Twilight Sparkle slowly exhaled, inhaled, then exhaled, her hoof extended, using the calming method Cadence at taught her. "Alright Twilight, you can do this. Equestria will be happy, you've adopted a wonderful filly, you're married to the love of your life/mentor, and you're well groomed, you can do this." She smiled, fixing her mane. "I hope Celly thinks I look good." She twitched, before calming herself once more. A rapping then sounded on the door of her bedchambers, "Who is it?" Her voice chimed, though she could guess who it was.
"Who do you think it is Sparkebutt?" The angelic voice teased, as the door opened. Celestia's ethereal mane had been tied into a long braid, her fur carefully scrubbed by the royal groomers. She wore a flowing emerald green dress with a gold trim, her crown dainty held on her head, her regalia polished to a shine, "You look lovely Twilight." She smiled, nuzziling her wife. Their relationship had grown slowly at first. A few glances, hooves touching when reaching for an object, flushed faces. It had taken a little prodding from Luna in the dreamworld (causing damp sheets), and some not-subtle-hints from Cadence in the waking world, for them to finally confess their feelings for each other. And now, they had a child.
"Where's Amber?" Twilight asked, pecking Celestia on the cheek, her own dress, a royal purple with gold trim spun as she turned around. They had adopted their daughter, a young Unicorn named Amber Dawn from Sunny Skies Orphanage. She was about two years, seven months, and four days old. Amber had a, fittingly, amber colored coat, an azure mane, forest green eyes, and, surprisingly, her Cutie Mark, a sun rising over a horizon. Both Celestia and Twilight had theorized that it represented that Amber would be able to whether anything that came at her, every dark night must give away to the rising of the sun on the horizon.
"Right here mommy!" Amber giggled, popping out from behind Celestia, hopping into the room. She wore a simple light blue dress, her light pink (by request) regalia glistened on her body. She embraced Twilight, smiling.
Twilight returned the hug, "There you are." She chuckled, "Come on, we have to get going, Equestria's gonna get to know our little angel." She fixed Amber's mane, as she stood next to her wife, "Ready?" She whispered.
"Always dear." Celestia replied, kissing Twilight gently, before separating, and holding the door open, "Equestria awaits my dears." She smirked, as the two exited, Twilight trotting next to Celestia, while Amber half-trotted, half-hopped behind the two elder Alicorns. "They'll love her." She reassured Twilight, nuzzling her, as the door to the courtyard came in sight.
"I know." Twilight smiled, placing a hoof on the door, turning to the two, "Ready?" She asked, Amber and Celestia nodding eagerly. Twilight exhaled, before pushing the door open. The sound of excited chatter could be heard from the gather ponies, who fell silent once the Royal Couple+1 entered. Twilight cleared her throat, and calmed her nerves, before magically magnifying her voice, still getting the hang of using the Royal Canterlot Voice, "Citizens of Equestria, thank you for coming. I know you all were overjoyed when Prin-Celestia and I got married," A low mummer of agreement echoed throughout the crowd, "But now, we have welcomed a new member to our family. We have adopted a wonderful little filly." She turned to her daughter, nodding, "May I present to you, Princess Amber Dawn!" The filly in question shyly trotted out, as a mix of applause and AWWs broke out through the crowd.
The various attendees each came up to the three, congratulating the Royal Couple on their new addition, some to coo at Amber, who blushed and thanked them. The overwhelming joy erased all worry from her mind, which is why she did not notice four suspicious ponies making their way through the crowd. They each wore jet black armor with silver trim, a hood obscuring their heads, and a silver mask covered their faces. Time seemed to slow down as they drew close, a metallic sound coming from their sides. One came up to Celestia, who shook hooves with the pony, before a shocked look came over her face, and she gurgled.
Twilight turned, "Celly, what's wrong?" She asked, shaking her wife, who seemed to have gone into shock. One of the four now came up to her.
"Twi-Twighuahh." Celestia gurgled, as a red liquid slowly poured out of a hole in her chest. She fell, as Twilight caught her in her hooves. Twilight's eyes widened, a jagged ebony blade lay in Celestia's chest, as a crimson pool slowly grew under her, staining Twilight's hooves.
"Celly..." Tears slowly fell down Twilight's cheeks, as she bit her life, "Celly, hold on, MEDIC!" She cried out. The crowd, having realized what was going on, began to panic, some rushign towards the Royal Couple, others bolting to the gates, in a stampede of hooves. "Just, hold on Celly, don't leave Amber, don't leave me." She sobbed, as Celestia's once lustrous mane started to dim. "Please...." She begged.
"Twi....light. I..." Celestia let out labored gasps, her eyes looking wildly around, as she let out a whimper, "I l....love..you." She smiled, before her head titled back, and her crown slipped off, clattering against the cold floor. The skies, which had been sunny before ,seemed to darken, as rain began spilling on the courtyard. That was when a shrill cry brought her back to her senses, as she looked up. One of the assassins had Amber held in his grasp, a blade to her throat. "Am...Amber! Let her go, please!' She begged, tears flowly freely as she cradled Celestia's body, her blood-soaked hooves holding her close. "I'll....I'll give you the Kingdom, you can take me prisoner, I don't care, just please, let her go."
The masked figure pondered this for a second, as the rain soaked him, the filly squirming in his grasp, "Let her go eh? Good idea," He dropped the filly, keeping her there, "I'll let her go from this life." He raised his hoof above her head, and, to Twilight's horror, brought it down with a resounding CRACK! He drew his blade, "Now, to unfinished business." He smirked, now standing infront of the sobbing Twilight.
Twilight glanced at his blade, then at the broken bodies of her wife, and, resisting the urge to vomit, the body of Amber Dawn, before she lowered her head, "Do it, I have nothign left to live for." She sobbed The assassin growled, before swiftly bring his blade to Twilight, slashing her.
As Twilight's vision dimmed, the figure said one more thing, "Long Live Sombra." As she fell on Celestia's body, her life ebbing away, one last thought registered in her mind, as darkness crept into her gaze.
I know that voice.
As the four assassins trotted away, the bodies of the Royal Family laying in a pool of crimson, the rain fell harder, as if weeping, not just for the slain family, but mourning for Equestria. They had not lost just two rulers, but, two of the most compassionate souls on Equis. Darkness had fallen on Equestria.
But what is dead, may never die, but rises again, harder, and stronger.
The entire nation mourned for their fallen leaders, that cold Marech day as they were laid in wake. Their glass coffins allowed one to view them, each looking as if they were asleep. All except for the smallest, which was completely blacked out. As the ceremony had begun, a heavy rain began to pour over the crowd, as if the heavens themselves were weeping with the attendants. Twilight was dressed in a white silk dress, the collar pulled up to hide the stitch marks around her neck.
Shining Armor sobbed, blowing his nose into a worn handkerchief, tears freely flowing down his face, Cadence's head pressed deeply into his chest, letting out muffled whimpers. "Twily...." He muttered, as his salty tears slipped onto the marble floor of the platform. His mother and father, Twilight Velvet and Night Light, were standing by Twilight, Velvet's head resting against the glass separating her from her daughter, their voices merely whispers. A slow, somber music seemed to reverberate throughout the area.
Saying their goodbyes and condolences, each of the attendants left, all except for the five mares who had known her better than most. Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, Rarity, and Applejack, gently placed a lavender flower alongside all the rest, but these five seemed to glow among the others. Above them, the sky cried with Equestria.
----Four Hours Later-----
Flash Sentry, even though he had gotten back together with Sunset Shimmer, newly returned from the Mirrorverse, a heavy cloud of sadness still clung over him. He had grown a close friendship with the Princess of Friendship, as well as being a big brother to both Nyx, and Spike, who were currently living with Twilight Velvet and Night Light. He drank down his second glass of Poirot Nion, LB (Lunar Banishment) 3744. He sighed, as he stared out at a pavillion where the wake had been, only hours before. Sunset was busy coping as best she could, burying herself in books, and a tub of ice cream. Rain pattered against their bedroom window, as the evening rolled on. Luna's stars seemed exceptionally bright tonight, a cluster of them seemed to form a heart, Celestia and Twilight making up the sides, with their slain daughter in the center, he rubbed his eyes, tears hitting the windowsill.
--------The Crystal Empire------
The torrent of rain pattered against the crystalline structures of the Crystal Empire. The once vibrant empire, was now dim. The scent of ozone and sorrow filled the now deserted streets. Every home was darkened, the lights extinguished, except one, a single window in the Crystal Palace. Shining Armor's head laid against his oak desk, a framed picture in his hoof. The glass was tear stained, and shone as if newly polished. It was a picture of Twilight and Celestia's wedding, the reception. Celestia, vibrant and full of love, and Twilight, carefree and happy, were sitting together, Celestia's head on Twilight's shoulder. That had been almost two years ago, and now, "They were so happy...." he muttered, slowly rubbing the pictured Twilight's face, "Goodnight, Twiley." He sniffled, set his head down on his forehooves, and began to sob deeply, while Cadence gazed at all the various photos from when she had foalsat Twilight, tears cascading down her pink cheeks.
--------The Palace of Friendship------
The Mane Five sat on their thrones, the table between them wet with tears. Each had given their fondest memories of Twilight at the wake, and it was only now they had fully accepted their friend was gone, and there was no way to bring her back. Rainbow Dash slowly rubbed Fluttershy's back, cradiling her marefriend in her forelegs, as she comforted her as best as she could.
They each looked at the slightly taller throne, which, for the first time in two years, sat empty, its owner interred with her beloved, with her second daughter, forever.
Cool air filled her lungs, which slowly began to circulate once again. A beating filled her ears, which once more heard sound. She let out a breath, then another, and another. Her eyes slowly opened, her vision blurry. Twilight Sparkle sat up, rubbing her eyes, "Where am I?" She asked, her hoarse voice echoing throughout the black void she found herself in.
"Hello Twilight Sparkle." A calm voice said, as a male figure, dressed in a long black cloak, their face obscured by the hood. "How does it feel, being alive once again?" He asked, his voice, ageless and ancient at the same time. Even though his face was obscured by hood and shadow, Twilight could almost feel the sarcasm in his voice.
"It feels.....wonderful." Twilight replied, placing a hoof to her throat, feeling a thin scar. Visions flashed through her mind as she felt it. A knife....A voice....Pain. "Who are you, where am I? She asked the mysterious stallion.
"Hmph." The stallion replied, turning away, "Come find me." He replied, as he trotted away, his hoofsteps echoing against the black floor.
"Wait!" Twilight called out, raising a hoof towards the quickly retreating figure. She sighed, bowing her head, 'If I wanna get answers, I guess I'll have to follow him." She trotted in the direction he had been heading. It was then she noticed the surrounding blackness were actually the walls, floor, and ceiling of a building. Medium sized slits allowed a view to the outside. It was these that Twilight got a glance of the exterior. The world outside was monochrome, and near silent. The tortured wails of hundreds of beingsdrifted on the breeze, as many of them raised their hooves to the sky, calling out to nothing. Twilight shook her head, continuing on her path.
As she made her way forward, a polished, lightly glowing door appeared in the blackness. As Twilight drew nearer, beautiful, ethereal music filled her ears, coming from everywhere, yet no singer could be seen. The door opened of its own accord, as Twilight slowly walked inside.
Two chairs were set before a roaring fireplace. the cloaked figure from before sitting in the right one. Various picture frames and weapons were barely visible by the dim light the ghostly blue fires gave off. The stallion set a glass of what Twilight assumed was red wine on the stand beside him. Barely turning his head, he addressed the lavender mare.
"Twilight Sparkle, welcome to the Obsidian Hall....."
