Revenge of the Shadow Pony

Feeling his chest ache and tearing apart on the inside, Spike began coughing out blood while trying to stay alive. Panicking, Tempest asked,

“What do we do now? Spike is-”

“I’ll go find Starlight! Make sure he’s still alive!” Sunset said before running away to find her.

Tempest nodded and waited by Spike’s side while the others gathered around to make sure he didn't die.

***

There she was. At the end of the road. Starlight had managed to destroy the Malachite Crystal Heart and the pieces were scattered everywhere after it exploded. Tired and exhausted from her skirmish against the Creature, Starlight dropped the rock and tries to surmise what happens next. But suddenly, a familiar voice said,

“I never wanted this.”

Starlight sharply turned around and it turned out to be none other than Twilight Sparkle. Only this time, she was back in her original form and appeared to be some form of redeemed spirit with no hint of evil or malice surrounding her.

“But I had no choice.”

Starlight was surprised by her appearance. She wasn’t even sure if it was the real Twilight Sparkle. But still feeling the anger and resentment held towards her former friend, Starlight said,

“We always have a choice. You had a choice before you banished Spike!”

“You’re right. I did. But it wasn’t always that way.” Twilight responded.

“What do you mean?” Starlight asked, feeling suspicious of Twilight’s feelings.

“I knew that Spike destroyed the statue.” Twilight said, looking around the carnage surrounding her.

“Then why did you-!?” Starlight said before being interrupted.

“It was Discord.” Twilight answered.

“Discord!?” Starlight asked in a shocked tone.

Twilight solemnly nodded and looked towards the night sky, filled with nothing but remorse.

“He was the one who had Spike banished. He claimed that it was only a test, but I knew better after all the chaos he put us through. But then he brought up the fact that the Royal Sisters were counting on me and they wanted me to keep my dignity. And he had this idea of making a scapegoat out of Spike. I had every intention of banishing that wretched draconequus back to his home, but Discord promised that he would keep watch over Spike in case he went astray. But I never imagined that it would turn out to be like this.” Twilight explained, looking around the destruction.

“And that’s supposed to excuse you from everything you did to us? I may have been angry and chaotic when we fought each other, but compared to you now… I’m not as bad as you.” Starlight said in a venomous tone.

“I never wanted to put you through this, but Discord produced clones of me and my friends before I could stop him from gaslighting you and Spike.” Twilight said, looking directly at Starlight.

“Even so…” Starlight said with tears slowly coming out.

“It was the most despicable thing we could have ever done to you. All of you. I spent every day wishing I could undo everything that happened. Wishing that I had never accepted Discord into our lives. And wishing everyday that I wasn’t weak. This torment was too much for me to bear and I couldn’t take it anymore.” Twilight said with her voice beginning to break.

Having heard Twilight’s story, Starlight had a hard time discerning the facts that she was given. Even if her former mentor was telling the truth, it still wouldn’t excuse her poor behavior and the way she treated everypony else around her. But even with all that said, Starlight felt nothing but sympathy towards the former alicorn and her mistakes as the Princess of Friendship.

“I did terrible things too…” Starlight said, showing a little empathy.

Twilight moved toward the ooze and looked at it before turning the other direction to look at the now-shattered Malachite Crystal in front of her, which carried Spike’s now-splattered heart.

“I have never chosen for any of this. But the only thing we can do now… is move forward.” Twilight said, looking at Starlight.

At this point, Starlight couldn’t bring herself to resent Twilight anymore. Even after everything that she had done and everything that she tried to pull against her friends, Starlight was so tired of the hatefulness and the malice that was held all around her and she couldn’t bring herself to hate her former friend anymore. With a small smile and a nearly broken voice, Starlight uttered,

“I forgive you…”

Moved to tears by Starlight’s words, Twilight peacefully ascended off the ground before disintegrating into her Cutie Mark symbol. Then it floated into the air and disappeared as the sun slowly started to rise. Starlight was happy to know that she made peace with her friend, but there was something bothering her now.

“Starlight!” Sunset shouted, running towards her.

“Sunset?! What is it?” Starlight asked in a worried manner.

“It’s Spike!” Sunset answered.

Hearing her explain what the news is, Starlight grew shocked upon hearing what is happening and what would happen next.

***

Sunset teleported herself and Starlight back to others. They turned around and they had these scared faces on them. Starlight was equally terrified and concerned about what was happening, but she walked over to Spike’s side and kneeled next to him.

“Hey there, buddy. How are you?” Starlight asked, pretending to be happy.

“Like a million gems…” Spike joked before coughing some more.

“What do you say after this we go to your favorite gem spot?” Starlight asked, trying to be brave.

“It would be nice…” Spike said before coughing again.

Cadance tapped Starlight by her shoulder and gestured to her to say something.

“I’m sorry…” Starlight said.

“Sorry…? For what…?” Spike asked, feeling confused.

“If I had known what was in that cave… if I had just gone with you… none of this…” Starlight said before she couldn’t bring herself to talk anymore.

Spike slowly moved his hand and grabbed her hoof.

“None of it matters anymore, Starlight… you’re my friend.” Spike whispered, looking at her with a smile.

“Best friends…” Starlight said, trying to hold back the tears.

But before Spike could speak any further, his body started going into arrest. He had a hard time breathing and concentrating. He looked up to the sky and could only see the sun’s rays as his vision started disappearing. He gazed at the sun before finally passing away from his wounds.

“Spike…” Starlight said with her voice starting to break.

Everypony shared the same sentiment. Cadance and Shining Armor held onto each other in grief, Tempest was at a loss for words and could do nothing but comfort her grieving friend, Sunset could hardly say anything, Apple Bloom felt the tears come out of her eyes, and Zecora looked down both in guilt and mourning. No longer holding herself back after everything that has happened to her and her friends across her journey, Starlight hugged Spike’s corpse and cried out,

“SPIKE…!!!”

Starlight cried her heart out into the sky as the sun finally unveiled itself behind the mountains and the night sky disappeared. The nightmare was finally over…