Silence Of The Night Broken
She saw it only fitting to take place at night time. She had always loved the night, in actuality. Luna knew that from the moment she had come back - her sister well and truly loved the night. She loved the gentle breeze that brought the promise of dew and stars in the dim yet calm darkness that surrounded one in the twilight. The sun was beautiful, but only the moon could cast that serene yet curious silence in it’s oddly cold glow. Yes, her sister loved the night.
The silence was too tranquil this night, however. It had been too silent all day as well: too still, too mute, too quiet. A hush had fallen over the world like a blanket of snow. The only thing Luna heard now was the soft rustle of her cloak as she donned it. It made hardly a noise as it passed over the floor. She tied it loosely, shutting her eyes as she let her magic do the work. Even her magic, with it’s soft and practically inaudible hum, seemed deafening compared to the stillness of the night.
She took a step, her hoof clicking loudly against the floor as the metal shoe made contact with the floor. She paused, wincing at the sound. She took a deep breath. It was just a sound, she told herself. A sound and nothing more. A sound, there one moment and gone before the moment passed, fleeting as a winter day or a summer night.
Luna unfurled her wings, feeling her cloak shift around her body in a gentle embrace, leaving her unrestricted. She slowly flew out the open window, flying up the mountain. It was a long way, by hoof. She didn’t expect many to be there - only a hooful, those ponies she knew and could trust. Those she could depend on. How she needed them now, of all times.
Celestia would be there too. As she flew, she took her time and thought. What would she say to her sister, after so long? What would she say to that pony who cared so much for her? What would she do? How would this meeting end - in tears, or with joy of days to come? Fear?
Luna didn’t know. How could anypony see this with joy? Not after all that happened. Not after…
She landed by the pools of silver her sister had described. They were as beautiful as she had expected: pools of water collected from the waterfalls of Canterlot, and in them were contained the silvery moon and the myriad stars that watched them all. Luna leaned close to the water, unable to refrain from the smallest of smiles as her reflection took its place amongst them.
But her eyes were torn quickly away from the reflection. She could not gaze in the waters too long. Not while remembering her last time there, amongst the stars. Not while remembering everything that had happened in the past, and what would happen in the future. Her thoughts went to her sister, as they always did. What would she say, now of all times?
She glanced at the stars once more that night. They were elegant in their silence. She watched them, sighing. Were they trying to mock her? Mock the silence of that day, mock the silence of the night, mock her silence? How cruel her night could be.
She bowed her head, trying to ignore her need for tears. She took a deep breath, shutting her eyes. She could not cry - she simply wouldn’t allow it. Not yet. She couldn’t, yet. Not before…
“Princess?”
She opened her eyes, looking up from the ground. “Hello, Twilight.”
Behind her, Twilight swallowed, unsure what to say. Her mouth had gone dry. Behind her stood numerous ponies - Applejack, with her hat in her hooves respectfully; Rarity, dressed in a simple and plain black dress as she dabbed at her already running makeup; Fluttershy, her face hidden behind her mane; Rainbow Dash, concerned, but standing tall; Pinkie, her hair straightened and elegantly styled with a face of hope; Spike, holding an all too crumpled tissue behind his back, trying to hide the tears on his face. They were there. Celestia would be relieved, and so was Luna.
She glanced up as she heard the flutter of wings. “Shining… couldn’t make it,” Cadance said softly, her voice no louder than a murmur. It still sounded like a roar to them all. Everything had gotten so terribly quiet for them all recently, and yet still so loud at the same time.
“Why couldn’t he,” Twilight asked, obviously concerned about her brother.
“It’s… not important.” Cadance hung her head. “He just said he couldn’t be here for this.”
Twilight sighed and nodded. “I… I understand that. I would have liked to have him here, but…”
Cadance trotted over to Twilight, giving her a gentle, loving hug. Twilight shut her eyes and relaxed in the embrace. Luna envied her look or exhaustion; she could show that tiredness without fear. She sighed. “Is this everypony,” she whispered, her dry voice heard by all.
“Now it is.” They all turned, almost surprised, to see Discord. He walked slowly, his wings folded at the sides of his grey and black suit. His ears were folded back as he bowed his head. “I may not be welcome, but you cannot stop me from being here, Luna.”
She looked him in the eyes. He, too, looked tired. Not only that, however… sympathetic. Rueful. Full of regrets and pity and pain. She nodded. “Anypony is welcome, Discord. I will barr none from this meeting.”
Discord smiled ever so softly, an effort on his part. “A meeting, you call this… I suppose it is, at that.” He bowed his head, for once staying quiet.
Luna glanced around, seeing nopony more to come. She nodded. “Shall we begin?”
She waited. Nopony disagreed. Nopony could.
She held her head up high. “Very well. Please. Follow me.” She turned, hardly registering her steps on the damp grass as she walked. The group marched grimly behind her, none truly prepared for what lie in store. None of them had been prepared for what happened. But happen it did.
Luna bowed her head as she passed under the vines hiding the main part of her sister’s grotto. She kept her head bowed as she walked. She didn’t want to look up and see her sister. She didn’t think she would be able to stand it.
But she had to.
With a sigh, she turned and looked at everypony. Some had already begun to weep again. Discord remained stony faced as ever (she could almost find joy in the pun). But now was not the time for joy. Now was simply the time to speak. Speak, and be heard. She could only hope her sister would hear.
“We are gathered today,” Luna said softly, her voice carrying through the cavernous natural room around them, “because we must be here. We must all be here, to witness a sight that has not been seen before - the burial of an Alicorn.”
She turned as reality finally found her. The silence was broken as ringing filled her ears. Before her was the marble grave of her sister, cold and white and lifeless. It was simply engraved with her cutie mark, a symbol of her job. Was that all it was to her? A job? She shut her eyes tightly and took a deep breath.
She must go on, despite the ringing.
“We are here to witness the burial of my sister, Celestia. She was the Princess of Equestria, thought to be immortal. But her dying breath came swift and suddenly, as fleeting and as beautiful as a snowflake in winter.”
Luna gulped. Her mouth was very dry now. Her eyes burned as she couldn’t tear her eyes off the grave. “She was Princess of the Sun, guider of it’s light. She was a teacher and a mentor and a loving, caring mare… but she was so much more.”
She turned to look at the ponies. All had tears in their eyes now. Even she did, she realized. “Tia was a sister. She was a mother. She was a pony who loved sweets and flying and pillow fights. She loved the summer twilight and the chill of night and the breath of morning. She had great triumphs. She had great mistakes. She cried. She laughed. But, most importantly, she lived.”
Luna shut her eyes tightly, taking another breath as she felt tears running down her face. “If not for my sister, I would not be here. And now, without her, I am left here. I am left alone, with hardly a memory of the only pony to be with me for this long. The pony I knew is now only alive through me, and the rest died along with her, and shall be buried with her body.”
“But the sun is not dead. The summer twilight and the chill of night and the breath of morning are not dead. We are not dead, and we cannot allow ourselves to be.” She opened her eyes, seeing her sister among the group of ponies. Her sister was smiling, tears in her eyes. “We cannot allow our memories to fade of her. We cannot allow ourselves to be overwrought with anguish and agony at her passing. For, if we do, we have allowed death to claim not only her body, but her past, present and future away from her. We will have betrayed her.”
Luna sighed. “Tia… Tia must never be forgotten. We must never leave her behind.”
Silence returned. The ringing had stopped. She still saw her; Celestia nodded. She was still smiling. She shut her eyes and her horn glowed.
Luna watched as, through the vines, a bird flew inside. It was a majestic bird; Philomena. The bird flew past the group, landing on the grave. Her wings were spread, the embers of her flame filling the cavern with light and warmth.
The phoenix cried out, despairing notes of loss and sadness - but of hope, and forgiveness, and joy, and life. Luna listened to the notes, reminded of the words she couldn’t say, the memories she would never be able to keep. Her heart fluttered with emotion as she shut her eyes and opened her mouth to speak. Words did not come out, however, but a song. Together, pony and phoenix sang the suns lasting requiem, one that would last a lifetime.
In the span of time we live out our lives
Calmness sweeps us off our feet.
In the end, we're left with memories kept
Locked away, as they spiral down and fade away from thee...
As for me, I'll sing the song of now
For that's all that I can do;
Though my memories escape me
They're a part of my heart, just as I have thought of you.
Luna fell before the grave, kneeling beneath the fires of the still crying phoenix. The fires were sending ash, now. The phoenix would fall soon. Her sister would not be rising from those ashes, she knew. Her sister was dead. She was alone, left with only memories. She couldn’t think of that now. Tia wouldn’t want that of her.
“I won’t forget you,” Luna whispered. “I won’t forget you… but I will continue for you… I love you, dear sister.”
She felt a claw on her shoulder. She glanced up at Discord. He was smiling. She turned at all the ponies behind her. They were crying, still; but they smiled.
Luna stood, brushing her tears away with a feather. Philomena turned to her once in the fires. Everypony shut their eyes as there was a bright flash - a moment later, both bird and grave were gone.
Wind howled. Owls hooted. Water fell with little splashes into the silver pools outside the cavern. Luna rose her head, looking up as she passed through the small audience. She saw the moon. She smiled softly at the stars around it, her pain aching, but slowly healing.
“Goodnight… Sister. Goodbye…”
Author's Note
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DfqR0WJZGP4
All credit for the song here. Don't believe they're copyrighted so I'm fine on those.
I heard this song and I had to write this. I've been thinking a lot about Immortality lately - mainly, what happens when that idea is breached?
What happens when the immortal die?
