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Time has passed. And much has occurred.

That memory from that fateful night... I always keep it close to my heart. A memory none have ever known of beside myself. But it was not the last memory he and I created together. Not in the slightest.

I have arrived in Ponyville, as I do every single week. The people of this town have long since come to accept me, as has all of Equestria. The name of Nightmare Moon is no longer spoken in fear, but spoken in reverence and genuine warmth. And it is all because of you, my love.

I still remember the night you returned to me. The blows that we dealt to each other as you tried so hard to get through to me. To save me. And the years of true bliss and friendship that followed. You have always been close to my heart. And I have always been honored to be your dearest friend.

The people around me greet and welcome me. Many faces I recognize. Some I do not. Even after all this time, Ponyville remains unchanged. It is as it always is and always will be. A humble town where the simple ways of life and unconditional hospitality are the orders of the day. As you would always want it to be, my dear.

I order my guards to remain at the train station for me. This is something I must do alone. Every week, I always visit this humble town. To visit the most important person of my entire existence. No matter how much time passes, my love for him never fades. I care little for my royal duties. He comes first for me now.

Every time I set foot into Ponyville, the memories we have created always come flooding back to me. The moments of joy we shared. The harsh ordeals we faced together. You carried your duties as the bearer of the Element of Humanity reluctantly. You have never been one for conflict. I know you would much rather live the simple life, far from battle. Yet I was always there for you. I insured that you would never face our trials alone. My love kept me by your side even in the darkest hours, as I am sure your most important friends did as well.

Of course, I do not only recall such dark moments. My days with you have been nothing short of a true joy. Your presence would always make me calm. Looking at your gentle smile would make my heart swell. It was always a challenge to restrain myself from opening my heart to you. My love for you has never once weakened. And of course, I could never forget that most precious night you and I shared. The first time I attended the Grand Galloping Gala.

As I draw near to where I always find you, that memory haunts my mind's vision. I can still recall descending the main hall's staircase, as if a scene taken from a fairytale. Clad in an elegant dress weaved by the generous and beautiful bearer of the Element of Generosity herself, and you, clad in a fine white jacket and trousers crafted by her as well. I still remember staying with you throughout the course of the event. We talked. We laughed. And then, we danced. That beautiful moment where, for just a moment, I felt as if you and I had stepped beyond the limits of friendship and through the threshold of something far greater.

That day...was five hundred years ago...

And now, here I stand before you once more. I cannot see you, and yet I know you lie before me. A heavily weathered stone stands above you, bearing your name and your cutie mark. Your body is still. I speak your name. And like every time before, you do not return my greeting. For you...are no longer able to draw breath to speak.

Mere seconds pass before I remember the most dreadful, yet precious, memories I have. Your twilight years. Throughout your life in Equestria, you always held your friends close to your heart. And I saw how you were slowly broken by their demises. It hurt to see them fade away one by one, faces I too had known for decades. And when the last of them left this world, your dear wife, I was there for you.

I can still remember those final years. You grew old. And yet you stubbornly refused to let age hinder you. You tried to stay independent, keeping your mind active to not allow dementia to set in. And we took many walks together to keep your body in shape. I knew you did not have long for this world. And I was going to spend every last second I could with you. The man who, even decades after we first met, still held my heart.

During those final years... I... I still remember... My vision is becoming blurred... My knees are on the verge of buckling... With so many of your loved ones gone, with so few to share your bottomless love with, you turned to me and my sisters. We were always there for you, allowing you to reside within the palace and making frequent visits to your beloved Ponyville to allow your memories to wander. Celestia was always kind to you. Luna was never far. But I... You gave more love to me than anyone else...

Even now, my body remains unchanged from the day we first met. My youth and beauty remained constant while your body continued to deteriorate before my eyes. It hurt... I knew I was going to lose you in the end... But my love for you remained unchanged. I clung to the futile hope that perhaps you would still be with us the next day. And that there would always be a tomorrow for us to be together. I was never once repulsed by your elderly form. You were still my guiding light.

And then... That dreaded day came. Where you... My guiding light... When you faded forever from this world.

My body fails me. I collapse before your tombstone, my voice screaming for you. Six decades... Six decades, you and I remained close. And never was I able to realize my dream... I loved you, my king... I still love you... I would have given anything to be yours... I would have sacrificed my people's love... My royal power... Even my crown...

So many times, I dreamed of what could have been... I had even decided on a name for our prince, should the day have ever come... Prince Nightingale... I would have remained by your side forever, my love... And now, that dream has been slain. Nothing could have prepared me for your passing... My heart aches for you... My body screams to feel your touch... Why... Just...why did this have to be?! And without you... My precious guiding light... I am lost.

I remain still, my head resting over where your body rests belowground. My tears flow free, my lips speaking no words. Why, James... I could have given you so much... And now that possibility is gone forever... Equestria means so little to me now... Without that one special gem among the field of gold, I no longer see the value I once did... I feel so little connection to my people without you. I try to put on a smile, but... Never before have I felt more alone... You gave me the love of my people. You paved the way for my return to the throne. But now it all feels empty and pointless..... I do not wish to reign without you by my side...

Moments pass. Six minutes become sixty. All the while, I allow my mind to wander. To remember as many sweet memories as I can. Slowly, I reach out to the stone before me. My hoof lightly drags along the surface, resting upon the engraving that depicts your cutie mark. Those two doves locked together... You were always so peaceful... And your love for this world and its purity so adamant... There were so few like you so long ago... It is no small wonder that you were loved by so many. Only now, few remain alive who ever knew you. The only ones who remain are my sisters and myself. And things...have not been the same.

As I rise to my feet, I wipe my tears away. My heart is heavy. My body weak. And my mind clouded with far too many precious memories. My love... This will be the last time I visit you here. I... I cannot bear this agony any longer.

I return to the train station and order my guards to depart with me. They are all too aware that something is amiss. I do not try to hide my misery. I care not how others perceive me. My escorts remain near me, but I feel little for them. With him gone, he who served as the chain that bounded me to this kingdom I once loved, my heart has become distant. No longer do I crave the love and acceptance of my people. All I crave...is for him to stand by my side once more. To feel his touch. To see his smile. To hear his voice.

The train ride back to Canterlot is long and quiet. I allow my mind to wander as the car lurches with the train's movements. Five hundred years...and I still cannot fathom that you are no more... If only there was a spell to raise you from the grave... To call back your soul from the great beyond. But...you would surely be enraged towards me for ever doing such a selfish thing. You were longing to be with your loved ones again as the end drew near and would surely be unwilling to be torn from them once more.

I was not the only one who remained by your side. Along with Luna, your beloved daughter would visit from time to time as well. She aged well as the decades went by, those shades of pink and green remaining vibrant in her mane and tail. She missed you dearly after your passing... But none mourned your death more than I.

I see and hear little upon returning to Canterlot. I give halfhearted acknowledgments to all who greet me while my guards lead on. Once I am safely back within the confines of the palace, I dismiss my escorts and continue on my way back to my chambers. All I desire to do now is wallow in my memories and my despair. And one question enters my mind, having been asked thousands upon thousands of times. How in the name of Equestria have I endured this pain for so long?

Before I reach my chambers, I hear a voice ahead of me. Standing before me is my elder sister. Celestia. Her expression is forlorn and worried, as always. She kindly asks me to join her and Luna for tea, which I quietly accept. The three of us gather on one of the palace's grand balconies, an impressive vista providing a lovely view of the landscape far below us. At least it would have seemed lovely to me had my heart and soul not been consumed with perpetual mourning.

We gathered around a small round table, cookies and Danishes set on china plates while Luna poured a clear red fluid into our teacups. Raspberry and pomegranate. A fine choice. There were no words for some time, my sisters lightly sipping the warm beverage while I could only stare at my own sorrowful gaze in my reflection upon the surface of the tea, my visage tainted with a red hue.

Luna quietly broke the silence, asking me if my beloved's resting place was still sound. I explained to her what I saw. Despite being worn from the elements, the stone upon his grave seemed relatively untouched by the passage of time. I cannot fathom how Celestia was in better spirits than Luna and myself, almost as if she is somehow accustomed to watching her dearest friends fade away forever. But perhaps that is because they were merely friends, not the man she gave her heart to. Or perhaps it was merely a mask to hide her own pain from having lost so many over the years. I know she and Twilight Sparkle were always close as mentor and pupil. And I still vividly recall how visibly shaken she was when the bearer of the Element of Magic finally breathed her last with my sister by her side. So we all know the pain of loss... Though surely my pain dwarfs theirs entirely.

I fell silent for a time, barely listening as my sisters tried to break the awkward silence the gloomy atmosphere had brought on. The sky was rather cloudy that day, fitting my mood well. As I looked at my tired eyes in my cup, more questions began to fill my mind. Questions that I have asked myself too many times to count. Why was my beloved no longer with me? Why were we so clearly meant for each other, and yet he was sworn to another? What is the one thing keeping us apart?

More and more these questions were repeated to me. And this time, after far longer than I should have waited, I began to listen. I have been living an empty hollow life since he left this world. Why should I allow it to go on if I no longer find joy in it?

Eventually my sisters turned their gazes toward me. They inquired as to whether or not I wished to attend the opera house that evening for the next performance. I declined. Only the most sorrowful melodies reach me now. Songs that allow my weeping heart to truly release my anguish. Slowly, their suggestions developed into a quiet argument. They were inquisitive, yet concerned and supportive. And finally, in a voice louder than I wished to use, I silenced their questions of why I seemed to want so little to do with my people. My answer was blunt and harsh. My people... My kingdom means nothing to me now.

Their faces showed absolute shock and revulsion. It was then that I realized I was too harsh in my words and quietly readdressed their inquiries. I do still care for my people...but they are no longer my highest priority. My heart calls out not for them, but for him. My beloved. My king. The only man who gave me the life I desired. And with him gone, that life has ended. For I have been dead and empty since the day he breathed his last.

My sisters gave me such helpless and worried stares. They wanted to help me. To soothe my shattered heart. And yet they knew they could not. Such a feat is beyond them. I gathered my courage for what I was about to say. All things considered, I should not have waited this long. I denied myself the truth no longer. I spoke to them a dear, yet taboo, request that I was too fearful to carry out myself. A request for them to finally end me.

Their response was as I expected. Silence. There were no words for a long moment. In the end, it was Luna who spoke first. Her question was brief. She asked if I could have possibly been serious in my request. Once more, I tell them my desire. My will to finally do what no true member of the Equestrian royal family has ever done. My desire to die.

More and more, with a slowly rising tone of desperation, they tried to steer me away from what I desired. And finally, I could tolerate their views no longer. With a raise of my hoof, I silenced them. And then, I did all I could to explain what had brought me to my decision.

My sisters have always had the love of the people of Equestria. They adore our people and seek to guide them. Even when Luna felt that she was neglected and ignored, her people still loved her and her night in ways they could only convey through peaceful slumber. But I... I was born of hatred, envy, and sorrow. Where they always had so many admiring and revering them, I always had...nothing.

I had always known loathing and revulsion. The people of this world reviled me as a demon. A harbinger of doom. From the beginning, I was despised. Not as Luna, but as Nightmare Moon. And it was not until I met him, that wonderful human man, that I finally knew what it was like to love and be loved. Where others saw a demon, he saw a mare. Where others saw wretched hideousness, he saw unparalleled beauty. Where others would have tried to bring my head to the chopping block, he strove to save me. He defended me from even the bearers of the Elements of Harmony themselves. He defended me from his most precious friends. He defended me when the entire world sought to erase me forever. And he... He caused me to become what I had always desired to be. A beloved revered princess of the night. The Princess of Dreams.

Only now, with him gone, I have lost the single most important person in my entire existence. Before I knew him... Before my heart belonged to him, I was not truly living. And with his demise, I am no longer living. I am merely existing. And I do not wish to live like this any longer. All I desire is to be with him again, wherever he may be. And so I plead with them. My sisters. Please... I know what I am asking is selfish. But I cannot bear this any longer. Please... Set me free.

My sisters are silent. Their faces show a silent horror as they contemplate my words. Luna even wonders aloud if it is even possible for me to die without experiencing agony. And Celestia is quick to answer. A spell that has not seen use for far too long. A means to replace the guillotine by removing the victim's soul, allowing them to move on while the body remains and rots. They once again fall silent, their gazes directed towards each other. I see tears slowly fall from their eyes, rolling down their cheeks. And soon, they face me and nod. They will grant me my final wish. But only at nightfall. They must prepare themselves for the task they must carry out. I do not smile. I know I am about to place a heavy burden on their shoulders. Celestia. Luna. Please forgive me...

My spirits are somewhat higher than usual this evening. I spend my final day with my sisters during every waking moment. We attend the opera house as they recommended. The play is about a moving drama where a commoner falls in love with the princess who reigns over the kingdom, but cannot bring himself to approach her. And only when she becomes lost in a terrible storm does he finally gather the courage to find her and guide her home. I know it should not, but this performance... It brings tears to my eyes when I thought my reserves had already been cried dry.

We dined out for dinner at the finest restaurant in Canterlot and purchased the most expensive and extravagant entrees. My sisters smiled and laughed, and I confess I joined in as well. And yet, I could see a powerful sorrow in their eyes lingering just below the surface. They were doing all they could to make my final night with them the finest they possibly could. For in just a few short hours, I would be a corpse before them. It pains me to see them like this, but it cannot be helped. I know what it is my heart is telling me to do. And I am honored that they would have the fortitude to carry out my final request.

The sun is low in the sky. The time to raise the moon draws near. I stand with my sisters on the balcony to watch the sun set over the horizon one last time. My sisters are hesitant. Nearly in tears. They gaze at me, knowing what our promise was. I smile and nod, wordlessly telling them that it must be done. With a powerful dreadful atmosphere hanging over us, they carry out their duties. The sun fades from the sky as the perfectly round pale sphere rises into the heavens, countless stars dotting the vast dark blue canvas above us. Luna's mastery over the night remains the finest I have ever seen.

And finally, it is time for me to fulfill my duty one last time as the Princess of Dreams. I cast my spell, my presence spreading far and wide over the world. Tonight, no nightmares will surface. Only the most pleasant dreams will occur. I have passed my knowledge of this spell of mine onto Luna in my stead. She will carry on my legacy as Princess of Dreams. I know she will wear my title well.

I gaze at my sisters, their faces showing nothing but silent dread. They know that the time is near. Tears are building in my eyes as I look at them. These two alicorns before me... They were once my enemies... And yet, over these last centuries, they have been the family I never had. They have loved me unconditionally, shared the throne with me, and even granted me my crown as a true ruler of this land. And now tonight, they will serve as my executioners. My sisters... I love you both dearly. I know what I am asking of you is nothing short of horrid. But please... Please grant me this one final selfish request. I know where I must go. And I need you to send me on my way.

I wait in the throne room for my sisters to arrive. My eyes are directed to the nearest window, the glow of the moon shining through. I know you are out there, my love... And I will be with you again soon.

They arrive. My sisters enter the throne room with not a single guard anywhere nearby to witness what was about to occur. They slowly approach me in such a manner that clearly showed they were stalling. And soon, they stop entirely. It is then that they finally relent. Tears flow free as they practically scream their refusal to go through with my request. They love me. Just as I love them. Celestia in particular is exceptionally adamant in her use of words. She knows the pain of sending a sister away for a millennium. Only tonight, instead of merely sending her sister away, she will be ending her sister's life forever.

I shout to silence them. It pains me to see them consumed with sorrow. I am grateful for their love after all this time. And yet, in the end, my return to the throne was not necessary. The two of them have reigned over this land flawlessly when together. They...do not need me. And it is through this understanding that I know our world will continue to thrive under their wings. I make certain that they understand that I know full well that this will surely be the most difficult task they will have ever carried out. But I assure them that they should cast their guilt to the wayside. I am the mistress of my own destiny. And I have decided that my reign ends tonight.

They tearfully nod in understanding. I speak more and more encouragement as they slowly draw near. I remind them that my life is not ending tonight. I am merely being set free to be reunited with the man who means the world to me. And yet... I do feel a subtle fear. This will be quite possibly the final time I will ever see my sisters. My own tears finally flow free as we gaze at each other. My voice is breaking. I do not wish to die alone. I plead with them to hold me as the spell is cast. So I may feel their love as I finally leave this world.

My sisters gather beside me, draping their necks across me as they hold me between them. They ask one last question. What the people should be told of my demise. And I reply as such. That their princess knew where her heart lies. That she sought to return to he who gave her all that she desired. That in order to be reunited with her beloved, she had to let go of the mortal plane. To finally ascend to where her beloved can never return from. So please, my dear sisters... Do not tell them to mourn. Tell them to be happy. For I will soon be with he who holds my heart in his hands.

A sob escapes my sisters' lips as they vow to deliver my message to our people. They ask me one last time if I am prepared. I am. It is time, my sisters. Please... Do it. Set me free.

I can feel it... I do not feel pain. I merely feel...exhausted. So tired... My eyes are growing heavy. My knees are buckling... I can hear my sisters weeping. They keep speaking words of love. And words of the best wishes. They know what it is my heart is seeking. And they respect my will to follow it. Celestia... Luna... I cannot thank you enough for this... I feel cold... Forgive me for placing this task upon your shoulders... I love you both so much... Thank you... Thank you for all you have done for me... Thank you for being my sisters. Thank you for... Just... Thank you...

Finally, my eyes close for the final time. My body becomes numb. My ears become deaf. For a moment, I am filled with a deathly fear. What is going to become of me? My fear is soon replaced by a sense of wonder. I am ascending. Rising through clouds. I am standing among a sea of soft clouds, my crown and armor nowhere to be seen upon my body. Where am I...? And...who is that so far ahead?

Someone is waving towards me. A pony? A human? I begin to approach. And... No... By the stars... It can't be... It's him... It has to be him!

My hooves fly into a gallop as I streak across the field of clouds. I can see him... It... My beloved! You... You do not look a day older than when I first laid eyes on you...

He holds out his arms to me, which I sail into. No words come from either of us. Only delirious wails and sobs. I... I cannot even begin to describe this feeling... I can barely stand... We sink to our knees. I feel his touch for the first time in centuries. His grasp on me is tight. His tears staining my coat. I am the same, my voice unable to string together words. My love... I cannot even begin to tell you how I have longed for you...

For what feels like an eternity, we hold onto each other. Never releasing. Never speaking. This moment... A moment five hundred years in the making... It is so toxically sweet... All my anguish is gone... My throat is raw and sore from my screams. My eyes swollen and aching from rivers of tears poured. And finally, we look into each other's eyes. His are the same as when I last saw them so long ago...

I will not hold the truth in any longer. I begin to speak my heart. To speak my love to him. However, he places his fingers upon my lips to silence me. And he gives me one of the most heartfelt smiles I have ever seen on his face. His response catches me entirely by surprise. He knows.

What follows next is the most wonderful kiss I have ever experienced. His lips are upon mine. I... Forgive me. Words fail to describe the sheer bliss of what I was experiencing. What had happened over the last five hundred years? Had he been longing for me?

The kiss lasts far longer than any I had ever experienced before he finally releases. I am at a loss for words, allowing him to explain as we gaze into each other's eyes once again. He was fearful that he would never see me again, just as I had been. And he is so pleased that my beauty remains intact after so long. And then, he takes my hoof into his hand in such a matter that... My love... Are you saying...?

He can see the questions I want to ask in my eyes before I even speak them. And he explains. This new world... A world beyond death... It is devoid of the petty laws of the mortal plane. This is a realm of truest peace where love reigns for eternity. A paradise where no evil is allowed to enter. Such a world... Equestria is already a wonderful land in its own right. I cannot comprehend a world that is better...

And then he places his hand atop my hoof. In his eyes, these last five hundred years have been truly grand. But there was one thing missing that made it perfect. A beautiful alicorn mare that held a special place in his heart. Someone known as 'Nightmare Moon'.

Finally, I can hold my tongue no longer. My heart is pounding in my chest. My tears are on the verge of spilling over. My love, what are you saying? What is it you want to tell me?!

His face is flushed red. He is clearly nervous. This moment...feels so familiar... And then, he asks me a question I had only heard in my most blessed of dreams. "Will you...be my queen?"

The instant those words reached my ears, I lost all feeling in my body. My eyes spilled forth a torrent of tears. I... My king... You... I... You...truly meant... It was then I could only respond with one brief sentence. I hooked my foreleg over his shoulder and shouted at him in tears. "Kiss me, you fool!"

I pulled him in close, kissing him with all my love spilling into that one action. I... What a kiss... He did not resist. He held onto me as tightly as he could, our tongues dancing. Never before have I felt such passion. I could not tell you how long it lasted. But...I felt so drained when we finally parted. So satisfied...

We shared one more gaze. My hoof rested upon his palm. It was then that I spoke the words I wanted to say to him for so long. And for the first time, this is not a dream. "I love you, my king..."

His response was slow and sincere without the slightest hint of hesitation. And his words...made my heart melt. "I love you too, my queen."

At last... My dream has been realized... My beloved... I am yours... And you are mine. He speaks to me that much has happened during my absence. So many want to see me again. And there is so much to see in this new world.

I watch as a pair of grand white wings spread from his back. Wings that everyone in this land acquires upon arrival, he tells me. Of course, I already have wings, so I remain unaffected. But that does not matter. Together, we take to the air and fly with him guiding me. The sea of clouds becomes a sea of flowers and lush grass. A vast meadow that expands forever over the horizon.

My beloved... Just as I was beginning to fear I would never once see you again, here you are. Youthful, loving, and every bit the man I had fallen in love with so long ago. I know not what has become of you and all the many faces I have befriended in the past, but I know that this world must surely be everything you claim it to be. And now, we have all of eternity to spend together.

I will never leave your side again, my love. And my heart will always be yours. I love you, King James. And I will always be yours. As your Queen of the Night.