The gentle breeze carried a crisp wind across the busy streets of Ponyville, the hustle and bustle active in the streets indicated it was the middle of the afternoon. The choruses of salesponies announcing their wares, and common folk talking with various mixes of nobility had their voices carried with the wind, towards what would be described as, the heart of the city.
Their voices were carried to a pristine palace near the center, it’s presence tall and imposing. It’d long since outgrown its former name, no longer a humble abode for a simple librarian, but a place from where she could look after her subjects.
Where the once little red door stood at ground level, adorned with the decorative carving of a candle, now remained situated a proud three stories above. No longer was it the main entrance, but a simple entryway to a balcony overlooking the square.
Where the once proud home of politics in Ponyville once took place, the town hall, it’d been demolished many a time ago around the turn of the third century, replaced by monuments that represented the town’s most important residents some five hundred years ago. An elegant structure, built from white marble, stood in it’s place. The structure, consisting of five equally spaced pillars, supported a slightly domed top over a large circular platform, with five stairsteps circling it all around it.
On the platform stood the testament to this town’s once shining and notable history. Five statues, all evenly spaced apart, remained erect from their marble bases and stood proudly within, facing away from the center. Each statue was an accurate life size representation of each of the elements, all with their respective pieces of imbued jewelry wrapped around their necks.
In the center stood the main attraction for the structure, the attraction which drew tourists from all around Equestria into catching a glimpse of it, and witnessing its fabled magical properties at work. Such talk was nothing but legends, but it stood as a representation to the harmony that was ever flowing and constant.
The town had experienced more change over the decades that followed, mostly of old houses and shops that were gradually replaced as the need came to be. Though of the many changes that were done to its structures and old homes of residence, very few were kept intact for the history that was made behind their doors.
Sugarcube Corner, the once renowned confectionery owned by the Cake family, had been moved to accommodate the size of the evergrowing castle, now still quite a ways away from where it once was, business continues to boom within. The element of laughter used to work there and live there so they say, but everypony in the town knew it was true, despite the doubts of many travelers.
Floating in the skies above Ponyville was a rather out of place cloud mansion, drifting about in the skies with the city’s storage of liquid rainbow. The place was allowed to drift freely across its skies, only being pushed back within the city limits whenever it drifted too far. Many knew of it as the former home of the element of loyalty, and a once proud leader of the Wonderbolts a long time ago.
Next to the river that cut through the city was the main attraction of business moguls, and nobility from across the country. Carousel Boutique, now a museum dedicated to the founder of one of the most powerful fashion companies the world had ever seen... but most importantly, it was once the home of the element of generosity.
Just along the outskirts of town was the still impressive Sweet Apple Acres, still owned and operated by the same family who’d founded Ponyville a long, long time ago. Sweet Apple Acres... everypony knew the name, and they knew well enough that the element of honesty called it her home as well.
Cutting along the edge of town, if you found yourself following a dirt path along the outskirts of the Everfree Forest, you’d soon find yourself at the former domain of the element of kindness. Her home, simply just a cottage then, soon became a walk-in clinic for any sick or injured animals that happened to be nearby. It wasn’t known as well enough as the other places in Ponyville, but the quiet mare that once lived there wouldn’t have minded in the slightest, she never really was one for attention.
Golden Oaks Library, it was once the name of the place... but a simple name couldn’t define of what it once was, and still is. It was still her personal library in a way, but it was more than though, with the growth that happened, it became more than just her home. It became her castle.
Everypony knew of her, for more reasons than one. Not only was she the current ruler of Equestria, she was the last living element of harmony; she was the element of magic. They all knew of the power that came with such a title, power that was capable of rivaling both Princess Celestia, and Princess Luna all at once.
Even though her friends had moved on centuries ago without her, she was not alone with her immortality. Her mentors, Princess Celestia, and Princess Luna, were always there for her whenever she was having difficulties ruling; her sister-in-law, Princess Cadance still remained by her side and ruled alongside her; as did her former assistance Spike, who, by now, was an aged dragon, enormous in size and whose wingspan was nearly the entirely length of her main chambers.
And yet... even with those who stood alongside her, why did she often feel so alone?
.
Author's Note
Written by Fonypan.
Edited by Sprite.
New Pains and Old Regrets.
“Spike?”
“Not right now,” he mumbled through the pillow against his snout, “I’m in the middle of a gem cake.”
“Spiiiike?” The voice seemed insistent on getting his attention, disrupting his dream just as he was about to take the first bite of his mouth-watering cake. Spike groaned as his dream cake poofed out of existence.
“Spike!”
“I’m coming, I’m coming. Geez, Twi, don’t get your feathers in a ruffle,” Spike said, stretching and climbing out of bed.
By this point in time, the purple dragon had grown too large for the library, so he had to sleep in a separate structure outside. However, he had requested that it be as close to Twilight’s room as possible, both in distance and in height.
As a result, he was able to walk over a short bridge to Twilight’s room. Spike opened the enlarged window and stuck half of his body in.
“What is it?” he said, the look on his face making it clear that he was not amused by the rude awakening.
“Could you make me breakfast?” Princess Twilight Sparkle asked, child-like. Her stomach rumbled. “You make the best pancakes.”
Spike sighed. Whatever grumpiness he had evaporated. He never could say no to Twilight when she asked him like that. He also loved cooking pancakes, but that was beside the point. “Sure, Twi.”
He walked back along the bridge to his “house,” which consisted of his bedroom, a kitchen, a bathroom with a shower specially designed to fit his needs, and a small greeting area.
Spike went over to the kitchen and opened the cupboard where he kept most of his pancake ingredients. Without using measuring utensils, he expertly mixed the ingredients and put the batter on the griddle. He waited about five minutes, then flipped them.
In no time, Spike had finished the pancakes and brought the platter to Twilight’s room. Twilight brought the plates, forks, syrup, and a flat surface for them to put the plates on.
The purple mare cut her pancakes up, drizzled them in syrup, and took her first bite. She chewed slowly, eyes closed in pleasure, and swallowed. “Delicious as always, Spike,” she complimented. Spike only smiled.
◊◊◊◊◊
After cleaning up, Twilight said, “Spike, you’ve been great these past few weeks. You deserve a break. Why don’t you… Why don’t you go to Rarity’s for a day or two?”
“Really?!” Spike exclaimed. “You mean it? You won’t call me halfway through the day, will you?” he added skeptically. It had happened more than often enough to warrant the dragon’s concern.
“No, Spike. Today, I am just going to relax.”
The dragon snickered. “Good luck with that.”
“Hey, I can relax!” Twilight playfully swatted Spike’s shoulder.
“Alright.” He smiled. “Bye Twilight!”
“Goodbye my number one assistant,” she replied softly. He did not notice the hint of sadness in her voice as he left her room.
◊◊◊◊◊
Spike’s head was so high in the clouds that he was almost to the Carousel Boutique before he realized something.
Rarity’s been dead for hundreds of years! Having said “Rarity’s place” for so many years, coupled with the fact that the Bearers received elongated lifespans, made him forget such a simple detail.
His eyes widened as something startling clicked in his brain; he raced back to the library, startling ponies and causing them to jump out of his way.
Why didn’t I see it earlier?!
◊◊◊◊◊
Twilight sighed as she saw Spike go out of sight. That should keep him for a while.
She felt bad to play on his lingering crush for Rarity, but it was a necessary evil; Spike would never allow her to try what she was about to do.
When she had first become an alicorn, Twilight had read up on all she could about the subspecies she now was in. She had read all the books that existed, and even some of the ones that were unknown by the populace. In many of them, they only stated what could not kill an alicorn due to the rapid healing abilities. She noticed something that was never mentioned: suicide.
She was never the same after the death of the last of her friends from Ponyville. Even though she knew it was harmful, she held her grief and sorrow inside. Before Fluttershy died, Twilight would go over to her cottage and talk; but after the passing of the pegasus mare, she kept everything inside, not even talking about it to Spike.
Recently, the thought of suicide came to her. The enormous pain of loss, coupled with the fact that she had been staying up late for what seemed like forever, caused her to think of it as logical; or rather, illogical, but with no better alternatives.
Downstairs, Twilight set down the dirty dishes and silverware in the sink. She pulled a regular knife out of a drawer with her magic and trotted upstairs. She sat on her bed and briefly contemplated where to cut. The purple mare shook her head to clear these thoughts and placed the knife near her neck.
WAIT! a voice inside her head screamed. Is this really the right thing to do?
Of course, she responded. I can’t stand to live anymore. I miss everypony, and I’m going to see them again.
But what about the country?
They've survived without me before, and they can again.
The princesses?
They’ve been through this more times than they can count. They’ll be fine.
What about Spike?
This question stopped her. Twilight lowered the knife. Spike?
Yes, Spike! Your number one assistant, your brother?
I’ll cast a spell, after this, that will cause him to follow me soon after I pass. It’ll drain me, but I don’t care.
You can’t be serious! That is cruel to everyone, and selfish! You shouldn’t—!
The voice was silenced with a gasp as Twilight’s life began being pumped from her neck, the knife clattering to the ground, dripping crimson.
Spike burst through the window, shattering glass and frame. “Twilight!”
She was lying on the bed, blood still coming from her neck, soaking the already soaked sheets further. Spike managed to get himself in the room. “Twilight?”
Her eyelids fluttered.
Spike looked around for something, anything, that would explain what had happened. He spotted a note tucked between her feathers and pulled it out.
Dear Spike,
If you are reading this, then that means I have gone through with my decision.
I was sad, Spike.
All my friends were dying, and are dead, and I will probably never follow them. At least, not naturally.
Even though I am a logical mare, even logical mares have to grieve. Fluttershy was my counselor, and when she died, I couldn't talk about this to anypony else — not even you, Spike. I needed everypony to think that I was strong, that I would still be able to be a princess.
I would have talked to Cadence, but she and I have become distant, far more that I might have liked, and she has her own duties and responsibilities.
I love you, Spike. You were like a brother to me. I hope you understand why I did this.
See you soon,
Twilight Sparkle
Spike’s eyes went from the paper, to Twilight, and then the floor. His eyes narrowed as he noticed the knife.
“Twilight,” he muttered to himself, “I will not let you leave this way.” Spike scooped Twilight in his arms, careful to elevate her neck, and raced off to the Ponyville Hospital.
◊◊◊◊◊
Twilight. Twilight!
Twilight heard the voices calling through the blackness.
Twilight!
Is this what death is like? she asked herself. Where’s the light? A beam of light appeared, perfectly white, but not lighting up the whole area. There it is. She went towards the light, still hearing her name.
Twilight! Twilight, can you hear me?
Slowly, as she went farther and farther into the light, she began to feel pain in her neck and chest.
I don’t think you’re supposed to feel pain when you’re dead.
The light shut off, but now everything was starting to get brighter.
“…coming to,” a voice said.
What? Coming to what?
“Oh, thank goodness,” a familiar voice said.
Twilight breathed in, feeling the air make its way through her lungs.
Wait, air? Lungs?!
Twilight’s eyes flew open, and she sat up quickly, causing the world to spin and her to feel like vomiting.
“Easy, Princess!” the doctor said, coming back to her bedside. Twilight lay back down.
“Where am I?” she croaked.
“At the hospital,” the doctor replied. He was orange with a bright yellow mane, and wore a coat that obscured his cutie mark. “You were brought here after your incident. Spike” —he gestured to the dragon standing beside him— “was lucky to bring you when he did. Too much later and we wouldn't have been able to save you. As it was, we had a hard time finding your blood type.”
“Blood type?” Twilight glanced down, noticing a small sheet of clear, adhesive plastic on her chest, and beneath it, a needle in her skin. “I got a transfusion?”
“Yes.”
Trying to swallow with what little fluid she had in her mouth, she asked, “May I have some water, please?”
“Yes, of course.” The doctor picked up a tray with a cup of water on it in his mouth and brought it over to Twilight. She picked it up with her hooves, too tired to use magic, and took a sip. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
After finishing two glasses of water, Twilight said, “I never quite got your name.”
“I’m Dr. Apple Aday “
“You’re one of Applejack’s descendants, aren’t you?”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
Twilight smiled wanly. “You don’t need to call me that. Just Twilight will do.”
“Okay, ‘Just Twilight.’ Now, I’m sure that the two of you will be wanting to talk, especially since you’ve been out for a week—”
“A WEEK?!” Twilight shouted.
“Calm down, Twi,” Spike said.
“Sorry.”
“Due to your loss of blood, and the length of time it took us to find the right type, we decided to take the liberty of putting you under for a while. Plus, you stayed unconscious longer than the average pony— but we all know you are not an average pony,” Dr. Apple Aday finished, smiling. Twilight gave a small smile back. “Well, I’ll leave you two to talk. I’ll be coming in later to make sure you’re doing alright.”
“Okay.” As soon as the door was closed, Twilight turned to Spike. “Spike, I—”
Spike enveloped her in a hug. “Don’t you ever do that again,” he said into her coat. He released her. “Why wouldn’t you talk to me?”
The mare sighed. “I’m a princess, Spike. Everypony leans on me, expects me to be strong. You needed me to be strong, a shoulder to cry on. The other princesses have their own countries to run. They can't be bothered by me.”
“Twi,” Spike said, “you could have come to me. I wouldn’t have told anypony, and we would have been able to help each other grieve. The princesses would have gladly stopped everything and helped you. You forget, the whole country grieved too. You aren’t alone.”
The door opened, and Dr. Apple Aday poked his head in. “Visitor for you, Twilight. He pulled his head back, and Cadence walked it, wearing a crystal choker.
“Hi Twilight,” she said.
“Hi Cadence!” Twilight said. “That was rather quick.”
“I’ve visited every day. I’m staying at the library. I hope that’s alright with you.”
“Oh. Yeah, it’s fine.”
Cadence pulled up a chair to the hospital bed and sat down. She rubbed her eyes, which had bags underneath. “Twilight, I want to talk to you.”
“Sure,” Twilight said. “Go ahead.”
Cadence took a breath. “Do you remember when Shining Armor died?”
“Of course,” Twilight softly said. “How could I? He is… was my own brother.”
“After he died, I withdrew into myself. Sure, I was able to run the country, but it was no longer happy work, or even boring; everywhere I went reminded me of him. Eventually, it got to the point where I wouldn’t come out of my room unless I was to give a speech or visit another country.
“When I was in my room, I would cry and cry for hours. The castle staff was smart enough to make sure that nothing sharp got into my room. However… however, there must have been a new pony, because…” Cadence took a shaky breath and looked down. Twilight glanced at the choker and then at Spike. He looked back worriedly.
“Cadence,” she said, “you don’t have to—”
“Because there was a knife on the food tray and I took it and… I did what you did. I didn’t talk to any pony, didn’t get out my grief. That’s why I where this choker.” The pink alicorn pointed to the crystal jewelry. “I wear it not only to hide the scars that I purposely wanted left behind, but to remind me of the mistake I made, the horrible choice I decided. The wrong choice.” Cadence looked up, tears in her eyes. “And evidently, you made the same one.”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t realize—”
“It’s alright.” The two sisters-in-law embraced.
Cadence broke the hug and held Twilight at foreleg-length. “Don't you ever do that again.”
“I won’t. I promise. Cross my heart, hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye.” Twilight winced, the promise bringing back memories of a certain pony.
The room door opened again, and a nurse came in. “We need to do some checks on you, Yo— Twilight.” The nurse said to Cadence and Spike, “You’ll have to leave the room for a few minutes.”
“Alright,” replied Cadence.
Spike took a few seconds before also saying, “Okay.”
Cadence walked out of the room first, followed by Spike, who glance back at Twilight and gave her a small smile. Twilight smiled back, and the door closed.
“Well, Twilight, turns out you’re well enough to leave!” Dr. Apple Aday said cheerfully.
It had been a couple of days since her talk with Cadence. She had decided, similar to Cadence, to leave a scar on her neck; however, it wasn’t noticeable if you just glanced at it. Twilight would rather not wear any more jewelry than necessary.
“Now I can get back to work.” She glanced up at Spike, who was standing beside her. “And spend time with those I care about.”
When the two got home, Twilight went straight to her room, and Spike went to his house. Twilight pulled out a traveling chest and started filling it.
It didn’t take long for her to fill it up and go over to Spike’s house. She found him in his greeting area.
“Spike, I’m going to Canterlot for a few weeks.”
He frowned. “So soon?”
“Yes. I need to talk to Tia and Luna about… You know.”
“I understand.” Spike gave the alicorn a hug. “Be careful.”
Twilight broke away. “I will.”
◊◊◊◊◊
Twilight had decided to take the train instead of a chariot or flying; Dr. Apple Aday had recommended no high-altitude activities for a month or two. It took some convincing for the ticket pony to let her pay for the train ticket and be in coach. As it was, ponies would constantly come up and talk to her.
You will never truly get used to it, Celestia had once said.
It was just after Twilight’s coronation and coronation party; all her friends had gone to bed, and Luna was attending to her duties. Celestia and Twilight had stayed up talking.
Celestia had looked relieved, and Twilight attributed that to the fact that she didn’t have to put on a façade for anypony. Twilight was assured of this because of what Celestia said—
“You never truly get used to it,” Twilight said, echoing her memory.
◊◊◊◊◊
When Twilight arrived at Canterlot, she went straight to the castle—at least, as straight as one can when one is royalty. All in all, it made what should have been a forty-five minute journey into a one-and-a-half hour ordeal.
She trotted up the steps to the entrance. The guards posted at the door saluted, and nodded up to the ones above to open the gate, revealing Celestia, whose mane seemed a little more limp and whose eyes seemed baggy.
“Tia!” Twilight cried, racing towards the white alicorn and giving her a hug. Celestia gave her a short hug back.
“I heard about what you did,” she said.
“I’m sorry. I promise I’ll never, ever do that again!”
“Do you know how much I— everypony would have missed you?”
“Yes. Tia, could I talk to you?” asked Twilight.
“About what?”
“About… how you’ve coped.”
Celestia’s muscles tightened slightly. “I have much work to do right now,” she said quickly. “Maybe later.”
“O-okay,” Twilight said.
“How long will you be staying?” Celestia asked cordially.
“Maybe a week?”
“Why don’t you sleep in Luna’s wing?” The way she said it was more like a command than a question. “I must be going.” Celestia turned sharply and walked away.
Now Twilight was even more confused. Why in Luna’s wing of the castle? I’m always in Celestia’s. The lavender mare turned and looked at the sky, the warm colors percolating into the earth.
Luna is probably up!
Twilight walked to where Luna held the night court and peeked into the large room. No pony was there except for the princess of the night, sitting on her ebony throne. Twilight tentatively walked in.
“You may enter,” Luna said authoritatively. She looked up from the floor. “Twilight!” she said, her tone more friendly. “Come come. What would you like to talk about?”
Twilight came up to the throne. “Well, I wanted to talk about how you’ve coped with… the passing of friends. I mean,” Twilight said quickly, “You and Tia have gone through so many, so you’re used to it by now. Right?”
There was a lengthy pause as Twilight grinned awkwardly.
“We have not.”
Twilight’s grin slipped off her face, and she hung her head. “I’m sorry I assumed.”
“It is alright. I know not what Celestia has told you, but part of the reason that I became Nightmare Moon was because of my friends.
“Along with eternal night, the monster offered me the chance to bring my friends back, knowing that it would help with my lack of attention and appreciation. I know now that it probably would have killed me eventually or brought back only a semblance of my friends, but back then I was foolish and accepted.” She gave a sharp laugh. “Look how well that turned out.
“And Tia… She hurts, more than you know. She never told anypony, but she had a foal. That foal became a parent of the Blueblood lineage. Yes, they were also descendants of Princess Platinum, but it was never said that they were also of Tia. She denied it even to herself, because if she accepted the foals and grandfoals and great-grandfoals as her own, she would never be able to live; she could never become emotionally invested in running the whole of the family and running the country. She could never deal with the loss. She never has.”
“I-I never knew…”
“Of course not. Tia is very selective in what she tells others. You saw how she was, I assume?”
“Yes. She was sad. Her mane didn’t seem like itself, and her eyes held that tone. But of course she would be, after what I did.”
Luna nodded. “Everypony was worried, but Celestia most of all. She did not want to lose another friend, especially one she had gone great lengths to save from time.”
“Huh? I don’t understand.”
“Patience, Twilight. I will explain.
“When Tia accepted you, she knew you would be a wonderful student, and she knew she would enjoy being your teacher. However, it wasn’t until after Cadence’s wedding that she fully realized that you would perish like all living things. You see, Twilight, one of the two main reasons for you becoming an alicorn is a selfish one: Tia wanted you to stay with her. Of all her students, you were the one she bonded with the most; she didn’t want a pony she considered her daughter to die while she continued to live.”
Twilight simply sat there, taking it all in, her thoughts a whirlwind.
Celestia had a child?
Blueblood really was royalty?
I wasn’t made into an alicorn just because of my magical abilities?
Celestia thinks of me as a daughter?
“Twilight, are you alright?” Luna asked.
Twilight shook her head around to derail her thoughts. “Y-yeah.”
“Auntie Luna?”
Turning, Twilight saw a white colt standing at the entrance to the room. The colt rubbed his eye. “I can’t sleep.”
“Come here, child.” The moon alicorn beckoned with a hoof. The colt slowly walked to her. To Twilight, she said, “You should probably be off to bed, Twilight. You need to sleep.”
“Okay. Good night, Luna.”
“Good night.”
◊◊◊◊◊
Twilight’s eyes flew open. She looked to the open door and saw the silhouette of a tall pony.
“Twilight?” it whispered. “Are you awake?”
“Yes, Tia,” she replied.
The sun princess sat beside Twilight’s bed. “I take it Lulu explained to you about…?”
“Yes.”
“Then you know why this must be kept secret.”
“Of course! Are you that worried about me spreading this?”
Celestia sighed. “I’m sorry, Twilight. I just wanted to make sure; I don’t want to nearly lose you and have you tell my secrets.”
“Celestia!”
“I’m sorry I ever had any doubt. But you know how hard it is for me, now.” With that, the burdened pony left the room.
Twilight didn’t sleep after that. As much as she tried, she could not let the Sandpony make her sleep. Instead she tossed and turned, thinking. And when the sun rose in the sky, Twilight finally understood Celestia’s statement, said so many years ago.
You never truly get used to it.
You never truly get used to the loss.
Author's Note
This chapter was written by Pump It Up.
"Can you pleeeeeaaaaassssseee let me go?" Rainbow Dash pleaded with a yellow orange pegasus to bring her back to life.
"I'm sorry Dashie but the rules are the rules..." Dash crosses her hooves together in the white mist garden.
"Then can't you go and send Princess Twilight a message?"
"Hey! I got killed too! It's not my fault that I'm a Soul Keeper!"
"What's so great about a Soul Keeper anyway?"
"L-Listen Dashie...I know how much you miss your friends, but I just can't let you go back to Twilight!"
Dash sighs and walked back to a matured orange pegasus with a purple mane and tail. Dash shakes her head right to left at the crouching pegasus as she tears up and cries.
"If I could, I would Dashie..." The soul keeper puts his hoof on her back and left the white gate.
"No...I will see Twilight again! Even if it means losing my soul!" Dash flew towards the gigantic white gate and tried desperately to fit through the bars. The soul keeper ran back to the gate and pulled Dash's rainbow tail back to the green garden.
"You can't do it Dashie! You won't survive it!"
"But I have to see her! I have to see her one last...time."
"...Okay Dashie..."
"W-What?"
"I'll let you through." Dash threw her hooves around the soul keeper and snared him.
"Thank you thank you thank you SO MUCH!"
"Hurry up before I change my mind..."
A few days later A pony corpse in a white blanket was brought back to the White mist gardens. When the soul keeper dragged the blanket away, he could not believe his eyes. Rainbow Dash, cold, no pulse, and dead. The soul keeper knelled on his knees with his hooves in his eyes. Tears came down his cheeks as more pony souls looked at him with sympathy. "I knew I shouldn't have left you..." The soul keeper mumbled, "Why? Why..." The soul keeper opened his eyes, walked towards the corpse, and shook her. "Wake up! Don't die on me! Don't die!...Please..." He puts his ear to her nose and felt some air sucked out and pushed away from it. "Ugh..."
"Rainbow! You're alive!"
"Who are you?" The soul keeper's smile stopped dead.
"Soul Light! The uh...stallion who takes care and keeps souls." Dash didn't flinch, Light was almost back to tears, and the crowd breathed with relief.
"I don't remember you..." Dash rubs her head a bit.
"Uh...Okay...Do you know Rainbow Dash?"
"Yes! Yes I do!"
"Applejack? Fluttershy? Pinkie Pie? Rarity?"
"Yes, yes, yes, and yes."
"Princess Twilight?"
"What are you talking about? I am Princess Twilight!" The entire crowd bowed on their legs.
"Ehh...You look a lot more like Rainbow Dash to me." 'Dash' looks down at her hooves and saw that he was telling the truth.
"What am I doing here? What is this place?"
"I have no idea, and this is...something like heaven."
"How can I get out?"
"Simple...You go through that gate." Princess Twilight started to walk towards the gate until she heard a warning. She nods back at him and walks out of the gate. She felt her body being separated from her soul as she turns transparent. Twilight went to the library and saw her body writing a letter. No doubt that it was Dash in her body. Twilight used her magic to take her out of her body and back to The Eather. She casts herself inside her own body and started to read the letter that Dash wrote.
Dear Princess Twilight,
I am inside your body right now and I want to send a message to you. I would rather do it personally but my time is running out. So here we go...I'm glad you became a princess but why did you feel so down lately when me and my friends were older? Maybe because you thought we were going to be separated at death, but you're wrong. Ponies will always have each other in their hearts, death will not separate us and you should know that. Sometimes friends take a new path in life, but that doesn't change who you are. We will always be your friends. Remember that.
Yours tru
A tear ran through the alicorn's face as she folds the paper and kept it in her storage.
"So...How did it go Rainbow Dash?" The enormous purple dragon asked.
"I'm Princess Twilight..."
"Oh...So did you read it?"
"Yes Spike...I did."
"You don't look so good." The princess made a nervous laugh and said, "I guess there is a reason to go on after all that I have been through...Still..." The princess sighs and went back up to her room, looking at pictures of the past. She shed tears, tears of the past and the present, but she knows that she cannot cry for the future. She lay on her bed...peacefully as the dreams of her friends flooded her mind. One by one they started to disappear. Not without a flash of their deaths. She woke up after the nightmare of her friends dying. Only this time, the nightmare was based on the reality. She wept bitterly on her bed till midnight. A bright light came inside her home.
"What's wrong?" The light said in a peaceful, sound, tone.
"I-I had the dream again."
"Remember, you're a princess. Sometimes some things are sure to die, others will live for as long as they want."
"But I don't want to live anymore! I want to be with my friends..."
"Twilight...It is your destiny to live as royalty. Destinies cannot be changed so easily."
"I just want to see them again..."
"Maybe they will be reincarnated...mayb-"
"But they will just die again!"
"Twilight...I cannot interfere with the cycle of life."
"Then I will!"
Author's Note
This segment was written by ultimatekevin1
Author ultimatekevin1's Note:
Here's the explanation for the body exchange thing. Dash had her soul taken away at the gate of souls, she wanders around Ponyville and steals her body. They basically have a soul exchange as Twilight goes back to Dash's body and Dash goes to Twilight's body.
Side Note: This segment feels like it would come later on in the main story, someone should write that.
As Princess Twilight prepared for a journey she had no idea where, she thought of what could happen if she visit the afterlife. Spike tried to persuade her not to go, lest she would die trying, but Twilight knew better. If she wants to see her friends as much as she thinks, her fate is sealed regardless. It's either she dies, and she will visit them in the afterlife, or they are going to be brought back to life. Such a curse of being an immortal can push them to their limits, and decide on one thing or another.
"I'm sorry Spike, but I have to do this! I must see my friends again!"
"But...Twilight, who knows what will happen if you defy nature!"
"...Friendship is magic."
The alicorn starts to fly all around Equestria, in search of a way to revive her friends. Princess Celestia had watched her very closely, and did not approve of her actions...But she is her own princess now, she deserves the freedom of her own will. First, she traveled to Cloudsdale, the young pegasi were being taught by a Pegasus named Firefly. Second, she sought some counseling with Princess Mi'amore Cadenza, she was heartbroken after Shining Armor's death, but continued to live in a depressing life.
"Cadance!"
"Oh...Hi Twilight," The pink alicorn puts on a semi smile but Twilight can tell she was still hurt after all these years.
"Sunshine, sunshine, ladybugs awake! Clap your hooves and do a little shake!" the two alicorns cheer in unison.
"So you're telling me to help you out and break one of the most important cycles of life?"
"...Yes."
Cadance thought for a moment and agrees on one condition. "I'm going with you...A way you will reach the afterlife is by death, but there is another way."
"And what is it?" Twilight asked eagerly.
"It's only for a limited amount of time, but it's fairly easy...We must contact whoever is in charge of the afterlife."
"I think I saw him before..."
"Rainbow! You're alive!"
"Who are you?" The yellow orange Pegasus's smile stopped dead.
"Soul Light! The uh...stallion who takes care and keeps souls." I didn't flinch, He was almost back to tears, and the crowd breathed with relief.
"I don't remember you..." I rub my head a bit.
"I think his name was Soul Light."
"Great! We just need to find his relative and contact him!"
"I'm not sure it's that easy to just find his relative..."
"Let's go to Ponyville then!"
"But the percentage of finding his relative in that place is 1.3453%!"
"Better than nothing right?" For the first time in several years, Cadance's face filled with excitement.
"Excuse me, do you know this colt?" Twilight uses her magic to show a picture of a yellow orange Pegasus with a ash and blood mane. The mare just shook her head. After several tries later, she found a connection with the Soulkeeper and a bright yellow Pegasus with a blood and blonde mane. Her eyes were not entirely focused on one spot, but they were near it's objective. It reminded Twilight of everypony's favorite mailmare, Derpy.
"He's my great grandfather!" The young filly smiled and introduced herself, "My name is Bright Hooves, and Ditzy Doo was my great grandmother!"
"Okay...Do you know a way to contact your great grandfather?"
"Huzah wha?" Bright's face was confused beyond measure. Cadance stepped in and decided to keep things simple for her.
"Do, you, know, how, to, talk, to, great, grand, father?"
"Of course I do!" Bright's face expression switched to eagerness as she led them to her home.
"Now, we have to talkie on the talkie!"
"...What?" Both alicorns looked at her like she was a maniac.
"This!" Bright handed both of them a green jawbreaker. She unwrapped her jawbreaker and pops it into her mouth. Soon, she dropped dead on the floor with a thud. One of the alicorns was too late to spit it out as her body dropped cold and hard on the ground. Twilight sees herself, a foggy lavender mist in the shape of an alicorn. Bright's voice echoes when she talked, "Now, we go here!" She points to a hole on the floor as they swim in the air down to the core of Equestria.
"I can't see anything!" Twilight's eyes didn't fool her, all she saw was darkness that was even darker than when she closed her eyes.
"We're close!"
Suddenly, the whole darkness became filled with light. Below was a garden of solid translucent entities. The yellow orange mist below looked up at the sky to see his great grandchild falling to the floor in a tad bit slower motion. Twilight heard the echos in her ears as she can hear everything from up close to afar.
"Hey look, it's Bright Hooves again..."
"Who's that with her?"
"I think it's Princess Twilight!"
"Twilight?!" A familiar voice sounding like Rainbow Dash's below. A cyan mist flew upwards towards the lavender princess's mist."It IS you! Twilight! My old flying buddy!" Dash hugs the lavender mist as tight as she could, cherishing every second of it. "Come on! I gotta show you to the others!" Dash flew straight down in a dive bomb and went straight upwards when she opened her wings near the ground. Dash was still the fastest... even in this world. Four other clouds of mist were waiting for her. They all took the shape of her friends as different colored mist clouds.
"Twilight?" A voice echoed similar to Applejack's.
"Hiya Twilie! We missed you so much!" bounced a pink cloud, "Now that you're here! Let's have a PARTY!!"
"Oh darling! I missed you so much..." Twilight tries to smile but proved to be impossible as a mist.
"Hey...How did you get here anyway?" Twilight answers Dash's question by pointing at a small misty filly.
"She gave us some sort of jawbreaker and Voila! We end up here..."
"That 'jawbreaker' is a soul core. I passed them down my family in case if they needed something from me." The Soul Keeper stepped up in front of the misty Twilight.
"Now listen here, and closely. You have defied the life cycle and now you MUST return back!"
"I just wanted to visit my friends..."
"If you don't turn back, your body will be owned by another soul."
A loud bell low chimed.
"Whats that sound?" Twilight queried.
"That's the soul bell tower." The ponies rushed past Twilight, pushing her around and shoving her back and forth while they desperately go towards the sound.
"What exactly dose that mean?" Twilight oblivious.
The Soul Keeper went to the gate, and forced it open from left and right with his hooves. All of Twilight's friends went inside at the same amount of time.
"We hope to see you later Twilight!" all of her friends cheered together.
Suddenly a force pulls Twilight back to the top of the world. As Twilight reaches the surface, she is back in Bright's house and sees Cadance Standing over a body on the other side of the room, she realizes that it is her body. Bright appeared next to Twilight, "Quickly you have to touch your body's forehead with your soul's forehead, like this." Bright explained moving over to her own body, then gently touching her foreheads together. Twilight quickly shielded her eyes from a bright flash as Bright's soul disappeared into her body. Twilight quickly following Bright's instruction, touched her foreheads.
When Cadence saw Twilight slowly opened her eyes, she let out a big sigh of relief. "Oh, Twilight I was so scared I thought you were going to leave me too!"
Author's Note
This segment was written by ultimatekevin1.
Edited by Fonypan.
