The Collective

Twilight was not a bad pony. All that she did was reasonable given the circumstances. But she was tired. She would think this through tomorrow.

She woke up early on the following morning. Feeling brisk and refreshed, she decided to make breakfast for her and Spike, so that for once it'd be ready when he woke up. The hours afterward were spent studying, reading a bit for stuff related to work, and a bit for her own interest. At noon, a teenage stallion came visiting the library, wanting to lend a book which included a spell he'd have to perform at an upcoming test. Recognizing the difficulty of this plan, Twilight asked him a few questions, and it quickly became apparent just how desperate he really was, so she offered to teach him herself. In just twenty minutes he had mastered it, leaving the library overjoyed. Half an hour later, Twilight went to the boutique to ask Rarity if she wanted to go out to eat, and the two of them had a pleasant dinner together.

When she got back, she spent a couple of hours practicing magic, working on a spell she had invented herself. Once finished, it would allow any two ponies to exchange messages over large distances (with no restriction to unicorns). Early in the evening, Twilight went out for a walk with Fluttershy, and they talked a lot about Rainbow Dash and a bit about animals. Fluttershy thanked Twilight before they parted, and said that she had helped her a lot in gaining confidence. Humming a melody she remembered from a musician whom she had given money to on her way to the cottage, Twilight began heading back, putting a can of water, two slices of bread, and a couple of blue flowers onto a plate as she reached the library, which she carried upstairs. A glimmer of her horn outlined a square section on the floor beside her bed, which brought her into a dim-lit room at her touch, where a copy of herself was tied with shackles of purple energy to metallic rings anchored onto the ground.

“I am you, you know?” she said to herself as she approached. “I am not an imposter, and I’m not taking something that isn’t mine.”

The Twilight that was imprisoned didn’t respond. Her long mane was covering most of her face, and one could not see if her eyes were opened, or if she was breathing.

“We have to move on,” murmured Twilight. “You cannot die here.” She put the bread, the flowers, and the water onto the ground before her.

“Keeping you here does not make me evil.” She blinked, somewhat unsure of herself. “With how it is... I can’t. Even if I was doing something wrong, it would be you doing it.”

Somewhat hopefully, Twilight waited, but there was no response. She lowered her eyes, then turned around to leave. Touching a spot at the wall brought her back into the library.

Twilight was not a bad pony. All that she did was reasonable given the circumstances. But she was tired. She would think this through tomorrow.

Inside of the prison, Twilight let out a small groan, shifting around as far as her shackles allowed.