Requiem [voice/action for the Straw Hats]

[letteropener]

I have waited to see if they would return, as some occasionally do, but I think any further waiting is pointless. It is my sad duty to report that as of now, I am the only specimen of ponykind remaining here.

Those of you who remember my sister or Pinkie Pie fondly... if you have any message you wish to pass to them, then I will accept them, and if it is in my power to do so, I will pass them on when I next see them.

We have seen so many go of late, and yet I truly believe they have returned home as those who come back to us have reported doing. Do not weep for your lost friends, but rejoice that you had them as friends, even if for but a short time.

Comments

[Voice]

[skyfaring_swordsman]

Well said, Miss. I couldn't have put it better, myself.

[Voice]

[letteropener]

I have experience in losing those I care about, I am afraid. It comes with longevity. You learn to understand, or you go mad. I chose the former path.

Re: [Voice]

[skyfaring_swordsman]

In this place, it seems that grief is not something people can afford for long.

[Voice]

[letteropener]

I do not think anypony should allow grief to rule their life. It is natural, and good, but to mourn too long means you forget to live yourself.

Re: [Voice]

[skyfaring_swordsman]

Ah, yes. A lesson I've learned the hard way, long ago.

[Voice]

[letteropener]

Still, I do not intend to be in a hurry to lose all the friends I have made here, once I return to my proper world.

[action]

[yourotherleft]

[he's noticed Celestia's quietness of late, but being terrible with feelings as he is, Zoro hasn't really bothered her about it. At least now, glancing at his journal, he understands the reason.

He makes a point to come hang out near her, not really doing much himself besides gaze out at the ocean.]

You're pretty tough, you know.

[it's a compliment, honest!]

[action]

[letteropener]

[Celestia can't help but smile, though it is sad and humorless.]

I have never told you the story of Nightmare Moon, have I? I avoided it quite deliberately, so that nopony would judge my sister by it, should she ever come here.

[action]

[yourotherleft]

No, you haven't...

[he trails off to leave it open for her to share, if she wants.]

[action]

[letteropener]

A thousand years ago, the emotional pain I inflicted on my sister grew so heavy and sank so deep that her soul was opened to a dark force that fed on her bitterness, her jealousy, her anger to me. She sought to overthrow me, and in doing so, became Nightmare Moon.

I used the Elements of Harmony to banish her to the moon.

[Celestia relates this all very evenly, her bitter self-condemnation buried beneath the glass and ice of a Princess's crown.]

[action]

[yourotherleft]

[curious. All he does is twitch an eyebrow up in surprise. There's probably more to such a story than that.]

Emotional pain?

[because that could mean almost anything. Zoro isn't the type to hold things against people without good reason.]

[action]

[letteropener]

I was a terrible sister, Zoro. I neglected her, ignored her, left her felt abused and mistreated. When she needed me, I was not there. When she was lonely and jealous, I did nothing to help.

[action]

[yourotherleft]

[shrugs a bit] So you want to claim full responsibility for her deciding to revolt against you and turn...nightmare, or whatever.

Gotta say, that's probably not true. And even if it is, people are responsible for their own choices.

[Voice]

[crackpotcrocker]

I just don't like losing people.

[The man states with an exasperated sigh.]

[Voice]

[letteropener]

Nopony should. But there is a difference between liking it and accepting it.

[Voice]

[crackpotcrocker]

No pony?

[Denzel voice sounds like he's blinking in confusion before sighing]

And what is the difference in that?

[Voice]

[letteropener]

After every day comes night, and autumn after every spring. There is no beginning without an ending. But though you may be sad a story must end, you still enjoyed the story, did you not?

[Voice]

[crackpotcrocker]

That's a plain silly question I always enjoy the stories I read.

[Opps someone took that rather literally]

[Voice]

[letteropener]

Then consider yourself to be in a story... or many stories. And enjoy the telling, and the memory, even when a story ends.

Voice;

[seakingbait]

...Do you want to talk about it?

[She quietly peeps over the journal.]

[Voice]

[letteropener]

I am used to losing people, Keimi. My sister and my subjects, at least, I will see again.

[Some other people they have lost recently, she likely never will.]

[Voice]

[seakingbait]

That doesn't make it any easier.

[Celestia is so used to handling everything by herself. Keimi wants to make sure she still has a shoulder to lean on.]

How about some tea?

[Voice]

[letteropener]

I would like some tea, yes. [Celestia has not leaned on a shoulder for centuries. Starting now has never even occurred to her. But she does like tea.]

[Voice]

[seakingbait]

Okay. I'll brew some. Meet you on deck?

[Voice]

[letteropener]

I will be here.

[After all... where else could, or would, she go? Her fate is on this ship until the end, whatever that end might be.]