Never together, Never alone.
She fell deeper into the hole, the seclusion welcoming her into the darkness. She stood, limping towards the walls trying to find a way out. Stagnant air filled her lungs, as the shadow fell over her once again.
There was no escaping it.
Life was simple for Twilight Sparkle, she practically had the world. The Princesses were her close friends, she lived in a somewhat quiet town in the country, and she had the best friends anypony could ever find. At least that was what she thought, but there was always a nagging feeling that there was something... off with her friends in the past couple of months. The things that had changed in them didn't feel like it was any serious matter, but it was rather noticeable.
They weren't visiting her home as much as they had before, and whenever Twilight tried to greet them in the streets they would always claim to be busy with some chore. Even when they did claim to be busy, she would see them five minutes later eating with the others. It didn't make sense, but she brushed it off assuming that they were planning something for her. And as time progressed, it started to seem like they were trying to avoid her. In fact, it was like all the ponies in Ponyville were going out of their way just so they wouldn't have to be around her. It was something that worried her greatly, but Twilight didn't have the time to put much thought or even effort into socialization. She didn't have the time to worry about anything they were doing, much less how they were acting. The only reason she would leave her home was to get some supplies for her experiments.
Science was becoming important to her, even more than usual. Twilight was bound and determined to dispel any legends of this stone many called “The Worn Promises”. For starters, the name of this particular stone didn't have any connections with the legends tied to it. Nopony even wanted anything to do with this item, it just sat on a shelf collecting dust in the local antique shop. The fear that this stone generated was irrational, and to her – it made no sense whatsoever.
From what she read about the stone, and what she was told by the reluctant elders of Ponyville, was that it was cursed. Stories were told of ponies who would come to ownership of this relic, and they would disappear entirely. Often times they would never return, and others – they returned aged twice, even thrice of what they were when they had gone. The thing was, they had only been gone for a matter of days.
Twilight's goal was to prove everypony wrong, and that this was yet just another false myth told down through the ages. She tested it, to the greatest extent she could, monitored it 24/7, taking reading ranging from electromagnetic frequencies, to that of something as simple as its heat retention. She even did every sort of detection spell that was in the book to find some sort of explanation, but all the readouts came back within the normal parameters for that of a normal igneous rock. It was just a normal rock, just as she had told everypony it would have been. No curses, no magical force fields, and no ghosts. Just a normal rock, with a less than normal story tied to it. Now the thing to do was boast, or rather tell, her friends of the breakthrough she had just come across.
Twilight skipped through the streets of Ponyville, giddy with excitement for finally busting a myth that terrorized most if the ponies in town. She hadn't the slightest idea where she would be able to find her friends, but the best place to try first would be Sugar Cube Corner. That was where they hanged out the most, after all.
As she rounded the corner, she saw Rainbow Dash, Applejack, and Rarity standing just outside, right where she thought they would be. Something told her this was all wrong though, there were no other ponies outside, the birds were quiet, and windows were slammed shut. She put the friendliest smile she had on her face as she approached, hoping that there wasn't something terribly wrong with her friends. They were whispering, and as she got ever closer she could hear they were talking about her.
“Twilight just isn't the brightest apple,” Applejack said with a hint of disgust.
“Oh,” Rarity cooed dramatically as she rolled her eyes, “Speak of the devil herself.”
“Uh... Girls?” Twilight asked nervously, “Is everything okay?”
Rainbow Dash flew up into the air, and dove straight towards Twilight, stopping just before her snout. “Is everything OKAY? YOU ask if everything is okay while you’re out dong your science mumbo jumbo and not even caring about YOUR FRIENDS!” Rainbow yelled lividly.
“I... I'm sorry...” Twilight whimpered, tears starting to swell up in her eyes. “I just wanted to prove that the legends weren't real...”
“You know what? Saying sorry makes it all better, doesn't it?” Rainbow said sarcastically. “Just because you say you're sorry doesn't even begin to fix things Twilight. The curse is true, just so you know.”
Rarity spoke up from behind Applejack and Rainbow Dash. “Say goodnight, deary,” her voice dripping with malicious intent.
“I have no idea what you guys are talking about!” Twilight cried, unable to make sense of anything at this point. “I proved it isn't real!”
From behind her, Twilight could hear the faint beating of wings as she was struck over the head, instantly knocked unconscious.
The next thing Twilight knew to be real was the dirt beneath her feet, and the walls that encased her. The air was stagnant, and it was as if she had been thrown down hole, as her leg felt broken. Any pain she would have was silenced by her bodies natural morphine, but that is something that only lasts for so long. She limped towards the walls, trying to feel for some grip and way for her to get out of this hell she was living. To her dismay, the walls were slick, and there was no other way for her to go but down, as the tunnel led.
She limped along slowly, stifling her coughs and pains as she tried to keep some hope in her heart. Her friends had abandoned her. Her friends. The ones she trusted, they had stabbed her in the back and threw her away just as they would a half eaten apple. She limped along for what seemed to be hours, never looking back and always looking for a light at the end of the tunnel. Ever so often, she would hear something behind her in the dark, scraping the walls. She would wait, partially petrified with fear as it came closer, and closer, and then the noise would cease to exist. Whatever it was behind her, she knew there was no escaping it, and there was nothing she could do but run.
Twilight continued down the tunnel, the air becoming heavy with mildew as she continued to head down. And again, the noise echoed behind her. This time, it was different. It wasn't just a scrape, and another scrape. It was just one continuous scraping sound, getting closer, and closer with every second she stood still. In what she could see in the dark passageway, a faint glimmer shone out of the darkness, followed by a shadow of the deepest black. A gust of wind blew over her, hairs standing on end as it gained ground on her ever more. She knew not why, but she didn't move.
With it mere feet away, she started running as fast as her hooves could take her, the broken leg splintering with every step. She dared not to look back at what was chasing her down, but the noise let her know everything she needed. It was right behind her, and she knew nothing could be done to escape it. She continued to run, hoping it would give up. Hoping she would live through this nightmare, but it kept after her. The dark began to slowly come over Twilight, her flank freezing as it flowed over it. A sharp pain shot through her body, as she could feel a trail of blood running down her flank. The shadow soon crept up her back, and made its way over her head.
Before it took her under its grasp, she whispered to herself, “Why me?”
Twilight was once again, on her own. The void surrounded her, a pitch black eternity awaiting her stay. She cried for what she had lost, the friends she once had. There was nothing to explain what had came over them, but she hoped that they wouldn't do the same to some other pony.
She began to think to herself about how ironically beautiful this all was. The isolation from others, and how little hassle it is all by herself. It just seemed to require such skill to bring together something so perfectly empty, almost as if it was an art in itself.
Even as an art, it was something Twilight dreaded. She loved having her former friends around, being able to drink warm cider together around a fireplace, swimming in the lake during the hot days, and even working during to help Applejack during her harvests. It was all something that she missed, being with somepony else. Even with the problems it brought along, the things it does to someponies, it was something that was to truly be desired. She wanted what she had back, but there was nothing she could do. They had put her here, and this would be where she would stay since she would be a burden to those she loved.
“So... uh, Doc, how long does our Twi' have to stay in this here wretched place?” Applejack asked, concerned for her dear friend. Pinkie pie, Rarity, Fluttershy, and Rainbow Dash looked towards the psychologist hoping for some simple answer.
“It isn't as simple as that,” the doctor told them with dismay. “She has been in the sanatorium for over a year, and has showed little signs of improvement.
Tears started to pour out of their eyes. “I... I just want... the Twilight I knew back...” Fluttershy pleaded under her breath.
Twilight sat against a cushioned white wall, her arms held against her body by a straight jacket. Her hair was tangled in knots, and her lavender coat was becoming discolored in some places. Her eyes twitched as she stared into the mirror across the room, her mouth hanging slightly open. Once word was scribbled across the room in black marker, in both big and fine print:
Friends.
