- >>Story of your life
- >>The instant you realized that you existed, you were hit with an incredible amount of pain
- >>You feel displaced from time
- >>All you know is that you should be dead
- >>So, are you?
- >>Your senses come back to you one at a time
- >>Syncope is a harsh, cruel mistress
- >>Voices
- >>You hear them, but they are like oils running together in indecipherable splotches on the canvas of your mind
- >>Have you gone mad?
- >>You are terrified
- >>It is human nature to fear the unknown
- >>What is more associated with the unknown than infinite blackness?
- >>You have been down this road too many times
- >>Light floods into your consciousness once more
- >>You groan
- >>Very slowly do you start putting pieces together
- >>It's bright. Too bright
- >>Your eyes shut closed once more and you arch your back, trying to turn away from the pain
- >>But alas, you cannot escape it
- >>“Did he just move?”
- >>“Holy cow! I didn't expect that!
- >>You mutter something incoherent in response
- >>“Come on, Anon. You can totally do it!”
- Water
- >>You borderline demand
- >>“What's that?”
- Water
- >>“You heard him! Someone get him some water!”
- >>You try to move your arms, but they won't budge
- >>“Anon, don't...”
- >>Your neck won't move, either
- >>You make another attempt to open your eyes
- >>Slowly, but surely, you manage to take the world into view once again
- >>Looming over you is a pair of violet eyes housed in a mulberry face
- >>“Anon? Anon, are you with us? How is it possible?”
- >>She gets shoved out of the way and replaced by a pair of teary rose eyes mounted in a light blue head
- >>“Anon! Speak to me, please! Say something! I'm sorry, I'm sorry for everything! I'msorryi'msorryi'msorry...”
- >>You feel groggy
- >>You are sore all over
- >>And you are tired
- >>But you are alive
- >>And you have no clue how it was possible
- >>Finally, you're able to start putting stuff together
- >>Your neck is in a brace
- >>Your arms are bandaged and suspended off the bed
- >>Your right leg is lifted above your heart and is in a cast
- >>Rainbow Dash and Twilight Sparkle are with you
- >>You give as much of a smile as you can, which it turns out is only a shallow half smile
- >>Twilight pulls Rainbow away before she takes her place, looking into her eyes
- >>Her brows were furrowed. Always so serious
- >>“Dash, get the nurse. Anon? Anon! Stay with me!”
- >>You can't. Already going to black again
- >>“Anon, you lost a lot of blood. How do we fix you? You HAVE to tell us.”
- >>You hear Dash zip out of the room during all this
- >>A doctor scrambles into the room
- >>“After three days? Are you kidding me?”
- >>“Doctor, he's passing out again!”
- >>It feels like an instant to you
- >>Your eyes crease open
- >>The room isn't as bright as it was before
- >>How much time has transpired?
- >>You try to look for a clock on the wall
- >>No such luck
- >>You see a doctor standing at the foot of your bed, speaking with Twilight and Dash
- >>“I'm sorry, girls. He's just lost so much blood.”
- >>Dash leaps up at this, taking to the air and fluttering in place
- >>“If he needs a transfusion, I'll do it!”
- >>The doctor shakes his head
- >>“He's not like us. I'm afraid there's nothing we can do...”
- >>You do your best to writhe and babble something incoherent
- >>This gets everyone's attention
- >>“AGAIN?! Nurse! I need you in here, NOW!”
- >>Dash flies over you and cups your face between two hooves
- >>It is not the best thing you have ever felt
- >>You've been punched by them too many times
- >>“Don't leave me, Anon! Don't you dare do it!”
- >>Sorry, Dashie
- >>“Anon? Anon?”
- >>Your strength is expelled
- >>The cold embrace of unconsciousness grips you yet again
- >>This is getting really, really old
- >>You pop your eyes open once more when you are able
- >>It is dark
- >>You can't see anything other than the foot of the bed, and then whatever peripheral vision you can muster
- >>You are alone, it looks like
- >>“...Not quite”
- >>A voice speaks to you
- >>Did something read your mind?
- >>You reason that you are hallucinating
- >>But then a gentle racket of hoof beats brings Princess Luna into view
- >>She takes a secondary position, however, as Celestia herself appears before you
- >>You are not sure if you should be terrified or what
- >>You can't even defend yourself like this
- >>Not that you would be able to defend yourself, anyway
- >>“It seems that you have left quite the impression on my student”
- >>Celestia speaks up.
- >>The normal smartass smirk that she has when speaking to you is absent
- >>Luna goes about using her magic on things which you cannot see
- >>You try to move your head to see what's going on
- >>“Don't”
- >>Celestia's voice causes you to relax once more
- >>“You are accompanied by Twilight Sparkle and Rainbow Dash. They have not left your side in days.”
- >>You are genuinely surprised to hear this
- >>You attempt to form words
- >>“Don't speak. Save your strength.”
- >>You shut up
- >>“Anonymous, I have come to... apologize to you”
- >>This is going to blow up in your face somehow, you know it
- >>“The last letter that my faithful student sent to me was the longest letter I had ever received from her. It spoke of lessons learned in trust, loyalty, forgiveness... and sacrifice.”
- >>You chew on those words for a moment
- >>The royal continues
- >>Luna uses her magic to spread blankets over Twilight and Rainbow Dash
- >>“I must say, Anonymous, you have... shocked me more than once in your stay here.”
- >>She struggles with her wording. Apparently this isn't easy for her
- >>“I may have... underestimated you”
- >>She admits
- >>This causes you to raise an eyebrow
- Huh?
- >>You grunt inquisitively
- >>“Your capacity for selflessness is truly a virtue that I missed. Anonymous, my sister and I watched as you spiraled into the depths of insanity, all because of me, and then...”
- >>She trailed off
- >>Lune took her side again and finished for her
- >>“...You came back.”
- >>Celestia nodded
- >>“It speaks to us of your strength, the strength of your humanity, that you can fall so far only to claw your way back, despite everything.”
- >>There was an awkward silence
- >>You couldn't really say anything
- >>And even if you could, what would you say?
- >>Luna takes the initiative
- >>“Anonymous, we...”
- >>She gets cut off by her bigger sister
- >>“Anonymous, I cannot undo the damage that I have done. No matter how much I now want to. But I'm ending the experiment now. You have taught me more than I thought possible. Your life is yours to live, and I hope you will be able to accept my apology, someday.”
- >>Luna remains silent
- >>Celestia canters over to you
- >>The excessively long horn jutting from her forehead glows, and she touches it to your forehead
- >>You make a quizzical expression
- >>You feel no different
- >>“Be well, Anonymous. Be well.”
- >>She vanishes in an instant
- >>Luna remains behind, however, and looks at you
- >>Cool and collected this whole time, she finally breaks it to issue you a broad smile
- >>“Fare thee well, Anonymous. We will meet again.”
- >>She vanishes just the same as Celestia, and you soon after fall asleep
- >>“This doesn't make any sense”
- >>“Sure it does! This is Anon we're talking about!”
- >>Twilight and Rainbow converse in the library
- >>You are with them
- >>“No, I'm pretty sure it doesn't. How could he just make a full recovery over a single night?”
- >>“Because it's ANON. We're talking about the Anonymousaurus Rex, here!”
- >>You helped Spike shelve books while they talked. He took the low shelves, you took the high shelves
- >>“I guess, it just bothers me, is all. I get that Anon is tough but this is just...”
- >>Twilight was penning her own letter, her magical aurora controlling a quill and paper
- I have good friends
- >>Twilight looks at you
- >>“Huh?”
- There is no doubt in my mind.
- The power of friendship had a heavy hand in me being alive right now.
- >>You turn to face Twilight and Dash and afford them an innocent smile before you return to your work
- >>Dashie has done nothing but smile since you got out of the hospice
- >>You remember her teary eyes
- >>There was no way that you were going to let her down
- >>“Well... I need to get to work. Hey, Anon? After I'm done do you want to go relax?”
- >>You slide a book in its place
- Sure! Sounds great.
- >>Dash bids you all so-long and takes off out the door
- >>Twilight finishes her letter, and hands it to Spike for delivery
- >>“I'm going to have to get to the market place. Will you two be alright while I'm gone?”
- >>You and Spike both mutter an 'uh-huh' in unison
- >>Satisfied, Twilight moved to the door
- >>She stops and looks back at you
- >>You stop what you're doing and double take, returning her gaze
- >>“Welcome back, Anonymous.”
- >>You smile at her
- >>She returns the smile and goes about her stated business
- >>Soon, it is just you and Spike
- Hey, Spike
- >>“Yeah?”
- Think you can send one more?
- >>“Sure, I guess.”
- >>You hand him a rolled up scroll, and soon it is whisked away in green flame
- >>Dear Princess Celestia
- >>Last night I learned that just because you're an adult, doesn't mean you can't learn new things. In particular, I have learned the value of forgiveness. Both in receiving, and in giving. Though it can be difficult to forgive people for their transgressions, it is important to remember that often times the strongest friendships are forged in the fires of adversity.
- >>In my world, saying 'sorry' is often taken for granted and discarded, rarely considered. I don't think that is the case, here. We do have a saying, though; forgiveness is human. Evidently, forgiveness is equine as well.
- >>Everyone makes mistakes, from the most humble of men to the most powerful of princess. Having the strength to forgive someone is a cornerstone to preserving, and building, new and lasting relationships that will stand the test of time.
- >>Forever thankful,
- >>Anonymous
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The Story That Never Was - Chapter 19
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