She’s gone. I cannot believe it... Thought Celestia. She was laying upon her bed, head in her plush, white pillow. Her sobbing drowned out the mixture of noises coming from the opened window and from outside her chamber walls. She’s gone because of I. Because I was too much of an ignorant fool to understand what she was going through. The bringer of the Sun quivered.

Her eyes sore from crying, her body ached from the position of which she was in, and her mind heavy, as if somepony had forced a dark ultimatum onto her, from which she could not escape. For hours, she lay sobbing and wallowing in her distress. Her door slowly crept inward, the noises of the bustling ponies grew as it continued to open, drowning out the creak of the old, yet beautifully crafted wooden door.

Standing in the doorway was a purple mare whom had the Cutie Mark that resembled Magic and a stripe in her mane and tail. She too was crying a steady stream of tears.

“P-Princess?” Twilight Sparkle said in between sobs.

The goddess did not look up--she continued to sob uncontrollably. Twilight wasn’t crying because of what happened, no, she was crying because Celestia, her mentor, was crying. She hated to see one she loved in the state she was in. This was the first she had seen the goddess in such a state.

Twilight slowly made her way over to the bed, head down and crying all the while. She slowly crawled in and, without thinking or giving the slightest care of what she was attempting and doing, hugged Celestia with as much love and compassion she could muster. The bringer of the Sun turned around slowly and in an almost glazed and thoughtless way, began to hug back, crying into Twilight’s shoulder. The purple mare hugged her tightly, wanting to comfort the white Alicorn in any way possible, and nuzzled into her neck weeping with the force of the Sun itself.

They both laid there, sobbing and not ever wanting to leave the warmth they brought each other. Soon after, they both fell into a troubled and light sleep that held, in the darkness, sorrowful and heart wrenching sadness that would crush any happy or content feeling it its wake.

--- --- --- --~(___()___)~-- --- --- ---

In the morning, Canterlot was a sorrowful place to be. Celestia had risen the Sun earlier that morning, but had instructed Twilight to help, for the poor Princess could barely force herself out of bed with the mind bending darkness that had began to consume her, both mentally, and physically. They both knew that there was nought a thing they could do--Celestia knew their was nought a way to get her beloved sister back--and Twilight knew that her teacher and leader would never be the same again. Twilight had not known Princess Luna closely as Celestia had, but she knew her all the same.

She knew all of Equestria would be affected for many years to come--that is, if Equestria was to ever get over the loss of a leader. Only the slow process of never ending time would tell the sad tail.

Both mares returned to Celestia’s chambers and sat--not facing each other--not willing to. Celestia never fully stopped crying, a steady stream constant from her weak and tired eyes. The Element of Magic was always on the verge--she had been looking out the window ever since they had gotten back, trying to subdue the sadness that was slowly destroying every fiber of her being.

“Why...” Celestia said, a quiver in her voice.

Twilight turned to face her, a great strain on her face, seeming to force back the tears, and said slowly, “It--It was not your f-fault, Princess.”

The Goddess shoved her face into her hooves and began to uncontrollably sob once again. Twilight averted her eyes, she could bare the sight no more. Celestia gripped the bed sheets with her hooves and buried her face into the bed.

“Of course it is...” The Princess began. “... I am the one that banished her... I am the one to blame--this is all my fault, Twilight...” She looked over at her, her eyes blood shot and red. “I ended my sisters life...”

Twilight broke out into sobs and once again got up to council the poor mare. She held her in her fore-arms and, in a soothing tone, yet still had a hit of sadness that could not be controlled, she told her, “Y-You may have banished her, but--it was for a good reason. You were not the one that killed her, it was by her own hoof that she did that...” She choked on the words, too sad to continue them, and laid next to her.

--- --- --- --~(___()___)~-- --- --- ---

“Princess Celestia...” A guard had entered her chambers, whose door had been hung loosely open, the two to full of sorrow to care. The guard stopped a few feet inside as he saw the two huddled together, asleep. He bent his head down a bit and glanced around, thinking. He drew himself up and said with a stern, but loosely sorrowed voice, “Princess Celestia--the plans have been made for the burial.”

He winced at the word and cringed as he saw the Goddess stir with an unworthy fashion for a Princess. She drew herself up tiredly and trembling to look glazed at the Guard. She almost looked relieved, but it was destroyed by her hopelessness.

“Thank you...” she trailed off, and shook her head soon after the words escaped her. “When is it?” she ended.

“In t-two days, Princess.” he answered, letting the dark sorrow penetrate his voice.

The Holder of the Sun smiled weakly and reassuringly told him, “please, come in, you may speak freely.”

The smile faded as soon as it was seen by all in the room.

The guard slumped, relieved, and slowly, cautiously, walked deeper into the round-walled room. He instantly took advantage of his new privilege.

“I am very sorry of what happened, all of Equestria are mourning your loss.”

His head lowered as pent up sadness forced its way up and crashed down upon him. He made his way to the side of the bed and looked up with glistening eyes at the Princess.

“We all miss her.”

--- --- --- --~(___()___)~-- --- --- ---