Very few know the fate of a Alicorn. What happens when they die or grow too old for their own mind. The most common thing to say would be that they simply fade off, like the rest of us. To simply accept their demise and wisp away into the heavens to be with all those they have met throughout their lives.

This would be the case for most Alicorns. Their minds simply fading out as their bodies slip into the state of a coma, fated to lay dormant until their hearts stop. But there is a fate much worse than death, a fate that comes to all who are foolish enough to ignore the signs and continue as if nothing were amiss.

This fate is what happens when the magic of a Alicorn is lost, their power used up over time and never allowed refilled. Such a powerful beings as Alicorns need at least half of their power to function properly, never any less. But when their magic does begin to fade, they begin to use their own life essence to power their magic. As this happens their bodies begin to deform, decay, and become the inner most foul creature they could ever conceive in their own mind. Blackness engulfs their minds, thoughts of feasting on the magic and life of others start to seep in, they become creatures bent on stealing the life essence of other creatures to feed and refill their own magic, to regain what they have lost. They become horrors, lustful for the magic that resides in every creature in the world.

And who of all the Alicorns would this happen to? Certainly not Twilight, the dear lavender alicorn only became a Alicorn a few months ago. Luna? I dare say not, for she was imprisoned onto the moon for a millennia with nothing to do but mumble to her own alternative self.

No, this tragic and horrendous fate falls onto none other than Celestia.

The famed diarch was left alone for a millennia, to raise both the Sun and the Moon. To face every monster, marauder, and villain that stepped up to face her. It was the only eventuality after the five hundredth year. She felt the effects soon enough, hastily ignoring them as a simple sickness that would soon pass. But eventually, she found herself starting to wither and fall.

Her fight with Chrysalis was the final blow that made her realize her fate to come. The harrowing thoughts beginning to invade her mind, the chipping of her hooves on the softest of materials, and the weakness that came with every simple spell cast. But through pure will, she endured her illness, keeping the transformation at bay until she could bear it no longer.

She dared not tell her sister, for the tragedy would be too powerful. She dared not tell Twilight, the thoughts would only drive her into books for a cure when Equestria would need her most. No, she merely took every precaution to aid her pupil, her final act of goodwill to the world before she was gone. And day after day, she waited.

The hollowing effect on her mind beginning to take effect, the only one creature showing any knowledge of knowing was Discord himself. He had offered his help, to the surprise of the goddess, but she declined, knowing if he failed it would only affect him as well. She did, however, ask a final request of the mad deity. To teach and aid Twilight and her Sister in their times of need.

And with the promise made, all ties cut, she went to her chambers to write unto her student one final letter.

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ

With her deed done, she placed the scroll into a small, purple box. Giving it to a guard and ordering it to be brought to Twilight by the suns next rise. She watched as they guard left before baring herself into her own room, to keep everyone from entering.

She tiredly climbed onto her bed, shutting the windows and ceiling off all light from her room. Letting out the slightest of whimpers, she began to feel her body eating away at itself. He inside felt ablaze, while her skin crawled with agony. In a almost frantic fashion, she swept a mirror from her dresser. A simple gift from her sister, given so many years ago. Crystal exterior, colored a gentle pink, with Celestia’s name engraved on the back right above her Cutie mark.

She watched with the final minutes of her mind, the transformation of the magicless and feral being she would become. It was slow at first, tiny patches of fur falling from her ears and cheeks. Then it became worse and worse.

First her cheeks began to split showing her teeth beginning to distend, becoming jagged and sharp with each passing second. Her eyes slowly sunk in until all that was seen in the black voids were pinprick sized pink dots. Her horn’s once illustrious polish now beginning to crack and chip, fading from its wondrous white glow to a charcoal black.

Tears began to form and fall from the sockets that once held her warming gaze, only drippings of black tar falling down her decaying cheeks. She slowly wrapped her wings around herself, dropping the mirror and letting out loud sobs and whimpers.

Instead of the cries of a tormented mare, the sounds of a wretched abomination wailing in pain filled the room’s walls. Finally, she could not take the thoughts, the madness, the tormenting facade she had built since the first signs!

She gathered little magic remained in her body, focusing every last coherent thought into this spell and released the energy in one magnificent and radiant flash of golden light! And she was gone. Vanished to a place where she would never hurt another soul until her body decayed to a skeletal corpse and her mind taken to her loved ones in the heavens.

The only sounds left in the room were the firm yet tender knocks of a recruit tapping away at the princess’ door, asking if everything was alright.

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ

Twilight woke with a yawn and a stretch that morning, having taken a sabbatical from her life in Ponyville to visit her mentor and friend, Celestia. A gentle knocking stirred her from her thoughts as the door opened to reveal a single guard, carrying a small, purple box. The guard said nothing as he placed the box on her nightstand and exited without another word, confusing the princess.

With a curious twitch of her ear, she lifted the box onto her lap and opened it up. Inside, she was delighted to find a single scroll with the royal Celestial seal stamped proudly onto the wax sealing the scroll.

She carefully opened the wax seal to read. Her face slowly fell as she read on.

Dear, Twilight

It is in my final moments I write this letter to you. My body has used every last bit of my power and my mind has lost a losing war. I beg that you take my teachings to heart and bring our world to a new magnificent era. I have given everything I can to you, from my knowledge to my possessions it is yours to use.

I have subcummed to a fate much worse than death, for I live a almost neverending torture. Just know that through all of my days, I have never held such respect or love for a single pony as you.

I am truly proud of what you have become Twilight and I hope from the deepest parts of my heart that you and Luna bring about generation after generation of happiness to the world around you.

From your Friend and Teacher, Celestia~

With a final gloss of the letter, she gazed to the rising sun in the distance, seeing Discord standing atop Celestia’s Balcony, his head hung low in respect as he gazed at the sun. And in the morning twilight, a single, pained and sorrowful shriek filled the air. The sound cascading over the mountains and across the skies, announcing the fate of the beloved Princess Celestia.

Author's Notes:

Something that popped into my head after seeing that picture (the Cover art).
Anyway, not much really to explain here. Just a sad and depressing story that really doesn't make too much sense.
May come back to edit and fill in gaps, may not.

((I wrote this in a sleep deprived state, so sorry for mistakes and such))