Things Left Unsaid, The World’s Biggest Regret

I looked deep into the dark, night sky and pondered. It’d been awhile since I’d felt so alone. All the voices were gone. I’d gotten so use to having all the answers to my own questions. How could people live with such overbearing silence? They don’t, right? No, insanity must be a more common trait than initially thought. No one could survive this…

I couldn’t hear any answers, and the questions were coming in full force.

Is this death? Why? Where am I? Whose there…

It was hard to concentrate through all the silence, but if I had to guess, I’d say yes. Death is synonymous with cold and I couldn’t stop shivering. I’d never felt such a chill. My fur would always protect me. I’d taken it for granted and now I hold so many regrets.

Why? Where am I? Whose there…

It’s simple, I failed. I played with evil and I couldn’t control it. I had thought of myself as a professional. The world didn’t follow my ideology and I decided to make it. I was frustrated and tried to take it all by force… and it worked! All that blood spilled in my name. By me, for me, all for the sake of madness! It was a joy. In the moment, I felt truly invincible. Now, I lay in a growing red pool of my results.

Where am I? And… Whose there?

The enemy had always been ponies. They were the dominate power. Such terrific accomplishments and progress unrivaled by any other civilization, all bundled in one diverse package. They cultivated a culture that screamed anything was possible. Their Kindness truly knew no bounds. Their power was beyond belief. Their riches enough to quell even a gryphon’s greed. Yet, all that they’re capable of, they decided to stand and watch as we burned.

So, here I lay bleeding, tyrannical ruler of the Red Panda tribes and uniter of the Third World, on the hard, stained tiled roads of the once impenetrable capital of Equestria. A four year clash of power and might, born from nineteen years of Starvation, sickness, and murder, finally coming to an end. If i’d known how bitter the end would be, would I have ever started in the first place? No. A resounding no at that.

“Whose there?”

It was such a silly question, I was surprised it’d left my lips. Of course she’d come and find me. Her type was cunning yet predictable, which had really helped me through these last four years. I should have guessed one magical blast wouldn’t be the end of it. And because of her aforementioned type, I wasn’t going to get the usual gloating and goading crap I wanted. I was going to get a conversation. A last conversation… and predictably enough, a merciful one.

“I don’t understand… I can’t possibly understand… but here you are…” Twilight Sparkle was mumbling incoherently, either not hearing or caring for my question, instead focusing on recent events.

“Why, why am I alive, Zack? Y-You flinched… no, waited, and gave me an opening!” She stomped on the tile and screamed. She was taking her victory rather poorly if you ask me.

“You… the most cunning tyrant in the world, k-killer…” She didn’t like that title. Didn’t fit her rage. “Murderer of the sun and moon… killed because of… of… hesitance!? Bullshit!”

I winced visibly at her last word. While quite loud, I’d actually been enjoying her voice as she rattled through my accomplishments. But, her sailor's tongue left a bad taste in my mouth. Ponies should never curse like that. Especially an Empress.

With a small turn of my head, I adjusted my hazy gaze to her purple fuzz. Her face was indistinguishable, but I’d seen her plenty of times to fill in the gaps. Her beauty ingrained into my mind, where I keep it for personal warmth and comfort. Now it was the only comfort left for me… the chills were getting worse.

“Y-You’ve got… a weird way… of flattery.” I gave her a weak smile. She deserves a stronger one, maybe even a hug to show her everything is going to be okay. If only it were different.

“I-I guess… you answered… your own question. I flinched… whoops…”

I didn’t have to see her, the anger radiated from her every breath. She didn’t like my answer. Sufficed to say, I don’t think she liked me either. But, why draw this out? There had to be a point, Twilight Sparkle didn’t stall for no reason. She always had a reason. She was acting very out of character and it was disturbing.

“Y-Your… still here,...Twilight… where’s my… friendship lesson?”

“You have yet to answer my question.”

She was persistent. Even in my weakened state, she drove me to wag my tail. I enjoy a girl who tries to cut to the chase.

“You forget yourself… I flinc-” I broke my own sentence with a strained cough, blood suddenly spat out of my mouth and added to the red stains around me.

I missed her approach and was left shocked as a purple leg delicately stepped into my puddle. She’d come so close, I could feel a sudden hint of fear well up in my stomach. My mind suddenly infested with worry. Her hooves, they’ll get so dirty and soaked at this rate.

“N-No… wait.”

“You will NOT trivialize this conversation, Zack! I will not allow lies. You. Will. Talk!” Her voice was being projected by magic. She was trying to use my visible fear as an advantage. What a magnificent mare. If only she knew how futile it was. She could never make me fear for my life. It wasn’t worth a cent anyway.

“A-An Empress… shouldn’t muddy her hooves… in blood.” Her reaction was unreadable for a second. There was no placing her emotions. Even in a state of death, I should have been able to read her like a book. I know everything to know about this pony. Something was wrong….

Her laugh proved it.

“Oooh. Zack… now whose forgetful?”

Her mirth was as dead as the words she spoke. She didn’t sound like a pained soul. She sounded… broken. That word doesn’t fit the pony though. I have never met a pony who could rival her resolve. We haven’t talked in a while, but this… nothing was making sense.

Her bloodied hoof was lifted to my side and with no warning, she began to pet me.

“You treat me as a Princess, yet… You killed them all. Remember?”

What a cold reality. Here she is, giving me the attention I’ve craved from her, for years now, and I’m left numb. Physically and mentally, I struggle with her words. My thoughts are getting muddled and my body is growing even number. But, it isn’t death that plagues me. It’s that icy tone. I start… I start to lightly cry.

“In their place, rises an Empress. And an Empress is always burdened with blood. It’s how she builds. It’s how she creates… it’s how she lives.”

“Quit the petty chivalry, Zack. The blood doesn’t phase me anymore. But, I’ll tell you what does.” The blood on her hooves must have soaked past my fur and into the skin, because I was feeling an increase in chills, my body was quaking like a leaf.

“Why did you spare my life? Why did you sacrifice yours? What was the point?! Why!?!”

My tears were freely streaming. I did nothing to stop them because there was no point. This was truly starting to hurt. So much pain was being squeezed into one slow, fleeting moment.

“Y-You hid… your woe… your pain… the bitter acceptance of it all… you hid your feelings… from everyone…. From... me!” My breath hitched, breaking into a heavy pant, and finally spiraling completely into a new bloody fit of coughs. As soon as they subsided, I choked out the words.

“I could have helped.”

My ears were suddenly assaulted by another icy laugh. She must’ve hated me, because this was true torture.

“Helped, such a misleading way to say murder. You would have killed some more, because you knew it would distract me. ‘How can I think to myself if all your chaos is keeping me busy?’ What a cruel way of reasoning. How pathetic that I let it work for so long.”

“I’ll admit, you’re the smartest foe I’ve ever faced, and your capacity for gore and violence is unmatched. But, even you have a fatal flaw.”

This wasn’t right. I didn’t need to hear this. It was so apparent now, why did she have to say it out loud. How blind… dear gods, how blind I’ve been. She leaned in, and her voice drew to a low growl as she humiliated everything I stood for.

“You’ve always underestimated my ability… to adapt. You missed every sign because you were convinced. Assured you had me nicked. While making sure to line things up in your favor, always three steps ahead. You never looked back to notice I was closing the gap.”

I don’t know… who this pony is anymore…

“No.”

I can’t die now…

“N-no…”

I have to learn… I need to learn…

“Help me…”

Who is Twilight Sparkle?

Author's Note

Okay, hello everyone whose bothered! I know these words can't relay much emotion, but you have no idea how honored I am to have readers.

I take great pride in these few words because they're my first 'Real' try at Fimfiction.

That in mind, I need to get something off my chest. I've been sitting on this story for longer than I'd care to admit. I've always had insecurities with perfection when it comes to writing so I've basically bailed on every other attempt thus far. Recently, I've grown up. I've read books, I'm around some of the most encouraging people I've ever known in my life. With all this new confidence, I decided, "What the hell! Why not!" Hence, the chapter and story you see now.

What does this all mean. Well, in layman's terms, I'm a scrub. I'm unsure of my grammar, my sense of story direction is shoddy and to be honest, a lot more could be added to this chapter alone. It's basically a one shot with the opening for more. Because I want to create more. In fact, whether or not this does well will only decide on whether I post the story on Fimfiction or not. I'm going to finish this one way or another, it just depends. What I need is pre readers. Is that a little selfish given that this is my first attempt. Hell ya! But, I want to throw the offer out anyway. Fix my language. Give small suggestions, and I will do my best to keep you well employed. Money not guaranteed.

So, do your worst. Roast me to your hearts content. I like to buddy around with the people who hate me, so negative comments just register as potential friendships. Fire away!

Oh, and the theme for this chapter is as following.