Outside the castle of the half-destroyed Crystal Empire during the night time, the rest of the survivors were gathered outside for the funeral of the Royal Sisters. They hardly said a word after so much has happened to them and how bad their lives were after the Abyss took over Equestria. And now all they could do was mourn.

***

Inside the castle, Cadance was watching the entire populace gather outside in preparation for the royal funeral. Shining Armor, now wearing a half-mask, was relaying orders on who would pull the carriages with the caskets and who would hold the banners while walking. But while he was busy, Cadance called in Starlight, Sunset, and Tempest into the throne room. Even Apple Bloom was ordered inside for this occasion.

“I assume you all know why I summoned you here?” Cadance asked in a calm tone.

Everypony nodded, but Starlight had a tense look on her face. The same look that she had while she tried to survive when Twilight was planning something.

“We have seen a lot of things while the Abyss began ruining our lives, but none of us have ever dreamed that the source of the madness was one of our friends. From the moment onward until the end of time, none of this is to be told to our subjects for generations to come.” Cadance ordained.

“And you just expect us to remain tightlipped about what actually happened to our friends?” Starlight spoke in a now-hostile tone.

“I have to agree with Starlight, princess. We can’t just keep this from everypony else.” Apple Bloom said, trying to be the voice of reason.

“Apple Bloom, it’s not that simple.” Cadance said.

“Why?” Apple Bloom asked, wanting answers.

“The truth is not as easy as you make it. Everypony outside has suffered as much as we have when the Abyss took over. If we tell everypony what really happened, it will spell even certain doom for Equestria than it already has.” Cadance said as honestly as she could.

“And that’s supposed to excuse the real crimes that Discord and Twilight committed when they banished Spike?” Starlight asked, starting to feel angry.

“Yes. If anypony were to know about this, it could mean the collapse of everything we worked so hard to build and everything that Twilight and her friends fought so hard to protect would be for nothing. I’m sorry… but we can’t take anymore chances after what that monster did to us.” Cadance said.

“Which monster are you referring to?” Starlight asked, walking forward to Cadance.

“Starlight, think this through. Say that we do break the truth to everypony and they believe it. What would you expect our next move to be? What will we do if they decide to spark a revolution after hearing everything we had to say? This needs to remain confidential. If we tell them, everything we worked so hard for will be for nothing.” Cadance reasoned.

“And what will happen, if by chance, they do find out what truly happened? Not by me, not by anypony else here, or even you. It will not end well if anypony or anybody leaks the truth out. Equestria will be in even greater ruin than it already was.” Starlight said.

“We will deal with it when the time comes. But for the time being, this is to remain under the blanket until the time is right.” Cadance ordered.

“And what time will that be?” Starlight asked once more.

Cadance didn’t say a word upon hearing this question.

“Why all this secrecy, hmm? Are you doing all this to get even with Spike?” Starlight asked in a subtle, angry tone.

“Starlight, that’s enough.” Tempest said, trying to calm her down.

“Weren’t you sad or angry when Grubber died during the Crystal Empire Raid? Do you not care for any of your loved ones? Spike was possessed! He may have lost it and took it out on us, but Discord was the one who started all this! He should be the one punished for his crimes, not Spike!” Starlight exclaimed.

“While what you say is true, nobody is clear of charge after the crimes they have committed against us! And if you ask me, death was the best thing that could happen to Spike!” Sunset said.

“What did you say…?” Starlight asked, beginning to spark her horn in anger.

“Think about it! There is no telling if Spike had amnesia or not. And even if he was telling the truth, we could never protect him from the angry mobs that would do anything to have his head. Eventually, we would be short on options and would have no choice but to execute him.” Sunset reasoned.

“I can’t believe you all. We are supposed to represent everything that Twilight and her friends stood for. Now we have to resort to keeping secrets and making sure everypony is in the shadows. If it weren’t for Twilight or any of her friends, none of us would be here having this argument just like we are now!” Starlight shouted.

“Starlight, please-” Sunset said before being cut off by Starlight.

“If Twilight didn’t stop you from commencing your plan to take over Equestria with your half-baked scheme, you would have been imprisoned or worse!” Starlight countered.

“You need to calm-!” Tempest said before being interrupted by Starlight as well.

“Had Twilight not reached out and rescued you from your obsidian prison back in Canterlot, you would have died! I may not have been as innocent as either of you, but you could have become a lot worse if you were given enough time.” Starlight sneered.

“Starlight, I understand that this situation is the last thing you want, but-!” Cadance said before being interrupted by Starlight.

“YOU DON’T CARE ABOUT ANY OF US, DO YOU PRINCESS!? We need to keep the populace in check! The Heroes of Equestria and Discord need to avoid accountability! It is for the good of all ponykind! ALL YOU CARE ABOUT IS PROTECTING YOUR SISTER!!! I BET YOU DON’T EVEN CARE WHAT HAPPENS TO FLURRY HEART IF-” Starlight yelled before being silenced by Cadance.

“AND YOU THINK ALL OF THIS WILL SOLVE OUR PROBLEMS?!?! TELLING EVERYPONY WHAT REALLY HAPPENED AND PLACING THE BLAME ON OUR FAMILIES!?!? REVEALING THE NEWS THAT OUR FRIENDS WERE CRIMINALS!?!?” Cadance screamed before breaking down in tears.

Starlight was saddened by Cadance’s outburst of denial and had no idea what to say, but she knew that she was right.

“You think that I don’t want justice? That I don’t want closure on everything that has happened to us? That I don’t want to protect Flurry Heart? Twilight needs to face the consequences of her own actions, but how could I? Everypony we knew and loved have suffered enough from the damage that the Abyss caused us. The last thing I want is my daughter is to suffer as we had and I don’t see any other way of turning this crisis. I’m sorry Starlight, but this is reality. Nopony can handle the truth like us.” Cadance lamented in a sad and sorrowful voice.

The door opened and the girls turned around. It was none other than Shining Armor wearing a half-mask on his face and holding a sleeping Flurry Heart in his hooves.

“The funeral is all ready for the Royal Sisters. Everypony is ready.” Shining Armor said in a sad and tired voice.

“We will see you shortly.” Cadance said with tears in her eyes.

Understandably nodding, Shining Armor closed the door and left. Cadance walked over to Starlight and caressed her face.

“I understand your pain, Starlight. Much more than you know. But there is nothing we can do for the injustices that have already been done to us and our friends. The only thing we can do now is keep going and push towards a much better future. I’m sorry…” Cadance said, attempting to comfort Starlight in some way.

Gently nodding, Starlight reluctantly conceded to the circumstances surrounding her and made peace with the fact that the truth must never be spoken. With all that said, everypony proceeded to walk out of the throne room to the funeral held outside Canterlot.

***

Outside Canterlot, everypony was lined in a cleared path for the Royal Sisters along with Twilight and her friends, whose remains were covered by blankets and sheets, which were being carried away by several guards pulling a large carriage. The guards, the prince and princess walked downwards as everypony watched in silence with slight hints of murmuring among the crowds. There were some members of High Society, but there were very few and far between due to the massacres that followed back in Canterlot and the Crystal Empire.

Princess Cadance, who was carrying Flurry Heart, and Shining Armor were close to the carriage that carried the bodies and they had these melancholic and tired faces which were reflected on all of the survivors. Starlight, Sunset, Tempest and Apple Bloom followed behind them as well and they were nothing short of tired. Starlight was especially the most exhausted after everything that has happened.

They walked towards the highest point of a mountain which contained a mausoleum for alicorns and ponies who were of royalty descent or high status. Instead of saying anything, Shining Armor nodded to the guards. In response, they carried the caskets of the Royal Sisters and Twilight and her friends inside where they were covered and buried. When they were finished, nopony said a word and just left the mausoleum. There was nothing more that could be said after everything that has happened to them, but the war was finally over and peace has been restored among everypony amongst ponykind. The event would go down in history as the The Abyssal Invasion and nopony would ever forget the tragedy that destroyed Equestria…

Author's Note

I changed my mind on withholding the chapters on Friday the 13th. But I am a little cautious on that day and I am prepared for anything. But we all make mistakes. Enjoy the chapter.