Mistakes of the Past

Chapter 6

Mistakes of the Past
By Cosmic Waltz

Warning: Grimdark Content. Read at your own discretion.

This is a Grimdark fanfiction story based on the show "My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic" by Hasbro. It will contain scenes of violence, gore, death, and heavy emotional content. You have been warned.

Warning: Grimdark Content. Read at your own discretion.

Chapter 6

Many seasons had passed since the day all of Equestria would forever remember. In its passing, it had taken the Princess that all of ponykind had looked to for protection and support, leaving her younger sister on the throne. A ceremony was held in Canterlot to mourn the Sun Princess' passing, and to celebrate her life. A ceremony was also held to honor those lost in the Battle of Ponyville, both in the initial assault and in its reclamation. Both would become annual rituals for as long as Equestria stood. Many ponies held fear through teary eyes that Equestria would never be the same without the royal mare they had known their entire lives. Luna, however, took well to her role, with the help of her sister's advisors and her own friends. Though it took many years, balance seemed restored in the hearts of her subjects. Life in Ponyville slowly returned to normal, and though nopony would ever forget the events that happened on that day, many found joy again through rebuilt hopes.

Rainbow Dash walked through the cavernous palace halls. She had been called to the royal throne for an urgent matter just hours before. Though offered an escort by pegasus-drawn cart, she was still far too proud of herself, opting to walk the distance to Canterlot instead.

She entered the throne room. Passing the guards, she couldn't help but gloat. They were new recruits to the royal guard, where she was a decorated soldier. The medal held around her neck proved as much, and though she rarely wore the amulet, she made a point to when around the palace.

As she approached the thrones, the earth-bound pegasus saw a mare she knew quite well. "Hey, Princess Twilight!"

Twilight blushed from her seat on the throne, Luna at her side. "Oh, Dash, stop! You can just call me Twilight. It's not like I'm a princess yet."

It was hardly true. She was still in training, but was quickly on the path to being accepted as true royalty amongst the courts. Under Princess Luna's teachings and guidance, as well as her personal training with the late Princess Celestia, she was deemed the most fit to take the role of co-ruler of Equestria, much to Luna's relief.

At first, her training had been shaky. Twilight's magic was not as powerful as it once was, both due to having her horn broken before, and to emotional blocks. If the unicorn was anything though, she was stubborn. She spent days in the secret archives of the palace, practicing advanced magic as best as she could. When she needed a break, or a shoulder to cry out the memories, Luna was always there. Before long, the royal mare could hardly keep up with the pony as she breezed through the difficult spells. In time, the new magic that flowed through her changed her. She now stood as tall as Luna, and was growing more with each spell she put under her power. Still, as much as she was changing, she was still Twilight, and couldn't see herself as anything different.

Luna joined the conversation. "Before we get to why we called you, Rainbow, how's everything going in Ponyville?"

Dash smiled. "Going well, considering. Things are starting to get back to normal. Spike's running the library now, and he's doing a great job. He's grown a lot over the last year. He tries not so show it, but he does miss you, Twilight. Maybe stop by sometime, kay? Rarity opened her shop again. She's been doing a lot of free work for some of the ponies that lost all of their belongings in the fires after the attack. She can be such a selfless pony, sometimes. And you should have seen that smile when Fluttershy found Opalescence hiding under her home!"

The blue pony sat back, realizing she would be there a while. "Speaking of Fluttershy, she's tending to her animals again, and a few ponies as well. She's running something of a 'Grief Center' out of her home for those of us who need it. Me and Pinkie have been there a few times ourselves. Oh, and Pinkie opened her own shop! 'Pinkie Pie's Party Parlor!' She's back to baking and party planning, just like before. Which reminds me, she'd be all over me if I forgot to tell the two of you that you're invited to a shop-warming party tonight."

Twilight felt warmed by hearing of her friends, and how they were doing so much better since last she saw. "And what about you and Applejack?"

A new smile crossed the pegasus' face; one of love, and comfort. "We're doing great. Working the acres again, preparing for the next Applebuck Season. I'm still terrible at it, but I'm getting there. Might hire a few ponies to help out this year. And we have a kid now. Well, adopted, obviously. Scootaloo was orphaned during the attack. She's a bit old to call our own, I guess, but I just couldn't stand leaving her without a family. Had a bit of trouble adopting, being AJ and I are both mares, but I hear we may have had a couple certain Princesses on our side." She raised a brow to the two mares before her.

Luna giggled. "You two would make great parents. When we heard you were trying to adopt, maybe we helped out a bit."

"If by 'a bit,'" Twilight added, "you mean 'went over the highest authority of the agency to approve the adoption,' then yes, we helped out a bit."

Dash got a laugh from the two royal mares. She knew she owed them for helping her and Applejack. "Thanks, guys. Er, Princesses."

Twilight decided to not delay anymore. "Dash, we called you here for something important."

Luna picked up the conversation. "After the attack on Ponyville, we realized just how little we knew of restorative magic. I guess in my absence, and the times of peace, nopony had much reason for advanced study in that field, but we were greatly underprepared for what we had to treat."

Twilight still remembered how little healing magic was able to help her at first, though what it could do had saved her life and her horn. She continued the conversation. "Since then, we've placed a lot of emphasis on restorative magic. We've made many advances over the last year, and we think we may be able to give you wings again. It's still in research, but if you're willing, we can give it a try." She shot a huge grin to the once-pegasus.

Dash's own smile was only slight in comparison. She looked to her sides, the two scarred dents in her back still showing through her coat. She had hated to see those wounds for so long, but now, it was just another part of her. "Thanks, guys, but no thanks. The sky was my life, but now, I have another. I have a family. A beautiful wife. A little filly to look after. I don't need the sky anymore."

The Princesses had not expected the answer, but were happy for their friend. Twilight spoke. "It's good to hear that you're happy again, Dash. Very well. But, if I can, let me say that you'll always be the Dash we love. You'll be a great parent, and wife, wings or not. The offer will always be here if you ever decided to take it."

Dash blushed faintly. "Well, maybe one day. I guess it'd be good to teach Scootaloo to fly. And she's always wanted to see a Sonic Rainboom. Right now, though, I think I'll stick to the ground."

Twilight didn't want to pressure the issue. It was an offer, after all. "Well, it was nice to see you again. Now, will you take us up on a ride back to Ponyville this time?"

Dash playfully stuck her tongue out to the Princesses, turning to walk from the throne room. "And you had both better be at Pinkie's party! Or she will bring the party to you, I promise."

The blue pony left the two Princesses to giggle at the threat of a palace party, again showing off to the guards as she passed.

"Think she's serious about that?" Luna asked, turning to her pupil.

"If I remember Pinkie at all, yes." Twilight answered, chuckling to herself.

"Well, if we're going to make the party tonight, we have a few things to take care of first," Luna said, standing from her throne. "And we still have a meeting to attend. I know how you hate those."

Twilight entered her personal chambers. The meeting was soon to begin, and being seen as a formal "Princess," she had to look as such.

As much as Twilight disliked the boring conferences that came with the role of Princess, she found the idea tolerable when she knew she would see her friends later. She had rarely seen them since accepting to be Luna's understudy. She knew many ponies in Canterlot must have felt unnerved by her ascending to a rank none thought was acceptable for a common pony. Having been Celestia's own student, however, had given her more credit than she herself thought. Many of the council sat uneasy around her, preferring not to refer to her as much as possible. If anypony still saw her as she was, though, it was her friends from Ponyville. And besides, she was long overdue to pay Spike a visit. She was almost a foster parent for the dragon after all.

She placed on her royal wear: a large gem-studded harness around her neck, ornate shoes on her hooves and pasterns, and a small diadem on her head, each in a deep blue-purple hue. She always held back a laugh when she thought of how jealous Rarity would have been to see her in these silly things. To her, they felt too opulent, but she respected what they represented nonetheless.

A voice came from outside of her door. "Are you ready, Princess Sparkle?" It was her own assistant, Glint Whisper. He was a soft-spoken unicorn, barely old enough to even be called a stallion, but he was ferociously loyal. He was one of few ponies in Canterlot who had no qualms calling her "Princess," whether she was comfortable with the title or not.

"Not yet. I'll be out in just a moment." She thought how she should bring him to the party as well. Fluttershy would like him.

She used her magic to pick up a brush off of her vanity. As she pulled it through her forelock, she felt the bristles prick the still tender scar at the base of her horn. A cold emptiness almost floored her instantly. She bit her lip, fighting back the memories that haunted her darkest dreams still. Memories of burning eyes and the horrible abuse she had endured. As much as she tried to play off the true depth of how the vicious stallion affected her, it still bled through her composure occasionally. Glint and Luna were the only ponies who knew of how deep the cut had been to her emotionally, and both did their best to help her. On more than one occasion Luna had shared her bed with the tortured unicorn during her darker moments, letting Twilight cry within her hooves. Glint was the only stallion she still felt comfortable around, but his soft demeanor had been the greatest help in getting her to open up again. Many nights, she would call to him to stand guard while she slept, afraid that even the shadows held intent against her, and every morning the blue-coated pony would still be there, standing vigilant against the non-existent threats of her mind. Still, the scar, her only physical reminder, was the best way to drag her back into that miserable state. Tonight, however, she refused to let the pain take her. She couldn't meet her friends with anything less that the happiest of moods.

She looked herself over in the mirror once more, making sure she had placed all of the royal attire on correctly. Within its frame, she saw her reflection looking back. She still was not used to how tall her powerful magic had made her. Magic was the reason why the Princesses were both so much taller than other ponies, she had been told, and in secret, she was told that it was the key to their longevity. Whether or not she would be granted similar properties by her gift, she was uncertain, but Luna seemed confident that they would rule together for many millennia. It made Twilight nervous, though. The thought of outliving her friends had crossed her mind many times since that conversation. She battled it down again. Her friends meant everything to her. If that was her fate, she would just have to spend as much time with them as she could, starting again with tonight. Really, who would tell a Princess "no" if she asked for her own time? She could already raise the moon with little difficulty, and was under training now to handle the sun. Surely, if no pony felt comfortable with how she received the throne, they would at least honor that she was well equipped for the position.

Within the glass, she noticed only faintly a flicker of magic. She giggled softly. "Now, you. None of that." She spoke quietly so as not to let Glint hear from the opposite side of the door.

It was her secret. Not long after the battle of Ponyville, Twilight felt a pull within her, drawing her back to where the Ancient Castle of the Royal Pony Sisters once stood. She fought the call as long as she could, but eventually found herself too curious to stay away. It was a long journey, especially in her still weakened condition and without an escort. Still, she felt almost guided by some unseen force, and the forest seemed to almost part before her. She found what remained of the castle, most of which having been reduced to a crater still glimmering with magical charge. The deepest trough of the crater seemed to be where the library had once been. She could still feel the static power of what happened there. More than that, though, she felt a presence. A trace of magic she could never forget. It had lasted for many nights, fading with each passing moment, but it was still burning strong. She had to keep it.

She turned from the mirror, headed to the door. "All right, Sir Glint. I'm ready."

The blue unicorn quickly opened the three-part door for his Princess. He fought to keep his shaggy yellow mane out of his eyes as he bowed. "Right this way, Princess Sparkle."

"Please, lead on," Twilight requested. Before closing the door, she turned once more to the mirror. With Glint out of earshot, she spoke back. "I promise to tell you how the party went when I get back, Princess Celestia."