A Light in the Dark

by Kodeake

Rating: teen
Tags: Twilight Sparkle, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Rainbow Dash, Sad, Romance, Tragedy
Length: 1620

A letter is all they found, but they knew what had happened. War is never easy, especially for those with loved ones fighting. Lights are brightest in the dark.

I never stopped thinking about you. Not once. Every day, I remembered your voice, your smile, your eyes. And every time it hurt worse than I could have ever imagined. And each day was worse than the last. I love you. More than anything in Equestria. More than flying, more than the Wonderbolts, more than my wings, I love you, Twilight. Goodbye.

- Rainbow Dash

Happy Hearts and Hooves day?

Published 2015-02-13 22:10:01 UTC
Last updated 2015-02-13 22:10:01 UTC

The Dark

Lights are Brightest in the Dark

You told me, once, that lights shine brightest when they're surrounded by darkness. If that's true, then I must be brighter than the sun itself right now.

Small, dark smudges on the page mixed with the ink, blurring some words beyond recognition.

And you... I can't even imagine how bright you must be. You were always my light, brighter than any star in the sky. A beacon in the night, calling out to me each and every day. I tried; I swear I tried, but I know now I'll never reach you.

Throughout the page dark, reddish brown blotches mixed with the clear ones, telling a story the letter itself never could. A story of pain and suffering and misery.

It's not going to be long now; I can't just hide in a cave forever. You know how I am. Still... just a little while longer, to finish this. I need to say this now, because I'll never get another chance.

Fresh, clear droplets joined the old, dried splotches on the page as shining orbs fell from shimmering eyes.

I suppose I better get it over with then. Just.... let me start from the beginning first. I have time for that. When I met you, I saw what everypony else saw; what you wanted everypony else to see. I learned, all too quickly, that you weren't what you seemed. To this day I remember that moment, that one instant, where I knew I'd do anything in my power to help you. Like something suddenly fell into place in my head and everything in me screamed at me for not seeing it sooner. From that day on I promised myself; I'd do whatever I could to help you and protect you. I didn't know what I thought I'd have to protect you from, but I just knew I was going to do it.

We had so many adventures, so many amazing times. I can't say all of them now, and trying would be pointless. But... slowly, I saw you as something else. Something more. And it scared me to death, but I don't regret anything about it. Except not being able to tell you. I was going to... but one day it all stopped. Life seemed stopped when they attacked us. Before I even knew what I was doing I had signed up and was whisked away from everypony. And from you. I never even got a chance to really, properly say goodbye. Guess I have the chance now...

Heavy sobbing filled the air as yet more tears fell onto the letter. Its age showed; the paper was yellowed and torn, and it was steadily getting covered in more and more tears.

I never stopped thinking about you. Not once. Every day, I remembered your voice, your smile, your eyes. And every time it hurt worse than I could have ever imagined. And each day was worse than the last. I love you. More than anything in Equestria. More than flying, more than the Wonderbolts, more than my wings, I love you, Twilight. Goodbye.

- Rainbow Dash

A thick smear of dried blood seemed to underline the last words, giving a sickening, suffocating sense of finality to the letter. Twilight sank deeper into her throne, tears streaming down her cheeks as the paper fell from her hooves to the ground, where it sat and waited to be put away in its own little spot. The same spot she'd kept it for the past two years.

It had been found in a cave next to a battlefield, though no bodies had ever been found, everypony that had been stationed there had never been seen again. With the enemy, that wasn't an uncommon occurrence; griffons had always been known for their ability to improvise and survive under any circumstance. War was no different.

Now, two years later after the letter and three years after the start of the war, it had finally been put to rest. Neither side wished to continue the bloodshed, and though tense, a peace treaty had been formed and signed. Twilight had been the final signature on the document.

On the eve of Hearts and Hooves day, the war was over and the soldiers could return home to their special someponies in time for the holiday.

Except Twilight's.

She sighed a quiet, heartbroken sigh to herself and stood from her throne in her Crystal Castle. There were many speeches to give, many troops to welcome home, many things to do, and she wasn't going to get any of them done if she didn't get some sleep.

Carefully collecting the letter in her magic and folding it up, Twilight discretely teleported it back to its hiding place, where it would always be on-hoof when she needed it. Picking her way through the empty crystalline halls she arrived at her bedroom, the full moon shining brightly in celebration of peace at last. In the silvery light she could see Spike sleeping in his small bed off to the side, seemingly content, even if he missed Rainbow just as much as everypony else.

The letter was not a secret; all her friends knew about it and what it said. It was not hers to hide from the world, but they had agreed it was hers alone to keep.

A quick glow of magic saw the traditional royal regalia removed from Twilight's body, leaving her feeling infinitely lighter as she climbed into bed under the blanket. With a grunt she rolled onto her side, staring out the window into the shimmering ceris eyes of a pegasus sitting on her balcony.

Twilight jumped up, flinging the blanket off her and staring wide-eyed out her balcony at the impossibility sitting their. With a glow of magic Twilight flung the doors open, nearly tearing them from their hinges.

“Heh, easy Twi,” Rainbow Dash said, smirking. “You might wake Spike.”

Jaw working uselessly, the alicorn could only offer a few confused noises.

Rainbow smiled genuinely, walking slowly into the room and glanced at a clock hanging on the wall, watching as it ticked past midnight. “Happy Heart and Hooves day, Twilight,” she said.

“R... Rainbow.... y-you.... you're....”

Lifting a hoof, Rainbow effortlessly cut off Twilight's half formed thoughts as she pressed it to the alicorn's lips. “Be quiet, Twilight. Can't you just be happy?” Reaching her hoof up from Twilight's lips, Rainbow gently cupped her face, taking a moment before leaning forward and planting her own lips where he hoof had been.

Twilight's eyes shot open wide; she could feel it. This wasn't some kind of hallucination, not some kind of dream; she could feel it. It was real. Instantly she melted into the embrace, wrapping her hooves around the pegasus and squeezing as if to never let go again. Their kiss lasted eternities, and at some point her eyes slid shut.

When next they opened, she stood alone in her bedroom.

“R-rainbow? Rainbow!?”

A small breeze rolled in through her open balcony doors, blowing her curtains gently. The wind carried with it inaudible words; “I love you.”

Twilight hung her head, burning tears rolling down her cheeks.

“I love you too, Rainbow... I always will.”

Author's Note

In honour of those who have fought, on any side, in any war. Not everyone comes home safe.

Special thanks to Incredible Blunderbolt and his amazing story I'll be home for Hearth's Warming Eve which in many ways inspired this. If you liked mine, go read his; it's much better.

Alternate Ending; The Light

Twilight jumped up, flinging the blanket off her and staring wide-eyed out her balcony at the impossibility sitting their. With a glow of magic Twilight flung the doors open, nearly tearing them from their hinges.

“Twilight...” Rainbow seemed just as much at a loss as Twilight did. For a a few brief, terrifying moments, neither moved. Suddenly, Rainbow made her move, running into the room and tackling Twilight like a lion pounces on its prey. Twilight landed on her back sending a sharp pain through her body, but she didn't care.

“Rainbow.... it's.... it's really you....”

The pegasus nodded as unabashed tears rolled down her cheeks. “It's me Twi....”

“What.... I thought.... what happened?”

Rainbow smiled. “We were captured, Twi; my entire unit. Same with the others who went missing; the griffons were capturing us, no killing us. So many ponies we thought died are coming home tonight; they let us go as soon as the peace treaty was signed.”

“I...” Twilight's fought through her tears to speak. “I thought you were dead.... two years, Rainbow; for two years I thought you were dead!”

The pegasus wilted slightly, taking a step back and off of the alicorn. “I tried to get out, Twi; I tried to many times but I couldn't.”

“Come here.” In a magical glow Rainbow's body was pulled back up until she was once again stood directly atop Twilight, their faces mere inches apart. Their heavy breaths mingled and their eyes locked. “I got your letter, you know.”

“Oh... that one... listen, Twi, I- mmmph!? Mmm....”Rainbow gave in to the kiss Twilight initiated, willingly surrendering herself to it in full as her eyes slid shut.

Twilight's did the same, reveling in the feeling of warmth emanating from the pegasus above her. When her eyes open, she found herself looking back into Rainbow's own.

“You have no idea how long I've been waiting to do that,” Rainbow panted breathlessly. “I love you, Twilight.

“I love you too, Rainbow.”

Author's Note

In honour of those who have fought, on any side, in any war. Some people do come home safe.