What Is This Curse I Bear?
It was a mild, cloudless night outside. The moon shone brightly, and all the stars twinkled overhead. One lonely mare sat at her window, looking up at the sky. Thoughts swam in her head, and now she had some time to reflect on them. What is my life now? How much can I withstand before surrendering it? I have lost so much, and very little have I interacted with my subjects. She scanned the night sky, and found what she was looking for. Two stars, forever interlaced in a swirling dance. She smiled, and remembered the pony whom she had created them for.
Celestia had been just a filly. She didn't know yet that she was destined to rule Equestria. She had been walking along the street, trying to find some food. She had been to several shops, and every time they had shooed her out, saying she was nothing more than a pestilence and a waste of time. She and Luna had been living in a back alley, and could barely survive. One of the times, as she entered the shop, the owner looked at her dirty, disheveled mane, and took pity. He handed her a full basket of apples, and told her to get away quick, lest his mother should find her. She thanked him, and turned to leave. Upon exiting, she looked back at him. He smiled, and waved for her to go. I'll return, some day. She mouthed to him. then she went to her alley. "Lulu, we have food now!" Her sister looked at her, and asked how. Celestia simply said it was because of a nice gentlecolt.
In the years that followed, she continued to see the colt, who's name was Sugared Fruit, and he continued to help them. Celestia grew a very close bond with him, and they started to see each other as a couple. They were as happy as they thought two ponies could be. Then, one day, they got news that Sugared had developed lung cancer. The news hit them like an anvil. Celestia cried, not knowing how she'd handle him being gone. But he told her she had to move on, for both their sakes. A month later, he died in his sleep. The funeral only had a few ponies attending. He had an open casket style burial, so that his remains may return to the earth from whence he came. After they had finished the funeral, Celestia had sat there crying, and Luna had comforted her, long into the cold, black night.
Celestia came back to the present. She once again looked at the dancing stars, and remembered his face, his bright blue coat, his laugh. She never really got a chance to say goodbye. But she knew how she could. She got up, put on her cloak, and went outside. The crisp air sent shivers down her spine. In the gardens, she tapped on a tree branch, and it moved to reveal a trap door. She lit her horn, albeit dimly, and stepped down. The flight of stairs went down quite a way, opening into a vast rotunda. A stone altar rested at the center, and blue torches lined the spaces on the walls. As she walked to the altar, she heard voices. Ghostly, whispering voices. They warned her not to, and to turn back, but she did not listen. When she reached the altar, she took out a knife. She brought it up to her arm, and cut a thin, long line across her wing. She held her wing above the altar, and tapped it. As the blood hit the bottom of the bowl, an eerie glow flooded the chamber with dark purple and black light. She used her magic to make the bowl bigger, and stepped into it.
She found herself in the Ethereal Realm, where she had ascended Twilight Sparkle, her student. She searched the screens, and finally found the one. She reached in, pulling with all her might. After a bit, a stallion popped out of the window, looking up at her. "Tia, is it really you?"
Celestia smiled, eyes watering. "Yes, It's me. I've wanted to see you for so long."
"You know how much you put at stake to see me."
"I don't care! You were the sun of my life, and I couldn't bear being without you."
Sugared Fruit sighed. "You must think of your citizens. They would erupt into complete pandemonium if you left them." Celestia looked away, knowing what he said was true. Her magic got drained so much when she did this. But she didn't care, as long as she was with him.
"I know, but I can's stand living without you. I wish I had never become a princess. I don't even remember how it happened. Immortality does nothing but grant suffering, as you must watch all of your friends and loved ones die, and yet you can't join them. I pity the poor fools who wish for everlasting life. But I've waited for so long, just to see you again. Please, hold me, like you used to."
He smiled, and gave in. They sat there, for what seemed like an eternity, just embracing. Celestia cried in his shoulder, and he tried to console the mare. After a while, he pulled her gaze up. "You should go soon, you can't take much more strain." Celestia tried to find an excuse, but there was none. She let him go, then watched him fade away, back into the screen. She closed her eyes, and emptied her thoughts. When she awoke, she found herself on the floor. She heard hoofsteps, and saw Luna running around the corner.
"Tia, Tia, I... oh, there you are! I thought something had happened, I... why are you crying, sister?"
Celestia looked at Luna, and hugged her close. Luna was surprised by this, but returned the gesture. Luna had to ask, "What has happened? Were you attacked... wait, this is the old portal to..." Luna's eyes opened wide. "Celestia, you know you can't do this! It drains you, and after so long you'll crumble to sand."
"I know. But I had to see him."
Luna immediately understood, and sat there, embracing Celestia. They sat there for hours, cloaked in sorrow. But Luna remembered that the sun soon had to rise. "Sister, you must raise the sun. Ponies will worry."
Celestia nodded. "I know, I'll be there in a minute." Luna went back upstairs, and Celestia looked at the altar. On it, a picture frame stood off to the side, depicting a white mare, with a light pink mane. Beside her, stood Sugared Fruit. That had been the day of their wedding, all those years ago. Celestia smiled, and a tear traveled down her cheek, falling with a pop to the floor. Celestia went to her tower, and raised the sun. But she let two stars stay in the sky. The dancing ones, that she'd made for them.
Author's Note
Alright, that's done. I had this idea for a few days now, and finally found time where nothing was happening. I hope you enjoyed.
