Lullaby for a Princess

Chapter Twenty-One: Lullaby For a Princess

As the scream died, all Equestria was quiet. No sound marked the tragedy. Nothing moved but the breeze. It stirred Celestia's mane as she sat, staring at the sky. Tears ran down her face silently. The Elements smoked around her, where they had fallen. Celestia sat there until tears had drenched the ground. Celestia hadn't known what the Elements would do to Luna. They were a last resort, only to be used in grave danger. The Elements worked, to some extent, according to the bearer's wishes. Celestia had wanted to defeat Nightmare Moon without physically harming her sister. The Elements had listened, and now an outline of Luna's face graced the moon. That face will haunt me. Celestia walked slowly back to her rooms, dragging her wings. She would have to tell the ponied what had happened, and she wanted to grieve in peace before then. She poured water into a basin, pouring it over her hair to rinse out the dye.

Only, it didn't come off.

Celestia tried and tried to rinse it out. She loathed the bright colors now. They were a symbol of her pride, which had caused Luna to be banished to the moon. But the colors didn't come out. At last Celestia cane to the realization that the dye wasn't coming out. Ever. The Elements and the magic she used to wield them had forever stained her mane and tail. A reminder. For the rest of eternity. Never let your pride get the best of you. This desolation must never be repeated. Celestia stayed there for a long time, grieving for her sister. Then she rose and went to the window. Opening it, Celestia looked up at the moon. She would have to lower it soon. Maybe I could keep the sun up for a year or two... But Celestia knew better. Sooner or later, the sun must come up. Sooner or later, the moon must take its place. Sooner or later, she would have to unwillingly usurp Luna's position as Princess of the Moon. What has led to this? My pride, my self-centeredness....this is all my fault...and Luna paid for it. More tears flowed from Celestia's eyes. Dearest Sister! I am so very sorry! What must you feel right now? Loneliness? Fear? Luna....
Celestia began to sing:

Fate has been cruel and order unkind
How can I have sent you away?
The blame was my own; the punishment, yours
The harmony's silent today

But into the stillness I'll bring you a song
And I will your company keep
Till your tired eyes and my lullabies
Have carried you softly to sleep

Once did a pony who shone like the sun
Look out on her kingdom and sigh
She smiled and said, "Surely, there is no pony
So lovely and so well beloved as I"

So great was her reign and so brilliant her glory
That long was the shadow she cast
Which fell dark upon the young sister she loved
And grew only darker as days and nights passed

Lullay moon princess, goodnight sister mine
And rest now in moonlight's embrace
Bear up my lullaby, winds of the earth
Through cloud, and through sky, and through space

Carry the peace and the coolness of night
And carry my sorrow in kind
Luna, you're loved so much more than you know
Forgive me for being so blind

Soon did that pony take notice that others
Did not give her sister her due
And neither had she loved her as she deserved
She watched as her sister's unhappiness grew

But such is the way of the limelight, it sweetly
Takes hold of the mind of its host
And that foolish pony did nothing to stop
The destruction of one who had needed her most

Lullay moon princess, goodnight sister mine
And rest now in moonlight's embrace
Bear up my lullaby, winds of the earth
Through cloud, and through sky, and through space

Carry the peace and the coolness of night
And carry my sorrow in kind
Luna, you're loved so much more than you know
May troubles be far from your mind
And forgive me for being so blind

The years now before us
Fearful and unknown
I never imagined
I'd face them on my own

May these thousand winters
Swiftly pass, I pray
I love you; I miss you
All these miles away

May all your dreams be sweet tonight
Safe upon your bed of moonlight
And know not of sadness, pain, or care
And when I dream, I'll fly away and meet you there
Sleep...

And so began the longest years of Celestia's life.