Family Letters (Celestia >Feels)

Family Letters
(Celestia >Feels)

***

The life of an immortal is a long and lonely path filled with regrets and cherished memories.

Princess Celestia has been alive for well over a millennium and she has lost count of the number of lives she has seen come and go a long time ago. There was a time when she thought that she would grow used to the feeling of loss. For what is the short life of the average pony can only be akin to a change of seasons for the Sun Princess. She knows she cannot save everyone and that death is a natural part of life that should not be tampered with; a concept so alien to her as all those she cared for would eventually pass on while she remained the same age. Coping with these terms was her responsibility as the ruler of Equestria.

She never really got used to it...

A long time ago, Celestia traveled across Equestria, along with her dearest sister, Luna, the Princess of the Night. The sisters, The Sun and The Moon, took responsibility in protecting their kingdom and traveling to right the wrongs of their time. Among these events, a significant effort was made in attempt to save an entire empire, The Crystal Empire, from the holds of a black-hearted unicorn known as Sombra, only for it be sealed away along with him.

"Ponies were not meant to be enslaved" Celestia had said once to her sister, "They were meant to be happy together under the sun and the moon." Happiness was, to Celestia, the most important part of life, a feeling to be cherished.

It had become difficult for Celestia to stay happy while she lived to see close friends grow old and pass on, along with their children, growing old and passing on as well. Happiness can fade just as easily as a life can; strong in one moment and then gone in the blink of an eye.

Indeed, Celestia was afraid to become use to the log and lonely life of an immortal. It was, however, her duty to remain strong for the good of her subjects.

One thousand years ago, there was tension in the air on the streets of the Crystal Empire. A fear choking the joy from each pony locked away in chains or hiding in dark corners, fearing for their fates. Their King had gone mad and it had become an average, everyday sight to see ponies in chains, forced to do labor.

The children still played, for a time, they were spared. Oblivious to their impending enslavement, fillies and colts of the Empire ran among the streets and played in the parks, happy as can be and unafraid.

That was what Celestia wanted to save.

On the corner of a street, there was a single crystal filly sitting beside an iron mailbox, painted to blue to match the color of the city. She was holding a sealed letter.

"Hello there, Little One." Celestia approached the girl.

The filly immediately turned address the radiant sun princess. "Ooh, a pretty princess. Hello!"

"It is dangerous to be out alone. What are you doing out here?"

The girl showed her letter the princess. It was sealed in a yellowed parchment envelope, upon it were were childish scribbles of rainbows, trees, and a smiling sun. "I'm sending this letter to my Papa, he travels a lot but I can talk to him with these letters. I'm asking him when i can see him again, I hope it's really soon"

Celestia smiled, "I hope it is soon as well. I am certain he will be happy to hear from his daughter."

The filly boasted her own shining smile. She turned around, holding the letter in her lips and dropped the letter in the mailbox.

"Are you with your mother?" Celestia asked.

The filly's smile faltered for a moment before it grew back, "...No. I'm with my baby sitters. I told Papa that I don't need them but he made me stay with them anyway. He said that they're kind of like my Aunt and Uncle."

Celestia face melted into a somber gaze, "...I see. It is getting dark, Little One. You should run along home soon."

"But I want to see the mail-mare, I always see the mail-mare when she comes for my letter."

Celestia chuckled softly, "The mail-mare will come, little one, I'm sure your baby-sitters are worried about you."

The filly shifted on her hooves, her gaze flipping between the princess and the mailbox. She bit her lip nervously but then nodded, "Okay princess..."

"Don't be sad, Little one," Celestia pet the filly's mane with a smile, "It will be alright, your father will see your letter."

The filly seemed to relax and grin returned to her face. She hugged Celestia's foreleg, "Goodnight Princess Celestia."

She then trotted off. Celestia watched her departure, keeping an eye on her.

In the back of her mind, she felt the presence of darkness. A chill reverberated through her body. This darkness preyed upon lost children and lonely ponies, engulfing their victim who would awaken in chains.

"Art you quite finished conversing with thine subjects, dearest Sister?" Princess Luna approached, "We shant waste any more time, we are almost ready to commit ourselves to righteous battle."

"Of course, beloved sister," It was enough for the Princess. The time was very soon, King Sombra's reign was getting worse. It was up to her and her sister to put a stop to him before it was too late and he decided to spread across Equestria.

Silently, to herself, Celestia promised victory for to the Little One.

Soon, The empire fell to the King's mad reign, all citizens, young and old, strong and weak, all enslaved to Sombra's will. The fear and turned into outright oppression. There was no happiness, no laughter, no bright colors, no smiles. Only gloomy ponies hanging their heads below their chains for fear of punishment. The effects of The Empire's sorrow was soon to be felt throughout Equestria.

This did not last long. Through sacrifice and determination, Celestia and Luna defeated the King. Using their divine powers to seal him away in the darkness from which he came. Equestria would no longer be threatened by a mad despot thanks to their efforts.

At what cost, however?

Sombra did not go silently and in banishing the King to the shadows, he cast a curse that sealed The Crystal Empire along with him. Where there once stood a grand palace of crystals, only a grassy field remained. The crystal ponies, the parks where the children played, the iron mailbox on the corner of street, all vanished without a trace. Only flowers and dandelions blooming the fields remained.

For Celestia, this was a failure. She could not save the empire. Celestia knew that the empire would return one day, along with the Black Hearted Unicorn. She must find a way to be ready for Sombra's return. She owed the citizens of the empire that much.

Regret filled the heart of Celestia,  regret for having to choose his immediate banishment before attempting to prevent the curse but she was left with little choice in the matter. It was painful and she feared that she too had fallen under under the effect of Sombra's curse. The thought of the Crystal Empire going through a millennia of suffering was almost too much for her to bear, and it was her duty to bear that weight. She had to keep hope...

She knew that she had made the right decision or the good of Equestria.

So, Celestia moved on. Returning to her travels to right the wrongs of the land.

A year passed by. A small village in the rolling hills of Equestria was going through it's first snowfall of the year. The sisters had come to visit the village during their journey. The local Inn was more than happy to accommodate the princess, it must have been their lucky day, they thought.

Holiday chants filled the tavern with a welcoming atmosphere. Earth Ponies, Pegasi, and Unicorns alike all sang together jolly delight. The fireplace cracked with life and mugs full of cider clacked together in toasts to a bountiful harvest and warm homes during the winter months. A raucous laughter of the ponies inside the inn meshed together in chant, all enjoying the company of Celestia, who calmly sipped her cider, and the methodical Luna , who cared more about her duties than having parties, but tried to enjoy herself at the behest of her older sister

Celestia enjoyed her time with the citizens, to watch them grow and be happy. From birth to death.

Despite all the happiness of Inn, Celestia was quick to the only sad pony. It was a Crystal Stallion, sitting on the porch outside of the inn, holding a mug of cider as snow matted his mane and shoulders.

A pang of worry chilled her heart. It was unusual to see Crystal Ponies outside of their Kingdom, even more so since the Empire's sealment. The few wanderers, who were away from home during the that critical moment, she had come across always stood out among the bright and bountiful ponies the rest of Equestria, gloomy specks of depression among a backdrop of cheerfully bright pastel colored ponies..

"You must be freezing out here in the snow." Celestia asked the moping pony on the porch.

The crystal stallion addressed the Princess with aversion and remained still. He shifted his weight beneath in his traveler's gear. "I suppose I am." He mumbled.

Celestia sat beside him, the warmth of her presence seemed to melt the snow right off the pony's shoulders. "Why don't you join every pony inside? We are all having fun."

The stallion shook his head and brushed the mane from his face. "I don't really feel like it," He glanced at the princess; his eyes look tired and red, the bags under them prominent, "I was thinking about leaving anyway."

"Where are you going?"

"...I don't really know. My home is gone; I'm certain you of all ponies know what happened to the Crystal Empire a year ago." A bitter tinge stained his voice.

Celestia sighed, they were all the same. Bitter and depressed about the loss of their homeland; it was during these meetings that the regret tucked away in her heart resurfaced, like a reopened wound.

"...I'm sorry." Her demeanor remained firm and stoic.

"For what?" The stallion gave her his full attention now

"I wanted to save the empire." This was not first time she apologized for the Crystal Empire. It felt like she was admitting to a crime every time.

The stallion huffed and took a sip of his cider, "Everyone in Equestria knows how you and your sister stopped King Sombra. If not for you, everyone would be his slaves."

"I wish that you had found another way, though...:" He muttered bitterly.

No pony had ever said that to her. It was usually the same way every time. She would meet a wandering crystal pony and she would apologize. Then none blamed her. A deep part of her wanted them to be angry at her, to blame her for the of the empire. She was unsure what hurt more, the regret of it or that no one blamed her for it.

This one was different.

It was silent for a moment. The snowfall was still falling as hard as it had been for the entire day. The silence between the two was cold spot in existence.

"I wish i had too." She admitted to him.

"For a long time, I was angry..." He admitted, "I dreamed of what I would say to you, I wanted to scream at you, I wanted you to be sorry but suddenly, I don't have it in me, Princess."

He regarding her with a twisted frown and sighed. After another sip of cider, the crystal stallion spoke, "...I used to have a daughter in the empire." The Father's voice was shaky and weak.

Celestia's heart skipped a beat but she remained her calming demeanor. She immediately knew who she was talking to. The image of the Little One sitting beside the mailbox sprung to the front of her mind. She had anticipated this meeting the entire year.

"I traveled a lot, it was my job of sorts. We would send letters to each other through a dedicated mail service, that mail-mare was good at her job. That stopped when King Sombra took over." He sniffed, "I was unable to return home. I still do not know what became of my girl but now..." His voice cracked and he silenced himself.

Celestia had not seen the girl since the day she met her. The fate of many ponies remained unknown to her.

"I still have the last letter I received from her," The Father looked up to the princess, "Would you like to see it?"

"Of course." She calmly answered,

The gloomy stallion set his mug down and reached into one of his many pockets and dragged out a yellowed envelope with his hoof. It was the same letter she had seen a year before, the childish scribbles of rainbows, trees, and a smiling sun.

He flipped open the envelop and he held the parchment in his hooves. At the top of a letter, a crude drawing of two ponies standing beside a filly under a happy, childish, landscape. Under the drawing, something was written in green crayon "The happiest family ever". The stallion hugged the letter close to his chest.

"She says that she is doing well, that her babysitters, my close friends, are doing fine and are happy." His voice was wavering and his eyes began to water, "She wanted to know how soon i would be home. It is her birthday in a few weeks. She's turning eight. She visits her mother every day, asking how she is doing, that Papa love her and she is doing good in school. She says she wants to be vet, then she wanted to be an athlete, then a musician. She can't wait until i get home..."

He sobbed, struggling to keep his composure. He kissed the paper before neatly folding it into the envelope stuffing it in his pocket.

"I wrote her a reply but it got sent back to me, the empire was no longer allowed to send or receive any mail it seemed." From his pocket, he dragged out a white envelope. It was very crisp and professional-looking, but he had drawn a smiley face on it and wrote 'Papa loves you, sweetie'. There was another drawing as well but it was covered by a 'REJECTED' stamp.

"If i keep both of these letters, I can at least pretend that she can hear me..." He muttered as he tucked it away in the same pocket as the yellow envelope.

Celestia held her silent gaze. She couldn't find the words to say and placed a hoof on the stallion's shoulder.

He looked up at her, tears streaming down his cheeks, he was silent as his lip quivered.

Celestia slowly pulled him close to her and embraced the little pony, he melted into her without any hesitation. She patted his head and buried him into her chest, against her heart. Shivering and vulnerable, he sobbed and held her tightly as The Father began to cry.

The two remained that way for several minutes, while he wept for his lost family and home. Celestia wanted to cry too but she held her composure, she would not appear weak for him, when he needed support.

After some more time passed, the two slowly parted; he seemed somewhat healed by the encounter. The stallion wiped his eyes and held his mug again.

Celestia took a deep breath "I want you to be happy, y faithful subject.."

"I don't know if I can, Princess. I have no home, I've lost my wife and my daughter. I have nothing left."

"You still have your life. Your wife, your daughter, I am certain they would want you to be happy too."

The stallion took a deep breath and exhaled noisily, "...I can try."

"...She will come back someday." Celestia informed him, "The seal will eventually fade and the Empire will return."

The Father froze up and stared at her.

"Your daughter will return as well. It may be a long time but I promise, everything will be fine. So please, be happy, for me. For her.

He slumped, bit his lip and wiped his eye. He rose to stand and faced Celestia, "I will, Princess Celestia. Thank you."

"It is getting colder outside. Let us return inside and enjoy ourselves." She suggested

"I... Alright." He bowed to her before turning away, trotting inside the Inn. Celestia remained on the porch for a bit longer. The snow wasn't going to let up, it seemed. Inside her heart, she knew she was going to learn the fate of the filly. She feared for her safety but she gave herself no choice but to keep hope, just as she always had.

After a moment of silence, she returned inside of the Inn, where she and her sister enjoyed their time with patrons for the rest of their stay. The next morning, after the snow had let up, the two went on their way, resuming their travels.

Decades passed like the summer passing winter.

She and her sister eventually returned to the small town. A small funeral procession was in motion in a nearby field. The townsfolk were surprised to see the Princess visiting but did not question it. A handful of ponies were gathered around a coffin on during the sunny day. Inside was an elderly crystal stallion, resting peacefully. She could barely recognize him but she was staring at the Father from all those years ago.

"Well look who it is. Father told us that he had met you once, Princess Celestia." A young male voice inquired her. A burly stallion standing beside a older, thin mare approached her.

Celestia bowed courteously to the ponies. "You are his family?"

"Yes. We are honored that you have arrived. I imagined that you had more important matters than to attend the funeral of a humble pony."

Celestia grinned wryly, "This is an important matter to me. I am happy that he has someone to hold a funeral for him."

The thin mare spoke, her voice aged and raspy, she possessed a young flair in her eyes, "My husband was always a serious and quiet pony. I also worry that he was just sad." He looked longingly at the coffin with misty eyes, "He and I, however, we were both widowers. I suppose we connected like that..." She trailed off.

"I am sorry to hear that." Celestia bowed respectively.

The mare smiled, "He made me really happy. We found happiness in each other. He told me once that you wanted him to find happiness. He found it, my dearest princess."

The burly stallion forced a chuckle, "I suppose if it weren't for you, i wouldn't be here now."

Celestia smiled and nodded. She looked at the coffin and approached, "Thank you." she said to the resting crystal stallion.

He only replied with his unmoving but peaceful expression.

The procession continued. Eulogies were spoken, truths were told, and farewells were had.

"Big Sister, forgive my incredulousness but why are we here?" Luna asked Celestia.

Celestia was still and answered with a peaceful expression, "I am on a mission, Little Sister."

Luna huffed, "A mission. what is there for us to gain by attending this funeral. This stallion was but a vagrant."

"Nothing, this is a personal mission." Celestia glanced at her sister sternly, "This is important to me."

"...I understand, sister."

The coffin was buried and a bounty of gifts was placed at the head of the stone. Assorted flowers, crystals and ribbons. On top of it all were two envelopes. A yellow one with scribbles of rainbows, trees, and flowers, and the other a white one with a drawing of a smiling face.

It was at that moment Celestia approached the family once again.

"Dearest Madame," she approached the thin old mare, "I have a request for you."

"What is it, Princess?" she choked out in a whisper

"About that white letter..." Celestia pointed at the bounty of gifts on the tombstone.

"Ah yes..." The thin mare smiled at it, "That letter was for his daughter. He always held onto it, taking good care of it. I am surprised it has survived this long."

"I would like to have it." She requested in a most formal matter.

The mare seemed shocked at the mere mention, "What? Why?"

Celestia politely bowed to her, "I once met your husband's child, long ago. One day, the empire will return. I aim to ensure she that she receives her father's letter.:

It was no secret that the princess were immortal but it was still hard for the average pony to hide their their disbelief. The thin mare, however, merely nodded, "I... I suppose, Princess." She turned away and approached the tombstone. She froze for moment, staring at the pile of gifts. She slowly grasped the white like, it would crumble to pieces at any moment, leaving the Yellow letter by itself to rest upon the grave of the father. She offered it to the princess who gently held it with her magic.

Celestia gently grasped the letter in magic, "Thank you, kind one. I know it have been difficult for you." Celestia reached out to the the old mare and gently pulled her close and hugged the widow warmly. "You need not do this if you do not want to."

"No, no.I trust you, Princess Celestia. I know my husband would too."

The two parted and thin mare smiled a wrinkled smile, "Good luck in finding her. My prayers go to her safe return."

The bulky stallion bowed to the princess, "Thank you for visiting us, dearest Princess. My father would have been really happy."

Celestia bowed in return. Then she parted ways with the Father for the last time.

"Sister, are you sure it is wise to meddle in the affairs of mortals like this?" The night princess asked.

Celestia nodded, "I must do this, it is my responsibility to do this for my subjects.. Among many others..." She smiled at Luna, "Everything will be fine, little sister."

Luna kept silent, following in her sister's hoof steps. The Night Princess nickered detestfully when she caught herself trapped in her sister's shadow as they approached the setting sun as they continued their journey.

The two traveling together for many years. Righting many wrongs, meeting new friends along the way and losing others. Like day and night, the years passed by in a series of waking moments. During these times, the letter that Celestia held onto was treated with magical properties to prevent it from withering any further. The goals she had in mind kept her and her sister going through any hardships they faced. She was truly happy being the heroine as the citizens of Equestria chanted her name as the years rolled by. It felt like their lives could last that way forever, the cheers of the ponies who loved her, leaving her deafened and unaware to the growing resentment from her own sister, watching from the dark.

It would eventually be time to settle and focus on keeping Equestria running. The two sister took to the thrones and began their rule, much to the delight of the citizens. Controlling the day and night as they had been fated to, the ponies played and laughed together under the sunlight, but slept and kept quiet during the night. Before Celestia knew it, she would find herself knowing loss once more.

The two immortals believed that, even though would lose many ponies over time, they would always have each other. It truly seemed like a cruel twist of fate that the sun princess, who had made choices that led to the banishment of an empire for the safety of Equestria would eventually be forced to do the same for her own sister.

Jealousy for her older sister grew in the younger princess twisting her heart into something dark. One day, driven by the darkness in her heat, Luna snapped and refused to end the night.

"What is the meaning of this, sister!" Celestia demanded

"Not another step..."

In this moment, Celestia felt the familiar tuggings of Sombra's curse once more, empowering the regrets in her own heart. Now, the same curse was engulfing her sister before her very eyes.

"Did you really expect me to sit idly by while they all basked in you precious light!"

Celestia, a horrifying sensation reverberating throughout her body, tried to reason with her dearest sister.

To no avail.

"There can only be one Princess of Equestria, and that Princess will be me!"

It was then that Celestia lost her sister to the darkness, who transformed into, Nightmare Moon, a black-hearted psychopath not unlike the one the two sisters fought, side by side, all those years ago. Celestia was forced to battle her sister for the survival of Equestria for a world without a sun would only be doomed to freeze over and die.

Celestia would have to make difficult choice once again. Through sacrifice and determination, and her desire to save her own Kingdom, The Princess of the Sun was victorious. Nightmare Moon, formerly Luna, The Princess of the Night was banished to the moon.

Celestia was alone.

The life of an immortal is a long and lonely path filled with regrets and cherished memories.

With the only other immortal banished from the land and all of her friends long gone, Therese was no one left for Celestia. She was alone to rule Equestria, taking the responsibility that was once split between herself and her dearest sister. For the good of her kingdom, she had always appeared as the face of calmness and poise. Always smiling and helpful to any pony, she was loved by all. It was her responsibility to remain strong for her subjects in face of turmoil.

During her time in the castle, she realized that many wrongs still occurred in Equestria and she could not travel freely like she could long ago, back when her kingdom was small and she had another to help her.

She began to take on disciples. Training them in magical studies, like she would for her own little sister. For awhile, the loneliness of immortality had faded and the regret in her heart seemed to waste away and she found an inkling of happiness again. She loved every one of her students as if they were her own children. Like every other pony, however, she could only grow older until they eventually passed on as well while she remained the same; from her first to her last.

Indeed, her latest disciple was truly gifted, she believed. It was inevitable that Equestria would be in danger again, like so many times in the past. This disciple and her own friends righted these wrongs, like she and her sister had so long ago.

It was thanks to her latest disciple that Princess Luna would return and Nightmare Moon would be banished forever.

In tears, the sisters embraced upon their reunion.

"I'm so sorry. I love you so much, Big Sister"

 "I love you too, little sister."

The two were together again and Celestia was no longer alone.

Everything seemed to truly be alright after all, just as she had promised.

Her duties were not finished, however. She would always have more to do for her homeland. First and foremost, training her newest disciple for her greatest challenge, for the return of The Crystal was quickly approaching and the darkness of Sombra's curse was intensifying.

In the blink of an eye, the Crystal Empire reappeared and it was up her latest disciple to stop Sombra once and for all.

The Disciple was victorious, the King was destroyed, and Celestia was the proudest she had ever been.

Now, Celestia was free to resume her personal duties. The immortal princess frequently left the castle to embark on her own personal missions. With the return of the crystal, a personal mission was to finished.

The Father's letter remained in good condition thanks to her delicate treatment. With the message in her possession, she trawled to the Crystal Empire.

The air was filled with laughter. Every pony was smiling and enjoying their lives. The crystal ponies shimmered with joy, no longer gloomy and moping about aimlessly. They no longer had anything to fear and we're free to live happily, as ponies were meant to do.

The children ran among the streets and played in the parks like they always have, now without anyone having to worrying for their safety.

This is what Celestia wanted to save.

The sun was reaching late in the afternoon when the Princess found the old iron mailbox, painted blue to match the colors of the city. She was afraid that no pony would be waiting beside it but a crystal filly sat patiently beside it, anticipating the mail-mare to deliver a letter like she did every day.

"Hello there, Little One."

The girl twisted to meet Celestia, "Haha, it's the pretty princess, I was wondering when I would se you again." She tilted her head, "It's been, what, a week? I'm not sure, everything got really scary for awhile so I couldn't tell."

A week, was that really how long the ordeal was? The conflict felt so much longer. For a moment Celestia was alarmed. It has been a millennia since she and her sister defeated the mad king but for the girl and every other pony in the empire, it was like it was just yesterday. One thousand years passed by single night and The kingdom hadn't seemed to age a moment.

"Yes, it was very frightening," The Princess said, "But it's okay now, the king is gone."

The filly giggled, "Yes! Now, I've sent a letter to Papa to let him know that the evil king is gone and it's okay for him for come home now." She pouted and tapped the side of the box, "I still haven't gotten a reply from my last letter so I thought I'd send another, just in case he missed it!" The girl stood proudly, "That is what smart ponies do, They double check!"

Celestia's mouth was dry. She was unsure of how to approach the situation. Somehow, just outright telling her the truth appeared to be the worst solution.

"How are you, princess?"

"Oh, I'm fine..." Celestia shifted on her hooves. "Actually, I was away for awhile when the scary things happened."

The girl watched her in wonderment, "Ooh, where did you go?"

"I went traveling and I met your father." She smiled calmly

The girl face cracked with a smile, along with her voice "You did! Did he get my letter? Where is he?"

"...He is away but I have a letter for you." Celestia floated the white envelope before the girl.

The filly's face was positively glowing. Without a word, she grabbed it between her teeth and then held it in her hooves.

"Your father was very happy to read your letter."

"'Rejected'? what's that about?" The girl looked up at Celestia and displayed the envelope, the red stamp that read 'REJECTED' remained, albeit the ink somewhat faded, "This dumb stamp covered half of Papa's drawing."

Celestia nickered. "It was a mix-up with the delivery, that's why I am delivering it you myself."

The filly gasped. "Thank you so much, Princess!" The girl was about rip open the letter before she froze, "I gotta go see Mama! She'll want to see this." She bounced to her hooves and began to trot away. She stopped after a few steps, "Princess, would you like to visit Mama with with me?"

Perhaps she shouldn't go, "Why I'd love to, sweetheart." but She couldn't say no." Lead the way."

It was a short walk before the two ponies reached the home of the girl's mother. Her home was both the most crowded and quietest home in the empire. The Graveyard. The filly led the Princess to an average tombstone near the end of the park.

"Hi Mama, I brought a guest, it's the Princess!" The girl excitedly pulled Celestia closer the grave, "Princess, Mama, mama, princess!"

"...Hello dearest, Madame." Celestia spoke to the stone in an dead tone.

There was no reply.

"The princess helped Papa, Mama, she brought me his letter. Let's read it together!"

Celestia silently watched the girl delicately tear open the envelope. There was only the letter inside. The filly held the letter wide, allowing Celestia to see it. At the top of the page was a drawing of a family, it was rather amateurish but it was clearly the father, the girl, and a mare; it must have been her mother.

"Papa says he is doing great and has made many friends. He is happy that my baby sitters are doing good; I like them a lot, they're nice." She eyed the letter and her eyes popped with surprise. She bounced in place "Papa says he will be home in time for my birthday!" She turned to the princess with a sly grin, "I'm turning eight, you know. I'm going to be a big pony!"

Celestia felt numb inside and only nodded with a wry grin.

"Papa says I need to keep getting A's in School or I'll never be a pet doctor." She giggled mischievously, "Maybe I can be strong and fast, or play the clarinet like my neighbor, then I wont need good grades." She smiled at Celestia innocently, "I'm joking Princess, don't look so glum. I like school and it's really easy" The girl returned to her letter, "He'll be home soon, Mama. He says he loves you always and you two will together again someday." She tilted her head and wore a thoughtful expression, "I guess that means he will go to sleep for long time someday, like Mama."

"Papa says that all ponies go to sleep for a really long time someday, isn't that right Princess?" She smiled at Celestia but received no reply.Her happy face became one of concern, "Princess?"

Celestia did not respond, She had become lost in thought. Like any physical wound, the kind of wound she felt now had reopened. She felt it every time a friend passed from this world. She felt it for a very long time after her Sister was banished to the moon. At this very moment, she could feel it again and the pain was the only thing she felt.

All she ever wanted was for her subjects, her ponies, her 'children', to be happy. This meant fighting to right the wrongs that plagued the land every so often. It meant sacrificing herself for the sake of others. It meant making the hardest decision she ever had that she wouldn't wish on another soul. A horrifying thought appeared in her mind.

Did she make the wrong choice? Was everything for nothing? Is she cursed to be filled with regret and loneliness forever?

Did she make a mistake when she chose to sacrifice an entire empire of innocent ponies to stop a greater evil? Was it when she chose to continue to involve herself in the affairs of mortals? Was it when she banished her own sister to the moon?

She didn't have a choice, she had make these decisions. Did that make them right?

"Princess?"

Was this all Celestia's fault?

"Princess!"

"Huh?" Celestia snapped back to reality at the touch of another. The filly was tapping her foreleg and looked up at her sadly, "Are you okay, princess?"

"I... I am fine, my dear."

"Then why are you crying?"

"I, oh..." Celestia sighed and felt her wettened cheeks. She had lost her composure, revealed her weakness. She was embarrassed she was ashamed as she wiped her cheeks dry. It was her responsibility to be strong for her subjects, she wasn't allowed to let herself cry in front of them. It would be selfish of her, she thought. She wanted to cry many times during all the years she had been alive but she couldn't. She wanted to be the heroine of Equestria.

"Hug?" The filly offered.

"What?"

The crystal filly hugged Celestia's leg, nuzzling it warmly, "A hug makes anypony feel better, see?"

Celestia was at a loss for words. She forced a smile while she stared at the girl hugging her leg. In a particularly odd way, her sorrow seemed to melt away at the simple display of affection.

"Do you feel better, now?"

Celestia's smile slowly became more genuine and she lowered her head to hug the filly back, "I do, Little One. I do..."

"Excuse me?" A masculine voice asked the two hugging ponies.

Celestia looked at them and the filly gasped and let go of her leg, joyfully running towards the voice.

It belonged to a young crystal stallion who stood next to a young crystal mare. The two hovered very closely to each other and were very clearly a couple.

"Are you her baby sitters?" Celestia asked.

The couple nodded. "And you are Princess Celestia?" The mare asked in return. The couple bowed in unison while the filly watched in amusement, "Thank you so much for putting an end to King Sombra's reign."

Celestia chuckled calmly, "Oh, it is not me you should thank. It is my Disciple. She and her friends put an end the King once and for all."

The stallion grinned and nodded, "So she was your student? Then i suppose we should thank you even more. Every pony saw her victorious when Sombra threatened to return, but we all also saw you and your sister defeat him not long before."

"Sweetheart," The mare chimed in, "You are forgetting that the Empire was sealed for a thousand years. If I recall the story correctly, the princesses defeated Sombra just before the empire was sealed and her Disciple just defeated Sombra yesterday."

The filly seemed to become lost to the conversation, so she returned to her mother's tombstone, picking up her father's letter gleefully.

The stallion sighed, "It's so hard to believe. Everything over the past couple weeks. The mad King, our enslavement, then going to sleep one night and discovering that the entirety of the empire is now one thousand years in the future. I'm still trying to get used to just being able to walk the street without being captured for the King's slavery."

The three ponies shared a silent moment as they watched the filly read the letter for the mother again, appearing just as joyous as the last.

The stallion cleared his throat, "We haven't seen her father anywhere. He never made it back before the Empire was cut off from the world. I think that letter she sent was one of the last before the service was shut down."

The mare joined in, "If we really are in the distant future, then her father..."

Celestia nodded pitifully, "...I am sorry."

The couple seem to choke and they held each other tightly. There was a quiet moment between the two.

"He was our closest friend, we owed everything to him." The stallion uttered with sob.

"What will happen to his daughter?" Celestia asked.

"There is no question about it," the mare answered, "We'll raise her like our own. We owe him that."

"It is hard to remember but during the dark times, all of us became a family. Not a single one of us came out unscathed..." The stallion sniffed.

Celestia gazed at the girl wearily, "...She doesn't know yet. I couldn't bring myself to say it."

The couple nodded, "It is fine. It is probably better that we are the ones who tell her. She is our family after all."

Celestia still felt responsible, that she should be the one to shoulder the blame. This time, however, she would stay out of this one. She has already interfered enough.

"I suppose I should be on my way then." She suggested.

Celestia approached the filly and knelt beside her, "Hello Little One."

The filly laughed at the princess, "I just love Papa's drawing, isn't it pretty, Princess?"

"Yes, it is." She smiled, "I'm here to say goodbye."

"Aw, you're leaving? You barely got to know Mama."

"I know but it I must be on my way, I have many tasks that must be finished."

"Will I see you again?"

Celestia held her smile and pet the filly's mane, "Perhaps you will."

The filly giggled hugged Celestia one last time.

Then it was time for Celestia to depart..

"Thank you again, for saving us all, Princess Celestia." The coupled bowed to her.

The sun was begging to set over the horizon. A distant tree shaded half of the Graveyard, up until the iron gate entrance. Celestia was on her way to her next personal mission. It may or may not be as painful as the last but she will not falter. It was her responsibility. She knows she is making the right choice.

With that set in her mind, Celestia looked back to the family in the graveyard one last time.

The couple knelt beside the filly, their voices out of earshot. The girl no longer bounced around happily like she did just moments before. The three were still. Then the girl dropped the letter and the family embraced as they began to cry...

***

End