The Sun had set a while ago and Everypony else had already left. Only two of us stayed here, only you and me.
I still think of that terrible moment when we found you lying lifeless beneath our favorite apple tree.
We always lie down after hard work under those old branches just resting for a while, remember? Me with my back leaned against its rough bark and you with your head resting in my lap. I stroked your hair and together we were listening quietly to the whispers of wind in treetops.
It’s strange that we lived through many adventures together, but I prefer to remember those moments than any other else. I regret that those times will never return.
We buried you here on a small hill in the very center of our Sweet Apple Acres so you can watch those places you loved most …
I’m sorry for those tears, but I miss you already. I know I should be stronger like you taught me when I was lost in grief after my parents’ death. That day we actually met for the first time. Two lonely souls wandering through Everfree Forest. We immediately became friends and have remained faithful to the very end. I don’t know what I’d do without you …
What the hay! Those tears again? What would others think about me if they saw me like that? Good thing they're gone already, huh?
But even I was surprised by the number of ponies who came here this evening to bid you farewell.
Apple Bloom and Big Mac stayed longest of course. Both of them miss you greatly. Granny Smith would surely come too, but she is very old now and her legs are not what they used to be, but I’m sure you know that.
Our friends were there naturally too. From Twilight to Pinkie. There were even some other ponies.
We would miss you here at Sweet Apple Acres and before I said final farewell I would like to give you something.
***
Applejack took of her stetson hat and placed it on a little grave at her hooves.
“Goodbye Winona,” she whispered to the night. “And thanks for being an awesome friend.”
It started as a perfectly normal day.
Twilight woke up early in the morning as always, went to the bathroom, where she washed herself a little and because Spike was still sleeping she headed into the kitchen where she started preparing something for breakfast.
Today she was terrible craving for pancakes and so she took a little bit of flour, a few eggs and a cup of milk and began with their preparations.
The mixture was already almost finished and she was just whisking it slowly when she was interrupted by a strange sound behind her back.
Surprised she turned around and there it was. A floating ball of bright white light and the light quickly grew in intensity.
She has already seen that once in her life. Quite obviously someone was using a time travel spell. But who?
The light was growing stronger and stronger until is suddenly it flashed and it was over. There in front of her, at a place where there was nothing just moments ago, stood a strange filly.
Twilight could only see her bright yellow mane peeping out from under her helmet. Everything else was hidden under beautiful silver armor covered with strange glowing magic runes.
That strange filly quickly looked around and when she noticed Twilight she took off her helmet with her hooves.
Twilight's eyes widened in surprise. “Derpy?! How …” But Derpy waved her off with her hoof.
“There is no time for explaining,” said Derpy with a pretty confident voice. “I came from future to deliver you one really important message. If you do not believe me, then at every moment my past self should knock on your door and deliver a letter for you.”
“But…” began Twilight, but was interrupted again by a knock on the front door. Twilight once again gave a puzzled look to her strange visitor and went to answer the door.
“Good morning, Twilight. I brought you a letter,” said Derpy proudly then put her muzzle into her postpony bag and handed the letter to Twilight.
“Oh, ehm. Thanks Derpy.” was the only answer Twilight could put together before she closed the door again.
“See, you can trust me now,” said the other Derpy.
Twilight scratched her head with her hoof an asked one question she had in mind.
“What happened to your eye?” she asked and point her hoof one an eye patch covering one of Derpy’s eyes.
“That is not important right now, Twilight Sparkle. I must deliver my message before my time here in past runs out.”
“Well, OK.” agreed Twilight wearily. It was still morning, but she felt really tired right now.
“That message I must deliver to you is:” began Derpy with an impressive voice. “Have a muffin for today breakfast.”
“Huh? What?” asked Twilight after a while. She was really confused.
“Have a muffin,” repeated excited Derpy. “They are sweet, tasty and full of those amazing bits of chocolate, which I love so much.” She finished dreamily.
“You are telling me that you returned through time to tell me this?!” talked Twilight and her voice sounded a little louder. “Who sent you here anyway?”
“Well it was you and also Pinkie,” answered Derpy with an innocent smile on her face.
“Me?! Why would I do that?” asked surprised Twilight.
“Well, I don’t know. You gave me that armor and explained what I must say, and for that you promised me a full basket of muffins from Pinkie. They are the best.” Derpy was daydreaming again and licked her lips.
“I only remember something about the laws of causality, paradoxes and time loops. If I …” continued Derpy, but she never finished. There was another bright flash of light and that strange Derpy was gone.
Twilight just stood there with a completely blank look on her face and then trotted back to her bed, her pancakes completely forgotten.
“What a horrible morning,” she thought, before she fell asleep again.
Originally written by Memphis
Translated by Rivel Arosis
“Come on, give up already. It’s pointless, useless. Don't struggle. It'll only hurt more in the end,” growled Twilight Sparkle, smiling at the yellow pegasus infromt of her. But that grin lacked any hint of joy. It was a deadly smile, full of dark intent and malice. Or at least, the smile of somepony who is certain of her success.
The musky, wet cellar was illuminated only by one little candle that could be blown out by the tiniest breath. Twilight, her best friend, was going to crush her. Fluttershy gulped and wiped the sweat from her forehead.
“Is there no other option?” she stuttered in a low tone, terrified to raise her voice above a whisper. In her words was a hint of panic that started slowly overwhelming her mind. She tried her best not to cry. All their adventures meant nothing at this moment. It was one or the other. She gulped again and looked into Twilight's narrowed eyes.
“No. What was started must be also finished. You can’t win this. The others had given up already and are in a much better place now. So come now, give up and join them,” Twilight maliciously hissed, eyes wide and pupils minuscule. She wore a sadistic grin on her face, and she glared at the shy pegasus in front of her.
“Why? Why are you doing this to me?” breathed Fluttershy desperately, staring in horror at the purple unicorn.
“Why? Oh, but the better question is why NOT?! Because I can and like it. Hahaha... Ha ha ha… hahaHaHaHAHAHAHAAA!!” Twilight's howling started to resonate around the cellar. When she came to her senses, she took a long sip from a glass of dark red liquid. “Mmm, tasty. I should thank Applejack for that...”
“Well… ok. You got me.” Fluttershy looked sadly at Twilight. The purple unicorn had a smug grin on her face, pulling all the remaining bits from the table towards her.
“I won!” Twilight whooped, dumping all bits into the pouch and walking up the stairs with Fluttershy trailing behind. The rest of her defeated friends were waiting, chatting and sipping tea.
“Thanks for that tea. It was really delicious!” Twilight grinned at Applejack, who pulled her hat over her face and blushed, smiling at the compliment.
“And now I invite you all for dessert.” Twilight smiled, dusting off her hooves and rolling her neck around.
“Yeah, but with our bits,” grumbled a slightly annoyed Rainbow Dash, taking a sip from her milkshake.
“I will crush you next week!" Pinkie chirped, grinning and hoof-pumping into the air in excitement.
“Well you gotta learn to bluff first, sugarcube.” Applejack nudged her. Everypony started to laugh and together they went back to their table.