A day when the sun sets

Today in Equestria was unusually... gloomy, maybe even depressing. Almost in all places the weather was bringing drowsy and draining mood, leaving ponies in a state of displeasure. Everypony was doing their own things - working at their jobs, tidying up their house, just walking together and chatting. At first this day didn't even looked this bad, at most the weather was unpleasant to those who were trying to enjoy their day with friends. But this quickly changed... Before it was even noon - every TV translation of every channel in Equestria was stopped, all to deliver one news.

"We are here at EBC now Live to deliver the Breaking News. We were forced to stop the translation of every other channel to deliver news from the Royal Residence at Marechester, — said Light Heart,the azure colored earthpony newsreporter, slowly, meticulously reading every word to not mispronounce anything and deliver the devastating news perfectly.She was trying to keep her calm, even if she did an awful job at this, her hooves were clenched together, her ear was slightly twiching, and she barely held her voice from cracking or waving from nerves with every new phrase. But despite that she continues to professionally deliver her lines — We were notified that today, this morning, 10 October of 1038, after more than a thouthand years, our dear Princess Celestia...died. According to the Royal Family's statement, that just today got to the residence, she has peacefully passed away in her sleep. Princess Twilight declared that the funeral will be held in Canterlot shortly after everything will be prepared for the ceremony, until that moment the Royal Family will stay at Marechester. For now we would like to ask all of Equestria for a minute of silence for our great leader that is not with us anymore...

In a moment, as fast as the news flash started - just as fast it was stopped. Light Heart by the end, at the last minutes, eventually broke down, so the ponies of Equestria could see a soundly-crying earthpony mare, trying to cover her embarrased face with her hooves, smearing all of her make-up all over her face and hooves, looking like a mess.Luckily for her - channel quickly had her face replaced on the TV by the video of half-lowered flags on the flagpoles atop the Canterlot Towers. Absolutely no sounds. The entire Equestria felt the weight of what just happened...

The same day this news has flew around the entire world. An even like this couldn't have been ignored by anyone. No matter what other thought about Equestria, or Celestia herself, no one could ignore it. And no one could belive it was real. Even in the most obscure and unhinged predictions of the future - no one could even imagine something like this is a posibility. And now everypony, in Equestria and outside of it, felt the deep sense of loss.

But somepony felt worse above all else, the one for who the world today has cracked and shattered into "before" and "after". Sunset Shimmer had the most insane morning today, as she was one of the first who was notified, right when she woke up. She had the news at the same time as Twilight, as the students of the Great Princess, and Sunset didn't waste a single second. With an obscured vision - little bacon-collored unicorn was outpacing the train's using her magic to make herself run faster. She was too nervous to properly prepare a teleportation spell, using her own hooves to waste the energy, provided by the giant fire her nerves were in. Meetings, studies, other friends, Twilight. Literally everything right now was thrown to the side, as Sunset was running to see her teacher, like back when she was just but a filly.

She was offered her teacher's flying chariot, the one she dreamed off since young... the one that now felt like a gian sting in the heart. She needed to see her teacher... before that - sitting in it felt like betrayal. She wanted to sit in it, wanted to ride it... but not like this! She wanted her teacher to send her off on her first ride on it! She wanted it to be a present for her good behaviour! She promised!

No one cloud see crying, running unicorn mare. Mostly because she was blurry from the speed, and her tears were washed away by tру cold air, that felt almost like it was getting colder the closer she came to her destination.

Seeing the field and mountains of Equestria flashing on the perefery - Sunset couldn't help but feel herself remembering the past. Even if for a bried moment. The wind, her hooves gripping the edges of the chariot, like in her first time. When she was just a filly. And she was there...her mo...Princess Celestia. Shining bright like the Sun itself, warming her up by just being there, despite the wind flowing right at her face, this warm smile... this presence was filling her with calmness and bravery. Bravery to face the muzzle to a soft wind, leaving her fear of somehow fall from there, feeling her little fur being blown around. As if there was no chariot... just her... and her master... in a boundless sky.

Falling more and more into her nostalgia - she almost didn't noticed as she run past the sign saying "Marechester", which eventually got her to notice the town getting closer... or her getting closer to the town. She quickly skipped past the normal buildings and got to the actually place she wanted. The walls of the old, but incredibly kept castle. Despite her legs burning like the sun itself - she was much happier. She was there.The Marechester filial.

Sunset got all her courage together,turning of the spell,and making a step towards the entrance to the castle. But why do her hooves deside to betray her right now? They were able to bring her here, and they weren't even to exhausted, as bringing them to step back was even quite easy... so why... why does she struggle so much to do even one step towards the place her... her teacher... her master... her Princess.... Celestia... w-w-was....

Following her hooves - concentration started to fail Sunset as well. She was visibly exhausted both morally and physically. She only had the time to notice as the servants started running towards her with worry on their faces as she landed right into their hooves.

Sunset woke up on a couch in one of the guest rooms, while Raven was marching around her, full of nerves about her state.

"How long have I been out?..." asked Sunset, standing up a bit on the couch, immediatly grabbing the unicorn's attention, making her spark towards her, trying to make her lay back.

"Sunset! Relax, you are... extremely star struck by the news...which made you go into magic exhaustion in less than a day. You might get into clinic yourself,or even..." Rangel was speaking very worriedly, at least her mourning changed to worry about a unicorn that was still alive.

"But I can't! I got there as soon as I heard! It can't be true,right? I mean - pony's just misunderstood or got something wrong or didn't noticed something. It was a curse,right?"

"Sunset..." quietly said Raven, before getting interrupted.

"Or some sneaky magic trick? Some trickery all of us were fooled by? Did Twilight said anything about it? Maybe there are some strange hoofprints somewhere or sometin else?"

"Sunset,listen..." Ravel continues trying to talk with her, seeing the unicorn go into panic attack.

"She lived for a thouthand years after all! And should've lived... at LEAST a thouthand more, right? No! Two! Ten! Its not like Equesteia has anything as ancient as her..."

"Sunset... she already was checked by the best medics and mages that we can get there. She just....stopped living," answered the secretary of the now-dead princess, while sitting besides Sunset, who was shaking like an autumn leaf. That was what she feared. The truth was so incredibly simple that it was brutally painful.

"She died peacefully, during her sleep. And the day before was... one of the best," Raven snorted, feeling the loss as well, while remembering the fun they had during the procedures the day prior. Who could've thought that the secretary would outlive her Princess... "It is the best end a pony could hope for..."

It was partially true. Even Princess Luna during the war was visiting the dreams of the pony's who were closed to death and allowed them to pass away peacefully and painlessly, while showing them their favorite dream. Some used these moments to send their last words to their relatives and close ones. But Sunset didn't wanna even think about it... She didn't even wanna believe her teacher was dead! Suppressing a panic attack approaching,Sunset stood as and look straight at Ravel.

"Where is she?I wanna see her," adamantly and suddenly said Sunset, making Raven step back a couple of steps.

"Sunset, are you sure you're re-," tried asking Raven, before being unceremoniously interrupted

"Bring me to her," Harshly said Sunset, almost pressing the unicorn before her into a wall.

Ravel didn't have other choice except for agreeing to her. Shortly after she was bringing Sunset along the hallways. It was strangely quier, as if they were the only two left. It seems the initial chaos has cooled off. Many pony's were forcibly sent to rest, and the rest were trying to quietly do their job.

Celestia was in one of the guest rooms, which was the closest to medics. All the curtains were closed, only some lazy sunlight's were coming in through. On the lonely bed there was she...a lifeless body of Celestial,fully covered by white cloth, leaving only the silhouette of the Alicorn visible. Sunset immidietly felt sick. Her entire body felt the otherworldly chills the moment she's seen it, carefully stepping closer to the bed. Shortly after Sunset's horn lights up with magic, for her eyes to open in shock moments later. It was impossible to stand straight, even with Ravel supporting the unicorn that forgot how to stand and use her hooves.

They both understood from one glance. Celestia... she wasn't there anymore. There was no chance or the smallest hope that this was all a mistake, an illusion. Sunset sat down besides the bed, burying her muzzle into the white cloth.She didn't even have the strength to cry... or maybe she already cried out everything she had, leaving only the painful, dry after-taste of loss.

Sunset didn't know how long she spend besides the body of her most important pony in her life, but Raven wasn't there already. This trance-like state was broke by Sunset hearing a sound she recognized. Now a pony...but a bird. A song full of sorrow and grief was playing through the halls, the little denim making the atmosphere of mourning even more potent. Suddenly Sunset stands up and goes to the sound, which brought her to princess room. The source was Philomena. Little Phoenix was looking at Sunset that just entered with the eyes full of sorrow, which were unable to cry. She made Sunset remember the past. She remembered as Celestia first introduced them, and how she was scared of the big scary fiery bird...and how, not without the help from Celestia, Philomena became Sunset's best friend for a very long time...

"You miss her too..." half-asked, half-stated Sunset, while rubbing the phoenix's head,feeling as she was relaxing and rubbing against her hoof in return, "I know how you feel..."

Her company made Sunset feel a bit better as well...she felt such a familiar warmth from Philomena, so much resembling Celestia's. Pony's were right when saying pets resemble their owners a lot. But right now this company was the best thing for Sunset.... mostly because Sunset didn't wanna see anypony else,somewhat understanding deep down that she is the only one who can deal with those feelings in her. So she closed the doors shut for now, to make sure no one, even amongst the royal family,enters there.

Free from accidental encounters with Cadance or Twilight - Sunset started to look around the room her teacher spend the last days, if not weeks in. Surprisingly - the writing table only had a one thing cathing an eye - an old photo album that has seen better days.

Looking at the first pages. Sunset begin to drift in her own memories, as photos here depicted her with Celestia life. The first time they meet in the orpanage, when little unicorn first meet with the princess, how she teach Sunset her first spell - how to make pages of the books shine with the golden light. And how soon Celestia took a little unicorn with her, to live in the royal castle. The years of being the only royal student and...how one day that changed. A few tears appear on the Sunset eyes, where she see the photos just a few days before her runaway. The painfull memories retrned, how she was consumed by fear and envy, as soon as Celestia found the Twilight...and even anounces her to be the royal student as well. It takes a long time to finally understand... she wan't getting replaced... Celestia only wanted for her to have a companion, as Sunset had at that moment great problmes with making social connections outside ones with Celestia. It was even harder to read, what Celestia wrote on her first photo with young purple unicorn - "hope Sunset will like her new friend"...

Tears drop more and more on pages, as Sunset scroll them, looking at the photos taken after her return to equestria...and how few of them were, comparing to the rest of the album. To her surprise she see one of the sockets in album containing not a photo, but...a note?

Carefully, she take it, looking at the side of the note, it was hoodwriting of Celestia, tolding "to my Sunset", She feel more tears come to her eyes, as Sunset take moment, before opening it. The letter inside glow with fim, golden ligh...like the first spell she even learned...the first spell Celestia even teach to her...

"My dear Sunset. I writing this to you knowing, that that night my life will finally end. I feel it, and know that it is inevitable.
Not so long ago I was given all I can to protect my little ponies in the war, to protect you, an now, I have it's consequencess.
The magic is my body still strong, but not strong enough to continue my kife for much longer, the time itself know that I sould gone long ago, and it was miracle to got at least 11 more years after it, 11 more years to see what a strong mare you become.

It brokes my heart to even think what you are feel reading this, and I feel in heat can feeling of...how injust it is, to be raised by the immortal mare, just to see her die, and letting one of the closest pony to outlive her. Leaving her closest pony to lose parent for a second time. I'm sorry Sunset. If only I'll could done anything to prevent this... I could spend all this time with you, creating new, happe memories. Like real mother and daughter.

But, the last thing I could do...is a little present..and a final wish.

I remember how you since I took you fom the orphanage wanted to be an alicorn, and finaly...I think I know how it can be achived. Under our last photo you will find a little gemstone. It has the last sparks of my magic, enough to fuel your connection to the sun, the one you had, but never had enough power to actually use.

You are not forced to take it...but...if you accept this gift, please, take care of sun when I will no longer be there.

Farewell, Sunset. Know that I love you, always had lover, and always be, even on the other side."

As Sunsed finished reading - it takes great effort to put not back on the table. Her full of tears sight moved to the last photo, at the very end of the album. No formal cloth, it was just a regular day...a regular day just for themselves, and with this happy smiles, Celestia and Sunset looked like a real family...

Taking photo from album Sunset indeed seen that under it, was a small, orange gemstone, that feel so warm at her hooves. It was her warm, shining with golden magic sparks inside. It would be the last piece of her that Sunset will ever feel, the last of her warmth. So she hold it at her chest, taking album closer, to bury herself in their happy memories.

This way, the gloomy day with passing hours becomes a shining night. But one particular pony was not able to sleep properly...

Sunset was lying in her bed for... an unknown amount of time, looking at the ceiling, without the slightest idea what to do and what to feel. Her body needed to rest,but she didn't wanna see the dreams...or maybe she was scared of what she will see. But most of all she didn't wanna see Princess Luna, if Princess Luna even wants to do her dream keeping job today... Massaging her muzzle with her hooves - Sunset lazily flipped over in her bed, looking at Philomena, which finally has gone to sleep. Phoenix was still having an awful time after the death of her owner, but her students presence eased her pain...

Sunset tried not to make a sound, sneaking out to an open balcony, at least some fresh air wouldn't hurt. The night was cloudy, but through them more and more lights from the full moon could be seen raining down upon the walls of the castle.

"Can't sleep?" familiar voice asked. Sunset turned around to see Twilight, who got onto the balcony unnoticed. Purple alicorn noticeably grown after those 11 years, looking almost like the Royal Sisters themselves.

"And I seem to not be the only one. I thought you had your entire day planned and scheduled, sleep included," said Sunset while shaking her head. Thats was true, Twilight did, indeed, calculated the best time to sleep and the perfect length of sleep to work as princess during the day.

"Not when the next day is one if the most important days in Equestrian history. Imagine what an irrovable mark will it leave on history if something will go wrong? This day will be written about in books years form now!" Twilight signed, stepping besides Sunset and laying on the fence of the balcony.

Sunset didn't know what to answer, going into the dull and dark thoughts, which she couldn't sweep away even under the moonlight. Both of them stood there in silence for some time, until Sunset noticed a sealed convert covered in Twilights magic.

"What's that?" asked Sunset with unmistakable interest, while laying her gloomy muzzle on the fence of the balcony.

"It'a the order which will be opened in Canterlot tommorow," quietly said Twilight,spinning the convert around with her magic, "it's...the last will of Celestia. There are two copy's.One... was opened by me, when everything just happened, and the second... will be opened for everypony else."

Sunsets ears perked up, when she looked at Twilight, not judgmentally... but more so in disbelieve. Did they really thought even about something like this?

"Sunset. I know what you think... but this was made during the war. Blueblood was just killed during numerous bombings of Canterlot," answered Twilight, making Sunset's muzzle turn sour, remembering these times and how she has to be closer to the frontline in the command centers, which only allowed her to hear about her native town from radios and newspapers, which is exactly how she found out about his fate, "Me and Celestia decided to make a plan in case... you know... the worst happens... even a couple of plans, depending on what happens. Protocol [Sun has set] was our... most optimistic one," it was obvious that Twilight herself had difficulty saying that, afterall... Sunset herself didn't wanna hear how someone, even Twilight, was proposing Celestial to plan her memorial ceremony!

"...I loved her no less then you, Sunset. But... it's not the reason to reject reality of what happened. We can't change anything now..." The princess of Friendship tried to ease her friends worries after a small pause, seeing her get angrier.

"I could've done something! If it wasn't for... if I just listened to her! If we could just talk and I... I didn't... left her..." Sunset suddenly broke down in emotions, jumping up and looking at Twilight's eyes, feeling as her own start swelling up with tears, "we could've prepared Equestria, even not let the war happen at all! And she could've still be alive!"

"Sunset..." tried reasoning with her Twilight. To no avail.

"I left her! I thought I was a dissapointment! I thought I was replaced! By you! I thought... I was... I was abandoned by mom!" Sunset was almost screaming and crying, releasing her emotions which were stockpiled in her since the morning, feeling as her fur stands up.

Instead of an answer Twilight carefully stepped closer to her friend, hugging her, allowing her to cry into her fur. After the anger came... even more crying and sadness. And after that Sunset, wiping her eye with her hooves, before she looked at her friend again.

"You were never a dissapointment and for her, nothing... nothing until the very end was able to change that," quietly said Twilight, when she saw that her friend was at least somewhat normal state, "she phoned me literally a day before it happened and asked if I still have all the converts, and that everything inside still stands."

Sunset couldn't answer, only look at Twilight, who looked at her with a stern and serious gaze.

"Her last wish was to see you on the throne of Equestria as her direct heir," said Twilight, making Sunset's eyes grow a little, remembering the letter for her that she found inside of Celestia's album... but it was still hard to belive of...how long ago she wanted to do it.

"No... I dont think I can. What about Princess Luna? Or Princess Cadance? Or You?" asked Sunset, while hesitantly shaking her head. She hided the little orange gemstone from Twilight sight, Celestia last gift to her. And the little Unicorn was ready to use it, to lift the Sun every single day! But..somwhere distand...without the eyes of the other pony's... Sunset might've dreamed about the throne of Equestrian when she was little,but...now the thought about sitting on it was...terrifying. Was she really..worthy of it?

"Luna... is no longer an heir. She became the princes of Thestralia, she can't have a crown of Equestrian as well," Sunsets ears twitched at this. Obviously ,who if not the princess Luna to redeem and re-educate past Nightmare moon fanatics? "Cadance rules over Chrystal empire, and I... I support Princess Celestia's decision."

"I don't understand... but she chose you as the Princess of Friendship!" asked confused Sunset, but much more collected this time.

"I... am not fit to rule Equestria. At least... not the current Equestria... maybe in some other world, where the war didn't happen, I could've took the mantle... but that is not what happened, did it?" Twilight shakes her head, while stepping closer to her friend "you are a much better fit for it than me. Princess is not only the ruler, but a symbol, an example for everybody else. Equestria is in shambles right now. The scars may have healed up a bit, but it will be a long time until they are fully recovered. Too many pony's feel themselves lost. Who can be a better symbol for them than a Mare that was just as well lost on her path and made a lot of bad decitions, make worng decision, but was still able to find the strength inside of herself on the right path?" Alicorn's face was softened into a friendly smile, "and! Originaly,Celestia wanted for me to become your companion from the very beginning, and not the ruling princess. So...I guess I'll be fine with being your "number two"."

Sunset didn't know what to answer.Softly pffff-Ing,she ventually smiled a bit,while looking at the beautiful scenery around.

"On the frontline I got to talk with one mechanic, when my machine broke. I didn't even know he could be so good at this, his cutiemark was bakery! And then... he said to me... grrr, I can't remember word to word... something like "To get good at fixing stuff - you first need to be a bit broken yourself"."

Twilight softly laughed, hugging her friend with her wing, watching the scenery as well.

"Can I take this as a "yes"?" softly asked Twilight.

"I don't see the way I can refuse to this responsibility," said Sunset,remembering...as she heard those words from her own teac-...mom, when she asked if she felt tired of being a princess.