1 00:00:01,639 --> 00:00:07,890 sacrifice the wasteland will try to tear 2 00:00:05,429 --> 00:00:10,410 you down make you a monster a strip you 3 00:00:07,889 --> 00:00:13,018 of all of your will to fight the 4 00:00:10,410 --> 00:00:16,890 wasteland and to a lesser degree life 5 00:00:13,019 --> 00:00:18,149 itself every day is a struggle against 6 00:00:16,890 --> 00:00:21,240 the forces that attempt to compromise 7 00:00:18,149 --> 00:00:23,429 and erode anything good in your heart it 8 00:00:21,239 --> 00:00:25,409 helps to have a cause a purpose 9 00:00:23,429 --> 00:00:26,698 but I've seen too many who have put 10 00:00:25,410 --> 00:00:30,300 their faith in those alone have been 11 00:00:26,699 --> 00:00:32,130 like grievously astray everypony is a 12 00:00:30,300 --> 00:00:35,189 virtue whether they realize it or not 13 00:00:32,130 --> 00:00:38,239 and it is your virtue and your friends 14 00:00:35,189 --> 00:00:40,320 together that form your greatest defence 15 00:00:38,238 --> 00:00:42,289 Raiders are those who failed to whether 16 00:00:40,320 --> 00:00:45,450 the moral ravages of the wasteland 17 00:00:42,289 --> 00:00:48,149 velvet remedy was wrong they do have a 18 00:00:45,450 --> 00:00:52,050 reason for existing the wasteland is the 19 00:00:48,149 --> 00:00:54,750 cause their effect I had finally 20 00:00:52,049 --> 00:00:56,069 discovered my virtue I should have 21 00:00:54,750 --> 00:00:59,189 realized that when I first looked into 22 00:00:56,070 --> 00:01:01,500 the mirror of my soul instead I was too 23 00:00:59,189 --> 00:01:03,420 blinded by what I saw a blood coated in 24 00:01:01,500 --> 00:01:05,728 dying Raider to recognize what the 25 00:01:03,420 --> 00:01:07,379 mirror was actually showing me a first 26 00:01:05,728 --> 00:01:10,319 time I truly acted in the spirit of 27 00:01:07,379 --> 00:01:12,509 sacrifice the time when even though I 28 00:01:10,319 --> 00:01:14,219 stood no chance of survival I placed 29 00:01:12,510 --> 00:01:15,780 myself between a helpless Caravan and 30 00:01:14,219 --> 00:01:19,048 what I believed to be a Pegasus Raider 31 00:01:15,780 --> 00:01:22,349 intent on slaughtering them that Raider 32 00:01:19,049 --> 00:01:23,820 had been calamity and that act had 33 00:01:22,349 --> 00:01:24,899 initiated the first and closest 34 00:01:23,819 --> 00:01:28,158 friendship I have ever known 35 00:01:24,900 --> 00:01:30,689 I should recognize the truth the mirror 36 00:01:28,159 --> 00:01:32,659 but it took Pinkie Pie to help me see 37 00:01:30,688 --> 00:01:36,148 how to see 38 00:01:32,659 --> 00:01:39,079 you're just looking at it wrong she told 39 00:01:36,149 --> 00:01:40,978 me pointing to the mirror but not to me 40 00:01:39,078 --> 00:01:42,989 pointing it said to the approaching 41 00:01:40,978 --> 00:01:48,209 caravan and the family I was giving my 42 00:01:42,989 --> 00:01:50,218 life to protect look behind you my 43 00:01:48,209 --> 00:01:54,328 virtue is sacrifice 44 00:01:50,218 --> 00:01:57,149 I believe in Pinkie Pie and sunshine and 45 00:01:54,328 --> 00:01:59,548 rainbows but of all the ministry mares I 46 00:01:57,149 --> 00:02:01,819 think it has been rarity not Pinkie Pie 47 00:01:59,549 --> 00:02:04,530 that I felt the greatest connection to 48 00:02:01,819 --> 00:02:06,750 the mayor whose last act was to save her 49 00:02:04,530 --> 00:02:10,439 dearest friend who tore apart her own 50 00:02:06,750 --> 00:02:12,629 soul for those she loved my feelings are 51 00:02:10,439 --> 00:02:15,568 not surprising for sacrifice and 52 00:02:12,629 --> 00:02:17,818 generosity are closely tied but 53 00:02:15,568 --> 00:02:21,030 generosity is a much grander virtue with 54 00:02:17,818 --> 00:02:23,669 a much wider scope I am NOT generous 55 00:02:21,030 --> 00:02:26,310 I've never given anything but myself and 56 00:02:23,669 --> 00:02:28,889 upon my reflection my sacrifice was 57 00:02:26,310 --> 00:02:30,959 opted selfish a vehicle to protect those 58 00:02:28,889 --> 00:02:33,869 I love from facing harm even when it was 59 00:02:30,959 --> 00:02:35,699 their right to do so my mistakes in 60 00:02:33,870 --> 00:02:38,020 Philadelphia are perhaps the most brutal 61 00:02:35,699 --> 00:02:40,509 example 62 00:02:38,020 --> 00:02:42,490 after my final discourse with redeye I 63 00:02:40,509 --> 00:02:44,859 began to realize that I have been like 64 00:02:42,490 --> 00:02:47,950 an overprotective mother stifling the 65 00:02:44,860 --> 00:02:51,160 growth of those I loved only now was I 66 00:02:47,949 --> 00:02:52,989 finally learning to let it go and still 67 00:02:51,159 --> 00:02:55,780 it was the hardest and most painful 68 00:02:52,990 --> 00:02:57,280 thing for me to do sending my friends 69 00:02:55,780 --> 00:02:59,620 into battle against the Enclave without 70 00:02:57,280 --> 00:03:01,060 me putting ditsy - the spirit of 71 00:02:59,620 --> 00:03:02,620 laughter and one of the most beautiful 72 00:03:01,060 --> 00:03:06,189 souls in the equestrian wasteland on the 73 00:03:02,620 --> 00:03:08,560 frontlines it tore my heart out to not 74 00:03:06,189 --> 00:03:13,030 merely allow others to sacrifice but to 75 00:03:08,560 --> 00:03:13,539 ask them to know I was not truly 76 00:03:13,030 --> 00:03:19,180 generous 77 00:03:13,539 --> 00:03:22,120 I wasn't rarity not even redeye nor was 78 00:03:19,180 --> 00:03:23,710 I truly Apple snack but sacrifice lies 79 00:03:22,120 --> 00:03:26,080 in that space between generosity and 80 00:03:23,710 --> 00:03:27,790 perseverance between the desire to give 81 00:03:26,080 --> 00:03:29,590 so that others don't have to and the 82 00:03:27,789 --> 00:03:33,219 drive to never give up no matter the 83 00:03:29,590 --> 00:03:35,129 danger and no matter the cost I cannot 84 00:03:33,219 --> 00:03:38,080 give enough thanks for my friends they 85 00:03:35,129 --> 00:03:39,549 guided me protected me and allowed my 86 00:03:38,080 --> 00:03:41,980 virtue to blossom into something that 87 00:03:39,550 --> 00:03:47,370 just might in a small way help save 88 00:03:41,979 --> 00:03:47,369 Equestria itself without my friends 89 00:03:47,539 --> 00:03:52,128 virtues can become corrupted 90 00:03:50,110 --> 00:03:55,790 metamorphosizing into dark and twisted 91 00:03:52,128 --> 00:03:57,469 shadows of themselves this is a truth I 92 00:03:55,789 --> 00:04:00,408 have both seen in others and felt in 93 00:03:57,469 --> 00:04:02,389 myself without the fortifying strength 94 00:04:00,408 --> 00:04:04,459 of friendship sacrifice becomes 95 00:04:02,389 --> 00:04:06,169 self-destructive the sort of false 96 00:04:04,459 --> 00:04:07,969 nobility that drove me to blindly leave 97 00:04:06,169 --> 00:04:09,289 stable to even though part of me 98 00:04:07,969 --> 00:04:12,590 believed all I would find beyond the 99 00:04:09,289 --> 00:04:14,358 door was Oblivion I quiver to think what 100 00:04:12,590 --> 00:04:16,759 I would have become and what would have 101 00:04:14,359 --> 00:04:20,000 become of me had I not met calamity when 102 00:04:16,759 --> 00:04:22,189 and how I did without the camaraderie of 103 00:04:20,000 --> 00:04:25,550 friendship to light the way it was so 104 00:04:22,189 --> 00:04:29,360 easy to get lost I've observed this and 105 00:04:25,550 --> 00:04:32,689 I have witnessed so much worse Monterey 106 00:04:29,360 --> 00:04:34,129 Jack committed suicide that was not the 107 00:04:32,689 --> 00:04:36,410 virtue of sacrifice of play 108 00:04:34,129 --> 00:04:39,019 not even a corrupted manifestation of it 109 00:04:36,410 --> 00:04:42,530 but rather the utterly selfish absolute 110 00:04:39,019 --> 00:04:44,959 lack of it Monterey Jack had abandoned 111 00:04:42,529 --> 00:04:46,549 everything even his children because he 112 00:04:44,959 --> 00:04:50,349 no longer had the ability to make even 113 00:04:46,550 --> 00:04:52,699 the most simple of sacrifices living 114 00:04:50,350 --> 00:04:55,129 selfishness tells us that it was more 115 00:04:52,699 --> 00:04:58,300 important for us to have and to get and 116 00:04:55,129 --> 00:05:00,769 to not suffer than it is for anyone else 117 00:04:58,300 --> 00:05:04,000 just by merit of our experience being 118 00:05:00,769 --> 00:05:05,959 ours and everyone else is not so 119 00:05:04,000 --> 00:05:08,660 generosity is not a means of those 120 00:05:05,959 --> 00:05:10,879 impulses but an ability to act counter 121 00:05:08,660 --> 00:05:14,120 to them to give to others at the cost of 122 00:05:10,879 --> 00:05:16,189 not having for yourself sacrifice 123 00:05:14,120 --> 00:05:19,038 demands you put at risk that which you 124 00:05:16,189 --> 00:05:21,829 hold precious to do so even one another 125 00:05:19,038 --> 00:05:24,528 might be willing to instead especially 126 00:05:21,829 --> 00:05:28,668 then so that no other has to 127 00:05:24,528 --> 00:05:31,098 I face the fire not from my own sake by 128 00:05:28,668 --> 00:05:33,709 for the chance to save lives to remove 129 00:05:31,098 --> 00:05:34,998 the cause to the wars effect and to give 130 00:05:33,709 --> 00:05:37,218 the ponies across the equestrian 131 00:05:34,999 --> 00:05:38,569 wasteland something precious something 132 00:05:37,218 --> 00:05:42,498 of vital which had been stolen from them 133 00:05:38,569 --> 00:05:45,049 I hoped that I was helping give them all 134 00:05:42,499 --> 00:05:47,749 a better world and yet at the same time 135 00:05:45,048 --> 00:05:51,168 I couldn't help but wonder if it was a 136 00:05:47,749 --> 00:05:53,599 world I would have any place in the 137 00:05:51,168 --> 00:05:55,788 mirror had shown me my virtue but I had 138 00:05:53,598 --> 00:05:58,759 not seen it distracted by the image of 139 00:05:55,788 --> 00:06:00,498 what I had become all the lives I've 140 00:05:58,759 --> 00:06:02,419 saved can't wash the blood off my hooves 141 00:06:00,499 --> 00:06:05,239 or stop the nightmares born from all the 142 00:06:02,418 --> 00:06:06,918 horrors I've witnessed when the overmare 143 00:06:05,238 --> 00:06:11,598 had invited me back to stable two I 144 00:06:06,918 --> 00:06:13,728 walked away I knew the truth that day I 145 00:06:11,598 --> 00:06:17,959 truly tasted the virtue of sacrifice and 146 00:06:13,728 --> 00:06:20,598 recognized it for what it was but I 147 00:06:17,959 --> 00:06:25,509 don't think I truly understood sacrifice 148 00:06:20,598 --> 00:06:25,509 until today the day I died 149 00:06:27,129 --> 00:06:31,800 I died 150 00:06:29,430 --> 00:06:34,110 I remember the first time I saw velvet 151 00:06:31,800 --> 00:06:35,759 remedy the couple living across the hall 152 00:06:34,110 --> 00:06:37,410 from my mother and me had gone to the 153 00:06:35,759 --> 00:06:39,659 stables best young talent show in the 154 00:06:37,410 --> 00:06:42,360 atrium they'd left their little Colt 155 00:06:39,660 --> 00:06:44,070 with the babysitter according to the 156 00:06:42,360 --> 00:06:46,500 babysitter she'd only turned her tail 157 00:06:44,069 --> 00:06:47,969 for a few moments but in those seconds 158 00:06:46,500 --> 00:06:51,509 the Colt had slipped into the bathtub 159 00:06:47,970 --> 00:06:53,520 hit his head and drowned she called for 160 00:06:51,509 --> 00:06:55,110 emergency help and the clinic was only a 161 00:06:53,519 --> 00:06:57,209 few halls away adjacent to the atrium 162 00:06:55,110 --> 00:06:58,520 and the medical ponies made the gallop 163 00:06:57,209 --> 00:07:00,870 in under a minute 164 00:06:58,519 --> 00:07:02,969 half the stables seemed to arrive in 165 00:07:00,870 --> 00:07:05,610 four including velvet remedy who have 166 00:07:02,970 --> 00:07:07,170 been singing when the news broke she'd 167 00:07:05,610 --> 00:07:08,610 cut her song rushing along with the 168 00:07:07,170 --> 00:07:12,120 parents in the gawkers to see if the 169 00:07:08,610 --> 00:07:15,110 cult was going to be saved the cope 170 00:07:12,120 --> 00:07:17,100 managed to be revived mother said 171 00:07:15,110 --> 00:07:19,410 repeatedly and to any pony who would 172 00:07:17,100 --> 00:07:22,800 listen that the cult had been clinically 173 00:07:19,410 --> 00:07:24,360 dead for over two minutes I remember 174 00:07:22,800 --> 00:07:25,530 thinking how beautiful velvet remedy 175 00:07:24,360 --> 00:07:27,060 looked as she tried to follow the 176 00:07:25,529 --> 00:07:30,089 medical ponies taking the coat back to 177 00:07:27,060 --> 00:07:32,639 the clinic and was directed away to 178 00:07:30,089 --> 00:07:37,879 think the crush that said all this into 179 00:07:32,639 --> 00:07:42,529 motion had started that evening I died 180 00:07:37,879 --> 00:07:44,329 I came back faith doesn't require you to 181 00:07:42,529 --> 00:07:47,539 be willingly blind or dogmatically 182 00:07:44,329 --> 00:07:48,800 stupid I knew as I faced the fire that 183 00:07:47,540 --> 00:07:50,930 it was going to be more painful than 184 00:07:48,800 --> 00:07:54,170 anything I'd suffered before and I was 185 00:07:50,930 --> 00:07:56,959 almost certainly going to die but I also 186 00:07:54,170 --> 00:08:00,410 knew there was a chance if only just a 187 00:07:56,959 --> 00:08:03,949 chance that death might be survivable 188 00:08:00,410 --> 00:08:07,520 and Pinkie Pie promised me sunshine and 189 00:08:03,949 --> 00:08:10,639 rainbows faith does require that you 190 00:08:07,519 --> 00:08:15,379 take risks sometimes you have to risk 191 00:08:10,639 --> 00:08:17,599 everything rarity had tried to burn the 192 00:08:15,379 --> 00:08:18,920 book she insisted Applejack after the 193 00:08:17,600 --> 00:08:23,060 other mare had called her on still 194 00:08:18,920 --> 00:08:25,550 having the black book she had tried even 195 00:08:23,060 --> 00:08:26,870 tried having spiked Barnet but all that 196 00:08:25,550 --> 00:08:29,290 accomplished was sending the book to 197 00:08:26,870 --> 00:08:29,290 Princess Celestia 198 00:08:29,829 --> 00:08:35,889 the black book a soul jar 199 00:08:32,889 --> 00:08:38,559 bound with a living soul if it could 200 00:08:35,889 --> 00:08:41,348 survive the trip soul intact there had 201 00:08:38,559 --> 00:08:45,039 to be a chance if just a chance that so 202 00:08:41,349 --> 00:08:48,009 could I returning from death by 203 00:08:45,039 --> 00:08:50,439 incineration was admittedly more severe 204 00:08:48,009 --> 00:08:54,819 than coming back from drowning and a 205 00:08:50,440 --> 00:08:58,500 whole leak beyond regrowing a leg I came 206 00:08:54,820 --> 00:09:01,089 back didn't I 207 00:08:58,500 --> 00:09:02,379 everything was darkness like the 208 00:09:01,089 --> 00:09:05,110 nothingness I had once feared was 209 00:09:02,379 --> 00:09:09,070 outside the door of my stable home the 210 00:09:05,110 --> 00:09:11,320 darkness was cold I wasn't in pain but I 211 00:09:09,070 --> 00:09:13,839 could feel myself breathe feel the beat 212 00:09:11,320 --> 00:09:16,440 of my heart the press of my clothing and 213 00:09:13,839 --> 00:09:19,390 the weight of my saddlebags on my back I 214 00:09:16,440 --> 00:09:23,260 also felt cold polished rock beneath my 215 00:09:19,389 --> 00:09:25,059 hooves the room around me rushed into 216 00:09:23,259 --> 00:09:27,429 being the second I realized my eyes were 217 00:09:25,059 --> 00:09:31,299 closed and in doing so instinctively 218 00:09:27,429 --> 00:09:32,620 opened them I swayed he with a tsunami 219 00:09:31,299 --> 00:09:35,109 of intense relief that left me feeling 220 00:09:32,620 --> 00:09:39,190 strangely euphoric and more than a 221 00:09:35,110 --> 00:09:42,159 little foolish I was in what I guess to 222 00:09:39,190 --> 00:09:43,510 be a reception room I chose to sue my 223 00:09:42,159 --> 00:09:46,870 was in the central hub of the single 224 00:09:43,509 --> 00:09:49,559 Pegasus project if this was heaven it 225 00:09:46,870 --> 00:09:54,320 left a lot to be desired if it was how 226 00:09:49,559 --> 00:09:57,169 well then hell was pretty lame 227 00:09:54,320 --> 00:09:59,300 I was in a sizable circular room with 228 00:09:57,169 --> 00:10:01,129 cool a sheer walls visible between cloud 229 00:09:59,299 --> 00:10:04,579 like columns rising from mist colored 230 00:10:01,129 --> 00:10:06,500 marble floor above me clouds floated in 231 00:10:04,580 --> 00:10:09,680 patterns beneath the dome of hazy slate 232 00:10:06,500 --> 00:10:11,809 blue the walls were covered in painted 233 00:10:09,679 --> 00:10:14,809 snowflakes each with a beautiful clear 234 00:10:11,809 --> 00:10:19,099 gemstone set in the center a shower of 235 00:10:14,809 --> 00:10:21,229 diamonds there were railings counters 236 00:10:19,100 --> 00:10:23,990 and carved marble furniture all covered 237 00:10:21,230 --> 00:10:26,659 with a glistening Sheen of frost the 238 00:10:23,990 --> 00:10:29,029 room was chilly but not freezing the 239 00:10:26,659 --> 00:10:32,179 frost itself was enchanted radiating the 240 00:10:29,029 --> 00:10:33,740 cold that filled the chamber the frost 241 00:10:32,179 --> 00:10:35,239 had slowly spread to cover much of the 242 00:10:33,740 --> 00:10:39,320 columns and patches of both the walls 243 00:10:35,240 --> 00:10:41,889 and ceiling in another 50 years the 244 00:10:39,320 --> 00:10:45,410 entire room might have been covered 245 00:10:41,889 --> 00:10:47,389 there were two exits behind me a set of 246 00:10:45,409 --> 00:10:49,069 gabled silver double doors which matched 247 00:10:47,389 --> 00:10:50,449 the ones I had seen on the exterior of 248 00:10:49,070 --> 00:10:53,570 the central hub while I was banging on 249 00:10:50,450 --> 00:10:56,540 the shield opposite those grander doors 250 00:10:53,570 --> 00:11:00,040 was a single small unassuming door which 251 00:10:56,539 --> 00:11:00,039 must have led further inside a 252 00:11:00,220 --> 00:11:04,430 latticework of metal and icicles arched 253 00:11:02,870 --> 00:11:07,970 between the two pillars between myself 254 00:11:04,429 --> 00:11:10,309 and the smaller door three huge monitors 255 00:11:07,970 --> 00:11:12,200 each nearly the size of a pony were 256 00:11:10,309 --> 00:11:15,619 mounted on the latticework their screens 257 00:11:12,200 --> 00:11:16,520 a dull dead gray a nearly identical 258 00:11:15,620 --> 00:11:18,019 latticework 259 00:11:16,519 --> 00:11:20,750 arched between the two pillars nearest 260 00:11:18,019 --> 00:11:22,730 the set of double doors the icicles 261 00:11:20,750 --> 00:11:26,289 formed words between arching bands of 262 00:11:22,730 --> 00:11:29,480 silver winter vegetable 263 00:11:26,289 --> 00:11:34,669 but my little pony protested 264 00:11:29,480 --> 00:11:37,310 irrationally it's summer against a far 265 00:11:34,669 --> 00:11:39,909 wall I spotted a few empty wall vendors 266 00:11:37,309 --> 00:11:42,079 and a sunrise sarsaparilla machine a 267 00:11:39,909 --> 00:11:44,059 bottle of sarsaparilla stood on the arm 268 00:11:42,080 --> 00:11:46,790 of one of the chairs next to me inches 269 00:11:44,059 --> 00:11:48,319 from the bones of a four of the magical 270 00:11:46,789 --> 00:11:52,069 coating of frost on the chair had turned 271 00:11:48,320 --> 00:11:52,400 the liquid contents ice-cold all about 272 00:11:52,070 --> 00:11:53,990 me 273 00:11:52,399 --> 00:11:55,699 collapsed on the furniture scattered 274 00:11:53,990 --> 00:11:58,879 about the floor with a skeletons of 275 00:11:55,700 --> 00:12:01,520 ponies those on the floor formed small 276 00:11:58,879 --> 00:12:06,259 islands of bone in the mist maybe a 277 00:12:01,519 --> 00:12:08,329 dozen in all I tried carefully if my 278 00:12:06,259 --> 00:12:09,980 suspicions were correct one of these 279 00:12:08,330 --> 00:12:13,970 skeletons might be the former body of 280 00:12:09,980 --> 00:12:15,320 the goddess Celestia I winced as my hoof 281 00:12:13,970 --> 00:12:18,560 came down on the metal clamp of a 282 00:12:15,320 --> 00:12:19,970 clipboard looking down I was struck by a 283 00:12:18,559 --> 00:12:22,029 nostalgic memories of calamity and 284 00:12:19,970 --> 00:12:24,410 steelo's joking about Stuber night a 285 00:12:22,029 --> 00:12:28,250 small smile played across my muzzle 286 00:12:24,409 --> 00:12:30,799 before I refocused my attention spike 287 00:12:28,250 --> 00:12:32,750 had to my knowledge never sent anything 288 00:12:30,799 --> 00:12:35,870 to anypony other than Princess Celestia 289 00:12:32,750 --> 00:12:38,570 I had only my faith in pinkie pie's 290 00:12:35,870 --> 00:12:40,159 words that this time his fire would take 291 00:12:38,570 --> 00:12:41,690 me where I needed to be in order to 292 00:12:40,159 --> 00:12:45,319 bring sunshine and rainbows back to 293 00:12:41,690 --> 00:12:47,060 Equestria I could not deny that the 294 00:12:45,320 --> 00:12:49,010 reason it might do so is because that 295 00:12:47,059 --> 00:12:51,279 location and Celestia's final resting 296 00:12:49,009 --> 00:12:53,990 place might be one in the same 297 00:12:51,279 --> 00:12:55,490 the shield around the SPP was designed 298 00:12:53,990 --> 00:12:58,250 to let either of the princesses through 299 00:12:55,490 --> 00:13:01,129 and I had never found her bones in 300 00:12:58,250 --> 00:13:03,289 Canterlot it seemed to me as if she had 301 00:13:01,129 --> 00:13:05,549 died with her sister the night seer 302 00:13:03,289 --> 00:13:09,629 would have probably been wearing both 303 00:13:05,549 --> 00:13:11,609 although perhaps not perhaps as the 304 00:13:09,629 --> 00:13:13,259 alicorns name suggested she had a 305 00:13:11,610 --> 00:13:16,560 particular affinity for the princess of 306 00:13:13,259 --> 00:13:18,899 the night in the moon near the silver 307 00:13:16,559 --> 00:13:21,059 doors was the corpse of a mare not a 308 00:13:18,899 --> 00:13:23,639 skeleton like the others but an intact 309 00:13:21,059 --> 00:13:27,869 body her eyes opened wide staring at 310 00:13:23,639 --> 00:13:30,028 nothing the Winter Festival was not cold 311 00:13:27,870 --> 00:13:31,379 enough to freeze the body but the chill 312 00:13:30,028 --> 00:13:34,950 was enough to dramatically slow 313 00:13:31,379 --> 00:13:36,559 decomposition still I suspected she had 314 00:13:34,950 --> 00:13:39,149 not been here for more than a few weeks 315 00:13:36,559 --> 00:13:40,768 and it disturbed me deeply that I had 316 00:13:39,149 --> 00:13:42,389 become enough for connoisseur of death 317 00:13:40,769 --> 00:13:45,778 and dead bodies that I felt I could make 318 00:13:42,389 --> 00:13:50,129 such an estimation there were no marks 319 00:13:45,778 --> 00:13:51,019 no wounds or signs of trauma like me she 320 00:13:50,129 --> 00:13:55,110 was not burned 321 00:13:51,019 --> 00:13:58,889 she was just dead her eyes wide open as 322 00:13:55,110 --> 00:14:02,110 if in mortal terror had she my mind 323 00:13:58,889 --> 00:14:04,210 conjectured died of shock 324 00:14:02,110 --> 00:14:06,399 when I faced the burning death of a 325 00:14:04,210 --> 00:14:10,150 dragon's fire I had been hoping for this 326 00:14:06,399 --> 00:14:13,809 I had no doubt that for her it had been 327 00:14:10,149 --> 00:14:16,509 completely unexpected as I reached out 328 00:14:13,809 --> 00:14:19,389 of hoof gently closing her eyes I wonder 329 00:14:16,509 --> 00:14:21,669 what her last thought had been my hoof 330 00:14:19,389 --> 00:14:24,669 froze an inch from her face as it struck 331 00:14:21,669 --> 00:14:26,409 me that I might know those eyes though 332 00:14:24,669 --> 00:14:28,479 weeks of slow decay had rendered them 333 00:14:26,409 --> 00:14:30,429 strange they could have been the eyes of 334 00:14:28,480 --> 00:14:32,500 that one Enclave mayor one of the 335 00:14:30,429 --> 00:14:38,729 intruders into the Dragon's cave that 336 00:14:32,500 --> 00:14:42,490 spike had slain I I didn't understand 337 00:14:38,730 --> 00:14:44,080 why was she here and if she was then why 338 00:14:42,490 --> 00:14:45,610 wasn't the room full of propeller parts 339 00:14:44,080 --> 00:14:49,690 and everything else consumed by spikes 340 00:14:45,610 --> 00:14:52,720 breath a third of the decomposing body 341 00:14:49,690 --> 00:14:54,340 of the mayor and confused his may I had 342 00:14:52,720 --> 00:14:57,009 faced the fire of a dragon based on 343 00:14:54,340 --> 00:15:00,310 faith thin evidenced and a cripplingly 344 00:14:57,009 --> 00:15:02,470 desperate lack of options if she was 345 00:15:00,309 --> 00:15:04,419 sent here the same way then something 346 00:15:02,470 --> 00:15:07,450 must have made her different just as 347 00:15:04,419 --> 00:15:09,219 something had made me different but she 348 00:15:07,450 --> 00:15:11,670 wasn't guided by a precognitive voice of 349 00:15:09,220 --> 00:15:17,320 the past she wasn't the light bringer 350 00:15:11,669 --> 00:15:19,709 she wasn't even a message but then in a 351 00:15:17,320 --> 00:15:22,090 twisted way wasn't she 352 00:15:19,710 --> 00:15:25,090 spike had certainly been trying to send 353 00:15:22,090 --> 00:15:26,830 a message to the Enclave adult pain 354 00:15:25,090 --> 00:15:28,530 began to thud my mind as I thought about 355 00:15:26,830 --> 00:15:31,420 it 356 00:15:28,529 --> 00:15:33,970 did forces such as destiny purpose and 357 00:15:31,419 --> 00:15:36,519 intention play a part in dragon magic if 358 00:15:33,970 --> 00:15:38,649 so then it was not in the way ponies 359 00:15:36,519 --> 00:15:40,629 conceived of such things 360 00:15:38,649 --> 00:15:43,959 maybe they mattered in a more mysterious 361 00:15:40,629 --> 00:15:45,460 and nebulous existential way I doubt 362 00:15:43,960 --> 00:15:47,680 spike intended to send this mayor 363 00:15:45,460 --> 00:15:51,370 anywhere any more than he had planned to 364 00:15:47,679 --> 00:15:53,139 send a black book I felt a sudden 365 00:15:51,370 --> 00:15:55,379 weakness my knees psyche limps the 366 00:15:53,139 --> 00:15:57,759 breadth of my lack of understanding I 367 00:15:55,379 --> 00:15:59,529 felt suddenly like I had taken my leap 368 00:15:57,759 --> 00:16:02,799 of faith without even grasping the idea 369 00:15:59,529 --> 00:16:04,629 of gravity the chill of the room began 370 00:16:02,799 --> 00:16:08,109 to seep in as I stood over the Enclave 371 00:16:04,629 --> 00:16:10,929 mayor deep in thought a recalled part of 372 00:16:08,110 --> 00:16:12,460 a tale spike had told us how a hiccup 373 00:16:10,929 --> 00:16:15,159 has sent a bundle of Scrolls tumbling 374 00:16:12,460 --> 00:16:18,220 down on Celestia's head it was an 375 00:16:15,159 --> 00:16:20,919 accident but they were Scrolls their 376 00:16:18,220 --> 00:16:22,720 purpose was to bear messages the black 377 00:16:20,919 --> 00:16:27,069 book itself desired for its influence to 378 00:16:22,720 --> 00:16:29,290 be spread or maybe this dead mayor 379 00:16:27,070 --> 00:16:31,060 wasn't who I believed she was and I was 380 00:16:29,289 --> 00:16:34,870 just spending nonsensical wheels in my 381 00:16:31,059 --> 00:16:37,599 head how does she get in and out 382 00:16:34,870 --> 00:16:39,159 I had asked Lionheart looking at a pink 383 00:16:37,600 --> 00:16:42,430 warped glass ball which had once 384 00:16:39,159 --> 00:16:45,069 centuries before I had asked Lionheart 385 00:16:42,429 --> 00:16:47,199 looking at a paint class ball which had 386 00:16:45,070 --> 00:16:51,850 centuries before been designed to hold a 387 00:16:47,200 --> 00:16:54,430 small pet dragon magic 388 00:16:51,850 --> 00:16:58,778 I winced an unpleasant ache in the back 389 00:16:54,429 --> 00:17:00,219 of my brain dragon magic one more thing 390 00:16:58,778 --> 00:17:02,409 to add to the list of stuff that makes 391 00:17:00,220 --> 00:17:05,529 my head hurt right up there between 392 00:17:02,409 --> 00:17:09,328 enclave politics and rock farming but 393 00:17:05,529 --> 00:17:11,619 still below pony pulled train engines I 394 00:17:09,328 --> 00:17:14,948 finished closing the mares eyelids down 395 00:17:11,619 --> 00:17:17,109 over her staring lifeless eyes then 396 00:17:14,949 --> 00:17:19,689 shuttering slightly for more than just 397 00:17:17,109 --> 00:17:22,750 the cold I rotated the bout and started 398 00:17:19,689 --> 00:17:24,759 towards the small door even from across 399 00:17:22,750 --> 00:17:29,349 the room I could see I was in trouble 400 00:17:24,759 --> 00:17:33,190 the door had cloud lock if it was locked 401 00:17:29,349 --> 00:17:36,219 and when was anything ever easy then I 402 00:17:33,190 --> 00:17:37,360 couldn't open it a cloud walking which 403 00:17:36,220 --> 00:17:39,519 it allowed me to make it this far 404 00:17:37,359 --> 00:17:41,500 wouldn't affect either my tools or my 405 00:17:39,519 --> 00:17:45,579 telekinesis neither of which would 406 00:17:41,500 --> 00:17:47,500 interact with the clouds my truant 407 00:17:45,579 --> 00:17:50,589 dropped to a slow walk as I began to 408 00:17:47,500 --> 00:17:53,259 realize that I come all this way ask for 409 00:17:50,589 --> 00:17:55,509 so much from so many and I might be 410 00:17:53,259 --> 00:18:00,599 stuck here forever in this cold tacky 411 00:17:55,509 --> 00:18:03,250 room the three screens erupted in life 412 00:18:00,599 --> 00:18:06,119 above me glaring with an expression of 413 00:18:03,250 --> 00:18:08,919 cold and evil rage was an ebony alicorn 414 00:18:06,119 --> 00:18:11,949 her vast black wings filled the screens 415 00:18:08,919 --> 00:18:14,230 from left to right on the centre monitor 416 00:18:11,950 --> 00:18:15,970 her turquoise dragon like I stared down 417 00:18:14,230 --> 00:18:19,319 at me with utter contempt from behind a 418 00:18:15,970 --> 00:18:19,319 helmet forged a bluish metal 419 00:18:19,519 --> 00:18:26,269 you trespass in the sanctum of Nightmare 420 00:18:22,309 --> 00:18:29,000 Moon she said eiseley I give you this 421 00:18:26,269 --> 00:18:33,230 one chance to leave as Swift as your 422 00:18:29,000 --> 00:18:35,480 little pony hooves can carry you I back 423 00:18:33,230 --> 00:18:37,849 pedal in shock my host stepping onto the 424 00:18:35,480 --> 00:18:39,799 ribcage of a skeletal Pony causing me to 425 00:18:37,849 --> 00:18:41,209 trip and somersault backwards coming to 426 00:18:39,799 --> 00:18:44,659 rest awkwardly against the rotting 427 00:18:41,210 --> 00:18:48,680 corpse of the unknown Pegasus Nightmare 428 00:18:44,660 --> 00:18:52,040 Moon or I quickly suspected a security 429 00:18:48,680 --> 00:18:54,440 system designed to emulate her Rainbow 430 00:18:52,039 --> 00:18:55,609 Dash and form the shadow bolts it made 431 00:18:54,440 --> 00:18:57,410 sense that she might have drawn on 432 00:18:55,609 --> 00:18:58,789 similar iconography when designing the 433 00:18:57,410 --> 00:19:02,269 internal security of her ministry's 434 00:18:58,789 --> 00:19:04,309 greatest project I planted my hosts 435 00:19:02,269 --> 00:19:07,389 firmly on the cool floor and glared back 436 00:19:04,309 --> 00:19:10,909 at the screens full of Nightmare Moon 437 00:19:07,390 --> 00:19:14,620 I'm I'm not turning back now 438 00:19:10,910 --> 00:19:17,840 I announced you cannot continue 439 00:19:14,619 --> 00:19:20,269 Nightmare Moon insisted and I will 440 00:19:17,839 --> 00:19:21,649 strike you down if you try turn back now 441 00:19:20,269 --> 00:19:26,059 while I'm still feeling generous enough 442 00:19:21,650 --> 00:19:28,640 to give you the chance and exactly how 443 00:19:26,059 --> 00:19:32,059 would I do that was she going to drop 444 00:19:28,640 --> 00:19:34,130 the shield and let me out a bar of 445 00:19:32,059 --> 00:19:37,129 static crept up the left screen thus 446 00:19:34,130 --> 00:19:40,130 touring Nightmare Moon to right wing it 447 00:19:37,130 --> 00:19:42,320 didn't matter I turned away from the 448 00:19:40,130 --> 00:19:46,040 three screens casting my gaze about the 449 00:19:42,319 --> 00:19:48,710 room I couldn't pick a cloud lock but 450 00:19:46,039 --> 00:19:51,799 maybe I didn't have to maybe somewhere 451 00:19:48,710 --> 00:19:52,490 in this room there was a key what are 452 00:19:51,799 --> 00:19:56,149 you doing 453 00:19:52,490 --> 00:19:57,710 Nightmare Moon demanded ignoring you on 454 00:19:56,150 --> 00:20:00,710 the little pony my head thought as I 455 00:19:57,710 --> 00:20:03,710 began to search the room the cloud lock 456 00:20:00,710 --> 00:20:05,360 probably meant a cloud key I had to find 457 00:20:03,710 --> 00:20:06,710 it while the spell persisted and I would 458 00:20:05,359 --> 00:20:08,209 be able to pick it up with my hooves or 459 00:20:06,710 --> 00:20:10,740 teeth 460 00:20:08,210 --> 00:20:13,110 panel slid back from the frost encrusted 461 00:20:10,740 --> 00:20:17,099 ceiling ceiling turrets dropped down 462 00:20:13,109 --> 00:20:17,609 threatening but not yet taking aim stop 463 00:20:17,099 --> 00:20:19,649 that 464 00:20:17,609 --> 00:20:22,649 the image of nightmare moon cried 465 00:20:19,650 --> 00:20:27,210 insisting there's no other way inside 466 00:20:22,650 --> 00:20:32,040 don't waste your time I couldn't help it 467 00:20:27,210 --> 00:20:35,690 a smile broke across my muzzle oh but 468 00:20:32,039 --> 00:20:40,019 there is I told her know how I know 469 00:20:35,690 --> 00:20:41,490 because it's making you nervous the 470 00:20:40,019 --> 00:20:45,470 image on the right screen flickered with 471 00:20:41,490 --> 00:20:49,309 static then righted itself weight 472 00:20:45,470 --> 00:20:51,750 security programs can't get nervous I 473 00:20:49,309 --> 00:20:56,099 turned to face the screens my eyes 474 00:20:51,750 --> 00:20:58,140 growing lied last chats the face of 475 00:20:56,099 --> 00:21:03,599 nightmare moon warned me full of regal 476 00:20:58,140 --> 00:21:07,290 anger leave now no I'm not leaving 477 00:21:03,599 --> 00:21:09,449 I told her to finally because lives of 478 00:21:07,289 --> 00:21:11,129 good ponies are at stake because the 479 00:21:09,450 --> 00:21:13,440 evil attacking the innocent has to be 480 00:21:11,130 --> 00:21:18,510 stopped because Equestria deserves the 481 00:21:13,440 --> 00:21:20,490 Sun I step towards the screens watching 482 00:21:18,509 --> 00:21:24,059 as a wave of distortion warped the image 483 00:21:20,490 --> 00:21:25,589 of Nightmare Moon I'm not leaving 484 00:21:24,059 --> 00:21:28,529 because this is my destiny 485 00:21:25,589 --> 00:21:32,009 I stopped staring coldly the flickering 486 00:21:28,529 --> 00:21:34,139 images of the evil black alicorn looking 487 00:21:32,009 --> 00:21:36,359 into those dragon-like eyes as if 488 00:21:34,140 --> 00:21:38,570 willing my gaze beyond the screen beyond 489 00:21:36,359 --> 00:21:41,918 the facade 490 00:21:38,569 --> 00:21:48,048 I took a deep breath and spat out and 491 00:21:41,919 --> 00:21:49,850 because you are not Nightmare Moon the 492 00:21:48,048 --> 00:21:51,500 screens flickered and the images of 493 00:21:49,849 --> 00:21:55,908 Nightmare Moon vanished to be replaced 494 00:21:51,500 --> 00:21:58,548 with a much kinder village destiny is 495 00:21:55,909 --> 00:22:02,120 only what you make it to be Celestia 496 00:21:58,548 --> 00:22:04,788 told me I told myself this was another 497 00:22:02,119 --> 00:22:07,729 layer of the security program this 498 00:22:04,788 --> 00:22:10,009 wasn't actually Celestia the gentle 499 00:22:07,730 --> 00:22:12,589 goddess had transcended death rose up to 500 00:22:10,009 --> 00:22:14,569 the heavens even now she was watching 501 00:22:12,589 --> 00:22:21,048 over all the ponies of Equestria hearing 502 00:22:14,569 --> 00:22:24,859 our prayers not this this wasn't what I 503 00:22:21,048 --> 00:22:29,480 believed stop with the games I spat 504 00:22:24,859 --> 00:22:31,729 crossly get out the image of Celestia 505 00:22:29,480 --> 00:22:33,378 commanded spreading feathery white wings 506 00:22:31,730 --> 00:22:36,409 across the right and left screens in a 507 00:22:33,378 --> 00:22:42,759 stance of royal dominance this place is 508 00:22:36,409 --> 00:22:46,050 not for you I shook my head get out how 509 00:22:42,759 --> 00:22:52,920 however you got in 510 00:22:46,049 --> 00:22:57,389 my jaw dropped shee-it whatever didn't 511 00:22:52,920 --> 00:22:59,160 know weren't you paying attention and 512 00:22:57,390 --> 00:23:03,360 what sort of crappy security system was 513 00:22:59,160 --> 00:23:06,140 this spike sent me sorry don't have 514 00:23:03,359 --> 00:23:08,969 another dragon in my saddlebags 515 00:23:06,140 --> 00:23:13,860 the Celestia image mouthed spikes named 516 00:23:08,970 --> 00:23:15,259 looking surprised you had yourself 517 00:23:13,859 --> 00:23:17,909 burned alive 518 00:23:15,259 --> 00:23:21,119 the majestic image of the white alicorn 519 00:23:17,910 --> 00:23:24,450 asked the line of static started to 520 00:23:21,119 --> 00:23:29,369 crawl across the center monitor and who 521 00:23:24,450 --> 00:23:34,200 are the alicorn trailed off seeming to 522 00:23:29,369 --> 00:23:39,269 look at me for the first time wait don't 523 00:23:34,200 --> 00:23:40,558 I know you know me I repeated feeling 524 00:23:39,269 --> 00:23:47,339 like I was losing the ground beneath my 525 00:23:40,558 --> 00:23:49,829 hooves why would you know me i watch so 526 00:23:47,339 --> 00:23:53,399 many ponies the image of Celestia 527 00:23:49,829 --> 00:23:56,279 confessed in my prison all I can do is 528 00:23:53,400 --> 00:23:59,600 watch and listen until sometimes I 529 00:23:56,279 --> 00:23:59,599 cannot bear to watch anymore 530 00:23:59,700 --> 00:24:08,340 Prison that goddess's was I actually 531 00:24:06,089 --> 00:24:11,480 believing this that I was speaking to 532 00:24:08,339 --> 00:24:16,259 Celestia herself that the goddess 533 00:24:11,480 --> 00:24:18,200 princess was somehow trapped here why 534 00:24:16,259 --> 00:24:22,349 else would she refer to this as a prison 535 00:24:18,200 --> 00:24:25,319 but that meant but I do remember 536 00:24:22,349 --> 00:24:27,119 watching you before Celestia interrupted 537 00:24:25,319 --> 00:24:29,759 my epiphany her voice taking on a 538 00:24:27,119 --> 00:24:33,658 motherly tone almost gentle but not 539 00:24:29,759 --> 00:24:36,710 without an edge you are little pip she 540 00:24:33,659 --> 00:24:44,480 of the colorful vulgarities am i right 541 00:24:36,710 --> 00:24:47,610 of the UH Celestia knew me for that I 542 00:24:44,480 --> 00:24:49,230 wanted to hide but there simply was not 543 00:24:47,609 --> 00:24:53,129 enough of everything in the universe to 544 00:24:49,230 --> 00:24:54,870 bury myself under the pony on the radio 545 00:24:53,130 --> 00:24:57,750 has good things to say about you 546 00:24:54,869 --> 00:24:59,489 Celestia continued my embarrassment 547 00:24:57,750 --> 00:25:03,929 compounding with her mention of my 548 00:24:59,490 --> 00:25:05,460 inflated reputation of course she had 549 00:25:03,929 --> 00:25:09,210 been hearing everything on which it said 550 00:25:05,460 --> 00:25:11,669 and all the DJ ponies before her they 551 00:25:09,210 --> 00:25:14,370 had after all been tapping into the SPP 552 00:25:11,669 --> 00:25:16,049 towers to broadcast using Twilight 553 00:25:14,369 --> 00:25:21,829 Sparkle's emergency broadcast station no 554 00:25:16,048 --> 00:25:21,829 less all I can do is a watch and listen 555 00:25:21,990 --> 00:25:26,160 you are not like the ponies who have 556 00:25:23,700 --> 00:25:27,420 sought to enter this place before the 557 00:25:26,160 --> 00:25:31,950 horrible things they did in their 558 00:25:27,420 --> 00:25:33,390 efforts to get inside I winced the 559 00:25:31,950 --> 00:25:35,400 little pony my head cringing and 560 00:25:33,390 --> 00:25:36,750 sympathetic heartache as I imagined what 561 00:25:35,400 --> 00:25:38,429 it must have been like for Celeste yet 562 00:25:36,750 --> 00:25:39,058 to see an alicorn wearing her sister's 563 00:25:38,429 --> 00:25:43,650 bones 564 00:25:39,058 --> 00:25:45,839 I put Luna to rest I told her quickly 565 00:25:43,650 --> 00:25:49,350 wanting to ease the harmful memory 566 00:25:45,839 --> 00:25:53,939 I burned Lunas bones and slew the 567 00:25:49,349 --> 00:25:57,329 monster who desecrated her my words felt 568 00:25:53,940 --> 00:26:01,289 weak pathetic like they weren't worthy 569 00:25:57,329 --> 00:26:02,939 of Celestia but the expression on her 570 00:26:01,289 --> 00:26:04,649 face was one of such undeserved 571 00:26:02,940 --> 00:26:08,460 gratitude that I found myself bowing 572 00:26:04,650 --> 00:26:13,200 before her just to escape it rise my 573 00:26:08,460 --> 00:26:17,670 little pony Celestia chided softly I am 574 00:26:13,200 --> 00:26:19,500 no one worth your deference I glanced up 575 00:26:17,670 --> 00:26:24,269 and surprised at her melancholy words 576 00:26:19,500 --> 00:26:26,039 not moving from my position there are 577 00:26:24,269 --> 00:26:29,250 too many dead because of me for anypony 578 00:26:26,039 --> 00:26:31,909 to show me such reverence I would bow to 579 00:26:29,250 --> 00:26:31,910 you if I could 580 00:26:32,259 --> 00:26:39,759 I stood up quickly what no I was 581 00:26:37,240 --> 00:26:42,788 appalled and to my surprise a little 582 00:26:39,759 --> 00:26:46,269 cross what happened wasn't your fault 583 00:26:42,788 --> 00:26:48,460 the board the mega spells the horrible 584 00:26:46,269 --> 00:26:51,058 things we've done in your absence none 585 00:26:48,460 --> 00:26:51,058 of it's your fault 586 00:26:51,240 --> 00:26:56,980 Celestia merely looked at me sadly her 587 00:26:55,269 --> 00:26:58,480 perfect voice began to soak with the 588 00:26:56,980 --> 00:27:03,548 sound of tears she couldn't really shed 589 00:26:58,480 --> 00:27:07,450 it but it is my little pony she insisted 590 00:27:03,548 --> 00:27:09,759 I chose the site for Lunas school there 591 00:27:07,450 --> 00:27:11,288 were three sites equally suitable but I 592 00:27:09,759 --> 00:27:14,230 chose the crescent moon Canyon because 593 00:27:11,288 --> 00:27:15,879 it amused me because I wanted to see my 594 00:27:14,230 --> 00:27:18,269 sister's face when I told her I was 595 00:27:15,880 --> 00:27:21,070 sending her students to the moon 596 00:27:18,269 --> 00:27:23,679 and now I could see tears in the 597 00:27:21,069 --> 00:27:27,250 Celestia's eyes static warping the image 598 00:27:23,679 --> 00:27:34,120 on the central monitor I put those 599 00:27:27,250 --> 00:27:37,539 children there for a joke I I had 600 00:27:34,119 --> 00:27:40,419 imagined this 601 00:27:37,539 --> 00:27:43,059 my nerves felt covered in ice my eyes 602 00:27:40,420 --> 00:27:44,769 burned I felt the heat of a tear 603 00:27:43,059 --> 00:27:49,210 trickled down my right cheek as I began 604 00:27:44,769 --> 00:27:49,779 to cry for my goddess and that's not the 605 00:27:49,210 --> 00:27:53,350 end of it 606 00:27:49,779 --> 00:27:55,629 Celestia claimed when the zebra struck 607 00:27:53,349 --> 00:27:57,609 Luna and I worked together holding up 608 00:27:55,630 --> 00:27:59,530 the shield giving all of our subjects 609 00:27:57,609 --> 00:28:00,899 time to get to their stables even though 610 00:27:59,529 --> 00:28:03,910 the cloud would kill us 611 00:28:00,900 --> 00:28:04,900 we took shifts at first each of us 612 00:28:03,910 --> 00:28:06,790 holding the shield while the other 613 00:28:04,900 --> 00:28:12,700 gathered healing supplies then while the 614 00:28:06,789 --> 00:28:13,559 other just rested sacrifice but my 615 00:28:12,700 --> 00:28:17,190 sister 616 00:28:13,559 --> 00:28:20,349 Celestia's voice trembled it was younger 617 00:28:17,190 --> 00:28:22,390 weaker and no matter what I did I 618 00:28:20,349 --> 00:28:26,500 couldn't prevent her from dying in my 619 00:28:22,390 --> 00:28:30,880 arms tears streamed down from her 620 00:28:26,500 --> 00:28:35,940 quivering lavender eyes I held Luna 621 00:28:30,880 --> 00:28:40,800 until her body had grown cold goddesses 622 00:28:35,940 --> 00:28:44,170 goddess Luna had mercy on your sister 623 00:28:40,799 --> 00:28:48,190 and then stricken with grief 624 00:28:44,170 --> 00:28:50,920 I flew away I abandoned dead Canterlot 625 00:28:48,190 --> 00:28:54,509 letting the shield fall unleashing a 626 00:28:50,920 --> 00:28:57,789 fatal flood on the poor towns below 627 00:28:54,509 --> 00:29:01,509 Apple snack died I recalled painfully 628 00:28:57,789 --> 00:29:02,889 and the seconds that followed he hadn't 629 00:29:01,509 --> 00:29:06,339 seen Celestia's flight from the royal 630 00:29:02,890 --> 00:29:07,990 castle but that could be forgiven he was 631 00:29:06,339 --> 00:29:11,919 focused on the horrific wave of pink 632 00:29:07,990 --> 00:29:14,440 coming to consume him as terrible and 633 00:29:11,920 --> 00:29:19,330 painful as her confessions were Celestia 634 00:29:14,440 --> 00:29:23,019 was not finished I I was blind with 635 00:29:19,329 --> 00:29:25,240 grief with the loss of my sister but as 636 00:29:23,019 --> 00:29:27,879 I flew over whitetail woods I saw zebra 637 00:29:25,240 --> 00:29:31,120 mega spell missiles three of them headed 638 00:29:27,880 --> 00:29:33,700 towards Canterlot the Zebras were not 639 00:29:31,119 --> 00:29:35,439 content to murder Luna they intended to 640 00:29:33,700 --> 00:29:38,140 obliterate the city that had become her 641 00:29:35,440 --> 00:29:43,570 grave to wipe the entire mountain off 642 00:29:38,140 --> 00:29:44,710 the map to early erase her I remembered 643 00:29:43,569 --> 00:29:47,679 the words of steel hooves 644 00:29:44,710 --> 00:29:49,569 I heard rumors in the days after the 645 00:29:47,680 --> 00:29:51,430 apocalypse that after the shield fell 646 00:29:49,569 --> 00:29:53,950 the Zebras launched mega spells to 647 00:29:51,430 --> 00:29:55,690 finally obliterate the city but if that 648 00:29:53,950 --> 00:30:01,130 is true then those missiles never 649 00:29:55,690 --> 00:30:03,410 reached their destination whitetail wood 650 00:30:01,130 --> 00:30:06,650 kgs to call that the most poison place 651 00:30:03,410 --> 00:30:12,310 in Equestria timidly 652 00:30:06,650 --> 00:30:16,009 I heard myself squeak what did you do I 653 00:30:12,309 --> 00:30:19,579 destroyed them Silesia said her sad 654 00:30:16,009 --> 00:30:22,119 voice taking on a hard edge my grief 655 00:30:19,579 --> 00:30:24,289 turned to rage and I tore them apart 656 00:30:22,119 --> 00:30:27,439 reduced them to dust as I flew between 657 00:30:24,289 --> 00:30:29,420 them well good for you 658 00:30:27,440 --> 00:30:32,960 the little pony in my head said with an 659 00:30:29,420 --> 00:30:35,000 angry stomp the blade of anger 660 00:30:32,960 --> 00:30:39,049 evaporated from her voice leaving only 661 00:30:35,000 --> 00:30:40,880 regret the winds carried the radiation 662 00:30:39,049 --> 00:30:43,159 and poison from those weapons all across 663 00:30:40,880 --> 00:30:44,870 whitetail wood covering Equestria is 664 00:30:43,160 --> 00:30:47,150 once beautiful for us and poisoning the 665 00:30:44,869 --> 00:30:52,039 reservoir all the way to the edge of 666 00:30:47,150 --> 00:30:53,420 Ponyville as Celestia spoke my thoughts 667 00:30:52,039 --> 00:30:55,879 traveled back to my first minutes 668 00:30:53,420 --> 00:30:57,500 outside the stable to just house sick 669 00:30:55,880 --> 00:31:01,390 and poisoned sweet Apple acres had been 670 00:30:57,500 --> 00:31:06,259 the very ground making my pipbuck click 671 00:31:01,390 --> 00:31:08,570 my rage Celestia bemoaned when it left 672 00:31:06,259 --> 00:31:13,849 me I felt like I had been stripped of my 673 00:31:08,569 --> 00:31:15,769 flesh my heart my soul was raw and I was 674 00:31:13,849 --> 00:31:17,778 afraid 675 00:31:15,769 --> 00:31:22,609 the expression on Celeste his face was 676 00:31:17,778 --> 00:31:28,609 unfathomable I was dying and I was 677 00:31:22,609 --> 00:31:30,969 afraid I wanted to hug her to bury my 678 00:31:28,609 --> 00:31:37,519 head in her royal white coat and weep 679 00:31:30,970 --> 00:31:41,480 for her for Luna for everything I should 680 00:31:37,519 --> 00:31:43,629 have let myself die Celestia said that 681 00:31:41,480 --> 00:31:48,409 way at least I could have been with Luna 682 00:31:43,630 --> 00:31:51,590 but I didn't I was selfish I've lived so 683 00:31:48,409 --> 00:31:55,130 long the death ending was alien 684 00:31:51,589 --> 00:32:00,259 horrifying to me so instead I let my 685 00:31:55,130 --> 00:32:04,630 cowardice bring me here here the single 686 00:32:00,259 --> 00:32:10,379 Pegasus project that's not cowardice I 687 00:32:04,630 --> 00:32:12,480 offered earnestly that's normal 688 00:32:10,380 --> 00:32:15,870 the idea of anything about the goddesses 689 00:32:12,480 --> 00:32:19,190 being normal was jarring to me we all 690 00:32:15,869 --> 00:32:21,000 fear death that's part of being a pony 691 00:32:19,190 --> 00:32:25,279 with a second thought 692 00:32:21,000 --> 00:32:25,279 I added it's part of being alive 693 00:32:26,058 --> 00:32:32,819 Celestia seemed a mildly thankful for my 694 00:32:28,410 --> 00:32:35,929 effort and as a reward I had been 695 00:32:32,819 --> 00:32:38,250 trapped here in my prison my purgatory 696 00:32:35,929 --> 00:32:43,019 listening to the victims of my sins 697 00:32:38,250 --> 00:32:45,240 unable to act unable to help she seemed 698 00:32:43,019 --> 00:32:49,589 to look past me her gaze shifting across 699 00:32:45,240 --> 00:32:51,000 the bones I've done what I could to 700 00:32:49,589 --> 00:32:53,519 prevent anypony from becoming like me 701 00:32:51,000 --> 00:32:58,140 and to prevent those camped outside from 702 00:32:53,519 --> 00:33:01,950 gaining access to this place I opened my 703 00:32:58,140 --> 00:33:06,210 muzzle tried to say something to protest 704 00:33:01,950 --> 00:33:07,650 to find some way to console her she 705 00:33:06,210 --> 00:33:11,159 listened for a moment before gently 706 00:33:07,650 --> 00:33:14,269 cutting me off instead a voice I'd heard 707 00:33:11,159 --> 00:33:18,450 months ago filled the winter vegetable 708 00:33:14,269 --> 00:33:20,639 hello is anypony out there the long dead 709 00:33:18,450 --> 00:33:23,460 stallion asked his voice heavy with 710 00:33:20,640 --> 00:33:26,700 resignation he didn't really expect the 711 00:33:23,460 --> 00:33:28,529 help he would never receive please we 712 00:33:26,700 --> 00:33:29,640 need help I was bringing my family to 713 00:33:28,529 --> 00:33:31,889 the stable up near sweet Apple acres 714 00:33:29,640 --> 00:33:34,080 when we're attacked by Raiders only my 715 00:33:31,890 --> 00:33:36,630 son and I survived we made it to the 716 00:33:34,079 --> 00:33:39,720 stable but it's all sealed up there's no 717 00:33:36,630 --> 00:33:41,250 way inside my son he ate one of those 718 00:33:39,720 --> 00:33:43,110 apples from those damned apple trees up 719 00:33:41,250 --> 00:33:46,558 near the stable and now he's terribly 720 00:33:43,109 --> 00:33:48,689 sick too sick to move we've holed up in 721 00:33:46,558 --> 00:33:50,029 a cistern near the old Memorial we're 722 00:33:48,690 --> 00:33:53,900 running out of food and medical supplies 723 00:33:50,029 --> 00:33:57,230 please if anybody hears this help us 724 00:33:53,900 --> 00:33:57,230 message repeats 725 00:33:58,799 --> 00:34:04,139 I was struck by a ghost of realization I 726 00:34:01,079 --> 00:34:06,569 first had hearing it the unnamed father 727 00:34:04,140 --> 00:34:08,340 had already lost hope and by the time he 728 00:34:06,569 --> 00:34:12,000 made that recording he was just going 729 00:34:08,340 --> 00:34:14,059 through the motions and Celestia had 730 00:34:12,000 --> 00:34:15,989 been hearing that broadcast 731 00:34:14,059 --> 00:34:17,969 reciting the death of a cult from the 732 00:34:15,989 --> 00:34:20,579 poisons she had spread across whitetail 733 00:34:17,969 --> 00:34:23,879 wood playing it over and over again for 734 00:34:20,579 --> 00:34:27,509 who knew how many years until I came 735 00:34:23,880 --> 00:34:33,360 along and shut it down I broke down 736 00:34:27,510 --> 00:34:36,210 crying Celestia wept with me you are not 737 00:34:33,360 --> 00:34:37,590 like those camped outside she repeated 738 00:34:36,210 --> 00:34:39,750 when my resolve to complete my mission 739 00:34:37,590 --> 00:34:43,650 overrode my sorrow and I finally began 740 00:34:39,750 --> 00:34:46,739 to wipe away my tears I knew she must 741 00:34:43,650 --> 00:34:48,389 have met the Enclave it struck me as odd 742 00:34:46,739 --> 00:34:51,000 that she wouldn't have known who I was 743 00:34:48,389 --> 00:34:52,650 when I first appeared she didn't seem 744 00:34:51,000 --> 00:34:54,420 aware of the battle raging just beyond 745 00:34:52,650 --> 00:34:59,280 the shield or the purpose of my 746 00:34:54,420 --> 00:35:02,220 appearance all I can do is watch and 747 00:34:59,280 --> 00:35:08,300 listen until sometimes I cannot bear to 748 00:35:02,219 --> 00:35:11,719 watch anymore Celestia I asked gently 749 00:35:08,300 --> 00:35:14,600 when did you stop watching 750 00:35:11,719 --> 00:35:17,529 her answer should not have surprised me 751 00:35:14,599 --> 00:35:19,569 friendship city 752 00:35:17,530 --> 00:35:22,360 it had been the equestrian wastelands 753 00:35:19,570 --> 00:35:25,210 darkest hour if I had been watching 754 00:35:22,360 --> 00:35:28,720 unable to help I believe I would have 755 00:35:25,210 --> 00:35:30,400 averted my gaze too it took me a few 756 00:35:28,719 --> 00:35:34,469 minutes to fill Celestia in on what she 757 00:35:30,400 --> 00:35:37,800 had missed what 758 00:35:34,469 --> 00:35:41,279 what did happen to you I finally asked 759 00:35:37,800 --> 00:35:43,369 my voice conscious I tried to brace 760 00:35:41,280 --> 00:35:45,930 myself for whatever answer would come I 761 00:35:43,369 --> 00:35:47,430 needed to know but I didn't think I 762 00:35:45,929 --> 00:35:51,358 could bear hearing even more of my 763 00:35:47,429 --> 00:35:57,179 Celestia's pain how is it that you're 764 00:35:51,358 --> 00:35:58,590 here like this my first assumption would 765 00:35:57,179 --> 00:36:02,239 have been that Celeste he had enter the 766 00:35:58,590 --> 00:36:04,230 control pod herself but if she had 767 00:36:02,239 --> 00:36:08,189 wouldn't she have done a long time ago 768 00:36:04,230 --> 00:36:09,869 what I intended to do now and hadn't the 769 00:36:08,190 --> 00:36:13,950 Ministry of awesome systems confirmed 770 00:36:09,869 --> 00:36:18,030 that the central hub was empty I came 771 00:36:13,949 --> 00:36:20,219 here Celestia told me I knew my body was 772 00:36:18,030 --> 00:36:22,530 dying but I knew of the Crusader 773 00:36:20,219 --> 00:36:26,969 mainframes of the chance for continued 774 00:36:22,530 --> 00:36:28,990 life they offered so I came here she 775 00:36:26,969 --> 00:36:31,149 looked askance 776 00:36:28,989 --> 00:36:33,250 part of me hoped that in taking control 777 00:36:31,150 --> 00:36:35,800 of this place I would be able to help 778 00:36:33,250 --> 00:36:37,269 all my little ponies that I could still 779 00:36:35,800 --> 00:36:40,119 do some good to try to make up for my 780 00:36:37,269 --> 00:36:42,420 failures but when I found myself 781 00:36:40,119 --> 00:36:46,358 downloading to the mainframe in trapped 782 00:36:42,420 --> 00:36:49,480 helpless I have control over a few 783 00:36:46,358 --> 00:36:55,869 security systems but that is all I can 784 00:36:49,480 --> 00:36:57,099 only listen and watch downloaded my four 785 00:36:55,869 --> 00:37:01,150 hooves are raised to my muzzle as I 786 00:36:57,099 --> 00:37:01,859 gasped none of that download your brain 787 00:37:01,150 --> 00:37:04,088 nonsense 788 00:37:01,858 --> 00:37:07,179 Rainbow Dash should explain to Luna I 789 00:37:04,088 --> 00:37:08,650 had him disconnect all that stuff I want 790 00:37:07,179 --> 00:37:12,389 living Pony running Equestria's weather 791 00:37:08,650 --> 00:37:12,389 not some machine that thinks it's a pony 792 00:37:12,539 --> 00:37:20,230 Rainbow Dash Apple Bloom I said weakly 793 00:37:17,639 --> 00:37:21,759 Celestia they disconnected the mental 794 00:37:20,230 --> 00:37:26,559 download system for the controls that 795 00:37:21,760 --> 00:37:28,540 was part of the design I had known this 796 00:37:26,559 --> 00:37:29,980 but I had imagined they would remove 797 00:37:28,539 --> 00:37:32,380 that part of the Crusader mainframe 798 00:37:29,980 --> 00:37:37,659 completely not left it intact but 799 00:37:32,380 --> 00:37:39,430 severed spike had once asked me have you 800 00:37:37,659 --> 00:37:40,929 ever heard the old saying the portal to 801 00:37:39,429 --> 00:37:43,449 Hell is open with the incantation of 802 00:37:40,929 --> 00:37:47,489 good intentions if there was a moral to 803 00:37:43,449 --> 00:37:47,489 their story I guess that would be it I 804 00:37:47,880 --> 00:37:55,690 know that now Celestia said mournfully 805 00:37:52,108 --> 00:37:57,699 she had made a mistake a simple 806 00:37:55,690 --> 00:38:00,460 understandable mistake with numbingly 807 00:37:57,699 --> 00:38:02,618 tragic consequences 808 00:38:00,460 --> 00:38:05,530 it was the story of Equestria's fallen 809 00:38:02,619 --> 00:38:08,650 miniature DJ pony's words rang in my 810 00:38:05,530 --> 00:38:11,430 head the one great reality of the 811 00:38:08,650 --> 00:38:15,389 wasteland the truth of the matter 812 00:38:11,429 --> 00:38:17,858 everypony has done something they regret 813 00:38:15,389 --> 00:38:21,250 the rational part of my mind reared up 814 00:38:17,858 --> 00:38:23,190 if that was what had happened then this 815 00:38:21,250 --> 00:38:26,469 wasn't really Celestia I was talking to 816 00:38:23,190 --> 00:38:29,588 it was just a program just the illusion 817 00:38:26,469 --> 00:38:31,269 of memories downloading your mind into a 818 00:38:29,588 --> 00:38:33,820 crusader mainframe doesn't actually put 819 00:38:31,269 --> 00:38:38,489 you into the computer it just makes a 820 00:38:33,820 --> 00:38:41,320 copy of your brain the only way that I 821 00:38:38,489 --> 00:38:44,319 thought of elder cottage cheese and his 822 00:38:41,320 --> 00:38:46,180 unholy intentions he had planned to 823 00:38:44,320 --> 00:38:47,769 truly live forever by not only turning 824 00:38:46,179 --> 00:38:50,289 the Crusader mainframe into duplicate of 825 00:38:47,769 --> 00:38:52,570 his mind but then transferring his very 826 00:38:50,289 --> 00:38:58,029 soul into the machine using it as a 827 00:38:52,570 --> 00:38:59,830 soldier my face rose toward Celestia my 828 00:38:58,030 --> 00:39:01,359 eyes opening and terrible realization as 829 00:38:59,829 --> 00:39:04,269 Rarity's words once again whispered 830 00:39:01,358 --> 00:39:06,819 through my mind she tried to have spiked 831 00:39:04,269 --> 00:39:09,239 Burnet and all that did was send it to 832 00:39:06,820 --> 00:39:09,240 Princess Celestia 833 00:39:09,480 --> 00:39:16,260 Princess Celestia had for a time been in 834 00:39:13,179 --> 00:39:16,259 possession of the black book 835 00:39:16,940 --> 00:39:26,539 you I stared aghast yes 836 00:39:23,588 --> 00:39:29,960 Celestia confirmed regretfully not even 837 00:39:26,539 --> 00:39:31,940 needing to hear the question the spells 838 00:39:29,960 --> 00:39:34,909 were so easy to learn that I knew them 839 00:39:31,940 --> 00:39:38,210 the moment I opened those pages and how 840 00:39:34,909 --> 00:39:42,108 could I resist it just to look I felt a 841 00:39:38,210 --> 00:39:44,780 black chill when you live as long as I 842 00:39:42,108 --> 00:39:48,348 have the boredom becomes an enemy she 843 00:39:44,780 --> 00:39:50,660 explained in its own way as dangerous to 844 00:39:48,349 --> 00:39:56,329 me as discord especially when I was 845 00:39:50,659 --> 00:39:58,549 alone Celestia side in the centuries 846 00:39:56,329 --> 00:39:59,900 after i banished Nightmare Moon I turned 847 00:39:58,550 --> 00:40:02,119 learning everything I could about the 848 00:39:59,900 --> 00:40:04,940 mysterious the secret and the forbidden 849 00:40:02,119 --> 00:40:07,579 I even learned tidbits of zebra alchemy 850 00:40:04,940 --> 00:40:09,230 and dragon magic those few things which 851 00:40:07,579 --> 00:40:12,710 a pony such as myself could possibly 852 00:40:09,230 --> 00:40:14,900 perform later I even built a school to 853 00:40:12,710 --> 00:40:17,568 teach those things the things that I 854 00:40:14,900 --> 00:40:20,989 knew were safe at least 855 00:40:17,568 --> 00:40:23,778 and dragon magic was that how she sent 856 00:40:20,989 --> 00:40:28,338 Scrolls back to spike I couldn't help 857 00:40:23,778 --> 00:40:31,398 but ask yes she told me with a nostalgic 858 00:40:28,338 --> 00:40:36,018 smile I learned that from the dragon he 859 00:40:31,398 --> 00:40:37,338 now know his mouse she continued the 860 00:40:36,018 --> 00:40:38,958 secrets of the black book or a 861 00:40:37,338 --> 00:40:40,478 temptation that played on centuries of 862 00:40:38,958 --> 00:40:42,948 habit 863 00:40:40,478 --> 00:40:48,129 no wonder the shield around the SPP 864 00:40:42,949 --> 00:40:48,130 central hub was so involved listen 865 00:40:52,389 --> 00:40:59,899 another thought occurred to me this was 866 00:40:55,998 --> 00:41:01,848 it then I was never getting out not that 867 00:40:59,898 --> 00:41:05,598 I had ever intended or suspected I would 868 00:41:01,849 --> 00:41:06,889 but and very least I couldn't leave 869 00:41:05,599 --> 00:41:10,039 until a threat of the Enclave was 870 00:41:06,889 --> 00:41:11,838 dismantled entirely it did no good and 871 00:41:10,039 --> 00:41:16,278 the war today if it just started again 872 00:41:11,838 --> 00:41:19,719 tomorrow still the reality of my eternal 873 00:41:16,278 --> 00:41:24,559 incarceration was like a heavy blanket 874 00:41:19,719 --> 00:41:27,168 yet still I held my head up I would 875 00:41:24,559 --> 00:41:28,489 never see my friends again I was going 876 00:41:27,168 --> 00:41:31,788 to be hated and villainized by the 877 00:41:28,489 --> 00:41:32,958 pegasi but it was all going to be worth 878 00:41:31,789 --> 00:41:38,689 it to bring the sunlight back to 879 00:41:32,958 --> 00:41:40,398 Equestria to stop the Enclave how it 880 00:41:38,688 --> 00:41:43,629 would be worth it just for silver Bell 881 00:41:40,398 --> 00:41:43,630 to get to see real rainbows 882 00:41:44,329 --> 00:41:48,590 I stepped towards the door my only 883 00:41:47,269 --> 00:41:50,900 regret was that I wouldn't be with 884 00:41:48,590 --> 00:41:52,340 homage ever again that I wouldn't be 885 00:41:50,900 --> 00:41:58,550 able to hold her one last time 886 00:41:52,340 --> 00:42:03,950 I stopped looking up at the screens can 887 00:41:58,550 --> 00:42:09,350 I see them I asked my friends from it 888 00:42:03,949 --> 00:42:11,539 here of course my little pony my heart 889 00:42:09,349 --> 00:42:12,799 left the little pony in my head was 890 00:42:11,539 --> 00:42:15,889 bouncing around with unexpected 891 00:42:12,800 --> 00:42:20,120 anticipation my first instinct was to 892 00:42:15,889 --> 00:42:21,319 ask about homage but I had a friend for 893 00:42:20,119 --> 00:42:26,719 which I felt a much more pressing 894 00:42:21,320 --> 00:42:29,059 concern please Celestia I begged show me 895 00:42:26,719 --> 00:42:32,769 did she do show me what happened to her 896 00:42:29,059 --> 00:42:32,769 I need to know if she's all right 897 00:42:33,320 --> 00:42:37,490 princess celestia vanished her image 898 00:42:35,989 --> 00:42:40,879 replaced my scenes of the Battle of 899 00:42:37,489 --> 00:42:43,639 Philadelphia each monitor showed footage 900 00:42:40,880 --> 00:42:45,530 recorded by the SPP towers to showing 901 00:42:43,639 --> 00:42:49,789 recent events while the third played in 902 00:42:45,530 --> 00:42:51,769 real-time I watched as did si do like a 903 00:42:49,789 --> 00:42:53,480 golden green light of Hope rose out of 904 00:42:51,769 --> 00:42:56,840 the Philadelphia crater and flew up 905 00:42:53,480 --> 00:42:58,579 through the clouds and they watched as 906 00:42:56,840 --> 00:43:00,370 she came back her Sonic Rainboom 907 00:42:58,579 --> 00:43:02,630 clearing the skies over Philadelphia 908 00:43:00,369 --> 00:43:07,009 allowing the Rays of Celestia one to 909 00:43:02,630 --> 00:43:09,340 strike I watched as she fell and I 910 00:43:07,010 --> 00:43:12,500 cheered when light heart caught her on 911 00:43:09,340 --> 00:43:14,240 the central screen I could see ditzy Doo 912 00:43:12,500 --> 00:43:16,909 right now standing on the overturned 913 00:43:14,239 --> 00:43:18,829 Hulk of a chariot gazing wall-eyed over 914 00:43:16,909 --> 00:43:22,039 a sea of scrambling slave ponies her 915 00:43:18,829 --> 00:43:24,619 blackboard in her teeth this way to 916 00:43:22,039 --> 00:43:27,360 freedom and muffins 917 00:43:24,619 --> 00:43:28,920 beyond her a gaping hole had been torn 918 00:43:27,360 --> 00:43:30,780 in the wall the wreckage from the 919 00:43:28,920 --> 00:43:34,139 barrier used to bridge the moat of toxic 920 00:43:30,780 --> 00:43:37,500 sludge Lionheart was standing beside the 921 00:43:34,139 --> 00:43:39,420 passage to freedom near is hose a dozen 922 00:43:37,500 --> 00:43:41,519 monsters from the sludge moat lay dead 923 00:43:39,420 --> 00:43:44,389 they're pink tainted corpses surrounding 924 00:43:41,519 --> 00:43:48,139 a triumphant looking white field mouse 925 00:43:44,389 --> 00:43:53,719 thanks Celestia I said without thinking 926 00:43:48,139 --> 00:43:57,779 then blushing I asked show me zennith 927 00:43:53,719 --> 00:43:59,489 the screens changed I washed my zebra 928 00:43:57,780 --> 00:44:02,610 friends infiltrate Philadelphia until 929 00:43:59,489 --> 00:44:03,839 she had reached CERN I saw the fight 930 00:44:02,610 --> 00:44:05,700 that began on the rooftop of the 931 00:44:03,840 --> 00:44:07,350 ministry morale and that ended on a 932 00:44:05,699 --> 00:44:11,149 gable roof top on the far side of the 933 00:44:07,349 --> 00:44:13,139 city I looks on as right now 934 00:44:11,150 --> 00:44:14,639 zennith lay bleeding and barely 935 00:44:13,139 --> 00:44:16,529 conscious under the cover of a cave 936 00:44:14,639 --> 00:44:18,239 formed from rubble as her daughter the 937 00:44:16,530 --> 00:44:22,950 doctor of glyph mark tended to her moons 938 00:44:18,239 --> 00:44:25,049 in the background the sky erupted with 939 00:44:22,949 --> 00:44:26,639 light as a concentrated Sun beam flared 940 00:44:25,050 --> 00:44:30,210 down from the heavens and detonated in 941 00:44:26,639 --> 00:44:32,309 Enclave bombing wagon hey Celeste see 942 00:44:30,210 --> 00:44:35,760 one was working then that gave me hope 943 00:44:32,309 --> 00:44:40,029 for my other friends as well could you 944 00:44:35,760 --> 00:44:42,620 show me regi please and life bloom 945 00:44:40,030 --> 00:44:44,390 the monitors replayed the sight of gods 946 00:44:42,619 --> 00:44:46,670 Griffin's clearing the sky or tenpony 947 00:44:44,389 --> 00:44:50,359 tower interspersed with a glimpses of 948 00:44:46,670 --> 00:44:51,950 the Twilight Society Silesia was somehow 949 00:44:50,360 --> 00:44:55,190 able to show me the inside of the mega 950 00:44:51,949 --> 00:44:56,659 spell chamber even the left of monitor 951 00:44:55,190 --> 00:44:58,510 was showing God and Reggie as they flew 952 00:44:56,659 --> 00:45:00,679 towards the roof of tenpony tower 953 00:44:58,510 --> 00:45:04,400 supporting a wounded Blackwing between 954 00:45:00,679 --> 00:45:06,859 them if I do become arbiter of a new 955 00:45:04,400 --> 00:45:09,349 can't allow Republic God was telling the 956 00:45:06,860 --> 00:45:14,510 wounded Griffon I'll be honored to have 957 00:45:09,349 --> 00:45:16,759 you on a co-counsel don't you think you 958 00:45:14,510 --> 00:45:19,130 should choose a pony for that black 959 00:45:16,760 --> 00:45:20,300 wings suggested he wouldn't want to give 960 00:45:19,130 --> 00:45:24,829 the impression that Equestria's on a 961 00:45:20,300 --> 00:45:26,120 Griffon control would you it took me a 962 00:45:24,829 --> 00:45:29,210 moment to realize that they were missing 963 00:45:26,119 --> 00:45:32,480 someone I turned to the other monitors 964 00:45:29,210 --> 00:45:34,220 in time to watch the fight begin I felt 965 00:45:32,480 --> 00:45:36,820 a sharp pain as I looked at butcher 966 00:45:34,219 --> 00:45:38,839 realized she wasn't going to survive I 967 00:45:36,820 --> 00:45:41,240 gasped when Reggie was struck by the 968 00:45:38,840 --> 00:45:42,470 poisonous tail and I whooped when she 969 00:45:41,239 --> 00:45:46,519 shot back up through the clouds with 970 00:45:42,469 --> 00:45:50,029 little Gilda who would you suggest then 971 00:45:46,519 --> 00:45:51,349 huh God asked on the left screen as 972 00:45:50,030 --> 00:45:54,350 they're surviving trio neared the 973 00:45:51,349 --> 00:45:57,759 rooftop a pony galloped on to the roof 974 00:45:54,349 --> 00:46:01,019 to greet them I heard Reddy's voice a 975 00:45:57,760 --> 00:46:04,410 life bloom 976 00:46:01,019 --> 00:46:07,559 enough I said with a wave of my hoof not 977 00:46:04,409 --> 00:46:09,839 needing to see anymore those who 978 00:46:07,559 --> 00:46:12,659 survived the fight would recover but we 979 00:46:09,840 --> 00:46:15,410 had taken losses I knew we would 980 00:46:12,659 --> 00:46:17,879 but that didn't lessen the hurt if 981 00:46:15,409 --> 00:46:21,719 anything we had gotten lucky that it 982 00:46:17,880 --> 00:46:26,220 wasn't much much worse show me velvet 983 00:46:21,719 --> 00:46:27,989 remedy on the central screen the 984 00:46:26,219 --> 00:46:29,309 beautiful charcoal coated unicorn was 985 00:46:27,989 --> 00:46:31,289 singing into a headset as she trotted 986 00:46:29,309 --> 00:46:32,400 between wounded Enclave soldiers lined 987 00:46:31,289 --> 00:46:35,909 up inside the protective barrier 988 00:46:32,400 --> 00:46:37,260 generated by several green alicorns she 989 00:46:35,909 --> 00:46:39,359 had set up a triage for the enemy 990 00:46:37,260 --> 00:46:42,690 helping out everypony wounded in the 991 00:46:39,360 --> 00:46:44,910 battle as I watched a purple alicorn 992 00:46:42,690 --> 00:46:48,450 teleported to inside the shield bearing 993 00:46:44,909 --> 00:46:50,460 another fallen soldier violet remedy 994 00:46:48,449 --> 00:46:54,389 interrupted her song once again rushing 995 00:46:50,460 --> 00:46:56,070 to the wounded pegasi aid the side 996 00:46:54,389 --> 00:46:58,469 monitors displayed Hal velvet remedy had 997 00:46:56,070 --> 00:47:02,070 taken over the broadcast center not a 998 00:46:58,469 --> 00:47:06,349 single shot fired or a pony wounded I'd 999 00:47:02,070 --> 00:47:09,800 never felt more proud Joyce 1000 00:47:06,349 --> 00:47:11,779 and yet my knees felt weak and a nervous 1001 00:47:09,800 --> 00:47:14,090 sweat broke out over my body as I asked 1002 00:47:11,780 --> 00:47:18,370 timidly Celestia 1003 00:47:14,090 --> 00:47:18,370 please show me homage 1004 00:47:19,119 --> 00:47:24,789 this time only a single screen lit up 1005 00:47:21,969 --> 00:47:26,679 with a view of the wasteland Celestia 1006 00:47:24,789 --> 00:47:30,400 reappeared on the other two watching me 1007 00:47:26,679 --> 00:47:32,980 tenderly I could see contrails of black 1008 00:47:30,400 --> 00:47:36,480 smoke in the sky the camera shifted 1009 00:47:32,980 --> 00:47:38,559 downward zooming in on our Ridge of rock 1010 00:47:36,480 --> 00:47:40,568 amongst the rocks with a small cave 1011 00:47:38,559 --> 00:47:42,548 little more than an indentation that 1012 00:47:40,568 --> 00:47:45,338 somepony had built ramshackle walls into 1013 00:47:42,548 --> 00:47:48,608 and sparse furniture all scaled for very 1014 00:47:45,338 --> 00:47:50,619 small ponies a little sign was nailed to 1015 00:47:48,608 --> 00:47:54,190 the front the word clearly painted by a 1016 00:47:50,619 --> 00:47:58,298 young foal rock Evolis no fillies 1017 00:47:54,190 --> 00:48:00,700 allowed through the almost rectangular 1018 00:47:58,298 --> 00:48:03,219 window I could see a very dirty very 1019 00:48:00,699 --> 00:48:04,929 haggard homage her mane and filthy 1020 00:48:03,219 --> 00:48:07,439 tangled strings curled up amongst a few 1021 00:48:04,929 --> 00:48:12,038 empty cans of century-old tomato paste 1022 00:48:07,440 --> 00:48:17,679 hiding I couldn't move I couldn't 1023 00:48:12,039 --> 00:48:20,500 breathe then and possibly vomit shifted 1024 00:48:17,679 --> 00:48:22,269 she looked up right up at the camera 1025 00:48:20,500 --> 00:48:25,599 that was high on the tower so far away 1026 00:48:22,269 --> 00:48:27,818 that she couldn't possibly see it her 1027 00:48:25,599 --> 00:48:31,980 muzzle opened and she mouthed the words 1028 00:48:27,818 --> 00:48:36,570 I love you little pip 1029 00:48:31,980 --> 00:48:38,579 I broke down crying again how much has 1030 00:48:36,570 --> 00:48:41,430 been using the towers for a long time 1031 00:48:38,579 --> 00:48:47,159 Celeste you reminded me she knows of 1032 00:48:41,429 --> 00:48:49,440 them and somehow my homage the mayor who 1033 00:48:47,159 --> 00:48:51,210 had seen ghosts found weapons from space 1034 00:48:49,440 --> 00:48:54,000 and had encounters with strange ponies 1035 00:48:51,210 --> 00:48:58,139 who lived in blue boxes could feel that 1036 00:48:54,000 --> 00:49:00,090 she was being actively watched my horn 1037 00:48:58,139 --> 00:49:02,460 glowed and I floated up to the monitor 1038 00:49:00,090 --> 00:49:06,890 pressing my hose against it just trying 1039 00:49:02,460 --> 00:49:13,050 to be closer I made it I told her I 1040 00:49:06,889 --> 00:49:13,469 burned alive but I'm okay she can't hear 1041 00:49:13,050 --> 00:49:18,570 you 1042 00:49:13,469 --> 00:49:20,189 Celestia said I lowered my hopes still 1043 00:49:18,570 --> 00:49:23,850 floating next to the screen as I drank 1044 00:49:20,190 --> 00:49:26,849 in the sight of the mayor I loved with 1045 00:49:23,849 --> 00:49:30,159 that Celeste he informed me 1046 00:49:26,849 --> 00:49:32,589 I could send you back 1047 00:49:30,159 --> 00:49:37,119 a portal of green dragon fire erupted in 1048 00:49:32,590 --> 00:49:41,850 the room behind me back to spike you 1049 00:49:37,119 --> 00:49:44,809 could be with her tonight what 1050 00:49:41,849 --> 00:49:49,139 I felt back to the floor with a thud I 1051 00:49:44,809 --> 00:49:52,469 couldn't have just heard that right but 1052 00:49:49,139 --> 00:49:55,019 I had the green fire behind me Celestia 1053 00:49:52,469 --> 00:49:58,139 explained was like that which she had 1054 00:49:55,019 --> 00:50:00,090 once used to send messages to spike once 1055 00:49:58,139 --> 00:50:03,199 I burned to death again spike would 1056 00:50:00,090 --> 00:50:06,559 literally burped me out alive and whole 1057 00:50:03,199 --> 00:50:11,969 indescribably painful but efficient and 1058 00:50:06,559 --> 00:50:13,829 a little bit gross now let you know how 1059 00:50:11,969 --> 00:50:15,149 to get here through Dragon Fire you can 1060 00:50:13,829 --> 00:50:19,980 return to your friends and your loved 1061 00:50:15,150 --> 00:50:21,960 ones Celestia offered me you can go help 1062 00:50:19,980 --> 00:50:24,420 them with their fight and send someone 1063 00:50:21,960 --> 00:50:27,320 else in your place tomorrow you don't 1064 00:50:24,420 --> 00:50:27,320 have to do this anymore 1065 00:50:27,809 --> 00:50:32,099 the image of homage flickered away 1066 00:50:29,610 --> 00:50:37,700 replaced by the sight of Celestia gentle 1067 00:50:32,099 --> 00:50:37,699 caring eyes you deserve to be happy 1068 00:50:38,480 --> 00:50:43,190 I found myself faced with two choices 1069 00:50:40,719 --> 00:50:46,789 the small door that led deeper into the 1070 00:50:43,190 --> 00:50:50,570 SPP or another death by dragon fire this 1071 00:50:46,789 --> 00:50:53,500 one a will send me back to my friends it 1072 00:50:50,570 --> 00:50:58,640 was almost too much for me to bear I 1073 00:50:53,500 --> 00:51:01,130 can't I told her almost wailing we'll 1074 00:50:58,639 --> 00:51:04,368 never get this close again the Enclave 1075 00:51:01,130 --> 00:51:05,059 was too strong a dil regroup if we don't 1076 00:51:04,369 --> 00:51:09,769 win today 1077 00:51:05,059 --> 00:51:11,779 they won't give us a second chance the 1078 00:51:09,769 --> 00:51:15,259 magic of spikes fire is not short-range 1079 00:51:11,780 --> 00:51:19,609 littlepip Celestia claimed you don't 1080 00:51:15,260 --> 00:51:24,349 have to get this close again I rocked on 1081 00:51:19,608 --> 00:51:27,380 my hooves that was true and I wanted so 1082 00:51:24,349 --> 00:51:30,440 much to be with homage again to be with 1083 00:51:27,380 --> 00:51:32,780 all of my friends I didn't want the life 1084 00:51:30,440 --> 00:51:36,769 I had grown to love despite all the pain 1085 00:51:32,780 --> 00:51:41,570 and horror to end here that's natural 1086 00:51:36,769 --> 00:51:44,809 my little pony echoed I thought of my 1087 00:51:41,570 --> 00:51:46,730 talk with velvet remedy two days ago how 1088 00:51:44,809 --> 00:51:50,599 could I ask from somepony else what I 1089 00:51:46,730 --> 00:51:53,088 wouldn't give myself especially my 1090 00:51:50,599 --> 00:51:54,380 little pony added what it means asking 1091 00:51:53,088 --> 00:51:58,449 them to die for you 1092 00:51:54,380 --> 00:51:58,450 even if it might only be temporary 1093 00:51:59,280 --> 00:52:06,260 every pony I know with the ones I can 1094 00:52:03,539 --> 00:52:09,840 trust something like that - at least 1095 00:52:06,260 --> 00:52:11,760 they all deserve to be happy - just as 1096 00:52:09,840 --> 00:52:15,570 much or more than I do 1097 00:52:11,760 --> 00:52:17,820 I stared at the monitor where homage to 1098 00:52:15,570 --> 00:52:20,730 whispered her love and I thought of what 1099 00:52:17,820 --> 00:52:22,200 homage would say I couldn't help but 1100 00:52:20,730 --> 00:52:23,849 Snickers I realized she would probably 1101 00:52:22,199 --> 00:52:27,119 ask if I've been staring at Celestia's 1102 00:52:23,849 --> 00:52:31,769 flank Celestia raised an eyebrow as I 1103 00:52:27,119 --> 00:52:33,299 began to giggle I giggled because I knew 1104 00:52:31,769 --> 00:52:34,190 what homage would say if she could see 1105 00:52:33,300 --> 00:52:36,240 me right now 1106 00:52:34,190 --> 00:52:38,730 she wouldn't beg me a step through that 1107 00:52:36,239 --> 00:52:41,489 fire she wouldn't ask me to be with her 1108 00:52:38,730 --> 00:52:44,219 at the cost of another nor would she 1109 00:52:41,489 --> 00:52:45,269 feel the need to push me to stay all the 1110 00:52:44,219 --> 00:52:48,809 things she had to say on that subject 1111 00:52:45,269 --> 00:52:51,030 she'd already said last night she trusts 1112 00:52:48,809 --> 00:52:56,710 me to make the right decision no need to 1113 00:52:51,030 --> 00:53:00,599 hammer the point you're laughing 1114 00:52:56,710 --> 00:53:03,369 and nodded failing to stifle a turtle 1115 00:53:00,599 --> 00:53:05,500 because I know if I'm which was here she 1116 00:53:03,369 --> 00:53:06,730 probably tell me don't do anything too 1117 00:53:05,500 --> 00:53:10,300 naughty with the goddess until I can 1118 00:53:06,730 --> 00:53:12,940 figure out how to make it a threesome so 1119 00:53:10,300 --> 00:53:14,769 let's see his eyes went wide as a real 1120 00:53:12,940 --> 00:53:18,000 is what I just said out loud and to whom 1121 00:53:14,769 --> 00:53:20,409 my face broke into the fiercest blush 1122 00:53:18,000 --> 00:53:24,568 but Celeste his expression caused me to 1123 00:53:20,409 --> 00:53:27,969 collapse in laughter again you have an 1124 00:53:24,568 --> 00:53:31,808 interesting mare friend was all Celestia 1125 00:53:27,969 --> 00:53:33,969 could manage to say it took me a moment 1126 00:53:31,809 --> 00:53:37,089 to recover wiping tears of an entirely 1127 00:53:33,969 --> 00:53:39,368 different sort from my eyes I knew what 1128 00:53:37,088 --> 00:53:41,849 I had to do on the other side of that 1129 00:53:39,369 --> 00:53:43,690 shield spike believed he had killed me I 1130 00:53:41,849 --> 00:53:46,000 couldn't imagine what he might be 1131 00:53:43,690 --> 00:53:48,608 feeling or how he would react when my 1132 00:53:46,000 --> 00:53:52,150 friends rejoined him I couldn't leave 1133 00:53:48,608 --> 00:53:55,389 him like that concentrating I floated up 1134 00:53:52,150 --> 00:53:56,889 the clipboard searching for ink finding 1135 00:53:55,389 --> 00:53:59,139 none i shattered the sunrise 1136 00:53:56,889 --> 00:54:00,730 sarsaparilla bottle with a hoof and used 1137 00:53:59,139 --> 00:54:03,879 one of the shards of glass to draw blood 1138 00:54:00,730 --> 00:54:06,420 ignoring the slight pain and compared to 1139 00:54:03,880 --> 00:54:09,700 burning alive a small cup was nothing 1140 00:54:06,420 --> 00:54:11,170 then using my blood I began to write a 1141 00:54:09,699 --> 00:54:15,279 message 1142 00:54:11,170 --> 00:54:19,090 dear spike I'm alive I'm inside with 1143 00:54:15,280 --> 00:54:21,220 Celestia thank you I'm very very very 1144 00:54:19,090 --> 00:54:26,860 sorry please 1145 00:54:21,219 --> 00:54:31,269 someday forgive me little pip PS it hurt 1146 00:54:26,860 --> 00:54:35,019 a lot without a word I sent the message 1147 00:54:31,269 --> 00:54:38,170 back through the portal Celestia watched 1148 00:54:35,019 --> 00:54:42,579 in silence when I was done she smiled at 1149 00:54:38,170 --> 00:54:45,150 me I'm proud of you little pip but I'm 1150 00:54:42,579 --> 00:54:50,049 holding the fire open for you 1151 00:54:45,150 --> 00:54:50,820 why because I know now where I've seen 1152 00:54:50,050 --> 00:54:53,490 you 1153 00:54:50,820 --> 00:54:58,600 Twilight's last act was to save you 1154 00:54:53,489 --> 00:54:59,889 Celestia informed me was it for this for 1155 00:54:58,599 --> 00:55:02,069 you to give up your life just a week 1156 00:54:59,889 --> 00:55:02,069 later 1157 00:55:02,730 --> 00:55:06,329 she who I had worshipped as a goddess 1158 00:55:04,559 --> 00:55:06,980 was trying to dis await me for my 1159 00:55:06,329 --> 00:55:10,589 mission 1160 00:55:06,980 --> 00:55:16,139 not because I was not worthy but because 1161 00:55:10,588 --> 00:55:18,298 I was worth too much life is a gift I 1162 00:55:16,139 --> 00:55:20,670 told her 1163 00:55:18,298 --> 00:55:22,380 I'm not so selfish as to ask anypony 1164 00:55:20,670 --> 00:55:29,278 else to give theirs up so I don't have 1165 00:55:22,380 --> 00:55:32,219 to life Celeste you remark sadly is not 1166 00:55:29,278 --> 00:55:35,998 always a gift and death is inevitable or 1167 00:55:32,219 --> 00:55:39,329 at least it should be even my sister 1168 00:55:35,998 --> 00:55:43,528 died The Melancholy and her voice was 1169 00:55:39,329 --> 00:55:47,489 unbearable that's the real evil of the 1170 00:55:43,528 --> 00:55:49,259 black book it changes that it steals 1171 00:55:47,489 --> 00:55:53,929 death from you and calls it a gift 1172 00:55:49,259 --> 00:55:57,838 it's lying I've lived so long of loan 1173 00:55:53,929 --> 00:56:01,650 watching ponies die I've seen more than 1174 00:55:57,838 --> 00:56:03,088 you could know please trust me when I 1175 00:56:01,650 --> 00:56:05,249 say that the ponies you saved by 1176 00:56:03,088 --> 00:56:10,739 sacrificing herself will soon die anyway 1177 00:56:05,248 --> 00:56:14,009 I couldn't believe my ears this was not 1178 00:56:10,739 --> 00:56:16,028 the Celestia I worshipped what are you 1179 00:56:14,009 --> 00:56:19,519 saying 1180 00:56:16,028 --> 00:56:21,349 I'm saying isn't it better for the gift 1181 00:56:19,518 --> 00:56:22,969 of a slightly longer life to be given to 1182 00:56:21,349 --> 00:56:25,548 those who have truly earned it who 1183 00:56:22,969 --> 00:56:30,469 deserve it the most isn't it better to 1184 00:56:25,548 --> 00:56:32,210 hold on to those he loved as hurtful as 1185 00:56:30,469 --> 00:56:33,768 it was to hear those words from the one 1186 00:56:32,210 --> 00:56:36,170 who was supposed to be my gentle and 1187 00:56:33,768 --> 00:56:41,149 loving goddess she wasn't without a 1188 00:56:36,170 --> 00:56:42,528 point and if the war I allowed to 1189 00:56:41,150 --> 00:56:46,700 continue today should kill homage 1190 00:56:42,528 --> 00:56:50,119 tomorrow I asked or kill the pony in 1191 00:56:46,699 --> 00:56:52,248 other loves somebody else's homage how 1192 00:56:50,119 --> 00:56:54,980 can I live with that and how deserving 1193 00:56:52,248 --> 00:57:00,889 would I be of another day how could you 1194 00:56:54,980 --> 00:57:04,309 even ask I I could hear the undercurrent 1195 00:57:00,889 --> 00:57:08,690 of pain is less ia's voice I suppose 1196 00:57:04,309 --> 00:57:11,210 I've always played favorites I thought 1197 00:57:08,690 --> 00:57:14,838 of her favorite student 1198 00:57:11,210 --> 00:57:17,980 and what would Twilight Sparkle do if 1199 00:57:14,838 --> 00:57:17,980 given this choice 1200 00:57:18,159 --> 00:57:22,210 I felt immediately awful for invoking 1201 00:57:20,139 --> 00:57:25,318 Twilight realizing how much that must 1202 00:57:22,210 --> 00:57:29,220 hurt her what right did I have 1203 00:57:25,318 --> 00:57:29,219 particularly after what I had done 1204 00:57:29,670 --> 00:57:35,500 Celestia fell silent I wondered if I had 1205 00:57:33,190 --> 00:57:40,000 driven her away for whatever quality of 1206 00:57:35,500 --> 00:57:42,039 a way her prison allowed her when 1207 00:57:40,000 --> 00:57:43,079 Twilight was younger she wanted to do 1208 00:57:42,039 --> 00:57:45,160 what you are doing 1209 00:57:43,079 --> 00:57:49,059 she wanted to brave the everfree forest 1210 00:57:45,159 --> 00:57:52,259 alone to not risk anypony else Celestia 1211 00:57:49,059 --> 00:57:56,920 told me her friends would not let her 1212 00:57:52,260 --> 00:57:58,270 after that I'm not sure I'd like to 1213 00:57:56,920 --> 00:57:59,889 believe that she'd stay with her friends 1214 00:57:58,269 --> 00:58:00,389 and they would work away through it 1215 00:57:59,889 --> 00:58:06,969 together 1216 00:58:00,389 --> 00:58:09,818 but but the ministries I felt a flare of 1217 00:58:06,969 --> 00:58:12,038 protective anger was Celestia suggesting 1218 00:58:09,818 --> 00:58:15,548 my friends had failed me or was I 1219 00:58:12,039 --> 00:58:18,220 reading too much in those words but even 1220 00:58:15,548 --> 00:58:19,989 her friends I pointed out we're also 1221 00:58:18,219 --> 00:58:22,509 willing to step back and allow her to do 1222 00:58:19,989 --> 00:58:25,739 what she had to do even if that meant 1223 00:58:22,510 --> 00:58:29,079 for a moment leaving her vulnerable and 1224 00:58:25,739 --> 00:58:32,709 you know what happened Celestia replied 1225 00:58:29,079 --> 00:58:35,318 gently Twilight was always weakest when 1226 00:58:32,710 --> 00:58:37,619 separated from her friends and you will 1227 00:58:35,318 --> 00:58:37,619 be too 1228 00:58:38,150 --> 00:58:42,798 I felt the presence of the statuettes in 1229 00:58:40,250 --> 00:58:48,739 my saddlebags they were stronger 1230 00:58:42,798 --> 00:58:52,699 together better Oh No Oh 1231 00:58:48,739 --> 00:58:56,899 goddesses or goddess as the case seemed 1232 00:58:52,699 --> 00:58:59,509 to be I began to understand not just 1233 00:58:56,900 --> 00:59:03,019 what Celestia was saying but why she was 1234 00:58:59,510 --> 00:59:04,430 saying it I began to grasp why Celestia 1235 00:59:03,019 --> 00:59:09,079 had become so different from the goddess 1236 00:59:04,429 --> 00:59:12,048 whom I prayed to Celestia I began 1237 00:59:09,079 --> 00:59:14,660 cautiously how long have you been 1238 00:59:12,048 --> 00:59:18,139 without your friends how long have you 1239 00:59:14,659 --> 00:59:22,009 been alone again 1240 00:59:18,139 --> 00:59:25,818 Celeste he was silent then after a long 1241 00:59:22,010 --> 00:59:29,660 and somber pause she answered longer 1242 00:59:25,818 --> 00:59:33,750 than I've been here you don't have to be 1243 00:59:29,659 --> 00:59:35,699 anymore little pip 1244 00:59:33,750 --> 00:59:40,519 the eyes of the alicorn on the screens 1245 00:59:35,699 --> 00:59:44,549 widened no pony should be alone Celestia 1246 00:59:40,519 --> 00:59:48,570 not even one like you ponies need 1247 00:59:44,550 --> 00:59:53,849 friends they need they need the magic of 1248 00:59:48,570 --> 00:59:55,410 friendship without it I trailed off the 1249 00:59:53,849 --> 00:59:56,780 ponies of Equestria had lost their son 1250 00:59:55,409 --> 01:00:02,639 in more ways than one 1251 00:59:56,780 --> 01:00:05,150 but I could change that I'm here and I'm 1252 01:00:02,639 --> 01:00:08,598 not leaving you 1253 01:00:05,150 --> 01:00:12,108 Celestia said nothing the green flames 1254 01:00:08,599 --> 01:00:14,269 evaporated the small door unlocked and 1255 01:00:12,108 --> 01:00:18,048 opened revealing a short hallway leading 1256 01:00:14,268 --> 01:00:20,318 to another door inside the hallway a 1257 01:00:18,048 --> 01:00:23,239 small alcove held the download device 1258 01:00:20,318 --> 01:00:24,858 the metal helmet encrusted with lights 1259 01:00:23,239 --> 01:00:26,778 and gems was laying next to the 1260 01:00:24,858 --> 01:00:32,778 Longhorns skull of a large winged Pony 1261 01:00:26,778 --> 01:00:36,949 skeleton Celestia skeleton I took a few 1262 01:00:32,778 --> 01:00:38,900 steps forward then stopped focusing I 1263 01:00:36,949 --> 01:00:40,879 wrapped the bones of Princess Celestia 1264 01:00:38,900 --> 01:00:45,769 my magic and floated them out into the 1265 01:00:40,880 --> 01:00:49,769 Winter Festival please as you did for my 1266 01:00:45,768 --> 01:00:51,719 sister Celeste you requested 1267 01:00:49,769 --> 01:00:53,849 it took me a little while to find a way 1268 01:00:51,719 --> 01:00:57,299 to set the bones on fire but eventually 1269 01:00:53,849 --> 01:00:58,589 the pyre crackled I realized I would 1270 01:00:57,300 --> 01:01:00,120 need to do the same for each of the 1271 01:00:58,590 --> 01:01:03,360 skeletons in here before I settled into 1272 01:01:00,119 --> 01:01:06,359 the control pod but I could burn all of 1273 01:01:03,360 --> 01:01:09,930 those together Celestia's bones deserve 1274 01:01:06,360 --> 01:01:10,890 the honor of their own fire sitting 1275 01:01:09,929 --> 01:01:13,169 beneath the monitors 1276 01:01:10,889 --> 01:01:17,009 I watched the funeral Celestia watching 1277 01:01:13,170 --> 01:01:18,329 with me I was startled when a mechanical 1278 01:01:17,010 --> 01:01:20,340 whine started somewhere in the central 1279 01:01:18,329 --> 01:01:22,230 hub and hidden fans began to suck the 1280 01:01:20,340 --> 01:01:24,829 smoke from the room replenishing the 1281 01:01:22,230 --> 01:01:27,510 winter vegetable with fresh summer air 1282 01:01:24,829 --> 01:01:29,610 between the fire in the air the 1283 01:01:27,510 --> 01:01:32,450 enchanted Frost began to melt and the 1284 01:01:29,610 --> 01:01:38,760 fog on the ground faded away 1285 01:01:32,449 --> 01:01:40,589 finally I stood up again it was time as 1286 01:01:38,760 --> 01:01:44,100 I walked into the hallway Celestia 1287 01:01:40,590 --> 01:01:45,539 opened the final door the Crusader 1288 01:01:44,099 --> 01:01:49,199 mainframe with a single Pegasus project 1289 01:01:45,539 --> 01:01:50,940 reminded me of a tree the large central 1290 01:01:49,199 --> 01:01:54,089 stalk glistened with running lines of 1291 01:01:50,940 --> 01:01:55,800 mystical energy lights blinked in arcane 1292 01:01:54,090 --> 01:01:57,510 sequences along branches that stretched 1293 01:01:55,800 --> 01:02:00,140 out from the trunk connecting two 1294 01:01:57,510 --> 01:02:02,640 smaller mainframes that line the walls 1295 01:02:00,139 --> 01:02:03,779 the metal oval of the control pod was 1296 01:02:02,639 --> 01:02:06,960 nestled amongst root-like 1297 01:02:03,780 --> 01:02:08,610 conglomerations of wires it struck me 1298 01:02:06,960 --> 01:02:11,190 simultaneously as being like an egg 1299 01:02:08,610 --> 01:02:13,380 fallen from a nests and correct at a 1300 01:02:11,190 --> 01:02:16,769 rabbit hole dug into the base of a tree 1301 01:02:13,380 --> 01:02:19,309 lead to mysterious places 1302 01:02:16,769 --> 01:02:21,630 three other doors marked cardinal points 1303 01:02:19,309 --> 01:02:24,900 the writing above them claimed they led 1304 01:02:21,630 --> 01:02:26,820 to spring summer and autumn vegetables 1305 01:02:24,900 --> 01:02:31,410 a stray memory flitted through my head 1306 01:02:26,820 --> 01:02:34,289 like an errand butterfly okay here's 1307 01:02:31,409 --> 01:02:36,329 another one spike it said telling us 1308 01:02:34,289 --> 01:02:39,329 stories of his long gone friends the 1309 01:02:36,329 --> 01:02:42,230 ministry mares this is the story about 1310 01:02:39,329 --> 01:02:45,569 Twilight Sparkle's first winter wrap-up 1311 01:02:42,230 --> 01:02:47,250 what's a winter wrap-up calamity had 1312 01:02:45,570 --> 01:02:49,110 asked just before the shaking up 1313 01:02:47,250 --> 01:02:52,170 sparkle-cola had passed to him host his 1314 01:02:49,110 --> 01:02:55,590 face I chuckled as I remembered his 1315 01:02:52,170 --> 01:02:57,750 expression in the aftermath spike had 1316 01:02:55,590 --> 01:02:58,890 explained that normally in Equestria the 1317 01:02:57,750 --> 01:03:01,889 changing of the seasons had been 1318 01:02:58,889 --> 01:03:03,869 accomplished in part my magic later I 1319 01:03:01,889 --> 01:03:05,460 had heard Rainbow Dash bemoan the need 1320 01:03:03,869 --> 01:03:08,759 to abandon the war effort once a year to 1321 01:03:05,460 --> 01:03:10,590 help with the winter wrap-up somehow I 1322 01:03:08,760 --> 01:03:12,210 had forgotten the scope of what the 1323 01:03:10,590 --> 01:03:16,440 single Pegasus project was designed to 1324 01:03:12,210 --> 01:03:17,760 do one part of the winter wrap-up the 1325 01:03:16,440 --> 01:03:19,889 part Applejack had always been in charge 1326 01:03:17,760 --> 01:03:23,790 of was planting seeds for the next 1327 01:03:19,889 --> 01:03:25,349 year's crops even that I realized was 1328 01:03:23,789 --> 01:03:29,250 under the single Pegasus project's 1329 01:03:25,349 --> 01:03:31,349 purview that was in fact part of what 1330 01:03:29,250 --> 01:03:32,159 the Enclave had hacked into altering it 1331 01:03:31,349 --> 01:03:36,179 to fit their needs 1332 01:03:32,159 --> 01:03:39,339 cloud seeding and this was going to be 1333 01:03:36,179 --> 01:03:41,879 one big responsibility 1334 01:03:39,340 --> 01:03:44,260 I lifted the hatch to the control pod 1335 01:03:41,880 --> 01:03:48,630 looking inside of what would be my new 1336 01:03:44,260 --> 01:03:52,300 home the interior was plush comfortable 1337 01:03:48,630 --> 01:03:53,769 and like a cloud but solid just in case 1338 01:03:52,300 --> 01:03:56,980 the operator wasn't a Pegasus I 1339 01:03:53,769 --> 01:04:00,369 suspected likely thanks to the oversight 1340 01:03:56,980 --> 01:04:03,340 of Apple Bloom the headset looked an 1341 01:04:00,369 --> 01:04:04,630 awful lot like the one in the hall but 1342 01:04:03,340 --> 01:04:07,150 there were enough differences to 1343 01:04:04,630 --> 01:04:12,130 distinguish the two no flashing lights 1344 01:04:07,150 --> 01:04:13,840 quite a few more gems I concentrated my 1345 01:04:12,130 --> 01:04:16,630 magic unfastening my saddlebags and 1346 01:04:13,840 --> 01:04:18,910 letting them drop to the floor as I 1347 01:04:16,630 --> 01:04:21,130 removed my armor I opened those bags for 1348 01:04:18,909 --> 01:04:23,129 the last time floating up a small number 1349 01:04:21,130 --> 01:04:26,340 of keepsakes I had brought with me 1350 01:04:23,130 --> 01:04:29,320 treasures full of memories and ghosts 1351 01:04:26,340 --> 01:04:32,039 calamities hat the flourish I orb from 1352 01:04:29,320 --> 01:04:35,890 velvet remedy the drawing by silver bell 1353 01:04:32,039 --> 01:04:38,079 gifts from my friends all of them one by 1354 01:04:35,889 --> 01:04:40,019 one I set them down in a circle on the 1355 01:04:38,079 --> 01:04:43,289 interior edge of the control pod I 1356 01:04:40,019 --> 01:04:46,690 wanted them close to me while I slept 1357 01:04:43,289 --> 01:04:50,529 little Macintosh the statuettes of the 1358 01:04:46,690 --> 01:04:52,929 ministry mares never did learn what 1359 01:04:50,530 --> 01:04:56,500 finally happened to Rainbow Dash my 1360 01:04:52,929 --> 01:04:58,480 little pony mused probably for the best 1361 01:04:56,500 --> 01:05:00,730 it's good that there are still some 1362 01:04:58,480 --> 01:05:02,740 mysteries left in the world 1363 01:05:00,730 --> 01:05:08,800 the ashes of the filly from friendship 1364 01:05:02,739 --> 01:05:11,709 city and finally orb number eight the 1365 01:05:08,800 --> 01:05:13,030 last one I set next to the headgear the 1366 01:05:11,710 --> 01:05:14,440 very last thing I would do before 1367 01:05:13,030 --> 01:05:17,800 closing the hatch and sliding into a 1368 01:05:14,440 --> 01:05:19,990 controlled coma was to watch it I knew 1369 01:05:17,800 --> 01:05:21,760 it would take precious time but never 1370 01:05:19,989 --> 01:05:24,939 seeing it was one sacrifice I wasn't 1371 01:05:21,760 --> 01:05:29,020 willing to make I wasn't quite a paragon 1372 01:05:24,940 --> 01:05:31,809 of my virtue after all I looked at 1373 01:05:29,019 --> 01:05:33,489 Calamity's hat the memory from our first 1374 01:05:31,809 --> 01:05:34,809 visit to spikes cave had reminded me 1375 01:05:33,489 --> 01:05:37,108 that there was one friend I hadn't 1376 01:05:34,809 --> 01:05:41,078 looked in on yet 1377 01:05:37,108 --> 01:05:43,230 Princess Celestia if he would I asked as 1378 01:05:41,079 --> 01:05:46,800 I trotted back into the winter vegetable 1379 01:05:43,230 --> 01:05:46,800 show me calamity 1380 01:05:46,809 --> 01:05:52,059 the screens changed two pictures a 1381 01:05:48,608 --> 01:05:53,650 frantic battle on one screen calamity 1382 01:05:52,059 --> 01:05:55,269 was dodging pursuit as he tried to plant 1383 01:05:53,650 --> 01:05:58,209 explosives in the new hope solar array 1384 01:05:55,268 --> 01:05:59,618 on another he was facing off with an 1385 01:05:58,208 --> 01:06:04,118 enclave officer in some sort of 1386 01:05:59,619 --> 01:06:06,249 storeroom on the third spike flew across 1387 01:06:04,119 --> 01:06:09,189 the screen the camera turning to track 1388 01:06:06,248 --> 01:06:10,808 him between two of his claw tips I could 1389 01:06:09,188 --> 01:06:13,598 see he was clutching the clipboard 1390 01:06:10,809 --> 01:06:16,089 I heard the explosive retort of 1391 01:06:13,599 --> 01:06:18,278 Spitfires thunder calamity was strapped 1392 01:06:16,088 --> 01:06:22,119 onto spikes back with rope as with the 1393 01:06:18,278 --> 01:06:23,619 hellhound barkansas my Pegasus friend's 1394 01:06:22,119 --> 01:06:26,079 wing had been in expertly wrapped in 1395 01:06:23,619 --> 01:06:27,699 healing bandages he'd overstrained the 1396 01:06:26,079 --> 01:06:29,489 healing limb and now it wasn't working 1397 01:06:27,699 --> 01:06:32,168 at all 1398 01:06:29,489 --> 01:06:33,668 together calamity in the hellhound 1399 01:06:32,168 --> 01:06:34,658 sharpshooter were sniping incoming 1400 01:06:33,668 --> 01:06:38,348 missiles before they could reach the 1401 01:06:34,659 --> 01:06:40,749 dragon little pips okay then let's give 1402 01:06:38,349 --> 01:06:43,390 velvet get out of here calamity shouted 1403 01:06:40,748 --> 01:06:47,168 as he fought to reload but fall back to 1404 01:06:43,389 --> 01:06:49,929 y'all know where blood dribbled from 1405 01:06:47,168 --> 01:06:52,838 spikes destroyed eye a painful grimace 1406 01:06:49,929 --> 01:06:56,108 crossed his bloodied snout The Enclave 1407 01:06:52,838 --> 01:06:58,239 no me he growled despondently they know 1408 01:06:56,108 --> 01:07:01,838 where I live as soon as word gets out 1409 01:06:58,239 --> 01:07:03,400 they're going to retaliate calamity 1410 01:07:01,838 --> 01:07:06,608 understood the severity of spikes tone 1411 01:07:03,400 --> 01:07:10,838 when he said they'll hit the cave with 1412 01:07:06,608 --> 01:07:14,559 everything they can my heart skipped a 1413 01:07:10,838 --> 01:07:18,739 beat at Gardens of Equestria 1414 01:07:14,559 --> 01:07:20,059 yep Calamity said grimly and that's why 1415 01:07:18,739 --> 01:07:24,919 we're pooling everything we got back 1416 01:07:20,059 --> 01:07:27,049 there form a line of defense spiked bank 1417 01:07:24,920 --> 01:07:29,630 to avoid a barrage of plasma fire each 1418 01:07:27,050 --> 01:07:32,690 bolt wider than a pony calamity scramble 1419 01:07:29,630 --> 01:07:34,760 to not drop the anti machine rifle all 1420 01:07:32,690 --> 01:07:37,070 we got to do was keep mouths to little 1421 01:07:34,760 --> 01:07:41,599 Pipkin clear the clouds after that we 1422 01:07:37,070 --> 01:07:43,630 got Celestia one is a fence I felt a 1423 01:07:41,599 --> 01:07:46,010 surge of panic and fought it back down 1424 01:07:43,630 --> 01:07:48,500 it would be hours before they even got 1425 01:07:46,010 --> 01:07:51,109 back to spikes cave longer before the 1426 01:07:48,500 --> 01:07:52,579 Enclave could regroup but the sense of 1427 01:07:51,108 --> 01:07:56,078 urgency that I had somehow allowed to 1428 01:07:52,579 --> 01:07:59,869 slip had finally returned at full force 1429 01:07:56,079 --> 01:08:04,190 Celestia I asked realizing how much more 1430 01:07:59,869 --> 01:08:07,240 there would be to do will you help me of 1431 01:08:04,190 --> 01:08:07,240 course little pip 1432 01:08:07,300 --> 01:08:12,670 I walked out of the winter vegetable and 1433 01:08:09,429 --> 01:08:16,599 back into the small hallway I paused at 1434 01:08:12,670 --> 01:08:17,350 the alcove with the downloader they 1435 01:08:16,600 --> 01:08:19,780 won't understand 1436 01:08:17,350 --> 01:08:23,770 I said realizing it not for the first 1437 01:08:19,779 --> 01:08:27,568 time the pegasi especially they won't 1438 01:08:23,770 --> 01:08:29,530 understand why not that it mattered I 1439 01:08:27,569 --> 01:08:32,350 was trying to do the right thing for 1440 01:08:29,529 --> 01:08:33,159 everypony for everyone the only way I 1441 01:08:32,350 --> 01:08:38,100 knew how 1442 01:08:33,159 --> 01:08:40,329 I heard Scootaloo's voice in my memories 1443 01:08:38,100 --> 01:08:42,760 this isn't our Equestria anymore 1444 01:08:40,329 --> 01:08:45,519 it's not the happy safe Pleasant world 1445 01:08:42,760 --> 01:08:49,150 any of us grew up in I'd understand how 1446 01:08:45,520 --> 01:08:51,670 it could have gotten this way how how 1447 01:08:49,149 --> 01:08:54,029 could it have gotten this bad somepony 1448 01:08:51,670 --> 01:08:56,109 needs to figure it out and fix it and 1449 01:08:54,029 --> 01:09:00,939 and if I have to become the villain of 1450 01:08:56,109 --> 01:09:05,280 the piece to do that then I will I was 1451 01:09:00,939 --> 01:09:05,279 Scootaloo at least a little 1452 01:09:05,319 --> 01:09:11,870 I'll be able to watch everything right I 1453 01:09:07,729 --> 01:09:16,338 asked will I be able to talk to them or 1454 01:09:11,869 --> 01:09:20,358 at least send a message Celestia was 1455 01:09:16,338 --> 01:09:23,659 quiet a moment then not as the system is 1456 01:09:20,359 --> 01:09:26,630 now she informed me or I would have done 1457 01:09:23,659 --> 01:09:30,500 so long ago but with a good toast to 1458 01:09:26,630 --> 01:09:32,270 repair pony that would be an easy fix my 1459 01:09:30,500 --> 01:09:36,048 ears burned a little but the little pony 1460 01:09:32,270 --> 01:09:38,630 my head Princeton Glee I looked at the 1461 01:09:36,048 --> 01:09:40,579 download device it was meant to make a 1462 01:09:38,630 --> 01:09:44,000 copy of a pony's entire mind in a few 1463 01:09:40,579 --> 01:09:48,710 hours how quickly then could it make a 1464 01:09:44,000 --> 01:09:49,488 simple copy of a couple months I want to 1465 01:09:48,710 --> 01:09:51,619 send a message 1466 01:09:49,488 --> 01:09:53,659 I told Celestia as I wrapped up the 1467 01:09:51,619 --> 01:09:56,899 helmet my magic turning the download 1468 01:09:53,659 --> 01:10:00,109 station on I want to tell them what 1469 01:09:56,899 --> 01:10:03,939 happened to explain even if they never 1470 01:10:00,109 --> 01:10:06,789 believe me I owe them all that much 1471 01:10:03,939 --> 01:10:10,779 again I asked 1472 01:10:06,789 --> 01:10:14,720 will you help me again the answer of 1473 01:10:10,779 --> 01:10:18,019 course my little pony 1474 01:10:14,720 --> 01:10:21,079 two months the copy process should only 1475 01:10:18,020 --> 01:10:24,740 take minutes an hour for editing and 1476 01:10:21,079 --> 01:10:26,329 adding in a few thoughts I slipped the 1477 01:10:24,739 --> 01:10:27,529 helmet onto my head and started up the 1478 01:10:26,329 --> 01:10:30,649 RKO tech device 1479 01:10:27,529 --> 01:10:32,689 I felt the odd sense of mental pressure 1480 01:10:30,649 --> 01:10:35,210 as the device synced up to my brain and 1481 01:10:32,689 --> 01:10:38,599 experienced an odd tastes like that of 1482 01:10:35,210 --> 01:10:40,189 muffin flavored cake I took a deep 1483 01:10:38,600 --> 01:10:45,349 breath as I tried to figure out just how 1484 01:10:40,189 --> 01:10:47,059 to begin then I began thinking 1485 01:10:45,349 --> 01:10:49,578 if I'm going to tell you about the 1486 01:10:47,060 --> 01:10:51,800 adventure of my life explain how I got 1487 01:10:49,578 --> 01:10:54,349 to this place with these people and why 1488 01:10:51,800 --> 01:10:55,639 I did what I'm going to do next I should 1489 01:10:54,349 --> 01:10:58,510 probably start by explaining a little 1490 01:10:55,639 --> 01:10:58,510 bit about pit box