Windows of the Soul

Another year came and went. The chains of reality fully locked themselves around Twilight's mind, along with Spike's and Flash's. Aside from their scheduled rest days, they rarely did anything other than train, eat, bathe, and sleep. In that time, the world became more embroiled in chaos than ever. The total collapse of civilization seemed not far off, though many who felt it teetering still denied it for their own sanity. Shortly after Twilight's twenty-fifth birthday, she and the others set their plan in motion. They paid each of their friends one last visit. Not wanting to alarm them, they spoke of more lighthearted times and events. The day before the start of August, Twilight wrote a letter. It was to be her final message to Shining and Cadence.

"Things really took a strange turn, didn't they? I admit I was trying to hold out for a more hopeful outcome, but things are never that simple. Shining, I'm not sure if I should have told you this a long time ago or if now is more appropriate, but when I was a filly, I was angry about the fact you joined the guard. I was skeptical of your motives because of who you were trying to impress - someone with governmental influence and publicity, but it was your life, and it was your choice to live it how you saw fit. What I hope you understand is, without Spike, I would have been lost, left with nothing but my own deteriorating mental state to keep me company. Other than the few people I knew, my life was empty, and I didn't want to spend it hating you for leaving me behind. Now I'm ready to embrace the consequences our actions have wrought upon the world, and maybe you'll understand where my pain stemmed from. Cadence, you were a very kind and good-natured soul. You, Spike, and Flash understood me in a way no one else really did. In a way, it felt like you were more of a sibling to me than Shining was. Seeing how you kept him in line when he acted more like a teenager than an adult in his thirties eased my mind, because at least I knew someone would keep him from getting too carried away. Unfortunately, none of this is going to matter anymore after today. Even as we speak, weapons of mass destruction are being prepared for deployment. Chances of survival are slim to none. Those who do live through the ordeal will likely starve over an extended period or die of illness as a result of the contamination. I came to accept my fate long ago. I've observed many ideas about the world beyond this one, and we've prepared ourselves accordingly for the worst scenario. Flash, Spike, and myself have taken solace in this preparedness. This is my prayer that you'll end up somewhere better than we did - somewhere far beyond the clutches of evil. We love you. Farewell..."

"Are you ready," Spike asked.

Twilight nodded. She gave him the letter. Using his dragon breath, he deconstructed it, sending the particles to its receivers with a speed equal to that of light. Flash exited the house. He had collected their equipment: Spike's pistol, Twilight's shotgun, and two small boxes filled with ammunition for each of them.

"Got your sword," the dragon questioned his sister. She pulled the sheath partially from behind her jacket.

"I wanna' get this over with," she stated irritably. Flash and Spike agreed. The three of them headed deeper into the woods.

Cadence was experiencing her own anxieties around the time Twilight and the others disappeared. Tensions between nations were higher than she had ever seen them in her thirty-six years of life. She was the one who received the letter.

"Twilight...What did you do...?"

"Mom, is something wrong with aunt Twilight...?"

"Flurry...Let's find your father, okay?"

"Okay."

Shining's patience with his inability to control the increasingly volatile situation was reaching its end. Between Celestia's insistence on striking first and arguments between other commanders, he felt as though his entire nervous system was ready to short-circuit. Cadence and Flurry's appearance silenced them all.

"Hon, what are you doing here!?"

With a stern expression, Cadence handed Shining the letter.

"..."

"You're coming with us," she told him, "This isn't up for debate."

Shining nodded solemnly, the regret in his eyes, clearer than any sky or ocean. He turned back to his former allies.

"I'm not sure who to be more disappointed in - You, the other nations, or myself..."

He inhaled sharply, then exhaled silently.

"This meeting is over...We're all done for..."

The remaining military leaders, and even Celestia lost the will to protest. Shining's stinging words and his defeated glare sewed their mouths shut. He put his forelegs around Cadence and Flurry. Without another word, the three of them teleported away...

Shining, Cadence, and Flurry reappeared at the entrance to the woods near Twilight's old home.

"You guys stay here," Shining said.

"She was my sister-in-law. We're going."

"No, you're not. I'm not going to let this be the last thing Flurry remembers."

"..."

"I'll be back soon. Just...Please stay here..."

The stallion left his wife and daughter. He soon vanished between the trees...

At the heart of the land, where the plant life flourished, there was a flowing creek. The trickling noises it produced around the stones contained within reminded Shining of rain dripping from a rooftop into a ceramic pot. The ironic smile on his face did nothing to hold back his tears. For the first and only time, he unashamedly broke down.

"Twily..."

Twilight felt something cold against her cheek. Her return to consciousness carried the same symptoms as those of a fever: in particular, her low energy and lethargy. Slowly, she opened her eyes.

"I guess we were separated after all..."

The mare pushed herself off the ground. It was a dull gray color - nothing like the fiery brown she expected. However, she did experience a strong sensation of heat emanate from nearby.

"The lake of fire..."

She looked up at the lifeless, clouded sky above the dead trees. Truth be told, she was surprised to see one at all. Based on the descriptions and depictions of hell she saw in life, she assumed it would be more like a cave without an exit. Then again, she had always wondered if it could somehow change based on the psychology of its victims.

"There's no point staying here, anymore..."

Twilight retrieved her gun. She cocked the weapon.

"Let's go..."