I watched everyday in my throne, as ponies from around Canterlot came to me with their problems. I'm not complaining but I just wish....that things would go faster.
“Lanmogo what your asking me is unethical wrong. I can not move a whole tribe from their home just so you can build a new mini mall.” I the Queen spoke to my subject who stood before me. I sat in my throne made mostly of tempered fabric that my best friend Rarity always used to use, the five cutie marks of the most important ponies in my life etched into the fabric on the top of the throne. Next to me on the arm of my throne was a button that if pressed would drop ponies down to the dungeon. I never needed to use it but my secretary said it would be best to put one in simply to deter ponies from disrespecting me. Honestly it did help. I had very few ponies attempt to yell or judge my ruling when I made it. Sadly there were still those who did but those were far and few between.
“My Queen you must understand. They just moved there simply to keep me from building!”
I groaned laying my head down on the soft pillow in front of me put there simply to keep me from hurting myself. As Lanmogo went on and on about how I should move the tribe all I could think about was how I'd literally give up my left wing to be done with this conversation. My secretary next to me tapped my shoulder, reminding me to act like a Queen. Green Fire. A Dragon that I've known for over 5 years now, I called him Fi though. I thought it was cute. Not to mention he reminded me a lot of Spike. I say up and looked at the stallion before me and cleared my throat.
“My decision is final Lanmogo. If I catch you messing with those tribe ponies you'll have to answer to me”
The stallion simply huffed and left. I sigh and lay down.
“Who knew smiling and talking could take so much out of a pony.”
Green Fire smiled at me. “Twi you know that you need to do this. If ponies don't come to you then fights could break out and some things even worse than that.”
“What if I just hired some pony to do this? I mean in all reality I can't promise them anything.....all decisions have to go through the 6...but.” I put my hooves on my face. “I can't bare to see them....they remind me to much of them.”
“Well you didn't have to make a choice so you don't have to see them today” Green Fire simply patted my back. “If you want to go early I can cover for you.”
I simply looked down as if I just remembered my goldfish died.
“I know that today was the day Twi. I'll cover for you so you can go see them.”
I nodded and stood up my legs wobbling from sitting all day. I spread my wings and flew towards the exit. As I got halfway to the exit I flew back and hugged Green Fire tight. “Thank you Fi. You're the best!” Green hugged me back and then I headed towards the exit of the castle. As I flew down the hall as fast as I could wanting to get to the graveyard before they closed it for the day. It was already dusk so if I didn't hurry I'd miss my window.
As I approached the exit to the castle I landed at least 20 feet away from two guards standing in front of the exit. Why would the guards be inside rather than outside? The only explanation would be they are trying to keep somepony in....perhaps me. I look at myself my Queen outfit would give me away instantly. I kick off my shoes my necklace and my crown. The only thing that gave me away was my flowing mane that seemed to move on it's own sometimes. The very stars floating within it. I walked up to the guards. My horn glowed changing my color right in front of them. My coat changed to a pungent green as I tried to pass them. They put their wings up to block me.
“My Queen, it is late.” The guard on the left spoke. I giggled playing it off.
“Queen? I'm not your Queen....I'm...uh....Lime....”
“Queen Twilight. You changed right in front of us. Do you think we are stupid?” The same guard spoke.
My horn glowed changing me back to my normal color. “No...just....today is their anniversary.....and I really want to go see them”
“The six forbid you to leave till your duties are finished.”
“Please. I haven't gotten a chance to see them in so long....because of my duties”
The guards look at each other then lower their wings. “If anypony asks you over powered us my Queen”
I smiled happily. “Thank you” I give the guard on the left a kiss on the cheek as I trot past them on into the sun light.
“Dude she's so into me” The guard I gave kiss on the cheek spoke.
“You should keep your boner in your armor. If the captain sees it he's likely to cut it off” the guard on the right laughs.
As I exited the light burned my eyes as if I was a newborn foal. I put up my wing to block the sun as best I could. It had been too long since I felt the sun beating down on my coat. It was amazing that at this point I wasn't part Batpony.
I walked down the walkway towards the city where ponies everywhere were trying to sale their stuff, whether it be from a booth or a store where they had ponies dancing with signs to get their attention. As I walked down the shopping district street I didn't pay much attention to most of them. The one with flowers looked very interesting though. I walked over to that one to look at what flowers the mare had for sale. The mare behind the booth smiled as she bowed. “You honor me your majesty.”
I wave my hoof in the air, feeling embarrassed that somepony could recognize me so easily. “There's no need to be so formal miss. I'm simply just a pony wanting to buy some flowers.” I didn’t like being treated as a Queen even if it was my title, I prefered to be seen as a simply pony walking around. The way I saw it that’s what I was.
“Of course Miss Twilight."
I gave a warm smile and put 4 bits on the counter only having that much do to me after removing my clothes. All my bits having been in my necklace. “What could this get me?” The mare smiled and gave me a single rose. “Four bits for one rose?”
“I’m sorry Miss Twilight but things are getting more expense do to the tax increase.”
I huffed and took the rose. “Thank you miss” I left the booth kinda annoyed. I couldn't be too upset though seeing as how I had partial say in what the tax increase was, I say partial because the six had to most say in things. Honestly I don’t know why I’m here if I really can’t do anything.
I held the rose in front of me as I headed for the graveyard. As I reached the gate to the graveyard I noticed it was locked with a chain.
“ARE YOU KIDDING ME!?” I yelled to myself no pony around to listen. I cursed under my breath as I was to late to visit my friends..... tears began to roll down my face as I remembered all the times I wasn’t able to visit do to my royal duties, it wasn’t fair that my duties were getting in the way so much....it wasn’t fair to me and it wasn’t fair to my friends. I fell on the ground laying there trying not to burst into tears.
“You're going to let yourself be defeated that easily? By a gate?”
I layed there, hearing the voice made me jump up and looks around. I knew that voice all too well even if I hadn’t heard it in a while . I sniffled a bit as I didn’t get a chance to cry.
“Discord where are you?” I asked looking around for him. He was a very crafty and who knew what he had up his sleeve from being gone for a good 5 years,
Discord slithered from behind a gravestone as a snake. “Right here Princess.” Discord then appeared on my back eating a apple. “Or is it Queen now?”
“Where have you been for the last 5 years?” I asked as I put my muzzle on the gate unable to go through without making somepony upset, being a Queen it is always best to follow the rules that are set. Unless you wanted ponies that started to break the rules as well following my example.
“Why I’ve been watching you. That’s something a friend does for another when they lose all the ones they care about.” Discord jumped and landed next to me, he put his face in the gate next to mine. “What are we looking at?”
“Discord...Why are you really here?”
“Always so serious my dear. Do you think Celestia would have been this serious everyday?”
That name stung. It was like a knife being shoved into my heart and twisted around. I didn’t want to let him know it bothered me so I ignored it. “Why are you here?” I asked again a slight annoyed tone in my voice.
“Fine. If you must know I’m here to see my darling Fluttershy.” Discord stood up straight.
“The graveyard is closed Discord. We’ll have to come by later.”
Discord didn’t like the idea of waiting. He wanted to talk to his beloved today. He puts his paw on the chain of the gate and it melted away the gate swinging open. I jumped back surprised.
“Di..Discord!” I stuttered.
“You think I’m really going to wait till tomorrow? You must not know me very well.” He let out a half hearted chuckle. You could tell there was pain in his voice. Deep down I think he’s like me, he’d do anything to bring the one he loves back. But even with all his power, with all his magic, there was no bringing the dead back. He bowed and motioned towards the graveyard.
“After you my Queen.”
I rolled my eyes and walked inside the graveyard. As I walked in I noticed the rows and rows of graves. All with different names on them. So many deaths. I can’t imagine the ponies that gave their lives for the war that we caused. The war that could have been prevented.
“They’re over here.” Discord grabbed my hoof and pulled me towards the grave stones. Once there I looked at them. There were 6 of them in total all put together in an arc form, each with the cutie mark of the respective pony on the gravestone. There they were. My 6 best friends. I walked over to the middle and sat down in front of all of them.
“Wow how long has it been?” I giggled actually feeling pretty sad that I never really get to come here.. “The gang's all here isn’t it?” I simply sighed and put the rose onto Starlight Glimmer’s tombstone. “I’m sorry I don’t have one for all of you but I didn’t bring enough bits when I was out” A tear slowly ran down my cheek. “I....Wh...” I rub my face.
“Where do I even start?” I asked myself, kinda hoping for a response. Discord stood behind me watching. But he was facing away for some reason. I wasn’t sure why since I thought he was here to see Fluttershy. “I...I guess I’ll start with.....I miss you all......You were all my heart and soul and everyday you’re gone it feels like a part of me is slowly dieing everyday.” I get choked up slightly. It wasn’t fair that they all died and I was here...living on. “I...” I looked at Rarity's stone and smiled.
"You’ll be happy to know Rarity that your daughter is still running your boutique. You should see the things she makes. It’s amazing! She actually agreed to make me a Galla dress just like you did. I told her that I didn’t need one but she insisted. I think she gets her stuberness from her dad....Oh speaking of Spike he’s actually out on a mission right now. He’s been trying to find the time to come visit you but he says to tell you he’s so sorry that he can’t......I think he still blames himself for your death.....I still kinda do to.....Even after 5 years......I still can’t get over how fast it was......” I take a deep breath. “Applejack your sister is doing great. She’s actually pregnant right now.....surprise. You're a grandma! Or....Going to be I guess” I giggle to myself. “Don’t worry. She settled down with a great stallion. He treats her like you and your brother would every single day.” I turn to Fluttershy’s stone. “Flutters. I’m actually here with Discord right now. He wanted to say hi.” Discord turned to look at me then Fluttershy’s stone. “He..Hey Butterfly” Discord spoke the nickname he always used to call Fluttershy.
“How....Hows the afterlife.....” I could tell he was having a hard time holding back his tears. “I...I hope your....Your happy....Butterfly.” He walked over to the stone and fell to his knees. “Butterfly......I’m so sorry....I’m a god and I couldn’t even protect you.....I couldn’t save you” He began to sob. “I’m sorry I’m sorry!” He hugged the stone as if it was his long lost love saying ‘I’m sorry’ over and over again. I sighed. Honestly I felt that Discord had it even worse than I did. Being a god meant he could do whatever he wanted....He blames himself for being out on a mission during the great war. I walked over to Discord and hugged him from behind. “I know it hurts DIscord. I know you wish you could undo it. But somethings......Just can’t be.” Discord turned and hugged me sobbing into my shoulder as I rubbed his back. I felt bad for him. “Discord do you want to go?”
Discord sniffled looking at me. “Twilight.....How did she die?”
“Didn’t you see the reports?” I asked him.
He shook his head. “I was scared that it was something slow and painful so...I didn’t read.”
Could I do this? Was I strong enough to tell him that the love of his life was killed in a way that I wouldn’t even wish on my worse enemy?.....Was I strong enough to break his heart further?...No I wasn’t.
“It was quick and painless Discord. A sword straight through the heart. She passed instantly”
Discord looked at Fluttershy’s gravestone and sniffled. “Good.” He put his paw on the stone and let it slowly fall down the stone. “I don’t think I could have handled knowing she died painfully.”
I nodded. “Of course. How about you stay with her while I talk to the others?” Discord simply nodded as I went to Rainbow Dash’s grave and sat in front of it. “Rainbow......Wow It has been far too long. Almost miss you calling me a egghead.” I giggle.
“I guess you want to hear about your son......He’s doing good. He’s the captain of the royal guard right next to my husband, they work great together! He’s very powerful sword pony who uses his wings to his advantage. I’m sure if he gets the chance he’ll come here to say hi.” I smile. “Your daughter is still struggling in magic school though.....She can’t seem to get teleporting down but hey everypony has their own strengths and weaknesses.” I smile warmly. “If she needs it I’ll help her.” I then scoot over to Pinkie Pie. “Pinkie Pie......I think I miss you the most.” I frown.
“The smiles you used to spread the love you used to give. You could make even the most depressed pony smile.” I smile again. “Cheese and your foal.....I don’t know much I’m sorry. I get regular letters from them....Last one was from Yakistan......I just hope your foal and him are ok.” I scootch over again to Starlight Glimmer. “Starlight.....You......You died without leaving anything behind and for that I’m sorry” I kiss my hoof and put it on the stone. “I thank you for your sacrifice my student” I begin to cry unable to hold it back anymore. My ear twitched as I heard somepony run by. “Discord....Did you hear that?”
Discord stood and turned towards the gate. “Yes I did. Think it may be somepony here to leave flowers?” Discord joked. I never could figure out why he joked so much. Perhaps it was his way of coping with stress.
“I highly doubt it since they are hiding.” I stand and look around scanning the area for anypony. I knew I heard something.....Was my mind playing tricks on me? As I turned my back a pony jumped at me screaming something. I turn quick looking at him as I put up a magical shield around me and Discord before the pony blew up with a massive explosion making a small crater. I made sure the barrier was big enough to protect Discord, me and the graves. “Wh....What was that?!” Discord yelled confused as a small round sphere rolled next to my field as I dropped the magic barrier spell.
“I’m not sure. But I think that this will tell us a lot.” I levitate the sphere over to myself. A glass see through sphere with swirling blue stuff inside of it, it was odd...but I felt like it was...speaking to me. “Discord I’ve got to go. Are you going to be ok?” Discord simply nodded.
“I...just want to be here with Butterfly”
I smiled and put a hoof on his shoulder. “Take all the time you need” I put the sphere in front of my face looking at it. “I think I need to see my son about this”
