Author's Notes:

This scene was cut from the end of the story. I decided I liked ending right at the reveal, letting the reader absorb and process what that relationship had meant, and extrapolate for themselves what it would mean in the future. Like the previous deleted scene, this one is not necessarily canonical; I'll be exploring Celestia's future in more depth in Old Friends, Again.

The world turned its last turn, the sun burned itself out, and all was darkness.

Celestia drifted. She thought of the ponies she once knew, and the other creatures as well, finding it difficult to concentrate.

It was very cold, and she noticed in a detached sort of way that her body was slowly growing numb. She could no longer feel her hooves or wings; she could no longer feel much of anything, in fact.

A spark struggled deep within her, fighting the numb chill.

A voice echoed in the void, as softly as a memory. Everything is as it should be.

And she smiled.