Author's Note

This chapter is very shocking and has strong graphic VIOLENCE so bare that in mind here. I hope you enjoy the final chapter and if you reach the end thank you for reading please tell me what you think in the comments as I would love feedback

Chapter 11: Why Now?!

Life was finally happy for Floppy and things were finally starting to go her way. Floppy had a mother now and a very gentle and understanding one at that. She loved her as if she had known her all these years already. It felt just natural to rub against her chest like the little baby she knew her as. It felt kind of strange at the same time and it was a little embarrassing when people stared but she found she no longer cared about appearances and social pressures. None of it mattered anymore with Bedtime by her side every day and every night. All her worries just seemed to drift away as long as she was with her. It all felt like a dream. A perfect, wonderful dream. It never occurred to her that it was too good to last. Not anymore.

She found when she had her new mothers support, she grew in confidence and shone like the pony she really was. She let ponies laugh at her as she did silly things and she was more honest at last with Twilight and company. Everything in the confusing jigsaw of life was now clipping into place like a piece of A4 paper into a binder. All nice, neat and clean. Nothing suspect in the slightest, which is what, in the end, made the event so shocking.

It was a happy sunny day and Floppy was trotting on her way to see her friend Twilight. She had always confided in Twilight at the very worst of times and trusted her as she always seemed to understand her and know what to do, even before Bedtime arrived. She rarely went around alone since finding Bedtime for a good few weeks but now she felt like she needed to branch off a little from her pale yellow safety bubble. Besides, she felt more comfortable with her friends now then she had ever been. What was there to worry about?

Floppy didn’t usually visit at this time because of chores or just not wanting to interrupt her but she felt cheeky and confident enough today to give her a rare surprise visit. If Pinkie thought it was great then maybe it was worth a shot anyway. Floppy was about to knock on the door when she noticed the door wasn’t closed but hanging open. She knew it was bad to wander into someone’s house without being allowed in but Rainbow was rather brash and did it all the time so why was she so worried about it. Let’s do it! I’m sure she will be fine with it and if not then I will take the blame.

So Floppy wandered into the house and soon noticed a book sitting open on the desk in front of her. This was Twilight’s main writing and reading desk so it was common to see a book on it but Floppy couldn’t resist having a little peek at what she was reading. She probably wouldn’t understand it and just ignore it afterwards anyways. It was all well and good while she waited to see if Twilight would appear to see her. So she peeked and on closer inspection it was Twilight’s handwriting. She meant to turn away and not go into it any further but at a quick glance she read a line without thinking.

“I was shocked to find what I thought about Floppy was-”

Of course, after reading something like that, you can’t possibly not want to know what the rest was. She desperately tried not to be dishonest by reading further but something felt wrong about it. What was she shocked about? About her? What had she done to deserve shock? It wasn’t something that gave very nice vibes that was for sure and if Twilight was being dishonest then she would have to find out! With some reluctance, Floppy did eventually read some more. Just a little. Just the end of that sentence. She told herself, knowing it probably wasn’t truthful to what she would actually do although she liked to hope it would be.

“Dear Diary,

I was shocked to find what I thought about Floppy was true! She really is an Emotion Lord!”

WHAT?! Floppy couldn’t believe her eyes. An emotion lord?! That sounds like something Twilight would talk about as an ancient type of beast that lives in the Everfree forest! How could she be one of those and what was one?! Why didn’t Twilight tell her about this? Was she keeping something from her?! She knew it was very bad to read someone’s diary but if she was keeping secrets like this from her then who really was in the wrong? Floppy felt a little scared at this point and so continued to read to clear her mind of worry.

“After my countless weeks of research...”

Weeks?! She had been keeping this secret for weeks?! Maybe even months?!

“I think I may have found a way to prove my theories. But to think that Floppy of all ponies was an emotion lord! I would never think such a shy and unconfident pony would have the tenacity to be such a creature. To have such unlimited power! I wonder what I must do? Should I tell Celestia and warn of her? With her emotional tendencies she could be dangerous to other ponies. Is it best to have her locked away for the safety of Equestria?”

Floppy’s eyes filled with tears. Lock me up?! Danger to Equestria?! What on earth was this?!

“Floppy!!” Twilight heard a familiar cry and she turned to see Twilight stunned to see Floppy reading her papers.

“NO! Floppy! It isn’t what you think!” Twilight tried to explain but this was far too much for Floppy to just shrug off like a simple misunderstanding.

“What? That I am a monster?! Is THAT what you think?!” Floppy cried with tears pouring down her face

“No of course not” Twilight said with a very gentle and yet sad tone.

“Don’t you try to play your mind games with me!” Floppy screamed as her fear and confusion started to turn into blind rage.

“What is an emotion lord huh? Why can’t I handle being one huh?! Am I not good enough for you?!” Floppy cried.

“No please listen! An emotion lord is a creature which is rumoured to take a new form with every 100 years when it is created. They are said to have immense power. The power to change time and space as we know it. If you were born as an emotion lord and you didn’t even know it...I am just trying to protect you!” Twilight tried to explain as she found the words difficult to muster

“Protect me?! How is getting me locked up protecting me?! So after all this time, you are just going to lock me up, like I am some sort of monster?! Like I am some sort of freak?!” Floppy started to pant heavily as her anger grew and Twilight could see objects starting to levitate around her.

“No Floppy, please!” Twilight tried to warn her but Floppy was too far gone to stop now as the windows smashed in on themselves.

“I trusted you! I thought you were always there for me! Now I see you for what you really are!” Floppy cried as she sobbed her heart out and could barely get the words out

“I trusted you. I loved you” Floppy said as her magic faded and she went quiet

“Floppy...” Twilight said as she tried to wander closer to comfort her but Floppy pushed her away and shook her head before running out of the door. Floppy ran and ran as fast as she could and as far away from Twilight as she could manage. Floppy stopped at the edge of the Everfree forest and remembered her previous life. What was she going to do? She was stuck between a rock and a hard place. She leaned on a tree and cried as she slunk down to the floor. All hope of her friendship, all gone. Was it all fake? Was it all a lie? She should have known. She should have known it was too good to be true.

Meanwhile, no-one in Ponyville expected a thing when a pony wandered through the shadows inside the Everfree forest. This pony wore a black hooded cloak, clearly not wishing to be seen. From the shape and walk it was easy to tell the suspect was feminine. She walked slowly and purposefully forward, deeper into the Everfree forest. She knew where she was going. She met another pony in the shadows and the exchange started.

“Did you do it?” she asked as she approached.

The other nodded. Then she nodded in return as they showed a mutual understanding of what was coming next. She turned and faced the small, innocent town of Ponyville and did one simple thing. She pointed. A large shadow came from the Everfree forest. NO! Not one but many shadows came looming from the forest like a dark cloud of doom over Ponyville. They were coming.

It was Floppy who was the first to notice as she was facing the forest at the time. Her face fell in horror of the sight before her. Ruby and Rainbow were playing a game of ball nearby and she ran past them. Ruby and Rainbow didn’t have a chance to talk to her or realise what was behind them, as Floppy ran by. She ran and ran and ran! She had to hide! She had to find somewhere to hide! But it is a creature’s very nature to turn around and see what they were running from if even the very smallest shred of doubt was upon them or even if there wasn’t any at all. So she turned and she regretted it.

All Floppy could see was a pile of various creatures marching from the forest like soldiers of chaos. She recognised them quickly. The creatures Twilight and friends had encountered over the years. All of them known to Ponyville well but this wasn’t any normal attack. This was fierce, this was big and this was planned. Everything they knew and feared after them at once. It was like a nightmare. Something you would never believe would happen but nevertheless...there it was for all to see. Floppy’s eyes filled with tears which made it difficult to see. The last thing she saw as she turned away was a blue blur zooming towards the pile. It was obvious who it was but Floppy had no time to think about it. She had to escape! She had to hide!

Floppy tried her best amongst the tears to run as fast as she could towards the safest place she knew; the little shack of which Ruby lived. She thought nothing of rushing there straight away and tried to drown out the ponies around her as she ran. She barely remembered the journey as her head was full of fear. She arrived at the door, squeezed underneath the broken wooden planks covering the entrance and stopped, her heart beating hard and reverberating within her like a drum. She gasped for air as her heart seemed to seep the energy away from her. Finally, she was able to think and she knew what she had to do. So she went slowly to the planked space of a doorway and peered between the wood. What she saw seemed to freeze time and space and her very soul into black ice.

Everybody screaming, everything destroyed and fire, so much fire. It shook her to the bone to hear the agonised wailing of the ponies she once thought nothing about. The ponies she had passed every day for half her life. Everything gone, erased from the earth as if they didn’t deserve to live. As if they were a mistake to wipe clean. Floppy could hear nothing but the sounds of pure pain and suffering which was made even worse when she saw the blood. It was so much to process she didn’t even notice for a few seconds the town was painted red with nothing but the ponies organs and pure red blood as paint brushes. Floppy wanted to look away but as hard as she wished her eyes and legs just didn’t obey her.

Then a pony of pale blue galloped to her and looked her straight in the eyes. The desperation and fear in her eyes was all too clear.

“HELP ME!! LET ME IN!! HELP MEEEEE!!” The pony screeched as she clawed her blood onto the wooden planks that held Floppy inside. Floppy could barely react before the pony was ripped in half by a huge mouth and the guts spilled limp on the floor like it had just taken the lid off a pot of soufflé.

Floppy breathed frantically and struggled for air as tears flowed down her face like leaking ignorance. All of her life as she knew it, gone. Nothing could ever make her the same again. Nothing could fix this.

It was gone.

Gone.

Floppy sobbed her heart out while trying not to choke on her own sorrow. It was difficult to hyperventilate and cry at the same time. Then after a few minutes it suddenly occurred to her. MY FRIENDS! Floppy looked around but she couldn’t see properly within the building. That problem was easily fixed when the fires started to spread easily within the broken building and nip at her tail. She had to leave although she wasn’t prepared for any more. She had no choice.

She leapt out and ran and ran without turning back. She kept running and running until she found the only two pieces of house wall that were still intact and not in flames. She hugged the inside of the walls and hid in the shadows. It was barely any protection but it had to do. Anything would have to do. Then Floppy’s eyes widened as she saw her worst fear. All her friends, scattered on the floor in a bloody mess. Rainbow, Pinkie, Fluttershy, Applejack, Rarity and even Ruby and Bedtime all splayed before her in a beautiful ironic rainbow of broken love. To think all these lives could be taken so easily. All this potential, all these thoughts and feelings just disappear from the world like they were never there to begin with. And the world carries on and on and on.

The only one left standing was Twilight, her beloved Twilight. The one that had trusted her and understood her above everyone else. At one point she had even considered her a role model to follow but what use was that now? If only her final moments with her were happy ones. She regretted fighting. She regretted everything. Her life was over. How could this happen? How? Why? WHY?! WHY THEM?! WHY NOW?! Why...Floppy’s tears just wouldn’t stop pouring as she stared at her whole world erased before her. Everything she ever loved and ever dreamed off never to be seen again.

Just then, Twilight turned and their eyes met. Twilight’s face was full of anguish and pain. Sorrow, regret and even guilt. As Floppy saw her face she realised how selfish she had been. She ran from them. She abandoned them. She left them to die! As she saw the hope fade from Twilight’s eyes, Floppy couldn’t bare to be alive anymore. She felt time slow down and everything became strangely quiet. Twilight’s lips read one word although the sound was only a gasp of air.

“Run”

Floppy stared as she saw the final blow coming towards her from the large beast standing before them. Floppy then realised she had nothing left to live for. And if there is nothing left to live for...

She might as well die.

With all her energy, Floppy ran towards Twilight. She had no hope of her success but it didn’t matter. Either way would be peace, for both of them. Floppy concentrated on the power within her and screamed with all her frustration of the world around her. She let out a burst of all her pain, all her suffering and the suffering of all those she knew and loved. Even the power of all the ponies she just gave a passing glance to joined in her heart as that monsters gigantic hand swung down onto her. Then for a brief second her soul spoke.

Hello friends.

I’m coming home.

Everything was wiped out in a bright flash of white. All Floppy could see was a blinding silence and a blank slate sweeping across her mind. She screamed with agony as the energy surged through her very veins and exploded through her. Then everything went black.

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Floppy opened her eyes to the sound of a birds morning call. She looked around and saw the sun almost blind her with its light. She had to cover her face with her hoof to stop her eyes from burning in its heat. Her eyes darted around but all she saw was happy faces and the Ponyville she always knew. No, better. It was better and happier than ever before. Floppy couldn’t believe her eyes! Where was she?! Was she dead? Why are they not questioning all this?

Floppy quickly galloped over to Ponyville to find her friends. She HAD to see them! She dashed over and everybody was trotting around at their leisure. It was like a totally normal day. Not a single hair was out of place and there was no sign of fear or despair anywhere she looked. She wandered around and everyone seemed too happy to greet her but something was strange. Some referred to her as ‘stranger’ when greeting even though she was sure she had seen them around town before. And nobody referred to her by name. It was very odd. Almost every pony at least knew of her by now, especially with all the incidents that happened around her.

She thought upon those troubled times and wondered whether this was what ponies would have been like if she was never here. If those events never happened. She tried to speak to the stall owner and he insisted he didn’t know her. Now there was no question at all! She would always come here every week to at least browse the selection in the weekend market. The market salesmen knew her well. So it was true. No-one knew her. Had they forgotten her or was this some world where she never existed to begin with? She didn’t know and she pondered on it a lot. She had to see her friends. Perhaps then the answer would be clear.

She went to Sweet Apple Acres and she saw Applejack and Rainbow in the distance. She quickly went to hide beside the barn. She sat and watched. She heard little fillies and stallions playing nearby. She turned to see the school with the children all happy and full of innocent joy. She turned again as she heard a pony laugh and saw a pale blue pony and a white and purple pony sitting together having a picnic. It seemed they were enjoying their conversation.

“Catch! Haha! Good girl!” Floppy heard in the distance so she turned to see Applejack playing with a brown dog. It seemed familiar to her. Perhaps she had seen it before in Canterlot a long time ago. She wasn’t sure.

“Oh yeah? Try and catch THIS!” she heard and saw Rainbow do an in-air summersault and throw a red frisbee for the dog.

They all seemed so happy. As she watched her friends and all the oblivious ponies play together she finally relaxed. She felt the warm touch of the sun and grass beneath her hooves. It was simplicity itself. Life at its finest. Peace. Then suddenly, everything was calm within her. The universe, life, it was a miracle which needed to be treasured and she was never going to make the mistake of belittling it ever again. She smiled as she saw her friends all laughing happily together as Twilight, Fluttershy, Pinkie and Rarity came over to say hi to Rainbow and Applejack. Who was she to ruin their fun? All she had caused them was more pain and misery. Despair and anguish. Worry and fear. Now it was all gone and she knew what she must do. It all became clear.

She then stood up and walked away.