POV: Twilight Sparkle
I levitate the quill over the paper.
Dear Princess Celestia,
I sigh. It's been so long since I've written a letter to my mentor. So much has happened since that last letter.
I close my eyes.
I throw open the window. I smile. “Morning in Ponyville shimmers! Morning in Ponyville shines!” I turn around and run downstairs, waking Spike up in the process. “And I know for absolute certain,” I head out the door and close it behind me while still singing. “That everything is certainly fiiiinne!” I open my eyes and see across the town something strange. Where have I seen that kind of ungainly figure? Standing on two feet...fur-less...wait a human? But aren't they only in legends? I shake my head. I fire off a teleporting spell, appearing right behind him. Well, technically, I don't know the gender, but it is grammatically correct to say him. Unless, they don't have gender.
“Uh, you wouldn't happen to be a human?”
He looks around bewildered. He looks over my head and has a confused look on his face.
“Down here.”
As Ashura leaps towards Luna, murder intent on his mind, I see Celestia flash a familiar spell.
Wait, a teleporting spell? She wouldn't...but she would.
She would take the hit for her sister. She would take the hit from this demon...
This is all my fault...I should have known...I should have known...I should have seen that Antonio was being bothered by some other force...but I did not have see a demonic force. Otherwise, I would have told Celestia. This is all my fault. I feel the tears pressing to my eyes. I should have known...but because I did not know, this demon will kill her...
A dark blue aura slams into Ashura, knocking him back. He growls.
“THOU SHALT NOT SUCCEED IN THY VILLANRY!”A flurry of attacks fly down on Ashura. He gets knocked back to the edge of the room against the wall.
“THOU THERBY FORBIDDEN TO TRESPASS! THY LIFE IS A BANE TO THIS WORLD! DIETH THOU VILLIAN!”
That voice...where have I heard that voice? Ashura seems to recognize it also.
“You would defy your master? WHAT HAS GOTTEN INTO YOU? B”
“BE QUIET VILLAN!”
More attacks flurry down. Ashura jumps to the side to dodge them. Blood drips from his leg as a dark blue forming a spear grazing him.
“You would attack me? ME? BACK DOWN! I AM YOUR MASTER!”
“NO MORE! NO MORE! THOU WILT FALLEST THIS VERY DAY!”
“YOU HAVE NEVER SEEN MY POWER! YOU WILL FALL BEFORE ME!”
“I COULD SAYETH THE SAME OF THYSELF!”
Ashura fires an attack off. The attack is instantly countered by a dark blue aura. Wait what? Dark blue aura belongs to Luna…right? I glance over at Luna. She is still in the spot she was earlier with a confused expression on her face. Then who does that aura belong to?
“NIGHT OF DAY!”
Ashura looks up. “Oh...buck”
He instantly throws up a protective shield. Dark blue meteorites hit the shield forcing the shield closer and closer to Ashura.
“DARKNESS OF DEATH”
A harpoon of dark blue aura pierces the shield and causing the shield to break. Ashura glanced upwards and dodged sideways. I look up to find out what he keeps looking up for. There in a dark blue aura shield and flying to stay in the air is none other than...
I blink at the sight of her.
“BE GONE THY VILLANRY!”
“NIGHTMARE MOON! YOU WOULD BETRAY YOUR MASTER?” He growls. “REGARDLESS, I HAVE HAD ENOUGH!”
Nightmare Moon's dark blue aura and his black aura collide repeatedly causing explosions with each collision. Smoke fills the air.
Discord's face leers at the human standing with our group. “Well, well, well, what do we have here? How long has it been since I've seen one of your kind before? A thousand years? Two thousand?”
I shake my head. “Shut up Discord, and give us the elements of harmony!”
“Tsk, tsk, tsk. So impatient. Hmmmm...I was going to do something...but with a human here...that changes things.”
“Come'on pardn'er. I'm gettin’ mighty impatient here.”
“Why AppleJack? Where are thy manners? Can't you let a guy speak?” He proceeds to put on a baby face with tears leaking out of his eyes.
“Can it, Discord. Where are the elements so that we can put...”
“Put me back in a stone prison, ya I know RD. We've been through all this before remember RD? Wait! You know something RD? You're a cute little RD.”
“Hey! I'm not cute...I'm awesome.”
“Awesute.”
“Just get on with it.”
“Fine. Sheesh...Where are everypony's manners today?”
“DISCORD!”
“Impatiente osnos...Fine. But only after we play through a game.”
“Not again!”
“Yes again. Here's the riddle for you smart alecks.”
The Elements of Harmony ye seek
So my answer is to peek
But not within yourselves.
Two worlds collide,
One pure and holy,
The other defiled and broken.
In the middle of the chaos,
Your precious love will be found,
But at the test of your will.
Are you willing to learn
From the one who is broken?
Cause even the broken have lessons to give,
Are you ready to hear the call they emit?
What? Where do I even begin with this riddle?
“Discord?”
He grins at Antonio. “Lookey here! The human can speak! I'm shocked! What ya want though? I'm busy creating chaos.” He snaps a talon and a drink appears in his hand. He casually sips from it.
“If you did what I think you did, you will regret it.”
“And pray tell, what would you do to make me regret it? I'm immortal!”
Discord's glass shatters as Antonio lunges at him and grabs his neck, holding a sword to his neck.
“You would wish you were dead.”
“Oh, how terrifying! Please, I've had Celestia threaten me. What makes you any different?”
The sword swipes off Discord's head. Discord's talon grabs his head. “Well, somepony is very rude...”
“Discord, cut the act. I've seen true scales, and my sword ain't that sharp. At least not right now.”
“Fine.” Discord's body disappears and I see off in the distance lying in a hammock, Discord with sunglasses and a glass of lemonade. “But you still have to solve my riddle. Ta ta! I have chaos to stir.”
A flash of light.
Tirek chuckles behind me. “Is it not glorious? Your so called all powerful alicorns are gone, consumed by me. But this is a far more beautiful moment. Watching somepony's mind break from despair. And a human at that! This was the mighty Antonio that banished a companion equal to my power...and now he's broken. Glorious days are before us!”
My eyes drink in the sight before me. Antonio is kneeling over another human. I hear a strained whisper escape from his voice. “No...Please no. I had lost you for so long. I finally found you again...and now you're gone again.”
“Is it not perfect? Bring over an old friend of his, and one deeply loved by him, and watch his eyes light up with so called hope. Then crush the light in front of him, and it will break him. I never grow wearied of this part of my labors. The elements of harmony are dispersed, and I will soon kill the Element of Magic, the key to all this. Victory is so near, so close. This world will be mine to control, and soon enough we will have a second paradise. You should feel honored Twilight Sparkle. You are witnessing the dawn of a new age.”
I turn towards Tirek, Antonio's heart-wrenching cries echo behind me. “Tirek, you will never succeed...Never...”
“But I already have. Your mentor's power is mine to own. Discord yielded to my will, and now I have a minuscule part of his power. Your power will add to mine, and I will soon be unstoppable by heaven's forces themselves. Hell shall march on Heaven's gates! And you are witnessing the dawn of this age. This is the dawn of the reign of Tirek the Great!”
I fire a magical bolt at him. He smirks at me. “So, you will be like your master? So be it. Look into my eyes little pony.” His claws grabs my muzzle and forces me to look at his eyes. “These eyes will be the last eyes you will ever see.” He tosses me backwards. “Time for you to die now.” He summons a sword of fire and swings at me.
SCREEEEEEK! My ears flatten at the noise of two swords colliding.
Wait...I'm alive. I look back up at Tirek. In front of him stands Antonio who has blocked the blow. Tirek chuckles.
“Well, it looks like somebody still has a little fight in them. I look forward to this fight...” He trails off. “Why are your eyes black?”
Antonio's only verbal response is a growl.
Tirek sighs. He breaks off the sword lock and flies straight up. Antonio jumps after him and Tirek turns and slams his attack in the dead center of Antonio's exposed chest. I suck in a breath.
And a blast of darkness snuffs out all the lights. I saw the force of the blow that Antonio took...that was a killing blow. I can't see anything...not even the light from my horn...I can only hope for somepony to save me. I whimper in the darkness. “My friends...please help me...I can't do this on my own.”
Dear Princess Celestia,
My name is Twilight Sparkle. But you already knew that. I live in Ponyville...but you already knew that.
Spike, start over.
Wait...he's not here. I forget...
Dear Princess Celestia,
…
Deleting that...
I give up with the formality. I need to speak, write it down. Get this all out. And my friends need to do so also.
Pardon this rant of a letter, but I'm so close to breaking here. Now I see the horror Antonio knew. He tried to protect us from it...but he couldn't.
Am I at home? Or am I in hell? My friends are here with me in my room. The library still stands...but it's been so long since I've been here.
How did he deal with the war for seven years? It nearly broke me after 94 days, 16 hours, and 4.59 minutes.
Hell, it broke Pinkie. Here's her rambling right now.
IIIII...Blood...must see more blood! I KNOW! EVERYBODY LOVES CUPCAKES! WOULD YOU LIKE ONE! I NEED TO PUT A LITTLEBITof DASHIE IN THERE!
And that's not even counting her appearance. I can barely deal with it...
╫╜╫╜╫╜╫╜╫╜╫╜╫╜╫╜╫╜╫╜╫╜╫╜
Ignore that mess. I had to put Pinkie to sleep so I can actually write this.
She'll be fine...eventually.
At least it's over now...
Right?
There's a tap on the window. I glance at the window. Written in dark red dripping liquids are the following.
“It is.”
I gasp. I rush to the window and slam it open. I desperately look around. I catch a glimpse of a bloody tattered human walking away in the distance. Wait, is that Antonio?
I mutter his name. “Antonio?”
The others hear me. They rush to the window and look outside. Pinkie gasps and bolts out the door. I watch as a pink blur makes a bee-line for Antonio. I blink. I thought I put her to sleep. The pink blur stops right before him. I watch as Pinkie's mane stays flat. She looks even sadder to something Antonio just said. Antonio kneels and strokes her ear. I see a slight smile glance her face. He nods and gives her a hug. Pinkie begins to walk towards the library again. I watch as Antonio reaches the top of the hill at the entrance of Ponyville. He turns and faces the town. I lock eyes with him. He smiles, and he kneels at the hill. Remaining focused on me, he reaches out a hand. I stretch out my hoof towards him. He closes his hand and pats it over his heart. He stands. Still facing Ponyville, he looks up at the sky. He draws a breath and I feel myself shaking as I hear a distinct howl coming from him. I hear the howl being echoed by a pony below. I look down at the street and see Pinkie sitting in the road, howling in harmony with him.
“I don't get it? What is he doing?”
He howls again. I hear Pinkie echo the howl, and I hear a couple of distinct howls coming from the forest.
“Is this his goodbye?”
“Ah would say pardn'er.”
He draws out a third howl. I feel tears rolling down my face. I stick my head as far out of the window as I can, and I join in the howling. I hear a chorus of howls join me. As I listen to the howls, I realize why he picked the howl as his goodbye. I hear each howl from each pony. Each howl conveys a different tone to it...thus saying in one short howl, what would take each of us hours to expound with words. Each one has a emotional message, bringing the choir to life in my mind. I can hear the sadness, the pain, the regret in each howl. Some howls are joyful, happy. Others are mournful, quiet but firm. As the howls finally ends, he gives a pained smile. He turns and starts walking down the hill...away from Ponyville.
I hear Pinkie's soft voice below me. “Remember now...there is a time for laughter, and there is a time for tears. Right now is a time to mourn. Mourn your dead...and if you can, bury my friend. She deserves a proper grave. I hope to return soon, but duty calls my name. Goodbye, my friend.”
I draw my head back inside. I pick up my quill again. I dab it in ink. My ears twitch at the sound of the door being opened and closed. I hear hoof steps.
Dear Princess Celestia,
Antonio just stopped by. He had to say goodbye...but he didn't know how to say it. So he didn't. He just lived...enjoyed our friendship for one last time. When it was time to speak, he gave this message to Pinkie. Pinkie, can you write what he said?
Sure. “Remember now...there is a time for laughter, and there is a time for tears. Right now is a time to mourn. Mourn your dead...and if you can, bury my friend. She deserves a proper grave. I hope to return soon, but duty calls my name. Goodbye, my friend. I will see you soon. If I have breath, I will return. That's a promise, my friend. Until then, live life long, breath deep and love unconditionally.”
Princess...quick question. The horror we saw...is this what you saw when you heard that a human was back in Equestria? How did you know...how did he know what would happen?
I read over Pinkie's writing. Seeing her question on the letter, I answer it. As I write on the paper, I say out loud what I'm writing since it helps keeps my thoughts in order.
I do not know Pinkie...Princess, how did you know? And where did he go? Where did he go that he had to say duty calls? He can't be here for his friends...
Rainbow Dash flies up, grabs my paper and quill, and begins writing something.
“Rainbow Dash! Give that back to me...” I trail off as she bolts out the window. I watch the paper flutter to the ground. I pick it up to read what she wrote.
DUTY? HE SAID DUTY?!?!? I HAVE TO GO GET HIM! He's GOING BACK TO HIS WORLD...BACK TO THE WAR THAT NEARLY BROKE HIM...
RAINBOW DASH! I fire up a teleporting spell to the top of the hill. I look frantically around and spot her off...flying off after Antonio. I see Antonio step through a portal. I teleport off in front of Rainbow Dash. She brakes to a stop in front of me. “I'm sorry Rainbow Dash...but he's gone for now.”
She collapses into me. “I tried to stop him...I didn't want him to go back...he told me what it was like back home...but I couldn't stop him.” Her tears seep into my mane. I hold her tight. It's rare for her to let down her guard, so I need to make sure she knows I won't think any less of her if she does. I open my muzzle to speak.
“MUFFINS!”
A gray blur slams into me from behind. A flash of light covers my vision and I open my eyes. I see a metallic gray room, with a door on one end. I see Rainbow Dash in front of me slowing standing to her feet.
“Uh...what just happened?”
I glance at the gray pony lying next to her. I hear a mutter from her muzzle. “Muffins!”
I respond to Rainbow Dash's question. “I think Derpy may have flown into us...but where are we now?”
I hear a familiar voice from behind me. “I'm not sure whether to be pissed or happy. I'll go for both. Eventually. Meh. You're on my world now. You guys have the worst of timing. I had just checked outside and seen that I was back on my world, and I came back in here to close the portal so no one would get over here. I close the portal, and right as I do so, I hear three bumps. And what do I see before me! TWILIGHT SPARKLE, RAINBOW DASH, and DERPY HOOVES!”
I flinch. Rainbow Dash speaks up. “Can't you send us back?”
I look back at Antonio's face. He deadpans. “I can...but it will be a while.”
“Why?”
“I found the spell, and I could perform it. But in order to do so by myself, I needed extra power. Celestia borrowed the Elements of Harmony from you all, and infused a gem with enough power, when combined with me to perform the spell. Princess Luna and Celestia also infused power into the gem to make sure the Elements would have enough energy to be used once until it could recharge. I used the gem and my power after saying goodbye to y'all. That gave me just enough power to perform the spell, and close the portal once done. However, I'm exhausted. I won't be able to open it till my energy is back, and I need to expand my endurance so that I can actually open the damn thing. Either that, or find a power gem.”
“So what does that mean?”
He glares at us. “I'll figure out whose fault is all this later and chew them out then. But the gist of it is this, you're stuck here for three months.”
“THREE MONTHS?”
“Minimum.”
I look at Rainbow Dash. I look at Derpy to chew her out. I blink. I notice on her eyes is my letter. I grab it with telekinetics. Antonio looks at it. “What's that?”
“My letter to the Princess...I didn't send it.”
“Which means...”
“They don't know about Rainbow Dash heading over to stop you...they don't even have a clue. Even if they could cast the portal...they don't know we're gone. They don't know...they don't even have a inkling that something could have happened. And they won't know till our friends can tell them.”
I see Rainbow Dash sigh. Antonio nods. Rainbow speaks up.
“So that means....”
Antonio interrupts my response. “That you're stuck with me for at least a couple of weeks.”
I hear an explosion outside. “And what was that?”
“The exact reason why I wanted you NOT to come to my world.”
“Which is?”
“World War Three.”
“WORLD WAR WHAT?”
“Three.”
“How does a planet have three world wars?”
“How does a planet have peace for a thousand years?”
“Touché.”
“So what do we do now?” Rainbow's voice.
Antonio hesitates. I press the matter by looking at him.
He answers my look. “Y'all are going to have to come to my base of operations. You will be at the heart of this war, and you will have to hide. I'll do my best to protect you from the war, but if you're seen, I cannot protect you from mankind's depravity.”
I pale. “That's it? That's all we can do? We have to hide? Hide from the war? And hide from your friends? Why????”
“Because war brings out the worst of mankind.”
“The worst?”
“They make my actions with Ashura controlling me look tame at times.”
“WHAT? THAT BAD? But...but...but...” I stammer.
“Yes. That bad.” He gives me a deadpan look.
Dead silence enters the room. I can hear my exhales and inhales.
“Muffins?”
Dear Princess Celestia, we're bucked.
