Incubus

Twilight Sparkle poured her friend a drink. Sonata Dusk was still bed-ridden. Still in her traumatic, near-comatose state. She smiled at the one laying bandaged and cozy in their hospital bed. It looked so fitting for Sonata do be asleep. To be one with the dark. Her friend Adagio had rest. They had rest from this awful world that Sonata and everyone else had to suffer and endure. Twilight Sparkle rose from her seat and left her flowers black as void. They left with their long suitcase. Every corridor she traversed and braved blew her ears out. It was much too noisy. Much too abrasive on calibrated, careful ears.

Her highness went home to her castle, being greeted by her loyal guards. It was her stronghold that made her feel safe. Ponies were unpredictable and dynamic. Walls never thought of taking someone out or shooting anyone. Walls were walls. They were inanimate objects that served a purpose. If someone treated them right, they would stay strong. If someone abused a wall, it'd break down. Just like it should've been.

Twilight took her coat off and fixed her eyepatch, keeping her suitcase with her. It settled onto the crystalline flooring beside the royal mattress. All was still in the dead of night. And though her door broke the silence with a most familiar knock, she didn't mind. The hospital trip took a lot out of Twilight. They answered the call and found a familiar earth pony smiling behind it. Applejack tipped her hat, dapper as ever with some bags at the waist. Judging from the smell, it was a hard cider surprise. She smelled the faint presence of metal as well. But it wasn't from the bags. The bags were empty. It must've been her belt pouches.

"Ready to drink?" Jacquelyn charmed, grinning wide when her friend scowled in disapproval.

"Oh hush, Twilight. This ain't no eighty proof shit. Just drink up, cause you've kept Ponyville outta trouble all this time." She insisted, bringing the mare in with her left foreleg.

Well. Okay. Twilight softly dragged her oblong case over, setting it in their lap. Her highness took their shot, downing what was offered. Hn. Crisp. The burn was crisp and clung needles against her throat. Was it possible to feel so numb to all that alcohol. She didn't seem to react strongly anymore. The still was too watered. Who said office work wasn't good for a mare. All those nights drinking herself under her desk paid off. The princess gave a wry smile and met her friend's eyes. They met with the same impact as always, drawing easy smiles from either party. They were both in the same cage, her and Twilight. They both lived Appleloosa and saw the galloping blaze. Twilight snickered when eyeing her old partner's lovely scar, which only showed when she wasn't in her glass: stretching, raw scars across her hooves. Jacquelyn's scars were akin to missing circles of fur and flesh.

Twilight tipped another glass back, listening to her friend chat.

"So you hear about how the cemetery got broken into yesterday?"

"Yes. Why?"

"I heard some grave robber got to Sweetie Belle's grave. Why would somepony go after her body? Got any idea...?"

Twilight thought long and hard for a moment before resting her chin on her hoof. The most delicate of thought processes were required to answer that question. Not just anyone in Ponyville would defile the grave of a child, much less the sister of an element of harmony. Applejack poured another glass and drank from her own, their hoof just bent over the shotglass.

"Well, I'd say... it's probably one of those cultists. We've only gotten down to one of the cults. There's still at least one of them out there." Answered the princess, glancing down at her glass and taking another drink.

Jacquelyn rubbed her own chin with her forehoof, glancing back at the exit.

"Well, you see, Twilight... I don't know why there weren't any more cultists in my house when uh... they took out Applebloom. It was just one colt. And he didn't seem like much of a fighter. He got killed by Sonata, and she's just a farmhand."

The mare trotted over to her left wall and observed the paintings near the door out. Flattering. But the paintings were only recycled classics. From one about Dante to others involving the great deceiver, Twilight's tastes were nothing especially refined or salient in comparison to all nobles. Minute silence took the square space as Jacquelyn studied the painting of Nightmare Moon's rise.

"It's weird, because I thought you charging into that cult place a few months back... was really something. You found Lilith there and you hadn't a scratch on ya after you left. Then, you went investigating with me, but no matter how hard we beat them, they never said a God damn word. But Officer Doo got one to talk in a few minutes..."

Twilight Sparkle strained her horn to levitate her sword. But it didn't work. Her horn didn't work. The room turned into an oven as sweat leaked down Twilight's coat. Before she knew it, the alicorn's glamour faded. Applejack's sullen whisper rung in her ears.

"You used to have a boyfriend, right? Twilight never had the chance to get with Flash Sentry. But you did... didn't you?"

Twilight Sparkle rose up from her seat and dressed in her white coat, missing the feel of a plush lab coat over her skin. The girl found her old spectacles and fixed them on, slowly buttoning up her only article of clothing. She affixed her utility belt to her waist while Applejack stepped closer, decloaking her powerhoof boots. They were on her hindhooves. Twilight Sparkle, annoyed at her detective work, glanced back, letting her cold, analytical eyes bore wounds into Applejack.

"How long have you known?"

"I knew Twilight would never give me a drink. Ever. She'd make me put it down, because she knew about how bad my condition was. She wouldn't let all our friends hurt like you did."

Jacquelyn took her nearby cellular and let the girl make one more call. A simple nod answered her offer. She took the chance to say a few words to someone who deserved it. And that person would understand, even when the person they loved wasn't who they wanted, kisses were kisses and love was love.

"Lilith... I don't have much time. But I'm sorry. I thought I had more time."

'What? Whaddyou mean? Twilight, what happened?'

"I'm going to die, Lilith. I love you. I was too scared to tell you. And I'll never live it down. But believe me... when I say... I... I love you. No matter what happens, I never lied t-to you ab-about that-t."

'Twilight!? Twilight where are you?!'

She held the phone to her lips and answered, swallowing her sobs and hiccups.

'"Home. Don't come after me. Stay... safe. I'll miss you."