Chapter 1. Return of the wishmasters
Chapter 1. The Wishmasters
Part 1. The Wish
It was a beautiful day, the sun was shining and skies looked perfect. It was early in the morning and one young colt was trotting along the street towards the school.
“Eh, it’s gonna be just another typical day in school, nothing special. But hey” – he stopped and looked at the skies – “It’s such a beautiful weather.”
He was a unicorn with grey skin and a grey-brown short mane. He wasn’t tall or too short just a normal little colt.
He finally reached school and quickly went into the class. Cheerilee went in and lessons begun.
“Hello kids, How do you like the weather?”
Class replied with glee – everypony liked the weather.
“Yes, the weather sure is good today, but well, We have some studies to do. Alright, who is ready to tell me about Apple trees? Perhaps you Dean?”
As soon as Cheerilee called our little colt’s name he understood that he was screwed. He did not prepare for this. He was too excited about magic homework and totally forgot about everything else. He looked out of the window, maybe looking for some kind of escape from this situation. He saw Twilight Sparkle walking by.
Twilight Sparkle was wandering around the village without any point, just to enjoy the time. She was looking either at the skies or houses, greeting everypony. She was doing that for quite a while when suddenly it began to rain. It was a heavy rain out of nowhere, nopony would expect it.
Twilight could not believe it but she didn’t waste time complaining and started seeking for shelter and ended up in Pinkie Pie’s house.
As she went in something flashed and blinded her for some time.
“Whoa what was that?” asked Twilight not really hoping for any serious answer from Pinkie Pie
“I have no idea, but I think it was a lighting” replied Pinkie Pie
“I don’t think so… but well uh, Pinkie Pie… do you have any cupcakes?”
“Yes sure, let’s have a breakfast then.”
Twilight Sparkle nodded her head and walked after her. Few moments passed when suddenly Mrs. Cake went in.
“Pinkie Pi- Oh hello Twilight, I didn’t know you are here. Well anyway, have you girls been outside?”
“Yes, it’s quite a good weather today, isn’t it?” answered Twilight calmly drinking tea.
“Yes, it sure is.” replied Pinkie Pie
But Mrs. Cake insisted
“Quickly go out and look for yourselves what is happening!”
All ponies went outside. Twilight Sparkle and Pinkie Pie gasped when they saw what was happening. The whole village was surrounded by a purple coloured magical shield. All the ponies were looking around when suddenly everypony heard a voice
“Aaargh… Finally we have been invited into this very world, this very dimension.” The voice whispered, it sounded calmly with clear hatred and blood thirst. “Our caller’s rage made it perfectly clear… nopony must leave.”
“What in Equestria was that? I need to go and see if I can find anything about this in my books.” Said Twilight and trotted back to her house, while everypony was in panic running around and seeking for shelter. When Twilight Sparkle finally arrived to her tree house she heard the voice again
“It’s all set… Do not try to escape this place your attempts will be futile… So let the shadows come” – Shield changed its colour to black and blocked the sunlight – “and rain to fall” – at this point it really began to rain – “… and take everypony’s soul…”
Twilight looked out of her window and saw as thunder bolt struck somepony. The pony became paralyzed and disappeared in a bright flash… more and more thunder bolts struck down. She started looking for the book but it she couldn’t find it. Spike went in, but Twilight didn’t see him, she was too busy finding the book
“T-Twilight… D-Do you k-kn-know w-w-what’s happening?” asked Spike.
“Spike I have NO idea what’s going on. So help me to find the book about weird things like this.”
Suddenly a thunder bolt struck the roof… Spike got scared and covered Twilight Sparkle in flames.
“Wait what… what’s happening?”. Twilight didn’t understand what Spike did, because he has never done that to her before. Her body disappeared and the next thing she saw was Princess Celestia.
“Twilight? What are you doing here? And why did Spike sent you like that?”
“Princess! Something is happening to our Ponyville!”
Princess Celestia walked to the window.
“Huh? It seems normal today, don’t you think Twilight?”
Twilight Sparkle trotted to the window and saw nothing she would have expected. Ponyville looked fine, nothing changed
“B-But… I saw it… Gigantic shield around the ponyville, and… that weird voice which told us that there was no escape…”
She started to mumble something walking around the room.
“Well, I think it would not hurt if I go there and look for myself.”
“Y-Yes, that would be great, she walked outside the castle with Princess. They went back to the Ponyville.”
They went back into Ponyville, some roofs were broken, nopony was walking around the village… It all looked creepy and deserted
“Where is everypony? And why are roofs in this condition?” asked Princess Celestia rather confused.
“You see! I didn’t lie! Oh, I am sorry princess…”
“Twilight, tell me what you remember…”
As soon as Princess Celestia finished her phrase they saw Lyra walking outside the house. Twilight saw her and trotted towards her.
“Lyra! You escaped!”
“No... pony… escapes…” whispered Lyra, her hoof started to glow and became electrolyzed. She casted a thunder bolt from her hoof which struck Twilight Sparkle. Twilight didn’t feel any pain. She became paralyzed, electricity was travelling all around her body. She became blinded by the light of electricity… The next thing she remembers is waking up in some dark room.
Part 2. Hell.
Twilight woke up in a dark room… she looked around and then she saw somepony standing near the corner.
“W-Who are you?” asked Twilight nervously. She didn’t feel it, but her body was shaking a bit.
Mysterious Pony looked at her. It was dressed in black clothes with a hood. She was whispering
“Oh… you are finally awake… Ah… I thought I made it perfectly clear…”
Pony disappeared and then suddenly appeared right in front of Twilight Sparkle
“Nopony escapes…”
“B-But… Where am I? What is this place?” asked Twilight. Mysterious Pony saw that Twilight was frightened but didn’t show that to her.
“Oh… You can have a look around…” she told Twilight and teleported somewhere. Twilight Sparkle slowly stood up and took a look at the room. It had red walls, low ceiling and a very dirty floor. She heard that the door outside opened with a slam. Twilight Sparkle trotted outside and gasped. She saw a gigantic city underground there was no skies just a gigantic red ceiling. There were lavafalls and a big pool of lava below the city. It was not really big, it was a big hole in the ground shaped as a circle. In the centre there was a big tower which had some sort of magical beam coming out of it. Twilight thought that it was holding the entire place from being covered in rocks. She heard that somepony teleported behind her.
“Lovely city, isn’t it? Oh how many saw it, you have no idea my dear… Enjoy your stay…” whispered Mysterious Pony and disappeared. Twilight went downstairs. City looked deserted… Twilight Sparkle kept asking herself questions that she could not answer just to escape feel of fright. She was walking deeper and deeper into the city. She was hungry so she went into the food store. Nopony was there and Twilight decided not to wait for the owner. She found some food and started to eat it. Suddenly she heard Applejack’s voice behind her.
“Twilight! You are here too!”
Twilight Sparkle turned around “Applejack!” – She screamed, then she trotted towards her and hugged her. – “Applejack... Do you have any idea where are we?”
“Nnope... but where was you the whole time?”
Twilight Sparkle told her what happened to her.
“But... how Lyra was able to teleport you? And why Lyra?”
”I have no idea... But I remember she disappeared after she teleported me... Oh this is weird... Where are my books when I need them”
“Oh relax Twilight, we will find out... Now let’s go where all ponies settled down.”
“Y-Yes... Let’s go”
Applejack and Twilight went somewhere, Applejack was leading. Applejack told her what happened after the teleportation. Then they suddenly heard a calm whispering voice. It sounded like it was angry and hungry.
“Bring me the Yellow one... Mwahah”
Mysterious Pony teleported right in front of Applejack and Twilight Sparkle
“You heard the voice...” she whispered, “...come with me”. Hooded started charging her hoof. Applejack started to slowly walk backwards. Mysterious Pony hit her with her hoof and they transformed into a cloud of black-yellow smoke which slowly flied to the tower in the centre of the city.
“Applejack! Wait, not her!”
She heard the voice again. It sounded the same, thought a bit disappointed
“What a waste... no dedicated desire for anything... Get her from my eyes.”
Twilight quickly trotted to edge and looked at the tower. She saw as one pony fell down to the pool of lava.
“What... What are they going to do with us... and why us?!”
She looked around her and saw a library. She went inside it and started looking through the books. She saw few ponies running around the city but she didn’t pay attention to them because she was too busy and concentrated on finding a book which would give her a clue what’s happening in this... Hell, as she called it. She heard the voice calling for more and more ponies hour by hour... and only she heard was that voice was disappointed that everypony was too scared to have a clear desire for anything.
Part 3. Meanwhile
Right after Twilight Sparkle got teleported Celestia saw that Lyra disappeared as well. Princess Celestia took a look around the Ponyville looking for those who managed to escape. She didn’t find anypony.
“Nopony escapes... I guess this was right...” mumbled Celestia to herself. She quickly rode back to the Canterlot and tried to find where Twilight was with her magic. Princess was surprised about the location. She knew it.
“B-But I thought they were all extinct! How could they survive!? Oh my... We should move out as soon as we can.”
She called all the guards who could come with her and moved to the city where Twilight was. They went though the Ponyville when the saw a few ponies wandering around in there. Celestia slowly walked towards them and gasped... it was too late. One of them saw her and trotted towards her accumulating some sort of dark energy... slowly transforming into some sort of dark creature with big fangs and wings. They were closer and closer. Celestia was hesitating... she knew that they wanted to kill her... but at the same time those were good ponies who have never done anything bad. She started to charge a spell. When those creatures were close enough she paralyzed them. She commanded her guards to move around the ponyville. It was lost already.
Celestia saw as more and more ponies were teleported back there... Their eyes were black and dull... Only desire they had was killing. She saw Rainbow Dash flying by, Rainbow Dash saw her and flew towards her. Celestia tried to hit her with a thunder bolt. Rainbow Dash dodged.
“Whoa whoa, What was that for?”
She landed and looked at Princess Celestia.
“Princess, uh, what are you doing here?”
“Y-You are unaffected!” Princess Celestia was surprised. “How did you manage to escape?”
“Escape? Escape what?” asked Rainbow Dash, she was confused by the question “I have just woken up and flew around the ponyville, enjoying the weather and then I saw you...”
“So you tell me... that cloud houses were not affected... hmm. Interesting...”
“W-What do you mean Princess? Affected... by what?”
“Oh right you don’t know yet. A foe I thought I defeated long ago still exists... And it attacked Ponyville.”
“So let’s take it back!” screamed Rainbow Dash and flew up a bit preparing for a fight.”
“No- I mean not now...” started Princess Celestia “We are not ready.”
Rainbow Dash flew even higher and looked at Ponyville
“ I don’t see any enemies. Eh, I can do it alone” said cyan pony and quickly flew towards the Ponyville. She was flying very fast and then she felt magic covering her. She was teleported somewhere. She sat at the ground and saw Princess Celestia right in front of her.
“I thought I made it clear. We. Are not. Ready.”
“Yea, yea big deal, let’s do it your way...”
Princess Celestia nodded her head and leaded guards with Rainbow Dash forward. They walked a long distance. Sun was just about to set. Celestia really wanted to extend the day, but she didn’t want to ask Luna for permission. She was afraid that Luna would not understand it correctly. Her guards were yawning. They made a break for sleep. Celestia didn’t sleep this night though. She was looking at the stars and trying to remember everything she could about her foe. She remembered her old war with them.
It was around 700 years ago, only Celestia remembers this war. It was one of the worst wars she ever had. She didn’t like any wars and tried to make that nopony remembers them. She remembered one little filly in the burning city that she conquered. That filly was too scared to understand anything so she tried to hide from Celestia. Celestia saw her and went after her. She pity little filly and let her escape. All the other ponies who inhabited that city died either in fire or killed by Celestia’s military. Celestia tried to remember how they looked like but she couldn’t... They all were in dark clothes with hoods, and after death they only left a pile of ash. Princess tried to remember every detail, but only thing that her mind was concentrated on was that little filly. She tried to forget her, but only thing she could remember then was how her own warriors transformed into dark creatures and fought against her. She started quietly crying... She remembered as this war started.
One pony walked straight into her castle, killing any guard that dared to stop it. She finally reached Celestia and told her the phrase she could never forget. It was whispering, blood thirsty and calm.
“The desire of your people speaks for itself... They are all tired of one or another pony... some even hate you... But I am not here to talk about that... I am here to take every single soul...”
At this moment Celestia understood that she was blind enough to let hatred to remain. Equestria was established for 300 years only back then... Ponies didn’t use to love each others as they do nowadays. The pony disappeared at a gigantic shield appeared around the Canterlot. Celestia used the Elements of Harmony for once more to break through the shield. She gathered all the military force she could and moved forward to conquer that city. She won the war... Well at least she thought so.
Part 4. The moment they dread.
Twilight Sparkle finally found the book she was looking for. She started to read it.
“The wishmasters.
This a nation of ponies which is believed to be extinct. All of them were alicorns, wearing black clothes and a hood. Nopony could ever see how they looked like. It is believed that ash left after their death fulfil any wish.”
“The wishmasters?” Twilight sounded confused. “I never heard of them... No history book told about them...”
Mysterious Pony appeared behind her and whispered “So you found out who we are... Well impressive, that is not going to help though” – She took the book from Twilight and disappeared.
“WAIT! I DIDN’T READ TO THE END!” said Twilight furiously “Oh how rude... What should I do now?” She looked around and saw a piece of paper that fell from the book. “Oh what’s that?” She took it and read it
“-he city was finally defea- ... –e source of the wish- ... –oke up”
“The source of the wish... But where could it be” – Twilight walked to the window – “Exactly! It must be this beam... but how do I get in?”
Twilight Sparkle walked outside and started to look for the entrance in the tower. She finally found a passage near lava to the very bottom of the tower. Twilight went in there and started to walk upstairs. Tower was empty, Twilight wondered if the whole city was empty when she found a big room. She walked in and saw the beam. It was a gigantic red beam, it looked very fast and powerful. She saw somepony inside it. She trotted towards the beam and tried to touch it. Beam pushed Twilight and she hit the wall. She gathered all her remaining force and walked towards the beam again.
“Wake up little one” whispered Twilight and coughed blood “Argh... please” she whispered even quieter “please...” Twilight breathed hardly and fell unconscious.
Next moment she remembers was waking up in the same room, but this time there was that mysterious pony standing by it.
“Well impressive...” she started “You found out what is this beam for... Your desire is strong... I can see this...”
Twilight heard the voice again. It sounded very angry and disappointed.
“BRING ME THE LAST ONE.”
“You was close... really close...” whispered Mysterious Pony. And teleported Twilight in front of some sort of gate. Twilight was lying still because she was too tired to move.
Mysterious Pony started to walk around her whispering
“You are the last one from the village... I wish I was smart enough to start with you... Oh this would have saved so many lives” – Twilight started to cry and the gate started to drain something from her. – “I wonder if you feel guilty for that...”
“I do feel guilty...” said Twilight through her cry “...the guilty that I was too stupid to see simple facts...” her horn started to glow and suddenly gigantic purple beam broke ceiling above Twilight and struck her. Twilight started to levitate inside it. Her eyes started to glow and she flew higher and higher.
“Wow! Your desire is even stronger that I would expect!” screamed Mysterious Pony and flew after Twilight on her wings “YES! YES! Hate me! Let your desire overwhelm your mind!” she screamed and hit Twilight with her hoof which started to drain the beam, the beam became smaller and smaller and soon there was a small beam holding Twilight.
“Ohohoh. You were the best one that we have ever had.” Told Mysterious Pony. Twilight heard that she was more that satisfied.
“You haven’t heard my wish...” whispered Twilight coughing between every word. The beam that was holding Twilight completely disappeared and she started to fall “I... wish... that you all... have never attacked Ponyville...”
As soon as Twilight Sparkle told her wish she fell unconscious. Twilight saw a dream. It was about her life in Canterlot as a little filly, she remembered all the wishes she had ever made and regret some of them. Then she saw that mysterious pony...
“Twilight... You have wished for us to change the course of history... You will have a lot of work changing it... I will have to go soon... You will be on your own... Remember the words that were the motto of our people” :
“Be careful what you wish for.”
Mysterious Pony disappeared and Twilight woke up.
Part 1. Last day before the storm.
Twilight body was paralyzed but she felt that it was returning to her. She could move her hooves, so she stood up and heard a worried voice... familiar voice whispering, though friendlier this time.
“Careful my dear, don’t break anything”
Twilight opened her eyes and saw Mysterious Pony.
“Tssh... I know you have many questions...” she started. “You will get your answers soon... you deserved them...”
Twilight could not understand anything... She thought that she would return back to Ponyville... to her friends.
“Why am I still here?! And why are you near me!?” asked Twilight angrily.
“Careful, you have been lying for 6 hours my dear...”
“I DON’T CARE FOR HOW MUCH I HAVE BEEN SLEEPING” yelled Twilight and felt that she was flying... “Why am I flying?” Twilight tried to fly a bit but soon she has lost control and fell down. She saw that she was dressed in black clothes.
“Why am I dressed like that?! And why do I have wings?” asked Twilight in confusion.
Mysterious Pony started laughing “So you didn’t read to the end, did you?”
“Of course I did not because somepony stole the book from me while I was reading!” told Twilight very angrily.
“Well then, let me tell you what was in it.” Whispered Mysterious Pony “The one with a strong desire and a clear wish may have one’s wish fulfilled... but in return... one either dies... or becomes one of us...”
Twilight was shocked “So... You are telling me... That I Am... A... a Wishmaster?”
“Exactly” replied Mysterious Pony.
Twilight looked at her hooves, they were dressed in a dark cloth. She put it off and gasped. Her hoof was covered in rotten flesh... and only one half of her hoof. Twilight could not hold it so she threw up. Mysterious Pony laughed.
“I remember I had the same reaction to my new me” she whispered.
“D-Do you mean that you haven’t always been a wishmaster?” asked Twilight with curiosity.
“Ah yes... I have had better times” she replied sadly. “But well, gladly that this is my last day...”
“What do you mean ‘your last day’?”
“Do you want to hear a long story? Or a shortened one?” Mysterious Pony sounded excited for a bit. Twilight has guessed that she wants to tell something very important for her.
“Tell me the long story.” Answered Twilight calmly.
Twilight guessed right. Mysterious Pony was thrilled and eager to tell her the long story.
“Then sit down and listen...” she started “... and I will tell you a story” she sat across Twilight “of the nation that is long forgotten... and believed to be extinct. Around 700 years ago this city was covered in sunshine... all streets were swarming with happy ponies who were happy to live. This city had everything a citizen could ever wish for... all the best bakers lived in this city... we had the best blacksmiths from all over the world. Everything was going lovely... like in a fairy tale. There were rumours about the wishmasters, but we had the best military so nopony cared. Well at least in our city... But your pony-princess of the Sun did care. So she attacked our city... Oh she was fast and cruel... Her pegasi neutralized all archers we had... her mages teleported everypony inside our city and her warriors started to ruin everything they could find... Back then I was a little unicorn filly and enjoyed my childhood. But that day I saw as her guards killed my mom and dad while they were blocking the guards from getting inside the house... I jumped out of the window and tried to run. But I saw her... your pony-princess... She was scary. She looked at me and pitied me. She turned her around and went forward where she was going. I was very frightened back then so I quickly crawled through the hole in a wall outside the city. I didn’t run anywhere. But I felt that near the wall outside the city I was in safety. I think I fell asleep, but when I woke up it was evening... peaceful... quiet... evening... I crawled thought that hole inside the city and saw nopony... not even corpses were left after the war... I was very hungry and I ran inside a food store and ate a whole barrel of apples. I started opening another barrel when I heard a voice of a stallion. “I-I surrender” he said, I remember I started laughing as soon as I saw his frightened face. He looked at me and asked “Who are you? What a little filly like you is doing here?” He got out of the barrel and took me on his hooves. “Well, I guess I will have to raise you... It’s only us left from this city my dear... only me... and you.” he said and so a few years passed. He was a very good parent I must say. He cared of me as if I was his only child. I grew up into a beautiful mare as he told me, he even said that he would marry me if he could, but neither me, nor him ever took that seriously. We both valued each other as a brother or sister.”
“But how did you end up being a wishmaster?” asked Twilight impatiently.
“I was just about to tell you... just take some patience and listen last words from a 700 year old mare who is just about to die... so where was I? Ah right... So, everything was going fine, until the day when your pony-princess returned. She didn’t expect to see anypony in this city and she was furious about us living in here. She ordered her guards to catch us. My brother and I ran into the tower and barricaded inside. Her guards started to break the door so we ran upstairs, barricading every door behind us. We ran to this very floor. It was a throne room, where our king and queen used to have their meals. We barricaded the last door and started looking for any weapons. We heard them coming upstairs but we were unarmed. Not even a fork was left inside this room. He started to hold the door, but it didn’t last for long. Soon the guards broke through and killed him... They wanted to kill me too but this gate appeared...” Mysterious Pony pointed at the gate which tried to drain something from Twilight. “I remember I wished, that this city was underground where nopony would ever think to look for it, that everypony believed that our nation was extinct and died long time ago. Gate fulfilled my wish, but not instantly. Guards were closer and closer and soon they took me and by order of your pony-princess, I was imprisoned. I saw a dream at the prison. A dream about my past when everything was fine and lovely. Then I saw the gate. It told me that it will fulfil my wish, but in return I will have to serve it until it finds another wishmaster. I woke up and had the same reaction as you about my new body. I went out and saw that this city was underground. I didn’t realize that I had wings so I walked to the tower. Back to the gate... It told me that the first desire that I must help to be fulfilled... was about your pony-princess... I was very excited that I could get my revenge, but here it reminded me the motto of my people, who took it from the wishmasters. “Be careful what you wish for” it said, “You never know how it could turn out.”. And so I went into Canterlot, straight to your pony-princess, I killed every guard I could see, I was very furious... Well it wasn’t a surprise... I was the last pony from the city long forgotten. I looked straight into her eyes and told her.
“The desire of your people speaks for itself... They are all tired of one or another pony... some even hate you... But I am not here to talk about that... I am here to take every single soul...”
It was so exciting to see fear in her face. I set up a shield so that nopony could escape but she somehow broke through. I quickly teleported back to the gate and gathered all my powers to create an illusion strong enough to recreate a city that would fool her. Gladly it did fool her. All her guards just looked in every house but couldn’t find anypony so they left. I swore that in future I would be more accurate... But the look on her face... it was priceless...”
Twilight looked at her after she has finished her story. She couldn’t see her face but she knew that Mysterious Pony was smiling. She suddenly made a move and told Twilight.
“Oh I almost forgot. You will have to go back in time and be stop that little colt from wishing anything.”
“But how would he trust to a half-dead pony?” asked Twilight with irony
“You will look normally in light... but in darkness or shadows you will look like this.”
“B-But isn’t light supposed to kill all that stuff like vampires and...” Twilight couldn’t finish her question because Mysterious Pony replied fastly.
“No, in our case, light represents life, and life could be fooled, while darkness represents lack of life and thus, could not be fooled.”
Twilight just took that answer because she didn’t want to start arguing with her about anything.
“You have two princess right? One represents the sun and day and another...”
“represents Night and the Moon” replied Twilight.
“You should fear her too, near her you can’t have your disguise, you will look like a wishmaster.”
Mysterious Pony stood up and started to walk outside.
“Come with me” she whispered. Twilight nodded her head and started slowly walking behind the Mysterious Pony. They walked up on a hill from which Twilight could see Canterlot and Ponyville. Mysterious Pony stood on the edge of the cliff and whispered
“My wish was fulfilled... I must go now... And Twilight... please” she turned around to Twilight and gave her a necklace. “Hold this to remember about a nation that died out 700 years ago... Please... don’t forget about me...” she finished and stepped back and started falling. Her body slowly transformed into ashes which were flying away as sun was setting. She couldn’t land because her body completely disintegrated into ashes in air. The sun set and Twilight was teleported somewhere.
Part 2. Time traveller.
Twilight opened her eyes and saw a graveyard. A foggy, creepy graveyard. She looked around and saw somepony placing flowers near one of the graves. Twilight went closer to her and asked
“Who are you? And where Am I?”
Twilight saw a mare with orange coat, green eyes and a green-orange mane.
“Don’t you recognize me?” she asked laughing “It has been so long since I last saw myself like this.”
“Are you that hooded pony?”
“Please call me Epzion”
“So that’s how you really look like...” said Twilight in confusion... “You don’t even look older than I am.”
“Of course I don’t. Wishmasters don’t get old as long as they are being fed by desires around them. And so I lived for 700 years... feeding myself by the desires around me.”
“And that is what awaits me?”
“Yes”
“B-But... what if my friends wish for me to become normal?” asked Twilight eager for answer.
“Then they will be wishmasters... or dead...”
“B-But why?” Twilight sounded disappointed.
“Because all the wishes that are connected to us in some way make a wishmaster from the pony who wished... or if that pony wished not to become a wishmaster then that pony dies.”
“Bu...”
“Nopony can wish for evading death...” Interrupted Epzion.
“So where am I?” slowly asked Twilight.
“You... are in the realm of the Dead...”
“Did I die?” Twilight sounded a bit scared.
“No... it is because your realm travels back in time... because of your wish...”
“Do you tell me that there are other realms as well?”
“Yes... There are 6 in total. Four of them represent Material, Energy, Liquid and Force and the last Two : Life and Death.”
“And how do I get to the other dimensions?” asked Twilight
“You can only be in Death and Life dimensions... because they accept both souls and bodies. But elemental dimensions allow only souls inside.”
“For how long will I stay in here?”
“Around an hour” calmly whispered Epzion.
“Why do you always whisper?” asked Twilight irritably.
“It is because wishmasters slowly lose their ability to talk... but learn how to read thoughts.”
“So what should I do after I return to my realm?”
“You should find that little colt who wished for this. And stop him from wishing that so I won’t appear. You should also find yourself and move outside the Ponyville. The gate will open and you will lead yourself in.”
“And what if I don’t?”
“Then your realm will travel back in time for once more and that colt will wish again... but this time... We won’t have our mercy on you.” Twilight could hear that she was offended by the question.
“You should not apologize” calmly whispered Epzion. “I remember I had the same thoughts about everything.”
And so Twilight and Orange coated pony talked for an hour. Twilight learned a lot from her. Epzion calmly answered any question that Twilight asked. Soon Twilight heard that something opened behind her.
“Your time has come...” whispered Epzion. Twilight heard that she was sad, because she has not talked to anypony in such a long time... and it was just about to end. “Please visit me when you have time...”. Twilight slowly walked towards her and hugged her.
“I will...” Twilight slowly walked inside the gate which closed behind her.
Part 3. Correct the mistakes.
After Twilight’s eyes adapted to bright sunshine she saw Ponyville. It looked so quiet and peaceful. Sky was so clear... not even a single cloud could be seen anywhere. Soft, warm wind blew at Twilight. She didn’t want to do anything, but enjoy the time...
“Why can’t it last forever?” sadly asked Twilight herself. She took a slow look around her once more and slowly walked towards Ponyville.
Ponyville was peaceful as well. It was early in the morning and all the ponies were just about to wake up. Twilight heard a lot of quiet happy yawning all over the place. She was smiling.
“Such little things make us happy” she thought for herself. “Just a beautiful morning and some sunshine is all we need to have a good day.”
Twilight reached the school in some time. Soon she heard Cheerilee starting her lesson. Twilight peeked into the class. She was looking for that little colt who was guilty in all what happened to her. She soon saw him. He was sitting at the last desk... sleeping.
“How can one little colt like him be guilty in what happened to me?” Twilight thought to herself. “He is even sleeping at the lesson...”
Soon Twilight saw him standing up. He looked outside the window. Twilight quickly casted an invisibility spell on herself. He looked back at the class and said something. The next moment he sat down frustrated and the whole class started to laugh. Twilight could hear his thoughts.
“Pfft. I didn’t learn about those Apple Trees. Big deal...”
Twilight continued to spy on him and soon the bell rang. Two colts went at him and started talking about something. Twilight sensed his frustration increasing hour by hour, minute by minute. But he didn’t have any desire for anything... yet. So the morning passed for Twilight. Under the effect of invisibility spell she was spying on that little colt. It rang and everypony rushed outside. Soon they all ran outside when it started to rain. Those two colts who talked to him earlier started to talk with him again and soon, suddenly one of them pushed him into a dirty puddle. All the class exploded with laugh and Twilight sensed that he was desiring for something. He quickly stood up and trotted to his home. Invisible pony trotted after him. As he ran through the rain his desire continued to grow... bigger and bigger... he slipped and Twilight could hear that he was just about to wish for something. Twilight quickly appeared and closed his mouth with her hoof. She looked in his eyes and saw fright. Clouds blocked sunlight... Twilight was no longer disguised.
“Listen to me right now.” Furiously started Twilight “Don’t you even dare to wish for something bad. Your wishes may come true... and not in the way you would expect them to. Do you bucking understand me?”
Little colt nodded his head. He was crying. Twilight let him go... she felt sad for what she had to do... but there was no other way. It soon stopped to rain and Twilight was normal again. She started to look for past her. Soon she found who she was looking for... She hypnotized past self and made to walk outside the Ponyville where the gate was awaiting for them.
“I wish there was another way” whispered Twilight “...but it seems like there is not.”
She made past self to walk inside the gate and soon she was teleported back into the Graveyard where she waited for an hour for her realm to come into the right time.
Part 4. Home sweet home?
Twilight was teleported back into her realm. She was lying near the gate in the tower. Twilight stood up and rubbed her head.
“I am back in that hell again...” she thought to herself as she saw the gate. Twilight looked around and saw the book she didn’t have chance to finish. She took it and started to walk outside. Twilight was walking back to the Ponyville. She didn’t know why. She just wanted to see her tree house... her friends... She soon read the book to the end and teleported it back inside the tower. All sorts of thoughts were in her head as she was slowly walking towards Ponyville.
It was a lovely evening, stars were shining brightly in the dark sky. Twilight looked at the sky and thought
“Now I really understand why Princess Luna was disappointed about everypony sleeping during such a miracle.”
Twilight walked during the night... as a wishmaster she was restless... she didn’t need to sleep nor she needed to eat or drink. In three days and three nights she finally reached Ponyville. It was in the evening. Twilight decided to look at everypony sleeping. She found Pinkie Pie’s house first so she casted an invisibility spell on herself and walked in. She was very quiet... she didn’t even breathe. Soon she found Pinkie Pie... Twilight would have cried if she could. Pinkie looked so peaceful and harmless during her sleep. Her bed was decorated with balloons and confetti. All sorts of coloured paper pieces were scattered around the floor. Twilight took a few more moments to look at her and walked out.
Next she found Rarity’s house. Twilight didn’t walk in because she could clearly see Rarity sleeping at her desk through the window. Twilight found it funny that Rarity was sleeping at her desk covered in clothes and strings.
“Now that’s a Rarity” Twilight thought to herself “Not seeing any border between sleeping and working.”
Then Twilight flew to Fluttershy’s house. Twilight was a bit scared to walk inside because of all the animals Fluttershy had. They could sense Twilight so she just looked through the window. Fluttershy was sleeping on a sofa. Around her were a lot of small animals like squirrels, rabbits, tortoises, even birds slept near her. Only Angel was sleeping near the table. Twilight was very pleased by the cute look of Fluttershy, but she wanted to visit all her friends.
Next she flew to Applejack. Applejack was sleeping in a very relaxed pose. She could hear her snorting a bit. Few apples were lying around Applejack but somehow they were not smashed by sleeping pony near them.
Lastly Twilight flew to Rainbow Dash. She didn’t notice it but the sun already rose. When Twilight reached Cloud houses she walked into Rainbow Dash.
“Huuh? Ah... Twilight... hello...” said cyan pony through her sleep and flew ahead. “Wait... TWILIGHT?!” Rainbow Dash quickly returned and saw Twilight Sparkle standing on a cloud.
“Hello, Rainbow Dash...” started Twilight. She sensed that her friend was very confused.
“T-Twilight... Is that really you?... Or I am in a dream?” asked Rainbow Dash.
“This is not a dream” slowly said Twilight... she quickly looked back and thought “Why did I say that?!”
“Where have you been for all this time?” asked Rainbow Dash curiously.”We have been looking all over the place to find you.”
“Uh um..” replied Twilight rubbing her head with one hoof.
“Look!” screamed Twilight pointing her hoof at something behind Rainbow Dash.
Rainbow Dash fell for that and turned around. Twilight quickly casted invisibility spell and jumped down. Twilight landed softly because of another spell she knew. Twilight trotted to her tree house. She was curious about what happened in it. House was locked but Twilight knew how to open the lock with her magic and soon she was in. It was empty inside even Spike wasn’t at home. Twilight didn’t pay attention at first but the house was cleaned as well. Everything was in the same spot where Twilight saw it last. But one thing was new. There was a small stand with her picture and a candle.
“Our best friend, Twilight Sparkle.” Was written on a picture. There were 5 flowers near the picture. All of them were different.
“I really regret that I never told them how much I care for them...” whispered Twilight sadly.
Soon Twilight heard a voice screaming behind her.
“WHAT ARE YOU!?” screamed the familiar voice “AND WHAT ARE YOU DOING IN TWILIGHT’S HOUSE!?”
Twilight turned around and saw Pinkie Pie. She was very furious. “Step back from the picture of my friend you monster.”
“Wait Pinkie...” whispered Twilight and started to pointing at herself. “It’s me. Twilight!”
“How dare you to say that you are Twilight!” yelled Pinkie Pie even more furiously.
Only here Twilight understood that she was in shadows. No wonder why Pinkie Pie didn’t believe her. Soon ponies started to gather around Twilight’s house. Twilight sensed dumb anger. She understood that she couldn’t reason with them. It started to rain again, shadows were everywhere. Twilight didn’t think for long and jumped out of the window and flew as fast as she could outside the Ponyville. She hoped that she would escape. But soon she saw pegasi following her. Even wonderbolts were there. Twilight flew to the Everfree forest and hid there. She saw pegasi rushing around looking for her. After sometime everypony calmed down and walked out of the Everfree forest.
Part 1. Everfree Forest.
Twilight was hiding in a cave and even spiders, those big, hairy and poisonous bastards were afraid of her. Twilight was lying on the ground holding her head with hooves. She was thinking.
“What monster have I become... even Pinkie Pie didn’t believe me. She has always been so random and funny... Nopony ever took her seriously... and now... She was so angry with me coming at MY house to see a picture of ME... well... at least past me. Why didn’t they believe me? Am I that scary?” Twilight was lying like that for quite a long time. She didn’t feel the time passing quickly around her. Her mind was analyzing everything that happened to her at Ponyville. That was her defence against going insane.
After it bored her to hell she stood up and went back home. She remembered that she was no longer welcome but she hasn’t finished inspecting her house as well. It was during the night but Twilight used invisibility spell anyway. She didn’t want to see her friends being furious at her coming back to her own house. Soon she reached it. Door wasn’t closed, furthermore it was opened a bit. Twilight silently walked in and saw a foal sitting near that stand with her picture. She walked closer and heard it whispering something through cry. She soon saw that this was Dean, that little colt who was guilty in Twilight’s transformation. Twilight was coming closer and closer and soon heard him.
“Am I guilty in your disappearance? I must be...” Twilight was very surprised by that. She sat near him and slowly became visible.
“Don’t blame yourself” she whispered closing his mouth with her hoof. “I don’t”
She looked into his eyes. He was frightened to hell but as soon as Twilight let go of his mouth he quickly asked
“Is that you? That disappeared pony?”
“Yes” whispered Twilight. She didn’t sound disappointed though.
“Am I guilty in that?”
Twilight hesitated to answer for a moment but soon nodded her head.
“Are you angry with me?”
“No” whispered Twilight “What was in past is in past.” Twilight looked at him and continued. “But I will be if you continue to wish for retarded things like killing the entire Ponyville for having a bad day. Don’t you even try to justify.” Twilight sounded confident. Even if she could read his thoughts she still asked. “Do you regret thinking about wishing that?”
“Y-Yes... I do...” slowly little foal started. “B-But... They haven’t seen what I have...”
“I know your story... You deserve a medal for staying like this after that... Many would not have lived like you... but you coped...”
“But I still wanted to wish for such a ridiculous thing! And you have forgiven me... I could not do that if I were you.”
“I know why you wanted to wish... And there is no point in dumb anger... You made a mistake, I forgave you... But please” Twilight turned her face to him and looked straight into his eyes. “... never wish for something in anger.”
“Can you show me your face please?” he sounded very shy... He didn’t know if that would be offensive to Twilight.
“I am really looking horrible... You may have nightmares after that.”
Little colt insisted so Twilight took off her hood. Soon he saw her face. The face of a wishmaster. Her face was covered in rotten flesh... on one cheek there could be seen only bones and teeth. Eyes were black and dull. Teeth were crooked... and somewhere covered in moss. Hair were black and pointing everywhere. Twilight saw fright in his eyes but he didn’t scream or cry.
“S-So that... is what my wish made with you...”
“It’s still better that what could happen... I chose to sacrifice for my friends and other innocent ponies.”
“B-But... It’s horrible... Don’t you regret doing that?”
“No... I saved a lot of lives... and this is the sacrifice I must pay.”
They sat on the ground near the stand with Twilight’s photo for some time. Sun began to rise and soon Twilight got her previous body.
“Y-You... You are looking normal” cried little colt with glee
“It’s just a shell... I will never be who I used to be... I must go now... before it’s too late.”
Twilight started to trot outside the house and charging invisibility spell and hit somepony with her face. She sat on the ground and soon saw Princess Celestia. She looked at Twilight furiously.
“I know who you are. Drop your disguise.” Ordered Celestia.
“But it’s me. I am Twilight!” screamed Twilight. Soon she saw Princess Luna coming by her sister. Twilight soon lost her disguise because of Luna’s aura. Luna gasped as she saw new Twilight.
“What is that creature? And what did it make with our subject Twilight!?”
“I... AM... TWILIGHT” Twilight was furious. She didn’t think that even Celestia would have a dumb anger. And Luna... well she was Celestia’s sister and would rather listen to her that Twilight. Ponies started to gather around Twilight. She sensed so much dumb anger... but also desires... and no clear wishes for anything. Twilight was tempted by it but resisted and tried to fly away.
Part 2. It finally happened.
Twilight was flying faster and faster, even though she was restless she started to hear something. It was her bones crunching. She soon landed somewhere in a plain field. So did her followers... even wonderbolts were amongst them.
“STOP FOLLOWING ME.” Yelled Twilight “I DON’T WANT TO HARM YOU.”
“Then don’t” said Rainbow Dash brazenly “And return Twilight to us.”
“Argh, how many times do I have to repeat?!” screamed Twilight furiously “I am Twilight!”
Soon both Princesses landed. Twilight wasn’t disguising... she was too tired. She decided that it must end now... here.
“What have you done to Twilight, you monster?” started Celestia furiously.
“Sister... I think she wasn’t lying to you last time...” slowly interrupted Luna.
“You...” Celestia turned to Luna “You haven’t seen what they are capable of”
“I am not a changling” calmly said Twilight “I am a wishmaster... I can’t turn into anything on my own.”
“But how do I know for sure?” asked Celestia
“You have to do one simple thing...” Twilight looked straight into Celestia’s eyes “Trust me”
“Sister... She is not lying to you. Only a few Changlings have both horn and wings.”
“But... If that’s really you Twilight... Then how did you turn into this soulless creature?” slowly asked Celestia. She was really confused.
Twilight told her the whole story except for the story of Epzion. Twilight thought that here it would not do her any good. All the ponies listened to her story silently. After a minute of silence Celestia wanted to ask something from Twilight but suddenly the wishmaster disappeared somehwere.
Twilight appeared in a foggy field and soon saw somepony walking towards her. It was Nightmare Moon.
“You are finally here.” Whispered Nightmare Moon. “At last.”
“What are YOU doing in the dimension of Death?” quickly asked Twilight
“Your elements of Harmony... They teleported me here. Chopped me apart from my body and threw in here like a trash.”
“But you are nothing but a magical recreation of Luna’s anger”
“And your fancy elements made me alive... well partially...”
“I know what your desire is...” whispered Twilight calmly “And my answer is no”
“But you are a wishmaster!” yelled Nightmare Moon “You can’t deny to fulfil the wish”
“I can...” Twilight sounded confident “I must only fulfil the wish of a pony whose desire I am taking.”
“You can have my desire... A-Anything...” Nightmare Moon looked pathetic “I want my revenge...”
“Alright... I will give you a body” whispered Twilight smiling. She punched Nightmare Moon and started to drain her desire.
“I wish to return to the dimension of Life” screamed Nightmare Moon.
“You will be returned where you desired…” slowly whispered Twilight “You will live in Luna’s mane…”
Twilight saw a bright flash and heard a question from Princess Celestia.
“Twilight… Do you know who was that pony who dragged you to that city?”
Twilight looked around. It looked like only a second passed after she was teleported into the dimension of Death.
“No…” answered Twilight. She didn’t want Celestia to know about Epzion… Not yet.
Luna suddenly screamed and fell unconscious. Twilight thought that this was Nightmare Moon moving to Luna’s mane. Everypony gathered around her trying to wake her up. Celestia took her sister on her hooves and teleported back to the Ponyville where she took a cart back to Canterlot.
Rainbow Dash slowly walked to Twilight.
“I… I’m sorry…” quietly said Rainbow Dash looking at the ground and rubbing her head.
“For what?” whispered Twilight
“For not trusting you…”
“But you trust me now, don’t you?”
“Y-Yes…” said Rainbow Dash even more quietly.
“Then go back to Ponyville and tell all my friends that I didn’t lie. I won’t come back to Ponyville or Canterlot anymore.”
“But why?!” suddenly screamed Rainbow Dash
“I don’t want to harm you. It’s so tempting to take others desires. It will be better for both me…” Twilight took her friend’s head and looked straight into her eyes “…and all of you… Goodbye…”
Twilight teleported away into the city with a gate and continued
“I will miss you.”
Part 3. The end.
After Twilight teleported away Rainbow Dash quickly flew back to Ponyville and told her friends that Twilight was alive… Even though she was a wishmaster, but still... she was alive. Twilight house was closed forever and never visited again. Everypony soon knew who Twilight was and her story. She was a legend for Ponyville, the mare who saved everypony at the cost of her life. Twilight didn’t call or describe Dean in her story to Princess Celestia so nopony knew him.
Twilight, on other hand moved to the city far away from Ponyville. It was easier for her to find ponies who desire for something but don’t have a clear wish so she could safely feed herself. Sometimes she teleported into the dimension of Death to visit Epzion. For every visit Epzion had something to tell Twilight : it was either a story from her city, which she loved to call ‘The city long forgotten and believed to be extinct’, or it were some advices on how to live as a wishmaster. Things like that, but they meant a lot for both Twilight and Epzion. Once in 2 years Twilight visited Ponyville. She couldn’t help herself but she wanted to see her friends… everypony in Ponyville.
Deep inside own mind Twilight still remembered her life as a mare. Each time she remembered it she was surprised by little things that made her happy. Twilight has never thought that her life could end up like this. That she would be a death creature, a half-dead wishmaster, away from her friends and everypony she valued, remembering her past life.
