A Goddess's Nightfall

by TheWingman

Rating: teen
Tags: Tragedy, Twilight Sparkle, Princess Celestia, Slice of Life, Death, Sad, Original Character, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Other
Length: 2476

No pony can rule forever. Though gone, they will not be forgotten.

Celestia, one of the greatest rulers Equestria has ever known, is now at the end of her life. With her sister gone, she spends her remaining days in seclusion as her kind reaches for the stars to explore the unknown. As she reflects upon her long life, a spirit in the form of a long lost loved one comes to console and comfort her in her final moments.

This story marks the absolute LAST of my Momlestia Saga. After this, the story has ended. Special Thanks to my best friend pabrony83 for being on this journey. Without him, these stories wouldn't have been possible.

Though Rated Teen and dealing with the theme of death, this is more Everyone rated than anything. Nonetheless, prepare for heartbreak with a heartwarming end.

Cover Art by Fafanny15

Edited (and honorarily co-written) by B_25. Thank you, my friend.

Published 2019-05-12 04:20:01 UTC
Last updated 2019-05-12 04:20:01 UTC

Nopony Rules Forever...

As the years passed and new generations came, the time eventually came where Equestrians realized that the planet was getting too small for the various tribes of Equis, fearing the possibilities of war. As technology advanced and society evolved, Equestria began to look up with thoughts of exploring the stars along with dreams of a new beginning and salvation, a final symbol of unity. With curiosity, they sent probes, machines of magic and circuitry, through the void of the unknown and their determination only grew. It was something that the royal sisters had foreseen and prepared for.

And soon, they would feel its effects.

As the exploration of the unknown progressed, the sisters began to feel their life forces starting to fade. They both knew that the day would come and there was nothing they could do. It was inevitable for them to one day return to the aether with their parents, Cosmos and Galaxia. All they could do was watch the ponies they’ve cherished all their lives mature and look to the stars for a new chapter of their history.

Still, they felt proud of them like a mother would their children.

Due to the stars being more visible at night, it didn’t take long for Luna to succumb to the condition of her ethereal power waning as her body naturally withered and died. When news of her death reached the citizenry through Celestia, there was much mourning and grieving over the loss of one of their matriarchs.

For Celestia, she was hit the hardest as her greatest friend was now gone. Despite his efforts, Celestia’s firstborn son, Solaire, could barely do anything to ease his mother’s aching heart.

When the day of the funeral arrived, creatures from all over came to pay their respects. Many members of the royal court, including Twilight Sparkle and her own family, were in attendance. One by one, those close to the late moon princess read out their heartfelt tributes about her until it was Solaire’s turn. Choked up with emotions, he managed a short version of his eulogy before singing a prayer for strength in trying times:

“Gafflwn Dihenydd
O'r Fuddugol wiriol sydd
Ni fydd neb yn ein drechu
Falch ydy ni i drochu
Draed o'r flaen i'r Annwn
Mewn y gwybodaeth fe godwn ni.”

“Thank you, my son.” Celestia sniffed as she took the podium. Her hooves shuddered, her body weakened from her condition. Drawing a gulp of breath, she hardened herself and prepared to speak her heart. “To me, Princess Luna was not just a sister… but also my greatest friend. Through good times and bad, I’ve always held her near and dear to my heart. It’s with great regret that I now bid her a final farewell, the sister I love.”

Her heart pounded from a mix of emotions and her body’s deterioration. Time and time again, she experienced heartbreak and loneliness as the sun goddess. As her body grew weaker by the minute, she came to accept the reality that her form would no longer be able to handle the rigors of leadership. But, she had prepared for such a day and knew the future would be in good hooves.

“Ever since my sister and I warded over these lands, we were oft times thought of as gods. The truth is that though we wield incredible power, alicorns are not immortal. But, our lifespan can last millennia.” She lowered her head while her mane, no longer lifted by its own celestial energy, clung along her neck and back. “When life on this world was in its infancy, our parents watched over this land as it grew and life prospered. When it came time for them to pass on, they made sure we were ready to take their place.”

Princess Celestia lifted her head, her tired, dried eyes staring across the cast of ponies sitting before and beneath her. “Now, I feel that time coming for me soon and I must make that journey eventually as did Luna. In my current age, I feel that I no longer have the strength to uphold the responsibilities of my title as a princess.”

She inhaled deeply and exhaled sharply. “Thus, as my final decree, I hereby abdicate my rights to the throne to my firstborn, Prince Solaire and Princess Twilight Sparkle. I trust them wholeheartedly with the ruling of this nation with a fair and just hoof. Now—” she sighed “—fare thee well, my dearest subjects.”

Her words left many in the crowd breathless. They always knew that whenever Celestia spoke, she meant what she said. To hear her intentions of retiring after burying her sister came as a shock for most with the exception being Solaire and Twilight. Long have they known of their matriarch’s intentions. With the crowd soon erupting in a flood of confused chatter, Celestia took it as her cue to leave. Retiring to her room, she laid on her bed and shut her eyes, tired and weak.

Ten Years Later

The night has long since fallen and the light of the moon shines brightly upon the weakened Celestia. She watched as a rocketship made lift off from outside Ponyville. As she looked on with pride as her people attain new heights, her body ached and weakened further. It was like seeing her children leave home and going to live on their own. As she was soon to expire, she felt a heartache that she might soon fade from memory… and then legends.

As her eyes tracked the rocket’s flight, her gaze soon set upon the moon. The very sight of it reminded Celestia of her long-gone sister. She remembered how she had to banish her there after jealousy and hatred had consumed Luna. Though it broke her heart to do so, it had to have been done. That event changed her as she started to wonder whether she truly made the right decisions, even at the cost of her happiness.

Did I really do things right? She thought to herself as her old heart wracked with worry, Was I a good leader to them?

“I think the answer is right before your eyes, my dear.”

Pivoting her head, she saw a familiar sight that gave her pause. There, an alicorn with cascading sunny and starry mane and a white coat with a shade of yellow-orange, Celestia recognized that as Queen Galaxia, her mother. Her heart soared as she saw her once again, even if she was just a disembodied spirit. Though having long since passed, memories of her never escaped Celestia’s mind.

“Mother!” She gasped as her mother’s spirit trotted over to her and wrapped her spectral hooves around her daughter in a warm hug. Instead of an empty feeling, it felt warm like life itself. It didn’t matter to Celestia how it was possible, she was just glad to see her mother in her trying time, bringing her to tears. “It’s so good to see you!”

“Don’t cry, my dear daughter.” Galaxia cooed as she gingerly stroked her aging daughter’s mane, “It’s alright. I’ve heard your worries and I’ve come to comfort you.” Wiping the tears from her eyes, Celestia regained her composure as she laid back down on her spot.

“Why have you come here?” Celestia asked as her mother scooched up next to her. The aura of comfort Galaxia radiated was enough to ease her daughter for a time.

“I heard your thoughts and that you still worry about a great many things. You’re afraid of leaving this world, worrying about your legacy.”

Celestia sighed.

“I do, mother.” Celestia looked on at the starry night sky with her mother, deep in thought. “When Luna died, it drove me deep into thought. As our kind started to explore the stars, we both knew our time was short. Though we’ve both accomplished much for Equestria, I’m worried that history will forget us—that it will forget all that we have done.”

“Daughter,” Galaxia said, wrapping her wings around her daughter, “look out there. Equestrian civilization has prospered and thrived. Even now, they give praise to you and your sister. Never will they let your legacies fade from memory. Years from now, when you’re long gone, tales of your deeds will still ring through little ears.”

Celestia always looked to her mother for guidance during her youth. Wise and just, her and King Cosmos warded over the world in its infancy. Though having long since been gone, she continued to watch as civilization flourished and prospered under the guiding hooves of her daughters. As a mother, she couldn’t be prouder of them. Yet, though she felt Celestia easing up, some part of her was still wracked with guilt over the past.

“Tia, is there something else troubling you? I can sense some guilt.” Celestia knew what she was talking about. Between banishing her wayward sister to the moon and betraying Azure’s trust, she made many decisions that didn’t feel proud of, the source of her guilt. As she lay dying, it all came to the forefront, plaguing her mind.

“M-*Cough* *Hack* Mother, I’ve made many mistakes over the course of my life.” Celestia coughed, “I-I banished Luna to the moon and betrayed the trust of my Azure.”

“We all make mistakes, Tia. Though powerful as we are, we’re not infallible. We too succumb to the same mistakes a pony would make. True strength lies in learning from them.”

“I know, mother. But, I betrayed those I’ve loved!” Celestia starts to cry as her guilt starts spilling out. “My sister, my son Azure, I… I’ve hurt them!” As her daughter sobbed, Galaxia frowned at her daughter’s distress. As a filly, she was so full of joy, flying around with her father. To see her little sunshine despair makes her sad. It wasn’t how she wanted her daughter to spend her last moments.

“Tia,” Galaxia sighed, “I know you feel remorse for what you did. It’s the same emotion I’ve known since my existence. It all stems from a personal sense of shame. Did you think when you had to banish Luna to the moon that she hated you? Part of her old self was still in Nightmare Moon. That part of her still loved you and never stopped. When you had that fight with your son Azure, did he hold an eternal hatred for you? No. Though you two weren’t of blood relations, he still called you mother even with his dying breath. You’ve not hurt them. They still loved you and always will.”

Deep down, she knew her mother was right. As one of the matriarchs of her people, she would often have to make the hardest decisions for their welfare even if they would come at great personal cost, a lifetime of tragedy. Yet, through all that, she recognized that she’s still loved by many, even those who were impacted by her decisions. Thus, she decided to cast aside all self-inflicted guilt and give way to hope.

“I’m just so glad to see you again, mother!” Celestia muttered with a smile. Her body had grown so weak, she knew her time had come, the end of the road. She wasn’t going to spend it mourning the past but fondly remembering her greatest and most cherished memories. “Mother, I’m ready.”

Knowing what she meant, Galaxia sorrowfully frowned which soon gave way to a warm and loving smile. Soon, a family is to be reunited in the great aether. There, an Idea clicked in the queen’s head. She remembered a song she sang to her every time before slumber. Holding her daughter close in her wings and hooves, she began to sing a most pleasant melody.

“You are my sunshine

My only sunshine.

You make me happy

When skies are grey.

You'll never know, dear

How much I love you.

Please don't take my sunshine away.”

“Thank you, mother...” With her dying breath, Celestia uttered one last declaration of love for her mother before her body grew limp and lifeless. Celestia, the princess of the sun, had passed away peacefully, content and in the embrace of her mother. As her body glowed, her immortal spirit vacated her physical form as her mother’s spectral visage faded away, saddened yet happy.

“Come, your father and sister await us.”

Celestia’s death hadn’t gone unnoticed, however. Due to being alicorns, Solaire and Twilight Sparkle shared a link between themselves and Celestia. Once her soul departed the mortal coil, Solaire was the first to know. Teleporting to her bedchambers, the adult prince found the body of his mother, cold and lifeless. His heart skipped a few beats when he realized what happened.

“No.” Solaire’s voice shuddered, heart filled with dread, “MOTHER, NO!” He cradled her body as he cried over her departure. Soon after, Twilight sparkle teleported in, only to be met with the sight of a son grieving for his mother. For her, Celestia wasn’t just a mentor or a friend but like a mother to her. To see her no longer living filled her with grief as well.

“We all knew it was going to happen, Solaire.” Twilight spoke up, teary-eyed yet calm, “But now, she’s no longer suffering. She’s at peace.” She got on her haunches as she hugged her fellow ruler and friend, sharing his emotions. They both grieved over losing their best friend, the one that guided Equestria through times of trial. “We’ll all miss her.”

As he mourned, a spark went off in Solaire’s head. He didn’t know how it happened but the message was clear nonetheless. Wiping away his tears and with newfound resolve, Solaire broke the hug and took to the skies. Soaring ever higher, he saw a new star in the night sky, rainbow colored and shining brightly. He knew it as the sign of his mother’s immortal spirit having returned to the aether.

With his horn glowing brightly and great effort, his magic channeled enough power to do what his mother did for generations: raise the sun. Behind him, the glowing ball of warmth and light gradually cast away the night sky with the rainbow star still shining brightly through the clear sky. Now, Equestria has a symbol to look up to in times of need: hope.

“Find your way home, mother. You are free.”

Author's Note

As with all good things, they all must eventually come to an end. For the end, what better day than Mother's Day to have the FINAL end to my Momlestia Saga. For me, writing this story, I poured a lot of my heart into this to make the sendoff emotionally engaging. To my readers, I would like to humbly thank every single one of you. Also, to pabrony83, my best friend on this site, thank you so much for this.

Happy Mother's Day.