The Wishmasters

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.