Neither Of Them Mind

• rest,” said Twinlinked as he lay Twilight on the ground. She was unconscious. What did that mean for the mindscape? Would it fall apart?

I CAN SEE YOU. I HATE YOU.

The voice of Sight came again. The boulders disappeared into wispy black smoke.

SHE HAS BEEN FREED.

What did you do to Twilight?

SHE CAN SEE HER FRIENDS. YOU SHOULD BE THANKFUL.

What will you do to me?

YOU CAN SEE YOUR FRIEND HATE.

“Oh yes,” Twinlinked drawled sarcastically, “I’m so –

• thankful you’re okay, sugar cube!” said Applejack truthfully. Rarity, Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie all nodded in excited agreement.

“I just hope that Twinlinked is too,” Twilight said. Then, shadows passed over her face.

“Wait,” she said, “Fluttershy, why did you do that to me?”

“Sorry, Twilight, for whatever it was. What was it?”

“And Rainbow Dash,” Twilight Sparkle continued, “You abandoned me.”

“PPH! As if I would do that!” Rainbow contradicted.

Rarity asked kindly, “Are you alright?”

Twilight yelled at her.

“Don’t speak to me like –

• that!” Twilight said. Twinlinked could see out of her eyes, and hear from her ears. He could see her turning on her friends.

SHE CAN SEE.

What have you done? Twinlinked knew he mustn’t lose his temper, for the sake of Twilight.

Suddenly, the scene shifted. Instead of being in Twilight’s head, he was now in her memories. He saw when she had first met her friends, at the Summer Sun Celebrations.

Even I know this. I was there, remember?

Indeed, Twinlinked could see fleeting glimpses of him during some parts of the memory. Forty minutes passed, in no time at all, there was no time. The memory was over. Then Twinlinked saw the Summer Sun Celebrations again.

Applejack let go of her friend, all the time insisting she would be fine, but knowing Rainbow Dash wasn’t there.

THE ELEMENT OF MISTRUST

Fluttershy enraged the Manticore deliberately.

THE ELEMENT OF CREULTY

Pinkie Pie cried in terror at the sight of the trees.

THE ELEMENT OF FEAR

Rarity stole the scale from the serpent.

THE ELEMENT OF THEFT

Rainbow Dash abandoned Twilight on the rope bridge.

THE ELEMENT OF TREACHERY

Twilight lacked the magic to activate to elements.

THE ELEMENT OF NORMALITY

Sight commented on every warped memory. Twinlinked was forced to watch on in terror. Growing revulsion pushed up his throat, which was hoarse and dry. The final scene brought tears to his eyes.

Twilight and her friends were arguing in Everfree Forest, each one with the flames of hate in their eyes. Some left, some fought each other, and no-one came to help them. Sight’s voice came again, deeper, more feminine. It now had memories, and was becoming more like Twilight’s voice.

THE ELEMENTS OF HATRED

Twinlinked was finally thrown out of the nightmare. Back in the Dustbowl Badlands, cracks were appearing in the ground, and through the cracks was the hot magma of hatred. Twinlinked finally came to a decision. He strode purposefully towards the green vines. If he was right, this should draw out Sight. He was right.

Sight appeared again, and a deep red had soaked into its hoofs. Looking less like Celestia, and more like Twilight now, Sight stood in his way.

I CAN SEE YOU.

I can see you too Sight.

I WILL CORRUPT YOU

No, I will join you.

Twinlinked was hoping Sight had enough of Twilight’s memories to be able to ask questions. He was really lucky he was correct.

REALLY?

No.

Twinlinked burst into dark laughter. He used the same trick back in Ponyville. Sight fell back a few paces from the surety his answer.

Could you get out of the way? I’m trying to get through.

I WILL NOT LET YOU. I HATE YOU.

Twinlinked shook his head in mock sadness.

I blame the father.

I HAVE NO PARENTS. YOU MADE ME.

Laughing hysterically, Twinlinked walked forward. Sight tried to stand in his way.

I WILL STOP YOU.

Darn, I was going to say that to you.

Sight pulled out its dagger again and thrust it at Twinlinked. He dodged with skill that would have taken years of practice in the real world. Becoming serious and quiet, he walked slowly but confidently away Sight, towards the vines. This time when Sight stabbed him, he let it. The pain – there was no pain. He kept walking. Sight threw boulders at him, but he kept walking forward. None of the boulders seemed to hit him. Sight teleported in front of him, but Twinlinked didn’t stop walking.

The force of his will made Sight walk backwards in order to stop Twinlinked from walking into it.

STOP.

No.

I WILL STOP YOU.

No you won’t.

Twinlinked didn’t believe he was going to make it to the mind-vines. He knew it. There was no doubt, and that was hurting Sight. With each sure step he took, he saw Sight wince.

YOU CANNOT WIN.

Prove it.

Sight made am army out of the dust to stop Twinlinked. He made himself armour and a guard unit.

Sight formed a massive wall. Twinlinked got a grappling hook and sturdy boots.

Sight grew a river of lava between him and the vines. Twinlinked formed a thick stone boat.

Sight arose a mountain for him to climb. Twinlinked made Pegasus wings.

Finally, Sight seemed to give up and disappeared. Twinlinked kept walking towards the vines. Slowly, he was making progress. Almost 50 paces from the vines now. 49 paces. 48 paces. 47. 46. 45

Twinlinked felt bile rise in his throat as he was spun around in a rapid circle. When he regained control of his stomach, he looked up

Instead of the Dustbowl Badlands, he was in a black chamber. There were no visible landmarks at all, just black. Seeking stimulation, he looked at himself, but found that even that was impossible. It was different to the connection Twilight and Twinlinked had first had, that had no sight at all. You could see the blackness here, even if that was all you could see.

Twinlinked knew he must not waver in his resolve. He started trotting slowly towards nowhere. He knew it was the act of moving wasn’t what was powerful. It was the will to move that was injuring Sight.

STOP MOVING. STOP THINKING.

This I getting tedious. Knock knock.

Twinlinked again relied on the fact that Sight had absorbed Twilight’s memories.

I KNOW WHO YOU ARE.

Oh come on. Humour me. Alright, if you answer the joke correctly I will stop moving.

WHO’S THERE?

The only reason this tactic worked is because Twinlinked meant it. He would stop if Sight answered the joke in the appropriate manner. The trick was that only Twinlinked knew the right answer.

Erma

ERMA WHO?

Erma coming through!

I WILL STOP YOU.

Wrong answer.

With the tables fully turned, Twinlinked simply walked out of his own brain. It was a little bit more complex than that, obviously, but that was how it was done. He found a vine, grabbed onto it and jumped.

Then there was white.