Celestia stood on the balcony of Canterlot Castle as she slowly lowered the sun and rose the moon, beneath her lay a desolate city. No pony walked the street, no sounds were heard except for the wind. Celestia sighed and walked into the castle and began to walk down the empty condors, slowly she exited the castle and entered what had once been the royal garden but was now simply a graveyard. As she walked she thought back to what had happened.
It was little over a year ago, Celestia had just married the mare she loved, Luna had been happily engaged, Equestria was in a time of great prosperity and both technology and magic had begun to advance at a steady rate. Everything was perfect. Then the rumors started, in equestria the rumors were about the princesses, they sowed fear and mistrust among the people. Meanwhile the countries around Equestria had rumors spread as well, rumors about both there government and of the other countries. However it was only rumors, till it wasn't.
No one knew who struck first, the Griffons or the Zebra but that had been the straw that broke the mares back. With in less than a year almost all the races of Equus had been wiped out with the only remaining races the Ponies, Griffon and Changeling. It as at this point that the leaders had called a cease fire and negotiations began. Luna had gone to the conference along with her husband. They didn't return. All the leaders who went were killed. It was then that the real enemy showed themselves. They were monsters, demons freed from Tartarus. With the truth known the races united, the griffons were out for blood, the changelings revenge, and the ponies justice.
Despite there age the bearers of the Elements returned to aid them. Rainbow and Applejack had been first, they were found there bodies ripped to pieces, Applejack's head had been smashed while Rainbows was found shoved on to a spike and missing the lower jaw. Fluttershy was next, when they found her not much remained. It had been Discord to find her and it was all Celestia and Twilight could do to restrain him. Many animals were found dead and it seemed as if they had tried to protect her before she had been ripped apart and force feed to them piece by piece. After that the animals of the forest and nature itself turned against the demons. But not even that could stop them as the demons simply burned the world around them. Rarity was the next to go. She had fought to the end using gems as weapons and killing thousands but in the end she fell. She was found tortured, beaten but alive. Sadly her injuries were to server and she passed away surrounded by friends and loved ones.
By this time almost all of Equestria had fallen. The only place remaining was Canterlot. It was here that the races made there final stand. The army if demons was an endless sea but the races held strong. the changelings used there skill to cause chaos in the enemies ranks and the griffons fought till the bitter end. After a year of fighting Canterlot fell and the small army of demons that remained entered the Castle.
It was then that Discord and Pinkie as well as the remaining guard made there final stand. Discord unleashed his full power while Pinkie battled to the death. But even that wasn't enough, Discord was killed and Pinkie was torn apart and stuffed into her own party cannon. However all that was left of the demon horde was the leader and the few who had survived.
The Demons leader and the few troops entered the throne room expecting an easy victory and surrender instead they were met with Her and Twilight. The battle had been the most difficult the two had faced Celestia being forced to call down the full power of the sun while Twilight called upon her connection to the stars. They fought long and hard but it hadn't been enough. Celestia shuddered the next memories Celestia would never forget. Celestia had been struck by a powerful magic beam from one of the demons and it loomed our her, its blade was poised to deliver the killing blow. As the demon swung down Celestia closed her eyes only for a wet shunk to fill her ears. Celestia snapped her eyes open to be greeted with her wife's face. Twilight gave a sad smile as she said one word before falling over the demons blade still thrust through her chest. "Sorry."
Celestia sighed. Her memory after that was spotty but she clearly remembered the end. The demon leader body lay before her his head severed from his body and impaled on the far end of the wall by her spear.
Celestia reached the end of the path and approached the tombstone. It was plain, simple and almost unremarkable, just like all the rest. Around it were five others each bearing a name. Applejack Apple, Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, Rarity Belle and Pinkie Pie. Celestia approached the one at the head of the arrangement, the one at the end of the path. The only difference about it from those that surrounded it was the name. Celestia had buried many in her years, she had been the one to bury all the ponies remains after the final battle. The guards were buried here in the garden along with her sister and Discord. But this grave would for ever haunt her dreams. This was were she buried her love, her joy, her pride, her sorrow, herself. A tear fell from the Alicorns eye as she read the stone.
Here lies Princess Twilight Sparkle.
Celestia sat down next to the grave, she had nothing left. Her ponies lay dead, her family lay dead, even the world lay dead. She had stopped being the Princess of the sun, the tittle no longer fit, no now she only called her self one thing, the Keeper of the Graveyard. That was her role now, she would preserve this place keep it clean, safe, and insure that it would forever stand. She was no longer a Princess, now she was simply the Caretaker. When she had become an Alicorn she had changed her name from Sunny Days to Celestia, now she would change her name again. She was no longer Celestia she was simply the Caretaker
50 Years later
A group of ponies slowly walked down the street of Canterlot. When it had been found a year ago archaeologists were amazed that it had been so well preserved. It was as is the demon invasion had never breached the gates. However now it seemed that there was no pony here. The group slowly made there way for the castle.
Canterlot had been the last known location of the long lost Princess Celestia and it was for this reason that they had even agreed to come. Princess Celestia was responsible for raising the Sun and they intended to find and rescue her. As they entered the palace a sense of foreboding crossed over them. The group slowly made there way though the castle searching for any sign of life from any survivor or the Princess. As they entered what was once the Royal Garden they froze in shock. Rows upon rows of tombstones greeted them. The group said nothing as they slowly walked the main path till they reached the end of the path and approached a circle of tombstones. they plain, simple and almost unremarkable, just like all the rest. Applejack Apple, Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, Rarity Belle and Pinkie Pie.
"Hey weren't these the Bearers of the Elements of Harmony?" One of the ponies asked.
"Yes, they were buried here as a means to honor them and all they had done." Replied another pony.
"Uh... hey guys..." One of the Ponies this one in old guard armor said hesitantly. "there's someone here." he said as he pointed toward the end of the path.
The group slowly approached the pony. The pony stood before the tombstone at the head of the arrangement, the one at the end of the path. As they neared they realized that the pony was at least twice as tall as the average pony, they appeared to have a horn and wore a long black cloak that had holes cut out for there wings. Once they neared the pony turned to them revealing a tired and weary face covered in snow white fur. The mare looked at them for a moment before bowing to them.
"Greetings and welcome to Graveyard. I apologize for not coming when you first stepped in to city." The mare said. "I am the Caretaker, Keeper of the Graveyard. If I may ask, why are you here?"
The lead pony cleared his throat and stepped forward. "We uh... we came to find any survivors and to locate Princess Celestia."
The Caretaker tilted her head in confusion. "That is a name I haven't heard in a long time." She said with a sad smile. "I'm sorry but no pony survived the demons destruction. As for your Princess, Celestia is gone. She died fifty years ago with Princess Twilight Sparkle."
The guard slowly stepped forward. "I've served as a Royal Guard for over seventy-five years. I may be old but I can still see that you are the Princess." He said as he leveled a glare at the Caretaker.
The Caretaker nodded her head. "I was once called Celestia and was known as the Princess of the sun, but Celestia died fifty years ago. I am the Caretaker, Keeper of the Graveyard. If you will excuse me I must return to my duties, if you need any thing simply ask and if you wish to speak to me later you may come to my home it is the third house on the left from the castle. Though I will have to clean up I haven't had company in so long."The Caretaker bowed to the stunned group and walked past them. She had much to do before the moon rose and to fail in her duties was unexceptionable. The Caretaker looked to the sun and shook her head before spreeding up. She was late, what would Twilight say if she saw the Caretaker late.
Author's Note
Like I said in the description this is a one shot so there won't be a squeal or anything unless you all really, really want this to continue. I had a lot of fun writing this little story and I hope you enjoyed it.
