Taming The Past

Nighttime fell upon the city, the only light remaining came from the lampposts lighting the sidewalks and all the buildings surrounding a lonely figure making her way home. Twilight Sparkle moseyed down the dimly lit street, no fear of anything the night could offer. After twenty minutes of walking, Twilight Sparkle eventually reached her house, where all the lights were on.

Twilight Sparkle took a deep breath, mustering her bravado, and knocked on the door. She heard her father scream a response, though what he said he couldn’t make it out. But she did hear her mother respond at a similar volume, before opening the door after a few seconds. He tone returns to her usual melodious self when she her daughter standing by the doorway.

“Oh, hello Twilight,” She said softly. “Did you have a fun outing with your friends?”

“Oh, you know,” Twilight responds, shyly. “It was, um… Very fun. Heh-heh.”

“Is something wrong, Twily dear?”

“Actually… There’s something I need to talk to you and Dad about and it can’t wait. It’s very important.

Her mother clearly did not know what to make of the situation, but she nodded at least to show she was listening.

“… Oh, okay. Do come in, it’s getting cold out.”

Her mother waved her hand out, as Twilight Sparkle walked through the door. She went into the kitchen, where her dad sat at the counter, angrily mumbling over a pile of bills he had to pay. She took a seat among one of the chairs at the dining room table, waiting for her father to calm down. But he didn’t stop, even after she took a seat. After a few minutes of awkward silence, her mother tapped him along the shoulder.

“Dear, your daughter is here,” Her mother spoke. “She wishes to speak to us.”

Only then did Twilight’s father calm himself. He sets the papers aside on the table, offering the best smile he could muster. But it was clear Twilight could see the restless bags under his eyes.

“Oh, hello sweety,” Her spoke, with a strained voice. “How’s my little daughter doing? Finished all your homework?”

“Yeah, dad,” Twilight replied. “Got all my homework done while I was with my friends at Sugar Cube Corner.”

For a moment, Twilight turned away from her father, nervously twiddling her fingers. Her father eyed her, not as angry when she arrived, but more concerned… If not confused.

“Twily, what’s wrong? Are you feeling alright?”

Twilight rubbed the back of her neck, as she spoke.

“I’m fine, dad. It’s just… Hmm… There’s something I need to tell you both.”

“Oh? What is it, dear?” Her mother asked, joining the table.

Had Pinkie Pie and/or Rainbow Dash sat with them, Twilight Sparkle would be more comfortable. For several minutes she remained silent, trying to predict how her parents would respond to her revelation. She took a deep breath, preparing herself for the worst.

“I’ve been talking to the girls, at Sugar Cube Corner,” Twilight began. “And I realized something very important.”

“Twilight,” Her father interrupts. “Whatever you wish to say, we are here for you. We just want to make sure you are healthy and happy.”

It was obvious her father was trying so hard to put on a happy face, so hard. Twilight paid very close attention to his words and they sounded genuine. Perhaps everything her friends said initially was true.

“Mom… Dad… I, er… I don’t want to attend college just yet.”

Twilight Sparkle waited for a response, but neither of her parents said a word. They just looked at her, barely making an emotion, as if they were waiting for more. Twilight wasn’t going to have this conversation end this quickly, she knew she had more to say and they would not be satisfied till they hear every word.

“The truth is: I want to stay at Canterlot High, with my friends. All my life, I’ve always felt alone and now I finally have friends who understand me. I’ve spent my life growing up so fast, for once I just really want to enjoy being a teenager.”

Twilight desperately tried to sound joyous and appealing, but clearly she was struggling. Eventually, her parents’ eyes lit shock and yet they were still speechless. Her mother raised her hand over mouth to shield a gasp, while her father stared in silence. Twilight didn’t know what else to say, having already spoken her mind. Now she stood there, awkwardly grinding her teeth fearfully as if the wait for a response was the most agonizing torture she could ever experience.

“Twilight, I… I-I don’t understand,” Her mother spoke, lowering her hand. “Why don’t you want to go to college?”

“You’re not doing something behind our backs, are you?” Her father immediately asked, suspiciously.

If Twilight wasn’t terrified before she spoke, she was certainly frightened now. It wasn’t that her father seemed angry towards her, it’s just there was this tone of his that made her nervous. She closes her eyes, wanting to turn away from her parents right there, but she couldn’t back down. Her parents deserved to hear the truth, even if it hurt them more than it hurt her.

“Dad,” Twilight spoke. “I’ve told my friends about my younger days at school and all those advanced tests. I’ve told them how proud you’ve always been for my intelligence and that I appreciate it, I truly do.”

Twilight paused for a moment, to catch her breath.

“The thing is: I never wanted to advance straight to middle or high school. I always felt like an alien, so alone even around other people. I never had friends, and whenever they noticed me, it was only to bully me. There were so many times I wanted to drop off, to run away from it all, and never look back. But I stuck with it in the end because… Because I thought you had such high expectations in me. I did it because… Because I thought that was the only way you’d be happy for me.”

By that point, Twilight Sparkle started tearing up and couldn’t stop herself from crying. Her parents turned to each other, surprised by her words. Her father’s expression softened, seeing the pain and agony on his daughter’s face as if noticing her struggles for the very first time.

“Twilight…” Her father spoke, gently. “Y-You really thought we ‘wanted’ this?”

Twilight closed her eyes, unable to bear the sight of any disappointment painted along their faces. Not her mom’s and especially not her father’s. It would be too much for her.

“I was afraid to tell you ‘no’ without thinking how upset you’d be,” Twilight answered, tearing up. “For sixteen years of my life, I just wanted you to be happy… I’d give anything to make you proud of me, always. I couldn’t stand myself, if you two… If I d-disappointed you… All your hopes, all your dreams—”

Twilight laid her face upon her lap, wanting so bad to shield her eyes from the world. For the first time in sixteen years, her parents saw her cry openly, their own daughter broken beyond belief. A mask she built to suppress her sadness for so long, now it was shattered with no means of repair.

Twilight could pick up footsteps approaching her, then she felt a gentle hand upon her left shoulder. Slowly, she opens one eye and sees her mother, sniffing with a look of regret in her eyes. Twilight hated seeing such mournful eyes, as if she were the one who made the biggest mistake of her entire life.

“Twilight, we could never be disappointed in you,” Twilight’s mother whispered. “You’re not just our daughter, you’re our entire world. You mean more than anything your father and I could ever wish for. True, we’ve always been so proud of how brilliant you are, we barely knew where you get it from. But still… We never realized you were ‘feeling’ this way.”

Her mother squeezed her daughter warmly, as her father rose to join the embrace with his family.

“Twilight, if you never wanted this, all you ever had to do is tell us,” Her father spoke, sincerely. “Your mother and I are always proud of you, but we would never put you through this if we knew what you went through. We love you sweetheart, as the sun rises from the darkest valley and back, we’ll always love you… No matter what.”

Twilight just eyed her father, practically bawling while feeling a great weight lift itself off her shoulders.

“It doesn’t matter what you are,” Her father continued. “Whether you’re smart or not, a college professor or kindergarten student, a teacher or maid, or even a farmhand or a queen. Whatever you decide to do, you have our support no matter what. All that matters is what makes you happy and if it’s too soon for college, we will accept any decision you make.”

As he spoke, her father cleansed the tears from his daughter’s face. He brushed the hair over her eyes back, hugging her again to calm her down. Twilight rose her face to look him in the eyes.

“So… You wouldn’t be mad… If I just… Decided to stay in high school, with my friends?”

Her parents turned toward one another, confirming each other’s expressions. They grinned; their beady eyes locked in contact. Then, they turned back towards Twilight Sparkle, as her father placed an index finger under her chin so they could look at each other in the eyes despite all the tears getting in her way.

“Twilight Sparkle, whatever you want, your mother and I are more than okay with that.”

“We are so sorry for ever putting so much pressure on you,” Her mother apologized. “We only want what’s best for you and we regret making you feel you couldn’t talk to us.”

Twilight Sparkle couldn’t help but smile, even with her eyes filled with tears. All the same, she felt lighter than air, the big anchor she had carried now lifted off her chest. She stood there, bringing her arms around both her parents.

“Thank you, mom and dad,” Twilight cried. “It means so much to hear you say that.”

They pulled themselves from under their arms, grabbing hold of their precious treasure, hugging their daughter back.

“We love you, Twily,” Her father said. “We hope you can forgive us for making you feel this way.”

“We know we can’t bring back those years you missed,” Her mother added. “But whatever you choose from this point on, you have our support.”

Twilight’s head rested between her parents’ shoulders. The last of her tears fell entirely from her eyes, as she smiled warmly. She truly felt the genuine love from her parents, and deep down she was thanking her friends for giving her the courage to express the truth. The joy she felt was overwhelming.

“So, Buttercup, do you think you can finish the rest of your classes this year?” Her father asked. “That way, you’ll have all the credits you’ll ever need, if and when you decide to attend college?”

For a moment, Twilight almost frowned toward her father. But quickly, she understood the logic to his questions. She smiled, closing her eyes as her cheeks lit up.

“Of course, Dad! I promise.”

“There’s out happy little girl!” Her father cried out, tightening the hug. “Let’s finish this conversation tomorrow, right after we head do to the university and tell them the news. But right now, it’s bedtime and we can’t have our little angel sleep-deprived and cranky, now can we?”

“Daad!” Twilight squealed, embarrassed yet happy.

“Your father is right, dear,” Her mother agreed. “It’s time someone get a well deserve rest. If you’re still feeling down, just come talk to us if anything comes up. Okay?”

“I’ll be okay, mom,” Twilight assured. “Thanks for hearing me out. Goodnight mom, goodnight dad.

“Goodnight, Twilight,” They cried out.

After walking out of the kitchen, with her parents looking on, Twilight Sparkle made her way upstairs. After brushing her teeth and flossing her gums, she made her way straight to her room, grabbing her evening wear for bed. Before she turned in, she quickly pulled out her cellphone and proceeded to dial for Rainbow Dash.

One ring… Two rings… Three rings…

“Hey, I was wondering when you’d call,” Rainbow answered. “Wassup?”

“Well… I told my parents the news,” Twilight explained. “You girls were right: They totally understood. I never should’ve doubted you for a moment.”

“Hey, that’s what friends are for right? Pinkie Pie did tell me to ask you though: Does this mean we won’t see you for a while?”

At first, Twilight wasn’t sure how to answer the response. She did assume she would be gone for at least a few months, at best. She was still unsure of where her future was going, but barely had a moment of silence for a few seconds.

“Yo, Twi? Are you still there?”

“Yes… I’m still here. And ‘yes’, we will be seeing each other. I’ll still be in town, just as I know you girls aren’t going anywhere soon. Don’t you worry, it’s going to be fine… I promised.

“Well, that’s a relief. We’d be devastated if that were the case. Anyways, think I’m going to crash for the night. I’m glad everything worked out.”

“Thanks again for being there for me, Rainbow Dash. You and everybody. Good night!”

“Later, Sci-Twi!”

The other end clicked off and the cellphone conversation ended there. Content, Twilight Sparkle plugged the phone into her charger before adjusting herself for bed. But even as she laid there under the sheets, she couldn’t help but wonder.

“Will I ever see them again?” Twilight asked, to herself “What if things don’t play out?”

Twilight Sparkle had no idea what the future could hold, only that by morning the answers would come when her parents say so. Slowly, Twilight closed her eyes, unsure of what to expect for tomorrow. Only time would tell, but… Twilight Sparkle still hoped for the best.

“Whatever happens, everything’s going to be just fine…”