Dust felt humiliated as he walked through the castle corridors towards his and Luna’s chambers. Humiliated, mocked, angry. Luna walked next to him, and
she had to kick into a trot to even keep up with him. His boots touched the floor with heavy sounds for every step, and it almost felt as if the sound was
actually coming from inside his head, rather than his feet. Like something trying to smash its way out of his skull.

"Listen, dear.." Luna said next to him. "..it wasn't that bad.."

"Not that bad?" Dust replied, scoffing as he did. "Did you even see them, Luna? They didn't say a thing, just stared at us like.. I don't know.."

"Yes, but.."

"And then they booed." Dust said with an angry voice. "Booed at US, at what we've done. I could have sworn I saw a couple of rotten tomatoes in the crowd. Maybe even a pitchfork and torch."

"I think you're overreacting.." Luna said slowly. "I'm sure they'll come around.."

"And what if they don't?" Dust said, raising his voice. "What if they'll just grow even more angry with us, and try to overthrow us as well?"

Luna stopped. "Of course they're upset with us, love, but they'll get used to us. We just told them that the princess had resided and that you and me
would take her place permanently. It's no surprise that they acted the way they did."

Dust stopped as well, but didn't turn around to look at her. "I hope you're right.." He turned his head to look over his shoulder at her. "I just.."

"You just what?" Luna asked of him.

Dust sighed deeply, and took a step to his left, walking up to one of the many windows in the corridor. He didn't say anything else, and just stood there for
a while, looking out through the glass at the busy town below. Luna slowly walked up to his side, and carefully touched his hand with her hoof.

"I.." Dust whispered. "Did.. did we really do the right thing?"

"What do you mean, dear?" Luna said back to him.

"What we did to you sister." He answered her. "What if.. what if the same thing happens to us?" He turned and looked into her eyes, worry clouding his
vision. "To you.. Fuck it, I've only been a ruler for a few hours, and already I feel like giving it up.."

"You'll do no such thing." Luna replied, nuzzling his arm gently. "And don't worry about me, I'll be fine, as long as I have you."

Dust lowered his head, a sad look on his face. "I really don't deserve you.." He closed his eyes a bit longer than a standard blink.

"Maybe you don't." Luna answered. "But I still love you. And don't worry, in a while, I'm sure everypony will love us both." She reached her head up to
his lips and gave him a light kiss. "I promise, my king."

A weak smile spread across Dust's face at her words. "A king needs a queen." He answered her. "And.. come to think of it, I didn't really ask you properly.."

At first, Luna didn't understand what he meant, but before she had time to ask, the man before her fell to his knees, still with that little smile on his lips.
A shy laugh escaped her lips as he grabbed her hoof in his hands, and looked her in the eyes.

"Luna, I.." He began, slowly. "I.. hey, stop laughing, this is serious!"

"I'm sorry, it's just.."

"Listen, I love you and want to spend my life with you.."

"You look so silly, shorter than me, for once!"

".. Will you marry me?"

Luna’s laugh stopped instantly.

".. Of course I'll be your queen." She answered him, but Dust interrupted her.

"No, not queen. Or well, yes, but this is so much more than that. I'm asking you to marry me. Will you be my wife?"

Luna looked at him with those big eyes. God, he loved them so much. It was as if everything he loved about her could be found inside them, in that moment.
Even though he already knew her answer, he wanted to hear her say it.

"Of course I'll be your wife." Luna said with a smile. "Now get back up on your feet, I don't want to kiss a midget."

Dust grinned as he stood up again. "That was just mean, sweetie."

"I can be more than mean." Luna replied with a playful laugh.

"Save it for the wedding night." Dust said back to her with a smile, and gave her a tender kiss.

After they broke the kiss, Dust nodded his head over his shoulder, and they began walking down the corridor again. Everything would be alright, he was sure
of that now. His former doubt and worry had been blown away, making way for newfound hope and happiness. She would always make him feel better,
simply by just being there for him. And now, he knew she would always be there for him, not just as his queen and lover.

But as family.

"It's perfect, dear."

Dust was standing in front of a big mirror, looking at his reflection. In it, he could see himself, wearing a suit that they had made just for him to wear at the
wedding. It was black, just the way he liked it, and upon his own request, the jacket had been lengthened down to a little bit beneath his knees. No hood though,
despite the fact that he'd asked for one. But that wouldn't have been fitting for the groom, and Luna managed to talk him out of it. Still, he actually like the suit,
tailored in the finest material money could buy. The jacket had been made from smooth satin, with the inside lined with silk.

"You think?" He answered Luna, looking at her reflection in the mirror.

"Yes, very handsome." She said back to him. "And I prefer you this way.."

"In a mirror?" Dust replied with a laugh.

Luna smiled and giggled a bit at his words. "No, without a hood.. I want to be able to see your face."

"That's it, send for the mare that made this suit, I want a hood!" Dust answered jokingly, as he took a few steps backwards towards the door, raising his hand
as if to call for someone’s attention.

Luna stopped him by carefully biting down on his hand and pulling him back to the mirror as they both laughed. "You're hopeless." She said between her
teeth.

"Sorry, sweetie, I can't help it." He answered her as she let go off his hand.

In truth, he really couldn't help it. After all, how could someone help being full of happiness at a moment such as this? About to be married to the most
wonderful pony in the world. It was impossible to not feel joy. Although, Dust had always been somewhat of a pessimist, the past weeks since he proposed
had changed him completely. He no longer felt any bitterness or resentment for.. well, anything or anypony, really. No more hate against the ponies that
had shunned him when he first came here, no more guilt over his actions, no fear for what lay ahead of him.

He'd never felt like this before, like his heart had literally grown. Sure, it might be somewhat of a cliché to say, but that really was how he felt. A bigger heart.
Even his looks had been improved, and not just the suit. His hair had been taken care of, and actually looked like hair and not the filthy mess it had turned
into the last month. He'd started shaving his beard more often, and it didn't look like he had a broom glued to his chin anymore.

"You want to see me in my dress?" Luna asked with a smile on her face.

"I wouldn't mind, but, uh.." Dust answered slowly. ".. Back where I come from, it meant bad luck for a groom to see his bride in her dress before the wedding."

Luna looked at him with disappointment. "Oh.. that's too bad.."

"It's fine, I'll just have to wait a little bit longer." Dust answered and gave his soon to be wife a hug. "I'm sure you'll be absolutely stunning walking down
the aisle."

"Thanks.." Luna whispered into his ear.

Dust was about to answer her, but got interrupted by a knock on the door. They tore away from each other, looking towards the doors. "Yes?" They both
answered the knocking in unison.

The doors opened, and a mare carefully entered the room. She looked very old, her coat and mane had almost lost their former color from aging.

".. Princess.." The old mare said as she looked at Luna, but she got quiet as her eyes turned to Dust, seemingly unsure of what to actually call him.

"Dust." He said sensing her hesitation. "Just call me Dust, it's fine."

"Dust, then." Her eyelids looked heavy as she spoke, as if they would shut close any second. "It's, uh.. Something has happened, Princess.."

"Is there something wrong?" Luna asked, her eyebrows lowering into a frown.

"It's.. you sister." The mare answered. "She's.. Just.. You better come with me, both of you."

Dust looked at Luna, and saw her face taking on a worried look. She nodded, and quickly trotted off towards the mare without waiting for Dust. He hurried
after her, he didn't want her to go through this alone. Remembering what Celestia had said a few weeks earlier, he was sure he knew what was about to happen,
or what might have already happened. And as they hurried through the castle towards her chambers, even he himself started to worry. Strange, that somepony
he'd seen as an enemy now felt more as family, and he found himself wishing she would still be alive when they got to her. Mostly for Luna's sake, though.

It was her sister after all, and he had no idea how Luna would react to her passing. No doubt, she would mourn her, but hopefully, she would feel better
eventually.

After what felt only like seconds, they reached Celestia's chambers.

"I'll.. wait outside." The old mare said. "Go on in, you two."

Dust carefully pressed down the handle of the door and pushed it open. He didn't look inside and didn't enter the room, he just held the door open for Luna
to enter. It would be best if she saw her sister first. He then quietly stepped in behind her.

"Sis..?" Luna’s voice seemed to almost echo across the quiet room, yet at the same time, it sounded muffled.

There was no answer, except for a weak whimpering from the bed. Luna hurried across the room towards it, towards her sister. Dust stayed behind by the
door. Even though he wanted to be there for Luna, he felt he would only disturb them in a moment such as this. He saw Luna run around the bed without
tearing her eyes away from Celestia. He couldn't really see her face from his place by the doors, but he could still see her mane.

It looked like dust. Literally, like dust or ashes. Grey, filthy and bleak. It didn't move around like fog like it used to, and the many colors of it had long since
faded. What little he could see of her coat, was nowhere near as white and shining as it used to be. Now, it had adapted a more grey color, the way a dirty
white shirt would look. Her ears slouched as well, and as she raised her head to look at Luna, he got a look at her face.

Horrible, to put it bluntly. She looked like a corpse, her eyes sunken into her skull.

"Luna..?" Even her voice sounded dead. Raspy and old, it reminded Dust of the sound that dead leaves make as they blow across the ground. A whisper.

"I'm here, Tia." Luna answered as she sat herself down next to the bed. "How are you feeling..?"

"I'm far beyond the state of being able to feel anything." Celestia answered. "Look at me. I don't have much time left, there's no denying that."

Dust saw Luna reaching her hoof up to the bed, placing it down on a bump on the covers. Dust guessed it was Celestia's own hoof beneath it.

"Don't say that, sis." Luna whispered, and Dust heard how her voice started to give in. "You'll be fine, I'm sure. You'll be up in no time, and then you'll get
to walk down the aisle next to me on my wedding.."

Dust decided against his own better judgment, and took a few steps towards the bed. As he came closer, Celestia turned her head and looked at him.
He instantly stopped.

".. Dust.." Celestia whispered. "You're.."

"I'm sorry, I'll.. I'll leave, I don't want to bother you.. I'm sure you don't want to see me right now.." He said quickly.

Celestia shook her head slowly at his words. "No, come over here."

Dust obeyed hesitantly, and stopped next to Luna. Once again, guilt started tearing inside him.

The white mare sighed as she turned her gaze back to Luna. "I.. Please forgive me, sister.."

"For what?" Luna asked of her sister.

"I was blind." Celestia answered. "I denied you your happiness. It was wrong of me to treat you like I did.. And you, Dust.." She turned her eyes to him.
"I never hated you, or humans.. I just.. I was afraid. I wanted Luna to be happy, but in my fear of death I failed to understand that you made her happy."

"Don't talk too much." Luna whispered. "You should save your strength."

Another apology was uttered, but this one didn't come from the dying princess. "I.. I'm sorry, too." Dust said as he sat himself down on the edge of the bed.
"I should have tried to gain your acceptance instead of doing.. what I did."

"Forget about it.." Celestia whispered, her voice clearly fading. "You saw me as a tyrant, and I don't blame you for it. All of this is my fault.. This is probably
my last words, and I want you two to know.. I've never hated any of you. I thought that Luna could never find happiness with you, that she needed a real
stallion, not a.. man. But I see now that I was wrong." She coughed slightly as her voice died down.

"Tia, stop it.." Luna said, with tears no falling from her eyes. "We understand, just.. Try to relax, sister."

Dust felt his heart stop as Celestia suddenly moved her foreleg towards him, touching his shoulder and looking him straight into the eyes.

".. Take.. take care of her." She whispered. Dust nodded slowly, and felt something well up in his eyes as well.

Without taking her hoof away from Dust, Celestia turned her head to Luna. "Don't ever forget that I love you, sister."

"I love you too.." Luna said with shaky voice. "Please.. don't.. don't go.."

"I'm sorry." Celestia answered, almost without making a sound. "When I'm gone.. Put me next to Twilight Sparkle. Let me rest together with her."

Luna and Dust both nodded at her final request. A weak smile spread across the white princess face as she looked at the couple.

The hoof resting on Dust's shoulder suddenly slipped off of him, falling down to the bed again with a muffled sound.

"Tia..?" Luna whispered. No answer came. "Sis..?"

Celestia's eyes remained open, staring blankly at them, and the smile on her lips didn't fade. Even though her soul now had passed, it had passed with
at least a bit of happiness following it.

Luna burst into tears over her sister, loud, heartbreaking tears. She let her head fall unto the bed as she cried, her tears staining the bed sheets. Dust tried to
blink away his own tears, but there was no use in trying. He let them fall as he watched Luna cry her heart out. Carefully, he tried putting his hand over
her shoulders.

"Honey.." He whispered. "She's.. she's in a better place now."

Luna stopped sobbing the moment he spoke. She jerked her head to look at him, eyes drenched in tears. And anger.

"And what do you know about that?" She said with a cracked voice. "Nothing!" She shrugged his hand off of her. "Why don't you just leave?"

"Luna, what are you saying.."

"Get out!" She yelled in his face, and pushed her hooves hard against his chest. "This is all your fault!" Without warning, she broke down into even louder
tears, and started punching her hooves at him, hitting his chest and shoulders. "It's your fault, you.. you killed her!" She had become frantic.

"I-Stop it!" He yelled back at her, but she only hit him harder, and pain started to course through his body. He raised his voice at her. "Luna, calm down!"

"Buck you!" She screamed at him. "I hate you!"

Fed up, Dust grabbed both of her hooves, doing his best to hold her back. She tried to shake herself free, but he didn't let go off his grip on her. She
tossed her shoulder back and forth violently in an attempt to get away, and then launched her head towards him. She slammed it hard into his ribs,
and for a second, Dust lost his breath. But she didn't do anything else, she just sobbed into his chest.

He let go of her hooves, and they fell limply down before she wrapped them around him. Her entire body shook and trembled as he slowly embraced her,
but she didn't stop crying. Her tears soaked the shirt of his new suit, but he didn't care about that. He held her closer, and she pressed herself close to
him, sobbing and crying.

Dust let his head fall over hers, half his face buried into her mane, as he himself broke down in tears.