The Derpy I Know And Love Volume 2: Shooting Stars Are Not Always Lucky

Shooting Star saw Twilight going to the hospital accompanied by two Royal Guards. He was afraid of what this meant to himself.

The conversation with Muffins had triggered something inside himself. Was he really not the pony he thought he was. Did the transfer in time do something to his mind. Was he only some incomplete quantum duplicate that was put forward ten years?

There was a nagging feeling in the back of his mind the whole time these events have been going on. He was in conflict with his own actions. But he could still make all of this work for the plan he’d been plotting.

The trio entered the hospital, Twilight asked the front desk the status of Pinkie Pie. She was told what she was expecting to hear.

Twilight had the guard follow her down the hall that led to Pinkie’s room. They passed a waiting room and Twilight saw Sparkler was in there.

“Wait here,” Twilight said quietly to the guard, then she entered the room.

“Sparkler, are you okay?” asked Twilight.

“I’m okay, I know you overheard what went on between mom and dad and I was afraid for you. I followed you here to the hospital but I couldn’t find you. I couldn’t stand to be in the room with Pinkie for long. I’m so frightened for her and Rainbow.”

“I understand, I’m frightened for us as well. But things will get better soon, I promise. I’m so glad your mother has you to keep her strong.” Said Twilight embracing Sparkler. “You may not be my daughter, but I love you like one.”

Then she gave Sparkler a kiss on the cheek:

“If your mother asks, tell her I said; ‘Star Swirl the Bearded said it best’. I’m counting on you.”

Twilight turned and two Unicorns in uniform followed her.

Shooting had kept behind, when he got to the waiting room he saw Sparkler and went in.

“What’s going on?” he asked, “why is Twilight with Palace Guards?”

“I don’t know,” said Sparkler, “she told me that she’s counting on my strength for mother and that everything will be okay soon.”

“Is that all?”

“She said to tell mom that ‘Star Swirl the Bearded said it best’, what ever that meant. Then she gave me a kiss and walked out, two Unicorns in uniform followed her.”

“Oh no! She can’t be serious!”

All this time he’d actually convinced himself that Twilight was some self-serving pony without honor or decency. He couldn’t believe she was as noble and self-sacrificing as Muffins was insisting, this would work even better!

“What does she mean?” Asked Sparkler.

“Get your mother,” said Shooting. He kissed his daughter and said, “I’m so proud of the mare you’ve become. Always remember that.”

Shooting took off in the direction that Twilight had gone. Sparkler left galloping as hard as she could. Before she got to the Library, she was amazed when she met Princess Celestia and her mother going in the direction of the hospital. Sparkler told them what went on and what was said. The two looked shocked and they all hurried off back to the hospital.

Twilight opened the door, Rainbow was where she’d been the whole time.

She was holding Pinkie’s hoof. Rainbow looked terrible. She’d not eaten or slept. She’d cried so much that you couldn’t tell where the reddened ‘whites’ of her eyes ended and her red irises began. Rainbow had cried so much, she felt like there were no tears left.

Twilight looked at the monitor above Pinkie’s bed. There was hardly any indication. Pinkie was all but gone.

“I’m sorry but you need to go Rainbow,” said Twilight, “now.”

Rainbow looked panicked.

“NO! I can’t go! I won’t go! I won’t leave her! I LOVE HER!”

“Then don’t forget to tell her that,” said Twilight, then turning her head. “Guards!”

Rainbow didn’t know what to think as two large white Unicorns in uniform entered the room.

“Yes Lady Twilight?”

“Immobilize her, confine her somewhere comfortable for the next hour. And if I hear of any mistreatment, I’ll forget that there’s no death penalty in Equestria. Do I make myself clear?”

The Guard understood, Lady Twilight wasn’t making an empty threat.

“Very clear, My Lady.”

A magic aura surrounded Rainbow. Even if she was feeling normal, she couldn’t have fought it. She then started floating to the door.

“Don’t do this Twi! I thought you were my best friend!”

“I am, and you’ll be back with her soon. Don’t forget to tell her you love her.”

The door closed, Twilight walked to the pink pony, then took her hoof. She was cold and limp. Twilight stroked what little mane which had not been shaved.

“You’ll feel better soon, my happy friend.” Said Twilight with tears rolling down her cheeks.

Twilight took a step back, and an ancient parchment appeared in front of her. She read it again even though she’d committed it to memory.

She closed her eyes and started to concentrate.

“Please forgive me Muffins,” she said out loud. “Remember how much I loved you.”

“This is a fine way to prove it.” Said a familiar voice behind her.

Twilight turned to see Shooting Star.

“How did you know?”

“Sparkler told me.”

“I told her nothing.”

Shooting walked up to Twilight. There was no threat to his bearings.

“Yes you did, you told her ‘Star Swirl the Bearded said it best’. The quote is actually much older, from antiquity.

‘No greater love has anypony than that they lay down their life for another pony’.”

“I’m only one pony, if Pinkie dies then two ponies will die. If not of grief, Rainbow would do something rash.”

“I don’t doubt it, after all, you know your friends best. But I differ with you, if you do this, I don’t think Muffins could go on.”

“You’d be there.”

Shooting chuckled an empty chuckle;

“I hoped, I tried, but it was proven that I’ve no more place in her life. Perhaps only as a fond memory, and I may’ve ruined that as well. You’ve filled her heart more that I ever did. Not that I didn’t try. No, if you were gone, I could never fill the void. She’d cease to go on.

You see, I was the only Unicorn to survive the accident and I know why. It was pointed out to me and I finally get that I’ve not been the pony I once was, and now I believe. I may only be enough of the old me to understand I was given this existence for one reason.

The others who perished had no family. No reason to come back. I was given a gift nopony has ever been given.

I got to have the opportunity to say goodbye. I got to come back to see my daughter grown to a fine mare. I got to see the filly I never knew I had. And most importantly I got to see my beloved wife will be taken better care of that I ever could.”

Shooting then did something totally unexpected, he kissed Twilight rather passionately. It shocked her.

“Please give that to our wife.” He said smiling.

Twilight suddenly realized what Shooting had in mind. She started to cast a defensive spell, but Shooting was already ready and beat her to the draw. There was a red flash from his horn and Twilight fell unconscious. Shooting levitated the parchment and materialized a book against Twilight.

After scanning the parchment, he closed his eyes, his horn glowed and his aura surrounded Pinkie and himself. Then he collapsed to the floor by Twilight.

Princess Celestia led Muffins, Rainbow and Sparkler down the hall to Pinkie’s room. They stopped outside the door. Celestia closed her eyes and blocked the door.

“No,” she said aloud.

The mist was getting thicker. Pinkie was no longer able to resist the draw in the direction the other ponies were going, Pinkie released Celestia.

“Goodbye Princess, have fun for me. Tell Dashie I’ll miss her and I love her.”

“Tell her yourself,” said a stallion.

“What have you done?” Asked the princess.

“I’m stopping Twilight from doing this.” He said with a smile.

Shooting touched Pinkie with his horn. Pinkie felt life returning to her. The stallion smiled and disappeared. Pinkie was being drawn back in the other direction.

“I’ll see you soon,” said Celestia fading away.

It was getting clearer and lighter. Then she heard Rainbow’s voice.

“Come back to me Pinkie, I love you!”

“I know you do,” said Pinkie as the light flooded in. “And I love you too.”

Princess Celestia led Muffins, Rainbow and Sparkler down the hall to Pinkie’s room. They stopped outside the door. Celestia closed her eyes and blocked the door.

“No,” said Princess Celestia aloud. She opened the door.

On the floor were Shooting Star and Twilight Sparkle.

“Daddy!” screamed Sparkler.

“Twilight!” screamed Muffins.

Rainbow saw the monitor above Pinkie’s bed full of activity, Rainbow ran to the bed and took Pinkie’s hoof. It was warm.

“Come back to me Pinkie, I love you!”

“I know you do.” Pinkie said opening her eyes, “and I love you too.”

“Pinkie!” cried Rainbow. Then she unashamedly kissed the pink pony with a lot of passion.

Unaware of what’s going on with Pinkie. Both Sparkler and Muffins were on the floor, cradling a pony’s head.

“Daddy’s gone.” Said Sparkler then seeing her mother holding Twilight’s head. “Twilight?”

“She’s alive.” Tears were rolling down her cheeks. “How? Why?”

Rainbow broke the kiss with Pinkie. She buried her face into Pinkie’s chest, tears of joy were flowing. Pinkie noticed the princess and was about to say something, but the princess shook her head, Pinkie understood.

Celestia levitated the parchment from the floor, it vanished. Muffins and Sparkler helped Twilight up.

“What has happened was something foolish.” Said the princess. “But something done in the deepest of love.

Twilight was about to trade her life to save Pinkie Pie and Rainbow Dash. But somehow Shooting Star did it first for the love of Muffins, Sparkler, Dinky and yes even Twilight and Dawn.”

All looked shocked. Such sacrifice was only heard of in stories.

“Shooting, don’t!” said Twilight, her head clearing.

Rainbow and Pinkie looked at each other, then at Twilight.

“You were going to trade your life for Pinkie?” asked Rainbow.

Rainbow ran to Twilight and punched her on the shoulder.

“Ouch!” Exclaimed Twilight.

“That was stupid!” said Rainbow. Then she kissed Twilight and hugged her. “Thank you.”

“I told you not to do that here Rainbow, Muffins will catch us,” said Twilight managing a smile.

Celestia called the guard and instructed them to remove Shooting Star gently.

“I’m so sorry Sparkler,” said Twilight, “he had to be the bravest and most loving stallion I’ve had the honor to know. I don’t know if I could ever fill his horseshoes with you.”

“No, maybe not, you could never replace my father. But seeing how much you love mom, Cookie, Dawn, your friends and me, I think I’m ready to fully accept another mother, mom.” Sparkler smiled weakly.

Twilight and Sparkler embraced.

Then Twilight looked at Muffins.

“His last wish was I give this, in his words, to our wife.” Twilight gave Muffins a deep long kiss. Kissing Muffins still took Twilight’s breath away.

Twilight then noticed the book on the floor. She levitated it. It was a first edition of Shooting Star’s The Science of Magic. Inside it was signed to Twilight Sparkle.

To Twilight Sparkle, the greatest mare I’ve ever met. You’re truly worthy to continue my work.
If not in science, then with our family.
Remember, if I ever find out you ever hurt one of them...
I came back once.
With love and respect,
Shooting Star