Celestia felt little to no remorse as she raised the sun and lowered the moon over the lifeless corpse below her balcony.

It was similar sensation to Discord’s execution, as she melted his statue into a bubbling puddle of molten slag; watching on with a smile as he cursed and spat her name before succumbing to his ultimate finality.

Even with Raven; the sight of the mare staring back up at her with betrayal laced across her terrified features as she fell away from somepony she had considered a close friend, simply garnered an absence of emotion from the Princess.

Celestia felt afloat with neither anger nor sorrow, nor a feeling of righteous victory. She felt neither proud nor disgusted with herself, unlike what she had experienced with Luna’s death by her own two hooves.

But that was different.

She cared deeply about Luna like any other sister would…

But Discord and Raven's insignificant lives were snuffed away with no effort and with little thought to the consequences. Both were threats in their own convoluted way so it was her right to dispose of them as quickly as possible.

Raven’s death was a necessary act for the continued peace of Equestria and to secure her right to the throne, while protecting the one she cared most deeply about… though she did regret in her method of execution in regards to Raven; though Discord’s most justified execution on the other hoof was everything he ever deserved and more.

Yet, to label Raven a traitor and an assassin?

It almost seemed like the perfect excuse with the current tensions rising between Maredonia and Saddle Arabia. She could probably use her lie to her advantage in that regards later on; to perhaps use this most fortunate circumstance as a form of leverage.

But she knew she had to be careful.

Celestia knew she was playing with fire.

A fire she felt would never burn her.

After all, she was their beloved Princess, right?

Surely she could do no wrong, right?

No sooner had Raven perished, the castle was immediately thrown into an uproar. The Royal Guards deployed in force, weapons and magic ready to defend their capital from a potential enemy attack while securing every entrance and exit of the castle and most notably, the throne room to which Princess Celestia had retreated.

“Don’t worry your Majesty, the palace is on lockdown and the city is on high alert. The Wonderbolts have sortie to the surrounding area while the Shadowbolts have been dispatched to several key locations along the borders. If an army even so much as takes a single hoofstep on Equestrian soil or so much as breathes the same air as you within this palace, we will be more than ready to take them out.” Flash Sentry stood at attention with an entourage of trusted soldiers before the two empty thrones.

Celestia was standing between them, her wings spread wide with an expression of grim determination present upon her features.

“Well done, Captain. There is no telling what Raven’s true intentions were, but we do know she had made a foolish and desperate attempt on my life. We must be cautious from here on out. Who knows how far the root of this betrayal has seeped into my court. I never would had thought my closest friend to be an assassin.” Celestia closed her eyes, as if fully incapable to accept Raven’s betrayal. "I simply cannot believe it."

With a sigh, Celestia slipped open her eyelids just enough to stare down at the ground in front of hooves. “I want a full investigation of every member of staff in the castle performed by a team you trust absolutely,” Princess Celestia regarded Flash Sentry with a stern stare, “is that understood? Leave no stone unturned.”

Flash Sentry saluted. “Yes, your Majesty. What of Raven’s family?”

The corner of Celestia’s lips curled into a sad smile as she looked sorrowfully down at her subordinate. “Arrest her husband and send him to the dungeons temporarily. I will interrogate him myself upon my return from Saddle Arabia.”

“And the foals?”

“Place the children into protective custody. We must separate them from any potential corruption their father may be guilty of. If he is found innocent, we will naturally reunite them. But until that time I want them to never see each other unless completely necessary. We must conduct ourselves carefully from now on.”

“Yes, your majesty.” As Flash Sentry saluted one last time, he turned about to bark his orders at his most loyal of soldiers before being interrupted by a dazzling flash of lavender light and the figure of a similarly colored pony dashing towards the throne.

Moments later, the throne room’s doors burst open, followed by an outpour of guards chasing Twilight Sparkle.

“HALT!” The guards called out, Flash Sentry mirroring their outcry as he too moved to intercept.

“Celestia!” Tears flew from Twilight Sparkle’s cheeks as she dashed around Flash Sentry and his group as they moved to intercept the mare before she had time to reach the Princess, but with little success.

The moment a guard had got close enough to tackle her to the ground, Twilight Sparkle teleported the entire way across the room before the throne, rushing up the steps of the dais towards the Princess, leaving the rush of panicked guards eating her dust.

Celestia felt her body sway as she felt Twilight Sparkle fling her hooves around her neck and squeeze ever so tightly against her body, weeping as she did so.

Everypony in the throne room paused, the sudden clamor and chaos silenced by the muffled sobbing of the lavender mare echoing off of the cold marble walls.

“I-I thought I—when I-I heard,” Twilight Sparkle whimpered, pulling back her face from Celestia’s chest to stare up lovingly up at the Princess, “are you okay? Are you hurt? Why would… why would Raven—”

Princess Celestia lifted a single hoof to embrace Twilight Sparkle, allowing her to once again bury her face into her chest and weep while the guards looked on, unsure what to do given the circumstance.

“You may all leave.” Celestia announced, her eyes softening at Twilight’s despair.

Flash Sentry stepped forward. “But your majesty, she is also under investi—”

“I said, leave.” Princess Celestia affirmed with a glare. “If there is one pony I can trust more than any pony in this world, it is in fact my most faithful student, Twilight Sparkle.” Her narrowed her eyes upon them all. “She is exempt from your investigation, Flash Sentry. In fact, you are all hereby commanded that you treat her as you would treat me… any objections?”

“No your majesty… o-of course not, your majesty.” Flash Sentry bowed low, before turning about and raising his voice.

“You heard the Princess. Everypony out! I want four guards stationed outside these doors at all times. No one is allowed in or out except for the Princess and Twilight Sparkle; whom is also under twenty-four hour surveillance and protection. I also want the quickest of flyers to escort Princess Celestia’s caravan to Saddle Arabia formed up outside in the next twenty minutes for inspection! Move it!”

The guards replied with their ever silent salute, departing the throne room and closing the massive golden doors behind them with a resounding clunk, plunging the silent throne room into a solitude of two mares, one comforting the other.

“Why… why would she…” Twilight shook her head from side to side, her face nuzzling harder against Celestia’s dazzling white coat. “It… it does not make any sense!”

“Twilight,” Celestia’s voice was soft and gentle as she gently prised Twilight Sparkle from her chest to stare sadly at the tear stained face of her most precious student, “it’s okay. I’m fine.”

Twilight shook her head, clearly confused as she wiped her tears away with a hoof, her body trembling and her stomach cold with the passing dread she had felt so strongly up until a moment ago.

Gathering herself, Twilight quickly looked over Celestia from head to hoof, searching for any sign of injury. “Did she hurt you? Are you okay?”

Light as a feather, Celestia placed her hooves either side of Twilight’s muzzle and leaned down to kiss the tip of her nose in an attempt to further quell her worry. “Quite honestly, Twilight Sparkle, I am fine. A little disheartened, but fine nonetheless.”

Entrapped by Celestia’s intimate gesture and passionate expression, Twilight stared up at the Princess, her bottom lip quivering as she resisted yet another sob. “I-I didn’t know what to think… wh-when I heard I… I just knew I had to come here. I needed to see you and make sure you were okay.”

Half-lidding her eyes, Twilight looked away, guilt rising upon her features as her mind thought back to their minor altercation after their blissful night of forbidden passion. “W-what I said, Princess, was out of line and I want to apologize… I had no right to speak to you the way I did.”

“I too want to apologize, Twilight Sparkle.”

Princess Celestia’s words stunned Twilight into blinking up at her. “I… I was the one who—”

Celestia placed a hoof against Twilight Sparkle’s lips as her own words slipped into a whisper.

“No, Twilight Sparkle. You were right. It should not matter what I think anypony says. Everything you said was absolutely correct. I was just being the stubborn mare I tend to be when it comes to romance. I feel as if I should distance myself to prevent further heartbreak; to erect walls that you have clearly demolished around a heart that is feeble and bleeding, yearning for a mare I cherish more than my own life.”

Pulling her hoof away from Twilight’s lips, Celestia noted the returning flame of hope that was sparked deep within Twilight Sparkle’s eyes; joy following soon after in the form of a smile that grew upon a set of lips Celestia now longed to taste.

“A friend once told me… that I should follow my heart, no matter what. Your words renewed her advice and I… I can now see that you are also in fact right, Twilight Sparkle. I should love who I want.”

“C-Celestia…”

Leaning down, Celestia gently pecked a kiss to Twilight’s lips, grinning a little as she did so. “Besides, I believe I want to teach my student everything I have to offer.”

Twilight Sparkle blushed, looking away as she shifted upon the spot. “O-Oh.”

“Perhaps later though,” straightening her posture, Celestia regarded the empty throne room with a sigh, “now is not the time for such thoughts. I… I have much on my mind to consider after all.”

Celestia glanced down at Twilight’s concerned features, noting a lavender hoof had touched her own.

“I’m so sorry.” Twilight shook her head. “I just can’t believe Raven of all ponies would… would try to…” The concept of somepony trying to assassinate the Princess left a bitter taste in Twilight’s mouth, including another more heart pounding, blood boiling emotion she could not quite figure out.

“I had no choice,” Celestia remarked in a kind of monotonous way that caused Twilight Sparkle to nod, “I tried to talk to her; tried to make her see reason, but I failed her. Just as much as I did with Luna.”

“No,” Twilight raised her voice, “you can’t think like that Princess. What happened with Luna was different. Raven was…” With a grit of her teeth, she snatched her gaze away from Celestia to glare off into the distance. “She was villainous. She deserved everything that she got coming to her. She tricked us all into thinking she was this kind and loving mare when in fact she was nothing more than a liar and would-be assassin.”

“Calm yourself, my student. She is gone. There is no use working yourself up over a mare that is dead. She failed in her mission; whatever it was, and had met with a fate that was deserving of her crime.”

Twilight Sparkle nibbled at her lip. “But why? If only she were alive, maybe we could had got some answers and find out who was pulling her strings.”

“For now,” Celestia moved to guide Twilight Sparkle down the steps, keeping a hoof upon the back of Twilight’s head comfortingly, “despite what has occurred I must set off for Saddle Arabia.”

“Is that safe, Princess? Considering what has just happened, don’t you think you should—”

Chuckling, Celestia smiled down at her student. “The situation in the east is only going to grow worse if I am not present to mediate between the two parties. I would take you with me Twilight Sparkle, but, I fear for your safety. Remain here in the palace. It is the safest place in all of Equestria right now, given how high the security has become in light of recent events.”

Twilight Sparkle bit back her tongue on the subject and smiled. “Okay, Princess. But, please be careful,” Twilight turned to steal a kiss from her lips, “I don’t want to see you hurt.”

Celestia returned the kiss with a soft chuckle. “Perhaps in my absence you could take over some duties of mine, to pass the time and to keep you from worrying about me? Consider it... homework.”

Twilight, ever dutiful towards the Princess bowed her head low. “Of course! I would be more than happy to help you, Princess!”

“Perfect.” Celestia lost her smile. “It won’t be easy. But, I feel you are more than up to the task, Twilight Sparkle. I know you will do me proud.”

“I will do my best, Princess.”

A confident grin passed Celestia’s lips as she magically flung open the doors with a wave of her horn. “That is all I can ask for.”

Author's Note

Better late than never, right?

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