Lauren McNeigh

Lauren calmed down, regaining enough Meter Essence to keep herself awake. She had set Gari free and the mare was already starting to recover from the trauma. A second later, she heard the door open. It was Luna and Berry. Gari immediately ran to Luna for comfort, which she provided happily. Berry tried her best not to vomit at the sight of the dead body.

“I’ll have some leeches clean up the mess” the half-drunk mare spoke, shielding her eyes from the scene.

“I’m just happy now that my most loved Child of the Night is alright” Luna smiled while holding Gari. “Thank you, Mother Lauren”

Lauren nodded with a warm smile.

Luna gave Gari a kiss on the forehead before opening up a portal which the young mare went through. No doubt it was one that would lead to a refuge to wait out the storm. She then opened up another portal on the floor. This one looked like it was underwater.

Lauren looked down, unsure. “I can swim really well, but I can’t hold my breath for so long”

“It’s the fastest way to Discord’s area, stay close to me”

Luna’s horn lit up before two air bubbles appeared on their heads. She then jumped in first, before the Equestria Girl followed. Luckily, the air bubble provided air. She just had to follow the mare ahead of her.

Lauren swam with Luna down the watery area of Wonderland. Along the way, she was met by a new enemy. They were called Water Snarks. They looked like a fish, but they had then, chicken-like legs used for swimming. They were bluish-green with green eyes. When they were within range, they would bite.

They didn’t stay underwater for too long, thankfully. They soon surfaced up, leaving the danger of Snarks behind.

Luna shook the water off her after surfacing. Lauren took a walk right out, distressing about her wet dress. That was when the Night Princess made a night wind sweep across them. It was strong enough to dry them both to normal. Lauren dusted herself off while Luna fixed her armor.

“Discord is just up ahead. I sense Twilight is nearby. Be careful, Mother. You’re basically like a visitor, but we have to live here”

“I’m not on holiday” Lauren fixed her skirt.

“And I’m not ungrateful” Luna then lit up her horn before a blue glow enveloped Lauren and disappeared. “There, now you can stay underwater for longer periods of time. This spell allows you to breathe underwater”

“Thank you, Luna. I’ll be sure to make all this end”

“Be careful. I’m going to go and keep watch on my Children”

Lauren nodded, sharing a final hug of farewell. Luna then put on another air bubble before going into the water. Lauren went on and began to go and find Twilight.

And that task didn’t take too long.

Lauren swung on the vine tightly. Wherever it would take her, it was surely very high above sea level. Or in this case, puddle level. She was getting tired now from the long time of hanging and strain used on her hands and arms. She then saw something just ahead. It was Twilight, and she looked like she was waiting for her. Flinging herself forward with the vine, she safely landed on the other side.

“You’ve taken your sweet time” Twilight mused while the Equestria Girl got her bearings back.

“What do you mean? You’re the one who didn’t wait, I have my reasons…”

Twilight sighed. “Forget reasons, they’re useless in the apocalyptic scene. Besides, Discord is waiting”

Lauren caught her breath. “I remember him all too well. But he’s annoying at times, and always the mischievous type of villain rather than truly mad. Why do we need to see him in this doomsday look?”

“He’s been watching everything closely. Yes, he’s annoying to no end, but he may be the only one who knows what you must do to save us. Now, follow me closely. The way is treacherous. We have so much ground to go and so little time to get there”

Twilight looked behind the rock and went back down to Lauren. “It’s eerily quiet here. I don’t like it. Discord is just beyond the clearing. Let’s sacrifice stealth for speed, Mother”

Without any more waiting, Twilight made a run for it. Lauren knew one should never try to sacrifice stealth for speed in the apocalypse, especially with soldier literally in the air. She guessed the hot fumes around was now messing with the brain chemistry.

She was about to go and call Twilight back, but then she heard rumbling. The ground shook for both of them. They both looked up before seeing what it was: a normal sized Anastasia. From the looks of her, she was now dressed in attire which was both stylish but fit for war. She now wore a lavender top hat with a plum ribbon. On her hooves were plum boots with gemstones. In her eyes were the sign of Corruption.

Twilight made a run for it when she saw the feature. She ran as fast as her legs could carry her. Unfortunately, owing it to her small size, she had the stride of an ant. Ana saw the opportunity before she raised a booted hoof and squished her.

Lauren watched on the whole event. She saw the look in Twilight’s eyes before she made contact with the boot. It was fear and a feeling that she had failed. She heard her bones crunch under the weight of the boot. She saw the blood come out.

Ana only looked like she was smirking. She raised her hoof and gave a sneer at the blood spot on it. She only said it was another cleaning duty before raising her snout up and walking away.

Lauren ran over to Twilight to see how badly it was. The poor mare entirely crushed. Her blood was all over the soil around her. She was flat as a pancake.

Lauren broke down when she saw it. Twilight Sparkle, her firstborn of the whole My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic series, was now dead. She was dead and gone. She was the first she made, and the first loved one that just died before her eyes. She was smart, strong, powerful, and a born leader. Now…This was even permanent. There’s no bringing her back.

“Lauren” she heard a familiar voice call her.

She looked to her side to see Hazel and Hester, looking at her with empathy. They saw it as well. They were also upset. Hazel spread her arms to her, offering her a hug, hiding away her and Hester’s own sadness.

She lunged forward and hugged the living stuffing out of the little girl. She felt her pat her back to soothe her as she cried on her. Hester was fixing her hair to help out. She felt shaking from them as well, trying to hide their own crying. Even then, she vented it all out. She could handle a few minors, but Twilight was a major.

“Everyone around me dies violently!” she sobbed. “Unnatural! I’m cursed! Why go on?! I’ll just hurt others!”

She cried it all out on the child she held. Hazel was listening to her heart to keep herself from crying as well. Hester felt the sadness and mourning just radiate. Twilight was even one of those who were participants in holing the barrier together with her spell. Luckily, it still was connected to Lauren, Snowdrop, and the duo so it would still hold. Twilight was a close friend to everyone, and now she was gone. This was a major event.

Only when she felt that Lauren was calm enough did Hazel speak gently. “It’s not your fault, Lauren. You’re not to blame for Twilight’s death”

Hester agreed gently. “Twilight did what she had to do, even if it cost her own life”

“We know how sad you are about her. We all are too. Everyone will the moment they hear about her death. She was a friend to all of us, a mother to some, and a daughter to you. But rest assured, she did not die in vain. She led you near to where Discord is”

“Avenge her death when you stop this madness. It’s what she would’ve wanted. For her sake, press on. If you don’t several others will die as well. Stay strong, Lauren Faust, for her, for you, for all of us”

Lauren looked down at the corpse of the dead mare. A small glow of Essence came from the mare, in the shape of a six-point star. No doubt, it was Twilight’s own Essence and the type that also held her magic and powers. Lauren could only look on as the glow entered into her heart and she absorbed a piece of the dead mare’s magic.

Press on for me, Mother

She flinched when she heard the mare’s voice in her head. Twilight was still with her in a way. She won’t let her down. She can’t.

Wiping her tears away, she nodded to Hazel and Hester as the duo disappeared again. She gave Twilight one last look before she fought the Bomb-Sprites.

“I’ll avenge you, Twilight”