The setting sun cast a warm tone upon pink hooves plodding through the sand. The picturesque beach curved in the distance and was lapped at by lazy, peaceful waves. Their motion was soothing and repetitive, falling into a sort of lulling pattern. Just a few meters upwards of the water, fauna overtook the island: long willowy grass and slouched palm trees with fat coconuts, ripe for the plucking. Although the scene could have been an image straight out of a travel catalogue, Luster Dawn felt anything but relaxed. She was brewing on something, her plan. This was indeed not a bad place to be stuck, especially when the outside world had supposedly ended, no, that wasn’t exactly the problem. You see, over time, Luster had become unsure of how bad the world really was.
“Luuussstttterrrr!” A familiar voice snapped the pink mare out of her thoughts. “Dinnneerrr!” It was Lil’ Cheese. The boisterous little fellow came bumbling out of the grass to get her, his puffy pink mane bobbing with every gallop. She smiled and bopped him on the head with her nose. She felt a bit bad for him, going through his adolescence on this little island, it had been nearly six years now. The world was big, and he was missing so much of it.
“Thank you for reminding me, Cheesey.” She said warmly. The little stallion blushed, his light green eyes darting to the side shyly.
“Yeah... well yeah... it’s ready.” He hastily said before scuttling back towards the greenery. Luster couldn’t help but chuckle a little. The foal was always loud and rambunctious, but around her, he was an embarrassed mess. He was at that age, and what with there not being many survivors, Luster was one of the few ponies near his age. Alone, she turned back towards the ocean to take one last look out at the water, the pristine blue turning to a blood red as the setting sun darkened, and inhaled sharply. Tonight was the night.
It took about 20 minutes to get back to the camp. The padded earth and soft grass made for a pleasant walk home, although it did little to calm the pink mare. Camp, set on the Eastern end of the island, was a homey clearing, with well-fortified huts made from branches, sticks and grass. All of them had four walls and a roof, and if you squinted in the dark, they almost looked like normal houses. The dirt floor was well-trodden from years of hooves. Out of the trees, the cloudless sky could be clearly seen, it was a dark purple now, dotted with twinkling stars and a glowing crescent moon. Luster made her way to the epicentre, where a medium-sized fire was thriving. Other ponies were still finishing up their dinners. There was Pinky Pie with Lil’ Cheese, the cakes and their children, the CMCs and Flurry Heart. On tonight’s menu was an earthy stew, made with fresh herbs gathered from the island. The second the scent hit her, Luster became painfully aware of her empty belly. Eating was especially important tonight; she needed as much energy as she could get.
After filling up a bowl, Luster made her way over to Pinkie, putting as much distance between her and Flurry as she could. She was in no mood for any kind of awkward altercation on this night. The delicate alicorn princess remained an image of perfection, her long blue and lavender curls untainted by the humidity and her hooves as neat as ever. Flopping down, Luster began to dig in.
“Hey there!” Pinkie said sweetly, with a we-need-to-talk sort of tone. “Cheesey told me you were a ways out again today, by the water.” Luster kept her eyes down on her food, pretending to be casual.
“Yeah, sometimes I just like to have some quiet, down time, you know?” She said. “It’s so peaceful out there by the water.” It wasn’t a complete lie. She hated hiding things from Pinkie though; the pony had practically adopted her after they came to the island. Luster had spent so much time watching and playing with Lil’ Cheese, she was practically a part of the family. Cheese Sandwich had also shown her many a kindness, often cheering her up alongside Pinkie with a clever anecdote when he could tell that she was having a down day. Luster had been an orphan her entire life, so those connections meant the world to her. The family had decided to live in the heart of the camp, which was in stark contrast to Luster’s living situation. She had chosen to have her hut a little into the forest, outside of camp.
“Just be careful out there Luster, we’d all miss you if something happened. Me and Cheesey just love having you here.” Pinkie said. Here, here, here! Luster thought. Well there was nowhere else left but here apparently, so why would Pinkie worry. The young mare tapped Pinkie on the side with her tail.
“You don’t have anything to worry about, I promise.”
***
The night everyone left Ponyville, there was a thunderous crash in the apartment, a fierce noise that cut through the night, so shocking Luster sat up immediately. The room was still and quiet, so quiet that the unicorn almost thought she had imagined the noise. The digital clock read 2:40am. She settled slowly, her purple down soft and comforting, the pale green walls of the room familiar and clean. Her ears were perked but there wasn’t a sound to be heard, she lay motionless, waiting. Then... Thunk! Thunk! Thunk! Three loud knocks were banged right against her bedroom door.
“Wh-who’s there?!!” She half yelled, half stammered. “I know magic!!” What the heck was that? Way to sound lame and weak, she thought.
“Luster! It’s me,” Luster recognized the voice immediately, “it’s Twilight!” The door opened slowly and the purple princess peaked in. She looked unusually frazzled and stressed, and perhaps even, a bit frightened? It was odd to see; Twilight was usually so calm and composed. Immediately sensing urgency, the apprentice darted from the bed and ran towards her.
“We need to leave, right now! I’ve gathered some other ponies in the town square! Pack your things quickly, I’ll explain when we get there.” Luster made haste and gathered the few necessities she could think of in the moment. The clopping against the wood floors seemed louder in the night, adding to her growing anxiety. What the hay was going on?!
After the blonde mare finished packing, Twilight teleported them to the town square. There, Luster was surrounded by those like her: confused and half-asleep ponies. She looked around, only seeing dazed faces, ponies who wore pyjamas were still in them. Some of the unicorns had used a lighting spell, the tips of their horns like little flashlights. The houses, shops and fountain could only be barely made out. And that’s when Luster noticed it: there was no moon in the sky, no moon and no stars. A sinking feeling began to grow in the pit of her stomach; something sinister was brewing. Under the weight of her stuffed knapsack, she bustled over to Lyra and Bon Bon. She had just arrived in Ponyville yesterday. The day had been bright and happy and full of smiles. Luster had met a couple of nice ponies, but that group was nowhere to be seen here. The couple were the only other ponies she recognized; they had given her the directions to her new condo, and walked her there to boot. They greeted her with concerned head nods, and it was then that the princess began to speak.
“Ponyville, please listen, everyone. Yesterday evening I was near the Evergreen Forest and I noticed something strange. There was an unfamiliar darkness coming from within it. Yes, I know that it is a place of darkness, but it was as though the sun was no longer hitting the forest altogether. Now, if you look into the night sky, you will notice that the stars and the moon are missing. There have been some other... strange occurrences over the past few hours as well. Now, I don’t want to send anyone into a panic, we have magic, we have solutions, but I believe with the quick rate at which things are turning dark, we should relocate for awhile. I have created a portal to an island location where we can reside and I will come back as much as I can to study the state of Equestria. Over the next few days, I will make trips to gather our friends and family members abroad. Every country is dealing with this in their own way, so mostly only our pony friends will be coming to the island, sadly.” Twilight explained all of this evenly, but Luster could sense the unease in her voice.
Frantic murmurs rippled across the small crowd. The ponies began to shift and look around nervously, it was clear they would soon fly into a panic. But then, a flickering squiggle of light appeared in the dark before Twilight, gradually opening to a starry island setting. A flowery, tropical scent emitted from the portal. It looked like a dream come true: an untouched beach with soft welcoming sand and vibrant fauna. The ponies calmed slightly. This is a band-aid, Luster thought, a momentary save that will allow for Twilight to safely evacuate everyone so she can come back and solve the problem. And solve the problem she would... she always did, she had to, right?
***
When Luster was finished her dinner, she decided to make her way over to Twilight’s hut. Although the pink pony had not shared her plan with anyone, she still yearned for the familiarity of the princess. Something about being near her just felt right; it was a bond stronger than that of mentor and student, more like a sisterhood. The purple alicorn had told her many tales of her relationship with Celestia, who had not made it to the island sadly. It seemed that Twilight had inherited the leader’s enthusiasm for teaching and her love of her students. The princess’s hut was like any other; she never accepted special treatment, no matter how much her subjects protested. Luster knocked once on the thin, woven door.
“Come in.” Twilight said. She did not care who needed her, all that mattered was that someone needed her. Luster stepped in quietly, shutting the door behind her. Twilight sat down at a wooden table in the centre of the room. The floor of the hut was covered in a compact, well-trod swath of sand. A lantern filled with fireflies glowed with a warm yellow light atop a shelf beside the door otherwise overflowing with books. Twilight had various plants in the hut, some hung from the ceiling, but most adorned a long shelf opposite her cot. Many were medicinal. The zen greens and shadows cast by the light gave the room a rather soothing vibe, and Luster instantly felt her nerves settle upon seeing a familiar face in this space.
“And what brings you by this lovely evening, Luster?” The princess asked, looking over with a welcoming smile. Luster shrugged.
“I just wanted to check in on your progress and... say hi.” She smiled and looked to the side bashfully. Twilight clopped the sand next to her, motioning for the pink mare to sit. Luster walked over, plopped down and half-listened as her mentor explained the usual. She’d made charts, graphs, notes, observations, theories and whatnot. There was never any progress, really. And as intelligent and wise as Twilight was, and even with the help of Starlight Glimmer, Sunburst, Flurry and Princess Cadence, there was never any progress or talk of going home. Luster had begun to wonder if the princess was just stalling, giving everyone the runaround to keep them calm. The story was always muddled as well: towns and cities were going dark, things were disappearing, certain places could no longer be accessed. It all sounded more nonsensical than Discord.
“I do wish you would let me help out with some of this,” Luster started, “you know how hard I can work and how much I know-”
“Luster, you know how I feel.” Twilight interrupted her. “Your friendship lessons are more important. The rest and I, we can figure this out. Just focus on growing and nurturing your relationships, there’s a lot to learn there too.” Luster smiled, trying to hide her disappointment. It wasn’t like she had exactly made many friends, in fact she had even repelled and annoyed ponies with her antisocial and overly-studious attitude.
“Yeah... could you tell me some more about your recent expeditions outside?” She asked Twilight, switching the subject back to the previous. Luster tried to relax, drinking in the warm, floral scents of the island and enjoying the familiar sound of her mentor’s voice. These few moments with Twilight would be relished in, because Luster knew they could be her last.
***
The first day on the island was chaotic and panicked. Nopony was running around like a chicken with their head cut off, but that didn’t mean everypony was calm and amiable. The arrival of the rest of the Elements of Harmony helped; Rainbow Dash and Applejack were essential in the building and setup of the camp, Fluttershy made fast friends with the creatures of the island, Pinkie was an ear for everyone and kept the herd from falling into a depression and Rarity was tireless in her efforts to pretty up the place and make garments to protect from the sun. After a couple of weeks, ponies had already begun to relax a lot and even embrace the setting. They were a self-sustainable group and were quick to embrace the barter system. Ponies whose trades lost much relevance were trained in crafts and cooking and everyone had been taught some basic wilderness survival skills. The island wasn’t too large, and it seemed to hold few dangers, so there really wasn’t all too much to acclimate to. But that wasn’t to say everyone had forgotten life at home and was settled, which was especially true for Luster.
It had been three years into her island stay when Luster first noticed something very strange about the new setting. She had long since given up asking Twilight to be a part of the research team and had instead started to make her own observations and studies, keeping them all in a thick notebook she had created using some basic materials and magic. She also brought along her old camera, which she kept alive and running with magic. There were three reasons she was studying the island. For starters, Luster had never heard of this island, supposedly named “Epi Island”, before. She had a passion for geography and in her spare time thoroughly enjoyed learning about new places and collecting vintage maps. Epi Island, a long, horseshoe-shaped chunk of land, was an enigma. Twilight had told her that it was a quiet and unimportant place that she had only ever heard of in passing from her hermit grandmother who sought out places off the beaten track. Secondly, and this was stranger, how come this place continued to remain untouched by the problem plaguing literally everywhere else? If stars were already disappearing in Ponyville during the first night of the supposed apocalypse, how come absolutely nothing had happened here in three years? And thirdly, she was bored.
That day, Luster first believed she had become lost. She was mapping out a far-out region of the island and became perplexed at its similarities to a watering hole nearby the camp. A mini waterfall poured from about ten feet above a rounded pool below. To the right of the waterfall there was a bush with exactly five pink flowers and to the left a sideways log was growing moss. Not exactly a unique scene, but what made it really weird was that there was a heart carved into the log with “PR + YS” inside and little stars around it. Still, this wasn’t immediate cause for concern, perhaps it was just coincidence: a romantic pony wanting to make another gesture. So the pink mare took photos, many. Closeups and a shot from far away, capturing the little oasis in its entirety.
Back at the camp, Luster began comparing. It was difficult with Flurry preening herself and frolicking about in the water though. The lush, lightly shaded environment was the perfect place for cooling yourself and relaxing, and the alicorn was keen to take advantage of that. Meanwhile, the pink unicorn was deeply concentrated in her work, when she was suddenly interrupted.
“Luster Dawn, what exactly are you doing over there?” Flurry singsonged with the exact voice of her mother. Luster had to prevent herself from grunting in reply. She was not the most sociable of ponies, and the few sort-of-friends that she’d made back in Ponyville had sadly not made it to the island.
“Studying something.” She replied. Flurry fluttered over and peered over Luster’s shoulder, trying to get a good look at the camera. Luster squinted at the image harder, trying to show that she was very busy.
“Are you comparing weather patterns from last year or something?” Flurry asked.
“Not really. Just something kind of odd I noticed about the island.” Luster replied.
“Maybe I can help, I’ve been making observations of my own.” The alicorn chimed in. Luster huffed, it just seemed like a whole thing to fill Flurry in on everything she had been researching over the past couple years. On the other hoof, this could be a golden opportunity; the princess was on the team of ponies studying the apocalypse. Luster didn’t realize how long she had spent in thought though, as Flurry sighed and walked off. And then there was that: Luster and Flurry were two very different ponies. The alicorn was naturally gifted when it came to being social, she always knew exactly how to behave around others and practically radiated warmth and joy. The unicorn couldn’t have been more the opposite. Twilight always told Luster that her and Flurry reminded her of Celestia and Luna. Her student didn’t mind this of course; Luna sounded like a stoic and wise pony, Luster liked that. She also preferred to think of the comparison that way instead of it meaning she was silent and brooding. The pink mare thought of going after the princess, but knew better; she would probably just stumble on her words and sound fake, make things worse.
With the oasis left as it was, Luster was able to confirm her suspicions. Everything there, the height of the waterfall, the size of the pool, the carved heart, its location on the log and even the shape of the patch of moss, they were all exactly identical to those on the other side of the island.
***
When Luster left Twilight’s hut, she tried her hardest to not let her true feelings show. She bid goodbye to the purple alicorn with her usual smile and a nod, but her heart was pounding. There were the emotions of saying a potentially final goodbye to her beloved mentor, the fear of her cockamamie plan going haywire and the reality of it being time to start it, all buzzing around inside. She trotted along in the direction of her hut, keeping an eye out for other ponies, only seeing Spike still out. He had a basket full of coconuts and when he saw her, he waved with a big grin. Luster smiled back, hoping he would not come over and make conversation, that was another goodbye she dreaded making. The second Spike was out of site, she made a beeline through the forest to where the raft was stored. Wading through the grass and tougher terrain was a pain to do, even in daylight, which had entirely disappeared by now, but Luster knew this was the best way to keep her plan under wraps.
After about fifteen minutes of struggling through the bush, she’d made it. A sandy, mini clearing housed the raft, a large structure made from two layers of thick tied together logs and a makeshift sail on a long, sturdy stick. The pink mare cast a spell to light the tip of her horn, lifted the raft with her left hoof and snatched two paddles and a backpack out from below with her mouth. The bag contained many essentials: dried fruits, hoofmade protein bars, hay, a compass, three canteens filled with water, a sun-hat and sunglasses, a lantern and a pack of matches and a mini first-aid kit. Luster had also packed some pictures of her with Pinkie and her family, Twilight and Spike. Although it made her feel a bit foal-like, these creatures were the ones she felt closest to and seeing their faces made her feel safe.
Pushing the raft to the shore took about a half hour of grunting, sweating and cursing. But with a couple of breaks and patience, Luster was able to do it. The surf was calm, as she had predicted for tonight. Dark waves lapped benignly against the shore, gently beckoning her forward. The sky above was clear and filled with a bevy of twinkling stars, you could even make out some of the milky way if you looked closely. She turned back to the island, took one last long look at her home for the last five years and then turned to leave.
“Luster Dawn!” A voice burst from the night. Every hair on the pink mare’s body stood on end; she’d been discovered! Flurry appeared from the bush and galloped down the shore. Luster did a big heave.
“Okay, where’s Twilight or your parents or whatever?” She said in exasperation. “I guess I’m in A LOT of trouble now, right?”
“No!” Flurry said quickly. “Please let me come with you!”
“What?! No way!” The pink unicorn snapped.
“Listen, before you say anything, I know you don’t really like me or trust me or anything, but I KNOW I can help you. Twilight only shares her notes with me, she doesn’t let me go on research trips like my parents. I know practically as much as you do, all I do is help with the graphs and charts, and you know how little you can gather from those. I NEED to know what’s happening out there too, to the crystal empire, to all of Equestria. Please, Luster Dawn, we’re safer together.” As much as Luster hated to admit it, Flurry was right.
“I don’t have supplies for another pony.”
Flurry lifted a backpack with magic, a hopeful smile was beginning to spread across her face.
“Did you fly here?” Luster asked.
“No, I walked and made sure no one saw me before I left.” Flurry replied. Of course her mane and tail were still perfect, Luster thought with slight annoyance.
“Okay.” The pink mare concluded.
Flurry stomped all four hooves joyously and made a quiet, excited sound.
“And you couldn’t have appeared before I was pushing the raft out?” Luster added, while Flurry walked over to help with the raft.
Flurry laughed nervously, and Luster couldn’t help but find her cheekiness a bit amusing. The two mares pushed the raft out into sea, hopping aboard together. The craft gently moved forward. Being out on this seemingly endless, dense black sea for the first time, the pink unicorn became terrifyingly aware of how small she was.
***
Since her discovery of the identical oases, Luster had found many more peculiar similarities on the island. Over the past six months, she had been paying close attention to little details and made some shocking discoveries. Certain rock structures mirrored each other, all of the coconuts came in five exact shapes and there was something else new every week. The pink mare could sense that Twilight was becoming increasingly concerned with her obsession with the island, time she should be using to make friends, but Luster felt that she was really onto something. When she had tried to explain it to her mentor, the purple alicorn had only waved her off with a swish of her elegant, sparkling tail and encouraged her to take a buddy on her mini expeditions. So Luster had decided to keep this project to herself.
It was a sunny Friday afternoon in May, on the end of the island opposite the camp, when Luster heard a pair of hushed, sharp voices. She was in a dense clump of palm trees and grass, the leaves above shading her from the hot sun, and she quickly squatted down, sensing urgency and secrecy in the voices. They came from the left, close to the shore and sounded like they belonged to Applejack and Rarity. The pink mare was about to scuttle away when she heard “...leave the island...” and decided to snoop. Luster knew this to be wrong and dishonest behaviour, but she desperately wanted more information, so she inched forward slowly and hunkered down in a bush. Peaking out, she saw that it was indeed Rarity and Applejack, the duo were sitting just outside of the brush. The ever-stylish unicorn was sporting a giant, straw sunhat with a sparkling baby blue bow as well as a pair of chic light brown sunglasses, the earth pony, as usual, wore Granny Smith’s shawl and her cowpony hat.
“Oh darling, I know how important honesty is to you, but really, you deserve to enjoy this place just as much as everyone else.” The purple-haired unicorn urged.
“Ah know, ah know.” Applejack replied thoughtfully, adjusting her hat anxiously. “It’s just, so many ponies have questions, they get homesick, they want to know. Ah’m pretty sure Luster has gone crazy.” Luster rolled her eyes.
“Applejack... our lives there... we’ve been replaced... we don’t... we should just live our lives for ourselves now...”
Luster’s brow creased. Been replaced? Was this... something to do with changelings? Had Equestria fallen into evil clutches?
“Ah miss home sometimes too... the farm especially.” The earth pony mused sadly.
“But it would be all different now, darling.” The unicorn said. Applejack’s stomach growled and Rarity smiled warmly. “Well that just won’t do! Let’s get you back to camp and see how you feel after some food. We can talk more about this after if you still want to.” And with that, the two walked off. Luster was left in complete confusion. Replaced... different... these descriptions... what did they mean? But she too felt the need for dinner and thought her mind would work better after some fuel, so she quickly scribbled down what she had heard in her notebook and stood up. The pink mare turned abruptly, with renewed energy, when she stepped on something warm and soft.
“Ouch!” A voice yelped. Luster startled and looked down at the messy earth. She saw a light pink hoof pull back into a thick bush covered in little red berries that was next to hers, it looked like it belonged to Flurry!
“Flurry Heart?!” The blonde mare said in surprise. She heard a sigh from the bush and Flurry stepped out.
“Yessss, tis I.” The alicorn said, defeated.
“What are you doing out here?!” Luster snapped.
“Me?! I could ask the same of you! You should be named Snooper Dawn!” The princess yelled back.
“Well-” Luster stammered, “weren’t you doing the same?!”
“Twilight wanted me to check on you,” Flurry replied in annoyance, “she thinks you’re going loco in the coconut.”
“I’m fine! And I certainly don’t need to be foalsat!”
“Listen, I’m just trying to help my aunt out, you worry her. And maybe... I was a bit curious wh-”
“I’m going.” Luster turned decidedly. This was so embarrassing, if Twilight was so worried about her and wanted to know where she was going off to every day, she should have her on the team. Especially with all of the knowledge and ideas she could contribute. She had worked under the princess for years, but no, no, friendship lessons were too essential.
“Luster Dawn! Please wait! I didn’t mean to upset you.” Flurry called to her, sounding genuine. But the pink unicorn had already turned foul. Flurry held back, not wanting to crowd the young apprentice.
“That pony,” Flurry sighed, watching her go, “so stubborn, I’ll bet one of her parents was a mule.”
***
The raft made a gentle “swish, swish” noise as it bobbed through the waves and the crescent moon glowed brightly from its bed of stars. The floor below the ponies was dry and strong and the air was devoid of any wind. This night would have truly been special had it not been for the uncertainty that lay ahead and the emotional distance between the two. Finally, Luster broke the silence.
“How come you never tried teleporting back to Equestria?” She asked.
“I did think about it, many times, I thought about teleporting back to the crystal castle.” Flurry sighed. “But Twilight told me that it no longer existed, and that if I were to try and teleport to any other place in Equestria, it may not exist. That could be very dangerous for me. One day, Twilight returned back from a day in what remained of Canterlot, she mentioned a building I knew very well that was still intact. That night, back in my room, when I was all alone, I almost went there. But... to be honest... fear got the better of me.”
Luster’s ears perked and she glanced sideways at the princess. It was shocking, Flurry always seemed so perfect, confident and radiant. She wasn’t just admired on the island, creatures had adored her far and wide across Equestria. The born alicorn was well-known to be heroic, powerful and beautiful. And kind too, so kind to everyone around her. Luster couldn’t imagine such a beacon of hope having this anxious moment alone and losing to her fear. The princess suddenly felt more... real.
“Well... I was scared too...” Luster admitted. She looked out into the endless, dark horizon thoughtfully. “I was really scared this evening, because I promised myself that tonight I would actually leave. But with somepony else here, it’s not as bad.” Flurry gave her a small, sweet smile. It felt genuine, not like a ruse to keep an eye on her.
“So, what’s the plan here exactly?”
“Well, from what Twilight has shown me on maps and told me about this island, I calculated that it would take 39 hours of rowing, including breaks, to get to the port of Baltimare. But with you here, we’ll get there even faster of course.” Luster explained. She looked down sheepishly.
“And... I actually brought a lot of stuff, more than I would need just in case, so I can share with you.” She added.
“That sounds great,” Flurry replied, “I’ve got some stuff that you might enjoy as well. It’s a mare’s night out!” She was cheery, but the pink unicorn could sense worry in her voice.
“Hey,” Luster said, bopping the princess with the end of her tail, “we’ve got each other now.” And with that, the ponies silently rowed into the night.
***
It was June now, and exactly one month had passed since the day Luster had overheard Rarity and Applejack speaking. She was currently on the beach, nestled atop a simple, cream handwoven blanket. A large umbrella made of a bamboo stick and woven palm tree leaves shaded her from the boiling sun beating down. Lil’ Cheese frolicked by the shore, running towards the sea as the water pulled away and then running back up when the waves washed up again. He laughed and yelled, aquamarine drops splashing about as he finally gave into the call of the refreshing water and went galloping in. Luster kept a close eye, but her mind was miles away. The words “replaced” and “different” echoed through her mind every day. They confused her so, and she’d been mulling over many theories. If the creatures of Equestria had indeed been replaced by new beings, how were they able to survive while the original inhabitants couldn’t? Did they move between universes? Twilight had taught her something about that before, but it had seemed more random and benign. And what about the word “different”. What had changed so much that Applejack wouldn’t even like her farm anymore. Was everything destroyed? The biggest question though, by far, was why had her mentor kept all this from her?
“Luster!!” Lil’ Cheese yelled. “Come on! The water is totally crazy! Unless you’re a chicken!”
“Ask me again in ten minutes; I’m cozy here!” And that’s when it occurred to the young unicorn, all of the questioning came to a definite halt, she would question Twilight. If the princess lied, then it was time to take action on her own. Just like Lil’ Cheese, she was ready to dive in.
After sitting in intense thought at the beach for more than enough time, Luster rounded up Lil’ Cheese and they began to make their way back to camp. As the sun set and they waded through long, soft grass and by lazy, peaceful sloping palms, the pink mare began to hear the steady thrum of music.
“A party?!!” the foal yelled. He took of like a house on fire, leaving an exasperated Luster. Here we go, she thought. She had so much important stuff to do and there was a party tonight? As she approached an opening into the campgrounds, she could make out a giant throng of ponies adorned in flowers and woven accessories. A group near the centre beat on hoofmade drums and played various carved reed instruments. A large fire flourished in the middle of the clearing. Luster made haste, trying to keep a low profile. She kept her head down, bore a polite smile and attempted to huddle by once she left the bush. But then of course, a certain overly friendly alicorn spotted her.
“Luster Dawn!” Flurry shouted. “Come on! Come join us!” She pushed past a hoard of ponies surrounding her and made her way over. No, no, no! Luster thought indignantly. Nevertheless, she stood erect and composed herself. The unicorn still felt salty about before, but she would let it pass... for now.
“Flurry Heart, I really have to-” She started, but was immediately interrupted by a punctured coconut being brought towards her face. It had a straw and would probably taste delicious. The elegant mare pranced right up to her with a giant smile. Luster smiled back kindly, reluctantly taking a sip. Maybe she could spare just a couple minutes; Twilight wasn’t going anywhere tonight. It felt... a bit nice to be pushed to join a gathering. Most of the time, Pinkie was so busy planning parties, Luster could sneak off and do her own thing, uninterrupted. But here was Flurry, singling her out, and for the sole purpose of making sure Luster was having fun too. The alicorn princess may have been annoying, intrusive and a bit too much, but she was sincere, and the pink unicorn liked that.
“Come dance,” Flurry nudged her towards the crowd of colourful, bopping ponies, “and let that gorgeous mane down for once!” And with that, the princess used magic to remove the band from Luster’s hair. The blonde mare froze in horror; the band had been imbued with a sort of taming magic, one that kept both her tail and mane in order. And without it, well... the beast was set free. Luster felt her mane puff out at all ends like a monster. Most all of the ponies jiving stopped and gaped in shock. Thick, blonde tendrils shot out in all directions as Luster’s mane and tail transformed into a cross between a clown’s wig and medusa’s snake hair. Of course, it was only hair, but still, Luster had never learned to tame it without magic. The other ponies, having never seen the stoic young student in such disarray, couldn’t help but begin to laugh. Flurry looked on, shock and guilt flashing across her face.
“YOU!!!” Luster yelled at her. She already had had so much on her mind, and now this? It was her foalhood all over again. Flurry put her head down and opened her mouth to apologize but didn’t get a word out before a reddened Luster stormed off to her hut.
Back in the safety of her home, the pink mare worked on another hairpiece. Her mind was temporarily pulled away from the task at hand, thoughts of the young princess taking over. What was her problem? Just because she was a princess, what gave her the right to go and stick her nose in everypony else’s business? And the hair... oh... that was truly horrible. Not that Flurry could ever understand, the pony probably woke up more beautiful every day. And yet... why did it feel kind of good when she came over. Luster shook her head, no, she needed to focus. Tonight she would confront Twilight, and then make her decision.
***
Luster and Flurry had been rowing for a couple hours now, silently wading through the night. It was still dark but the unicorn felt oddly peaceful. She glanced over at Flurry to see that the princess was deep in thought, her beautiful long neck hunched and her large, sky blue eyes trained on the water in front of her.
“So... you said you were doing some research as well,” Luster started awkwardly, “what exactly did you mean by that?” Flurry looked over and a small smile formed on her face.
“Well, I’ve been noticing things that don’t seem possible here. For example, I found a really strange place around the middle of the island, when I looked at the ground closely, I noticed that it was like there was an invisible line down the middle, with either side mirroring each other. And when I studied more places, I began to think that maybe one side of the island entirely mirrors the other. It was just so weird, but I couldn’t detect any magic at use. I kept notes, sketches, pictures, measurements and more in a giant notebook, but one day, it went missing. All of that research, just gone!” Luster listened intently. She decided to share her observations as well, and Flurry sat patiently, letting her speak uninterrupted, taking in every detail.
“So you agree, there’s something more to this place.” The alicorn mused, her gaze wandering back to where they had come from. There was a moment of silence where the princess thought, then she slightly turned back towards her raftmate.
“Do you miss your family a lot?” She asked Luster. “I’ve never heard you talk about them.”
“Well, I, um...” Luster mumbled, trying to find a way to explain without soiling the mood.
“I’m sorry!” Flurry quickly backtracked. “It’s not my place.”
“No, I, I just don’t really have one. All of my life, I’ve been an orphan. And it’s okay, really. It’s not like I lost a family and miss them, I’ve just never had that. Twilight is the closest I’ve ever been to anypony, and I feel truly lucky that she discovered my talents at all. And Pinkie and her gang... well... they’ve kind of come to feel like family as well over these past few years.”
“Wow... I... I never knew... sorry.” Flurry said softly.
“It’s okay, really.” Luster replied with a big smile. She turned to look at her hooves, the hard wood keeping them dry from the lapping water below. There was a sort of gentleness in the air.
“You must miss all of your friends back home.” She mused. “Everyone loves you so much, it’s easy to get to know you and you’re so warm to everyone.” The alicorn’s head was turned to the side when Luster looked up, the princess gazing into the distance.
“Not really.” She said flatly, not turning back. “Yes, many ponies like me, but that’s a lot to do with my status and the way I look. It’s hard to really open up to others because most of the time, they don’t really care about me. A lot of ponies just want to get close to me for the benefits that come with that. I’m fortunate to have a good, strong relationship with my parents and aunt, but I yearn for friends my age, ponies I can cut loose around and go on adventures with. That’s why I liked you so much, Dawn, you didn’t care about who I was at all. To you, I was just another pony. I thought that if we could be friends... that we would truly have a bond.” She looked over then, with an embarrassed smile. “Although I’m pretty sure that ship has sailed!”
Luster burst out laughing, the force of her loud, mismatched chuckles and snorts rocking the raft. Flurry watched on in surprise.
“Nooooo!” Luster said, wiping tears from her eyes. “I know I can be way too stubborn and serious, I’m sorry, truly. I would love for us to be friends, and Dawn, I like that, no one calls me that.” The moonlight washed over the jovial ponies, giving them momentary distraction from what lay ahead. They couldn’t see it yet, but a powerful force was churning the water. Violent angry waves crashed into each other in a frenzied chaos, the expedition would be much shorter than Luster had planned.
***
After Luster had tamed her feral hair, she sat for a moment before the mirror and readied herself to confront her mentor. Her hut was filled with familiar objects and hoofmade items that she adored, a foalhood plush on the bed, abstract bamboo trinkets and, of course, some books piled on a wooden table were among her favourites. This place brought her peace, and the mere thought of confronting Twilight, a pony who she admired and regarded so highly, made her stomach churn. The mirror was adorned with photos stuck into the bamboo frame, peaking out at her. They featured Twilight, Spike and Pinkie and her family mainly, but some were just gorgeous photos taken around the island. Luster then looked at the pony before her, deep into amber eyes, exhaled and stood. It was time.
She took the long way, wading through grass and wood like a madmare to avoid the party. By the time she got to Twilight’s hut, which was practically on the other side of camp, Luster once again looked bedraggled and haggard. But she quickly padded herself down, readied herself and knocked.
Twilight came to the door almost immediately. When she saw her keen, young apprentice, a big smile spread across her face.
“Luster! Come on in!”
The pink mare scuttled inside, she wouldn’t let the joy of being around Twilight sway her determination. Sensing her student’s exasperation, Twilight filled two stone cups with water from a pitcher and put a boiling spell on them. Two teabags were then placed in the cups and Luster took a seat at the small, wooden table in the middle of the room. The purple alicorn placed the cup next to the pink unicorn carefully with magic, the warm scent of chamomile filling her nose. Twilight then took a seat at the other side of the table, bringing with her a jar of Luster’s favourite ginger honey. Always so kind, the pink unicorn thought. Even though her mentor had sent Flurry to spy, she knew that the purple pony had only done so because she was worried. It was impossible for Luster to be mad at Twilight.
“Twilight... I...” She started, feeling sheepish for being so suspicious of this pony who had only ever given her purpose and affection. Luster looked down at her tea, but before she could muster the strength to continue, her mentor spoke.
“What’s on your mind?” She asked gently.
“I just have a question... about home.” Luster looked up with quiet conviction. She had to to do this, she had to know. Twilight met her gaze squarely, purple eyes filled with intensity, immediately she could tell this was important. The princess nodded.
“Does any creature still reside in Equestria?”
“No.” Twilight said, solidly and absolutely. The apprentice held eye contact. It was merely seconds before they looked away, but it felt like an eternity to Luster. And as the pink mare blew on her tea, she knew, it was a lie. But it didn’t feel like a betrayal. Yes, it was shocking to be lied to by somepony she loved so fiercely, but the apprentice knew that Twilight only ever had her best interest at heart. And although she was greatly annoyed that her mentor thought her too soft, young, naive, or whatever to tell her the truth, she couldn’t bring herself to be angry.
Twilight changed the subject then, pressing her student to attend the party. She didn’t know what had just happened as she’d been in her hut all evening reading, thank Celestia. And as Luster listened to her usual lecture on the importance of friendship and slipping into quirky stories from days of old with her own squad, the pink mare sipped tea quietly. The drink was warm and familiar, like Twilight. It felt good to be here, even if what she had just learned meant goodbye.
***
The eight hours that Luster and Flurry had spent together had seemed to fly by; they were thoroughly enjoying each other’s company for two ponies who had chocked any sort of friendship up as failed. The morning sun was warm and slightly hidden in clouds, creating a cool and easy day. Perfect for travelling by raft. The three most interesting things Luster had learned about her travelling companion were: she had a penchant for romance novels, she loved swimming more than flying and she listened to metal the most. Flurry thought that her three favourite facts about Luster were: she loves rainy days, she imagines her birth parents were passionate artists and that she once stole a gem from Spike when she was little, but returned it when she was overcome with guilt. The duo chatted endlessly, each wanting to know more and more about the other. They even spoke a little during food and rest breaks, and they’d decided that they liked each other very much.
Just as the two finally began to wind down, Luster spotted something odd ahead, it was as though the water had been interrupted by some kind of force. Waves crashed into each other in an irregular manner, they weren’t huge, but very rapid and random. Beyond these waves, the view disappeared into a black horizon, as if a darkness were spreading upwards and fading out into the blue sky.
“Wha...” Luster murmured. The alicorn princess had spotted it as well.
“I’m going to fly over there,” she said, her tone serious now, “be back in a sec.”
“Be careful.” Luster replied, unable to look away from the bizarre deviation.
After about two minutes, Flurry came flapping back quickly, her face alight with panic.
“I don’t know what it is,” she yelled as she approached, “it’s like we’re reaching the end of the world! Everything, the water, the sky, the clouds, just drop into darkness, it’s like a waterfall but the sky ends too!”
“What?!!” Luster yelled, horrified.
“We have to turn around! Now!” Flurry landed with a big ‘thunk’ on the raft.
“But...”
“You didn’t see it! It’s not worth knowing now, we can go back and question Twilight about this!” Flurry said, clearly shaken. But just as the pink unicorn opened her mouth, the raft lurched forward. The princess rushed to pick her friend up, but found herself struggling to fly. Her wings weren’t strong enough, she rarely ever flew and was most certainly not accustomed to carrying other ponies when she did.
“I’ll swim!” Luster said. Flurry dropped her into the water, but the pull was too great. The princess watched in horror as the pink mare was pulled faster and faster towards the darkness ahead, all that Flurry could do was fly alongside her.
“I won’t leave you!” The alicorn yelled. And with that, she flew down into the water as well.
“Please, Flurry, go!” Luster pleaded, struggling in the increasingly chaotic ocean. “Twilight will need you, you know her, she’ll find a way to blame herself!” But Flurry shook her head, and the two ponies were carried swiftly towards the vicious waves. As the darkness spread closer and the water got rougher, they clung to each other and squeezed their eyes shut. It was hard to stick together; the waves began to toss them around and dunk them below the surface, slamming the two small creatures mercilessly. Then suddenly, they felt the water give way and were ripped apart and flung into a dark abyss, watching as the sky, clouds and water above began to disappear into darkness. They plummeted into the blackness. Luster watched as Flurry opened her mouth, but nothing came out, she screamed into the dark herself and it was silent as well. The alicorn flapped her wings to get closer to her friend, but it was as though there was no air to even fly through. They were falling through nothing, with no wind hitting them.
But just as all the light began to fade, the duo came to a sudden stop. Luster gasped soundlessly, around her was a familiar pink magic. Twilight!
“Girls!” The purple alicorn yelled from above. “Great Celestia! Girls, what have you gotten yourselves into?!” She sounded terrified. The princess floated them up to the surface and away from the strange, black border. The two young mares were stuck in place, not because they were forced to be, but because they were in shock. Their hearts began to slow back to a normal rate as they were pulled further and further from their macabre fate.
“Au-aunty Twi...” Flurry said quietly, “what in Equestria was that?”
Twilight sighed, placing her baffled student on her back and releasing a flustered Flurry back into flight. The young princess fluttered like a confused bird for a few seconds before regaining herself.
“That was the end of the world.” Twilight said. “Or, more precisely, that was the end of the world I created.”
“I don’t get it...” Luster said, leaning around Twilight’s long graceful neck and squinting at her.
“I created this place... for all of us. Equestria... our world... even us... none of it is real. Not how you think, at least.”
***
It was 5 pm when Alexis Porter shut the TV off. The year was 2019, but she would remember this moment for years to come, the moment her favourite TV show ended. Alexis was seventeen, petite with a giant mop of unruly red hair and a smile so big it almost looked cartoon-like when she laughed. Currently, she was babysitting for her next door neighbours. The children, Tim and Simone, were five and six and had long ago tuned out of the show, now arduously focused on smashing two shiny toy cars together. Normally the teenager would have lectured them on destroying their toys, but right now she was in a trance, green eyes staring blankly at the screen, an unsettling black against the light beige contents of the cozy mid-western suburban home. Babysitting was a great way to watch MLP FIM on the big screen without being teased by her mother, and now that it was done... well, she was feeling a sort of emptiness.
“Alllleeeexxiisssss!” Simone howled. “I’m hungry! Now!”
“Of course, honey,” she said quietly, “just give me a moment.”
Alexis adjusted her soft navy blue hoodie, worn out from years of love, and slid off the beige, corduroy couch. She would prepare spaghetti for them, her specialty and a comfort food she’d grown up with, and comfort was what she needed right now. Her head was swimming with thoughts, she’d need to find a new show now, something to look forward to during the week. It wasn’t that her life was miserable or anything, it was just that she’d grown used to being transported back to an almost childlike state of mind. The world of Equestria was a sanctuary for her; a place with no important decisions to be made, a place that was pure fun. As Alexis grew older, more and more important choices needed to be made, and now she was finishing her final term of high school. She was truly envious of the indulgent and simple lives the creatures of the MLP universe lived. Of course, she had kept her trap shut about most all of this, she didn’t know many others who genuinely loved the show and held it close to their hearts.
As an onion was chopped and garlic was pressed, the children continued making a mess of the living room, leaving the redhead on her own in the kitchen. The cooking was peaceful, but then she felt a familiar buzzing at her right side. When she pulled the sparkly, lavender phone out of her pocket, the screen read “Mom”. She answered, hoping there wouldn’t be any more discussion of life choices or universities.
“Hey hon!” Alexis’s mom chirped. “Do you need a ride? I got off work early.”
“Noooo,” Alexis mumbled, “Rob and Becka are going to be out later than planned. It’s okay though, I’m happy to walk, need to clear my head.”
“What’s on your mind?”
“Oh, just life... and... stuff.” Alexis tried to keep it simple so her mom wouldn’t pry. This of course failed.
“Well,” her mom continued, “what kind of stuff.”
“Oh just... well I finished a really good show, it’s like a fantasy thing, you wouldn’t know it, and it’s just kind of a bummer because it was on for years and I really liked it. No biggie.”
“That is a problem.” Her mother answered, to her daughter’s surprise.
“I remember feeling that way when a good show I watched in the 80s finished, they left us on a cliffhanger too. I was so immersed in it, the characters, the setting, the story, they all meant a lot to me. Your uncle didn’t understand, but it was sort of like an escape for me, it really was more than just a weekly program. I remember the day it ended so well, I was about your age, and I actually felt a bit abandoned.”
“Yeah!” Alexis said, jolting upright, nearly tipping a metal spoon in her hand with a fat lump of sauce in it. “That’s exactly how I feel right now.”
“But you know,” her mom said thoughtfully, she was a practical woman, but she also had moments of great wisdom, the kind that only came with time, “do shows like that ever really end?”
“Well yeah! It just did, I mean it completely concluded, with a time skip and everything. It’s not coming back.”
“It’s not dead though, so long as fans like you still love it enough to re-watch it and talk about it and enjoy it. Maybe you should join a group or something, help keep it breathing.”
Alexis thought for awhile, and then agreed and said goodbye to her mother. She stirred noodles in a boiling pot and cut cilantro, all the while stewing on the advice she’d been given. Sewing had always given her a great sense of relief, maybe she could do something with that, maybe even attend some cons. And the more she thought about it, the final episode felt less like an ending and more of a beginning. The characters, the land of Equestria, could keep on going for as long as she lived.
***
“Luster... it isn’t real... this isn’t real.” Twilight blinked apologetically. She pulled the raft back towards them with magic, and Luster hopped down, with Flurry quickly coming to her side.
“I don’t... what do you mean?” Luster asked, settling.
“Everypony, all our stories, we were all created. I’m not sure why, or by whom, but I’m certain of it. Studying science and magic for so long... I’d begun to have my suspicions. I was finally able to come to a conclusion after seeing one too many coincidences. There were many repeats of the same pony, sometimes animals could speak, other times they couldn’t, my friends would come back from trips and tell me stories and I often, for the life of me, couldn’t remember what I had been doing while they were gone. The more I became aware of all of this confusing stuff, the more odd things happened. I began to hear music out of nowhere, the laws of physics seemed to apply less and less to reality... also... Pinkie can do some really weird things with her body. This awful idea of us being manufactured was confirmed when time moved by so quickly and suddenly my friends were older and you were in my life. And the memories of it all were short and fleeting, none of it made sense.”
Luster listened while Twilight explained all of this, confused, with a heart like a stone.
“That doesn’t make any sense!” The blonde mare anxiously snapped. “You trained me, you raised me. I have memories from my foalhood.”
“Yes, Luster, I am sure,” Twilight answered, “but how many of those memories are short and fleeting, how many feel almost like exposition for something else?”
Luster’s heart began to pound faster, Flurry approached her, concerned, and placed a hoof on her friend’s back. But the unicorn could sense that the young princess was beginning to grow uneasy as well.
“I’ve loved every second I’ve had with you, my student.” Twilight continued. “You remind me so much of myself and I get to relive all of the curiosity and wonder I had growing up, and that’s why I wanted so badly to protect you.”
“So... if this isn’t real… who made us... what purpose do we serve?” Luster asked.
“I’m not sure, honestly, but I did manage to get all the way home, once. I went back to Ponyville, momentarily, but I only stayed on the outskirts. There were... others... there.”
“Others?” Flurry finally piped up.
“Yes,” Twilight looked gently to her niece “they looked sort of like us, but different, their features and bodies were almost more... cartoon-like. Oh, it’s hard to explain, but everything was like that, the trees, the animals, the houses. And these new ponies seemed more advanced too... better technology. They didn’t look like invaders though, it felt as though they truly belonged. I had the same feeling a foreigner does when they arrive in a new country, it wasn’t like when I first went to Ponyville, it was as if I had travelled to a whole other planet. Whoever, whatever, made us, it had moved on to something else.”
“Is that why my journal went missing?!” Flurry demanded, struggling to even begin to process all of this. She stomped her hoof, Luster felt it vibrate through the small raft.
“Please,” Twilight pleaded softly, “know that I only had your best interest in mind! I just wanted... I just wanted so badly for you to continue to grow and learn and thrive. You didn’t need to know, because I...”
Twilight looked down, almost shamefully. She looked defeated.
“What?!” The young alicorn snapped.
“I didn’t want you to feel how my friends and I felt when we first learned... all of that existential dread... all of that... sadness... fear. What would happen to all of us, how we would live, the sudden unpredictability of everything, I didn’t want that to be your burden to bear too.”
Flurry stared at her, speechless, a vast mix of emotions travelling across her face so quickly Luster couldn’t decipher them all.
“I made this place,” Twilight began, “I made it out of nothing. This was supposed to be a paradise, for all of us to enjoy and continue on in. Everything you see, the sun, the moon, the stars, the ocean, the island and everything on it, that’s all magic. That’s why I flew here, I can rarely teleport now; almost all of my magic went into creating this place. And it wasn’t just mine, the Elements of Harmony can no longer be used and Celestia and Luna gave up every last drop of magic they had. Heck, even Discord helped out.”
“Celestia and Luna...” Flurry murmured. “What... what really happened to them?”
“Equestria was their kingdom and home,” Twilight continued on sadly, “they wanted to go down with the ship, they felt it was right.” The purple alicorn pawed at the wooden surface below her, slightly digging her hooves into it.
Suddenly, Luster’s mind wandered off, a numbness began to spread over her entire body. Sullen amber eyes turned to the water beyond, seemingly endless and so calm. The rising sun had turned it a dazzling blue and it lulled lazily. In the background, Flurry was demanding answers to a million questions, not letting Twilight get a word in. And all Luster could do was watch the water. There was an odd sense of peace, it was unsettling but far more welcome than the suffocating panic Flurry was clearly experiencing. Everything Luster had been working towards, her new life, new adventures, working side by side with Twilight, it was all a farce. She did not speak though, did not move, just let the gentle, serene waves move her. And after awhile, the two alicorns joined her in silence, and they all sat watching the waves.
Finally, Luster spoke.
“What do we do now?” She asked.
“We’re still here, aren’t we?” Twilight replied. “We all still wake up every morning and enjoy time with one another and live our lives. And sometimes, I feel like I get a bit of my magic back, every now and again. Maybe, one day, we could start to build more. What you girls do is your choice, but I’ll keep going on, for all those who hold a place for me in their hearts.”
The three ponies finally looked away from the vast, majestic world Twilight had created and each glanced at one another one at a time. Their eyes uncertain, their hearts heavy, but still, they had as much conviction as ever. They were my little ponies, after all. Soon, Flurry and Luster grabbed the paddles and began to row home.
