few moments until it become a great uproar of questions about what she meant.

Rainbow Dash, Applejack, and Fluttershy all looked on with a growing anger as Celestia was using Rarity's funeral to quiet the rumors about Equestria being defenseless in the wake of the unicorn's death. The three angry elements all looked to Twilight, who just stood there saying nothing, she just looked down at her hooves sadly. All three mares felt rage and hatred rise in their chests for both of the Princess of the Sun and the Princess of Friendship, Celestia for using a tragedy like this for political gain and Twilight for allowing it to happen. Grief or no grief this was Rarity’s final moment in the spotlight and Celestia was stealing it while Twilight allowed her, that was unforgivable. That was the final straw for all three mares and after the funeral when things calmed down the three of them were going to put a stop to Celestia's subtle manipulations of their lives once and for all.

“Many of you have voiced your concerns about the passing of the Element of Generosity. Wondering if we are left without our most powerful defense against the forces of darkness and disharmony. Well I can tell you now to fear not my little ponies as I have done some research on the Elements of Harmony and found out when one of the element users falls their element returns to the the controller of the Element of Magic. Princess Twilight Sparkle, the Princess of Friendship, is the Element of Magic and in her now rests the Element of Generosity. She is now the hold of the two of the Elements of Harmony and with the other element users they can still protect Equestria's peace and harmony. So mourn the lose of Rarity Belle and her generous heart but fear not as her power lives on in your Princess of Friendship, Princess Twilight Sparkle!” Celestia told everyone assembled in the cemetery.

There was silence that ran throughout the whole of the cemetery after Celestia words rang out, even with the news that the Elements of Harmony still held power to defend Equestria this good news still could not overshadow the lost of two of Equestria's most beloved unicorn and dragons, Rarity Belle and Sir Spike the Great. While the news that Equestria was still safe the lost of Rarity and Spike was just too great for that good news to do any good for the ponies of Ponyville.

“Even with this good news still our hearts are heavy with sadness so mourn this loss of loved ones my little ponies but remember that Rarity and Sir Spike now live in our hearts, memories, and deeds.” Celestia said before she and Luna move back and motioning Twilight forward to speak.

“In the wake of our loss I, Princess Twilight Sparkle of Ponyville, will work even harder to prevent another tragedy like this from ever happening again. I along with the other Elements of Harmony will work hard to ensure our power will always be here to defend Equestria. We will also work hard to make sure Rarity Belle and Sir Spike's legacies will be remembered for generations to come. Rarity was my friend and close to me like a sister and Sir Spike, I raised him from an egg. He was my son and brother, I loved him so very much. Both of them will be missed greatly but now is not the time for tears. We must not mourn them for too long, they wouldn't want us to be sad over there deaths. We must instead celebrate them for who they were, a pony and dragon dear to our hearts. Next week, and every year there after on the same days, there will be two day set aside for both Rarity and Spike to celebrate them and all they had done for the whole of Equestria.” Twilight told the whole of the funeral party before all present linked hooves and claws and offered one last prayer of safe journey to their fallen loved ones.

With that the funeral was concluded as the grave diggers got ready for their final duty that day. All of the ponies, dragons, and dragon ponies began to leave the cemetery, all of them headed for different gatherings for a good meal, to speak of the fallen, and to deal with their grief in their own ways. Luna, Shining Armor, and Cadence left with guards as Celestia stayed to be alone for awhile with her thoughts.

Twilight went to be with her friends to share in their grief, but found out from Steel Heart that Fluttershy had taken Pinkie Pie and Applejack with her in a carriage back to her cottage for the evening. Steel Heart informed Princess Twilight that Fluttershy had wanted to get Pinkie Pie inside to rest after such a long and stressful day and that Applejack had gone along to speak with Fluttershy in private. Twilight had been a little surprised and hurt that her friends had not waited for her since she wanted to talk them about everything and fix the problems that were tearing them apart.

Twilight soon spotted Rainbow Dash moments after her talk with Steel Heart. Dash was standing near several of the pegasus Royal Guards speaking quietly with them about something. She really wanted to talk to Rainbow Dash first anyway, to apologized for the scene at Rarity's Manor and to try and find a way to make it up to her and the other girls. Twilight wanted to give them back what they had lost on her behalf. In the days before the funeral the lavender alicorn had come realize that Fluttershy was right, that she had Time and all they had was Legacy. So to atone for her sins Twilight had resolved to find away to give that Legacy back to her friends, even if she would lose them all in the long run.

When the Princess of Friendship approached the cyan mare calling her name softly she was greeted with a glare of hatred when Rainbow Dash turned toward her. Twilight stopped dead in her tracks, eyes wide with shock, her mouth agape as she stared into pink eyes. Eyes that showed nothing but the purest of hatred for her. Twilight tried to find her voice to speak to Dash, to ask why but before she could the cyan mare took to the air with great speed becoming blur of black and blue. Where the cyan mare was headed to no pony knew but what Twilight did know at that moment was that she was slowly losing her friends.

Twilight stood there in the damp grass in utter disbelief of what had just happened as tears rolled down her cheeks. She had really made a huge mistake and it was going to cost her all of her closest friends, the only ponies that had ever truly loved her unconditionally. This time she couldn't blame it on some evil trying to tear them apart. This time it was all her fault for being naive and selfish. She had failed them and it didn't look like an entry in their Friendship Journal or the Magic of Friendship would fix this problem any time soon.

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Standing at the grave site in the shade of a large tree far behind all of the ponies leaving the cemetery stood Celestia. Her face was sullen and if any one were to see her they would think that the sadness in her eyes was about what had transpired in the last week or so. No, this sadness was not about the passing of Rarity and Spike, while that did weigh heavily on Celestia's heart the sadness she felt now was from a pain far older and deeply rooted in her past. The misery she felt, the heartache that clawed at her heart, was for the actions she had taken over a thousand years ago. Terrible deeds that she wished she could undo, just to prevent the sad tragedy of the past week and the ones to come because of one mare's selfish act.

Remembering back to the birth of a foal that had changed her life, her dear sweet Luna's life, and the whole of Equestria. In truth she had tried to love the Star since her birth but the sins of the past are heavy ones and in a thousand years love had yet to take root and truly bloom. Not that the Sun Goddess hadn't tried to but the fact that The Star was the daughter of that stallion that had taken so much from her. He had taken her sister for a time, taken her lover's innocence, and even tried to take claim as Equestria's rightful ruler. He was the evil one and his daughter The Star would be just the same given time but despite that Celestia had tried to love her. Now with the loss of one of the element users the white mare of the sun wondered if The Star even understood would love and loss of a friend truly meant.

In her sullen state Celestia did not hear the approach of the white dragon mare, not that Sunburst made much noise to begin with. Sunburst had sought Celestia out to talk with her one last time on a matter that was a thousand years old and unresolved between them.

“Princess Celestia my I have a moment of your time?” Came the voice of Dragon Khalessi Sunburst as she walked up and stopped a foot from Celestia side.

Celestia was shaken from her thoughts and turned her head to see the pony that had asked of her time. She frowned and her brow knitted in frustration at the sight of Sunburst. The last time she saw her dragon pony counterpart was over a thousand years ago when she had come to meddle in her affairs after the banishing of King Sombra. The Sun Goddess was sick of this mare and her Council of Elders interfering with her and her decisions about the safety and rules of Equestria and its people. If it hadn't been for Sunburst and the Sun Goddess' moment of weakness things might be different right now. Celestia sighed then put on a fake smile before answering.

“For you Sunburst a moment, a lifetime or any amount of time in-between is fine so long as no pony has to die.” Celestia said with voice full of sarcasm while still holding on to her fake smile.

“No need to be with dark humor. I see that pleasantries are beyond you at this point. Since that is the case I will make my point and take my leave. I have no need for false kindness.” Sunburst said with a look of irritation crossing her face. The white sun mare always seemed to get under Sunburst's coat and skin like a hate filled tick.

“We both know of the sins of the past and that which has been done can not be undone. Even with that, should the Star fall into despair and threaten the world with darkness everlasting, we the Dragon Khalessi of Connamaraia will, more to the point I will not hesitate to kill her and you without fail.” Sunburst said with a stern look on her face as her orange eyes flashed with power.

“Do not take me for a fool Sunburst, I'm well aware of what I did back then and what I did to correct it after the fact. Should The Star fall into darkness I will be the one to extinguish its light completely. But you should remember I wanted to do just that a thousand years ago so this wouldn't have to be considered now. It was you and your Council of Elders who stopped me from silencing The Star when she was first born with the threat of war.” Celestia fumed with a rage a thousand years old.

“A war over what? One foal that should have never been born, as if that were a good or sane reason for a war? What is the life of one foal versus the lives of countless creatures on Equus should she fall into darkness?” Celestia asked in a shout with venom in her voice. She ruffled her wings then shook them out as if shaking of an evil curse from what she had said moments ago before setting an even but emotionless gaze on Sunburst.

Sunburst stared at Celestia with righteous fury building in her chest and a face set in anger. Of all things to say when a foal's life was precious no matter what the circumstances of its birth. Yes, the Connamaraians had threatened war since the foal in question, The Star, was the rightful heir to the Crystal Empire and all of the frozen north. It didn't matter to the Connamaraians that her father had a dark past but what mattered was that he and his heir were the rightful rulers of the Crystal Empire. While the laws of Connamaraia prevented Sunburst from interfering directly in the War of Crystal Heart, the law did allow her to protect The Star. Now that a thousand years had passed the fight between Celestia and Sunburst about The Star had returned. This time Sunburst wished to finish it.

“She was only a foal and regardless of who her father was she deserved a chance at life! It was you that chose to keep The Star when I told you I would take her. I wanted to become her mother, to raise her in a home full of love, to protect her from the darkness of her birth. If The Star falls it is your fault as you have raised and watched over her these last thousand years. Should the sins of that day be repeated I will cut you and her down, that is all there is to it, the rest is silence.” Sunburst said before bowing then walking away in silence.

“You acted as if you loving her would have made a difference. She is her father's daughter after all. In the end Sunburst you would have made the same choice you stopped me from carrying out a thousand years ago at some point. You could never love a foal that can only hate and will only know hate in the end. Why you blame me for that I will never know but in the end it was really Velvet's fault for betraying me and wanting keep both of his foul foals alive.” Celestia whispered to herself with a dark look on her face as she stomped her hoof in frustration.

Soon she would have to deal with memories and sins from the past and in the end she would once again have blood on her hooves. Not that any of that blood would be from any innocent ponies, but still it left a bad taste in the Sun Goddess' mouth. Hopeful if fate would be kind The Star would end her own life after ensuring that another would inherit her element.

To be Continued...