Till the End of Time [Musical Anon Special]

>Day A Lifetime is a Longtime in Equestria
>You are Musical Anon.
>Royal minstrel for her majesty Princess Celestia.
>Or at least, that's what you had spent your whole life preparing for.
>Coming to this land as a child, the royal court had taken you in as a peculiar oddity.
>The only one of your kind, they raised you to be a servant.
>But as you slowly came of age, your singing prowess came to light.
>Captivated by your beautiful lyrics, Celestia no more than a filly, had become enamored with you.
>Spending your childhoods together, you quickly became companions, and soon enough close friends.
>It had become your duty each and every night to serenade her royal highness with melodies and lullabies to ease her into her evening rest.
>And you performed it with the honor and respect it deserved.
>The stress of training to be ruler of the land and keeping order was truly paramount.
>So you would spend every morning meticulously crafting works of art for her in the hopes it would alleviate her worries even just a little bit.
>And this continued on for countless nights.
>Though it was a closely guarded secret, your love for each other had grown with every passing year.
>It was no surprise really, you were the only one outside of family she could call a true friend.
>The title of royalty did not matter to you, all you saw was the mare you shared your childhood with.
>She was the one who would cry on your shoulder whenever life became to much for her to handle.
>And you, alone in this world, only had her to laugh and sulk with you as you reminisce over precious memories together.
>The only human in Equestria, you had no other to call your own.
>She had become everything to you, and you made sure she knew that.
>But though you knew she shared your feelings as well, each and every night you would ask for her love, and she in turn would turn you down without explanation.
>Whenever you'd ask why she would not hold you in her heart, she would simply shake her head without speaking another word.
>Eventually, the time had come for her to take the throne for her own.
>Her inauguration was a dream you had looked forward to since the first song you had played for year all those years ago.
>Never had you felt such happiness.
>But that night was different from all the others.
>As you knocked on her bedroom door, ready to serenade her with a song you had painstakingly spent months preparing for this very night, the only answer you were greeted with were the quiet sobs of a mare fighting sadness.
>Unsure of whether or not your were overstepping your bounds, you cautiously opened the door and entered the room.
>There was the newly christened "Princess" Celestia, sitting on her balcony as her new found mane reminiscent of the aurora itself, flowed elegantly in the evening wind.
>It's lovely pink shine had been replaced by something more majestic than your imagination could think of, but it was tainted by the fresh tears flowing from her eyes.
>Trying to walk up to her as silently as possible, she still somehow became aware of your presence.
>"*Sniffle* Oh...My dear Anonymous, please forgive me, have you come to share another one of your...enthralling melodies?"
>You look at her and shake your head sadly, you could tell something else was on her mind.
T'was my intention M'lady, but 'tis no longer.
>She wipes her tears and tilted her head in confusion.
>"Then what have you come to discuss with us on the eve of our celebration?"
>You walk up to her and gently hold her chin in your hand so she'll look into your eyes.
What kind of celebration would make a maiden so fair weep the strongest of sorrows?
>She knew she couldn't hide it, maybe from the servants and the common folk, but not from the one who knew her best.
>"Today is the beginning of my never ending tale, to keep this land pure for the next several millennia, I have been given the curse of immortality."
>Unable to comprehend her meaning, you push further.
But M'lady, 'tis not but a glorious gift revered by none other than the heavens themselves?
>She looks to the ground and shakes her head sadly.
>"Immortality is a cruel fleeting thing Anonymous, to continue on as your loved ones..."
>As she peeps at you through the corner of her eye, she quickly turns away and becomes silent.
>It broke your heart to see her like this.
>So you did the only thing you knew best.
>Reaching over, you hug her from behind and spin a melody like which no other.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yfPLh_6ckzI&list=HL1365063066

>Stroking her mane as her tail thumps lifelessly against the ground, you lean on her shoulder and take a deep breath.
>As her divine scent tickles your nose, you whisper into her ear.
...
..
.
I know you're not heartless.
Confide in me your feeeaars.
I'm here.
If I can charm you.
My words will warm and shine through.
Let me show you freedom.
Let my light dry your teeears.
I'm here with you, beside you.
To listen if you decide to.

>"Youuuu can't love me."
>"Every waking moment."
>"Whennn your dead."
>"I'm here till end of tiiiime."
>"Sayyy you take me with you."
>"Down these hallways."
>"Then you'll see~."
>"That I can't be with youuu~."
>"Cause you'll say goodbye too~."

Let me be your helper.
Let me be your kniiight.
It's safe.
Nothing will bind you.
The years are far to kind to.

>"This is what I've become."
>"A fact I just can't fiiight."
>"But you always divide me."
>"Your hold has just tied me."

Then sayyyy you'll care for me.
My love, just one time.
Let me free you.
From your solituuuude~.
Sayyyy you'll keep me.
With you.
Here beside you.
Anywhere you go.
I'll folllllow you.
Celestia.
That's all I wish to do.

>"If you'll share with me."
>"My love, one lifetime."
>"Myyyy heart is stirred."
>"But I feel sorrow too~."

"Share each day with me."
"Each night,each morning."

>"Sayyyy you love me."
You know I doooo~.
"One day."
"We must say goodbye too~."

>You embrace Celestia in a dramatic hug, locking your lips with her own.
>As her face flushes crimson, she closes her eyes and returns the affection tenfold.
>Sharing but this single moment together, a moment not of lust but of pure romance, your lovestruck feelings shine true.
>It did not matter what the future held, all that mattered now was the present.
>Pulling away to breath in the sweet evening air, you raise your hand to the night sky as you and Celestia howl out to the heavens.
...
..
.
"ANYWHERE YOU GO, I'll be with you~."
"Some day."
"I'll say goodbye...to...youuuu~."

>As you carry her over to the bed, you swing the sheets over top of the two of you and spend the rest of night in the heats of passion till it was time for the sun to rise.
>Someday, you would grow old and this sweet mare would watch you die.
>If one night the divine beings would grant you a blessing...
>...Your only wish would be for her to have the strength to continue on when you exit the stage before her.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

>After that magical evening, you had spent every moment you could spare with the brilliant mare.
>She had done her best to hide your love for each other from the public, but you knew it was only a matter of time before they found out on their own.
>In reality it didn't bother you if they found out at all, surely they'd understand that love knows no bounds?
>But Celestia disagreed, the feelings you shared for each other would not be given the blessing you desired.
>It was the first time you hadn't agreed with one another in ages.
>But that wouldn't deter you, there simply had to be a way to convince her that you could change everything for the better.
>So here you were, parchment in hand, writing idle thoughts into new lyrics like you did so well.
>As you sat in the royal garden and waxed philosophic, Celestia returned to your side.
>"My dear Anonymous, what may I ask are you writing this wonderful morning?"
>You gave her a sly grin and hid the paper away.
I did not take thou for a peeping tom M'Lady.
>Her face blushed crimson in embarrassment and frustration.
>"Must you always be so childish?"
>Showing her a relaxed smile, you lean over and hug her.
I simply wish to share our love with others someday.
>She rests her shoulder against you and sighs.
>"My love, you know that cannot be done, you are no prince."
>You laugh and scratch behind her ear in the way she had always liked.
No...no I am not, far from it in fact!
>You continue teasing her as she sighs in frustration.
But you are a princess, and ruler of the land. Who but you and you alone can dictate what you can and cannot do?
>She turns and looks straight into your eyes.
>"It is not so simple Anonymous. A ruler is only as strong as her greatest followers, and if they were to forsake her, she would be powerless."
>You shake your head and chuckle quietly.
I do not think anyone would be so cold-hearted to forsake thou.
>She looks at you with clear frustration in her eyes.
>"You know I would love nothing more than to shout our love from the highest rooftops, but I simply can-"
>Before she can finish, you silence her with the tip of your finger against her lips.
That's all I needed to hear.
>As you think back on the music you had just been writing, you decide there's only one way to convince her.
>Through song.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MJLOCAWkRoc

(Picking a flower from the garden, you bring it to her face.)

We can make a new world.
Shining, shimmering, splendid.
Tell me, princess, now when did,
You last throw away your pride?

We can open their eyes.
Show them wonder by wonder.
All our ways, no other.
We could do it if we tried.

A whole new woooorld.
One where I'd spend my life with you.
Through all the wind and snow.
Our love will grow.
To end their evil scheming.

>"A whole new woooorld."
>"A dazzling place where love is true."
>"But when the time comes near."
>"I think I fear."
>"That no one will share my new world with you."

I can make this whole new world with you!

>"Inconceivable heights."
>"Indescribable feeling."
>"Knowing something's beginning."
>"It won't unless we both try."

>"A whole new woooorld."
It's so close if we try.
>"To share our love for all to see."
She won't cry - I won't let her.
>"They'll see we truly are."
>"We've come so far."
>"And some day I just know they will agree."
A whole new wooorld.
>"Every morn at sunrise."
Our past mistakes we bid adieu.
>"Every moment gets better."
"We'll face them without a care."
"We will I swear."
"Let me share this whole new world with you."

A whole new world
>"A whole new world."
That's where we'll be.
>"That's where we'll be."
A loving place.
>"One without disgrace."
"For all to seeeeeeeee~"

>As you slowly settled down, you gazed into each others eyes and shared a kiss.
>With your trust in each other renewed, you set out to create a new world where you could share your love together undisturbed.
>In time the nobles and common folk came to respect you and the love you shared for your significant other.
>The thought of a minstrel taking a spot on the throne angered many of them, but you had been raised among royalty your entire life, and you knew how to act the part.
>Celestia however, was far better suited for dealing with the upper class than you were.
>With no magical power to call your own, you took it upon yourself to play to your own strengths instead.
>As the years passed by, the denizens soon came to know you and your angelic voice as the words of reason.
>The common folk's love for you grew with every passing day as you bartered for better lifestyles for all.
>They didn't see you as a king, they saw you as a friend, and that's how you wanted it to be.
>It was a slow painful process, not without its bumps and tribulations along the way, but soon enough you had earned a place among everyone's hearts.
>And whenever night would roll around, you would not forget your most important duty of all.
>Singing your loved one to sleep.
>It was good being king...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

>From that point on, you had spent so many wonderful decades together.
>The timeless memories you shared with each other were worth more to you than anything in the royal treasury.
>Every time she laughed, every moment she cried, even the times she'd grown angry with you.
>You wouldn't trade them for anything.
>But alas, where did all the time go?
>Now you were nothing more than a frail old man.
>As you lay there in your luxurious bed, you remember everything like it had just happened yesterday.
>A weak smile sneaked across your face as you remembered the day the love of your life tripped and fell into the grand cake in front of all her subjects during one of her yearly celebrations.
>It seemed so silly back then, but it had grown into a fond memory you held onto dearly.
>You try to sing a few notes from the song you had written for her that night, it was a particularly joyous one, but your body would have none of it.
>It hurt knowing you could no longer thread the magical words that had brought you together anymore.
>Closing your eyes as you lay in bed, you see the image of Celestia's face smiling back at you.
>But with each passing day, you could feel it become a little more tainted by sadness.
>When you saw her the eve before, she still showed you your favorite smile, but you could tell she was on the precipice of tears.
>It cut you deeper than she could imagine.
>Unable to sit back with nothing but your own thoughts any longer, you weakly reached to the table next your bedside.
>Picking up a tiny hand bell, you give it a soft ring.
>In mere moments a royal servant enters the room, bowing as she closes the door behind her.
>"Is there something you need M'Lord?"
>You chuckled whenever they called you that, no matter how much you insisted they didn't, it seemed they wouldn't treat you like they had used to when you were nothing more than a lowly minstrel of the court.
>Your voice had lost its strength in recent years, so you strained your arm and waved her over.
>Timidly, she walks up to your bedside.
>You knew it was intimidating for her to speak with you, so you relaxed and placed your hands on your stomach, closing your eyes as you smiled warmly at her.
Would you be a dear...and tell the princess...I'd like to see her when she has a chance...
>You tried not to cough in the fear it might spook her.
>Wanting to leave as soon as possible, the young mare nods quickly and heads out the door.
>She was a lovely lass, you felt she'll have a bright future.
>As you watch her leave, you turn your head to the side and look out the window and smile at the bright sunlight shining through...

>Your eyes had grown tired, the evening sun had set, and twilight was slowly filling the room.
>Celestia had not come to visit you this evening, you knew her royal duties came first, but it still stung your heart all the same.
>As you struggle not to fall asleep, you hear a sudden knock on your door.
>Eyes fluttering as they fight to stay awake, you call out in a hoarse, raspy, voice.
...Come in...
>The doors slowly creaking open, you're greeted with the visage of the love of your life.
>She looked as young as the day you spent your first night together.
>And like always, you make sure she knows so.
You look...beautiful...this evening...
>Her face contorts with sadness as your voice greets her without the magical tone it once held.
>"I'm sorry my love, it hurts to see you like this."
>As she motions to leave, you call out to her, your voice resonating clearer than ever before.
My time is coming to an end.
>She flinches and looks away, unable to meet your eyes.
>"Do not speak like that."
>You chuckle but are forced to stop, it hurts to laugh.
>As you hold your side in pain, she comes to your aid, but you lift a hand to stop her.
Please dear...I know my body best.
>Before you can manage another smile, you're wracked with a coughing fit.
>She reached for the servant bells, but you grabbed her arm to stop her.
>Even doing that brought searing pain through your wrists.
>"I cannot bear to see you like this Anon."
>For the first time in ages, you put on your serious face.
We knew this night... would come from the very start...my love.
>She turns away from you, frustration and sadness clouding her voice.
>"That does not make it any less painful."
>Letting go of her arm, you raise your hand to her cheek.
Then let me ask...if you were able to take it all back, would you?
>She purses her lips, unable to answer you.
I wouldn't...I don't think...
>You give her a genuine smile as she faintly shows you her own.
Of all the mares in the land...I was lucky enough to have you.
>A grin manages to creep across her face.
And I wouldn't have it any other-
>But before you can finish, your arm slumps to your side.
>Wheezing in frustration, you watch as Celestia starts to panic.
>You had lost your strength in recent years, but it had never been this bad before.
>The time was nearly upon you.
>Her strong demeanor gone, tears had finally started flowing freely from her eyes.
>You prided yourself on your memory, a gift brought to you by the joys of music, but you couldn't remember the last time she had cried in front of you.
>As she lifted your lifeless hand and nuzzled it against her cheek, you forced out the last words you could manage.
Promise...when I'm gone...you won't...forget.
>Her eyes opening wide, she looks down at you and nods.
>"I promise my love. Forever and always."
>As you slowly close your eyes, you smile in satisfaction.
You're all...I've ever...wanted...
>You speak in a barely audible whisper.
Thank...y-
>Before your sentence can come to an end, your hand slips from her hoof and becomes one with the bedsheets.
>And like a candle in the wind...your life was snuffed out.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

>You are Celestia.
>Proud ruler of Equestria.
>Attending the memorial service in grand hall for the one you held closest to your heart.
>As the crowd of p0nies look on in silence, you feel a twinge of guilt.
>He had always told you he wanted his funeral to be a small, quiet event.
>But that was one wish you could not keep.
>As much as he wished to deny it, he was also ruler of this land, and you wanted your citizens to acknowledge that.
>When the p0nies would walk up to say their goodbyes, most would try to hold back words of sorrow and tears.
>You laughed inwardly, if he were still alive he would have told them not to be sad and sing them a limerick he had wrote in his younger days.
>Truly he was the voice of the common folk, a benevolent caring ruler like no other.
>And now that voice had been quelled, silenced by the cruel sands of time.
>You promised yourself you wouldn't cry, to see the sole ruler of the land in distress would only cause unnecessary panic among the populace.
>So there you sat beside his coffin, beaming a fake smile and nodding like you had been forced to practice all your life.
>It hurt more than these simple p0nies could ever comprehend.

>As the service came to a close, royal guards came to take him to the grave site, but you shunned them away.
>This was something you felt must be done by you...and only you.
>Lifting his casket as if it were but a feather, you took him outside in the pouring rain, guiding him to his final resting place.
>The citizens had wanted for him to be placed in the royal tomb, to be safe for all eternity, but you had stopped them.
>You knew exactly where he wished to rest till the end of time.
>Settling in the royal garden, you painstakingly begin to lower him amongst the flowers.
>A tombstone rested above him, the loving inscription written upon it you had made yourself.
A Voice Like No Other.
>Finally touching ground, you take one final moment before you finished the deed.
>This would be it, he'd be truly gone.
>Never to see his loving smile, never to hear his soothing songs once more.
>It was time.
>And you knew what you had to do.
>You stood above his grave...and cried.
>Princess hood had cut you deeply, unable to show your emotions from deep inside, you had become used to bottling up your feelings.
>He was the only one who could reach them, and now that he was gone, you had no idea what was left for you.
>This would be the last time you ever cry, though an eternity might await you, never again would you shed tears.
>They would be for him...and him alone.
>And so you cried the tears of a lifetime, vision blurring as you wept in solitude you had long since forgotten.
>As the liquid pouring from your eyes was drowned out by the trickling rain, you slowly encased your loved one in the soil from whence he came.
>Packing it down smoothly, you wipe away your tears and marvel at the work you had completed.
>One day beautiful flowers would grow here, a simple reminder of the man he once was.
>Trying to convince yourself not to break down in sorrow, you slowly walk over, and rest on top of his final resting place.
>Through all the years you had spent together, you had never once sung a song for him on your own.
>Your royal duties didn't allow for time to be spent on such frivolous activities, or maybe that was just the excuse you had created for yourself.
>You bit your lip in sadness, it was just another regret you wished to take back.
>As you laid there on the ground, resting your back on his tombstone, you looked up at the cloud covered sky and sang.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5anLPw0Efmo

I just wish that you were here~.
Take back all of those...wasted years~.
I knew you had to leave.
I wish that I could just grieve.
Your presence still lingers here.
And it won't leave me alone.

My heart's not made of steel.
Constrain this truth I feel.
There's just too much that time cannot replace!

When I tried to run away you would appear.
When you'd sing I'd hide away all of my fears.
So I held your hand through all of your years.
But you stilllll arrrrre...
Part of meeee~

(Stroking her hoof across his tombstone, she tries not to choke her words as fresh tears flow anew.)

You used to captivate me... with your devastating might.
Now I'm bound by my life you had defiiiined.
Your face – it taught... me what my life means.
Your voice – it placed that day... all this tragedy in me!

My heart's not made of steel.
Constrain this truth I feel.
There's just too much that time cannot replace!

When I tried to run away you would appear.
When you'd sing I'd hide away all of my fears.
So I held your hand through all of your years.
But you stilllll arrrrre...
Part of meeee~

I've tried so hard to tell myself that I'm wrong.
But though you're still iiiin me.
I'll be alone for so long!

(Standing up dramatically, the clouds separate like the red sea.)
(Sunlight spills through causing the flowers to sparkle like fresh morning dew.)
(Turning around, Celestia kneels down and hugs the tombstone in desperate agony.)

When I tried to run away you would appear.
When you'd sing I'd hide away all of my fears.
So I held your hand through all of your years.
But you stilllll arrrrre...
Part of meeee~

>As the only song you had ever written for him comes to an end, the clouds dissipate completely as your brilliant sun shines radiant light over his grave.
>His only wish was for you to be happy, even when he was gone.
>Looking up at the sunlight as it shines brightly over the calm skies, you smile weakly.
>Can you truly feel happiness now that he was gone?
>Only time will tell...

The End