Author's Note
Second ever story, 
I tried to take a lot of the comments from "The death of a goddess" and "fix" them in "Aftermath".
Aftermath
I should have guessed, I should have known. she was getting weaker each day and I did nothing but stand by, smile, and wave. I know it's stupid to feel guilt, it was her time to go. But, now as I stand beside her golden coffin, I can't help but think; What could I have done to help? I turn to face Luna, she can't even look up. Her tear stained face is covered by a thick, black veil. I look down then turn to face Cadence, who had her head bowed like Luna, perhaps a little lower.
I turn around to face the second row, where I can see all my friends standing behind me with their own foals, I capture the eyes of Rarity, who cudderling her young daughter, Royal Blue, close. I see Flurry heart above us on the second floor of the church. I can see her light pink tipped wings wrapped around my daughters, Skylar And Ivory. Flurry's nearly 16. I think About this for quite some time. Next to Skylar is Luna's daughter, Mona, a beautiful white mare with a light blue mane, she looks very similar to Luna in her early days, the same eyes, the same professionalism. She holds a tissue to her eyes. Besides her are the other royal foals, I didn't want to see their faces. Oh, I want to go up there a hold Skylar close... I want to tell her it's alright, that this was natural, something that could not have been avoided... But, I can't, my hooves won't move my eyes are too filled with tears and my throat burns with the yearn to let out a scream, to let everything out.
Luna nudges me to look forward. I can see the priest is now standing high on his platform, behind the coffin. "Queen Mia Solaria Celestia Soleil," He's a tall and skinny white unicorn with a black mane. He looks around at us, first Luna, who he bobs his head to, then me, and lastly Cadence. "Was a noble leader, a natural mother, and a gentle force. She started the Equestrian monarchy, the noble society, and was present for the uniting of the unicorn, Pegasus, and earth pony tribes. She, along with her sister, helped birth a new era. The famed and worshipped, 'Era of peace'."
He looks around the echoing hall, I look up at Flurry, Ivory, and Skylar again, Flurry's head is now bowed low, I can see her eyeliner running down her face and down her chin. Ivory's face is now bright red and Skylar's hiding her face on Flurry's sleeve, I can just make out her sobs in between the voice of the priest and other sobs in the hall.
"Born to be the bride of the Unicorn Prince. The son of the unicorn queen, Prince Lost legacy. In her early days, she was no more than a trophy, but, when the death of her husband reached her and her five daughters, she sprung into action and carved out a new monarchy and elite. Her daughters would go on to marry the current elites of their time and produce the next generation and bring forth the second new era, the "Era of war'. At this time, Equestria was at the mercy of the creature known as Discord. He was promptly dealt with, by the two princesses'."
The priest takes a small breath, I have to admit, it seems like he had been crying beforehand too.
"Now, as she lays in a forever slumber, we take this time to mourn and grief, But after that, we must celebrate. Remember the queen as a burning flame, an object that filed us with warmth, love, and safety." He takes another breath, I turn to look to my east, towards my brother Prince Shining Armour and my husband, Crown Prince Zephyr. Neither of them can even look up for a second.
I weakly smile at Zephyr and Shining. Shining half smile and manage to look up for a second, before emotion takes him again. Zephyr, bearly even looks up, not at me, nor Skylar, nor anypony. I wish he would, even at this time, his comfort would better than nothing. I turn back and face the priest.
"I will ask everypony, who is able, to stand as the queen's coffin is carried to the castle gardens, where she will be buried." We all stand, and I watch as Shining, Zephyr, and some other stallions take their places beside the coffin. In a swift move, they lift it on to there backs and carry it down. I follow behind, followed by Cadence and Luna. The first row follows after us, then the next, and the next and so on.
. . .
I hold my breath as I watch Celestia's coffin being lowered into the dirt. It's started to rain, the little drops fall on to my muzzle and run down my chin. I turn to face Skylar and Ivory. Ivory's hidden under my left wing and Skylar under my right. I turn to Cadence and Flurry, who both now have eyeliner running down their otherwise perfect faces, Shining's joined them now, not even he can manage to look up. Cadence flashes me a small smile, I smile back weakly.
The priest has now closed his little yellow prey book and handed it to Zephyr, who takes the book away. Luna walks forward, holding some dirt in her blue magic. She carefully tosses it down into the hole in which holds the coffin. Mona goes next, followed by flurry and Cadence. I help Skylar and Ivory forward as I take two clumps of dirt, for us. Skylar takes the dirt and quickly throws it down, then Ivory does the same.
I stare down the hole, I can just make out the banner on top of the coffin. I stop dead. Skylar's pulling on my black dress... she wants to go. I know that. Taking a deep breath, I finally throw the dirt down and walk away. Cadence is waiting for me, Flurry's wiping away eyeliner from her face and Cadence's.
"You okay?" Cadence asks quietly once were both far away from the others.
I slowly nod and push Skylar forward, towards where a chariot waits for us. Cadence places her hoof on my shoulder.
"Twilight... it was her time to go." Cadence comforts me. "You couldn't have stopped it," I nod and whisper;
"I know," I say coldly.
Cadence bit her lip but lets me go anyway. I trot over to the chariot and help Skylar and Ivory in. I'm surprised when I see Zephyr, and he looks the same at me. I climb in and hug him around is neck, receiving a hug in responce. We will be the next rulers, and Skylar will rule after us, then her foals will rule... an everlasting cycle... a never-ending trap.
. . .
I suppose death is like finishing a book.... except you can't start over or go back a chapter or maybe two. But, now that I think about in depth, it would be boring to just restart your "book" over and over again, even if it was only for one chapter. Reading the same chapters, the same plot twists, the same characters, and same surroundings would be useless, you would know that the hero gets away from the monster in chapter three, or that the hero defeats the villain at the end of the book and gets the princess or prince. It would be boring and 'disconnected'.
Yes, death is like finishing a book. Some of us enjoy the book, some of us would hate the book and would want to tear out every last page until nothing remained but the cover. I suppose, a page could be ripped out, to represent a pony dying early. A whole chapter could be ripped out... and only some ponies would notice that. Others would simply go on to another book, or throw the book away altogether. I look over at my daughter. Skylar. Would her book be a long novel or would it be a short short story? Would some ponies just forget all about her? Would she just be a plot device? I want her story to be long and graceful, I want my Skylar to be remembered for eons. I want her to be a beloved book, the sort you would keep from your foalhood and read to your own colts and fillies.
But, right now, I want to focus on this new chapter in my life. The era of "Twilight Sparkle" and "Crown Princess Twilight Soleil" is at an end, the chapter has ended, the writer has finished their trilogy and now must move on. Now, as I look at myself in my mirror, I see a new mare. A new book, unopened and first edition... the spine not even remotely broken or pages turned over. The chapters are new. The old book, the old story, has ended, a new chapter must be written down...the chapter of Queen Twilight Soleil has only just begun.
