@redweasel
 
AAH I need to watch the episode with the Sombra AU, that’s very interesting indeed!

seems the guard is an equal opportunity employer

@Outcast’s Redeemer
 
oh my GOSH that was INCREDIBLE but now I’m CRYING I cannot handle these FEELS I was not READY for this thank you so MUCH!
 
Wow, absolutely brilliantly written, thank you so much Outcast! :D

Celestia chocked back tears as she watched her soldiers returning home from the Crystal empire. Happy to see the faces again. Forlorn to see the caskets they carried. She turned to her sister, whose eyes glistened with tears, and asked, “What should we do Luna?”
 
The mare of the night swallowed. “He brought us victory sister… He should be remembered for that.”
 
Celestia let out a bitter laugh. “He was always a quiet one. i don’t think he’d like being the center of attention.”
 
Luna hummed for a second, deep in thought. “Tia… W-what about something else?”
 
Celestia gave her sister a small smile. “What would that be?”
 
“M-my stars… I could make him a constellation.”
 
Celestia let some of here own tears fall. “T-that fits that stallion to a tee dear sister. Strong, silent, and ever watchful.” She brought her sister closer in a hug. “Come… we have to prepare the address.”
 
“I’ can’t…” Luna’s lips quivered. “I can’t see them like this. Not until I do what i intend to do.”
 
Celestia remained quiet as Luna walked away. Moments later one of her guards opened the door. “Your highness… the ponies you requested to see are waiting for you.” She nodded and walked to the throne room, escorted by two dozen of her royal guards.
 
Upon entering the room Celestia took notice of the seven faces. Two of her most trusted field officers, one of her top minds, the head BDU designer and four members who were key in feeding and gathering resources for the war effort. However there was one Stallion who was special to all of them. And she, the one who had taken him away from them, would not allow some impersonal apology letter to tell them that he would not be returning to them. No. She would do that herself.
 
But as she gazed at the longing faces of his family, friends and lover she allowed tears to from at her eyes.
 
her guards, bless their hearts, nodded to the other set of guards who then opened the door, allowing four guards wearing a bright golden Apple on their crests to enter holding a casket with a wooden yolk and helmet sat on top.
 
The seven mares knew instantly who was in the box.
 
Twilight remained emotionless, but Celestia knew that the scientist had retreated into her mind to escape the reality. It would be weeks before she returned to the way she was. Just like she had when Shining Armor had fallen.
 
Rarity, the one who he had helped the most in her time of grieving, tried to remain strong for the others. But was unable to. He had held her when she had wept for her the family she had lost. Now here he was, dead all the same and she couldn’t even move. She just wept.
 
Fluttershy remained quiet as she gazed upon her adopted brother’s casket. He was always there for her when they were little. And now she was alone.
 
Pinkamena Diane Pie was stoic as she watched the four guards lower the casket down to the hard tiled floor, remaining motionless save for her breathing. Years of war and conflict had removed much of her former emotional self from the world. But even now she knew she would be stone cold drunk by this time next morning.
 
Granny Smith and her two family members were perhaps the most vocal of the group, Apple Bloom howling into Applejack’s coat as her sister tried to comfort her herself. The matriarch of the family herself, could feel the numbness of loss seeping into her heart as she gazed at the wooden yolk that her grandson had worn to provide for them all. She couldn’t shed any more tears.
 
And for the last one? Rainbow Dash sat there still as death with her fore hoof sat on top of her stomach slowly rubbing circles across the slightly plump section of her skin. The one who won her heart and the war was gone. She silently let her own tears fall, pledging that the twins who were now inside her would grow up to be just as good, if not better than their father.
 
Night came faster than most would have guessed. and it seemed as though the entire nation had their eyes set to the skies for what was to be reviled. Despite Celestia and the Apple family not wanting Macintosh’s name to be celebrated, they could not stop the news from spreading across the nation.
 
Cities small and large drank, celebrated and cheered for the seemingly unknown stallion who had ended the war. Crowds gathered in town centers as they partied and laughed and cried for the stallion who had saved them. And when the rumor came out that Luna had something planned for the night, they, every last citizen of Equestia and the world looked up to the nighttime sky.
 
It started off slow. A falling star shooting across the sky. Soon more joined it as it danced across the night bejeweled sky. Then the winds and clouds came swirling and crashing, making thunder and lightning shoot out all directions.
 
The ponies of Equestia stared, jaws slack in wonder, as the mix of cloud, smoke, ice, stars and lightning continued to dance until in a flash of light it finished, leaving in its wake, a constellation of an armored stallion holding two fillies upon its back and a shield and spear in its hoofs and mouth. The image of an apple imprinted upon its crest as its hair, outlined by stars, twinkled like it was waving.
 
All around, ponies looked upon the grouping of stars unsure of what it meant. That was until tearful reunion of a sister and brother torn apart by war made it all click.
 
The constellation was named The Brother, and it stood as a memorial for all the stallions lost to the war.
 
Fin

@Meanlucario
 
My thinking was because it featured both of them but… you’re completely right, it’s not shipping!
 
My fault for not reading the tag’s description correctly - sorry about that!

Why did this had Macbloom in the tags?