As Twilight Fades

“Spike, go find the others,” Rainbow Dash said.

“Why? Who’s that.”

“Just go.”

Spike looked from her to the unicorn standing above them. He took a nervous step back before turning and running to the door.

“The princess thought you’d come for us,” Dash said.

The unicorn tilted her head menacingly. “She did?”

“Yeah, but I ain’t afraid of you.”

The unicorn frowned, evil thoughts clear behind her dark eyes. “Why would you be afraid of me.”

“We know you attacked the princess, Twilight Sparkle.”

The frown deepened as the evil mare thought regretfully about her failure the night before. “This is all just a big misunderstanding.” She sounded so miserable, Rainbow Dash almost believed her, but she remembered the princess’s warnings and shook her head.

“You mean you didn’t attack the princess.”

“No! Well...” the unicorn trailed off.

“I knew it!”

“Look, I don’t know what was wrong with me last night. I don’t even remember it all. I’d never hurt the princess on purpose. I wouldn’t do that to any of you.” Tears formed at the corners of Twilight Sparkles eyes as she spoke. Dash had to admit, she was a good actress.

“Why would you give a flying feather about what happens to us?”

“You really don’t remember me, do you?”

Dash blinked and she raised an eyebrow. “Remember you? Where the hay would I remember you from?”

“We’re friends,” Twilight Sparkle said, turning to descend the stairs. “Me, you, Applejack, Rarity, Fluttershy, and Pinkie Pie. We’re all best friends.”

“Uh-huh?” Rainbow said, watching the mare draw closer. She suddenly doubted Twilight’s acting abilities. If the unicorn expected her to believe that, she was crazy. Crazy and powerful, Dash remembered as the unicorn reached the bottom of the stairs and started closer to her. She stepped back automatically and Twilight stopped, face looking even more hurt. Dash didn’t know if she should be more scared or uncomfortable.

“You have to remember me,” Twilight pleaded. “We hang out all the times. What about the weekly pony pet playdates?”

“How do you know about those?”

“It was my idea to start having them.”

Dash shook her head. “Fluttershy came up with them.”

Twilight stepped back as though she’d been slapped. “That’s... what about the Daring Do books? Do you still read them? Don’t you remember who showed them to you?”

“Nopony showed me those, I found the first one when I was laid up in the hospital.”

Twilight Sparkle disappeared in a flash of light, appearing right in front of Dash. Dash jerked back in surprise. Twilight opened her mouth to say something, but was hit as Dash flailed her hooves in a panicked gesture. She stumbled back, stunned, as Rainbow Dash reared back and ran for the door.

Before Twilight could say anything, her friend was gone. She sat on the library floor, clutching at her sore jaw and blinking back tears. Her teacher, her friends, her own brother had forgotten her. She knew she only had so much time before Dash came back with reinforcements. Her horn glowed and a moment later she was sitting in the everfree again.

Some time passed before she heard somepony approaching. The shadows around her had shifted, but the branches above her prevented her from guessing at the position of the sun.

“Who’s this I’ve found, lying sullenly on the ground?”

“Zecora?” Twilight asked dully, turning toward the voice.

The zebra came up short, tilting her head. “How is it you know my name? For me to forget an acquaintance would be a shame.”

Twilight’s head sank lower. “It’s nothing.”

“I’m sorry if I’ve forgotten something I should know. Come back to my home and tell Zecora what upsets you so. The sun will set very soon, and we don’t want to meet any creatures that hunt by the moon.”

Twilight grudgingly agreed and followed Zecora through the forest. It wasn’t long before they were on a familiar path.

“Prehaps you could remind me when we last met? It’s not like me to forget,” Zecora said, glancing down as though trying to remember.

“Tuesday,” Twilight said flatly. “Last tuesday.”

Zecora looked even more confused, but said nothing until they arrived at the hut. Zecora quickly went about making tea while Twilight sat and stared at the table. Zecora set a cup in front of her before taking her own seat. “Now, tell Zecora what upsets you so, why does your heart seem so full of woe?”

“I don’t think you’ll believe me.”

The zebra waved her hoof dismissively. “Zecora has seen much that can’t be believed, and she isn’t one to be easily deceived. It may be for the best, to let your troubles out and lay them to rest.”

Twilight took a deep breath. “Nopony remembers me. Not my friends, not my family, nopony knows I exist.”

Zecora took a deep drink from her cup, and Twilight had to admire her poker face. Or maybe the story just wasn’t that strange to the zebra.

“So I am not the first you’ve met, who, of our friendship, seems to forget? When did this start, when did these memories begin to fall apart.”

Twilight had to think for a moment. It seemed like a long time ago. “Last night. I was with my friends in the Crystal Empire, and what felt like seconds later I was back in Canterlot Castle. I might have blacked out or teleported or something, but it happened in the time it took me to get back to Canterlot.”

“This is most unusual, I must admit,” Zecora said. “With my own memory, it doesn’t fit.” Twilight opened her mouth, but Zecora raised a hoof and she kept silent. “Of course, if what you say it true, that would be the case. There are no traces of a lie in your words or face. If you would like to stay here for the night, feel free, I wouldn’t send you out against the beasts of the Everfree. In the morning we may talk more, if you tell the truth, this odd magic is something I’d like to explore.”

Twilight nodded grateful and minutes later she settled onto Zecora’s woven bench under a blanket. It was a bit scratchy, but better than what she’d had the night before. As the moon rose slowly into the sky, she fell into a fitful sleep.