When Time Catches Up
I didn't know what to do. One minute I'm writing up my schedule for next week, and the next I'm here; Ponyville church. Morning the loss of somepony very dear to me; me. It all happened too fast, I don't even know what happened, all remember was that scream; my scream.
Now here I am, floating just above the heads of my best friends and my family. They're all crying, and I can do nothing to console them. I'm useless. I can see the coffin they're gathered around, a limp, purple coated body limp inside. Her eyes are closed, and her face painless, almost relaxed. Though she does not smile nor frown. She just lies there. I just lie there.
“Thank you all for coming.” I here somepony say. They have a very regal voice, though it was clear they were struggling to control their tears. Looking around I spot the source of the voice; Celestia. Eyes red from crying. Her once luxurious, flowing mane, now flat and lifeless.
“Nothing could keep us away from this.” I hear another say, their voice rough and scratchy. Not controlling their tears as much as Celestia was able to. I look down, past Celestia, standing at the front of the room. Past my coffin, sitting in front of Celestia. Finally to the group of ponies standing a few feet back from the coffin, where a cyan pegasus spoke.
I look down at her, she's not even flying like she usually does. Her wings glued firmly to her side. Her mane looks worse then usual, and that's saying something. All my friends look awful, sadness etched into their expressions as they look at the coffin, as they look at me.
“What do we do now?” A soft voice asked. Sounding as if the very act of speaking would offend somepony. Easily finding the owner of the voice I look to Fluttershy, her cheeks still wet from tears. Her eyes moist from fresh ones.
“Ah don't rightly know, sugarcube.” A pony says, her southern accent very distinct. I switch my eyes over to Applejack. She seems to be least affected; her eyes only slightly blood-shot. For a while it's silent, nopony breaking the silence that had fallen over the room like a blanket. I hate it.
“What happened to her?” Somepony says, finally breaking the silence. Elegant, though not quite regal. A pearly white unicorn steps forward as she speaks, her demeanour demanding attention. Even I listen for an answer, I can't remember anything but a gut wrenching scream.
“We have a few theories, but we aren't sure. We think that something went wrong with her magic, though.” Celestia answers solemnly.
“Her magic?” Rarity echoes, confusion thick in her voice.
“Yes, though we don't know much more then that.” Celestia said, a single tear sliding down her cheeks as she looks back at my body. My dead body.
“But how? She was awesome with her magic.” Her voice just didn't sound right unless it was hyperactive. If she wasn't talking like she usually did it just sounded off. And octave too high for normal talking, and yet it suited her personality on most occasions. Pinkie Pie sat quietly to the right of the group, her main lacking it's usual luster and frizzles. Like a popped balloon.
“That's why it's so weird. We will have her looked at by some of the best unicorns I have. But we may never know why it happened.” Celestia said quietly, not once taking her eyes off my former body.
I can't take it anymore. I start yelling, screaming, really. I cry for help, scream for my friends, and yell out of frustration. But no matter what I do no sound ever comes. I try to move, I try to get closer, to get my friends attention. But I only go up. Closer and closer the ceiling. I fight against it as hard as I can, but it's useless. As if I am in a levitation spell. I cannot escape it's grasp.
Giving up, I allow it to drag me through the roof, the bright light of day blinding me momentarily. The sun just a little way above the horizon, either early morning or almost dusk. After a while of floating in the air, I notice that the sun starts to sink below the horizon. It's twilight.
Suddenly, whatever it is that's pulling on me pulls a little harder, dragging me higher into the sky. There are no clouds for me to go above. Rainbow Dash probably saw to that. I am lifted higher and higher, into the relaxing orange of sunset. Eventually Ponyville is nothing but a speck below me, the church cannot even be seen from this height. And I still go higher.
Eventually I see the last thing I expected; clouds. A thick, white blanket of clouds, covering the sky for as far as I can see. I know it's scientifically impossible, but I want to touch on, to sleep on one. I know I can't; only pegasi can. I can't even move, never mind cast my cloud walking spell. Slowly, I am pulled above the clouds, the light once again dazing me for a few seconds. Everything up here has a golden tint, no doubt caused by the sun.
“What is your name?” A voice booms. It is not harsh, though not kind. I look around, but I cannot see the source. All I can see is clouds and an orange sky. Though for some reason I feel as if I I must answer it, so I do.
“Twilight Sparkle.” I say, though no sound leaves my lips. I try again, but the voice stops me.
“I can hear you.” It says, somewhat annoyed.
“Sorry.” I think, since I don't actually say anything. It grumbles something as a response. I hear the all to familiar sound of pages in a book turning. Oh how much I would like to be turning those pages myself. To feel the paper in my hooves. To let the knowledge flow into my mind.
“Ah, here you are. Says here you lived a happy life and died of old age at 89.” The voice said, snapping me out of my thoughts.
“Then the book is wrong, because I neither died of old age nor at 89, I'm not even 30 yet!” The voice pauses for a second. I hear more pages turning. A little more grumbling, then it speaks again.
“Are you sure? Say's here you're not supposed to die until then. Even says you're supposed to be married to a-” He pauses for a minute, presumably reading the name, “-Rainbow Dash.” He finishes, pronouncing the name slowly, as if needing to sound it out.
“I dunno where you got that book, but I'm not even into mares.” I say. Though I had a feeling my cheeks would be red if I had a body.
“Is that so?” The voice says thoughtfully.
“It is.” I reply, still not really understanding what's going on, but accepting it anyway. I didn't even know why I was accepting it. I knew that under normal circumstances I would be screaming at myself to question everything. To try and wake myself up from what was clearly a dream. But for some reason I didn't have the ability or will to protest, all I could do was float there, waiting for the voice to say something.
“You're absolutely sure?” It says again.
“Yes.” I say, annoyance clear in my voice.
“Well I'm not allowed to let you in until then.” It says, an image of somepony crossing their arms appears in my head.
“It's not my fault I'm here, ya know.” I say, past the point of being nervous or scared, now I'm just annoyed.
“Well aren't you the one that died?” It says defiantly.
“I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW I WAS DEAD!” I yell. I think dying may have given me a shorter temper.
“Alright, calm down. Listen, I can put you back in your body. There is not guarantee it'll work, and your magic may never return, but it's the only way. Unless there's somepony you want to haunt for almost 60 years.” A thought passes through my mind; revenge on Rainbow Dash and Pinkie for all those pranks they pulled on me. It's oddly tempting. But then the second option echoes around in my skull. I could live. It may not work, and if it does work I may not get my magic.
“Put me-” I stop myself before I can finish. Who am I without my magic? Can I do anything except magic? Am I worth anything if I can't be a unicorn? Without my magic I would probably loose my title as Princes Celestia's private pupil. And without that I am nothing.
“I'll just ha-” I stop myself again. What would this mean? If I refuse the chance to live? I already saw how my friends were, they were heartbroken. Could I really leave them like that if I had a chance to fix it? Even without my magic, they'd still accept me. They'd still love me.
“Put me back in my body.” I say firmly, not hesitating anymore. My mind has been made. My decision decided. My choice chosen. Now I just had to pray that it would work.
“So be it.” The voice says calmly, though there was a knowing tone to it. As if he knew my choice from the very beginning.
Without another word or warning I start to fall. Within moments I break through the cloud floor. The sun almost completely gone behind the mountains. Twilight was fully set in now, the sky a lavender colour.
I keep falling, faster and faster. I can see Ponyville now, a tiny spec in the distance, but it is there. All my friends are there. I just hope I haven't been buried yet.
Ponyville begins to grow, slowly at first, but eventually it gets faster and faster as I get close. I can see the buildings now, the streets between them. I see the church and the graveyard behind it. Slowly, my decent starts to bank, curving towards to graveyard.
I start to see little, colourful specs. Ponies running around the town, doing whatever it is they do. I see a familiar group of specs standing in the graveyard, all of them gathered in a tight circle. As I get closer I see that it's a whole in the ground, my casket is being lowered into it.
“No.” I think to myself, willing myself to move faster, to get there before it's too late. Suddenly my speed almost doubles, what was once a faint, white speck was now a close up, elegant coffin. Suddenly I stop, inches from the top of the coffin. Slowly, I fall through it, tingling as I come in contact with my body.
A sudden jolt of pain rushes through me as I rejoin with my body. I let out my breath, and was shocked when I heard myself breathe. I lifted a hoof. I could move again. Slowly, I shifted it over to my chest, and felt the weak yet steady thumping of a heart.
I start pounding on the top of the coffin with what little strength I have. Hoping for somepony to hear me. Over the noise of my own pounding I hear exactly what I wanted to; “What was that?”.
Those three words gave me a new found strength. I beat on the coffin even harder then before, I feel my hooves starting to bleed, but I don't care. All I want is to be with my friends again, magic or not.
“It's coming from the coffin! Quickly, haul it back up!” I hear somepony say, from the sound it was probably Rainbow Dash, but I can't be sure. I just keep pounding on the roof of my casket. I feel myself being lifted with magic.
“Open it!” I hear Rainbow Dash say, I knew it was her this time. I hear a creaking noise as they pull out the nails my casket had been closed with, followed by seeing a bright light as they opened the coffin.
“SHE'S ALIVE!” They all cry, looks of astonishment, confusion, and relief on their faces as I sit up.
“Hi.” Is all I can say, my body feels stiff and unnatural. Struggling a bit as I place my hooves on the edge of the casket and lift myself up. As soon as they see I'm having problem they rush over to help me. Rainbow Dash is the first over to me, flapping her wings as she hovered above me; grabbing me under my arms to help me balance. Slowly lifting me out of the coffin.
I relax a little as I feel myself rise out of the coffin, but tense up when something wet hits my shoulder. I look up to Rainbow Dash, and realize she's crying. I look up at her as she looks down at me; smiling through her tears.
She sets me down slowly on the ground, making sure I can support my own weight before letting go, fluttering in the air a bit before landing beside me. Ready to catch me if I loose my balance. My other friends rush over, tears streaming down their faces, even Celestia is crying openly. Tears slowly start to blur my vision as well. Tears of relief.
Nopony says anything. What is there to say? We just stand there, staring at each other. Finally Pinkie breaks the silence, closing the short gap between us and hugging me, the rest of our friends joining in as well.
We sit there for a while, enjoying the embrace.
“Don't ever do that to use again Twi, we thought we lost you.” Dash says, tears streaming from her face onto my fur, but I couldn't care less.
“So did I.” I say quietly, gently squeezing them a bit closer before ending the embrace. They all look at me, and I look at each of them in turn. Blushing a bit as I look at Rainbow Dash, the voice still fresh in my mind.
“What happened?” Celestia asked, regaining some of her royal composure. Enough to ask important questions.
“It wasn't my time.” I say simply, grinning ear to ear. The rest of my friends look confused, but I just keep smiling.
“My time hasn't caught up to me yet.”
When Time Catches Up
Epilogue
I walked back into my library, it was funny how empty is seemed these days. It was still full of books, it still had all my stuff, and a large amount of Rainbow's, but it still seemed empty. But I guess that's what happens when you haven't been alone for 50 years.
Spike moved to Canterlot some time ago, saying he wanted to go to school there. I was in no place to argue, and he comes and visits me sometimes, so I guess I can't complain. He left a few years after I got married.
51 years... it's hard to believe that I was married for that long. I still remember our first date, our first kiss, our wedding. Every single detail. Thinking about it now always made me cry, I feel my eyes start to water even now, a single tear rolling down my aged, wrinkled face.
Sighing quietly I walk into into the living room and glance over to the fireplace, a lone picture sitting on the mantle above it. It was always my favourite picture; my wedding day. With a flick of my horn I drew it closer, examining it.
I was there, in a beautiful, white wedding dress (designed by Rarity, of course) and beside me sat another mare. She, too, was in a dress designed by Rarity. I lift up a hoof and touch her face in the picture, what I wouldn't give to hug her, just one more time. A few tears fell off my face and onto her rainbow mane. Blurring and distorting the colours.
“I miss you.” I whisper as a few more tears roll down my cheeks. It had been 4 years now. 4 years ago today she died. It was a peaceful death; dying in her sleep while I held her hoof. Peaceful for her, but not for me. I didn't leave the library much after that. Spike came back for 2 months for me, he even became my assistant after that. Cooking me food, cleaning, whatever I needed done. He had grown up so fast.
All my friends were there for me, but I still went through hell. It was terrible not having her around anymore. I came home and called out for her, like I used to, but I am forced to remember she is no longer here. Sometimes I wake up in an icy sweat, reaching out for a mare that no longer sleeps beside me. When that happens I have nothing to do but cry myself back to sleep.
I'm mostly over it now, though sometimes I still dream about her, and I still cry when I remember. My friends are still there for me, as is the Princess, but I still feel alone. She always knew how to make me feel better. She always knew just what I needed, whether that be a shoulder to cry on, somepony to talk to, or sometimes just to have a bit of fun.
Fun. That was always one word to describe her. She was always happy, no matter what life threw at her she took it in stride. I know she wouldn't want me to be unhappy, so I soldier on. Day after day, week after week, year after year.
Wiping the tears from my cheeks I levitate the picture back to it's place on the mantle. 4 years ago she died, and I haven't been myself for 4 years. Glancing quickly at the clock I read the time. It's not late, just a little past 7, but I feel my eyes drooping.
With a heavy heart I climb the stairs to my room. A room that used to contain so many happy memories now only holds pain and sleep. I am less like a pony and more like a machine. I ignore my feelings so I can keep functioning. So I can keep living, just like she would have wanted. I reach the bedroom, it looks the same as it did 20 years ago. A Wonderbolts poster on one wall, a few weights in the corner. I didn't change a thing after she died, it just seemed wrong.
I walk up to my bed and slowly lay down on it. My old joints creaking and popping as I do so. Just one more problem that comes with being 89. Crying silently I lay back, adjusting myself to a comfortable position under the covers. There was no comfortable position without her, but I do what I can.
Like so many nights before I cry myself to sleep, images of her fill my head. I feel sleep slowly take hold, I feel myself slip from consciousness.
In my dream I open my eyes, and I realize I am still in my room, still in my bed, still alone. Sighing I get up from my bed, but I don't move. I can't move, I'm frozen in place. I feel a tingling sensation as I feel myself start to rise up. I feel a slight tugging, something pulling me down, but eventually it stops as I float a little higher.
I start to rotate in the air so I am upright, though I still cannot control myself. Looking around the room I notice a purple unicorn laying in the bed. I recognize her from pictures in mirrors. A strange relaxation washes over me, I know exactly what's happening, it's happened before. If I could move I would be smiling, relief flooding my senses. I know what's going on, and I welcome it.
Slowly, I start to float a little higher, eventually passing through the roof of my house and even further into the sky. I don't resist like I did last time, there is no reason for me to stay anymore. Floating higher I pass above the clouds, the sun almost completely gone behind the mountains. The sky filled with brilliant violets and purples.
I begin to go faster, Ponyville becoming a smaller and smaller dot below me. I finally reach what I've been waiting for; a second cloud layer. High above Equestria. I pass through the clouds again, a bright gold light welcomes me, my eyes sting for a second from the intense light.
A voice echoes around me, “What is your name?”
“Twilight Sparkle.” I answer calmly, not a single doubt in my mind as to what I want.
“Ah, welcome back. I trust you had a full life this time?” He says, recognizing me as I recognize him.
“I did.” I say, not questioning or curious, just a numb acceptance.
“Welcome.” he says, before a bright flash of light blinds me. Suddenly I am in what a appears to be a library. My library. Suddenly, the door cracks open, just a little at first. Slowly, it opens further, revealing a young cyan pegasus, no more then 25 years old.
“Twi?” She asks timidly. I smile as she walks further into the library. She smiles back at me. It's been a long time since the last time I saw that smile. Her smile turns to a grin as she sticks her head back out the door.
A few seconds pass before she pulls her head back in, bringing with it 3 other ponies. Ponies I haven't seen in a long time.
“Mom? Dad? Shining?” I say, disbelief thick in my voice, tears already spilling from my eyes. They all look as if they are only 25 years old, but I recognize them all. They just smile back at me and nod. I gallop over to them and drag them into an embrace. My shoulders shaking as I cry into Rainbow's fur.
“Shh.” Rainbow says, slowly rubbing my back, “It's alright, we're all here, it's okay.” She comforts.
“I love you.” I say quietly, slowly calming down with the aid of the ponies I thought I would never see again.
“I know, Twi, I love you too.” She says calmly, the rest of my family nods in agreement.
“Let's go, there are a few others that want to see you again.” My mother says, backing out of the warm embrace.
“Rainbow can come too, right?” I ask. I know it sounds silly, but I can't stand the thought of leaving her now. Not ever again.
“Of course I can, Twi. I will never leave you again.” She says, her eyes filling with tears.
“Promise.”