Chapters For the Moon so Loves the World
Celestia quietly entered the cave, carrying the things she wanted with her in a field of magic. A bed mattress covered with a fitted sheet, some pillows, a blanket, and a framed picture of her sister.
She gently set down the mattress and arranged the pillows on it to her liking. When she was done, she took off all her royal regalia, lay down, and drew the blanket over herself, snuggling down into the softness. Finally, she carefully set down the picture in front of her on the mattress, reaching out a hoof to gently place it on the glass.
At last, it was finally time for her to rest. She found her mind drifting over the events that lead her here...
"Celestia, look what I've found!" Luna said excitedly, showing her an old piece of paper that she held in her magical grip. "It was in some of Star Swirl's old things! I think it's a prophecy!"
Celestia's ears pricked up at this. "A prophecy? Like the one that foretold you coming back?"
Luna nodded. "Exactly! I think this one is about me too! Look!"
Celestia stepped over to look at the writing.
For the moon so loves the world she will make a decision that will change everything. For the nightmare that wanted to bring the world darkness will leave it in light.
"What do you think it means?" Luna asked curiously.
"I'm not sure exactly, but it sounds like you're going to do something that will make the world a better place." Celestia smiled.
Luna smiled too, and then her smile became a grin. Her whole body quivered, and she finally gave up trying to seem adult and started prancing in place like an ecstatic filly. "Eee! This will be so great! Maybe I'll do something that will make everyone forget I was Nightmare Moon!"
"Oh Luna, nobody really cares about that anymore. It was so long ago." Celestia told her.
"I know, I know, but maybe I can finally make my mark in history. Something that will outshine what I tried to do as Nightmare Moon." Luna stopped dancing around and put her hoof to her chin. "But I wonder what it is that I'm going to decide that will be so important."
Celestia wondered too, but she only shrugged. "I don't know, but when it comes to things like this I've found that it's best not to try to make something happen, because it'll end up happening naturally anyway."
"True." Luna nodded. She looked the paper over again. "Do you think maybe this already happened when the elements changed me back?"
Celestia looked over the paper more carefully, but there were no other clues, nor was there a date. "Maybe. I mean you did come back and changed back into Luna and once again became the princess of the night. That changed everything. You also stopped trying to bring eternal night, which lets the day and night cycle go on as usual."
Luna looked disappointed. "Well, I'm glad that happened, but I hope this is about something else."
"Even if it is, it doesn't say when. Which means it could happen today, tomorrow, or not for another thousand years." Celestia pointed out.
Luna sighed. "I guess I might as well put this away and just forget about it then. Although..." Her face lit up. "Maybe I can find more prophecies about me!" She turned tail and galloped off to look through more of Star Swirl's old things, leaving her older sister chuckling behind her.
In the days that followed Luna wasn't able to find anymore prophecies, which made her pout for awhile but she soon forgot about it. She was still getting used to this age after having been away for so long. There were so many new things for her to try, and she seemed eager to try them all, as if she was making up for lost time.
Since the sisters had different duties they didn't spend as much time together as they would like to. Being that Celestia watched over the day and Luna watched over the night. Still, there were hours when they were both awake, and Celestia treasured that time. She had missed her sister for so very long, and now she was finally back.
Nightmare Night was coming up soon, and Luna was once again going to spend it in Ponyville, but this time she begged Celestia to come with her. They even decided to go in costume. Luna as a manticore, and Celestia as a timberwolf.
Then, the disaster. Scientists had discovered that a large comet was headed for Equestria. One that would hit in a weeks time, and after all their calculations, it was estimated that it would effect at least half of the world.
Celestia's heart sank as she felt what they were saying sink in. Point of impact and shock waves. Possible earthquakes and tidal waves if it hit the ocean. So much dust in the atmosphere that the sky, the sun , could be blocked for years. Food shortage. Animal extinctions. So many lives lost and in danger. So much suffering.
Celestia exchanged a glance with her sister, getting a determined nod in return.
The sisters worked nonstop with the scientists, both their own and with other races. Twilight, Cadence, and Shining Armor also worked with them. Ponies suggested everything they could think of to try. Magic, evacuation, shelters. Again and again the scientists would explain why something wouldn't work.
They were running out of time.
In the end, they reluctantly had to admit that there was no stopping the comet. All they could do was try to save as many as they could. Evacuations started, food was stored, animals were transferred. The problem was space and time. There just wasn't enough space for an entire world to fit in only half of it. Even if there was, there wasn't enough time to get everyone there.
Finally, there were only three days left. After everyone and everything possible had been evacuated to the other side of the world, the strongest magical shields in existence would be erected over the cities and towns that couldn't evacuate in time before the comet hit. Celestia prayed that it wouldn't hit an ocean. She didn't want her little ponies washed away.
Nightmare Night was the last day before the comet hit, and Luna came to her with a hopeful expression, wearing her costume. "Celestia, please can we not go to Ponyville?"
"What is there to celebrate Luna?" Celestia sighed as she stood on the balcony and looked over the abandoned city.
"That even though half the world may end tomorrow, and the other half will be changed as we know it, right now, tonight, we're here, we're alive, and we're together." Luna pointed out. "It's too quiet here with everyone gone. It's depressing. Lets go to Ponyville, most ponies are still there."
Celestia smiled. "You're right Sister. I'll go put on my costume."
That night, everyone played games, they ate candy and pie, they scared each other with pranks and stories. They had a costume contest. (Which Luna won.) It was as if everyone was almost desperately celebrating life, because they knew tomorrow that it might abruptly end. Loved ones covered each other in hugs and kisses. Some ponies drank alcoholic cider as if hoping that it would help them not think of the possible looming doom above them all.
Celestia wasn't sure that anyone slept that night. She knew she and Luna didn't. Twilight didn't either and neither did any of her friends.
"If this is going to be the last party we ever have, lets make it the best one." Pinkie Pie said in determination, and the others agreed.
Rainbow and Applejack both drank too much and sang silly songs. They looked ridiculous and Rarity took pictures of them. Possibly for future blackmail.
Even Fluttershy had come out to be with her friends, though she was nervous and kept casing anxious glances towards the sky.
The crusaders were underhoof everywhere, giggling and having a ball. Pipsqueak was running around with them, having just as much fun.
"Aren't you afraid?" Celestia heard Luna ask him at one point.
"A little." Pipsqueak admitted. "But if we all die then at least we'll all be in the afterlife together. I just wish that..." His voice trailed off and he looked at the ground.
"What do you wish?" Luna asked gently.
"I just wish I'd gotten my cutie mark first. It would've been nice." Pipsqueak sighed, but he soon perked up again, going back to his friends and leaving a thoughtful looking Luna behind.
The next day, though they were tired, most ponies stayed awake and spent the day with their family and friends. Luna and Celestia spent the day together in Ponyville, speaking of memories and just enjoying their time together.
As Celestia set the sun that evening and Luna raised the moon, everyone could see the comet coming as Twilight raised a barrier over the town and hoped it would be strong enough to withstand the blast.
"Celestia, I love you, very much." Luna said as almost everyone looked up at the sky.
"I know Luna, I love you too." Celestia said.
"So I hope that you can forgive me for what I'm about to do." Luna said quietly as she glanced over at everyone and then at her, her eyes filled with love, so much love, before looking back to the sky.
"What do you mean what you're about to do?" Celestia asked her, looking at her sister in confusion before she looked to the sky again, just in time to see the moon move... right into the comets path.
In a flash, Celestia suddenly remembered the prophecy.
For the moon so loves the world she will make a decision that will change everything. For the nightmare that wanted to bring the world darkness will leave it in light.
"Luna no!" Celestia screamed, trying to grab the moon in her own magic, to move it out of the way, but it was too late.
The comet hit the moon, and as it did so Luna stumbled and fell as if she too had been struck. Celestia leaped forward to catch her, as the moon in the sky cracked... and so did the moon on Luna's cutie mark.
"No! Luna! Luna!" She shook her sister's lifeless body as her empty eyes stared into nothingness and Celestia's cry echoed across the land. "Luuuuunnnnaaaaa!"
Later, doctors assured her that Luna had died instantly. There had been no suffering. No pain. As if saying that would help ease Celestia's own pain.
It didn't.
The moon now had a huge crater in it. It was completely full of cracks and pock marks. The atmosphere on that side of the moon was full of dust. It had taken all of the damage of the comet.
At first, scientists were puzzled by this. The moon was much smaller than the world. The comet should have completely destroyed it.
Then Celestia had found the letter.
Dear Sister,
I am so very sorry, but I have to do this. I have been using my magic to make the moon stronger ever since I heard about the comet. I know we both discussed how if we tried to block the comet with the sun or the moon that we risked permanent damage to them, but I must do this.
The world cannot live without the sun. All the plants would die, everyone would starve, there would be no warmth, and eventually the whole planet would become a lifeless ball of ice.
While losing the moon would cause a lot of complications and damage, the world could still survive until you figured out a solution to the problems it would create.
But I am going to use all my strength to make sure that the moon survives, even if it is badly damaged. I am confident that eventually magic will be able to heal it.
I know what this will probably do to me. Long have I suspected that we are ageless due to being connected to our elements. I'm so sorry Celestia, that I have left you to face eternity alone. If it becomes too much for you to bear, and you decide to find a way to join me, I understand. I'm sorry I didn't tell you, but I knew you'd never let me do it.
But first, I leave with you the duty to heal the moon. Take care of it for me. I am rather fond of it.
I love you so very much, but I also love this world, and I cannot bear for it and it's inhabitants to suffer when there's something I can do to stop it.
Love, Luna
It took time, but gradually Celestia was able to heal the moon, and she handled it as delicately as a newborn foal until not a single crack remained. She then used her magic to carefully create craters in the form of a head and horn.
The mare in the moon returned, this time forever.
Celestia also started to regularly do what she called an eclipse. The sun blocked by the moon, and, after scientists insisted on balance, the moon blocked by the sun. She did this to make sure the world never forgot Luna's sacrifice. The very sky honored her, and she made sure her name went down in all the history books.
Celestia indeed couldn't bear the thought of an eternity without Luna. She'd lost her for a millennium, then had her back for only a few short years. She couldn't deal with losing her again, not knowing she would never come back.
So she began to search all of Equestria for one who could be her successor, but again and again she came up empty. Finally she did the most selfish thing she could do. She courted and married a stallion only so she could get pregnant and have a foal.
As she looked into Bluenote's eyes and said her vows, as she pretended to be in love, as she beamed and pretended to celebrate, she felt nothing.
When she got the news later that she was indeed carrying a foal, as she smiled and pretended everything was wonderful, she felt no affection.
When she felt the first kick inside from a tiny hoof, and felt the heaviness in her belly with the new life, she nonetheless felt empty.
It was only when, months later, the baby was born and she saw that he was an alicorn, that she finally felt something. Relief.
Of course there was a sensation. Not only was he the only other baby ever to be born an alicorn, he was also the only male alicorn in existence.
Eclipse had his mother's white coat and his father's blue mane and tail. As soon as he was old enough, Celestia started teaching him how to move the sun and the moon. For so many years she felt like she was holding her breath as she waited to see what his cutie mark would be.
When it became what his very name was, an eclipse, she felt the beginnings of hope, but still she waited.
When she saw the signs that he too was ageless, she knew she was almost there as she taught him everything he needed to know about ruling a kingdom.
This morning, he had come to her as excitedly as Luna had come to her all those years ago.
"Mother! I found this interesting prophecy by Starswirl!"
Celestia slowly went over to look at it.
For the sun so loves the moon a prince will become a king. The dark and the light will fall into legend, and the world goes on.
"What does it mean Mother?" Eclipse asked curiously.
Celestia looked at her now adult son. So strong, so handsome, so loving. She loved him too, she did, but not enough to stay. Not enough to keep living with a broken heart that would never fully heal.
It means it's time.
"You'll understand one day."
Later that afternoon she had headed to the cave she had found. It was in the middle of nowhere, in an area that ponies had left abandoned for decades.
"I know how selfish I'm being Luna, but I know now that everything will be okay. The others will be sad, but they'll be all right. They have each other."
Celestia looked at the cave entrance and her horn lit up. Everything shook and rocks started to fall and block the entrance. It shook and shook until it was completely sealed. She could feel the sun going down. She'd asked Eclipse if he wanted to do it tonight, and he had eagerly agreed.
She knew he was going to be a good and just king. She'd taught him well.
She looked back at the picture, at she and Luna standing there in their costumes and beaming for the camera as Luna held up her prize ribbon for winning the contest.
Gradually, Celestia could feel the air in the cave get thinner and thinner as the space ran out of oxygen. She didn't fight it. Didn't fight the drowsiness that steadily overcame her as the light from her horn dimmed and she slowly let go of her hold on the sun, hoping that it would let go of it's hold on her as well. Her eyes closed as she settled further into the comfortable mattress and began to slip into sleep.
She prayed she never woke up.
For the Moon so Loves the World
Luna knew what would happen to the world if the sun was badly damaged or destroyed.
However, she didn't know what would happen if the same thing happened to the moon, so when they found out about the comet, once all other options had been gone over, she approached the scientists in secret and asked them.
If the moon was destroyed by the comet, a large number of fragments would rain down on the earth. Cities would be destroyed, and countries wiped off the map. The remaining fragments would form a ring around the world, and periodically would break off and slam to the surface for ages to come. Not only that, but the moon blocked the world from being pounded by meteorites. They were what caused the craters on the moon. Also, losing the moon would effect the ocean tides. They would become much calmer. Why was that a problem? Because the movement of the water distributed nutrients to where they were needed to all the sea life. Without it, many ocean species would go extinct. Then the creatues that ate them would be in jeopardy, all down the food chain.
In other words, the world needed both the sun and the moon to survive.
However, even with all the problems losing the moon would cause, solutions could probably be come up with to buy time until those problems could be solved and the moon either pieced back together or somehow replaced. Magic could do great things these days.
But if she was careful, that wouldn't be necessary.
She asked the scientists all kinds of questions. How big was the moon compared to the world? How strong would it need to be to withstand a hit from the comet?
When she was sure she had all the information she needed, she started to strengthen the moon. She had to do it carefully to make sure it didn't effect things too much. She also couldn't do it all the time. It was tiring and she had to make sure that nobody noticed her horn glowing.
It wasn't easy, pretending that she wasn't up to anything. Pretending to go along with everything everyone else was doing. She hoped that another solution would come up, but there was nothing.
She understood now what Starswirl's prophecy truly meant.
For the moon so loves the world she will make a decision that will change everything. For the nightmare that wanted to bring the world darkness will leave it in light.
Leave it in light. Leave it in light.
She knew what that meant. Luna didn't lie to herself. She was scared. She didn't want to die. She didn't want to have to leave again, to leave her sister again. A part of her felt guilty, knowing what she was going to put Celestia through, but it was her duty to protect her subjects.
When Nightmare Night came, she was glad that she was able to convince Celestia to go with her. She wanted to be able to spend one last night with her. She had been careful to leave her note on her bed where she could find it.
Even knowing what she had to do, what she must do, seeing Celestia smiling and laughing almost made her change her mind. She didn't want to cause her sister pain. Maybe... maybe she shouldn't do it...
Then she had spoken to Pipsqueak.
"I just wish I'd gotten my cutie mark first. It would've been nice."
How many foals would never get their cutie mark if the comet came here? She knew then that she would go through with it.
She made the most of her time, knowing it was running out. She had been pleased when she won the costume contest. After celebrating with everyone it was nice to spend the next day quietly with her sister. Catching up with each other, laughing about happy memories, and simply being together.
That evening as Celestia set the sun and she raised the moon, and everyone could see the comet in the darkness, she quietly took a deep breath. This was it.
"Celestia, I love you, very much."
"I know Luna, I love you too."
I know you know, but I had to tell you, one last time. It's funny, but I'm not scared anymore. I feel... peaceful. I love you Celestia. I love you all.
"So I hope that you can forgive me for what I'm about to do." Luna gave everyone, gave her sister, one last look, seeing Celestia's confusion before she turned back to look at the moon.
"What do you mean what you're about to do?"
Luna knew she had to wait till the last possible second. Otherwise Celestia would fight her for control. She had to wait, then do it fast, before she had the chance. Almost... not yet... now!
She moved the moon, and heard Celestia scream as she realized what she was doing. "Luna no!" She felt her sister try to grab the moon and yank it out of the way, but she had timed it just right, and there was no stopping it now.
Luna never felt the blow. There was too much force, and it happened so fast. One moment she was looking at the moon, then she saw the comet about to hit...
Then there was nothing. It was like she had lost all her senses, all but one. She couldn't feel, couldn't see, but she could hear.
"No! Luna! Luna!" She was holding her. She had to be, for her voice to be so close. "Luuuuunnnnaaaaa!" She heard the agony in Celestia's voice as she screamed and cried, as she begged her to come back, as she pleaded for this to not be true.
Luna could feel herself start to drift as pony's voices joined their princess in shock, pain, and confusion. But at least they were alive to feel that pain, to go through that grief. She hoped that eventually they could move on, but she knew Celestia wouldn't. The sounds that she was making was as if she was already dying with her.
Oh my dearest sister, I really am so very sorry...
"She's gone. She's gone Princess." She could hear Twilight say in a choked voice. That and Celestia's sobs was the last thing she heard as everything faded out and she could feel herself being gently pulled away, though she knew not to where.
But this is goodbye.
For the Moon so Loves the World
Chapter 3 Twilight's POV (Revised)
Author's Note
Chapter has been revised as I wasn’t entirely satisfied with the first draft.
Chapter 3 Twilight's POV (Revised)
Twilight Sparkle and her friends had rescued Equestria so many times from so many problems. Nightmare Moon, Discord, Tirek, etc. It had become a matter of pride for them to be able to charge in and save the day. Of making hard things to deal with look easy.
But they had never expected something like a comet.
Twilight was used to being prepared for anything and everything, and if something new came up, she'd simply prepare for that. But how did you prepare for this? Nopony had been prepared for this. Nopony had ever even thought that such a thing could happen.
When she was first called in to discuss things with the scientists, she thought surely Celestia and Luna could grab the comet in their magic and steer it away from their direction, right? However they had explained to her that while their talents allowed them control over the sun and moon, a comet was different. It was something they had no control over.
It hadn't taken long for plans to try to stop the comet had turned into plans to simply try to prepare and save as many ponies as they could. As many ponies and other races as possible would be evacuated out of the blast range, and everyone else would simply have to put up sheilds and hope for the best.
The problem was even if they survived the blast, there would be complications. The sky being clogged with dust caught in the atmosphere that could take years to dissipate, and they would block the suns rays. It would be hard to grow anything in half of the world. Of course they could build a ton of greenhouses to help, but it wasn't a sure thing. So many ponies could go hungry, could starve. It was frightening.
When she had come back from the meeting, she had called all her friends together to tell them the news. Of course they had all been shocked.
"You mean my farm, all the apple trees, they're going to die?" Applejack asked in dismay.
Twilight couldn't look her in the eye. "Probably."
"But can't we just get rid of the dust?" Rainbow Dash protested. "Surely the pegasi can-"
"No Rainbow, it'll be too high up for even pegasi to reach." Twilight interrupted.
"Surely some spell-" Starlight started.
"No!" Twilight shouted. "We've looked at this from every angle! No spell, no magic, no precautions, nothing can stop this comet!" All her friends just looked at her for a moment, stunned.
Then, Fluttershy started to cry softly. "But... my animals... they could die..."
"Ponies could die." Pinkie said with a slight whimper, her mane and tail deflating a little.
"Yes." Twilight said quietly. "They could."
Rarity reached over and gently laid a hoof over Twilight's. "What can we do to help Darling?"
"We have to tell everyone obviously, but we need to try to keep them from panicking. I know I can count on you girls for your help." Twilight said, and they all nodded.
"You can always count on us Twi." Rainbow Dash said in determination.
Most of the ponies in Ponyville ended up deciding to stay instead of evacuate. They had been born there, had lived their entire lives there, and if they were to die there, then so be it. The ponies of the Crystal Empire also decided to stay put, but nearly everyone in Canterlot decided to evacuate.
The places where ponies decided to stay or wouldn't be able to evacuate in time would simply have a strong mage use a barrier in an attempt to protect everyone.
Twilight just hoped it would be enough. The comet hitting the world was only the first part of the problem. The aftermath would be just as dangerous, and for a lot longer.
When Nightmare Night rolled around Twilight was happy to see Princess Celestia and Princess Luna had decided to join them. She and her friends were all in costume too, and they'd ended up deciding to just wear the same costumes they had before in previous years. That way they wouldn't be spending time making or looking for costumes when they could be spending that time with each other.
They tried to pretend that this was a Nightmare Night just like any other, but she wasn't sure that any of them succeeded.
When the time came, and Princess Celestia lowered the sun and Princess Luna raised the moon, when they could actually see how close the comet was, she raised the shield over the town and held her breath. This was it.
She was right next to the other princesses, and so she was able to hear them clearly.
"Celestia, I love you, very much."
"I know Luna, I love you too."
"So I hope that you can forgive me for what I'm about to do."
"What do you mean what you're about to do?"
Then the moon suddenly moved, and Princess Celestia screamed. "Luna no!" The comet hit the moon, and with a gasp, Twilight turned in time to see her mentor leap forward to catch her sister with her forelegs. "No! Luna! Luna!" Princess Celestia shook the limp form before she threw her head back and positively howled her sister's name. "Luuuuunnnnaaaaa!"
The whole town heard it. Twilight thought that all of Equestia heard it.
"Luna come back to me! Please! This can't be true!" Princess Celestia wailed through her tears.
Tears starting to make their way down her own cheeks, Twilight stepped over to reach out and touch Princess Luna's neck to feel for a pulse. Finding none, she then gently moved to close her eyes. "She's gone, she's gone Princess." She managed to choke out, already hearing other ponies around them starting to break down along with them. Princess Celestia collapsed into sobs. She cried and cried with no sign of stopping, till a doctor finally gave her a sedative with a syringe.
When Princess Celestia's unconscious form and Princess Luna's body was taken away, Twilight finally slowly turned to look at her friends. She wondered if her expression was as haunted as theirs was. They all had tear tracks on their faces, and Pinkie's mane and tail had gone completely flat.
It was Rarity who finally spoke the obvious.
"Nothing is ever going to be the same again."
Princess Celestia was never quite the same after her sister died. I can't blame her for that. I know I'd be the same way if I ever lost my brother.
So many ponies wanted to go to Princess Luna's wake that the place was packed and it would be held for several days. The line seemed to go on for miles. She had been laid in a casket, her body preserved by a stasis spell. But while everyone was allowed at the wake, her funeral was reserved for only a chosen few.
As her casket with a clear cover was placed in a special place in the gardens, Luna looked like she was merely sleeping. Rarity had been the one to make the beautiful dress she wore, that covered up the now cracked moon on her cutie mark that nopony could bear to look at.
Princess Celestia had seemed to run out of tears during the first few days. Now her eyes were dry but bloodshot with dark circles under them, as if she hadn't been sleeping well. Her expression was blank, but the look in her eyes was desperate. I was very worried about her. Everypony was. Many kept giving her anxious glances as the ponies at the funeral talked about Princess Luna. About memories and how much they would miss her.
I fully expected Princess Celestia to go up at some point, but she never moved, and she never said a word.
It wasn't until after the funeral that the prophecy came to light. It would go on to become a part of the moon princess legacy.
It took time, but Princess Celestia seemed to start to bounce back. She created the mare in the moon again, she created the eclipse, she made sure Princess Luna went down in history, and doing these things seemed to bring her some sort of closure. At least she looked better.
She started traveling, saying that she needed time to think and process things. I was supportive of this. Perhaps a vacation would be just what the princess needed. She was gone for nine months, though she would write me regularly to tell me of the places she'd gone and the things she'd seen.
Everypony was surprised when, not long after Princess Celestia came back, she started dating Bluenote, a stallion with a blue coat and a darker blue mane and tail with a purple streak in them who had a talent for playing the saxophone. She claimed his music calmed her.
Still, I gave them my blessing. It looked like Princess Celestia was moving on with her life, slowly getting over the grief. It was a good thing.
When she got pregnant everyone was happy for her, but it was after the baby was born and turned out to be an alicorn colt, that Princess Celestia seemed to be truly happy as well.
I knew she still missed Princess Luna of course, everypony did, but life went on.
When Eclipse got his cutie mark, he had the biggest cute-ceañera anypony had ever seen! Princess Celestia seemed so very proud of him. Everypony came, including Cadence, my brother, and Flurry Heart. By then they also had a second child as well, a unicorn they had named Brave Knight.
When Flurry Heart gave Eclipse a kiss on the cheek to congradulate him, his cheeks burned bright red, making her giggle. Cadence smiled knowingly at the two, looking at her husband and winking. Shining Armor chuckled as Eclipse made a face and wiped off his cheek before hurrying away. "Girls! Yuck!" He said, making everypony laugh.
As the years passed, Eclipse's opinion on girls definitely changed. Nopony was surprised when he and Flurry Heart started dating. It wasn't long before they were looking pretty cozy together.
Then out of the blue, Princess Celestia went missing. Nopony had seen her leave the castle, and nopony knew where she'd gone. Eclipse had been the last one to see her, and he said that she hadn't been acting as if there was anything unusual going on.
I think everypony must have searched all over Equestria. I know I did, as well as organizing many of the searches myself. For days, and for weeks, and for months we looked for her... then finally an entire year went by, and we were forced to admit defeat.
During Eclipse's coronation to turn him from prince to king, normally something to celebrate, nopony was in the mood to throw a party. He quickly slipped away once it was over, and Flurry hurried after him to offer him her comfort.
It's been three days since the coronation, and Flurry Heart was finally able to convince him to come out of his room.
Cadence has called for a meeting, but I have no idea what it's about. She'll be here soon. I just hope it's good news for a change.
Twilight put down her diary and quill, going to the balcony and looking out over Canterlot, her expression melancholy as she thought about her mentor. She was middle aged now, and royalty herself, so she didn't really need Celestia anymore, but she'd always been a constant in her life. She was like a second mother to her, a pony she knew she'd always love. One that she'd never thought that she would ever have to lose. She sniffled a little as she felt a single tear fall down her right cheek.
"Oh Princess... where are you?"
For the Moon so Loves the World
Something has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter. For the Moon so Loves the World
Chapter 5 Flurry Heart's POV
Flurry held Eclipse close as he cried. He'd been so strong the entire time his mother had been missing, refusing to give up hope. This was only the second time she'd ever seen him cry. The first was when his father had died in that terrible accident. It worried her how much he was trying to be quiet however. It wasn't good for him to hold anything back right now. She finally got up and put on a record of loud music at high volume before going back to wrap her forelegs around him again.
"Let it out my love. Nopony can hear you now." She told him softly, and was relieved when he broke out into full sobbing after that. Silent tears fell down her own cheeks as she thought about how badly she'd feel if she had lost both of her parents, and how much she was going to miss "Aunty" Celestia.
Flurry had known all along how unhappy Celestia was, for her special talent was empathy. She had tried every now and then, even as a foal, to get the princess to open up to her, but Celestia had always only smiled and said she was fine. Flurry knew though. She always knew. The feeling she always got from her adopted aunt was of extreme grief. Of loss and suffering. As if she was a mere shell of the pony she'd heard she used to be. Sometimes catching her staring at a picture of her sister with such longing, she knew very well why.
But she'd never expected this, for Celestia had always looked at her son with such love in her eyes and heart. She never thought that she'd end up leaving him.
Eventually Eclipse cried himself to sleep against her and she got up to turn off the music. She grabbed a few tissues and gently cleaned up both of their faces. She blew her nose and just sat there awhile, staring into space.
Was there anything... she could've done to stop this? Should she have told somepony how bad Celestia was feeling? She had simply wanted to respect her aunt's privacy but... maybe... if she'd just said something... Her conscience continued to bother her until she finally went to her parents room. She found her mother there staring at the fire and told her what she was thinking.
Cadance hugged her and kissed her forehead under her horn. "No sweetie. I don't think there's anything anyone could've done to stop this. Luna was her other half. I don't think she would have ever gotten over losing her."
"But then why get married and have Eclipse? Do you think she was maybe, trying to move on and she just couldn't?" Flurry asked anxiously. There was a long pause, and when she looked up her mother's expression looked haunted.
"Perhaps." Was all Cadance would say on the matter.
After he awoke Eclipse called everyone together again.
"I have decided that we shouldn't tell the public that Mother is dead. Let her fall into mystery and legend." He told them.
"But they'll never get closure that way!" Twilight protested.
"Maybe not, but knowing that she's dead, especially after losing Luna, I think it would be too much for some ponies to take." Cadance sighed.
"It just feels wrong." Twilight's shoulders slumped. "Can't I at least tell my friends?"
"You really think that Applejack could keep that a secret?" Eclipse asked her pointedly.
"We can have a funeral for her, just us." Shining Armor said gently and Twilight sighed but nodded.
"We can make sure that area is kept cleared, so that nopony will ever find her." Flurry said quietly, and they all agreed.
That evening they held a secret service in front of the cave Celestia was in. They cast more preserve and anti detection spells, planning on fencing off the area and putting up no tresspassing signs.
Flurry held her candle in her magic as she stood with the others, listening to Eclipse speak.
"My mother was the kindest pony I've ever known. She never hurt anyone, and always tried to help whoever she could. She was a just and benevolet ruler, and I know that she will be deeply missed by everyone in the kingdom. I only wish she'd told me how badly she was feeling so I could've at least tried to help her. I'm sorry that she felt like she had to suffer alone." The male alicorn swallowed hard. Tears were in his eyes but he blinked rapidly to keep them from spilling.
"Aunty Celestia was the most fun aunt ever. Growing up she was always there for me and she was always up for some girl time. I love her and I know I always will." Flurry said when it was her turn. It was all she was able to get out before she became too choked up to talk.
"Aunty Celestia helped me when I first became an alicorn and a princess. At first it was all so overwhelming but she gave me a home, and a family, until I was ready to be on my own." Cadance used her wing to wipe away a tear that spilled down her cheek.
"Celestia was more than just a mentor. She was like a second mother to me. I... I never... I never thought that things would end like this!" Twilight wailed, and Cadance hugged her until she'd calmed down a little.
"I didn't know Celestia as well as you all did, but I admired and respected her. It was part of my duty to keep her and the other royals protected for the longest time, and part of me feels like a failure for not being able to do that." Shining Armor admitted with a sigh before he turned to face the cave and saluted. "We will always remember and honor you, Celestia."
Behind him, the others bowed deeply. After they straightened, Twilight put down the large framed picture of Celestia and Luna she'd brought down in front of the cave. They looked so happy. The others put down the flowers they'd brought on either side of it.
"I hope wherever she is now, she's at peace." Eclipse said softly.
"She's with her sister now, so I'm sure she is. Though I bet she misses you." Flurry wrapped her hoof around him.
That night however, Flurry Heart had a disturbing dream. Celestia was a ghost wandering through the world looking lost and alone. "Why is this happening? Why aren't I with her? Luna!" Celestia looked up at the sky in despair. "I just wanted to be with you!"
Flurry woke with a start, her heart pounding as she clutched her covers to herself. It was just a dream right? It had to be. Still, it had seemed so real.
"Oh Aunty..."
For the Moon so Loves the World
Eclipse decided not to wait much longer after his mother's funeral. He'd learned the hard way that you never knew how much time you'd have with someone. A week later found him taking Flurry's hoof and asking the question he'd been thinking of asking for awhile now.
"Flurry, I love you with everything in me. Will you marry me?"
"Yes! Oh yes! I will!" Flurry threw her hooves around his neck and kissed him deeply.
He invited everyone to dinner that night where they announced their engagement. Soon the dining room was full of congratulations to the happy couple.
It took a few weeks to get everything prepared, being that this would be an important and royal wedding. Still they did everything as quickly as possible. Both of them wanting to be joined as soon as they could.
Most of the time Flurry looked overjoyed, but once in awhile Eclipse would catch her staring into space with an anxious and worried expression. He would ask her if she was all right, and she'd just smile and say something about prewedding jitters, so he left it as that.
Finally, after what felt like ages, they were standing at the alter reciting their vows to each other.
"Flurry Heart, you've been with me through all of the hardships I've been through. You're kind and loving, and I'm honored for you to be my wife. I promise to love and cherish you for the rest of my life." He smiled.
"Eclipse, I've loved you my whole life. It simply blossomed from friendship when we were kids, to something so much more as we grew up. I never want to leave you. I promise to stay by your side always, through thick and thin, no matter what comes our way." She beamed with happy tears in her eyes.
The rings were exchanged, and after Cadance pronounced them mare and colt, they kissed as the room rang with the sound of cheering and hoof stomping.
As they danced the first dance as a married couple, Eclipse couldn't help feeling wistful.
"What is it my love?" Flurry asked him, noticing his expression.
"I'm so happy right now. I just wish Mother could be here to see this. I kind of feel ashamed a little. How can I be so happy when not long ago we found out what happened to her?" Eclipse sighed.
"She would want you to be happy." Flurry said gently. "It's okay to miss her, but she wouldn't want you to be unable to move past this. She wouldn't want you to go through what she did."
"You're right. I know you're right." Eclipse nuzzled her gently.
"Of course I am. I'm always right." Flurry teased and he laughed.
One year later...
"Eclipse, I have something to tell you." Flurry said, looking uncommonly shy as she smiled in a way he'd never seen her do before.
"What is it Flurry?" Eclipse looked at her worriedly. She hadn't been feeling well lately. She'd been throwing up quite a bit and had been tired.
"The doctor just called with my test results. I'm not sick, I'm... I'm pregnant." She told him.
"I'm going to be... a father?" Eclipse said in shock. Flurry nodded and Eclipse's face lit up as he jumped up and hugged her. "I'm going to be a father! You're going to be a mother! We're going to be parents! Oh Flurry!" He babbled.
Flurry giggled as she hugged him back. "Yes, yes we are. Oh I can't wait to tell the others. Twilight is going to love this."
"Twilight is probably going to dance around the room." Eclipse chuckled.
Sure enough, later when they told everyone the news, Twilight jumped and danced around the room excitedly.
"I'm going to be a great aunt! I'm going to be a great aunt!"
"We're going to be grandparents. Now I'm starting to feel old." Shining Armor winced.
"Oh I can't wait to see them. I wonder if they'll be as adorable as Flurry was as a baby." Cadance smiled.
"I wonder if they'll be as much trouble as Flurry was as a baby." Shining chuckled.
"Oh hush." Cadance said in amusement. "You know it's worth it."
"Yeah, I do." Shining nodded.
"So... I'm going to be an uncle?" Brave Knight, who was a unicorn who had his fathers colors only his mane and tail were white and his coat was blue, asked. He had a cutie mark similar to his father's only his looked like a grey shield with a sword in front of it. He too had ended up going into the royal guard when he was old enough.
"It sure looks like it little brother." Flurry said, giving him an affectionate nuzzle. "We're going to have to try to find a good mare for you so you can have your own little bundle of joy."
"I'm way too busy for that. If I want to move up in the ranks I'm going to have to work hard." Brave Knight shook his head.
"Heh, you say that now son, but one day you might just see a mare and the next thing you know, you find that you just can't live without her." Shining told him.
"I hope not. Ponies who are in love act so weird." Brave Knight wrinkled his nose and they all laughed.
Eclipse noticed that in the middle of all the laughing Flurry Heart suddenly stopped and looked around in puzzlement.
"Is everything all right?" Eclipse asked her.
"Yes, I just got a strange feeling just now... it's probably nothing. Probably something to do with the foal growing in me." Flurry winked.
Eclipse just shook his head and wrapped his hoof around her. He still missed his parents, but he still had family, and now, in awhile it was going to get a little bigger.
"I love you so much." Flurry looked at him lovingly.
"I love you too." Eclipse leaned his head against hers.
"This calls for a party!" Pinkie Pie exclaimed, pulling out a party cannon that somehow shot the room full of decorations. She also somehow whipped a large cake out of nowhere.
"Oh I can't wait to make cute little outfits for the foal." Rarity told Twilight.
"I hope it's a pegasus or alicorn so I can teach them how to fly." Rainbow grinned to Fluttershy.
"Oh... I hope they like animals." Fluttershy said softly.
"I can't wait till they're old enough to try our apples." Applejack told Pinkie as she started to slice up the cake.
Eclipse lifted his head up then and looked around much like Flurry had earlier.
"You okay love?" Flurry asked.
"Hmm? Yes. I just had the strangest feeling that we're being watched." Eclipse frowned slightly.
"Well there is quite a few ponies here." Flurry teased.
"Yeah I know. I'm probably just jittery about the foal too. It really is exciting." He smiled and Flurry nodded in agreement.
I don't know though. I just have the feeling that whoever is watching us, isn't someone who's a guest at the party...
For the Moon so Loves the World
Some time later...
Eclipse paced back and forth anxiously with the others in the waiting room.
"I'm sure she's fine. It took me a long time to deliver her after all." Cadance smiled.
"But she's been in there for hours." Eclipse said worriedly.
"These things take time Darling." Rarity smiled as she worked on a baby blanket that was nearly finished for the occasion. Shining Armor nodded in agreement as he sipped a cup of coffee.
Applejack and Rainbow Dash had dozed off in a heap on the floor, Pinkie was eating a cupcake, and Twilight and Fluttershy were absently flipping through magazines to pass the time.
Finally a doctor came out. "Congradulations. You have a healthy baby boy, and your wife is doing fine. You can see them now, but please, just three of you at a time. They'll need to rest soon and they shouldn't have too much excitement."
Eclipse was going to go in of course, and the others decided that Cadance and Twilight could go in with him for the first turn. Flurry was laying in bed with a little foal wrapped up in a light blue blanket. "He's an alicorn, like us. Oh Eclipse, isn't he just beautiful?"
Cadance and Twilight gasped, for the tiny colt's coloring was a mirror image of someone they used to know quite well.
"He... He looks like..." Eclipse's eyes were wide.
"Aunty Luna, I know." Flurry smiled. "I think we should call him... Lunar."
Eclipse nodded, his eyes tearing up a little. "I think Mother and Aunt Luna would approve."
For just an instant both Eclipse and Flurry felt a strange shiver down their spines, but they both decided to ignore it, instead focusing on their little bundle of joy.
Celestia smiled. It was a smile that was wistful and a little sad. She'd thought that death would reunite her with her sister, but she'd been wrong. Somehow, someway, she was stuck here. Wandering around with nopony able to see or hear her, though sometimes they seemed to sense her. It was incredibly lonely, and seeing her loved ones grieve for her had riddled her with guilt. But... they seemed to be okay now. They were moving on with their lives. Still missing her but no longer with the deep mourning they'd once felt.
"Lunar... how fitting. How wonderful. I wonder if his personality will be as much like her as his looks are." She thought aloud as she slipped away, walking through the wall to sit outside and look up at the sky. It was a lovely night, and there was so many stars. The moon looked so bright! Then, suddenly, she could hear music. It sounded like someone was playing a harp. Then, there was the faint sound of someone singing, and she shot to her feet with a start. She knew that voice...
Celestia followed the singing until she reached the courtyard of the castle. There, Luna sat, playing a harp with her horn's magic. Just as she entered, her sister played the last few notes before standing. Her magic flashed, and the harp disappeared.
"Hello sister." Luna said gently, smiling with tears in her eyes.
"Luna! Oh Luna!" Celestia rushed forward with tears in her own eyes and threw her forelegs around her. "I have missed you so!"
"I have missed you too Celestia. Oh I am so happy to finally get to be with you again!" Luna sniffed as she held her back.
For a few minutes the two royal sisters just sat there, hugging each other and crying from the overwhelming emotions they both felt. But finally, they pulled back enough to look at one another and dry their eyes and faces.
"I... I don't understand. Why was I stuck here? Why couldn't I move on? Where were you?" Celestia asked anxiously.
"Oh Celestia, what you did was both noble in a way, yet oh so selfish. You made sure our little ponies would have a good ruler to guide them when you were gone, but at what cost? You seduced a stallion you did not love into marriage, and you had a foal only so that they could be your replacement. You have always been an upstanding mare, but what you did went against your principles. It went against everything you've ever stood for. You used these ponies only for your own personal gain." Luna said with a sigh.
Celestia hung her head and looked down guiltily. "I know. I'm so sorry. I was just so desperate to be with you again. I just wanted so badly to end the pain."
"Suicide doesn't end the pain Celestia, it just passes it on to the ponies who love you." Luna pointed out gently.
"I know... I know that now." Celestia said sadly. "So... what now?"
"You were stuck here for so long because you knew you did wrong. Would you really have been able to enjoy the afterlife if you were carrying this guilt? This was both your punishment and your redemption. You grieved with our loved ones for your mistakes, and then you got the relief of seeing them start to move on with their lives. To know those mistakes wouldn't haunt them forever." Luna told her. "And now... now you feel cleansed don't you? Of that terrible regret?"
"Yes. Yes I think so." Celestia nodded.
"It was holding you back, holding you down. But it's time now Celestia. It's time to come home." Luna smiled.
Celestia's heart flared with hope as she lifted her head to stare at her, wide eyed. "You mean... I can be with you now?"
"Yes sister. I've come to take you with me. All you need do now is follow." Luna opened her wings and jumped to the sky.
"I would follow you anywhere." Celestia's face lit up with the biggest smile she'd ever felt before as she spread her own wings. With a leap she flew after her sister. Luna laughed and Celestia laughed with her as they went up towards the Heavens, higher, and higher, until they were gone.
After a few days in the hospital, Flurry Heart and Lunar were able to come home. Flurry had settled Lunar down for a nap and was moving things around in a drawer, looking for a quill, when she came across a scrap of paper with familiar writing on it. She gasped as she read it, before snatching it up and rushing to find her husband.
"Eclipse! Eclipse look! Isn't this Starswirl's writing?" Flurry asked.
"Another prophecy?" Eclipse asked a little worriedly.
"I'm not sure. I think it's just meant to tell us that... everything is going to be all right now." Flurry Heart said as she held the note out for him to read it.
Eclipse hesitated, but stepped forward so he could get a good look at the words, his eyes misting over with bittersweet moisture as he read it.
And so the sun and the moon were reunited, to soar across the sky together forever...
Author's Note
And that's the end! Many thanks to everyone who favorited this story, commented, added it to groups, and gave it a thumbs up.
