[PR] Inconsistencies In Incantations II

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                                                Rescue & Restore

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>Lost in deep thought, you make your way down the hallways, carrying your former student next to you in a magic sphere.

>The only thing that breaks the silence as the two of you walk down the hidden corridors of the castle is the steady clopping of your hooves on the cold, hard tiles forming your path.

>Long ago, these hallways were formed as a maze.

>The chances are near non-existent that anypony would be able to break the ancient arcane inscriptions that hid this place from common sight but it was safest not to risk anything.

>That, and the fact that it made a break-out from this place nearly impossible.

>If you knew the inscriptions that were used, however, it wasn't that hard to navigate yourself around here.

>To Twilight, it must seem as if you were lost, taking turns in random directions at every corner.

>But you knew exactly where you were going.

>Soon, you found yourself in a dead-end hallway.

>Or that's what it must look like to most.

>A glow surrounding your horn briefly flares up and an old wooden door reveals itself.

>You give the door two knocks and wait for response.

>A voice, somewhat muffled by the thick layer of wood, speaks up.

 

>"Who goes there?"

"You know only me and my sister can come here, Aegis."

>"Ah, Princess Celestia. A pleasure as always to see you again."

"And I gladly return that sentiment towards you. Now, if you could be so kind as to let me enter..."

>"Password first, Princess. We can't take any risks after the invasion."

>You softly chuckle. "I'm well aware of that. I gave you that order in the first place."

"The sun sleeps in seven souls," you obey his bidding.

>Despite the appearance of the door that revealed its centuries old lifetime, it slides open soundlessly.

>"Princess Celestia," Aegis greets you, bowing deeply as you enter.

>He stands up after the mandatory ritual, only to bow deeply again right after.

>"Princess Sparkle, it's an honor to meet you as well."

>The aura in which you carried her would have cut her off from the outside world regardless but as you glance over to your side, you note that consciousness has once more left her.

"Just miss Sparkle will suffice for now, Aegis. Her royal name has been stripped from her for the time being."

>Upon hearing this new information, he returns to his normal stance and looks at you questioningly, confused by what you just said.

 

"Which is why we are here in the first place. Lock her in a cell and make sure that neither of you get harmed."

>"P-Princess, what—"

>Before he can finish, you decide to interrupt, hoping to keep this situation under control.

"The nature of her crimes prevent me from letting you know more."

>A solemn nod is your reply.

"When guard duty switches, I expect you to tell your successor the exact same thing I told you."

>"Of course, Princess," Aegis replies, bowing once more.

>You can't help but let out a low sigh.

>"Princess?"

>Ignoring his intrusion, you levitate her over to one of the three cells, each placed on a separate wall.

>The cells themselves looked simple, to the point where they became laugh worthy.

>The amount of raw, unrestricted magic that was kept within the confines of this room, however, would wipe the smiles of anypony bold enough to dare to escape.

>Though, if there would be one capable of escaping, it'd be her.

>The link had been broken and when you scanned her for her magic's worth, it seemed that she has reverted to the Twilight you knew and loved.

>But still, she'd managed to overpower you so for all you knew, she might be simply hiding her powers for you.

>Breaking the facade of composure you usually kept aloft for yourself, you sigh deeply once more as you levitate Twilight into the cell and close the door behind her.

"It's been a long day, Aegis. And I hope that it is over soon."

>Walking back towards the door, you glance over your shoulder once more before making your final statement.

"Keep her safe, will you?"

>It wasn't an order, nor was it a demand.

>Some would call it a question, though for those who knew you long enough, it was clear what this truly was.

 

>A plea.

>The past you'd shared with her, from filly to mare, hadn't only been for her sake.

>It'd been for yours as well. She was your connection with the world.

>The royal throne and the duties that came with it prevented you from what you truly wanted.

>To live among your subjects as one of them.

>You weren't somepony they should look up to, you were merely guiding them in the right way.

>But your responsibilities didn't allow for such trivial matters.

>A kingdom had to be run and you were its princess.

>It had worn you down over the ages, to a point where you had become jaded and distant from your subjects.

>And just in time, you had found her.

>That little filly, radiating with powers far beyond her age, trying to hatch a dragon's egg.

>You had some harsh words with the judges of that test afterwards.

>Hatching a dragon's egg was a test restricted for the best of the best of the graduates.

>Their near innate nature towards magic made it a task deemed impossible to most.

>And yet, she, a filly of common folk, had done so.

>You knew from then on out that she was something special.

>She would grow to be a force to be reckoned with.

>And she did. Hours worth of studying had boosted her knowledge to levels where she actually finished the academy's training over a year in advance.

>But you saw yourself reoccurring in her.

>She had power. She had knowledge.

>But she didn't have guidance.

>Of course, she could always fall back onto you.

>But it wasn't healthy.

>A mare her age spending so much time with somepony your age.

>It wasn't right.

>And so, as much as it pained you at first, you had to let her go.

>Even worse, you had to send her away.

 

>But you were right all that time ago.

>She grew to be a force to be reckoned with.

>Despite her initial reluctance, she gained friends.

>And by extension, so did you.

>Her letters kept you going.

>To read of the grand adventures they went through, of the trivial matters in town...

>All of it was equally important to you.

>And you weren't ready to let it go.

>You'd right your wrongs.

>She wasn't beyond redemption.

>You refused to accept that.

 

 

>Looking up, you note that you're back at the point where you teleported in.

>The distance between the cells and here was large enough so that you could teleport without disruption of the holding spells of the guarding ward.

>Channeling forth your magic once more, the world blinks in and out of existence and when your vision has adjusted itself to the change of lighting, you note that you're in the royal garden once more.

>The five Bearers and Anon are all staring at you, awaiting the course of events that you'd put on them.

>"Princess, I think we need to—"

"Anon, if I may," you interrupt.

>He nods and decides to stay quiet, at least until you've said what you wanted to say.

>Taking a deep breath, you compose your stature before addressing the group of ponies and the single human.

"First and foremost, I would like to thank you for the strength that you've shown."

"I know that it must have been hard on you, facing a friend like that in battle."

>You sigh as you try to sort out all that needed to be done.

"Me and Princess Luna will discuss the right sanction for Twi—"

>"You can't—"

"ANONYMOUS!" you bellow with the strength of the Royal Canterlot voice.

>You take a deep breath, hoping to avoid another outburst like this.

"Please..."

"Today has been just as hard on me as it has been on you."

"We —will— take your views into consideration as well."

>He bashfully kicks at the ground, muttering a 'sorry'.

"But this isn't about Twilight alone. She is a princess so our final decision will influence the kingdom as well."

 

"And I hope that you can forgive me, but when push comes to shove, I will take the safety of my kingdom over any matter, no matter how abhorrent you may come to think of me."

>The six begin to mutter among themselves and you let them air their concerns for a while.

"Now," you interrupt once more, "it has been a long day and I'm certain that all of us could do with some rest."

>They all simply nod in reply for which you can only be grateful.

"Very well, I shall arrange a chamber to be prepared for you all."

>A cone of golden hue forms around your horn as you teleport the entire group towards the inside of the castle.

 

 

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>You are anonymous.

>And right now, you're sitting on one of the six beds spread throughout the perimeter of the chamber you're residing in.

>The atmosphere in the room is tense.

>It's almost as if you can feel the air pressing down on you, trying to crush you.

>"What do you think they're talking about?" Pinkie asks.

>She's been quiet the entire time since you all got installed here. The gravity of the situation had dawned on her as well.

"I don't know." You decide to be the one to answer her. "And I doubt if I want to know."

>"I don't mean to be rude, dear," Rarity chimes in, "but... you know that... that the final judgment is probably yours, right?"

"Of course I fucking know!" you lash out at her.

>"Anon!" Applejack yells.

"Sorry," you quickly apologize. "...I'm sorry."

>Taking a couple of slow, deep breaths calms you somewhat.

"I know..."

>"So, what're you going to do?" Rainbow asks.

"I..."

"I don't know..."

 

>Just what exactly were you going to tell them?

>The answer seemed so easy, no?

>Let her suffer like she'd made you.

>If you take the last few months into account, nopony in this room would blame you for that decision.

>But that was just the thing.

>It wasn't about these last couple of months.

 

>You were supposed to judge Twilight. Whatever had been abusing you for all that time, wasn't her.

>If you went further back, from when you first got here to a year ago, Twilight'd been there for you.

>You could always fall back on her.  -That- was Twilight. That was the pony you're supposed to judge.

>She was always there for you. With a smile on her face and words of wisdom to share with you.

>You'd been so goddamn stupid to let this all drag on so long.

>If you'd just given her what she wanted...

>If you'd just given her a chance...

>None of this would've happened.

>All she wanted was for you to give her a chance.

>And you killed her by not doing so.

>You hated whatever she'd become like you'd loved everything she was.

"I'd give up everything to get her back."

>Five heads all turns toward you.

"And that's exactly what I'm going to tell them too."

"I don't care what it takes. I want Twilight back."

>Hushed murmuring spreads throughout the room as the ponies talk among each other but you couldn't care less.

>Memories of times you and Twilight spent together preoccupy your mind.

 

 

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>A knock on the door quickly silences the room.

"It's open," you call out uncertain.

>The door opens and two guards enter the room.

>One of them is clad in white, the solar emblem on his side signaling that he belonged to Celestia's personal guards.

>The other was dressed in a more traditional armor that was dark blue in color. It lacked the mark of the lunar goddess on it, though the aura it carried with it left little to the imagination.

>"The princesses would like to talk to the element of Laughter," the solar guard dryly states, his expression stoic and unreadable.

>"O-Okay..." Pinkie measly answers.

>Slowly, she gets up and you can see when she passes you by that the bounce in her step is nowhere to be found.

>Her hair seems to have lost its shine and her eyes have lost that spark behind them.

>Usually, she looked as if she could burst out in giggles in a matter of seconds.

>Right now, she looked as if she was about to cry.

 

>You want to say something.

>Encourage her somehow.

>Tell her it'll be fine.

>But before you can, she's already out of the room.

>The five of you all stare at one another, yet no one dares to speak up.

 

>No one had been keeping track, but it had to be about an hour and a half later before Pinkie walked back into the room, accompanied by the same two guards as earlier.

>Her head is hung low and her gaze is cast towards the floor as she walks back to her bed, the one closest to the window.

>"If the Element of Generosity would be so kind as to follow us..." the lunar guard speaks up, his voice much lower than the other guard's.

>Rarity gulps nervously before getting of the bed.

>The guards flank her on either side and like that she's out of the room as well.

 

>Rarity was a performer. She had to hide her nervousness during her fashion shows as well.

>But her eyes were a dead giveaway. She dreaded what was about to happen.

>And there's nothing anybody could do for her.

 

>Everyone's attention turns toward Pinkie Pie who's staring out of the window absentmindedly.

>She had been crying. The soft sniffling that could be heard throughout the room served as proof of that.

>"H-How did it go?" Applejack softly asks.

 

>You wanted to go over to Pinkie and comfort her.

>She was sitting with her back towards all of you and you could see her shiver every time she sniffled.

>But...

>It was like she was forbidden territory.

>The way she closed herself off from the rest of you.

>She wanted to be left alone. She'd never tell it to her friends but they all saw it too.

>Now wasn't the time to comfort her.

>In moments like these, it was best to let her work things out herself.

>She just needed to be alone.

>Why? You didn't know.

>"T-the p-princesses said I c-couldn't tell," she sniffles.

>And you wouldn't know either.

 

>The rest of the day passes in a similar manner.

>One pony gets brought back, another gets led away.

>The process repeated itself until only you were left.

>Looking out the window, the moon had already begin its ascend.

>Sleep would have to wait.

>The door opens and Rainbow Dash walks back in, her expression unreadable to you.

>"Ano—"

>Before the guards could speak up, you were already standing in the doorway.

>The guards quickly step out of the room and one final glance back before the door closes shows you that Pinkie had already fallen asleep.

>The walk towards the princesses makes you feel uncomfortable.

>Why did they need two guards to accompany you or the girls?

>You could ask them of course but it was most likely protocol not to talk to anyone unless superior in rank so you save yourself the trouble.

>At the end of the hallway, you are led to the right where you have to climb a set of stairs.

>On the next floor, another right is taken before you end in a T-junction.

>This time, you are led to the left before you end in front of a grey door that appeared to have been made out of stone.

>With a shove from the hoof of the night guard, the door slowly opens and you enter the room on your own initiative.

>The room is devoid of any features.

>It looked like the inside of a bleak, grey cube.

>The only thing that filled the room was a large table on which a few candles resided, providing the only source of illumination.

>At the end of that table, two royal alicorns whom had clearly seen better days.

>With a dull thud, the door closes behind you.

>"Anon, please take a seat," Celestia motions towards the chair at the opposite end of the table.

>You do so and come to face with the hardened stares of the two mares sitting in front of you.

"You know, Luna...  When you said -let's meet under different circumstances next time- this isn't what I had in mind..."

>She gravely nods before replying, "I would have liked to see things differently as well."

>"Let us not waste anymore time," Celestia butts in. "It's been a long day for us all."

"Sure."

>As much as you wanted to delay this, you'd have to face the matters at hand eventually.

>"Anon, if you were in our," Celestia casts a quick glance to her side, receiving a nod from her sister, "position... What would you do with Twilight?"

>You sigh, burying your head in your hands.

>This was the one question you were almost certain they'd ask you.

>And it was also one you couldn't find a satisfying answer for.

>You lick your lips, only now realizing how dry your mouth felt.

"I'd..."

>You immediately sigh again.

>What would you do?

"I don't...  I haven't forgiven Twilight for what she did to me."

"But...   I also don't hold it against her anymore."

"I used to."

"You," you address Luna, "saw it yourself."

>She nods in agreement.

"But when you," you turn towards Celestia now, "freed me and we went to confront her..."

"It just wasn't her anymore. I know that it wasn't her. I just know it."

"We spent so much time together... I know who she is and what she wants. And that wasn't her."

>You pause for a moment, trying to get some coherency in what you were trying to convey.

 

>The princesses patiently wait for you to continue.

"So, I don't blame her. It's me. I blame me."

"Don't get me wrong. I'm not saying she's innocent."

"But in a way, I did this to myself."

"I just...   I let it drag on for far too long. I made fun of her, I didn't take her seriously..."

"But I should have. I was...  I was the worst excuse for a friend there is."

"And if I'd just given her a chance, this... none of this would've ever happened."

"Then the whole coronation-thing happened and things just went rolling downhill."

"The magic... it... I don't know, it blurred her."

"She was still there at first but the more time that passed, the less of her I saw."

"So..."

"If -I- should seek out punishment for her..."

 

"Take it away."

"All of it. No more magic."

"Not even a little."

"She needs to find herself again first."

"And I want to help her find herself too."

"I made poor decisions in the past but I promise I'll do whatever I can to help her."

"Just please..."

 

"Give her a chance."

"Like I should have done."

 

>The other side of the table remains silent for the longest while until Celestia nods.

>"Like I said, we shall take your views into consideration."

>"Now let our guards escort you back to your chamber," Luna says in addition to her sister.

>After your confession, you felt too hollow to respond to them and so you simply let the guards take you back to your room.

>When you get back, the room is dark and not a single sound could be heard.

>Either they were all asleep or they all lied awake, worrying about tomorrow.

>Regardless, you choose to be part of the former.

>For the first time in over a year, you drift into a peaceful sleep.

>No smoke, no clouds, no magic.

>Only blissful darkness.

 

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>You awake the next morning when something nudges you in the side.

>Accompanying said nudging, is a bubbly voice that grates your eardrums.

>"Get up, Anon. It's time for breakfast."

>Rubbing the sleep out of your eyes, you wearily wake up.

>You could've easily slept another couple of hours. You're still so tired.

>But the fact that your vision is filled with pink tells you that that's not very likely to happen anymore.

>"Come on, Anon! Breakfast's the most important meal of the day!"

>Pinkie bounces up and down on your chest, knocking the wind out of you with each landing.

"Okay! Okay!" You pick her up and put her next to the bed.

"Give me a minute, will you?"

>It's fairly safe to say that you have a bit of a morning temper...

>Well...  It's not safe to say that around you in the morning.

 

>Stretching out in several directions, you let out a satisfying groan every time one of your joints pops in return.

>Those few hours of sleep that you managed to get did you well.

>Swinging your feet off the edge of the bed, stand up straight, making an effort to stretch out your back to the fullest.

"Okay," you say after your personal interpretation of morning gymnastics. "Let's go then."

>As you're walking down the corridor, you can't shake this unnerving feeling.

>It felt... odd to be up and walking again.

>After being bedridden for a year, something as mundane as walking down a hallway filled you with something akin to excitement.

>You were finally part of this world once again.

>It made you wonder what you had missed over the course of twelve months.

>You wondered why no one seemed to noticed your absence for such a long time.

>Then again, you didn't leave the house much. Save for your trips to Twilight.

>Who knows what she'd told the girls?

>No, they couldn't be blamed for what happened.

>You shouldn't have locked yourself in so much.

 

 

>A soft sigh, unheard to the others, escapes you.

>From here on out, you were going to deal with things very differently.

>The manner that had brought it forth was far from ideal, but your eyes had been opened.

>The way you'd been living your life, avoiding any obstacle that you encountered, had brought you to this point.

>No matter what the future held in store for you, you were going to make sure that you'd deal with things properly.

 

 

>Though, today more pressing matters were at hand than your newfound outlook on life.

>As you were walking down the stairs towards a destination you didn't even know, you kept catching glances from all the girls at you.

>Each time you caught one of them in the act, she'd look away, only to be replaced by another shortly after.

>You knew it was all just an act.

>If they'd pretend everything was fine, maybe it'd all just solve itself...

>Maybe for them.

>But you were in the center of this.

>Your voice weighed more than all of theirs combined.

>In the back of your mind, you recall what the princesses said last night, "We shall take your views into account..."

>Though, somehow, you think neither you nor the girls have seen the end of it all.

>But who were you to ruin the start of this day?

>Let them put on their act.

>At least it'd be a lot better than having to deal with what was really going on.

 

>After a few minutes of walking, you reach two white doors, each covering half of the arc that had been cut out of the wall.

>You had no idea how the others knew their way around here. Looking ahead of you, you discern that Pinkie had taken the lead for this excursion.

>It was safe to assume that it was either pure luck that had brought you here or Pinkie's love for food had led her here.

>She suddenly straightens her neck and begins sniffing around in the air.

>"Yup, we're here! Breakfast's here!" she speaks in a bubbly voice, bouncing up and down in place at the same time.

>You had long since given up trying to figure out this mare.

>But hey, she'd brought you to food. You weren't going to complain.

>She bounces towards the doors and by extension, the food she craved for, seemingly unpertubed by the fact that the doors were still closed.

"Pinkie! Watch o—"

>She slams into the doors, muzzle-first...

>And in return, they simply swing open.

>Pinkie continues to bounce, not even slightly fazed by having just opened a pair of doors easily five times her size with a bodytackle.

>Shaking your head, you just sigh.

>Don't try to make sense of Pinkie Pie. You should know that by now.

 

>Inside, a large table has been decked with a wide variety of food ranging from donuts and cakes to pudding and fruits.

>You even see a large bowl of baked eggs somewhere in the middle of the table.

>It'd been a dozen months since you last ate and your stomach grumbles to remind you of that.

>The group breaks apart, the lot of you all filling a plate with breakfast before taking seats at the top of the table.

>Pinkie and Fluttershy sat next to you. Rainbow Dash, Rarity and Applejack occupied the seats opposite to you.

>Rainbow Dash had filled her plate with a large assortment of donuts, whereas both Applejack and Rarity had opted to resort to fruit.

>Pinkie Pie had simply filled her plates with everything and Fluttershy had opted for a slice of cake.

>You were currently enjoying the aroma that wafted of the freshly baked eggs.

"Well uh... I don't know what we're waiting for... Bon appetit, I guess."

>Just as you were about to prick a fork full of eggs, the doors swung open once more, revealing a mare with a royal white coat and a billowing mane of prismatic hue.

>The ponies all bow for her, and you follow their moves, figuring that you could at least show a bit of respect towards your savior.

>"Rise, my subjects. Formalities may be forgotten."

>Her gaze turns towards you. "I'd like to speak to you in private."

>"After you've eaten of course." A brief smile is sent your way.

>You nod in reply. "Sure."

>She steps out, leaving you all a little baffled.

>The same question was on everyone's mind.

>What does she want to talk about?

 

>After that, breakfast passes in a bit of a blur.

>The entire meal is spent in silence, no one knowing what to say to disrupt it.

>You've only eaten half of your bowl with eggs before you shove your seat back and get up.

>Whatever it was, it was probably more important than awkwardly eating breakfast.

>Nopony even bothers to say anything to you as you get up and leave the table.

>They all knew that this was something you had to do alone.

 

>You shove the doors open and step out into the hallway, only to be met by the sight of Princess Celestia staring out the window.

>Hearing the door open made her turn around, your gazes finding one another.

>Her brow seemed to be fixated in a permanent state of being slightly furrowed these days.

>"There is one more thing I would like to ask of you," she begins, the weight in her voice leaving little to the imagination.

>"And please, do not feel obligated to say yes on my behalf. If you don't feel comfortable with it or don't want to do it for any other reason, I shall accept your answer and ask no questions."

"What is it?"

>"I'd like to go see Twilight with you."

>Your eyes wander downwards, coming to rest on the floor as you weigh your options.

>If you were honest, she frightened you.

>An entire year of physical and mental abuse does that.

>And you didn't want to see her.

>But there was one thing you did want from her.

>You wanted to hear her.

>Hear what she had to say for herself.

>Hear what made her do it. What caused her to...

"I'll come along," you answer, your eyes finding hers once more.

>She stares at you with intent, trying to read you, gauge your reaction...

>But you didn't show an iota of fear.

>Twilight deserved a chance. You wouldn't ruin that for her.

>"Very well, then." She nods. "I'd rather not waste time any further. We have a long day ahead of us regardless."

>"Shall we?"

 

>You nod in reply and before you can get a good grasp on what you just agreed to, the world disappears from your vision.

>Walls of golden energy surround you, flowing around you and you realize you're being teleported by the princess once more.

>In a matter of seconds, the walls of arcane power fade out, revealing a bleak hallway to you.

"Couldn't we have just walked here, Princess?" you ask the white alicorn standing next to you as you clutch your stomach.

"My breakfast isn't overly fond of magic, I'm afraid..."

>"I apologize," she says as she begins walking, "but this is the only way to enter the dungeon's maze."

>You follow her in her wake and furrow your brow upon hearing the word 'dungeon'.

>She locked Twilight in a dungeon?

>Though, you deem it wise not to go against Celestia's judgment for now.

>She and her have shared an eventful past and you are absolutely certain that the solar sovereign would never allow her protégé to be harmed.

 

>The walk through the hallway seems to drag on and on, the silence floating in between you and the princess not aiding much to relieve that sentiment.

>You follow her closely as she weaves her way throughout the hallways. She was not kidding when she called it a maze.

>How she even knew where she was going baffled you. This place was enormous and on top of that, as unstructured as could be.

>You quickly walk a bit closer to her, lest you wind up lost in this place.

>A few minutes of walking later, the princess herself seems to be lost as well.

>The dead-end you were approaching being proof of that.

>Just as you were about to ask the monarch what to do now, her horn shimmered in a golden hue and the wall in front of you began to shift.

>An old door made itself apparent through her magic.

>You both stop walking, coming to rest in front of the worn-down piece of wood.

>Her hoofs raps against the door, two dull thuds resounding upon their impact.

>And as those two dull thuds resound throughout the hallway, you can't help but reminisce...

>You're brought back to a year ago and you recall every time you knocked on that wooden door, carved into the tree that is Ponyville's library, where your best friend used to live...

>The smile she wore and the shimmer in her eyes as she opened that door and invited you in...

>Countless hours were wasted by simply reading together, talking about your childhoods, what Earth was like, ...

>Lost in thought, you had failed to notice that the princess had opened the door and had already stepped inside.

>Shaking your head to clear your mind, you hurry inside as well.

 

>Relief washes over you as you see the interior of what the princess referred to as 'the dungeon'.

>Holding cells was a much more appropriate description of what this was.

>Pricess Celestia seemed to be talking to whom you presume to be the guard but quickly cuts her conversation short when she sees that you have decided to follow her inside.

>She turns around and comes to face you, her expression troubled, as she addresses you, "Rest assured that no harm can be brought upon you inside these walls. Only those whom I've granted the permission can use magic in here. Aegis and I will be here for you as well."

>She looks towards the cell furthest away from where you were currently standing.

>"I simply want you to go talk to her. It matters not what subject your conversation is about and you may leave whenever you wish to. Is that alright with you?"

>You nod, refusing to break eye-contact with her.

"That's fine by me, Princess."

>"Very well then." She turns back to the guard again.

>"Aegis, could you allow Anonymous here entrance to Ms. Sparkle's cell?"

>A enthusiastic bow follows on his end. "Certainly, your Majesty."

>The guard trots towards the cell the princess gazed at earlier and you follow in his trail.

>His horn casts forth a green aura around the lock and with a minute click, the door pops out of its lock.

>He bows as he opens the door for you, his gaze remaining cast at the floor as he waits for you to enter.

>You take a deep breath, hoping to somewhat calm your nerves as you set foot inside the cell.

>It was rather small on the inside and the only thing that occupied it were a bed and the purple unicorn that sat atop of it, looking at the corner of the room.

>And for a while, you just stand there. Looking at her, waiting for some kind of acknowledgement of your presence...

>But it never came.

>With hesitation in your stride, you walk closer to the bed and take a seat at the edge of it.

>It creaks a bit under the sudden weight and the mattress falls in, disrupting Twilight's balance which causes her to fall over into your lap.

>She looks up at you a—

 

>Bloodshot eyes meet your own for just a second before she squeezes them shut again.

>Her entire face is matted with dried up tears and arid crusts of mucus cling to her muzzle.

>Strands of her mane are sprung in every direction and she begins to sniffle as she lies on top of you.

>How...

>How could this be the monster that haunted your life for the past year?

>You're left in silence as she lies trembling in your lap. The sight left you unsure of what to do.

>A voice in the back of your mind tells you to run. To push her off and get away from her as fast as you can.

>But as you see what's become of her, you push that voice back into the depths of your mind.

>This was just a scared pony, in need of a friend.

>A trembling hand reaches towards her. Hesitation and doubt fill your body.

>You're not afraid of her.

>Not afraid... Just... cautious.

>Your fingers splice the purple and violet strands of hair as you brush through her mane.

>She shivers and whimpers at your touch.

>"...Don't..." she pleads.

 

"Hey."

>She pushes her face against your shirt as tears roll down her cheek. Softly, she shakes her head.

>"You should hate me," she sniffles.

>Though she can't see it, you still nod. "I know I should."

>"I... I..." Her breath stocks in her throat and her chest convulses wildly as she chokes back her sobs.

"Calm now," you speak in soft tones.

>You continue to stroke through her mane, the whimpering and convulsing slowly fading out as a result.

>You do not know how long it takes, nor do you care. With gentle strokes, you calm her down.

>Simple motions that bear no deeper meaning to it. Sharing your body with her willingly. The thing she always wanted.

>"I'm so, so sorry, Anon." She pushes herself off you but you keep your hand at her withers.

>You nod again. "Me too."

>Tears cascade down her cheeks as you both sit in silence in the cell.

>You cup her cheeks, wiping away the tears with your thumbs.

>She looks at you through bleary eyes.

>"Why are you doing this?" she asks, looking at the mattress as she does, refusing to look at you.

>Refusing to look at what she did.

>Inside you wells a feeling of warmth. She's ashamed. She hates what has happened as much as you do.

"I don't forgive you," your voice comes hollow and cold.

>She nods, her tears of sorrow bursting open into dark spots as they fall down on the mattress.

"But I want to."

>Her head remains downcast, her gaze refusing to meet yours as she speaks with a trembling voice, "W-What do you mean?"

"I just want you to tell me one thing, Twilight..."

>She blinks a few times, tears falling down every time she does so, before she finds your gaze through mournful eyes.

"Why'd you do it?"

 

>She sniffles, simply looking at you in silence.

>"I..." Her withers rise and fall driftless under her rushed breathing.

>"I-I just..." She lowers her head, letting it come to rest against your chest. "I wanted you..."

>You stroke along her neck in reassurance, that sense of fear you were dreading nowhere to be found.

>In this moment, you couldn't be afraid of her. She was afraid of herself.

>And she needed you to help her with that.

>"I wanted you to see what it was like..." she sniffles.

"What do you mean?"

>"There's... When I first met you, I couldn't stop thinking about you."

>"But I just thought that was because we spent so much time together for research," she continues.

>She shifts around a bit, her head now laying flat against your chest. She sighs as she listens to your heartbeat.

>"And for the longest time, I really thought that was all there was to it. You were just fascinating, I'd never gotten an opportunity like that before..."

>You look down on her, letting the memories of those times replay in your mind.

>How in the very beginning she'd literally write down every single word you said.

>'This might go into historybooks, Anon!' she'd told you...

 

>"... but then it started getting worse. I just couldn't focus on anything else but you anymore. I thought about you all day long and when I finally thought it'd be over, I started dreaming about you too."

>"And I-I...  I thought there was something wrong with me."

"Hey now, th—"

>She pushes herself upright again, shaking her head to silence you.

>She squeezes her eyes shut, wiping the tears away with her hoof as she continues.

>"I shouldn't feel like that. It's not normal. I'm not normal."

>"At first, I tried to hide it, I really tried... but it didn't go away. I felt it starting to bottle up in me and then I really got mad at myself."

>She'd finally stopped crying and where she evaded to look at you before, she sought out your gaze herself.

>She wanted you to see her like this. You needed to know her hurt and her remorse.

>"I'm a grown mare, and I was acting like some stupid foal."

>"And then I wanted to tell you. You needed to know. I just had to get it off my chest and then face the consequences."

>With an audible gulp, she falls silent. She kept looking up at you and then off into the distance.

>Hesitation was now within her too.

>"I couldn't," she says bewildered, her head minutely shaking from side to side.

>"I don't know why I couldn't. Every time, you were around I just... I can't describe it."

>"You make me feel so special, Anon."

>"I've never felt anything like it before."

>She seemed to have calmed down a bit by now and she scoots back a bit, giving you some space to yourself.

>"I wanted to make you feel like that. I got obsessed with it. And then I thought..."

>"...If I can't say it, I could just show it."

 

"With magic?"

>She hangs her head in shame, and she turns away from you, facing the corner again.

>"I know I sound like an idiot but I didn't know what else to do..."

>"I never meant to harm you, Anon," she mutters. "But when I finally got some sort of result, all those bottled up feelings just..."

 

>"I'm so sorry for hurting you."

>The both of you remain seated in your positions, neither of you knowing what to add to that.

>You let all she's said sink in, hoping that you'd reach some sort of conclusion.

>With disappointing results.

>You know what she did.

>And now you know why she did it.

>But the real question was; what were you going to do?

>You prop yourself off the bed, the bed once more creaking in relief.

"I'm going to go now, Twilight." You stand at the edge of the bed, looking at Twilight's back.

>Your hand reaches out to her, but you stop yourself shortly after. It limply falls back at your side again.

>For a while, you remain standing there, looking at her. And you wait.

>Wait for something to show. Wait for some emotion to come through the surface.

>But the longer you stand there, the more hollow your chest seems to get.

>With a despondent sigh, you turn towards the door.

"I need some time to think."

>You walk back out of the cell, where Celestia stood waiting for you.

>"That was very brave of you, Anonymous," she praises you, her magenta eyes piercing your own.

>It made you feel a bit uncomfortable. More uncomfortable, actually.

>"Aegis here will lead you back to the castle," she says, causing the guard to trot towards your side.

>He marches towards the wooden gate, and with a disheartened delay, you follow his trail.

>You look back at the princess, who now stood in front of Twilight's cell.

>She casts a glance over her withers and gives you a reassuring smile. "I will meet you there at my earliest convenience."

>Turning around, you step back into the hallway.

>Behind you, her voice sounds, "Hello, my student..."

>As you follow Aegis in his wake, it quickly dies out, leaving you to wonder what might happen to them.

>The talk had knocked the wind out of you, and the walk back certainly didn't do you much good either.

>Every step you take tires you.

>A whirlwind of scattered conflict roars through you, only growing fiercer with each passing moment.

>The repetitive clopping of Aegis' hooves was all that could be heard, and all you could focus on to distract yourself.

>And oddly enough, it works.

>He takes two steps, you take one.

>The timing in between two steps was immaculate, the repetition nearly automated.

>The resounding noises remind you.

>Two steps for him, one for you.

>It reminds you of the ticking of a clock.

>Two to one.

>It reminds you of all the time that has passed.

>His hoof comes down on the stone floor.

>It reminds you of the year you weren't alive.

>Then silence.

 

 

>"We're here."

>You blink in confusion, nearly jumping up at the sudden disruption of the repetitive intonations.

"Oh." You quickly scan your surroundings, discovering that you had indeed returned to the place where Celestia had teleported you in first.

>It's hard to keep track of time when your surroundings are all the same.

>Even harder when you're lost in thought.

"Right. Thanks."

>"Don't mention it," he replies. "I'm just going to teleport you back to the central hall. I take it you can find your room from there on out?"

"Uh... Yeah, sure."

>You didn't need him to tag along all the way to your room.

"I'll find it, no problem."

>Some time to yourself would be welcome right now.

>"Off you go then." A green flash blinds you.

>Your surroundings seemed to disappear again and when you regain your sight, you're standing in front of a large set of stairs.

>All around, ponies walked to and fro, no one batting an eye at the six foot tall being that just appeared out of thin air.

>Great. You'd like to be left alone for now.

>Though you have no clue which way your chambers are, you do know that they were on one of the higher floors of the castle, and so, you began climbing the stairs, letting fate take you wherever it deemed fit.

 

>You wind up walking through a bunch of hallways, and with every corner you take the crowd seems to thin out just a little bit more.

>Simply walking around had kept you distracted enough, but soon, you found yourself alone again. Alone with your thoughts.

>With your gaze aimed at the floor, you continued your march. The sunlight reflecting of the white marble floor stings your eyes a bit, but you don't mind.

>You sigh, thinking back at the scene that had transpired in the cell. How that—

>You blink. Purple.

>The floor now had a purple sheen to it.

>Jerking your head upright, your mouth falls open in awe.

>What stood aloft rendered you speechless.

>A breathtaking piece of art in stained glass serves as a window to this hallway. You've never seen anything that compares to it before.

>Looking further ahead, you see that all the windows in this hallway seemed to tell a tale of sorts.

>You continue walking, your gaze now held upwards at the prismatic display that sheltered you from the outside world.

>Most of these you knew, or had at least heard of some time before.

>There was the unison of the three tribes.

>Then the defeat of Discord by the Princesses.

>You halt for a moment at the one that follows.

>It shows a crude version of Princess Celestia banishing her own sister.

>Twilight had told you the tale of Nightmare Moon way back. She'd told you of how no one believed her when she predicted her return. Of her studies in Canterlot under the solar Princess.

>How she had no friends before she came to Ponyville.

>Your chest stings as you feel a twinge of ache course through it.

>For a while, you stand in front of the art piece, reveling in its beauty and its misery as you collect your breathing.

>The princess walked through this castle every day. Every day she was reminded of what she did in the past.

>It is then, as you watch the sunlight pierce through the image of the past, that the weight of her burden dawns on you. This was just a repeat of the past to her.

>The decision she was forced to make was the same as the one she had to make then.

 

>The decision she was forced to make...

>Before, when she spoke of how this entire kingdom was involved, you did not realize just what she meant by that.

>But as you continue to walk, the severity of her position begins to seep in.

>Princess Celestia always seemed so kind and gentle.

>And now that you'd been granted a peek into the responsibilities she bore, you were beginning to wonder how she did it after all this time.

>How she kept herself going every day, wearing that perfect, softhearted smile on her face.

>"It's a magnificent display, no?" a voice rouses you from your thoughts.

>When you look at your right, you note that at the end of the hallway was a dais on which two thrones resided.

>You'd failed to notice it before, though you can't understand how you could've overlooked something like that now that your attention was brought to it.

>The dark-blue alicorn tilts her head sideways at your delayed response.

>"It seems we disturbed you fiercely. W— I apologize for that."

"N-no, I just hadn't seen you, Princess," you reply.

>The small smile she wore seemed to fade at that. She walks off the dais and comes to rest at your side, taking in the display portrayed on the wall now too.

>"Do not worry, I have not been spying on you. Sister told us to come here, the Elements shall be here soon too."

>You nod and turn your attention to the next window, which showed Twilight and her friends defeating Discord a second time. The six of them surrounding him, each firing a beam of arcane power at the malicious creature.

>Things have changed much since then. The enemy used to be easy to point out.

 

"This world has known an eventful past," you wistfully note as you walk back to the lunar deity, who still seemed entranced by the depiction of her own banishment.

>"It came with its ups and downs," she replies remorseful.

>As you look down on Luna, you see a watery sheen over her eyes, reflecting the sunlight in a prismatic array of colors in your direction.

>You must've broken at least a dozen laws by doing so, but you place a hand on her withers and softly rub your hand over them.

>"Twilight told me about your trip to Ponyville on Nightmare Night..."

>She turns to look at you, a wavering smile briefly tugging at her lips.

>"She was the first other than my sister who gave me a chance," she says with a slightly shaky voice.

>Her head softly turns to look down as she reminisces. "This world has changed much since my return..."

>"And..." She softly sighs, collecting her thoughts and memories. "...I still do not feel like I belong here."

>Her gaze finds yours again, that small smile now having returned to her with an undeniable sense of certainty to it.

>"But she reached out to me and tried to help me to her best extent, even if she wasn't the best at making friends herself."

>She looks back up at the stained glass on the wall and ran her eyes over them, letting the stories they depicted run through her mind as memories rather than pictures. "And I'll never forget that."

"What's going to happen to her, Princess?"

>Her chest rises and falls with a deep breath as she stands up to leave. "I do not know, Anonymous."

>"Sister and I... need to have words first."

 

 

>As if on cue, a golden light grows ever brighter on the dais until it bursts open and a rush of wind blows past you.

>Princess Celestia reveals herself, composed as ever, wearing a consoling smile on her face.

>She comes face to face with her sister and takes a step closer towards her.

>"Ah, Luna, you got my message. I'm sorry for cutting into your night rest but I'd like to have everypony present one last time."

>She softly shakes her head, returning an equally composed smile to her sister. "Given the circumstances, an exception in my nocturnal habits is a sacrifice I'm more than willing to make."

>Before she could reply, the white alicorn turned her head towards you. "I see you received my note as well, Anonymous."

"Not really," you answer. "I just wandered around and found Princess Luna here."

>Her brow raises slightly, an expression of amused surprise on her features. "A matter of luck then."

>"Who knows how long it would have taken my guards to find you if you went roaming through the entire palace..."

>You can't find a more fitting response than a simple shrug, which the princess deems suitable enough.

>She turns back towards Luna, but before she can speak, the sound of trotting hooves carries through the air and cuts her short.

>You turn around to see five familiar ponies on their way towards you. You hear them speak, though you can't discern just what they were talking about until they draw close enough for you to pick out the highest-pitched voice.

>"...and why is it then whenever we are in this hallway something dreadful is about to happen?"

>"We had a party in here once!"

>"Yeah, after we defeated Discord, Pinkie. I don't think that counts..."

 

>"Ahem," Princess Celestia clears her throat, immediately silencing the babbling bunch of ponies.

>All heads turn towards her, eyes widened in expectation.

>She purses her lips and slowly lets her eyes slide over each pony present.

>"I thank you all for coming here," she begins. "These past days have weighed much on us all and I believe I do not speak only for myself when I say that I wish to end this entire ordeal as soon as possible."

>All ponies, as well as yourself, shake your head.

>"But, that does not mean this is a decision we can rush..."

>Her eyes meet your own for a brief moment before she continues, "Anonymous and I went to go see Twilight this morning."

>She pauses, taking a labored breath, a morose undertone showing ever so shortly on her visage.

>"I would like to hear what you all have to say before I make my final judgement."

>Her features soften as she takes a step forward.

 

>"Applejack, is there something you would like to say?"

>The southern belle lowers her gaze to the Princess' hooves, her face scrunched up in thought.

>"A-ah," she stammers nervously. With an audible gulp, she pushes back her nerves.

>"Ah thought Ah knew her, Princess... Ah never thought she could do a thing like this. Ah'm still not really sure if Ah really believe it all..."

>Lifting her head, she meets the princess' eyes. "Maybe Ah didn't knew her as well as Ah thought."

>"She lied to me... to us all." She briefly looks sideways at her friends, then at you.

>"Ah wanna be friends with her, but she'll have to earn mah trust back."

>The princess nods in reply. "Thank you, Applejack. I appreciate your honesty."

 

>She takes a step to the side, to halt in front of Pinkie Pie.

>"Is there something you want to say, my little pony?"

>The pink pony is oddly calm as she speaks, already knowing her answer, "I still wanna be friends with Twilight too. I promise I'll be a better friend to her from now on."

>The resilient attitude of Ponyville's premier party-goer works infectious and you see the corners of Celestia's mouth lift a little.

>"Thank you, Pinkie Pie."

 

>"Generosity?"

>Rarity raises her head to meet Celestia's eyes.

>"Is there something you would like to add to that?"

>Rarity lets her head fall back down, idly scuffing at the floor with a hoof.

>"I'm not sure, Princess," she mutters.

>"What troubles your mind, my child?"

>"I... The things she did... I'm not sure if she can regain my trust."

>"Think of the past you shared with her as well, Generosity," the solar sovereign speaks.

>She nods softly, though still looking at the floor.

>"I'll give her a chance, but I can't make any promises," she says as she looks at Pinkie.

>"And that is all I can ask of you as well."

 

>Another step sideways leads her to Rainbow Dash, whose sense of confidence was ever present.

>"Rainbow Dash, would you like to say something about her?"

>The prismatic pony nods and straightens herself. "Twilight and I had a bit of a rough start..."

>Her magenta eyes pierce those of the princess. "But she showed me another side of myself. We had more in common than I wanted to see at first. I need to return her that favor. I owe her that."

>"We'll still be friends, I'm sure of it."

>Celestia remains quiet for a while as she stands in front of a gradually less certain Rainbow Dash.

>"Your loyalty towards your friends adorns you. Thank you, Rainbow Dash."

>You see a rosy blush spread on her cyan cheeks as she gives a bashful smile to the princess.

 

>"Fluttershy, how do you feel about this?" Celestia asks softly.

>The pegasus trembles all over, her eyes strictly cast at the tile in front of her.

>You hear her squeak and mutter something inaudibly.

>Celestia lifts Fluttershy's head with her hoof and speaks in reassurance, "Please do not be afraid to tell me what concerns you, Fluttershy. I shall not judge you for whatever it is that you wish to say."

>The demure pony speaks quietly, tears forming at the edge of her vision.

>"I-I-I'm sorry, Princess," she sputters out before she breaks down in sobbing.

>"What are you sorry for, Kindness?" she asks concerned.

>"I've been a bad f-friend for Twilight," she sniffles. "I should have listened to her better. We all made fun of her before, and I didn't learn anything fr—"

>"Hush, my child," Celestia interrupts, draping a wing over Fluttershy to comfort her. "Do not place the blame of this construct on yourself. If anyone carries that burden, it shall be I and none other."

>Their embrace breaks as the princess takes a step back.

>"Do you forgive her, Kindness?"

>She meekly nods, as she continues to softly weep. "If she forgives me too."

>The solar deity acknowledges her response with a kind smile, before she turns to face you.

 

>"Anonymous, would you like to make an annex to your earlier statements after this morning's events?"

>You look at one another in silence as you recall the heartfelt words all the other spoke of her.

>And you shake your head.

"I've said my view on the matter. I don't know if anything has changed to that yet."

>Celestia nods in affirmation, her smile ever present.

>"Very well then."

 

>"I would like to thank you all for your strength and your braveness," she turns to address you all once more.

>"Princess Luna and I will try to reach a consensus."

>The sunlight falling in through the glass diorama draws her attention and she turns to look outside, a soft sigh going by unheard but not unseen.

>"My subjects, please do not burden yourselves with the outcome of this situation. I believe it to be best if you all went to clear your minds for a while."

>Slowly, she repeats her earlier motions as she lets her eyes glide over each one of you.

>"On a beautiful summer day as this one, a walk in the Royal Gardens tends to alleviate my mood..."

>Silence falls for a moment, before a voice breaks the serenity.

>"Ah could go for some fresh air right now."

>"I'll..uhm..come with you," Fluttershy quietly says as she walks over to her orange-coated friend.

>"If nopony objects I'd rather take a walk through Canterlot," a pristine voice softly states, lacking its usual bravado.

>"Yer just goin' shopping, aren't ya?" Applejack teases.

>When she sees the hurt expression on Rarity's face, and her rapidly moistening eyes, she quickly regrets that however.

>"This is not a time for jokes, you know?" she scolds the farmer with tears in her eyes. "I just need something to distract me from... from this... this absolute mess!"

>Applejack quickly wraps a hoof around the alabaster unicorn and draws her in for a comforting embrace.

>"Ah'm sorry, Rare. 't was just a joke, Ah didn't mean anything by it, okay?"

>The two mares keep leaning on each other for a while before Rarity takes a step back and wipes her tears away with her hoof.

>"I know," she sniffles. "I'm sorry too, it's just becoming a bit much all at once for me, I'm afraid."

>Pinkie Pie steps in and leans against Rarity's side, nuzzling her as she does so.

>"I'll come with you on your walk. You don't need to be alone."

>A smile wavers on Rarity's face as she wipes her tears away for the final time. "Thank you, Pinkie. I'd appreciate the company."

>And with that, the four ponies leave the premises.

 

>"Hey..."

>You look around to come face to face with the remainder of the group, flying in front of you at eye-level.

>"You holding up okay?"

>You share a hollow smile with Rainbow Dash as you shrug. "I'll manage."

>Her wings fold back at her sides as she softly lands in front of you.

>"Look, I know we don't really know each other all that much, but if you want to talk to somepony..."

>"I'm here, you know?"

>You briefly tussle up her mane as you look down on her. "I know."

>And you smile, a bit more sincere than before.

"Thanks."

>She faintly nods, shrugging her withers as if to throw off the expression of gratitude.

>Loyalty is her nature, it needs no praise. Not to her, at least.

>"I'm gonna go flying, okay? I need to clear my head a bit..."

>But before she can run off into the open and take to the skies, you stop her.

"What's it like?"

>She halts in her tracks and turns around to look at you with a brow raised in confusion.

>"What's what like?" she asks dumbfounded.

"Flying...      I've already had magic, I know what that feels like."

"But what's it like to fly, Rainbow?"

>She appears to be lost in thought, tilting her head side to side as she tries to formulate a satisfying answer.

>"It's hard to explain..." She looks at you with a certain shine in her eyes and the confidence she wore earlier seemed to have increased tenfold.

>"It's just absolute freedom, I guess. You can feel the wind shifting underneath your feathers, trying to bring you back down. But that's the fun of it to me. That fight against nature. It wants me to stay on the ground but I never listen."

>"And the longer you fly, the more tired you get. And there'll be that little voice in the back of your head that's telling you to get back on the ground and take a rest."

>A cocky grin spreads on her face as she continues, "You just need to beat your wings and beat that little voice."

>"Flying's just... I don't know who I'd be without it, Anon."

>You look down on her, noting how every muscle in her body had tensed up in her speech, how excited she got by merely talking about flying alone.

>You can only imagine how exhilarating the actual flight had to be.

>With a smile on your face, you thank her, "That does sound pretty amazing..."

"Thanks, Dash. You can go fly now, I won't bother you anymore."

>She trots out of the room, casting one final glance back at you. "Anytime."

>And with that, the pegasus does her name justice as she dashes out of the hallway, longing to soar through the sky that calls out to her.

 

>Turning around, you see both princesses measuring you up, left in silence by Rainbow's sincere words.

"Princess," you say as you focus your attention on the white alicorn, "you said not to take the blame on ourselves, but that goes for you too."

>The princess' brow furrows upon your command.

"There's no one to blame for this...    I mean, you can't single out someone."

"I think we're all a little to blame."

>"Is that what you want to add?" she asks you.

>You nod your head. "It is."

>Celestia closes her eyes and sighs. "I will keep that in mind."

 

"I'll just leave you two to it then."

>You turn around, heading back to the central hall you came from when a voice calls out from behind you, "Your chambers are the second stairs on your right!"

>You smirk, lifting a hand up as you keep walking down the hallway.

 

>With no other destination in mind, you decide to just head back to your chambers for now.

>The second stairs on the right are soon conquered and just like Luna had said, you'd arrived in the hallway of your chambers.

>You grasp the door handle and nudge it. The brass hinges silently swing open underneath your command.

>The door had been left unlocked, it seems. You step inside the room, the sunlight that came in through the window casting an slight auburn glow over the entire perimeter.

>The glass panels seemed to glow, though it did not look like the light of the sun to you. You step forward towards the window as if it called out to you.

>A tired hand places itself against the glass, a pleasant warmth coursing through you upon impact.

>A warmth of which you could not remember the last time you felt it.

>Looking outside, you notice a transient trail of rainbow hue spread across the skyline, causing you to sigh sorrowfully, tainting the window with a damp spot of breath.

>You envied Rainbow Dash. You'd never known desire like she did for the open skies. The concept was foreign to you.

>And it made you wonder...

>Absolute freedom.

>You saw the sun shining and for a moment, you found yourself smiling, as if those short rays of light were enough to get you by.

>You nodded to yourself, watching the world pass by through tired eyes, recalling everything that had transpired since you came here to where you were now.

>Everything that had happened. To you and to them.

>It came with its ups and downs.

 

>With a heart of conviction, you set to your task.

>Maybe that was enough.

 

 

 

                                *       *       *       *       *       *       *

 

       

 

>The two princesses of Equestria sat atop their thrones, though they would both much prefer to sit elsewhere.

>The responsibilities that came with these seats were not desired by either of them.

>And yet, they kept their positions.

>Who else could endure the weight both alicorns carried on their backs?

>Princess Celestia dared not to look at her sister, instead opting to look at the patterns the tiles on the floor formed.

>"What shall be the verdict?" Luna asked, growing weary of this situation.

>It reminded her of a pained past she had wished to forget about.

>To the immortals, time has no meaning. It passes them by without regard.

>Then why was it that she kept being reminded of what she had done in the past? Of who she was, in a time long gone by?

>She was a new pony now. A better pony.

>She'd learned from her errors and risen above them.

>And yet, nopony saw that.

>Save for one.

>"I don't know, Luna..."

>Celestia shook her head, the fire that burned within her dying out with every passing second.

>Time used to pass her by without regard, but now it crawled to a halt as she knew she had to make the hardest decision of her entire life.

>"You do know. You just choose not to."

>"AND CAN YOU BLAME ME?" she lashed out at her sister.

>The white alicorn trembled, as she looked back at the ground. "Sorry. I did not mean to—"

>A dark-blue wing wraps over Celestia's back and Luna leaned closer towards her sister.

>"Why is it always those closest to me?" a pained whisper came.

>A pair of light-blue eyes looked over at the scenery of historic events displayed on the wall.

>"It seems harmony can not exist without entropy..."

>Silence filled the throne room as the two sisters held each other tight.

>For a thousand years, Celestia did not have this luxury. To share a hug with her sister.

>She'd longed to see her every day of her banishment. To touch her and hold her close. To whisper words of reassurance in her ear, telling her that she was sorry too and that she forgave Luna for what she did.

>And now that she finally could, she didn't do any of those until now.

>"I can't, Luna. I can't do it again," she pleaded to herself.

>The lunar deity regarded her sister, the beautiful Princess Celestia of Equestria, as she sat looking at the floor on the verge of crying. Where her pristine white coat always shone with the radiance of the sun itself, it seemed dull and almost gray at this moment.

>"Then don't."

>Magenta eyes with a translucent sheen found blue ones. "But you... I..."

>"But answer me honestly," the moon goddess spoke in a cold voice that carried an undeniable hint of spite in it.

>Celestia nodded, fearful of her sisters' gaze.

>"Was she better than me?" Luna tried to keep her composure rigid, but found she could not repress the moisture from rolling down her cheeks.

>The elder sister shook her head as she wrapped her own wings around the crying alicorn. "No, Luna, it isn't like that."

>Luna tried to squirm out of the embrace at first, but soon found she no longer had the will to struggle.

>"Isn't it?! Did you not take her under your wing to replace me?! Were you not just absolutely thrilled at her apotheosis so she could take my position?!"

>Now not only shaking her head, but her entire body, Celestia consoled her little sister. "It wasn't like that! I swear it wasn't like that, Lulu..."

>"What is she to you then, if not a sister?"

>Celestia nuzzled her sister, trying to get Luna to look at her but without any success. "She's not you."

>She pressed herself against the smaller alicorn with all her might, as she kept shaking her head.

>"You are my sister, Lulu. Only you. Nopony else. Not her, not anypony. Never."

>"But you don't forgive me..." Luna softly spoke, lifting her head to meet her sister's gaze.

>Celestia sat in silence, as she knew she could not longer run from the truth.

>"Please, try to understand..." she begged. "I had gone so long without you..."

>She closed her eyes as she remembered her millennium of loneliness. "I couldn't go on much longer, I felt it...

And then I found her..." Tears now rolled down her cheeks, embarrassment and shame welling in her as she admitted, "And she was so much like you, Lulu...        Her enthusiasm, her smile, that beatific giggle..."

>"I swear that I didn't want her to replace you, Lulu... I said to myself that I'd wait for you to come back..."

>Forcing back her sobs, she continues to pour out her heart's concerns, "But then I saw what powers she held and I couldn't stop myself... I needed her and I couldn't go on my own any longer..."

"If I'd known you'd come back only years from then, I'd never have... but the books were just legend and myth."

>Celestia loosened her grip on her sister and scooted back a little. "I'm so sorry... I was weak and I held onto her as I tight as I could, but I swear Lulu... She was never meant to replace you..."

 

>"And when you came back..." Celestia turned away from her sister, ashamed of her own words, "I want to forgive you, I really do... but every time I've looked at you since your return, I always saw that monster that sat inside you before I see my sister..."

>"And in her, you saw perfection," Luna dryly noted.

>Celestia was silenced by the truth. Twilight had been everything she could have ever hoped for. Without her, she wouldn't have been able to carry this kingdom on her own.

>In her desperation, the princess had pushed her burdens aside and instead, took on a personal protégé. The purple unicorn filly had filled her with a sense of warmth when she needed it the most.

>"Yes," she admitted with her head hung low, "I did."

>"Maybe you never meant her too, but face the truth, sister," Luna spoke in a calm and collected fashion, "She has replaced me now."

>Both princesses turned their heads sideways at the glass display again, both of them looking at the one that showed their separation.

>"I can't do it again, Luna," Celestia begged. "I can't exile her, I... I can't do it."

>"And you mustn't," Luna quietly says.

>Celestia looked at her younger sister in surprise through watery eyes. "But—"

>"You are right," she interrupted, "she is not me."

>With a lonesome sigh, the youngest of two immortals spoke, as she kept staring at the display of her own exile,

>"She found me in the dark and she gave me a chance. She saw what I was in the past and she saw past that too. She could have left me there, but she didn't."

>"You say that we bear many similarities, but there is one thing in which we most certainly do not compare."

>Luna's heart aches as she relives her past behind closed eyes, "She is not evil, sister. She is not like us. She harmed only one where I harme—"

>"Enough!" Celestia shouted. "Don't say things like that! You're not like that anymore!"

>Quietly, Luna nodded, taken aback by her sibling's sudden outburst. Neither of them wanted to have to go through that again.

>And yet, there was one thing Luna could not keep to herself. "She gave me a chance, Celly. We should give her one too."

>Burying her sky-colored eyes into those of her sister, she pleaded, "I don't want to lose my friend."

 

>Both princesses fell silent, sitting atop their thrones, an entire kingdom underneath their command, their minds and souls pained in search for an answer.

>Over the course of their lives, they'd answered thousands and thousands of questions, all for the sake of their subjects.

>But to this one, an answer did not seem to come.

>There were so many responsibilities the rulers bore, and now, they had to decide which one mattered to them most.

>"What do I do, Luna?" the solar monarch asks, disturbing the room's artificial serenity.

>Luna sighs, now too seeking out the patterns formed by the floor's tiles. This was not her choice to make, nor was it her sisters'...

>"In a way, we were lucky she choose him as her victim," she begins.

>Celestia's brow furrows, as she turns towards her younger sibling. "No one should have to live through something like that. Ho—"

>"We did not mean it like that, sister," she cuts Celestia short. "You are right. None of our subjects should have to endure such atrocities..."

 

>"He is a creature of remarkable capacities," she continues, her gaze now aimed at the hallway through which he'd left earlier, "And w—  I doubt many would've been able to withstand his year-long suffering, much less have the audacity to face their oppressor so shortly after."

>"His strength is extraordinary, Celestia, and he carries wisdom far past his years..."

>"It would be a decision most wise to consider his words before we... before you do what needs to be done."

>The solar sovereign sighs as she lets her sister's advice sink in.

>She was so confused to be in this position. How things had ever come to this point in life, she could not understand.

>Had she not seen them herself, she would not ever have believed them.

>But with a heavy heart, she had to admit that this was all real. So painfully real.

>In her sister's words lied truth, for she could not understand how Anonymous was such a strong and brave creature.

>He had stood amid this entire construct, an entire year of abuse inflicted on him and yet, he lived on.

>Perhaps not the same as before, but he maintained a positive outlook.

>It was if he knew something more, something that showed him there would still be beauty in this world.

>He'd seen the execrable side of this world first, the other side of the spectrum awaited him in the future.

>The princess sighed as she thought of the harm that was inflicted on him. How he maintained his composure, the immortal alicorn would never understand...

>"I can not let her violations pass without punishment," she mutters to herself.

>Facing her sister, she bows her head and her chest heaves with the burdened breath. "I'm ready."

>She was not. But still, she spoke the truth. She would never be ready.

>The longer she would delay the confrontation with her student, the more it would pain them both.

>Luna reassuringly places a hoof on her sisters' before she stands to walk to the back of the dais.

>Behind their thrones lied a weapon forged in an age where time had yet to begin. One not even the alicorns knew all secrets about.

>And every time they locked it away, they had hoped it to be for the last time.

>Today, their hopes had been shattered once more.

 

>Her horn bathed in an arcane aura of amethyst hue and the vault opened itself at her command.

>Surrounded by the same shimmer that enveloped Luna's horn, a small box encrusted with various gems floated out of its keeping.

>With a small click, the box popped open, revealing the six Elements of Harmony to Luna. At the sight, she could not help but feel slightly panicked.

>She'd been on the receiving end of their prowess before. She knew what awaited Twilight Sparkle.

>Shivers rolled over her back and she froze to her core as she recalled how she'd been struck by them before.

>Whether she could call herself a friend of Twilight, knowing that she could prevent what was about to happen, she did not know.

>Shaking her head, she steeled herself. This was... the right thing to do. She had to convince herself of that.

>Not that that made it any easier on her.

>With hooves of lead, she dragged herself back towards the thrones.

>If she considered herself burdened, then there were no words to describe what her sister would have to endure.

>Celestia looked up, staring at the box through dull eyes, bereaved of all life within her.

>Purple and golden wisps of energy fight for dominance as she took over the box and let it float to the ground, coming to rest in front of her.

 

>With closed eyes, she bows her head as she channels forth her magic.

>A blinding white aura surrounds her horn and the Elements leave their resting place, coming to float in front of her, radiating with power.

>The gemstones of Loyalty, Laughter, Generosity, Honesty and Kindness break loose from their necklaces and attach themselves to the royal regalia, back to where they'd resided well over a thousand years ago.

>Celestia already felt their powers pulsating underneath the surface.

>She couldn't recall ever feeling worse than this before.

>Feathers brush over her back and when she opens her eyes, a small dark-blue alicorn had wrapped herself around her.

>"I'm sorry, sis," she heard Luna whisper.

>And she sighed, "Soon, I will be too."

 

>The alicorns held each other close, sharing their warmth to comfort one another. Neither of them wanted to break this embrace for so many reasons.

>But they both knew they had to.

>It was Celestia who, accompanied by a solitary nod to herself, broke the contact.

>Luna looked at her, her head tilted in uncertainty. "Are y—"

>"It is time."

>Luna kept quiet, caressing her sister with her wing in affection and support before she retracted to her throne.

>Spiraling strands of whites and golds flowed around Celestia's horn as she reached out with her powers.

>A ball, woven in the brightest of whites, began to form in front of the thrones, expanding at a vast rate until, only after a few seconds at the most, it burst open, revealing a purple unicorn lying on the floor in front of both royal mares.

>Twilight Sparkle blinked in confusion at the sudden shift of surroundings. She'd felt the magic tugging at her right before she was teleported, but she did not understand.

>The only one who could use magic in the cells wa—

>"Princess!" she shouted, quickly covering her eyes underneath her hooves, as she pressed herself as flat against the floor as she could.

>The floor was cold, but it was not as cold as the look Princess Celestia gave her student. Twilight's curiosity got the better of her and a quick peek through her mane showed the solar monarch with an expression of absolute apathy on her face.

>"Rise, Twilight Sparkle," she commanded.

>With wobbly knees, she came to stand in front of her mentor, ears laid flat against her head.

>Celestia looked in front of her and saw her student trembling underneath her gaze.

>The princess looked in front of her and saw a criminal awaiting punishment.

>"We have considered your case, Twilight Sparkle," she spoke. "And we cannot let your crimes go unpunished."

>The princess sighed, as she saw the unicorn's eyes fill with tears, silently pleading for forgiveness.

>"P-Princess, I—" she muttered.

>"Silence!" the smaller of two alicorns now bellowed. "Accept your punishment with grace and dignity, Twilight Sparkle, for we have been lenient at your transgression."

>The youngest of three magi bowed her head in equal parts of respect, fear, and shame.

>"You've inflicted harm upon one of my subjects," Celestia's voice spoke. "You've lied to your friends, you have abused the powers I granted you and..."

>Celestia could not maintain her composure. Her head hung low and she felt grief and betrayal pounding at her heart. "...and you dissapointed me, Twilight."

>Small drops of moisture began to collect in front of Twilight's hooves, as she heard her mentor's sorrow.

>Their gazes find one another, and Celestia spoke in pained tones, "I was wrong about you. You're not fit to be a princess."

>Twilight Sparkle's heart had been broken so many times, but never before had she experienced the pain to be so vivid.

>When her friends had laughed at her, she still had the princess, who could make everything right.

>When Anonymous had turned her down, she still had the princess, who could make everything right.

>Whenever she messed up a spell,

>Whenever she needed to know something that could not be found in books,

>Whenever she needed the opinion of somepony with thousands of years of experience,

>Whenever she needed kind words of reassurance to tell her it would all be fine,

>Whenever she needed a friend...

 

>She always had the princess, who could make everything right.

>Always.

>Until she threw it all away.

 

>She wanted to whisper her grief.

>She wanted to scream her sorrow.

>She wanted to plead for forgiveness and beg the princess to take her back under her wing.

>But she did not, for she knew it to be in vain.

>She'd destroyed everything she'd devoted her life to.

>All for the sake of another.

>Another, in whom she saw herself.

>One to whom she had hoped to give herself. To share her fears and joys with.

>Someone she would've wanted to grow old with.

>She'd been so wrong. Only now did she see that. Of how undeserving she was.

>He was so much better than she was.

>And so, she bowed her head.

>Whatever came to her, she deserved it.

 

 

>"Twilight Sparkle," Celestia's verdict came, "taking into account the nature of your crimes, as well as all you've done for this kingdom..."

>The solar sovereign sighed as she felt the power in the Elements pulsating. "I hereby retract your position as Element of Magic."

>"Please," Celestia said as she stood up from her throne, "put on your tiara."

>Twilight lifted her head and looked at the alicorn that towered over her. "Please... Princess, no..." she whimpered.

>Celestia felt her mask breaking as she looked down on the frightened unicorn. Her stoic expression fell to the ground and burst open into tears.

>"I'm so sorry..." she whispered as she placed the tiara on Twilight's head with her own magic.

 

>Bright light filled the entire throne room and before she could brace herself, Luna got thrown out of her throne and against the vault. The impact dazed her slightly, but she quickly regained her bearings, only to be rendered motionless at the sight that was developing in front of her.

>Arcs of magic energy spread over Twilight and Celestia, a storm rampaging around them. Wisps of white energy enclosed them first. The windows began to vibrate and shudder at the energy that radiated inside the room.

>Another layer of violet arcs obscured Celestia and Twilight from sight and cracks began spread along the tiles of the floor.

>An explosion of colors wells around the two magi and with an astonishingly loud bang, all windows shattered apart.

>Luna squinted her eyes shut as the ball of energy now glowed with an intensity that could rival the sun itself...

 

 

 

>Twilight Sparkle frantically looked around her, left surprised and confused by yet another sudden shift in her surroundings.

>But when she took in her environment, she quickly discerned where she was. Her pupils shrunk as she saw the clouds of pink and purple flowing around her. They swirled around her hooves and floated into the never-ending skies she stood underneath.

>"No..." she whispered to herself, trembling in fright.

>At her words, the tranquility of the construct left at once.

>The clouds lashed out at her and struck her every inch of her body.

>"NNNOOOO!" she shrieked out in pain and fear. "PRINCESS NNooOO! PLEASE PRI—"

>The endless realm of magic filled itself with her screams as she pleaded unto deaf ears.

>The arcane energy cared not for her. Relentlessly, it pounded in on the unconscious form of Twilight Sparkle.

>It coursed through her, dragging every inch of potential out of her by sheer force.

>She radiated with magic, an nearly endless source of power held within her mind and soul.

>But the Elements did not concern themselves with matters as trivial as time, or life and death.

>The source of Magic belonged to them.

>And soon, they'd have it all back.

 

 

 

>It had been such a long time since Princess Celestia last came here.

>Though she did not have a need for it any longer either.

>In the past, she had retracted here when she needed time to think, when she did not want to be disturbed.

>With closed eyes, she would sit her, listening to the gentle humming of an artificial forest.

>It was the sound that soothed her the most. It lifted the weight of the responsibilities she carried away from her and instead caressed her.

>It recharged her, making her feel reborn.

>Arcane wisps of golden and white surrounded the princess as she sat in the middle of existence.

>It had been such a long time since Princess Celestia last came here. And she had hoped to never have to come back.

>Amidst her inner source, she sat.

>A near endless realm of power that complied to her every whim.

>Princess Celestia was the most powerful magigician in existence. There was nothing that did not lay within her reaches.

>In the past, she listened to the music of nature with closed eyes.

>In the present, she cried as the past repeated itself.

>She heard her beg. A unicorn filly, terrified of her own powers.

>Just like it had been all those years ago.

>The princess had sensed her. She had heard her cry out, as she lost control over her magic.

>And she had rushed to aid her.

>The little unicorn filly that giggled as she had poked her flank to show her her newfound cutiemark.

>The embodiment of magic...

>She'd grown into such a beautiful pony.

>Celestia hung her head and wept, as she heard the filly call out to her again.

>This time, she did not rush to aid her.

>All the power in the world belonged to princess Celestia.

>If only she could move.

 

 

>She did not know how long she sat in this realm that only existed within herself.

>Time passes the immortals by without regard.

>And now, Celestia was certain of it too; it passes them by without caring.

>The construct trembled, on the verge of falling apart again and then Celestia felt it.

>They had depleted her.

>She'd been drained.

 

>Her surroundings of ivory and aurelian faded away and soon, she found herself sitting in front of her throne.

>The princess felt hollow and cold after her return, but she pushed her own feelings aside with haste as she saw what laid in front of her.

>Twilight laid sprawled across the floor, her eyes stained red and her body trembling.

>"Sister!" she heard being called to her.

>It was then she noted her surroundings. All around them laid shattered glass, and she could see an ever-growing number of guards rush into the throne room to inspect what had transpired.

 

>The guards stood in shock, unknowing what to do.

>For the first time in a thousand years, Princess Celestia of Equestria did not smile at her subjects.

>Instead, she wept as she crawled across a floor covered in broken glass and sheltered her student from invading eyes with her wings.

>"I'm so sorry, Twilight," she sobbed as she held the unicorn close.

>Twilight squinted her eyes shut and reached out.

>She felt nothing.

>She groaned as she tried to levitate one of the shards of glass.

>She felt nothing.

>Not even a fizzle.

>Her heart had been broken so many times, and now, she had been broken herself as well.

>She ached. Every aspect of her ached.

>Her heart hurt, her body burned, and lastly, her mind shattered as well.

>Without her magic, who was she?

>The commotion around them kept growing, the buzzing noise of murmuring surrounding them until one spoke above all else.

>"ENOUGH!" Luna quickly silenced all those who stood near.

>She hated using her Canterlot voice ever since Twilight had taught her not too.

>But for this occasion, she would make an exception.

>"ALL OF YOU, GO BACK TO YOUR POSTS! MY SISTER AND I REQUIRE NO ASSISTANCE!"

>Another wave of muttering came, but soon after, the clopping of hooves could be heard, diminishing in volume as they retreated back to where they had come from.

 

>Though, shortly after, another set of hooves could be heard as they galloped towards the scene.

>"Princess Celestia! Are you okay?!"

>"Oh mah stars, what in tarnation happened here?"

>"Is that Twilight?"

>Celestia nuzzled her weeping student once more before righting herself to come face to face with the group of friends to whom the gems set on her regalia truly belonged.

>"W-We felt something inside when we were in the garden," Applejack speaks up, casting a quick glance at Fluttershy, "and then we heard this loud bang and we came as quickly as we could. Are you alright, Princess?"

>"I am fine, my subjects. You needn't worry."

>Celestia looks down on the gemstones before levitating them away from her. "The Elements must have called out to you, their rightful owners."

>"P-Princess?" Rarity spoke with an odd softness in her voice. "W-What did you do with them?"

>She bows her head down, sighing gravely as she steps aside.

>"I..." She looks down on the unicorn that still strained to cast a spell. "...took away her magic. All of it."

 

>All eyes in the room were cast on the purple pony, who'd finally given up, as she broke down into a disheartening mixture of hiccups and sobbing.

>They all knew there were no words to consult her. This, she'd have to face on her own.

>But there was one certain pony that could not stand to see her friend in such a state.

>She too had once been in a situation like this, where she thought she had lost all that made her special in this world.

>And had it not been for a friend to come help her, she would still be in her bedroom talking to her imaginary friends to this day.

>And with that thought in mind, Pinkie Pie stepped towards the crying unicorn and crouched down to hug her.

>"I'm sorry I wasn't a better friend for you when you needed me, Twilight," Pinkie apologized.

>Soon, Twilight felt another hug, coming from her right side.

>"I'm sorry too, Twilight. I should have listened to you better," Fluttershy spoke.

>Applejack soon followed in their wake and walked up to Twilight, whom had taken to a sitting position.

>"Twi, Ah just want ya to know that Ah still wanna be friends with you...  Yer an amazing pony and Ah think you could really use a friend right now."

>At that, Twilight wiped the tears from her eyes as she addressed her friends, "B-But ho—"

>"No 'but's, Twi," a raspy voice came. "We're all here for you."

>Rainbow Dash looked back at Rarity and let her brow drop. "All of us."

>Rarity gave a faint nod as she trotted towards the group. "We'll all help you get through this, dear."

>Twilight cast her gaze as the composition of cracked tiles and broken glass.

>"I don't deserve friends like you."

 

>Luna stepped in and brought the unicorn's gaze to meet her eyes before she spoke, "Yes, you do, Twilight Sparkle."

>She looked down at the ground, her gaze lingering upon a certain dark-blue piece of glass she'd never forget about.

>"You made a mistake, and now we've given you the chance to redeem yourself. Make good use of it."

>With a quivering lip and teary eyes she nodded at the lunar goddess. "Thank you, Princess."

>Looking around her, surrounded by her friends, she gave a small, uncertain smile. "Thank you all."

>A soft tinkle could be heard as some of the glass got shifted around.

>Twilight looked to her side and met the eyes of her mentor.

>Grief was within them both and as they looked at each other, they remembered.

>Of how they'd met, all those years ago.

>And inside them grew a little seed.

>Grief was within them both and now, hope was as well.

>Perhaps, when time had passed and amends were made, she could become student of the sun once more...

>Twilight's hurt made itself apparent as she let out a soft whimper. "I'm sorry, Princess."

>Celestia smiled.

>Not the smile she shared with her subjects. This time, she genuinely smiled.

>A smile of forgiveness.

>"I know you are. But I believe there is another more deserving of your apologies."

>Twilight Sparkle looked around, only to see he was nowhere to be found.

>Celestia now too noted that the human still had not shown up.

>If the shattering of the windows were heard in the royal gardens, then he surely must have heard them too.

>"Rainbow Dash, could you go see if Anonymous is in his chambers?" Celestia asked.

>"You can count on me, Princess." With a salute, she ran off into the hallway.

>Celestia looked down on Twilight and warmth welled within her.

>There were no words to describe the joy she felt, knowing that the past would not repeat itself.

>With a smile on her lips and a kind look in her eyes, she wrapped a wing around her student and held her close, refusing to ever let her go again.

>Twilight leaned into her as well and for a moment, both ponies simply embraced one another, reveling in each other's warmth in silence.

 

>Soon, that silence got disrupted by the rapid pounding of hooves upon the floor.

>Both Celestia and Twilight looked up to see Rainbow Dash galloping at them as fast as she could.

>The alicorn was about to ask why she was in such a hurry and where Anonymous was, but her attention quickly fell unto something enclosed in Rainbow Dash's mouth.

>Celestia horn shimmered and soon Dash found herself able to speak again as it had been lifted out of her mouth.

>"He's not there, but I found this note on his bed."

>Rainbow turned herself towards her friend. "It has your name on it, Twilight."

 

>She blinked in confusion and nervously swallowed as Princess Celestia held the note in front of her.

>Aloud, she began to read, no longer wanting to keep anything from her friends,

 

~       ~       ~       ~       ~       ~       ~       ~       ~       ~       ~       ~       ~       ~       ~

 

My dearest friend,

 

I woke up tired today, even more so than yesterday.

How that's possible, I don't even know, nor do I want to. It's hard to find the motivation when you are this drained. My body aches but I'm used to feeling this way.

I think of home often and of you even more.

I think I finally know which one matters most to me.

 

For what I caused you to do, I am sorry. I don't know if I belong in this position of blame, but I know that you do not.

It is time I start carving my own path in life. I've lived in the shadows long enough.

The truth was painful to discover and I've only seen the first of it.

But this journey's mine to make, not ours.

We never needed each other and we never will.

 

 

You asked me for a chance and I now ask of you the same.

I never truly belonged and neither did you.

But now you do, and in time, I think that I will do too.

I do not know what lies ahead of me, but I shall welcome the opportunities that cross my path.

There is still much to learn and not everything can be found in a book.

 

I do not blame you for what happened. We both made mistakes.

I know that, with the help of your friends, you will grow past it and past me.

It has been an experience like no other — being your friend.

 

I want to thank you all.

We didn't always see eye to eye, but now I know that it's those differences that makes us who we are.

 

 

Perhaps we'll meet again — older and wiser.

Or maybe just older.

 

 

Until then, always a friend,

 

        - Anon

 

~       ~       ~       ~       ~       ~       ~       ~       ~       ~       ~       ~       ~       ~       ~

 

 

>Silence reigned in the throne room.

>The eight mares present did not know what to say.

>He'd left.

>Whereto, nopony knew.

>Nothing could be heard in the throne room, save for the soft whispers of wind that rolled in through the broken windows, as they all recalled the past they'd shared with the extraordinary being; some more extensive than others.

>Until one voice whispered, "No..."

>And then it spoke, "No."

>It yelled, "NO!"

>It pleaded, it begged, and finally, it cried, "No, you can't leave me!"

>Her shrieks pierced the air in desperation.

>"You can't leave me! You can't leave me!"

>The purple unicorn fell to the floor and held herself as she lied crying on the floor, clutching a wrinkled piece of parchment to her heart, muttering those same words to herself over and over again.

>Everything she ever was, everyone to whom she had mattered, and now the one who mattered most to her.

>She counted them all as lost.

>And one of those, she'd never regain.

>Never would she be able to redeem herself for what she had done to whom she cared for most.

 

 

>Her former friends looked down on her and they looked away with regret in their eyes.

>The sight in front of them was arduous and it made them feel ashamed.

>They pitied her.

>Reduced to a husk of who she once was.

>A shivering mess that laid sprawled across the floor, tears pooling underneath her as she cried in anguish.

>No longer did they have the urge to reach out to her and comfort her.

>They knew it was a lost cause.

>Words other than those on the parchment no longer held meaning to her.

>Any embrace other than his would feel cold and pale in comparison, only serving to mock her.

>Once such a beautiful mare, now only a broken foal.

>Nothing but a lifeless shell.

>He'd done nothing.

>And by doing so, he destroyed her.

 

 

>At the edge of town stood a man who wore no expression.

>He looked at the castle atop of the mountain in the distance.

>There, a city lived its life.

>Perhaps, he would one day, too.

>But not this day. And not this city.

>The sky was blue and he waved at it.

>His strides were filled with uncertainty.

>He walked towards a destination he'd yet to decide on.

 

"I'm setting you free."

 

 

To be continued~