Twilight looked at herself in the mirror, and she smiled. A bright beaming princess stared back at her, the one who still couldn’t believe her position in life. Just a few years ago, her hair would’ve been a mess of frayed split ends and gnarled knots, with bits of dust and dandruff clinging to. That same time ago, her teeth were yellowing and rife with cavities, and her fur fared no better. Hygiene was not a friend to Twilight, nor were they even acquaintances.
It was in the same period that she didn’t have two loving girlfriends at each hip. In truth, Twilight of the past was one that only existed to nourish herself and guide them to more books. Anything that got in the way of that was an obstacle to her and must be avoided. That was then, and now, she couldn’t have more pride in herself or the mares in her life.
Pride, that was the correct word. Outward satisfaction with one’s conditions. How could someone in her position arrive at anything short of it? Much less supersede it into arrogance? A savior of the world multiple times over, the embodiment of magic and friendship itself, which spreads itself wherever needed. A genius of every respect, a beacon of understanding, among many other qualities. Beyond that, the two rings on her nightstand carried the implication she was about to advance herself further than that.
There was a serene comfort in being actualized, but for Twilight, this was not enough. The finish line was not merely to be happy in her life, and share this with those close to her. It was to do her royal duty of nurturing this feeling across every kingdom known to the crowns. The mare in the mirror’s grin grew. What could she do today to make the land better? Who could she make happier? And what relationships could she foster or improve? She could start with the two mares still asleep in her bed.
As the alicorn moved away from the mirror, tossing herself an optimistic wink, she felt a weight on her legs. Glancing down, there were weights clinging near the bottom of her hooves. They were simple iron clamps that appeared to have no seams as if they were welded onto her when she hadn’t noticed. Who would’ve done that? The bands certainly had appeared this instant; they weren’t here when she awoke, or when she walked to the bathroom.
Regardless, a little weight was nothing on the mare who’d been pushed through entire mountains and survived. So she continued to the bed where a void was made from her absence, which was filled by the two other mares occupying the mattress. Maybe Twilight wouldn’t wake them up, and just let them enjoy each other’s unconscious company. An inkling of doubt crawled into the back of her mind about her place among the two of them.
“Maybe I’ll propose tomorrow.” A tender smile found its way on her face as she whispered and she joined her place as the third spoon.
***
The alicorn looked at the bags under her eyes, and the faded fur lining her body. It was like looking into a muted mirror, and with each detail noticed, the weight around her legs increased. A flash of sadness struck the princess, and the smallest exhale of grief escaped her lips. She hated the mare in the mirror, but she couldn’t place just what caused that distaste.
Twilight shook her head. This was in her mind, just a slump that’s all. She’d had lulls in her productivity and emotions before, it was perfectly natural. Regardless of if her duties were light, or if her life was otherwise great. Though, when the lavender alicorn looked to her legs again, she could swear they grew larger.
“Hey Applejack?” Twilight called from the bathroom, not tearing her gaze from her hooves. “Could you come in here for a second?” Worry lined her plea. A metallic crash came from a few rooms over, followed by cursing and hoofsteps coming towards the crystalline restroom.
“Yeah, whatcha need, babe?” Applejack fluttered her eyes, peeking over the doorway.
“Have these weights around my legs gotten bigger, or is it just me?” Twilight gestured to the somehow larger bands.
“Uh, is this some sorta trick? Are you sayin’ you want me to get you some hoofweights?” The farmer took her place in leaning on the doorway. “‘Cause you can just ask me for them.”
“No.” She blinked and looked at her fiance, a tiny bit of breath being pushed from her lungs. “No, I mean. The iron rings on my legs, you don’t think they got bigger?”
“Sugar, I don’t see anything there. Maybe it’s some magic prank Starlight pulled on ya. Unicorn hibbity jibbity or somethin’ like that.” She rolled her eyes. “Oh, right!” The blonde adjusted her hat. “I’m makin’ some flapjacks with lil’ bits of apple in ‘em, I was gonna surprise you but... Well, you heard that pan, shoot, I bet Yakyakistan heard that.”
“Yeah, sure. I’ll take some.” Twilight was only half-sincere, as her appetite was evasive. It didn’t make any sense to her, they were clearly there on her legs. Stainless steel rings that were thicker now than they were a week ago. “Hey AJ?”
“Yes, darlin’?” A warm smile on her face.
“You said you don’t see anything now, but what about a week ago. Was there anything then? And if not you, do you know anyone else who did?” Twilight shook her head, trying to find some explanation for what was happening. The pressure was now pressing onto her bone, and quickly becoming unbearable.
“Twi, what’s this about? Did I forget to do something? There ain’t nothin’ there, and nopony said nothin’ about no rings or whatever. You’re a princess and all, if you were wearin’ em, someone woulda said somethin’.” A twinge of annoyance was noticeable in her voice but was surrounded by patience.
“You’re right. I’m sorry, I must be… Seeing things.” Twilight hung her head, the pain now drawing tears in her eyes.
“Woah, hey sugar.” Applejack came into the confined restroom and put a hoof around Twilight. It was an awkward embrace they enjoyed between the sink and the bathtub, despite this, it was genuine. “I can’t see them, but I can see you’re bothered. Why don’t you go lie down a spell? You’ve been plum tuckered out this whole week.”
“Yeah.” The princess sniffed, pulling the farmer closer in their hug. “You’re right. It’s just a slump. It’s common for unicorns to have magical hallucinations under stress.”
“Now don’t go gettin’ doctor-y on me. That’s my job right now, and my diagnosis,” She decoupled from the alicorn and mimed a doctor scribbling into a pad, “Is bed rest and two of these every hour.”
“Two of -” A kiss interjected.
***
Twilight looked at herself in the mirror, and she recoiled. Lavender was now grey, her eyes were now a chasm of hopelessness bordered by rings of discoloration and beyond it lay a minefield of red blemishes, and the craters they detonated from. She wasn’t looking at the princess of friendship, she was looking at her corpse. And the corpse’s dead eyes stared back.
The alicorn’s eyes descended onto her neck, where a thick black ring clutched her throat and made every swallow closer to a brief strangle. Her view darted to her eyes, this had to be a dream. There was no way this was real. Back to the collar, which had a glowing red light, which beeped. Each click of the collar sent a painful vibration down her throat.
Twilight cringed and called out for Rarity, her other fiance who was in just the other room. A pained squeak in a low register is what came out. A low croak came after that. That’s when her breathing stopped.
Twilight crumpled to the smooth blue floor and scrambled to get back on her feet, or even open the door from her position. Another series of choked pleas for help, another collapse on the floor as her head was weighed down by her collar, which was now beeping rapidly. Was it going to…? Twilight didn’t want to think about that. She only thought of Rarity. With the remaining bit of strength, she tore herself from the bathroom floor.
She saw her own reflection in the crystal beneath her and thought of Applejack.
Author's Note
Hello there! Glad you could read this story, and I hope you enjoyed it as much as my peers did upon its initial writing. It wasn't so bad for being written in an hour, huh? In truth, I was trying to write like my good friend and writing peer, Wish. Particularly her story That Isn't Me. That is to say that I tried to write a story with an allegory that was told subtly, and while I had my intention writing it, whatever you may arrive at is also correct as well. Let me know your thoughts in the comments and be sure to like the story if you did! And be sure to check out my other works, particularly Incinerate, which I'm quite proud of. And don't forget to go visit Wish's stories as well, she's incredibly talented at the art of subtle storytelling, and if you want a piece that will occupy your thoughts for a little while, she's your gal!
Once again, thank you all for reading, and I'll see you in the comments and next week with a new piece!
