One Last Letter
“Come now, Twilight Sparkle. You've got to get into the spirit of things! After all, this is your new home.”
Twilight looked at the land around her, the land she had once called home. Buildings were floating in the air, some upside down while others constantly shifted in place. She looked down at the ground below her, which was now in a blue checkered pattern, and a glance up at the sky showed that the blue that belonged there had been replaced with a green color. The sun was up above them, but knew for how long.
She recalled how she had watched as her friends each tossed the element that they were supposed to represent to the ground, except for Rarity, who quickly scooped each of them up with a shout of “MINE!!” Somehow, each of her friends had changed. Applejack, the most honest pony she had ever known, had lied everytime she opened her mouth since she found her in the labyrinth. Pinkie Pie, a pony who had been able to bring a smile to anypony’s face, and whose laughter had saved them in the quest to stop Nightmare Moon, now wore a scowl of resentment as she glared at each of them in suspicion that they were laughing at her behind her back. Rarity was busy gushing over the elements and the giant boulder she had named Tom, all traces of her generous nature had vanished. And the Fluttershy,...dear, sweet, and kind Fluttershy was no more. In her place was a cruel and sadistic pony who relished and took pleasure from the misfortune of those around her. And Rainbow Dash…she had abandoned them, gone to whom knows where.
Her friends…no, they weren’t her friends anymore. And Ponyville certainly wasn’t her home anymore. Without her friends to fill her life with the joys and magic of friendship…it was an empty place, full of nothing but memories.
“Not anymore….” She murmured, closing her eyes and passing Discord, who grinned in delight as he watched her head for her home.
He cackled and shouted out to the heavens “YES!! Ahahah!!” A cruel smile spread across his face, and he turned his gaze to the distant mountains that held the city of Canterlot. “Time to rub somepony’s face in the dirt..ehehehaahahaha” Discord laughed at the prospects of the poor Princess when she learned what had befallen her precious elements…and her student. With a snap of his fingers, he was off to find out just that.
Princess Celestia paced across her chambers as she awaited word on the fate of her student and her friends. All her attempts to learn what was happening outside the palace were blocked by Discord’s magic, and a feeling of dread was beginning to form deep within her heart. She glanced out the window, once again being greeted by the sight of Discord’s chaos at work.
“Well well well…you look rather calm for someone whose only hope has dashed.”
Celestia whirled and gazed above her, spotting the Spirit of Discord hanging from her chandelier. “Discord! I don’t know what it is you hope to accomplish coming here, but the elements-”
“Will do absolutely nothing, ahaahaha…” Discord chuckled darkly as he swung down to float in front of her. He brought his face close to her’s and smiled as he spoke “It may be hard for you to believe, considering who’s bringing you this news, but then, I have no reason to lie when I’ve won.”
Her eyes narrowed in fury as she retorted angrily “What are you talking about?!” Deep down though, a voice in the back of her head already had an idea of what it was he going to say.
“Your little ponies have failed, your highness,” he replied with a sneer, disgust evident in the last word as he stared at her with contempt. “The elements didn’t work, and harmony is dead.” He pulled back and laughed at the expression of shock that briefly crossed her features.
She gathered her resolve as she said “They haven’t been beaten yet Discord.”
He pulled back, laughing at her naivety as he snapped his fingers, six mirrors popping into the room and floating over towards her. “Oh really? Then why don’t you take a look at your precious elements, and tell me I haven’t beaten you.”
She glared at him, but she couldn’t stop herself from gazing into each of the mirrors. Inside each one, was one of the elements, and as they revolved around her, she was overtaken with pain and heartache, especially when she saw the image of her faithful student falling to the same powers of disharmony the others had. She could feel tears forming in her eyes as she turned her gaze back to the spirit of disharmony who was gorging himself on her rooms wallpaper. Her fury returned in full force as she slammed a hoof down, her magic sending the mirrors flying and crashing around her.
“You still haven’t won Discord! Friendship is worth fighting for, and I will not abandon my student or her friends!”
He yawned, a bored look crossing his features as he returned his attention to her. “Gag, you go ahead and try that Celestia. It’ll be far more enjoyable for me if you keep trying to resist, even though the game is over. When your spirit finally breaks, I shall be there to drink in the despair. Au revoir princess!”
A flash, and he was gone. She glared at the space he had occupied for a moment before making her way towards her study. She knew how to restore the magic of friendship and save Equestria from the chaos of Discord’s insanity. She just hoped she would be in time.
Meanwhile, Discord watched as the solar princess brought forth all of the friendship reports that Twilight had sent her since the defeat of Nightmare Moon. He frowned as he saw each of them glow with her magic, and then transform into a silvery mist and head rushing out the window. It didn’t take much for him to figure out her plan, and he felt his mouth twist into a delightfully evil grin as he raised his claw and wagged it, a glow surrounding it as he murmured “Oh no, we can’t have that now can we dear Celestia. I will not be stopped this time…your world is mine for eternity.”
He stretched out his magic, and snatched each letter she sent out, burning them with his magic and sending their ashes across the lands of Equestria. When she had exhausted all of the letters, he turned to watch her as she glanced outside again. He cupped his hand to an ear and heard her murmur “Its all up to you now…”
He laughed. This was going to be a moment to remember.
Twilight stepped into the library, and saw Spike attempting to clean up some of the mess that had been made earlier by her former friends. He was having a hard time of it, as periodically, a book he was reaching for would snap at him, or something would grow little legs and move to the other side of the room. She shook her head at the sight of her home filled with bits of chaos…she decided to ignore it as she closed the door and started heading towards her room.
“Oh, Twilight, your back-Woah, what happened to you? You look as grey as the others did…”
Twilight gazed at herself, and noticed that she was indeed grey. Just like her friends, she had changed. But thanks to the hollow feeling deep inside her…she just couldn’t get the nerve up to care.
“It doesn’t matter Spike…just grab your things. We’re leaving Ponyville.”
Spike was stopped in mid-step, but he recovered quickly when another book tried to bite his tail. “What do you mean Twilight?! We can’t just leave Ponyville, not with Discord still out there!”
“Discord’s won Spike, the elements failed…I failed. And without the elements…and my friends…” She paused there, feeling her eyes watering up a bit, but she blinked the tears away and continued “Without them…there’s nothing we can do…and no reason to stay here.”
Twilight shook her head before pulling out a suitcase and placing some books and food in it. She pulled the element of magic off her head and held it in the air with her magic, before tossing it aside in a nearby trash can. Spike watched this with a horrified expression, and he tried one last time to get through to Twilight
“But what about the Princess? What about Equestria?”
She stopped briefly when he said that, and thought about that. She knew that deep down, she really should care about the fate of her mentor, and the country she had called home for so long. But once again, that hollow feeling overpowered those thoughts.
“It’s not our problem anymore Spike…now go get your things and meet me outside the library. There is one last thing I need to do.” Spike tried to protest, but he could see it wasn’t going to do him any good. And he had a feeling that if he didn’t go hurry, Twilight would leave him behind, and he couldn’t let that happen.
Twilight barely listened to his footfalls as she approached her night stand, pulling out a bottle of ink, a quill, and a scroll. She dipped the quill in the ink, and began writing.
Dear Princess Celestia…this will be my last report to you on the magic…the magic of friendship.
We failed. We all fell for Discord’s trap when we stepped into that labyrinth. One by one, my friends changed into big fat jerks. Applejack lied, Pinkie was suspicious of everything any of us said or did, Rarity was hoarding a giant boulder she had named Tom, Fluttershy was cruel to all of us, and Rainbow Dash abandoned all of us in that maze. It was too late when we finally found the Elements. Thanks to Discords magic and the missing element of loyalty, we weren’t able to imprison him.
And now…now he has won. My friends have run off…I don’t know where, and I guess I don’t really care either. I don’t need friends like them anyways…I was perfectly fine before…before…I had,…f-friends.
It’s hard to write to this…I know I shouldn’t be thinking like this, but I just can’t see any way to fix everything. Every time I try to think of my friends, of how they used to be, and all the memories we shared, I see what they’ve become. I see those memories tinged by the changes that Discord has caused.
Maybe it was meant to be this way…maybe this would have happened someday even without Discord. It’s better that it happens know then years from now…I don’t know if I could handle the pain I would feel.
I guess what I am trying to say, is that I’ve learned that sometimes…something’s just…fade away..and there is nothing we can do about them.
Your…Your Former Student…
Twilight Sparkle.
She felt another tear fall from her face as she finished writing the letter, rolling it up with her magic as she let the quill hit the floor. She picked up her suitcase and headed down the stairs, taking one last moment to look at library, before stepping outside. She saw Spike sitting on top of a small suitcase, a red gem in his mouth as he sucked on it.
“Spike? I have a letter for you to send. Could you send it now so that we can get going? It’s going to be a long journey.”
Spike hopped off his suitcase and walked over, taking the scroll from her and looking at it. He glanced at her and asked “Can I read it?” A shake from Twilight’s head told him her answer, and he sighed as he took in a deep breath and blasted the scroll. They both watched it transform into mist and head off for Canterlot.
“So, where are we goin-woah!” He gasped as he felt a purple glow surround him, and he could feel Twilight’s magic flowing through him. He felt her do something, and then the magic faded, and he was gently set down on the ground. “Hey, what gives Twi, what the hay did you do?”
“I broke the spell that lets you send and receive letters to the Princess. We don’t need you coughing up letters every few minutes. Now climb on Spike, we’ve got a lot of traveling to do.”
Spike grabbed his bag and climbed on Twilight’s back, taking a glance at the library he had come to love and the town he had called home. “Any idea where we’re going Twi?” He saw her doing the same as he was, but she tore her eyes away from it all as she started walking forward.
“I don’t know Spike…but I can’t stay here a moment longer.” She said as she passed over a bridge of gumdrops over a river of chocolate. A few minutes later, as they approached the edge of the Everfree, Twilight took one last look at Ponyville, at what had been her home.
“Goodbye…forever…” She murmured, two final tears falling from her eyes and falling to the ground as she turned and entered the forest.
Celestia sat in front of her fireplace, a roaring fire keeping her warm as a cold wind blew over Canterlot. She looked outside and saw it slowly raining ice cream as the city tried to cope with what was happening.
Why hasn’t she responded yet? Why hasn’t Discord’s magic vanished?
She soon got an answer, as she heard the telltale shimmering of a letter heading towards her. Through the window came the silvery mist, and it reformed into a scroll before her and dropped to the ground. She picked it up with her magic, but as she did so, there was a sudden jolt inside her. She briefly felt her student’s magic reaching all the way from Ponyville, and a look of sheer terror crossed her face as she realized what was happening.
“No, no no no!” She shook her head as she tried to focus her magic, to try and repel the dispel, but a wave of extra power overpowered her defenses, and she cried out as she felt the spell being broken.
“No…she wouldn’t…she couldn’t have…” Her legs trembled as she tried to stand up, but she used every ounce of her willpower to do so as she picked up the letter still sitting on the floor. She had to know, despite the fear and pain she was still reeling from, she needed to find out. And there was only one way to do so…
She unrolled the letter…and read it.
Tears began to form in her eyes as she read each word, and when she reached the end, she had to close her eyes. Her mind just couldn’t accept it, she couldn’t finish it. To finish reading it would make it all too real for her…
She opened her eyes as she heard the throaty cackles of the very being who was the source of it all. She looked at the fireplace and saw Discord standing there, a triumphant look on his face. And unlike when he had been there earlier, there was nothing but twisted and dark joy in his eyes as he watched her.
“This…this has to be a trick! It has to be!” She cried out at him, his expression never changing as he stood there. She rolled the scroll up and tossed it at him, turning away so he wouldn’t see the tears that were beginning to fall from her eyes.
Discord, for his part, simply caught the letter in his eagle claw, and walked around Celestia so that he was again standing in front of her. Her head was down, and he could see the stains her tears were forming on the carpet below. He placed his lions paw under her chin and lifted her face so that she was looking straight at him as she opened her eyes. He saw the pain, the despair, the fear of what it was he was about to do next. He drank it all in, but he still saw a single thread of hope that was clinging for dear life. And all it took was a single thread for her to continue to resist.
It was time to end this. It was time for the game to end, for the victor to be declared. Still maintaining his silent, dark expression, he unfurled the letter and kept her gaze pointed at it. She tried to turn away, to look away, but his magic kept her eyes stuck to the letter. She was forced to reread the entire thing, and once again, she stopped as she neared the last line. For a brief second, she glanced up at Discord and whispered “Please…no…please…”
Celestia pleading not to face reality? It was almost too good for him, and he nearly lost his composure then and there. But he couldn’t do that, no. He forced her eyes back to the final line, and watched as her eyes traveled over each word.
Your…Your Former Student…
Twilight Sparkle.
Discord released his hold on Celestia, and she crumbled to the ground, her body wracked by sobs as she finally broke. He felt the last thread of resistance snap inside of her, and he bathed in the feeling of her soul breaking as he finally started to laugh.
It was over. And he had won.
