Proofread by: Shinola
A Time to Let Go
Dear Princess Celestia,
You haven't been writing back to me lately, I'm assuming that you are very busy ruling Equestria as usual, but I can't help but feel worried, you haven't written back to me in about two weeks. I'm taking the first train to Canterlot first thing tomorrow morning to check in on you. I know that the castle staff are probably already there to take care of you in every way possible, but I feel that it is my duty as a friend to see that you are safe.
Your faithful student, Twilight Sparkle
Princess Celestia rolled up the letter, and gently placed it down on the floor. She looked down at the note and said, "I hope you're prepared for the heaviest burden friendship has to offer."
Twilight woke up at four o' clock sharp. She quietly got out of her bed, making sure not to disturb Spike, and went to get her saddlebags which she packed with a couple books for the ride and headed out the door. Twilight felt bad about leaving Spike, but someone had to watch over the library while she was in Canterlot. Walking down the street, she felt the cool morning breeze on her face and and through her mane. The quietness of the town caused her to stop and look at what time had done to her home. Sugarcube Corner, its colors have faded from bright to plain over the past ten years, both Mr. and Mrs. Cake passed away a few years ago, they passed ownership to Pinkie Pie and their children, Pound and Pumpkin Cake, run the shop. The next sight was the, now old, schoolhouse, the white paint had almost completely peeled off the fence surrounding the building, the flagpole was covered in rust and the clip that once held a beatiful red flag, now just rattled in the wind. These sights had made her realize that she's spent a very long time in Ponyville and that time really does leave its mark on all things, however, they are still the same regardless of their appearance.
"Boy, it sure has been a long time. To think that I came here because the princess told me to make friends." Twilight gave a brief chuckle at the nostalgia before moving along to the train station. Once there, she approached the familiar wooden platform, and purchased a ticket to Canterlot.
She slept peacefully on the train. The unicorn dreamed of her times spent in Canterlot under the watch of her mentor, Princess Celestia. Specifically, she dreamed of when she got her cutie mark, for that day brought about three wonderful things into her life. Spike was born, Princess Celestia became her close friend, and she got her cutie mark. Before she could trot down memory lane some more a loud whistle followed by a deafening screech snapped her back into reality.
She hopped off the train to see the familiar sight of tall buildings and hundreds of ponies walking the streets going about their lives.
"Okay, off to the castle." Twilight said as she began to trot down the streets of Canterlot.
She approached the large doors to the castle, which were opened by a familiar stallion with a vibrant blue mane.
"Twili! It's good to see you again!" Shining Armor said with a smile on his face.
"Brother!" Twilight ran up to embrace him, which was returned, "where's Cadence?"
"She's talking with the princess right now."
"Oh, I see. Well, can you take me to her? I have some very important things to discuss with her."
"Of course, follow me." Shining Armor tilted his head, ushering for Twilight to follow.
The throne room hadn't changed since she last saw it, only, there was no alicorn sitting at the end. She followed her brother up the stairs into a large corridor, at the end stood two large, ornate, double doors.
"The princess is inside, I'll be right here if you need anything."
"Thank you."
Twilight entered the room to see two alicorns, a pink one and a white one.
"Twilight!" Cadence shouted in excitement.
"Princess Cadence! It's been so long!"
"Twilight, the princess has been asking for you nonstop lately, it's unlike her to be this worried about anything." Cadence's expression lost its excitement as the discussion grew darker.
"I'm still here you know, there's no need to talk off to the side. Princess Cadence, could you please bring some tea?" asked Celestia.
"Yes of course." Cadence quickly left the room to fetch some tea.
The room was silent for a while, neither of the ponies knew who was going to break the silence.
"Princess, why haven't you been writing back to me? You haven't written back in at least two weeks." Twilight said, breaking the silence.
"My faithful student, before I answer your questions, which I'm sure you have plenty, please answer some of mine first." Chuckled Celestia.
"Sure, what would you like to know?"
"Firstly, tell me what friendship is." These words confused Twilight as this was unexpected.
"Ummm... Friendship is a magical bond that is shared between ponies and other living beings, in which love and trust flourish. It is a bond that, if strong enough, can overcome any hardship."
Before either of the ponies could say anything more, Cadence entered the room with a cart. On it was a teapot and two cups.
"Thank you Cadence, now if you'll please give me a moment with Twilight?" Celestia asked as she poured some tea into both cups, "Oh, and you can tell the others that it's okay for them to enter, it's not like they aren't welcome here." Cadence nodded and left the room.
"Others?" Twilight asked, wondering who else she was referring to. The door creaked open to reveal five ponies and a small purple dragon.
"Thousand pardons your majesty, it's jus' that Spike told us that y'all had left for Canterlot this mornin' and something just didn't feel right." Applejack said.
"Yea, I mean, why would you leave without your friends Twilight? I know you can become overly worried and do crazy stuff, but this is PRETTY crazy to go off on your own." Rainbow Dash scolded.
"Well, I guess I should have given you a heads up, I'm sorry."
"Oh don't be sorry silly filly!" Pinkie Pie giggled, "after all, we're friends and we look after each other."
"When I noticed you were gone this morning, I just felt like... like you would need us. I don't know why, maybe it's just a gut feeling." Spike explained.
"Well, I think that it's quite lovely to have all of you here." Celestia assured.
They discussed everything they had learned about friendship and magic. They shared stories and told jokes, all in all, they were having a fun time with the princess. They were in the middle of a lengthy discussion of the elements of harmony when Celestia lowered her cup and looked straight into Twilights' eyes and said.
"Twilight, there's one more thing about friendship that you have not learned of yet."
"Princess, what are you talking about? I've been studying friendship for the past thirty years, I think I know a lot about the subject."
"Indeed you do, that much was never in doubt, but the most important lesson of friendship is knowing when to say goodbye." The whole room went silent. "Applejack, I believe you have an understanding of what I'm talking about."
"Ah reckon ah do. Granny Smith, bless her soul, was very old and her time was due. It hurt everyone in Ponyville when she passed." A tear fell from her eye, "but I'm afraid ah still don't quite understand what you're tryin' to tell us princess."
"Twilight," Celestia turned her head to the window, "I'm sure you know that alicorns are gifted with immortality."
"Yes, I do remember reading that in one of the books in the royal library." Twilight was still confused, as Celestia had just dodged her question.
"Well, I'm afraid that what you've read is not true. Alicorns such as myself and Luna, are gifted with long life, but it does not last forever. A true friend knows to accept that a loved one has left them.
"What are you talking about? Who's leaving?" Twilight's heart sank into her stomach and tears began welling up in her eyes. She knew where this was going and it hurt her more than anything in the world. "The one who's leaving... it's you isn't it?"
Celestia could only nod as there were no words that could be said to comfort the purple unicorn. Everything disappeared into blackness except Twilight and Princess Celestia. She felt empty inside, as if the majority of her heart was missing.
"But you don't look old at all! In fact you don't look like you have changed since the day we met." Twilight said while fighting back tears
.
"Twilight, there's no use trying to reason with it. I am dying and I want to teach you, my most faithful student, one final lesson about friendship, and that is letting go. I want you to know that the only thing in this world that can last forever is friendship."
Twilight had so many questions to ask, but there were simply too many for her to comprehend. The only words she could conjure up were,
"What will happen when you're gone? Who will raise the sun?" She choked.
Celestia let out a deep sigh and said, "I'm giving that responsibility over to my sister, Luna. After all, she deserves it, after what I did to her one thousand years ago."
Twilight was now sobbing, she didn't want to believe it, but she knew that Celestia was trying to teach her an important lesson. Celestia needed her more than ever to get through this hardship.
"Princess, what do you want me to do?"
"Take a note."
Spike pulled out a piece of parchment and a quill to write a letter, as he usually does, but Twilight put her hoof on Spikes' shoulder and said, "Spike, please, let me do this."
"Sure thing Twilight, I understand." Spike nodded and held the pen and paper for Twilight to take.
Using her magic, Twilight levitated the pen and paper from Spike’s hands and held them in front of her.
"Thank you Spike." Spike dropped his head and covered his face as he began to cry. Twilight pulled the baby dragon close to her chest and after a moment of silence she asked, "are you ready princess?"
Celestia gave Twilight a nod and began speaking,
"Dear Twilight Sparkle, Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy, Rarity, and Spike,"
As the names were said, each of her friends began to appear from the darkness, now it was Twilight, the princess, and all of the other ponies.
"For the past thirty years, I have taught you all about the true meaning of friendship. I have watched you all grow from acquaintances to the best of friends. I am proud of everything you've done for this world. You have overcome many tasks, great ones such as the return of Nightmare Moon and Discord with the power of the elements of harmony. I pray that you never lose sight of that power. With my parting words, I would like to say farewell to you, my little ponies.
Sincerely, Princess Celestia"
"Princess, is there anything else you need? Anything at all?" Twilight quietly sobbed.
"My dear, all I really need is some much needed rest, I'm sorry but if you could please leave me, I'd--"
"Of course, no need to say anything," Twilight cut her off, "I understand completely. See you later princess." She said opening the door. Twilight was still trying to take in all that has just been thrown at her and is in denial of the news she had been given.
"Thank you, I'm just going to close my eyes. Goodbye Twilight Sparkle."
"Wait, princess, I have one more question to ask you." Twilight waited for a response from her mentor, but was answered with silence. She realized that her closest friend, the one she had looked up to all her life, had just passed away. She ran over to the bed and burried her face into the lifeless princess. This angered her, how dare she leave! How selfish of her to leave her friends! Not to mention just leaving all of Equestria behind to her sister! Suddenly, she realized what Princess Celestia was trying to teach her. A true friend will not hold on to their emotions when someone passes. It's not fair to both the living and the dead. The dead don't mean to be a burden to the ones they've left behind, so there's no reason to let your emotions make them a burden. With this realization, Twilight ran out of the room, crashing into Shining Armor, who had been waiting outside the whole time.
"Twilight, is everything alright? What did the princess need?" Shining Armor asked.
"She wanted to teach me," she began tearing up, "one last lesson about..." her emotions began to slip, "FRIENDSHIP!" Twilight lost her composure and burst into tears. Shining Armor quickly embraced his younger sister.
"Twilight! I still don't understand, is Princess Celestia alright?"
"She... Sh... She... She said tha... tha... th... th... that she was d... d... dying!"
Shining Armor closed his eyes and lowered his head. Princess Cadence was immediately overcome with the sadness and began to cry.
"We must get a doctor here right away." He said with great urgency. He looked down and met his eyes with Twilight's. After looking into them, he knew that it was too late.
"I... I... I... I ju... ju... ju... just wanna go h... h... home." With those words said, she passed out from exhaustion in the embrace of her brother. The other ponies walked out of the room to help ease their pain. Applejack took off her hat, lowered her head, and closed her eyes and softly began to sob, Pinkie Pie's hair deflated, her coat darkened and her smile vanished as her eyes began to fill with tears, Fluttershy burried her face into Rarity. She quickly put her arms tightly around the sobbing yellow pony and began to cry, Rainbow Dash tried to keep her composure, but it only lasted for a few seconds, quite literally a few, for this is the one time in her life where not crying would not be cool. The mourning lasted for what seemed like an eternity. Everyone had a special connection to the princess and they were devestated with her passing. The first pony to break their wall of sadness was Applejack.
"Shinin' Armor, what do we do?" Applejack said trying to wipe all the tears from her eyes to no avail.
"We..." he paused, "I suppose it's best that we inform Princess Luna."
"Yea, but I don't think that Luna would want know about this. Maybe we should--"
"Let Princess Luna find out by herself?! Rainbow Dash are you crazy?! Nopony would want to hear this!" Pinkie Pie snapped.
"Come, let’s go see Luna, I feel that it would be better if everypony were with me when I... we, tell her what has happened." He looked down to the sleeping unicorn in his arms, "I'm sorry Twilight Sparkle, but we can't leave yet."
Epilogue
Two weeks have passed since Twilight Sparkle, and her friends informed Princess Luna of her sisters' passing. The indigo alicorn reacted in a way that was to be expected. In the beginning, she did not want to believe it, she could not accept the fact that her sister had died. In her sorrow, she flew to the moon. In her absence, they began preparations for the funeral. The week spent preparing felt like an eternity of mourning but soon enough, the day for the funeral arrived.
The funeral took place in the main hall of the castle. Celestia was placed on her throne, which was covered with an elaborate white silk sheet with gold trimmings, which was hoof made by Rarity. Many colorful flowers were placed around her body each was carefully chosen by Fluttershy and her woodland friends. A radiant rainbow arched over the castle, but Rainbow Dash did not find any joy in creating it. Applejack and Pinkie Pie arranged furniture in the main hall and were in charge of decorating the building. To Pinkie Pie, this was not her ideal kind of party. Finally, Twilight prepared a eulogy on behalf of all her friends. Twilight made little to no noise as she approached the podium and glanced over the congregation. Many ponies were sobbing, and others remained silent. Twilight let out a sigh and began to speak.
"When I was a filly, I came to Canterlot to prove my magical talent. This is where I met Princess Celestia, and I admit that I was afraid of her." Ponies chuckled, "I mean, she was much larger than me, and I did not want to screw up. I do not want to brag or anything, but she was impressed by my magic," the crowd chuckled again, "she then took me under her wing as her faithful student. She taught me everything I know about magic and the history of ponies," Twilight paused, "but the most valuable thing that she taught me was the magic of friendship. I was what one would call a shut-in. I rarely left the library because frankly, I was just too busy reading.
Now, Celestia, who was like a mother to me, saw that it was unhealthy for me to be alone all my life. Just like a mother, she kicked me out of the library and told me to make friends under the pretense of looking after preparations for the Summer Sun Celebration in Ponyville, but I knew better. I was afraid to leave the library but then again, if you're stuck in a room with nothing but books and a dragon for your entire life, who would enjoy being anywhere else?" The crowd chuckled, "But it was during this time that, when faced with the return of Nightmare Moon, I learned what friendship was. I found the elements of harmony with the help from my friends, loyal Rainbow Dash, honest Applejack, kind Fluttershy, generous Rarity, and the funny Pinkie Pie and defeated all of the challenges that Nightmare Moon threw at us.
Princess Celestia taught me that friendship is a bond that is shared amongst all living creatures and brings them all together. It is a bond that cannot be broken easily and if strong enough, can overcome any challenge that fate has for us. She was my mentor, no, she was more than that, she was my friend," tears began dropping onto the paper, "and I miss her more than anything in the world." Twilight stepped down from the podium, wiping the tears from her eyes.
With the eulogy finished, thirteen unicorns approached the princess. Eight of them wore armor and were in charge of transporting the princess to her final resting place. The other five wore bright white robes adorned with golden suns, similar to the princess' cutie mark. The horns of the armored ponies began to glow as they used their magic to lift her throne.
The funeral procession took them through the streets of canterlot. The sidewalks were lined with ponies who weren't able to fit inside the castle. Not a single word was said during the procession. The unicorns carried the princess to a lake on the outskirts of the city and placed her body down on the waters edge. The other five unicorns positioned themselves around the throne. They looked at each other to confirm that they were ready to begin. When they were ready, they all bowed their heads and chanted a spell in unison.
When the final word was spoken, their horns shined brighter than anything anypony has ever seen. The light washed over the princess and in a blinding flash of light, she disappeared. The cries of thousands of ponies were carried off into the wind.
Twilight wanted to stay in Canterlot for a the night, she felt closure in the city. Her friends had no objections and decided that they should stay as well. Shining Armor offered them a place to stay in the castle.
"Twilight, it's getting late, we should head back." Spike suggested.
"Spike, go on without me, I'll catch up with you in a little while." Spike didn't say anything else. He knew that Twilight was having a rough time and it'd be best not to make her even more upset. With that in mind, he walked off to the city with the other ponies.
Twilight sat at the waters edge for an hour and cried until she passed out. After what seemed like only a few minutes, a gentle voice called out to her.
"Twilight Sparkle?" Twilight awoke to see a a pony with a deep indigo coat and soft blue eyes, standing over her.
"Princess Luna, how long was I asleep and when did you get here?" Twilight asked, having lost track of time. She only just noticed that the moon and stars were high in the night sky.
"I've been here for about an hour now, I saw you laying on the ground, so I stood by you until you woke up."
"Thank you, listen, I'm sorry about Celestia, I just--"
"Please don't say such things, it's not your fault."
"I know, but I don't know what else to say."
"Well, when you think of something, please tell me.
"I will."
"It's late, you should really head back, you might catch a cold." she smiled softly.
Twilight stood up and smiled. With no more words to be said, she began to walk back to the city accompanied by Princess Luna, the new ruler of Equestria.
