Wrote this at 6AM after seeing a picture. Meh.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QqTDh6wiTM8

 

>You stand in the dark, grassy field and watch the light from the moon cascade down to where you sit.

>It had been quite some time since you were allowed to be out here, in the gardens. Most of your time, in fact all of it, was spent in that dirty old cell at the bottom of Canterlot Castle.

>But not tonight.

>Not your last night.

>They let you choose any activity you wanted to do, for this evening. Any at all.

>And you chose to simply... sit, and watch the moon.

>Fireflies slowly and silently hummed around you, as you heard the soft pitter patter of hoofs on the grass approach from behind you.

>The blue maned princess took a seat next to you, gazing at the orb in the sky.

>You didn't look at her. You simply kept your eyes at the sky, cool wind brushing along your skin.

>"They're beautiful, aren't they?"

>Luna extends a hoof outward, a few of the small flickering creatures dancing around it.

>"So magnificent in the night, weaving and illuminating the shadows... tis a shame. They do not live long lives..."

>She brings her hoof close to her snout, a single firefly perched upon it. She smiles, but it fades quickly.

>"Art thou alright? We know it is not... easy for you. What with your sentencing."

>Your eyes stay fixed on the moon, but you can make out Luna trying to grasp at your gaze.

>"Surely thou must be... afraid, yes?"

>A smile forms on your lips, and you extend a hand out, a firefly perching on your fingers.

"I don't have much time for fear now, I'm sorry to say."

>She frowns at that.

"Are you sure it's such a good idea to be out here with me?"

>You look at her finally, her teal eyes shining dimly in the light of the moon.

"After all, I'm heartless."

>"We don't think so."

>You smile again, bringing the firefly on your finger close to your eyes, the light from the small creature's body growing, then fading to the beat of your heart.

"Oh? Then what am I?"

>There's a pause now, as more calm wind flows past the two of you.

>"...we don't know."

>The firefly leaps from your hand, skittering back into the air with its brothers and sisters.

"Did you know," you begin, looking back to the stars, "That fireflies only live for a few days? Sometimes they can live for a month or two, but that's rare."

>Luna nods, looking at you from your side. She'd been doing this. Visiting you. She was the only one that bothered to do so.

>It was nice to talk to someone.

"But," you go on, "if you catch one, and put it in a jar... then chances are that firefly will die in a day. Even if you let it go."

>"Anonymous-"

"Don't."

>You lay on your back next to her, and you can see that she's confused at just how calm you really are.

"There's not much I can do. I did what I did, and I served my time... now my time is up. And even if I was to be let out, I would be dead."

>You turn your head to her, her frown still on her face, her eyes shining more now.

>"...can we stay here with you? For tonight?"

>A shiver runs over you, and you smile.

"I'd like that."

>She lays there with you, for a time. The night was cold, but you didn't seem to mind it all that much.

>Luna was warm, bless her heart. And true to her word, she stayed with you that entire night.

>Even as the guards came back for you, as you calmly rose and followed them away to the courtyard.

>The platform was cleaned.

>The garden was prim and proper.

>Celestia was radiant as ever, and Luna was divine.

>The families... they sat and looked with mixes of emotion.

>Some were still filled with so much anger, even after all these years.

>Some showed signs of loss and sadness.

>Another even showed a look of forgiveness.

>Didn't rightly matter all that much at this point.

>You just stood there, a remorseful smile on your face as you nodded to the crowd, and the rope was slung around your neck.

>Funny...

>The air smelled like roses...

>"Do you have any last words?"

>You look across the garden to the thin, elegant mare that sat beside her older sister.

>Another shiver this time.

>Last words...

>You smile to her.

"I'm afraid."

>The floor opens.

>You fall.

>And those shining eyes disappear from your view, for good.