Come on Twilight… this isn’t funny…
Twilight…?
Twilight please say something!
TWILIGHT!
…
No…
She can’t be…
She can’t be dead!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I woke up hyperventilating from a night terror I’ve had for the past few days. The scene keeps replaying over and over in my mind even as I wake up and try to come back to reality.
…
I’m sitting in a chair at one of the most expensive restaurants in town. It was a table for two, but only one chair was occupied.
My date was late.
Very late.
I began to worry a bit as she was never late. She always ran on schedule.
I checked my watch. It read 8:30.
She was an hour late.
Before I could worry anymore, a few police-ponies were trotting towards my table.
“Evan, correct?” one of them asked me.
“Yes?” I hesitantly replied.
“We regret to inform you this, but…” he nervously shifted his eyes. “Twilight Sparkle is mortally wounded. She’s in the intensive care ward at the hospital.”
Before anypony knew it, I had bolted from the restaurant and into the cold dark.
…
I arrived beside her bed in the intensive care ward. A constant beeping accompanied her shallow and gasping breaths.
Her hospital gown was blotched with red in some areas.
Oh god she was bleeding…
I ran to her and began to plead her name.
She could scarcely open her eyes. As she looked up at me, she gave the faintest smile.
I smiled for a moment. It looked as though she might be ok.
My fingers trailed through her mane and held her cheek softly.
Her head began to feel heavy.
As I looked down at her, I saw her eyes begin to slowly close.
She gave one last slow haunting breath.
The beeping became one sustained tone.
Then everything faded to black.
…
I keep thinking what I dreamt isn’t real, and that everything will be back to normal when I look to my side and see my darling Twilight asleep next to me.
But when I look, she isn’t there. That’s when any hope I have fades completely away. I remember the truth.
She’s gone.
I watched her die.
I couldn’t do anything to save her.
I just sat there and watched as she closed her eyes for the last time.
My Twilight Sparkle is gone.
Gone forever.
My alarm clock startles me. It seems my nightmare woke me before it did. Then I remember:
Today’s the funeral.
I take a deep breath and slowly compose myself before I sit up, stretch softly, and turn to stand out of bed.
I walk to the bathroom, and let the sink run a bit as I begin to lose myself in thought. The sound of running water soothes me. This house has been far too quiet with Twilight gone.
I closed my eyes as I remembered how my beloved and I always used to brush our teeth together in front of this very mirror. We always used to look at each other and giggle a little at the foam around our lips.
We were the perfect couple.
We did everything together.
Before I realized it, I slapped my face with two handfuls of the water and brought myself back to reality.
“You can reminisce later.” I tell my reflection out loud. Today’s schedule was too important.
Today, at 11:30 pm on the seventeenth of February, I would see my Twilight for the first time in three days… and for the last time in my life.
After I had dressed myself up I went to the door, and walked outside. I chose to leave ‘eating’ out of my morning routine today.
I haven’t been hungry for three days now. I force myself to eat occasionally, but I never really taste anything. I never finish a meal feeling satisfied anymore.
Besides, I was going to be directly on time today.
The truth is, whenever I did anything around the house or for my job, I always tended to be a few minutes late.
For somepony like Twilight, a pony whose life ran on a strict schedule, well, let’s just say it did more than just bug the ever-loving crap out of her.
She would always explain to me how important being on time was. Of course, me being the laid back person I am, I never really got it, and thus, I kept my ‘routine’ of being late with most everything.
And how I regret it so badly.
Today however, was far too important to be late.
As I walked, I looked up at the sky.
The gray clouds stared back at me as a light mist seemed to cool my head.
It was a tradition known by all ponies in Equestria.
When a pony dies, the town where they last lived is to be shrouded in cloud as a sign of respect and loyalty unless requested otherwise by the deceased’s last will. This way, whether it was a prayer, a tear, or just looking at the clouds, the entire town could pay some form of respect by acknowledging whoever had recently died.
Twilight’s will did not reject the tradition, and so, Ponyville was treated to a shadow of clouds.
It was nice walking in the shade. There was a bittersweet calmness about it.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I sat in an empty part of the church.
Ironically, this was the same church Twilight and I were married in. I can still remember her in her long flowing gown. Her alabaster train flowing behind her, her pearl necklace and gold earrings, her eyes… her beautiful eyes… She was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen.
Our wedding day, in this very church, I had welcomed her into my life.
And today, I was about to say goodbye.
My thoughts began to subside as I looked around.
Everypony I’d met since I came to Equestria was here. Pinkie Pie, Rainbow Dash, Rarity and her parents, Applejack and her family, Fluttershy and some of her animals, Derpy, Berry Punch, Bon Bon and Lyra, Colgate, Even Princess Celestia and Princess Luna.
Then my eyes fell on Twilight’s family.
They looked lifeless.
Twilight’s father, Night Light, had his eyes closed and head bowed. He had been there in that position for almost an hour as I came to find out.
Shining Armor and Cadence had their hooves around each other with soft tears emulating from their sharply closed eyes.
I had a lot of respect for Shining in that moment. I know how hard this must have been for him. But seeing him cry like this, He looked more manly now than I had ever seen him before.
Then my eyes fell on Twilight Velvet.
Twilight’s mother.
She looked worst of all.
Her head was bowed like her husbands, but her eyes were open and staring at the floor.
She had obviously been crying. Her eyes were pink and extremely reflective. They looked like salmon pink leather.
They were the eyes of someone who has cried so much, there was no more moisture left for the eyes themselves.
It was a depressing, and somewhat terrifying sight.
One I hoped to never see again.
My eyes then fell to the clock.
10:30.
I was right on time.
I sighed.
See Twilight? I can be on time sometimes.
…
Oh Twilight… You have no idea how much it hurts without you here…
I felt a nudge on my leg.
Spike wanted to sit next to me.
I couldn’t blame him. Twilight had always been his mother figure. In a way, I was like his dad.
I gave him the first genuine smile I’d had in a long time.
Standing behind him was Sweetie Belle. She and Spike had become very good friends over the last few years. She wanted to be here for him and help him through this just as much as I did as well.
She gave me a bittersweet smile.
I smiled and nodded back.
…
An old priest then came down the aisle next to us.
Following behind him were two younger ponies.
They were carrying a casket.
Imprinted on the side was her cutie mark.
…
The two younger ponies placed the casket on a large marble table laden with all sorts of flowers. In front of them stood a picture of Twilight smiling. It was the kind of smile that only an adorkable face could have.
A smile only Twilight could have.
They unlocked the casket’s latch and lifted the lid.
I couldn’t see her face from where I was, but when they opened it, I felt a tremor in the pit of my stomach.
She was here.
She and I were in the same room together after three long days.
I heard a soft sniffle below me.
Spike was crying.
He must have felt the same thing when the casket was opened.
I hugged him close with one arm and let him cry on my chest.
Sweetie Belle put a hoof on his shoulder.
He trembled as he cried.
I looked at him with a hint of jealousy.
It must be nice being able to let raw emotion out like that so easily.
For me, as much as I wanted to cry, nothing seemed to come out. I constantly felt on the verge of tears, and I even felt my eyes water a bit. But nothing came. No sweet release from this pain. It wasn’t that easy.
It never is.
…
After the sermon, ponies began to stand and walk towards the casket to say their goodbyes.
Twilight’s family, Spike, and myself opted to go up to the casket last so we could have the most time with her to say goodbye.
They were all too generous letting me have the final goodbye. But they said it would probably mean more to Twilight having me be the last one to look upon her.
I hesitantly agreed.
The line of ponies slowly moved down the aisle. The ones in front who were finished walked silently away from the casket. Some had their heads bowed, while others stifled a few soft tears. Some of the younger colts and fillies were very vocal with their cries.
It was Twilight Velvet’s turn. After her it would be Spike. And after Spike…
It would be me.
I nervously bowed my head as my thoughts began to scatter.
What was I going to say?
What could I say?
Was there anything to say?
How much time should I allow myself to say what should be said?
How could I even begin to say every thought on my mind at this very moment?
What the hell was I going to say?
I was standing at the casket before I knew it.
I was standing before Twilight Sparkle.
My beloved.
Even in death she looked beautiful…
I regained my composure as I remembered that this would be the last time I ever looked upon my darling Twilight. She deserved the best from me.
I sighed as I thought of exactly how to convey my feelings.
I leaned my head into the casket, and planted my lips softly onto hers.
I opted not to say a word to her. She was pure spirit now. She could probably see and hear everything on my mind right now. I shouldn’t dumb it down by trying to tell her.
I kissed her for almost two minutes.
She still smelled like lavender.
I wasn’t expecting that.
It shot a shivering tingle of excitement down my spine.
At last I broke the kiss.
She didn’t even look like she was dead. She looked like she was peacefully sleeping.
I weakly smiled.
Thankfully, the last vivid memory of Twilight Sparkle I will have, is of her at peace.
I silently nodded to the priest, and slowly walked out of the church.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I haven’t moved from our bed for about an hour now. I’ve been sitting on the edge seeing nothing.
Feeling nothing.
I was all alone.
Alone with just my thoughts.
As I sighed to myself I noticed an old binder sitting on the dresser.
It was our love journal.
We bought it together when we started dating. By our first year anniversary it was filled to the brim with pictures, love letters, mementos, and little stickers and sparkles all assorted to piece together our love for each other.
I flipped through page by page reveling in all of the fond and wonderful memories we shared together.
Then I flipped to the last page.
The date was marked February 14th.
In bold lettering across the top, it said “For Evan <3”
She must’ve written it as a gift for our date…
Realization struck me like a boulder.
These were Twilight Sparkle’s last words.
I pressed my face closer into the journal to read what was at this point, the most important few words I would ever read.
Dear Evan,
Four years we've been dating. Two years we've been married. And these years have been more perfect than anything I could have ever asked for. Since today is the day of love, I think it’s a good day to tell you how much you've meant to me.
I want you to know, no matter what I've said, no matter what I've done, no matter what we've been through together, I love you. I have always loved you, and only you. You have made me happier in these six romantic years than I think I've ever been in my whole life.
Evan, my sweet, my beloved, I just want you to know that I have loved, enjoyed, and fully and spiritually appreciated you being in my life all this time. I hope we last for a lifetime longer.
Also know this: That no matter where I am, no matter where I go, my heart will always be with you.
With all the love I possess,
Forever yours,
Twilight Sparkle <3
…
I read the little note four times.
My heart felt heavy.
My tear ducts opened, and I just lost it.
I cried. Hard.
I must have cried for ten minutes.
I was careful not to let my tears fall onto the note. I wouldn’t DARE let that be ruined.
After a long session of sniffling and drying my eyes, I began to breathe normally again.
I laid down on the bed.
Our bed.
The note was tightly in my hand.
I felt her…
She was right here with me…
Her heart would always be with me…
And my heart would always be with her…
I love you… Twilight Sparkle.
Author's Note
Happy Valentines Day everyone!! :D
