Final Power

by Incandesca

Chapters

Anyone Home
Keen Eye
What You See
I Am Death
Old Blood
Waste My Time
You Are Next
Give In
Go Down
Try Your Luck
Look Within
Now It's Mine
Steal My Throne
The Alicorn Killer
This Is On Me
Take Me Down
Where You Go

Anyone Home

"Why were you out so long today?"

"Trixie-"

"Why were you out so long today?"

"I was busy."

"Doing what?"

"Things? Like everypony does."

"C'moooon, Starlight. We're best friends! We live together! You can't just stay away all day, come back at night, and expect me to not wanna know!"

"That's not what it's about."

"Then what is?"

"Where's the tea?"

"Then what is?"

"I need some camomile. Been sleeping kinda rough lately."

"Then what is?"

"Oh. There it is. Duh."

"Then wh-"

"Trixie!"

"What?"

"Stop. I'm not in the mood today. It's not cute, you're just being obnoxious. And self absorbed."

"..."

"Like usual."

"Glimmer..."

"I'm... shit. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to say that."

"It's okay. You're right."

"No. I'm not. I mean... I have problems with the way you treat me sometimes. The way you treat us but..."

"It's okay."

"I'm sorry."

"It's okay."

"Please stop saying that. I didn't mean- I don't want you to-"

"It's oka- Trixie means- Alright. Trixie understands."

"Why did you switch- You know what, nevermind. Tge tea should be ready soon. Do you want some?"

"No. The Exhausted and Beleaguered Trixie can fall asleep on her own."

"Mhm."

"Trixie will sleep on the left bunk tonight. She knows you like the side with the town lights most."

"Thank you, Trixie. I... appreciate you remembered that."

"It's what best friends do."

"Yeah. Best friends. Wait, you're already going to bed?"

"Yes."

"Oh."

"Is there a problem with that? Trixie apologizes if-"

"No, no. You're fine. Goodnight, Trixie."

"...Goodnight, Glimmer."

Keen Eye

"Twilight, someone's hear to meet you!"

'He knows you're there. A witness.'

"Who is it?"

"Uhhh. Lemme check. Oh! Starlight!"

"Huh. What's she doing here this early? Whatever, it's fine. Spike, go off into the library for a little. We'll be busy."

"Aye aye, Cap'n!"

'Eavesdropping spell. Honestly, how shameful. They don't even know their own friend is spying on them. Gathering intelligence. I'd say it's cute how much you pretend if it wasn't so pathetic.'

"Hey, Starlight. Early morning?"

"You could say that."

"No kidding. Your eyes are so red I can see Apple Orchards from here!"

"Eheh. Ha. Yeah."

"Come in. I hope you don't mind that I haven't set things up yet. Wasn't expecting a visit."

"Sorry about that."

"No apologies needed. You're a friend. You can come in any time you want."

"Within reason."

"Of course. Thirty minutes early is within reason though, I think."

"Yeah."

"Okay, so. Forgive the mess. I was doing some things in here last night, so it's kind of a wreck. Gimme a minute to clean up and set things out. Oh! Also, watch that spill over there. If you touch it you'll be glued to the spot until I find the dissolvent curse."

"Right."

"Ah, there we go. Nice and clear. Now to set things up. Where are those books... You been alright, by the way? What kept you up so late?"

"And made me sleep bad. Nothing, though. It's fine."

"Hm."

"What?"

"I don't know if I believe you."

"Why not?"

"Because you're already acting defensive."

"No? I'm just asking some very reasonable questions. Why is everypony trying to analyze me lately?"

"You're right. I'm sorry. I overstepped my bounds. No need to talk about something you don't want to. Let's get to the leson shall we? See this ball right here-"

"It's Trixie."

"Huh?"

"It's Trixie."

'That isn't all it is.'

"Trixie?"

"You're frowning already."

"I was frowning before."

"You're frowning more now, though. Why does it always feel like you're so eager to latch on and attack me for our f- our friendship?"

"That's not what I'm saying!"

'Yes it is. Judgemental.'

"Whatever. It doesn't matter anyway. I'll deal with it. What about the ball?"

"Are you sure you don't want to talk about it?"

"Yes. Certain. What about the ball?"

"Twilight, Twilight! Everyone's cutie marks are glowing!"

"Excuse me, Spike?"

"It's calling all you guys! And... Starlight?"

"Yeah. Me too."

"Where are we headed?"

"Canterlot."

What You See

"No. No no no no no no no! Starlight, what did you do?!"

'Tell her the truth.'

"I fixed a broken system. If you really care about other ponies, you could always help out."

'You know what her answer will be.'

'Worth a shot.'

"No, I... I can't. I don't understand. You were better. This isn't you, it's that thing on your neck! I thought-"

"You fixed me?"

'Not fixed. She thinks she broke us.'

"That's not-"

"I know what you are, 'Princess'."

"Starlight, please. Just... just take off that Amulet and we can-"

'Go back to being their doormat.'

'Ha! Not a chance.'

"Can what? Go back to how it was before? As if. Run along, little Princess, or I might consider adding you to my head count."

"Fine. But I'll be back to save you. I promise."

"Of course you will. And we'll be waiting. Tata now~"

I Am Death

"How long are we going to do this tango, old mare? I love dancing, but I'd appreciate a change of pace."

"Starlight, listen to me."

"You let yourself go. Not in the bad sense, mind you. I think you look rather attractive with those long legs. Always thought you'd look regal like that."

"Listen to me, please. You would never do this."

"Booooring. I can wipe out half this quarter with a flick of my hoof. Try focusing on the battle maybe. Or... well. You'll see what happens."

"You won't."

"Wanna bet, Princess? Oh, and- Oops! Wouldja look at that? All those ponies. Too sad, so bad~"

"..."

"Now will you mare the buck up and get the reality check through your skull! You can't win this game. I'll hop around as much as I need to, wherever I want, whenever I want. And when this continuum's more scar tissue than spacetime, I'll just hop to another!"

"I won the first time."

"First time, yeah? Remind me, when was that again? I didn't even have the Amulet back then!"

"..."

"Nothing to say I see. I've been on top of this game for decades. Face it. You lost your sparkle, Sparkle. Admit you can't win, and I'll leave you be in whatever timeline you wish."

"Never."

"Aw, that makes me smile. I'll admit, I was bluffing just a little there! I think it would be pretty boring if we didn't have these sparring matches every once in a while, wouldn't you say?"

"You're a monster."

"And so is she. You're trying to rescue somepony from a long time ago. Just give in."

Old Blood

'Hello, Starlight.'

"Not you again. Sun damnit."

'What's wrong? Afraid of a little mirror?'

"Shut up."

'Afraid of what you might see?'

"Shut up!"

'It's okay. Lots of ponies are afraid of mirrors. Do you remember that old story Sunburst told you?'

'Shut up shut up shut up shut up shut up-"

'The one he tried to scare us with? Oh what was it, Bloody Mare-y? Something silly like that. But you're a big girl now, Starlight. Put your panties on and show the world you're not afraid of what they think! Take it by the horn, ride it into the sunset! Like mom always said.'

"I'm not listening."

'The fact you're still responding says you are.'

"Stop it."

'Fine. But I'll be back. You'll never get rid of me.'

"And I'll bury you every time. Buck off."

Waste My Time

"Starlight, Starlight!"

Rg, grh... huh- WHa? Tri'gsie? What're you-"

"I-I'm sorry. I mean... Trixie is sorry, you were mumbling in your sleep. Is everything okay?"

"I, uhm. I think so, yeah."

"Will you be able to go back to bed?"

"Should be."

"Good. Goodnight, Starlight."

"Yeah. Goodnight."

You Are Next

"Now what'n tarnation is that supposed to mean - 'you're next'? How's that the only dang thing on this letter?"

"Why're you lookin' at us? Egghead doesn't know, and Starlight over there can't even penetrate the barrier."

"It's like... like this brick wall. I've never experienced anything like it before in my life."

"Yes, well, no offense darling but you also haven't fought the things we have."

'See how they treat you?'

"Rarity, don't be that way. She's put just as much if not more effort into her training than I have."

"I mean, yeeeeahhh, suuuure, but she was still that ultra evil super duper timelooper party pooper that one time too!"

"That's just proving my point. She's powerful. More than me when she harnesses it right."

'See how she treats you, too. Like you're not even here. We should say something.'

"Uh-huh. Yeah. When she harnesses it 'right'. I still have a hangover from that one 'lesson' you put her and that was months ago! Pretty sure a thunderbolt to my brain wouldn't do half as-"

"Dash."

"Right, right. Sorry, Starlight."

"It's... fine'"

'It's nooot~'

"So, uhm. I-if Starlight can't break the barrier, a-and we can't see inside, what are we supposed to do?"

"Easy. We introduce ourselves."

Give In

"How..."

"I don't know."

"How did- Why would- I-I don't understand, you've been doing this for how long and none of them have ever gone that far before-"

"I don't know!"

"..."

"Listen. We need to figure this out. Now. We have to fix it. But how..."

"How do we bring them back?"

"Bring them back... bring them back... yes! Yes,yesyesyesyesyes! Starlight you're a bucking genius!"

"I don't understand."

"Time magic."

"I don't like that look on your face. Or those words you're saying."

"Time. Magic."

'Old school.'

"I really shouldn't-"

'Vintage cool.'

"You have to."

"Twilight-"

"I don't care. If you're not going to help you might as well have done it yourself."

'She's not entirely wrong.'

"It's just..."

'You're supposed to be her friend. You know what friends do.'

"I'm worried that if I try-"

'So do it. Be a 'good friend'.'

"...Okay. I'll do it."

Go Down

"This."

"Ahhh, you have a keen eye. The Alicorn Amulet is one of the most mysterious and powerful of all the known magical charms. Ahhhbut I'm afraid this is... far too dangerous.

'He's in your way. He'd understand if he knew.'

"Yeah... Too bad for you, I wasn't asking."

Try Your Luck

"You... you did it."

"I did."

"Now pardon me for interrupting, but may I ask what in Equestria's good graces is going on?"

"I'd like to know the same."

"Don't worry about it, guys. Everything's fine."

"Except Starlight's got the Amulet. Mind explainin' why that one is?"

'She's looking at you. Not Twilight.'

"Don't worry about it. I'll let you guys get it off me when we're back home."

"Uh-huh. Yeah. Whatever ya say, partner."

"Twilight..."

"Celestia!"

Look Within

"So I just have to take it off willingly, right?"

"Yup! Should come off like a breeze."

"Wow, hahaha. CLick! Just like that."

"I'm proud of you, Starlight, for all this."

'That's funny.'

"Don't mention it. You know me. Old Starlight Glimmer. My head might not be screwed on tight but I hold it in place!"

'You looked rather fetching with those red eyes.'

"Of course. Thank you, again. And... if you ever need somepony to talk to, please. Reach out. I'll be here. We both experienced... You know"

"It's fine. I'll hold up. Like always."

'Sure you will.'

"Oh, and remember to put that back when you found it, okay?"

"Yeah. For sure."

Now It's Mine

"I can't.

I don't know how.

It's too strong."

'Or you're too weak.'

"So much power. It could all be mine. I could help ponies, I could protect them! I could- I could-"

'Come on. Do it. Be the mare you were meant to be.'

"I could finally do everything I wanted."

'Good girl.'

Steal My Throne

"Hello, Princess."

"Starlight! What an unexpected surprise. Did Twilight send you for something?"

'Always somepony else. They don't think you're capable on your own.'

"Oh, no. This is a solo visit. I had something I wanted to tell you and Luna."

"And Luna? I hope something hasn't happened."

'Oh. Something definitely has.'

"It's all fine, but there is... something I should tell you two about. I thought you two might know what's going on the best."

"I see. Is this an urgent inquiry?"

"I'm afraid so."

"Then we shall leave to discuss. Raven? Please pencil me out for brunch."

'She's all yours, hotshot. Only a matter of waiting.'

The Alicorn Killer

"No..."

'Yes."

"Stars, please, no."

'Saying no won't change anything.'

"S-s-shut up!"

'Sure.'

"You- You made me do this. You made me! Oh Stars, there's... so much. WHy is there so much?"

'Oh honey, you did this all by yourself. I just gave you a nudge in the right direction.'

"Get out of my head."

'Sorry, Starlight. I'm afraid I can't do that.'

"I'll go back, like I did before. I'll make sure I never touched this thing."

'And then what? You'll leave them all for dead? You and Twilight can't win that fight without me.'

"Shut up!"

'You love the feeling.'

"No, I would never! I would never. I-"

'Say it. We both know I'm right. I am you, after all. I can hear everything you think.'

"I-I... I-I..."

'I can feel everything you feel.'

"..."

'Admitting will make you feel so much better.'

"...I do."

This Is On Me

'So, you think we should do it?'

'Of course. You're so much better now. Look at you! Happier, confident, with a crown on your head, an amulet on your neck, and an iron hoof on Equestria's throat. I'm proud.'

'And we can't make it happen unless I send you?'

'Afraid not. Lose me or use me, sister.'

'Bit of both, technically.'

'Not wrong! Now hop to it, Miss Imperatrix. You'd better-'

'Don't.'

'Don't what?'

'You know exactly what. Don't say her name.'

'Somepony's touchy today. What's the matter, got some Trix up your sleeve?'

'Can it.'

'Yeah yeah.'

'So. This temporality's temporary. You'll be back when you're done with me, right'

'Of course! And the best news is, we've got all those blueprints laid out nice and pretty. Aren't we thoughtful like that?'

'Oh yeah. She's got no idea what's coming.'

Take Me Down

"Starlight?"

...

"Starlight, I-I. I didn't mean to."

...

"Get up. Say something."

...

"Tell me this wasn't all for nothing."

...

"Please."

Where You Go

"Hello."

"Hey."

"We can't go back anymore, can we?"

"Afraid not."

"I tried learning chronomancy. Finding artifacts. Fighting fire with fire."

"But."

"But that timelock. That was you, right? I tried so hard to break it."

"I'm sorry."

"I'm not sure what to say."

"It's fine. Take your... I mean, just... think on it as much as you need. This was all my fault anyway."

"I don't know if I agree."

"Don't know a lot of things anymore, do we?"

"No. How do we?"

"We don't. We can't. We never will. Just gotta learn to live with what happened."

"I don't know if I can do that either."

"Yeah."

"So even though we fixed it, it won't matter."

"No."

"All those timelines?"

"Yeah."

"If they were going to exist anyway, why did I try?"

"Because you cared, and you never gave up."

"Maybe I should have."

"Did you ever want to do it? You know. 'Take revenge'."

"...Yes."

"Is this how you expected it to end?"

"No."

"Do you regret anything?"

"A part of me wants to say I regret everything. Another part of me... regrets I didn't kill you from the start."

Author's Note

This story was written for the 2024 Dialogue Only contest hosted by X. Thank you for the opportunity.

Music:
Alicorn Killer - BGM Pony Degeneracy