It was about year five hundred and seventy eight after Luna's imprisonment. Flowers were piled high all along the road leading up to the coffin that lay at it's end. Flowers of all kinds. All colors. Everyone wore black. Everyone, except Celestia. She had actually removed her regalia, and her mane, hung low rather than swayed in the solar winds.
No one spoke, no one budged. But. Every one of the three hundred soldiers positioned behind his coffin, the very three hundred stallions that Captain Valor saved by giving up his own life, each of them strained against their given command to stand at attention. Tears rolled down every war-hardened stallion's cheeks.
Celestia did not allow anyone to walk that stretch between the road and the coffin. She did not let the pope even set foot near that trail. She herself, royalty and goddess both, took the privilege of everyone away, simply to have this moment. It hrut her the most, to not a single soul's knowledge, as she walked up that aisle.
And at that podium, she stood strong, with Victor but a hoof's reach away.
"This...stallion...", she began. No matter how far away, no matter how close, you heard her loud and clear the same. A long pause took place as she strained, trying her best to steel herself, but the only thing she wished to do now is weep. "No.", she said aloud. "No. This stallion deserves everything! He deserves a legacy, a legend that enver dies! He is the greatest guard captain I ahve ever had! From teh founding of this kingdom, to this...terrible day...", she fell silent again.
This pause was small. She sniffed, blinking tears from her eyes.
"This stallion has shown the greatest measure of loyalty I have ever seen. He never disobeyed. Victor knew what command to give in battle and when to give it. He has saved me, and my absent sister, more than once. I never counted, but I hate myself for it.", she sniffled. "I was talking to him. Just the night before.", she lowered her head. She took a breath.
"He has been promoted the swiftest. He has never, I repeated, never had any stallion, or mare, disobey him. Not in training. Not int he field. Not even before he became a leader of any kind. He lead before he was given the title of captain. He lead before he was given the title Private...He deserves everyone's respect. You've heard him save my life once, I tell you it was plenty more. You heard of his feats as a commander, saving as many soldiers as he coudl to protect me and even win wars for me. He took the initiative to do my war captain's job. Adn took his job."
She paused. Then turned to the many soldiers behind her. "Look at them! All of them! War stricken stallions who have fought for their kingdom! Who have watched their very friends fall in combat!", she sniffed. "At ease..."
Every one of those stallions bent down. Some wiped tears away, some simply wept. Some balled, some even kept their attention, steeling themselves.
"Look at how they mourn. All of them. Not a one does not weep for this captain.", she turned back to the crowd before her. "I am disappointed that there could not be more here today. But I will hold no disappointment against any of you. I simply wish there were more here. He deserved more. I'm...I'm sure we should end this. Soldiers! Atten-tion!!", she commanded aloud.
Every soldier behind her snapped to attention. One loud noise that echoed across the field.
"Present arms!"
Every stallion drew their swords, holding them directly ahead of them, and each, the blade snapped at the hilt.
"Every one of you is relieved from duty as of this moment. Go home. To your families. You do not deserve to suffer anymore."
Not a single stallion budged. They held their broken swords at attention. Celestia did not expect that. That's very respectable.
"At ease, Soldiers."
Turning her attention back to the crowd, she swallowed. "Oh captain! My captain!", she sniffed, "I will never forget! For I loved you."
With that, Celestia stepped away. From the podium, she took flight, racing across the landscape as fast as she could, away from the funeral. She could not stand to be there anymore.
