Chapter twenty nine: A shift in the wind…
"Celestia" shouted a voice from across the hall. The princess of the day heard the sounds of hooves galloping along marble, rapidly approaching her from afar. She didn't look up from his body. "Oh, sister, are you alright?" She heard the same voice, but she didn't respond to it. She barely felt it when the owner of the voice scooped her up in her hooves and hugged her tight.
'Why hasn't he moved yet?'
"Celestia, Tia, are you alright" the voice asked again, concern in its tone.
'Why hasn't he turned to ash yet?'
"Sister, please say something, you're worrying me" the voice implored, holding her away a little as it spoke to her through muffling walls.
'Wake up damnit…'
"Celestia" the voice asked again, sounding scared and confused, desperate "please, please say something" it begged.
'Move…'
"Sister" the voice said softly, pulling her in again. Celestia suddenly burst into movement, her troubling wounds forgotten for a second as she lunged for the body of the assassin.
"MOVE DAMNIT" she roared, bringing her hooves down on his lifeless body, a splattering of blood pouring from his maw as she did. She raised both hooves and brought them down on him again. "MOVE" she roared, striking the corpse once more. She raised and brought both fore-legs down again and again, like a cave-pony from before even her time would, desperate panic taking over her. "MOVE, MOVE, MOVE" she roared, beating her hooves into his lifeless body over and over, each and every strike garnering the same response; that of splattering blood and slight movement, brought on only by her own ministrations. She brought her hooves down again, her voice cracking this time as she brought them down, her hooves failing to raise again. "Please move" she said quietly.
Celestia felt a hoof touch her armoured shoulder, looking around to find her sister watching with sadness in her eyes, the corners turned down and tears welling in her beautiful orbs.
"Tia…" she said at quiet length. Celestia looked back to the corpse in her throne room; the blood red of his orbs had gone dull and empty, his feint smile stilled on his face, his blood pooling around him and trickling away… Celestia felt something die inside her, felt something crack and split and break and…die, fade away as though lost on the currents. She suddenly burst into heartbroken tears of pain, falling into the shoulder of her sister, weeping into her shoulder.
This…this wasn't how she'd imagined it would feel. To finally stand over his corpse. It didn't make the pain of ten thousand years of loss go away it just…made it hurt more, like pouring salt on the wound. That empty feeling just grew wider, torn open by fierce hooves, the coldness turning to an arctic glacier sitting in her chest and refusing to move. She'd done it. Killed Blood Moon, the killer who could not be seen, caught or killed had finally had himself proven wrong; he'd been sent to the Alicorn afterlife to stand with the other deities to fall, Illumination, Nocturnal, Mother Nature, Lady Luck, Father Time, Shiva the Destroyer, Faust the Creator. The Alicorn of life and death would join those to have come before him in an eternal sentry, watching over everything forever, as was his destiny as an Alicorn. He'd never be seen on Equestria again, and Equestria would only see him in his influence.
Celestia sobbed harder and wrapped her fore-legs around her sister's shoulders tighter. What had she done? She'd lost him, forever. He'd made one final kill, only to bring her back with the last of his strength. His last contract, his only failure in his career. She shuddered with her sobs, her tear staining her sister's fur. His pride was something he held above all except those he cared for and loved, and even then, it was a very close second. He'd given up his ultimate source of pride, his work, assassinating ponies…for her? To save his… little…girl…
She just sobbed harder. She fell away from her sister, laying on the ground, holding her hooves to her eyes, sobbing for all of Equestria to see.
Beyond the walls of the palace, everypony felt a…shift in the wind, so to speak, everypony suddenly looking to Canterlot palace. The Shadow Weavers clinging to the shadows all made their way to the palace, hiding in the most unassuming spots, and looked through the broken windows of the throne room, finding the dead body of their leader and the weeping form of Celestia. Most of them bowed their heads in deep respect, their hooves going to their hearts. Ember, Leaf, Red and Candle all watched from a nook they shared, Ember looking at Blood Moon's body and gasping slightly. Her tears welled in her eyes and crept down her face, her lip wobbling in stunned shock. She blinked rapidly to try and chase away the speck of dust that made her see Blood Moon, dead. But it wouldn't go away. The image of the assassin didn't leave her vision. Not until the ever stoic Leaf, his head bowed deeply and his spirit thoroughly broken, put a hoof on her shoulder. Either through misinterpretation or an understanding of a deeper meaning, she fell into his shoulder, weeping openly, yet silently, as to not give away their position.
Guards all looked at the palace, Skulduggery looking up from the corpses as a strange feeling overtook him. He felt something deeper, as though somepony he cared greatly for was…hurt somehow.
In Ponyville, the town's mayor looked out her window, turning away from the mountain of paperwork on her desk to look at Canterlot. She'd never know why, or why her secretary trotted in at that moment with a grave look on her face, the two of them sharing a deep, foreboding feeling in their hearts. Somewhere else, in an orchard, sat three fillies and a dragon, all grounded to the yellow one's room. They looked up from whatever they were doing, meandering over to the bed and hopping atop it, looking out in the direction of Canterlot. The orange filly felt a deep…clawing sensation, as though something had just been ripped out of her, and felt tears well in her eyes, her friends noticing her sudden state and turning to her, only for tears to suddenly creep down her face. Sat alone in a bar, an old mercenary, nursing a tankard of cider looked up from his alcohol, looking in the direction of Equestria's capital, his mood suddenly falling as his gaze went down to his tankard again, lifting it in silent salute before downing the rest.
Deep in the Everfree, a zebra stirring a cauldron of strange, magical potion stopped suddenly, her will to work sapped by an unseen force. She looked to her door, setting the wooden spoon down as she trotted for the exit, her cloak fastening around her as she went. She totted for the hill nearby her home, standing atop it in the breeze of the self-controlled Everfree, staring in the direction of the great mountain that held Canterlot in the sky. As the wind blew her cloak and tail around, she couldn't help but sigh, saddened by something…
Taking a shower in motel between Ponyville and Manehatten, a mare with stark white fur, her mane a spikey, electric blue, paused as she washed away the evidence her and her marefriend's 'party' last night, cutting off the water suddenly and stepping out, the grey mare washing with her watching her with a gaze showing her own sudden mood swing and concern for her lover, watching her trot for the nearest window, looking out in the direction of Canterlot. She rested a hoof on the sill, peering out at nothingness as her partner trotted up to her from behind, both still sopping wet, and put a hoof on her shoulder.
Somewhere, on a lonely road somewhere in Equestria, a stallion in a suit of armour, the most unnaturally pale white and darkest of blacks, a brown, hooded, fur cloak over his back to cover the armour, stopped in his silent tracks. He looked up from the beaten path he trotted, frowning beneath his mask as he turned, turned until he looked behind him, to his right, finding nothing but an empty field and a scattering of trees around him. He tensed one side of his maw, raising his head and sparking his horn to life, stabbing his sword into the ground in grudging respect for a worthy foe.
In a place, beyond the reality of Equestria, a grey mare stopped in her tracks, the brown stallion leading her pausing with her, the small filly on his back looking back at her mother. The Pegasus looked back through the jungle, the leaves of the plants around her bigger than any house of Ponyville, up at the sky slightly in a seemingly random direction as something struck her, a feeling she couldn't pin down.
All over Equestria and beyond, mares and stallions, fillies and colts, all suddenly stopped what they were doing, robbers giving up their loot, muggers letting their victims go, assassins falling back from contracts with no reason, soldiers stopping in the middle of war, kings and queens caught in silence, angels looking down from the heavens, devils looking up from hell, the dead watching from the stars… All to find the body of the assassin they'd collectively once knew, lifeless. The one to have been there before all others no longer moving.
The stallion to never be seen, caught or killed seen…caught…and killed.
And at the centre of it all, was the stallion's lover. Twilight. She sat in the doorway, her legs failing her, fallen to her flank, tears streaming down her face, her eyes wide in disbelief, her mouth open slightly in disbelief…but she was silent, no sobs, no wails, nothing but an…eerie silence. She sat not alone, but with friends, all as silent and as in as much disbelief as her.
Celestia had never once stopped sobbing, her sister's eyes having grown just as moist as tears ran down her cheeks in abundance. She put her own face into her sister's shoulder, her sobs quieter and muffled a little by her sister.
Maybe…an hour, passed? More?
All's Celestia knew was that she'd started to cry just after school would start for fillies and colts, and by now they'd be serving lunch.
As her tears were reduced to simple, shaky shudders on her sister's shoulder, Celestia finally found it in her to stop. Her sister felt her move, leaning back with her as they looked into each other's eyes. Celestia's gaze dropped slightly, looking at her sister's muzzle rather than her face. They fell into each other's holds again, hugging each other tight for a second before they released each other once more, standing up.
As she rose, Celestia wobbled, Luna catching her on her back as she nearly fell.
"Sister, you need medical attention" she said quietly. On any other day, Celestia would have protested, arguing that she needed to see to her citizens, address the media and masses, brief the troops and see to everything else a ruler would when her capitol was attacked. But right now, Celestia was without her crown, without her will and without any energy to be a ruler. So instead, she simply relented, nodding gently.
"Yes, dear sister, you are right. I must get to the hospital wing" she murmured as she stood on her own muscles. She looked up to the door to find six ponies watching her. The Elements and…Twilight. "Twilight" she said with a sort of gentle strength, the mare hearing her through the walls of her pain. She looked up from the corpse of Blood Moon, finding the mare who had killed him. Her teacher. Her mentor. The mare who'd she'd spent more time with than her mother throughout most of her youth and teen years. The mare she'd come to see as a second mother, despite being the mother of all Equestria. She rose to her hooves slowly and trotted to her mentor, her pace leaving much to be desired. The young sorceress eventually arrived at Celestia's side, her head hung low, unwilling to look up at…her best friend. Instead, the solar princess knelt down to her, dropping to one knee and looking at her much beloved student. "Twilight…I'm sorry you had to see that" she said quietly before she almost feinted, catching herself on her sister, who guided her to the medical clinic. The mare of the moon couldn't bring herself to speak to Twilight, not after what she'd witnessed. Watching a life was by no means like taking one yourself, but they could be just as devastating. Especially watching a friend die. With her eyes lingering on Twilight, she failed to notice the pony she'd bumped into, looking up to see Cadence stood before her. They exchanged a brief look before they both bowed their heads in a sadness only one understood.
"Listen, I'm going to take Celestia to the medics, could you look after Twilight…please? I…I think they were close, friends" she explained. Cadence nodded wordlessly and trotted past her aunt. The Alicorn princess of Love sat next to her little sister in-law, Twilight looking up at Cadence as they sat on their flanks next to each other. Twilight's friends soon joined them, sitting around Twilight in silent comfort, Fluttershy nuzzling up next to her as they formed a silent, welcoming cocoon of warmth, comfort and a love she desperately needed right now.
Meanwhile, Celestia and Luna had already reached the medical wing, the small hospital in the centre of the castle to be close to everything, specifically the barracks, and Celestia was guided into the royal medical suit. Unicorns, earth ponies and Pegasi of all colours and codes flocked to her side, an ex-guard carefully removing her armour and setting it respectfully aside. Once nude, they all looked over every inch of her body for wound, finding fresh cuts Celestia herself hadn't noticed, broken bones, bruised organs, her muscles all suffering from a severe case of over-exertion and each and every one of her bones were all slightly more frail than when she'd gone into battle, her great use of advanced spells weakening the connection between her magical pool and horn. Before the doctors and nurses were allowed to work, Luna approached her sister.
"Celestia…what shall I have…done with…him?" Celestia looked wearily over at her sister.
"Have him moved to the morgue. And Lu-Lu…" Glancing at the ponies in the room, all of them scared of Luna enough to know that if that name left the room they'd probably be tortured to death, Luna went back to her sister's side.
"Yes sister?" The nocturnal princess felt a hoof graze over her leg, looking down to find Celestia looking for her hoof. She raised it and let Tia take it in her own.
"Please…don't leave me alone…" she begged under her breath. Luna swallowed slightly and nodded her head, sitting on her flank next to big sister and not letting go of her hoof as she fell unconscious. The princess of the night looked to one of the nurses.
"Please, have the pathologists take his corpse down to the morgue. And be quick about it" she added quietly, more a request than an order. The nurse nodded and took off the relay the message.
Meanwhile, back in the throne room, Twilight sat with her friends, big sister and a lover. Yet, she felt completely alone. A cold wind of depression swept away the warmth her friends provided, while the cool stone she sat upon felt remarkably empty, her body and mind telling her she was with friends, but her heart and soul telling her she was alone. She couldn't cry anymore. She was dry. She looked over his body, his corpse, with an eerily empty gaze, taking in every detail of his form. She wanted to remember him, after all.
The silver-grey of his fur, the pure black of his mane, the blood red of his eyes…
She felt she'd remember the eyes best, his blood red eyes. She'd come to see them as a point of comfort, as she knew that when those eyes stared back into hers, she was safe, loved, warm and content. But now, they were empty, cold and alone. Much like her. She felt tears tempt again, and suddenly realised she wasn't as dry as she'd first thought. She fell forward, leaning her head on his body, her hooves going over him as she held him, her sobs ringing out through the throne room with an empty echo.
Her friends watched in silent pity, their eyes clouded with their own tears as they watched Twilight morn her coltfriend with a seemingly endless flow of tears. Each of them felt an empty feeling inside them, like as something so important to Twilight was ripped out, something so important to them was ripped out with it. They felt the pain she felt, the hollow feeling in her chest. It was cold, lonely. They knew they would each be there for Twilight, but that no matter how much padding and love they provided, there would still be a hole there. They hadn't known each other for long, hadn't been dating long either, but they'd shown each other things nopony else could, provided each other with things no other could.
She'd shown him love after a lifetime of solitude.
He'd taught her that love could take you to unimaginable places.
She'd given him a pony to hold on cold nights.
He'd given her a pony she could truly bond with.
They'd given each other a family.
Now, they were gone, these lessons, these gifts of love and friendship. She'd lost him to her best friend. He'd lost her to his daughter.
Cadence watched with a confused, blind pity. She couldn't imagine why Twilight would be so broken over this stallion. She could feel her body acting on its own as she bowed her head and picked Twilight up with her magic, the young mare too distraught to notice herself getting picked up by the Alicorn of love's baby blue glow and carried away. She looked to the mares watching her.
"Come on girls" she said simply, the Elements of Harmony standing lifelessly as they followed after princess Cadence. She led them over the cracked, broken and mostly destroyed marble towards the collapsed doors. The ponies' downcast mood was offset slightly by the birdsong whistling through the window, none of the ponies capable of responding to it. As they approached the doors, Cadence spotted a small group of ponies heading towards them on the other side. She set Twilight on her back and killed the magic holding her up, looking up at the fallen doors; her mind stung slightly as she did, the side-effects of, what she could only guess to be, Celestia's sleeping pills, probably hidden in the tea she'd given her. She held her muzzle in her hoof, trying to be rid herself of the pain. She shook her head, unwilling to make it hurt more by casting a spell to get rid of it, and decided on using as little magic as possible.
With that in mind, she looked over at the doors and focused her horn on them, with a small intensity in glow and spike of pain, the doors were heaved to the side by an unseen force, dust cast into the air and an ugly groaning cat by them as they slid along the ground.
Shaking away the pain again, Cadence looked back to the ponies trotting past her and the girls. She recognised them as the forensic specialists from the morgue below.
"What are you doing up here" she asked quietly, as to not disturb the mare on her back, curled up into her tail and weeping softly. The lead pony looked up from his path.
"We're under orders from Celestia to take the assassin's body down to the morgue" he answered dutifully, apparently unfazed by the whole event. Cadence simply nodded in understanding, not saying a word as she and her company continued. The pink princess stopped once more as she spotted her husband's unconscious form. She turned from their rout and cantered for him, stopping besides him and leaning down.
"Shining" she said gently, her word stirring him slightly. She nudged his knocked out form and nuzzled him a little, stirring him again until he awoke. He squeezed his eyes shut for a second, rubbing his sore head a little as he did. He looked around himself in confusion before he realised what had happened.
"Uhh, did we…" he rubbed his head again, the pain of being thrown at a wall and landing headfirst coming back to him in a splitting headache. He looked up to find his wife stood over him, smiling slightly. "Cadence" he said, half relived and half panicked "what are you doing here, I thought-"
"It's alright Shining, it's over" she told him quietly. He looked down again, nodding his head gently in approval. Cadence helped him stand, both partners in the marriage holding their sore heads again. He looked around again, finding the girls with her and his sister on her back. He frowned and went to approach her, speak to her, but Cadence stopped him. "It's best if we leave her alone for now, she's been really torn apart by what's happened" she told him. The guard Capitan's eyes widened.
"Celestia, is she-"
"She's fine, Shiny, everypony's fine" she said, her voice going a little hollow. Shining Armour picked up on it but let it go, deciding to ask about it his sister was under covers and safe.
"Alright, shall we take her to one of the guest room?" Cadence nodded in agreement, the two leading the ever silent, Elements of Harmony through the castle and towards the rooms reserved for the most highest ranking guests, not to mention the more questionable ones.
With Twilight sat down on a bed, her friends surrounding her, Shining Armour and Princess Cadence sat in a quiet corner.
"So, what's this all about" he asked in a volume only he and her could hear, his gaze locked on his sister's weeping form. Cadence took a long sigh before she told him about the past few days.
A few hours past.
Down in the medical wing, the doctors and nurses had finished working quietly on Celestia.
Luna had stood close to her sister, holding her hoof silently as they all worked as a perfect team. They'd stabilized her, cleaned and closed all her wounds, cast spells on her muscles to massage, sooth and rest them, asked the nocturnal princess to heal her Alicorn bone, and done all they could to keep her healthy. For the most part, she'd be able to heal herself when she was conscious again, but the real wounds of this battle were by no means physical.
When they'd done all they could, the doctors had been called topside to see to the guards wounded in the battle prior to the fight between Blood Moon and Celestia. Left alone, Luna had taken the seat next to her sister's sleeping form, still holding her hoof.
She hung her head as she held her sister's hoof in two hooves, holding it in one, caressing it soothingly in the other. She took a deep, long breath.
"Oh sister, what have we done? We've lost our foalsitter, our father. Some of our closest family…" She took another long breath. "You killed him" she said at length "you've given him his release. Is it ironic? That the thing about himself he hated the most, is the only thing that could give him what he wanted most? I almost can't believe it: uncle Blood, dead. If I hadn't seen it with my own eyes" her voice cracked as a tear crept down her face "I probably wouldn't believe it" she said between badly contained sobs. She let go of Celestia's hoof and took to bawling into her own hooves, her sobs muffled a little by her hooves.
"Lu-Lu" came a tired, strained voice. Luna looked down at her sister's face, finding her eyes open, with no small amount of strain on her, gazing vaguely ahead of her. Tears fell down her cheek and onto the mattress she lay upon; her cheeks were bruised and swollen now, the strikes Blood Moon had left coming through, her eyes blackening with the bruises. It was a worryingly ugly sight to behold. Luna had hopped from her seat gently, leaning down to her sister's field of view.
"Yes, sister?" Celestia's lower lip wobbled as her tears came back again, her eyes closing as she shook with her sobs.
"I'm sorry" she sobbed quietly "I'm so, so sorry…I…I didn't think what would happen, I-I just…" Luna put a hoof on her sister's forehead, calming and quietening her.
"Celestia, there's no need to be sorry. He came here to kill you, to end the life of his daughter…but he didn't, our foalsitter's last action on this earth, was to save you." She smiled dimly. "Take some comfort in that, big sister" she advised. Celestia looked up at her little sister, looking for a second like a helpless foal, and buried her head in her chest.
"I love you Luna, and I'm sorry; he died saving me, and now we'll never get to see him again. I-I-" Luna held her sister in her hooves, soothing her with gentle hushes.
Throughout the night, Luna would never get her sister to stop asking for forgiveness, and neither of them would sleep the darkness through. Raising moon and lowering the sun from their room in the hospital, Celestia and Luna just waited the night away, sat together on the elder sister's bed as they cozied together in this first day of a new era. An era without the Hunter.
Meanwhile, above, Twilight and her friends had finally fell to sleep, the six of them snuggled together for comfort and warmth, Cadence dozing on the other end of the bed with her husband, who sat awake, his eye lingering on his sleeping sister.
His mind was awash with questions. Upon reaching the rank of Captain, he'd been privy to knowledge ponies of his age had never had access to, mainly because he was the youngest guard Captain in Equestrian history, but he'd never once been told about the princesses' and Blood Moon's relationship. Of course, he knew about the assassin himself, any guard did, but he'd never been told about this. He'd ask, but he got the impression that neither Celestia nor Luna would want to talk about it for a long while, if what Cadence had told him was true. And he rarely doubted his bride.
Twilight mimed sleep as she lay on the overly-large bed with her friends and family; how any of them could think she was asleep was beyond her, given what she'd gone through. Her mind was plagued with her few memories with her coltfriend. It had struck her, not long ago, just how few she really had. Sure, they'd gone through a lot together over the days she'd known him, but…a lot going on didn't amount to spending a lot of time together. Her first coltfriend had been taken away from her before she'd even had a chance to develop their romance properly. Now she'd be stuck wishing for more. It felt so…unfair to her; she'd been so sure that, outside Celestia's death and the fall of Equestria, no matter what happened between her and Blood Moon they'd always had time together, mainly because that was what Blood Moon had an unlimited amount of. She felt cheated. Cheated out of her life with her lover.
Her exhausted tear ducts gave no ground; they were well and truly dry from a day of mostly crying. It struck her tired mind that she hadn't even eaten today, but the pain in her heart had masked the pain in her stomach. Her body was without fuel to go on, and exhaustion soon trumped her depression as her mind was taken by the darkness of sleep. She took small solace in the darkness, as she now knew, that was the closest she was getting to her coltfriend.
The next morning, Luna woke alone.
She rubbed her eyes and scrunched her muzzle a little, looking around herself as she felt the sleep drain from her system. She must have dozed off during the night, and her comforting of Tia when they'd both retreated to silence and stillness.
Luna assumed her sister had slept with her, only she wasn't on the bed they'd shared the night before. She was, however, covered in the sheet on the hospital bed, the pillow she lay on plump and cosy for her and she realised she'd been snuggling with Ursa-teddy all night.
Looking up and around herself with a small blush on her face, hiding her teddy bear under the covers, she found that she was alone in the princesses' personal room of the medical wing. Nought but her, her stuffed sleeping companion and a small note on the table next to the bed resided in the room. A small frown on her face, Luna sparked her horn alight and lifted the folded letter to her eyes.
Luna
I'm sorry about leaving you so abruptly, but Elder Scroll came by while you were asleep (don't worry, he didn't see Ursa) and reminded me that I need to address Canterlot and Equestria, tell them what happened. Or, what 'happened' so to speak. I'd have woken you, but you appeared so peaceful, I didn't want to disturb you. If you wake up before noon, you can probably catch me before I address the media.
Tia x
Luna put the letter down and let a tight smile grace her features before she looked around the room for the clock. It was five to twelve. Figuring she had nothing better to do, she got up from her bed and stood properly, rolling her muscles and cracking a few bones as she relaxed herself. She was about to go when she noticed Ursa-teddy, sat there on the bed. Watching her. Silently. Possibly judging her fashion sense.
That bear could be pretty eerie when he wanted to be.
She sparked her horn to life and lifted him over to her, setting him on her back and trotting down the corridor. The halls of Canterlot palace were strangely lifeless, but then, given the loss of guards in the battle yesterday, the clean-up required and the repairs, not to mention any other duties that would need to be performed, it was no wonder that the palace was running on a skeleton crew.
The princess of the night reflected on what was bound to happen in the next few days; political movements were an inevitability after such battles, the Griffon Kingdom would likely use the opportunity to make a move on Equestria land through political scheming, nobles-who-we-won't-be-naming will probably take this chance to perform some other kind of dastardly deed, the nobles in general will be taking the chance to make money through buying and selling resources needed to repair the city or just garner some good PR, while the poor would at least find some work with the work forces. Luna was fairly sure she could get something together to pay the homeless for work. The loss of troops was another problem; Canterlot was severely under-defended now, the small army of troops that was required to defend every corner of Canterlot was now reduced to a filly's hoof-full of ponies. There was barely enough to defend Canterlot Palace, never mind the city.
She sighed gently when the lack of care hit her. The troops were little more than numbers in her mind now, and she doubted Celestia felt different. Hay, she doubted Blood Moon had seen it any differently with the Shadow Weavers outside his own chapter; when wars became a regularity, the battlefield a second home and troops little more than pawns on a chessboard, a certain...numbness was inevitable. You only really cared about, or even remembered, the ponies who made an impact. It was just another of the countless curses of immortality, of having royal blood, while commanding an army: growing cold.
Her trot faltered slightly when she thought about what would transpire over the next few days, weeks, months and probably even years on a much more personal level. She and Celestia were in for a rough time, Tia in particular most likely. She'd watched the life drain from Blood Moon's eyes. Luna herself had seen that particular image too many times to count, but to even imagine watching Blood Moon's red eyes lose their spark sent a shiver down her spine. She couldn't imagine her sister sleeping properly for a long time, and even when she did manage to reclaim her sleep, it would be plagued with nightmares. She hoped to ease her through, but doubted it very much. After all, they suffered from the same wounds.
Luna didn't hold it against her sister. Blood Moon and Luna were cut from the same cloth, if the assassin's a darker colour; they were both ponies of war, warriors. Fighters. He would want nothing less than to go down with a fight. But at the same time, he and Celestia shared a similar trait too, in that they were both great teachers, and took pride in watching a student grow in their own right. One need simply look at Twilight or Celestia herself for examples for both. To be felled by his own student, in a sense that is, would fill him with pride in her.
Luna's worry extended to Twilight too. She didn't know how they fit in each other's lives, but she could tell the two had been at the very least close friends. A stranger doesn't show that kind of grief and loss. Luna couldn't help but wonder how deep their relationship went, knowing her uncles reputation around single mares when he himself was single. She frowned and shook the thought away.
'No…no, don't think like that Lu-Lu. She's practically Celestia's daughter, that would make-'
Luna suddenly had to hold back a small gag. After regaining her hoofing, she continued on her way. It was both a very amusing and disturbing thought; she knew Blood Moon to be…free spirited with his loins, that he appreciated the female form. Not to say he wasn't respectful of mares, he stood for freewill and never taking orders after all, but he certainly wasn't the type to pass up a pretty mare if the opportunity presented itself. She frowned once more and shook away the thought.
'No, not a chance, not a chance in Tartarus. Even if he was interested, Twilight is far too reserved.'
Confident in her conclusion, Luna decided to push Blood Moon from her mind. She'd have plenty of time for further grieving later. She suddenly noticed that her subconscious mind had led her to the entrance hall. She decided to magic Ursa away for the time being, given the guards and forensic teams around the room. Each and every science/police team looked exhausted, having worked through the night to
gather up any and all evidence from the battle, catalogue it and then see to the bodies. It was quite the feat they'd achieved, given that they'd worked towards the palace from the rear of the battlefield.
Luna frowned at one of the corpses some of the more experienced looking CSI's were gathered around, diverging towards it. She almost threw up. A pony, a guard of some description was in two halves. She frowned again, looking closer.
"Oh no" she said quietly, leaning her head down again "oh Deadwing, not you too" she said as she felt her body deflate, her expression showing her sorrow. The Umbra Knight. Gone.
She had to admit it to herself, she hadn't known the mostly silent vampire well, but what she had known she'd admired greatly. He was loyal, strong and ready to face any challenge set before him. His vampirism had allowed him to serve as her champion longer than any other, and he'd been ready to stand for his princess to the bitter end. And he had.
With a grieving sigh, she straightened up again, going for the door once more. No doubt Geode and Light Guard were dead too, killed by the assassin to have died by Celestia's hoof. Yet another job to see to; appoint a new champion.
Luna looked through the doorway to the outside world, finding Celestia and Elder Scroll stood in it, looking over a small set of notes. She trotted up to them, both looking up as she approached. Celestia gave her a tired smile, and colt, did it suit her. It almost looked like she'd been awake all night, not something that would surprise Luna, her eyes carrying heavy bags below, her mane and tail looking like they'd been hastily pulled back into shape while most of her body was bandaged and wrapped up, her right fore-knee splintered while her face had a bandage over it. She wasn't even wearing her armour and shoes, just her tiara. Luna embraced her sister gently, Celestia returning the favour, and let her go a little reluctantly. She could only imagine the kind of mental trauma she must be going through. Luna looked to Elder Scroll, who nodded, and looked back at Celestia.
"If you're sure you're up to it princess, that is my proposed speech" he said, inclining his head at the notes Celestia held in her weary magical grip.
"Yes, thank you Scroll, this will do just fine" she answered, the steward nodding his head again and returning to his other duties. Once they had a moment, Luna looked back at her sister.
"Good morning sister. How are you feeling?" Celestia gave her another small smile, this one more tired in spirit than body.
"The physical wounds are healing well. I'll be able to take care of them properly once my strength returns to me…" She trailed off, Luna raising a hoof to her bandaged chest.
"Tia…I asked how you're feeling not if you're healing well or not" Luna replied quietly. Celestia gave a small breath and hung her head.
"I'll be able to be rid of these physical scars soon enough, but the…other scars…" She trailed off again, Luna wrapping a hoof around her neck once more.
"Sister, I know your pain. I want you to remember Celestia, you do not have to go through this alone. You have me, Cadence, Twilight…Skulduggery" she said lowly. Celestia gave a small smile.
"It would be nice to see him again" she said in a volume she thought her little sister couldn't hear.
"I'll have him sent for then" the princess for the night replied a little teasingly. Celestia blushed.
"L-Luna. N-no, not when I'm like this" she hissed. Luna just giggled and booped her sister.
"Tia's got a coltfriend, Tia's got a coltfriend" she sang. Celestia scrunched her face, blushed and did a bad job of holding down her love of adorable little Luna, not to mention her laughter.
"I'm so gonna get you for that" she told her sister in a tone that wasn't quite stern enough to be threatening. The two laughed as much as they could, but both could feel the darkness underlying it. They both knew that they wouldn't be able to laugh sincerely for a long while.
When both sisters were done laughing, they looked into each other's eyes, both getting the same message as they hugged again, no longer with any kind of humour in their spirits.
"We should get out there, Canterlot's waiting" Luna murmured, her voice low and her spirit cracked. Celestia just nodded.
The pair trotted out to face the crowds, towards the destroyed gate to their palace. A small stage had been set up, a small wooden stand on which the solar princess's notes would rest.
The two mares trotted out onto the small platform, finding the majority of the news reports in the whole of Equestria standing before them. The hubbub of conversation died down as the two took their places, Celestia behind the small stand and Luna to her right. Normally, Cadence would stand with her, but she was otherwise occupied with her little sister in law.
Celestia took a deep breath through her muzzle, gauging the reactions of the ponies to her state. No few of them were shocked, unsurprisingly, and they all readied notebooks and other assorted note keeping implements. Celestia took another breath as she looked down at her speech. She'd taken a glance through it when Elder Scroll had given it to her earlier. It told a reassuring story of BS, how a group of experienced marauders had taken the front gate under cover of night before storming the city. It greatly exaggerated the success of the guards, enemy fatalities having skyrocketed in the report while guard losses had sunken slightly. It also told of how Celestia had led the defence herself, at the front of the pack. And that how Blood Moon had nothing to do with it.
She looked down at the collecting of cards. It wasn't lies exactly, nor any that didn't need to be told, but it still struck a sensitive nerve for her. Blood Moon's last act would go unrecorded throughout history. It was the way he'd want it really. To be forgotten. Celestia felt a tear crawl down her face, a small blot appearing on the speech she was supposed to give.
"Celestia" a small voice said from her side. The princess of the day looked to her sister, finding her concerned expression looking back. Celestia gave her a small smile in return before she looked back to her eagerly awaiting citizens. She cleared her throat and straightened up, looking over the crowds once more.
"Ladies and gentelcolts of the press" she began, reading off the cards. She looked back to the press, finding them watching her with baited breath. "We are here today, to explained just what happened yesterday, during the cowardly attack on Canterlot by forces…"
A flashing image of Blood Moon hit her mind, an image of him fighting off a one hundred strong Griffon assassination squad, sent by Discord shortly after Luna had been born. A snarl on his lips as a trickle of blood ran down his brow, his armour torn and his blade held up as he stood between the griffons and his charge.
"By forces… Forces unknown, as yet" she finished.
Another image, one of him changing Luna's diaper for the first time. That had been a laugh for everypony watching as the silent, professional, perfect assassin fumbled around with talcum powder and a fresh nappy as Luna giggled at him gleefully, pissing on him the whole while. Even Nocturnal had laughed that day.
"For the truth is, my little ponies…"
An image of him, her and Luna, all stood in the training grounds, Blood Moon trotting around both Luna and Celestia as he gauged their stances, their horns aglow as they held up blunt, wooden swords.
Celestia sighed gently as she held up the cards in her magic before flinging them away on the wind.
"The truth is, my little ponies, yesterday was not a cowardly attack" she said, the ponies in the crowd frowning and scribbling down notes "nor was it by forces unknown" she added, the sound of further scribbling floating to her ears.
"The fact is, the attack yesterday was led by a stallion I know quite well" she told them "a stallion I have known for a long, long time" she told them. She waited a second for them to think up tomorrow's headlines. 'Princess in league with tyrant warlord. Has princess Celestia met her match?'
"Yesterday, we were attacked by a force of assassins" she told them, a ripple of comments going through the expansive crowds. "Yes, you heard me right. Assassins. Assassins of the infamous Shadow Weavers assassins guild" she explained "and lead by their resident leader.
A stallion, some of you probably know very well" she told them, an almost stunned silence falling over the crowd. "His name, was Blood Moon. Blood Moon Shadow Weaver the third. He led these ponies through our fair city, laying waste to all that stood before him" she told them, more frantic scribbles and comments coming from the crowd.
"Blood Moon, lead the assault in search of me. He wished to kill me. I cannot tell you why, but what I can tell you is that the reasons were personal. He and I have a long, complex history" she told the crowds. "For, you see, once upon a time, Blood Moon…" she looked at her sister, her simply gave her a small smile in response, and took another breath. "Blood Moon… Blood Moon was once my foalsitter" she told them "once, he looked after me and my sister, protective us with his life." She lowered her gaze. "Times changed" she said at length.
"To make an extremely long, slightly boring in places and somewhat painful story short, my old foalsitter reverted to his ways of the assassin. Yesterday, he sought to take my life" she told them. One of the reporters spoke up.
"Do you realise how ridiculous and farfetched this sounds" he asked with no hint of sarcasm.
"Do you realise that interrupting a princess in the middle of a speech is a punishable offence" Luna snapped, her eyes narrowing. The reporter swallowed slightly and tried to hide amongst the sea of ponies, commenting about how much a bitch Luna was.
"As I was saying" Celestia restarted a little spitefully "yesterday, Blood Moon landed a killing blow on me. But, before I died, he saved me. He healed me back to health" she explained.
"Are we supposed to sympathise with this assassin" another reporter spoke up, a little older than the last, this one a mare. "Through his actions, most of Canterlot strip has been destroyed" she said, a ripple of agreement running through the crowd. Celestia raised her hoof to quieten them.
"Say what you will of Blood Moon and myself. The only reason I tell you this today, is so somepony might remember that a good stallion died yesterday. And it wasn't at the hooves of an assassin" she said before she turned away. "No questions will be taken" she told them as she trotted for the palace once more, the crowds behind her shouting out queries in ever increasing octaves.
By the time Celestia and Luna had made it to the palace, the crowds of journalists had taken to bellowing out questions after the princesses, demanding they explained Celestia's choice of words, the two of them ignoring everything.
Once they were stood alone in the throne room, Luna turned to her big sister.
"You did a good thing sister. He may not appreciate it but…if anypony deserves to have their story remembered, it's Blood Moon. It's certainly one of the more interesting ones" she said with a shrug. Celestia smiled, giggling a little.
"You've got me there. Who knows, maybe one day I'll write a book on it" she murmured before she cringed. Luna noticed, giving her a concerned look.
"You should rest, your wounds are still sore" she told her sister. Celestia nodded.
"Yes, I should get to my room, try and sleep off this pain" she replied, rubbing the knee Blood Moon had almost broken when he'd struck it from behind. Luna gave her another small smile, nudging her slightly.
"You want any company?" Celestia huffed.
"I'm not in the best of conditions for any 'shenanigans' Luna" Celestia replied. Luna responded with a small blush and raised eyebrow.
"I-I was talking about Skulduggery Tia" she corrected, her smirk badly hidden. Celestia blinked a few times, her own blush sparking.
"Oh, um, yes, of course you were" she answered, trotting away as fast as her wounds would let her, Luna laughing her flank off.
With a slightly embarrassed smirk on her face, Celestia trotted for her chambers. Though before she'd gotten five steps, her smile had vanished again. She could see that happening a lot in the coming months. Maybe even the coming years.
She doubted her or Luna would truly be able to smile again for a long while. Their foalsitter gone, their capital weakened, the armies severely cut down in numbers while having to come to terms with the fact that it was all over. Ponies were beings of habit, routine, and to have that habit broken would inevitably throw that pony. Despite their rather varied and complex lives, Celestia and Luna were too, ponies of routine. And part of that routine had been Blood Moon. Now he was gone…where would that lead them?
Celestia suddenly realised she'd been stood outside her bedroom for the last thirty seconds, lost in her mind. She shook her head to chase off the thoughts and trotted inside, pushing through the door and into her bedroom. Perhaps she could find some solace in her little hovel, in a world that she ruled but was forever turning, always changing no matter what she did, it was this room that would forever be her constant, the spot she could always rely on to be the same old spot she'd grown up, had the majority of her lessons as a filly, had so much fun with her little sister as a foal, had so many memories. Her 00, 00 on her map.
Once upon a time that spot had been Blood Moon himself, the pony she could rely on to never change and to always be there for her. That crook in his right fore-leg, her favourite spot to rest as a young girl. She remembered a day when she'd first started getting her mane's other colours. She'd been reaching her alicorn teenage years, long since having found a new safe spot in her world. Yet, for whatever reason, on that particular day she'd noticed something between her and Blood Moon. She'd turned back to him and said:
"You know, there was a time once, when you put me down and never picked me back up."
Blood Moon had looked up from the newspaper he'd been reading and gave her a blank look. The next thing she knew, he'd picked her giggled form up, as he had when she was young.
Her Alicorn body had been almost half her neck or so taller than him, but it hadn't bothered him. He'd offered to carry her around all day that day. She wasn't ashamed to say she'd agreed.
With a small, sad smile on her lips, she sat on her bed and curled up, comforted only by her memories. She skimmed through them all, the ones she felt most warmed her, and it was at this point she had a horrid realisation.
'So…this is what he goes through…'
She blinked a few times in realisation. She rested her head on her crossed fore-hooves, staring into the void. It…hurt. The realisation that her foalsitter had gone through this kind of mental pain and torture for so long. Pleasant memorise that only brought back the painful fact.
He was gone.
It was a cracking, splintering feeling in her chest. Her heart grew cold and her blood slowed in her veins. Before, it had been his death that had shaken the foundations of her existence, to know that the Hunter had died. But, now, she realised…he wasn't just dead. He was gone. His story was at an end but…that meant that he was too. His direct influence on this world was ended. Celestia couldn't cry, only feel the crushing sensation grow heavier on her chest.
Gone.
The word felt so…alien to her now. It meant the same thing but it represented something so different. Gone. Inexistent. Removed. A hole. Nothing. There was a hole in Equestria that was left by a Blood Moon shaped plug, but he…he wasn't there to fill it.
With a feeling of dead, lonely anguish building in her sole, Celestia rested her head on her hooved and prepared. Prepared, for an existence without-
Knock-knock.
Growling in slight frustration, her internal realisation and a small ending interrupted, she sat up and faced the door.
"It's open" she called over. How the last time this scene had played out for her sent a chill down her spine, a small spark of hope igniting in her. The door swung over to reveal a stallion. Just, not the right stallion, not the one she longed after. Well, not quite the right stallion.
"Princess" Skulduggery asked. His ribs were still bandaged, his whole body looking bruised and sore, one of his eyes blackened. Though the worse damage was what the nurse had described the other day; his muzzle was badly crooked and he trotted with a noticeable limp. Despite it all, he still wore his hat.
"Skulduggery" Celestia returned, her expression brightening slightly before she frowned. "Please, come in, but what are you doing here" she asked as she closed the door behind him. Skulduggery frowned in return.
"I was asked here by princess Luna. She said something about…" he trailed off when he realised what the princess of the night had done, both smirking slightly at Luna's antics. She'd gotten them together. Alone. Celestia gave a small smile.
"Well, now that you're here, I could use the company" she told him, bidding him come closer. She shifted slightly on the bed, inviting him up, and watched him hop up. They were silent for a long while.
"So…" Skull started, watching Celestia with a practised eye. Celestia knew what was coming.
"I take it you noticed the battle yesterday" she said dryly. The detective huffed.
"Only slightly. Blood Moon, huh?" Celestia nodded.
"You heard my…ahem, 'speech' I take it?" Skulduggery grunted.
"I did indeed. I can only wonder how the media will react to this" he murmured.
"I'll give you one hint: backlash" Celestia responded, her tone as dry as a desert. Skulduggery nodded in agreement, staying quiet as he regarded his princess.
"And how are you princess?" Celestia had hoped he wouldn't ask her that. She took a long sigh, lowering her head once more as she fidgeted on her flank. She was stuck in a strange limbo of wanting to curl into nothingness to get away from the question, while at the same time she wanted to be nowhere else. Skulduggery, meanwhile, waited patiently for an answer; this was no interrogation, and Celestia's façade was nowhere to be seen. Whether she realised he could read her like a book right now or not was completely unknown to him, but he got the feeling that the distraught mare wouldn't care either way.
Celestia took another breath. How was she doing? She didn't know, not for sure. She grunted. That was a miserable attempt to keep the pain down. She knew exactly how she was doing. She was…broken. The only reason she wasn't bawling into the detective's shoulder right now was because she had no tears left to cry. She knew in her heart she would though. She, the fool she was, hadn't taken into consideration just how much watching Blood Moon leave her would affect her when she'd been plotting his death for so many years. Was this why whenever he was within her clutches she'd always turn her head away, find herself unwilling to face the problem again until it was a good distance away again? Why she'd always make 'mistakes' when she could get him? Had it been her subconscious telling her that she didn't want him dead after all.
That said, Celestia had never truly wanted him dead anyway. She'd always had the reassurance that Blood Moon was unkillable and that if she ever did get her hooves on him she'd never be able to kill him anyway. Her original plan had been exactly what she'd told him during the battle; come so close to killing him before leaving him suspended in agony for the rest of time. She'd have her revenge, he'd learn her pain, she'd finish this fight as the victor but…he'd be there. He wouldn't be gone.
She drew a sharp breath and looked down at Skulduggery, who was watching her with a concern she'd never seen off the face of her sister, niece or foalsitter. She leaned her head down to his so she wouldn't have to speak up to him, the deceive moving his head in response.
"Skulduggery, you remember the night before we first kissed" she asked at a whispered length. Skulduggery drew a small, slightly bashful breath, collecting himself before he could blush. That wouldn't do his image any good at all anyway.
"Of course" he answered. In truth, he remembered the night Celestia had wept so openly on his shoulder better than the day she'd kissed him much more vividly. He felt Celestia take a small breath.
"Well, if I hadn't spent most of yesterday weeping into my sister's chest, I doubt your shoulder would be dry right now" she told him. Skulduggery took a small breath as Celestia leaned back again, sitting again her cushions. He looked up her, watching her body as a single entity rather than watching the whole of her at once, as he so regularly did as a detective. She was bandaged all over her body, a splinter on her right fore-knee. She had a Band-Aid over her cheek and her eyes were bruised and swollen, her cheeks no better themselves when he looked again. Celestia caught him looking and glanced down herself, looking away.
"I…I did tell Luna I didn't want you seeing me like this" she told him honestly. Skull looked at her again, a small smile on his face.
"I don't see why not" he replied, a small hint of red on his smoke grey cheeks. He wasn't used to…flirting, he thought the word was. Celestia huffed, a grin on her battered face.
"Smooth" she said dryly. The two chuckled for a second, Celestia suddenly comparing the two of them. "Look at us Skull, aren't we a match made in heaven" she smirked, Skulduggery suddenly noticing that they were, indeed, in much the same state.
"A battered princess and a broken detective. The ruler and the ruled, standing on equal grounds" he said with a smirk, his hat casting a shadow over his eyes. He heard nothing but silence, looking up at his princess to find her gazing at him with a somewhat angelic expression.
"You know, Skull, you can be very profound when you want to be" she told him. He just shrugged. She took another sigh. "Listen, Skull, yesterday and today's events have…made me think. I…I always assumed my uncle, Blood Moon, was eternal, immortal, never ending. That he would always be there, whether hated or loved he would always be there. But…now, I know better. There is an end, to all things. Including you. Including me" she said, her voice quiet and thoughtful. She looked up to find him watching her, his head cocked gently to the side as he listened. She smiled slightly. "Skull, do me a favour and come over here, I'd rather not have to raise my voice when I say this" she told him.
The detective obliged, shuffling over to her on the bed, somehow retaining his dignity. When he was close by, Celestia took his hat in her hoof and placed it on the bed besides them, looking over his face and scarred head, his smoky grey fur and midnight blue mane, his grey eyes gazing back at her with wisdom and patience.
"Skulduggery, I've been alive for a long time. You're forty years old. I've known you for ten years. That is a heartbeat in my time, but for you it's…it's a quarter of your life. I don't know how much time you have left on Equestria, but I…" She leaned her head against his, her eyes closing gently as he watched and listened to her pour her soul out to him. "I don't want to waste a single second of it." Celestia took a steadying breath while Skulduggery gulped. "Over the past few days, you've been a still and calm rock in an ever churning sea of change that is…was, my foalsitter. You've been somepony I can depend on to be there for me. I wish to thank you, nopony has done that for me in a long…long time." He gave a small grunt.
"It was nothing Celestia…just what was right" he answered. Celestia closed her mind against the memories. Good and right. Two thoroughly different concepts to her now.
"It was not nothing Skulduggery. You showed care to a princess many are intimidated by. You approached me with concern rather than being blinded by my title. You had the courage to look past my façade to find the pain I tried to keep hidden." She pulled her head back and put her hoof to his chin, meeting his gaze and smiling a smile that etched itself onto the detective's mind. "Through your…uncaring of other's opinions and statures, you've gone on to show a care that has helped me through all of this" she told him, pulling his head towards her own as she met the advance with her own, pausing when their half-lidded eyes and slightly parted lips were but an inch away. "Thank you" she breathed as their lips met.
The beaten princess and broken detective both closed their eyes as they kissed, neither with the incentive to pull back, enjoying the intimacy. There was nothing to stop their embrace now, no second guessing, no threats of war, no nothing. It was just the two of them, melting into their kiss for as long as they could let it last. Celestia let her eyes close as she diverted her attention to her other senses, wrapping her hoof around the detective's neck and pulling him in close while Skulduggery caressed her cheek, both doing what felt natural in their lack of experience in intimacy. Well, true intimacy for Celestia.
The princess turned her head slightly as she pushed the kiss deeper, Skulduggery obliging her as he pushed back a little with her. Beyond their kiss and gentle caress, they went no further. She felt comforted by his presence, that she wouldn't have to face the coming hardship alone. In the back of her mind, she knew she had her sister, niece and Twilight anyway, but a more…romantic presence was a comfort like no other. Or at least, that was what Luna had once told her. And with the emotions sparking inside her at the moment, she was inclined to believe her.
The two fell back in their embrace, Skulduggery laying over Celestia's larger form as they held each other. They kissed and pecked in shorter intervals, getting their breath back after their long kiss, before they mutually pulled back, staring into each other's eyes.
"Well…that was something" Skulduggery commented, a smile on his face. The rare expression of happiness on the normally glum detective's face wasn't lost on Celestia who, smiling back, giggled a little.
"It sure was" she agreed, pecking his smiling face gently before pulling him into a hug. Despite his cold nature, the detective easily returned the embrace, feeling a better life ahead of him if he could lower his guard and just be a little warmer around somepony who obviously cared for him. With a small grin on his face, he wrapped his hooves around her neck and pulled her in as tight as she pulled him in. He was fairly sure that others had been hugged by Celestia before, but he doubted that anypony had held her in such an intimate fashion before. Well, maybe asides Luna.
They pulled back again, Celestia with a pink blush on her smiling face as she gazed up at the stallion. He had a smile of his own on his face, his cheeks a little red, as he gazed down.
"Celestia…" the detective started, gazing down at the mare of the sun, her midday sun catching her fur and making her glow in a beautiful golden light. She cocked her head slightly, her smile turning to a grin.
"Yes" she replied teasingly. Skulduggery couldn't help but grunt out a small chuckle at Celestia's antics.
"You asked me once if I wished to be your friend. Now I ask you, do you wish to be something more?" Celestia made an exaggerated display of thought.
"Hmm, that depends. What exactly are you asking me" she replied with a small titter. The hardened, ice cold detective chuckled again, rolling his eyes.
"I'm asking you, Celestia, if you…" He trailed off for a second, taking a moment to take in the surrealism of the moment; detective Skulduggery, private eye, asking princess Celestia out like a common colt and filly. He smirked at that image. "If you wish me to be your coltfriend, and you my marefriend?" Celestia felt like something was about to burst inside her, small tears of joy she couldn't see the extent of pushing through her eyes. She bit her lip gently before she answered, feeling her eyes water up a little. Once upon a time, she'd been disgusted at the thought of somepony saying those words to her, but now, it was all she wanted to hear. She leaned up, wrapping her hooves around Skulduggery as he let a hoof go to her jaw again, caressing her softly.
"Skulduggery" she began, her eyes going half-lidded once more, putting barely an inch between them "I thought you'd never ask" she answered, pushing her lips to his once more, the detective gladly returning her embrace as they met in another kiss. They let this one break after a shorter time, Celestia relaxing to her back, Skulduggery lying next to her as they held hooves, and basked in this spot of joy that she had been blessed with throughout this ocean of pain, longing and hatred. She got the impression that this relationship came from her being at a low point and wanting something to lift her spirits, but also that this was one decision she's made in the blindness of loss that she wouldn't regret. She heard Skulduggery chuckle. "What's the joke" she asked quietly, not taking her slightly dazed eyes of the ceiling. She felt him caress her hoof with his own, or, well, try to anyway, he was still inexperienced in this.
That said, he was still a pretty good kisser.
"Nothing, just wondering what this is gonna do for your social standing" he answered honestly. Celestia gave a small smirk of her own, huffing in small mirth.
"Well let's see; the Griffon king is constantly trying to woo me, failing miserably I might add, and he'd gonna be pretty pissed when I end up telling him I'm dating you" she replied, Skulduggery finding it both interesting and strangely comfortable when she spoke so relaxed with him around, though Glendrin attempting to court Celestia made him grunt, not to say it surprised him.
"Really? That pompous budgie tries to seduce you" he asked dryly. Celestia laughed at Skulduggery's choice of words, trying and failing to hold down her laughter by covering her mouth with her free hoof. When she thought it was safe, she made an attempt at speaking.
"Yeah, he-" Celestia clamped a hoof over her maw to stop herself from laughing again, pushing her hoof away from her to calm herself. When she was done, she started again.
"Yeah, every time he comes around for a trade meeting he invites himself up here to…try his luck, so to speak. Of course, it's as much fun as actually going bird hunting" she added, still smirking a little. Celestia wasn't about to mention what Glendrin asked of her, and regularly got, in order to keep things peaceful between their respective nations. It was something Celestia would never repeat, in fear of the utter shame that would come with the revelation.
To push the thoughts away, she turned her head to Skulduggery, lying almost seductively on her side. "And since when could you tell a joke" she asked, holding her head up with her hoof, an eyebrow raised. Skulduggery enjoyed the view.
"That wasn't a joke, I was just outlining a fact" he retorted. Celestia giggled a little, pecking him on the nose again. The clock chimed and they both looked over at it, finding that it had struck two in the afternoon. Celestia looked to her lover, her heart doing something funny when the word went through her head.
"Well, I shouldn't keep you away from your work any longer, detective" she sighed, slightly saddened by the fact that she couldn't keep him here.
"I don't have to leave" he answered. Celestia gave him a small smile.
"No, we don't want you to leave, but ponies will get suspicious if you're up here too long. You know the kind of conclusions the press can jump to" she reminded him. Skulduggery chuckled a little.
"That I do" he answered as he placed his hat on his head and stood from the bed. He turned back to her. "If you're sure I need to go" he said, trailing off. Celestia nodded once.
"Yes. I don't need headlines of 'Celestia dates commoner, royal family crumbles' or some other nonsense" she said with a small smirk on her face. "Besides, I think I need a little time alone to…reflect on things" she admitted. Skulduggery nodded in understanding, trotting for the door. He looked back and tipped his hat.
"I'll see you Celestia. If you need me, you know where to find me" he told her. Celestia gave him a sweet smile.
"That I do. I'll see you darling" she said playfully, electing a small laugh from Skulduggery.
"You too honey" he replied, getting a blown kiss and cute wink in return. Skulduggery sent her a grin and tipped his hat once more, his smile not leaving his face until he got outside the palace, and even then, he had to force it down so he could do his job properly.
In her room, Celestia's smile never once left her face as she fell to her back gazing at the ceiling in an almost lovelorn haze of giddiness and joy. She put a hoof over her heart, feeling it beat in her chest. He closed her eyes and giggled to herself, feeling just a little bit like a filly. She gazed upon the ceiling once more, her giddiness replaced with a gentle tone of happiness that generally came with something nice improving an otherwise horrid day. Blood Moon came back into the princess's mind, but it didn't make her unhappy.
Celestia sat up, resting on her flank, and sparked her horn to life. The album that had started her and Luna's short feud floated towards her, Celestia skimming through until she found the photo she'd had in mind. She decided that this day was the beginning of a new era for her; she decided to finally take some of Blood Moon's philosophy to heart. She wanted to live for herself, as well as her subjects. She decided to no longer be a slave. Her new relationship with Skulduggery was the start, a way of telling herself that she really didn't care if the rest of Equestria hated this. This was something she was doing for herself, no matter how 'selfish' some may call it. But at the same time, she felt such an occasion deserved a memento, something to mark its beginning.
She stopped flicking through the pages when her gaze fell upon the desired image. It was one of the few photos she had of Blood Moon in official regalia, the outfit and armour befitting the ruler of Equestria's bodyguard. Besides him, Luna and Celestia stood, Celestia standing only an inch below his full height while Luna stood at his chin. Nevertheless, all three were smiling, and it was for this Celestia had chosen this particular image. The three of them, happy, as a family. Back when times were good.
Slipping the photo out of its protective sleeve, Celestia sparked her horn to life once more. In response, a draw across the room opened itself and a gold frame floated out, coming to a rest next to the Alicorn. Taking it in hoof, she removed the back of the frame and placed the picture inside before setting it down on her bedside table. Celestia gazed at it with a small smile, gazing at her foalsitter.
Maybe, just maybe, his passing wouldn't be so b-
Knock, knock.
Without losing her smile but letting her manner go a little cranky, princess Celestia took a long, calming breath. She looked to the door, where the soft, almost reluctant knocking had come from. Standing from her bed, Celestia stood from her bed and trotted for the entrance to her room.
Opening the door revealed Twilight Sparkle.
Celestia was about to talk, or at least smile, before she noticed the condition of her faithful student. She was noticeably downcast, her posture sloppy, her eyes gazing at the floor while her face was blank asides a deep-rooted sadness, bags under her eyes suggesting she hadn't slept last night.
Celestia took a small breath and leaned her head down to her student, catching her eye. It was clear she'd been crying too, given the marks on her face.
'The poor thing. She'd probably never seen somepony die before…'
Giving her a sympathetic smile, Celestia put her hoof to Twilight's shoulder, rubbing her up and down gently and soothingly.
"Hello, Twilight" Celestia began. Twilight didn't answer. Celestia sighed quietly. "Would you like to come inside?" Twilight gaze a wordless nod, trotting slowly past her mentor. Celestia, not a little worried for her student, stepped out of her way before closing the door and following her in. Twilight came to a stop before Celestia's bed, falling to her flank lifelessly. More concerned than ever for her student's wellbeing, Celestia sat before her on the bed, gazing at her for a second before lifting her to the bed besides her with her magic. Sat besides one of the closest things to ever come to a daughter to Celestia, she put a hoof to her chin, lifting Twilight's gaze to her own. "Twilight, my faithful student…what troubles you?" Twilight swallowed gently.
"P-princess…do you think he's…he's happy, where he is?" The corners of the princess of the day's eyes went down as she figured out what was up with her student. Wrapping a hoof around her student's neck, she pulled her into a hug.
"Twilight…Blood Moon…he…" She sighed, deflating slightly. "Twilight, tell me, how did you know Blood Moon?" Twilight pulled back, gazing up at her teacher with sad and almost hollow eyes.
"We…we were friends…really, close friends… We met a few weeks ago. He came into town and…well, he quickly made a reputation for himself" she muttered as she remembered the assassin's first appearance. Celestia got the idea as to what 'reputation' related to. "After that, circumstances arose that made us tumble into each other's lives. Then…we became friends…we all did, Rarity, Fluttershy, Applejack, Rainbow and Pinkie…" Twilight gave a small smile. "He touched all our lives…in ways we couldn't have imagined. This…stallion, who nopony knew a few days prior, just meandered into our lives and quickly made a huge impact on us all. We all consider him to be a part of our group, even if he is a little…unique" she finished quietly. Celestia gave a small smile; that sure sounded like Blood Moon. Celestia moved herself so she was laying besides her student, draping her wing over her comfortably as she lay her head down beside her.
"Twilight…did he ever tell you about his…troubled past?" Twilight gave a small 'mm-hm.' Celestia looked down in thought for a second; Blood Moon rarely spoke about his past, that being one of the ways he'd evaded her for so long; he'd made himself seem simple, boring. Forgettable, Impossible to track. For him to tell Twilight, and her friends, about his past said a lot about their relationship. "Then, Twilight, you know that…Blood Moon is exactly where he wants to be right now. He has lead a long life, full of heartbreak and pain. If there's anything that stallion wants in this world, it's an end to it all. I can guarantee you that." Twilight suddenly whipped her head up to Celestia, her tears flowing again, a deep hurt showing on her face.
"H-how could you say that" she asked, standing from beneath Celestia's wing. "He was my…he was my friend, he protected me and my friends…" She sniffled a few times. "He adopted Scootaloo, Ponyville has excepted him as one of their own, sorta. He had a life, a family again." Twilight then did something Celestia could never have seen her student doing before: she glared at her teacher. "You mustn't have known him very well at all, because all he wanted in this world was a reason to live, not to die" she argued, her tears pouring in earnest. "He didn't want to die" she told her teach half-heartedly, slumping to her front as her tears ran down her face "he didn't want to die" she said quietly before she curled into a ball, shaking as she cried again. Celestia put a hoof on her student's shoulder.
"I'm sorry Twilight…but…he…" Celestia couldn't think of anything to say, her mind going blank. Twilight was clearly in denial but…was she wrong? The solar princess lay down next t her, wrapping her hooves and wings around her student as she pulled her in close. "Twilight, I've known Blood Moon for a long time and I still make no claim to truly knowing him. He left me and my sister when we needed him most, stayed gone for over ten thousand years and when he came back, he came back to kill me." Twilight just sniffled again as Celestia lay on her back, holding the weeping mare like a mother would her upset foal. "But, if there's one thing Blood Moon showed me yesterday…" Twilight looked up at her mentor, finding tears running down her smiling face "it's that that stallion can make anypony cry, no matter the situation." She huffed in bad humour. "Would you believe me, Twilight, if I said that just before and during that battle, I wanted nothing more than to end that stallion? But right after, right as the light left his eyes…I wanted nothing more than for him to come back to me." She sighed gently. "That assassin's last act on this world was to save me. He brought me back from the brink, at the cost of his own life. I'm too sure what Father time will have done with him, but one thing is for sure…" Celestia sniffled, wiping her tears away "I'm gonna miss him" she admitted, her voice cracking. Celestia felt hooves on her, looking down to find Twilight hugging her, her hooves reaching as far around Celestia as she could manage. The princess of the day smiled slightly before she wrapped her own legs around her student, both planning to ride out their grief together.
Twilight fell asleep on Celestia before long, the solar princess letting her rest as the mare's exhaustion caught up with her. She'd had a trying few days, most, if not all, of them spent grieving for the Hunter. Celestia was still for most of the time, gazing blindly out of the window as she retreated back inside her head and memories. Celestia planned a small funeral for Blood Moon. She would cremate him and send his ashes to the wind. It would be poetic. Blood Moon would like that. After a while, day was taken by the evening, gold turning to bronze, and before Celestia knew it, it was time to lower the sun. Shining Armour came by to take Twilight back to their borrowed room, planning on taking his little sister to their parent's house tomorrow morning before escorting her back to Ponyville with them. Celestia felt it a good plan. If there was anything Twilight needed right now, it was to be surrounded by loved ones.
The princess of the day and sun stood upon her balcony, Luna on the watch tower, and both shifted their respective symbols to change the times. Celestia huffed. Change the times. Times really were changing. Blood Moon was gone, the political backlash was bound to hit tomorrow, repairs would have to begin, new champions to be chosen. A whole lot of work. But it wouldn't be all bad. She, Luna and Blood Moon finally had closure, she and Skulduggery would begin their first official day as mare and coltfriend (she was still a little giddy) and
Twilight had learned a valuable lesson in friendship.
How to let go of a friend that leaves you.
Celestia looked out at the night time world, looking for the darkest patches of darkness. This was a new beginning. A new era. This was the start of a new age…
Celestia looked to the skies, watching the stars twinkle down at her, smiling gently as she returned his watchful gaze…
This, she knew, wouldn't be easy or nice. But maybe, just maybe, she could get through it all.
Then she felt something cold tap on her neck.