Five weeks later

“Bye Shiny!” Twilight waved at Shining Armor as the dream realm vanished and Twilight was ejected from the dream.

Yep, she had located her friends and family and added them to her nightly excursions with Equus.

It was a hard first few weeks. Lots of tears were shed, and accusations of being a faker were made.

But now she has the means to enjoy her job and communicate with her friends.

Except Spike…

For some reason, she can’t find him… weird, but she hopes this doesn’t mean he’s dead… she’ll find him eventually though.

She then made her way over to Saturn to lay down and read a summoned book.

She may know everything now, but she still enjoys books.

“Alright, Equestria is enjoying perfect weather and non-stop disaster free weeks, I’d almost say me dying was just the break Equestria needed at this rate,” Twilight giggled at the jab at herself.

“...That’s kinda the problem,” A woman's voice said and Twilight jumped.

“Huh?! Who said that?” Twilight asked.

“Me,” Twilight turned and saw what looked like a human in an office outfit with glasses floating in space in front of her.

“What the?... Who-”

“Val, don’t forget it,” Val said.

“...Oh, that person Albert warned me about…” Twilight said.

“Yes yes, I’m here for an evaluation,” She said, displeased.

“Evaluation of my progress, I forgot, but I’m sure I’m doing well, right?” Twilight asked.

“Not even close…” She sighed, writing something down on a clipboard.

“What?” Twilight said a little offendedly.

“Listen, you're going to have to pick up your own slack here because this universe is very messy,” Val said.

“What?! B-but I’ve done all I can, I started a dozen worlds,” Twilight said.

“And how many have you destroyed?” Val asked.

“...None… but give me a break, there were still lifeforms on those worlds,” Twilight said.

“Balance is the universe's bread and butter, that, and those worlds died on their own last week,” Val said.

“What?!” Twilight exclaimed.

“They died last week,” Val repeated.

“I heard, but… then it’s done then right?” Twilight said, unsure how to react.

“...You're new so I’ll let your ignorance slide,” Val said.

“Hey!” Twilight said.

“You don’t grasp the severity, when you destroy planets, you are giving them a mercy kill, want to know what happens when you don’t destroy a planet at the eve of it’s death?” Val said.

“I know everything, so that-”

“The planet dies, slowly, painfully, and so do all who live on it, so congratulations, you're responsible for the suffering of many, due to being squeamish,” Val said.

“...What?” Twilight said in shock.

“Some things even infinite knowledge cannot predict, harden your heart, be more proactive, and for the love of Pete, stop lingering so much around this particular planet,” Val said pointing at Equus.

“B-but, my friends-” Twilight said.

“Will move on, you need to as well, you cannot manage a universe and dote on only one planet, otherwise you’ll be promptly fired and replaced,” Val said interrupting her.

“No…” Twilight looked sad to hear that before she looked to her again “But I can’t bring an end to a planet, It’s not in my nature,” Twilight said.

“Then extract it,” Val said.

“Extract it?” Twilight asked.

“Yes, you are capable of extracting emotional facets from your personality, it will protect you from the guilt, I’ll be back in a year and if no improvement is made, we’ll begin the job termination process,” Val said before she vanished.

“Wait!” Twilight cried but she was gone… she looked back at Equus in the distance, and she began to sob.

“It’s not fair, can I not be happy?! I… I need to leave then, I got work to do, I hope they understand…” Twilight said before flying away.

Twilight flew to a galaxy cluster, there were multiple planets that were dying and needed that ‘mercy kill’ Val mentioned…

“Alright… I can do this,” Twilight said as she flew into the cluster and located one.

A water planet that contained minimal life… it was dying though, and due to the inhabitant's fault, polluting their oceans…

It was time to kill it.

…Annnny moment now…

Twilight floated before the planet for what felt like forever, she could have elected somepony else to do this part… but no, she’d never subject somepony else to this cruel decision.

Twilight raised a hoof and shut her eyes before punching the planet and immediately it exploded, she didn’t even hit it that hard, but she knew it was the punch that injected destructive energy.

It was done…. Countless lives gone in an instant, but it was either die with a bang… or a whimper…. Speaking of which.

“I CAN’T DO THIS!” Twilight flew out of the cluster and landed on top of a vacant planet to cry.

Blood was on her hoof now, there was no changing that… so why did it have to be like this….

There was only one way to end this pain… extract it, she didn’t want to, but she had no choice.

And so she sat up and raised a hoof to her chest before entering it into her chest.

In her mind she saw what looked like an option menu in a video game…

She saw options for, rage, rationality, and other emotions… but one stuck out to her.

Compassion.

Reluctantly Twilight mentally drew that one back, just a little… and suddenly, her tears dried… she didn’t feel as bad anymore…

“Weird…” Twilight said before adjusting it again and she found she stopped caring she just ended a civilization… this actually made it easier…

“Well, I got work to get back to,” Twilight said before spreading her wings and taking off back into the cluster.

A month later she flew away from the cluster, having cleaned it up.

“Hmm, I should feel bad for the lost lives… but I don’t… Val was right, this does make things easier."

Helps that those planets were on the verge of dying anyways… she was just helping them along.

Yeah…

“It’s been awhile, I should take a break, maybe visit my friends again,” Twilight said as she flew back.

As she arrived at Equus she used her power to look into the planet, she could see everypony was going on with life, she looked around and expected them to excite her like they used to…

But oddly she feels less like them, like she’s something else.

Did adjusting her compassion really render her unable to associate herself with them? Maybe she should turn back… just for awhile.

And so Twilight reached into the glowing portal on her chest and and adjusted her compassion back to normal… and then some.

The pain came back…

“No… NOO! THOSE WORLDS!” Twilight hurriedly lowered her compassion again “...On second thought… nevermind…” Twilight cooly looked down at the planet, she felt almost nothing for it right now.

She felt more for it than other places at least, that was enough.

She waited until nighttime before accessing the dream of Rainbow Dash.

Rainbow was flying with the Wonderbolts when suddenly she was teleported to the ground.

“Huh?!” Rainbow said looking around.

“Hello Rainbow…” Twilight said.

“Huh? Oh hey Twilight! Your back! I wondered where you went,” Rainbow said trotting over to her.

“I apologize…” Twilight said in a bored tone.

“...You okay? You don’t seem as happy to see me,” Rainbow asked.

“I’ve had to make adjustments to myself to ease the pain of destroying worlds,” Twilight said without a change in inflection.

“...Hahahaa, nice one,” Rainbow laughed… only to pause when Twilight didn’t laugh.

“Your… not laughing…” Rainbow said.

“Destroying inhabited planets used to bother me but after lowering my compassion and ability to feel extreme emotions I can handle it now,” Twilight said.

“Haha… seriously drop the joke,” Rainbow said nervously.

“I did them a favor, it was either die slowly or quickly,” Twilight said as if she’s having a normal conversation right now.

“Egghead… you're starting to scare me… Do you mean to tell me you’ve been nuking planets? With life in them?.... Why?” Rainbow said taking a step back.

“It’s my job, as the epicenter of life, death, knowledge, and feeling, can’t remain in touch with you all and not blow up a few minor planets in the process,” Twilight said with a chuckle.

“...Twilight… you’ve changed… whatever you did to yourself undo it!” Rainbow insisted.

“If I do that the guilt will come back, it’s better I feel less,” Twilight said.

“NO! This isn’t you, I mean… look,” Rainbow approached her but suddenly the dream realm shifted.

“Until next time, Rainbow,” Twilight said and Rainbow woke up in her bedroom looking a little pale.

“Something’s wrong with her…” Rainbow rushed out of her room in a panic.

Rainbow rushed to Ponyville, she flew into Sugarcube Corner and saw Pinkie making a batch of cookies.

“Hey Rai-” Pinkie said before Rainbow flew up to her.

“Pinkie! We have a situation!” Rainbow said.

“What?” Pinkie asked.

“Gather everyone here, Twilight is back!” Rainbow said.

“That’s great!” Pinkie said.

“Not right now it isn’t, she’s done something to herself, we need to help her!" Rainbow cried.

“Ok!” Pinkie said before darting off to retrieve the others.

“And that’s what happened!” Rainbow exclaimed.

“Y-your lyin! Twi would never destroy planets!” AJ said in shock.

“She wouldn’t!” Fluttershy added.

“You weren’t there, she was talking about killing off planets like it was a boring hobby! She said she ‘lowered her compassion’ or something,” Rainbow said.

“She’s poisoned her own mind with her powers!” Rarity said.

“She’d sooner surrender her new powers than use them for destruction!” Fluttershy said.

“I know what I saw and heard, she’s not acting right, we need to help her,” Rainbow said with determination.

“Alright, what do we do?” Rarity asked.

“We confront Twilight in our dreams and convince her to return her compassion,” Rainbow said.

“But it’s mornin, do we wait until nighttime?” AJ asked.

“No, we go to sleep now and hopefully she comes to us,” Rainbow said.

“Ok, luckily I have studied sleep spells in the past, they will be useful here,” Rarity said.

“Then let’s go, let’s save our friend,” Rainbow said.

Twilight just ended another bothersome planet, teeming with life, but crumbling due to ozone issues and pollution.

As she turned and flew around looking for something to do in the meanwhile she sensed her friends were asleep, she’s been keeping tabs on them and they are asleep already.

Whatever, if this is their way of getting her attention after that conversation they had about their concerns, so be it.

Twilight teleported up to Equus and accessed the dream realm…

Twilight wasted no time and gathered her friends, they all appeared before her and they looked surprised to see her so soon.

“Hello my dearest friends,” Twilight said with little emotion.

“Twilight, we’re here to-”

“Convince me to turn back to the fragile person I used to be?” Twilight said.

“How-”

“All-knowing, remember?” Twilight said.

“Twilight… please, Rainbow told us everything,” Rarity said.

“I know, but really I was simply informing her of what I’ve been up to for awhile,” Twilight said.

“Twi… you destroyed planets!” AJ said.

“With life on them!” Pinkie added.

“I know, is that a problem?” Twilight asked.

“You weren’t kiddin,” AJ said looking disturbed.

“It’s my job, like it or not, I have to do so if I wish to maintain my position and stay in contact with you all,” Twilight said.

“It just doesn’t seem like you, and the casual way you address it worries us,” Rarity said.

“It’d be best if at least for now you return to normal,” Fluttershy said.

“No,” Twilight said.

“Why?” Rainbow asked.

“Because when I last did, the pain of what I did came back, I don’t like feeling that pain… so I eased it,” Twilight said.

“We miss the real you Twi,” AJ said.

“I do too, but it’s better this way,” Twilight said.

“...What if we helped you?” Rainbow asked.

“What do you mean?” Twilight asked.

“You could return your compassion to normal and we can support you in your time of need, please, just once,” Rainbow pleaded.

“...You really wish to see me in pain?” Twilight said.

“No! But we can help you like we always do,” Rainbow said.

“...If seeing my pain let’s you know why I need to numb myself to it, then fine,” Twilight sighed before reaching her hoof into a glowing light on her chest and adjusting her compassion back.

Immediately she looked horrified.

“NO!” Twilight cried falling to the ground and clutching her head.

“TWI!” AJ cried as they ran over to her and held her close as she cried.

“Those lives… all of them… I took so many…” Twilight sobbed.

“It’s alright Twi, we’re here,” AJ said.

“Let it all out,” Fluttershy cooed.

“The last planet I saw the beings on it were begging me for mercy… but I did it anyways without any remorse… I’m a monster!” Twilight said.

“You're not a monster,” Rarity said.

“I can’t…. I can’t live with myself…. I need to numb the pain,” Twilight said before shoving her hoof back into the glowing light on her chest.

“NO! Twilight! Stop!” Rainbow grabbed her arm and the others tried to stop her.

“Please stop! I can’t take this!” Twilight said.

“No! Twilight, ya can’t just numb yerself like this!” AJ said.

“Let go!” Twilight cried.

“Stop!” Pinkie said.

“Let… GO!” Twilight yelled before Rainbow accidentally jerked Twilight’s arm too hard to the left.

Compassion: 1%

Twilight froze and stared out into the void around them.

“Twi?” AJ said.

“......I feel… nothing…”Twilight said before she stopped holding back and tossed her friends off like they were nothing.

“AGH!” Rainbow cried as she hit the ground, she looked up at Twilight who was standing there looking lost.

“Twilight?” Pinkie asked nervously.

“...Nothing… my heart is empty…. I feel…… liberated…” Twilight said as her eyes turned black and she looked at them.

“Twilight? What happened?” Rarity asked as Twilight approached her.

“I need to see,” Twilight said before she reached forward and struck Rarity sending her tumbling.

"Aaah!" Rarity cried.

“RARITY! Twilight, what are you doing?” Rainbow demanded.

“...Nothing…I felt nothing… my compassion is almost nothing now, you all suddenly seem… insignificant,” Twilight said before turning to Rainbow who flinched.

“Twilight?...” Rainbow nervously said.

“I’ve been too lenient with Equus… just because it is my home planet, doesn’t make it any different than any other planet, from now on, I’ll do my job right, thank you Rainbow… for freeing me from myself,” Twilight said before she took off into the sky.

“TWILIGHT!” Rainbow cried as she woke up and the others did too.

As they looked around they knew right then and there… they just made things much worse…

“Wh-what will she do?” Fluttershy asked nervously.

“...I don’t know…” Rainbow said looking afraid “What have I done….”

Author's Note

Uh oh, what could this mean?