Author's Note
Finally, its done, feedback is much appreciated.
Tick Tock Tick Tock...
Countdown
It was late in the afternoon and PRINCESS Twilight was laying on her bed in the Golden oaks library contemplating the coronation that had taken place two days ago...her coronation. *Sigh*
Twilight thought about the responsibilities that she would now have as a princess, although she didn’t know what kind of ‘princess’ she was going to be. Twilight looked up at the moon through her window and smiled confidently. “I’m not going to let princess Celestia down.” She said, then Twilight began to drift off to sleep.
“As Twilight began to fall into a half asleep half awake, she thought about ‘Lesson zero’ and how much trouble she had caused for the town.
What if princess Celestia gives me smaller duties because of that incident?
Twilights eyes began to open up, her thoughts racing. Or what if I’m not a good enough- NO! Don’t think like that Twilight, you said that you wouldn’t let princess Celestia down and you meant it!. Finally after thinking that last thought she fell asleep.
*NEXT MORNING*
“Wake up Twilight! I have a surprise for you!” a familiar voice said. Twilight opened her hazy eyes and sat up in her bed to find a purple dragon on top of her with a wide smile on his face.
Twilight yawned, Spike has never woken her up before, whatever awaited her in the day must be exciting. “Good Morning Spike, how did you sleep?” Twilight asked rubbing the sleep out of her eyes.
“Fine, now hurry up downstairs! I have a surprise for you.” The purple dragon said jumping off of the bed and running downstairs.
Twilight brushed her mane really quick and walked downstairs to the kitchen. *Gasp* Twilight gasped as she looked at the purple pancakes on the kitchen table and Owlicious wearing a party hat, flying next to a banner that said ‘Congratulations Twilight’. “Well do you like it?” Spike said putting on a party hat.
Twilight was speechless, but managed to find the right words to choke out of her throat. “I love it Spike, I can’t believe you did this all for me.” She said sitting down in a chair eating her pancakes.
“Who!” Owlicious said protesting that Spike wasn’t the only one who helped.
Spike smiled. “Well we both did it as a team.” Spike said with a smile as he sat down to eat some breakfast gems.
Twilight said thank you to both Spike and Owlicious, after she finished eating she gave Spike a hug “I’m going upstairs for some studying then later you two can accompany me for a walk.” she said with a smile.
“Who.” Owlicious said in an agreeing tone.
“Ok.” Spike said with a smile as he began to clean up the dishes. “While I’m waiting I’ll go over to Rarity’s place and tell her my plan went well, is it alright if you pick me up from there when you're ready?” Spike asked drying his claws with a dishtowel.
“Of course it’s all right, say hi to Rarity for me.” She said smiling and walking up the stairs to her room. Spike smiled and walked out the door. Owlicious flew over to her stand and took a nap.
As Twilight sat down in front of her desk she began to levitate books and scrolls from various shelves, while she was doing this Twilight began to think about her friends and what they meant to her, after all this was their accomplishment too. If it weren’t for their friendship she never would've gotten to the place she was today.
*Sigh* Twilight smiled and began to read a few old spell books, as she read them doubts were creeping into her mind again.
What if I fail my friends as a princess? What if they expect different things from me now that I’m an alicorn?
Twilight new that with her new power she could easily do things for her friends that she couldn’t before, what if they ask her for things that SHE can’t do?
No, they wouldn’t do that… She thought to herself. They...Know my limitations, I’m sure they wouldn’t ask me of things I can’t deliver. her mind became restless and she put down the book.
But…..There was ‘The ticket master’...What if they DON’T know my limitations, what if because I’m a princess now they expect NEW limitations and forget about the old ones??.
Twilight got up and began to pace around the room nervously. What If they think I’m too busy for them anymore and leave me out of activities because I have royal duties? What if I have to move out of ponyville back to Canterlot to live with the princess and my contact with them is limited!!?? What if-
She stopped herself eyes now shrinking in fear.
....They forget about me?
Tick Tock. “Ah!” Twilight shot her head up, startled. “What was that?” Twilight could’ve swore she heard a ticking noise. She glanced over to the small clock in her room. “No it can’t be this I turned it off.” She listened for the ticking noise again and heard nothing.
I wonder what that was.... Twilight assumed she was hearing things and was about to ponder again.
Wait. What was I thinking about? Twilight had completely forgotten about what she was thinking about prior to the moment she heard the ‘ticking noise’. “It probably wasn’t too important.” She said sitting down and continuing her studies.
*LATER*
It was sunset and there was a cool breeze, the air smelled slightly of apples, the green grass under her hooves was cool and the sensation of dirt could be felt as she was walking. “It’s beautiful.” Spike said turning to Twilight.
Twilight nodded. “I’m glad Owlicious picked Sweet apple acers for our walk.”
“Who.” Owlicious said in a ‘Your welcome’ tone.
“Well don’t get ahead of yourself.” Spike said with a cocky smile. “I’m surprised we still went, you looked really tired when you came to pick me up from Rarity's place.”
Twilight looked at him with a kinder smile. “I wasn’t really, I just got so excited it wore me out.” Twilight caught herself in her lie and tore her gaze away from the purple dragon.
Why did I just lie? I could’ve just said I was tired from….Thinking about the ticking.
Now she understood why she had lied, she didn’t want her most loyal friend worrying about her when it really was nothing at all “Oh, well I was super excited too.” Spike said with a chipper smile.
Owlicious gazed at Twilight with worry, she new that Twilight was lying but because she was just an owl, nothing could be done about it.
Twilight continued to talk with Spike and walked through the orchard until it was dark, then they all went home and Twilight put Spike to bed. *Yawn* Twilight yawned as she threw the curtains over herself and rocked off to sleep.
Tick Tock Tick Tock Tick Tock What if...They forget me? TICK TOCK TICK TOCK TICK TOCK TICK TOCK TICK- *Brrrriiiinnng* The alarm clock went off and Twilight's head shot up in shock.
“Mmmmm, gah! What time is it!?” Twilight said looking at the alarm clock, it was 6:35 in the morning and the sun was just starting to come up.
Twilight began to grow frustrated and grit her teeth in anger. WHY CAN’T I HAVE MORE SLEEP!!!?? She thought to herself. I BARELY GOT ANY LAST NIGHT! Why can’t the sun just go AWAY!? WHY CAN’T CELESTIA JUST GO AWAY- Tick Tock Tick Tock Tick Tock. !!!
Twilight’s head rapidly turned around to the alarm clock but it was shut off. “Wah?” she said out loud. The ticking was the same as it was last night and earlier yesterday. But what could be causing it.
“I-I don’t understand.” Twilight said softly why would I want Celestia to go away? Twilight began to tear up at the thought of her dear princess disappearing and because of the sudden...Stress she was under.
“Who.” Twilight looked up and rubbed her eyes, it was Owlicious motioning for her to come downstairs for breakfast. Twilight smiled and told the owl that she would be downstairs in a minute.
Twilight began to brush her teeth and looked in the mirror to see bags under her eyes. Maybe I should go to bed earlier. she thought. *spit*
“Or maybe I should just die all together.” Twilights eyes opened up in shock at what she just said, had she really just told herself that she should DIE!? What is wrong with me!?
*LATER*
Twilight was walking through town to the herb store looking to buy tea to help her sleep better, she tried to avoid most of her friends so they didn’t have to see her in the state that she was. *sigh* “At least it’s a nice day outside.” Twilight said looking to the clouds.
“Oh, hi Twilight.” A familiar voice said.
Twilight looked at the yellow pegasus in front of her. “H-Hi Fluttershy, isn’t it a lovely day out?” she said a bit flustered.
“Why it’s a lovely day outside.” Fluttershy said with a kindness in her voice. “But you don’t look so good, maybe instead of shopping you should go home and rest. I’m sure ALL of Equestria would like you to get your sleep now that you're a princess.” Fluttershy flew off waving goodbye.
Twilight however was taken aback by her statement. that ‘ALL of Equestria would like her to get her sleep’. New expectations…..I’ll...Fail them. Tick Tock Tick Tock Tick Tock.
Twilight’s eyes shrunk in fear, there was no clock around this time, so now she knew that the ticking wasn’t from any clock. It was coming from inside her head.
Twilight quickly prepared a teleportation spell to get back to the library when an earlier thought crossed her mind, a thought that she had forgotten about.
The’ll forget about me……
Tick Tock Tick Tock Tick Tock Tick Tock. The ticking grew louder and louder until it was deafening to her ears and a headache surfaced.
Twilight shut her eyes in pain and held her hooves over her head, and the ticking grew louder. “Darling?” Twilight snapped out of it and looked behind her.
“Rarity! I didn’t see you.” She gave an awkward smile to her unicorn friend.
“Yes, well that would be because I was behind you. But what are you doing holding your head in the market?” Rarity asked concerned.
Twilight thought of an answer that was ‘almost’ the truth. “Oh, well I have a headache and it was getting worse.” Rarity gasped.
“Darling! Why did you not say earlier today!? I was just heading to the spa to get a massage and I needed to stop by the market to pick up a few things. If you had told me then I surely would’ve invited you.” Rarity said with a smile.
“Ugh, no thanks Rarity, I have to get home now.” Twilight said turning around and walking back to the library.
Rarity gave her usual get well soon smile and waved goodbye.
As Twilight walked in the library she saw Spike taking an afternoon nap and decided to sneak upstairs. All she could think about was the ticking.
“C’mon, there has to be something!” Twilight said as she frantically looked through her room for some type of book that would explain this. But there was nothing. “No, there has to be SOMETHING!” Twilight began to sweat, despite it being cool outside and in her room.
No, no no no NO! she thought.
Wh-what if this happens with my new duties as a princess? she thought, what if she wasn’t able to find a solution? for her and her friends if they encountered a problem?
Tick Tock Tick Tock Tick Tock.
No..Tick..NO!..Tock.. The ticking continued and Twilight began to cry.
STOP STOP STOP!!!
Twilight began to feel dizzy and sat on the bed as she began to close her eyes the ticking grew louder, then everything felt like a blur, she could no longer feel her tears.
Then Twilight began to open her eyes completely from there dazed and hazy state. “!!? What?”
It was suddenly nighttime. H-Have I been sitting here all day?
“Who!” Twilight's attention shot up and looked to the owl flying towards her.
“Owlicious?” Twilight said.
“Who!” Owlicious grabbed Twilight’s calendar and she saw something that made her tense up.
“Wh-What?” Twilight looked at her calender and saw that there was a red circle around the 30th of the current month. And the current day crossed off.
“Th-This is impossible!” she said.
Twilight didn’t mark anything for the 30th and the day today was the 27th. “What’s...Going to happen on the 30th…?” She said out loud. Then Twilight began to feel her headache creep up on her again and she passed out.
Tick Tock Tick Tock Tick Tock TICK TOCK TICK TOCK TICK TOCK TICK TOCK TICK TOCK TICK TOCK TICK TOCK.
Twilight’s head cocked up from her not so replenishing sleep. And she saw a terrifying sight. It was Owlicious, horribly mutilated on the floor in a puddle of blood, Twilight thought she was about to scream when suddenly- “Who.”
“!!??” Twilight realized, it was only just a hallucination, but why? Why would she hallucinate such a horrifying scene?
“WHO!” Owlicious said slightly impatient.
“I-I’m sorry, I-I just need some sleep….I’ll worry about the calendar later…” Twilight laid her head down to go to sleep, which she shouldn’t be doing at a time like this.
My head hurts so much… She thought.
I need to sleep. The tired and confused mare fell asleep.
Tick Tock TICK TOCK TICK TOCK TICK TOCK TICK TOCK
*NEXT MORNING*
Twilight opened her eyes slightly and winced in pain at the piercing ringing in her ears, she also had a headache. Despite this she got up and saw that the calendar from before had fallen on the floor next to the bed and the 28th was crossed off. “Oh no, maybe it wasn’t the best idea to-”
Twilight looked up and saw Owlicious on the floor horribly mutilated in a puddle of blood dead. This time Twilight KNEW she wasn’t hallucinating. “No….Nonononononono!” she said in panic.
Why….Why...I don’t understand! Twilight began to cry and hyperventilate.
Her heart was racing and she wanted to scream, but no words came out. There was a burning in her face and the tears continued to flow down her cheeks, she lifted Owliciouses body and shoved it behind a few books in a tight space on a bookshelf, Owlicious deserved better but right now it was all Twilight could think of.
“I’m- *hic* so so so *hic* s-so s-sorry….I...I.” Twilight kept apologizing as she cleaned up the blood guts and feathers off the floor, she knew that she was the one who killed Owlicious, but why?
Tick Tock Tick Tock Tick Tock.
Twilight suddenly became sweaty and felt like she was about to throw up from the thought of killing one of her closest companions. “Twilight!” Spike said from downstairs. “Are you done up there!?”
Twilight gathered her thoughts and walked halfway downstairs. “Wh-What do you mean by done?” She said trying to sound as normal as possible.
“You said that you had to do a few things to do with Owlicious in your room and told me to start making breakfast...Are you ok? You seemed a little out of it this morning!”
Twilight swallowed hard trying to submerge the rising vomit in her mouth, the image of her dead friend was still in her head. “I’m fine Spike! Why don’t you go...To Rarity’s again and help her!” she shouted.
“Are you sure!? You really didn’t look to good when I saw you!” He said.
Twilight calmed down and tried to put a ‘reassuring tone’ in her voice. “I’ll be fine once I take a trip to the lake with some books! If you go with Rarity It will really help!”
Spike perked up in his tone and said that he’d leave breakfast on the table for her, as Twilight walked down the stairs Spike told her that he would be back in an hour or so, still not thinking that she should be home by herself.
After Spike left, Twilight put on some sunglasses to hide her baggy eyes and headed down to the lake. “The cool water will do me good…” She said quietly to herself. As Twilight got to the lake she saw Rainbow dash and Pinkie pie swimming together and laughing.
Oh no… she thought.
If they see me then…
“Hey! Is that Twilight?” Pinkie pie said.
Twilight panicked and prepared a teleportation spell. As she poofed in the library she felt her headache get worse. “Ughhh.”
Twilight moaned in discomfort, despite all that had happened Twilight knew that taking a quick dive in the lake would calm her nerves and clear her head. Under normal circumstances she would read a book, but in this case submerging her head and body in a cool lake on a hot day would do her good.
Th-The princess will know what to do.
Twilight quickly grabbed a piece of paper and a quill and began to write a letter to her princess, even with Spike gone there were alternative ways to send a letter to the princess, and THIS letter had to be one that Spike didn’t need to know about.
“Dear princess Celestia, It is your faithful student and princess Twilight sparkle, I-” Twilight stopped writing when she realized she had no idea how to even BEGIN a letter to the princess about a situation like this.
“It is your faithful student Twilight sparkle, there have been recent...I’m writing to you about an incident that occurred… I haven't been feeling….I need your opinion and assistance with…. I’ve been receiving a strange ‘ticking’ noise in my head and I was wondering if it meant….anything…”
Twilight crumpled up the paper and began to burn it with her magic, she couldn’t tell the princess she didn’t know how or even where to begin.
What if Celestia thinks I’ve failed her or that I’m crazy? What if I am….Crazy...What if I can’t be a princess, I just k-killed one of my subjects.
Thoughts began to race through her head. Thoughts of failure, deceit, and fear, Tick Tock Tick TOCK TICK TOCK. Soon a haziness enveloped her.
What if Celestia took away her wings? What if- *KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK* “Twilight! Are you home its me! Pinkie pie, and Rainbow dash is here to!”
“Yeah, we were wondering if you could come out and tell us what was going on at the lake.” Rainbow yelled through the door.
Twilight immediately snapped out of her death trance and opened the door without thinking, she just wanted to see and hear her friends at this point. “Hi girls.” Twilight said with a painted smile.
“Hi! Twilight!” Pinkie pie said with a happy smile.
“Hi Pinkie pie, hi Rainbow dash.” Twilight said.
“Yeah, so what happened down at the lake, you seemed kinda...Well.” Rainbow trailed off and Pinkie pie finished her sentence.
“Jumpy!” she said hopping up and down in her pinkie like manner.
“That sounds about right, but now that I’m lookin’ atchya you seem more sick than anything. Are you feeling alright?” Rainbow dash said concerned.
“If you're feeling under the weather you should take a nap and drink loooooooots of leek soup!” Pinkie said with a smile.
Twilight sighed. “I’m feeling fine, but I guess a nap wouldn’t hurt. And leak soup you said?” Twilight stared at Pinkie waiting for a response.
“Yup.” The pink pony said smiling.
“Well, come get us if you need anything. And if you ARE sick then be sure to get plenty of rest and feel better by tomorrow.” Rainbow dash said smiling an egoistic smile.
“What? What’s tomorrow?” Twilight asked.
“Duh, my party!” Rainbow said rolling her eyes at the purple alicorn.
“You forgot!? That doesn’t sound Twilighty at all!” Pinkie pie said in shock.
Twilight’s expression hardened.
So what if it doesn’t sound like me!? what do you care you…
Tick Tock Tick Tock Tick Tock. Twilight calmed down. “I’ll be there ok?” she slammed the door.
“Woah.” Rainbow dash said flying off.
“......” Pinkie pie didn’t like this very much, she began to trot over to Carousel boutique to talk to Spike, her mind deep in thought while her head was facing the ground slightly.
“I don’t get it….” Pinkie said outloud. Why would Twilight be acting like this? Even when she WAS sick, her attitude didn’t change she was always attempting to be polite and kept a smile on her face. “Twilight should be happy, she’s a princess now.”
Twilight began to pace around the room. Tick Tock Tick Tock Tick Tock TICK TOCK.
Why would I be so rude to my friends!? And why didn’t I mark the party on a calendar!?
Her head was spinning in circles, why was she like this? Why was she so inconsiderate? The whole reason why Celestia made her an alicorn was BECAUSE she learned about friendship, it was fine occasionally but she still didn’t understand why she couldn’t hold herself together.
TICK TOCK TICK TOCK TICK TOCK TICK TOCK.
Twilight began to sweat and felt lightheaded, her hooves ached and her tongue felt dry. Then the image of Owlicious crossed her mind once more.
“Owlicious…..” Twilight felt nauseous once again and ran to the bathroom. After throwing up she felt a little better, but that relief was short lived.
“I…..I’ve FAILED the princess….” Twilight began to cry.
TICK TOCK TICK TOCK TICK TOCK TICK TOCK TICK TOCK TICK TOCK. Her headache resurfaced.
“Twilight!?” Spike called. while Twilight was in the bathroom Spike ran home and through the door to see if Twilight was ok. Spike was helping Rarity asort some gems that he swore not to eat. He had just finished arranging the emeralds when Pinkie pie walked in with a concerned look on her face.
She had explained that Twilight was sick and acting stranger than her standards. Spike apologized to Rarity about leaving and began to run home. “Sp...Spike.” Twilight said having trouble catching her breath.
Spike ran into the bathroom and opened the door, when he did the ticking stopped. “Tw-Twilight!” the purple dragon said worried. “Are you ok!?”
Twilight’s eyes were half open, she was about to say it was nothing and that she was fine. As she tried to get up she passed out.
*LATER IN THE EVENING*
“Is there anything we can do doctor?” Spike said staring at the orange unicorn with the stethoscope around his neck.
The stallion looked at the dragon with a perplexed look on his face. “I honestly don’t know...I’ve never seen anything like this before. Her nerves seem shot and her head is overheated, normally I would concur this as a fever but…”
Spike made a ‘I’m worried’ face and said “Maybe it was the pancakes I made her….”
The stallion turned to leave. “No I don’t think it was that. Just keep a cold towel over her forehead and make sure that her stress level is kept at a minimum. Also make sure she eats small amounts, and plenty of rest too.”
Spike watched the pony walk down the steps and then turned his head back to Twilight. “Oh Twilight...I hope you’ll get better soon, me and Owlicious are so worried. Well at least I think Owlicious would be worried, if she was here.”
Spike looked around the room. “In fact I haven’t seen her all day.” Spike was about to go look for the owl when it hit him. “Princess Celestia will know what to do!” Spike said happily, he then took out a piece of paper and quill and was about to write to the princess when suddenly…
“Hmmnh….”
Spike turned around. “Twilight!” Spike ran towards the bed and looked at the hazy eyed mare. “H-How are you feeling?”
Twilight looked at the purple dragon trying to focus her vision. “I’m sorry for worrying you Spike, but I’m fine really.” Twilight wasn’t sure if she was fine or not, but she didn’t want to worry a baby dragon with something he couldn’t understand. “How long was I out for?” she asked.
Spike trailed off. “Ummm, 24 hours.”
“Wh-What!?” Twilight said jumping out of bed and frantically looking for her calendar. Oh no! she thought.
“Rainbow dash's party is tonight I have to find a present and I need to-”
“Twilight the doctor recommended you stay home and eat some soup. I don’t think you should go to Rainbow’s party tonight.” He said concerned.
“Oh no I couldn’t do that! Think of how selfish that would be, one of my closest friends invited me to a party! It would be rude not to show up just because I’m feeling a little under the weather.” Twilight said looking Spike in the eyes. “I’d be a terrible friend for doing that.” her ear twitched.
Spike took her hoof and guided the frantic alicorn back to the bed and tucking her in. “It’s 6:35 in the afternoon Twilight, Rainbow dash’s party already started, while the doctor was looking at you I took a balloon up and told her what happened. Rainbow dash wanted to come and see you but I told her to stay at the party and not to worry.”
“Bu-” Twilight was cut off.
“The reason I told her not to worry was because I said that I would look after you while you were like this, me and Owlicious.” Twilight’s ear twitched at the sound of her dead friend's name. A death that SHE caused.
“If you keep being sick then your friends will worry about you, if they worry about you then that just means that they care. You're not a bad friend Twilight.” Spike said reassuringly.
Twilight smiled and began to relax. “Thanks Spike.”
Twilight was happy that she had a friend like Spike around, always there to make her feel better and wish the best for her.
“I’ll go downstairs and make some leek soup, I’ll get a cold washcloth too.” Spike said walking downstairs.
“Thank you Spike.” Twilight darted her eyes around the room for her calendar, it was sitting on a high shelf. “Here it is.” As she glanced over it she saw a sight that made all the peace in her mind disappear.
“No……” Twilight started to panic, the date 29th was crossed off in pure red ink.
Rainbow dash was in bed looking out the window of her cloud house thinking about the wild party she just had, but her smile faded as she thought about her friend Twilight.
Maybe I should go see her first thing tomorrow… she thought.
The next day Rainbow dash was clearing the neighboring clouds in ponyville. “Jeez, of all days it had to sunny.”
The pegasus complained. “I was supposed to see Twilight today.” Just then a voice called out to her.
“DASHIE! HEY DASHIE!”
“Pinkie pie?” Rainbow dash said, Rainbow dash then flew down to the ground so she could meet the energetic pink pony, although it seemed like she wasn’t as energetic as she was supposed to be. In fact Pinkie pie looked worried as if something was plaguing her mind.
What’s up with her? Rainbow thought to herself.
“Hey Rainbow dash, have you seen Twilight come out of the library recently?” Pinkie pie said.
“No, but I was going to go see her today.” she replied. Rainbow dash tilted her head. “What’s this about?”
Pinkie pie looked down as if she was looking for the right words to say, since Pinkie sometimes has her ‘own way’ of speaking Rainbow dash could tell that Pinkie pie was pondering how to phrase the problem.
“Well it’s Twilight.” the pink pony said looking back at her.
“Twilight?” Rainbow dash said.
“Yeah. You see I noticed that when we went to her house after we saw her at the lake that she was acting, well strange and she was really sweaty, her eyes almost looked dazed.” Rainbow dash kept listening.
“-And I thought ‘maybe something bad had happened’. Well I was going to give her my famous ‘get well soon’ soup and biscuits when…” Pinkie pie trailed off.
“When?” Rainbow dash looked at Pinkie pie wondering what it is exactly she saw.
Pinkie pie looked down then up again. “I saw Twilight using her magic to carry Owlicious into the back of her house...Owlicious was, well…”
“What? Owlicious was what!?”
“She...Had been ripped apart pretty badly she was in other words d-dead.”
Rainbow dash's eyes shrunk in shock, Owlicious dead? She couldn’t believe what she was hearing. “Oh...That must be so hard on Twilight, no wonder she didn’t come to my party...How did it-” Pinkie pie interrupted her.
“Twilight did it.”
Rainbow dash shot up. “What!? Pinkie pie that’s crazy-”
“Let me finish.” Pinkie pie once again interrupted her. “I was going to go comfort her when while she was crying I heard her say ‘This is all my fault, why did I do this? Why did I do this?’”
Rainbow dash’s mind came to a blank...And then “Why….”
Pinkie pie was about to speak further but then. “WHAT”S WRONG WITH HER!? SHE CAN’T JUST GO KILL HER PETS LIKE THAT!? I MEAN WHY WOULD SHE DO SOMETHING so….so not like her….Twilight would never do something like that would she?” she fell silent and so did Pinkie pie.
“Twilight acted like it was an accident, I highly doubt she would do something like this on purpose...And that’s why I need your help to figure out what’s wrong and make it right-” Rainbow dash interrupted
“Who cares.”
Pinkie pie looked at Rainbow dash in shock. “D-Dashie?”
“Who cares about that egghead if she kills her friends!” Rainbow dash turned around quickly and flew off at light speed, leaving Pinkie pie on the ground.
Twilight was crying hysterically in her room tears streaming down her face and her head in her pillow. “I- *hic* -am so- *hic* -sorry, I’m sorry I’m sorry I’m sorry, I’m sorry…” Spike kept knocking on the door trying to get Twilight to open up.
“Twilight? I got the soup at the market like you asked me to, so don’t be sad please? I’m really worried about you.”
Spike didn’t know what to do. Had something happened while he was away?
“Go *hic* away Spike! I’ll be f-fine.” she said through tears.
“No you won’t not without your number one assistant to look after you. Please open up and tell me why you're crying.” Spike knocked on the door again.
“Pl-Please Spike, I’ll be f-fine. I just need some time to myself right now.”
Spike turned and walked away. Twilight heard his footsteps walk down the wooden stairs, she wiped her tears as best she could and got up. “I h-have to be strong...I didn’t do it on purpose I’ll be fine, everything will be fine.”
Tick Tock Tick Tock “Everything will be fine, it’s all fine.” Tick Tock Tick Tock Tick Tock “I’ll just wash my face and eat the soup spike made me.
Twilight felt shaky as the ticking grew louder, she picked up a cold towel by the bed and rubbed her face in it. *sigh*
As Twilight was brushing her mane the ticking calmed down. “Wait. What was I thinking about again?” Twilight walked out the door.
I hope I’m not developing a memory problem.
Spike ran up to her. “Twilight! Are you better now? Do you feel ok?” Spike hugged Twilight.
“I’m fine Spike I just needed some time to myself is all.”
“But why were you crying? Did I do something wrong?” Spike asked.
Twilight looked down and noticed that spike was wearing his pink apron and cracked a small smile Oh Spike, I’m so sorry I made you worry so much. “No you didn’t do anything wrong, I’m going through a really confusing time right now with becoming a princess it’s been a lot of stress on me.”
Spike let go “Well Mayor Mare came by earlier and said she needed help to organize the upcoming ‘Old hooves’ breakfast benefit. She said that Amethyst is sick so she can't organize it this month, I told her you were sick too-”
Twilight’s face lit up in excitement, this was the perfect opportunity to tell herself that she can contribute as a princess to mundane tasks, and she was going to pull it off in flying colors. “Oh Spike this is perfect! When is the benefit?”
Spike looked confused for a moment then he answered. “Ugh, tomorrow?” Twilight’s heart sunk as quickly as it had risen.
“B-But if it’s tomorrow why is she telling me today!?”
“Well, Amethyst likes to organize things last minute and works better that way, so she hadn’t really come up with anything. She got sick with bird flu and is in bad condition so Mayor Mare really didn’t have time to tell you until last minute. But Twilight I really think you shouldn’t the Doctor said-”
Twilight interrupted and was boiling mad. “Well that’s just great! How am I supposed to deliver what she asks properly if the WHOLE thing is tomorrow!?” Tick Tock Tick Tock Tick Tock Tick Tock. “Oh sure! I’ll tell Twilight LAST minute to make her job harder because she’s a PRINCESS now and can do SO MUCH MORE for us because she’s a PRINCESS!!” TICK TOCK TICK TOCK.
“TWILIGHT!” Spike screamed interrupting Twilight's pacing. She had never acted like this before, had something really bad happened or was becoming a princess more stressful than he thought.
“I really don’t think you should over stress yourself with something when the stallion who came all the way from the hospital told you not to, not only that but you’ve been acting really strange and I think you should get some rest.”
Twilight signed and recomposed herself, the ticking stopped and she became calm again. “Organizing is a sort of relaxation for me, some fresh air will do me good, and more importantly…” the purple mare said as she walked to the window and placed a hoof on it.
“I need to get accustomed to ponies asking me to help them with events or other tasks that they can’t perform themselves, I’m a princess now I can’t just get lazy because I’m sick. I have more responsibilities than ever now, I have to embrace them.”
Spike looked down unsure of himself. “I don’t know…” Twilight turned around and put a hoof under his chin so she could see into his eyes.
“I’ll be fine Spike, it’s what I have to do and I can handle it.” Twilight gave the baby dragon a gentle and reassuring smile.
Spike began to smile with her and sighed. “If you think you can do it with no problems then I believe you.”
“Thank you Spike, I can always count on you to understand…” Twilight walked out the door, her smile slightly dropping as she reflected on what she just said.
‘I can always count on you to understand’....Owlicious...Forgive me Spike.
Twilight was at the doors of ponyville’s main hall, as she was about to reach for them she began to doubt herself again.
What if...I fail her? I mean this is an important event in ponyville, if I can’t make it perfect then…..
Twilight’s ear began to twitch. Tick Tock Tick Tock- “Princess Twilight! There you are.” The door opened to reveal Mayor Mare, who appeared very nervous.
“M-Mayor Mare! I-” the frantic earth pony interrupted her pushing her through the door.
“No time no time my dear! we simply must get to work right away!”
“But what is it that you want me-” Twilight stopped in mid sentence as she saw a frantic scene before her. “Oh…”
The balcony was covered in mismatched streamers with frantic pegasi trying to figure out which colors to use and in the process snapping other streamers, there were three banners ripped and un-hung on the floor with Rarity trying to sew them up as fast as she can. In the center of the floor was knocked over paint buckets, spilling the paint all over the floor. The tables themselves were tipped over with two builders ponies trying to assemble them as quickly as possible.
Carrot top was trying to clean up the paint best she could but was being attacked by birds that she assumed were being used to make music for the old ponies to listen to.
Twilight had A LOT of work to do. “Oh no, please little birdies don’t attack Carrot top…” A soft yellow pegasus cooed trying to calm down the loud birds now ripping apart Golden harvest’s mane.
“Fluttershy-” Twilight was interrupted by the Mayor.
“I’m going to sugarcube corner and try to get the catering speeding along, while I’m gone you need to sort this out!” It seems the mare hasn’t gotten rest in days.
Twilight put on a confident attitude along with a stern smile. “You can trust me Mayor Mare I’m can do it!”
The Major’s smile returned. “Thank you princess.” And with that she was out the door.
“Twilight!” Fluttershy flew towards her. “Oh Twilight, thank goodness you're here. I could really use your help with these birdies, I’m trying to calm them down but it just isn’t working! I’ve tried everything, could you maybe put a sleep spell on them to stop them from attacking Carrot top?”
Twilight smiled “You can count on me.” the alicorn mare walked to the birds and prepared a sleep spell as she wrapped the birds around her magic field she began to cast it. Soon the birds were asleep and Golden harvest went to the bathroom to try and get bird droppings out of her hair.
“Here you go Fluttershy.” Twilight levitated the birds over to her pegasus friend.
“Oh thank you Twilight I-” BANK BANK BANK a loud noise woke the birds up once more and they scattered around the room. “No! Come back!” Fluttershy flew off trying to catch them.
“What the-” BANK BANK Twilight turned around and saw the two building stallions using loud equipment to put together the tables. She walked over to them.
“Excuse me, but could you maybe be a little quieter? Me and Fluttershy are trying to get these birds under control.
One of the stallions looked over at her “I’m sorry princess but Mayor Mare needs these tables built.”
Twilight thought hard. I’ve got it! she smiled and levitated the tables up in the air she concentrated on her magic really hard and assembled the tables with a ‘repair’ spell, the same one she used in ‘Mysterious mare-do-well’.
“There, is that better?” she smiled at them.
“Much obliged Princess Twilight, we’ll go see if we can help those pegasi with the streamers.”
Twilight stopped them “Actually I think Mayor Mare might need your help carrying the food from sugarcube corner.”
The two workers began to trot out the door. “Alright.”
This is working, I can do this!
With a new found confidence rising in herself Twilight ran over to the ripped up streamers and tied them into multi colored bows and wrap them around the pillars surrounding the balcony. After that she instructed the two pegasus mares to make a rainbow of different colored streamers over the balcony just as she did.
“Fluttershy, do you have those birds under control?” Twilight asked.
“Yes I do.” Fluttershy flew down with her quintet of calm birds beside her.
“Good, I need you to practice outside that window over there, I might have to use my chest voice again and we don’t want these birds to get out of control.”
Fluttershy saluted and led the birds outside. This is good, this is working! Twilight didn’t know what she was so worried about everything was going to be fine! Twilight walked over to Rarity and began to help her with the banners when all of a sudden the town hall’s doors flew open and angry cattle were stampeding and destroying everything. “AHH!!” Twilight screamed and began to help flightless ponies get out of town hall.
The cattle kicked and tore down all the decorations, on the left they had destroyed the tables and on the right they were knocking down the pillars supporting the roof. Because of this part of the roof collapsed.
“Is everypony alright?!” she asked, Nopony is hurt. Good. Twilight watched the stampede move out of ponyville, led by Applejack and Winona. Applejack came back and told Twilight why the cattle were stampeding.
“Apparently they were grazing near the everfree forest and they thought they heard somthin’ that could mean danger, since they were so close to ponyville it didn’t take much or long for em’ to get here.” Applejack hung her head in shame.
“I’m sorry Twilight, I shoulda’ been more aware of what was goin’ on. If I was I mighta’ been able to stop them from ruining the benefit preparations.”
Twilight looked at Applejack “Applejack it’s not your fault so don’t worry about it.” Applejack turned around and headed towards the other ponies.
“Why don’t you go inside and see what the damages are?”
And with that Twilight went back inside.
When Twilight walked in she was shocked at all the damage that had been done to the hall. “N-No…”
Tick Tock Tick Tock Tick Tock
“Oh! Sure! Just because we hear a strange noise that could mean danger but probably isn’t let’s GO and STAMPETE ponyville's main hall and UNDO ALL of PRINCESS Twilight’s work!!”
TICK TOCK TICK TOCK TICK TOCK
Twilight began to pace around the room ears and eyes twitching all the while while she was muttering to herself she collapsed to the ground. “I...Can’t be a princess...I’ve f-failed the only job I had...I-” TICK TOCK TICK TOCK TICK TOCK-
“Twilight!” Twilight cocked her head up and turned around to look to the voice that had called out to her.
“M-Mayor Mare.” she said. Oh no. Twilight thought to herself.
“What happened here!? the place it destroyed!” Mayor Mare looked around the room and scanned all the damages that had been done and turned around to face Twilight.
“I-It was cattle, they just ran in here and smashed everything! But it’s all my fault! I should’ve been more prepared! I could’ve done something to prevent this whole thing from happening!” Twilight began to tear up and think of all the ways she was a failure.
TICK TOCK TICK TOCK TICK TOCK TICK TOCK TICK TOCK. The ticking grew louder and louder, until it was once more deafening.
“Twilight, stop your nonsense, you are not a failure! You had no idea that there could’ve been a stampede today. So stop worrying about what happened and help us clean up-”
“NO MAYOR MARE I WON’T!” Twilight snapped at her.
“Wh-What?” Mare was shocked at the sudden outburst.
“I’m not going to STAY AND MAKE things WORSE!” tears streaming down her face Twilight ran out of the hall crying.
“It’s all my fault! It’s all my fault! It’s all my fault! It’s all my fault! It’s all my fault! It’s all my fault!” TICK TOCK TICK TOCK TICK TICK TOCK. The ticking grew louder and louder, as Twilight was running back to the golden oaks library she felt her headache come back and much stronger.
Head pounding and hot tears streaming down her face, Twilight ran into her house shut the door and collapsed in the middle of the library crying. TICK TOCK TICK TOCK TICK TOCK TICK TOCK TICK TOCK.
“I-I’m so s-so sorry. I’m not good enough, I’m not good enough, I’m not good enough, I’m not good enough, I’m not good enough, I’m not good enough, I’m not good enough…” Twilight kept apologizing over and over again as the ticking grew louder. She felt a cold darkness enveloped her.
Spike ran in and saw Twilight on the floor and immediately ran to her. “Twilight!”
Rainbow dash was beating up her cloud pillow on her bed trying to go to sleep, but she couldn’t. “Gughhh!” she groaned in frustration and laid back on the bed.
It was almost midnight and Rainbow dash had been trying to get some sleep ever since she came home from her cloud clearing duties, but she couldn’t and she knew why.
“Twilight…..Why…?”
Rainbow couldn’t figure out why Twilight would kill Owlicious, did she have some kind of dark secret? A fetish for blood maybe? ‘She acted like it was an accident’. Pinkie’s words echoed in her head.
“If it was an accident then…” Rainbow dash got up off the bed and looked to the other side of the room, as she did so she stood in front of the mirror.
Rainbow dash saw her reflection in the mirror, on the frame was an unframed photo of all her friends paper clipped to the mirror frame. As Rainbow dash gazed at herself in the mirror she thought about all the times she and her friends had defeated evil, and how they had done it with the magic of friendship.
“Friendship….” That words echoed through Rainbow dash’s mind. Rainbow dash thought of the elements of harmony and how they had brought her and her friends to Twilight and to victory. “Loyalty...Heh that’s me.” she said as if she was unaware of the word leaving her lips. Rainbow dash looked back at the photo, gazing at Twilight.
“I’m loyalty…” Rainbow dash began to think back of all the times she had stuck up for her friends and each time she told herself it was because she loved and cared about them. Twilight included.
“No…” she said shutting her eyes and opening them again in determination.
“If something is wrong with Twilight then I’m going to get to the bottom of it because I’m loyalty.” And with that she flew out of her cloud house in a dash.
With a flighty feeling in her stomach and a heavy feeling in her heart Rainbow dash flew as fast as she could to Twilight’s library. Wind in her mane and a rainbow strike behind her she flew faster, then stopped.
“Okay Rainbow dash you can do this...All you have to do is ask her ‘is everything alright?’ *sigh*” Rainbow dash was only a few more minuets from the library and decided to slow down and think about what she would say when she saw her friend.
I better think this one through… Rainbow dash though.
Twilight was in a corner crying, shaking and rocking back and forth with Spike by her side trying to comfort her. The mare’s mane was a mess, covered in sweat and dirt her eyes were twitching.
“ItsallmyfaultItsallmyfaultItsallmyfaultItsallmyfaultItsallmyfaultItsallmyfault…” her ear twitched as the sun began to rise.
“Twilight...Please stop what’s wro-” Spike was cut off.
“HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAA AHAHAAA!!” Twilight’s face cracked into a sick smile, her eyes shrinking in insanity.
“Twilight…..?” Spike said nervously.
“ISN’T EVERYTHING JUST GREAT SPIKE!? EVERYTHING IS PERFECT!” she began to giggle and then laughed hysterically. Spike was scared, he had never seen her act like this before. Spike ran upstairs to get a quill and paper to write Princess Celestia an urgent letter.
“TICK TOCK TICK TOCK TICK TOCK TICK TOCK TICK TOCK TICK TOCK TICK TOCK TICK TOCK! AHAHAHAHAAA!” Twilight kept repeating the ticking noise in her head out loud and continued to laugh hysterically. Tears still streaming down her face.
“Twili-” Just then a cyan pegasus opened the door. “Twilight!” she screamed.
Rainbow dash ran to Twilight and knelt beside her shaking body. “Woah! Twilight are you ok?”
“TICKTOCKTICKTOCKTICKTOCKTICKTOCKTICKTOCKTICKTOCKTICKTOCKTICKTOCKTICKTOCKTICKTOCKTICKTOCKTICKTOCKTICKTOCKTICKTOCKTICKTOCKTICKTOCK….” Twilight’s ears twitched more and even more sweat dripped down her forehead.
“Twilight…?” Rainbow dash looked into Twilight’s and saw her lifeless, doll like and glass irises. “...Twilight…..” Rainbow dash began to tear up and cry. Her friend was gone.
“OOooooohhHHH! Rainbow dash Hi! IT’S NiCe to SeE yOU. IsN’T EVeryThing jUsT gReAT!?” Twilight said with a wide smile.
“Ugh…T-Twilight.” Rainbow dash said getting closer to her friend.
Spike came running downstairs “Rainbow dash! It’s Twilight!” he ran up to her. “She’s been like this ever since she got back from the town hall.”
“TICK TOCK TICK TOCK TICK TOCK.”
“When she came back she started crying and wouldn’t tell me why, then she tried to go up to her room but then she collapsed on the floor and threw up.” Rainbow dash listened in horror.
“After I cleaned up the vomit she was here up against the bookshelf, she kept saying she wasn’t good enough and that she was a monster, that she should just...die.”
“That’s ridiculous! Twilight’s not a monster!” Rainbow dash said.
“I know I kept telling her that! Then after a while she started saying she was ‘so sorry’ I asked her what she was so sorry abou-”
“AHAHAHAaaaa ahahaaa! Owlicious KnOws WHY aNd iT’S All mY FAuLt!” After she said that she continued to shake and rock herself back and forth.
“Tick Tock goes the clock-” she then used her magic to levitate her calendar so they both could see that the thirtieth of this month was crossed off. “TiMe has RuN out!” she said as she shot her face towards both of them like a cuckoo clock.
Rainbow dash began to shake Twilight, crying all the while. “C’mon Twilight snap out of it!”
Twilight looked at Rainbow dash with her empty eyes and a demented smile. “What’s the PoINT!? I’m ALrEADY a FAILure. Nopony needs a monster like me.” she giggled again. “I failed…….”
“You haven’t failed anything Twilight! Remember!? You haven’t failed me or Rainbow dash or anypony! Please come back.” Spike hugged Twilight’s shaking body, taking a brush from the floor and brushing her mane trying to calm her down.
“I’m still here, you number one assistant remember?” he said crying.
“And I’m still here to! See? I’ll never leave you even if you were a monster, you're my friend.” Rainbow dash began to hug Twilight’s shoulder and began to cry lightly on it, Rainbow could see the dead cold in her eyes.
A few seconds later a flash of light appeared in the room as the sun had almost fully risen. Princess Celestia had teleported in the room.
“Twilight sparkle!” Celestia said concerned as she walked over to Twilight, kneeling beside her.
“TICK TOCK TICK TOCK TICK TOCK TICK TOCK.”
Celestia motioned for Spike and Rainbow dash to get back. She then reached out her hoof to Twilight’s shoulder, touching it lightly. “Twilight…?” Celestia said with caution but concern as well.
“I’msorryI’msorryI’msorryI’msorryI’msorryI’msorry” Twilight broke out into insane laughter once more.
“She’s been like this since she got back from town hall, Mayor Mare came over and asked her to help with the breakfast benefit for old ponies. But when she got back she was crying and then….” Spike looked over. “....This happened.”
Rainbow dash chimed in. “Can you do anything Princess? I mean there’s gotta be a spell to cure whatever’s wrong with her!”
Princess Celestia channeled her magic and casted a memory spell on Twilight. *CRRSHHH* The spell created electric bolts around Twilight, but then evaporated into thin air.
“My magic doesn’t seem to be working on her!” Princess Celestia said with a panic in her voice. “What’s been happening? What’s been going on EXACTLY?” she said sternly as she turned to face both of them.
“Well it started a few days ago when she was stressed out, I heard her pacing around her room a few times, but that’s normal for her and I didn’t think anything of it.”
“What else happened?” Rainbow dash asked.
“Well, I came home from Rarity’s place and I saw her in the bathroom on the floor throwing up in the toilet. It looked like she hadn’t gotten any sleep in days a-and...She passed out when she saw me, I called a doctor from the hospital to come over and see her.”
“What was his diagnoses?” Celestia asked with even more sternness in her voice.
“The doctor from the hospital said that he’d never seen anything like it before, but he told me not to cause her any stress and- oh this is all my fault!” Spike began to cry more.
“If I had never let her go into town she would’ve never snapped like this!” Spike put his claws over his eyes and hung his head in shame.
“Don’t BlAmE YOUrself Spike…..” Twilight said her voice cackling.
“Twilight!” Rainbow dash and Celestia said turning over to her. Celestia tried talking to her student once more but all her replies were…
“TickTockTickTockTickTockTickTockTickTock. HAHAHAHHAAA!!”
Celestia began to tear up in fear. “Oh, my dear Twilight….”
Over the next few days Twilight stayed in the condition she was in, and was eventually placed in a mental hospital, her friends tried to visit Twilight as often as they could, but the only one who would get somewhat cooperative responses out of her was Spike and Rainbow dash to a certain degree.
Whenever Spike would talk to her she would keep apologising for leaving him like this, and she would always say she wasn’t good enough and how much she failed.
When Spike tried to snap her out of it Twilight would fall back into her frantic insanity….
END